Our Place Magazine Issue 54

Page 108


Breaking Age Barriers

This Generation of Kaitiaki
Cherie’s Icons on a Plate

YOUR COSMETIC INJECTABLES AND SKIN EXPERTS IN THE BAY

BREEZY TREE FIBER FABRIC DELIVERS COOL, DRY COMFORT.

by NATURE

EARLY BIRDS SOLD OUT

SUMMER HAZE PRESENTS

THE ROOTS

NZ EXCLUSIVE - ONE SHOW ONLY

Founders Rachelle & Christopher Du y

Creative director Christopher Du y

Editor Zoe Hunter zoe@ourplacemagazine.co.nz

Social manager Millie Guest social@ourplacemagazine.co.nz

Advertising enquiries Rachelle Du y 021 032 7873 rachelle@ourplacemagazine.co.nz

Contributors

Zoe Hunter, Holly McVicar, Cherie Metcalfe, Christopher Du y, Rebecca Lee, Ellie Smith, Jim Annear, Flynn Nisbett, Charlie Hart, Marcel Currin, Monique Balvert-O’Connor, Anne Shirley, Scott Yeoman, Naera Ohia, Mike and Cinzia Maioha Jonathan

Photographers

Cam Neate, ilk, Alex Cairns

Pick up your copy from The Little Big Markets, plus at selected cafes, restaurants, shops and businesses.

Want to receive regular copies of Our Place for your business to distribute? Email rachelle@ourplacemagazine.co.nz

To tell us about anything happening in your area right now, email zoe@ourplacemagazine.co.nz

Cover & contents

Cover photography: Whetu Apaapa by Cam Neate (page 28).

Contents photography: John Marshall by Alex Cairns. (page 66).

Follow us @ourplacemagazine ourplacemagazine.co.nz

As the clocks spring forward and the evenings grow longer, our latest issue is filled with features to welcome in a new season.

With more and more people making the move to the beautiful Bay of Plenty, we introduce you to some of our latest residents and find out what drew them to the coastal haven we call home (48). In our Kōrero series, we hear how five brothers are continuing a whānau legacy and why they have dedicated their lives to the Kaimai (28). Meanwhile, we meet a trio of people who are proving age is just a number and that includes a ballerina in her 80s (66), plus our student writers explore how music and artificial intelligence is inspiring the next generation (96).

In our foodie feature, we join Cherie Metcalfe, Pepper & Me’s founder and renowned chef, on her mission to find some of the region’s most iconic dishes (75). Plus, Holly McVicar celebrates our locally-grown produce with recipes including a fresh blueberry salad, blueberry crumble ice-cream, and white chocolate and blueberry blondies (84).

Huffer tees off into the world of golf with the launch of their inaugural collection in our photo essay (89), and we have highlighted some of the upcoming festivals to add to the calendar with Vegan Vibes, Escape, and Toi Kiri to name a few.

Here’s to this issue being a source to entertain, enlighten, and embolden our people and our place.

Warm regards, The Our Place team

BLING UP YOUR GRILL!

With all the money you'll save on our New Patient Special –only $95! RRP $250 (save $155) includes:

. Dental Exam

. 2 Bitewing X-Rays

. Panoramic X-Ray

. Personal Treatment Plan

Scan the QR code to book online or call us on 07 575 6278.

A bougie garden party

What’s Up

Toi Kiri

Toi Kiri is back with over 200 indigenous cultural artists from Aotearoa and around the world. As one jam-packed event of festival, symposium, exhibition and artists wānanga from October 14-21, Toi Kiri gathers tā tatau, tā moko and skin marking artists, alongside cultural artists, musicians, performers, markets and kai.

Bringing the best of indigenous traditions together, immerse yourself in cultural identity at Toi Kiri 2024. Enveloped in our stories, tā tatau and tā moko hold a deep history throughout the world’s indigenous and first nations peoples. Ancestral hands bring to life ageless ingenuity in ancient and new ways, to strengthen and enrich our identity. While the Artists Wānanga might be for registered artists only - check out the festival, symposium and exhibition this October 18-20 at Whareroa Reserve. Find out who’s coming this year by following their socials or website to make sure you don’t miss out.

→Where: Whareroa Reserve. When: Oct 18-20. Tickets available at toikiri.nz or at the door.

Introducing ¡Salud! Festival – the Manawatū’s first and only food and spirits festival. An event to showcase boutique distilleries, breweries and beverage producers, with 16 onsite bars, alcohol available for order from New Zealand’s finest liquor producers, a gourmet pantry with artisan goods and accessories to purchase, as well as epic local food trucks and incredible recognised New Zealand artists live on stage. As two Palmy natives sick of hearing there’s “nothing to do” in our wee city, we decided to give the locals a day out like they’d never seen before. We love a cocktail and hanging out with our mates, and decided to combine these with our skills in event planning to create the bougiest garden party Manawatū has ever seen.

→ saludfestival.co.nz

Attention art aficionados

If you want a break from traditional Labour Weekend gardening, head to Raglan for its 14th Raglan Arts Weekend (RAW), which draws thousands of art aficionados from across the country. At the core of the event lies the self-guided open studio art trail, where visitors get to explore the beautiful Whaingaroa coastal area, visiting around 65 artists in 42 studios. There is something for everyone, from oil painting, large stone sculptures, illustration and designer jewellery to shibori silk techniques, large-scale street art, Kākahu weaving, and an ‘Art of Surf’ exhibition. Visitors will be able to check out Raglan’s next generation of artists at The Hatch, the emerging artists exhibition in the Town Hall. This year, the event promises to be more festive than ever with a collaboration with Raglan’s first Country and Blues Music Festival, as well as a few workshops and installations. Head to the Old School first to pick up a map and check out the Preview Exhibition of participating RAW artists.

→ RAW: Oct 26-28, studios open 10am-5pm Preview Exhibition: Oct 4-28, Old School Arts Centre, 5 Stewart St. raglanartsweekend.nz

The Little Big Markets

Whether it’s crafting authentic clothing and jewellery, or cooking gourmet treats, every stallholder has something special to share. Come and meet some of the faces behind the small businesses we love.

by Zoe Hunter Photography by ilk
Art direction by Millie Guest

AO Jewellery

Hiromi Saeki and her husband are dedicated to crafting ethical jewelry from start to finish. The Japanese couple’s brand, AO Jewellery, embodies the harmony of nature and craftsmanship. Their unique pieces reflect their love of the ocean and dedication to ethical practices.

“With meticulous care, we select each stone and supplier to ensure the highest quality,” Hiromi says. “All our jewelry is made using recycled metals sourced from New Zealand, emphasizing our commitment to sustainability and transparency.”

Living by the beautiful coast of Coromandel, the couple draws inspiration from the ocean, blending its natural beauty with traditional Japanese aesthetics in their designs. Their passion for the sea also extends beyond their work. “We enjoy surfing, diving, and fishing in our spare time.”

Hiromi says showing their jewelry at The Little Big Markets allows people to put a face behind the brand. “We want our customers to know about the actual fit, the details, and who is running this brand.”

aojewellery.com ao.jewellery_

Otherwayside

Maiko loves bringing a little bit of Japan to The Little Big Markets. Her family business, Otherwayside, carefully curates unique and beautiful pieces from local makers in Japan.

“We are most known for our authentic vintage textiles, which we directly source from individuals from Japan,” Maiko says. “We love showing our beautiful Japanese history and craftsmanship at the local markets.”

Each of their one-of-a-kind pieces tell their own stories. “We particularly focus on the materials used and how the pieces have been made. We love connecting to the deeper roots of our pieces and sharing that with our customers.”

Eight years ago, Maiko was inspired to start her own business to share her heritage, cultural design, and craftsmanship with the world.

“Most importantly, as a mum to our daughter, I wanted to be able to have flexibility,” Maiko says.

“We have been a part of TLBM community for seven years and we love meeting people both local and from afar. We are very grateful to be part of such a great market community.”

otherwayside.co.nz otherwayside

Raglan Kettle Korn

When Kevin McGarvey sold his electrical business a few years ago, he wasn’t quite ready to retire. So, he and wife Suzanne started a gourmet popcorn business to keep themselves busy.

Now Raglan Kettle Korn, which started as a small husband-and-wife business, is popping up all over the country. When the pair realised they had a product everyone loved, they decided to help other like-minded people get up and running too.

The business has since expanded, with 11 other business people across the country given a license to operate Raglan Kettle Korn, including in Waikato, Auckland, Rotorua, Taupo, and Tauranga.

That includes Tauranga husband-and-wife Suzanne and Ryan Barker, who now co-own Raglan Kettle Korn with Kevin and Suzanne.

Kettle korn gets its name from how it’s prepared, which is in a cast-iron or stainless steel kettle.

The business’ slogan is: Happiness fresh from the kettle. It is a fitting slogan for a business that delivers exactly that!

Kevin is proud of the fresh popcorn they prepare for their customers.

“Our customers get to see our popcorn being

made right in front of them. They are part of that experience. It’s as classic as it can be.”

Kevin enjoys watching people’s reactions to eating their popcorn.

“They will take three steps and turn around and buy a whole bag. We are putting a smile on customers’ faces.”

Kevin says popcorn grew in popularity during the Great Depression.

“It was a low cost treat, with good value too.”

And that affordability and value is not lost on the McGarveys.

When the business expanded, Kevin says they had very clear objectives: To let customers in on the experience, continue the good value, and help likeminded business people get ahead.

“The business has grown organically,” he says.

Most important of all, Kevin says, it is the interaction with the people.

“It goes back to my father who pumped petrol for a living. But it was never about the petrol, it was about the people.

“It was about creating that experience and interacting with the people. It’s a feel-good product.”

raglankettlekorn.co.nz

↑ Suzanne Barker and her husband Ryan who co-own Raglan Kettle Korn with Kevin and Suzanne McGarvey.

↑ Jahneisha and her dad Glenn, who has surfed all his life and helps test products during development.

Reefwater Threads

Save the earth while you surf.

That is the slogan behind locally-owned surfing brand Reefwater Threads.

Founder Jahneisha Osborne grew up in Mount Maunganui surrounded by the laid-back surf culture we all know and love.

It was this culture, a love for the surf, sand, and sea, and a desire to have a positive impact on our environment, that inspired her to start her own surf label.

“By choosing to use sustainable and eco-friendly products both in the surf and out, our customers are helping to preserve our precious earth and marine ecosystems,” Jahneisha says.

Launched in February 2024, Reefwater Threads men’s and women’s clothing (mainly T-shirts) are handdesigned and hand-printed right here in the Mount.

Their range of eco-friendly and reef-safe surfboard waxes are also made in house.

Jahneisha says their clothing line features a range of unique designs to reflect the Mount’s surf culture and the feeling of being out on the waves.

“I’ve always been into art and design, and am an avid doodler! I have always wanted to see my designs come into fruition.

“I’ve also always wanted to make a positive impact on our environment, and be a part of something bigger.”

A key focus for Reefwater Threads is sustainability.

“In a world where the majority of clothing and products are mass-produced, we strive to provide sustainable, earth-friendly products without skimping on quality.”

Their locally hand-made surf wax has a natural wax base, with a few other secret ingredients, and is 100 per cent biodegradable and eco-friendly.

Additionally, a portion of every shirt sale is donated to a New Zealand-based charity that strives to protect and preserve our precious marine ecosystems and the life within it.

“I love designing unique products that capture the essence of surf culture here in New Zealand,” Jahneisha says.

“I love that our products are sustainable, and all materials are eco-friendly, even down to the clothing labels and shipping bags.”

Her favourite part about being at The Little Big Markets is getting among the community, and talking to market-goers about what they are striving to achieve.

“I also love being able to advocate for the environment through the business, while providing customers with high quality products that we know they’ll love!”

reefwaterthreads.com

reefwaterthreads

@websters.tea www.websterstea.co.nz

This Generation of Kaitiaki

Continuing the whānau legacy, Whetu Apaapa and his brothers have dedicated their lives to the Kaimai.

The manu (birds) chirp louder and louder as the Ngā Mata Hiringa kaimahi (workers) follow the trapline deeper and deeper into the ngahere (forest).

“They’re not happy,” says operations manager Whetu Apaapa (Ngāti Hinerangi, Raukawa, Tainui, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Terangi, Ngāti Pukenga), “let’s wrap it up”.

They quickly finish re-baiting the rat trap and turn around, heading back to their base at Waitaia lodge.

For a normal job, you might get a slap on the wrist for finishing early but for Whetu and his tīma (team), it’s encouraged as their intrinsic Mātauranga Māori (knowledge) and listening to the needs of the ngahere guides their kaupapa (approach).

“Mātauranga is part of everything we do,” says the 29-year-old.

“Being Māori, it’s just natural. If I’m out in the ngahere, it’s about following your intuition –thinking without outside influence. We start the day, tīmatanga (commence), with a karakia (prayer) and

when we move through the ngahere we respect the rākau (trees)”.

Pest-control projects, like this one, require a lot of interference with the rākau through ‘line cutting’ –cutting or trimming down any flora to make an easy track for workers to access their traps – and even nailing traps directly onto trees.

Some teams would simply follow the plan –cutting the lines and putting the traps exactly where the paper tells you but for Ngā Mata Hiringa, the plan is a guide. The tīma refuse to cut into rākau they don’t know.

“If you don’t know the name of something, don’t cut it. You have to respect its whakapapa (history),” Whetu explains.

“We’re pretty particular about what rākau we put them [traps and signs] on. We try to keep away from big rimu and big totara. We usually try and attach traps to mid-sized rākau that are in abundance. For us, that’s manono”.

It makes the work take longer, but Whetu says

Kōrero

Opener: Ngā Mata Hiringa operations manager Whetu Apaapa. ↑ Shaun Peters, Zacariah Mikaere, Amorangi Apaapa, Nikki Rapana, and Whetu Apaapa.

it’s worth it as nailing into a tree is like cutting into an arm.

“Any cut is creating an open wound. We avoid big trees as we don’t want to introduce any bacteria into it. I wouldn’t want to damage a 200-year-old rimu just to chuck a $200 trap on it,” he laughs.

Ngā Mata Hiringa is the name of Ngamanawa Inc’s predator control project, which was launched in 2021 with funding from Jobs for Nature. A groundbased team of five, along with the wider Ngamanawa team, are working to restore the mauri (life force) of a 2000 hectare block of Opuiaki and Waitaia forest and its catchments. Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview) is central to their approach, and most of the team whakapapa to the land they’re working on.

Ngamanawa general manager, Dave Nuku (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Hangarau, Ngāti Motai), says Whetu has a quiet confidence that reassures the team, even on the toughest days.

