The Essential List 2021: Retail

2021/2022

The Essential List

The Wellington guide to shopping local this festive season.

OUR UPPER HUTT WISHLIST @myupperhutt

Brewtown T-shirt $35.00 Brewtown Merch Store Himalayan Cattle Print $315.00 Avison’s Home & Giftware Coop p.s I love you dress $269.00 Wild Rose

Camembert Cheese Keeper and Baker $27.00 Tigerlily Giftstore

Butterfly Ring $85.00 Rawson Brothers

Orozco Ceramic Face Vase $49.99 Humble & Grand Homestore

Huey Utility Bag $49.90 The Ekko Shop

Gourmet Fudge $25.00 Fudge’n Hell

Naked Bars $15.00 ea.

Botanical Beauty Co.

Kia ora It’s Christmas! A time to come together, share, celebrate, and spread the aroha.

We’ve been loving local since Capital’s inception almost a decade ago. And when it comes to your Christmas shopping, we encourage you to make a conscious effort to support local businesses where and when you can.

In The Essential List we wanted to showcase a bunch of awesome independent businesses doing all sorts of interesting things.

You’ll find gift ideas for everyone; family, friends, employees, pets, and don’t forget to treat yourself. So please, pop this in your pocket, pull it out and peruse it, and put it to good use!

Meri Kirihimete!

From the Capital team

capitalmag.co.nz

hello@capitalmag.co.nz

04 385 1426

Unit 6G, 33 Kaiwharawhara Rd, Wellington

@blackbeltbaristastore @espresso_ninja_ltd

04 974 8982

@EspressoNinja

www.blackbeltbarista.co.nz

NEW ZEALAND MENSWEAR 21 Ghuznee Street, Wellington

Wellington Apothecary

Established in 2014, the Wellington Apothecary is a botanical factory, herbal dispensary, natural therapy clinic, and alchemist’s delight.

Herbal teas, tonics, and skincare are made in-store and have been created by herbalists to provide you with simple rituals for daily self care.

Gather over a hot cup of herbal tea, talk to qualified herbalists and naturopaths, and have bespoke remedies created for you while you enjoy the tranquil and sensory experience of this urban sanctuary.

wellingtonapothecary.co.nz 110 Cuba St 04 801 8777 Air essential oil burner collection, $110

Frankincense universal skin oil, from $36 Oatery bath soak, from $12

Newtown House

Newtown House is dedicated to nurturing a slower, more sustainable way of life with beautiful homeware and materials to support homemade. Unique cookware, glassware, cutlery, kitchen knives, and gorgeous textiles – alongside clothing patterns, haberdashery, delightful yarn for knitting, and thread for sewing.

“We can get by with less, when we focus on things that are stylish, made to last, and that have a soul – a soul that comes from the craft and passion of the maker.”

newtownhouse.co.nz Crane S2 casserole, $350

David Mellor Rosewood, $420

Sewing patterns, from $35

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1. Coloured laminate hanging earrings, $30, Natty 2. Maximo coffee beans, $15, Havana Coffee 3. Bonnie and Neil checkers napkin, $25.99 Small Acorns 4. Weave Raglan throw, $299, Te Papa Store 5. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro, $37, Schrödinger’s Books 6. Queen of the Foxes face masks, $32, The White Room Gallery 7. Anna Jack ceramic candle, $65, Untouched World 8. Bamboo matcha whisk, $22, GoodFor 9. Fellow Stagg white kettle, $165, Espresso Ninja 10. Large summer basket, $37, GoodFor 11. Jupiter chocolate watch, $189, Mandatory 12. Aermeda soap on a rope, $24.99, Small Acorns

capitalmag.co.nz/shop

CAPITAL

Big Wellington fan?

Subscriptions make great gifts for people who love Wellington.

Each gift sub comes with a limited edition designer tea towel.

Offer valid until Dec 20 2021

Unconditional Skin Co. Unconditional Skincare Co. is a Kiwi brand bringing microbiome science to the skincare world. Their hero ingredient is BLIS Q24® – a live probiotic strain that partners with your skin to balance, hydrate, and restore it to its most healthy, glowing condition. All skin has the potential to be its best when nurtured with the live goodness it needs. unconditionalskin.com 03 474 0988

Madame Fancy Pants Madame Fancy Pants has been a wee gem on Cuba Street for 15 years and the Wairarapa sister store opened in Greytown in 2020. Madame Fancy Pants provides a curated, welcoming, and inclusive shopping experience for body, lifestyle, and home.

