DECEMBER'12 - Ponsonby News

+ PUBLISHED FRIDAY 7 DECEMBER, 2012 Established: OCTOBER 1989 – CELEBRATING 23 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

DECEMBER 2012 | www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST COMMUNITY – PONSONBY CENTRAL

Merry Christmas Joyeux Noël Buon Natale Feliz Navidad Manuia le Kerisimasi Meri Kirihimete Kilisimasi Fiefia

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WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH

008 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 009 FROM THE PUBLISHING TEAM 010 DAVID HARTNELL:

046 EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY 058 LAURAINE JACOBS 062 FASHION + STYLE 070 ANGELA LASSIG: LETTERS FROM MAUDIE 082 PONSONBY NEWS READERS

ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW

012 SHALE CHAMBERS:

WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD

014 PIPPA COOM: GREY LYNN 2030 016 NIKKI KAYE, AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP 018 JACINDA ARDERN: LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND

023 K’ROAD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 028 JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAPBOX 044 JAY PLATT: WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

ARE EVERYWHERE

086 LIVING, THINKING + BEING 087 HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY 100 JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH 101 FUTURE GENERATION 114 HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS 122 STREET NAMES

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photography: Kathrin Simon

photography: Nikki Rhind

Above: P46 - with a warm, sunny courtyard, PINTXOS opened last month in Mackelvie Street; P56 - Wayne, the Whoopie van driver was uninjured when his van “crashed” in Hakanoa Street, during Halloween celebrations; P108 - become an expert on lions in a new monthly column, provided by Auckland Zoo.

photography: Martin Leach

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126 THE BOYS BOOK CLUB 130 FIONNA HILL: PONSONBY GARDENER 139 SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY 145 PONSONBY PEOPLE & THEIR PETS 148 ARTS + CULTURE 162 PONSONBY PINK PAGES COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Michael McClintock

The Ponsonby News office is closed from Wednesday 12 December for the Christmas holidays and re-opens on Monday 14 January 2013

PONSONBY NEWS+ is published monthly, excluding January by ALCHEMY MEDIAA LIMITED, LIMIT 11/386 RICHMOND ROAD, GREY LYNN POSTAL: P.O. BOX 47-282 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144. www.ponsonbynews.co.nz T: (09) 378 8553 or (09) 361 3356 www.ponsonbynews.co.nz Editor/Publisher Associate Publisher & Ad Manager Deputy Editor Operations Manager Contributing Fashion Editor Contributing Editor Contributing Editor Proof Reader Layout Designer Designer

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LETTERS + EMAILS

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO info@ponsonbynews.co.nz

Views in Ponsonby News reflect the author’s, and not those of Alchemy Media.

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CINEMA IN VINEGAR LANE? I’ve lived in and around Ponsonby for some years, and see the lovely old cinema building at Three Lamps most days. I’m often thinking how great it would be to have a cinema up on our local high street.

LOST: PAUA SHELL BROOCH Thanks for your lively magazine, which I always read. I lost a paua shell brooch, which dropped on to the street somewhere between Hamilton Road and Ponsonby Road.

It was my first piece of jewellery as a teenager, given to me by my mother, so is very special. I’d love to find it again! JULIET BATTEN, Herne Bay BE WARNED - NOT EVERY SOB STORY IS GENUINE I am a local resident, and just thought I would let you and your readers know about a reccurring incident. About a year ago, I was working at a retail shop on Ponsonby Road, when a man came rushing in, out of breath, telling me he was a doctor who had locked his keys in his car and urgently needed to get to Auckland City Hospital for work. He wanted me to lend him $20, but as the owner of the shop wasn’t there I had to apologetically decline.

photography: martin leach

Do you know whether with all the development we have going on at the moment, if there is any plan to include one at Soho Square/Vinegar Lane or elsewhere? Although the shops in the deco cinema building are no doubt a great integral part of the make up of Three Lamps, some entrepreneurial business person could look at restoring the building to its former glory. JAMES CORDON, Ponsonby

17/11/12: THE FIRST SATURDAY MORNING IN PONSONBY CENTRAL...

We shot the Ponsonby News front cover last month and asked Developer Andy Davies for a few of his new tenants to be included. We asked them, via Andy, to bring one item, which represented their business. We were disappointed that Mr Davies was not permitted to be in our shot, but when 15 people appeared, we were slightly overwhelmed. Finally we managed to squeeze them all in – very ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club’, don’t you think?. Here is the group just before our photographer, Michael McClintock said cheeeeese! We say a warm welcome to PONSONBY CENTRAL, which we hope will draw both locals and visitors to Ponsonby. See page 160 for the opening party. (MARTIN LEACH) PN

About two weeks later I was walking along K Road, and saw the same man on the street, going up to people and telling them the same story - that he was a doctor who urgently needed taxi money to get to the hospital as he’d locked his keys in his car. It then became clear to me that he was trying to con generous people for their money.

I forgot about the incident, until this morning when my sister said she’d been approached by a man in a suit on Ponsonby Road at 8am, begging her to lend him some bus money as he was a doctor who urgently needed to get to the hospital for work. His approach isn’t threatening, but it is obviously deceitful.

I don’t know whether any of your readers have had a similar encounter with this man, but as it has happened to both my sister and I, I assume others have been approached.

Your readers may want to be aware of this, in case he approachs them.

AMELIA RUBY, Grey Lynn DORIS DE PONT’S REVIEW OF ARRANGE It was great to see a piece supporting young designers in Ponsonby News recently.

As well as the big brands we all know and love, it’s great to remember they all started somewhere, as graduates and someone took a punt supporting them all in their debut. photography: Michael McClintock

So well done on the feature on the ARRANGE fashion show with a collective of recent fashion grads. I really enjoyed Doris de Pont’s review and her insights; she is certainly the Vivienne Westwood of New Zealand fashion.

What a fabulous idea; getting an experienced designer with a long career speaking about designers who are at the beginning of theirs.

MEGAN ROBINSON, Editor, Thread.co.nz PN CONTINUES ON P122

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FROM THE PUBLISHING TEAM

JAY PLATT, JACK, JO BARRETT, MARTIN LEACH, JULIE ROULSTON + GWYNNE DAVENPORT

BY THE TIME THIS ISSUE IS PUBLISHED THE FRANKLIN ROAD LIGHTS WILL once again be ablaze and the Telecom Tree is lighting up nearby Victoria Park over the festive season. The tree has a total of 375,000 lights and has a lighting display running from dusk till dawn every night until Boxing Day. Telecom will once again give children and adults the chance to call the Santa line from special phone boxes at the base of the tree.

The tree is right in the middle of the inaugural Auckland Christmas trail, which includes the largest advent calendar Auckland has ever seen in Silo Park at Wynyard Quarter, and of course the Franklin Road lights – were lit on Saturday 1 December.

Also in the area, after years of redevelopment the historic Victoria Park Market is finally bustling again.

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE PONSONBY CENTRAL FINALLY OPEN LAST MONTH but sadly, because of our print deadline, we missed their Friday Long Lunch last week, but we hear that a jolly good time was had by all.

AS LOCALS KNOW, THINGS TEND TO HAPPEN FIRST IN PONSONBY! JEREMY Warnock, owner of Grand Central has just opened Pintxos, Auckland’s first pintxos style tapas bar in Mackelvie Street.

WE ARE SAD TO BE LOSING OUR FOOD/WINE EDITOR, MISS JONES. REBECCA has helped us with our research and articles on hospitality but has decided to return to the South Island to study wine making. We will miss her friendship, sense of humour and presence around us.

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IN THIS ISSUE, WE’VE INCLUDED SOME CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS, VARIOUS options for family entertainment over the holiday break, along with some hair and beauty tips for easy summer living ... we’ve also included not one, but three pages of beautiful images, our photographer took at ‘Art in the Dark’ in Western Park last month.

SPARE A THOUGHT FOR ANIMALS OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON. THE SPCA tell us that summer is their busiest time of year. With up to 150 animals coming through their doors each and every day, foster homes provide a lifeline for the animals. Their recent PAW appeal generated $156,747.40, however, the SPCA now urgently needs new foster homes for kittens in particular.

JOHN ELLIOTT’S ARTICLE ON PAGE 71 HAS INSPIRED THE TEAM. HIS MOTTO of being “unashamedly local and parochial” is one we endorse. This Christmas, we pledge to shop small, spend LOCAL, eat LOCAL, enjoy LOCAL ... and support the local businesses that support us and our community.Just as we went to press we learned that Bunnings has listened to Grey Lynn resident’s concerns and now plan a much smaller building on Great North Road.

OUR NEXT ISSUE WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED UNTIL FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY. OUR special features will be on Jervois Road; planning for retirement; maintaining good health; Valentines Day and the sales.

WE WISH ALL OUR READERS AND ADVERTISERS A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and wish everyone a fabulous New Year. The office is closed from Wednesday 12 December and reopens on Monday 14 January. PN

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photography: kloser and Michael McClintock

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DAVID HARTNELL’S ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH SAM CORBAN Westmere Acupuncturist Sam Corban is from a well known New Zealand wine making family, but chose a career in a different field.

He worked in film production for many years but an interest in acupuncture arose after being treated successfully by acupuncture for an injury.

IF YOU HADN’T BEEN AN ACUPUNCTURIST WHAT OTHER CAREER WOULD YOU HAVE PURSUED? Either a feature film director or a biologist.

WHOSE GREATEST HITS WOULD YOU TAKE TO A DESERT ISLAND? David Bowie.

FOUR DREAM DINNER PARTY GUESTS, LIVING OR DEAD? See below.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU TURNED OFF YOUR CELL PHONE? My son did, he’s six and very good at operating smartphones.

SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY DISAPPROVE OF? Telemarketing, especially at 7pm on a weeknight.

IF YOU WON A MILLION DOLLARS WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD DO? Pay off our mortgage. Then take my wife, kids and parents on a holiday to a remote Greek Island and sip ouzo or eat olives on a cliff top mansion over-looking the beach. Sadly given the cost of real estate today, there probably wouldn’t be much change out of this.

WHAT’S YOUR COMFORT FOOD? I’m ashamed to say milk chocolate and potato chips, but in practicing what I preach I try my very best to limit consumption to the bare minimum.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? Helping people.

WHICH PERFORMERS TODAY DO YOU PARTICULARLY ADMIRE, AND WHY? Justin Bieber… Just kidding that’s a joke my son Felix plays on me. I quite like Arcade Fire, have seen their videos but haven’t seen them play live. I think in recent years family commitments and work have sucked up all my leisure time, I don’t have much time to listen to or watch new artists. Hoping to rediscover this when my kids are a bit older – perhaps we could have a family band!

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE? Undecided, but for me the most important thing is to have a good life and live well.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK? “The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat” by Oliver Sacks.

DO YOU HAVE A LIFE MOTTO? Keep your eye on the doughnut, not the hole.

WHAT CLICHÉ DO YOU MOST ABHOR? The sentimental one.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW? Two, my family and my work.

WHAT GIZMO CAN YOU SIMPLY NOT LIVE WITHOUT? My Macbook, I haven’t updated to an iPad yet.

YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS/INDULGENCE? Undoubtedly food!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TIME OF THE DAY? Tucking the boys into bed then sitting down and relaxing at the end of the day.

WHAT ARE YOU INSECURE ABOUT? Thankfully a lot less than I was at 14!

TELL US SOMETHING VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT YOU? I won the prize for religious studies at school three years in a row. So my knowledge of Exodus is uncannily good.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS? A sleep in followed by a hot cup of gumboot tea (difficult to achieve with kids!)

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST FEAR? Not being fearful – it’s a performance enhancer.

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE HERO OF FICTION? David Banner aka the Incredible Hulk – to my still continuing displeasure I can’t flip cars with one hand.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF WHAT WOULD IT BE? Forgetting where I put my keys, this drives me crazy on a day-to-day basis.

WHICH TALENT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE? Languages, it would be great to speak several languages well – which means learning them from a very early age.

Unfortunately this was not something that was part of the school curriculum when I was growing up in the 80s.

WHICH LIVING PERSON DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? My parents and my wife (of course).

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIE? Peacefully in my sleep.

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WHICH WEBSITE DO YOU READ THE MOST? The Guardian.

ARE YOU A HANDSHAKE, HUG OR CHEEK-KISS KIND OF PERSON? All of the above when appropriate.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS? I haven’t met one yet.

FAVOURITE SEASON? Spring because people start smiling more again - and there is a sense of regrowth and rebirth.

DO YOU HAVE ANY RECURRING DREAMS? Not really but I do dream a lot and my dreams are quite random.

YOUR DREAM GUEST LIST FOR A DINNER PARTY AND WHY? Woody Allen for the conversation, Dionysus to keep the party going, Elizabeth David for the food and Napoleon and Ernest Hemingway to keep the party alive!

DO YOU HAVE A PARTY TRICK? I’m working on it.

DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST PET? We had a few family pets but my first actual pet was my golden Labrador Willie, he had short legs, a tummy that almost touched the ground, loved food. In another life he would have been Winston Churchill.

HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR COFFEE? Gave it up and replaced it with tea which I have with milk, no sugar.

DO YOU TRAVEL LIGHT OR HEAVY? Definitely light, gives you more room to bring home acquisitions. www.samcorbanacupuncture.com (DAVID HARTNELL) PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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CHAIR’S WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD REPORT: SHALE CHAMBERS DON’T THE FRANKLIN ROAD LIGHTS LOOK SPECTACULAR! IT WAS GREAT being at the lights switching on event and thanking all the creative street residents who wonderfully rise to the occasion with spectacular visual displays to wow Aucklanders yet again. The choirs, the street vendors, the local businesses all help to show off our lighted character houses to their best.

The Telecom Christmas Tree is also back in our neck of the woods rather than languishing down at the Wynyard Quarter like last year. The good news is that the Waitemata Local Board assisted the way for the Telecom Foundation to move it to Victoria Park. It is just a pity that it is at the bottom end of Franklin Road not a hop, skip and jump from the top of Franklin Road. However it is just outside the re-sited and shortly-to-re-open Rob Roy Hotel which is nicely lit up too with the support of your local board for the festive season!

This year your local board has also added a new Western Park Christmas event to its calendar because we all miss the integral part the Park played in the festivities. On Sunday 9 December bring your family and friends to the park to join Mayor Len Brown and his family 5-8pm for Christmas carols and choirs, food stalls and maybe a few other colourful characters will make an appearance!

Art in the Dark in Western Park was another very well attended occasion a couple of weeks ago with an inspired array of lighted artistic displays over two evenings. Not that it took away our disappointment that one very wet mid-November Saturday meant the Grey Lynn Festival was cancelled for only the second time in its 23 years. Usually the reality of ‘four seasons in one day’ means that all day Auckland festivals will at least get some sunshine for revelers to bask in.

Politically its has been another very busy month for us. While the US Presidential elections seemed to edge out local stories in the media, we met and consulted with many local groups on the Unitary Plan.

At our November meeting we passed a raft of resolutions that we hope will be listened to by those within Auckland Council when the decisions are made for the March draft to issue next year. Those interested in the nitty gritty can read it by going to the Council website and reading the November minutes of the Waitemata Local Board and attached report. Or I will send them to you if you email me as below.

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In broad terms we sought heritage and historic character and promotion through robust notification processes, providing incentives and controls to protect from demolition and neglect, and minimal signage on commercial heritage buildings. We also sought high quality, sustainable and innovative development, and affordable housing.

We urged that the Unitary Plan be informed by significant community involvement, including community-led processes and plans. Tomorrow, Parnell and Grey Lynn Precinct Plan are examples of community-led plans that could be used as a basis for detailed area plans under the Unitary Plan. Local communities should be involved in the development of local design guidelines to ensure these guidelines reflect character and aspirations of communities and neighbourhood.

We requested an additional view shaft from the Ponsonby ridge to the Waitakere ranges, and that those urban ecological areas such as local creeks, urban forests and significant bird feeding locations be protected. We want urban ecological areas where significant community investment is taking place in restoration to be assessed for inclusion in the Unitary Plan. Examples include Meola, Waipapa, Coxs and Edgars creeks. We also supported a precautionary approach to genetically modified organisms (GMO), opposing the release of GMOs in field and food within the Auckland Region due to significant uncertainties surrounding the technology and widespread opposition from communities.

We are all on Christmas countdown again with relaxing at the beach or backyard with our loved ones just a Santa whisker away. Thank you for following this column this year, for coming to the public meetings and letter writing and for the submissions to help your community again this year. For some families this Christmas will be financially tough with all the added expenses and less seasonal jobs around for younger family members. Local beaches to swim at, local parks to picnic in, free local events and the summer sun should help to lift your spirits.

On behalf of my hard-working colleagues on the Waitemata Local Board, Deputy Pippa Coom, Members Jesse Chalmers, Christopher Dempsey, Tricia Reade, Greg Moyle, and Rob Thomas, I wish you and your loved ones season’s greetings and a safe and enjoyable summer break. (SHALE CHAMBERS) PN Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

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PIPPA COOM GREY LYNN 2030 NEWS

SHOP LOCAL THIS CHRISTMAS SHOPPING LOCALLY IS ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES WHICH means supporting the local community. It creates local jobs, it’s what makes our neighbourhood unique and is good for the environment too. The festive season is a great time to support local businesses and in Grey Lynn shopping local goes even further with the additional options of upcycling, recycling and re-using.

The December Grey Lynn 2030 Car Boot Market on Sunday 23 December at the Grey Lynn RSC car park, 1 Francis Street provides the perfect opportunity to re-use pre-loved items. The market brings together locals wanting to get rid of stuff with shoppers looking for great bargains.

Spaces can be booked at greylynn2030@gmail.com and cost just $20. The car boot market is on from 8.30am – 11.30am for shoppers. The market is run by volunteers to provide funds for our local Grey Lynn 2030 initiatives. The RSC raises funds too by putting on a breakfast BBQ. It returns next year on Sunday 27 January and will continue on the last Sunday of the month for 2013.

Friends also have access to sell on the Community Trading Table and discounts for workshops and story time. Soggy Bottom, purveyors of free range rare breed meats, are taking bookings for Christmas hams. Tessa from Sweet Expectations is taking orders for Christmas mince pies and gingerbread houses. Check out www.glfm.co.nz for details.

Special Christmas markets are on Sunday 16 December at the Grey Lynn Community Centre with live music and outside at the Law Centre car park on 23 December for a final opportunity to buy quality produce for Christmas dinner. The market opens again in 2013 on Sunday 13 January.

Grey Lynn 2030’s trustees are celebrating a year of local action at a shared lunch Christmas gathering at the Wilton Street Community Garden. Pop along for festive cheer after the Car Boot and Farmers’ Market on Sunday 23 December at 1pm.

(PIPPA COOM) PN www.greylynn2030.co.nz

Kraftbomb, an indie, alternative handcraft market encourages the use of traditional crafts with a modern twist and upcycling. It is held in the Grey Lynn Community Centre 11am – 2pm, on the same day as the Car Boot Market.

Our Grey Lynn Farmers Market has some unique gift ideas including what you can find on the Grey Lynn 2030 Waste Away information table - reusable Ideal coffee cups in a range of colours, string produce bags, Bokashi buckets and worm farms all on sale as part of the group’s initiative to divert waste from landfill.

And of course, the Farmers Market is full of present ideas: a bottle of Hakanoa Handmade ginger syrup or a few jars of award winning Relish the Thought chutney is an ideal gift for those hard-to-buy for people. The Market even has $10 and $20 GLFM gift vouchers for sale now if you get stuck for ideas.

The gift that keeps on giving is a Friends membership card from the Market. For just $30 Friends support the Market and receive a range of specials from stallholders.

VICTORIA PARK MARKET IS BUSTLING AGAIN The old adage ‘good things take time’ is certainly true with the redevelopment of the historic Victoria Park Markets.

Anyone who has walked or driven along Victoria Street over the last few years will have noticed the scaffolding along the front of Victoria Park Market.

From rack and ruin in the 90s then falling into private ownership in early 2000 you’ll see the wait has been well worth it. Working closely with heritage architects a sympathetic restoration of the old “Vicky Park” now blends with new contemporary buildings housing the best in retail, food and entertainment.

The famous market is bustling and humming. Already a popular hub for great dining boasting restaurant favourites: The Oak Room, Atico Cocina, La Zeppa and Libertine. Mozaik Café has also just opened its doors. Pick up a Kokako fair trade organic coffee and fresh pastries baked on site at the Boiler Room cafe or peruse the stores flanking the sunny courtyards and in the arcades.

photography: Martin Leach

Stores open now include home-ware store Loft Living, Henrietta’s Habitat skincare, Platinum Nike, Designer Direct perfumes and sunglasses, Fem Fashion handbags and accessories, the famous Honey Bee shop, Ady’s jewels, Abby’s gift shop, Rasta shop and New Zealand treasures from Urim, the Great NZ Souvenir Shop and Victoria Souvenirs.

Visit Jeff’s Barber shop or vamp up your tresses with hair extensions from Black Africa. Take a break in the sun at Matsu Sushi or delicious Casa Gelato. Coming soon are Buttermilk Café, Indian Village restaurant, Artisan Deli, designer fashion stores and more. PN After more than six years at the PONSONBY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, we said a fond farewell to GAIL WRIGHT-ST CLAIR at Revelry Bar recently.

(L-R): ANGIE MANCER and GAIL WRIGHT-ST CLAIR.

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VICTORIA PARK MARKET, Victoria Street West T: 09 309 6911 www.victoria-park-market.co.nz

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NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP

2012 UPDATE – FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL REFORM For many Kiwis these are challenging times. Every day I get out and about and meet families, businesses and communities who are just making it through. That is why I accept it can be pretty frustrating when you see the news dominated by political sideshows and beltway issues. At a time when some unemployment indicators show the on-going impact of tough global conditions, it has never been more important to continue our focus on delivering sustainable economic and social reform.

While many of our trading partners continue to struggle with sluggish economies and too much debt, we can take some comfort in the good progress made over the last few years. International commentators have picked up on this, with Forbes magazine recently naming us the best country in the world to do business.

Over the last four years we have undertaken significant reform including changes to our planning and labour laws and our local government sector. By investing heavily in infrastructure, such as the rollout of Ultra-Fast Broadband across the country, we are investing in both current and future generations of New Zealanders.

Our economy is showing some positive signs, it is growing at 2.6 per cent – among the fastest rate in the developed world. We have record low interest rates and we have cut personal tax rates across the board, enhanced and tightened our property tax rules, and reduced company tax rates. Through these changes, we are encouraging people to work hard, save their money, and invest it, while discouraging excessive spending and debt.

Recently we outlined 67 infrastructure initiatives being undertaken to help build a more competitive and productive economy. These will help deliver more jobs, higher wages, and better living standards for New Zealanders. These initiatives are outlined in our Building Infrastructure Report, which sets out our vision to 2030. You can find more information about this report, and our Business Growth Agenda via my website.

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Home ownership is something that many young Kiwis aspire to. For too long, particularly in Auckland people have been struggling to get into their first home. There are many other factors making it tough, and there is no quick fix, but we are committed to implementing policies that will help address this problem. Recently we announced we’ll adopt almost all of the recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s Housing Affordability report, which is a significant first step. We will focus on increasing land supply and reducing the delays and costs of consent processes.

We’ll also look at providing infrastructure to support new housing quicker, and developing initiatives focused on improving productivity in the construction sector. I know for many young Aucklanders these changes are very important to ensure they can get in to their first home.

Welfare reform has been a big focus this year. Our social obligations will ensure dependent children of beneficiaries access and benefit from vital education and health services. We are starting to see some very positive results in our public service. We have the lowest crime rate in 30 years with almost 3000 fewer violent crimes over the past year. The total reported crime rate is down almost 6 per cent, that’s over 21,000 fewer crimes, and fewer victims.

You will soon receive a more detailed 2012 update from me which will give you a snapshot of the work that I have been doing both in parliament and in the electorate.

This will also be available on my website. One of the achievements that I am most proud of this year has been personally initiating a parliamentary inquiry into digital literacy and 21st century learning environments. I hope that our committee will be able to report back to Parliament before Christmas. It is a privilege to serve the many and diverse communities from the CBD to Ponsonby, to Waiheke to Great Barrier Island.

I will continue to work hard, and deliver for you in parliament and locally in 2013. Best wishes for the festive season and the year ahead.

(NIKKI KAYE, AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP) PN www.nikkikaye.co.nz

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JACINDA ARDERN

LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND

we tackled the housing issue head on rather than tinker around the edges and BOLD IDEAS TO TACKLE THE HOUSING CRISIS It’sthattime is exactly what Labour intends to do.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO AUCKLANDERS THAT THERE IS A HOUSING crisis; we are confronted with it constantly. It’s not just debated in the media, it’s felt acutely by those trying to get into their first home, tenants who are finding rental properties more and more expensive, and families raising kids in cold damp rentals.

Something has got to change.

The market has failed and intervention is required. This isn’t about big government. It’s about being smart, active and using the powerful levers that only a government can use to make a difference to people’s lives.

Recently David Shearer unveiled our alternative path forward when it comes to housing.

Firstly, we need to address the fact that the Kiwi dream of owning your own home is increasingly out of reach for many. One of the main reasons housing is unaffordable is the lack of new entry-level houses. In the 1960s and 1970s, when homeownership was on the rise, 30-35% of the new houses built were entry-level homes. Today, that proportion has fallen to just 5%.

Our plan is to put in place the missing rung on the housing ladder by overseeing and investing in the largest building programme in 50 years. It will put 100,000 Kiwi families into new affordable entry-level homes within 10 years. Around two-thirds of the houses built over the first five years are likely to be in Auckland.

OUR HOUSING PLAN SUMMARY • Help Kiwis into their first home by building 100,000 modern affordable homes.

• Create a significant number of skilled jobs by launching the largest public building programme in over 50 years.

• Provide 2,000 apprenticeship opportunities for young New Zealanders through Labour’s ‘one in a million’ target.

• Generate $2 billion a year in economic growth through extra jobs and spending on construction materials.

• Use powers under the Resource Management Act to make affordable and healthy housing a top priority and an issue of ‘national significance’.

• Make it easier to build affordable housing by developing a national plan for housing that coordinates the actions of central, regional and local government.

• Ensure that providing adequate levels of affordable housing and land will be an objective for councils, meaning councils are more likely to approve projects involving affordable housing in existing suburbs and ‘greenfield’ developments.

Introduce a Healthy Homes Guarantee so that every rental home in New Zealand is a healthy home that’s warm and dry. PN JACINDA ARDERN, Labour List MP based in Auckland Central www.jacinda.co.nz

KiwiBuild houses will be sold as they are built, so over the full course of the programme there will be no cost to the Crown. Once the build is underway the programme becomes self-sustaining within the first term as the sale of one batch of houses finances the development of the next.

To kick-start the programme, there will be a one-off $1.5 billion investment. This represents a fraction of the $41 billion National has borrowed over four years, and is substantially less than the $12 billion National has committed to the Roads of National Significance. Because this is capital investment, it will not affect our path back to surplus.

We will also deal with poor quality rental housing by requiring landlords to bring their properties up to minimum standards in terms of insulation and efficient heating. We cannot stand by as families, and particularly children, live in cold, damp and mouldy homes, where their health and future suffers. This comes at a cost to all of us.

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9 LOCAL NEWS LARGEST ADVENT CALENDAR AUCKLAND HAS EVER SEEN TO BE UNVEILED ON THE WATERFRONT An artwork by New Zealand artist Dick Frizzell is just one of 25 images featuring in the largest Christmas advent calendar Auckland has ever seen being unveiled in Wynyard Quarter this month.

Council organisation Waterfront Auckland is coordinating the project in which local businesses contribute images to the 12 metre high calendar in Silo Park, with doors that open each day until 25 December to reveal a Kiwi Christmas scene.

A range of businesses associated with the area from Sealink to PwC to Air New Zealand have got on board with artists, school kids and radio listeners all contributing to the various Christmas scenes.

The calendar is being installed on a steel structure in Silo Park known as The Gantry and will sit alongside the base for the Auckland City Mission Christmas Campaign - Angel Wings.

Waterfront Auckland Chairman Bob Harvey says the Wynyard Quarter Advent Calendar is a fantastic concept. “It’s a gift from Auckland to Aucklanders and I encourage everyone to come down to see what will be a magnificent artistic creation and to pause and reflect on what Christmas means to them and how they can give back to those less fortunate.”

“It’s also a great illustration of what can be achieved through strong partnerships between the public and private sector for the benefit of the greater public good.”

In a special twist on the giving theme of the calendar, one of the days in December will open to reveal a blown-up image of an artwork by Dick Frizzell, commissioned by professional services organisation PwC for the project.

The artwork will then be auctioned by the auction house Art and Object with proceeds going to the Auckland City Mission.

Diane Robertson from the Auckland City Mission says they are extremely grateful for the generous gesture by PwC and applauds the concept for the calendar as a collective expression of goodwill.

“Community is everything when it comes to helping out people in need and the idea of bringing together a raft of players in a public project for everyone to enjoy and be a part of, is just great. The idea fits perfectly with what we do and it’s only right we have our Christmas campaign HQ stationed beside the calendar.”

There’ll be something new to see every day at the Wynyard Quarter Advent Calendar plus a range of music, outdoor cinema and other activities in Silo Park throughout the month to keep visitors entertained. PN Regular updates on times of door openings and associated activity will be posted to the website www.wynyardadventcalendar.co.nz or visit facebook.com/waterfrontAKL

BUMPER YEAR EXPECTED FOR FRANKLIN ROAD LIGHTS THE ANNUAL PROMENADE DOWN FRANKLIN ROAD TO VIEW THE MASS OF Christmas lights has just got bigger. The relocation of the Telecom Christmas Tree to Victoria Park, as well as the Mercury Christmas Light Installation also in the park, and the huge, colourful, Advent Calendar at the Gantry in Silo Park has created the inaugural Auckland Christmas Trail.

It means that families and revelers can either start their stroll at the waterfront or alternatively at the top of Franklin Road and enjoy the street’s annual gift to the people of Auckland before ambling across the park and on to Wynyard Quarter.

Event organiser and Franklin Road local Amy Calway, who also organises the BMW New Zealand Polo Open, took up the challenge for this year’s opening event and ensured it ran smoothly. It had echoes of the original opening Franklin Road legend Ross Thorby organised 19 years ago, when Dame Cath Tizard then turned on the lights.

It’s estimated that as many as 200,000 people could visit Franklin Road this year, depending on the weather. For many residents that means living out in the quieter back of their properties for December, away from the milling crowds, carol singers and bands. It’s a small price to pay, they say, for giving Aucklanders a free family event that neatly sums up all that’s good about the Christmas season.

(JANET WILSON) PN

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illustration: Michael McClintock

The Franklin lights were opened with great fanfare last week thanks to a grant from the Waitemata board which paid for the sensational LED lights around the rejuvenated Birdcage. The Auckland Philharmonia played, there was a sausage sizzle and face painters ensured the event continued its family friendly non -commercial legacy.

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9 LOCAL NEWS

Skaters, ELIJAH ROBERTSON and JAY DIXON hanging outside ARCADE

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS FOR SKATERS ARCADE IS AN INDEPENDENT SKATEBOARD SHOP AND ALL THEIR PRODUCTS are hand-picked from brands in the US, New Zealand and Australia. Their shop also functions as an outlet for K Road and Auckland’s creative community.

They are celebrating 12 Days Of Christmas starting on 12 December with a different event every single day in the lead up to Christmas. Their Facebook page will feature as an advent calendar with the events being revealed gradually: featuring collabs, product drops, photo and art exhibitions and music performances as well as gifts for everybody.

Everyone who spends over $150.00 during December goes in the draw to win a prize pack drawn on Christmas Eve featuring something from each of the 12 Days.

Total prize pack is valued at over $1,500.00. The first event is Askew One x Arcade deck release. “Trust us when we say there’s something for everyone - we have December on lock!” PN ARCADE, 22 Cross Street www.arcadestore.co.nz

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE TOHILL 9 XAVIER EGUSQUIZA’S SPRING INSTALLATION Javier or Xavier Egusquiza was born in Peru but has lived in New Zealand for the last 20 years. He has a Bachelor of Communication Science and Public Relations (Peru) and is an ardent promoter of Latin American art, dance and culture. He is a member of the Grey Lynn Community Centre, and the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. He is also an installation artist and his magical ‘Third World’ work is on display in the front garden of his house at 3 Castle Street, Grey Lynn till 16 December.

The display of 2500 miniatures set amongst garden foliage is a sight to gladden the heart. At night it is illuminated with flashing lights, disco balls, and coloured bulbs that are generated by the use of solar panels stretched above the installation. Javier has amassed the collection over many years, sourcing them from op shops, secondhand shops, two dollar shops, organic collections and donations from neighbours. The lighting effects are at their best from 7.30 to 9.30 after which they are shut down. This is an annual event to celebrate Christmas and Javier has been putting it together for 14 years.

Javier tells me he is married to a Kiwi lady who is a painter and their whole house is given over to a display of her art works that are testament to her interaction with the local South American community. This home gallery is open to the public by appointment only. Javier is in business working with the entertainment industry, being a musician himself and a dancer. He is also very busy designing and making all sorts of things. A multi-purpose cooking machine is still in the development phase but when completed will be able to make Spanish doughnuts, kebabs, chocolate, and even brew coffee.

So it’s all a go go Latino! Javier is a very exuberant and engaging personality but when enthusing on his favourite subject his English sometimes lapses into Spanish which can make conversing with him a bit of a challenge. His amazing installation has enchanted children year after year and it’s well worth a look even in the daytime.

A visit to the home gallery is another rewarding experience with every wall covered in paintings and Peruvian artefacts on display as well. To make an appointment just contact Javier at javier. latin@ihug.co.nz or call him on M: 021 200 4309.

(DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

Installation Art by XAVIER (Javier Egusquiza Zumaeta)

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9 LOCAL NEWS RIP - ROBERT VAN DER LINDEN - ROBBIE

RENUKA PRASAD: “Robbie, I knew you for a short while, but you will be missed in the office. RIP.”

Robbie passed away, suddenly on Monday 19 November at home surrounded by all his treasures.

INGER KITE: “I used to see him down on Jervois Road when we had a shop there as well as Ponsonby Road. He must have done some big kilometres in a day.

RIP Robbie.”

“Robbie will be greatly missed by all at Pt Erin House and Delamore Support Services in Herne Bay,” says Lynda Delamore, a director of Delamore Support Services, in whose care he lived.

FIONA PARDINGTON: “Bless, will miss him on the Ponsonby strip.”

He had lived in care for 20 years and his family, in particular his mother, were amazed at how many people turned up to pay their respects at his funeral last month. His two brothers, Paul and Chris (who lives in Brazil) were also present at his send off. Wayne Otter, also known as Miss K, was the celebrant at his service at Waikumete Cemetery.

Robbie, of Dutch descent, had a very good start in life. He passed his School Certificate, was a very good tennis player and became an apprentice at Hawkins Construction.

However, he developed a mental illness from which he never really recovered.

Lynda told Ponsonby News, “He was a true Ponsonby character, he walked miles and he became a real hoarder. I know the rubbish bins will be much fuller with all the treasures he will no longer collect. He wasn’t keen on washing, but he had a wardrobe full of beautiful clothing, which he rarely wore.”

We posted the news of Robbie’s passing on Facebook and were surprised at how many people knew him and were sad to hear of his passing. Here are a few messages which were posted on our “wall”.

MATHEW RAJAN: “I was shocked and am truly saddened by his death. Your memory will always remain deep within my heart. I will remember you in my thoughts and prayers. RIP Robbie.”

LILA AND SIANA VAGANA: “RIP Robbie, will miss seeing you after school.”

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ELENA KEITH: “That is really sad. He has been a part of the Ponsonby Road scene for so long.”

ANGELA BEER: “I feel rather emotional to read this, we are quite new to the area, we didn’t even know his name, even though we knew who he was. Sad to think in his death, I know more about him, that he was Robbie and he was someone’s son, brother, uncle and friend. RIP - in the arms of the angels.”

DONA WHITE: “So sad to hear this news! We gave him coins, when we had them, in our Ponsonby Road strolls and he was always so polite. Bless him.”

SIBYL MANDOW: “Very sad news, Robbie was an exceptional character and will be fondly remembered by many. RIP Robbie.”

SOPHIE JAYAWARDENE: “Thanks for posting this, I had seen him many times never knew his name, God bless his soul.”

MARTIN LEACH: “I am mainly an ‘eftpos only’ guy, often with little or no cash, so I once gave him $20! He instantly became my friend for life. He always asked me, very politely, if he could please have a copy of my freshly published, hot off the press latest issue of Ponsonby News...he liked to know what was going on locally. RIP dear friend.”

“Robert saw the world in a unique way, ‘I know I’m not seeing things as they are, I’m seeing things as I am.’” Truer words have never been spoken.

The final tribute from LYNDA DELAMORE: “Robbie was a gentle man and he will be sadly missed by us all at Pt Erin. RIP Robbie your struggle with living has now come to an end. I hope they’ve all got plenty of change for you where ever you go.” PN

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JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAP BOX WHAT WILL POPULATION INTENSIFICATION MEAN TO YOU? BACK IN APRIL THIS YEAR, I OUTLINED a possible plethora of high rise apartments in Ponsonby and Grey Lynn. No one responded. Doesn’t anybody care? When a six storey apartment block is proposed right on their doorstep, I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts there will be a huge outcry - not in my backyard!

Auckland’s population is projected to grow to between 2.2 and 2.5 million over the next 30 years. Nearly 400,000 additional dwellings will be required to house those incomers.

The draft plan states, “The quality, compact urban form underpinning the Draft Auckland Plan will focus on growth within the existing urban areas for around 60% of the new housing.”

The plan says there are increasing numbers of New Zealanders who appreciate the advantages of smaller sections, smaller houses or apartments with less maintenance.

These people include the elderly, empty nesters, young flatters, workers who want to be close to work, and migrants not wedded to the quarter acre, pavlova paradise.

There has been plenty of misinformation circulating.

So where to from here? Most of our patch will be protected from multi-storyed apartments, but there will be lots of places where up to six storeys will be allowed.