“In this kind of business, when your teams are out in the bush, you need people who are reliable and trustworthy,” he says.

“I’m proud of him and the team. It’s cold in winter and stifling in summer. You have to love the mahi or you won’t last. But, the quality of their

work speaks for itself. We’re getting good results –predators are coming down, traps and kills are up, and we’re starting to see restoration of our taonga species such as kōkako.”

In Māori myth, the kōkako filled its wattles, the blue area around its throat, with water and brought it to Maui as he fought the sun. Maui rewarded the manu by making its legs long and slender, enabling it to bound easily through the forest.

The kōkako is a seed spreader, helping to regenerate the understorey, and an indicator species – when they are well and in abundance, the forest is well.

In the 2023 Opuiaki Kōkako Survey by Amanda Rogers and Dave Bryden, prepared for Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation, 23 pairs and 8 territorial singles were recorded, a continued increase from 19 pairs and 6 singles in the 2021 survey, and 10 pairs and 11 singles in 2019.

Ngamanawa plan to build on these results for years to come, they want their whenua to be loud with bird song. However, like most conservation mahi in Aotearoa, it’s currently dependent on shrinking government and philanthropic funding.

“We have co-funding now [from TECT and

“I’m proud of him and the team. It’s cold in winter and stifling in summer. You have to love the mahi or you won’t last. But, the quality of their work speaks for itself. We’re getting good results –predators are coming down, traps and kills are up, and we’re starting to see restoration of our taonga species such as kōkako.”

BayTrust] but this work needs to be done over generations. We’re working with Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust to unlock additional funding, or investment streams, to continue our project.

“With the right commercial support, we might be able to achieve our vision,” Dave says.

While Whetu spends his weekdays hiking through the Opuiaki ngahere with a backpack full of bait and tools, his passion for te taiao (the natural world) started at home in Okauia, a small settlement outside of Matamata.

He credits his career to his Aunty Honey, who he has fond memories of sitting with as she shared kōrero (stories) about their tupuna (ancestors).

“Aunty Honey, Carol Ngeira, she was our pou (the pillar) at home (Okauia). She was very loving, very tou – very calm, peaceful. She was our kōhanga teacher, our bible studies teacher, she was like a

mother to us all – all the naughty kids up the road!”

She would tell Whetu and his four brothers about their tupuna and whakapapa to the sacred maunga they all lived under, passing down the knowledge she received from kaumatua and kuia (elders). However, like much of Māori land in Aotearoa, much of this whenua is in private ownership. Until she passed of cancer, she fought to get the Te Weraiti maunga (mountain) back, legally.

“She instilled the love for te taiao in us all. She was very vocal about the impacts of private ownership and the quarry operations.”

The maunga, although in private ownership, is bordered by QEII covenanted land, which in layman’s terms means it will be forever protected from destruction.

Zipporah Ploeg, QEII Taupo and Central Waikato Regional Rep, says that an area’s

↑ Whetu and Amorangi, along with their brothers, have dedicated their lives to the Kaimai. Right: Ngamanawa whenua.

“Aunty Honey, Carol Ngeira, she was our pou (the pillar) at home (Okauia). She was very loving, very tou – very calm, peaceful. She was our kōhanga teacher, our bible studies teacher, she was like a mother to us all.”

“It’s all for our rangatahi, we want them to experience what we do. I want them to go up into the ngahere and hear the manu, they should be able to identify different rongoa (medicinal plants), different taonga.”

biodiversity, landscape, cultural or historical values can be protected with a covenant.

“If a place has a particular mauri, or a particular connection to someone, then the covenant protects that and can never be undone. QEII, along with the landowner and any future landowners, has an ongoing responsibility to ensure the area is protected forever and we will work to uphold the protection if that’s ever threatened.”

Now, three of the five Apaapa brothers dedicate their lives to the Kaimai, continuing Aunty Honey’s legacy.

Te Ao o te Rangi, the eldest, holds all the whānau records and is leading the fight to get their land back. He also works at Landcare Trust and one of his many projects is creating an ecological corridor between Pirongia, Maungatautari and the Kaimai, to help manu fly between the three forests. This will help expand the DNA pool and increase numbers.

Amorangi, the youngest of the five, recently left his job in outdoor education to join Whetu at Ngā

Mata Hiringa. Dave, their manager, says he fits like a glove, and that brotherly connection is something you can’t manufacture.

When they’re not working, or with their respective whānau, the Apaapa brothers share their knowledge through wānanga at the Tangata Marae.

Named after a bioluminescent limpet discovered in the Pūtangi Stream, the Karanga a te Pūtangi kaupapa aims to help their iwi build connections to the whenua.

Everything the brothers do is for future generations.

“It’s all for our rangatahi,” says Whetu.

“We want them to experience what we do. I want them to go up into the ngahere and hear the manu, they should be able to identify different rongoa (medicinal plants), different taonga…

“It’s the first time that some of these kids have even gone to their whenua, and they are excited about it!”

mkm.org.nz

↑ Amorangi, the youngest of the five brothers, recently left his job in outdoor education to join Whetu at Ngā Mata Hiringa.

Celebrating 30!

It started as a 20-year-old entrepreneur’s dream. Now, the iconic Mount Maunganui clothing brand is celebrating three decades in business.

Mike Smith started RPM out of his love for snowboarding, which was discovered through his first love - surfing.

“Growing up in the Mount through the 80’s you were either into rugby or surfing,” Mike says.

“Both my parents were surfers, as were the older kids on my street, so I followed along and got hooked.”

Mike’s mum Susie is one of the most passionate surfers he’s ever known and family vacations were always surf trips.

“She’d even let me take the day off school when the waves were pumping.”

The Smiths were good friends with the Winters, who owned the local surf shop Island Style, where Mike worked as a teen.

“I was living the dream, 15-years-old, and paid to watch the latest surf videos and check out all the new stuff.”

His dad Phil wrote a weekly surf column for a local newspaper and was the editor of one of New Zealand’s main surf magazines Kiwi Surf.

“By the early 90’s I was immersed in the surf scene and increasingly becoming involved in the industry. It was the family business.”

Mike aspired to become a pro-surfer and made the New Zealand team for the World Scholastic Surfing Championships in Bali.

But at age 18, Mike changed tack and flew to Europe on his big OE.

In 1992, snowboarding was growing in popularity and Mike was keen to give it a go. “Especially as the UK winter turned the water ice cold.”

“I fell in love and spent the next two winters in the French alps!”

He returned home in 1994 with the idea of making snowboards.

“I didn’t have a business plan, or any expertise, but I was young and naïve enough to just want to try.”

Mike saw snowboarding had potential to develop into a lifestyle, culture, and industry like surfing had done a few decades earlier.

“My perception of job satisfaction was to be able to see and handle something I’d created at the end of the day.”

So, Mike started his own brand. However, he soon realised he didn’t have the skills to make snowboards and importing the components from the United States and Europe wasn’t far off the cost of importing a finished snowboard.

He then turned to outerwear - snowboarding jackets and pants - and the doors began to open.

RPM was born. The concept was to offer a small range of gear and tour New Zealand meeting owners of surf, ski, and newly emerging snowboard

Opener: RPM founder Mike Smith pictured in 1995. ↑ Mike and his mate Alex Dive in the Mentawais living the dream.

shops. Slowly, but surely, orders came in and RPM began showing up in stores. In the mid-90’s, there was little snowboard-specific outerwear available.

“People were still wearing ski jackets and pants, which wasn’t the look you wanted as a snowboarder.”

It was a case of being in the right place at the right time. At the beginning, the ethos was to produce good gear. Now, 30 years later, that ethos hasn’t changed. It’s that authenticity that Mike loves about the brand.

“It’s still the same ingredients that got the brand off the ground in the first place. Good quality, realistic price points and good design.”

Mike wanted to make products that excelled in the gnarly snowboarding elements, had practical functionality, but also looked cool.

“Quality was paramount. I knew reputation was critical to the success of a brand.”

Mike also wanted RPM to be affordable enough for the average guy and girl, with the perception of representing value. “Another reason for competitive price points was I realised early on that volume was

needed to achieve economy of scale, which is critical for outerwear manufacturing and difficult to achieve in a small market like New Zealand.”

One thing Mike believes has contributed to RPM’s longevity is the fact he’s always worked to serve as an equal partnership in dealings with suppliers and retailers.

“If you help people out, they’ll help you out.”

By the mid-2000s, RPM became more involved in the surf market as that was the forte for most of its retailers, which by then some had moved from side streets to shopping malls.

“This resulted in a lot of growth and I invested in team riders and marketing doing surf and snowboard photo shoots all over New Zealand and overseas.

“Being able to go surfing and snowboarding as part of the job was a benefit never wasted on me.”

Over the years, the surf fashion industry grew from a small, friendly, lifestyle-focused community into a global commodity.

As the retail landscape changed, Mike realised RPM needed to extend its business model.

“I often get comments that someone’s had one of our jackets for 20 years and it’s still going strong. Things like that make you feel you’ve done your job well.”

Nic Brown and Janelle Reid modelling some of the RPM clothing in the early 2000s.

RPM had one retail outlet in the Mount and an online presence, but to maintain its scale of operation, it needed a multi-door retail arm. “I decided that wasn’t for me so I opted to sell.”

At the end of 2022, RPM sold to Backdoor Surf Shop - a retail chain with values and ideology that very much aligned with Mike’s.

Joining the fold of a nationwide retailer was the perfect solution for RPM as we enter into the era of vertical retail – which is a business model where the retailer is producing the majority of the goods it sells, thus capturing all available margin.

Looking back to where it all began, Mike says he loves that so many people have had positive experiences with RPM.

“I often get comments that someone’s had one of our jackets for 20 years and it’s still going strong. Things like that make you feel you’ve done

your job well.” Mike says being under the umbrella of Backdoor Surf Shop, has freed RPM to be more creative and broader with product development.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting back to our roots in the surf, skate, and snow spheres, which is where we’re aligning much of our marketing. Or more so, it’s a realignment.

“It’s great to see kids getting into the same things we were doing 30 years ago, and its motivating them to get off Wifi devices and go outdoors to have fun.”

RPM will continue to be a part of this culture by promoting an active lifestyle and producing quality products that resonate with each new generation.

Mike plans to celebrate the 30-year-milestone with a birthday party and some special promotions for customers. So, make sure to pop in and say what’s up. rpm.co.nz

Interior Harmony

Mary, Emma, and Rana believe a home should be a place where we can feel at peace and entirely ourselves. Homes are our sanctuary and the trio is on a mission to help create this for all.

Photography by ilk

To style the home ready for spring, Mary, Emma, and Rana (pictured top right) encourage you to embrace lighter weight fabrics – linen is perfect for our warmer weather. Clover Design Store in Mount Maunganui has a range of linen spreads, and more will arrive in time for summer.

Mary, Emma, and Rana may have very different backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common – a passion for interior design, architecture and travel.

So, it was only natural for the trio to start their own design store.

They each have a diverse background. Mary is a trained florist, Rana was a research nurse, and Emma was a property valuer. But with their shared passion they strived to create a space dedicated to strong design and interior harmony.

The trio started their first store Veranda on Waiheke Island 10 years ago, but when they eventually all began living in Mount Maunganui, they founded Clover Design Store.

“We love the Mount,” Emma says. “It has a great vibe, great people and beautiful beaches. Plus, it still retains that small village feel.”

The trio has long been advocates for investing in quality products that last not only their lifetime, but will also be enjoyed by future generations.

The store is a reflection of the trio’s own homes and ethos, with an emphasis on unique pieces, which are individually selected by Mary, Emma, and Rana.

The pieces are an expression of their values around sustainability and craftsmanship.

The family believes home interiors are similar to fashion. If you invest in quality, you will have something you will enjoy for years.

“We avoid fast fashion and anything that is mass produced. We have great relationships with our suppliers and have huge respect for the many skilled artisans we deal with regularly.”

The focus is on quality, design and functionality when selecting products.

“The items we collect come from around the world,” Emma says. “Pieces are unique, beautiful and ageless. They have character, history and soul.”

The mother-daughter trio is excited to introduce some new ranges to the store.

Le Creuset is an iconic French brand, known for their high quality cast iron cookware. Clover Design Store also stocks stoneware and dinnerware. Its traditional style, highly functional design and products that last a lifetime makes Le Creuset a firm favourite with Clover.

Libeco is a stunning textile brand from Belgium, which creates exquisite throws, cushions, table and kitchenware from high quality linen. They are so highly regarded, Libeco was given a Belgium Royal Warrant. The muted colour palette ensures the pieces are easily integrated into the home,

“We avoid fast fashion and anything that is mass produced. We have great relationships with our suppliers and have huge respect for the many skilled artisans we deal with regularly.”

while adding texture and interest. Founded in 1985 in Australia, Dinosaur Designs focuses on colour, tactility, and vitality, which is apparent in all their pieces. The collection includes jewellery, tableware, vases, and sculptural objects.

“We adore the organic nature of the pieces, the clear colour palette and functionality of the designs,” Emma says. “I can’t wait for the warmer weather so I can bring out my new Dinosaur Designs salad servers and big jug. I will be adorning my dining table with a Dinosaur Designs vase loaded with blooms.”

In addition to the homeware side of the store, Clover also has an ever-growing pantry section of amazing olive oils, condiments, mustards, salts and preserved fruits. The perfect product to have on hand to take your dishes to the next level or to make wonderful gifts.

To style the home ready for spring, the trio encourages you to embrace lighter weight fabrics –linen is perfect for our warmer weather. Clover has a range of linen spreads and more will arrive in time for summer.

Updating your cushions is another quick and easy way to freshen up a space, and Clover has lots of beautiful patterned cushions and are always on hand to help if you need some ideas.

Spring can look beautiful, lush green grass and lots of blooms, but still be fresh. If it is too cold to embrace the outdoors, bring them inside with big vases of spring flowers and lots of green foliage. It’s amazing how much flowers brighten up a room!

The warmer spring months are a great time to put away the roasting dishes and bring out big platters and bowls for sharing.

Mary, Emma, and Rana believe a home should be a place where we can feel at peace and be entirely ourselves.

“Homes are our sanctuary and our mission is to help create this for all.”

cloverdesignstore.co.nz

chaosandharmonyshoes.com

New Beginnings in the Bay

Whether it is for work, family, love, or lifestyle, more and more people are making the move to the beautiful Bay of Plenty in search of new beginnings. Come and meet some of our latest residents.

A community is defined by the people living within it – and the Bay of Plenty is full of vibrant, interesting and hard-working people.