It’s the place you’ll find the things you didn’t know you needed, but wanted! madamefancypants.com 225 Cuba St, Wellington 92 Main St, Greytown 04 385 0830

GoodFor Sustainable gifting just got easier. GoodFor’s physical gift cards (available in-store) are made from recycled disposable coffee cups that were destined for landfill.

Or go for a GoodFor E-Gift Card (available online) where you choose your design, personalise your message, even choose your send date! GoodFor Gift Cards – the gift you can’t get wrong. goodfor.co.nz 21 Jessie St 0800 466 3367

I Love Paris In the iconic Old Bank Arcade, nestled in the heart of Wellington, I Love Paris stocks an eclectic collection of footwear from the world’s most exciting designers.

It’s a real family business staying true to their original mission of providing the most exciting shoes from around the world, with a focus on the leading edge designs of Europe. iloveparis.co.nz Old Bank Arcade, 233 Lambton Quay 04 922 0600

G i f t e t h i c a l ly t h i s Ch r i s t ma s !

We’ve got a great range of gif t ideas for ever y tas te and budget including our ver y own limi ted edi tion range to celebrate our 3 0 th B ir thday!

commonsenseorganics.co.nz

Black Belt Barista Store

If coffee’s your thing, you need to meet Espresso Ninja, a team of coffee experts and technicians.

Since 2007 they’ve been repairing, servicing, and customising coffee machinery. Now, they’ve opened a beautiful retail space – Black Belt Barista Store. They say reputation is everything, so you’ll only find the highest quality equipment and honest advice. Visit Black Belt Barista Store, in Kaiwharawhara, for New Zealand’s largest selection of specialist coffee equipment and accessories, from the world’s finest manufacturers.

blackbeltbarista.co.nz Unit 6G, 33 Kaiwharawhara Rd 04 974 8982

La Marzocco linea mini, $6649

Hario v60 ceramic dripper 02,$49

Eureka mignon specialita, $999

MEET: Katie de la Mare, Owner of Style on Jackson styleonjackson.co.nz / 220 Jackson St, Petone / 04 568 8255

What’s the history of your business?

Style on Jackson is my lovely wee business selling pre-loved designer clothes and accessories for everyone, sizes 6–20+.

It’s been open in Petone for 25 years now and I am the fourth owner. The store has been growing steadily as people are enjoying pre-loved shopping and are becoming more conscious about sustainability and reducing waste.

Can customers shop online?

During Level Four in 2020 we decided to branch out and give Style on Jackson more online presence. This took some quick-fire learning, especially around the photography side. We don’t have all of our garments on our website, but I try to show a crosssection of what we have in store so people can learn about us before they visit.

What’s your favourite summer getaway?

Our little family loves spending time at Waitarere beach near Levin. We love the laid back coastal community and spend most of our time there on the beach either beachcombing for shells and special rocks or fishing for snapper. Ice creams at 3pm outside the Four Square also go down a treat.

Te Papa Store

Te Papa Store’s consciously curated collection of gifts represent all the aspects of Aotearoa that the museum celebrates. The focus is on local designers and artisans, and bringing the collections to life.

By tapping into Aotearoa’s incredible creativity and ingenuity, Te Papa Store hopes to bring a bit of “Our Place” to your kāinga. With all profits going back to the museum, supporting local just got even more rewarding.

tepapastore.co.nz Level 1, 55 Cable St Landscape bowl, green $149

Pounamu Tangiwai bowl, $699

Tiki necklace, $125

Untouched World

Untouched World is a sustainable lifestyle brand built on a philosophy of business for good – championing quality over quantity and doing right by people and the planet. Born out of a desire to make a positive impact, they created a sustainable wardrobe designed to travel, work, and play without compromising on comfort or style. Using luxurious natural fibres and earth inspired hues, Untouched World create conscious collections that connect you with nature and elevate your everyday with effortless style.

untouchedworld.com 45 Willis St 04 473 1885 Baabuk Urban Wooler, seasalt/loft $219 UW x JOCO 12oz reusable cup, sandstone $36 Mira sweater, jojoba $349

Madison Rose Boutique

Madison Rose is a fashion and lifestyle boutique in the heart of Marsden Village, Karori.