“Jervois Road could have 20 storey apartments on the Herne Bay Bowling Club site.”

Wrong.

“Ponsonby Road could have 20 storey apartments.” Wrong.

The Waitemata Local Board supports the compact city plan to restrict further urban sprawl, but it sets out over 100 recommendations to the Auckland Council’s draft unitary plan.

Grey Lynn Heights could be problematic. Great North Road is scheduled as a major urban corridor, and spare land or demolished old warehouses could free up lots of land for multi-storeyed apartments overlooking the lovely old 1900s villas which predominate in that part of town.

The board’s overall recommendations include strong protection for heritage and historic character. There should be robust notification processes, and controls to protect from demolition. They also advocate for more affordable housing.

There are planning experts, architects and landscape architects, who oppose the intensification, and say it will lead to ghettos and a considerably diminished lifestyle for thousands of city residents crammed into tiny apartments. They argue that Auckland has not been subject to huge urban sprawl by international standards, and they say mitigation methods can limit the cons of urban sprawl. One group favours a banana shaped city, largely hugging the coast from Whangarei to Hamilton.

The whole of the Waitemata Local Board’s area, apart from the city centre, will have only three zones under the new plan – terraced housing and apartment buildings, mixed housing and single house. The board believes careful consideration needs to be made to all zoning, including the application of the historic character overlay, and that the default position should be a consistent zone for entire suburban streets, with a clear policy reason for a different approach.

This opposition to the compact city will be discussed in a further article in February.

Opponents will argue that it will not be possible to build enough infill housing of sufficient quality to enable the target of 400,000 dwellings to be even close to possible.

Local residents will probably be pleased to hear that the historic character overlay that covers much of Waitemata reduces the areas for intensification.

Overall the board’s recommendations for the final unitary plan reflect careful thought about amenity, environmental protection, and even I’m personally pleased to see, an objection to genetically modified organisms being released in our area.

If you want to read more on this you should access the “Unitary Plan Waitemata Local Board Feedback.”

There must be a robust local dialogue, so that there are no big surprises, no sudden three metre walls next to old villas, no sudden demolitions in the dead of night to make way for a dozen six storey apartments.

We need certainty, not persistent anxiety, nor exhortations to buggar off to Eketahuna if we don’t like it. People who have lived in our neighbourhood for 40 or 50 years should be able to have a say in what they want. Yes, we should always read council plans, but we often don’t until it might affect us directly. And above all, let’s make certain we identify and protect our heritage buildings. (JOHN ELLIOTT) PN Feedback to johnelliott@ihug.co.nz

A TRIBUTE TO SIR OWEN WOODHOUSE EARLY NOVEMBER, THE FABIAN SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND RAN A ONE day seminar to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the short lived Kirk-Rowling Government. The event was held at Auckland Girls Grammar in the Dorothy Winstone Centre and some of our leading historians, media commentators and politicians reflected on how one of our greatest leader’s achievements still has an impact on everyday life in New Zealand.

Gerry Hill launched the event at 9.30am and Doctor Margaret Hayward, Bob Tizard, Chris Trotter, Reverend Bob Scott, and Colin James took part in a series of panel discussions throughout the day on a number of Kirk’s most notable policies. Green Party MP, Kennedy Graham touched on Nuclear Power, and Labour MP Nania Mahuta on The Womens Movement. Bob Harvey assisted by Hamish Keith ran through pivotal moments in the 1970s successful campaign he ran for the Labour party and how he came to use the catch phrase, “It’s Time”.

Sir Owen Woodhouse’s appearance was the highlight of the day. The architect of ACC, at 96 years of age, drove himself to the event and was introduced by ACC spokesperson, Andrew Little. “We are honoured to have Sir Owen at the Kirk Legacy Seminar. Norman Kirk ensured that when the scheme started under his Government it was true to Sir Owen’s original proposal.” David Shearer also acknowledged the work of Sir Owen and presented him with a framed copy of

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Sir OWEN WOODHOUSE and Labour leader DAVID SHEARER a major New Zealand Herald banner that appeared on the 1st of April, 1974. It read ‘Accident Compensation: Umbrella Covers Everyone’.

When Sir Owen delivered his clear, concise thank you speech the large audience rose as one to give him a standing ovation. The seminar ended with an address by Jacinda Ardern - The Future: Labour Takes Up the Challenge. (DEIRDRE TOHILL)

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JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD FAST OUT OF THE BLOCKS It is barely two years since the biggest shake up of local government in Auckland’s history took place.

We could have expected it to take at least one full three year term to bed the new system down, and with arguments about the secrecy of the CCOs, and the huge question of population intensification, there is a lot of water to flow down the wastewater pipelines before Auckland’s future is secure as one of the most liveable cities in the world. That is Mayor Brown’s bold ambition.

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However, our local board, Waitemata, has made a flying start. They are a good group of hard working individuals, well led by Chair Shale Chambers, who initiated a carefully put together plan as their first priority. It is a detailed three year vision, setting out priorities, with the board moving on many fronts.

Some projects, like the Tepid Baths upgrade, are legacy projects, hangovers from the old city council, or the old Western Bays Community Board.

The Board is composed of five City Vision team members, Shale Chambers, Pippa Coom, Jesse Chalmers, Christopher Dempsey, and Tricia Reade, one C and R, Greg Moyle, and an independent, Rob Thomas. The board also works closely with our elected Councillor, Mike Lee, also of City Vision.

Shale Chambers is full of praise for all members, telling Ponsonby News about Greg Moyle’s promotion of new cricket nets for Victoria Park which the board enthusiastically embraced. The independent member, Rob Thomas fits in seamlessly too.

When asked about his association with the Waitemata Local Board, Mike Lee says Shale’s leadership is a breath of fresh air in local government. Mike says, “To be honest my own day-to-day activities for the Super City would be a much more difficult proposition without the always reliable support of Shale and his team.” Lee adds, “Shale is an excellent chairman and great to work with. In sum they are good people.

Waitemata is in good hands.”

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Shale Chambers admits it has been frustrating and sheer hard work leading the setting up of a new system and bedding it in from scratch. But he tells us he will likely seek a second term at the end of next year. “It has been a real privilege and hugely rewarding,” he tells us.

And so what of progress they have made to make the Waitemata Ward a more liveable place for us all. Although Shale Chambers is modest and self effacing about his personal contribution, he is very ready to talk about their successes.

The Achievement Reports (October 2011 and June 2012) are online for anyone to read, and they certainly read impressively. Just a few examples the board can crow about.

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The Tepid Baths upgrade - this was a legacy project, but the board worked hard to see it to a magnificent conclusion. It is now an important totally renewed city asset.

Campbell Free Kindergarten restoration - another legacy project now completely renovated and about to be leased to a child oriented organisation.

The board has recognised that our area has precious few football grounds, many of which are closed half the winter because of rain, so they have included the building of two full-sized artificial turfs to be built at Seddon Fields. Once completed (in time for the 2013 soccer season) the artificial turfs will effectively double the playing and training hours per week for each field, providing an essential resource for an active and healthy community.

There is a long list of other achievements, which can be read online, but I’d like to mention several.

- Completion of the Victoria park Skate Park project - Grey Lynn and West Lynn water fountain installations - Leys Gymnasium upgrade - The return of three lamps to Ponsonby - Walkway and cycleway projects - Grey Lynn Park fruit tree planting and there are many more.

Congratulations are due to our local board for the excellent start they have made. In just two years much has been accomplished. There is plenty more to do, but the way these seven members go about the planning and execution of their prioritised plans is to be highly commended. (JOHN ELLIOTT) PN

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1. Tepid Baths refurbishment; 2-3. Pippa Coom and Jesse Chalmers at the bike rack; 4. Board members with Mike Lee outside refurbished Campbell Kindergarten; 5. Children drinking at the new Grey Lynn fountain; 6. Shale Chambers and Greg Moyle with Western Springs Football Club members; 7. Shale Chambers at the Victoria Park Skate Park. PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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HOLIDAY SEASON FUN AT MOTAT! CELEBRATE THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS FROM 14-24 DECEMBER; WITH ‘MOTAT Nights, Christmas Lights’ every Friday, Saturday and Sunday plus Christmas Eve, 8-11pm. A must-see on everyone’s Christmas Light trail with sparkling lights, live entertainment, night tram rides, Christmas displays and Christmas treats like mulled wine available to purchase. Entry is by gold coin donation.

Visitors can continue to celebrate the spirit of Christmas, when they visit MOTAT during the day (10am-5pm), by purchasing a children’s gift for charity from the MOTAT shop in return for FREE* admission, to explore the wonderful collection at MOTAT. All donated gifts will be given to the Auckland City Mission and Barnardos to help out families in need this Christmas.

From 9 December, families will love inventing and playing with MOTAT’s amazing new travelling exhibition ‘Imagination Factory’. With dozens of hand-on exhibits for children to experience and explore pistons, wheels, gears and so much more! PN To find out more about everything that’s happening at MOTAT, visit www.motat.org.nz *1-24 December 2012, some conditions apply.

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JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS A KERERU IN PONSONBY photography: Cathy Casey

It’s a wonder, with all the trees being cut down in the inner city, that there are any birds at all to see and hear. But some of our native birds are very adaptable. We see lots of tui around and hear them, especially the ones who have learned to imitate trucks backing and cats yowling. We see silver eyes too, and on the city fringe lots of pukeko.

Although they are common place in Northland, we seldom see kereru in the city. But Garry McKenzie and his wife were sitting on their deck in John Street, Ponsonby, when they saw a big fat Kereru land on the power lines and then flutter on to a tree next door.

Kereru is the New Zealand native pigeon. It grows large and fat gorging on puriri or taraire berries. It is little wonder Maori loved them in their cooking pots. A funny, but common sight in the north, is kereru drunk after eating large quantities of very ripe and fermenting berries, falling all over trees, even falling to the ground.

The native pigeon, sometimes called kukupa in the North, is a rich combination of purple, and metallic green. Not as noisy as many other birds, the kereru emits a single soft ku. As well as their favourite fruit, kereru eat the leaves of small trees, and other fruits including kahikatea, titoki, cabbage tree and karaka. Kereru have been completely protected since 1921, allowing their population to increase.

It certainly is exciting to see one in Ponsonby, but it should remind us that we must preserve enough urban tree cover for these and other birds to prosper.

If you see an unfamiliar bird in your garden or next door, take a note of its size and colouring, so you can ask an expert what it was. You can also plant trees in your garden which attract more birds. It would be a barren landscape indeed without the sight and sound of the dawn chorus. (JOHN ELLIOTT) PN

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SIMON JAMES DESIGN POPS UP IN HERNE BAY SIMON JAMES DESIGN HAS LAUNCHED A NEW POP-UP STORE FOR THE coming holiday season in Herne Bay, near Zus & Zo and close to where much of its fan base resides. This temporary retail venture carries a wide variety of home wares, lighting items, candles and magazines that will either make beautiful gifts for Christmas or self-indulging treats.

Similar to the concept store in Takapuna, the selection is tightly curated and features luxury home-ware brands such as eclectic by Tom Dixon, Alessi, Minimalux, ceramics by Gidon Bing, candles by Curio Noir as well as exclusive pieces from Jessica McCormack fine diamond jewellery. PN Opening Hours – 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday, 9am-4pm Sunday.

SIMON JAMES POP-UP STORE, 230a Jervois Road T: 09 376 6955 popup@simonjamesdesign.com

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JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

DEB FAITH pictured, above left, in the Triangle TV studio in Grey Lynn; right: a young DEB FAITH with BENNY HILL at Thames Television, Teddington Studio, 1981

TRIANGLE TV STAYS LOYAL TO ITS PRINCIPLES THE STUDIO WHERE TRIANGLE TV IN GREY LYNN SHOOTS ALL ITS programmes may seem tiny, if intimate, but Deb Faith, Triangle Producer Director for the last five years, told us that it is large compared to Al Jazeera’s New York studio which looks huge when you watch its programmes. It’s all about the way the green screen studio is worked says Deb, who produces four programmes a week, all shot in that little studio.

The big news concerning Triangle is the decision to go with SKY from next February.

Triangle (Face TV) will then reach a huge nationwide audience.

Founder and CEO Jim Blackman is thrilled that the efforts of the last 14 years have finally been appreciated. Ponsonby News was struck by the camaraderie and cooperation of the team approach, which was emphasised by Deb. “We all do everything,” she says. “No demarcation disputes here.”

Deb told us a lovely story about their listeners’ loyalty. They broadcast foreign news from a number of countries including Dutch news. One day the link broke before the Dutch weather forecast had been screened. Irate Dutch people all over New Zealand phoned to complain. Who would have thought that a Dutch New Zealander was so concerned with the weather in Amsterdam?

Deb Faith is a New Zealander, with quite an international accent. She’s worked overseas in many parts of the world including Africa. She trained as a studio camera operator, one of the first women in the field. These were huge bulky cameras, worlds away from the sexy cameras of today. Her first TV stint was in Dunedin. “We did everything then too,” she tells us. “It was great New Zealand No. 8 fencing wire work.”

Then, as all the enterprising young New Zealanders did, Deb went on her big OE. She stayed in Twickenham, and when she decided she needed to join a union to continue her camera work, she got on the phone to the nearest TV company she could find, and asked for a job. “The typical cheek and naivety of a 24 year old from the colonies,” she admitted.

The company she phoned was no other than Thames TV. To her great surprise, they invited her in for an interview. Her timing had been impeccable. A British Equal Opportunities Tribunal woman had been sniffing around Thames TV complaining how few women they employed. They had no women camera operators. And so they hired the young colonial girl, and she stayed with them for five years.

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“It was a great job, but a terribly sexist environment,” says Deb. So that was between 1979 and 1984. The whole culture would have changed a great deal in the intervening 30 years. We tend to forget the subjugation of women then, despite the fact they had the vote.

We’re connected globally now, and New Zealanders are no longer considered the mild mannered country cousins they were in the 80s. They were regarded as honest, hard working and reliable. “Londoners didn’t work too hard back then”, says Deb. They were ready to give Deb a go, and she was articulate and I’ll bet an amusing companion and work colleague to boot.

After Thames, Deb worked on a lot of independent leftie and women’s campaigns. One of the many highlights of that time was her first visit to Africa, to a UN End of Decade Women’s conference, as part of an English film crew making a documentary produced

by Deb’s good friend and Scottish black woman, Brenda. They filmed some amazing women, including Masai women, and then did a big road trip across country to the Mara where the Masai come from. “Amazing times.” Deb shakes her head. But she says she’s shot all her shots, except Antarctica perhaps.

Deb Faith has been with Triangle five years. “It felt like I’d died and gone to heaven when I joined Triangle,” says Deb, nostalgically. “I’ve always tried to work on things that are useful for people to see, not just fillers around advertisements. To make something worthwhile it’s about content content content.”

Always Deb wants informed opinion. She bemoans much that our current government does - especially destroying our once egalitarian society. The rich-poor gap has widened alarmingly in recent years. Deb modestly calls herself a handy dog - capable of a wide range of skills, and considers it the luck of the Irish to be in such a great job with Triangle. After talking with her for over an hour, I’d say it’s Triangle who is lucky to have her. She is a warm, articulate highly intelligent communicator, with a great sense of fun - but a professional to her very core.

The new relationship with SKY won’t change Deb Faith, nor will it change the independent nature of Triangle TV. The future is rosy. In the intimate little studio at Triangle even politicians like Winston Peters feel at home and sometimes let their guard down - they feel they are among friends whatever their political stripe, and Deb Faith and Jim Blackman and the team encourage that intimacy. It’s like playing happy families.

(JOHN ELLIOTT) PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

9 LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE TOHILL

BY THE MOON AND THE STARS NICHOLAS WINTON, A 30 YEAR OLD STOCKBROKER WAS about to leave for a skiing holiday in Switzerland when a phone call from a friend at the British Embassy in Prague put an end to his holiday plans. He was asked to help with the influx of refugees following the Nazi occupation of the Sudetenland.

Winton realised war was inevitable and, alarmed by the violence against the Jewish community in Germany, determined to organise a rescue operation for endangered children in Czechoslovakia. Eva Hayman, now living peacefully in Herne Bay, was one of those children.

Word soon got around about Winton’s endeavours and hundreds of parents came to the office he set up on a dining room table in his hotel. He managed to establish the Czech Kindertransport in 1939 before returning to England to find sponsors and obtain the necessary documents from the relevant authorities. The Nazi presence had become an increasing menace and Eva’s parents were among those who made the agonising decision to send their children away from danger.

On March 14, 1939 the first transport of children left Prague. Seven more followed, landing at Liverpool Street station where foster parents waited to meet their charges.

The last trainload of children left 29 June, with Eva and her sister, Vêra aboard. Their parents watched as the train moved away carrying 200 Czech children to an unknown land. Eva’s father explained that he could not bear it if they were to suffer when there was an opportunity to send them away. As they were leaving her mother whispered, “Look at the stars at night - the moon and the stars will be the messengers of our love.”

Her father’s last words adjured her to confide her thoughts and activities to a diary so that when the hostilities ended they could learn about that part of their children’s lives.

As they departed Eva and her little sister waved and waved farewell, holding back their tears till their parents were out of sight. On 3 September the biggest transport of children was to follow but on that day Hitler invaded Poland and all borders controlled

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by Germany were closed. 250 families waited in vain for a train that didn’t appear. A day earlier it would have come through.

Two of Eva’s cousins were on that train and died in the Bergen -Belsen concentration camp.

Eva kept true to her father’s wish and was an assiduous diarist all through the war years till the dreadful day in July 1945 when she learned her parents had died in concentration camps. They record the fears for her parent’s safety, the homesickness, adjusting to a different culture, the gratitude to those who helped her cope. She couldn’t bear to re-visit the diaries for many years then finally decided to translate them for her children to read, and so gain deeper understanding of their mother. Her original intention wasn’t to write a book but in the end she agreed to having them published, because they tell a story that must be told. Much of the book is heartrending and it was very hard for Eva to relive the most intense six years of her life.

After the war Eva married, had two children and emigrated to New Zealand. When her husband took an offer to practice medicine in Australia she was meant to follow, but found she couldn’t uproot herself once again. Instead, she went to university and gained her BA and MA while nursing part-time. She gave talks to schools and at U3A meetings emphasising the need for tolerance of all races, religions and beliefs.

In 1978 she visited Prague which was incredibly painful and made her aware that what she went through influenced her whole life and she is content in her adopted country so far from the turmoils of Europe. At a reunion of survivors she finally met Sir Nicholas Winton and said to him, “Thank you for my life.”

From her eyrie at the end of Hamilton Road, where she has lived for a long time, Eva looks down on the beach where she swims. She plays bridge regularly and walks to New World to shop. She has formed many friendships through U3A meetings, her children have grown up here and she has two grandchildren who give her great joy.

Her book is out of print now but can be loaned from the library. (DEIRDRE TOHILL)

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9 LOCAL NEWS BECOME SOMEONE’S ANGEL AUCKLAND CITY MISSION IS A PASSIONATE, DYNAMIC, SOCIAL SERVICE organisation that helps Aucklanders in desperate need by providing emergency care, ongoing support and advocacy. The mission’s services include emergency assistance (food parcels, clothing, accommodation and health care), family support, addiction services, medical services and homeless outreach programmes.

Every day the mission sees people who, despite their best efforts, struggle to make ends meet. They are forced to choose between a doctor’s visit and putting dinner on the table, paying the power bill or buying groceries. Unexpected illness, redundancy or even a relationship break-up can quickly turn a family’s situation from manageable to desperate. Often coming to the mission to ask for help is an absolute last resort.

Each Christmas the mission supports thousands of people who have no-one else to turn to. Throughout December it expects to provide 2000 emergency food parcels, distribute approximately 20,000 Christmas presents and host around 2500 people at New Zealand’s largest community Christmas lunch. This work is only made possible thanks to the wonderful generosity of the mission’s donors.

Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson says the mission both gives and receives at Christmas time. “It is such a privilege to see children’s faces light up when they receive a present, or the relief on parents’ faces when they receive a food parcel. It is also a privilege to experience the wonderful generosity of Aucklanders as they donate money, presents and time. We are extremely grateful.”

This Christmas the mission is asking Aucklanders to support its Christmas appeal and ‘Become Someone’s Angel’. Angel wings will be appearing all around the city, offering people a novel way by which they can support the appeal, while visitors to Silo Park will get the chance to add their own Christmas message to Auckland on a giant tree of angel wings. Visitors to the park will also have the opportunity to get their photo taken as an ‘angel’ and displayed on the mission’s angel wall.

Keep your eye out for the wings around the city and Become Someone’s Angel this Christmas by donating to the Auckland City Mission. In addition to its ‘Become Someone’s Angel Appeal, the mission is calling for Aucklanders to volunteer for its street appeal on 14 and 15 December. PN For more information about volunteering at the Auckland City Mission, or to make a donation, call T: 09 303 9209 or visit: www.aucklandcitymission.org.nz

Pictured above left: DEB, SALLY, DAVID,JULIE from REPUBLIC; right: JACKIE PETTER, LINDA ROCHE, LOUISE FLEMING, FELICITY SCOTT, ANTOINETTE JOHNSTON, TRACEY LEWIS, KAYE BOYLE, BONNIE COLLINSON and ALISON DAVIDSON

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JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS HALLOWEEN IN ARDMORE ROAD Halloween in Ardmore Road lived up to its reputation as a fun place to be. Locals had a ball, and the predicted hordes from south Auckland did not arrive. The only outsiders I met were three young people from the North Shore who had heard about the goodies to be had on Ardmore Road.

Families opened their doors to each other in a very friendly way. Denise and Mike had a big bowl of lollies to give to visitors, and their children: Toby (4) and Timothy (2) were enjoying the fun but hoping there would be lollies left over for them.

Further up the road I ran into Helen and her German husband Ralf with son Marco, enjoying the evening. They told us about the German Halloween called fasching, where everyone dresses up like many do here, in scary medieval outfits. Fasching celebrates the end of winter and welcomes spring. This family maintained that Halloween was a German, Irish, Scottish and Mexican celebration.

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Teenagers with bulging lolly bags testified to the generosity of Ardmore residents, especially several groups of Ponsonby Intermediate students.

One pair of women were wandering up the street, glass of wine in hand, looking for their children who had gone awol. They didn’t seem particularly worried, and a little later called out “ We found them.”

It was a fun night, but I suspect a few sore tummies would be the result of a massive sugar overload. (JOHN ELLIOTT) PN

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1. Two local mums in search of lost children; 2. A group of Ponsonby Intermediate pupils; 3. Anger, Scream, the Face and Lurch - a scary local group; 4. Ponsonby Intermediate pupils with bulging goodie bags: Rainer, Caitlin, Flynn and Jazman; 5. Mike and Denise and family. 6. Daisy, centre with her two friends from the North Shore.

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE TOHILL 9

MAIN REACTOR - AUCKLAND’S ANSWER TO WETA WORKSHOP GREY LYNN RESIDENT, ROGER MURRAY HAS BEEN QUIETLY WORKING AWAY in the film industry since he was just a lad out of art school. He didn’t stay the full distance at the Auckland Society of Arts but before leaving he put on a couple of sculptor shows which was an early indication of where his future lay. He also studied film-making at the school and put together some animations that made it into film festivals, and two short films he worked on with other students did quite well. After their completion he hired the old Mt Eden Stables in Korari Street and mounted two further sculptor shows. Two men who subleased space from him were in the film industry. One of them had been doing props and sets but wasn’t into it anymore and started passing work on to Roger.

So at the tender age of 23 he had a full-on workshop doing shop fittings and getting props work for TV and big set pieces for comedy shows. He did the first Shortland Street set in 1983 then finally in 1993 he worked on his first overseas show called Mysterious Island, the sequel to Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, which was an adaption of Jules Verne’s famous novel. This was a one month contract that stretched out to eight and set Roger on his way to larger projects.

When Rob Gillies of Split Enz fame took over as Production Designer for Pacific Renaissance Pictures he met with Roger and asked him if he wanted to do the props for an upcoming show called Xena. At that stage Roger was only 24 years of age and a babe in the woods. He asked how long would the contract be for and was told it might go on for about seven months. He set up a workshop in the old Turners Building, did all the props design, was hands-on prop making at first then went on to full-time management on a show that ended up running for six years. At the same time he ran workshops for two other shows, Jack of all Trades and Cleopatra.

In the 2000s he did all the set dressing props for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and its sequel, Prince Caspian after which he went out and set up his own workshop in Henderson which he ran with two other guys for four years. During that time they did all the sets and costumes for The Last Samurai, four different movies and a lot of TV productions. After four years of feverish activity Roger bought a workshop in Keeling Road and in 2004 formed his own company, Main Reactor. His wife, Felicity Letcher came aboard and they now work together very successfully as a husband and wife team. Felicity does all the budgeting, proposals and accounts and Roger does all the designs and creative management.

The new company has done many low budget New Zealand films, some large American films, the whole Spartacus series, and The Legend of the Seeker, a Walt Disney television series that went on for three years. This year they’ve done all the props and prosthetics for a major feature film, Evil Dead, a horror movie that finished in July. They should be in down-time right now but two further projects are in the pipeline.

Roger doesn’t get anxious about rest periods anymore, he just gets anxious that he’s not getting enough of them, which is a fortunate situation to be in.

The problem with being so busy is there’s no time left to spend on the business which is a bit of a conundrum. They badly needed a new website which will soon be launched and Roger has paid attention to rebranding with his choice of name. He hit upon the unusual title when he saw an image in a book of a bronze plaque going into the core of a 1950s nuclear reactor. He chose to call his company Main Reactor because it sounds strong and egocentric and something he has to live up to. It provokes questions about what his company does so that’s part of the branding, getting people to ask those questions. He’s very glad not to be known as Roger’s Models and Props and there’s no doubt that as a title, Main Reactor has more of a ring to it than Weta Workshop!

(DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

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LOCAL NOVELS HOT GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS Two award-winning Auckland authors have written outstanding novels this year, says Carole Beu, owner of The Women’s Bookshop. One is historical and the other is very modern, but both would make great gifts and engrossing summer reads.

THE OPEN WORLD by STEPHANIE JOHNSON ($38) Elizabeth Smith is a strong, independent woman who voyaged from England to New Zealand and back, living here from the 1840s to the 1860s, and leaving two adult sons, one as a judge with the Native Land Court. Colonial life and our early relationships with Maori are vividly depicted, with well-known missionaries and judges coming to life.

Impeccably researched and written with Stephanie’s usual vigour and stylish wit, this novel is not only totally absorbing – it is an important contribution to our history.

SOON by CHARLOTTE GRIMSHAW ($38) The PM David Hallwright, his colleagues, friends and family, enjoy a luxurious beach holiday north of Auckland.

Gynecologist Simon Lampton and his wife have been especially befriended - and if the complications in Simon’s life leak out, they could bring down the Government.

Charlotte drills beneath the surface of these beautiful, privileged people to challenge their values, attitudes, and our whole political/social system. This is bold, bitingly satire that is utterly exhilarating. PN Recommended by Carole Beu from THE WOMEN’S BOOKSHOP 105 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 4399 www.womensbookshop.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS 9 LOCAL CYCLIST IN FAST LANE

The neighbourhood became his, as he rode to and from school and perfected his skills at Tole Street bowl, Western Park and Victoria Park. Frequent trips to the forest, mountain biking became a weekend norm until his parents Jim and Debbie bought him his first road bike in 2010. He joined the Parnell College cycling team and extended his horizons to the outer edges of Auckland as he embarked on long training rides with his friends.

Now at Auckland Grammar, he has tasted success being part of the team winning the Auckland Team Time Trial series and placing second at nationals. Logan gained the support of local bike shop CYCO and Trek, who were impressed with, not only his ability but his great attitude. He won the Bike NZ Summer Series. Achieving good results in under 19 events, Logan was selected for the New Zealand under 19 development team to race in the Australian Nationals and the Canberra junior tour, where he relished the increased competition and contributing to a successful team.

2013 will see Logan studying sport and recreation at AUT and having again been chosen for the development squad, he looks forward to continuing chasing his dreams.

Knowing Logan, he will probably catch them. PN

DARKLIGHT: INSPIRED BY ‘ART IN THE DARK’

photography: Martin Leach

ST MARY’S BAY RESIDENT and cyclist, 17 year old Logan Griffin, has always been in a hurry. From an early age, Logan was keen on, and good at, a wide range of sports. Achieving representative level in soccer and tennis, Logan always rode for fun. His first bike was bought from CYCO when he was four years old and from that moment on he loved cycling.

ANNE SIM, OWNER OF SANTOS CAFE ON PONSONBY ROAD SENT US A video link for the billboard advertisement that has been running each night since Friday 2 November. “The lead in time was rather short in order for the first DarkLight installation to happen in conjunction with Art in The Dark”, she explained, “There will be another two DarkLight projections happening over the next three to six months. These will be aligned with existing events within the Ponsonby event calendar.” PN www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMK4L430SVw

MANDY B COLLECTION @ THREAD DESIGN DESIGNER AND LOCAL MUM, MANDY Barker has recently moved into Thread Design in Richmond Road, Grey Lynn - the trio held a party last month and showed off MandyB’s new collection to customers and friends.

Pictured below: KATE COLLIS, MANDY BARKER and SARAH SADGROVE. PN

photography: Martin Leach

www.threaddesign.co.nz www.mandyb.co.nz

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9 LOCAL NEWS BEAUT BOOK: HOME SEWN The New Zealand Fashion Museum recently released its second book, HOME SEWN - a must for all lovers of New Zealand fashion. Doris de Pont provides a fascinating chapter on the history and evolution of home sewn fashion in New Zealand, and ten designers share behind-the-scene personal stories - many that have never been told before: Company of Strangers, Cybèle, Katie-maree Cole, Lela Jacobs, Papercut, Starfish, TK Store, twenty-seven names, Vaughan Geeson and WORLD. Best of all, the book is also a compendium of ten patterns gifted by these luminaries of the fashion world in New Zealand. With colour photographs from the fashion runway, simple instructions and how-to tutorials, HOME SEWN gives you the tools you need to create your own designer garments at home.

Make your own ‘twenty seven names’ dress, or ‘tkstore’ lounge suit!

HOME SEWN costs $45 (including postage anywhere in New Zealand) and can be ordered by emailing Dianne@fashionmuseum.co.nz – or purchased at ‘all good bookshops’. Every book purchased contributes to the New Zealand Fashion Museum’s fundraising – which means they can bring us more fashion exhibitions and tell more stories from New Zealand’s rich fashion history. PN NEW ZEALAND FASHION MUSEUM, www.fashionmuseum.org.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS 9 FIVE SECRETS ON STYLE FROM LUSH STYLISTS Whether you are styling your home, an event, a dinner party or even yourself it’s the small things that make all the difference.

Fashions and trends come and go and our lives are ever changing.

Here are five style secrets from interior designer, image consultant and event stylist Julia Turnwald of LUSH Stylists that will help you keep up with the latest looks.

Break all the rules! It is important to have cohesion with your look however you don’t have to have everything in just one style or colour tone. Dare to be different!

Consider the overall look – whether styling a table, doing up your home or even yourself ensure that you give each element as much attention as the other. When looking at interior design or events we should never forget ceilings or lighting, these will add dimension and atmosphere to a space. When looking at your own personal look don’t forget that what is happening under your clothes creates the foundation.

Pick a colour palette and stick to it! Too many colours can be overwhelming, the best looks are created with three to four colours in mind.

Have fun – style isn’t like marriage you don’t have to commit to the same look forever!

Never ever underestimate accessories! Creating a style is all about you, your lifestyle and your personality, accessories are the key to bringing a look together.

If you are looking to create the very best look for your home or business or want help creating a spectacular event or table setting then LUSH Stylists offer a comprehensive range of services that cater from small to large budgets. PN LUSH STYLISTS, julia@lushstylists.co.nz, M: 021 841 851 www.lushstylists.co.nz

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JAY PLATT

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Green clean basics kit $39.90 @ ecostore www.ecostore.co.nz; Zinc candle holder & candles $65 @ World Beauty www.worldbrand.co.nz; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II ‘Solar powered royal wave’ $32.50 @ Presentz, Grey Lynn; ‘fagus toys’ made from Beech wood ‘Digger’ $219.90, ‘Jeep’ $149.90 @ be ba bo www.bebabo.co.nz; Ornate wooden box with drawers $49.99 @ Trade Aid Ponsonby www.tradeaid.org.nz; Chocolate coloured leather ‘Holden’ satchel $499 @ Marvel www.marvelmenswear.co.nz; ‘Elf’ plush toy $33 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; Cusinart ‘Citrus’ juicer $69.95 @ Milly’s www.millyskitchen.co.nz.

STYLING: Jay Platt PHOTOGRAPHY: Danilo Santana David, Fisher Santana

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Large cushion ‘Cat’ $239, Mini cushion ‘Pug’ $89.95, Mini cushionn ‘Poodle’ $89.95 @ the Object Ob Room www.theobjectroom.co.nz; 100% natural beeswax remove $15 @ www.askew.co.nz; Yellow pug candle ‘Sam’ $59 @ World ‘Globe Lantern’ $69.90 ecostore @ www.ecostore.co.nz; ‘Stemgem’ Strawberry stem remover w Beauty www.worldbrand.co.nz; Damien Hirst ‘Virtue’ bone china mug $ 49 @ Design55 www.design55.co.nz; Neon Pink ‘The Warrior’ $289 @ the Object Room www.theobjectroom.co.nz; Aerial 7 ‘Tank Mondrian’ headphones $149.90 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; www Orange vase $154 @ Rebublic www.republichome.com; ‘Elf on the Shelf’ toy/book box set $69.90 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz PN

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY PINTXOS - AUCKLAND’S FIRST TRADITIONAL PINTXOS STYLE TAPAS BAR Jeremy Warnock, owner of Grand Central, has recently opened Pinxtos, his new tapas bar, just around the corner in the new MacKelvie Street precinct – Pintxo is pronounced “pinch o” – the word literally meaning “thorn” or “spike”.

“A pintxo is a snack, typically eaten in bars in northern Spain and they are especially popular in the Basque Country. A pintxo is usually eaten as a small snack while hanging out with friends and they are traditionally accompanied by a glass of young white wine or a local beer,” Jeremy tells us.

Simply grab a plate and help yourself to any of the pintxos available – priced at $2.50 each (the range changes continually, so keep an eye out for the chef delivering new plates!) Find a table, order a wine or beer, either directly from the bar, or from a waiter.

As you eat your pintxos, collect the “spikes” (toothpicks etc) in the glass holder. Feel free to go back and have as many as you desire and watch out for the plates of hot pintxos being served by the waiters.

When it is time to leave, simply take your “spikes” up to the bar and pay accordingly.

Pintxos is open six days, from 1pm until late. They serve a range of craft beer and local wines, along with a wide selection of Spanish wine. They have a beautiful sunny courtyard – an ideal setting for an after work drink and pintxos. PN

photography: Nikki Rhind

PINTXOS, 65A Mackelvie Street T: 09 360 1260.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY CHAPEL’S LUKE DALLOW PONDERS WHAT’S ON THE MENU THIS CHRISTMAS Like dear old Granny Dallow used to say, “F*ck me is it Christmas time again already?!” Of course more often than not, we’d have to tell her no, we’re not magic elves, we’re your grandchildren and we’re just here to see you because mum made us come … but right now she would be 100 percent correct.

And do you know how I know? Because Christmas is the second best thing to happen each summer, after the launch of Chapel’s summer menu. And despite Mother Nature’s best efforts to convince us that, unlike Santa Claus, summer no longer exists, we’ve only gone and launched this year’s version for your seasonal delectation already. You lucky, lucky summer-loving buggers.

I’ve never been much of a turkey botherer myself, and since the oinkers get a rough enough deal as it is at this time of year, my new summer menu branches out beyond the seasonal staples to provide a perfect antidote to the traditionally heavy Christmas fayre.

Personal favourites include the mouthwateringly delicious snapper slider with watercress and mayo; the scotch fillet sandwich served with fries on toasted ciabatta and a whole medley of flavours; and the pulled lamb bruschetta with smashed peas, feta and mint on grilled ciabatta. All are absolutely mmmmmm – and the best thing is, you can enjoy these all summer long, not just for that week of gluttony in late December.

So with the rest of summer sorted, I’ve been thinking about how I should spend Christmas this year, weighing up the offers that have been flooding in. The first invitation to come through was via email from old Kimi Dotcom, wondering if me and Mrs Dallow might be interested in a Stollen-eating competition out at the famous Coatesville mansion … for “a mega Christmas up-load party”. Now I’m a pretty competitive guy, and I certainly don’t like saying no to cake, but I’ve also got to where I am today by being able to see a no-win situation. So tactically and tactfully we had to say a big “nein” to the big man.

Next up I received an invitation from the New Zealand Cricket Board to join the Black Caps for a special Christmas five day test extravaganza, beginning on 23 December. I have to admit to being very tempted, but this being the Black Caps there was too strong a likelihood of it all being over by lunch on the third day, so I also turned down their appeal!

Shortly after saying no to the cricketers, I got a call from a Chris Martin. I initially thought it was the Black Caps again, trying to get me to change my mind, but turns out it was the fella from Coldplay. Apparently Gwynneth cooks a mean nut roast, and he’d enjoyed the food so much when he’d popped in to Chapel for lunch while he was here, that he wanted us to pop over for Christmas dinner and bring a plate.

Everything was going great until we had some sort of misunderstanding about the apple stuffing, and I’ve not heard back since. I have tried ringing him, but haven’t managed to get through yet. I guess nobody said it was easy, but no one ever said it would be this hard!

But enough about my own potentially made-up dilemmas, there’ll be plenty happening at Chapel through December and January to keep you amused. If you haven’t done so already, sign up for my new newsletter, Six Days plus Sunday, to keep up to date with what’s coming up and the chance to win bar tabs the easy way.

Go online to register at www.chapel.co.nz, and have yourself a very merry Christmas!

And see you at the bar… PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY ALL CHANGE AT DIDA’S? CHANGE SOMETIMES MAKES ME NERVOUS. So when I heard a rumour changes were afoot at Jervois Road institution Dida’s, a feeling of dread washed over me. Auckland’s ever-evolving hospitality scene means a barrage of choice for the consumer, but often you’ll turn up at some muchhyped newcomer only to discover the buzz was merely that. Buzz.