More than 150,000 live in Tauranga, with more and more people calling the coastal city home each year. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and with its sparkling harbour, coastal scenes, and magnificent views from Mauao, why wouldn’t you want to live here?

Our Place editor Zoe Hunter met with some of the Bay’s latest residents.

The Dhake family

A clay idol of Lord Ganesha Chaturthi is placed on a raised platform.

Colourful flowers, festive Indian dumplings (modak), and fruit are offered – as prayers and mantras are recited and rituals are performed.

The vibrant celebrations of the elephant-headed God of wisdom and new beginnings have begun.

Inside this Te Puke home, a private Hindu festival was conducted to welcome some of Tauranga’s

↑ The Dhake family — Parag, Surabhi, Poorna, and Aaroh — now call the Bay of Plenty their home. → The Shepard Whanau moved from Nelson to Tauranga at the beginning of this year.

newest residents with blessings of the Indian God.

One of those families is the Dhake family, husband and wife Parag and Surabhi, their daughter Poorna and son Aaroh.

The family moved to New Zealand from Jalgaon, a town and district of the Indian State of Maharashtra, 14 years ago. Moving from Dunedin to Christchurch, and now to Tauranga, the family has relished Kiwi life.

For Parag, it was the job opportunities that called.

The family first moved to Dunedin where Parag studied chemistry at University of Otago, before settling in Christchurch.

But Tauranga was calling.

“The job opportunities were much better in the North Island,” he says.

Now, Parag is working as a laboratory analyst for kiwifruit company Seeka.

His wife Surabhi says it is a wonderful country to bring up her children.

“The people are very friendly and helpful. We do like the Kiwi culture.”

Although they do miss the culture and way of

life back home, especially now in the festival season, the family was looking forward to making new friends in Tauranga.

“We do love the weather here,” Surabhi says. “It is much warmer, especially coming from the South Island.”

The Shepard whānau

A city thriving in te ao Māori was high on the Shepard whānau’s list when choosing a new place to call home.

So when Rebekah and her husband Shep moved to Tauranga with their daughter Mia and son Zion at the start of 2024, they instantly fell in love with the city’s culture and community.

“We love to see kaupapa Māori ingrained in the day-to-day happenings,” Rebekah says.

“Down at the netball courts hearing ‘Kia ora, Nau mai hoki mai’ is great. Seeing stunning mahi toi (Māori art) around the rohe (region) highlights our beautiful culture of Aotearoa.”

The move was a welcome home to Rebekah, who had returned to Tauranga for the first time in more than 20 years.

Photographs by ilk

“It was mostly a place that we would pass through from Gisborne to Hamilton as most of my schooling years were in those two places. A lot has changed since then,” she says.

“That includes the awesome facilities and opportunities – sports stadiums, sports grounds and the Mount area has exploded!”

Although it was hard to move from whānau and friends in Whakatū (Nelson), the Shepards soon settled into Tauranga.

“We didn’t really know anyone here (no whānau or whakapapa),” Rebekah says. “But when we both hit our 40s, we started to think ‘Is there something else out there for us?”

“We chose a place that has great weather, is close to other towns and centres, and is thriving in the area of te ao Māori.”

It was also about providing more opportunities for their growing children.

“And, of course, the beaches are a hit as we have two labradors, and I can’t go past the super welcoming people,” Rebekah says.

“We have been invited into sports teams, hāhi (church life) and workplace whānau so quickly.”

Rebekah has been teaching at Mount Maunganui Intermediate and will begin her new role as deputy principal at Arataki School in Term 4. While her hubby Shep is a kiako of te reo Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi facilitator and cultural advisor who is currently supporting the whānau class at Te Puke Intermediate as a kaiāwhina (support person).

When the Shepard whānau first arrived in January, Rebekah says they spent a lot of time swimming, getting lost on the motorway, and doing the “boring things” like finding their local supermarket, doctors and chemist.

Now, after a few months, they can proudly call themselves Tauranga locals.

“We love the walks up Pāpāmoa Hills and Mauao. It’s great that there are so many live bands each week at local bars or community events. The weather is brilliant and a lot warmer than the South Island!”

Michaela Pronk

It was the ocean that drew Michaela Pronk back to the Bay of Plenty.

↑ It was the ocean that brought Michaela Pronk back to the Bay of Plenty from Australia. → Sarah Lancaster is now proud to call herself a local after moving coast-to-coast from Raglan to Tauranga.

Growing up in Auckland, the 38-year-old lash and brow specialist moved to North Queensland, Australia, to start her own business. She has lived there for the last decade.

With family back in New Zealand, Michaela would often spend summer holidays in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.

But it was in December 2023 that she returned to the coastal city – this time, for good.

“Every time I visited, I fell more and more in love with the place,” she says. “The laid-back vibes suit me and I’ve always been drawn to the ocean. I love that Tauranga is surrounded by water.”

Michaela says Tauranga has a “great mixture” of everything from natural beauty, plenty of hikes, and a welcoming community, to great places to eat and shop.

But it is mainly the people that she loves most about the city.

“I’m blown away with not only how welcoming everyone has been, but also the support from other local business women. It’s so great to be surrounded by others who want to see you succeed.”

Since moving to the Bay, Michaela has settled into her new life here easily. Taking in New Zealand’s iconic scenery by climbing Mauao for the “stunning views”, and exploring all of the “beautiful” hikes right in the Bay’s backyard are just some of her favourite things to do.

As is eating dumplings and drinking cider at The Rising Tide in Mount Maunganui and watching live music from the many talented local artists.

“And, basically, anything with my family. It’s great to be so close to them again,” she says.

Now a proud local, Michaela has also started her own business, Lash & Brow, located at Your Coastal Collective in Central Parade on Maunganui Rd.

“I have always had regular clients throughout my career, created and run a busy salon, and taught in the industry.

“With over a decade of experience, I can’t wait to continue doing what I love and share my personal technique with current and future clientele.”

Sarah Lancaster

Meanwhile, it was the city lights by the sparkling sea that stitched together Sarah Lancaster’s decision to move to Tauranga last November.

The 37-year-old seamstress was living in Whāingaroa, Raglan, before she boxed up her fabrics and took the plunge into a new coastal community.

Sarah has been teaching sewing and sustainable living through nationwide pop-ups and workshops as part of her social enterprise Sew Love.

Now, after moving from one coast to another, Sarah is calling Tauranga home.

“I was missing city life and this one has a plethora of opshops, cycle paths, a bustling regular craft market, and clear blue surf – what more could I want?”

Sarah’s business has morphed in many ways over the last 11 years, but her kaupapa has

by ilk

Photograph

remained the same: “Upcycling textiles and upskilling communities”. “So the sewing machines, boxes of fabric scraps and I are zooming away in the spare room at home, churning out upcycled bumbags, towel ponchos and sleeping bag puffer jackets,” she says.

Now a permanent Tauranga resident, Sarah hosts sewing workshops at The Incubator Hub’s Creative Community Campus in the Historic Village and plans to share her sewing skills at the Vegan Vibes festival in spring.

“The Creative Community Campus at the Historic Village is the light of my life right now. What an incredible hive of creativity and colour. My heart literally swells every time I visit,” she says.

“I am keeping note of funky spaces and faces from around the wider Bay of Plenty to hopefully collaborate with in future. Also, I want to join or start a regular pub knitting night.”

When she isn’t sewing, Sarah loves to explore

the city by bicycle.

“I love to bike in any direction and end up at a grassy seaside picnic spot. As a creative, I am discovering the creative scene here and it’s so encouraging to see busy markets, street art, theatre show signs everywhere, and quirky business fit outs… and there’s so many more op shops I can visit in a day, gathering my sewing resources.”

“I try to only shop second hand, so I have clocked all the op shops – I think – a few times and I love the adventure.”

Since settling into her new city life, Sarah has enjoyed beach walks, swimming, surfing, and joining the gym.

“I have always had this saying: ‘I don’t watch movies, I watch sunsets’. But perhaps I need to surrender to the sunrise because that’s new for me, and they’re pretty special.”

Tauranga Tiahuia

Local murals across the city are honouring women of prestige, mana and talent.

by Ellie Smith Photography by Anne Shirley

In 2023, the FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand. The tournament was a great success and showed the power that women’s sports can have, from the positive effects on the economy, to the empowerment of young women.

In response to hosting the prestigious sporting event on our shores, the Department of Internal Affairs created the Hine te Hiringa – Empower Women Utilising FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Fund. Tauranga was successful in securing a grant from this fund and, from this, the Tauranga Tiahuia Mural Project was born.

Six local artists have been commissioned to paint a mural around our city centre, Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa, each honouring a woman of prestige, mana and talent from Tauranga. The aim of the project is to create space to tell the stories of the inspiring women who call, and have called, Tauranga home.

The project is now at the halfway mark, with three of the six murals completed. In Issue 53 of Our Place Magazine you will have read about Murals by Millie’s stunning mural on the Pāpāmoa Sports and Recreation Centre honouring Olympian and Pāpāmoa local, Sarah Hirini.

Two other murals have now been completed by artists Rhianna May and Louis Mikaere (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui).

Rhianna May – In Her Presence

Creating her first ever mural, Rhianna May described the experience as “different”, but she “loved the challenge”.

Usually working on a smaller scale with oil paints, she says, “there’s something freeing about using spray cans, how fast you can work and how the paint flows”.

Hidden down Waihirere Lane, you will find Rhianna’s mural that honours actress Teuila Blakely, who was born and grew up in Tauranga. She was inspired by Teuila’s acting prowess, her advocacy for female empowerment and resilience. Teuila says she is “thankful and humbled beyond words to have been the muse for this powerful piece”.

Rhianna painted Teuila in the style of Charles McPhee, one of New Zealand’s best-selling artists, as the first piece of art Teuila ever purchased was Tapeta by Charles McPhee. Teulia describes the artwork as her “most prized art piece” and says that the work “represents so much for me as a Polynesian woman”.

Rhianna hopes her mural, In Her Presence, reaches someone who needs it. “I painted it with ideas of strength, pride, and power in mind, and I hope someone sees that and feels uplifted by it”.

Louis Mikaere – Te Ara o Taurikura

Inspired by the pūrākau (stories, legends) of his whenua, artist Louis Mikaere took a different approach with his mural, as he chose to honour Taurikura, a wahine from mana whenua lore and a kaitiaki (guardian) of Ngāi Tamarāwaho.

Taurikura was a chief’s daughter who fled her village in shame after refusing to collect water for her grandfather. She turned herself into a mokomoko (lizard)

“I hope that this mural and the story of Taurikura inspires the community, young and old, to not be afraid and chase your dreams no matter what. To embrace change, continuously grow, and stand resilient in forging your own path. Whaia te Iti Kahurangi, kia tuohu koe me he maunga teitei.”

The mural, Te Ara o Taurikura, depicts her as she makes her way through the region out into Tauranga Moana. Brightening up Red Square and Spring St, Louis hopes that his mural will bring Māori culture into the urban space, encouraging viewers to share and converse as if the space was a marae atea.

Growing up on Matakana Island and now living in the Wellington region, Louis connected with the pūrākau of Taurikura and wanted to honour her courage in leaving

The Tauranga Tiahuia Mural Project has been commissioned by Tauranga City Council through the generous support of the Hine te Hiringa Fund. and swam the Kopurererua River out to Tauranga Moana. She landed on the rocky island of Karewa, near Matakana, and is the ancestor of the tuatara that now live on the island.

her home and venturing out on her own. “I hope that this mural and the story of Taurikura inspires the community, young and old, to not be afraid and chase your dreams no matter what. To embrace change, continuously grow, and stand resilient in forging your own path. Whaia te Iti Kahurangi, kia tuohu koe me he maunga teitei.”

Make sure the next time you take a trip into the city centre that you check out these two new murals and keep your eyes peeled for the next three murals to pop up.

↖ Rhianna May, In Her Presence, 2024. ↑ Louis Mikaere, Te Ara o Taurikura, 2024.

Paper Pals

Photography by Anne Shirley
Paper Pals brings artist Ben Pearce’s playful vision to life. He has conjured four whimsical, origami-inspired giants that fold the imagination inwards and outwards.

The much-loved Paper Pals sculptures, originally commissioned for outside Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, have arrived in Tauranga, brightening up the shopfronts of 51 and 76 Grey St.

Paper Pals brings artist Ben Pearce’s playful vision to life. He has conjured four whimsical, origami-inspired giants — a panda, a pink baboon, a brilliantly hued pūkeko, and an unknown green creature for you to admire.

Monumental yet inviting, Pearce’s origami creatures fold the imagination inwards and outwards, inviting everyone to pause, play, and find joy in the unexpected moments of everyday life.

Much admired during their time in the capital, the Paper Pals are on show for a limited time, so make sure you check them out soon!

The transformation in Tauranga’s city centre is progressing at pace with lots of exciting projects set for completion in the lead up to Christmas. To encourage more people to come into the city centre, we have created a busy calendar of free events for people of all ages to enjoy. The Paper Pals installation is just one of the many things you can see and do when visiting the city centre!

Paper Pals have been provided courtesy of the artist Ben Pearce, and were originally commissioned by the Wellington Sculpture Trust. We acknowledge the support from the property owners for allowing the installations in their premises. With thanks to Baycourt Community and Arts Centre and Jess Ellis from Ranger Studio.

Ben Pearce, Paper Pals, 2022. Originally commissioned by Wellington Sculpture Trust.

CREATIVE DIRECTORY

K o re an s t y l e f r i e d c h i c k e n Ko r e a n s t yl e f r i e d c hi ck e n

Writers Thinkers Poets Visionaries Activists Artists Performers & more.

Nature’s Way: A Fast-Growing Future

Photography by ilk
If gardening was a sport, then nature would be the all time undefeated champion. Jim Annear finds out there is a lot to learn from nature if we take a moment to stop and observe.

What if I told you there is a way to garden that produces food, creates its own fertility, and increases biodiversity? It doesn’t involve annual digging over, and you never have to weed it.

It’s also a way of growing that means you don’t have to bring in garden mix and mulch, buy and apply fertiliser, or lay down weed mat. It’s a process of growing that doesn’t rely heavily on irrigation to be successful either.

And it’s a practice of growing that’s been happening for millions of years, as well as right now, all over our planet.