Be delighted this festive season by their stunning range of Christmas decorations, gifts, homewares, fragrances, books, candles, and more. Well known for their beautiful complimentary wrapping, they ensure every gift looks gorgeous. With so many irresistible items in store along with a thoughtfully curated range of new and quality pre-loved, women’s designer fashion, you may even be tempted to pick up a gift for yourself.

madisonroseboutique.co.nz 156 Karori Rd 04 475 7873 Felted NZ merino wool handmade in Nepal nativity set, $145

Fegg foldable/ ethical/go-anywhere/ glass, set of two, $32 Bilbao recycled Spanish glassware vases, from $20

Small Acorns

Small Acorns is a beautiful lifestyle and interior store, and it’s home to some of the most lusted after and desirable goodies from New Zealand and around the globe. The store is full of personal treasures, bed linen, cushions, beautiful gift ideas, upcycled vintage and contemporary design, infused with colour and a touch of eclectic whimsy.

Everything in-store and online is chosen because the Small Acorns team loves it, and they think you will too.

smallacorns.co.nz 2 Blair St 04 802 5795 Bonnie & Neil primose bath mat, $95

The Flower Hunter,

by Lucy Hunter, $79

Jai Vasicek A4 art tile, $145

MEET: Charlotte Genton, Studio Mama at NOWBreathe Studio nowbreathestudio.com / 5/22 Bay Rd, Kilbirnie / 021 293 9163

What’s special about your business?

Growing up on a tiny island (Moorea, French Polynesia) and living in many different countries meant I always felt I had my bottom stuck between two chairs. So I wanted to create a space where everyone can feel at home. NowBreathe Studio offers holistic practices from yoga, breath work, and mat pilates, to Qigong and Shaking Medicine. We invite and support our community to pause, explore, and receive.

How do you make a bad day better?

First, I try not to take life too seriously (that’s a work in progress). And second, rather than a straight “I go for a walk in nature”, it’s more like “Char, sit down, breathe, what do you feel?” Then I listen and let every part of myself speak. Heart, mind, and body.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

When I was pregnant I used it as a reason to try all the best bakeries in Wellington. Then our son Raimana was born. Now I just have my “Chacha Friday treat” – every Friday I get a Dulce de Leche from Tomboy. Yum!

Little Shop of Horoscopes Aries

Mar 21–Apr 19

Starter Coffee Box, $55, Fernweh

Gemini

May 21–Jun 21

Blush puzzle, $42, Madame Fancy Pants

Leo

Jul 23–Aug 22

Live probiotic skin serum, $95, Unconditional Skin Co.

Aries tend to bound from one thing to another at a million miles an hour.

Fuel their energetic side with caffeine, the age-old stimulant for the wandering mind.

Diligent and dedicated, Tauruses are built to host dinner parties. Help them embrace their sensible side with a topNopi: The Cookbook, shelf cookbook.

Geminis are infinitely multi-faceted and probably the smartest people you know. Get them a brain game to keep their noggin engaged on those slow holiday arvos.

Ann Demeulemeester once called jewellery “something that has to do with emotion.” Get your kind and caring Cancer Petite pure silver, some earrings to 22K gold spot help them tell earrings, $135, their story.

Patina Jewellery

Jennifer Lopez is a Leo, and that woman doesn’t look a day over 30. Gift the J-Lo in your life skincare products that’ll keep them glowing while they live out their pop-star daydreams.

Virgo

Taurus

Apr 20–May 20

by Scully and Ottolenghi, $70, Schrödinger’s Books

Cancer

Jun 22–Jul 22

Virgos have likely already bought everything they need.

So why not get them something nice smelling?

They don’t need it, but they’ll Bon Parfumer eau definitely like de parfum 203 50ml, $50, Madison it.

Aug 23–Sep22

Rose Boutique

Libra

Sep 23–Oct 23

Harman EZ35 reusable camera with Fujifilm Superior colour film, $110, Camera House

Libras manage to balance a fulltime job, a thriving social life, and a penchant for the finer things.

Combine their diplomatic and artistic sides with filmographic equipment.

Scorpio

Oct 24–Nov 22

Essential Wellness collection, $52, The Candle Shop

Sagittarius

Known for their forgetfulness, this is unlikely to be the last replacement accessory you’ll ever buy this Sagittarius.