And somewhere between design stage and delivery the owners have lost sight of why we customers want to be there in the first place. We want something real.

There was never any danger of that happening at Dida’s. From the day they opened the doors, the Jakicevich family set a benchmark, by which the enjoyment of great food and world-class wine in Auckland could be measured. There was a heart and soul to the place – something hard to replicate while remaining authentic.

And no wonder. Dida’s Wine Lounge is on the same site grandfather Josef, who was granted one of the first wine re-sellers licences, owned his greengrocery, placing the family right at the centre of Auckland’s epicurean heritage.

So it was with a degree of trepidation I visited recently. What were these dreaded changes? Was it those chocolate leather couches? They looked new; they were certainly very comfortable.

The wine list? It was expertly constructed as always but there are so many wines by the glass it was impossible to try them all in one visit. The menu? Maybe; except I always order the Patatas Bravas and Wrapped Prawns. Heaven. Maybe it was the huge range of malt whiskies? Or the massive new selection of craft beers? I’m going again on Sunday afternoon to find out. PN www.didas.co.nz

THE COFFEE STATION SERVING FOOD FOR THE SOUL THE COFFEE STATION SITUATED IN THE HEART OF JERVOIS ROAD IS ALL about bringing together three things that make them worth a visit: great food, great coffee and great service. Their delicious menu is made up of a range of homemade treats that they believe are good for the soul. Just to name a few: the ever popular eggs Benedict is perfect for breakfast, or for lunch try their homemade orange pancakes, Cajun chicken salads or seafood chowder.

If it’s a quick snack you want to complement your coffee then they say you really must try their mouth-watering cheese scones, coconut chocolate muffins and old fashion lemon curd and banana muffins; all freshly baked everyday. They even bake their own seven grain bread.

To ensure they offer only the very best coffee, they use New Zealand Huhtamaki Coffee Awards 2011-2012 supreme award winning beans from Coffee Lab and they take care to brew the beans to perfection.

So if you want a value for money breakfast, a leisurely morning tea, a more substantial lunch option or an afternoon pick-me-up, then The Coffee Station is worth a visit.The brilliant food options and the scrumptious coffee are brought together by fantastic service from Coffee Station’s friendly and helpful staff. PN Their opening hours are: Monday - Friday 7am - 4pm, Saturday 7.30am - 4pm, Sunday 8am - 4pm. Like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/coffeestation.nz COFFEE STATION, 38 Jervois Road T: 09 376 8072

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY: REBECCA JONES EAT YOUR WAY AROUND GREY LYNN AS NEIGHBOURHOODS THE WORLD OVER DO, THE LANDSCAPE OF GREY Lynn has changed over the years. The aged are moving out and a more youthful population is moving in. They have different needs than previous residents, different shops, cafes, bars and restaurants are required. Money is being spent renovating and beautifying this once tired neighbourhood and there are many new places to eat and some that have withstood the test of time.

If you drive up Williamson Avenue from Ponsonby towards the mega intersection of Great North Road, Tuarangi Road and Surrey Crescent, you might be excused from stopping, because it really is all about driving. There seem to be so few places to park and suddenly you have steered your car down Chinaman’s Hill and missed the opportunity. There are a few secret places to park though and if you live in the neighbourhood and walk, you’ll know it is worth your while stopping to enjoy the culinary delights on offer.

Turn left at the old Grey Lynn Post Office, now Kokako, and then a quick left into the driveway next to the excellent butcher and you’ll find plenty of parking in behind. Or keep driving past the bus stop and there’s always a park just around the bend by The Surrey Pub. There’s a lot of street parking on Tuarangi Road (and there’s a wasted space behind Porse which could be the most excellent car park if someone would take away the concrete blocks. Does anyone know why we can’t use it?). Surrey Crescent and Coleridge Street present plenty of parking too.

Occam is a popular sunny spot with locals for breakfast, lunch, coffee or a relaxed weekend brunch. Dinner by the open fire this winter was enticement enough to leave home and the bonus was great food and service to go with it. Occam has been in Grey Lynn for years with different owners and staff personalities giving it character.

The current owners have spruced it up and it is worth giving them a go, if you haven’t been in for a while.

When a restaurant sells, sometimes the new owner will make changes that don’t sit well with the established clientele and the business suffers when they leave. Not so for Jeremy at Mondial. He knew when to leave well enough alone and it’s still a great neighbourhood local bar with super food and slick service.

Tart is newly opened and not only sells pastries and sweet treats, there are super filled rolls made with fresh baked bread; pies and savouries too. This is a family affair and you might find one of the kids practicing on the piano outside. You can have a go too if you want to.

Mediterranean flavours have influenced the food at Urban Jungle for 15 years and those in the know love their generosity. You won’t leave hungry that’s for sure. Across the road there are two relatively new kids on the block. Tango opened this year and they make fabulous pizza and pasta. Owner Alex hails from Argentina and he serves food that could make you dance the tango!

Don’t let the flashing coloured lights put you off Empress of India. The usual Indian food is on offer but if you eat their specials you will be surprised by the flavour sensations.

Coconut rice is very nice too.

There was such a hue and cry at the loss of our old post office and it is still a shame it had to go, at least there are still postal facilities in the neighbourhood and Kokako is a fabulous cafe to fill the space. Their famous coffee is packed on site and the menu is fully vegetarian with special mention of their organic focus and sustainable practices.

You don’t actually notice there’s no meat on the menu because of the imaginative use of ingredients.

Just around the bend is somewhere to go for nostalgic comfort food. The Surrey Pub restaurant menu is exceptionally well priced. No frozen, micro-waved flavourless food here. It’s all made on the premises, dishes like lamb and herb rissoles or beef and beer pie warm your cockles and they have a wood-fired pizza oven too.

As this issue of Ponsonby News went to press, we noticed Cafe 7 had closed, but a sign in the window explained that a new French café and crêperie were about to open.

There are also the usual fast food outlets and take-away places including Thai delivery; Turkish kebabs; pizza; Chinese and fish and chips. Grey Lynn’s diversity of food styles reflects the changing population of its community. I expect we’ll see a great many more changes in the coming years as Grey Lynn gentrifies. It’s still a bit quirky and there are interesting people to watch so I suggest you find a space for yourself and enjoy what’s on offer. (REBECCA JONES) PN

OCCAM is a popular sunny spot with locals for breakfast, lunch, coffee or a relaxed weekend brunch. We noticed Cafe 7 had closed. A sign in the window says it all

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LIZ WHEADON: WINE, GLORIOUS WINE

CELEBRATIONS WITH CHAMPAGNE The range of champagnes available can be somewhat overwhelming and often leads us to stick to the tried and true, which is a shame really as there are so many champagne houses, large and small, that represent excellent value and a great alternative to your favourite drop. With champagne more than any other wine, it’s often a brand that you’ll be familiar with rather than the style of the champagne itself.

Non vintage champagnes are often referred to as the house style, the signature if you like. Non vintage champagne is made from wine harvested from many years and blended together to make a consistent style year in and year out. The range in styles of non vintages on the market is broad, the different characters resulting from a number of different things – including: • The age of the base wine and whether it was aged in oak or not • The number of wines blended together and the predominant year in the blend • The ageing before release - whilst the minimum ageing is 15 months, many often have more • Proportion of premier and grand cru vineyards in the blend • The grape varieties in the wine – is it chardonnay dominant, pinot dominant for example • The dosage – the little addition before the final closure for the bottle is applied • Varying percentages of production that comes off owned vineyards and those that come from purchased grapes TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH THIS MAZE, FROM THE LIGHTER STYLE TO THE RICHER AND FOOD FRIENDLY CHAMPAGNES: The lighter styles – great for an aperitif and a party - listed from light to medium • Moet & Chandon non vintage • Champagne Mumm non vintage • Drappier Carte d’Or non vintage • Champagne Laurent Perrier non vintage • Champagne Piper Heidsieck non vintage • Champagne Taittinger non vintage • Champagne Moutard non vintage Medium weight – for an aperitif, or with light snacks: listed from the lighter end of medium to richer end • Champagne Pol Roger non vintage • Charles Courbet • Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin non vintage • Champagne Delamotte Brut • Philipponnat non vintage • Drappier Carte Blanche non vintage The weightier end of the scale – excellent food wines • Champagne Charles Heidsieck non vintage • Bollinger non vintage With all that information, my recommendation is to first buy a light, medium and weightier champagne, work out the style that suits you – then explore the different houses.

Have a great Christmas with loads of champagne – here’s a favourite quote of mine from Lilly Bollinger: “I only drink champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad.

Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone.

When I have company I consider it obligatory.

I trifle with it if I’m not in a hurry and drink it when I am, otherwise I never touch the stuff unless I am thirsty.” (LIZ WHEADON) www.glengarry.co.nz PN

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WHAT’S HOT AT SABATO GOURMET GIFTS AND HAMPERS AT SABATO Delight and give thanks in the most delicious way with a gorgeous hamper or artisan indulgence from their generous selection.

Sabato hampers are brimming with carefully hand-picked gourmet goodies, nestled in charming baskets and boxes, and complete with recipes to help the recipient make the most of their gift. They are also happy to work with you to custom create a unique gift, original to you or to your business.

They welcome corporate enquiries, and can set you up with an account to make the process simple and straightforward.

Visit their Mt. Eden showroom (open 7 days) or browse their range online. PN SABATO, 57 Normanby Road T: 09 630 8751 www.sabato.co.nz

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY FARRO FRESH – CHANGING THE WAY WE SHOP FARRO FRESH HAS BEEN A FANTASTIC addition to our neighborhood and if you haven’t started making Farro Fresh a part of your regular shopping routine, now is the time. When you initially walk in, you would instantly think, wow this must be an expensive place to shop, but it isn’t.

There is an amazing array of well priced produce, with a huge variety of hard to find items such as micro greens and baby vegetables. The meat is also excellent and very well priced. Check out their butterflied legs of lamb. Farro certainly has the most incredible range of products, so don’t be in a hurry, take your time and really look around.

What’s great about Farro is they specialise in New Zealand artisan suppliers, and support the smaller producers throughout the country. The staff at Farro seems to love everything about food, so if it is in a cookbook they generally stock it. Farro is a perfect place to stock up with all your pantry essentials, whether it is vacuum packed meats to go on holiday with, par baked breads or some of those more unusual ingredients like sumac or preserved lemons.

CLAIRE ALDOUS of Dish magazine was at FARRO FRESH in Grey Lynn last month. She prepared a delicious pork tapas dish using fabulous Spanish ingredients from Farro - quince paste. Although we weren’t there Hannah Jennings-Voykovich, Assistant Editor at Dish assures us it was divine!

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If you are looking for an easy Christmas feast, you can’t go past Farro’s Free Range De-boned Turkey roasts. These are exclusive to Farro Fresh. The team at Farro has worked with Ray McVinnie to ensure the stuffing is not only delicious but also preservative free. These Turkeys have the SPCA tick, and come complete with a roasting tin! Simply defrost and roast. PN FARRO FRESH GREY LYNN, 34 Westmoreland Street T: 09 360 0499 www.farrofresh.co.nz

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY BURGER WISCONSIN – SIMPLY BETTER BURGERS FOR PONSONBY LOCALS

The first store was set up in 1989 and was an immediate success.

There are now 22 stores around New Zealand, providing gourmet premium burgers, such as ‘venison and Otago plum’, ‘minted lamb’ and ‘chicken, avocado and bacon’.

Phil Renton, Hayden Hall, Oliver Sweeney, Richard Keith and Dean Reynish.

All are born and bred in New Zealand and so are often asked why the name Burger Wisconsin? Well, their name salutes the place where the burger was first invented, Wisconsin. Local Ponsonby Burger Wisconsin is proud to be part of this New Zealand owned group who are leading the way for delicious and healthy takeaway food.

“All our fresh ingredients come from reputable New Zealand suppliers who understand our fresh, natural, premium top quality supply needs and who also share our healthy planet philosophy on sustainability,” says Burger Wisconsin Ponsonby owner Dean Reynish. Try our ‘love me tender’ burger using fresh chicken tenders for a healthy low fat great tasting burger. We have two bun sizes to suit all appetites and we also have gluten free burgers.”

At Burger Wisconsin Ponsonby you can ‘Build Your Own’ burger from over 1 million combinations; you can choose New Zealand venison and add fresh avocado, caramelised onions or grilled fresh mushrooms and that still leaves you with so many more combinations from which to create your own best burger. PN BURGER WISCONSIN, 168 Ponsonby Road (opposite Chapel Bar) T: 09 360 1894 www.burgerwisconsin.co.nz

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WHOOPIE VAN “CRASH” THOSE FOLK AT WHOOPIE CAKES IN GREY LYNN ARE VERY CREATIVE. FOR Halloween they staged a van “crash” on Hakanoa Street... we caught the aftermath!

Thankfully, Wayne, their ‘driver’ was uninjured! Social media has been good for some local businesses. An old colleague of mine, Nicky Hickey, lives in Dublin and on our facebook noticed Lucy on our last issue front cover. My Irish friend has just purchased a box of delicious Whoopie cakes which have been delivered to her relatives in Orewa, well in time for Christmas! (MARTIN LEACH) PN WHOOPIE, 2A Hakanoa Street T: 09 555 4219 www.whoopie.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

photography: Martin Leach

photography: Jo Barrett

Burger Wisconsin is a New Zealand institution for premium gourmet burgers.

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LAURAINE JACOBS: THE WELL SEASONED PALATE

MARCHING ALONG PONSONBY ROAD THREE CRISP HOLLOWED-OUT POTATO SKINS filled with chunks of tender manuka-smoked fish lovingly immersed in velvety smooth lemon and potato purée with chives sound good? It may be one of the best things you could find on any current menu in this city. It’s modestly called a ‘fish pie’ and for my money takes the prize over any of those fancy sliders popping up everywhere.

This tasty snack/entree is to be devoured at Tin Soldier, the smartest addition to Ponsonby Road’s dining scene this year. With the opening of this vibrant eatery and bar six months ago, the new breed of young chef has arrived on the strip, creating a new direction in dining. Youthful, purposeful and with a focus that’s different from the old establishment-type places, it’s still attractive and comfortable enough for an old trout like me. I love it!

Everything about the place has a good feeling delicious food that’s presented mostly as small plates, kitchen-as-theatre with lots of youthful energy captured by the players attired in smart T-shirts and striped aprons, bright and welcoming casual atmosphere, terrific list of beers and wines by the glass, and best of all you don’t need a small mortgage to eat there.

Stephen Smith heads the kitchen and he runs his team in full view of the diners in the lower level of the corner-sited two level restaurant. His chefs and kitchen team work together like the machinery of a well-oiled clock. Smith’s food is highly original and diners have the choice of an array of small plates to share, followed by a selection of about nine or ten more substantial dishes that serve as main choices. Diners should be forewarned to go with hungry appetites, as there’s lots to try and even more not to miss. Everything I have eaten from the Tin Soldier kitchen is totally delicious.

the oblique in every category of varietal and region. Beer is a specialty too, and hooray for a list that features boutique brewers and craft beers.

Here’s a confession: I passed on dessert. The ‘Sweet Tooth’ section of the menu almost convinced me to order pudding, and I want to try the flavours of milo – I really do. The ladies at the next table raved about the sorbets with sherbert and mint so if you pass Tin Soldier in the next few weeks, expect to see me there, eating a couple of desserts. I will return for them. Soon. (LAURAINE JACOBS) PN www.laurainejacobs.co.nz TIN SOLDIER, 151 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 378 1719 www.thetinsoldier.co.nz

The restaurant opened with a veritable rumble from day one, but there were lots of complaints early on about the level of noise from patrons who were deafened by other loud diners, and by some perhaps inappropriately chosen music. (Don’t you love Facebook and the power of the people? Everyone who was anyone was weighing in with opinion.)

I was pleased to see so many of the dishes I’d loved on a previous visit still on the menu, with obvious seasonal changes. Smoked beetroot is a standout plate, involving a tangle of baby beets, jazz apple, gruff junction’s goat curd and sweet onion. It’s fresh, sweet and very moreish. The fresh shucked oysters are sourced daily (Orongo Bay last week), offered with lemon, or shallot and chardonnay vinegar, or fresh New Zealand wasabi, or cooked in tempura with lime aioli – that’s the mark of a kitchen that cares.

There’s also a lovely fresh sardine on toasted sourdough with marinated tomatoes, pine nuts and dill. The husband hoovered that one up instantly with not a thought for me. Even the more conventional sounding dishes like mac ‘n cheese, lamb hotdogs and crispy chicken wings all have a touch of genius and fresh look about them.

Front of house manager SARASA SHIMURA at the newly opened TOKYO CLUB

Mains, all priced under the $29.50 limit are thoughtfully composed and presented. The sticky spice master-stock poached poussin with Asian flavours I’d enjoyed on my first visit was gone, replaced by another taste of Asia; soy-glazed pig cheeks (now there’s a trend!) with sweet carrot, celeriac, bok choy, puffed skin and shiitake.

The husband who dotes on fish had enjoyed fresh snapper served on cauliflower cream with caperberries and Serrano ham on his first visit. This time he got the terakihi with soy, butternut, furikaki and black sesame, wasabi, shiitake and radish. It came with wonderful memories of Japan, from where we’d just returned. The chef had nailed it. I loved a light lamb dish with some spicy capsicum coulis, goat ricotta and little olives – a homage to spring.

There’s a well selected wine list with all the best suspects from around the country.

Someone knows their stuff for there’s no difficulty in finding the familiar, the unusual or

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photography: Michael McClintock

It’s a smart team that responds to customers’ squawks. Now large carpets have softened the wooden floors, the music is a little softer and all is well. I could actually hear my husband, if that’s a good thing. When we dined on a Thursday evening last week, even the DJ was subdued enough to be almost unobtrusive, but he still managed to create a hip atmosphere for the lounge lizards hanging about the bar.

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

PHILIPPE ARREGUI of L’AUTHENTIQUE

BEST FRENCH TRADITION COMBINED WITH QUALITY NZ PRODUCE When Philippe Arregui came to New Zealand six years ago, he was sure his choice was the right one. He had met Kiwi people living in his home town in the Basque Country in France, and they fitted so well in to the French lifestyle that he was sure New Zealand would suit him, his wife and children, but he knew he needed more than one good reason to settle in New Zealand.

The first reason was to use his charcutier background. “I grew up in a charcutier family (father, uncle and grand-father were all charcutier), and I gained a degree in food meat processing and selling,” says Philippe. The second reason was to create a bodega tapas bar. Once in New Zealand, Philippe met Guillaume Desmurs of L’Authentique who at the time was looking for someone to work with. Now, Philippe is running L’Authentique along with Benjamin a French charcutier and Ryan, a Philippine butcher.

Philippe is proud to make traditional French products. The company’s focus is clear and simple: use only fresh high quality meat from New Zealand and process it with the very best of French tradition. Philippe loves simple but good food and for him it’s all about the quality of the products. “You can never make a good sausage or pate with poor meat,” say Philippe. “I love to share these simple dishes with friends. My philosophy is we can’t live without eating - it is the happiness of life. In my culture, drink and food is one of the most important things and for big family events like Christmas or Easter, we can spend six to seven hours around the table.” PN

photography: Martin Leach

L’AUTHENTIQUE, 16 St Benedict Street T: 09 303 2444 E: philippe@lauthentique.co.nz

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PHIL PARKER: WHOSE WINE IS IT ANYWAY?

SUMMER SAVOURS Summertime… time to bid farewell to big grunty Shiraz and Cabernet blends. A time to smell the sun block and barbecue smoke, feel the sand between your toes and listen to cricket on the radio. And time to embrace wines and drinks that can stand a bit of chilling and match well with outdoor entertaining, salads, BBQs and our fabulous fresh Auckland seafood. Cheers!

MATUA SPRITZ $18.00 Pale blush pink colour, off-dry style with aromas and flavours of red summer berry fruits.

Crisp and refreshing with a spritz of bubbles and 10% alcohol make this a great summer cooling quaffer.

KIM CRAWFORD PANSY ROSÉ 2012 $25.00 Marketed to the gay community in 2005, Pansy has become a favourite with summer sippers. Vibrant pink, this fresh and just off-dry rosé is all strawberries and cream and red berry fruits.

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MATUA SINGLE VINEYARD DARTMOOR CHARDONNAY $56.00 Toasty oak on the nose, with crisp apple, Golden Queen peach, brioche and hazelnut on the lengthy palate. The fruit is selected from Hawkes Bay Dartmoor vineyard’s 25 year old vines.

GLADSTONE VINEYARD SOPHIE’S CHOICE WAIRARAPA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011 $35 Fermentation in French oak makes a very classy Sauvignon that will appeal to Chardonnay fans.

Delicately toasty, rounded and with a lengthy palate. Flavours of ripe peach, hazelnut, cape gooseberry and tropical fruits.

LST ENERGISED ICE TEA $2.50 250ML Comic Willy de Witt and his pal Peter Murphy launched this alternative to sickly B-vitamin energy drinks. This is a blend of tea, lemon juice, cane sugar, natural caffeine, acai and guarana.

Available locally at Early Bird Bakery and Bhana Brothers. Or online at www.lstdrinks.com.

Phil Parker is a wine writer and operates Fine Wine & Food Tours in Auckland. PN www.insidertouring.co.nz

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

INTRODUCING THE PERFECT SUMMER PARTY PARTNER; PRATTY’S ICED TEAS! LONG HOT SUMMERS DAYS... AFTERNOON BARBECUES, AND CATCHING up for drinks with friends! We all love summer and the entertaining opportunities it brings... but those extra calories aren’t so much fun!

The amazing sweet flavour comes from the blend of licorice root, apple pieces, lemongrass and peppermint which leaves you feeling energised and refreshed. If this tea doesn’t stop your sugar cravings ...nothing will!

For those wanting to make smarter calorie choices this season, Pratty’s Tea introduces two teas that will help you stick to your diet, and make those sugar cravings easy to handle! High on flavour, but low in sugar and calories, Pratty’s Teas are healthy and nutrient rich, filled with naturally sweet fruits and herbs, and are both delicious served hot, or, over the summer, they make for a perfect iced tea!

FRESH OFF THE BOAT Carrots and pineapples – what a tasty duo these two make, and good for you to boot! It’s time to get ya fruit and vege on, island styles! The aroma and flavour of this tea is of divinely sweet pineapples, followed by a mild hint of carrot and summer petals. It really is a tropical holiday in a cup, and just too good for you to be true!

WHAT A LITTLE SWEETIE This little sweetie will delight both your lips and your hips! A very special blend that’s sweet, refreshing and sugar-free, if you’re the kind of person who would beg, borrow, lie or steal to get your afternoon sugar fix, THIS is the tea for you!

Hot tip: for a summer inspired iced tea, simply brew up your choice of Pratty’s Tea, chill, and then serve over lashings of crushed ice. With no need for any added sugar, these delicious Pratty’s Teas are the smarter way to drink this summer! www.prattys.co.nz PN

CHINESE CHARCOAL BBQ A UNIQUE TASTE SENSATION Authentic Lamb Shashliks originated from the Uyghur Autonomous Region, located in northern China in 1800 and are still to this day, a very popular dish.

At Fiera Charcoal BBQ, located in Freemans Bay, they only use the freshest of New Zealand meat and seafood along with a range of the freshest vegetables and wheat products available; lamb skewers are the main feature on their menu.

When you tuck in to all these deliciously flavoured skewers you will experience a unique ‘taste sensation’ and the flavours are heightened when accompanied by a good beer or a fresh juice.

To ensure the charcoal BBQ cooking method gives the best results they need to use the finest selection of charcoal. “The charcoal is the most important part of the cooking process and the heat of the charcoal itself has to be well balanced,” says owner Ben Chen, “otherwise it’s very easy to burn the ingredients.”

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The charcoal BBQ has no seasonal issues and can be cooked in this way at any time throughout the year.

When you spend $30 or more at Fiera Charcoal BBQ during the months of December and January, they will give you one free bottle per total order of either, the original Taiwanese lager beer, the pineapple flavoured beer or the mango flavoured beer!

Do come and try their fresh and delicious charcoal BBQ Shashliks and enjoy your meal in their newly renovated premises! PN FIERA CHARCOAL BBQ, 112 Wellington Street T: 09 376 1688

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FASHION + STYLE CHANGES AND CELEBRATIONS @ MOA! WE NOTICED YOU WERE CLOSED FOR A WHILE A FEW MONTHS AGO … WHAT WAS HAPPENING? In September we relocated to a pop-up shop on K’Road to carry out a celebratory refit to our Richmond Road store. We collaborated with Kathleen from Uno Design coming up with a plan to create a beautiful elegant clean space. A stunning ceramic lightshade

by Jeremy Cole, steel work by Gary Hunt and Florence Broadhurst wallpaper are key design elements in the new look store. The ethereal ceiling to floor curtains and clever spatial layout create a more spacious feel, giving everybody more room to move, play and have fun with the clothes. Also in the pipeline, we are working on our online shop which will launch in 2013. We are also looking at expanding our national pop-up shop circuit beyond our two regular Christchurch and Wellington destinations.

YOU HAD A SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR, WHAT WAS IT? We had our 26th birthday this year and to celebrate we gave our shop a beautiful makeover. Moa collective began her early life in the shop opposite (now Monterey cafe). We were young artists and screenprinters selling our wares through sharing a wee shop which we staffed between us. In those early days we became quickly popular appealing to the taste of many of the local residents.

After 18 months we moved over the road to our current shop and have been settled there ever since. Over time we evolved, stepping up as designers of our own original labels. We moved from the kitchen floor to the basement garage and on to our individual workrooms. Our production team expanded in the 90s, and during this period we produced some highly original fashion shows. In the 2000s we held in season shows at NZ fashion week. We also created our website which previews the independent labels’ seasonal ranges.

Technology and the evolution of sophistication we embraced, yet fundamentally our values are the same. Our ethos continues to be proudly New Zealand made and we still remain those original local women supporting and serving the community in which we grew our business.

TELL US ABOUT EACH OF YOUR DESIGNERS AND WHAT THEY ARE THINKING FOR SUMMER? We have three in store labels, JUNA , VESTA and PLUTO who are original founding members, each representing a piece of the Grey Lynn style and essence. Now in store you will see the new MOA summer collection… This season the JUNA label is all about the dress for all day any day, the PLUTO label features summer florals, cute as pie inspired by the 50s and the VESTA label is cool sophistication in the summer heat. We are also very excited to be introducing to MOA, a new jeweller Kim Jobson, whose range is made by hand in silver with a hint of gold, inspired by life on a farm by the Waikato river. Also in store we have a capsule collection from the new Veronica B label featuring pony and leather clutches and handbags.

Please come and celebrate their new look store on Tuesday 11 December. After hours champagne from 6pm. Check their Facebook page for the invite. PN MOA, 413 Richmond Road T: 09 378 8484 www.moa-unlimited.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON

UPCYCLE FASHION LABEL LAUNCHES AT ECOSTORE Lead by Senior AUT lecturer Lisa Lloyd Taylor, AUT textile and design students taking a third year ‘Business & Design’ paper, launched their 540 Fashion brand at Ecostore early last month.

Retail Manager Iloa Koko-lulio says Ecostore is very excited to feature the unique garments, re-created from off-cuts. “At ecostore we only have good stuff inside. 540 Fashion fits that criteria for innovation and goodness. They’re proving that ‘greening up’ is fun, modern and an easy part of everyone’s lives.”

THUNDERPANTS ARE GO!

The students are inspired by both the environmental impact, and the creativity of the project. “I hope to reach out to the public to spread the message – reduce rubbish by upcycling your old clothes” says Vanessa Mj Kim, while Ellen Moana Moore hopes 540 Fashion, exclusive to Ecostore, will “engage people in the fun creative things you can do with pretty much everything and anything.” PN

At Thunderpants they believe life shouldn’t be taken too seriously. As a family run business work becomes a bit like home. They make a habit of communal lunches and bringing their dogs to work. Much of their day is spent talking about last night’s meal and how to preserve their precious home grown vegetables. They love New Zealand, their families, and their jobs.

ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street, Freemans Bay T: 09 360 4733 www.ecostore.co.nz

“Our Thunderpants business model is based on similar principles; slow growth, family before business and lifestyle over work,” says co-owner Josie Bidwill.

“More than just underpants, Thunderpants are a way of life. Yes, it seems silly - they are only underpants - but for many, including ourselves, they are worn as a foundation garment and as a basis in which to live. And we promise that Thunderpants will always be made in New Zealand, we believe in supporting our local economy both nationally and regionally.”

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New Zealand made organic cotton undies for all the family.

Thunderpants are made of certified organic cotton and manufactured up the road from Thunderpants HQ (Martinborough) in Carterton. Being New Zealand made is a good marketing spiel but at the core of Thunderpants is lifestyle. Lifestyle takes precedent. They believe that changing the world can happen with one pair of underpants at a time.

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So get your booties over to www.thunderpants.co.nz and order your family a bunch of dog print undies. Not only will you enjoy the life changing experience a proper fitting pair of undies can bring, but 20% of every dog print purchase will help Paw Justice be “the voice for the animals”. www.thunderpants.co.nz

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1. Malcolm Rands and Lisa Lloyd Taylor; 2. Aych McCardle and Phlossy Roxx; 3. Derya Parlak and Iloa Koko-lulio; 4. 540 Fashion team; 5. Derya Parlak, Carol Thi and Lok Yan Tham.

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FASHION + STYLE COVET CONSIGNMENT – A GREAT PLACE FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS IF YOU’RE SOMEONE WHO LOVES TO BE SURPRISED BY AN EVER CHANGING Aladdin’s cave of treasures, Covet Consignment, in Richmond Road, might just become your new favourite store. Opened in September by self-confessed magpie Brigit Timpson, Covet deftly weaves old and new, fashion items, vintage ornaments and homewares all under the same sweetly scented roof. The eclectic mix is something that Timpson deliberately set out to achieve after the success of her first store in Monterey, California.

“I really like the concept of consignment stores and there were quite a few in Monterey. Everything is being sold on behalf of (consigned), which means that you can experiment with selling all kinds of things. Most people just did clothing, but I saw an opportunity to branch out into other areas that were interesting to me. I approached artists, jewellers, glass blowers and other artisans and offered them the opportunity to sell to a captive audience. We’d do trunk shows at night and then they would become regular consigners in the store.”

It worked out well for everyone. “Customers would spend literally hours going through every piece in the store, bit by bit. I would end up having to ship boxes home for tourists that were over their baggage limit. I’m like that too, if I like what’s in a shop – I’ll have to look at everything.”

And the concept seems to be working here too. “Two women recently asked me if they could move camp beds in overnight as they just didn’t want to leave”, says Timpson.

“What’s great is that I still have an interest in the store in California so I’m able to bring different and interesting stock over to add to the clothes, art and ceramics I’m getting from New Zealand.”

Added to the mix are handmade soaps, chocolates, great cards and other small vintage objects perfect for gifts. Says Timpson, “my objective has always been to create a store that has something for everyone – and at least one thing that you’re bound to covet!”

COVET, 168 Richmond Road T: 09 378 8688 PN

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FASHION + STYLE

POCO CUFFLINKS + POCO CUFFLINKS, RINGS AND LAPEL PINS ARE MANUFACTURED IN NEW Zealand from popular brands of vintage typewriters such as Imperial, Underwood, Mercedes, Smith and Remington. The original keys from these machines are set in sterling silver and are all hand crafted. The supply of the typewriters is limited today and therefore combinations of initials are rare as are the fractions, tab, shift and £ signs which are now keys of the past in New Zealand.

The typewriter was an engineering feat. We take for granted that the paper sits in a stationary tray, so to invent a machine with a moving carriage seems novel today. Let alone the ‘ting’ on a little bell to advise the end of a line approaching. These cufflinks, rings and lapel pins are very popular as wedding, birthday, anniversary and Christmas presents; or for the person who has everything. They are made to order and it is fun to arrange the letters and numbers according to the recipient. i.e. D+R for a Doctor, Q+C for a lawyer, 3+0 for a thirtieth birthday or Backspace + Lock, to be quirky!

As these typewriters become rarer, no two are the same, so the fonts and colours vary.

There is a choice of black or white keys. Ordering is essential and delivery could take seven to 14 days. To discuss options and orders call Steve Hofmann who will be happy to talk to you on M: 021 487 878. www.pococufflinks.co.nz PN

LUXURY THROWS, BLANKETS, BEAN BAGS, BEACH TOWELS AND MORE COAST HAS BEEN IN THEIR NEW SHOWROOM IN THE BRITOMART FOR ONE year now and this rapidly expanding precinct is an exciting place to work. Over winter they have been working hard to expand upon their collections.

They are very excited about their first foray into wool, with two new collections in a range of New Zealand made throws and blankets. The Mackenzie Throws and Bendigo Blankets are the perfect companion for keeping the chill at bay while eating alfresco this summer or adding an accent to a chair or at the end of your bed. Both collections come in a range of contemporary hues.

Their new luxury over-sized cotton beach towels in mint green and a classic navy have just arrived in store and are proving incredibly popular. The COAST Laguna – 100% linen towel is a great addition for your beach bag. Twice the size of a regular beach towel yet folds up extremely small, the Laguna can be used as a sarong, or beach

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mat, this natural fibre dries fast and repels sand and becomes softer with each wash.

Presented in a recycled cardboard box, it makes a great gift this season.

The new Trebeca Bag collection with four styles ranging from the carnivorous Market Bag to the stylish Overnighter means there is a bag for everyone’s tastes this Christmas and their ever popular Marine Bean and more affordable Bach Basic indoor/outdoor beanbag collections are crying out for long summer days of lounging.

Join their friends and family loyalty programme and receive 10% off your first order plus regular exclusive offers. Free shipping within New Zealand for orders placed online.

Open seven days. PN COAST, 104 Quay Street, Britomart T: 09 354 4552 www.coastnewzealand.com PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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ANGELA LASSIG: LETTERS FROM MAUDIE

The monthly jottings of a free-spirited Ponsonby dressmaker of the 1920s, as imagined by Angela Lassig.

VERMONT STREET, PONSONBY 15 DECEMBER 1926

Dear Aunt Adae I trust that you and Uncle George are well and enjoying a more pleasant summer in Palmerston North than we are presently experiencing in Auckland.

We have been troubled by a most disagreeable wind that was with us for a full week before suddenly ceasing yesterday around noon. I was so pleased about it that I decided to grant myself a half-day’s holiday. I had a lovely look around all the Ponsonby drapers followed by tea and a very nice slice of Victoria sponge cake at Mrs Gavin’s tearooms [i] in Jervois Road. Did mother tell you that Shanly’s [ii] front window was smashed in last month by some drunkard who cycled right through it and ruined their spring millinery display? I had my eye on a pretty cloche made of fine Italian straw that was decorated most tastefully with h French handmade silk flowers. You can probably guess how it ended up after fter the accident - yes, completely crushed, as is my luck! It’s probably a good od thing actually, as I have my new workroom to pay for.

Speaking of which! I’ve been sorting through all my fabrics, in preparation of moving into to my new workroom, and found two rolls of an exquisite printed voile that hat I’d completely forgotten about. It’s lovely and diaphanous with a very pale ale printed pattern of full-blown roses in palest pinks, peaches and cream. Att the time I found it I was pondering the perennial question of Christmas presents esents - you know - who would appreciate something I made and who would uld not! As mother assures me annually that you are of the former species, s, I would like to make you a little something useful with my excavated treasure! asure! It would look lovely made up as a simple overdress verdress (perhaps with a peach silk full slip) orr a lovely long stole. Do let me know what you’d ou’d like and I’ll have mother take your measurements asurements when she visits next week.

Unfortunatelyy I won’t have time to sew as many presents as usual as I’m just tooo busy with the new workroom and with summer orders. When I was walking past O’Gorman’s [iii] confectionary shop last week I noticed that they had some new chocolates - Queen Anne I think they were called. They had some out for tasting and they were delicious! icious! Lots of lovely fruity soft centres covered with lashings of milk ilk chocolate. I hatched a plan then and there to buy boxes of chocolates olates for some of my friends instead of making them a new stole. I suspect that most of them - who love chocolate almost as much as I doo - won’t mind a bit! By the way, you asked me to tell you if I saw anything nything that I’d like for Christmas.

With the longer evenings I am inclined to take more walks, and Tiger is of course enjoying this immensely. I find it allows me time to clear my head as well as stretch my legs and focus my eyes on things a little more distant than the cutting table and sewing machine. Tiger finds it provides him with numerous opportunities to disappear from sight for ages at a time and give his poor owner conniptions.

After a lovely twilight walk in Western Springs Park last evening, at the end of one of the warmest days that we’ve had this summer, I am simply in love with oak trees. The new growth is the most delicious green and I adore the shape of the leaves. I am now trying to devise costume designs incorporating oak leaves. I think the idea will work well in any season if the appropriate colours aare selected. I have already decided on a design for one clien client in particular who I know will definitely order it for one of her many summer parties.

My sketch depicts a simple short-sleeved dress with a round neckline and a dropped waistline. I have coloured it to represent ecru crepe with a subtle zigzag pattern of appliquéd pale olive oak lleaves around the hemline and the lower sleeves. I thin think that might be enough.

I will of course have to em embroider the veins of the leaves that I’ll do in a matc matching olive thread. I think a complementary georgette stole with appliquéd oak lovely accompaniment. leaf borders might be a lov I haven’t quite decided though whether it might handsome with a scattering of not appear more hand have any thoughts on the the leaves. Do you h matter? Actually I might just be inclined to keep this one for myself ! Sometimes I feel especially when jealous of my customers, cu I use up one of my brilliant ideas and it is not fully appreciated. must get on with fashioning With that thought I really m gets too late and we miss out for the ungrateful before it get impossibly restless tonight if on our walk. Tiger will be imp I don’t take him out.

Well, dearest Aunty, until I see you at Christmas,

I would be delighted to receive one off these as a gift the lemon colour our was very pretty.

I’m sure mother her would be more than happy to o inspect them on your behalf.