It’s nature’s way. A way that’s been refined since the dawn of time. Before humans started intentionally growing plants, the earth was cloaked in forest. Masses of humongous trees, hundreds of years old, with layers upon layers of diverse plant life sheltered underneath, all the way down to the fertile forest floor. Generations of plants, fungi, insects and animals – all living under the same green roof. Humans only came along and tried their hand at the growing game when we started settling in one place to cultivate crops to consume. Some say it was beer that domesticated man, others say it was bread. Whatever it was, we cleared areas of forest containing a variety of species to grow fields of one, like wheat or barley. The earth looks a lot different now than it did before we rolled up our sleeves. As a

result, there is a lot less forest and a lot more grass.

So what would happen if we stopped mowing our lawns and let the grass grow? And if we did that –what would our lawn look like in 10 or 20 years time? I’m not saying stop mowing your lawn, I’m just keenly interested in what happens when we do let the grass grow and allow nature to take over.

If gardening was a sport, then nature would be the all time undefeated champion. Nature is the ultimate grower and there is a lot to learn from it if we stop and observe what it is doing. There are lots of ways of growing that are derived from nature by people who have observed nature’s ways and tried applying what they’ve seen. Biomimicry is the practice of learning from and mimicking nature. Nature, left to do its own thing – grows forests. If nature is the master, then we should let it lead the way.

The process of growing a forest is a truly fascinating one. Earlier this year, I signed up to a course led by local legend @byron.grows about syntropic agroforestry. Syntropic agroforestry focuses on how forests grow naturally, without human help. The process is that of succession. From bare soil or grass, successions of different plants perform different functions throughout time and space. Waves of plants taking up a space for a certain period of time, before being succeeded by another wave of

Nature, left to do its own thing - grows forests. If nature is the master, then we should let it lead the way. ← By wriggling within the soil, earthworms play a part in the process of succession.

plants that take their place. We can think of it like shift work - when one shift ends, another team of shift workers arrive to take over the job for the next time period. The workers perform certain functions before handing over to the next lot of workers as they start the next shift.

Syntropic agroforestry involves ways of growing I would have never imagined coming from a vegetable growing background. Things like letting “weeds” grow, because they serve a function at a point in the whole syntropic process. Using these fast growing “weedy” species in the early stages of growing a forest is what nature does in the process of regenerating a landscape.

I recently met a man named Hugh, who let gorse grow in the name of ecological restoration. Hugh is restoring native forest to a massive valley previously used to graze livestock at Hinewai Reserve on the Banks Peninsula. Hugh saw gorse starting to take over the land and decided to let it grow. What

happened next truly changed the way I perceive growing anything. The gorse flourished, grew well, and tall. However, underneath this blossoming gorse, sprouted native trees. The gorse acted as a natural nursery for these slower growing tree species, sheltering them on their start on long life. The amazing thing was when the native trees began shading out the gorse when they eventually grew up and out of it, which in turn led it to die, decompose, and nourish the now thriving native trees. This process of succession is happening everywhere. Look to the sides of our roads and train tracks. See how nature grows when we leave it to do so. We can harness nature’s ways and apply them to our own context. Because when we get involved in this natural process of regeneration, we can actually do it in a way that speeds up growth. Letting the grass grow is the first succession in reforestation. For more gardening content, follow Jim @gardennearsy

Breaking Age Barriers

An 83-year-old ballerina, swimming ocean events at age 89, and a goal to compete again when he turns 80. These athletes are proving age is just a number.

Photography by Alex Cairns

Rosemary

Briggs

Rosemary Briggs has always loved ballet, but has never danced herself – until now.

At 83 years young, Rosemary is learning how to pirouette, plié, and piqué.

The intricate steps of combining arms and legs and balancing on demi pointe are what’s kept her mind sharp and posture poised.

“I have always been very conscious of my health and looking good,” says Rosemary, who has popped on a bit of pink lippy and blush for this interview.

“I put make-up on every day, even when I am just at home,” she says. “I take care of everything, whether it is my house, or me, my car, or my children. I’ve always been like that even since I was young.”

Rosemary is a Senior Swan ballet student at Michelle Heyder’s Over 50s Ballet Tauranga. Michelle

is a Senior Swan licensee and operates classes in Ōmokoroa, Matua, Bethlehem and Mount Maunganui for people aged over 50 who want to learn ballet.

It’s here, dancers learn to improve mobility, build strength, flexibility, and cognitive thinking, while enhancing the sense of wellness within oneself.

Every Tuesday, Rosemary slips on her pretty pink ballet shoes and heads to Mount Maunganui Community Hall for her hour-long lesson.

“We are getting ready for a demonstration performance for family and friends,” says Rosemary, who holds up a tulle, ankle-length skirt that’s patterned with delicate velvet black flowers.

“We even get to wear a costume!”

She says she is loving every moment of learning the choreography: “I think it’s the freedom, the freedom when you’re dancing.”

It’s also made her more

aware of her posture.

“I want to be able to stand up straight and with the steps we are doing it is certainly making us very aware of our bodies, pointing our toes et cetera.”

Ballet has been part of Rosemary’s life since her youngest daughter Janine learned to dance when she was a little girl.

The family was living in the seaside town of Kawakawa Bay about 40km out of Auckland.

“I used to drive all the way from Kawakawa Bay right up to the Mount Eden Ballet School in Auckland because that was the nearest one,” says Rosemary.

“I helped make little tutus, dresses, and ballet costumes.”

Janine completed all her ballet grades. “She was very good at it.”

When Janine joined the Senior Swans in Onehunga, Rosemary sought out ballet classes for women over 50 in Tauranga.

Over 50s Ballet Tauranga director Michelle Heyder teaches Rosemary Briggs the steps to their upcoming demonstration in December.

When she found Michelle was holding similar classes for people aged over 50 in Tauranga, she didn’t hesitate to join.

“I have just always loved it but have never actually been a ballerina,” says Rosemary. “When I told my daughter, she was delighted. She said we will have to practise some steps together.”

When Rosemary isn’t dancing, she is playing table tennis, volunteering at Tauranga Hospital’s emergency department and local charities such as the Cancer Society, and keeping up her 1950s bach that she bought in the Mount 30 years ago when she moved to the Bay (that includes mowing the lawns).

She has a very full schedule.

“I like to keep the weekends

free for socialising.”

Then, there are the monthly University of the Third Age (U3A) meetings and volunteering during the busy cruise ship season when she helps welcome passengers to the region.

She has also been a proud volunteer for Coast Care, a coastal restoration programme that aims to restore and protect the sand dunes along Bay of Plenty beaches, for 12 years.

Rosemary has always kept active.

“All my life I’ve always been involved in a lot of sports.”

That includes tennis, table tennis, squash and badminton. She even got a gold and silver medal at the Masters Games in Auckland about seven years ago.

She’s also got about 18 medals for completing 5km walks in various events such as the Mount Maunganui Half Marathon and City to Surf, which she plans to enter in November.

Until then, Rosemary has been practising as much as she can for her ballet demonstration in December. She’s even been using the kitchen bench as a makeshift ballet barre for her rond de jambes and retiré while doing the dishes.

The recital is planned for December 7 at Te Puna Hall and Rosemary’s not worried in the slightest at performing in front of a crowd.

“I feel as if I have come on by leaps and bounds because, to begin with, I was wearing socks,” she says with a laugh.

John Marshall

John Marshall entered his first-ever open water swim event at 78 years old.

Now, aged 89, he has completed about 40 more.

A keen runner and squash player in his younger years, John decided to concentrate on swimming when he retired in his late 70s.

“It was less stress on the knees,” he says. “But because I

was never a competitive swimmer, I don’t have the technique, which becomes more important as one gets older.”

At first, he had to stop frequently to catch his breath.

“By the time I could swim 10 lengths end to end, I was able to swim without stopping, so I bought a wetsuit and started swimming in these open water swimming events.”

At age 78, John competed in the 3.3km Beach to Bay swim from

Russell to Paihia.

“I won my age group, which surprised me!”

He doesn’t put the win down to his swimming ability, joking it’s his “longevity because I’ve probably outlived them all!”

He also doesn’t compete to win, but simply to complete the swims: “If I didn’t have that goal, I might not have the motivation.”

When John’s in the water, all he’s thinking about is “breathing in, breathing out”.

“By the time I could swim 10 lengths end to end, I was able to swim without stopping, so I bought a wetsuit and started swimming in these open water swimming events.”

“Sometimes, on the odd occasion in events when conditions are a bit rough, I do wonder what I’m doing there,” he says with a laugh.

John says he has a sense of satisfaction and achievement when finishing an event.

He swims no less than five or six times a week, which includes three times a week with the Shorebreak swimming squad at Baywave. When Baywave is busy, he swims at the Greerton, or Windermere pools and will sometimes venture over to the Waihi or Katikati pools.

Other than squad days, John swims on his own.

He admits that training on

his own can be a bit disconcerting when younger people in the lane next to him can swim two lengths to his one.

“I really have to put that out of my mind. I just have to concentrate on what I’m doing and not get too upset that I’m a bit slower.”

He’s currently preparing for the summer swimming season. His first event of the season will be the same 3.3km Beach to Bay swim in the Bay of Islands that he won all those years ago.

Four others are also in his calendar, including 5km in Taupo, 3.5km at Tikitapu (Blue Lake) in Rotorua, and 2.8km around motuotau (Rabbit) and

Moturiki (Leisure) islands at Mount Maunganui.

His wife Lesley will be at the finish line for all his events, with daughter Robyn joining them in the Bay of Islands, while his fellow squad swimmers are there to support the events closer to home.

John says he keeps going because he can. “I’ve always exercised and it’s just something I can do, and it’s quite nice to be fit.”

His advice to other older people thinking about taking up a sport is just do it.

“Do it in the morning. Don’t leave it until the afternoon because often you decide to do it in the afternoon and it just doesn’t happen – and have fun doing it.”

↑ John Marshall, 89, is currently preparing for the summer swimming season.

Murray Clarkson

Murray Clarkson is the definition of defying the odds.

At age 30, the medalwinning track runner suffered a collapsed lung.

He kept running.

At age 70, he was told he should stop running. He didn’t.

Now, 77 years young, he’s gearing up to compete again when he turns 80.

“Athletics will always be my sport of choice,” he says.

Growing up in Christchurch, Murray started running before he could walk.

“I had two brothers and a sister, and I was the youngest, so I had to run away from them,” he says with a laugh.

At age 10, Murray joined the Harriers running group with the

Methodist Club in Christchurch and, by age 19, he ran his first 800m track race with New Brighton Athletics Club.

“It was a heat in the Centre Champs and I was not expected to perform well as I had no experience,” Murray says.

“But I took out the heat in 1 minute 57 seconds, which surprised everyone and was the catalyst for the future.”

And he’s had a very successful running career ever since.

Sitting at his home in Ōtūmoetai, Murray flicks through old newspaper clippings his mother has kept for him over the years. The worn pages feature stories and black and white photographs of Murray from 1962 to 1973.

Murray runs his finger down

a page and stops on an article from 1968.

“That is when I was top of my game,” he says, as he remembers the silver-winning moment.

A 21-year-old Murray had come second in the 800m event at the Athletics New Zealand Championships.

That was off the back of winning the provincial 800m and 1500m events two years in a row.

Two years later, Murray retired from competitive running to focus on business and family.

In 1975, he moved to Tauranga where he continued to run in smaller events, but not competitively. “You just can’t stop.”

But at age 30, he noticed something was up.

Murray began having problems with his breathing.

Photograph by Miguel-A-Amutio
“But it is exhilarating, especially if it’s a personal best. When you get to my age, you start going to all these funerals. You don’t want it to be yours.”

“I couldn’t go up the stairs two at a time, I had to go one by one and by the time I got to the top, I was puffed.”

An X-ray revealed Murray had a collapsed lung and was taken to the hospital.

For the next few years, Murray started a staged build up back to competition.

At age 44, Murray started running competitively again.

“I returned in 1991, setting my sights on a gold medal at the world champs by age 50.”

He joined the Tauranga Ramblers and later became the president of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Masters athletics for several years.

In 1994, at age 46, Murray competed in his first competitive race at the New Zealand Masters Championships with distinction.

“I got four New Zealand national titles. I won the 200m, 400m, 800m, and the 1500m in the space of two days.”

In 1997, Murray won bronze in the 800m race for his age group at the World Masters Championships in South Africa at age 50.

“I was back at the top of my game,” he says.

By the time he turned 70, Murray says he was forced to retire once again.

Something wasn’t right again. This time, it was his heart.

So, he went to the doctor, then subsequently, a cardiologist.

An echocardiogram – which uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart – detected his mitral valve was leaking at his resting heart rate causing it to sometimes miss a beat.

It was suggested he give up running.

“I thought, ‘Well that’s not an option’. So, I got a second opinion.”

Murray was given a heart rate monitor, which cuts in when his heart rate gets below 50bpm.

So, at age 77, Murray is still running.

He completes two or three runs a week and takes part in the 5km community Park Runs.

Admittedly, he’s slacked off over winter, but since spring, he’s been back into it.

“I’m on a three-year build up to start competing again when I’m 80.”

Murray reckons there will be less opposition by then, he says with a chuckle.

“The trouble is the ones that survive are the most competitive.”

Just like Murray.

Over the next year, he plans to get his body ready for the track again.

He will slowly warm up to running 100m, 200m and maybe 400m, as well as a bit of cross country running.

Watch this space – we might see a few more medals added to Murray’s collection.

His current running accolades have also included competing at the world, oceania, national and provincial championships.

But while he may count the medals one day, it’s the enjoyment and challenge he says he will always remember.

Sharing his experience and helping other athletes succeed has been a highlight, albeit sometimes to his detriment.

“I enjoy passing on experience to younger athletes. When I started assisting a lot of people in my age group, they started beating me,” he says with a laugh.

Murray’s pre-race routine was always a simple one.

“I sleep,” he says matter-of-factly.

“When you want to get tension out of your body, the best thing is to relax and lie down. When it comes to 2 or 3 minutes before the race, get out there and get your heart rate up. That way you haven’t wasted any energy,” he says.

“Sleeping is the best form of recovery you can have.”

Why does he keep running?

“It’s probably a fear,” he says. “If you don’t participate, you degenerate.”

Fear of giving up his fitness and his health.

“The key to success, in my opinion, is to take ownership of your performances – listen to and accept any advice. If it doesn’t work for you, drop it.

“You are the one who knows whether you are improving, and you are the one who is accountable for the late nights and junk food. It all has a price.”

Sometimes, Murray says, he wonders what he is doing running kilometre after kilometre at his age.

“But it is exhilarating, especially if it’s a personal best, when you get to my age, you start going to all these funerals. You don’t want it to be yours.”

So, for now, Murray will keep running. And no, he’s not going to stop. Not just yet anyway.

