PONSONBY NEWS - February 2013

+ CELEBRATING 23 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY! Established: OCTOBER 1989. PUBLISHED FRIDAY 1 FEBRUARY.

FEBRUARY 2013 |

www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

CELEBRATE SUMMER ON JERVOIS ROAD – P33 Pene Milne rebrands her real estate business

VALENTINE’S DAY: 14 FEBRUARY – P42 Go on... spoil your beloved

Auckland’s Pride Festival: 8 – 24 February – P29 “Bring it on!”

PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT – P112

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16,987 COPIES DISTRIBUTED TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN… ARCH HILL, PONSONBY, COXS BAY, FREEMANS BAY, HERNE BAY, GREY LYNN, ST MARY’S BAY, WEST LYNN AND WESTMERE PLUS SELECTED BUSINESSES IN HIGH STREET, READERS PER MONTH 20TH OF THE MONTHNEWTON February 2013 PONSONBY NEWS+ EDEN, –NEWMARKET, AND PARNELL (Nielsen Media) The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied CHANCERY, CBD, KINGSLAND, MT DEADLINE

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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photography: Melanie Church

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS MONTH

AUCKLAND PRIDE FESTIVAL: 8 – 24 FEBRUARY PONSONBY NEWS SAYS, “BRING IT ON!”

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Above: Ponsonby Road will be THE PLACE to be on Saturday 16 February for the inaugural AUCKLAND’S PRIDE PARADE. With 40 or more floats, the action will be kicking off at 4pm. The following weekend marks the return of the HEROIC GARDENS FESTIVAL, with three or four local gardens featured (Don O’Connor and Craig Jense

006 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 007 FROM THE PUBLISHING TEAM 008 DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW

010 SHALE CHAMBERS: WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD

012 PIPPA COOM: GREY LYNN 2030 017 K’ROAD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 018 NIKKI KAYE, AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP 024 JACINDA ARDERN: LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND

026 JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAPBOX 033 JERVOIS ROAD

042 JAY PLATT: WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT 045 EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY 052 LAURAINE JACOBS 056 FASHION + STYLE 058 ANGELA LASSIG: LETTERS FROM MAUDIE 064 PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE

068 LANI LOPEZ – HEALTHY LIVING 069 LIVING, THINKING + BEING 072 JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH 074 HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY 080 HOROSCOPES – MS PEARL NECLIS

087 FUTURE GENERATION 088 HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS 094 STREET NAMES 100 THE BOYS BOOK CLUB 106 FIONNA HILL: PONSONBY GARDENER 108 SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY 112 PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT 118 PONSONBY PEOPLE & THEIR PETS 120 ARTS + CULTURE 130 PONSONBY PINK PAGES COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Michael McClintock

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LETTERS + EMAILS

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO info@ponsonbynews.co.nz

A CINEMA IN PONSONBY I read with interest the letter from James Gordon regarding the need for a cinema in Ponsonby and I would like to offer some background which may shed some light on why there is not a cinema in this area and probably never will be.

I completely agree there is a need for a cinema in the area and while some might say we are over supplied with cinemas in Auckland, the recent opening of The Monterey Cinema in Howick the expansion of the Bridgeway in Northcote and the re-opening of the Capitol in Dominion Road would demonstrate the quality end of the cinema business has room to grow.

The big sticking point with cinemas is council parking requirements which sit at around one car park for every three seats unless you have existing use rights. The three now closed cinemas in the area which are still standing, Grey Lynn, Three Lamps and Pt Chevalier have all lost any existing use right due the period they have been closed.

Only Pt Chevalier would have any chance given the large parking around the back of the shopping centre but I do not see this happening any time soon if at all and I am sure the council would make this very difficult.

When the original Soho project was announced a number of interested groups approached the developer with a view to opening a cinema in the development and given the large number of car parks on site this was achieved and an agreement was reached obviously subject to the development proceeding. Then along came the property and finance market meltdown and down went Soho. All was potentially not lost when Progressive then stepped in and purchased the site but they were not willing to have a cinema as part of their project (once again I assume due to parking issues) and the last really perfect site for a cinema in the area was lost.

Other developments may have been able to fill the breach most notably Victoria Park Market but the logistics of the site and once again the parking issues drowned this idea before it got off the ground. Possibly the last chance is on the waterfront as part of a wider entertainment area but I have not seen any mention of this in any of the proposals so I would suggest inner city residents will have to continue travelling to Northcote, Balmoral, Epsom, Newmarket, Queen Street and St Lukes to get their film fix as Ponsonby isn’t going to happen any time soon.

Mark Galloway, SCREENLINE LIMITED, Ponsonby EARTHQUAKE-STRENGTHENING WORK TO ST STEPHEN’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Clearly the 50 or so remaining parishioners of St Stephen’s Presbyterian Church in Jervois Road cannot be expected to carry out any necessary earthquake-strengthening work. A second opinion on the need for this work on what appears to be a substantial, well-built wooden structure is needed in the first instance.

Although there is some protection afforded by ‘heritage’ status, to place the property on the open market runs the risk of ‘accidental’ collapse or incineration as we have seen recently. Surely preservation of this lovely building is a community responsibility with the Presbyterian community as trustworthy curators?

We cannot afford any more losses of attractive historical structures to unscrupulous and insensitive ‘developers’. The two ugly muti-storey concrete structures, at the junction of Shelley Beach Road and Jervois Road, are two too many.

MICHAEL BAYLIS, Ponsonby

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

LIKE US! www.facebook.com/ponsonbynews RESIDENT’S PARKING IN FREEMANS BAY As a resident of Freemans Bay, I have noticed a significant increase in commuter parking since the restrictions in St Mary’s Bay came in to effect. This is especially problematic for us as my wife is an emergency doctor who works shifts, and we do not have off-street parking. The impact of this is most strongly felt when she returns from a night-shift at 9am, and there are no parks available close to our house.

This results in her driving around for quite a while, often when she is very tired and sleep deprived, to try and find a park. In addition, when she then has to leave for work at say 10:30pm, she may have a considerable walk to get to her car. While I consider the local streets to be very safe, she does not feel comfortable walking around the streets on her own at this time of night.

I am in principle in agreement with the scheme in St Mary’s Bay, but if it is going to be implemented, it should also at least cover Freemans Bay, as it is equally close to the city. Do any other residents have similar concerns?

DAVID KING, Resident of Ireland Street PORTS OF AUCKLAND EXPANSION I love Ponsonby News, keep up the good work. I am totally opposed to any expansion of Ports of Auckland. We desperately need to preserve our wonderful harbour. The obvious answer to me is to develop a new container port at Marsden Point, Whangarei.

Our Auckland Council could easily be involved. This is the perfect example of how a “public/private partnership” could work extremely well. A rail link to Marsden Point would not be difficult. Job creation up north is desperately needed. Let’s hope Len Brown reconsiders his total opposition to any “selling off” of the “ports”. In fact it should be looked at as a “re-investment” for the whole region. BOB LEAHY, Henderson NO SNOBS AROUND HERE I have only been a Ponsonby local for a very short time. I have spent most of my life living and working in a small provincial town in the Hawkes Bay region where I always thought the local community spirit there was the best it could get! Well, Ponsonby News you have proved me wrong, in fact the Ponsonby community on the whole has proved me wrong! I have to say the Franklin Road lights was a real community inspired event, positive, lively and carried out in the true spirit of Christmas. I defy anyone who says Ponsonby people (or Aucklanders for that matter) are snobbish, because I have found everyone here to be so friendly, energising and uplifting!

Ponsonby Central, what a great addition to our neighbourhood. The front cover of the December Ponsonby News really summed it all up; a diverse and interesting community exists here and we all seem to get on with our business and care for each other.

And on the subject of caring. Reading through Ponsonby News last month I was so amazed that in a huge city like Auckland there is a community magazine that clearly works hard to support local. Again, I thought that only happened in rural communities.

So take note anyone living outside of Ponsonby! Our community spirit is alive and well right here in the middle of the big city and I agree with you Ponsonby News, we do need to support the community we live in by “spending local, eating local and enjoying local”.

After all isn’t it all about taking care of our own backyard first?

Keep up the great work Ponsonby people and Ponsonby News! And anyone reading this living outside of this inspiring village; do pay a visit, you might be pleasantly surprised. SUZIE MARSHALL, Ponsonby PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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FROM THE PUBLISHING TEAM

EVERY FEBRUARY, WE PROFILE SOME OF THE GREAT BUSINESSES ON Jervois Road in Ponsonby News. Last month, real estate agency Premium, rebranded to become Milne & Co. We’re sure you’ll agree owner, Pene Milne, our cover star, looks like she’s in the running to become ‘Herne Bay’s Next Top Model’!

Many of the businesses on this strip have become friends, like owner Trent Rule at Momentum Framing Gallery and Trisha Martin, from new business to the ‘hood, Pathfinder Books (inner development and well being). The strip has everything for easy summer living. Summer, of course, especially if you enjoy a Bloody Mary is the best time to grab a sunny outside table in Andiamo in Herne Bay village.

Towards the Ponsonby end of Jervois Road you will find changes at Dida’s foodstore, where they’ve had a 72-hour makeover. These alterations have created additional seating, the coffee machine has moved, creating more space and improved customer ‘flow’. So, over summer why not get reacquainted with the nice people and businesses in Herne Bay ‘village’?

LEST YOU FORGET, VALENTINE’S DAY IS LOOMING ONCE AGAIN ON THURSDAY 14 February. This is always the most romantic day of the year, so throughout the issue we have made some suggestions as to how you might show your loved one how much they mean to you. To avoid disappointment, remember to book a favourite restaurant – many are offering tasting menus for romantic foodies.

Flowers are always a special gift (see Nina & Co’s advertisement on page 130), as is a bottle of your favourite Champagne. Glengarry has one of the best selections and they now have six branches in our ‘hood. Treasure the time together, what ever you do. Jay Platt’s, ‘Things we can’t live without’ this issue is focused on gifts for the one you love.

CHRISTMAS NOW SEEMS A DISTANT MEMORY BUT OUR COMMUNITY enjoyed the presence of The Telecom Tree which lit up Victoria Park. The Franklin Road lights once again drew people from all parts of Auckland – and we don’t know how our locals manage it, but every year the lights just keep getting better. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone in Freemans Bay who make such a huge effort and investment with tolerance to make this the special experience it is.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

MARTIN LEACH, JULIE ROULSTON, JAY PLATT + JO BARRETT

photography: Jane Blundell @ kloser

HAPPY NEW YEAR PONSONBY! WHAT A RELAXING BREAK WE’VE ALL enjoyed. The weather was not totally perfect but just as we started back on Monday 14 January, it started to turn and now summer is well and truly with us!

ANYONE MAKE ANY NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS? GETTING FIT AND INCREASING our immunity was one of the team’s shared goals. This month, we include some suggestions on fitness, detox, eating well, heart health, menopause, sacred tantra and yoga, from experts Lani Lopez, Dr. Ajit Singh, Keri Ropati, John Appleton Helene Ravlich and Rosanna Marks.

IT’S A SOBERING THOUGHT FOR MANY BABY BOOMERS THAT RETIREMENT IS upon them and for others it is looming. This month we look at some important issues and how best to plan for the future.

WE ARE EXCITED THAT ON SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY, PONSONBY ROAD WILL be THE PLACE to be when the Auckland Pride Parade with its 40 or more floats kicks off at 4pm. We predict it will be a big sucess. The following weekend marks the return of the Heroic Gardening Festival, with three or four local gardens featured. This worthwhile event is a great fundraiser for Mercy Hospice.

THOSE CLEVER PEOPLE AT WHOOPIE - CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AND ONLY two minutes walk from our offices are now doing ice cream sundaes - we just sampled their chocolate number with nuts and crunchy bits! oops diet blown!

Have a great month and enjoy the rest of the summer! PN

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DAVID HARTNELL’S ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH ANNA WILSON Anna Wilson is a very veracious young woman, who runs a very successful travel agency in Ponsonby, specialising in Asia.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE TRAVEL BUSINESS IN PONSONBY? Time flies doesn’t it? Coming up to six years with Our Pacific and now Our Asia, located in College Hill, Ponsonby.

WHY DID YOU PICK PONSONBY AS A LOCATION? Operating in a villa in Ponsonby fits with our company culture – casual and relaxed yet customer focussed, innovative and professional.

NEVER GO ON HOLIDAY WITHOUT? An open mind and a “kiwi can-do” positive attitude, and I guess I would need my passport, phone, iPad, and a credit card.

TRAVEL TIPS TO MAKE A LONG AIR TRIP SHORTER? In our busy lives, having some forced “R&R” is good for the soul – enjoy it while it lasts.

DO YOU TRAVEL LIGHT OR HEAVY? Much of my travel is to Asia where I try to keep it light on the way there to fit all my shopping in on the way back!

HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR COFFEE? Cappuccino or a Soy Mocha.

YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TRIP TO DATE? That’s a hard one there are so many! A recent memorable trip was to Bali. I arrived at Gili Trawangan near Lombok on the beach, where a horse and cart was waiting as my hotel transfer. The island has no motorised transportation so it’s that or a bike. Amazing and beautiful place, definitely memorable and like nowhere else I have been.

WHAT TYPE OF SUITCASE DO YOU TRAVEL WITH? It depends on the length of my trip, but I always make sure it stands out, not black.

Nothing worse than an unplanned luggage swap in a foreign airport!

TWO THINGS YOU’D TAKE TO A DESERT ISLAND? Fresh water, and my partner Ryan (can he be a thing?) that way I will stay hydrated and Ryan can go hunt and fish for food, and of course keep me company.

BEST ADVICE EVER RECEIVED? There has been a lot of good advice over the years but something that helped recently was, a problem shared is a problem halved.

IF LIFE HAD TAUGHT YOU ONE THING WHAT WAS IT? It will always work out alright in the end.

CHERISHED FASHION ITEM? A wool coat I had made at a great tailors in Hoi An, Vietnam. Amazing tailoring and quality wool, three years later and it’s still perfect!

HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE THE FIRST THING YOU’D GRAB? My phone.

YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE BOOK IS? I read Pillars of the Earth recently, I loved it.

WHAT ARE YOU INSECURE ABOUT? The thought of people not enjoying the holiday we have planned for them!

TELL US SOMETHING WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU? That’s a hard one, I am a very open person. Maybe that I don’t like butter on my sandwiches?

GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE? Lots of amazing travel through Europe.

FAVOURITE HERO OF FICTION? Superman, because he can fly.

CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Nothing, as per my next answer.

LIFE MOTTO FOR LIFE? If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.

Don’t complain.

GREATEST INDULGENCE? Food, wine and probably too much of both!

HANDSHAKE, HUG OR CHEEK-KISS KIND OF GAL? All of the above depending on who you are and how well I know you. I wish sometimes we were like the French and had a rule about this, it can sometimes make things a little awkward!

AM OR PM PERSON? I’m an all-day person!

IF YOU WON LOTTO WHAT WOULD YOU DO? I would make sure I helped my family by paying mortgages etc, invest in some property and business and then take all my nearest and dearest on a lovely holiday to celebrate!

WHAT DO YOU HATE IN PEOPLE? Grumpiness.

WHAT QUALITIES DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A MAN? Honest, fun, and kind.

LAST TIME YOU TURNED OFF YOUR CELL PHONE? On a recent flight, although it turns itself off regularly. I am hopeless at remembering to charge it.

IN A WOMAN? Friendly, fun and doesn’t take themselves too seriously!

YOU REALLY DISAPPROVE OF WHAT? People hurting each other.

COMFORT FOOD? My mum’s cooking, it’s all comforting. Or if mum isn’t around then definitely any Asian cuisine!

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? Helping people to create a dream holiday!

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MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT? I actually can’t talk about it, I’m really not over it yet.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE? Probably living in Ponsonby. I have to deal with traffic at the moment which isn’t fun!

YOUR BEST HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Anywhere in South East Asia because of the great food, good shopping, interesting cultures, amazing cities, warm weather, beautiful beaches and all good value for money. (DAVID HARTNELL) PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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CHAIR’S WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD REPORT: SHALE CHAMBERS IF YOU STOPPED SOMEONE WALKING DOWN PONSONBY ROAD AND asked them what a local board of council does I don’t think they would mention local economic development. For those in the know they might talk about sports fields, community centres, swimming pools and libraries.

Local boards however are responsible with Auckland Transport for maintenance of the streetscape and our town centres so they are clean, tidy, and free of graffiti and rubbish and provide a welcoming environment.

Our Board has representatives on all the ‘Business Improvement Districts’ formed to further the interests of our shopping strips and commercial centres in Waitemata in partnership with council. I sit on Heart of the City responsible for the City Centre, my deputy Pippa Coom Grey Lynn; the only non-BID, Tricia Reade Ponsonby, Jesse Chalmers Karangahape Road, Christopher Dempsey Parnell, Greg Moyle Newmarket and Rob Thomas the newly formed Eden Terrace BID. We attend their monthly meetings and take part in fulfilling the aspirations of local businesses to develop the local business precincts and town centres as great places to do business. At a time when air-conditioned and rain free suburban shopping malls are drawing people and money out of our communities into the coffers of mainly Australian owned chains, our local business associations do a wonderful job in keeping our local communities shopping and buying locally.

Christmas lights, street festivals and market days are part of the formula to keep our shopping centres vibrant and keep people returning to spend in our local economy and keep jobs within walking or cycling distance of where we live.

One of the attractors is the quality of the streets which help create an environment that is attractive. Local boards have ‘place making’ responsibilities and we know that our shopping centres are ‘Good for Business’ when our mostly heritage and character shops are enhanced by quality street design. We make it a priority to provide attractive public spaces, and encourage more cycling and walking and our communities dependent on fewer car movements.

We work with Auckland Transport to continue investment in local streets with wider footpaths, new kerb and channel, planter boxes, and improved street lighting.

Our streets must be designed for walking in a business or retail environment rather than just for arterial vehicular movement. Slowing down traffic to 40 kms as in Ponsonby Road and providing safe places to cross the street and cycle as well as better street amenity, is part of our vision for a safe, connected and business friendly place for people.

The board is in the process of setting up a Ponsonby master plan working group to work on a plan that incorporates urban design, the road corridor, landscaping and best balances safety, multiple users, parking, heritage impacts and retail needs.

Our board has just completed a draft Greenways Plan which links open spaces and parks and which we also hope will assist people walking and cycling through parks to shopping centres.

This year we are drawing up an economic plan for the city fringe in areas outside the City Centre. In the coming 2013-14 year we have provided for a discretionary budget of $50,000 for the first time enabling local economic development iniatives to be funded. We also have a new Local Board Auckland Transport capital expenditure fund of $10m a year shared between all 21 local boards and we see Waitemata’s share largely being directed towards streetscape and Greenways investment projects.

The summer holidays are over for most of us, our children are safely back in school but while the sun is shining warmly, we still have lots of choice of things to do. The Pride Festival is returning to the city 8-24 February, with Ponsonby Road once again hosting a parade on February 16 at 4pm after a long abeyance. Expect much colour, sequins, drag queens, toned bodies, fantastic music and even the army on parade.

The Lantern Festival is at Albert Park on the weekend of 22 February with marvellous Chinese eating offerings and performances again. The Fringe Festival starts on 15 February with an exciting menu of edgy shows at the Basement and other inner city venues to warm us all up for the Auckland Festival in March.

(SHALE CHAMBERS) PN Contact me: shale.chambers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

OPENING OF THE JACOB’S LADDER FOOTBRIDGE ST MARY’S BAY MOTORWAY OVERBRIDGE RESTORES LOCAL COMMUNITY connection to the harbours edge. The opening of the Jacob’s ladder footbridge last month spanning State Highway 1 near the Victoria Park tunnel has provided a much welcomed new link with the Auckland waterfront.

cinema and music in Silo Park or simply a spot for a bit of exercise, a growing number of Aucklanders are engaging with this new part of their waterfront and residents from neighbouring suburbs are taking it one step further and using Wynyard Quarter as an extension of their backyard.