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Much love,

Your Maudie x Gavin, Florist & Tea [i] Ellen G Rooms, 18 Jervois Road, Ponsonby Shanlys Ltd, Draper, Ponsonby [ii] Shanly Buildings, Ponsonby Road Mary O’Gorman, [iii] Mrs M Confectioner, 264 Ponsonby Road Confection [iv] James A Locke, Fancy Goods dealer, 266 Ponsonby Road

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illustration: 99designs

Well it just so happens that after O’Gorman’s I went into Lockes [iv], the he fancy goods shop next door. They had some lovely manicure sets that were in heart-shaped celluloid boxes es in pastel colours.

The boxes and d the handles looked like pearl shell…most ll…most attractive and very reasonably onably priced I thought.

JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAP BOX

IMPROVING THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE IN PONSONBY Ponsonby is such a great place to live, work and play. So it is disappointing that we have had to get caught up in the financial crisis of the last few years, even if we may have escaped the worst of it.

A review of our much loved fashion stores has shown that even the best are finding the market slower than they would like. Construction work, constant roading and footpath work, has slowed foot traffic on many parts of Ponsonby Road, Jervois Road and adjacent streets, and exacerbated an already difficult parking problem.

The new MacKelvie Street shops, with the quirky Richard Naish design, are open, and when earthquake strengthening along Ponsonby Road is complete, the shopping environment around that Ponsonby precinct will be greatly enhanced. This should help tills to ring more loudly and more often. Parking will still be an ongoing problem; Ponsonby Road is a very long street - too long for most to want to walk its length.

Claire Kingan Jones reported that her store was all energy and buzz last Saturday, and she is optimistic about trade in 2013.

Ponsonby residents, and women in particular, need to decide which businesses are too valuable for Ponsonby to lose, and support them. The motto of the Ponsonby Community Newsletter, which I launched in 1989, and which is now the fantastic Ponsonby News was, “Unashamedly local and parochial”. I still use that motto for my Ponsonby Business Directory. In order to build and maintain a friendly cooperative community, residents and business owners must realise that they both need each other, and act accordingly. But it isn’t easy.

The elephant in the room as far as many retail businesses is concerned, is the online competition. It seems to be a part of our throw- away culture. Wear it once and if it doesn’t fit, or you decide you don’t like it, sell it on Trade Me, and then just buy another one.

One counter to the online fanatics, is to deliver strong customer service. “That colour suits you, but this might be better. It will complement your hair and bring out the blue of your eyes. It will go well with your boots too.” Owners should be constantly upskilling their younger, part time staff. It’s about building relationships with clients.

Some women are buying perhaps two pieces a season when in better times they were buying maybe ten. That’s just fall out from the international finance crisis. Local designers can’t do much about that. It isn’t their fault.

And so, there is no magic wand that will fill the tills of Ponsonby stores, but a number of small things can be done to entice locals to appreciate, check out and buy the quality garments from our outstanding, hard working, professional fashion designers.

As well known local designer Tanya Carlson told Ponsonby News, “If these design stores go from Ponsonby, we’ll be left without the presence, the diversity and the individual commitment of a dedicated group of fashion professionals. It will be just like a mall - full of overseas owned and made chain store clothes.”

So readers, if you value their presence in Ponsonby - support our local stores.

(JOHN ELLIOTT) PN

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON

WISE-MEN FOLLOW THE STARS TO AUCKLAND RING COMPANY Wise-men propose at Christmas time especially if their loved one is a fan of the festive season. Coming up with original marriage proposal ideas can be tricky and many people lose sight of the main objectives – making sure it’s personal, romantic and special.

RETAIL SUPERSTAR OF THE MONTH Andrea Johnson - Presentz, West Lynn HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A RETAIL SALESPERSON AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO PRESENTZ? I moved in above Presentz with my then boyfriend - now husband, Barry, after a stint overseas in 2000. Independent of my flatting arrangement upstairs I began to help Bridget, the previous owner, manage Presentz when she had her baby. This was the first time I had worked in a retail environment and I really thrived on it. She sold to me in 2002 and Presentz has been rocking along ever since.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR STORE? The colour and vibrancy of Presentz never fails to make me happy. Along with tried and true suppliers, I enjoy taking risks with new suppliers and I love choosing cool and beautiful new products for the store, many of them made here in New Zealand.

Auckland Ring Company custom-make a lot of engagement rings in the lead up to Christmas, and the overwhelming favourite piece of advice is “make sure you buy her a gift as well!” It’s a romantic time of year to propose, and as “the engagement” is a milestone event in itself, let’s not forget its Christmas time too! Make Christmas memorable with diamond earrings - classic, timeless, and understated and can be worn every day and everywhere and passed down through the family and treasured forever.

Proposing at Christmas is special because you’re likely to have family and friends around to celebrate with you straight away. How inventive you get is up to you. Then the excitement begins of planning when to propose, you could simply disguise the Auckland Ring Company jewellery box in a larger box and put it under the tree, or you could hang the engagement ring on the tree and wait until it is discovered!

If you’re thinking about popping the question this Christmas, you need to start thinking about the engagement ring right now. We know all Ponsonby News readers are wise, so be a ‘wise-man’ and follow the stars to Auckland Ring Company - immediately! PN AUCKLAND RING COMPANY, 275 Ponsonby Road, Three Lamps T: 09 376 0275 www.aucklandringcompany.co.nz

WHAT MAKES A STANDOUT RETAIL SALESPERSON? A genuine and sincere attitude really helps people to relax and enjoy the space they’re in.

TELL US ABOUT A MEMORABLE SALE YOU’VE MADE THIS YEAR? Recently a customer came in for a squiz and I helped her sort out all 19 children in her extended family for Christmas. Gift-wrapped, labelled, done and dusted in October!

IF YOU COULD WAVE YOUR WAND AND HAVE ANYONE IN THE WORLD WALK INTO YOUR STORE RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD IT BE? Probably a musical hero. PJ Harvey or Warren Ellis. Quite a few years back Ian MacKaye from Fugazi came into Presentz. I had seen them play in London in the ‘90s and it was sort of incongruous, but really awesome.

IF YOU COULD WAVE YOUR WAND AND HAVE ANYONE IN GREATER PONSONBY WALK INTO YOUR STORE RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD IT BE? I’ll go for Fiona with her great stories, and her pooch Toby. There are loads of long -term customers who I love to see when they pop in. Each day I’m guaranteed to have interesting, heartfelt and humourous interactions with customers, many who have become friends.

WHERE DO YOU ENJOY SHOPPING? One of the great pleasures in life is having person to person interactions. I avoid buying online and like to hunt, gather and chat. Some favourites are Dalston, Sam at Marvel, the girls at Cosset (and their coffee!), the dudes at Videon Dominion Road and our cute new local café in New Windsor, ‘Sweetie’.

NAME SOMEONE YOU THINK IS A GREAT GREATER PONSONBY RETAIL SALESPERSON...

My neighbour Matt at 428 Richmond Road is a stand-out salesperson. He has a bit of a cult following! PN PRESENTZ, 430 Richmond Road, T: 09 378 9928

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FASHION + STYLE

photography: Garth Badger

JULIE ROULSTON

KATHRYN’S LATEST PARTNERSHIP Luxury Italian beauty brand Davines has announced that it will be joining forces with beautiful shoe designer and Ponsonby resident Kathryn Wilson.

Davines is a boutique family business, and their New Zealand representative Ryland Wood (Boutique Brands) says that working with Kathryn was a natural move for the brand. Davines shares Kathryn’s passion for design and beauty, and there is common ethical ground with both brands operating truly boutique businesses - producing small runs of high-quality, handmade products and ‘embracing uniqueness in a world of mass-production’.

Davines is known for upholding the highest possible ethical and environmental standards, and constantly strives to create unique products and projects, with the vision of sustainable beauty as its core motivation.

“Davines is delighted to be working with Kathryn, helping New Zealanders to celebrate individuality in style, with minimal impact to the planet,” says Ryland – himself a Ponsonby resident. “Kathryn Wilson is a successful Kiwi entrepreneur, who has a true eye for detailed design, and we’re very excited about what’s ahead.”

The partnership will continue throughout 2012/13, with a Davines presence at all major Kathryn Wilson events, instore gifting and more. PN DAVINES, www.davines.com KATHRYN WILSON, www.kathrynwilson.com

ANY PAGE IN PONSONBY NEWS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE SEEN

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INGRID STARNES AT DHL EXPRESS FASHION EXPORT SCHOLARSHIP Ponsonby designer Ingrid Starnes was one of three finalists to create installations at Libertine on Tuesday 13 November, at an event to announce the $10,000+ Scholarship’s eventual winner.

Judges, including Kate Sylvester, Erica Crawford and Carolyn Enting, said “Ingrid Starnes has a complete collection that’s beautifully put together with a lot of style.

She has a very strong design aesthetic that is very well supported domestically.

With her business foundations already in place and a clear export strategy, she has the potential to really take off in export markets.”

The 2012 winner was menswear brand I Love Ugly, and the third finalist was Wellington-based organic cotton label Kowtow. PN Hair: Matt Benns for Stephen Marr; Makeup: M.A.C; Model: Helena Turner, Red 11

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FASHION + STYLE VINNY THE TAILOR - TIMELESS CLASSICS Bespoke - One of a kind garments you will always want to wear.

Sabe headed by the charismatic Vinny Sabe, are a bespoke tailor providing personal and totally unique tailoring, garment and ready to wear alterations. And they do it all with love, passion and care with each piece being one of a kind.

TAYLOR - BRITOMART OPENING Taylor Boutique will add destination number four to its repertoire in December as part of the brand new Pavilions development in Auckland’s stunning Britomart precinct.

Designed from designer Vicki Taylor’s own hand, the new space has a dark twist with the interior being fitted out in jet black steel, wide oak boards and blackened glass.

The glossy but uneven finishes create well defined areas that form opposition and create a subtle tension within the interior.

A strong focus on details and the in-store customer experience is paramount for Taylor.

Never one to settle for the norm, Vicki designed the interior with layered forms to create textures and reflections that invite the customer to discover a unique path through the store. The limited edition Shadow Capsule Collection released during New Zealand Fashion Week 2012 will be available in this store. PN Taylor Boutique Britomart opened on Friday 30 November at Te Ara Tahuhu Walking Street, Britomart, Auckland. www.taylorboutique.co.nz

“Fashion changes but style doesn’t change. What suits you now will always look better than what’s in fashion at that time,” says Vinny, “and I’ve always seen my relationship with my clients as being a long term one, we are here to help you create up to the minute garments you will always want to wear.”

An excellent garment can only be understood when it is worn, personalised, perfected and well fitted. Each Sabe garment is hand cut and handmade at their 12 year old Epsom premises by their team who boast years of combined fashion experience creating timeless classics and interpreting your ideas into modern impeccable looks.

Visit their showroom to discuss your needs, enjoy a cup of tea and be inspired by their latest Sabe creations. There is free car parking available at the studio off the Ranfurly Road entrance. Studio hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 6.30pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm and other times are available on request. PN Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/Sabe-by-Vinny-The-Tailor/239120206136757 SABE, Level 1, 241 Manukau Road T: 09 630 0951 www.sabe.co.nz

PN

photography: Sam Lee

JULIE

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON JIM GREGORY

FRASER MILDON

PETRA BENTON

photography: c/- Anupam Singh

FRANCIS HOOPER, GRACE OWEN AND YASMIN SCOTT

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON AYCH MCCARDLE AND JOHN KINGI

AUT ROOKIE SHOW AUT’s end of year fashion show has become an institution on the Auckland fashion calendar.

This year it was held at Shed 15 in Wellesley Street, with one attendee reporting “a great show; quite different: a really good live band and a long ‘cat track’, winding its way through the shed, giving everyone a good view.”

Designs from locals Petra Benton and Tuhirangi Blair (a.k.a. Jim Benton) were part of the show and were namechecked among the standouts by those in the know, alongside Fraser Mildon and Sangho Ha. Hair was by Ponsonby’s own Danny Pato (D&M) and makeup by The Makeup School in Brown Street. (JULIE ROULSTON) PN

photography: c/- Anupam Singh

www.dandm.co.nz www.themakeupschool.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON

FESTIVE SEASON HAIR AND BEAUTY

THE CONCH If you’re looking for something a bit more glamorous, go for The Conch.

1. Prepare damp hair by spraying in Moroccanoil Frizz Control and blow -waving smooth.

2. Curl your mid-lengths and ends by taking big sections, spraying them with Davines #9 Structuring Mist and wrapping around the Cloud Nine Micro Wand.

3. Moisturise your roots using Davines DEDE Mist, comb into a tight pony on your crown and secure with a hair bungee or tie.

4. Backcomb at the base of the ponytail to create volume, then gently brush forward and across over the surface. Paddle brush the end half of the pony so all of the curls unite into one.

5. Fold and shape the hair into a conch shell shape, using plenty of hairspray to hold the style in place.

If there’s one time of year when every woman is guaranteed to have a party invitation, it’s December/January. You may have your hair cut, coloured, washed and dried; your brows groomed, your legs de-fuzzed and bronzed and your mani/pedi done, but a little je ne sais quoi is required to offset that party frock, and truly reflect your joy at the festive season.

You live in the right part of town! Our local experts are here to give you tips and tricks for festive season grooming - and this being Ponsonby, you can be sure they are cutting edge. Let that woman from down the office corridor trot out last Chrissy’s caviar manicure or last New Year’s all-pink hair. YOU are so 2013!

COLOURED BRAIDS Show your colourful side with these distressed braids.

1. Start by sourcing some colourful clip-in hair extensions. You can coordinate the shades with your outfit, or go crazy with 12 different colours at once.

2. Prep your dry hair simply by backcombing a little bit at the roots. If your hair is dead straight and fine, you might want to add some loose curl with The Wand.

3. Part your hair in the middle and braid, adding in the coloured hairpieces as you go (you don’t need to be fussy about clipping; just braid them in). Secure with a small hair tie.

4. Finish by sprinkling through Evo Haze styling powder from roots to ends, messing up the braids with your hands and a tail comb.

DANNY PATO, Creative Director and co-owner, D&M Hair Design: This festive season is all about rebelling from the worries of the world and having a bit of fun with your hair. Assuming your hair is excellently cut, coloured and treated by a professional, these transformative looks should be easy to achieve at home.

FAUX-FRINGE TWISTED PONY This easy up-do is a great way to transform your look with a twist!

1. Prep dry hair with a couple of pumps of Davines OI/OIL, and blast through with a blow dryer and your fingers.

2. If needed, straighten your midlengths and ends with an iron, using Davines MELU Shield to protect against thermal damage.

3. Brush your hair into a tight, high ponytail on your crown and secure with a hair bungee or tie.

4. Tightly twist your pony, starting from the base, guiding it forward but allowing it to kink where it wants to.

5. To create a faux-fringe, spread out the last 20cm of your hair and secure in place with U pins. Fasten the twisted pony with a few more pins, and finish with ample amounts of hairspray.

MATT BORSOS and KATIE HOOK, Advanced Stylists, Servilles: This season’s hair trends are all about the evolution of the ‘70s fashion revival and androgynous styling that dominated 2012. There are long bouncy blow waves, low ponytails with teased height, loose textured side braids and twists, and homemade curls. For men, looks continue to evolve around indie rock and sleek ‘50s styling. It’s going to be cut shorter on the sides and longer on the top, however the length will all come down to what suits you best.

SERVILLES

Heather Keats Photography (styling by Eric Hine)

Faux-fringe twisted pony: Mara Sommer, D&M backstage at AUT Rookie, November 2012

D&M HAIR DESIGN

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON One of the hottest hair colours this year is brunette with blonde, sun-kissed highlights - dubbed “bronde”. We’ve been doing a lot of Balayage and Ombré in the salon this year and an easy way to have a change without too much commitment is to try pastel tones over your blondes. Whether it be peachy, lilac, or grey - anything goes.

NEISHA HENRY, General Manager Sales and Marketing, Smashbox: Smashbox’ international Pro Artist Lori’s ‘Holiday’ look is a high-style, yet super wearable look, with bronze and pink tones. Key to this look are smouldering shades on the eyes, paying special attention to the lash line. There’s a hint of gold in the very inner of the eye lid, generous coats of mascara, and the look is finished with gorgeous pink juicy coloured lips.

If pink is not your thing then a vibrant red lip is a fantastic festive pick me up. The right shade of red is vital and matte is always good too. Use a lip liner to give a curved effect and to prevent the finish from looking too angular. Complete with Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in ‘Legendary’ (it has a cult following) - then you’re ready to go. If you feel a little more courageous we would also suggest teaming a bright lip with false eyelashes to finish the glam party look - really get the wow factor!

LAUREN GUNN, Creative Director and co-owner, Stephen Marr Ponsonby: By the 1 December all the party invites should be flooding in. It’s the busiest month of the year with an assault of activity coming at you from all fronts. There’s a definite knack to pulling off fresh skin and chic hair night after night so here’s a couple of simple tricks designed to take you from a day in the office to a fun night out in a matter of minutes.

An old fashioned bun becomes a vampy upswept halo of texture with just a hint of feminine form. Here’s how to steal the look: 1. Leaving out a 4cm section of hair around the hairline, take all the rest of your hair, fatten it up with a quick dose of O+M Surf Bomb and pull it back into a loose bun at the back.

2. Tease or crimp some texture into the halo section all around your hairline.

3. Piece by piece pull the textured hair back into the bun using pins to both secure it and distort the shape of the bun.

SMASHBOX HIGH IMPACT KNOT BY STEPHEN MARR AT CYBELE

It’s always great to use a bit of customised hardware in the hair to really elevate the look and give it edge. Team this look up with a high neckline or a delicate lace over-dress, or mix in some sporty stripes and leather to toughen things up.

This slicked down, high impact knot is all about shine and clean lines.

The real bang of this style comes in profile, with hair swept up and away from the cheekbones into a double loop. Here’s how we do it: 1. Prep your hair by brushing to give it a clean, static texture, then split your hair into two sections, taking one section in the top, from temples to just below the crown.

2. Sweep the lower section back into a ponytail, leaving a loop of hair big enough to fit two fingers, when you last pull through the tail.

3. Dip a couple of fingers into a tub of Sebastian Shine Crafter and use it to slick down the top section from the low side part at one temple, into a ponytail just above the first, again leaving a loop of hair when pulling the tail through the hair band for the last time.

4. Wrap another hair band around both loops so that they become a double bun and the tails sit snugly at the nape.

To get a fresh youthful finish press a little Shine Crafter into your temples to smooth flyaways and add some shine, leave all the other wisps and wayward strands alone to do their thing. PN D&M www.dandm.co.nz SERVILLES www.servilles.com/salon/salons/ponsonby SMASHBOX www.smashbox.com STEPHEN MARR www.stephenmarr.co.nz

Oliver Rose

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FASHION + STYLE BRINGING EUROPEAN ELEGANCE TO KNITWEAR

A UNIQUE AND AFFORDABLE CHRISTMAS GIFT OUTSIDE THE BOX Looking for a personalised and unique yet affordable Christmas gift for someone special? How about something a little out of the ordinary yet beneficial and entertaining at the same time? Well a “Numerology Personality Profile and two Year Forecast Report” may be the ultimate gift for you.

Natasha Kudryavtseva has worked in the high end of Europe’s retail fashion industry for many years as a retail consultant with such brands as Escada, Ferragamo, Burberry and Sonia Rykiel.

“These brands all have their own unique and highly individual styles,” says Natasha, “Sonia Rykiel is considered the top knitwear marquee, Ferragamo is king of fashion footwear and Escada is number one for beautiful and very expensive evening wear. I thoroughly enjoyed working with these brands and learning about the European fashion industry has given me such a wide perspective and appreciation of fashion trends” And now Natasha has come to start her new life in Auckland.

“I am so very impressed by the quality and availability of New Zealand knitting yarns. The Possum-Merino mix, Mohair, Alpaca and Cashmere are so much better than what you can get in Europe that is if you can find them! These New Zealand yarns are truly amongst the best in the world.”

“I would like to combine the highest quality New Zealand yarns with the latest European designs to bring real elegance to knitwear in New Zealand and to offer truly unique and beautiful garments. The price for such garments in Europe is crazily high, but here in New Zealand they are such very good value.”

Natasha is highly skilled and prides herself on producing quality crafted knitted garments. She offers personalised service and individual advice to each of her clients. She is so passionate about what she does that she can’t wait to start knitting and welcomes all enquiries. PN For more information or to make an appointment contact Natasha in the first instance by emailing natknitting@gmail.com

This little treasure is completely outside the box and you can pretty much guarantee your loved one has never been gifted one before.

For only $30 you will receive an approximate 42 page email report detailing your loved ones: destiny, life purpose, karmic lessons, personality traits, life challenges and future potential along with a two year month by month forecast. Surely you agree, that’s a heck of lot better than a pair of socks. PN If you pride yourself in giving your loved ones special and innovative gifts then contact TVNZ ‘Good Morning’ and ‘Woman’s Day’ numerologist, and Ponsonby resident Michelle Buchanan. T: 09 360 8960 www.michellebuchanan.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE TKSTORE AND WORKING STYLE SPRING/SUMMER SHOWCASE TKSTORE AND WORKING STYLE HELD A SPRING/SUMMER SHOWCASE AT Coutts Mercedes Benz on Friday 16 November. Taglined ‘Boy meets Girl for Fashion Fling,’ the event saw hundreds of guests enjoy generous hospitality - as wit Megan Robinson of Thread.co.nz put it: “Boy meets girl meets cars over lots of drinks might be more accurate.” PN www.tkstore.co.nz www.workingstyle.co.nz

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PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE 1

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1-3. Last month JILLIAN BASFORD-EVERS and her cousin, LISA-MARIE RICHAN enjoyed a wonderful experience at the Waiora Lakeside Spa in ROTORUA, a trip to Mokoia Island and Hells Gate. “We felt truly rejuvenated and many thanks to Brian at the resort and Ponsonby News for making this all possible.”

4. DAVID and JANE SIMCOCK sent in a great shot of themselves on a trip to SVALBAD, above the Arctic Circle last July. “We would be delighted to see it in print.”

5. Local resident MICHELLE BUCHANAN emailed this photo and told us, “This is my sister-in-law, RUMI WILSON, in NEW YORK recently, just before Hurricane Sandy hit.”

PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE DEAR READERS Please keep sending us your holiday snaps reading your favourite magazine, we love getting them! Photos need to be in high resolution (300dpi), so please email them to info@ponsonbynews.co.nz without reducing the size.

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THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

By Judith Wesley of World Journeys “Can I carry your bags?” was the common catch-cry when I announced my next adventure was to be the Galapagos Islands.

A popular inclusion on many travel ‘wish lists’ alongside such luminaries as the Amazon and Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands offer their own unique wildlife, and the bonus is, you get there from one of my favourite countries in South America – Ecuador.

The Galapagos Islands are 1000km from the mainland, their remoteness being a huge factor in their being the birthplace of evolutionary theory. Thankfully the islands are now fiercely protected and the tourism industry strictly regulated. I took a four night cruise, but you can do longer cruises to cover more of the islands – each of which has their own endemic species.

Flying into the island of Santa Cruz, first stop was at a colony of the famed giant tortoises – such extraordinary creatures with their hard shells and wrinkly necks creating more than a passing resemblance to ET. A small boat took me out to yacht “La Pinta” - Spanish for The Painted One, and one of the fastest of the three ships used by Christopher Columbus on his first transatlantic voyage. A far cry from the 15th century, this was an elegant white motor-yacht designed for expedition style cruising in comfort, with a maximum of 48 passengers. I was in for an amazing five days. The floor to ceiling window in my spacious cabin meant no missing out on any action outside.

And action there certainly was. We were welcomed aboard with our wetsuits, snorkels and flippers and in no time were off on the first adventure. Each snorkelling trip revealed new wonders - from brightly coloured fish to graceful turtles swimming on by unperturbed by our presence, but I will never forget the sight of a seal teasing a group of white tipped sharks by swimming up to them, prodding one, and then dashing off!

My first sighting of marine iguanas perched on rocks jutting out of the sea is etched on my mind – and on the many photos I took of these pre-historic looking creatures.

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It’s no wonder Darwin was fascinated by his time spent there in 1835, it is a veritable living natural museum.

Knowledgeable and passionate naturalist guides accompanied us on daily excursions to a new island each day. It is hard to describe the beauty of the islands, which ranged from vast lunar landscapes, to volcanic calderas and exquisite red cliffs.

Wildlife highlights for me included the extraordinary blue feet of the blue footed boobie, and watching a whale and its calf so close to our Zodiac craft - I’m not sure my heart could beat any faster! Much of the wildlife is completely unphased by human presence, so even keeping a respectful distance allows a thrilling up-close and personal experience.

Life back on board was a delight, with an onboard spa, pre-dinner drinks on deck at sunset, every comfort at your fingertips. I urge all travellers with the Galapagos on their bucket list to elevate it straight to the “Just do it’ category.

Judith

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M TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY! AIR NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAYS IS MOVING INTO PONSONBY! The Air New Zealand Holidays team previously in downtown Auckland is relocating to a new site on Ponsonby Road (previously Bliss Café).

Air New Zealand Holidays can take the hassles and risk out of booking your travel.

With all the benefits of being part of Air New Zealand, they can help book any aspect of your travel plans from the accommodation, flights, transfers, cruises, coach tours, rail, cars to the insurance and passport guidance. Clientele can range from wanting a complicated European holiday with every aspect taken care of, to a customer who just wants their flight and will go it alone.

What’s more, you will earn Fly Buys points with most purchases and you can redeem your Air New Zealand Airpoints to book selected hotels and cruises.

The Air New Zealand Ponsonby team of consultants include, Michelle, Dot, Mike, Zarine, Connie, Yoko and Ria. All very well travelled and can help with personal experiences and recommendations. Whether you travel internationally or domestically, or as part of a group, business delegation or travelling alone, the team can draw up a personalised itinerary to suit your tastes and budget. Combined the team has more than 100 years service with Air New Zealand and even more in the Travel Industry.

When you are ready to set sail or fly away for a fantastic holiday, contact any of the team. PN AIR NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAYS, 286 Ponsonby Road T: 09 337 5660; holidays.ponsonby@airnz.co.nz

RELAX IN PRIVACY AND LISTEN TO THE BIRDSONG ENJOY THE BEST ACCOMMODATION KERIKERI HAS TO OFFER. SET AMONGST 30 acres of native bush and lush northland pastures, Puketotara Bay of Islands Lodge is the perfect blend of luxury Bay of Islands accommodation with good old-fashioned New Zealand hospitality.

Just five minutes from Kerikeri, there are a host of local tourist attractions like the Stone Store Basin, the historic Pear Tree Restaurant and Blacksmith’s Shop, Marsden Estate Winery, Ake Ake Vineyard and your choice of golf courses.

It’s a unique bed and breakfast and those wanting a private retreat need never leave the property. Listen to the birdsong as you stroll amongst the beautiful orchard or olive grove, wander through stunning native bush or visit one of the three waterfalls on the property. You can picnic on the bank of the Puketotara River, take a dip, or try your hand at fly fishing. And for a bit of physical activity the air strip doubles nicely as a golf driving range!

The modern rooms are designed to make you feel a little bit spoiled. All rooms have a sitting area where you can relax in privacy, air conditioning, a separate bathroom and an ensuite, (king rooms have a spa bath). Each with their own private entrance the rooms are north facing and open onto a sunny deck with magnificent views. Other amenities include flat screen TV, internet, a big open fire, a spa and outside pizza oven.

There is also a private pet friendly cottage that’s perfect for honeymooners or families wanting their own space and kitchen facility. PN

L – R: MICHELLE, CONNIE, MIKE, YOKO, DOT, RIA, ZARINE and SUSAN

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PUKETOTARA LODGE, 1608 E State Highway 10, Kerikeri T: 09 407 7780 stay@puketotaralodge.co.nz www.puketotaralodge.co.nz

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TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY! M CRUISING ALASKA Choosing the perfect itinerary for your Alaskan cruise holiday largely depends on what you’re looking to get out of your cruise.

To get you on your way, the experts at Cruiseabout Ponsonby have some tips to help you choose your perfect itinerary.

Best time to travel: the Alaska season is from May to September and is broken into three periods to help you decide which best suits your preferences.

The early season promises the least amount of rain, lots of snow and smaller crowds.

Peak season offers the longest daylight hours, warmest weather and is the best time of year for bear viewing and whale watching. Alternatively, the late season has beautiful fall foliage and fewer crowds.

Round trip or one way: a round-trip cruise through Alaska explores the inside passage and is perfect for those who would like to depart and arrive back into the same port or for those looking for a shorter cruise. For those with more time on their hands, a one way cruise starts or ends in Anchorage and you get the chance to experience the ‘real’ Alaska inland to Denali National Park.

Which Glacier is best? Hubbard Glacier is the longest and most active, so it is perfect for experiencing the breaking ice and seeing it fall into the water. If you’re looking for serenity, then Glacier Bay is the choice for you because it only allows two ships to cruise the area at the same time. Tracy Arm Glacier is perfect for nature lovers with its tall mountains, fresh waterfalls, whales, seals, bears and many varieties of birds.

To book your next cruise holiday, contact New Zealand’s dedicated cruise specialists at CRUISEABOUT PONSONBY, T: 0800 867 667 or visit www.cruiseabout.co.nz

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

DISCOVER THE SECRET OF BEAUTIFUL SKIN GOAL PROGRAM At Beauty on Ponsonby they are all about three R’s; results, HAIR AT CHANTAL LANDAIS relaxation and research. They believe that to really get the most out Do you fancy a bit of a do, a complete change or just professional advice on the right home hair care regime? Chantal Landais Hair Studio offers a relaxed atmosphere, friendly professional stylists and easy parking.

of your treatments there is a need to establish a common goal to work towards. They commit the time to work out how they need to be best treating you and what is most important to you. They will also discuss the timeframe in which you wish to achieve your goals.

Their signature service Keratin Treatment Soft Liss is a great treatment to book before the holidays. Soft Liss will free you from frizzy and unmanageable hair giving shine to even the most chemically challenged hair. You can choose to do partial or half head Soft Liss, depending on what will work best for your hair style, even tame that fringe you thought you could never have!

You will receive a full consult with your chosen facial specialist along with a homecare program and skincare range that is best suited to you. This complete package is designed to help you achieve nothing short of fabulous results.

A great cut, a fantastic colour, the appropriate home hair care and a little Christmas shopping should tick off some of the must do things on your list to be achieved before Christmas. Luxury hair product KERASTASE Paris is always a welcome gift and with Chantal Landais’ ‘Deals and Offers’ with purchase you could even get a sneaky little something for yourself.

The team at Chantal Landais Hair Studio wish you all Joyeux Noel, Merry Christmas, Craciun Fericit, Boldog Karacsony Unepeket, Счастливогo рождествa and a prosperous New Year. PN CHANTAL LANDAIS HAIR STUDIO 128 Jervois Road T: 09 376 4402 www.chantalandais.co.nz

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They have a team of extremely passionate, highly trained skin therapists and the Beauty on Ponsonby difference is that you get the desired results along with all the luxurious touches and massage incorporated into your treatments.

They are always on the lookout for treatments that won’t cause trauma or damage to the skin or give temporary results. Everything at Beauty on Ponsonby is tried and true and they are proud of the fact their treatments are jam-packed with goodies, and are never cut short. Their pride in their work is reflected in their clients’ feedback, with many saying they are the best facial boutique in Auckland. At Beauty on Ponsonby it’s nothing short of being all about you.

Get a free Eye Trio (lash tint, brow tint and shape, value $56.00) with any 60 minute facial plus you will receive a free skin consultation!

To qualify for this special offer mention the Ponsonby News ad when booking. Valid from 24 December until 31 January 2013 PN BEAUTY ON PONSONBY, Level 1, 334 Ponsonby Road T: 09 376 9969 www.beautyonponsonby.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE Local resident MICHELLE BUCHANAN sent us this great shot of CHELSEA and BRAD WILSON at The White House … that’s the one in WASHINGTON, not the one on Queen Street, she informed us.

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

GREAT FOR THE SKIN AND AMAZING FOR THE MIND Considering the fact that she has an extensive background in beauty and skincare and that I’ve been seeing her for massage and Reiki for over a year, it’s actually amazing that it took me until now to have a facial with Rosanna Marks at Aroha Healing. And boy, after an hour on that table all I could think about was what I had been missing!

She uses in the main products by Phyt’s, a brand name that I first became familiar with after journeying to Gwinganna Health Retreat in the rainforest above Australia’s Gold Coast. They are certified organic facial products from France and smell incredible – the sensorial experience of a facial using Phyt’s is a joy in itself.

The brand was created in 1972 by its founder, Jean-Paul Llopart, a French naturopath and biologist. He set about developing a unique and original concept in perfect harmony with his ecological and ethical philosophy, but dedicated solely to beauty. The philosophy of Phyt’s is simple and natural: their products cater to a modern holistic need that prefers natural skincare methods, and demands outstanding results.

But back to Rosanna’s facial work, which is just that little bit different from much of what is available out there. It involves not only a deeply relaxing facial contouring treatment that leaves your skin glowing, but also works on your head as well.

All of Rosanna’s Aroha Healing facial therapy treatments incorporate the healing energy of Reiki to promote healthy, balanced and rejuvenated skin. If you haven’t experienced it before, Reiki is a spiritual healing art form. It is subtle yet powerful form of energy healing that leaves you with an energised, healing, soothing inner warmth and glow – and is exactly what most of us need in our lives in my humble opinion. I always feel like I’ve had a solid 10 hours sleep after a session, so for that to be added to a facial is utter bliss!

The idea is to open the upper chakras (energy centres) and heal and clear your headspace while the Phyt’s products do their stuff.

Phyt’s products contain herbs, fruits and vegetables in very high ROSANNA MARKS percentages; therefore they infuse significant organic active ingredients straight into your skin. They also use ecological and environmental Rosanna used the Phyt’s Cleansing Creme on my skin followed by a liberal application manufacturing practices, and can only be found at locations around the world that are of their delicious smelling Orange Toner, then used organic rosehip oil to give my entire in line with that modus operandi. face a lovely long massage. Once that was complete Phyt’s Masque M2 – a soothing mask for dry skin – was left one for a while to do its work, and then cleansed off before In 2003 they became certified organic with the COSMEBIO Label by ECOCERT. their ultra hydrating Creme Ylang was used to seal the deal.

To be certified with this logo, a manufacturer must adhere to the highest standards developed by ECOCERT. This means that each product must use a minimum of 95 per “I view the whole idea of most facials as just following a routine or a structure,” Rosanna cent or more certified organic plant ingredients in their manufacture, and only observe says to me as I leave, “and I prefer to work holistically so like to think of it more as ecological and environmental manufacturing practices. They also must have complete a feeling. So many women who come to see me for facials are so in their headspace traceability of the finished organic cosmetic and its raw materials, which is no easy that I felt my approach needed to be more healing, and it seemed that the massage task. Amazingly, Phyt’s goes beyond this certification and insists 100 per cent of all was always their favourite part of the whole experience.” She adds that she likes to ingredients are of natural origin, making for some pretty powerful products that my think, “I’ve created a perfect mix of all of that”, and I for one couldn’t agree more. skin just loves!

(HELENE RAVLICH) PN AROHA HEALING, 3 Maidstone Street T: 0800 MINDBODY www.arohahealing.co.nz

GIVE THE GIFT OF HAPPINESS WITH MORE THAN SKIN Now that the silly season’s in full swing, Ponsonby is abuzz with Christmas shoppers, merry makers and sightseers who’ve popped along to check out exactly what our little suburb has to offer.

But if you’re looking for an oasis of calm amongst this madness, More Than Skin Urban Spa is the place to go. Not only can their expert therapists take care of all your beauty and grooming needs, but they can also help you blitz your Christmas list. Plus, with the launch of their e-store, you can now shop online from the comfort of home.

This stylish, cyber-chic site offers the convenience you’ve been waiting for, providing comprehensive descriptions and clever product combinations to help you find the perfect gift. With free delivery across Auckland, it’s just another way to make your life that little bit easier.

In addition to the festive array of skin care sets and stocking-fillers available in-salon and online, the Urban Spa also has a great range of vouchers to suit any sized budget.

We think their limited edition ‘Happiness’ voucher is an absolute show-stopper…

The ‘Happiness’ gift voucher includes a Joyce Blok Signature facial, a full body aroma-massage, and stylish yuletide decoration – all for only $145 (valued at over $200).

In the lead-up to Santa’s big day, the Urban Spa has extended their opening hours, so call the team today on T: 09 361 2231 to make your booking, or visit www.morethanskin.co.nz and check out their new e-store.

And yes, they are open between Christmas and New Year! PN

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CLARE CALDWELL THE ART OF LIVING I’ve always been fascinated by clowns and court jesters and the roles they play within human history - sociologically, psychologically and politically. Sadly it seems many people have developed a fear of clowns (coulrophobia), possibly fuelled by the advent of “killer” clowns in the 1980s – which entered our collective consciousness through books and films. (Stephen King has a lot to answer for!) Unfortunately, for some, this fear also extends into a fear of the killer clown’s innocent and lovable cousin – the circus clown.

Unlike court jesters, clowns have traditionally served a more socio-religious and psychological role in society as opposed to the more political and privileged role of the court jester or “fool”.

One of the oldest clowns is the historical “white clown” where the entire face is whitened. He is the ultimate authority figure, dignified, serious and often juxtaposed with the comic circus clown who makes fun of him. Italian film director Federico Fellini describes the white clown as “the embodiment of elegance, grace, harmony, intelligence and clarity, which are put forward as ideals.” The circus clown on the other hand, “rebels against such perfection, wets his pants, gets drunk, rolls about on the ground, acting out a continual struggle. They are like the schoolteacher and the child, the angel and the sinner - the paradox of the human psyche, seen as divided and separate from each other.”

The circus clown, as well as being lovable and innocently amusing, is also seen by Fellini as expressing what is “irrational, instinctive and primal in all of us, a struggle that often takes us over into the dark side”.