Icons on a Plate

by Cherie Metcalfe

Illustrations by Christopher Duffy

Cherie’s Foodie Finds

Raise your hand if you love food! Our culinary queen
Cherie Metcalfe does. She has been on a mission to find some of the Bay of Plenty’s most iconic dishes.

Auckland foodies have listed the top 100 most iconic dishes – the long standing pillars of the hospitality scene. Nominated by the public, they’re the dishes that have held the hearts of locals for the last decade. Think the fish sliders from Depot, pork belly bao from the Blue Breeze Inn, and the dahi puri from Satya. Newcomers like the fried chicken burger from Parade and the mortadella sandwich from Deli di Bossi also made the list. So did baked items like the custard square from Daily Bread, and naughty delights such as the mac n cheese dog from Good Dog Bad Dog. Once I started reading the list, I couldn’t stop. I’ve spent a lot of time eating food in Auckland, so the combination of pure nostalgia and exciting new dishes, which are now on my list to try, got me thinking.

What do we have here, in our region, that holds a foodie flame in our hearts? Our avos, kiwifruit,

macadamias, truffles, and berries are all up there with the best of the best. So, this month for Foodie Finds, I went looking for some of our most iconic dishes.

I know what my favourites are, but everyone has their own dish that sparks joy. So, I’ve gone out to the people of the Bay for this one, and here are the dishes they’ve put forward.

Hopefully you see some of your favourites – plus some new goodies to try.

Hangi style pork belly and watercress ramen (Izakai Bar & Eatery)

A real standout dish this one, nailing all of the elements. It’s original, fun, and a perfect example of how some fusion foods are just a dream combo. Very strong contender for most iconic dish!

Cherie’s Foodie Finds

Bobby’s fish and chips (Bobby’s Fresh Fish Market)

Do you know what really grinds my gears? We live in a town literally surrounded by water and yet there are no fresh seafood markets. Where are my fresh clams and oysters?! The sashimi grade tuna, the catch of the day, filleted to order by a man in white gumboots on a sloshy water covered floor. Doesn’t exist here – but you can get a stunning fresh waterfront fish and chip situation. It’s solid, and has been solid forever. Bobby’s = iconic.

The snow roll (Satori Sushi and Sake Bar)

Panko prawns and avocado topped with almonds and wrapped in flamed cream cheese. I’m not sure where this creation came from, but there is something about the crunchy almonds, juicy prawns and rich cream cheese that just tastes yum. This fusion sushi roll was mentioned more than a few times, so it’s definitely earned a place on the list. The honey chicken roll also had a fair few votes!

Waffle

cone (Copenhagen Cones)

No words needed. It’s just as iconic as walking around the Mount and getting a coffee at Tay St and it has been forever. Not really a dish as such, but a firm icon.

Prawn toast (Lantern)

The prawn toast at Lantern is firmly an iconic dish, if not the most iconic dish in the Western Bay of Plenty. Sriracha cheese sauce, sweet chilli, green rice flake on sourdough – another rogue fusion loved deeply by many locals. Prawn toast is here to stay.

Beef wellington (Fife Lane)

Certainly a classic. But is it an icon? The town has voted a firm yes to Fife’s beef wellington. There are so many delicious dishes on Fife’s menu it would have been hard to pick just one icon. But the people have spoken.

Johney’s Dumpling House (The Rising Tide)

Surely it’s the pan fried pork dumplings to make the list. Johney’s little handmade pockets of delight certainly need no introduction from me. The definition of iconic.

Patrick’s Pies & Maketū Pies

Both pie joints have been put forward, and I can’t decide between them. Both iconic in their own ways. Maketū Pies holds the nostalgia torch, and Patrick’s Pies sweeps up numerous Bakels awards each year. I’ve run a poll, and they’re neck and neck!

Parmesan churros (Sailor Galley & Rum Bar)

A newer dish from a very clever chef – light fluffy pillows of choux smothered in savoury parmesan. The perfect bite to kick off a meal because the umami flavours will get that mouth watering (literally) and in prime condition to savour the rest of your meal. I actually froth the bavette steak here. I’ll be crossing my fingers that it becomes a long-staying meal on the list too.

Chicken avocado focaccia sandwich (Eddies Brunch Parlour)

This is my personal submission for an iconic dish. If this sandwich is not iconic yet, it should be. The salty house-baked focaccia, classic chicken salad filling, and creamy avo is flawless. I sat there and savoured every single bite and almost went back in and bought another.

The Felps burger (Special Mention/BBL Burger)

Sometimes being an icon is quietly standing the test of time, and sometimes being an icon is creating a hype like no other. As far as I’m aware, the Felps burger may be the only bite that has done both. The wild crowds that would chase the pop-ups around town to queue and hope to be lucky enough to score a tinfoiled gem from the man and his flat grill – smashing the beef and selling out every time. The Felps now sits permanently in his throne at Special Mention and remains the best burger ever to exist.

Tempura

eggplant with sichuan caramel (Macau Restaurant and Lounge)

I had forgotten about this dish! This was an absolute favourite of my friend group five years ago, and it’s been put forward a few times so it’s stood firm through the test of time! Crispy, crunchy, sticky sweet eggplant – delicious.

Oven

fried bread with garlic sauce (The Freeport with Cleaver & Co)

I had never heard of or tried this dish, but apparently it’s been on the menu since day one and has become a bit of a legend. I took myself in to taste test and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was incredibly moreish, the flavour seemed to get better with each bite.

All

menu items at Palace Tavern

We can’t have a list of icons without including Palace. The burger joint that draws people nationwide to try their naughtily delightful menu.

Impossible to choose a single dish from here – buffalo wings with blue cheese, the cheeseburger, the crispy boy, the cheese sauce loaded fries – it’s a firm place in the heart-feels.

Diavola pizza (Alpino Mount Maunganui)

Spicy salami and capsicum, the match made in heaven. Pairs perfectly with a Friday afternoon in the sunshine, and a big ol’ bottle of crispy cold prosecco. High chance the diavola leads to a large night out.

@cheries_chat

A Shopping Experience

Bin Inn Papamoa is a true gem that deserves a special voyage of discovery. It is more than just bulk whole foods, it is a destination shopping experience.

Photography by ilk

Shopping at Bin Inn Papamoa is more like an experience than a chore.

Its relaxed atmosphere allows you to take your time to explore the aisles of wholesome products - and the staff are always ready to lend a hand or share their knowledge.

Walk through the doors of the Fashion Island store - owned by husband-and-wife team Jo and Paul Nolan - and the friendly staff are always there to greet customers with a smile.

Jo has a background in health and wellness and, whenever she’s in store, she can be found on the shop floor engaging with customers and sharing her knowledge.

While Paul has experience in the grocery sector and is on a mission to deliver the best system support, product quality, and value across the business.

Established in 1988 as one of New Zealand’s first bulk-refillery whole foods and specialty stores, Bin Inn is designed for environmentally and health conscious shopping, with sustainability at the top of the list.

But look around, and Bin Inn Papamoa is so much more than just bulk whole foods.

It is a destination for gluten free, organic and superfoods, as well as home-brewing and distilling, laundry and cleaning, pet supplies, and gorgeous health and beauty products.

They’ve got the products that aren’t on supermarket shelves, and always support local suppliers.

That includes a delicious sourdough range of freshly-baked Volare breads that are delivered daily, Dreamview Creamery milk, local free-range eggs, and chilled locally-produced kombucha and kefir.

And don’t forget the customer-favourite, Bin Inn Peanut Butter. Staff love seeing the joy when customers make their own peanut butter in-store.

“It’s a whole lot of fun and contains nothing but nuts.”

Reduce, reuse, refill has always been the Bin Inn ethos.

It’s very simple. Customers bring their clean home containers, which are weighed before customers begin refilling them.

The container weight is then deducted at the checkout counter after they’ve been filled, meaning customers only pay for what they’ve added. They buy as much or as little as they need, so they use everything they buy.

Customers save time and mess by refilling BYO containers in store so purchases are ‘pantry-ready’, which also helps reduce landfill pressures from unnecessary packaging.

To help customers learn how easy and

Bin Inn Papamoa and Tauranga City Council Promotion

To help customers learn how easy and rewarding it is to shop sustainably, Bin Inn Papamoa is inviting you to a Waste-Less Revolution Open Day on October 12.

rewarding it is to shop sustainably, Bin Inn Papamoa in conjunction with the Tauranga City Council Resource Wise Community Fund, is inviting customers to a Waste-Less Revolution Open Day on Saturday, October 12.

Everyday customers earn a 5 per cent discount for refills under $50 store-wide, or 10 per cent when they spend $50 or more when they refill using their own containers.

To encourage more people to give BYO containers a go, Bin Inn Papamoa is offering customers a 10 per cent discount for BYO containers regardless of their spend on the Open Day and during October and November.

As part of the Open Day, there will also be additional product discounts, spot prizes, and giveaways.

Bin Inn Papamoa’s in-store coffee kiosk, The Coffee Project, will also have special offers available for anyone who brings their own clean coffee cup on the day, rather than choosing a takeaway cup.

It’s Bin Inn Papamoa’s way of helping save the planet from unnecessary packaging and waste while rewarding customers who use less packaging.

It is the genuine commitment to the well-being of their customers and desire to deliver an exceptional in-store service that makes Bin Inn Papamoa a differentiated shopping experience.

Jo and Paul say it’s their brilliant team that helps

contribute to the store’s exceptional feel.

Every team member loves the store and takes the time to chat and engage with customers. “You couldn’t meet a friendlier, more caring team and we appreciate how lucky we are to have their support.”

The friendly staff are fully engaged and supportive when asking for advice about any product or special dietary needs, and encourage customers who want to learn how to shop more sustainably.

They take the time to investigate new products that may benefit their customers and will always follow up on customer queries if they can’t solve them on the day.

They’re also up for a challenge. If they don’t know, they’ll do everything to find out.

“Some of our team members have been with Bin Inn Papamoa for years and know the store and products inside out.”

Bin Inn Papamoa is a true gem that deserves a special voyage of discovery. Make Bin Inn Papamoa your new favourite shopping destination today.

Bin Inn Papamoa is open 7 days, Monday-Friday, 9am-5.30pm, Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 10am3pm. The Coffee Project is open Monday-Friday 7.30am-2pm, Saturday 9am-2pm.

30F Gravatt Rd, Fashion Island.

bininnpapamoa bininnpapamoa thecoffeeprojectnewzealand thecoffeeprojectnz

NEW ZEALAND'S PREMIUM ELECTRIC BIKE

A Berry Good Season

by ilk

Spring is in full swing and what better time to celebrate our locally-grown produce from our region.

My family is huge fans of the giant Blue Royal blueberries that have a unique, almost lychee flavour, and firmer texture, which makes them perfect for salads and cooking with.

My garden is getting its annual overhaul, with a strong focus on herbs going in – and I’ve resorted to buying bulk cat silhouette Halloween decorations online to keep the neighbourhood cats at bay. It’s working a treat!

A big thank you to local suppliers

CM Props & Backdrops @cmbackdrops and BerryCo @berrycoberries with local growers Pahoia Orchards

@pahoiaorchards featuring their amazing Blue Royal blueberries.

Fresh Blueberry Salad with Spinach, Chèvre, Roasted Pumpkin, Toasted Pecans, and Blueberry Vinaigrette

SERVES 4

Salad

3 cups baby spinach leaves, washed

1.5 cups roasted butternut pumpkin (2cm cubes) ½ cup toasted pecan nuts

100g chevre cheese, crumbled

125g Blue Royal blueberries, halved

Dressing

250g fresh blueberries

1 small clove of garlic

2 tbsp manuka honey

2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

To make the dressing, just before serving, pulse all ingredients with a stick blender until combined. If it starts to thicken, whisk in a little more lemon juice or water.

In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients and toss to coat with the dressing.

Photography
Holly McVicar’s blueberry salad sounds like the perfect treat to plate up for spring!

Did somebody say white chocolate and blueberry blondies? Yes please!

No-Churn Crème

Fraîche and Blueberry

Crumble Ice-cream

This ice-cream is so simple to make, looks stunning, and tastes like cheesecake.

MAKES 1L

Shortbread Crumble

30g icing sugar

60g salted butter

½ tsp vanilla bean paste

90g flour

10g cornflour

Blueberry Ripple

250g fresh blueberries

3 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Ice-cream Base

1 tin (395g) sweetened condensed milk

Fine zest of 1 lemon

1 tbsp vanilla bean paste

250ml cream

250g crème fraîche

First, make the shortbread dough by combining all ingredients in a

food processor or bowl. On a lined tray, crumble the dough in an even layer and bake in the oven at 180°C until golden brown (approximately 15-20mins). Set aside to cool.

For the blueberry ripple, pop all ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer to reduce. Squash the blueberries, stir continuously, and once thickened to a jam consistency, set aside to cool. This mixture will thicken while cooling.

In a stand mixer, beat the cream and crème fraîche until stiff peaks form. Gently mix through the condensed milk and vanilla until combined.

In a lined tin or bowl, gently spoon 1/3 of the ice-cream base, sprinkle over 1/3 of the shortbread crumbs, and 1/3 of the blueberry ripple and swirl together.

You don’t need to smooth each layer; rustic looks best here. Repeat twice more with the remaining filling and place icecream in the freezer to set.

This will take around 8 hours. Before serving, remove icecream to soften slightly for easy scooping.

White Chocolate and Blueberry Blondies

MAKES 12 BARS

170g salted butter, softened

260g brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla 1 egg

190g flour

150g white chocolate chunks

250g blueberries

Fine zest of one large lemon

Preheat oven to 180°C fan bake. Line an 8” square pan with baking paper.

In a large bowl, add the butter, sugar, vanilla and egg and mix well to combine. Add the remaining ingredients and pour into prepared tin.

Bake for approximately 30mins. Cool before serving.

Tee Time

Huffer tees off into the world of golf with the launch of their inaugural collection, “Seymore Plays Golf.” A collaboration with their buddy DJ Seymore, this range blends Huffer’s streetwear aesthetic with the timeless elegance of golf, featuring sharp polos, crisp jackets, and engineered shorts for a stylish and functional game.

Elevate your game and shop the “Seymore Plays Golf” collection online at huffer.co.nz or visit the Huffer store, 167 Maunganui Road. @huffergolf @huffer_ @hufferclothing

Making Music

Music is a vibrant way of entertainment and self-expression. It can also be a way to form new bonds and meet new friends.

Bethlehem College’s Charlie Hart speaks to some of our local musical talent as part of Our Place and Priority One’s Instep Programme Student Voice initiative.