But embrace the sign’s persistent BlueQ “Oops, Buying something” optimism, because the house keys coin purse, $11, White Room Gallery are next.

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Aquarius

Foster your Aquarius’s calm but creative energy with some knitting equipment. Whether they’re on the bus or another planet, they’ll be happy to have something Garthenor Pentland to keep their yarn, $22 for 50g, third eye engaged.

Pisces

Newtown House

Paloma Wool olive green Tornado shoes, $389, I Love Paris

Nov 23–Dec 21

Jan 20–Feb 18

Scorpios get a hard rap as mysterious, suspicious human beings, but maybe they’re just better informed than the rest of us. Help them melt the haters away and relax with candles.

Capricorns invented the word ambitious, see; Dolly Parton, LeBron James.

Provide them with the tools they need to organise themselves. Get them a versatile Father Rabbit butter weekly planner; 2022 weekly diary, let the stars do the rest. $55, Small Acorns Dec 22–Jan 19

Feb 19–Mar 20

Any good Pisces has been perfecting their aesthetic since their first mufti day. Gift them a standout accessory and give them the perfect excuse to redesign their entire wardrobe, again.

Made it Shop local and shop New Zealandmade this season. Made it boasts the biggest collection of exclusively New Zealand made art and design in Wellington.

They stock over 60 different indie designers from all across our beautiful whenua. Jewellery, homeware, kid’s toys, and clothing, they have all your family’s Christmas gift solutions covered.

Made it – Love Aotearoa. madeitnz.co.nz 103 Victoria St 04 472 7442

Camera House Photographer Brendan Graham and gadget man Sam Baird bring a new vibe to Camera House.

Specialising in processing old school film and printing large scale digital, they’ve added quality bespoke framing to their range of services.

Call in for help and encouragement; they’re a one-stop for all photographic and picture framing requirements.

camerahousenz.com 77 Queens Dr, Lower Hutt 04 566 2267

Fernweh Coffee is an experience.

If you’re longing for coffee that you’ve never had before, Fernweh delivers right to your door. Every month they feature a new roaster from New Zealand.

This means Fernweh coffee subscribers get to travel and taste coffee from around New Zealand without leaving their home, and enjoy fresh single origin coffee each morning.

fernweh.nz 021 0272 1807

The White Room Gallery Open seven days in Island Bay, The White Room Gallery offers a carefully selected range of locally made or sourced gifts, art, ceramics, homewares, clothing, jewellery, accessories, skincare, books, toys, puzzles, and much more. Fran Dysart and the team, all avid gift-givers themselves, offer a warm welcome and expert assistance in finding the perfect gift for even the most discerning customer. whiteroomgallery.co.nz 147 The Parade, Island Bay 04 383 6958

Animals Like Us

Animals Like Us is a premium, New Zealand pet food brand founded by Rob Achten, former Icebreaker Creative Director and Jeremy Moon, Icebreaker founder. They believe animals make us better people, and like us, they need good natural food.

Animals Like Us exists to nurture beautiful relationships between animals and their people through healthy nutrition.

They use real chunks of raw freeze-dried meat and organs blended with oven-baked meat and vege bites. It’s natural nutrition, the safe and easy way.

animalslikeus.com RawBlend33 dog food, $24.99

SuperBlend50 dog food, $69.99

‘Good Dog’ treats, $10.99

Gift it or keep it, the Slurp goodie box features a limited edition handcrafted Paige Jarman mug and a big bag of Coffee Supreme beans – it’s a labour of local love.

Purchase your box from capitalmag.co.nz/shop or Small Acorns

CAPITAL

MEET: Elisha Watson, Founder and CEO of Nisa nisa.co.nz / Floor 1, 99 Willis St / 04 390 6472

What’s special about your business?

I started Nisa to provide employment opportunities to women in the refugee community in Wellington. In the last four years we’ve had 17 people from refugee backgrounds through our doors, and it’s awesome walking alongside them as they settle into life in Aotearoa.

What’s the most popular Nisa item?

We started with organic cotton briefs which were crazy popular!

(We’ve since added bralettes, socks, swimwear, and activewear to our range.) But our Albertine bralette is our best-seller for a reason – it’s challenging for a lot of people to make the transition to a wire-free bra, but the Albertine makes the change worth it. Great looking boobs, no wires that jab you, and all day comfort and support. Beauty doesn’t have to equal pain!