The covered walkway will provide access for walkers and cyclists between St Marys Bay and the Westhaven Marina across eight lanes of motorway near the Victoria Park tunnel’s northern exit.

“With the opening of the Jacob’s ladder footbridge they now have one more means of access to take in all the great things the waterfront has to offer.”

A key feature of the walkway is the restoration of the historic link between St Marys Bay and the Wynyard Quarter area which has been recently developed by council organisation Waterfront Auckland.

Chief Executive John Dalzell says it’s great to see the ladder opening in time for what’s expected to be a busy summer on the waterfront. “Research has shown us that whether it’s the café/bars at North Wharf, the famous Wynyard Quarter playground, outdoor

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Mr. Dalzell says another feature of the bridge is that it will connect into a bespoke cycleway and walkway that will run from the Harbour Bridge to Wynyard Quarter along the edge of the marina.

“One aspiration for Wynyard Quarter is a greater uptake of more sustainable forms of travel to the area. The opening of this bridge I hope will encourage this and use of the cycleway, walkway as both a commuter route and recreational and local tourist attraction.” www.waterfrontauckland.co.nz PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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PIPPA COOM GREY LYNN 2030 NEWS

The Grey Lynn 2030 network of groups is zinging into 2013 with fresh opportunities to get connected, take action, or just have fun!

Out with the old... a fresh year is a chance to move on some stuff that you no longer need but somebody else will appreciate. The Grey Lynn 2030 car boot market is back on the last Sunday of the month. To book a spot and reserve your space ($20) please contact Suzanne Kendrick at greylynn2030@gmail.com. We hold the market in the carpark of the Grey Lynn RSC. We very much appreciate the RSC’s support for our community fundraiser.

With the new year comes new energy, and the gardeners at Wilton Street community garden would welcome your zeal. Our community gardeners meet on Sunday mornings (roughly 10am-1pm) which is nicely timed with the Grey Lynn Farmers’ Market. We run a three phase compost system which is used by many local cafes, flats and homes - this needs turning once a month and provides excellent compost for the garden.

If you feel keen please email goldensguppy@gmail.com or appear on Sunday morning to join the work together in the garden.

The Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Support group is encouraging locals to get to know your neighbours this year. Regular tidy ups are going to continue at the Grey Lynn shops and plans are underway for a street party to celebrate Neighbours Day in March.

Email soala.wilson@gmail.com to join the group.

Footpaths have recently been resurfaced at the Grey Lynn shops thanks to the behind the scenes lobbying by the Grey Lynn Business Association. Local businesses find the

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monthly network drinks a great way to connect. The first drinks of the year are on at Malt Bar, Wednesday 13 February. www.glba.co.nz.

The Grey Lynn Community Choir begins rehearsals each Monday night from 4 February. There are no auditions. The only prerequisite for joining the choir is that you want to sing! The hugely talented Philip Griffins is conductor and leader of the group. Contact philipgriffin@gmail.com In 2013 the Grey Lynn 2030 Energy group is focussed on creating local renewable energy projects that will benefit the community and there are also plans for an energy stall at the Grey Lynn Farmers Market. If you’re interested in local renewable energy sustainability projects come along to the Grey Lynn RSC on Monday 12 February or join our facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/GL2030Energy.

Another active Grey Lynn 2030 group - Waste Away also meet at the RSC and start planning ideas for the year on Tuesday 11 February at 7.30pm. Or find them at the Farmers’ Market each week with an information table and hugely popular re-use depot for glass jars, egg cartons, plastic bags and takeaway containers.

And there is sure to be lots more happening if you want to get involved in your local community. Look out for details of our kick off the year meeting to workshop new ideas and initiatives. (PIPPA COOM) PN www.greylynn2030.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS 9 BOB & FRIENDS OPEN IN PONSONBY ROAD After a year at Homage in Newmarket the Bob & Friends home -wares and furniture shop has opened in Ponsonby. Specialising in modern British design they have a wide selection of furniture and ‘things’ as well as an eclectic mix of pieces for the home, ranging from the Mathew Hilton Balzac chair to the iconic potato peeler.

They represent the SCP brand in New Zealand with designers like Mathew Hilton, Donna Wilson, Terence Woodgate and Kay and Stemmer. Their range of furniture includes Mathew’s Oscar sofa his new Lucas and the classic Balzac club chair.

Exclusive to the Bob store in New Zealand is String Shelving, a classic shelving system designed in 1949 in Sweden. String is a complete storage system that comes in a variety of colours and finishes.

COMPASS TRESTLE TABLE by Matthew Hilton

Bob & Friends bring back the Hille range of Robin Day classic moulded chairs and with a wide selection of colours these chairs are a great alternative to the now well known and loved Eames dining chairs.

Their collection of lighting includes pieces by Ciara O’neill, Terence Woodgate, the new Boundary Lights by Faudet-Harrison as well as the wonderful award winning Crystal Bulb and Decanter collection by Lee Broom In addition they have a collection of rugs both contemporary and vintage, a range of toys such as the English award winning design, Millar Goodman Facemaker, hand -made Robots from Japan, guides by Herb Lester and Vintage watches from America.

Also in-store is a range of Homage mid century products including the Modernica Eames chairs, the George Nelson Bubble lights and a whole lot more. PN

MUNRO TWO SEAT SOFA by Donna Wilson

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

BOB & FRIENDS, 62 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 7350 www.bobandfriends.co.nz

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photography: Auckland Kindergarten Association Archives, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries

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Above: Children playing at ST JAMES KINDERGARTEN, c1950s; Below: Head Teacher SHELLEY JOLLY working with children in the garden and rear garden, 2011

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF EDUCATION AT ST JAMES KINDERGARTEN ON A LATE SUMMER MORNING IN FEBRUARY 1913 SIXTEEN CHILDREN entered an imposing brick building in Wellington Street, and were met by newly trained kindergarten teacher Miss Cruikshank. These children were the first to attend St James Kindergarten, then housed in a church hall. History has not recorded the thoughts and feelings of those first children and their families, however, what we do know is that the kindergarten quickly became popular.

St James was the third free kindergarten to be established by the Auckland Kindergarten Association, an organisation established in 1908 by wealthy Aucklanders to help the poor children of the city, in the hope that they would grow to become respectable citizens.

At this time the lower Freemans Bay area was one of the least desirable residential areas of Auckland. The people predominantly lived in cheaply built, poorly maintained and overcrowded houses and the air was thick with industrial pollution. Here there was considerable scope for the kindergarten to do good.

In 1915, plans were afoot to erect a purpose built kindergarten nearby. However, the encroachment of industry on residential locale led to a drop in attendance and the decision was made to relocate to the newer working class suburb of Grey Lynn.

Sitting proudly above Home Street, the new simple weatherboard kindergarten building was opened by the Honourable C.J. Parr, Minister of Education, in December 1924. St James Kindergarten finally had its much longed for permanent home where it has been a constant feature of a changing community.

Una Tunnicliffe (nee Snelling) who taught at St James Kindergarten in the early 1960s recalled the kindergarten being a special place for the many Maori and Pacifica children who attended: “because the children didn’t have . . . a great variety at home . . . everything there was really special for them, so they had access to crayons and pens and painting and things like that which was a big novelty for them.”

By the late 1980s the multicultural identity of Grey Lynn remained, but the community was beginning to change, with Pakeha families buying and renovating some of the old run-down houses. Many of these people worked in the creative sector and they added a new dimension to the kindergarten community.

Over the years the kindergarten building has been altered and extended but probably the biggest physical change has been seen outdoors. The kindergarten initially occupied a single site, but in the 1950s a section adjoining the rear was purchased, doubling the size of the plot. In recent years the outdoor area has been transformed into a lush garden packed with vegetables, fruit trees and other native and exotic plants. Here the children learn about the environment. Planting, food gathering, composting and recycling are all part of daily life at St James and the kindergarten has won two environmental awards for its work in recent years.

St James Kindergarten welcomes the public to an open day on Sunday 17 Feburary, 11am-2pm. This will be followed by an official ceremony to mark 100 years of education at St James. For further information, please contact the kindergarten: 25 Home Street T: 09 378 6941 or E: stjames@aka.org.nz. (TANIA MACE) PN

photography: Francine Cameron

The post war era brought significant changes for Grey Lynn. Cheap rental housing within easy reach of the city attracted newly arrived immigrants from the Pacific

Islands, and Maori who had relocated to the city from rural areas. The kindergarten had once again found itself in the midst of a poor community where many families lived in overcrowded conditions.

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE TOHILL 9

A FESTIVAL LIKE NO OTHER Carla van Zon left Auckland for Wellington 12 years ago to take on the role of executive director of the New Zealand International Arts Festival then in 2000 she became its artistic director. During her spell in both roles she led the festival into the black for the first time, earning the organisation the Dominion Gold Award 2001 for outstanding contribution to the city’s economy. Now Wellington’s loss is Auckland’s gain because Carla has returned here to live in Herne Bay and is now the artistic director of the Auckland Arts Festival.

Carla’s credentials are impressive to say the least. She has an MA in Dance and Arts Administration from George Washington University and a broad range of professional experience with a variety of theatre and dance companies. Previously she was the international manager at the Arts Council and developed a programme to assist New Zealand artists gain international recognition.

There was a previous festival in Auckland that ran from the 50s to the 70s till all sorts of disruptions occurred. We lost His Majesty’s Theatre, to mention just one of the historic places that fell to the developers’ hammer. Music venues disappeared, the Mercury Theatre likewise, there was a lot of negative distraction, but in recent years Auckland has regained its mojo, which is why Carla has come back. She now finds significant arts potential here with all the great organisations that have come into their own such as the Auckland Philharmonia, the Auckland Theatre Company, UNITEC, and the Performing Arts School.

Wellington’s situation had its advantages and traditionally arts festivals tend to be held in smaller cities, but Carla says that doesn’t mean all festivals have to be the same.

The Auckland Festival will be about this city and its people. The programme is wide reaching and will reflect the differing characteristics of our diverse community. It also reaches out to people who aren’t theatre goers but like to give something a go, so there will be a huge specially commissioned work in the Domain by Groupe F who specialise in light and pyrotechnics. They have made two trips here to suss out the people and the environment which is why they have chosen a volcanic theme for their show. With the Auckland War Memorial Museum as the background, this spectacular premier will run for three nights during opening week.

CARLA VAN ZON

GIFTS FROM MOTAT VISITORS MADE FOR A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS NEW ZEALAND’S LARGEST TRANSPORT AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM, MOTAT, helped bring Christmas cheer to thousands of underprivileged Kiwis thanks to the generosity of its many visitors during December. MOTAT visitors donated more than 6,000 gifts to families supported by the Auckland City Mission and Barnardos.

MOTAT Marketing Manager, Deanna Wharton, explained that from the start of December until Christmas, visitors were invited to purchase and donate a gift from MOTAT’s gift shop instead of paying an admission fee.

All donated presents were gifted through the Auckland City Mission and Barnardos to families in need. Gifts donated ranged from board games and books to toy cars and educational activity kits, promising families hours of Christmas fun.

Gold coin donations from the popular MOTAT Nights, Christmas Lights events, which saw almost 8,000 people come through MOTAT’s doors to enjoy a spectacular Christmas evening, were also used to purchase gifts for the charities.

This contributed to the total value of the gifts donated this year being up by almost 50% on the previous year. This is the seventh year MOTAT has partnered with the community to raise gifts for those less fortunate at Christmas time. PN

Street art will be highlighted by taking Art in the Park, which is a Ponsonby initiative, to people who live outside the area and there will be a big project on Dominion Road where ATC artists will be joined by volunteers and neighbourhood friends in a celebration of the ‘street with a thousand stories’. The finale will be a free family picnic in Potters Park where everybody can sing along with the road’s famous son, Don McGlashan and his band. For Carla this is what the festival is all about - events and theatre that are not available at any other time.

Apart from these homegrown events the festival also brings the whole world to Auckland. Be in London watching the National Theatre of Great Britain perform the smash-hit play ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’. Have a heart stopping circus experience in Columbia with Urban’s incredible acrobats. The National Theatre of China’s performance of ‘Rhinoceros in Love’ will take you to Beijing. Shows from Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, and Australia bring this sensational assemblage of internationals alongside our own most innovative artists and performers to create a truly unique festival.

Carla is extremely happy with the partnerships this year, particularly the APO and the ATC. Britten’s War Requiem still has resonance today, more than 50 years after it was composed. The APO will perform the famous work in the Town Hall on 23 March and for Carla this is one of the highlights of the festival. Silo is producing a commissioned piece called ‘Hui’ directed by Rachel House who lives in Ponsonby.

Performances by people from all parts of the city are included, which to Carla is really important because we need to understand each other whether it’s a community in South Auckland or one in Beijiing. She quotes words spoken to her by a colleague from the Belgium arts community. ‘Sometimes people talk all the time and the words divide us, but music and dance is universal and people respond to it so it brings us together and we need that in today’s world.’ (DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

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NIKKI KAYE: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP

IMPROVING DIGITAL LITERACY FOR ALL NEW ZEALANDERS AS WE INCREASINGLY RELY ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN OUR LIVES, IT is important that our future workforce is equipped with the skills it needs to succeed in New Zealand and abroad. Digital literacy is now an essential skillset, and we need to ensure that we have government policy that enables all New Zealanders to compete in a modern economy.

Advances in technology are changing the way children learn. Access to digital material creates opportunities for education focused on personalised learning, not a one-sizefits-all approach. Using online digital content, learners have opportunities to progress at their own pace, make their own enquiries, and exercise greater control over their learning. Students are able to pursue knowledge and resources that align with their interests, with support from teachers.

Of course, this is not possible without high quality internet access. That is why we have invested $1.3 billion in ultra-fast broadband. Already, over 100,000 users are able to connect to the ultra-fast broadband network, and we aim to connect 97 per cent of New Zealanders by 2019.

We are also investing almost $200 million over five years in connecting schools to ultra -fast broadband. By 2016, we want over 97 per cent of schools receiving connections to ultra-fast broadband that will enable data transfer speeds of 100 Mbps. Already over 1000 schools can now access ultra-fast broadband. Schools in remote locations will have access to internet via high speed wireless or satellite connections.

In remote areas, we are helping communities to connect through the Rural Broadband Initiative; with over 55,000 rural homes and businesses already accessing improved internet. I am really pleased that Great Barrier Island will soon be receiving its own rural broadband and cell tower infrastructure as a part of this scheme. This new facility is something that I am really proud to have been able to help deliver with the support of the local board.

I believe that broadband will enable a community that has been previously disadvantaged because of its isolation to be more connected. It will enable residents and tourists on the Island to have better access to cellular and internet communication.

Great Barrier Island is one of Auckland’s best destinations for New Zealanders and tourists, and this piece of crucial infrastructure has the potential to unlock a wide range of economic and tourism oriented benefits for the community.

One of the key areas where ultra-fast broadband will be of greatest benefit is in our education system. We want to ensure our teachers and students are able to take full advantage of the resources that will be available in 21st century schools. That is why we are investing significantly in this area.

We have set aside up to $400 million to support the Network for Learning. The Network for Learning will be a dedicated managed network tool for schools, which will operate through the ultra-fast broadband infrastructure. Through the Network for Learning, we want to provide schools with affordable, secure, ultra -fast internet access, bundled with a range of online digital content and centrally provided services.

That is why I called for a parliamentary inquiry into 21st century learning environments and digital literacy. The Education and Science Select Committee has now reported back to parliament. The committee heard a number of high quality submissions from individuals and groups in the education and IT industries. I would like to thank members of the subcommittee that was formed to assist in the writing of this report, comprising of Gareth Hughes of the Greens, Clare Curran of Labour, and Tracy Martin of NZ First, along with myself. Members of the subcommittee and wider select committee worked collaboratively over eight months to produce a report that has enjoyed strong support from political parties across the house.

The report contains 48 recommendations falling across several portfolios that aim to improve the way our teachers and students use technology, and acknowledges that the education sector is changing significantly because of new technologies and improved internet access. The report states that some significant changes across government are required to address a number of issues. If you wish to read the select committees’ report on 21st century learning environments and digital literacy, please visit my website at www.nikkikaye.co.nz.

As people become more and more connected, we need to ensure that our children are equipped with the digital literacy skills that will allow them to engage with their peers and excel in the work force. The Government is already investing significantly in ensuring New Zealand children have access to broadband and the Network for Learning initiative. I believe this is an area where we can lead the world and improve educational opportunities for young New Zealanders. PN (NIKKI KAYE, AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP) www.nikkikaye.co.nz

THANK YOU I was thrilled and humbled to receive a call from the Prime Minister letting me know that I am being promoted to become a cabinet minister. My new role means I will become Minister of Civil Defence, Youth Affairs and Food Safety and Associate Minister of Education and Immigration. I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Auckland Central for re-electing me in 2011.

There are many people in this electorate who have either supported me, given me advice on policy issues, or who have assisted me in helping constituents. I am very grateful for that support. Auckland Central is a diverse and vibrant electorate, and I am very proud to be your local elected representative in parliament. While being a cabinet minister does mean more responsibility in a number of portfolios, I want you to know that I intend to continue to be very active in the electorate, holding regular constituency clinics, and advocating strongly for you on Auckland issues where possible.

If you wish to contact me please email me at mp.aucklandcentral@parliament.govt.nz, or call my electorate office on T: 09 378 2088. Thank you again for your support, I am proud to be your member of parliament. (NIKKI KAYE) PN

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9 LOCAL NEWS POSITIVELY PARKINSON’S AUTHOR RECEIVES NEW YEAR HONOUR Ann Andrews, a Ponsonby local, recently received The Queen’s Service Medal in the New Year Honours List for 2013. The honour was for services to the community, and encompasses Ann’s contributions to sufferers of Parkinson’s disease, to teaching and to the deaf, to documentary film and theatre, as well as Auckland’s heritage and environment.

Ann Andrews launched her book, ‘Positively Parkinsons’ at The Women’s Bookshop last year. In the publication, she put into writing her philosophy about managing a condition which she has converted from a debilitating and painful ailment into a profound and practical message of comfort for others. Written for a New Zealand audience, and also published in the US, it has received eulogies both from literary reviewers and from others who suffer from or have to deal with the condition. It expresses clearly the author’s lucid analysis of Parkinsons, its effects, and the means of dealing with it. It is a classic which will benefit both those who suffer from the condition and their families, medical advisors and others who are faced with it. Since then she’s been touring the country speaking on the subject.

She began researching and producing film and television documentaries in 1981.

Previously she was a crisis counsellor and teacher of deaf children. She also produced a play drawing on the experience of being deaf and worked as a voluntary counsellor for victims of domestic violence. PN

DARKLIGHT #2: BACK SUPPORTED BY WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD AND THE PBA Ponsonby is gearing up for the ‘Pride Parade’ on 16 February.

Anne Sim of Santos Café told Ponsonby News, “DarkLight will be projecting artworks on 59-65 MacKelvie Street from 14 to 16 February with the addition of a projected Billboard (On the side of the building where the old Mini site was) from 9 to 16 February.”

Link for Art in The Dark andDarkLight Billboard: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMK4L430SVw Link for DarkLIght: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DWj65CyvsI&feature=youtu.be SANTOS CAFE, 114 Ponsonby Road T: 09-378 8431 PN

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Last year’s billboard was lit up directly opposite SANTOS CAFE

photography: Martin Leach

The links below, easily accessed through the Ponsonby News eMag, are for videos of last year’s billboard with Art in The Dark and link for DarkLight #1 animation.