Nicola Han tucks her instrument under her arm and sits before the crowd.

Taking a deep breath in, she begins to strike the wooden bow against the strings.

The hollow, mellow, sound of the double bass plays into the audience.

This is how Nicola speaks to the world - communicating through the sounds of her instrument.

“When I play, I am communicating with the audience,” says the Year 13 Bethlehem College music student.

Han started playing the drums at age 8, but quickly gravitated to instruments found in the classical genre.

When asked why she loves to play music, Han says it was hard to put her feelings into words and music was her way of communication.

One of the biggest changes in Han’s musical life was when she transitioned from cello to double bass.

Asked why she had changed to a different instrument, Han says she had always thought cello would be better for her due to its wider range of expression.

Han says, unlike the double bass, cello was her strongest instrument from day one.

“Everyone assumes both are fundamentally the same, but they are not.”

Han says changing instruments was a hard decision because her cello skills lessened after learning the double bass, which felt “soul-crushing”.

Han says she felt as if a part of her had been lost.

But after meeting her first and current teacher, Han says she soon realised double bass was a more suitable outlet for her emotions.

↑ Bethlehem College student Nicola Han and her double bass.

← Archie, Jonathan, Oliver A, and Oliver G make up the band members of heavy metal band Requiem.

Requiem

As light shines down onto them, four musicians get into position. Archie Cook on bass, Jonathan Dibley on rhythm guitar, Oliver Austin on the mic, and Oliver Gregory behind the drums. Together they make up the heavy metal band Requiem.

As the heavy thump of the drums and vigorous vocals reverberate from the Totara St stage, it is easy to hear the passion this band has for their music.

It’s a passion so strong that Oliver Gregory smashes his drumsticks as he strikes the drums - a reputation he’s become known and celebrated for.

Originally called Art of War, the band now has a new name: Requiem - which is a musical piece typically played at a funeral to

remember those who have died.

Bass player Archie Cook says he felt the new name better reflected the intent of the band, which was to honour those who have passed.

Tauranga’s musical talent, much like Nicola Hans and Requeim’s, is celebrated at many musical events held throughout the year.

One highly-anticipated event on the city’s musical calendar is the Tauranga Arts Festival.

Occurring annually, the flagship festival contains many events that go through October and the surrounding months. Personally, this festival is the highlight of my year.

While not being specifically for music, the festival usually has many musical performances over the span of the festival.

Last year, the festival included all sorts of musical genres from country to classical.

One of the events happening this year is the little festival of big ideas, which will be on October 18-20.

This little festival will have many live performances all over the downtown, along with non-musical related events including literary talks and workshops.

I for one, will be there!

Be sure to check the Tauranga Festival website or pick up a booklet from the library for information on the events.

There are many other musicians and music events in the city. Checking out the historic village and the central library is a good way to find out about upcoming musical events.

Sometimes, it can be hard to take a break from our busy lives and listen to the music’s beauty.

It is nice for us to look at the creativity and talent of musicians in our city.

The Art of AI

It has the ability of a digital computer, or robot, and can perform monotonous tasks if we ask it to. But, how is artificial intelligence being used in the school classroom? Flynn Nisbett finds out.

Tauranga teachers and academics showed how they can use artificial intelligence to plan lessons, and write mathematical algorithms and equations, at an inaugural education event.

Mount Maunganui College student Flynn Nisbett went along to see how else AI was being used in the classroom.

Many of the region’s top educators and academics showed how they use AI in their everyday jobs at the inaugural Tauranga Innovative Education Summit earlier this year.

The event, held at University of Waikato’s Durham St campus, was an opportunity for local teachers to enhance their understanding of what, why, and how AI can be used in schools.

During one of the many workshops, Ōtūmoetai College deputy principal of achievement,

Dave Cleland, shared his tips on how to get AI to do exactly what a teacher needed it to do.

“Don’t be overly friendly. Use ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’.”

His workshop centred around correct inputs for information and being specific to ensure AI had no room to be creative.

Cleland used entertaining examples, including asking ChatGPT to give him an algorithm of only six numbers, but it gave him eight, including zero.

At the end, he revealed AI had made the visual elements of his slideshow after giving it simple prompts, including what template he wanted to use.

During a question and answer session, Datacom’s head of public value outcomes Steve Swallow said: “AI is the worst it will ever be right now”.

“It is not evolving too fast for

schools, it is evolving too fast for teachers.”

Student panellist, Luca Ririnui, said students are usually quite critical, but may not understand the extent of AI in their lives already.

“It’s in social media, online games, and even Gmail.

“When you shift from written to digital work, that’s probably just something that will occur naturally and will be more engaging for the kid who is maybe just disengaged.

“The problem there is more of a systemic one.”

Ririnui said children who were more familiar with technology were going to feel unmotivated to write with a pen, with many learning to type before they reached school.

“Kids don’t write letters to each other, they text.”

It’s an important skill, but

↑ Mount Maunganui College’s Flynn Nisbett finds out how AI is being used in the classroom.

potentially isn’t as vital as it once was, he told the panel.

Additionally, he outlined how AI was already being used in classrooms and acts as an extra resource to teachers.

Ririnui suggested perhaps AI could be used to broaden the scope of sources so long as it correlated with the existing information.

“AI will always make mistakes.”

Rianne Bidois, a teacher at Mount Maunganui College, was concerned AI was affecting

students’ abilities to come up with original ideas.

“I encourage my students to cultivate independent thinking and creativity,” she said.

But Bidois believed AI can not form original opinions and could be used during the process, but not as the final product.

Bidois said, in her opinion, current AI models have a broader focus on American and British issues and need to be tailored to Te Mātaiaho and Aotearoa contexts before being fully integrated into the way schools operate.

Technology will always evolve and kids will always be up with the new technology. Maybe incorporating AI into the education system is the way of the future? But students and teachers should be educated to use it effectively and safely.

I used AI to write parts of this article, but my own personal voice and tone was still coming through. Is our authenticity under threat? Perhaps AI isn’t as evil as it’s often made out to be, but more importantly: perhaps we don’t have a choice.

From Te Urewera to Netflix and the big screen

Words by Marcel Currin
Cover photography by Mike and Cinzia Maioha Jonathan

Biosecurity officer by day, film star by night: How

a quiet

kid from Ruatāhuna found himself in the movies.

“Tūwhiti te hopo. Just do it,” says Te Wakaunua Te Kurapa. “Or feel the fear and do it anyway.” He is talking about his first experience of acting, in a film that has gone on to screen on Netflix — much to the surprise and delight of his family and friends.

Te Wakaunua, who more often goes by the name Waka, is a self-confessed introvert. His day job is as a biosecurity officer at Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Acting is quite a departure, yet he has now played the same role in two different films: We Are Still Here, which is currently screening on Netflix, and most recently, Ka Whawhai Tonu, Mike Jonathon’s historical action drama starring Cliff Curtis and Temuera Morrison. Although the two films are unrelated, both feature Waka’s direct ancestor Te Whenuanui, who he plays in both films. Te Whenuanui was a renowned Tūhoe rangatira who in 1864 had to decide whether to support neighbouring tribes in their fight against colonial forces. “They aged me up a lot for the first film,” Waka says. “The beard was a prosthetic.” He grew his own beard for Ka Whawhai Tonu.

That’s what carried me through: The sense of duty to tell the story of my tupuna, and being selected by my elders to represent him.”

Waka was raised speaking Māori as his first language. He grew up in Ruatāhuna in Te Urewera, also the home of Te Whenuanui, who built the wharenui at Mataatua marae.

“I was privileged to have that upbringing,” he says. “We essentially lived off the land. We hunted for our meat and grew our own vegetables. Te Urewera has nurtured my people for hundreds of years and it has nurtured me.”

“Leading up to filming, my elders had assured me that no one else could play this role but me,” says Waka.
“They told me, ‘Kei roto i a koe te ira o tō tūpuna,’ meaning in a sense that I AM Te Whenuanui.”

Te Wakaunua found himself in the role after kuia from his marae recommended him to the We Are Still Here film makers. Stepping onto the set for the first time, he was way out of his comfort zone. “I had no understanding of how a set worked,” he says. “They told me there was a rawness about me that they didn’t want to take away by giving me acting training. So that first day on set, I was terrified. When they called the first ‘Action!’ I froze. I knew all the lines back to front, but I froze.”

He says he settled into it after a few takes. Despite the nerve-racking start, the cast and crew were supportive and it never felt like he wasn’t supposed to be there.

“Leading up to filming, my elders had assured me that no one else could play this role but me,” says Waka.

“They told me, ‘Kei roto i a koe te ira o tō tūpuna,’ meaning in a sense that I AM Te Whenuanui.

He describes Te Urewera as a kind of therapy, a place to reset himself. “From my Māori point of view, Te Urewera is a place of healing, of whakapapa. It’s a taonga. But what’s noticeable when I go into the bush with my dad is how our natural environments are deteriorating, including in Te Urewera, in areas where pests are going unchecked.”

It’s a concern that informs his professional appraisal of the Rotorua lakes, the area he is responsible for in his biosecurity role at the regional council. Catfish and invasive weeds are the most high profile pests, with lakeweed the most visible. But people are becoming more aware of the importance of pest management, Waka says. He works closely with Te Arawa Lakes Trust, an iwi agency that does most of the pest management work in the lakes area.

When speaking with Waka, it becomes apparent that there is a direct line between his deep connection to his Māori heritage and his passion for working with iwi organisations on environmental protection. “Being in nature, and in Te Urewera in particular, gives me a sense of being close to my tūpuna. I’m literally walking the tracks that they used to walk. The names of places—streams, rivers, ridges—they all tell stories about my people’s history.

“I don’t have such a strong whakapapa connection to the lakes personally, but there will be those in Te Arawa Lakes Trust who do. For them it’s not just a 9-5 job,” he says.

↑ Te Wakaunua Te Kurapa grew up in Te Urewera, also the home of Te Whenuanui, who built the wharenui at Mataatua marae. Photograph by Marcel Currin.

“They have skin in the game. I love collaborating with Māori and empowering them.”

He says there is a lot for biosecurity to gain from mātauranga Māori. Uwhi mats are a prime example. The native flax mats are secured to the lakebeds to suppress the growth of invasive weeds, allowing native kōura (freshwater crayfish) to repopulate. As the flax breaks down it provides nutrients for native plants that can then grow through the weave of the mats. Uwhi mats have been successfully trialled by Te Arawa Lakes Trust since 2021. “People relate to the lakes differently,” says Waka. “For Te Arawa, it’s more than just a place you go to launch your boat or an amenity to increase the value of your house. They view the wider picture as opposed to just the job in front of them. That’s reflected in the effort that they give when

they’re doing the work. It’s a natural fit for the people who have occupied this land for centuries to be empowered to protect that land. It’s a very satisfying part of my job, seeing more Te Arawa people being paid to look after their taonga.”

As for the acting, there is potentially more work if he wants it. He has an agent, recommended to him by Cliff Curtis (which is not something most council staff get to say). But Waka will only accept another acting role if it’s the right fit. “It will be a journey all over again to play a different character because I have an emotional connection to my tupuna.”

“And I love my job,” he adds. “Looking after the environment, that’s what gives me energy.”

We Are Still Here is currently on Netflix. Ka Whawhai Tonu is available to rent on streaming services.

Unveil a fresh, glowing face and lifted look with Face Massage. Fl your best, naturay.

At Hands On Studio we believe that natural beauty comes from within. Our expert face massage treatments are designed to sculpt, tone, and lift your face, offering an instant transformation that enhances your natural features.

Book with us today handsonstudio.nz or scan QR code. Instagram: @h.ands_onstudio

I

can recall countless times when I’ve sensed judgement from people in my inner circle, labelling me as a “cork sni er”— and not in a good way. So, I’m fully embracing this chance to turn the tables and sni at those harsh judgements by throwing my support behind the avant-garde brand NON, available from Cook & Nelson. They deconstruct real ingredients with culinary techniques to create authentic drinks, minus the booze.

NON1

Now, I’ve swirled a lot of things around in a glass in my day, but this? This is di erent. Imagine raspberry sweetness hitting you right in the feels, only to then not DM you back, even though you can see that they’ve seen your message. You’re thinking, okay, I get it, you’re fruity, but then — bam! — a little salty twist, like you’ve just licked the rim of a margarita glass in a dark corner of the club.

And just when you’re wondering if it’s going to get weird, chamomile steps in. It’s floral, it’s calming, and it leaves a little tannin-like hug on your tongue. The salt from the Murray River? I don’t know if it’s any di erent to Himalayan, but it makes me feel cultured. Like I’ve read books, but the kind with more words than pictures. Organic cane sugar and verjus round it out, making you wonder if wine has been trying too hard this whole time.

This is a wine alternative that doesn’t just sit on the sidelines — it’s more like a middle-aged sports parent who knows exactly how the game should be played. It’s fruity, it’s floral, and salty in the best possible way. Complex but not complicated — just the right kind of interesting.

NON3

Toasted Cinnamon & Yuzu is like sipping on a sunset with an inexplicable collection of wind chimes in the background, somehow playing in perfect harmony. The first sip hits you with that tangy yuzu brightness — a citrusy zap that makes your mouth think, “What have I just walked into?” But then cinnamon rolls in like the friend who shows up late to the party, not with the intention to suck all the oxygen out of the room but to gently mellow the mood with warm, toasted vibes.

Now, don’t mistake this for a sweet drink — it’s more like a confrontational neighbour. Yes, there’s organic cane sugar, but the Murray River salt keeps things grounded, so you’re not sipping dessert. The whole oranges and verjus engage in a dance-o akin to Raygun, individualistic expressionism between the tart and savoury, somehow keeping everything perfectly balanced.

It’s a wine alternative for the adventurous — a cheeky, quirky drink that knows when to get serious. You won’t miss the booze, but you might wonder why more drinks don’t taste like this. Toasted cinnamon and yuzu? It shouldn’t work, but somehow does.

NON7

Stewed Cherry & Co ee is like a late-night dinner with a vampirish barista. From the first sip, you’re hit with a wave of rich dark cherries that make you question why you’ve ever bothered with grapes. The spiced nose? Oh yeah, it’s like sticking your face in a spice rack — garam masala, nutmeg, and allspice throwing some sort of private striptease for your nostrils. Just when you think it can’t get any more complex, or inappropriate given your marital status, here comes the cold brew, lurking in the background — but in a socially acceptable way, not a trench coat in sight. It’s there, fuelling your inevitable decision to open another bottle.