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Chips. In all forms. Proper Crisps for the packet variety, curly fries with oodles of aioli for the warm type. If I have a bad day, my answer is “chips”. If I have a good day, my celebration is chips too – I eat a lot of chips.

Love & Sunshine Boutique

Located in the heart of Seatoun village, Love & Sunshine is the destination for all your Christmas gifts. This gorgeous homeware and giftware boutique supports local artisans who make quality products, and stock unique luxury brands from overseas. It is home to Love & Sunshine children’s clothing, and a beautifully curated range of toys, books, and puzzles.

Experience the bespoke bloom bar, where you can create a bouquet by selecting from the gorgeous range of preserved and dried flowers.

loveandsunshine.co.nz 28 Dundas St, Seatoun 04 979 8274 Bordallo Pinheiro geranium leaves platter, $134 Cream luxury rocking unicorn, $165

Love & Sunshine gold sequin and pink tutu dress, $70

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Blunt Metro lilac umbrella, $125, The White Room Gallery Fat & Sassy Chardonnay, $20.99, Tony Bish wines Lydia print t-shirt, $99, Nisa Orb sunglasses GL73, $38, The White Room Gallery Madagascan explorer hat, $135, Mandatory Alfie & Evie Snooze shoes, $160, I Love Paris Castle beach towel, $115, Small Acorns Sun wind sea balm, $39, Wellington Apothecary Ashley & Co intensive lip balm, $15, Madison Rose Boutique Lydia print shorties, $63, Nisa Rolla green and pink bottle, $49, Madame Fancy Pants Polaroid Now i-Type camera, $269, Splendid

Festive nutty pies Christmas is all about sharing. These nutty pies are a delicious alternative to mince pies. They’re perfect to take to a Christmas pot-luck and make an ideal home-made gift.

125g butter 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted ½ cup icing sugar 1 cup mix nuts, chopped – we used hazelnuts, pecans, and pistachios 60g unsalted butter 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 cup brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla essence 1. Blitz the butter, flour, and icing sugar in a food processor until it all comes together.

2. With floured hands, divide into 24 balls, approx 12g each. Grease a mini-muffin tin with butter and sprinkle extra flour in each cavity.

3. Press pastry balls into tin. Start by pressing down in the centre of each cup and then gently press dough up the sides, ensuring that it does not go above the rim and the sides are even.

4. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.

5. Divide chopped nuts into chilled bases.

6. Mix butter, egg, brown sugar, and vanilla together until smooth.

7. Using a teaspoon fill the cases carefully, ensuring the mixture does not overflow.

8. Bake at 180°C for 20–25 minutes.

Cool. Gently twist to remove from tin.

Recipe courtesy of Nikki and Jordan Shearer

For more Christmas recipes, visit capitalmag.co.nz

SPARE

Natty

Natty is a little studio shop in Berhampore where Cat Mckay designs, creates, and sells her hand painted Rimu jewellery, screen-printed homewares, and illustrated stationery. Other New Zealand-made goodies on the shelves include candles, soaps, wooden utensils, toys, socks, and ceramics. Natty’s nature influenced designs illustrate New Zealand flora and fauna, and strive to celebrate Aotearoa without being overtly “Kiwi”, while the popular culture inspired designs use humour and quirky hand drawings that aim to make you laugh.

natty.co.nz 476 Adelaide Rd, Berhampore 021 101 7087 Titipounamu earrings, $25

Puriri moth enamel pin, $20

Hello darkness my old friend tea towel, $20

That’s a wrap • Make your own wrapping paper using brown craft paper or re-used tissue paper as a base. A fun activity for adults and children alike is making your own designs with watercolour, markers, inks, or metallic-ink pens. Cut out shapes from halved raw potatoes and dip into paste paint or tempera for an eco-friendly stamp, (or use rubber stamps if you have them). Or get groovy and gorgeous by marbling your paper with ink and water.

• Spare fabric can be embroidered with festive designs to be used as a softer gift wrap.

In the week after Christmas, New Zealanders send an extra 50,000 tonnes of waste to landfill. Normal printed wrapping paper with a shiny inside surface has foil or metallic pieces in it. This means it cannot be recycled.

But don’t worry, we’ve got some ideas to make Christmas a little more sustainable this year.