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9 LOCAL NEWS

NEXT BIG URBAN DESIGN PROJECT FOR WYNYARD QUARTER GETS UNDERWAY The next major project for Wynyard Quarter gets underway this month – the revitalisation of Halsey and Daldy Streets.

The project will see both streets being transformed to pedestrian priority, support slower vehicle speeds and a high degree of connectivity through wider footpaths, street-side green spaces and street furniture.

Hawkins Open Spaces, a division of Hawkins Infrastructure, has been appointed as the contractor for the first stage of the project which is focussed on the spaces from Pakenham Street north towards the water’s edge. $29 million has been budgeted for the street transformations which are part of the ongoing regeneration for 18.5 ha of prime waterfront land in Wynyard Quarter over the next 20 years by council organisation Waterfront Auckland.

Chief Executive John Dalzell says after a key part of the urban design for the area was fulfilled in 2011 with the opening of the North Wharf promenade to Silo Park and the

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pedestrian bridge reconnecting the east-west waterfront axis, this next stage will be vital in improving the connections with Victoria Park to the south.

“Both Daldy and Halsey streets will be transformed progressively over the next two years into vibrant, engaging spaces, along with a more managed and sustainable transport strategy for the precinct that promotes walking and cycling appealing commuter options. The street transformation project will not be without its challenges due to the complexity of staging the works and drainage requirements.”

“We have full confidence that this next phase of works will deliver a project that meets the same high level of urban design and amenity that people have become to expect from this part of the Auckland waterfront. Once completed next year, the revitalised streets combined with the recently opened Jacobs Ladder overbridge, means there’ll be every reason for locals to come down and enjoy all that Wynyard Quarter has to offer. ” PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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JACINDA ARDERN

LABOUR LIST MP AUCKLAND

PAYING IT FORWARD I HAVE NEVER BEEN PARTICULARLY GOOD AT NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS. Four weeks in, they are usually ignored, forgotten, or I have created some excuse for why they weren’t particularly workable. In fact, I think the only year I stuck with a resolution was the year I resolved not to make any. But there is one aspect of the New Year’s ‘fresh start’ that I like – the chance to reflect.

In politics, we don’t spend nearly enough time thinking about the bigger picture.

Like any job, I guess, it’s easy to get dragged into the day-to-day battle that is our adversarial Westminster style of politics. Rightly or wrongly, it means that things like strategy and vision, let alone what we hope to leave behind for the next generation, are seen as being woolly and a bit self indulgent. But if that’s not what we’re here for, then why should anyone bother giving us the time of day? Sadly, our low voter turnout at election time tells us that’s exactly what is happening.

This year I know Labour has some new ideas it wants to share around issues like jobs, education, ending child poverty, and building a smart, clever, green economy. Locally, we’ll also be keeping up the fight for sustainable decisions for our city – giving our ongoing support for the city rail link, addressing housing pressures, and building a city that preserves our history and heritage. These are ideas that go well beyond election cycles, let alone political careers.

Of all the great political leaders, the most memorable have been those who made not the politically expedient call, but the right one, and thus left a legacy rather than a liability. That’s a resolution I hope we, politicians across the political spectrum, will stick to this year.

It’s time we paid it forward, rather than making the next generation pay it back. PN JACINDA ARDERN, Labour List MP based in Auckland Central www.jacinda.co.nz

That’s why this should be the year for our kids.

It’s time that we started not only taking the long view, but also talking about it. Name an issue and I could probably give you the politically expedient and easy option and, on the other hand, the option that plans for beyond the here and now. We don’t need to look far to find a few examples in recent times - asset sales, dropping the regional fuel tax, ignoring the failings at central and local level that allow one heritage building after another to be knocked down, proposals to mine on conservation land, delaying the city rail link in favour of yet more roading projects, more pokie machines as a supposed trade off for a convention centre, children growing up in poverty while we ease tax brackets for the most well off, scrapping night school and the training incentive allowance for sole parents all to save a few bucks - in the short-term.

The list of short-term decisions, with long term side effects is not only lengthy, it’s depressing.

What if, instead, we assessed the policies and political decision-making of Government through another lense, the fate of our next generation?

SUPPORT RARE DISEASE DAY IN KATIE’S HONOUR Ponsonby News was deeply saddened to learn that local girl Katie Archer (4) has Late Infantile Batten disease. Katie does not have a particular enzyme in her brain resulting in an accumulation of storage bodies. This leads to cell death which essentially means over the next 4-6 years she will slowly die.

At the moment there is no treatment and research progresses slowly as study of brain cells is complex. But Katie’s family are bravely raising awareness and funds for rare diseases in our communities. “Alone each disease has no voice and families are isolated” says Katie’s mother, Lisa. “Most people, including medical professionals, have never heard of Batten disease, and nor had we until seven months ago, despite it being a genetic disease with both Brett and I being carriers.”

In New Zealand Battens Disease is covered by Lysosomal Diseases New Zealand.

LYSOSOMAL DISEASES NEW ZEALAND • supports families like the Archers by improving contacts, information and support among people and their families, within New Zealand and overseas; • supports and advocates for accelerated research into the causes and treatments, and for improvements to the clinical care of affected people; • promotes education of families, carers, and clinicians; • builds links with overseas families, clinicians, researchers and support groups, to support local knowledge about these diseases; • supportes and advocates for the establishment of medical, testing, screening, genetic and other specialist services to meet the needs of affected people and their families.

28 February is Rare Disease Day, and the Archer family ask that Ponsonby News readers consider helping families in their position facing these devastating diseases, by holding a gold coin day for staff. It could be as simple as a Jeans Day

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to support those with rare genes in your community. The money raised will go to Lysosomal Diseases New Zealand (Battens Account).

Some pretty saddening facts that may motivate you to help: approximately 50% of the people affected by rare diseases are children. 30% of children with a rare disease will not live to see their 5th birthday. And approximately 50% of rare diseases do not have a disease-specific foundation supporting or researching their rare disease.

Go on, rock out those jeans or that funny hat on 28 February, think of little Katie and her family, and remember a gold coin for Rare Disease Day while you are at it.

If anyone would like to participate in or hold a fundraising event or gold coin collection on 28 February we are happy to coordinate, provide posters and additional information. Please contact Lisa on la@s3pm.co.nz or M: 0274 771 060. www.rarediseaseday.org.nz

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JOHN ELLIOTT: SOAP BOX POPULATION INTENSIFICATION - NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS When I first read the proposed Auckland Plan, which aims to contain about 60-70% of new population growth within the current city boundaries, I thought it a no-brainer.

Even when I read the stats - 400,000 new homes in Auckland by 2040 - I didn’t flinch. I realised the folly of covering hundreds more hectares of fringe farmland with concrete on quarter acre sections. Urban sprawl is so environmentally damaging it cannot be allowed to continue. At a time of peak oil, and with the huge cost of roads and other infrastructure, it made sense to me to build smaller, closer and higher in the central city fringe, which is our patch.

But I now realise it is not that simple, and there are planning and other experts who are seriously questioning how sensible and how sustainable the compact city model actually is.

For example, Wendell Cox and Joshua Utt, in “The Costs of Sprawl Reconsidered,” have reviewed the pros and cons of smart growth to stop urban sprawl. They counter many of the commonly held arguments, including that productive farmland is being lost due to urbanisation. On Auckland’s fringe there are hundreds of life style blocks - from three acres to say ten. A study of these has shown that many don’t even have a vegetable garden. They typically have a pony or two, a few chickens, maybe a couple of alpacas or a goat, and assorted other pets. Hardly productive use of once good farmland!

Wendell Cox and others put up lots of other arguments against so-called smart growth, including traffic congestion, travel times, cost of living, infrastructure costs, etc. In all cases they say urban sprawl beats the compact city.

It is unlikely that owners or tenants for new, smaller, apartments will be hard to find. There are empty nesters, immigrants, young couples, who will gladly fill these up. But even then, old habits die hard. Friends of mine have been looking in the central city for a three bedroom apartment for their daughter and her husband. These were some of the comments they made to me.

“Tiny,” “No storage”, “Two of the bedrooms wouldn’t take a double bed”, “No parking”, “Only one bathroom, no en-suite”.

And just for two people - no children, not even a dog!

However, I wouldn’t like to be an Auckland councillor over the next ten years trying to sort this out.

Just three examples that I know of will produce enough headaches to go on with.

Location Group is planning 14 new apartments on part of the Herne Bay Bowling club grounds. Not 20 storeys - just three, and graduated down the sloping site. Location will build a new club house for the bowling club, and put down two new bowling greens - one artificial. This to me, looks a good development, but there will be objections.

A new development of mixed use apartments is planned for the corner of Ponsonby Road and Pember Reeves Street (four storeys high). This too, at first sight, seems an appropriate development, but there is some violent opposition to this plan, which I admit I have not studied in detail.

As an environmentalist I find their arguments difficult to swallow, but hard to counter.

Another contributor to this discussion is a paper by a group of Unitec architects and landscape planners which argues for Auckland to expand along the coast “in a 100 kilometre linear conurbation with about 10 city nodes along the infrastructure spine at a range of densities.” This would produce a banana shaped Auckland stretching from Hamilton to Whangarei.

So, there is plenty of scope for argument, and difference of opinion, but the council has decreed - 60% of new growth will be inside present boundaries.

Now I’m lucky. I live in one of the few heritage streets in the old Auckland City - Wanganui Avenue. I have no fear that some shonky developer can pull down the old villa on my boundary and build a huge modern monstrosity, cutting my views, my sun and my privacy.

Plans are also afoot to redevelop the Bayard Street, Ponsonby site which now houses pensioner flats. This is adjacent to Ponsonby Terrace and the Ponsonby Community Centre. There will be huge arguments over these plans. And I haven’t even mentioned Great North Road, which may well be the most contentious of all.

But despite council assurances that our heritage buildings will be protected, (and they are not being protected now), just what does the council mean by “protection”?

Simply leaving people exposed to multi-storey apartments looking down on them and destroying their amenity, is not sufficient “protection”.

I predict, that no matter how hard they try, council will find it impossible to find enough brownfields space to cram in 60% of Auckland’s projected population increase between now and 2040.

A final word. We have just got to stop accumulating “stuff”.

But most city fringe dwellers can not sleep so peacefully.

Even at the top of my street which adjoins Jervois Road, nine apartments are planned which will impact severely on the first few villas in our street. My understanding is that there will be only seven carparks for the nine units, and some of those owners may have two cars. Where will those extra cars park?

Most of the argument in the city fringe is likely to be about the impact of new apartment blocks on existing heritage houses mostly on 400-600 square metre sites. Even four storeys will look down on swimming pools, decks and private backyards, upsetting owners, many of whom have been living here for 20, 30 or even 40 years.

Houses have got 20% larger in the last 30 years, and are accommodating 20% less people. Empty bedrooms, empty bathrooms, huge walk in wardrobes, dressing rooms.

Storage units all over Auckland are crammed with stuff that won’t fit even into these bigger houses. Generations Y and Z would do well to embrace a concept of “enough”, for the sake of the planet’s future, and downsize their life and their expectations.

Good luck to the council. I don’t envy them their task. (JOHN ELLIOTT) PN Feedback to johnelliott@ihug.co.nz

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LOCAL NEWS 9

COUNTDOWN DEVELOPMENT ON TRACK ALTHOUGH THE SITE LOOKS ABANDONED BRADY NIXON, DEVELOPMENT Manager, Property, for Countdown, assures Ponsonby News readers all is on track for the supermarket development, and the Vinegar Lane apartments. “Only two sites are unsold,” Nixon told us last week. Innovative exciting developments are expected on these tiny blocks. The concept also squares with council plans for inner city population intensification.

Countdown are now awaiting council consents. Although these theoretically should be processed in 20 days, Nixon says they habitually take a lot longer due to the complexity.

We could get no timeframe for action, but Brady Nixon assured us Countdown would keep Ponsonby News readers in the loop. Their public relations efforts have so far been impressive - in sharp contrast to the previous failed Layne Kels development.

We await further progress with keen interest. (JOHN ELLIOTT) PN

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE TOHILL 9

photography: Melanie Church

THE DUSTY SPRINGFIELDS

GEORGE FM YEARBOOK ALBUM

MARCHING BOYS PARADE

The George FM Yearbook album is another laurel he can rightly claim. Now in its third year of production, it’s a compilation of the biggest songs of 2012. In Dan’s words, “I approached this mix the same way I would my daily radio show, that is give to the listeners an upbeat, entertaining and genre bending mix of all their favourite dance tracks ready to rock your car-home-stereo-iPod-microwave-oven”. He goes on to say that he is proud of all the amazing Kiwi content in the mix, and even prouder that so many dedicated listeners have already purchased a copy. It’s well up there on the iTunes album chart as well.

photography: Melanie Church

DAN AUX GIVES LIE TO THE CLAMOUR ABOUT OUR ONE WAY TRAFFIC TO Australia. More often than not an enlightened Aussie tries his chances in New Zealand and Dan is such a one. He arrived in Ponsonby five years ago from Newcastle, landed the perfect job with George FM and it seems unlikely he’ll be heading back home in the near future, if ever. Music is his passion so he says it’s very easy to get up in the morning and walk 200 metres across the road to do something you love, which is hosting the George Selectah Show from noon till 3.00pm. He manages to work as a DJ, producer, musician and radio jock all at once and delivers impeccable performances at festival events round the country.

Theatre - KITSCH IN SYNCH, Pollyfilla Productions, 12 – 16 February

So how does Dan pick these winning songs? Apparently a lot of it has to do with his reaction on the first hearing. He’ll listen to say 10 songs that make no impact then suddenly one will come along that just jumps out at him and guides him to where he wants to go with it. This applies to all genres of music but there is a particular style that suits George. He chooses songs that sound great on the radio and that he knows listeners will love. After all, he’s been deejaying for 15 years so he should know what he’s on about. Doing the mix was quite challenging because not all the chosen songs fitted certain record labels’ criteria, so a long list had to turn into a short list.

Nevertheless, the album is a reflection of the sound of the station for 2012.

Naturally record labels are a source of music but there are other avenues as well, namely the internet and friends. Being a music producer himself, he has a lot of interaction with musicians who tend to cluster in Ponsonby and he is often first in the queue when it comes to acquiring new songs. The New Zealand sound has its own vibe which is unique, and Dan tries to play as much home grown music on the station as possible. To start with George was a very low frequency station and only transmitted to people in Ponsonby so it has its roots here, but now it has a bigger band and broadcasts all around the country. There’s still a problem picking up a signal in many places because of our mountainous terrain so the album is valuable exposure for the station. ‘Have Yearbook CD, can travel.’

Some of the year’s biggest club tunes on the album from international artists include Martin Solveig, Major Lazer and DeadMau5. Bouncing between the international tunes are local ones. New Zealand talent is represented by Tui award winners, Concord Dawn with ‘These Prison Walls’ and an a capella version of David Dallas’ ‘Ever get the Feeling’. Kiwi favourites Shapeshifter also feature on the track list with their hit ‘Monarch’, as well as the quirky and adorable Ruby Frost with ‘Water to Ice. Add to all this a live guest appearance by MC Tali, freestyling over a beat that Dan made exclusive for the mix.

The George FM Yearbook 2012 is available online and from all good record stores.

Head to www.georgefm.co.nz for more information about this knockout collection.

(DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

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AUCKLAND PRIDE FESTIVAL AUCKLAND’S PRIDE PARADE – PONSONBY 8 – 24 February. Ponsonby News says “Bring it on!”

photography: Melanie Church

photography: Sara Orme

The Auckland Pride Festival celebrates the arts, culture and identity of our diverse LGBTI communities with 60 different events and activities spread right across the Auckland region. The inaugural festival programme includes theatre, cabaret, exhibitions, concerts, album and literature launches, debates and discussions, sporting events, food and wine tours, movie nights – and, of course, parties!

Cabaret SALON MIKA

Set to be the major highlight of the festival with over 40 float entries so far is The Auckland Pride Parade which takes place on Saturday 16 February on Ponsonby Road. Expect explosions of colour, flashing sequins, outrageously over the top drag queens, hot toned bodies, wild dancing, and fantastic music – all performed on a stage over 1.5kms long!

JULIAN COOK - AUCKLAND PRIDE FESTIVAL COORDINATOR “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege working with our LGBTI communities to put together such a colourful and creative programme of events for the people of Auckland. The sheer volume of events and participants within the inaugural Pride programme proves the very real need that Auckland’s LGBTI communities have for a festival that expresses and explores who we are today.”

HERO PARADE

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

JONATHAN SMITH - AUCKLAND PRIDE PARADE COORDINATOR “Auckland and Ponsonby Road are going to experience and be part of the most amazing Pride Parade. We have closed registrations early as we now have 40 float entries confirmed which equates to over 1200 participants. Be prepared to witness sequins, music, dancers, drag queens, uniforms, over the top floats, satire and so many more surprises.” www.aucklandpridefestival.org.nz PN

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE TOHILL 9

CHRIS DORN

PONSONBY NEEDS A MISTER WHIPPY IF GREY LYNN RESIDENT, CHRIS DORN HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, THE familiar chimes of a Mr Whippy van will soon resound in the streets of Ponsonby and its adjacent suburbs. He has just bought the Mr Whippy master franchise and will be looking after about 30 franchisees throughout New Zealand. Chris had been working for Price Waterhouse Cooper in their corporate finance team but fostered an ambition to have his own business. He spent the first half of 2012 exploring opportunities then heard about the Mr Whippy company through a business broker. The more he learned about the company, the more excited he became at the prospect of taking up what seemed a golden opportunity.

William Somerville and Josie McNaught’s garden at 5 Russell Street

Mr Whippy started in the UK and owes its existence to none other than the iron lady herself, Mrs Thatcher. Before entering politics, she put her Oxford chemistry degree to good use with a research job at food manufacturer J. Lyons and Co. She was part of a team that created ‘Mr Whippy’ ice-cream by developing a method of whipping more air into the mixture which could then be pumped through a machine. In 1959 the firm put Margaret’s process to good use by selling soft ice-cream on the streets of the UK. Not long after, Mr Whippy arrived in New Zealand and very quickly established itself as a favourite dispenser of ice-cream treats.

Chris discovered some fantastic areas of New Zealand that have no Mr Whippy vans on the road. Whangarei, Silverdale, Orewa, the Whangaroa Peninsula, Waiheke Island, Lower and Upper Hutt, South Auckland are to mention just a few. Because of its long history, everyone from Kaitaia to the Bluff knows about Mr Whippy so it’s one of those businesses where there is good underlying growth. What Chris wants to do is re-invigorate the brand by giving it a bit more love and attention. He intends to open a retail presence for Mr Whippy and is looking at opening a flagship store in an area near the coast such as St Heliers or Takapuna and do it really, really well. He’s working with another Grey Lynn company, Lemonade Design, who are helping him with concepts for the store.

Above: Fiona Fleming’s garden at 78 Shelley Beach Road

The franchise area he is most excited about, and is recruiting for right now, is Central Auckland which encompasses Ponsonby, St Mary’s Bay, Grey Lynn, Westmere, Herne Bay, Point Chevalier, Newmarket, Parnell, Remuera and Meadowbank. So what’s in it for a franchisee? Plenty it seems. The initial cost is $35,000 then around $85,000 for a fully equipped van that can be bought through motor vehicle finance. Chris doesn’t charge any royalties so essentially, what a Mr Whippy operator earns is his and it can be up to $100,000 a year. Chris makes his money by selling the franchise and supplying the soft serve. An outfit in Morrinsville does a very good job making it to the Mr Whippy recipe which is 100% dairy, contains no additives and is 90% fat free.