Both white clowns and circus clowns are caricatures of the human being, and what is deemed acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. They become both the mocked and the mocker simultaneously and provide a mirror in which to see our extremes - as “idealised, elevated perfection or as socially unacceptable, grotesque and odd”.

The tradition of prominent court jesters ended in Britain when Charles 1st was overthrown by republican Oliver Cromwell. Prior to that, the jester was in a position of influencing political outcomes and criticising royalty, all in the guise of playing the ignorant “fool”, clown or trickster, and all inextricably and cleverly woven through the entertainment of music, juggling, clowning and riddle telling.

The court jester could say and do what most others could not or would not dare to, thus putting them in a very unique and powerful position – a position that today has morphed into that of the contemporary political cartoonist.

THE LIQUID FACELIFT Do you ever look in the mirror and think…‘Help! When did my skin get so tired, drawn and dull looking?’ If this sounds like you, an Intraceuticals facial just may be the answer you’ve been waiting for.

An Intraceuticals facial is a facial treatment like no other. It instantly makes your face appear fresher, more radiant, plumped and lifted. Is it going to make you look twenty years younger with fish lips? Absolutely not! But it will probably make you look the best possible you at the moment!

Intraceuticals uses pressurised oxygen to infuse smaller molecules of beneficial ingredients such as Hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, vitamins and Argireline into the skin, much deeper than topical products can reach and without the need for injections, needles or aggressive peeling.

The Rejuvenate facial will deeply hydrate the skin, noticeably tighten, lift and firm the facial contour while plumping fine lines and wrinkles for an overall more radiant, vital and youthful appearance. The Atoxelene facial focuses on smoothing expression lines and wrinkles and is a highly effective alternative to more invasive anti-wrinkle treatments.

An Intraceuticals facial is the perfect facial the day before a special event as it provides instant visible results that you and others can see and you can be sure you will not breakout. For maximum long-lasting benefits a course of six facials and the use of specific Intraceuticals homecare products are highly recommended.

If it’s good enough for celebrities like Madonna, Katie Perry, Eva Longoria we think an Intraceuticals facial is worth trying. PN BLOOM SPA & BEAUTY, 1/209 Ponsonby Road T: 09 361 1511 www.bloomspa.co.nz

When looking at our present parliament, I can’t help wondering - which costume should each of them be wearing?

Have a great Christmas everyone! PN Clare (Claudie) Caldwell is a creative arts therapist who runs a small private practice from home. She is voluntary team leader of creative therapies at Mercy Hospice Auckland, College Hill, where she has worked for the last ten years. She is also a freelance artist.

Enquiries: T: 09 836 3618; M: 021 293 3171; E: clare.e.caldwell@gmail.com

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN: MY PICK OF THE SILLY SEASON’S BEAUTY BUYS Giving is often even better than receiving, and when it comes to buying for the beauty freak in your life the possibilities are endless!

A great place to start is M.A.C’s line up of absolutely want-able holiday gifts, which as always, are amongst the most gorgeous on the block. To start, they have mini kits for eyes and lips, packaged in round, chevron-print boxes trimmed with a patent black bow; in shades and finishes too irresistible to resist. There is also a collection of style-packed, leopard-print Holiday Primped Out Lip and Eye Look Bags, and Perfectly Plush Brush Kits to fill the season with glamour. Or try the All for the Glamour Face Kit in Gorgeous Bronze, a limited edition face, eye, and lip palette with everything you need when you’re en route to somewhere fabulous for a holiday.

Last but not least – and my pick of the bunch – is a Fabulousness compact, which makes a great gift for the M.A.C freak in your life too. Chic, satin-tufted compacts with a demure black patent bow accent, they are eye shadow palettes featuring five shadows for Warm Eyes, Neutral Eyes or Smokey Eyes and are as retro-tastic as it gets. ’Tis most definitely the season to be chic when it comes to these babies.

Another cute option – and a bit of a steal at that – is Tender Love + Carry’s Retro Rogue collection of makeup bags and travellers, which start at just $18.95. They feature a line up of pin-up-style bathing beauties on handy, washable bags and are available at pharmacies and department stores.

There is nothing like the scent of a freshly chopped Christmas tree to get you in the mood for a carol or two, but along with that comes dropped needles, hay fever and the inevitable question of where to dump the damn thing once it is past its prime. The solution – and an incredibly delicious solution at that – is picking up one (or two, or three) of Ecoya’s new Three City Limited Edition Christmas candles, which are up there amongst the best I’ve had the pleasure of sniffing.

Named and inspired by three iconic cities around the globe, they are The Festive Season in Sydney (White Ischia blended with Australian Pine), The Festive Season in New York (a heady blend of fresh pine, cranberry and white birch) and The Festive Season in London - a comforting fragrance befitting of cold London nights spent indoors, with citrus top notes leading to a heart of rosewood on a base of balsam, cedar and vanilla. My personal favourite is the Antipodean variant, although the other two would fit quite nicely into my wardrobe of scented candles too, I’m sure.

This Works aromatherapy-based skincare packs from Mecca Cosmetica are also on my wish list, with my pick being a duo that includes their Perfect Hands Intense Moisture and Perfect Heels Rescue Balm. A hydrating and anti-ageing hand cream with Rose, Mimosa and Musk Mallow, Perfect Hands not only smells incredible, but tightens, firms and reduces the appearance of dark spots with Larch extract and Rapeseed Oil for younger looking hands. The treat for your feet is a deeply moisturising foot balm to prevent and repair cracked heels and dry feet made with Cotton Thistle extract and refreshing lemon oil, and smells equally as amazing. This is definitely a gift that won’t be going back, and a good choice if you’re buying for someone who has a rigid skincare regime in place already.

And if you’re really stuck for gift ideas you really can’t go past beauty and wellbeing-related vouchers, which are easy to buy and more appreciated than many imagine! Pick up a voucher or two for a massage from Warwick Powell or Aroha Healing, or a useful beauty spend from Bare Waxing or D&M. Your loved one will love you for it, I promise!

(HELENE RAVLICH) PN

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GOOD BOOKS PRESENTS HAVANA HEAT GOOD BOOKS CONTINUES ITS UNIQUE CHARITY FUNDING MODEL WITH “Havana Heat”, the second short film in the Great Writers series.

Following on from the indie success of the original viral movie Metamorphosis - a twisted look at the Good Books story as might have been told by the dark lord of Gonzo, Hunter S Thompson - Good Books presents Havana Heat .

Animated by world-famous duo mcbess and Simon of The Mill in London, Havana Heat is a steamy love letter to Good Books, in the bodice-ripping language made famous

by Mills & Boon books. The Mill team has just won Post Production Company of the Year at the LIA (London International Awards), the most prestigious advertising craft awards in the world.

Each of the Great Writers films builds on the concept of telling the Good Books story in the style of some of the world’s greatest authors. All time and effort is donated for free fuelling the cornerstone of Good Books, for the collective good.

Jeremy Taine, ECD of String Theory and author of the series, is understandably thrilled. “To work with the likes of Buck TV and now The Mill is a writer’s dream. To have them get behind the Good Books concept and donate a staggering amount of time and resources to the cause for free is more than we could have ever hoped for.”

Good Books strategic partnership lies with Oxfam New Zealand. Barry Coates, Executive Director of Oxfam New Zealand, is equally humbled: “With charities competing more and more for the same dollar, hopefully this collaborative model is a new era in charity fundraising. We are eternally grateful to the worldwide creative community for giving their time and talent to benefit those who struggle for the very basics of life.”

The Good Books model is unique – and simple. Online book buyers are asked to do no more than just buy the titles they want through Good Books. All retail profits are then given to Oxfam to help fight its global battle against poverty and social injustice. There is no mark-up and delivery is free worldwide.

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Good Books was created by Ponsonby resident Dr Jane Cherrington, a keen observer of human consumer behaviour. As the world’s altruistic community becomes harder to tap, she proposed a new model to provide a perpetual revenue stream for charity by converting an everyday purchase opportunity into a vehicle for gifting – in this case, books.

More films are planned, and fans of the series could find themselves with a role to play in sharing the story. Fans of books (and indeed films) are welcome to pitch scripts, offer services, or make suggestions for film subjects to help bring the Good Books story to life. www.usegoodbooks.com PN

SIBYL MANDOW, FITNESS TRAINER, HERNE BAY BECOMING A PARENT IS LIKE BEING thrown onto centre stage at a circus – its exciting, colourful and fun but you’re also expected to know how to juggle, it feels like a tight rope balancing act and is incredibly physically demanding!

I have navigated my way through the first three magnificent years of being a working mother to my gorgeous boy Dylan using the philosophy of an aeroplane crash – you’ve got to put on your own oxygen mask before attending to those of your children. In other words, you’re no good to anyone if you don’t take care of yourself too.

I think an enjoyable exercise routine is essential – it’s ‘me time’ that is also a fantastic stress reliever and being fit and strong makes even the toughest juggling acts (four shopping bags in hand and grumpy bubba on hip) manageable, and even with unbrushed hair and fruit puree on the outside, it’s a well deserved pleasure to look and feel like a yummy mummy on the inside. sibyl@fitnesstrainer.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

ORGANIC LOVE ON THE SHORE: IE PRODUCE

JOYCE LOWYIM

I’m all for buying local, but have to confess that over the years I’ve spent a lot of time popping across the harbour bridge to visit the amazing IE Produce store in Barry’s Point Road. And I’m not alone – I’ve spotted more than a few Ponsonby locals like Lucy Marr and David Hartnell there on occasion, with good reason.

Owners Joyce and Phillip Lowyim really know their stuff when it comes to health and wellbeing, and the edit of products at their store is seriously amazing. They opened their doors in 1994 and are New Zealand’s first Bio-Gro Certified supermarket, meaning that the BIO-GRO certified products you buy in their shop are totally true to label. BIO-GRO certification of retailers involves lengthy audited documentation and strict procedures to be complied with for the complete supply chain from the grower right to the customer, and the fact that IE Produce proudly display this speaks volumes about how committed they are to great food.

I finally met Joyce – after years of being a customer – when my friend Jessie Gurunathan (the picture of health if ever I saw one) took me to see her one Saturday morning. Her enthusiasm and dry wit were beyond compare, not to mention her incredible knowledge when it comes to all things health and wellbeing-related. Joyce was born and bred in Whakatane and was involved in her parents’ fruit and vegetable shop from an early age.

Rumour has it that even when she was knee-high to a grasshopper she was out there serving customers on an apple box, just to reach the counter! After her family moved to Auckland, she met her husband Phillip, who was also born into the industry and spent lots of years in the family business, growing vegetables.

Every gluten free product has been identified and the gluten free symbol is displayed on the shelf below each product.

They first went into business as IE Produce in 1989 in West Harbour, making the move five years later to Takapuna. Since then the business has flourished, a fact Joyce puts down to working hard to please the customer, many of whom are loyal regulars. She also knows pretty much each and every product on their shelves inside out, and that includes the around 7,000 organic products (both fresh and dry goods) and over 2,000 wheat and gluten free products, a number that is growing weekly! For coeliacs IE Produce is an essential destination as they have the largest range of gluten free food available in New Zealand.

The living enzymes in the juice produced by an Oscar ensures you get a fresh and living juice which retains its appearance, flavour and nutrients for up to 48 hours when stored in the refrigerator. One way to see the quick deterioration of juice from your average high-speed juicer is the brown colour of the bubbles on the side of your drinking glass.

This means your juice is no longer living – it’s dying (oxidising) in your glass and inside you. Interesting stuff…

Joyce and Phillip have worked closely with the Coeliac Society of New Zealand to ensure coeliacs and wheat intolerant shoppers are able to find all their gluten free needs, all conveniently nestled under one roof. Diabetic and lactose intolerant coeliacs are also well catered for amongst the range, which is pretty impressive.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

I left my highly informative catch up with Joyce carrying a large bottle of Grainfield’s Lemon & Ginger pro-biotic drink and some Kefir Coconut Water, and desperately wanting an Oscar juicer, which has just gone straight to the top of my Christmas wish list. As well as being wheatgrass and fruit and vegetable juicers, they also function as living food processors – able to mince, puree, process noodles and pasta, make frozen fruit ice-creams and sorbets and much more.

Anyway, if you’re looking to take a closer look at your diet or just to try something new then I highly recommend you pop over the bridge to IE too – you definitely won’t leave empty handed! (HELENE RAVLICH) PN IE PRODUCE, 1 Barrys Point Road T: 09 488 0211 www.ieproduce.com

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

THOUSANDS INSPIRED AT THE INAUGURAL HEALTHY LIVING SHOW Local and international exhibitors and experts inspired more than four and a half thousand visitors about the benefits of healthy living at the first ever Healthy Living Show held last month at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.

Visitors attending the three-day health and well-being extravaganza were treated to seminars and workshops from some of the world’s most prominent experts in the field, alongside close to 100 hand-picked local and international exhibitors of products and services in the healthy living sector.

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North Port Events CEO and Ponsonby resident Dona White says feedback from visitors and exhibitors indicates there’s a real appetite for this kind of show in New Zealand.

“We’re pleased with the support and feedback we received at the inaugural Healthy Living Show. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for many New Zealanders to see some of the world’s most prominent experts, as well as innovative products and services,” says Mrs White.

Bob Proctor (The Secret, You Were Born Rich), Dr Libby (Accidentally Overweight), Professor Sir Lloyd Geering (Christianity without God), Shamash Alidina (Mindfulness for Dummies), Frank Ferrante (star of the award-winning documentary May I Be Frank) and Victoria Boutenko (Green for Life) were just some of the world-renowned speakers at the show.

Attendees walked away with tools on a wide range of topics including how to live a more abundant and prosperous life, reducing stress, achieving success, nutrition, mindfulness and creating healthy living spaces.

“We look forward to putting this event on for New Zealanders next year with even more local and international experts and exhibitors,” says Mrs White. PN For more information go to www.healthylivingshow.co.nz

photography: Martin Leach

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8 1. Ireen Chand and Brande Melland of Spa Ayurda; 2. Fantl and Josh Egan of Vitamin Gum; 3. Martin Leach and Sara Mason of Ecostore; 4. Chelsea Marriner and Legend at K9 Natural Petfood; 5.Trisha Martin of Pathfinder Books; 6. Stephen Bennett of Peace Pillow; 7. Martin Leach and Mindfood magazine, founder, Michael McHugh; 8. Michelle Owen, busy in consultation.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

DON’T MISS THE FEBRUARY PONSONBY NEWS+ DEADLINE COPY DEADLINE: Sunday 20 January PUBLISHED: Friday 1 February (Please be on time, as any material arriving after deadline may incur a 20% surcharge)

SPECIAL FEATURES: Jervois Road + Maintaining Good Health + Valentine’s Day (14th February) + the Sales + Planning For Retirement TO BOOK ADVERTISING: ask about our special positions!

Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or T: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 E: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz W: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

New advertisers receive 250 words of editorial when booking a minimum of a quarter page advertisement.

DEADLINE – 20TH OF THE MONTH December 2012 PONSONBY NEWS+

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HOROSCOPES MISS PEARL NECLIS ♐ Sagittarius (the Archer): 23 November - 22 December

Be prepared to take control of your budget this month because you can’t keep ignoring what’s staring you in the face. Trying to work out where your money is going now will eventually lead to you having more in the future to play with.

♑ Capricorn (the Goat): 23 December - 20 January

You have been working really hard lately and you’re beginning to get oversensitive when friends or family mention this to you. Is it guilt that is making you work so hard, if so try and work out what’s worrying you as this may be the cause.

♒ Aquarius (the Water Carrier): 21 January - 19 February

You’re very good at keeping an eye on what goes on around you and you should always trust your instincts. However there really is no need to worry about everything as some things are simply out of your control.

♓ Pisces (the Fish): 20 February - 20 March

You can often show great compassion for someone else which often leaves you going without. Everything that you have been through recently will allow you the insight and experience to help others, but at what cost to you.

♈ Aries (the Ram): 21 March - 20 April

You have been making a few promises recently that you may not have been able to complete, this may be because of your willingness to please. You want to help even if you know your unable to, reign it in a little and then you won’t be disappointing.

♉ Taurus (the Bull): 21 April - 21 May

EDIBLE GARDENS SPROUTING UP AROUND AUCKLAND CITY Take part in the British Council’s Edible Garden project and win a trip to the UK. This summer the British Council is launching its Edible Garden Project in association with Auckland Council. The idea is to create vegetable gardens in urban environments within the city, to both sustainably make use of organic waste and to showcase the possibilities for implementing urban closed loop permaculture systems in environments where there may not be access to grass or gardens.

♊ Gemini (the Twins): 22 May - 21 June

Two gardens have already been set up in Central Auckland, one at Co-Space in K’Road where waste from cafes and working spaces is being put to good horticultural use, with the aim to provide fresh greens for the community come summertime.

The other showcase prototype is at The Kitchen in Ponsonby, where the workspace balcony has been put to good use, utilising the existing water and waste system to add planter boxes to the balcony. The boxes have been planted with edible greens for office lunches and upcoming summer events.

♋ Cancer (the Crab): 22 June - 22 July

Aucklanders can also get involved in the Edible Garden project. The British Council is running a competition to find garden ideas within the city urban areas that integrate closed loop or efficient resource-use systems. These gardens can be simple or complex: the important elements are design, permaculture systems integration and potential for community activation or involvement – so get planting!

You don’t need to do anything out of the ordinary this month in order to impress anyone.

You need to treat this month like any other month and just get on with it otherwise you might find yourself missing the detail and then you’ll be stressed.

You have had the freedom to make your own choices for a very long time now but occasionally this is viewed by some as a luxury rather than a given right. You may need to show a little self-discipline in order to prove that you have grown and have changed.

Your constant battle with your need to try and maintain balance in your world is always hampered by those closest to you, your caring and compassionate nature feels like it’s being taken for a ride. There is no simple yes or no in your life, there always feels like there’s an ulterior motive.

♌ Leo (the Lion): 23 July - 21 August

Your way with words and gestures can sometimes be quite insulting and your ability to offer something with one hand and then want something in return is baffling. You still need to get these moods sorted out before you start your summer break.

♍ Virgo (the Virgin): 22 August - 23 September

“We want to find urban gardens that demonstrate further thinking about food growing, innovative techniques in waste and resource management, and a desire to think outside the box!” says British Council project manager Gareth Farry.

Interested participants should register at news@britishcouncil.org.nz with “Edible Garden Competition” in the subject line.

Entries will close 31 January 2013, with the winner announced at a special event to be hosted by UK Edible Garden expert Fabio Santos. The winner gets a return trip to the UK with the opportunity to see first-hand some of great UK edible gardens and enjoy the festival fun. www.piyn.net/news/phakama-edible-gardens

You take risks often and occasionally you get results but you need to start learning from your mistakes. Maybe you should get rid of any distractions in your life and just focus on one or two goals, you may learn a valuable lesson.

♎ Libra (the Scales): 24 September - 23 October

Just focus on you and your family over the next month or so as they may be feeling a little neglected with the long hours that you put in at work. Remember to take care of your basic needs without any distractions; you’ll be thanked for it.

♏ Scorpio (the Scorpion): 24 October - 22 November

Getting anyone to understand where you’re coming from has always been a problem for you, you rely on your common sense to get you through any issues you have to deal with. Maybe you should break down any problems you encounter and don’t rush the outcome maybe you could get people to understand better. PN

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

MIND, BODY & SPIRIT BOOK REVIEW ‘DYING TO BE ME’

by Anita Moorjani Hay House $25.99 In this truly inspirational memoir, Anita Moorjani relates how after fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma for almost four years, her cancer ravaged body slips into a coma as her vital organs begin shutting down.

Aware of everything going on around her Moorjani describes her ensuing near -death experience as a realm of clarity and expansiveness, “a state of being.”

She realises that our lives are imprinted by cultural beliefs and social conditioning; much of which are detrimental to the composition of the spiritual being that we are. Moorjani is adamant that disease is caused by fear and our inability or desire to express our true self.

‘Dying To Be Me’ is a journey in itself. It gives readers an opportunity to look at themselves and assess if they are living to their fullest potential and true self. While in her near death experience, Moorjani made the choice to live and defying all medical understanding made a full recovery, leaving hospital within weeks without a trace of cancer in her body!

Filled with life lessons ‘Dying To Be Me’ puts a spiritual light on the saying, “we are spiritual beings having a human experience.” (TRISHA MARTIN) PN PATHFINDER BOOKSHOP, 4/182 Jervois Road T: 0800 554 455 www.pathfinder.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE – 20TH OF THE MONTH December 2012 PONSONBY NEWS+

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JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH

D-RIBOSE – IS IT THE SUGAR OF LIFE? AS A RESULT OF SEEING IT FEATURED IN THE EXCELLENT TV SERIES Is Modern Medicine Killing You, many New Zealanders have now heard about D-Ribose. In the programme, integrative North Shore GP Dr Frances Pitsilis had success with a chronic fatigue (CFS) patient by supplementing his diet with a simple sugar known as D-Ribose.

For many people this may have been the first time they have heard of D-Ribose.

I have however been using it daily for many years – primarily to limit the possibility of an energy crisis during exercise and to assist with recovery afterwards.

So what is D-Ribose (chemical name – alpha-D-ribofuranose)? It’s a simple 5 carbon sugar (glucose is a 6 carbon sugar) that is found in every cell in the human body.

D-Ribose is a vital nutrient with a very significant role to play. Unlike sugars such as glucose which are metabolised to contribute to energy turnover – D-Ribose is not ‘burned’ for energy but is conserved by the cell for rebuilding the energy pool. It’s the only compound used by the body to manage cellular energy restoration.

When we consume D-Ribose, the body recognises that it is different from other sugars and preserves it for the vital work of actually making the energy molecule (ATP) that powers our hearts, muscles, brains, and every other tissue in the body. ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is the energy ‘currency’ of the cell and D-Ribose provides the key building block for ATP. Without sufficient D-Ribose the cell cannot make ATP. D-Ribose is naturally present in foods but only in very small amounts. Red meat is at the top of the list but the amount is insignificant. Dr Stephen Sinatra in his book ‘Metabolic Cardiology’ says “The dietary intake of D-Ribose is insufficient to provide any nutritional support, especially to those people suffering heart disease, neuromuscular disease and those hoping to recover quickly after exercise”.

Is D-Ribose the Sugar of Life? As I see it D-Ribose more than qualifies for this title.

If you would like to find out more about how D-Ribose and other nutritional interventions might help you, nutritionist and international athlete Kaytee Boyd at Real Health in Takapuna is the very best. Whether you have Olympic aspirations are a Sunday jogger or have aches and pains that make it a struggle to get off the couch – have a chat with Kaytee T: 09 489 3380 kayteeboydnz@gmail.com (JOHN APPLETON) PN APPLETON ASSOCIATES, T: 09 489 9362 john@johnappleton.co.nz www.johnappleton.co.nz

SABEN SHOWS ITS STYLE SABEN BAGS WERE INVITED TO JOIN IN PONSONBY CENTRAL’S OPENING celebrations, where the brand launched its ‘Portraits of Style’.

Friends of designer Roanne Jacobson and her team were beautifully shot in black and white, holding a Saben A/W 13 bag of their choice. Numerous fashionista types featured, but we have a soft spot for this photograph of longtime Greater Ponsonby resident and self-proclaimed ‘storyteller, chaperone, and random idea generator’ Julian Andrews - also Roanne’s husband. PN

Although the first research on D-Ribose in humans goes back to 1958, D-Ribose was first developed as a dietary supplement in 1997 by Bioenergy Inc in the U.S. and since then many studies have investigated this amazing yet simple ‘sugar’. Much of the research has focused on the use of D-Ribose in association with heart disease and its use pre and post exercise. Results have indeed been exciting and it really is hard to believe that D-Ribose hasn’t been headline news. When there is a totally safe option that shows remarkable benefits we need to know about it.

In 1973 German researchers reported that energy starved hearts could recover their energy levels if D-Ribose was given prior to or immediately following ischemia (reduced blow flow causing oxygen deprivation). In 1992 a study published in the Lancet showed that administration of D-Ribose to patients with severe stable coronary artery disease increased exercise tolerance and delayed the onset of angina. In 2003 University of Bonn Germany published the results of a heart failure study which showed that administration of D-Ribose improved the performance of the heart, increased exercise tolerance and significantly improved quality of life.

When it comes to the use of D-Ribose by athletes it would have to be a ‘no brainer’.

Dr James Roberts an American cardiologist runs marathons. He says “it’s the impaired recovery of the muscle ATP pool that causes the pain, soreness and stiffness after training”. Dr Roberts found that taking D-Ribose before and after a run he felt really good and he was no longer fatigued in the days following a strenuous workout.

Dr John St Cyr MD PhD an expert in cardiac metabolism points out that “three to four workouts per week may not allow enough rest between sessions for heart and muscle energy pools to return to normal levels”. Dr Ronald Terjung at University of Missouri discovered much to his surprise that when muscles were supplemented with D-Ribose they continued to add to their energy stores even while they were actively working.

Until Dr Terjung’s study was published it was thought that muscle energy stores were only refilled when the muscle was at rest.

As to who should consider supplementing with D-Ribose, it would be on my list for any condition where my cells might be energy starved – think - heart disease – chronic fatigue syndrome – fibromyalgia and any form of exercise. D-Ribose comes as a powder which dissolves instantly in water and it makes a very pleasant drink.

Research shows that D-Ribose is very rapidly absorbed and approx 97% ‘gets through’. I take 5 grams daily (as a ‘sports’ drink). Even at high doses it’s a very safe supplement but because it can lower blood glucose levels, diabetics should talk with their doctor first.

Cardiologists Drs Stephen Sinatra and James Roberts sum it up by saying – “we can’t overstate the effect of D-Ribose supplementation on maintaining energy levels. Any tissue that relies heavily on aerobic energy metabolism, such as the heart and muscles, will be severely affected by any amount of oxygen deprivation. The problem is ATP drain. The solution is to give it back.”

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION THE GIFT OF READING For the second time, the Ponsonby News Christmas kids’ book review team are proud to bring you a selection of great books for the tots to teens in your life. Our trusty reviewers are Gabrielle Marshall (13) and Noah Burrow (6) - pictured, with a little help from their mum. All these titles are available now at the proverbial “good book shop”.

Preschoolers+ WHERE’S SANTA?

by Louis Shea (Scholastic, $19) 1,001 things to spot, including the jolly red-dressed hero. Noah said “I just like ‘Where’s Santa?’ so much! I just want to read it! (This in lieu of getting dressed for school). He has since invited mum back to pore over ‘Where’s Santa?’ with him.

DO YOUR EARS HANG LOW? Pictures by Jenny Cooper, sung by The Topp Twins (Scholastic, $21) Adorable illustrated version of the song grandad used to sing, complete with CD of the Topp Twins singing it and - a karaoke version!

THE TWELVE CATS OF CHRISTMAS / THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS

by Kevin Whitlar (Scholastic, $14) Our review team have a collection of Christmas themed books that come out each December, and The Twelve Cats / The Twelve Dogs of Christmas will be great additions. Updated take on the classic Christmas poem complete with joyful cat and dog themed lyrics and illustrations.

THE WORD WITCH Margaret Mahy, edited by Tessa Duder (Harper Collins, $39.99) This one is all ages, really. We already own the original hardback version of this book, but in the light of Mahy’s death this year it is even more precious, and this more recent paperback edition includes a CD with recordings of Margaret reciting 12 poems. I can’t wait to introduce little ones to her poems, and adored hearing them in her own voice myself.

5 Years + THE LITTLE YELLOW DIGGER TRACE N RACE

by Betty and Alan Gilderdale (Scholastic, $21) This version of the Kiwi classic comes with a battery operated digger and a ‘magic’ marker pen – you draw a line on a big piece of white paper and it follows it, so the story can move into 3D. Just make sure you get your hands on the marker, before your little one does.

Strong primary school readers+ BUILD THE HUMAN BODY AND DISCOVER HOW IT WORKS

by Richard Walker (New Holland, $29.99 This beautiful book combines 32 pages of illustrations and accessible text which explain the intricate activities of the body, with everything you need to build a 75cm+ skeleton. The finished model can be hung from the ceiling, its organs slotted in. It was a little bit over my six year old’s head, but I am going to keep ‘Build the Human Body’ to read and construct together so that he can learn, and I can re-learn.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON – HOW TO SEIZE A DRAGON’S JEWEL

by Cressida Cowell (Hachette, $19.99) Noah seized this book as his own the moment he saw it, but he has not yet read it. Mum thinks it is slightly above his current reading level and that he will love having it read to him in instalments, until such time as he can grapple its size, himself. Naturally he didn’t hesitate to pull out the four collectors’ cards inside! The book is adorned with numerous illustrations to enhance the young reader’s experience, and is the 10th in the Hiccup books series.

THE HOBBIT COMPANION

by David Day, illustrations by Lidia Postma (New Holland, $29.99) David Day is a Tolkein authority and is currently consulting on Sir Peter Jackson’s very-soon-to-be-released The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. In The Hobbit Companion Day explores the brilliant language that unfolds in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, exposing the crafty puns and riddles, hidden meanings, and mythical associations beneath the saga’s surface. Gaby says this is “a beautiful, descriptive book that explains a lot of magic.”

Pre-teen/Young teen RUBY REDFORT 2 - TAKE YOUR LAST BREATH

by Lauren Child (Harper Collins, $24.99) Part 2 in a series from Lauren Child, author of the Clarice Bean books. Ruby Redfort is a code-cracking genius, intrepid detective, and schoolgirl. Gaby said “quirky and different, with great characters.”

She recommends this book for pre-teens.

KETCHUP CLOUDS

by Annabel Pitcher (Hachette, $27.99) Gaby says this is the best book of all those she reviewed. “A great plot - a book that I can’t put down.” In which 15 year old Zoe shares a terrible secret to a stranger on death row...a second novel from the author of the bestselling Debut, ‘My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece.”

THE DEADLY SISTER Eliot Schrefer (Scholastic, $18) The heroine Abby’s sister has a very bad reputation, and Abby finds a body and evidence that her sister may have killed someone! Gaby says this book is emotive and realistic and that she really identified with what the heroine was feeling. “You really want to find out the end,” she says. PN

THIS MOOSE BELONGS TO ME

by Oliver Jeffers (Harper Collins, $29.99) Noah enjoyed having this beautiful book read to him - (though not as much as other Harper Collins one with the farting monster in it!)

However, mum LOVES this book which means he may be read it quite often. Great food for thought in the plot (just who does an animal belong to?) and luscious illustrations. A book to keep.

THERE IS A MONSTER UNDER MY BED WHO FARTS

by Tim Miller and Matt Stanton (Harper Collins, $29.99) Mum says “this had been Noah’s favourite since the first read. He would have me read it, or read it with me, every night if he could.”

The title really explains it all! A beautiful quality illustrated book in hard cover.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FUTURE GENERATION PONSONBY KIDS’ TOP 10 TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS 2012 In late November Ponsonby News was sent a pretty scary (read - plastic/commercial) list of Top 10 Toys for Christmas, and it inspired us to do our own. We talked to some of our favourite local kids, but while we were firmly in the spirit of ‘think global, buy local,’ we have to say that some answers do not reflect the opinion of your favourite community glossy! Bless ‘em.

SAMUEL SNELGROVE, 11 weeks Samuel’s mum Angela says “I think Samuel would like a buzzy bee mobile. A mobile because when you’re on your back and as inquisitive as Sam is, the more to look at the better! And he likes buzzy bees cause he’s a Kiwi. You can get the mobile from NATURE BABY for $22.95.

WOLF CLEMENTS, Nearly four years old Wolf’s mum Helene says: “No. 1 has been a big yellow Transformers Bumblebee - for a while. The other thing he really really wants is a blue telescopic light sabre (not the one that makes noises!). They come in all different shapes and sizes. Not 100% sure why it’s his favourite - I think he really liked the one he played with at his friends George and Bruno’s house! You can get one from FARMERS that costs around $30.

JULIA MCDADE, five years old Julia’s top toys are a tie between Colour Rox Hair Chox, Lip Balm Lab and Fashion Headbands. She says “I think they look like lots of fun and I want to have my own beauty salon when I grow up.” You can get them at PAPER PLUS PONSONBY for $29.99 each.

FELICITY PATTERSON, four years Felicity says “I’d really like a puppy and a kitten for Christmas, because I’d love to walk them and play with them and let them live with me in my house. Puppies can be a bit naughty so I think that would be fun. I’d also really like a trampoline for my garden because I like to bounce high into the sky, and a purple ‘My Little Pony’ Celebration Castle because I love My Little Pony and purple is my favourite colour.

ARABELLA LAWS, eight years old Arabella’s mum Valeria writes “The toy Arabella really really wants for Christmas is called “The Sound Machine.” It is a little gadget that has 16 different buttons with different sounds: clapping, laughing, whistling, glass breaking, burping and farting (of course). Arabella said she loves it because her friend has got one and when they play with it they just can’t stop laughing (good and fair explanation I thought!). This toy can be purchased at THE GARDEN PARTY in Ponsonby Road for $28.

JACK HARMAN, eight years Jack’s mum Karen says “Jack’s top toy for Christmas would be MORE Lego, in particular Lego Monster Fighters. The Crazy Scientist set is top of his list. This is his top toy because “I can use my imagination to make the Vampyre Castle and Ghost Train, and the Zombies have battles with the Swamp Monster and the Mad Scientist.” ($76.99). BE BA BO toys is Ponsonby’s local Lego stockist.

KEIR MAXWELL-STEWART, nearly 10 years Keir’s top toy would be one of: ‘The Inheritance Cycle’ four-book boxed set; a bow and arrow set, or a metal sculpture of a dragon...(his Mum Catriona says “I think he is meaning a fantasy-type dragon, but maybe a Chinese Emporium would have something that would suffice?”) You can get The Inheritance Cycle books for about $25 each at NOVEL. HUGO THOMSON, 10 years old Hugo’s top toy is the Battle Field 5 Playstation game for PS3. He says “It is cool because it has mean graphics and you can drive quad bikes, or tanks or four wheel drive cars.” You may be able to buy Battle Field 5 for PS3 at THE WAREHOUSE or EB GAMES at St Lukes (though an internet search failed to source Version 5, only released in July this year). (Mum Vicki says, “isn’t there somewhere in Ponsonby we can get that?!”)

LYDIA HARDEN-BULL, 12 years old Lydia says “My top toy would probably be an iPod touch. They are fun to play with, with games to download from the app store, and iTunes and all your favorite music to listen to. You can buy an iPod touch from CSTUFF on Ponsonby Road, for between $289 and $578 depending on the storage (gb) size.

ZACH THOMSON, Nearly eight years Zach’s top toys for Christmas are Matchbox cars... “because I am Car Mad! Matchbox have “real” cars ( ‘the best looking, authentic cars’ translates Zach’s mum Vicki). You can never have enough, you always need more. They last forever if they are looked after.” You can get them for $2.70 each car from THE WAREHOUSE, adds Zach. PN

LOCAL STORES: www.bebabo.co.nz; www.cstuff.co.nz; www.naturebaby.com; www.paperplus.co.nz; www.thegardenparty.co.nz JULIA MCDADE

SAMUEL SNELGROVE HUGO AND ZACH THOMSON

KEIR MAXWELL-STEWART

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ARABELLA LAWS

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WOLF CLEMENTS

CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW Night before Christmas by C C Moore, illustrated by N Puttapipat.

Published by Walker, $29.99.

Every Christmas there is a new edition of Clement C. Moore’s “Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas” which is so beautifully illustrated it has to be added to my collection. This year it is the magical pop-up edition of this timeless Christmas poem which was first published in December 1825.

This elegant cut paper picture book, with exquisite moonlit silhouette illustrations by Niroot Puttapipat and a wonderful pop-up final page captures the excitement and anticipation of Christmas Eve. It is a book that will become a family heirloom to be enjoyed by generations. PN

FELICITY PATTERSON

DOROTHY BUTLER CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP, 1 Jervois Road T: 09 376 7283 www.childrensbookshop.co.nz

JACK HARMAN

LYDIA HARDEN-BULL The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FUTURE GENERATION LOCAL CHILDREN’S GOAL TO BE FUTURE OLYMPIC SKI CHAMPIONS Hot, that’s what these kids are, they’re hot at what they do, they’re hot about doing it and they have a hot attitude to go with it. Hazel, Ollie and Theo have a little business called HOT Tuning and what they do is tune skis. This all came about because they’re good at ski racing; have been chosen to go on a ski training excursion to Switzerland and to help pay for the trip they’re raising money by tuning skis.

Ollie, Theo and Nate Gilbertson and Hazel Wells are part of a team of 12 going to train in Switzerland with their coach Grant Stockman.

They all started skiing with their families and became more involved at Ponsonby Primary School where there is huge support from parents and encouragement from Principal, Anne Malcolm. She goes to all the races she can, including the North Island Primary School (NIPS) ski champs at Whakapapa. The NIPS champs are the biggest school event for Primary schools in the Southern Hemisphere for a single sport.

Previously the kids were training at Snow Planet, then this year they dedicated their winter weekends and holidays to Ruapehu Snow Sports and their new coach Grant Stockman. Stockman is a high performance race coach with 19 years experience who started taking groups of potential ski racing champions to Switzerland last year. They think he is the best trainer in the country.

“Grant wants us to be the best that we can be and teaches us good technique so we get better” says Hazel. “Going to Switzerland wouldn’t be happening without his encouragement. We want to train and compete with others our age so we become better and can take on the South Island skiers.”

This year while training at Ruapehu, they were introduced to extreme skiing. “It’s really cool, like freestyle without the pre-made jumps and rails. It’s all powder and stuff, hiking back country, going down chutes and jumping backwards off cliffs. Our main goal at the moment is racing at the Olympics but after that, we’ll go on to extreme sports” says Theo.

HOT Tuning grew out of the need to have their skis tuned. “We started tuning ours at the end of a day up on the mountain and people were asking us to tune their skis. Then some members asked us to give them a master class and the business just grew out of that. We were a bit reluctant at first because we were tired at the end of the day but our trip to Switzerland will cost a great deal of money so we thought we could make some to put towards it” says Ollie.