• Use old sewing templates, maps, or discarded book pages. Even newspaper can look great if you get creative with ribbons, some of which are highly re-usable.

• If you are gentle with the unwrapping process (I know it can be terribly tricky to control one’s excitement) paper can be collected, folded, and stored to be used again next year.

Shoe Clinic

Shoe Clinic assesses your feet using their footscan and treadmill analysis and then fit you in the most correct shoes for your activity. They back this up with their famous 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, where if for any reason you aren’t feeling completely happy with your new shoes you can take them back for a replacement or a full refund.

Shoe Clinic is also proud to offer an extensive range of Birkenstock sandals for your summer enjoyment!

shoeclinic.co.nz 58B Willis St 04 499 4495 Arizona suede leather coral peach, $220

Arizona EVA bright violet, $100

Arizona oiled leather cognac, $230

So much more than just a pharmacy

Unichem Your local health professional

Pharmacy Johnsonville

Located next to Countdown 59 Johnsonville Rd 04 477 9513

Gifts + Educational Toys

Havana Coffee Works

Havana Coffee Works has been leading the coffee revolution in New Zealand since 1989. Each batch is roasted in their sustainable hot-air roaster, bringing beans from all parts of the world to life.

You’ll find Havana coffee being poured in some of the most popular and iconic cafes in New Zealand – and now Havana has found you!

For more info visit havana.co.nz #COFFEEUFEEL

havana.co.nz 163 Tory St 04 384 7041 Super Deluxe, $8 Cuban, $8

Pacifica tin, $10

MEET: Susan Murphy, Founder of The Candle Shop thecandleshopnz.com / 77 Burma Rd, Khandallah / 027 254 8143

What’s the best thing about your job?

Hand-pouring the perfect candle! Having been a lawyer for 20 years, it’s refreshing to make something that people really love and want. We use high quality soy wax and fragrances which means that we can deliver hand-made candles to our customers which are made in small batches and not mass-produced.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Cream in my coffee. I read an article about what successful women do in the morning. Most said that they get up early, do yoga, drink kale smoothies etc. But one said she made herself a coffee with cream and went back to bed – “you have to do what makes you happy”. I’ve been following her advice ever since.

What’s the most essential item in your store?

My precision scales! Having them means that I can accurately measure the exact amount of fragrances and essential oils required to make our candles. I discovered them through the Wellington perfumer, Francesco van Eerd. He makes unique fragrances for our Artisan Collection and I’ve picked up a few tips from him along the way.

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1. Gormon pom pom beanie, $44.99, Style on Jackson 2. Animals Like Us chicken dog treats, $8.79 3. Tan luxury rocking horse, $165, Love & Sunshine Boutique 4. Hape giraffe push & pull toy, $20, The White Room Gallery 5. Minka bear mask, $25, Made it 6. Child’s cutlery set, $80, Newtown House 7. Fur & body dry oil, $42, Fur Love 8. Kea toy with sound, $23.99, Te Papa Store 9. Big Cuddle toy, $45, Madame Fancy Pants 10. Yes Studio fruit socks, $15, The White Room Gallery 11. Just Great Design crayons, $14.50, Made it

MEET: Sasha Ortega, Owner of Hoi hoi-studio.co.nz / 73 Miramar Ave, Miramar / 022 380 0539

Why do you love your job?

Hoi is a Pilates studio with an emphasis on good vibes and joyful moves for all humans. I love seeing people do things they didn’t know they could do. It’s pretty magic to be a part of that. The next best thing would be the flow state or total absorption in the moment while teaching. I’m grateful to have a job that brings me straight to being totally present.

What’s special about your business?

I opened Hoi as a response to the traditional exercise class and studio model – a rebellion against exclusivity, posture and alignment, good and bad muscles, and dusty beliefs around the body and how we move. Hoi is the result of a decision to move away from outdated fitness standards and body-image stereotypes toward the understanding that movement is profoundly personal and should always be a collaboration.

How do you make a bad day better?

Some kind of movement, to get the blood flowing and endorphins kicking in. Or a cuddle from our big boi kitty Seve. He’s unreal, like a purring weighted blanket.

MEET: Ben McNab, Assistant Winemaker at Palliser Estate Wines palliser.co.nz / 96 Kitchener St, Martinborough / 06 306 9019

Why do you love your job?