Because it’s a family orientated business it’s extremely important the business has only the right people involved. Chris does a police background check on all drivers and asks for references from former employers. The ‘Mind that Child’ slogan is on all the vans to warn other drivers there are likely to be children clustered around Mr Whippy, eager to place an order for their favourite cone. Health and safety is of ultimate importance.

Above and below: Don O’Connor and Craig Jensen, 262 Jervois Road

Chris says he has come aboard to put Mr Whippy back in the limelight by injecting some fun and excitement into the brand. It’s been around since 1964 so there will be a big 50th birthday celebration in 2014 and he feels honoured to be at the helm.

As part of the anniversary he may run a competition where people can try and add a back-beat to the familiar Greensleeves tune. He’s absolutely certain the retail stores and Lemonade’s design input will help re-enforce the Mr Whippy Kiwiana profile. So another thought. Why not replace the time worn old jingle with ‘You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice-cream, Rah, Rah, Rah!’ (DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN To enquire about or apply for a Mr Whippy franchise email information@mrwhippy.co.nz

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HEROIC GARDENS FESTIVAL HEROIC GARDENS FESTIVAL KEEPS ON GROWING AND SUPPORTING MERCY HOSPICE AUCKLAND

William Somerville and Josie McNaught at 5 Russell Street return for their second festival. Their popular garden is memorable for its sophisticated response to the elegant 1860s home which it surrounds.

Heroic Gardens Festival. 23 - 24 February

Fiona Fleming’s beautiful garden at 78 Shelley Beach Road, Herne Bay is open for the first time. Gloriously green and scented with topiaries and roses, this inner city retreat offers plenty of opportunities to delight the senses.

This month marks the return of the Heroic Gardens festival. Now in its 17th year, the popular weekend gardening event continues to go from strength to strength.

Associated with Ponsonby’s legendary Hero Festival and Parade, it was originally a fundraiser for the now closed Herne Bay House caring for people with HIV/AIDS. In keeping with the spirit in which the festival was intended, College Hill’s Mercy Hospice Auckland is now its charity of choice. “We are very grateful for the gay and lesbian community’s support,” says Sandy McGregor, Mercy’s Fundraising Leader, “More and more Aucklanders, gay or straight, are offering their gardens which is great!

The need for our services to patients facing life-limiting illness as well as their families is increasing.”

24 private residences will open their gardens for the public to enjoy from 10am to 6pm daily. Unique to the festival is the opportunity to talk to the garden owners themselves.

Festival organisers are hoping for even bigger things this year. With 14 festival favourites returning and 10 new gardens on show it is estimated that up to 2,000 people could attend. This would be four times the number of original attendees since when the festival began in 1997. “The first festival raised $7,000 net for Herne Bay House. We are so grateful for the generosity of the Auckland community. This year we are hoping to raise at least $80,000 net for Mercy Hospice,” Sandy says, “It will make a huge difference to those we care for.”

From Glendowie in the east to Titirangi in the west, Aucklanders will be able to see some of the city’s most beautiful and unique gardens. Ponsonby residents needn’t despair. With roots firmly grounded in the area, three gardens, all within easy walking distance, will be on show.

Don O’Connor and Craig Jensen at 262 Jervois Road, Herne Bay are no strangers to the festival. They have participated in the event three times already.

Heroic Gardens introduces Aucklanders to gardens that most never knew existed.

From the roadside, Don and Craig’s walled sanctuary gives nothing away.

Those seeking protection from the hot summer sun will not be disappointed. Once inside, large trees and shade-loving plants beckon to enjoy their splendour. The back of the property is just as spectacular. A palm-fringed paradise with subtropical plants encircling a rock swimming pool looks just as inviting.

Don and Craig, two very keen gardeners, love their property. “Its large size has enabled us to indulge in our passion for growing plants from cooler climate plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias through to a great variety of subtropical plants,” Don says. A house plant nursery sales rep, Don assures those who think they’ve seen it all before are in for a surprise.

“Of course the garden has grown and matured. The palms are now over 20 years old,” Don says, “but we continue to add new plants to our collection as we experiment with what works well in Auckland conditions.” Like the festival, their growing garden just keeps getting better. PN Heroic Gardens tickets are $35 and are valid both days.

Visit www.heroicgardens.org.nz for more details.

Above: Don O’Connor and Craig Jensen’s inviting and shaded pool and garden at 262 Jervois Road The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE TOHILL 9

STARS IN THEIR EYES UNITEC MUST HAVE HOPE IN NEW ZEALAND’S FILM INDUSTRY BECAUSE IT has united with production company Ample Films to make a feature film with students working in key roles such as production coordination, payroll, directing, camera grip, lighting, sound, costume, stills and editing. Students from across all faculties were involved, including those studying film and television, performing arts, graphics, photography, fashion and accountancy. It’s the first time a New Zealand tertiary institute has created a feature film, giving students a hands-on opportunity. It was filmed on campus and around Auckland, Ponsonby Road included.

Herne Bay resident, Eliza Josephson-Rutter graduated with a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts last year, majoring in production. It was a three year degree and she was part of the project at Unitec. Eliza says it was the perfect deal for she and her fellow students got to work with industry professionals. They had quite a lot of responsibility in their own roles but could also fall back on the fact that they were students on a learning curve so didn’t get a hard time if they stuffed up. They did a lot of debriefing, sitting in a circle with each having a chance to say what they were getting out of the project.

It was invaluable experience because in the normal course of events, none of them would have the opportunity to work on a feature film straight after graduating.

Eliza received her early education at the Michael Park School in Ellerslie. It’s a Steiner school that takes students from age four to school-leaving age. One of the key things that make Rudolf Steiner schools unique is the year-long project each seventh form student is required to do, be it playing a musical instrument, learning authorship or painting, restoration/building of cars, boats etc.

Making a short film was an option Eliza took up and her fantastic English teacher linked up with two or three other schools who had students interested in film. He took them to screenings of festival and alternative films that they wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise and Eliza came to realise there was more to film than making American type blockbusters.

ELIZA JOSEPHSON-RUTTER The script was co-written by Athina and Unitec graduate, Lucy Zee. The film was produced by Angela Hicks, and Eliza was involved in pre-production and office work.

Unitec costume tutor, Erin O’Neill welcomed it as a huge opportunity for her students to work with costume veteran, Jane Holland, who has dozens of film and television credits such as Legend of the Seeker, Sione’s Wedding and The World’s Fastest Indian. Rewa Harre was director of photography whose credits include The Lord of the Rings, Nothing Trivial, and The Piano.

Well there were plenty of heavyweights aboard to show students the ropes. Hopefully the young people who were given this opportunity will find worthwhile careers as well as having stars in their eyes. The film will be released in July this year and is bound to make it into small film festivals. (DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

At that time there was no media department at Michael Park but after viewing a film the students would analyse it and write a critique. Thanks to that teacher a seed was sewn and Eliza was set on the path of her chosen career. She first studied English at Auckland University where they touched on the history of film making but after a year she decided she wanted a more practical education and moved to Unitec where she experienced hands-on film making during her final year.

The film is called Stars in Her Eyes and was directed by the head of Unitec’s Department of Performing and Screen Arts, Athina Tsoulis, an accomplished film and television director and founder of Ample Films. It’s a romantic comedy about Anousha Patel, an Indian New Zealander who, tied to her role as caregiver of her mother, is desperate for a romantic adventure. She falls head over heels for a stranger in a park and makes it her mission to snare him, with the help of her friend Jay. The film stars classical singer and Law student, Leila Alexander as Anousha, professional actor Vinnay Chinni as her love interest, and third year Unitec drama student, Eli Matthewson as Jay.

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CELEBRATE SUMMER! JERVOIS ROAD – HERNE BAY VILLAGE

THE NEW AND IMPROVED MILNE & CO The Premium offices of Pene Milne Properties (Premium Herne Bay) is now Milne & Co Real Estate.

Well-known and respected Auckland agent, Pene Milne, has stepped out of the Premium brand franchise, bringing to fruition a modern real estate company sourcing and presenting a wide selection of premium properties both east and west of Auckland city.

With an average sale price of around $1.8m, Milne & Co is anything but small. They punch well above their weight. Having sold homes in the inner west area for 10+ years, Pene holds numerous records, including Westmere and more recently Pt Chevalier.

“Real estate for me is about people. Empathising and connecting with aspiring individuals, be they customers, buyers or colleagues,” says founder Pene Milne.

“Every home is a pleasure and privilege to sell. It’s a huge trust, and dependent not just on a serious business relationship, but a fantastic personal connection.”

photography: Michael McClintock

THE MILNE & CO TEAM INCLUDES: Layne Stephens and Jan Klee – both neighbourhood locals for over 40 years with an impressive property development and marketing history.

Lisa MacQueen – previously a lawyer, with a focus on detail that leaves no stone unturned; and Nicholas Dallyn, who combines tenacity and the right contacts to make sure the deal gets signed & sealed.

Says Pene, “Milne & Co is the ‘same but different’. We provide the level of service and experience one would expect when selling a home. We also provide insightful local knowledge and access to a wide-reaching database of aspiring individuals.”

PENE MILNE

Thinking of selling? Visit www.milneandco.co.nz or better yet, call in to their office.

Milne & Co is based in the heart of Ponsonby and Herne Bay at 160 Jervois Road. PN

SAVING FOR RETIREMENT – ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT TRACK? THE MARKET ENDED 2012 ON A POSITIVE NOTE, IN CONTRAST TO THE foreboding tales of the news. This highlights the difference between the information in the markets and the stories that we read. None of this will prevent a new crop of predictions for 2013 from being made. Some of these predictions may be correct, but there is little way of determining which ones in advance.

Brackenridge Total Financial Solutions’ prediction for 2013 is unusual in that it is the same as their prediction for 2012.

The advantage of these strategies is that they will be proven correct every year because they provide more certainty, greater control and involve less risk. Once they know what you want in life and what sort of lifestyle you want when you retire, they can help you build a financial plan tailored to suit your goals.

WHEN INVESTING: 1. Obtain good advice from a qualified financial adviser who can determine how to best achieve your goals.

2. Ensure there are processes and procedures in place to protect your investments from fraud and loss.

3. Diversify your investments.

4. Maintain a disciplined investment strategy.

They have planning techniques to test your attitude towards risk and clearly show you if you are on track or not. When saving for retirement in an environment of economic volatility and anxiety, getting the right advice from someone you trust has never been so important. A disclosure statement is available upon request and is free of charge. PN BRACKENRIDGE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, T: 0800 088 116 E: info@brackenridge.biz www.brackenridge.biz Important note. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this document Brackenridge Total Financial Solutions Ltd makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any statement in it.

This document has been prepared the purpose of providing general information, without taking account of any particular investor’s objectives, financial situation or needs. An investor should, before making any investment decisions, consider the appropriateness of this information in this document, and seek professional advice, having regarded to the investors objectives, financial situation and needs.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

ROD MUDGWAY of BRACKENRIDGE

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JERVOIS ROAD – HERNE BAY VILLAGE DIDA’S FOODSTORE - A FRESH APPROACH DIDA’S FOODSTORE HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF THE PONSONBY FOOD SCENE ever since its inception in 2005. Small wonder really because the Jakicevich family who own Dida’s, and the luxurious Dida’s Wine Lounge next door, have been a part of Auckland’s food and wine (particularly wine!) heritage almost from the very beginning.

It was Dida (Croatian for grandfather) Josef Jakicevich who was granted one of the first two wine re-sellers licenses for his greengrocers shop where the Wine Lounge now stands. And it is that pioneering spirit, the desire and ability to anticipate market and customer needs, that has infused this family business ever since.

So, with Dida’s Foodstore undergoing a lightning 72-hour makeover, what is going to change? “It’s not change so much as evolution,” explains Head Chef Vinnie Marshall, “we talk to our customers a lot here and we are partly adapting to what they’ve told us and partly to what we think they might tell us next!”

What this means is a lighter, fresher, healthier menu using seasonal ingredients. “The nicoise salad is a great example,” says Vinnie, “it’s a classic European dish, light and fresh, but we give it a Kiwi twist by using smoked Kahawai instead of tuna. And, of course, we only use free-range eggs and chicken and organic milk and meat in all our dishes. I don’t think our customers would buy anything less if they were cooking for themselves so you’d think they’d expect their local café to do the same for them.”

Another change is the addition of 50% more seating inside the Foodstore. “It sounds like a lot more seating, and it is, but we’re making room for it by changing the internal flow and making it much easier for the customers. By widening our space a bit and re-locating the coffee machine we’re actually going to end up with more room to move around in.

Important if you’re pushing a pram or want to spread out the paper.”

With at least 60% of sales being takeaways what differences can be expected there?

“Well the improved customer flow is going to speed things up obviously but our focus here is on delicious food that can be enjoyed at home or at the office just as much as it can be enjoyed on site. Our stuffed mushrooms are massively popular and so are our salads but some of the more traditional lunches are too. For example, I reckon we now make some of the best pies in the country, let alone Auckland, and we’re installing a pie warmer so customers can enjoy them almost straight from the oven.”

So what else should customers look out for in 2013? “This is nothing new but it’s something customers sometimes forget! Unlike most cafes we are actually fully licensed so you can enjoy a glass of wine or one of our range of craft beers with your lunch.” And with a wine history stretching back as far as the Jakicevich’s it’s something of a certainty that you’ll find something to suit your palate. So is this change or is it evolution? PN DIDA’S FOODSTORE, 54 Jervois Road T: 09 361 6157 www.didas.co.nz

PONSONBY CHURCH READY TO ASK BIG QUESTIONS THE DEBATE BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION WILL BE EXPLORED AS never before in Auckland this summer, when a unique production will be held at the Ponsonby Baptist Church as part of the Auckland Fringe 2013.

Taking place from 19 to 23 February, the play, The Uncertainty Principle, asks the big questions of who we are and why we’re here, and according to writer and producer Mike Borgfeldt, offers plenty of surprises for believers and non-believers alike.

“I didn’t want to preach to the converted,” Borgfeldt says. “I wanted to challenge both sides, put up the evidence for and against as best I could and see what happened.”

Even so, Borgfeldt says when he and director Luke Thornborough were first discussing possible venues, they never thought a church would have the courage to make their venue available for the work. “We originally wanted a University lecture theatre,” Borgfeldt says. “Auckland Uni turned us down but we still really wanted to find somewhere unique, so I asked the Ponsonby Baptist Church as kind of a Hail Mary. I couldn’t believe it when they said yes.”

The church takes pride in its philosophy of challenging the status quo. It is led by a woman minister, Jody Kilpatrick, and described on its website as ‘a refuge for people who need to express doubts as well as certainties, and who are looking for practical ways of working out their faith’.

As for the play, Borgfeldt promises that despite the heavy themes audiences will still have lots of fun. “The main character Jess is thrown into it all from a position of knowing nothing about science or religion, and her scepticism about both is really the heart of the play. Plus there’s torture, love, lust, murder, revenge – a lot like the Bible, really.”

THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE When: 19 – 23 February, 8pm Duration: 2 hours Venue: Ponsonby Baptist Church, 43 Jervois Road Tickets: $18 full, $14 concession/group (6+), $12 Tuesday special Bookings: Eventfinder www.eventfinder.co.nz PN

Auckland Fringe runs from 15 February to 10 March 2013. For more Auckland Fringe information go to www.aucklandfringe.co.nz

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The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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JERVOIS ROAD – HERNE BAY VILLAGE BARE PR RELOCATE FROM JERVOIS ROAD AFTER THREE FANTASTIC YEARS AT JERVOIS ROAD, THE BARE PR TEAM ARE relocating to the viaduct, down at Shed 19. Whilst we are really looking forward to sipping champagne on our lovely new deck overlooking the water, we are really going to miss Jervois Road and all the wonderful people who we have met with and worked with over the years. We have all thought about what we are going to miss the most about Jervois Road and we’d really like to say thanks to the great cafes, restaurants and stores that we have been frequenting over the years.

REBECCA PURDY I’m really going to miss my flat white every morning from Five Loaves, no matter how busy they are, the team are always smiling and have my coffee ready as I come in the door. Andiamo has been a long-time favourite and well before we worked across the road I frequented this fine dining establishment, although now my visits may drop down to once a fortnight rather than twice a week!

BIANCA TALAIC I’m going to miss the entire menu from Zus and Zo! SIGH....

Special “we will miss you” mention goes out to our famous Jervois Road friends, Di and Georgia from Merino Kids - see you for drinks on the deck at our new offices!

LEE PLUMMER The Elbow Room - ‘one quick drink after work’, will never be the same again! Also La Boulange’s range of exquisite cheeses will be sadly missed.

GEORGIA WILKINSON I love perusing the beautiful clothes at Ingrid Starnes on my lunch break - and sometimes picking up a bargain from the sale rack!

The staff are very friendly and the ceramic homewares and knick knacks in-store really come in handy when I need an urgent gift for somebody. And with lots of friends starting to settle down and have babies I love Peppin Boutique for its stylish organic cotton kids clothing.

STEPANKA WILK Lunchtimes won’t be the same without Herne Bay Bakery, their Panini’s with chicken, camembert and avocado are unbelievable... and picking up reading inspiration will be sadly lacking without Novel, I adore their range of books ...and the honorary staff member, his puppy!

RHEA JAMES I’m going to miss the delicious lunch menu and coffees from Dida’s, and browsing the gorgeous stationary and gifts at Red Letter Day! We are going to miss Jervios Road and the wonderful people who live and work in this fabulous street. PN

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JERVOIS ROAD – HERNE BAY VILLAGE RETAIL SUPERSTAR OF THE MONTH Ali McIntosh - Tessuti and Ingrid Starnes, Jervois Road HOW DID YOU COME TO BE A RETAIL SALESPERSON? I have been in retail for many years, beginning with working for Zambesi and Workshop in the ‘80s. It now seems to have come full circle to having two of the things I enjoy so much in store - interiors and fashion.

WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO TESSUTI? I always loved Tessuti’s aesthetic. I used to shop there when it was where Yvonne Bennetti is now, with my daughter in a push chair. She now helps me with the online store, so that has come full circle too.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR STORE? The ability to select and display beautiful products in a great space. I always remember the adage, ‘quality has no fear of time’. We love collaborating with Ingrid Starnes also, it’s lovely to have seasonal fashion inspiration on hand every day.

WHAT MAKES A STANDOUT RETAIL SALESPERSON? Our staff at Tessuti are standout because they are friendly and relaxed but also very knowledgable about our merchandise. We are lucky to have such a great team, we couldn’t do it without them.

TELL US ABOUT A MEMORABLE SALE YOU’VE MADE THIS YEAR… It’s always fantastic when our customers love the displays so much that they buy the entire set-up! Our beautiful cream linen sofa was in the window dressed with Missoni Home and one of our customers said, ‘I love that, I’ll take it just like that!’

IF YOU COULD WAVE YOUR WAND AND HAVE ANYONE IN THE WORLD WALK INTO YOUR STORE RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD IT BE? The Duchess of Cambridge. She is style and grace personified. I’d love to have a coffee and catch up on the palace gossip! The royal baby definitely needs one of our handmade Weebits travel rugs. Maybe we’ll put one in the post.

IF YOU COULD WAVE YOUR WAND AND HAVE ANYONE IN GREATER PONSONBY WALK INTO YOUR STORE RIGHT NOW, WHO WOULD IT BE? Nina and Kim from Nina & Co. We always have such a laugh and they come with armfuls of flowers, what could be more perfect?

WHERE DO YOU ENJOY SHOPPING? I’m a bit of foodie so I’m loving the new Farro just down the road in Grey Lynn.