The whole thing’s got layers. Pink peppercorn adds a bite, cascara brings a whisper of intrigue, and Murray River salt slides in to remind you that even non-alcoholic drinks can have a bit of attitude. And verjus? My god, smooth as the bonnet of a Porsche. So, if you’re tired of being left out of the wine world, give this a go. It’s like red wine, but a little eccentric — so it’ll probably have better taste in music.

The World of Māori Art

Photography by Naera Ohia

Māori culture is rich in history, ancient stories and a vibrant arts space. History is told through the art of carving, tā moko, and raranga (weaving) which is passed through generations.

Carving out a space for Māori artists is a vibrant, adaptive, contemporary art that ensures the stories of the past, present, and future continue to be shared and are relevant.

Wāhine tā moko artist, painter, commentator, and curator – Julie Paama-Pengelly – shares Te Tuhi Māreikura Trust’s mission to promote, nurture, and celebrate Māori creativity through its activities.

Established in 2015, Te Tuhi Māreikura Trust is dedicated to building stronger Māori identity and communities through claiming space for culture and arts.

In the beginning, the work of four artists Julie Paama-Pengelly, Kereama Taepa, Tracey Tawhiao and Reweti Arapere – and the creation of a collaborative public art piece for the Memorial Park pump station commissioned by the Trust – declared their serious regard for Māori art to have a presence in public spaces.

A bold, and brilliant, beginning for the Trust. “We wanted to launch with visibility,” Julie said.

In 2018, the Trust made a landmark journey overseas, taking a delegation of 30 Māori artists to explore their practices in the context of Māori “ancestral homeland” of Tahiti.

According to the pūrākau (history), Kupe the great Māori explorer navigated Aotearoa through his pursuit of an octopus Te Wheke o Muturangi. Through his pursuit, he was led to new lands – the body of the octopus being Tahiti, with tentacles, or navigation routes, reaching out around the Polynesian triangle.

Enveloped in stories, skin marking practices – such as tā tatau and tā moko – likewise hold a deep history and connection throughout the Pacific, but also share common values with the world’s indigenous and first nations peoples.

Drawing on Julie’s 35-year expertise as a tā moko artist, in 2019 Te Tuhi Māreikura Trust hosted indigenous artist authorities from around the world at Whareroa Marae under the mantle of indigenous body marking practices. The first gathering was dedicated to strategising, educating and sharing a breadth of art traditions. This became the Trust’s drive to host an annual world indigenous cultural

festival, now in its fifth year and named Toi Kiri.

Now the primary activity of Te Tuhi Māreikura Trust, Toi Kiri provides opportunities for Māori artists to develop skills, build international networks, economic activities and audiences.

What started on a $3000 budget, now brings more than 200 indigenous tā tatau, tā moko, skin marking and cultural artists from Aotearoa and around the world to the Bay of Plenty.

“The Trust is about developing our artists, our art and the ecosystem of ngā Toi Māori – arts, our spaces like the marae and the city, as well as the people,” Julie said.

Our five-year goal is for Toi Kiri to become a destination festival that brings reciprocal opportunity for the people.

“We are tangata whenua forming rich enduring relationships with indigenous of the world by inviting them to our homeland,” she said. “It’s important that this becomes a fixture.”

Julie hopes more people will make the festival a destination and “must-do” for the entire family. “Where else can they enjoy such a unique and affordable world-class experience?”

“Māori love the interactions, but it’s there for everybody else to take the opportunity to enrich themselves as well.”

Making change to the economic and social conditions for Māori was about forming relationships with the world, Julie said. “Our people deserve to have their culture take centre stage and for others to respect that.

“You’re asking people to experience your culture. If you only talk to yourselves, no one else comes along for the ride.”

Toi Kiri is just one of the many pieces to the Māori culture puzzle. It fits Te Tuhi Māreikura’s goal to advance Tauranga Moana Māori arts by encouraging and promoting learning opportunities for Aotearoa’s visual artists to build on their knowledge and develop their skills locally, nationally and beyond.

It is about bringing Māori art into the mainstream, and Julie is working with urgency. “If we remove an art object and its knowledge, we have

Te Tuhi Māreikura Trust Promotion
“We have had people tell our stories like we no longer exist for years. The key is to tell more of our own stories in the here and now, and to allow our young people to tell theirs”
↑ Te Tuhi Māreikura Trust: is dedicated to building stronger Māori identity and

communities

through culture and arts.

removed a whole world.” For Julie, the transformation has to happen to the whole landscape. Public art is a big part of that transformation. “Māori art serves as our language, where previously we didn’t have a written language. “We spoke to everything that was manifested on objects. That is how we form our relationship with the ever-changing world,” she said. “It is important that each generation has the ability to express what it means to be Māori. Art is an expression of who they are now and how they see their culture.”

Ngā Tohu Toi – an annual awards evening honouring top Māori creatives from the Bay of Plenty is the aspirational part to that picture. It connects Tauranga Māori artists through whakapapa, wherever they are out in the world achieving excellence. The Trust’s online Māori art gallery doing the reverse, inviting the world to the remarkable creative domain of the city’s emerging artists.

The Trust is also working with one of its Trustees Linda Munn to put in place a succession plan for protecting one of the most important and iconic Māori artworks – the Tino Rangatiratanga flag – to ensure kaupapa is placed around it and the benefit for Māori and future generations. “It’s all about speaking to our visual legacy,” Julie said. “We have had people tell our

stories like we no longer exist for years. The key is to tell more of our own stories in the here and now, and to allow our young people to tell theirs. Otherwise what will our world be and who will we be in the future?”

The powerhouse of creatives that drive the Trust are all about future opportunities, and Matariki has become a time where the Trust takes stock of their priorities for the next year. Each year they have introduced new groundbreaking initiatives, including the creation of a portal for Māori knowledge of Matariki stars. This year, for the first time, they instigated an augmented reality MatARiki sculptural trail that featured in Tauranga CBD and Mount Maunganui.

“It is important we recognise our cultural membership and the distinct nature and contribution of the body of Māori knowledge that is forever growing, so that as people we exist as more than a memory of who we once were.”

Te Tuhi Māreikura Trust: Linda Munn, Kereama Taepa, Darcell Apelu, Tracey Tawhiao, Julie PaamaPengelly, Ayesha Kee, and Chontelle Hohaia.

toi.kiri tetaurangatoi ngatohutoi matarikisculpturetrail tetuhimareikura.org tetaurangatoi.co.nz

E x p e r i e n c e a w a r d - w i n n i n g f o r e s t

b a t h i n g a t S e c r e t S p o t H o t T u b s

w i t h s t u n n i n g v i e w s o f t h e

W h a k a r e w a r e w a F o r e s t a n d

P u a r e n g a S t r e a m S o a k i n y o u r

o w n c e d a r h o t t u b , e n j o y a c o l d

p l u n g e , a n d r e l a x w i t h s m a s h

b u r g e r s f r o m o u r s t r e e t f o o d c a f é ,

p l u s a f r e e S h i n n y D i p f o o t t u b . B y

n i g h t , u n w i n d u n d e r t h e s t a r s w i t h

v i b r a n t f o r e s t l i g h t i n g , c r a ft d r i n k s , a n d c o s y c a m p f i r e s .

s e c r e t s p o t n z

0 7 3 4 8 4 4 4 2

1 3 / 3 3 W a i p a S t a t e M i l l R d , R o t o r u a N Z

Escape Festival

Words by Monique Balvert O’Connor
Photography by Matt Klitscher
It may be boutique in size, but this year’s Escape festival is inarguably big on delivery. The festival celebrates ideas, thinkers, writers and storytellers much like a certain down-to-earth Dame.

There’s a chance Dame Susan Devoy may not have written her autobiography had it not been for her husband John Oakley.

Because before the former world squash champion sat down to pen her life’s story her beloved spouse said: “You’ll never be able to write 70,000 words”.

“So, there was the challenge,” grins Susan, who released her memoir, Dame Suzy D. My Story, earlier this year.

“Actually, sitting and writing was a challenge in itself. It was pretty difficult. I don’t consider myself a literary genius, but I have delivered a collection of stories from over the years of things I could remember, and it has been a rather cathartic process.”

Dame Susan needs little introduction in the Bay of Plenty. Her resume includes: world squash champion, Race Relations Commissioner, Celebrity Treasure Island contestant, kiwifruit picker … and now author (an autobiography).

And this October 18-20, Susan will be presenting at the biennial Tauranga’s readers’ and writers’ Escape festival.

According to the Escape programme, Susan’s aptly named presentation – A Life Less Ordinary – will be a tell-all evening full of tales and hilarity.

“I’ve told them ‘that’s why it’s called my story, not yours’,” the down-to-earth Dame laughs.

Susan’s book, which was released in April, took her about five months to write.

During the process Susan says she gained an amplified appreciation of her mother, Tui, who had Susan and her six brothers and worked full-time.

“My respect for her is profound. I hope she realised how much I appreciated her and loved her.”

The former world squash champion has now written her own memoir. ← Dame Susan Devoy.

Tales Susan’s already told Our Place is that her varied repertoire of things tackled in life was never going to include anything literary. But then “out of nowhere” a publisher came calling.

Critics of her book have included Susan’s four sons.

“There have been a few raised eyebrows among them, and an uttering along the lines of ‘that’s not how I remember it’.

Susan will join an impressive line-up of authors and thinkers taking part in the festival, including celebrity chef and MasterChef NZ winner Sam Low.

Sam’s Escape slot will incorporate a live cooking demonstration coupled with a chat about what it means to cook modern Chinese.

He will whip up one of his most beloved Chinese dishes from his debut recipe book, Modern Chinese, while sharing childhood food memories and ruminations around how food is linked with identity.

There’s also “national treasure” and former broadcaster Judy Bailey who will speak about her book with its focus on finding health and happiness as we age.

University professor, multi-award-winning author, internationally recognised social scientist, and passionate environmentalist, Dame Anne Salmond will speak to the topic ‘Knowledge is a Blessing on Your Mind’.

A special event has been created to cater for Tauranga Moana writers and thinkers. Into the Night – a concept new to the NZ literary festival circuit – will offer festival goers the opportunity to head out on the Saturday night to listen to local talent presenting at a café, a bookshop and a gallery. There’s the choice of staying in one place or venue hopping.

MasterChef NZ winner

Sam Low will whip up one of his most beloved Chinese recipes from his debut cookbook as part of the Escape festival.

Dame Susan, Lee Murray, Anne Tiernan and Julie Paama-Pengelly (Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Moutere o Matakana) are among those set to entertain and inform.

Also presenting at Into the Night will be local author Carol Garden curating an event called Finding Your Way Home. Authors Donna Goodacre (Tainui) and Charlotte Lobb will join that conversation, looking at how home is much more than a physical space.

The literary loop through the inner city will end at a bar where Tauranga-based quiz master Doug Hendry, of the Puzzle Company, will deliver a fun-filled literary quiz.

Claire Mabey, author of recently released, bestselling novel The Raven’s Eye Runaways, will return to the city of her childhood to host an Escape workshop. She’ll be helping participants construct their own worlds within their writing.

Another workshop opportunity comes courtesy of Tauranga Moana venue and gallery, Kūwao. In collaboration with Escape, Kūwao will host an exhibition opening and book launch called Hoki Mai and a free writing workshop called How Art and Words Can Work Together, both presented by sisters Rangimarie and Caitlin Jolley.

New to Tauranga, Coffee with the Headlines will kick start Sunday’s action. It involves a session featuring three journalists, including Moana Maniapoto (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Tūhourangi, Ngāti Pikiao), who will discuss the news of the day and turn a critical eye on current events.

Also on Sunday, Tauranga’s award-winning

investigative reporter Jared Savage will interview the authors of recently published book The Crewe Murders (inside New Zealand’s most infamous cold case).

Add to that all the Escape action festival favourites - Wham Bam Tauranga Poetry Slam (known for being electric, eclectic and eloquent), and a Tauranga Zinefest.

Come to the latter and help create small, shortrun, self-published (maga)zines, covering a range of topics.

While it is primarily an event focused on literary talks, panel discussions, and workshops, Escape will include a performance set to captivate.

Freshly returned from Scotland and China is Trick of the Light Theatre. This theatrical ensemble has delighted Tauranga audiences in the past (think: The Bookbinder) and will this time present Suitcase Show.

Escape festival literary programmer Gabrielle Vincent says while Escape is boutique in size, it is inarguably big on delivery, celebrating ideas, thinkers, writers and storytellers.

“We’ll have celebrated prize-winning authors, powerful local and national writers and speakers, plus an innovative theatre company. All up there’s a diverse array of opportunities set to “expand your thinking, lift your spirits and ignite curiosity”.

To view the full Escape programme see taurangafestival.co.nz Escape tickets are available through the website, Baycourt and Eventfinda.

Premium Whitening, Home Comfort.

Mirror Mirror is an affordable premium mobile teeth whitening service that comes to you in the comfort of your own home or office.

Whether you want teeth whitening for a wedding, special event, or to renew confidence in your smile, we offer safe and effective treatments tailored to your health.

Bringing services to homes and workplaces across the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Auckland, your journey to a whiter smile starts here.

Schedule your appointment today!

mirrormirror.co.nz

info@mirrormirror.co.nz

027 502 1283

It’s a Vibe

Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or just love eating good healthy food, Vegan Vibes is a festival for everyone to enjoy.

The popular Vegan Vibes festival is returning to Mount Maunganui this October.

Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or just love eating good healthy food, Vegan Vibes is a festival for everyone to enjoy.

Vegan Vibes aims to give people the tools to live sustainably by connecting festival-goers with community groups and businesses, as well as educate and entertain through food, products, talks, live music and workshops.

Entertaining the crowds will be musicians No Reply, DJ Sophie, Matt Bizzle, DJ Mike, and Frente Sudaka.

The family friendly – and animal friendly –event includes free workshops, such as pottery with The Pottery Studio, sewing with Sarah from Sew Love,

and yoga classes with Yoga Papamoa.

There will be fun free activities, including mini golf, backyard games, face painting and a photobooth.

Shop the markets for some amazing plantbased products, and graze on some delicious vegan food from a range of local vendors and food producers.

There is even a VIP bag filled with $200 of product to get your hands on for just $49.

This year’s speakers are the Matcha Wednesday girls Jenna and Ashley, Ben Eitelberg from Athletes for Nature, Jim Annear from Jim’s Food Forest workshop, and Lyss Baumgartner from Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary. We caught up with some of them before the festival.

↑ The Matcha Wednesday girls Jenna and Ashley, and Lyss Baumgartner from Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary will be speaking at this year’s Vegan Vibes festival.