“We’ll be going to Obersaxen which is two hours east of Zurich. It’s a town of only 800 people and has produced the most world cup champions per capita. There will be 12 kids from around the country and we’ll stay in alpine accommodation with Grant and some of our parents” says Hazel.

Hazel’s father, Richard Wells, was selected for the Olympic ski team and his sister, Janet, competed in 1976 at Innsbruck, so skiing is in her blood. Hazel is 13 and has been skiing since she was three. Ollie, 14, Theo, 12 and Nate, 9 have been on the slopes since age three and all four children have won a slew of medals, cups and prizes. Hazel says she can’t believe they’re going to Switzerland as it’s seen as ‘the’ place to practice and train. “It’s going to be amazing and we’re really excited to ski with the local Swiss kids and experience the Swiss Alps. My goal next year is to be on the podium after every race and I reckon after Switzerland I can do it.”

At the recent North Island Inter-field Champs Hazel came first, Theo second and Ollie third in their own categories. At the Snow Planet mini-series, Hazel and Theo won their categories and Ollie came in 3rd. Ollie won the Inter-fields last year at Turoa and wants to get in the top three next year after his trip to Switzerland and Theo is reckoning on being in the top five in the National Youth Series at Cardrona and wants to win his category at the Inter-fields.

On their return the children will be cross training to keep up their strength and stamina until the snow comes next year. They’ll compete with children from the North and South Island clubs, win more competitions and hopefully get into the New Zealand development squad and then on to Olympic selection. There is some sponsorship from Dynastar Lange but the bulk of their programme is covered by their parents. Hazel has earned extra money busking with her guitar and this paid for her tool kit which the children use to tune skis.

Hazel, Ollie and Theo are great friends; they love skiing and have a heap of fun together. With the dedication and focus these kids have there is no doubt of their success at future winter Olympics. If you want to help them get there, be a part of their future and medal winning by contacting them to have your skis tuned at aqa@ihug.co.nz (REBECCA JONES) PN

MAKE EVERY DAY OF THE HOLIDAYS MEMORABLE - MAKE EVERY DAY FUN LEARN… LAUGH… LIVE. AT KIDACTIVE HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES THEY believe in challenging kids to be active and “give it a go.” They provide excellent learning from highly skilled course providers who ensure your kids are learning while having fun.

They are Auckland’s largest online booking system for holiday programmes, offering exciting activities such as arts and crafts, drama, sports, camps and so much more.

With over 70 different course options to choose from Kidactive offers a huge range of fun hands on experiences for children aged five and older. They have a Herne Bay base for onsite and daily outings or attend one of their many courses centrally located for your convenience.

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Their programmes provide a fantastic opportunity to discover and experience activities your children may never have tried before or they simply just enjoying doing, while encouraging new skills and interests.

When choosing a holiday programme the safety and happiness of your children is of utmost importance, their courses offer limited student spaces per course along with high instructor/student ratio, making this an enjoyable experience for your children. Use their easy online booking system to secure your children’s space.

Don’t let the words “I’m bored” be part of your household these holidays. PN For more information go to www.kidactive.co.nz or call KIDACTIVE on T: 09 974 5135

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

BILLY HARRIS: KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY IF WE LIKEN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MANKIND AND THE ENVIRONMENT to a sports match, many would say that the environment is getting a hiding.

Pollution, overcrowding, over fishing, deforestation and global warming are just a handful of the ways in which humans are clobbering the planet into submission.

With the world’s most destructive species on the verge of delivering the knockout punch, Earth needs all the good people it can get if it’s to have any chance of making a comeback. People like Isabella Lenihan-Ikin.

The 16-year-old Western Springs College student was born with her parents’ passion for conservation and environmental issues, and for the last four years has been using that passion to make a difference. She explains when it started to really take off. “Since I was very young it has been intuitive for me to do things to minimise my impact on our Earth, but once I went to high school my interest was sparked as opportunities arose for passionate young environmentalists like me,” she says.

“In 2010, when I was in year 9, I applied to go to a camp call Make A Difference with Auckland Council. Along with other high school students from across Auckland we left feeling inspired to create change in our schools. Since then, I’ve met people who are involved in creating change in Auckland and in NZ, I’ve joined different groups and attended other inspiring camps. Each time I meet new people who are creating positive change in New Zealand I get inspired and motivated to continue helping to make a difference.”

Last August, Isabella travelled with 30 other high school students from around the country to the Kermadec Islands with the Sir Peter Blake Trust. The trip marked the tenth anniversary of Sir Peter’s death and was aimed at inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders and change makers. While there, the students explored Raoul Island and learned what the DoC staff do there. They spent several nights on the back of the HMNZS Canterbury tagging and releasing sharks with shark scientist Clinton Duffy, which included taking small DNA samples, and some of the students also went whale watching and took biopsy samples from dolphins.

Sounds like all that would kick start anyone into action, not that Isabella needs much motivating. She was already involved in MAD (Make A Difference), Auckland Council and Generation Zero, a campaign run by young Kiwis that aims to encourage our government to take action on climate change. But since the trip she’s been instrumental in setting up a group called SEAL (Socially and Environmentally Active Leaders), a national organisation with the goal of inspiring youth to get involved in environmental and social issues. And at school Isabella’s on the Waste Wise panel, and has been involved in the 50% waste reduction challenge this year.

What do Isabella’s friends think about her huge commitment to the environment?

“My friends think what I’m doing is good, but some people think I’m a bit crazy,” she says. “I try to encourage my friends to think about their impact on the Earth, and I get incredibly excited when they realize that making small changes to their lifestyle can make a big difference.”

Isabella’s passion for the environment is obvious, and shows no sign of diminishing when she discusses the main problems facing New Zealand.

“We’re facing many environmental problems. We are going against our ‘clean green’ image by becoming involved in unsustainable industry. Our main industry, agriculture, is causing an increase in carbon emission and out waterways are becoming more polluted.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

ISABELLA LENIHAN-IKIN (far right) with others from the Sir Peter Blake trip to the Kermadec Islands, just before they depart Another huge issue is the decline in our oceans. We were once a leader in the development of marine reserves, and now less than 1% of our oceans are protected.

We need to ensure that our oceans remain populated with fish and are clean and safe to swim in. Our oceans are the biggest convertors of carbon in the world, and if we don’t protect them, the human race will be hugely affected.

I feel angry and disappointed that Coxs Bay, my local bay, has a sign up saying “DO NOT SWIM, POLLUTED”. Swimming in the ocean has always been a way of life for New Zealanders, however, the poor quality of our waters will mean that enjoying the coastline around Aotearoa will be lost to succeeding generations.

Our government needs to see the correlation between New Zealand’s economy and our environment. Our fishing industry relies on a clean, populated ocean, our agricultural industry on fertile, rich land and clean waterways and our tourism industry on sustainable, environmentally conscious practices. I want to raise my children – I’m sure we all do - in a clean, sustainable environment and I hope that the government makes changes today to ensure that New Zealand is what it says it is – ‘clean, green and 100% pure’.”

Okay, now that you’re starting to get us fired up, how can we do our bit to help the planet? “Where possible, we should all walk, bike or bus around the city instead of going in the car. Make small, but significant impacts by signing petitions or going to marches. Join up to a group such as Greenpeace, Generation Zero, 350 and volunteer with events.

“Also we can reduce our waste, which is one of the easiest things people can do. Have a compost bin, worm farm, or even chickens to deal with your organic waste, and look at what kind of packaging your food comes in. Packaging that can be recycled or reused is good, but minimal or no packaging at all is even better.

“If we all make a change today, the world will be a better place.” (BILLY HARRIS) PN Do you know of a kid in the community we should write about? He or she might be doing something interesting in academia, the arts, sports or anything else. Drop me a line at billyharris2000@hotmail.com

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MEET THE TEACHER NAME: Varinia Cook SCHOOL: Westmere Primary School and Grey Lynn Community Centre MANAGES: After-school and school holiday programmes HOW DID YOU COME TO MANAGE THESE AFTER SCHOOL AND HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES? I got here through my own children being at Westmere Primary; I became a parent helper and was then employed by the previous principal to meet the growing demand for after-school care (1995). I was already a teacher aide being paid at the school (have been for about 20 years) - oh my gosh, just say a couple of years!

In about 2008 I was approached by a parent to also manage the Grey Lynn Community Centre holiday programme, because she knew me from school.

I have also supported our bilingual unit Nga Uri O Nga Iwi and mainstream classes on school events, trips and camps through catering and organisational skills.

WHERE DID YOU TRAIN? I didn’t have any formal training, just the life skills of parenting and working with the school children.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT MANAGING THE PROGRAMMES? I just love and am inspired by children; and their learning and ability to be successful.

I like to encourage, support, and nurture.

Principal Carolyn Marino has always inspired me to achieve my goals. She has encouraged me to be successful in moving forward.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE JOB? Being part of the community and seeing past students who have been successful in whatever they have chosen to do and also a generation of whanau who now have their own kids here.

It’s great to be part of a community that encourages diversity and embraces different approaches to learning. At Westmere School there is a strong history of Maori culture contributing, particularly by encouraging family participation and day to day relationships within the wider community.

Westmere has managed to retain a sense of its beginnings - now it’s a decile 10 school but has the feeling of a smaller school; links to whanau remain strong and children are encouraged to practice “tuakana teina” (looking after each other, particularly younger children). The bi-lingual unit can in part take credit for providing a core school culture which although established more than 20 years ago, continues to impact on the school culture today.

HOW WOULD COLLEAGUES DESCRIBE YOU? Very approachable, down to earth, friendly, self-deprecating, prefers to be back -of-house, not in the limelight, firm and in control. Very strong sense of family and community.

HOW WOULD THE CHILDREN DESCRIBE YOU? In their words: “very in control, good cook, generous, nice, forgiving, grumpy mostly for a good reason, supports us, we are allowed to make good choices and is a mother figure.”

WHAT WOULD YOU DO, IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND IN YOUR PROGRAMMES? Westmere is a high growth school and if I could wave my magic wand I would like a dedicated after school care space and place for resources, but we are all struggling for space, so we have multi use rooms.

FIVE TIPS FOR MUMS AND DADS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS: 1. Love, support and encourage your children to meet their goals 2. Support their gifts and challenges – inspire them 3. Communicate - this also means listen!

4. Be consistent 5. Be involved in your children’s community. PN

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FUTURE GENERATION PONSONBY SCHOOL OF DANCE OPENS NEW DANCE STUDIO AFTER RETURNING FROM LONDON IN 2000, TRACEY WRIGHT STARTED THE Ponsonby School of Dance, by doing a flyer drop in letter boxes and at local childcares.

Lessons started in 2001 at the Ponsonby Community Centre with five students and a year later they had their first Christmas cushion concert at the centre.

As the school grew they started taking classes at the West End Bowling Club and for the next few years they held their Christmas shows in the Bayfield School hall.

By 2006 their first production was held at the Dorothy Winstone Centre at Auckland Girls Grammar.

Teaching at various halls in the area eventually became too hard to juggle the classes so in August this year they renovated a Hargreaves Street warehouse into three purpose built dance studios with viewing windows as well as their own dance shop.

At Ponsonby School of Dance they offer Royal Academy of Dance Ballet, JazzAddict, Urban Ignition Hip Hop and NZAMD Contemporary. “We start students at three and a half, right up to advanced students and even an adult class,” says Tracey. “We have some very talented young dancers that compete regularly and successfully in competitions with students regularly getting the top marks in Australasia for their jazz exam results.”

Tracey is a registered Royal Academy of Dance ballet teacher with over 20 years of experience, and an examiner for JazzAddict both in New Zealand and Australia. She has a fantastic team of teachers who all have their own unique qualities and qualifications.

There is an open day/registration day on Thursday 31 January and everyone is welcome to come along and view their wonderful facilities. PN PONSONBY SCHOOL OF DANCE, 28 Hargreaves Street T: 09 828 0400 www.ponsonbyschoolofdance.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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LOOK ... WHO IS IN THE ZOO! LIONS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AUCKLAND ZOO’S NEIGHBOURS MIGHT BE PRETTY familiar with the continuous roaring of our lions that happens most evenings. In fact, you might even be able to hear them if you’re not exactly our neighbour, as you can hear a lion’s roar up to 8km away! Don’t be alarmed, lions roar to communicate with each other, and to broadcast where their territory is, so it’s perfectly normal.

To be in to win a family pass (two adults/two children) to AUCKLAND ZOO, just email your name and a contact phone number with ‘PONSONBY NEWS COMPETITION’ in the subject line, to: zoomarcomms@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz by Tuesday 18 December. Winner will be notified by phone on 19 December.

Auckland Zoo’s lion pride consists of four lions: Ngala (pronounced ‘Ingala’) – our male, and our three females, Sheeka, Amira and Kura. Ngala arrived at Auckland Zoo with another male – Lazarus – from South Africa in 2003. Lazarus quickly asserted himself as the dominant male, and after fathering two sets of cubs here, he has recently moved to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Australia to take part in their breeding programme.

We’re hoping that Ngala will now step up to the role of dominant male in the pride, and breed with our lionesses here in the not-too-distant future, as he’s genetically valuable to the Australasian regional breeding programme for lions. If you’re keen to see what they’re up to, our lions can often be seen sleeping at their home in Pridelands (seriously, lions sleep for around 20 hours a day!)

But if you’re determined to see them moving around, feel free to hang out at our new café and African-themed plaza, The Watering Hole. There’s alfresco dining, a baked -mud plaza and a stunning water feature designed for kids to splash around in as it runs over rocky ground. As well as watching the lions, you can also check out our gorgeous flamingos and elephant Burma in her home at Elephant Clearing. (GRACE HONEY) DID YOU KNOW? • Most lions found in the wild live in southern and eastern parts of Africa • Lions are the second-largest big cat species in the world (behind tigers) • Lions can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h, but only in short bursts because of a lack of stamina • Lions are very social compared to other cat species, often living in prides that feature females, offspring and a few adult males • Lions are the national animal of Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, England, Ethiopia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Singapore • Lionesses are better hunters than males and do most of the hunting for a pride. PN

photography: Kathrin Simon

www.aucklandzoo.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION KIDS HELPING KIDS The Young Authors Challenge book , ‘The Miracle at Gulls’ Bay’ has been published and was launched at Starship Children’s Hospital on 24 October.

The event was a huge success with rugby great, Keven Mealamu reading the winning story and the students seeing their literary efforts enhanced by his beguiling illustrations. This book would make a great Christmas present, and bear in mind that every cent benefits the Starship Foundation. Copies of the book will also be given to Barfoot & Thompson’s Magic Reading programme which already provides 15,000 books to young hospital patients each year.

This compilation of short stories is the culmination of the fifth annual Young Authors Challenge and the seven winning tales were chosen from more than 340 entries submitted by children aged from five to twelve years across primary and intermediate schools in Auckland and Northland. Bayfield Primary School’s Gifted and Talented Writers Group’s story about a bird who asks a spider for permission to use its web to build a nest was one of the winning entries. ‘Rangi and Sephira’ was a collaborative effort by 14 children who succeeded in producing a work that seemingly came from one pen. Their teacher found this a remarkable achievement.

Barfoot & Thompson fully funds the Young Authors Challenge and Magic Reading programmes and Managing Director, Peter Thompson says: “These 31 pages represent hours of effort from the students and their teachers, and it’s all the more rewarding for them knowing how much it is going to help others.” He emphasises how satisfying it is for the company to be involved in helping transport young patients’ minds away from their hospital beds into imaginative worlds. The past five story books have raised $120,000 for the Starship Foundation. The book is on sale for $15 and is available from any Barfoot & Thompson branch or www.barfoot.co.nz/storybook.

(DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

WHAT’S IN A GAME THAT HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE? Elephant charges, flash floods and rare sightings are just some of the thrills that you can experience playing Game Drive. Based on their own safari adventures, Mark and Andrea have created a unique board game for two to six players aged eight years and over.

A game for young and old players, they board their safari truck venturing out to visit wildlife reserves and learn about the Africa’s “Big Five” animals. Their mission is to help save the “Big Five.” Using luck and skill, players can race to be the first to finish or play a more strategic game for points.

Each of the 40 animal photo cards presents a different picture of one of the “Big Five”. The tracker cards provide interesting facts about each animal. Ranger cards help protect the animals from players using poacher cards.

“Win or lose, people will have a great time playing Game Drive. Before they know it, they’ll be on a plane to Africa to see the animals in the wild for themselves” smiles Mark.

“We hope” Andrea adds, “that this game will encourage people to think about how they can help protect these animals and conserve their environment.”

Game Drive Limited, a local business, is doing just that by donating to the Rhino Protection Trust in South Africa. It hopes to do more in the future. PN Released just in time for Christmas, you can find out more about GAME DRIVE at www.gamedrive.co.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION WESTMERE KIDS ‘TRY’ RAISES FUNDS FOR GUIDE DOGS CHILDREN AND PARENTS FROM SIX WESTERN BAYS SCHOOLS IN AUCKLAND took part in this year’s Westmere Kids Try, which will help support the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) Guide Dog Services. This is the third year Westmere School has run the triathlon event, which last year raised more than $20,000, including around $2000 for earthquake-damaged South New Brighton School in Christchurch.

This year the event was opened to entrants from Richmond Road Primary School, Bayfield Primary School and Ponsonby Primary School, joining last year’s participants from Grey Lynn School, Marist Catholic School Herne Bay and Westmere School. This fun event held at Cox’s Bay Park, saw the children complete a run (from 500m-1.5km depending on their age), a bike ride (1-2km) and 50m water slide. Parents also took part in a team event together with their children.

As well as raising money for the RNZFB Guide Dog Services, the money raised from this year’s event will go toward the completion of the new Westmere School hall.

Commentary for the day was provided by radio hosts Jay-Jay Feeney and Dom Harvey from The Edge. Also on site was Olympic BMX silver medalist Sarah Walker as this year’s ‘bike champion’. Sarah rode around the bike course motivating the participants and giving them support as they completed the bike ride. The waterslide champion was Olympic silver medalist, yachtsman Blair Tuke.

REAL ESTATE TIP OF THE MONTH WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO SELL MY PROPERTY? MOST HOME OWNERS believe the best time is either when the weather is reliable, like summer or during the spring. Also a common thought is not to list your property during the school holidays or over the festive season - during these times there is an extreme lack in choice. Having said this, there will always be buyers that have the money, time and urgency to move into a new home. Which means that it is up to the seller to decide when to put their house onto the market.

It can be said that purchasers viewing a home on a rainy day are “serious” buyers that are visiting the open home and know the property can get only better.

Correct, in the spring/summer the garden looks nicer, the driveway is clear, the gutters and decks are clean and we have the windows and doors open. Also the pool and outdoor area are inviting and ready to be enjoyed. Often we experience a higher number of open home visitors on a sunny day. Are they all buyers? How many visitors just popped in on their walk to the cafe or wanting to find some inspiration for their own kitchen renovation?

I always advise my clients and prospective sellers to consider listing their homes straight after the festive season, mid January when the first hard copy advertisement is in print. No need to wait until the middle of summer when every other house is on the market. No need to wait until others tell you it is a good time to sell. There will be buyers every month of the year, during all seasons. PN Don’t wait for the right time – sell when it is right for YOU! (LEILA MORRIS)

The triathlon’s platinum sponsor is Bayleys Real Estate. Bayleys Auckland Central residential manager Rachel Dovey said she was delighted Bayleys had been able to support the event over the past two years, and to see how much enjoyment children and their parents got out of the day. “We are extremely pleased to support an event that not only promotes the health and wellbeing of children, but that also can contribute to raising funds that will benefit their education,” she said. “As principal sponsor of the RNZFB Guide Dog Services, we are extremely pleased that 10 per cent of the money raised in this year’s Westmere Kids Try will go towards supporting this worthy cause.”

Westmere School principal Carolyn Marino said it was heartening to see how much the Western Bays community had got behind the event since it was launched in 2010, and was pleased to be able to extend the entrance to a further three schools this year.

The Gold sponsors of the Try are Charlie’s, Ripe, Equico, BISSELL and Bike Barn.

1

2

3 1. SARAH WALKER (BMX Olympic silver medallist and Bike Champion at the Try) with a competitor (FRANCESCA WRIGHT, Bayfield School); 2. Kids at the start line with DOM HARVEY (radio host from The Edge, and MC for the Try); 3. Enjoying the water slide

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS PONSONBY ARCHITECT DESIGNS PASSIVE HOUSE THE CONCEPT OF THE PASSIVE HOUSE IS TO BUILD A HOME THAT CAN RETAIN and use heat from the sun and there is almost no need for heat supply or a heating system says Darren Jessop. Ponsonby News asked him to tell us more.

WHAT IS A PASSIVE HOUSE? A passive house is a well-insulated, virtually airtight building that is primarily heated by passive gain. This means that the building’s interior climate can be maintained at a comfortable level without active heating and cooling systems - the house heats and cools itself, hence ‘passive’.

A passive house combines high-level comfort with low level energy consumption using key components like insulation, thermal windows and heat recovery. The term passive house refers to the rigorous, voluntary, Passivhaus standard for energy efficiency in a building, originally developed in Germany in the late ‘80s. The pioneering achievement that is passive house design has become the internationally recognised standard for sustainable architecture, and is becoming widely used throughout the world.

A passive house is a performance standard not a design standard, so excellent contemporary design with clean lines and functional living spaces can be achieved whilst still meeting the strict certification criteria.

WHY BUILD A PASSIVE HOUSE? Health, comfort and peace of mind! A passive house provides the best living environment temperatures of between 20 and 25 degrees in every room, all year round with constant fresh air. This is achieved with virtually no active heating or cooling.

Passive houses are sealed, well insulated and incredibly healthy to live in. They provide unsurpassed indoor air quality for general wellbeing and are especially good for anyone with allergies. As a homeowner you will make considerable cost savings on your energy bills - generally an 80% - 90% reduction is achieved. Your energy consumption will be radically reduced for years to come decreasing your household’s impact on the environment. This simple request to have a new home with efficient methods of heating and cooling at a low cost isn’t typically evident in New Zealand yet.

We are helping to change that.

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IS IT MORE EXPENSIVE TO BUILD A PASSIVE HOUSE? Currently in Europe, passive houses are being build at the same costs as conventional constructions, however in New Zealand it’s likely to cost you more. However, significantly reduced energy costs can compensate for this additional expenditure.

Thorough planning and higher costs upfront can certainly save you money in the future. Reducing your power bill from $350 per month to $50 per month (very do-able) would make a saving of $3,600 a year. This equates to $18,000 over a five year period and with ever-increasing energy prices, this is likely to be higher still. In addition to this, the resale value of your home will be higher and the rate of deterioration lower.

The additional costs are made up of the following: engaging a passive house consultant at the outset - includes using specialist software to model the performance of the house. Using high quality products i.e. high spec windows. Thicker insulation layers and additional material i.e. polystyrene insulation boards and blocks, airtight building wrap. Heat Recovery Ventilation System (HRVS).

Gaining certification - this is optional but provides assurance for all parties that the build is of the highest quality.

We estimate that it will cost 5-10% more of the construction cost to build a passive house however Jessop Architects highly recommend using the key design elements to construct a near passive standard home (80-90%). This basically means you get all the benefits of a passive house (warm, dry, inexpensive to run) without the cost of certification. We are currently trying to achieve this at a near comparable price. PN JESSOP ARCHITECTS, Ponsonby CO-OP, Level 1, 4 Brown Street T: 09 360 7110 www.jessoparchitects.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS SECURE THE HOMELAND 85% of domestic burglaries are opportunistic. Theft involves taking something that does not belong to you. Burglary differs from theft as it involves breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime.

When Shrek said to Donkey, “I’ve got layers”, that’s how I like to describe security.

A big dog is a layer, a radio on is a layer. A security door is a layer. An opportunist thief or even a tooled up burglar is constantly evaluating risk over reward, so the more layers - the better.

If you can spend a few moments in their heads, you can help yourself from becoming a sitting duck. Think about your routines, where do you put things at home? Do you leave windows open for airflow? Is your front door obscured from street lighting because of an over grown shrub? Has the bulb by the front door blown?

The inconvenience caused by thieves can be extreme. If a set of keys is taken you could be looking at changing the locks not only on your house but also your car.

Identity theft can occur with the loss of your credit card and driver’s licence, your membership to organisations or clubs can be used to fabricate identities, for fraud.

If your laptop were taken where would you be?

Visually, you want to look as unappetising as possible. A blinking alarm box is good.

A security door too. All windows visible from the street shut tight. Dirty size 15 boots by the front door, a dog-drinking bowl the size of a small spa pool. The odd human skull on a stick... just joking!

Take a moment to think about how your place looks in the eyes of someone looking for an opportunity, and with a bit of awareness and creativity, they will be thinking, ‘Too many layers - move on.’ (TIM ORD - Designer Dora Doors) PN www.doradoors.co.nz

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MILLY NOLAN SUMMER LOVING

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With what seemed like an endless winter, it is with open arms and joyous yelps that we are embracing sunny days spent at the beach and long, light-filled evenings around a barbeque. Make the most of these glorious days with our pick of summer essentials, which will ensure you are set for all occasions whether it is indoors or out.

1. BODUM FYRKAT PICNIC BARBEQUE, $149 Whether it is used on your terrace, porch or even the back of your car, the super portable Bodum Fyrkat Picnic Barbeque will be your favourite appliance this summer - just fill with charcoal and cook whatever takes your fancy. Available in red or black.

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2. EGO MOJITO GLASS SET, $180 Designed specifically for making mojitos – everyone’s favourite summer fuel - these two hand-blown glasses are accompanied by a wooden muddler and a Cuban mojito recipe so that you can impress your guests with your cocktail making skills all summer long.

3. COAST BEACH TOWEL, $70 The soft texture and generous size of Coast’s luxurious 100% cotton beach towel makes it an essential summer staple and also the perfect gift. Available in a classic navy or an in-vogue mint green colour, this towel will suit both the ladies and the men.

4. BOULE SET, $99 Often seen played by locals in sleepy town squares in Europe, Boules is the perfect summer game for all ages. All you need to play is a level area of earth, grass, gravel or crushed shells, making it the perfect game to take on your travels. All housed in a wooden box, this Boule Set contains eight chromed steel boules, a jack measure, magnetic boule lifter and the all-important rules.

5. WOW, $99 New to our shores, this speaker is sure to impress this summer with its small size but big sound. Whether you are at the park, beach or at home, the WOW (or WithOut Wires) will wirelessly stream music from any Bluetooth-enabled device - like your iPhone, Android, Blackberry, iPad or laptop and what’s more can be recharged over and over again, so there’s no need for pesky batteries. Available in black or blue.

6. ACAPULCO CHAIR, $499 From classic black to fluro yellow, you could not get a cooler chair to sit in while poolside. Surprisingly comfy, this 50s retro chair is handcrafted in Mexico and made from UV filtered PVC cord and a zinc coated steel frame so that it will endure the outdoor elements without weathering. (MILLY NOLAN) PN All products are available at www.mildredandco.com

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JUSTIN FRASER - MY FAVOURITE ROOM

Justin Fraser, 25, has been working in various marketing and design roles for the past five years. Using the skills acquired over that time, as well as a keen interest in design, Justin and his father Neil have worked together to launch Primary, an industrial furniture design company with a difference. Justin currently works full -time in marketing for a software company, and works on Primary in his spare time.

“I currently live with three friends in a four bedroom town house in Three Lamps.

Though there are only four of us, we have a bit of an open door policy for friends and family; there is always a visitor staying in the spare room, so our total count is normally around five.”

“I’m new to Ponsonby as of a year ago (I guess you have to live here a while longer to be considered a local?). I’ve always loved the area. And it’s nice and close for work and friends. Ponsonby’s style is part of the inspiration behind Primary’s design.”

Justin’s favourite room is the dining room, although he explains the house is quite open plan, so the lounge, kitchen and dining room are “all pretty much one room.”

He says “The dining room has a special place in my heart. It’s become a bit of

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a haven for all activities; I eat there, have a few drinks with friends there, when I work from home this is where I work. I like to paint, and it is the perfect spot for creativity and thinking space. There is a nude painting hanging on the wall, which deepens the space.

He says that the dining room is his favourite because it gets the sun for most of the day, with windows through the lounge which open up onto the street. “I have a bit of a green thumb, so I’ve also taken to centralising pot plants in the dining room – there’s something relaxing about having your garden slightly encroach on the inside of your home, a bit of a natural connection to the outside world!

The bi-folding doors definitely help this.”

Jason says the dining table itself is central to why he loves the space so much, and what makes the room come together. “Dad and I worked together to restore it last summer,” he tells Ponsonby News. “It had been in a house fire, and we stripped it back, fixed the buckle and re-oiled it to new. It is full of scar tissue and imperfections but that’s all part of the charm. PN PRIMARY DESIGN, M: 021 153 3958 www.iwantprimary.co.nz

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THE HISTORICAL BOROUGH OF PONSONBY AND GREY LYNN

STREET NAMES: GUDGEON STREET THOMAS WAYTH GUDGEON HAD MANY REASONS TO FEEL DISENCHANTED with life in the Old Country. As a tax officer there were limited opportunities for promotion, and as a Catholic, his four children would be likewise disadvantaged in an overpopulated, class ridden society where religious intolerance held sway. Like many young Englishmen, disenchanted by the inequalities of life in England, he decided to try his luck in the New World as a bush farmer, wresting a living from his own piece of land.

Thomas and his family boarded the ‘Berkshire’ in 1849, arriving three months later in New Plymouth. Unfortunately Thomas’s farming ventures weren’t successful. Nor were the other ventures he tried and it fell upon his oldest son, Walter to work off debts his father had incurred. The boy’s competence in dealing with his father’s erratic affairs impressed James Riach who with his partner, Jeffs, managed a sheep run on the upper Ruamahunga River.Young Walter joined them as a shepherd and Riach gave him the run of his own well-stocked library so the boy could remedy a lack of formal education.

By the time Walter turned 21 he was free to fulfill the ambition of owning his own farm in Taranaki, but most of his earnings were swallowed up by his father’s debts.

His reputation as “a sheep man” gained him some lucrative drover contracts and he eventually bought 600 acres of government land next to the Maori owned Kai Iwi Block near Whanganui. War with Maori over land rights was looming so he decided against farming on his own account and joined the New Zealand Army, first as an orderly room clerk then was rapidly promoted to sergeant-major even though he had no military experience.

Gudgeon viewed his time in the army as a means of giving service to colonial New Zealand in either a military or civil capacity. Farming would be a useful alternative if these plans came to nought. His real interest was with the Maori people, whose affairs were a major concern. He realised they did not understand the European attitude to land tenure which was bound to become a serious social and political problem that might advance a career for himself in the political arena.

In 1865, when fighting broke out near Whanganui, Gudgeon joined the Whanganui Bushrangers and soon became second-in-command of the Native Contingent. In this capacity he demonstrated both personal courage and skills in inter-racial diplomacy.

After serving on a punitive expedition to Opotiki that was ill-conceived and badly led,

he accidentally shot himself in the thigh and returned to his farm, which he was then forced off on the outbreak of war. He was made a sub-inspector in the New Zealand Constabulary, fought against Te Kooti in Poverty Bay and continued to earn military laurels for valorous actions in other skirmishes, but not the coveted New Zealand Cross which many believed he should have been awarded.

By 1884 Gudgeon was on the high road to a career in politics. He supervised the building of the Tokaanu-Whanganui Road, took charge of constructing gun emplacements at Wellington’s Point Halswell, and was soon made acting under-secretary of defence. An appointment as Judge of the Native Land Court followed which enabled him to pursue a long held interest in Maori language and history. He was one of the founders of the Polynesian Society and in 1898 became British Resident in the Cook Islands.

Gudgeon was retired by Prime Minister Joseph Ward in 1909 but he did serve briefly as censor of telegraphic messages in 1914 before his official career ended. His last days were plagued by a number of unpleasant health problems that he suffered with impressive stoicism. Having his family around him during this time was a great joy and on 5 January 1920 he died in his home in Devonport.

This remarkable man who progressed from labouring on his father’s farm at the age of 12 to become a soldier, settler, Native Land Court judge, Commissioner of Police, Maori scholar, linguist, author, and Cook Island’s Resident Commissioner rests in Bayswater Cemetery where a granite obelisk marking his grave bears a tribute from a Maori composer “He mata mahora no te era whanui a Tane” - an upright soul has passed out on the broad path of Tane. (DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

TELEWORK TROUBLES ON THE HORIZON FOR NZ HOMEWORKERS NEW REGUS STUDY REVEALS THE OBSTACLES TO WORKING FROM HOME. While working from home might sound like a popular and practical option for New Zealand workers wanting to cut commutes and spend more time on their personal lives, the reality is somewhat different. The latest Regus study shows that over half of respondents say they are regularly put off by their kids or family demanding attention (53%).

The research from Regus polled business people as part of a global survey of 24,000 respondents across 90 countries, and asked them to identify their challenges when working from home.

KEY FINDINGS SHOW: For New Zealand workers the three biggest challenges to working from home are: Children or family demanding attention (53%) Children, family or pets disturbing work telephone calls (36%) Difficulties accessing office equipment (36%) A slow or unreliable internet connection is also a problem for 33% of respondents Not being able to access company documents is a further hindrance (27%) CONTINUED FROM P8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CLARE CALDWELL’S “ART OF LIVING” COLUMN I was perusing a copy of the August Ponsonby News recently at The Turkish Cafe, and came across Clare Caldwell’s article – great material to read in this varied mag! I wish to commend Clare Caldwell for her “Art of Living” column in the August 2012 issue. It is an uplifting and inspiring article containing possibilities for everyone.

The theme of “expanding comfort zones” and a description of actual physical evidence that Albert Einstein had unusually vast numbers of neural synapses and connections in his brain illustrates the fact that when we learn new skills or simply do things differently,

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John Henderson, Director, Regus Asia Pacific, says: “Working from home is becoming increasingly popular but as more people experience it, many are also discovering the downsides. Having to adapt your personal space to accommodate professional activities is not always easy, and maintaining the right mind-set for work while balancing family demands has been flagged by many New Zealanders as the main obstacle to working from home.”

Teleworking is a fast growing global trend, and is leading to the rise of the Third Place, spaces in which people work that are neither the home of the office. In Europe, for example, this year Regus has rolled out a series of partnerships creating drop-in business spaces at railway stations and petrol forecourts – including partnerships with SNCF in France, Dutch National Railways, Swiss Railways and Shell.

Henderson comments: “While employees are naturally keen to benefit from flexible working practices, so they can avoid lengthy commutes, and employers see the cost benefits of telework – home workers also often feel lonely, alienated and cut off from colleagues. Business can help avoid this by providing workers access to appropriate physical touchdown workspaces outside the home to help them feel connected to the world of work, to avoid strain on families, to maintain a professional image, and to improve overall productivity.” www.regus.com PN

we are expanding our mental capacity positively. In a nutshell we can “lose it or use it”.

The latter choice contributes so well to the mental health, creativity and wellbeing of individuals and the community.

HELEN FALLA, Glen Eden GREY LYNN FESTIVAL - STAUNCH ABOUT THE WEATHER! I’m sure I’m not the only local who was disappointed to discover via Facebook, on the Thursday prior, that the Grey Lynn Festival had been cancelled. Surely the organisers could have had a rain day on the Sunday as it was much better weather! Many stallholders have attended and supported it, in rain, hail and winds other years. One year it was actually cancelled on the day. What’s the fuss about the weather? We love this festival no matter what the weather! Organisers, please take note!

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: MARY CASTLES Mary is the manager of Ponsonby’s WORLD Beauty Store. She says “I am in the fortunate position of being surrounded by an elegant array of the most opulent and luxurious objects from the world over, hand curated by Francis Hooper! It’s my job to make these gorgeous products - be it a 400 year old candle brand, or a new development in anti-oxidant skincare - come alive for the Ponsonby community and our customers, hopefully making their lives better...simple as that!

WHO IS YOUR PARTNER? The Big Fella, my husband since 1643!

DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN? Two boys, who are currently in the school of life pretending to be adults. One is a steel trader and the other is my boss... on paper, anyway.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? I’ve had more pets than most have had hot dinners. At the moment we have only one very fat cat, who has obviously spent too much time with his drinking buddy the Big Fella, eating cheese after dinner.

HOW DO YOU KEEP FIT? Using Aesop, wearing Amouage perfume, drinking champagne and letting Dave Koni at Les Mills change my life in a weekly “boxing” session.

YOUR BEST FRIEND WOULD SAY OF YOU...Mary, have a chat...

WHAT ARE YOUR VIRTUES? I’m charmingly tactless!

AND YOUR VICES? Giving advice!

WHO’S YOUR ULTIMATE ROCK ICON? Elvis WHAT’S YOUR SECRET PASSION? To live too long and drive the kids mad!

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET TALENT? Mothering and counselling, I have superpowers!

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Ponsonby, and have done since 1980.

WHERE DO YOU SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS? Waiheke or Waikiki, whatever’s easiest.

WHAT’S YOUR PERFECT SUNDAY? Working at WORLD of course, followed by dinner with the family and adopted family - of which there are many.

WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? A traveller, which I became!

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A RETAILER? My son made me!

IF YOU WEREN’T A RETAILER YOU’D BE? A customer, but at all times a mother!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PONSONBY CAFE? Agnes Curran

I’D BE LOST WITHOUT MY...family and friends.

ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE IS? Smile first, swear second and live in the present.

WHAT WAS YOUR STANDOUT SALE OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS? Sales aren’t special, customers are! It’s all about the chatter, laughter, tears and of course hugs that go into forming relationships with our gorgeous customers.

I am lucky that at WORLD we have such a variety of people and personalities that come and spend time with me, lots of lovely people stand out for different reasons, but what stands out most is when a customer leaves with a smile - then I know I have been helpful. So come and visit me for Christmas and let’s see if WORLD Beauty has what your loved ones need! Happy Christmas and all the best for 2013 xxx PN

FAVOURITE PONSONBY RESTAURANT? Kelvin and the team at Prego – a Ponsonby icon.

FAVOURITE PONSONBY STORE? WORLD Beauty Store - if it wasn’t I’d work somewhere else!