NAME SOMEONE YOU THINK IS AN EXCELLENT GREATER PONSONBY RETAIL SALESPERSON… Melissa Bowman at Meluka - always friendly and she has fantastic personal style as well. I love the way she has styled Meluka, it is such a distinctive look. PN TESSUTI AND INGRID STARNES, 224 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 4802 www.tessuti.co.nz

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

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JERVOIS ROAD – HERNE BAY VILLAGE 100% NATURAL BABY AND INFANT SLEEP AND PLAY SOLUTIONS New Zealand parents have been raving about Merino Kids for 10 years and in particular their flagship product; the Go Go Bag. It is still the number one recommended baby product in New Zealand.

They have grown their range of 100% natural sleep solutions to include a selection of essential garments specifically designed for newborn to three months, a gorgeous collection of sleepwear for infants through to five years and the ever popular knitted range including a hoodie, vest and hat & scarf set.

This coming winter season there are some gorgeous new colours coming through and a couple of striking limited edition Go Go Bags, a 100% superfine merino premature baby range and some exciting new styles including a shortie PJ set which can be used as a base layer in the cooler months.

Merino Kids amazing customer service team love it when customers come and see them in the showroom. The team know the products inside and out and will help you choose the right products for your children or that perfect gift. Don’t forget, they offer a free gift-wrapping service and can send your purchase anywhere in the world!

This month Merino Kids are running a ‘Recycle, Exchange and Save’ programme where you can bring in your old baby/toddler sleeping bag (any brand) and they will give you 30% off a NEW Go Go Bag! All the sleeping bags they receive will be donated to local charities.

Please see their website for more details. PN MERINO KIDS, 155 Jervois Road T: 0800 124 646 www.merinokids.com

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: TRENT RULE Trent Rule has been running Momentum Gallery & Framing for a year. He describes himself as ‘an easy going (and focussed) professional who looks after a very loyal local customer base’.

Trent enjoys dealing with all kinds of people, artworks and artists and says that every day brings a new challenge: “I’m consistently amazed by the quality of New Zealand artists, and love working with people to find framing solutions for wonderful artworks.”

WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? A milkman.

HOW DID YOU COME TO BE AN ART DEALER? In two successive years, two close friends of mine passed away. I decided to continue what they had started.

IF YOU WEREN’T AN ART DEALER YOU’D BE…?

A professional photographer.

YOUR BEST FRIEND WOULD SAY OF YOU… “He’s got his vices - but he’s not a bad person to know.”

YOUR MOTHER WOULD SAY OF YOU… I’m an only child, so she would be quite biased. One of a kind indeed. LOL. WHAT ARE YOUR VIRTUES? Um, errr… *blush*.

AND YOUR VICES? I spend too much on cameras I don’t need and art - my friends generously donate their walls.

WHO’S YOUR ULTIMATE ROCK ICON? Jon Bon Jovi.

WHAT’S INSPIRED YOU RECENTLY? Struggling artists who do what it takes to follow their passion - no matter what the sacrifice.

SHARE YOUR DESERT ISLAND DISTRACTIONS. Album: Songs For You, Truths For Me - James Morrison. Film: The Matrix. TV show: Modern Family. Book: ‘Things my girlfriend and I have argued about’ by Mil Millington.

THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE AND YOUR FAMILY IS SAFE. WHAT DO YOU SAVE? I’d be lost without my cameras. Photography is not only art, it’s a story about life, a moment in time.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PONSONBY CAFE? Allpress in Ponsonby, Zus & Zo in Herne Bay. AND YOUR FAVOURITE PONSONBY RESTAURANT? SPQR in Ponsonby, Andiamo or Vinnies in Herne Bay. FAVOURITE PONSONBY STORE? Koko Classics! It’s all kinds of awesome.

FAVOURITE PONSONBY FASHION LABEL? Working Style. Just wow…

WHATS YOUR BEST KEPT PONSONBY SECRET? Golden Dawn, Sunday afternoons!

ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE IS…?

Treat people how you expect to be treated. Always.

WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO PONSONBY ART APPRECIATORS? Art is everywhere in the Ponsonby area. We are spoilt to say the least! When looking at an art purchase, think about how it makes you feel - not necessarily what it will be worth when you sell it. PN MOMENTUM GALLERY & FRAMING, 182 Jervois Road, Herne Bay T: 09 376 4749 www.momentumgallery.co.nz

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INNER DEVELOPMENT & BEING – TRISHA MARTIN MIND, BODY & SPIRIT BOOK REVIEW MINDFULNESS FOR BEGINNERS – RECLAIMING THE PRESENT MOMENT & YOUR LIFE John Kabat-Zinn Sounds True (HB/CD) $49.99 This is not a recent publication (2012) but is one of the best introductions to the practice of mindfulness. A pioneer of western mindfulness meditation, Jon Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center is a clinically proven method of meditation for better health.

In Mindfulness for Beginners: reclaiming the present moment and your life Kabat -Zinn looks at how beginning a practice of mindful meditation can improve quality of life and shows us how to integrate meditation into daily life. According to Kabat-Zinn, “mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non judgmentally.” So, the prescription for living a more mindful life seems simple enough: return your awareness again and again to whatever is going on. But if you’ve tried it, you know that it’s easier said than done & that here is where all the questions and challenges really begin.

Mindfulness for Beginners provides welcome answers, insights, and instruction to help make the shift, moment by moment, into a more spacious, clear, reliable, and loving connection with ourselves and the world around us.

The book can be used in three unique ways: as a collection of reflections and practices to be opened and explored at random; as an illuminating and engaging start-to-finish read; or as an unfolding lesson - a day primer on mindfulness practice. An added bonus is a CD of five guided meditations which can be used in conjunction with the book or as a stand-alone resource. (TRISHA MARTIN) PN PATHFINDER BOOKSHOP, 182 Jervois Road T: 09 378 6269 www.pathfinder.co.nz

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JAY PLATT: VALENTINES DAY 14 FEBRUARY

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Beautiful Bouquet of Flowers by Nina & Co Williamson Avenue www.ninaforflowers.co.nz; Jonathan Adler ‘Poodle Notepad’ $28 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; Heart Bracelet $53 @ Republic www.republichome.com; Tobacco Night & Black Spice candles $135 each @ Simon James concept store www.store.simonjamesdesign. com; ‘Dozi’ Pink magnetic paperclip holder by Alessi $61 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; Voluspa pink citron candle $93.90 @ Republic www.republichome.com; Jonathan Adler Ball point pen $59 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; Giant poodle eraser by Jonathan Adler $32 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz

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WE CAN CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Jonathan Adler ‘Love/Lust’ pouch $69 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; Vogue Weddings ‘Brides, Dresses and Designers’ $155 @ Novel Herne Bay; Alessi ‘Heart teaspoons’ set of 4 $75 @ Askew www.askew.co.nz; Afternoon Delight & Baby Light My fire candles $48 each @ World Beauty www.worldbrand.co.nz; ‘Heart’ beakers by Morgan Haines $32 each @ Tessuti www.tessuti.co.nz; Coloured glass goblets with Brass Handgrip (2 shown) $1485 (for set of 4) @ Indice www.indice. co.nz; Creed ‘Spring Flower’ $399 @ World Beauty www.worldbrand.co.nz PN STYLING: Jay Platt PHOTOGRAPHY: Danilo Santana David, Fisher Santana

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LIZ WHEADON: WINE, GLORIOUS WINE

MANY SHADES OF PINK WITH OUR LONG HOT SUMMER (FINALLY) ROSÉ WINES HAVE BEEN VERY popular, it’s a trend that has been dominating European summers for years. There are two main ways of making Rosé.

There are many celebrations through February, including Valentine’s Day on Thursday 14 February. We have a wonderful array of sparkling wines on promotion through Glengarry and some glorious jewellery all the way from New York to give away. For all of our Valentine’s Day deals (including a bottle of Champagne and a dozen roses delivered) check out our website www.glengarry.co.nz/valentinesday (LIZ WHEADON) www.glengarry.co.nz

Maceration or the French term Saignée: the flesh of grapes is white, with the colour in red wine coming from the skins of the grapes. To make a Rosé wine through maceration, the white juice is left in contact with the skins for a short period of time to extract the desired amount of colour. The term Saignée translates to bleeding; in reference to this technique, some of the colour of the skins bleeds into the white wine during the maceration.

Blending is the other way to make Rosé: first of all you make a white wine, then add a little red wine to add colour. This method of production can only be used in one part of France – Champagne, all other Rosé in France have to be made using the Saignée method.

So, does the colour matter and can you tell what the Rosé will be like from the colour?

Whilst the colour can give you an indication of the style of the wine, more often than not, it does not. One of the benchmark regions for Rosé in the world is Provence in Southern France; the Rosé from this region are very pale in colour, in fact some of the very best are almost white. Yet these Rosé are full bodied with a rich, weighty mouth feel and an excellent length.

I have been tasting through our range of Rosé over the holiday period, here are four of my favourite wines; CHÂTEAU ROUTAS CÔTE DE PROVENCE LA ROUVIERE ROSÉ 2011 Routas is situated between the Mediterranean coast and the foothills of the Alps, surrounded by tiny villages with spectacular views of the hills, woods and rivers. In 2005 Scotland’s Sir David Murray took ownership of this property, alongside Domaine Jessiaume in Burgundy. Under the new ownership the quality of this property has sky rocketed, so much so that it is now on allocation around the world and we are thrilled to have secured a parcel.

CHÂTEAU RIOTOR CÔTE DE PROVENCE 2011 Chateau Riotor, located in the prime Massif de Maures region, is owned by the Abeille family who own Chateau Mont Redon in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Since 1988 they have renovated the vineyards and the winery to make it a state of the art facility. This Rosé is made from 50% Cinsault, 40% Grenache and 10% Syrah and sealed under screw cap. It has been a favourite in our stores for many years now and the 2011 is excellent.

CHATEAU LEOUBE

CHÂTEAU LÉOUBE CÔTE DE PROVENCE 2011 Léoube is located right on the coast, just to the side of Toulon on the French Riviera.

Owned by an English family, they purchased it somewhat by mistake. Looking for a summer property on the South coast, they ended up with 300ha, three beaches and a vineyard. They approached the winemaker from Domaine Ott (benchmark Côte de Provence) to assist with the winemaking and have not looked back.

POL ROGER CHAMPAGNE ROSÉ 2002 There’s only a small quantity of this exceptional wine left. When you blend together the extraordinary 2002 vintage and a quality producer you have a match made in heaven.

Pinot Noir dominant, you will be surprised by the finesse and effortless nature of this wine; this would make an excellent Valentine’s Day surprise for your loved one.

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY SLICE OF CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE HEAVEN Devonport Chocolates makes over iconic truffle log for 21st birthday.

Artisan chocolate makers Devonport Chocolates are celebrating 21 years and to mark the occasion they’ve remade their iconic truffle log. Smothered in couverture chocolate and with a luxurious dark chocolate truffle centre, the improved and renamed Truffle Slice comes in 10 different flavours including delicious new berry crush and cointreau orange.

Gluten free and with no preservatives or colourings, the new recipe uses Belgian -style couverture chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa solids. The result, says Devonport Chocolates’ Stephanie Everitt, is a taste that’s slightly less sweet and a smoother mouth feel.

The ultimate entertaining sweet treat, serve a Truffle Slice on a platter with a few nuts and fruit. Super convenient, keep a few in the pantry and you’ll always have a dessert, hostess gift or small present on hand. Easily transportable, they’re also handy for picnics, potlucks and barbecues. No need to worry about how many people will be there as the larger size serves around 18.

Everitt says Devonport Chocolates’ secret weapon when it comes to the improved Truffle Slice is a new piece of equipment called an enrober. While the whole process of chocolate making is still performed by hand – many pairs in fact – the newly purchased enrober creates a “curtain of chocolate” and means a superior chocolate can be used.

Fancy new packaging completes the makeover – the result of more than three years of research and development.

At RRP $19.90 the larger slice can be cut into to about 18 good-sized pieces and the smaller at $12.90 into nine. PN Available from DEVONPORT CHOCOLATES’ three Auckland stores, stockists nationwide, or online at www.devonportchocolates.co.nz

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WHAT’S HOT AT SABATO LUNCH AT TOKYO CLUB? DON’T MIND IF I DO! FROM THE MINUTE THAT CONSUMMATE HOST SARASA GREETS YOU AT THE entrance to the beautiful new Ponsonby eating spot Tokyo Club you feel at home – a home where the exquisitely cooked, fresh and healthy cuisine is a hundred times better than you could actually muster up the energy to cook yourself! A favourite with Ponsonby locals and visitors alike pretty much from the moment it dusted off its bar stools, Tokyo Club in Ponsonby Central serves urban cuisine from Tokyo, Japan’s busiest city. Like many of their neighbours they are are a “Yokocho” styled bar, offering laneway dining and cuisine made from fresh local ingredients.

The Yokocho market place style of dining originates from the alleys between two main streets, where the Tokyo black markets once traded. Today, they are packed with Izakaya and food stalls serving gastronomic delights, with a home-cooked ambience that customers fall in love with and dishes at incredibly reasonable prices.

The latter definitely describes Tokyo Club, where you can experience the amazing tastes of Teppanyaki and Okonomiyaki (Japanese-style grilled pizza made with a blended savoury batter base), and they are Ponsonby’s only Japanese owned, freshly made, take out sushi counter. They also have their own privately brewed sake – naturally named “Sarasa” after the preternaturally fabulous boss - that was created exclusively for Tokyo Club by the sake master of Kawatsuru Sake Brewery on Shikoku Island.

SPREAD THE LOVE FROM SABATO… They say the way to the heart is through the stomach – so celebrate the most romantic day of the year with a delicious declaration of love.

Butter up your better half with breakfast in bed – our frozen croissants, pastries and preserves will do all the work for you (but that will be our little secret).

Nothing says “I love you” like chocolate – the good stuff, mind you! Choose from charming Italian hearts, beautiful Spanish bonbons, or the famed French Valrhona.

A gorgeous piece of Rachel Carley china is sure to make any girl giddy, while our Gentleman’s Gift hamper is designed to delight and surprise the man in your life.

A romantic, homecooked dinner is sure to sweep your sweetheart off their feet.

Whether you’re a whiz in the kitchen or usually “the taste tester”, our range of recipes and helpful staff can help you tailor-make a memorable menu for the big day. Complete the wining and dining experience with our latest addition, the French apéritif RinQuinQuin. This luscious peach wine is delicious served over ice, or added to sangria.

However you choose to express your love, the most important thing is that you do!

Happy Valentine’s Day. PN SABATO, 57 Normanby Road T: 09 630 8751 www.sabato.co.nz

We popped by for lunch one sunny Saturday afternoon and watched the place fill up quickly with good reason. Their lunch menu is insanely affordable, with dishes like the aforementioned Okonomiyaki (our four year old tucked straight into the smoked duck and bacon with chives), Teppanyaki Chicken and Donburi coming in at just $15.00. The highlight for me was definitely the Tofu Donburi, which had a great rice-to-vegetables -and-tofu ratio that you don’t often find in most Japanese restaurants around Auckland.

The lightly fried tofu was cooked perfectly too, with a crunchy crust yielding to a soft creamy interior.

The lunchtime Tokyo Two Step is a great option if you’re looking for a few extras to add on to any of the above, $20.00 allows you to choose one of the above dishes along with two sides to make for one rather delectable and filling meal. The sides include Japanese dressed green salad (a favourite of mine), Edamame beans, Miso Soup, Koji marinated pickles and a spring roll of cured bacon and cream cheese, and for an extra $3.00 you can throw in a freshly made sushi roll filled with panko prawn, salmon caviar or sesame chicken.

Another huge selling point for more than a few locals I know is the Tokyo Club kids menu, which means you can easily cajole the little ones into joining you in the lane during the day or after dark. $12.00 gets them a choice of Teriyaki Sweet Grilled Chicken, Teppanyaki Beef or Grilled Fresh Fish served with steamed rice followed by a scoop of either Green Tea or Citrus ‘Yuzu’ Ice cream, both of which are insanely moreish to the point of having to order a bowl of your own!

They have a great wine and sake menu if you’re looking to imbibe as well as eat; including a “Club List” of carefully selected by the bottle wines like Waitaki Valley vineyard Q’s extraordinary Pinot Noir.

To say that Tokyo Club is a bright, shiny new asset to the area would be an understatement – if you haven’t popped in and tried it yet then I strongly suggest that you do. You definitely won’t be disappointed. (HELENE RAVLICH) PN For all enquiries call T: 09 376 8016 or visit www.tokyoclub.co.nz

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY GREY LYNN BUTCHERS SNARES TOP PRIZES Eddie and Lucia Rodrigues (pictured right), owners of Grey Lynn Butchers for nearly ten years, have been scooping up awards for their handmade gourmet sausages, bacon, ham and dry cured meats - all made on the premises - for the last couple of years.

Prizes include - free farmed traditional Pork sausage - silver 2010, pork and chardonnay -silver 2010, borewors - silver 2012, honey cured streaky bacon - silver 2011, dry cured middle bacon - bronze 2012. And many other awards too.

But now they’ve really hit the jackpot! They picked up “National Consumer Choice Award For Bacon and Ham 2012 and the biggie “Metro Best Butcher of the Year 2012”.

We asked Lucia what the secret of their success was.

“We love food,” she said. “We love experimenting with flavours and we always strive to provide the best service. Our customers have a big part to play in perfecting our award winning recipes. They are always willing to try out the new venture, whether it be a new spicy venison sausage or a salmon mousse. We keep a close eye on trends in the food world.”

Lucia also told us they were lucky to have some chefs and connoisseurs among their customers. “They are good to bounce ideas off,” she told us.

We asked Lucia how family run and owned small butchers can compete with supermarkets. She told us it is a very competitive market, not only with supermarkets but with specialty stores. “You need to invest a lot of time to be on top of your game or else you get squeezed out by competitors,” the intelligent and articulate Lucia told Ponsonby News.

RED HEART SALAD Serves 6 - 8

1 bowl beetroot salad 1 bowl red lettuce 1 bowl chopped radishes 1 bowl sliced red cabbage, garnished with grated red carrots

BEETROOT SALAD

2 beetroot, boiled, peeled and chopped 3 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp sugar 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar ¼ tsp mustard powder

Place beetroot in a bowl. Combine olive oil, sugar, vinegar and mustard powder in screw top jar. Shake to combine. Pour oil mixture over the beetroot and leave for several hours to marinate before serving. Recipe courtesy of www.vegetables.co.nz PN

“People are becoming more discerning in their tastes, and they want good quality at a decent price. Our service is critical. People want to be able to get exactly the cut and the quantity they need, and at a competitive price,” adds Lucia.

The Rodrigues are also able to give customers cooking tips and recipes. They have a lot of foodies as customers, who like to try out new, creative recipes. “We get in whole animals and are lucky to have talented butchers, so we can give then a wide range of cuts, advising them what might be the best to use. People are really getting into their offal and game meats,” Lucia informed us.

She also told us that Grey Lynn Butchers are selling more crocodile, kangaroo, wild rabbit, hare, goat, boar, pheasant and ostrich than ever before.

Lucia Rodrigues told us that their customers appreciate the wide variety and ever -changing selection so they don’t get bored. “We also make sure we have a range of things that make meals easier and take the hassle out of cooking when you don’t have time to whip up a gourmet wonder every night.”

With that customer service focus, Grey Lynn Butchers is constantly evolving their range, knowing they have customers eager and enthusiastic to try new things.

They have started stocking organic meat to meet the demand from new customers who have switched to them after West Lynn closed down. We’re certain those new customers will be thrilled with the old fashioned service Lucia and Eddie and their staff will offer them, as well as the quality of their meat.

Grey Lynn Butchers goes the extra mile for their customers, keeps up with modern trends, and works extremely hard to give the best. Inevitably, customers come back.