It’s ever-evolving and always throwing up good challenges.

Year on year, nature rules the seasons and provides us fruit that reflects its character – every vintage is different.

My job is to enhance what nature gifts us to create wines that best express our vineyards and connect you with their sense of place. I never stop learning – that’s the best part.

Plus I’m electric about Chardonnay, and a devotee of Pinot Noir. Lucky for me Palliser Estate specialise in both!

What’s your favourite Palliser wine?

Palliser Estate 2020 Single Vineyard “Om Santi” Chardonnay.

It’s a nod to modern style whilst relaxed enough to harness the vineyard identity. It’s a great example of holistic minds that cautiously venture from tradition. It’s also one of Palliser’s first wines to be produced from certified organic fruit.

What’s Wellington’s best kept secret?

Word’s been out for a while, but Noble Rot is the best place to sink into a wine. Ask Jess and the team for a recommendation if you like trying new things. I’ve discovered some great wines there.

MEET: Mary Fawcett, Owner and Operator of Schrödinger’s Books schrodingersbooks.co.nz / 137 Jackson St, Petone / 04 260 3777

Why do you love your job?

Books have always been in my heart and soul, and bookshops are magical places – the physical feel of the shop, the smell of it, and the welcome that people get. I love engaging with my customers but I think my favourite bit is when I recommend a book to someone and once they’ve left, another customer will come up to me and quietly ask what that book was and can they please buy it!

What’s special about Petone?

Beneath the beautifully renovated historic architecture is a fantastic collection of funky cafes, friendly pubs, and quirky shops. I love the sense of community and support.

What do you do to make a bad day better?

At home I’ll curl up on the sofa with Martin the cat and a good book, or I’ll sit at the end of my garden with a cheeky rosé, the vast ocean, and the distant snow-capped Kaikōura mountains for company. If I’m at the shop, I’ll visit Gorgeous café and have a coffee made by Éimhín, the only person who knows my unique coffee needs!

MEET: Joanna Ludbrook, Curator at Chicken & Frog Bookstore chickenandfrog.co.nz / 3 Clifford Square, Featherston / 021 293 5224

What’s special about your business?

Chicken and Frog Bookstore is for children who are environmentally aware, curious, imaginative, and who love to read. Books are shelved facing outwards, so covers are readily visible to children, and my “themed” layout groups books by topic which helps children decide what appeals to them. An interest in dinosaurs can lead to an interest in fossils, archaeology, or palaeontology; and it’s never too early to introduce concepts like that.

Why did you set up shop in Featherston?

It’s New Zealand’s only International Booktown and boasts seven bookstores! The other stores sell mostly secondhand or vintage books, but I love supporting authors, especially New Zealand authors, by stocking new publications. The annual Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival (5–8 May 2022) has about 50 events and attracts over 6000 people to the town. Magic.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Opening boxes of new stock every Friday at the shop. I’m always thrilled to see what authors and illustrators have had published, and start reading straight away. Don’t be fooled that children’s books are only for children!

MEET: Ineke Meredith, Founder of Fur Love thefurlove.com / 021 346 868

What do you do?

I am a breast cancer surgeon, but I saw an opportunity when my own dog was suffering from endless skin problems. I was spending $700 every week and it became evident that antibiotics and steroids were not a “fix”. I knew about human skin problems, and how they lead to skin breakdown and infection, and on this basis, I knew what to look for. But it didn’t exist, so we made it.

What’s special about Fur Love?

People are so happy with their dogs. It is incredible the place they take in our homes and hearts. This is central to the way we present ourselves, and create, and prove! We work closely with vets, and currently support a trial for dogs with skin and paw problems, to prove that we work.

How do you make a bad day better?

I think perspective is always important. I think about things that I am so grateful for. Wellington is special for this because no matter if there is sunshine or rain, the energy in everything that surrounds us is uplifting.

VISIT TH E U R B A N W I NE RY Ph. (06) 650 3353 e. manager@theurbanwinery.co.nz w. www.theurbanwinery.co.nz Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm 3 Ossian Street, Ahuriri, Napier, Hawke’s Bay.

NZ ’S ONLY CH A RD O NNAY S P E CI AL I S T W WW.TONY BI S HW I NE S .CO .NZ #KISSMYCHARDONNAY

loveandsunshine.co.nz | 04 979 8274 | 28 Dundas Street, Seatoun