FAVOURITE PONSONBY FASHION LABEL? WORLD of course - dress the mind first, then the body.

WHAT’S INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY? Mark at Masons...that’s his job.

YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISTRACTIONS: If I was on a deserted island I’d have a dinner party for one, and it would be a hoot!

THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE AND YOUR FAMILY IS SAFE - WHAT DO YOU SAVE? Photos...mainly the embarrassing ones!

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THE BOYS’ BOOK CLUB WHAT WE’RE READING Books us blokes on the Ponsonby News team are reading, or have recently enjoyed. We LOVE reading in the bath, or in bed. A real stress buster!

MARTIN LEACH CAMP DAVID

by David Walliams (Penguin Books) David Walliams’ refreshingly honest autobiography is a fascinating look at one of the UK’s funniest entertainers.

He follows a very long line of performers that can turn their hands at most things and still be embraced by the public.

With the launch of Little Britain and his comedy partner Matt Lucas on to the public consciousness David Walliams had finally arrived. From the moment he could walk and talk he knew he wanted to entertain and more importantly he could dress up in women’s clothes. He seemed to have a good life growing up with mum and dad and a sister to play with but he knew his vocation in life was to entertain and at every opportunity he did. He is brutally honest with everything including himself especially with his sexual dalliances, if you could call them that.

David Walliams is an actor, comedian, writer and charity fundraiser and now he is appearing as a presenter on Britain’s Got Talent with Simon Cowell. Also he recently swam the length of the River Thames for Sport Relief.

JAY PLATT THE WALMINGTON-ON-SEA HOME GUARD TRAINING MANUAL

By Capt G Mainwaring and members of his platoon (Orion books) An account of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard Training Manual recently discovered in the attic of a house in the town. Found in a trunk amongst a pile of junk and old comics, it was issued to Private Pike and features his own handwriting in the margins and on the text plus his personal notes and thoughts on matters of rather less importance than the defending of the town let alone the realm.

His thoughts are varied and usually concern such matters as fish and chips, films he has seen, girls he would like to date and the girls that he has dated and the progress of his favourite football club.

The book bears the official crest and stamp of the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, to which the platoon belongs. Although aged and covered with stains, boot prints, tears and scorch marks, it is in a reasonable condition for printing. The training guide/manual is Captain Mainwaring’s attempt to ready the platoon to face and recognise the enemy in the coming invasion of Britain. PN

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REAL ESTATE UPDATE: KAREN SPIRES BUY NOW, THEN SELL? THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY DILEMMA… Sometimes, that dream opportunity to step up the property ladder presents itself before you’ve put your current home on the market. Leaving the difficult question. “Should we buy before we sell?”

Banks are usually happy to provide bridging finance, but with the higher interest payments quickly adding up, you don’t want your home to languish on the market for months leaving you to carry the debt funding.

The good news is there are plenty of buyers around in the Ponsonby and Herne Bay markets at present. However, it’s important to realise they won’t be scrambling to write a cheque if your price expectation is unjustifiably way above comparable houses in the neighbourhood.

The same advice goes for those entertaining the idea of “testing” the market - that is listing a property and waiting for the mythical, multi-million dollar offer to come along. Rarely does it happen. The listing becomes “stale” and fewer people turn up to subsequent open homes during the ‘second round’ of marketing when a vendor eventually decides they really do want to sell.

On the other hand, an aggressive and well-executed auction marketing campaign – with its clear and immediate sale date of up to four weeks - creates a sense of excitement and urgency around a property. This is important for today’s vendors because, although the market is healthy, buyers have lists of open homes to view – and they might not get to every one. The “must see” property at the top of everyone’s list is not necessarily going to be the one with the small ad at the back of the property pages.

For vendors, it’s also important to listen carefully to the feedback and market commentary from your salesperson each week. How many parties turned up to the open home? What other properties were those parties looking at in the neighbourhood and at what price range? What is their valuation of the property?

How could the ‘saleability’ of your dwelling be improved? Applied correctly, this information will become invaluable knowledge of where your property sits in the marketplace.

If the price is right, the marketing is hitting the right spots, and your sales person is giving you appropriate and factually-based advice, there’s no reason why the dream purchase of a new home won’t be followed by the dream sale of your current one - in a quick process which will deliver you optimum results.

(KAREN SPIRES) PN Karen Spires is a Bayleys Real Estate ‘Top Achiever’ – placing her sales data among the top five percent of salespeople within the company.

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SHARING ITS WAY TO BUSINESS SUCCESS The once holy grail of owning property and space to define your living and working life is quickly becoming a thing of the past, thanks to an Auckland company persuading consumers to share their lives.

Sharedspace.co.nz is an online community where people can stretch their budgets and the usability of their real estate, thanks to the growing ideology of ‘collaborative consumption’. The movement addresses a global shift to an online, mobile-savvy world full of consumers that want more for less, especially in tough economic times.

Local advertising exec-cum-entrepreneur Matt Knight leads the Sharedspace.co.nz team from their own shared space – a roomy loft on Customs Street in the beating heart of Auckland’s CBD. There, in between the simple four exposed brick walls and atop the shiny wooden floorboards, sits Matt’s desk amidst those of 18 other companies, all sharing the space together.

Matt is excited about the future growth of Sharedspace.co.nz: “Shared office space is a great anchor for the business, but we want to have fun with it. The new sharing economy model means we think there’s opportunities to share everything from your sports car for a night, to your dog for an afternoon to a dinghy for a weekend’s fishing.”

“It’s amazing how the business model has also affected us personally” says Matt. “Just from the companies we share space with, we’ve networked and developed so many more business contacts than we would have working alone.”

The idea is a simple one, with plenty of room to grow: if you have surplus unused space, be it a desk, office or warehouse that could be rented to help burden your regular bills, just log in to Sharedspace.co.nz and list it. Spaces on the site vary from a single desk occupying 14m sq to an entire industrial warehouse floor measuring 580m sq.

Sharedspace.co.nz was started in 2010 with an office space offering and has grown to include industrial space, event space, photography studios, pop-up shop and car park spaces. PN

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FIONNA HILL

THE PONSONBY GARDENER

THE THREE SISTERS I’m trying the ‘Three Sisters’ this summer and have begun with chieftain corn seedlings, and seeds of yellow button squash and scarlet runner beans.

Native American farming communities grow the ‘Three Sisters’ – a tradition of interplanting corn, beans and squash in the same mounds. According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who grow and thrive together. There are Iroquois legends regarding the origin of this name and process but science has shown that these nutritious plants do help one another to grow.

The combo provides a healthy diet and a sustainable system for long term soil fertility.

Corn provides a stake for the beans to climb, removing the need for poles. Bean vines climb up and help stabilise the corn plants. Beans provide nitrogen to the soil that the other plants use. Shallow-rooted squash vines become living mulch, covering emerging weeds blocking the sunlight, and preventing soil moisture from evaporating and spreading along the ground, keeping weeds at bay. The prickly hairs of the vine stems deter pests.

Corn is deficient in the amino acids, lysine and tryptophan, which the human body needs to make proteins and niacin, but beans contain both and therefore corn and beans together provide a balanced diet. Traditionally the bean needs to be a runner bean as they like their roots shaded and cooled by the corn and squash We’ve set aside a sunny patch of the garden (minimum six - eight hours/day of direct sunlight throughout the growing season) and enriched the soil with our own compost and Blood and Bone. Our compost is perfect for the corn since corn is a heavy feeder.

However the worm filled compost attracted ravaging blackbirds and we have to keep mounding it up. We’ve built the soil into mounds that are about 50 cm across at the top.

We watered the mounds well and the next day planted four corn seedlings on the top about 30 cm apart. Sowing corn in blocks rather than long rows is best for pollination.

Corn tassels also produce large amounts of pollen that is a nutritious protein source for many beneficial insects. Corn is wind pollinated. Pollen is produced by the male part of plant (the flower head). The female part of the plant is the cob which forms from the silks. Each strand of silk equates to one kernel. All strands need to be pollinated to achieve a full cob of corn. We then sowed four or five runner bean seeds around the base of the corn and then two squash seeds for each mound – one on each side.

Watch out for birds pulling out seedlings! We use food cans or drink bottles with their bases cut out to protect the brand new seedlings.

Our own worm tea and comfrey tea will feed them regularly and also we’ll water regularly provided our tanks don’t drain dry – we are not on city water supply – plus we’ll take care to keep the squash leaves dry to reduce the risk of powdery mildew. We may have to weed the area several times until the squash take over and shade new weeds. (FIONNA HILL) PN

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From left to right: The seedlings and seeds ready to plant; Results three weeks later; The yellow squash we expect as the end result

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS KEEP INFORMED IF A NATURAL DISASTER STRIKES AUCKLAND Superstorm Sandy is a reminder that a large-scale natural disaster can strike at anytime, anywhere.

Auckland Civil Defence Controller Clive Manley is reminding Aucklanders to have an emergency survival kit in place in case a disaster hits Auckland.

“There’s no knowing when a natural disaster will strike and this is a good time to check your survival kits are in working order. If you don’t have a kit already prepared, use this time to make one – you never know when you will need it.”

Key to any survival kit is water, food, a radio and batteries, a torch, blankets, clothing, medications and a list of family contact details.

To help people stay in touch with family and informed during a disaster, earlier this year Auckland Civil Defence launched a free smartphone app. The app allows people to connect with others in their network and sends out Civil Defence alerts and notifications.

“Since its launch more than 10,000 people have downloaded the app,” says Manley. “Social media plays a part in communicating during a major disaster, but it’s only one of the channels available. We recommend you develop a comprehensive survival plan, including our free app, to make sure you are as prepared as possible should a natural disaster strike.” PN The Civil Defence app is free and available to users of both iPhone and android devices. To download the app and see the terms and conditions, visit www.aucklandcivildefence.org.nz.

Auckland Civil Defence is a division of Auckland Council.

NATIONAL’S TRANSPORT POLICY A RECIPE FOR AUCKLAND GRIDLOCK A new report shows that investing in the Auckland City Rail Link needs to be a priority for the Government’s transport budget ahead of its uneconomic so-called Roads of National Significance, Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter said last month.

A leaked draft report into transport options for Auckland’s CBD shows peak hour traffic will slow to walking speed in a decade. It assesses options to increase capacity - more buses on surface streets, a bus tunnel, and the City Rail Link – and finds that the City Rail Link delivers most value for money and is the only option to deliver the extra capacity needed to cope with growing traffic volumes in coming decades.

“This report makes it clear that National’s current plan for Auckland – do nothing – will lead to gridlock within a decade. The most-cost efficient alternative to get Auckland moving is the City Rail Link,” said Ms Genter.

“The National Government is spending billions on highways that have low traffic volumes while neglecting to invest in Auckland. Projects like the billion dollar Transmission Gully, the half billion dollar Kapiti Expressway, and the $1.7 billion Holiday Highway are incredibly uneconomic and will only induce more traffic heading into our cities’ CBDs, adding to congestion once they get there.

“The priority for taxpayer transport dollars must be smart, green projects that deliver best value for money and make our cities better places to live. The City Rail Link passes that test; uneconomic highways do not.

“The Greens will get the City Rail Link built so that Aucklanders, whether they use the train or not, benefit from reduced congestion and a more liveable city.

“We face a stark choice in 2014: vote for National and see the city grind to a halt, or vote Green and getting Auckland moving,” said Ms Genter. PN

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY U3A: NOVEMBER 2012 Many of us have been aware that we have an award-winning urban beekeeper in our midst, so a chance to meet and hear from her the fascinating story of the life of bees delighted Ponsonby U3A members at the November meeting. Carol Downer made sure that we came away full of interesting facts and figures about this extraordinary “super-organism” in our gardens.

Carol has been keeping hives in Grey Lynn, Herne Bay and Westmere for the past 12 years and she and Grey Lynn honey partner Lynn have a stall at the Sunday Grey Lynn Farmers Market. At this year’s National Honey Show, Carol won the Supreme Award for the second year in a row, winning five first places, three second places and one third place. Carol was too modest to talk of her many successes, instead she kept us spellbound and questioning as she discussed the internal workings of the hive, the life of the honey bee and the many products of the hive that honey bees produce and their uses.

What to do? was a thought-provoking 10 minute talk given by U3A member Margarita Mahon. Margarita had seen her mother do well in a retirement home following a stroke and over the coming years she watched with interest the development of retirement villages in the North and South Islands. At about age 70, while still enjoying her own home and garden, Margarita decided to start looking for a retirement village for herself. Friends advised her to wait until she was 80, but she went ahead and made the move a year or two later. “My box before the last box,” she laughed to her nephew. “No, this is your new life,” he said - and it has proved to be.

Margarita pointed out the pros and cons of moving to a retirement village and stressed it’s a decision that requires careful consideration. Just some of the advantages are secure housing, quick support if needed, easy intermingling with new people, transport for shopping. Most importantly, Margarita advised, is to make your decisions while they are still your decisions.

As well as two speakers at its monthly meetings, the essential ingredient of U3A is its interest groups, which operate during the month, mostly in members’ homes, or in the case of petanque, at the Herne Bay Petanque Club. Through these groups some great friendships are made. You can study art history, current affairs, classical studies, visit galleries, take an outing to somewhere interesting in the Auckland area, discuss gardening, play petanque or scrabble, listen to music. Proving popular is the new travel group, which has recently paid a visit to the Stardome at Cornwall Park. The supper club eats out at a restaurant (for a reasonable price) and is seen by many as an essential social activity among a friendly and interesting group of people.

The monthly speakers are invariably compelling and stimulating, as they widen our vision and spark interest in their particular area of expertise. For example, next year’s first speaker (at the February meeting) will be Jeffrey Masson, author and

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Grey Lynn beekeeper CAROL DOWNER speaking at Ponsonby U3A November meeting animal psychologist – “In the 20th century humans have killed approximately 200 million of our own. During that same time period orcas have killed exactly zero orcas. What happened to us?”

There will be no speaker at the December meeting, business will be quickly dealt with and will be followed by a quiz, finger food and lots of chat as we wrap up the year’s activities. If you are 55 or older and think U3A might be the group for you, you are invited to attend the December meeting as our guest. (PHILIPPA TAIT) Next meeting: 9.45am Friday 14 December; Enquiries: Jane Jones, President, Ponsonby U3A, first Floor, Leys Institute, 20 St Marys Bay Road T: 09 378 7628.

(PHILIPPA TAIT) PN

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS HOT HOUSING MARKET SIGN OF AUCKLAND’S SUCCESS

AUCKLAND HOUSE PRICES SET NEW RECORD AVERAGE AT $618,707

AUCKLAND’S BUOYANT HOUSING MARKET DEMONSTRATES THAT THE REGION is an attractive place to live and work for both New Zealanders and migrants. House prices are expected to remain firm amid forecasts of 1,000,000 extra Aucklanders over the next 30 years. The strong market is a signal of the region’s success and the need to plan for that success; Auckland Council is taking action to boost supply to make housing more affordable and accessible.

In October the average price of a home in Auckland broke through the $600,000 ceiling for the first time, setting a record average price of $618,707.

Geoff Cooper, Auckland Council’s chief economist, last month noted that Auckland house prices have soared 124 per cent since 2000, while measures of GDP per capita grew by only 47 per cent over the same period. “Some of the acceleration in Auckland house prices we’ve seen, especially during the past decade, is a symptom of the success of our region,” said Mr Cooper. “People are naturally predisposed to locate themselves close to infrastructure, jobs and other amenities. Auckland has the most jobs and the highest paying jobs in the country.”

This is an increase of nearly $33,000 or 5.6 percent on last month’s average price, and is 4.4 percent higher than the previous record price of $592,396, recorded in August this year,” said Wendy Alexander, Chief Executive Officer of Barfoot & Thompson.

“October was one of the most active selling months we have ever experienced. It was a month when buyer demand finally broke through the constraints buyers were imposing on themselves that had seen the average price move in a $10,000 band between $582,000 and $592,000 for five months. We experienced extremely competitive bidding at auctions, and a very high success rate under the auction hammer. It was a case of demand far outstripping the number of properties up for sale.

Mr Cooper was joined by three of New Zealand’s top economists - Shamubeel Eaqub of NZIER, Westpac’s Dominick Stephens and Arthur Grimes of MOTU – to discuss the issues facing Auckland’s housing market over the next 30 years at Auckland Conversations – a regular Auckland Council event. “An environment of continued low interest rates and solid population growth is bound to underpin median house sales prices, which rose 8.4 per cent over the past 12 months,” said Mr Cooper.

“Sales for the month at 1081 were up 11.6 percent on those for September and up 48.7 percent on those for the same month last year. Even though we listed 1645 new homes during the month, our highest number of new listings in 31 months, and the highest in an October for three years, it was insufficient to meet buyer demand, particularly at the top end of the market.

Auckland Council is shaping policy to boost housing supply across the region through its Auckland Plan, a 30-year prospectus for the region. The plan, which complements the Government’s housing affordability proposals, will see the building of 60-70 per cent of new housing requirements in greenfield and brownfield developments within existing urban boundaries, and 30-40 per cent in satellite areas such as Warkworth and Pukekohe.

“Sales values in excess of $1 million were a feature of October’s activity, and we sold 119 homes in this price category. This was the highest number of million dollar homes we have ever sold in one month. For the first 10 months of the year we have sold 763 homes for more than $1 million, which is 64.4 percent higher than for the same period last year. The only time we have ever sold more than 100 homes for in excess of $1 million in a month previously was at the height of 2007’s sales activity, and at that time the average monthly selling price was $564,000.

Auckland’s Mayor says the region must get the housing solutions right so the region can accommodate the expected future population growth. “The key is building new houses where there is existing infrastructure, near main transport links and closer to where people work,” says Len Brown.

Mr Brown says the Unitary Plan, which will outline where and how Aucklanders can build, will help deliver housing availability for the region.“Aucklanders want housing choice – our role is to create an affordable, quality, compact city providing mixed density housing involving both greenfields and brownfields development.

“By achieving the right housing density, land use regulations and focusing on faster processing of consents, we will achieve what was set out in the Auckland Plan.” PN For more information on the Unitary Plan visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ unitaryplan, or to view the Auckland Plan, visit www.theaucklandplan.govt.nz

“At the end of the month we had 3835 properties on our books, our third lowest number in more than a decade.” PN

NEW MONITORING TOOL REVOLUTIONISES AUCKLAND’S STORM RESPONSE HURRICANE SANDY HAS REMINDED US HOW VULNERABLE COASTAL cities can be to large storm events. With 1500 kilometres of coastline, Auckland is a city at risk of the effects of tropical cyclones and storms. To ensure Auckland is better informed of potential storm threats and their implications as soon as possible, Auckland Council’s Civil Defence has collaborated with MetService to develop a new storm monitoring tool which has revolutionised the way Civil Defence responds to storm events.

The tool creates detailed maps in near real time, providing full visibility of rainfall impact across the Auckland region. This level of detail and immediacy is a first for New Zealand and therefore a valuable resource for Civil Defence and other response agencies.

“We’re excited about the difference this tool can make when managing storm impact in Auckland,” says Clive Manley, Auckland Civil Defence Controller. “It has the potential to dramatically improve our response efforts and allows us to be better prepared should a large storm hit Auckland.”

The technology which went into the tool has never been used in New Zealand before and is used overseas retrospectively for post-event reporting of storms.

Auckland Civil Defence and MetService have taken the technology one step further by creating a tool which uses the valuable data proactively, in near real time. “The development of this tool is a first for New Zealand and just one of the ways Auckland Council is working with key stakeholders to help lead the development of emergency management products with national significance.”

The tool is currently operational in Auckland, however it was developed with the intention that any region nationally can use the tool to improve its own responses to storm events.

The map has been produced by the new tool, which indicates the flow of rainfall across the Auckland region and is from a January 2011 storm

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Auckland Civil Defence is a division of Auckland Council. PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ASK AN ARCHITECT: PAUL LEUSCHKE

9

Each month Grey Lynn resident and architect Paul Leuschke of Leuschke Kahn answers readers’ property related questions.

Email yours to jane@leuschkekahn.co.nz

Q: A: Q: A:

Can you please clarify the tree rules for Auckland District Council which came into effect January 2012?

Yes that’s easy, no changes to the tree rules in Residential 1, 2, 3a, 3b, and 4 zones, all other Residential zones, no tree protection, unless the tree is a scheduled tree. If unsure contact Auckland Council.

What is your opinion on decks off first floor bedrooms?

Clients talk of sitting on their upstairs bedroom deck with a morning cup of tea. Are you really going to go to the kitchen, make a cup of tea and bring it all the way back upstairs? I can’t see it myself. Decks are more expensive and complicated to build than the house; they carry live loads, i.e. people and need waterproofing and safety rails.

I often suggest instead bigger bedrooms with stacker sliders and an internal glass balcony. With the sliders open you get the feeling of a deck, for the few times a year you negotiate the stairs with your cuppa; but you do get the luxury of a bigger bedroom all year round.

Q: A:

What is your opinion of having a pool, and how much will a pool cost?

Pools are not a must have. For as many people who want a pool, there are as many who don’t. Pools have changed from when I was a boy. We enjoyed a day lazing around a large swimming pool set into a lawn with free and easy access. Now we are too busy with out of home activities, i.e. tennis, ballet, cricket etc.

Pools have become smaller in size as they are more like dipping pools, to refresh between activities. If you want to keep fit, add jets at one end. They give you the feeling of swimming in a stream, the closer to the jets the swifter the current.

The decision to have a pool is whether you are a ‘water nut’ or if you want to keep the kids entertained at your place. My suggestion is don’t put in a pool for the next owner and don’t expect to get your money back for it. Pools can be quite expensive; by the time you add covers, heaters, fences, paving to pool surround, lighting and landscaping. Expect to pay between $75,000 to $100,000. They also require ongoing maintenance. Heating your pool can extend the swimming season. You can super heat the pool in winter for a weekend hot spa experience! (PAUL LEUSCHKE) PN www.leuschkekahn.co.nz

DON’T MISS THE FEBRUARY PONSONBY NEWS+ DEADLINE COPY DEADLINE: Sunday 20 January PUBLISHED: Friday 1 February (Please be on time, as any material arriving after deadline may incur a 20% surcharge)

SPECIAL FEATURES: Jervois Road + Maintaining Good Health + Valentine’s Day (14th February) + the Sales + Planning For Retirement TO BOOK ADVERTISING: ask about our special positions!

Jo Barrett on 021 324 510 or T: 09 361 3356 or 09 378 8553 E: joannebarrett@xtra.co.nz W: www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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9 LOCAL NEWS RAPE PREVENTION EDUCATION - 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY Last month (15 November) Rape Prevention Education (RPE) celebrated its 30th year of incorporation.

RPE grew out of Auckland Rape Crisis, which was started in 1976 by a group of women connected with the Auckland Women’s Centre. At that time, rape in marriage was not recognised, and women were blamed for inciting rape by wearing short skirts and being out at night. Volunteer women set up a crisis phone line in Ponsonby and supported women who had been raped. By the early 1980s, the Auckland Rape Crisis Centre had one full-time staff member, and a large group of very active volunteers.

They staffed the phone line from 6pm to 6am every day of the year, supported women face-to-face, and spoke to many community groups about rape myths and realities.

They helped train new rape crisis groups around the North Island, as well as the fledgling HELP organisation in Auckland. They organised the first national gathering of Rape Crisis centres in 1982, and were heavily involved in the Rape Law Reform Bills in 1983 and 1984, which made rape in marriage a crime.

Today, RPE in Crummer Road employs around 20+ staff and volunteers. RPE is a strong advocate to local and national government on issues of sexual violence prevention and provides sexual violence prevention information to thousands of young people and personnel in schools and alternative education centres throughout the greater Auckland area through its BodySafe and SexnRespect programmes.

RPE provides information to the community through its website and offers its ‘Dealing with Disclosures’ workshop to a wide range of health professionals to help them feel confident when dealing with disclosures of sexual violence. Throughout the country RPE delivers the ‘Safer Communities All Night’ programme to bar and hospitality staff to help them identify possible high risk situations and how to intervene safely.

RPE is proud to be part of the Ponsonby community and to be celebrating 30 years of education and advocacy for communites on issues of sexual violence prevention.

(DR KIM MCGREGOR, Executive Director, Rape Prevention Education) PN Rape Prevention Education: www.rpe.co.nz Sexnrespect: www.sexnrespect.co.nz

JAM ON TOAST: Grey Lynn Community Centre held their event back in October. This is set to become an annual event in their calendar

GREAT NORTH ROAD / SURREY CRESCENT SHOPS PROJECT Grey Lynn Business Association submission to Auckland Council Unitary Plan.

In the course of preparing its submission on the Auckland Council’s Unitary Plan regarding the Great North Road / Surrey Crescent shops, the Grey Lynn Business Association (GLBA) held a series of ‘pop up shops’ in October to consult with the local community. The GLBA would like to thank everybody who came along to these sessions and contributed their thoughts.

We had some great feedback and many stimulating discussions. Some clear themes emerged from this consultation process which the community would like to see reflected in the development of the area over the next 10 to 20 years, and these views have informed our Unitary Plan submission, which was presented to the Waitemata Local Board in November.

photography: Martin Leach

We would also like to acknowledge the support of the following local businesses, whose help – both in funding and in donated time and resources – made this project possible: • Barfoot & Thompson (Grey Lynn) • Kokako • The Surrey Hotel • The Works Hair Salon

Some of the original members who founded Rape Prevention Education 30 years ago in Ponsonby. (L-R) MIRIAM SOPHIRA, DR KIM MCGREGOR, HEATHER MCDOWELL, JENNY RANKINE, CLAIRE DOOLE, HEATHER HENARE and VICKI HIRST.

136 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2012

Digital copies of the submission can be viewed on the GLBA website www.glba.co.nz and the Grey Lynn 2030 website www.greylynn2030.co.nz. Printed versions can be seen at the Grey Lynn Community Library, 474 Great North Road, and the Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road.

Enquiries regarding the submission can be directed to the GLBA at info@glba.co.nz.

Please reference any communications ‘Grey Lynn Plan’. PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

photography: Michael McClintock

During the 1990s the agency shifted its focus from crisis support to prevention through information, education and training and changed its name to Rape Prevention Education in 2006. The shift to prevention was accompanied by the employment of male educators.

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS CHRISTMAS: THE TIME TO GIVE A MEANINGFUL GIFT If you want to give something extra special this year then why not consider a customised piece of art?

Your photographs, your memories, your art.

Local Ponsonby business On2Canvas can use a favourite image - a recent digital photograph or one from the past (they can scan and restore old photographs as well).

They can create a collage of images (if you have more than one), add effects such as Andy Warhol pop art, recolour or combine text and images. The possibilities are endless.

The process is really very simple. Simply send them your images and an idea of what you have in mind. They’ll then set up some artwork for you to consider – showing various cropping options and enhancements to the photographs that they would recommend, sizes and costs. Once the artwork is approved, they will print and stretch frame the canvas for you and then deliver it anywhere in New Zealand or arrange for you to pick it up from their studio in Ponsonby.

At On2canvas they use only premium materials to ensure that they are creating the highest quality, longest lasting product possible for their clients. They use 100% cotton archival canvas that has been treated for longevity and will not yellow overtime. They can print from A5 up to 2m x 1m. Remember, life is a canvas - even better when its On2canvas! PN ON2CANVAS, 12 Albany Road T: 09 376 8065 or M: 021 465 465 www.on2canvas.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENTS RAISE MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR TWO CHARITIES ANDREW COSGRAVE, MANAGER OF BARFOOT & THOMPSON, GREY LYNN tells us two of his younger salespeople, Ryan Harding, and Matt O’Rourke raised money for prostrate cancer during the Movember campaign. Late last month, Pam Erceg, branch manager of the Epsom office was invited over for a ceremonial “shave off” of her Grey Lynn colleagues’ whiskers.

As well as raising money for Men’s Health for Movember, the lads were at a Barfoot & Thompson Starship fundraiser, a couple of days prior, where various items were being auctioned for charity. At the end of the auction, as a bit of fun, and spontaneous surprise, the boys offered up for auction, the right to shave off their moustaches for charity. A laugh was generated, then a bid for $10, then $40, then $100, then $200 - sold! “So they’ve managed to ‘hit two birds with two moustaches’ by raising money for two separate charities,” says Andrew.

L - R: RYAN HARDING, PAM ERCEG and MATT O’ROURKE

Well done B & T Grey Lynn, it’s good to see your team getting into the Christmas spirit and raising much needed funds for not one, but two worthwhile charities. PN

L - R: RYAN HARDING and MATT O’ROURKE

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING GREY LYNN BASED METAL SCULPTOR ANDREW PALACE HAS BEEN CREATING his Jules Verne meets organic lamps for a long time. They could make an ideal Christmas gift for the person who has everything! PN E: metal.as.anything@mac.com; M: 021 592 296

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

WORLD CUP HANGOVER POSITIVE FOR PONSONBY RUGBY If the NZRU’s Rugby World Cup catch cry was the same as the London 2012 Olympics; “to leave a legacy” then they would have achieved that hands down, especially at the Ponsonby Rugby Club.

I recently sat down with Ponsonby’s director of rugby, Bryan Williams (pictured left), and quizzed him on what the effect of the tournament has been twelve months on.

PN: Have player numbers grown since last year’s tournament?

BW: “We as a club have grown exponentially, our player numbers are up, and we’re in a really healthy position. In 2011 we had 44 teams and in 2012 we’re now up to 53. Kids who have played soccer in the past have come to us, wanting to play rugby, which is great!”

PN: I guess giving people the chance to play for the club without coming all the way to Ponsonby headquarters is a large plus for the club also?

BW: “The Kelston partnership is definitely where things have grown too, we’re truly lucky to have the Kelston/Ponsonby link, so people can play for the club, but don’t have that extra commitment of getting into the centre of town. Whether it’s at Cox’s bay or the outer fields at Western Springs or out at Kelston, the fields have been awash with the blue and black of Ponsonby.”

PN: What was it that you think helped inspire such a sharp spike in those player numbers?

BW: “Having Samoa, Tonga and locals like Ali Williams playing during the Rugby World Cup was a massive boost for our youngsters. They got to see them at the club, during the tournament, and then go out on the park and try to emulate them.”

PN: Ponsonby Rugby spent a lot of money upgrading the club rooms prior to hosting those teams, has that paid off and how much of an effect has that had?

BW: “The upgrade to the club rooms has been a real boost also, you feel good about having people there and more reason to have pride in the club.”

Williams, who seems to live in endless winter nowdays was on the end of year tour with the All Blacks in Italy when I sat down to chat. His role as President of the NZRU has him attending many different functions all over the world, but the ability to have a family Christmas hadn’t escaped him either.

Both of Williams sons, Paul and Gavin now play rugby in France, so Williams and his wife are staying on in the northern hemisphere following the All Blacks tour, and hope to catch the boys playing a game or two prior to a family day together on the 25th.

Maybe that family ethos is also contributing to the reason Ponsonby Rugby is doing so well. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

REACTION OVER VICTORIA PARK THE SUGGESTION OF TURNING VICTORIA PARK INTO AN INTERNATIONAL calibre cricket ground seems to have raised quite a stir amongst Ponsonby News readers. I’m pleased I raised the debate. Although the reaction I received was quite overwhelmingly predictable and mostly negative, I feel there should always be debate regarding these types of suggestions.

For every one person I spoke to or received an email from who was in favour of the proposal, I received six that were in a similar vein to Grant, who is from the North Shore, but works in the CBD, and runs in the park during his lunch break; “converting Victoria Park into a permanent cricket venue is reckless and a vision that lacks any real understanding of the history of the park. It also is one that overlooks the significance of what the park means to more people than just the local residents and a very small minority of the Auckland people [cricket fans].”

Liam from Grey Lynn agreed, “Auckland deserves a venue to fit the purpose, but I’m nowhere near convinced that there is anyone within the council that has the guts to make that sort of decision, and to be quite honest, I’m not sure if Victoria Park is the right location anyway. I would love to have somewhere decent to sit and watch quality cricket, and having to drive to Seddon Park [Hamilton] isn’t really an option.”

Cricket lover Toby felt “there are wider ramifications on a decision like that, including the risks to spectator safety, getting to and from the grounds and the potential increase in bottlenecks and traffic congestion around the ground. God knows Auckland has enough on its plate with traffic issues without going and intentionally causing more!”

Whereas Chris felt strongly about giving his support to the idea, “Eden Park and international cricket shouldn’t be spoken about in the same sentence, unless it is to explain the crazy idea that used to be. We (Auckland) need to have a decent ground to attract decent teams to play here. Hosting teams like Zimbabwe is far from high calibre opposition, so more needs to be done (on the venue front) to attract those teams, Victoria Park is the right option.”

Sitting down and watching the Black Caps in their current form won’t make anyone interested in scrapping the history of a location like Victoria Park in favour of a cricket ground.

I wonder if they were winning on a more regular basis, if the reaction would be slightly different.

As Chris pointed out Eden Park is a very second rate option for any form of international cricket, Mt Smart is a rugby league and athletics venue, North Harbour Stadium is a no go and Colin Maiden Park may as well be in Hamilton given how long it takes to get there.

Victoria Park hasn’t gone down overly well, but something needs to be done, so let’s hope the Auckland Council get something sorted out, just as the Black Caps need to as well.

The England cricket team will be touring New Zealand in Feburary/March and will test this point. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY IF YOU’VE EVER BEEN TO A FIGHT FOR LIFE, YOU’VE GOT REASON TO GET EXCITED

AUCKLAND BASKETBALL IN A TANGLED MESS

The sports event company which thrills sell out crowds on a regular basis is at it again, and they may well have hit the jackpot in terms of sporting entertainment.

What’s happened to Auckland basketball and the Auckland Pirates franchise?

Former Kiwi league star and Radio Live sports host Dean Lonergan and business partner David Higgins have pitched an idea to National Rugby League [NRL] to bring a nine-a-side rugby league tournament to Auckland on an annual basis.

The event is believed to have the initial backing of the NRL clubs, the governing body and the Auckland Council.

Just as the Wellington sevens sells out in a matter of minutes each year, Lonergan’s crew believe their Auckland event could rival the capital’s well established tournament and even surpass it as the country’s most popular sporting showcase.

The talk so far has been to host the event in late January, and would be a way for the clubs to mix up their pre-season training.

This would fit well with their programmes, but would no doubt test just how strong the support for the Wellington sevens tournament really is.

Benji Marshall, Sonny Bill Williams, Jonothan Thurston and Shaun Johnson could be playing at the same venue, on the same day in quick succession. That venue would without a doubt be Eden Park. While the Auckland Warriors have made Mt Smart Stadium the home of rugby league in New Zealand, the stadium’s capacity of around 30 thousand wouldn’t be a big enough audience to see the concept float.

If Lonergan’s history counts for anything this would be an entertaining weekend.

There’s one thing he and Higgins do well and that’s entertaining people. They both have good contacts within the rugby league community, and if they get the backing, they will no doubt pull it off.

The biggest concern is that a similar format has been tried before in Sydney, however after six years of the competition the NRL clubs pulled the pin on the concept, citing player burn out. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

One minute they’re in the NBL competition, next minute they’re not, and then a week later they’re back in again.

It feels like last year’s owners have set the new franchise operators on a path that leads off the plank and into deep shark-infested waters. Surely the decision on a team’s future isn’t that hard to make, and if the owners of the club aren’t in a financial position to operate the club, then surely they could’ve reached a deal with an interested party before publicly throwing in the towel.

Auckland basketball’s attack on the NBL competition’s balance sheet as the initial reason for withdrawing from competition doesn’t wash, and is obviously a flawed argument considering other franchises have signed up, and when Auckland is given the opportunity to put forward a team for the second time, they still fail to do so.

Not only does the franchise now look stupid, but mucking about like this has inevitably cost them players for the upcoming season.

While seasoned players like Dillon Boucher will stick with the defending champs, more due to family reasons than anything else, players like the exciting Corey Webster have already indicated they’re not sticking about with all the instability.

If the former franchise operators felt the financial rewards weren’t great enough to operate the team, they should have given that greater thought before throwing the hot potato back into the fire and expecting someone else to pick it up.

Fans don’t turn up when they don’t know the players, and by losing the likes of Webster they’ve just driven the first nail into the new owner’s coffin.

They are current title holders, and have the ability to build on last year’s achievements, but their season looks to have already started with one hand tied behind their back.

Let’s just hope the Auckland basketball fans are forgiving and get out there to support the Pirates. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

AUCKLAND NUDGES LONDON IN WORLD SPORTS CITY STAKES

The focus will be sustained with events including the World Softball Championships in March, the V8s returning to Pukekohe in April, the 2015 under-20 FIFA World Cup, the 2017 World Masters Games, and regular fixtures like the Heineken Open and ASB Classic Tennis tournaments.

The international focus, adrenalin rush and chance for Aucklanders to see top international athletes in the Fast5 Netball series this weekend is being described by the Mayor as a great example of why Auckland has been named the number two Sports City in the world.

“To be right up there with London and the Olympics is a phenomenal achievement for Auckland. This win keeps the international spotlight on us as a world-class event destination.

Auckland has today taken the second spot, behind Olympic Games host London, and ahead of the city recognised as our main regional competitor, Melbourne, in the 2012 International Sports Event Management Awards.

The ISEM awards recognise outstanding excellence in the global sports event management industry.

“Rugby World Cup 2011 put Auckland on the world stage as a great place to enjoy major sporting events, and everything else the city has to offer,” says Len Brown.

“And for the city aspiring to be the world’s most liveable city, beating the current number one liveable city, Melbourne, is a major coup.”

“This is testament to a comprehensive strategy and Auckland’s hard work. We capitalised on RWC 2011 with events like the Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover, Brother Rally New Zealand, and the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final, which continue to position us internationally.”

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“Major sporting events are a win-win for us – it means Aucklanders and visitors from around New Zealand and around the world can come and see international athletes at the top of their game, they promote Auckland to the world, and bring us visitors who return to their home countries as ambassadors to spread the world about travelling here.

“When visitors come here for these events, they also discover Auckland is a vibrant and innovative multi-cultural city with a fabulous waterfront, museum and art gallery, an array of superb restaurants, shopping precincts and markets, with wonderful islands, beaches and forests on our doorstep.”