Finally as Lucia proudly told us, “Our customers appreciate how hard we work to give them the best, and that’s why they want to give us their business.” The Rodrigues richly deserve their success. PN GREY LYNN BUTCHERS, 531 Great North Road T: 09 376 3567 www.greylynnbutchers.co.nz

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY SUMMER FRUIT WANTED FOR CHARITY Community Fruit Harvesting is asking Aucklanders with unwanted plums and other summer fruit in their back gardens to get in touch so the charity can pick the fruit for the hungry.

DINE UNCORKED WINEMAKER DINNER SERIES Enjoy a ‘Best Of’ evening including all the favourite dishes and wines from the dine uncorked Winemakers 2012 Dinner Series.

The group collects fresh fruit and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste and gives it to charities who share it with people in need.

Tuesday 19 February - Best of the North Island, 6.30pm each night. Presented by winemakers of the Family of Twelve.

Plums and berries are currently in season, with nectarines, peaches, apricots, feijoas, figs, persimmons and early season apples and pears ripening in the next few months.

$150 per person per night. Bookings essential as numbers are limited.

“This plum season is proving to be much better than last year – we’ve already picked four trees and had over 200kg from just one tree!” says Di Celliers, Auckland Community Fruit Harvesting Co-ordinator. “The fresh fruit goes into food parcels via the Auckland City Mission and Salvation Army and is also turned into jam and chutney so nothing goes to waste. If you have fruit on your tree now that you can’t use or you know that fruit will be ripening soon, please let us know.”

R18 for the service of alcohol. Host Responsibility limits apply. Menu items are subject to change. PN DINE BY PETER GORDON, 90 Federal Street T: 09 363 6000 E: dine@skycity.co.nz www.skycityauckland.co.nz/restaurants/dine.html

Community Fruit Harvesting is also calling for people with unpicked orchards to step forward and offer the fruit to charity. The charity also welcomes enquiries from new volunteers who can pick or deliver fruit or make jam and preserves, as well as any donations of sugar for jam-making.

“Picking fruit and making jam is a great activity for the whole family and it feels good to give to those less fortunate,” says Di. “We also get businesses volunteering their time or making a donation – nothing builds a team better than working together for a good cause.”

People with a fruit tree available for picking or who want to volunteer to pick fruit or make jam can email Di Celliers on pickfruit@xtra.co.nz.

Donations can be made to National Bank, account number 06 0122 0292304 00. PN

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY SINGLE SHOTS AND DOUBLE DELIGHTS THIS VALENTINE’S IT’S FEBRUARY, THE MONTH OF SAINT VALENTINE, and by definition the month that polarises the sexes more than any other. For women it’s a time to be romanced, idolised and worshipped from both near and afar.

However for the nation’s menfolk, it’s a month of sheer, unabashed panic. For the single man all that looms is the promise of humiliation at the hands of an as yet unwitting object of desire.

Meanwhile for those already in a relationship, it’s the knowledge that the restaurant will be wrong, the bouquet too small, or the chocolates too cheap to convince her of your affection. Thankfully, on a certain convivial corner of Ponsonby Road, help is at hand this year.

“For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.” So said Geoffrey Chaucer, as far back as 1382, in the earliest literary reference to this amorous anniversary. Granted, the ‘there’ he was talking about back then wouldn’t have been Chapel, but had he been around Ponsonby a mere six or so centuries later, and been a little more enlightened in his description of the fairer sex, then there’s every chance he would be. For I sayeth unto you now, in this slightly weirdly olde englishhe speak, that this Saint Valentine’s Day, those yet to be wed should to the Chapel bar venture, forsooth many a new match will be made …

Everyone entering the bar will get a number stuck to their chest. All partygoers will then get to check each other out, with great subtlety and tact of course, before writing down the number of the person they’d most like to get to know a little better. Once they’ve handed their slip in (paper slip that is, it’s a numbers game, not a swingers one), the numbers will be posted on the big screen leaderboard revealing who wants to meet who. Then the rest is left to Cupid, perhaps with a little assistance from party sponsors Akarua Central Otago wines and sexy beats from DJ General Lee! There will be great prizes to be won throughout the night, so if you’re young, single and looking for something fun and different to do while all your LUKE DALLOW loved-up mates are dining by vanilla-scented candlelight, or releasing white doves to a Ronan Keating backing track, then RSVP to rsvp.chapel@xtra.co.nz to get yourself on to the VIP guest list.

That’s right, the good folk at Chapel don’t see why this day should be just for lovers, and are offering their considerable match-making help in the form of a Valentines Single Social. This is the one night of the year when singles will get to mingle together, without fear of barking up the wrong tree or incurring the wrath of a jealous partner.

Of course, Saint Valentine’s day on Ponsonby Road isn’t just about making new connections. For those of you seeking an opportunity to romance, impress and, let’s face it, get lucky with your other half, or potential other half, then look no further than just across the road at Tin Soldier. Promising the most demure and downright sexy table in town, the Tin Soldier is serving a highly seductive four-course set menu, with a champagne cocktail on arrival, for just $70 per person. So unless you’re the ultimate narcissist or playboy prince, then that would be a total of $140! All couples dining at Tin Soldier that night will go in a draw to win a weekend at the Hilton Queenstown, flights included.

Starting on the stroke of 7pm, and hosted by Cleo Bachelor of the Year Finalist Stephen Buckley, the party will kick off with the ultimate match-making ice-breaker, It’s a Number’s Game, which will work something like this …

Reservations for this one-off dining experience are essential, so phone T: 09 378 1719 or email reservations@thetinsoldier.co.nz for the only way to ensure you don’t disappoint the special person in your life this year. PN

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LAURAINE JACOBS: THE SEASONED PALATE

KAZUYA - ONE OF AUCKLAND’S BETTER KEPT FINE DINING SECRETS Sometimes, and I have to say they are exceedingly rare times, you encounter service that almost takes your breath away. In the past 12 months, I experienced two dining occasions in New Zealand where this happened. And it may well be significant that both were not your typical Kiwi experiences, nor delivered by locals.

The first was at Herzog, a stunning European-styled restaurant set amongst the vineyards and gardens of the Hans Herzog wine estate near Blenheim in the sunny but windy Marlborough region. The elegant restaurant offers a tasting menu that’s upmarket, completely delicious and perfectly pitched to match the stunning wines crafted by the owner Hans Herzog. Service was decidedly European too, and although kind of formal, the sommelier had a twinkle in his eye and that wry sense of humour. A great evening and as they say, it was “worth the detour.” The second occasion of amazing service was totally on my doorstep, and “worth the detour” from the Ponsonby Strip, albeit just over to Symonds Street. Symonds Street, you say? Must be the French Café? (Actually the service is pretty exceptional there too, I must admit.) But no. It was at a small place with a totally unprepossessing street frontage in the strip of shops that extend from Newton Road towards the Southern motorway where it crosses below Symonds Street.

This occasion of amazing service was at Kazuya, and despite a couple of odd reviews, this restaurant remains one of Auckland’s better kept fine dining secrets. Owned by Kazuya Yamauchi, a Japanese-trained chef (at a top Tokyo Italian restaurant), the menu is French/European with hints of Japan. And there’s a distinct Japanese influence that’s evident in every aspect of this stunning little restaurant. Kazuya only seats about 24 people, in fairly intimate spaces, and is staffed by very smart Japanese professionals, including the whizz-bang sommelier, Mojo Horiuchi. This is an oasis of style and sophistication where Mr Horiuchi adds a touch of theatre to his extensive knowledge of wine, beverage and food service. He’s gathered the best of French and local wines for an inspired and classy wine list that ups the ante on smart lists around the city.

I reckon that whatever you pay there for the meal, (more of that later) it’s worth going there to order a beer for starters while you settle in; just to see this clever sommelier deliver it, open it, check the clarity of the glass and the temperature, and then pour the golden liquid for you in front of your eyes with flair and panache. I guarantee you have never experienced such amazing attention to detail and style when being served a beer!

Chef Yamauchi offers three tasting menus; a simple $65 menu of five courses, the seasonal $85 menu and a degustation at $125 that must be ordered at least 24 hours in advance. I recommend choosing the seasonal menu, which kicks off with a play on Caprese salad; a delightful concoction of tomato, basil and mozzarella that’s full of textures and intrigue, signalling the care, attention and passion that is poured into every bite emerging from his kitchen. ‘Textures’ is the signature dish, and the large plate arrives, with more than 30 seasonal vegetables and herbs, artfully arranged and a total visual delight. If there’s anyone who tucks in immediately, they’re in the wrong place as this is like an artist’s palette produced by a chef with a superbly sensory palate. It needs serious viewing before devouring, like any good painting. Yet once started, every tiny bite is there for a reason and is not to be missed.

The menus include Cambridge duck, Wagyu beef, scallops sourced form the chef’s home town in Japan, the wonderful Cloudy Bay diamond clams, the freshest of fish and more. You could order from the á la carte menu, but you’d be crazy to do so. In the past few months I have read a couple of put-downs of dégustation menus by local chef /foodwriters who should know better. Actually, the chef in charge of any given restaurant does know best, and diners should put their appetites in the hands of the master in the kitchen. Kazuya’s menus are an example; perfectly pitched, perfectly balanced and perfectly paced. No-one could leave hungry, nor bursting, and all will have experienced a well-planned evening that includes a variety of carefully sourced and exquisitely treated food that will remain in your head for weeks.

I’m not sure if I would have appreciated my Kazuya experience so much if I hadn’t just returned from Tokyo. In Japan, in fine dining places, in sushi restaurants and even in every casual place we ate, it seemed that everything was ever so carefully and thoughtfully placed on my plate for a reason. So it is at Kazuya. From the moment I stepped in, I knew that this was as close to perfection as I could find. There’s an element of Japan about the place that will have me going back again and again.

Highly recommended for a very special and unforgettable experience. PN (LAURAINE JACOBS) www.laurainejacobs.co.nz KAZUYA, 193 Symonds Street T: 09 377 8537 www.kazuya.co.nz

COME ALONG TO THE GREY LYNN COMMUNITY GARDENS FUND-RAISING TABLE GREY LYNN FARMER’S MARKET, Sunday 17 February, 9am till 12.30pm.

Delicious, organic, spray-free produce, home-brewed comfrey tea fertiliser, saved seeds, seedlings and more... PN

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ February 2013

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

OH!SO CAFÉ’S SIMPLE RECIPE FOR A POSH TART! ROAST CHIOGGIA, MANDARIN AND GOATS CHÈVRE TART (Baby beets, orange and feta) 500g x chioggia or baby beetroot 3 x mandarins or 1 large orange 200g x goats chèvre or cow’s feta cheese 1 x sheet of flaky puff pastry Makes 4 For the best puff pastry, just walk to the shops and buy some. Life is too short to make puff pastry. In the time it takes to make, you could have shared a bottle of wine with a friend and that’s much more enjoyable.

Par boil the baby beets in salted water for 20 minutes then, when still warm just rub the skin off. Drizzle the beets with olive oil, a little honey and a sprinkle of sea salt and black pepper then roast in the oven at 180c for 15 minutes. I like to use chioggia, a variety of baby beetroot with a super sweet taste. Cut the pastry into four squares or circles about 10cm and brush with a beaten egg. Then, in a bowl mix together the beets, crumbled cheese and orange segments and arrange onto the pastry leaving a 1cm edge all around. Place the tarts onto a lined baking sheet and bake in 180c oven for 20 – 30 minutes until the edges have puffed up and become golden. Serve on some rocket or baby cos lettuce and drizzle with balsamic syrup for an extra little kick.

These tarts are so easy to make and can be eaten hot or cold, as an entrée or light summer lunch with a glass of cold rose.

We source all of our fruit and vegetables from Art of Produce across the road from oh!SO Café on Crummer Road. They’re open to the public and it gives you the opportunity to try something a little different from the supermarket as well as getting advice from people who know their stuff. (BRIAN SEWELL) PN OH!SO CAFÉ, 29 Crummer Road T: 09 360 0700 www.ohso.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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PHIL PARKER: WHOSE WINE IS IT ANYWAY?

SUMMER OF CHARDONNAY About 15 years ago, there was a trend spread by fashion-driven wine drinkers, to the effect that ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) was the smart rule for ordering white wine. Even today, a lot of folk will not let a Chardonnay touch their lips, based on the old prejudice and/or bad experiences in the past. And, to be honest, many of the first incarnations of Chardonnay in New Zealand were wildly over-oaked, bright yellow with extracted oak resin, pretty well undrinkable and tasted like a school desk.

However, in the last few years there has been a return to Chardonnay, as winemakers and drinkers realise that a good Chard is a balance of excellent fruit, subtle oak, yeast and suitable ageing.

Valentine’s Day Double-Layer RASPBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Chardonnay, has long been regarded as the king of white wines and one which New Zealand winemakers do particularly well.

New oak barrels sourced from France or the USA cost wineries around $1,400 each.

As a final part of the cooperage process, to bend the staves, a fire is lit under the upturned barrel and this is what gives toasty flavours to Chardonnay.

Furthermore, the origin of the oak lends special characters to the wine: closely grained French oak, typically imparts spicy characters to the wine; American oak tends to be wider grained and give flavours of vanilla and coconut.

New oak will give more flavour to the wine than an aged barrel and winemakers have the option of aging part of a vintage in new oak for a certain period and then in aged oak. Apart from oak, Chardonnay has many other influences on its complexity of flavours.

The winemaker may use commercial yeast or may just take advantage of ‘wild’ yeasts from the air of the vineyard (as does Kumeu River). A secondary malo-lactic bacterial fermentation is also widely used which transforms tart malic acid to less harsh lactic acid, adding softness and creaminess to young wines.

Even once your New Zealand Chardonnay is in the bottle, up to five years’ in a cool dark place will add mellowness and further shades of complexity – figs, melon, butterscotch and honey to name a few.

HERE’S A SELECTION, IN ORDER OF STRENGTH FROM LIGHT TO HUMUNGOUS: Peacock Sky Waiheke 2012 $32.00 A buttery style Chardonnay - but not overpoweringly so. Some time spent in new French oak barrels has given some lovely hazel nut flavours, with a hint of stone fruit and honey.

West Brook Barrique Fermented Waimauku/Marlborough 2011 $23.00 Parcels of Chardonnay were sourced from the stony soils of Marlborough and the clay soils of Waimauku. Flavours of stone fruit, almond, pear and fig, with mineral hints.

Ransom Cosmos Matakana 2008 $27.00 An hour’s drive from Auckland, Ransom vineyards are just on the northern edge of the Matakana region. Another medium to full bodied example. All stone fruit on the palate – peach, apricot and nectarine, with subtle hazelnut creamy oak and a lengthy finish.

Man O’ War Valhalla Waiheke 2010 $42.00 Okay - if you love big Chardonnays, this is a stunning example: a take no prisoners, gorgeously complex and full-bodied wine, which will tempt you to just another glass.

Maybe another. Gosh the bottle’s almost empty. Shame to waste it. Hits all the buttons – toasty oak, buttery mouth feel, stone fruit, honey, cape gooseberry, canned peaches, crisp lime, and massive lengthy palate. (PHIL PARKER) PN Phil Parker is a wine writer and operates Fine Wine & Food Tours in Auckland. www.insidertouring.co.nz

54 PONSONBY NEWS+ February 2013

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY JORDAN RONDEL: CAKE FOR YOUR VALENTINE FOR THE FILLING:

raspberry jam for in between the layers

JORDAN RONDEL'S LOVE FOR BAKING STARTED AT AN EARLY AGE AND STEMS from her French roots, her 'insane sweet tooth' and a desire to please people with culinary delights. The Caker is Jordan's service to her fellow cake eaters out there, whereby she bakes and delivers cakes to order.

Jordan says "My cakes are unusual, specialty treats that you can't buy from an average cake shop; some are gluten free and all contain as many organic ingredients as possible. They aren't machine made or fake in any way and while they may look a little rustic, they taste wholesome and delicious."

As well as growing up and currently living in Ponsonby, Jordan bakes from cafe 'Eightthirty' on the corner of K'Road and Ponsonby Road. She says, "this is my neighborhood through and through and I wouldn't have it any other way."

VALENTINE'S DAY DOUBLE-LAYER RASPBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH ROSE WATER CRÈME ICING This is a delicious cake packed with seasonal raspberries and white chocolate, soft and fluffy in texture and sandwiched together with the best-quality raspberry jam. Finishing off with a delicate rosy icing takes this recipe to cake heaven and makes it ideal to share with your loved one.

INGREDIENTS: 150g butter, softened 150g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 organic eggs 200g plain flour ICING: 200g crème fraîche 30g icing sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp baking powder ½ cup whole milk 2 tbsp orange zest 1 cup white chocolate buttons + extra for garnish 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries

TO TOP: fresh or freeze-dried raspberries rose petals (optional) METHOD: • Preheat the oven to 180ºC fan bake. Grease and line 2 x 22cm cake tins.

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until pale, light and fluffy.

• Add the vanilla and then the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

• Sift in the flour and baking powder, and mix in along with the milk and orange zest.

• Stop your electric mixer once all the ingredients are combined: do not over mix.

• By hand, mix in the white chocolate buttons.

• Evenly divide the batter between the two tins and dot in the raspberries, pressing them down lightly with a spoon.

• Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until golden in colour, springy to the touch and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

• Allow the cakes to cool for around 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.

• Meanwhile, make the rose water crème icing. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat all the ingredients until a smooth, glossy consistency is reached.

• Once the cakes are cool, spread a layer of raspberry jam onto one layer and place the other, flipped upside down, on top to form a sandwich.

• Ice the top of the cake with the rose water crème and garnish with fresh raspberries if in season or freeze-dried, and white chocolate buttons and rose petals if desired.

• Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for up three days.

To place an order simply visit Jordan's website.

1 tsp rose water zest of 1 lemon

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

THE CAKER, www.thecaker.co.nz

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FASHION + STYLE WATCH WHAT YOU SAY AND THINK! Have you ever wondered how words affect us? Well it has now been proven through the work of Dr Emoto from Japan, that what we say and think can alter the composition of water molecules in both a detrimental and positive way.

Dr Emoto has conducted thousands of experiments by freezing and then photographing the water molecules using various words and phrases from “you ugly bitch” to “love and gratitude”. As human beings are around 70% water, the correlation with our minds and bodies with his experiments, is quite profound.

Dr Emoto’s discoveries have been a huge inspiration for me in my creative work as an artist, now creating t-shirts as powerful ways to influence the wearer and those around them.

I saw how the ChCh heart t-shirt I designed had impact, with a staggering 25,000 New Zealanders wearing their heart for Christchurch “on their sleeve” after the devastating earthquake.

Along with other charity shirts, we are now creating fun designs – like our newly released Ponsonby Shirt, that make us laugh and look at who we are and what we stand for in our lives. (DEBORAH KELLAND) PN The Strauss t-shirt range is available locally at THE OBJECT ROOM, 61 Mackelvie Street T: 09 378 0767 www.theobjectroom.co.nz

LUKE MCCARTHY and DEBORAH KELLAND in the Object Room

NEW YEAR’S HONOUR FOR PONSONBY FASHION LEADER Never did we have more reason to claim her as our own! Doris de Pont, retired fashion designer, holder of First Class Honours in Museum and Cultural Heritage (Auckland University), founder of the New Zealand Fashion Museum and co-author of two books, was named a Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the New Year’s Honours List , for services to fashion.

Doris joins existing fashion industry ONZMs Liz and Neville Findlay of Zambesi.

The accolade was proposed to Doris late in 2012 and she says she didn’t really hesitate to accept. “I’m really pleased, it shows that New Zealand fashion is acknowledged, and recognises that it really does make an important contribution to the social and cultural life of this country” she says. Unsurprisingly there was a fantastic response to Doris’ honour from family and friends, as well as friends of the New Zealand Fashion Museum.