MATCHA WEDNESDAY

Why did you want to be part of Vegan Vibes? As a new brand on the market, we think Vegan Vibes would be a great chance to connect with like-minded individuals who prioritise health and wellbeing.

How did Matcha Wednesday come about?

Every Wednesday, we would make a thermos of matcha and meet on the beach to wait for the sun to rise and swim in the ocean. Before long, Matcha Wednesdays became our favourite day of the week; grounding moments in the morning connecting over a hot matcha. So, Matcha Wednesday was born from a desire to share our morning ritual; not only as a brand but as a lifestyle.

What are the benefits of matcha in our daily lives? Matcha has been shown to combat inflammation, support skin and hair health, lower cholesterol and blood sugar, boost metabolism, enhance mood, concentration and energy, and support healthy ageing. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants including vitamin a, b1, b2, b6, c, e, k and vitamin a carotene, as well as selenium, chromium, phosphorus, zinc and magnesium, proving itself to be a leading powerhouse of goodness. Matcha is a great way to substitute coffee while giving you clear, focused energy.

BLACK SHEEP ANIMAL SANCTUARY

Tell me about Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary: We are a farm animal sanctuary in Ōtaki. We rescue, raise, and rehabilitate neglected, unwanted, and orphaned animals who have nowhere else to go. Our sanctuary is a human-vegan space and we love sharing the stories and lives of our rescued animals to help encourage others to practise compassion towards all animal species.

How and why did you transition into veganism? I initially went vegetarian when I was six years old because I thought meat was gross. Eventually I was eating mostly plant-based, but decided to fully commit to being vegan. I have been a lifelong animal lover and it just felt right. I have now been proudly vegan for nine years.

What are the benefits of living a vegan lifestyle? Being vegan is amazing! Living a vegan lifestyle means showing up in the world every single day and making choices that are in line with what you believe in.

What is your advice to people wanting to become vegan?

Do what feels manageable! If going vegan overnight sounds terrifying, break it down into more manageable steps. Find vegan friends or a community who share the same values and lean on them for support. Practically speaking, learn a few easy vegan recipes that can be your go-to when you’re in a pinch and don’t know what to cook!

ATHLETES FOR NATURE

Tell me about Athletes For Nature:

It is a tribal movement that unites outdoor enthusiasts dedicated to safeguarding the very environment that fuels their passion by undertaking kaitiakitanga, environmental stewardship.

How and why did you transition into veganism?

I didn’t intend on going vegan. It was a culmination of a six-to-eight-month journey of exploring the food I was eating, and the science led me to the benefits of a whole food plant-based way of eating for my personal health and sporting performance.

How has becoming vegan improved your overall health?

It is important to distinguish between a whole food plant-based way of eating versus the “yummy” ultraprocessed vegan junk food. No one can argue the benefits of plants and including a bigger variety in my diet has certainly benefited my recovery from my endurance sports training and competing.

What is your advice to people wanting to become vegan?

Take your own journey no matter how long it takes and accept imperfection. Most importantly, have your ‘why’. When you’re faced with challenging situations, your personal conviction will keep you on the right path.

Vegan Vibes

→ When 10am–3pm, 26 October 2024

→ Where Soper Reserve, Mt Maunganui

→ Tickets ticketfairy.com

Prices

→ $10 Early Bird

→ $15 Pre-purchased general admission

→ $20 Door sales

→ $49 VIP

→ Children 12 and under FREE

Functions with

Looking for your next function spot? Choose from our range of spaces in the heart of Mount Maunganui! Scan the QR code to book!

With an amazing sharing menu inspired by the best street food from L.A. to the Baja Coast, Rosie’s can cater for any lunch, dinner or party.
A local favourite in the heart of Mount Maunganui! Packed with a private sunny garden courtyard, private dining room, large restaurant and busy bar.
Master Kong is always up for a party! Enjoy shared plates for two or a banqueting feast for your whole group. All Master Kong guests leave experiencing a little bit of magic!
Madame Sunset, The Mount’s ultimate island retreat serving the very best kai from Master Kong.

Learning to Swim, One Sign at a Time

In the learner pool at Baywave, in a quiet lane to the left, Emily McCall’s eyes are locked on her swim teacher. Find out why this pair shares a special partnership in the pool.

It’s a Sunday afternoon and Baywave is buzzing. On one side of the busy aquatic centre, kids are bobbing happily in the wave pool and racing down the hydroslide.

In the learner pool, in a quiet lane to the left, Emily McCall’s eyes are locked on her swim teacher. She is completely focused. The five-year-old “little mermaid” dives under the water and then pops back up to the surface, watching intently for her next instruction, which is delivered in sign language. Emily smiles and signs back. This is their own special way of communicating in the pool.

Emily was born with progressive hearing loss. She has a cochlear implant in her right ear and wears a hearing aid in her left. When she takes them off to swim, it means she cannot hear her teacher. So, they use sign language in the pool instead. Emily is brave and determined to succeed. She’s tenacious. She splashes about freely in the water, having fun, learning, clearly not only comfortable but confident.

that journey together. A little over two years ago, Heidi started learning sign language. Now, she has her first student. “It is an honour that Emily is able to communicate with me and to feel like she can,” Heidi says. “She can talk out loud, and she does when she isn’t signing, but for her to communicate in her own language is special.”

Heidi is keen to have more young swimmers like Emily enrolled in the sign-supported classes. Heidi can do private or group lessons, at either Baywave or Greerton Aquatic & Leisure Centre, and she is flexible with days and times. “I want them to feel welcome in this environment and to feel like they can learn to swim safely and without judgement.”

Sonya says deaf children are naturally gifted at following along – “they are often so good at copying; they are so visual”. However, that can sometimes also mean they appear like they understand but are not, in fact, reaching their full learning potential.

So, knowing that Heidi has a full understanding

“I want them to feel welcome in this environment and to feel like they can learn to swim safely and without judgement.”

“The pool is her happy place,” says mum Sonya McCall, who is sitting poolside. “She just loves to swim. It’s one of her favourite things to do.”

Emily was the first student to sign up for BaySwim’s new sign-supported swimming lessons, which began in August. Her lessons are held every Sunday afternoon at Baywave Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Mount Maunganui. The best part is she gets to learn alongside her brother – side-by-side in adjacent lanes, in the same pool, at the same time. It’s just that Emily’s lessons are a little different.

The sign-supported swimming lessons are the brainchild of senior swim teacher Heidi Dixon, who wanted to be able to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing children how to swim safely and independently.

“If people don’t know how to swim or are really nervous around the water, it cuts off so many activity opportunities. Their trips to the beach would be full of fear.”

Heidi says learning to swim is a “vital” life skill for anyone living in New Zealand, and the student and teacher need to be able to understand each other in the pool when going on

of Emily’s hearing levels, and knowing that she can communicate more visually with her, has given everyone involved more confidence. “I can see she is responding more clearly to what Heidi is saying,” Sonya says, as she gives a thumbs up to a smiling Emily who has just kicked past on her back without support for the first time.

Sonya says you don’t even need to know sign language to benefit from Heidi’s visual teaching methods. “There will be lots of people out there who wear hearing aids and don’t know any sign language. It’s providing access they perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Emily and her family are still learning the language. “We are not fluent in sign language by any means. But we are all learning, so Emily is learning as fast as we are,” Sonya says.

Emily’s family were introduced to New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) through Deaf Aotearoa’s First Signs service. Emily’s dad Dion finds NZSL helpful in communicating with Emily both at home and out in a crowd. Sonya has advanced her NZSL further, having

done night classes at Merge NZ. Emily’s grandparents are also learning, and so is Emily’s proud seven-yearold big brother, Sean.

“He took to it like a duck to water,” Sonya says. “He’s awesome. At Sign Language Week this year, he taught his class the alphabet. Sometimes, if he’s really tired and doesn’t want to talk, he will sign to me.”

Sonya is now also on the volunteer-run Bay of Plenty Association for Deaf Children committee, which facilitates peer support for children with any level of hearing loss and their families, and says she hopes BaySwim’s new sign-supported swimming lessons will continue to grow, giving more deaf and hard-of-hearing children the opportunity to build confidence in the water.

“We are surrounded by water. We want these kids to have equal access and opportunity to learn to swim. To grow confidence, and practise signing in the real world,” Sonya says.

“Emily is always asking for other kids to join her class. We are so grateful to Heidi and BaySwim for getting this off the ground,” she says.

“It is just totally normalising it. She is doing what a five-year-old girl should be able to go and do.”

BaySwim teaches people of all ages and abilities, from babies and children all the way up to adults, offering both private and group lessons. The new sign-supported swimming lessons is the latest initiative aimed at reaching members of the Tauranga community who would otherwise find it difficult to get into a pool and learn to swim.

BaySwim has specialist lessons and programmes for people with sensory sensitivities, for children living in foster care, and for the transgender community.

There are also dedicated culturally appropriate swimming classes for ethnic women, swimming lessons for our Korean and Chinese communities in their own language, and a “teach the teacher” programme that empowers kaiako to deliver swimming lessons to their own ākonga in te reo Māori.

To register for any of these initiatives, please email bayswim@bayvenues.co.nz or visit bayswim.co.nz

↑ BaySwim senior teacher Heidi Dixon is teaching Emily McCall, 5, how to swim one sign at a time.

Our Place Events Guide

Sat Tauranga Farmers' Market

7.45am–12pm, Tauranga Primary School, 5th Ave, Tauranga

October 2O24

1–2. Italian Film Festival

10am-11pm, Luxe Cinemas Tauranga, 21 Devonport Rd, luxecinemas.nz

3. Ice Maiden

5.45pm, Luxe Cinemas Pāpāmoa, 4 Golden Sands Dr, luxecinemas.nz

Kuwao Night Market

4-8pm, 14 Grey St, Tauranga

5. Love Me Tender Elvis Tribute Show 7pm, Mount Maunganui RSA

5–6. The Gypsy Fair 9am, Jubilee Park, Commerce Lane, Te Puke

Legally Blonde Jr Baycourt X Space, eventfinda.co.nz

6. The Little Big Markets

9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui

9. Hot Pink Walk

5.30-7pm, The Waterfront, The Strand, koha

11. Avalanche City/Luke Thompson

7.30-9.40pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

Parents Night Out Standup Comedy Night

8pm, Luxe Cinemas Pāpāmoa, 4 Golden Sands Dr, luxecinemas.nz

12. Carnival of the Animals: Kiwi’s Musical Journey 4pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

Mike Garner Trio 6pm, The Barrel Room, Tauranga

13. The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui

Cook Book Club

1.30pm, location TBC, @cookbookclubnz

18– BOP Home & Outdoors Show

20. 10am-5pm, Mercury Baypark Arena homeandoutdoorsshow.co.nz

Toi Kiri: Indigenous Arts Festival

Various times, Whareroa Marae, 25 Taiaho Place, Mt Maunganui, toikiri.nz

Escape festival Various events, times & locations taurangafestival.co.nz

19. Tauranga Zinefest 10am, The Cargo Shed

The Ultimate Drag Show 7.30pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

The Little Big Markets Pāpāmoa 9am-2pm, Pāpāmoa Pony Club

23– The Bee Gees Night Fever 24. 8pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

24. Standup Comedy Night at Cleaver & Co 7.30pm, Cleaver & Co The Mount, Mt Maunganui, eventfinda.co.nz

25. Callum Allardice Jazz Quartet 7pm, The Jam Factory, Historic Village, Tauranga, eventfinda.co.nz

The Takeover - Mt Maunganui 8pm, Voodoo Lounge, Mt Maunganui eventfinda.co.nz

26. Vegan Vibes 10am-3pm, Soper Reserve, Mt Maunganui ticketfairy.com

27. Country Music 1-3.30pm, Mount Maunganui RSA

Tauranga Whetu Star Awards Various times, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

30. The Kingdom of Bling 7.30pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

31. Halloween Standup Comedy Night 8pm, Cornerstone Bar & Eatery, Tauranga eventfinda.co.nz

@ourplacemagazine

November 2O24

1. No Days Off - Mt Maunganui 5pm, Soper Reserve, Mt Maunganui audiologytouring.flicket.co.nz

2. Tauranga Motorfest 2024 10am-2pm, Tauranga Crossing, gold coin

The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui

1–2. Gindulgence Tauranga Various times, Wharepai Domain ticketfairy.com

7. Kuwao Night Market 4-8pm, 14 Grey St, Tauranga

Frenchy – Embrace The Chaos 7.30-10pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

Buzzcocks and Modern English 7.30-11.55pm, 11 Totara St, Mt Maunganui totara.flicket.co.nz

8. Mount Maunganui Meditation

7-8.30pm, May St Scout Hall, 13 May St

8–10. Tauranga Harbour City Lions Annual Book Sale 9am-5pm, Tauranga Racecourse

9. The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui

Wilson Dixon 7.30pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

10. Cookbook Club

1.30pm, location TBC, @cookbookclubnz

Dancing Queen: A Tribute To ABBA 2pm & 7pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

Mitre 10 MEGA Tauranga City to Surf 7am-1.30pm, Mount Main Beach, buy tickets – 07 3483301

12. Celtic Illusion 7.30pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

14– Bay of Plenty Garden and Art Festival 2024 17. 9.30am-5pm, regional gardens and art displays, Tauranga, eventfinda.co.nz

16. The Little Big Markets Pāpāmoa 9am-2pm, Pāpāmoa Pony Club

Christmas at the Races 11.30am, Tauranga Racecourse racingtauranga.flicket.co.nz

17. Thrifted Finds 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui

20. Crowded House 'Gravity Stairs World Tour 7pm, Mercury Baypark Arena, livenation.co.nz

23. The Little Big Markets 9am-2pm, Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui

Tauranga Smoke Brews Bands BBQs 2-10pm, Soper Reserve smokefestbbq.flicket.co.nz

24. The Little Big Markets Whangamatā 9am-2pm, Williamson Park, Tauranga

Urzila Carlson – Just Jokes 4.30pm & 7pm, Baycourt, eventfinda.co.nz

GENX Homes/Marra Construction Tinman Triathlon 7am-2pm, Pilot Bay, eventfinda.co.nz

28. Dinner in the Domain 5-9pm, Pāpāmoa Pony Club

29. Ladi6 – Alofa: The Heartbeat Tour 8.30-11.30pm, 11 Totara St, Mt Maunganui totara.flicket.co.nz

30. The Little Big Markets Pāpāmoa 9am-2pm, Pāpāmoa Pony Club

Beginner Ring Making Workshop 10.30am–4pm, The Creative Community Campus, The Historic Village, theincubator.co.nz

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.