“Each event, the local and international visitors who come to them, their participants and support teams make a significant contribution to our local economy.” PN

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photography: Gene Bennett

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

ACCLAIMED CHEF MICHAEL MEREDITH LEAD A MASTERCLASS AT THE LOFT on 20 November, when LG launched their new door-in-door fridge and 84” UHD television. Michael prepared a salmon and egg starter in asparagus, a venison plate and a berry and sponge dessert. Guests also took part in a charity auction for the Auckland City Mission.

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS LOGAN GRANGER

GETTING YOUR CUSTOMER TO PAY AND PAY ON TIME One of the biggest issues facing all business owners today is cash flow, that is getting paid by your customers and being able to pay creditors. If you can collect all for your debts you are in a better position to pay your own debts.

If you have supplied goods or services to your customers it is a reasonable expectation to be paid in a prompt manner.

Here are some tips to help you collect your payments due in a timely manner.

1. Offering Credit Accounts: When offering credit you need to consider your customers past payment history, along with the average spend to determine whether they actually do need credit or a cash account will suffice.

2. Terms & Conditions: These are important. Make sure you document clearly your terms and conditions of trade in any contract or invoice you are entering into with a client. If a debt goes bad it will be harder to seek legal avenues if the customers’ obligations are not clearly set out.

3. Prompt Payment Incentives: Offer prompt payment discounts, this is a very effective way to get your invoices paid on time. You can try offering a discount of 2-5% if the invoice is paid within 10 days.

4. Payment Options: Providing alternative payment options to customers can help speed up the payment process, there are a lot of payment options other than cash or cheque. Some customers like to pay using online banking, others prefer credit card payments. Making the payment process easier for your customer will make it easier for you to receive payment.

5. Customer Communication: Make sure your customers have received their invoice and there are no problems. Contact the client before the invoice is due and again after if payment hasn’t been received. Explore options with the client to receive payment

rather than it becoming a bad debt. If the customer cannot pay, get them to commit to a date and amount for when the payment will come. When you are specific about details, they are far more likely to pay you. Keep detailed records of all communications with the customer; this will assist you on following up on the commitments received from the customer.

6. Keep Your Debtors Records Up To Date: There is nothing worse or more embarrassing than chasing a debt that has already been paid by the customer.

7. Provide Good Customer Service: Always service the client promptly and efficiently, late or non-payment can be a signal of poor service or a lack of communication with the customer. If there is a potential issue, try to identify and rectify the issue. This is an easy way to avoid the same issue in the future, keep your customers happy and ultimately receive the payment.

By working with your customers you can help make the payment process smoother and an easier experience for both parties involved, which will help achieve your ultimate goal of being paid and on time.

If you have any further questions or would like to discuss this matter please do not hesitate to contact Logan Granger. PN Disclaimer – While all care has been taken, Johnston Associates Chartered Accountants Ltd and its staff accept no liability for the content of this article; always see your professional advisor before taking any action that you are unsure about.

JOHNSTON ASSOCIATES, 202 Ponsonby Road T: 09 361 6701 www.jacal.co.nz

ENABLEME ARE REVOLUTIONISING PERSONAL FINANCE! Getting ahead financially is no longer a taboo topic in New Zealand. It’s widely accepted that everyone could do with some expert help when it comes to managing their personal finances. We are earning the most we’ve ever earned but there is no sense that we are getting ahead and we all know we could do better. Not only that; we are stressed about how much we owe and it’s affecting our personal relationships more than we realise! enableMe call themselves Financial Personal Trainers - they do for your finances what your personal trainer does for your fitness. Now it’s time to get financially fit! enableMe have a unique and proven process that they’ve honed over the last five years. It’s based around a patented mortgage repayment system that produces amazing results, saving more than $50,000 for most clients! (Some clients are on-track to save over $300,000!) They have helped almost 2,000 clients achieve the perfect balance that we are all striving for…How do you get ahead financially and still have a life?

We are all busy people, so if you want expert, qualified and impartial personal financial advice on how to save interest and tax, who do you turn to? Your bank?

No. Your broker? No. Your mate who’s good with his money? No. Your spouse?

Definitely not!

Come in and have an obligation free one-on-one consultation with enableMe and see what you are really capable of!

Let Hannah McQueen and her team show you how to find the perfect balance.

Visit www.enableme.co.nz for more details or call T: 0800 897 898. PN

142 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2012

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

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GOT A LEGAL QUESTION? ASK MICHAEL@METROLAW.CO.NZ

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

Email Michael with your question and include PONSONBY NEWS in the subject line.

Michael Hemphill, a partner of the firm will answer one topical question each month.

Q:

I am buying a property in the area and I have noticed that the standard form sale and purchase agreement now has a building report condition on the front page. This is different from when I have purchased property in the past. How does it work? Is it any different from using my own builder’s report condition in the further terms?

A:

Well spotted. A new edition of the Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Real Estate has come out recently and there is now a standard building report condition as part of that agreement. On the front page of the agreement you can elect whether or not a building report is required in the same way that you can choose whether or not to get a LIM.

The standard form agreement is approved by both the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand Inc. and the Auckland District Law Society Incorporated. Because of this it can reflect the interests of both lawyers and estate agents.

In relation to building reports there has been some tension between the perspective of the agents acting for the vendor(s) and the lawyer acting for the purchaser(s) over the following issues: • The time necessary to get a builders report; • Who can do the report; • Whether it is necessary to give reasons and or a copy of the report when cancelling for non-satisfaction of the condition.

The new clause resolves these questions. Unless it is altered, the new building report condition now says that a purchaser has 10 working days from the date of the agreement to obtain a building report and confirm that any building and improvements on the property are satisfactory.

The clause states that the building report needs to be prepared in good faith by a suitably qualified inspector in accordance with accepted principles and methods.

This limits your choice of inspector, although how significantly is unclear. What we do know is that your building inspector should conduct building inspections as part of his or her profession and provide a formal, written report of the inspection. This means you can no longer just ask your builder mate to come and have a look at the property.

Under the standard condition the purchaser can only cancel the agreement if the building report is not satisfactory on an objective basis. Should the purchaser avoid the agreement for non-fulfilment of the building report condition then the vendor will have the right to request a copy of the builder’s report. This means that you now need a real reason to cancel on the basis of the building report condition.

As with any agreement you may alter the terms and conditions. It would still be possible to ignore this new standard condition and include the building report condition that you wanted in the further terms of sale and we have already seen some examples of this in practice. Before signing your agreement, whether you are the purchaser or the vendor, you should have a solicitor read over the detail of your agreement before you are committed to a building report condition that does not suit your situation.

(MICHAEL HEMPHILL) PN Disclaimer - This article is for general information purposes only. If you have a legal problem you should seek advice from a lawyer. Metro Law does not accept any liability other than to its clients and then only when advice is sought on specific matters.

METROLAW, Level 2, 36 Williamson Avenue T: 09 929 0800 www.metrolaw.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ASK ALEX PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS:

Each month Dr Alex Melrose answers readers’ pet related issues. email yours to: alex@vetcare.net.nz

Q:

My six-year-old female cat vomits regularly after eating, sometimes once a day. Her health is otherwise fine. But she is an extremely anxious and nervous cat, so I wonder if that has anything to do with it. What do you think could be the problem? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks for your question from our new website. With other VetCare clients we do find sometimes with the more nervous or anxious cats, or especially if they are ex-strays they may bolt their food, believing that they will otherwise miss out or be interrupted. In these cases often it will make them bring up the food again straight away as the large bolus of food overstretches the muscles of the cat’s oesophagus causing reflux of undigested food, an important differentiation medically from vomiting which is caused more commonly by illness. If you feel this is what’s going on you can use techniques like using a treat ball filled with dry food, or smaller more frequent meals, to force them to eat the food slowly.

A:

If she is not bolting her food and is vomiting, rather than regurgitating, it is possible she has food intolerance or a gastrointestinal disease. It is good to hear she is ok in herself and not losing weight as that would be more of a concern but if a cat vomits almost every day we would still recommend she is checked out really thoroughly here at our vet clinic, there are just too many possible causes to rule out at home (even with google). If we give her health the all clear we can try keeping her on a highly digestable diet free of grains and with a novel protein source for two months solely, to see if this reduces the frequency of the vomiting supporting a dietary intolerance.

(DR ALEX MELROSE, BVSC MRCVS) PN

ANNALISE PATTERSON AND ERNIE

VETCARE GREY LYNN, 408 Great North Road T: 09 361 3500 www.vetcare.net.nz

Annalise Patterson is a casting director who has lived in Grey Lynn for the last 10 years. Her dog Ernie is 11 months old; “his mum is a Sydney Silky …and we’re not sure about his dad”, Annalise says. “A vet in passing commented that Ernie’s mum must have been very promiscuous!”

Annalise collected Ernie when he was seven weeks old from a farm south of New Plymouth. He was an impulse decision made on TradeMe, and stood out from his siblings who looked nothing like him. Annalise says that Ernie’s little black beady eyes just connected - and he simply looked like an ‘Ernie’.

Ernie’s daily visit to the unofficial ‘dog club’ at Grey Lynn Park after work is the highlight of his day. He and Annalise get to hang out with lots of other dogs and their owners and Ernie has lots of friends there. His very best friend is Jackson (pictured). Jackson belongs to Ken and Deborah from Whitespace gallery, who are also the landlords for Annalise’s business premises, All Media Casting.

When Ernie goes to work he often hangs out with Jackson in the gallery, and Jackson loves to come up to the studio to steal Ernie’s biscuits and have a play.

Their party trick is for Jackson to lay on his back and for Ernie to put his whole head in Jackson’s mouth - “I don’t know what that’s all about!” says Annalise.

And Ernie’s favourite food? “Stealing the cat’s food.” PN

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

ANIMALOSOPHY: DR MEGAN ALDERSON

OUR PATRON SAINT In 1224 the patron saint of animals, Saint Francis of Assisi, staged the first ‘living’ recreation of the birth of Jesus and invited his animals to join in.

It was his way of bringing the Christmas spirit to the local villagers of the small Italian town of Greccio, entertaining them in a cave on the outskirts of town with a donkey, an ox and actors dressed in biblical robes surrounding the wax figure of the baby Jesus.

SPCA DESPERATELY NEEDS FOSTER HOMES FOR SUMMER SPCA AUCKLAND IS OVERLOADED WITH INCOMING CATS AND KITTENS AND desperately needs to find some temporary foster homes this summer. The cats and kittens just need a little bit of love, care and attention for a few weeks whilst they get big and healthy enough to be adopted.

On Christmas Eve, families travelled far and wide to witness the spectacle of the birth of Jesus. Saint Francis urged the people to rejoice in the season of Christ’s birth and put hatred from their hearts. Soon, other towns featured their own version of the play and every family had a nativity scene in their homes to help them celebrate the miracle of Christmas.

“Foster homes are vital to the SPCA. Carers provide temporary homes for animals in need to recover from surgery or illness, or for animals that simply need to put on a little more weight before being de-sexed and then adopted”, says Karyn Sage, SPCA Auckland Foster Coordinator. “Summer is our busiest time of year. With up to 150 animals coming through the doors each and every day, foster homes provide a lifeline for the animals. Our foster parents literally help save lives.”

This humble man, who had turned his back on his family’s wealth for a life of poverty, treated all of God’s creations as part of his brotherhood. He had equal respect for sparrow or pope and preached forgiveness, compassion and understanding towards all living things.

SPCA now urgently needs new foster homes for kittens in particular. Please consider caring for these little ones to give them a chance at life. It’s only a short-term commitment and SPCA supplies all food, litter, litter trays, carry cage, toys, bedding and medication if required.

One of the few prayers I can still recite from childhood was one written by this animal loving man. He reminds us ‘For it is in giving that we receive’ and Christmas should not be about a panicked buying frenzy (though we definitely have some pretty hot stuff for pets this Christmas), but the joy of giving of gifts and quality time to our friends, family and fur family members. Christmas is a time to celebrate and appreciate the riches we do have in our lives and for me one of them is spending a few precious days with my four-legged friends.

Check out The Strand Vet Facebook page for fun competitions for Santa’s pet lovers or join us for “Christmas In The Bark” on 8 December for a fun, family pet friendly event.

Meet us down at The Strand Veterinarian this December for your pet’s check-up or vaccinations before holiday boarding so we can give them a Christmas gift for under the tree. (DR MEGAN ALDERSON) PN THE STRAND VETERINARIAN, 114 The Strand T: 09 377 6667 www.thestrandvet.co.nz

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First time foster parents receive training and the SPCA’s friendly foster team provide support and guidance if you have any questions or concerns. Onsite vets provide all medical care and medication when required. Foster carers will need to have their own transport as animals need to be picked-up and dropped-off at the SPCA village in Mangere.

To find out more or download the application form, visit the SPCA website at www.spca.org.nz, call the SPCA on 09 256 2525 or email fostering@spca.org.nz PAWS APPEAL RESULTS BEST EVER: The results are in and SPCA is very excited to announce that Paws Appeal 2012 has been the most successful Annual Appeal ever! In 2011 a total of $122,000 was raised and this year to date $156,747.40 has been raised. “This is all thanks to your incredible hard work and we are so very grateful to you all,” says SPCA Fundraising Coordinator, Catherine Davies. The total raised in the Ponsonby area more than doubled from last years total thanks in large part to Ponsonby local Buffy Gill who was the area coordinator for the area. PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

MY PET DEN™: WHERE STYLE MEETS SUSTAINABILITY My Pet Den™ is another fantastic product brought to you by Autex Industries Ltd; a New Zealand -owned manufacturing and product development company that specialises in textile and advanced fibre technology.

Autex prides itself on providing eco friendly alternatives to the market, having successfully produced GreenStuf®home insulation, to now creating its own unique take on pet homes in your home.

Made from recycled P.E.T. bottles (soft drink bottles) with no added chemicals, My Pet Den™ is perfect for your pet and great for our planet. The proudly New Zealand made product comes in five funky styles and a great range of colours to complement any living space. They are also reversible so one My Pet Den™ gives you two unique colour combinations.

The rigid textile fibre construction of My Pet Den™ has natural sound absorbing properties which create a quiet and calming environment. Plus they are light -weight, highly durable and easy to clean – the perfect, hassle-free space for any pet! Supplied in a flat-packed box, My Pet Den™ is easy to store and transport.

Assembling a My Pet Den™ is super easy with slots and notches which push together and pull apart – no tools, glues or screws required!

photography: Martin Leach

Autex is passionate about animals and their wellbeing. With each My Pet Den™ purchased Autex will donate $5 to Paw Justice - assisting them in their fight against animal cruelty. To get your hands on your own My Pet Den™, visit your nearest Freedom Furniture store or buy online via www.mypetden.com PN

COUNCIL ADOPTS NEW POLICY AND BYLAW ON DOGS KEEPING DOGS AS A POSITIVE PART OF AUCKLAND LIFE IS AT THE HEART of Auckland Council’s new policy and bylaw on dogs adopted last month. The policy provides region-wide guidance to ensure dog owners continue to take their dogs to parks and beaches while also ensuring public safety and comfort. It also empowers local boards to make decisions on dog access rules for parks and beaches in their areas that reflect their community’s preferences.

“As we worked through our approach to dogs, there was a clear desire for regional consistency and local decision-making on local access rules,” says hearings panel chairperson, Noelene Raffills. “The approach we have taken recognises the benefits of a single way of thinking and, where appropriate, region-wide rules. But we also recognised that one approach to local parks and beaches was never going to meet the needs of dog owners or the wider community and that our local boards can contribute in a way that is more responsive, consistent and transparent,” Councillor Raffills says.

More than 10,000 submissions were made to council covering 156,000 points from dog owners and non-dog owners. The welfare of dogs is an important and integral part of the new policy. “We heard a lot about the important part dogs play in the lives of their owners as members of their families, assisting to keep them active through exercising their pets, and providing safety to them and the wider community,” says Cr Raffills.

The new policy and bylaw on dogs will come into force from 1 July 2013. Until then the existing policies and bylaws of the previous councils will apply.

FEATURES OF THE NEW POLICY AND BYLAW INCLUDE: • A new standard summer time and season for local boards to use when deciding on changes to local dog access rules on local beaches (excluding Waiheke and Great Barrier Island) • Proactive approach to registration and dealing with dangerous, menacing, and uncontrolled dogs • Region-wide dog access rules on all roads, footpaths town centres and playgrounds • Region-wide exemptions for disability assist dogs It also covers the owners’ responsibility on picking up dog faeces, as well as multiple dogs on premises and dogs in heat. PN

PN

Panic not! Jack, the PN Scottie is not in the dog box, he was simply used as a market tester! ‘The castle’ gets his seal of approval.

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ARTS + CULTURE

THE YOUKNOW CORNER PROJECT THE BURGEONING CORNER OF RICHMOND ROAD AND SURREY CRESCENT sits surveyed by the dark, heralding presence of number 553 Richmond Road. Housing Black Box Boutique, Jetsetbohemian, Jafa Café and Uno Design, the building already boasts a host of creative talent, but in the YouKnow Corner Project, has a plethora of diverse artists waiting to temporarily inhabit its walls.

On 16 December, this building will be the setting for a block party and auction that will bring together seasoned artists and designers with emerging talent to support an organisation providing opportunities for disadvantaged and creative youths. The proceeds acquired will go towards Nga Rangatahi Toa Creative Arts Initiative whose aim is to assist their rangatahi into realising their potential as artists and individuals, pairing them with some of New Zealand’s top creative minds to cultivate a passion for learning while developing their artistic aptitude.

Uno Design has donated 10 old, school-style chairs that have been distributed amongst 11 artists and customised at their discretion. The only direction – to leave the structure of the chair uncompromised so as to fuse its functionality with their artistic alterations. Freshly designed back and seat portions sit atop unmodified frames to reveal the history of their use while subverting the utilitarian design to generate a new path in their existence. The finished chairs are currently being displayed at locations including the corner’s shops and Pencil Boutique, so check out these unique chairs before they’re auctioned off and come down on the day to get your bids in, as well as take part in a fun, public chalk artwork, peruse the sales and have a great coffee from Jafa. Plus you won’t want to miss a special musical guest giving an acoustic performance from midday.

Or search for YouKnow Corner on Facebook. Participating artists come from a diverse range of backgrounds including fashion, tattoo, fine and street art: Pebbles Hooper for Pencil Boutique; Stefan Sinclair of Two Hands Tattoo; Mike Weston; Ioane Ioane; Black Box Boutique; Jetsetbohemian; Jafa Café; JJ Young; Zammia Weatherall and Nga Rangatahi Toa Creative Arts Initiative’s Natasha Melrose and Wauki Paniani.

The block party and auction will take place on Sunday 16 December from 10am, with the auction getting under way at 1pm in the Uno Design store - 553 Richmond Road.

Check out the website for more information and a full list of display locations: www.youknowcornerproject.tumblr.com PN

ART WASHES AWAY THE DUST OF EVERYDAY LIFE Art really is the gift that keeps on giving.

No unwrapping and banishing it to never be seen again. Hanging an artwork on the wall, no matter what size or cost, is guaranteed to give years of pleasure ahead.

Given the recession is still a reality, Smyth Galleries has this Christmas more than ever, concentrated on assembling a range of quality pictures to suit every budget and more than likely, every preference. They also have gift vouchers, framing advice and free delivery as part of their customer-orientated service.

The team at Smyth Galleries wish a very happy and relaxing Christmas to you all.

SMYTH GALLERIES, 41 Jervois Road T: 09 360 6044 www.smythgalleries.co.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE CHRISTMAS CAROL EVENT AT VECTOR ARENA Sunday 16 December 6pm – 7.15pm (Doors open at 5pm) St Paul’s Church and Vector Arena are sharing the love and hosting a Christmas carol service for all of Auckland city: GLOW - Carols by Glowstick. The Arena will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland under soft glowing lights, of ten thousand glow sticks!

Hosted by Petra Bagust, GLOW is a celebration of Christmas that will combine Christmas carols, the Christmas story and performances by Nathan King and special guests. This year they are supporting the Auckland City Mission and ask each family attending GLOW to bring an item of non-perishable food to donate and share love with the community this Christmas.

All ticket sale proceeds from GLOW will be donated to Kidscan. GLOW 2009, 2010 and 2011 were sell outs and last year over $25,000 was raised for A Girl called Hope Charity. Be quick and secure your family and friends a seat at this year’s GLOW! GLOW - CAROLS BY GLOWSTICK, Tickets are $5, available at Ticketmaster.

10,000 free glow sticks will be provided at the event. To find out more about the event www.glow.org.nz PN

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ARTS + CULTURE “WHERE WORDS FAIL, MUSIC SPEAKS.” CULTURES FROM AROUND THE world have used music as a healing influence since time immemorial. Music therapy, as it is called today, began after the two World Wars when musicians would play music to the soldiers in hospital who suffered emotional and physical trauma. Nowadays, music therapists are found in many professions that deal with those who are physically and mentally disadvantaged. The response to music and rhythm is innate regardless of disability, injury, illness or circumstances and is not dependent on training or background.

Fourteen years ago singer and songwriter, Hinewehi Mohi with her husband, George and their daughter Hineraukatauri travelled to the UK where they were told about the Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre in London and how it might benefit their daughter who had cerebral palsy. As soon as Hineraukatauri started the therapy she was absolutely exhilarated by it and its effect on her was profoundly beneficial. When they returned home they couldn’t find a similar organisation here, so without further ado, they set about establishing one with the help of Campbell Smith who has long been associated with the music industry.

Very soon their dream became a reality. The Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre opened in 2004 and is the only one in New Zealand. It is owned and operated by a charitable trust that raises about $450,000 each year to keep the centre running, which is vital because the centre receives no government funding. They started small with only one therapist but they had an incredible board of trustees who devote time and energy on a voluntary basis, so much so, that presently the centre has three music therapy rooms, nine therapists, an audio-visual room, facilities for staff and clients, and an extensive instrument collection.

The centre held an open day 31 October at 15 Surrey Crescent from 2pm to 6pm. The theme of the day was “Changing Lives through Music”. In music therapy room 1 therapists conducted short presentations about clients they are currently working with and the successes they’ve achieved. In room 2 visitors watched a wonderful 20 minute documentary on the centre which screened recently as part of the ‘Open Door’ series on TV3. In room 3 therapists were available to answer questions about the therapy programmes in schools and early childhood centres. The centre also does outreach work with adults in the community.

The open day was a means of demonstrating how music therapy can reduce the sense of isolation, improve communication, build self-esteem and help develop life skills for people with special needs. The centre director, Carol White says, “We currently offer services to more than 200 children and young adults each month. Services are provided by a team of nine registered music therapists, all of whom have masters degrees in addition to being passionate and practising musicians. Visitors were given an information pack with all the necessary documentation needed for a referral.

The centre has been named after its founder’s daughter. In Maori legend Hine Raukatauri, the Goddess of Flutes is the personification of music. She is the casemoth who lives in her elongated cocoon that hangs from many native trees. The Maori putorino or flute, is made in the shape of the casemoth’s home. The male casemoth pupates and flies away but the female remains imprisoned in her case. At night when a breeze blows through the cocoon, her call to her lover is a sweet but barely audible sound. This has been the inspiration for all Maori flute music.

photography: Dallas Pickering

RAUKATAURI MUSIC THERAPY CENTRE

ARTWEEK IN AUCKLAND’S BIG LITTLE CITY From 26 October to 4 November ARTWEEK was a 10 day celebration of Auckland’s visual arts, and an opportunity to expand understanding of them through discovery and discussion. It brought the city’s art community together under one umbrella with a cross-section of free art exhibitions, art-related talks, special events, art tours and workshops in venues around the city.

Art Walks were particularly popular, and Ponsonby News joined a group of enthusiasts gathered at Masterworks from where architectural historian, Edward Bennett guided them along Ponsonby Road towards Western Park.

Edward regularly conducts heritage walks along the streets of Auckland’s inner suburbs and his Art Walk included interesting information about some of the historic buildings we passed on the way. Across the road from Masterworks is the former bakery established in the 1940s by Doctor Max Reizenstein, an academic who left Germany to find refuge in New Zealand. The bakery was built of bricks that came from the early brickyards near the beginning of Jervois Road. Edward pointed out the correlation between bread and brick baking, and the ceramics on show in Masterworks brought to mind the old clay pits once worked in Ponsonby.

The walk proceeded along to Western Park entrance to view John Radford’s three sculpture works that are sunk into the ground in the manner of ancient ruins. They represent pieces of the row of buildings that once stood on the site and had suffered demolition. The park furniture has been constructed by local artist and silversmith, Matthew von Sturmer. The park dates back to the mid-19th century and once a stream flowed through it called Tuna-Mau, ‘the trapping of eels’. The flow of water is represented in Mark Davidson’s pebble mosaic on the pavement that marks the entrance to the park and is a blend of Polynesian and European influence.

The Artstation building was designed by government architect, John Campbell whose massive body of work shaped the landscape of towns all over New Zealand. He designed a huge number of government buildings throughout the country, including the Ponsonby Post Office. The walk wound up with visits to three important galleries, Objectspace, Black Asterix and Whitespace. All in all Edward covered art appreciation with historical gems thrown in for good measure which were enjoyed by his very attentive audience. (DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

Hinewehi was reminded of the goddess trapped in her case, just as her daughter is trapped in a body incapable of much independent movement.

Music has been a means of communication between mother and daughter and Hineraukatauri has been able to express herself though music therapy at the centre named after her ancestress, Raukatauri.

Patrons of the centre include Hayley Westenra, Boh Runga and Rosie Horton. It is entirely reliant on fundraising to keep running so by making a small, monthly contribution you can make a positive change in the lives of New Zealand’s most disadvantaged children. To become a supporter just visit www.rmtc.org.nz - “How you can help”. “The power of music to integrate and cure is quite fundamental. It is the profoundest non-chemical medication”.

Oliver Wolf Sacks, British biologist and neurologist, ‘Awakenings’.

(DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

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ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT MOMENTUM GALLERY Until 24 December Ross Jones continues his exhibition this month with more fantastic original works and prints on display. Ross’s paintings are all about telling stories; they are a mixture of seemingly perfect places and events, but like all good stories not everything is as it seems.

How far the journey takes you is entirely up to you. www.jonesthepainter.com Momentum Gallery has plenty of goodies in -store, including treats from Annie Sandano, Tony Ogle, Lester Hall, Flox, Weston Frizzell, Penny Stotter and more!

photography: Martin Leach

Any purchase made in December will go into the draw for a big Christmas pressie giveaway - announced on their Facebook page on 23 December. Let’s just say it will be well worth your while to pop in! Remember to get your framing requirements sorted early to avoid disappointment. Momentum will be closed from 24 December through to 6 January 2013.

Compliments of the season from Team Momentum. PN MOMENTUM GALLERY, 1/182 Jervois Road T: 09 376 4749 www.momentumgallery.co.nz facebook.com/MomentumGallery

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ROSS JONES EXHIBITION OPENING @ MOMENTUM GALLERY & FRAMING, HERNE BAY Ross Jones and Trent Rule; Jo Cripps, Lucy and Justin MacKenzie (Mr & Mrs Tennis)

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ARTS + CULTURE

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD Lucky for Ponsonby, New Zealand’s coolest online art print store, endemicworld.com, has chosen to open their doors in our neck of the woods. It’s the first time endemicworld has had a physical shop, having been online only for five years.

They’ve chosen their position well – at the upper-end of Ponsonby Road, conveniently in the same block as Flotsam & Jetsam and Real Time. The space is light-filled and smelling of fresh flowers. Interesting furniture finds from Junk & Disorderly make perfect display objects for the wide variety of art print styles.

Make sure you go with a little time to meander through their large collection. You’ll find local artists Cut Collective, Walter Hansen and Greg Straight, alongside international artists Inaluxe, Swissted and Holly Roach, to name just a few.

According to the main man Elliot, it’s all about making art attainable for all. “You can buy an unframed miniprint for $10 or invest in a framed and signed, limited edition screenprint for $250. We have close relationships with our artists and we encourage our customers to hear the story behind their purchase.”

In the same garage you will find Bart the barista, serving up smooth-as Kokako organic coffee. Right next door, Wendy is selling her lifetime collection of vintage retro collectibles. And on hot sunny Thursdays you can score yourself a complimentary ice block. They are open seven days a week till Christmas. PN ENDEMICWORLD, 62 Ponsonby Road www.endemicworld.com

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ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT WHITESPACE VARIANCE – Until 22 December Niki Hastings-McFall was born and raised in Titirangi, West Auckland. She still resides and works out west in her studio beside the Oratia stream. Niki was educated at Auckland Girl’s Grammar, Auckland University and Manukau School of Visual Arts and has a degree in visual arts (BVA).

She has exhibited extensively throughout New Zealand and overseas since 1992 and her work is held in public and private collections, positioning her as a key figure in the contemporary Pacific art scene nationally and internationally. Her work has been exhibited in defining exhibitions including Bottled Ocean, Latitudes (France), Paradise Now (USA) and Pasifika Styles (UK) and Home AKL (NZ).

Variance continues Niki Hastings-McFall’s exploration and obsession with the four bird tapa pattern of Samoa with the use of acrylic sheet, roadsign vinyls and pierced symbols and patterns that have been signature materials and forms featuring prominently over many years. PN WHITESPACE, 12 Crummer Road T: 09 361 6331 www.whitespace.co.nz

SHOWING AT BLACK ASTERISK WILD THINGS – Until 24 December MARKUS HOFKO - A multidisciplinary artist, Markhus has been involved in a diverse range of projects. You might recognise his work commissioned for Beck’s ‘Turning Beer Into Art’ campaign, or from his numerous projects covering photography, video, installation, and performing art.

Flyte (lime/opal)” (Va-riant series) 2012, 1200 x 1200mm Acrylic sheet, stainless steel, aluminium

Islands, a series of sculptures showing miniature snapshots of life, isolated pieces of land as if wrenched from the earth by some force of nature hang suspended in space. Day to day tasks from work to shopping to entertainment to basic needs are mostly limited to a very small physical and social environment. Our own subjective world is small. To make this visible Hofko created Islands. It can be seen as a 3-dimensional cartoon, telling stories that are sometimes absurd, sometimes funny and sometimes shocking and sad.

PRUE MACDOUGALL - An extremely accomplished printmaker, Prue MacDougall likens her art practice to a stage on which scenes are played out that reflect real life experiences and examine the dynamics of human relationships. In her solar plate etchings she portrays fantastical Chimera, blended animal forms, sometimes dark but more often charming and humorous.

The body of work we see in ‘Wild Things’ attempts to capture a moment of time she has experienced and translate it into the unique visual language of her imagination. Goya and Rego both heavily influence Prue’s practice. Her exhibition credits include; The British School in Rome, International School of Art in Umbria and The Byam Shaw School of Art in London. Prudence has also exhibited throughout New Zealand and has works in local and international private collections. PN BLACK ASTERISK GALLERY, 10 Ponsonby Road M: 021 040 1168 www.blackasterisk.co.nz

‘DONUT DREAMS’ BY MICHAEL KENNEDY.

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ARTS + CULTURE TALENT SEARCH IS ON FOR PASIFIKA FESTIVAL 2013 The chance to perform at one of the largest free events in the South Pacific is the prize open to those who audition for Pasifika Festival 2013.

Event organiser Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) welcomes interest from performers from across the Pacific who would like to feature at next year’s expanded two-day festival, Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March, 2013.

Pasifika Festival provides visitors with an opportunity to experience traditional and authentic food, craft, dance, music and art from 10 Pacific nations.

ATEED Festival Producer Ole Maiava says more than 1500 artists and groups perform a variety of musical and performance genres at the festival each year.

“We are always excited to see what the application process unveils. For many, the festival provides a kick start to their career. We’re looking for emerging artists who share the spiritual and cultural values of Auckland’s Pacific peoples.”

The Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Aotearoa will be represented at the 21st Pasifika Festival.

Open auditions were held on Thursday 29 November at the Western Springs Community Hall; and on Saturday 1 December at the Panmure Community Hall.

Overseas and non-Auckland performers were exempt from the audition process and are chosen from submitted material. PN For more information: pasifika@aucklandnz.com

FROM HERE TO THERE AND BACK AGAIN MONTH SIX: LONDON (Hatton Garden) and BERLIN HATTON GARDEN My last UK bench space was in the workshop of Donovan a Jamaican diamond setter, in the heart of London’s jewellery district. Oh what fun, an original Dickensian style workspace, up 55 stairs, with every service and material needed for jewellery production on the door step.

This was the chance I needed to complete some commissioned pieces and make work to sell to prop up my dwindling finances. With Donovan adding the finishing touches, I crafted a diamond engagement ring, I finished two hand forged christening spoons engraved locally and created a silver link necklace.

I also made a series of inexpensive silver and copper jewellery pieces which I sold at a farewell gathering of family and friends, from my Dulwich home base during my stay in London.

BERLIN Using Ryan Air’s cheap flight, I took a short trip to Berlin before leaving Europe.

Walking miles each day I explored this fascinating city which now in the 21st century contains immaculate replicas of old buildings destroyed in the war, traces of the radical city of the 80s and 90s, but a stylised chic prevails.

The ‘Eastside Art Gallery’ has selected artist’s images of the struggle for freedom, painted on remnants of the old wall. Also a touching memorial to the 6,000,000 Jews who died in the holocaust is a series of dozens of sombre oblong coffin like grey boxes set irregularly in rows. (CARLINA GOFFE) PN

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photography: Michael McClintock

ART IN THE DARK, Western Park, Ponsonby Friday 9, Saturday 10 November “Art in the Dark has become a platform for bright Kiwi minds to show-off their talents, and a chance for the community to get involved in the art world from the comfort of their city’s own backyard. The end results are always spectacular,” says CELIA HARRISON, Creative Director, Art in the Dark. Continued P156-157. PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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photography: Michael McClintock

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photography: Michael McClintock

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THE OBJECT ROOM’S RELOCATION PARTY, PONSONBY photography: Martin Leach

Thursday, 8 November

1. James Walkinshaw and Gilberto Navas-Cotte; 2.Yvonne Tiong, Jeff Lloyd and Taemin Yeom; 3. Louise Mason and Kirsten Lancaster; 4. Tony Tao; 5. Yvonne Tiong and Natalie Seagar; 6.Jamie Armitage and Luke McCarthy; 7. Joel Bremner and Timond Chu. PN

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photography: Martin Leach

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UP REALTY’S SUMMER DRINKS, HERNE BAY Wednesday, 7 November

8. Jayne Thomson and Lynaire Kittelty; 9. David Channing-Hutt, Shane Millar, A.J Ross, Paul Raynes and Peter Jackson; 10. Back row: Nick Reid, Jennifer Temm-Munns, Heather Fisher; Front: June Britton; 11. Esther Williams and Rebecca McCaughan; 12.

David Simons and Steve White; 13. Wayne Bulog and Rod Mudgway; 14. Trent Rule and Vanessa Ross; 15. Michael Hemphill, Wayne Bulog and (Lord) Clayton Munting.

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photography: Jo Barrett

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PONSONBY CENTRAL OPENING, PONSONBY photography: Martin Leach

Tuesday, 20 November

16. Simon Coley and Otis Frizzell; 17. Dave Aberhart, Sarasa Shimura and Mark Smith; 18. James Boshier, Jodi Redden and Simon Coley; 19. Martin Leach and Andy Davies; 20. Pippa Coom and Michael Hemphill; 21. Larry Quickenden and Gordon Booth; 22. Erwin Zimmet, Tanya Carlson and Rebecca Jones; 23. Karen Spires and John Harman. PN

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photography: Martin Leach

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SPQR 20TH BIRTHDAY, PONSONBY Tuesday, 20 November

24. Phil Dixon, Gavin and Dona White and Jacqui Dixon; 25. Paula Macks and Chris Rupe; 26. Phil Dixon, Mark Willetts and Kwija Kim; 27. Fiona McLeod and Fiona Churnside; 28. Chris Rupe and Ben Longhurst. PN

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THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

PONSONBY NEWS OUTLETS FREEMANS BAY

Glengarry, Corner Sale and Wellesley Streets Kellands Real Estate, 4 Drake Street New World, Victoria Park Sale St, 7 Sale Street

GREY LYNN

Barfoot & Thompson, 533 Great North Road Barkley Manor, 400 - 402 Great North Road Grey Lynn Community Centre, 520 Richmond Road Grey Lynn Community Library, 474 Great North Road Raw Essentials, 401B Richmond Road Ripe, 172 Richmond Road Sliced,104 Richmond Road Tapac, 100 Motions Road Vetcare, 408 Great North Road

HERNE BAY

Herne Bay Post & Stationers, 240 Jervois Road Five Loaves & 2 Fish, 206 Jervois Road Icing on the Cake, 188 Jervois Road Momentum, 182 Jervois Road

KINGSLAND

Atomic, 420c New North Road

MT EDEN

Citta Outlet Store, Corner Enfield & Normanby Road Sabato, 57 Normanby Road

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NEWMARKET

Planet Ayurveda, 41 Gillies Avenue Studio Italia, 96 Carlton Gore Road Taylor Boutique, 1 Teed Street

NEWTON

Benediction Café, 30 St Benedicts Street Design 55, 55 Upper Queen Street

Ponsonby News is published on the first Friday of each month excluding January.

Copies go quickly so be quick to collect yours from any of the following outlets. The issue is also published on our website www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

PARNELL

Jane Daniels, 2 Birdwood Cresent Essenze, 285 Parnell Road Parnell Community Centre, 545 Parnell Road

PONSONBY

Artstation, 1 Ponsonby Road Barfoot & Thompson, 184 Ponsonby Road Chapel Bar, 147 Ponsonby Road Fitness Trainer, 36 Jervois Road Harcourts, 89 Ponsonby Road Leys Institute, 20 St Mary’s Road The Longroom, 114 Ponsonby Road Mag Nation, 123 Ponsonby Road Ponsonby Community Centre, 20 Ponsonby Terrace Spa Ayurda, 213 Ponsonby Road Whitespace, 12 Crummer Road WORLD, 97 Ponsonby Road

WESTMERE

Glengarry, 164 Garnet Road PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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