In May Doris will go to Government House and receive her medal and ribbon from the Governor General. But for Doris it’s the recognition of the Fashion Museum and the important role of fashion in New Zealand history that’s paramount.

In 2013 the long awaited NZFM website is being built and the Museum’s ‘Home Sewn’ exhibition is travelling - it’s currently in Whangarei, will be in Dunedin during the annual iD Dunedin fashion event, and will proceed to the Dowse in Lower Hutt in August.

Those who want to support the New Zealand Fashion Museum can do it in a number of ways - ‘entry level‘ is buying one of the two books: Black: the history of black in fashion, society and culture in New Zealand and Home Sewn. There’s also a new fan club - become a member and you get the exclusive right to attend special functions. The first of these will be a behind-the-scenes look at the Auckland Museum’s fashion archive. ”One of the nice things is the collaborative and cooperative atmosphere around the various museums and fans of fashion,” says Doris. “We are the new kids on the block and we have been really embraced by the institutions.” Small wonder - and now they have a ONZM in their ranks, too. (JULIE ROULSTON) PN

56 PONSONBY NEWS+ February 2013

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

DEADLINE – 20TH OF THE MONTH February 2013 PONSONBY NEWS+

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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 FEBRUARY 1925

My dearest Vera

I have a little news myself that you might enjoy. Do you remember Eleanor Perry who worked for Mrs.. Johnson at La Belle Facon[i] in Ponsonby Road? She’s got red curly hair, freckles and did all the finishing on Mrs. J’s frocks. For or some unknown reason, which I intend to fathom, she simply up and nd left her sewing bench one day in mid-November, without any notice. At the time Mrs. J was in the middle of an important order of wedding clothes for a party of five bridesmaids. I know because it was to me that Mrs. J came for assistance to complete the order on time. As if I didn’t already lready have enough on my plate. And as you know, I don’t owe old J anyy favours! Remember it was she who stole my best client three years ago with her ‘exclusive’ offer of Paris copies in ‘Italian’ silks and velvets at prices ices that considerably undercut mine.

Naturally I declined after which she burst into tears and told ld me about Eleanor’s sudden departure. Not one to hold a grudge, I succumbed d to the tears and made her a cup of tea and went over the orders with her. It took a week of late nights to finish the dresses, but she paid me well so I shouldn’t complain.

Anyway, back ck to Eleanor. Last week a friend in Warkworth sent me a clipping of an advertisement placed by Eleanor in the local paper advertising herself as a dressmaker and costumiere! She even mentions that she was the late assistant to Mrs. Johnson nson at La Belle Facon! The cheek of it…a finisher calling herself elf a costumiere!

I don’t thinkk I told you about my January drama! I was thrilled to receive an n invitation to design four items towards a new wardrobe forr a young social Dame travelling to London in the English spring. I was a bit nervous as she is known to be very picky ky and influential…the type to tell all her friends to avoid oid me if she didn’t like my work. I spent a whole week ek designing three versions of each outfit for herr to choose from and I even hand tinted them in her favourite hues. ues. Her fondness for marigold, d, violet and jade is well known as the papers pers carry detailed descriptions criptions of the costumess worn at every event she attends. tends.

+ 2013 58 PONSONBY PONSONBY PARISH NEWS+NEWS February

Anyway…two days before the showing of the designs, I found my sketches being used as a makeshift mat by Tiger who was happily chewing on an old bone that he had dug up from the garden. Not only were they filthy, but also ripped. Not one was salvageable. I had only left the door open briefly as I popped to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. Can you imagine my horror and panic!

I had to drop everything I was working on and try and recreate everything from scratch. The evening before the appointment I stayed up all night, and do you know, I think they were even better than the first sketches. She loved all the designs eespecially the dinner frocks, of which she ordered two! That vvery day she popped in with some gorgeous printed marigo marigold georgette that she had bought in Paris during her las last overseas sojourn. So far I’ve completed a smart mornin morning suit in crisp navy crepe with ecru detailing, an afterno afternoon dress in floral printed Swiss voile, one of the dinne dinner frocks (in the marigold georgette) and I’ve cut out the d dance dress. All have yet to be hemmed which I’ll do after afte the final fittings.

I do hope that this leads to m more exciting commissions this year. With my new workroom taking shape (which I’ll leave to my ne next letter), I’ll need all the extra guineas I can earn!

As you so enjoy your crossword puzzles, I’ve enclosed a cutting from the Star that will amuse you. It’s about the craze for crosswords in London and how it i has extended to fashion!

If you run out of o ideas dear, you could always create a lit little puzzle frock for one of your rivalling siste sisters! That’s sure to create a sensation as well as a request from her sister for an even more unique go gown!

Well dearest, I wish you goo good health, much happiness and many commissions for the New Year and look forward to your next letter with much anticipation!

With much love,

Maudie x [i] La Be Belle Facon was a dressmaking establishment dressmak located aat 297 Ponsonby Road at Three Lamps.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

illustration: 99designs

Thank you for your last letter, which was full of especially delicious news.

It seems that Greytown is obviously the place to be at present with its surplus of ‘goings on’! It is no wonder that you are so busy. I do believe that a good bout of social rivalry would do wonders for my business too!

The thought of the fun that you must be having designing and making all those additional frocks, each surpassing the other in splendour, drives me wild with jealousy.

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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MILLY NOLAN: VALENTINE’S DAY 14 FEBRUARY LADY LOVE – VALENTINE GIFTS FOR HER While the giving of yourself to your lover should be a good enough present in its own right, we all know that for one day out of the year, doing so is never enough – especially when it comes to the ladies. The annual event of Valentine’s Day calls for love to be shown through thoughtful actions, words and of course, gifts. If chocolates wrapped in a red satin, heart shaped box, or roses that will wilt in a week aren’t your thing, how about shaking up convention by buying something you know your lady will both love and use. Just remember boys, never be too practical – an iron will never be received with thanks.

ROBERT INDIANA LOVE SCULPTURE, $215 ……………

Spelling the word out for you clear and loud, this miniature sculpture is by renowned American pop artist Robert Indiana. Dating back to 1959, the original artwork has since been executed by the artist in many different designs and media. Take your pick of colours from gold, silver, red, pink and blue.

…………… ROB RYAN OTHER PLANETS PLATE, $50 Printed with artist Rob Ryan’s ‘Other Planets Cannot be As Beautiful As This One’ papercut artwork, this plate looks equally good on the wall as a piece of art or used as a delightful cheese platter.

a

GENEVA SOUND SYSTEM MODEL XS, $349 ……………

For frequent-flyers, this Geneva Sound System Model XS, is not just another clock radio; it’s portable high-fidelity sound system that delivers a rich and detailed sound so that your loved one’s music can be streamed from any Bluetooth-enabled device, from anywhere they may be.

…………… NESPRESSO U, $399 If your lady is a coffee addict, the Nespresso U will quickly become her new best friend. In addition to looking good on the bench top, it features a quick heat up time of 25 seconds as well as automatic brewing, so that your coffee begins the second you drop your Nespresso capsule and stops automatically when desired.

LUKEKE GLASS FANTAILS, $325 ……………

Beginning their life as a wax model, then cast in glass, these beautifully dainty Glass Fantails by glass artists Luke Jacomb and Kate Rutecki come in a range of colours and look amazing hung on the wall individually or in a flock.

…………… LE CREUSET POTERIE MINI COCOTTE, $70 A household name, Le Creuset cookware is a gift that is designed to last a lifetime. Miniature in size, these enamelled cast iron cocottes are best bought as a pair so you can enjoy ‘his and hers’ servings of your favourite sweet or savoury side dishes.

HELMUT NEWTON POLAROIDS, $150 ……………

One of the most influential photographers of all time, Helmut Newton’s collection of polaroids in this coveted tome capture the magic of his photo shoots which span over a decade. Full of seductive images of famous models and celebrities, this is the perfect gift for a fashion-loving lady.

…………… DAMIEN HIRST SOUL LOVE BEACH TOWEL, $230 Featuring one of British artist Damien Hirst’s beloved butterflies, this 100% cotton beach towel is perfect for all romantics as it is big enough to fit two comfortably.

(MILLY NOLAN) All products are available at www.mildredandco.com PN

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

60 PONSONBY NEWS+ February 2013

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON

CATCHING UP WITH NICK VON K Nick Klarwell – a.k.a. Nick von K, is a Grey Lynn resident and jewellery designer who recently opened his first retail store – a one month pop-up at Ponsonby Central. We caught up with Nick to hear about the experience and find out what’s next for the talented local.

Nick tells Ponsonby News, “We’d been searching for the right space for a pop-up for months, and Leah from Ponsonby Central had gotten in touch mid year. She was a real fan of the brand and that helped us negotiate. Ponsonby has a good demographic for us, plus this had the benefit of being a brand new property - it worked very well.”

Nick spent a little time on the shop floor himself. He was happy to earn a retail margin as opposed to his business’ usual wholesale only, and he loved feedback from retail customers. “We’re really keen to do it again, but we’d like a workshop/shop combo somewhere to help keep the cost of staff down - I quite like Ponsonby for that concept.

Nick and his staff were pleasantly surprised by the love shown for their brand in the store, “from the most unlikely people”. On the other hand, he says “we had so many people come through the shop who had never heard of us - a lot to do with the (neighbouring) cafe - that was really good for our brand.”

Amongst retail customers, the Nick von K bestsellers were consistent, but Nick is loathe to design specifically for retail. “I get to spend 10-20% of a year designing and being creative and that’s the best part - I want to do a maximum of original thinking, just for my sanity.”

RACHEL HUNTER and NICK KLARWELL a.k.a. Nick von K

The current ‘Viva la Victory’ collection will continue to be sold at retail through Winter 2013, and there will be a new Nick von K collection for Spring ’13. Viva La Victory was all about being very positive to counterbalance post-global financial crisis gloom, and Nick hints that the next release will have a similar sort of idea.

The designer maintains his own positivity by leading a balanced life. He does a dance class called Muscle and Bone at Unitec; he meditates, and he enjoys regular trips to Bali for work (“difficult business-wise, but amazing creatively”). His Dad is ‘a real businessman’ and his Mum an artist, and Nick feels he’s a combination of the two.

“They are very mainstream and they look at me with confusion sometimes” he laughs.

For now, Nick von K is back in its studio in Karangahape Road. “We have cabinets up there and can sell to the public, but (the studio) is tricky to find,” says Nick. “I want to be more a bit more professional, and the pop up was a great trial for that. I was a hippy kid who got into fashion, and the idea of being ‘professional’ was always foreign to me.

But I guess as you get older you want to find that naturally - it’s an evolution.”

Meantime Nick continues to bump into willing Nick von K ambassadors. International designer Nicole Miller is a champion as is our own Colin Mathura-Jeffree, and Rachel Hunter was a warmly welcomed store customer. Nick’s most recent ‘discovery’ is Bam Margera (from the Jackass TV series), who was buying some Nick von K at Auckland Airport and just may be the brand’s newest ambassador. “That’s the best way for me to promote the brand” say Nick “through someone that’s influential - get that underground notoriety first.” Here’s hoping we see his brand back in Ponsonby soon. PN

photography: Martin Leach

NICK VON K, La Gonda Arcade, 203-207 Karangahape Road, T: 09 550 9505 www.nvk.co.nz

THE XXL TEAM ENJOY TAPAS AT LA ZEPPA, VICTORIA PARK I’VE ALWAYS LOVED SPENDING TIME WITH SUCCESSFUL ‘ALCHEMISTS’ (AKA Enterpreneurs) which is why I was chuffed to bits when I heard Mark Ames and his partner James McNeill had crusied into Auckland while touring New Zealand. Mark founded XXL, a gay club in SE1 ‘Sauf’ East London - close to where Jay grew up. Jay and Mark worked on a building site together in the 1980s, so we all go a long way back.

Jay and I joined his new club as members back in 2000, just before we relocated to Auckland. Mark has done amazing things with the XXL brand which is now the biggest success story in the night club business woildwide. www.xxl-london.com PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FASHION + STYLE

JULIE ROULSTON

HIGH END DESIGNERS OPEN NEW PONSONBY STORES Fabulous as it is, there’s more new retail than flash Ponsonby Central to get excited about right now.

Arguably the coolest boys on the New Zealand fashion scene, Stolen Girlfriends Club have opened their first retail store in Mackelvie Street. SGC are very much locals - Dan has lived in Ponsonby for some 13 years; Marc now lives in Westmere and before that was in Scanlan Street.

ANDREA MOORE ‘Flowing Fox’ dress

STOLEN GIRLFRIENDS CLUB retail store

Dan says ‘Stolen’ simply ran out of space in their former Westmoreland Street premises. He’d been looking actively for the right space to relocate the brand for a long time. The Mackelvie Street premises are the right size, allowing for the retail store to offset the cost of the space. The interior walls are all moveable so the space can be used in multiple ways - for example, to host an intimate press show.

The Stolen Girlfriends Club shop opened just before Christmas - with Grace, sister of Marc’s girlfriend, managing it. The store offers the full SGC range including accessories, and is the only place fans can see the whole range merchandised. Changing rooms in the middle of the store are all mirrored to add to the look and feel of the space. Dan says the store adapts to collections and will morph each season.

Stolen’s Summer 12/13 is all about awesome prints. First summer is on sale now, with high summer due to go into sale a little later in the season. The first autumn styles will drop in February, including sensational snake and camo prints.

STOLEN GIRLFRIENDS CLUB, NZFW 2012 MOOCHI

Meantime the team are working on a first ‘designed by’ range for Urban Outfitters.

It’ll be slightly lower priced than SGC itself and will be available for purchase in late August September (online only for New Zealand but out of the bricks and mortar Urban Outfitters stores in the US). Also on the international front, Stolen Girlfriends Club has just launched into Korea, opening up into some of the best boutiques. Not bad for a couple of young surfer dudes who started out spray painting Converse for Zambesi!

Also on Mackelvie Street but at the northern end, are the new Andrea Moore and Ricochet stores.

Andrea Moore is a 15-year old label that opened its first store in 1997, and opened in Ponsonby Road in 2010. In December Andrea Moore moved to the fresh new Samson Corporation complex on Mackelvie Street, designed by RTA Studio Architects with Andrea herself designing the interior. “There are a lot of new and exciting developments coming to Ponsonby and we felt we would be left behind in our old store,”says Andrea.

“Also, the stairwell in our old store - whilst lovely and historical - was not a very good use of space. We had our workroom upstairs and were rapidly growing out of it.”

“The architecture in the new build is inspiring and I love light airy spaces,” Andrea continues. “We now have a designated area for showing each collection to buyers and I feel the new store represents the brand and how we feel about the future.” Andrea says the move has been very successful, with customers loving the new environment.”

The Andrea Moore store is neighboured by womenswear label Ricochet, who are new to Ponsonby. Also new to Greater Ponsonby proper is Cherry Bishop, who has relocated from Karangahape Road to Jervois Road.

Near Juliette Hogan on Ponsonby Road, Yellow Brick Road has moved from its Parnell home of two years and offers an eclectic mix of ‘rising star’ local and international brands like Paper Cup (Wellington), Miss Sparrow and Trolley Dolly (UK).

Moochi are due to open in the former Mei Mei site any day. And in news for her many fans, Karen Walker is relocating from her current store, to the significantly cool ‘Murder Burger’ site on the corner of Mackelvie Street and Ponsonby Road, later in the first half of 2013. (JULIE ROULSTON) PN

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FASHION + STYLE LA MADU – RESORT-WEAR SPECIALISTS WHETHER YOU ARE PLANNING A FABULOUS TIME AWAY IN THE SUN, LAZING BY the pool or dressing for dinner, La madu have a wonderful range of gorgeous kaftans, light summer dresses in a range of fun bright colours and cool white cottons to suit any of these and many other occasions.

La madu came to life 10 years ago as a fun diversion and excuse to travel to Southeast Asia and the Pacific, gathering favourite styles in clothing, shoes, furniture and home -wares and over time has evolved into specialists in resort living.

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Their resort-wear collection has expanded each year, even in the off-season for those escaping New Zealand’s winter. As well there are travel/summer staples for your wardrobe all year round and new splashes of style and colour to update your look regularly.

La Madu has recently moved from where Ponsonby Central is now, to a new and spacious store on Great North Road in Grey Lynn.

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 4.30pm Sunday, 10.30am - 4pm. PN LA MADU, 196 Great North Road, T: 09 360 4101 www.lamadu.co.nz

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PONSONBY NEWS READERS ARE EVERYWHERE 1

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1. KATHLEEN WYLIE-MCMANUS emailed us her photo in BALI, pre Christmas reading the Ponsonby News at the Beskih Temple on Mt Agung.

2. Locals DAVID MUSTARD and JACQUI THOMPSON take time out from their busy tennis coaching programme to get married on the Memorial Steps in Cornwall Park followed by a reception at the HERNE BAY Ponsonby Rackets Club.

3-4.Our columnist DAVID HARTNELL - always one to spot a Hollywood celebrity - was last month in THAILAND at an elephant show in Chang Mai, where he spotted DANNY DEVITO. Always at the ready to promote the Ponsonby News he gave Danny a copy to read. UGUR and SERPIL OVALI were also at the same elephant show in CHANG MAI, they are friends of Danny and were most taken with Ponsonby News, David tells us. PN

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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TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY! M

SAN FRANCISCO - EVERYONE SEEMS TO LOVE THE PLACE I love San Francisco it’s one of my favourite cities. Every time I go I see something different, the cities location has been used in so many different movies, you feel like you are walking around on a movie set, especially in the Nob Hill area.. I almost feel a little disappointed if I am in a taxi and fail to get air as we drive down the steep streets. When I’m standing in line to catch a tram, I feel it’d be more fitting if I was running to it, then throwing myself onboard.

San Francisco ’s Union Square District has some of the best names in fashion, dining and theatre it’s a great place to either base yourself or visit for a shopping fix. Pier 39 at Fishermans Wharf is an open air festival marketplace with some specialty shops and full service restaurants.

We hired bikes for the day from Fishermans Wharf cycling over the Golden Gate bridge to Sausalito Bay which is a pretty place to stop for lunch. Then if you don’t have the energy to cycle back over the bridge you can take the ferry back to town.

Alcatraz is a must see, you would want to book a tour before you arrive in San Francisco to avoid disappointment. There are day tours and also an Alcatraz at night which is quite eerie. Most people spend around two hours on the island and unless you know a lot about the history, the audio tour will help you know what you are looking at.

Wine lovers should try and head out to the Napa Valley Wine trails, it’s such a beautiful area with world class wines. Nature lovers will find Yosemite National Park fascinating. Urban explorers will take a walk and visit Lombard Street which is

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the worlds crookedest street or Filbert Street which is considered one of the steepest streets in San Francisco.

Depending on what time of year, I always try and immerse myself in either a baseball or football game. The locals are so passionate about their local heros it’s hard not to get wrapped up along with them.

For baseball you can try and catch either a San Francisco Giants or Oakland A’s game. For American football you can try and see either the San Francisco 49’ers or Oakland Raiders game. The atmosphere in the stadiums can be like nothing you’ve ever experienced.

There is so much to see and do in San Francisco whether it’s your final destination or a stopover there is something for everyone. PN If you are interested in travel to anywhere please don’t hesitate to contact the team at AIR NEW ZEALAND HOLIDAYS, 286 Ponsonby Road. T: 09 337 5660 E: holidays.ponsonby@airnz.co.nz

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M TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY!

THE GORILLAS OF RWANDA

By Caroline Clegg, World Journeys What do you do when you come face to face with a mountain gorilla?

Keep still, we’d been told. Outwardly I crouched as instructed, but inwardly my furiously beating heart was anything but still. It was a moment I’ll never forget. Being so close to such a powerful, wild yet somehow so calm, primate, with such piercing dark eyes – I was rooted to the spot.

We had been trekking through dense rainforest of the Parc National des Volcans, in the rain, for over two hours. Somehow our guide knew where this family of gorillas was likely to have moved to since the previous day. The guides who accompany these treks have often been involved in the habituation process themselves, and can identify individual gorillas by the shape of their noses.

The Parc National des Volcans protects the steep rainforested slopes of the Virungas mountain range. Still precariously endangered, a census conducted in 2010 showed 480 gorillas live in the Virungas. Roughly half of the world’s wild population of mountain gorillas are resident on the Rwandan slopes of the Virungas, others in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park of Uganda, and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Although strong and powerful, mountain gorillas are generally gentle and shy. Family is everything, with strong bonds between extended family members, led by the dominant male silverback. The silverback of the group we came across was supremely impressive, with a massive chest, long muscular arms, and an air of authority you just wouldn’t mess with. The family included several adorable toddlers who gamboled amongst the undergrowth playfully, with mum never far away. In a 40-50 year lifetime, a female might have only two – six living offspring, with a slow reproductive system and the risk from poachers further threatening the survival of the species.

Spending time just observing this family of gorillas, up-close, was an incredible experience. Observing us with mild curiosity, it was nice to see that getting their fill of the lush foliage was more of priority. It was the eyes that really moved me, so human, so engaging; there was a real sense of personality behind each face. We stayed like this, crouched in the forest in their world, at their level, the initial fear turning to wonder.

Eventually the family moved off to their next grazing patch, leaving us grinning from ear to ear.

We still had a trek to get back down the mountain, but thankfully there are now a handful of comfortable lodges close to the national park, and all of the comforts to enjoy after your trek.

Few animals have sparked the imagination of man as much as the gorilla, and any challenges it takes to get even a glimpse of these magnificent creatures, are rewarded a hundred-fold. If ever there was an ultimate ‘thing to do before you die’, this is it. PN

Thankfully most gorillas live in fairly inaccessible regions in very dense forests, and the involvement of local communities in their conservation, and in gorilla trekking activities, further protects these magnificent animals.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TRAVEL BREAKS: THE NEW THERAPY! M CRUISING CANADA AND NEW ENGLAND Taking a cruise along the coast of New England and East Canada is a unique and relaxing way to experience some of the beautiful attractions that this special area has to offer.

From fall colours to national parks and history, the team at Cruiseabout Ponsonby shares their tips and must-do’s on your cruise of Canada and New England.

Look for departures in September or October so you can take advantage of the East Coast’s famous fall colours.

The Titanic tour in Halifax is a fantastic way to learn about the history of the ship and visit the graveyards. The Maritime Museum has even recovered the original artifacts.

Pedal through the natural wonders of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine on a mountain bike, or take a stunning coastal drive past hand cut stone bridges and Cadillac Mountain. Don’t forget your lobster meal here, a bargain for just $10!

There’s no experience quite like cruising out of New York Harbour, a balcony cabin on starboard will give you a perfect view of Staten Island and the Statue of Liberty.

In Newport, Rhode Island, visit the oldest pub in the United States, dating back to 1752. We recommended a welcoming cold pint after wandering the cliff tops and viewing the stately mansions.

A culinary tour of Boston’s ‘Little Italy’ markets is an absolute must do and will appeal to both the foodies and non-foodies alike.

Princess Cruises have two ships in this region offering either a seven night return New York cruise or a 10 night cruise from New York to Quebec City. PN For more information, or to book your next cruise holiday, contact New Zealand’s dedicated cruise specialists at CRUISEABOUT PONSONBY on T: 0800 867 667 or visit www.cruiseabout.co.nz

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LANI LOPEZ: HEALTHY LIVING HAVE A CLEANSING NEW YEAR Having survived the season of excess, is it time for a detox?

Help the skin by excreting toxins with steam baths, saunas, massage and dry-skin brushing. Use a long handled brush with firm natural fibres. Brush from toes to scalp firmly but not hard enough to break skin or deeply colour it, a slight flush is okay showing increased circulation.

THE STOP SIGNS Signs that a detox is in order include bad-breath, allergies, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, digestive symptoms, joint pain, headaches, and skin symptoms including rashes, itching, or sensitivity and unusually strong body-odour.

Morning tongue-scraping will remove the white layer of toxins built up overnight.

All signs that your body has lost it’s balance (homeostasis) and needs help to restore wellbeing. Ridding your system of toxins can help with improved energy, concentration, eyesight, digestion and sleep. Faster recovery from strain and stress. Healthier skin and hair. Less body odour, fresher breath and improved libido.

As difficult as detox can be, it is a key to health wellbeing, restoring your body’s natural and optimal balance for a healthy, happy and high-energy summer.

WORK WITH YOUR BODY Working with the body prioritises skin, lungs, liver, kidneys, blood and the lymphatic system which all have significant roles to play in detox.

Detox is hard work, a few quiet minutes meditation a day helps. I like those at www.quietmindcafe.com.

Lani Lopez BHSc, Adv.Dip.Nat, our favourite naturopath, is a clinical nutritionist, author and specialist formulator of Naturopathic Supplements. She fights toxicity at lanilopez.com Email comments or health questions to naturopath@lanilopez.com or find her on facebook/lanilopez.com PN

DETOX YOUR DIET In my view a detox diet is the most effective of all the detox options. A detox diets is a short refinement of what goes into your body to get toxins out and lasts for three to four weeks.

Restrict yourself to whole, unrefined, non-allergenic foods.

Leafy greens, eaten raw in salads is especially good.

Carrots, pumpkin, capsicum in fact all yellow and orange vegetables, Berries and fresh fruits especially watermelon.

Eat only whole grains, not pastas or white rice, brown is fine and make kumara your carb of choice.

Lean fresh and organic meat. Eat fresh fish.

Liver cleansing foods are broccoli and cauliflower (all brassica vegetables), dandelion root, globe artichoke, garlic and onions.

Refined sugars, dairy, processed foods, coffee and alcohol are out. This can cause sugar cravings, increase your intake of fresh fruit every day and keep fruit handy for snacking.

Drink water all day every detox day. Some fruit juice but be aware fruit is rich in sugary fructose. Prune juice helps clean you out.

DETOX HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS Liver: Globe artichoke, burdock, milk thistle and turmeric.

Kidneys: Parsley and dandelion leaf extract. Boil parsley in water for ten minutes.

Strain and drink one glass daily.

Lymph and Blood: Echinacea, cleavers, red clover helps cleanse the blood eliminating metabolic waste through skin, kidneys, lymph, breath and bowels.

Lipoic Acid as directed and Vitamin C one gram three times daily. Psyllium seed for fibre. Teas of chamomile, lavender, skullcap or passionflower.

After detox rebuild gut-defences and relax your adrenals with probiotics, aloe juice and adrenal tonics.

BETTER OUT THAN IN Cleansing reactions are common like headaches, nausea, fatigue, gas, bloating, cramping, hot and cold sensations, congestion, flu-like symptoms, perspiration, aches and pains.

Not everyone feels these, some feel quite elated and energised. If you’re uncomfortable, rest and slow down. But persist with detox, it is worth some short-term discomfort.

Some symptoms are emotionally unsettling so get support. Detox with a friend. Online friends count. For my last detox I invited facebook friends along, posting daily updates on my ups and downs. This made my cleansing journey more fun. Find me on facebook if you need support.

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING ARE YOU A PONSONBYITE IN THE KNOW? Not a fan of big gyms - fighting over crowded car parks and sweaty equipment, over used, non private changing rooms, struggling to hear your heart rate over the screeching nightclub music, or simply over wanting more?

Increasingly Ponsonby locals are making the quick 10 minute trip from Ponsonby to a boutique retreat in the heart of Parnell. Stylish and sophisticated, this gym caters to its health conscious and busy clientele. Subtly tucked away off Parnell Road, the Exercise Room is a secret kept by the strictly limited membership base. Those ‘in the know’ come here for the unique member focused philosophy and the sanctuary like atmosphere.

ER caters for anyone seeking an individual, holistic and results driven fitness program.

Coming to ER is like tapping into a hub of health and fitness advice, with expert personal trainers that each have over 10 years experience. Many have additional backgrounds; physiotherapy, osteopathy and massage - ensuring every members’ wellbeing is paramount. There is also a qualified dietician on hand.

With 24-hour swipe card access, members can work out when it suits their busy schedule. There is also the convenience of free undercover car parking right by the door and individual bathroom suites for added privacy with fresh towels, amenities, hairdryers and lockers making this one of the most comprehensive fitness clubs in the country.

The exercise room is giving away a membership including three personal training sessions, vibration training and an individual program valued at over $1500. To enter email info@theexerciseroom.co.nz with your name, contact details and one health or fitness goal you wish to achieve this year. PN THE EXERCISE ROOM, 3 Akaroa Street Parnell T: 09 307 2080 www.theexerciseroom.co.nz

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

FITNESS RUN PAYS BIG DIVIDENDS KERI’S 10 DAY KICK START PLAN: FOR WESTMERE RESIDENT COMMIT + COMPLETE = RESULT Westmere’s Lisa Ottaway got a lot more than she bargained for when she took part in the Sculpt Women’s 6k fitness event at Britomart in November last year.

A GOOD OLD FASHIONED KICK IN THE PANTS IS SOMETIMES WHAT WE NEED to get us motivated and inspired. The job is never too big it just needs to be started. How do you eat an elephant... you start at the beginning and you nudge away until you have completed the task.

After completing the course with up to 3000 other women, Lisa’s name was randomly drawn from all those who entered the race. She was thrilled to win the keys to a shiny new Mazda2.

We are all individuals with different triggers, patterns, habits and thoughts, goals and lifestyles. Becoming trimmer and then remaining trim is about placing your health and fitness as a propriety. Let’s face it without your health you have nothing!

“I was so shocked and surprised when I heard my number read out and I couldn’t believe I had won a Mazda2. It is the first time in my life I have won something as big as this and it feels fantastic,” says Lisa.

Keri’s weight loss plans are individually planned making them work around each individual’s business timelines, financial situations, and fitness levels, family and social events. Our bodies are no different to our motor vehicles, we run on filters, pipes and tubes the performance is revealed in the care we apply and fuel placed within. Cleanse your motor with ‘The Keri Ropati 10 Day Kick Start Programme’ then keep it clean and lean for a long happy active healthy life.

Glenn Harris, General Manager, Vehicle Sales & Marketing for Mazda New Zealand, says he was pleased to be able to give Lisa the keys to the Mazda2.

“This is the second year we have supported the Sculpt 6k event and it is growing in popularity. We look forward to being involved again this year and giving another lucky participant like Lisa the chance to win a great Mazda vehicle.”

Lisa got to select her colour, an eye catching Aquatic Blue and collected her new Mazda2 from her local Mazda dealership, JOHN ANDREW MAZDA in Grey Lynn.

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Once you see the results after the 10 days you will be hooked into the transformation of yourself. Weight loss is not rocket science – it’s a simple formula - eat less – move more!

I take care of both. Ensuring your food intake balances out your energy expenditure. You just turn up and listen and do. The ‘10 Day Kick Start plan’ – provides the tools to work on the healthier, trimmer, fitter you. PN KERI ROPATI, WEIGHT LOSS SPECIALIST, 37 Mackelvie Street T: 09 378 1410 M: 021 530 807 E: keri@keriropati.co.nz www.keriropati.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

RYAN SHARMA, President and TRACEY O’CONNOR, resident coach

GAME, SET AND MATCH There have been courts on the site of Pompallier Tennis Club in Ponsonby since the 1930s, but things have changed a bit since then – just as the game itself has changed dramatically. Club president Ryan Sharma knows that.

He managed prestigious sports clubs in London for seven years and that experience, coupled with his business background have led to some changes at the club since he took on the role last year.

“We’ve introduced a special first year adult membership ($250 instead of the usual $375) and reduced our junior subscription rate too.”

An online court booking system, ladies night every Thursday, the ever popular Wednesday club nights and junior social tennis get-togethers during term time on Friday evenings are all part of the new-look club.

“We have a fantastic coaching set up led by Tracey O’Connor of iplaytennis who is a former New Zealand number 2 player,” says Ryan.

“We cater to all levels and ages and we’ve developed some great social tennis events too,” says Tracey. She says the ‘attackers and defenders’ events for adults are a terrific workout and very social too. “Anyone can enter and players always relax with a drink and BBQ afterwards.”

Tracey says juniors are well looked after with an extensive programme catering for the smallest enthusiasts through to secondary school age and beyond.

After tennis is over, the club’s position off College Hill overlooking the city is one of the best places to relax with a drink after a game. And thanks to the generosity of the club’s main sponsor, Champagne Bollinger, there is a fine selection of wine behind the bar and an annual Ladies Day tournament.

Ryan says he hopes the changes, and more to come over the year, will encourage people back to the game he loves, and inspire more people to take up a racket for the first time.

UPCOMING EVENTS: • “ATTACKERS AND DEFENDERS” get together is on Sunday 10 February, 3-5 pm. Cost $25 (also 3 and 24 March) • JUNIOR SOCIAL NIGHT, 4.30 – 6 pm Friday 8 February.

Cost: $5 members, $10 non-members (includes fun coaching, games and a BBQ) PN POMPALLIER TENNIS CLUB, 11 Green Street, T: 09 376 5689 E: manager.pompallier@vodafone.co.nz www.pompalliertennis.co.nz

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JOHN APPLETON ON HEALTH 14 years ago at the age of 79 my father died of ‘heart failure’. At the time I knew very little about this condition but I set out to learn as much as I could in the hope that I might avoid the onset of this life threatening disease.

Many people might imagine that the term heart failure refers to a situation where the heart suddenly stops beating. Heart failure is in fact a chronic and progressive condition whereby the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s requirement for blood and oxygen. The most common contributors to the development of heart failure are coronary heart disease – high blood pressure which puts extra strain on the heart – heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation and damage to the heart muscle by infections, alcohol, drug abuse or sometimes as a side effect of prescribed drugs.

In a recent letter to the editor of the NZ Herald Dr Andrew Connolly from Middlemore Hospital noted that ‘50% of health costs accrue in the last two years of life’. With this in mind heart failure should be a priority for our health system. The Ministry of Health acknowledges that it’s a significant personal and public health problem and international literature shows growing hospital admission rates for heart failure and a high level of re-admissions (my father was admitted several times). Maori have the highest hospital admissions for heart failure at nearly three times that of non-Maori.

The two most noticeable indications of heart failure are shortness of breath (dyspnea) and oedema (build-up of fluid). As the pumping action of the heart becomes less and less powerful, blood does not move efficiently through the circulatory system and starts to back up, increasing the pressure in the blood vessels and forcing fluid from the blood vessels into body tissues.

If the left side of the heart (the left ventricle) starts to fail fluid collects in the lungs making it more difficult for the airways to expand and breathing becomes more difficult particularly with activity or when lying down. If the right side of the heart, (the right ventricle) which pumps de-oxygenated blood to the lungs is not able to maintain function, fluid collects in the feet and lower legs.

Many people might be surprised to know that it takes more energy for the heart to relax and fill with blood than it does to contract and pump the blood. There’s a condition associated with heart failure known as diastolic dysfunction which is where the filling phase of the heart is compromised.

Current treatment for heart failure is based on a cocktail of pharmaceuticals which include vasodilators which help the blood vessels to dilate (the most commonly used is an ACE inhibitor) beta blockers which slow down the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and have a direct effect on the heart muscle to lessen the workload of the heart.

Diuretics (often referred to as ‘water’ pills) are used to help remove fluid build-up.

The most commonly prescribed diuretics are Furosemide and Spironolactone. Another drug is Digoxin which helps to slow the heart and make the heart contract more strongly. Many heart failure patients are also taking Cholesterol lowering drugs and other medications. All this would be well and good if the statistics for heart failure were significantly improving thus avoiding the ever increasing requirement for secondary

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care as the disease progresses. This is however not the case and clearly some new thinking is required.

Anyone who is willing to open their eyes to search for new horizons will see that the answer lies in the field of ‘bioenergetics’ (a field of biochemistry that concerns energy flow through living systems). One thing that is very clear – heart failure is not caused by a deficiency of any pharmaceutical drug but it may be caused by deficiencies of key nutrients essential for the production of cellular energy (the energy currency used by the body is known as ATP - adenosine triphosphate).

Heart failure is a disease that manifests when the energy needs of the heart are not able to be met. This is simple biochemistry and surely therefore, prevention and treatment of heart failure should be based on meeting the energy needs of the heart.

The energy powerhouses found in all of our cells are known as mitochondria and it’s no surprise given the energy requirements of the heart that mitochondria occupy 75% of the volume of every heart cell.

There are four vital nutrients that our mitochondria need if they are to function optimally thus providing the cell with the fuel it needs – coenzyme Q10 – D-Ribose – L-Carnitine and magnesium (known in metabolic cardiology as ‘The Awesome Foursome’). Q10 is known as the ‘energy’ molecule – sparking the production of ATP. D-Ribose is a key component of the molecular structure of ATP – L-Carnitine shuttles fats into the mitochondria to be burned for energy and Magnesium has many roles including switching on the ‘energy enzymes’. It should be noted that beta blockers and cholesterol drugs inhibit the endogenous (in the body) production of coenzyme Q10 – effectively compromising the process of making ATP. As levels of coenzyme Q10 drop the heart becomes weaker.

Prior to Christmas I learned of an elderly man who was dying of heart failure. His doctors told him that there was nothing more that could be done and he was referred to the hospice. Family members arrived from overseas fearing the worst. Thanks to a doctor who was not willing to give up – the man was given optimal doses of the ‘Awesome Foursome’. He’s back at home able to walk around and although he is still very ill he’s doing really well.

If simple nutritional interventions can be life-saving for someone at the end stage, what could they do when it comes to prevention, treatment at the time of diagnosis or reducing the need for hospital care later on? As I see it, it’s high time to overcome bias and what we learned in the 20th century and start looking into simple very safe and effective solutions to a very costly disease. American Cardiologist Dr Stephen Sinatra has written an excellent and easy to read book on this topic “The Sinatra Solution” - available from Amazon.com. (JOHN APPLETON) PN APPLETON ASSOCIATES, T: 09 489 9362 john@johnappleton.co.nz www.johnappleton.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

BEYONDFIT - FOCUS ON WOMENS HEALTH A balanced, healthy lifestyle is the cornerstone of Personal Trainer Hébe van Schagen’s personal and professional philosophies.

A former TV Production Manager, Hébe re-evaluated her career priorities following the birth of her two daughters. With much enthusiasm (and some trepidation!), Hébe embraced the opportunity to carve a new professional life based on her long-held interest in fitness, nutrition and wellbeing.

The result was BeyondFit. Launched early in 2012, BeyondFit has a special focus on women’s health, including pre and post-natal fitness.

The fast growing client base reflects Hébe’s objective of encouraging all women to make their personal fitness and nutrition a priority.

But Hébe appreciates this isn’t always easy. As a working Mum whose partner travels frequently, Hébe’s own experiences are testament to the importance of sustainable

training programmes that are realistic, flexible and geared towards a sense of personal achievement.

This understanding is intrinsic to the BeyondFit approach. Clients are supported from the outset with programmes incorporating specific elements of the home and lifestyle.

A flight of stairs, a garden bench or a nearby hill might all feature in a customised BeyondFit regime.

Babies and children are welcome at any personal training session.

The BeyondFit results speak for themselves. Clients experience countless benefits from improved fitness levels, weight management, enhanced wellbeing and immunity and, perhaps most important of all, a more positive life attitude. PN

For an obligation-free personal fitness consultation, please call or email BEYONDFIT today on M: 021 631 555 E: hebe@beyondfit.co.nz www.beyondfit.co.nz

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HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY

NIKKI RALSTON AND THE RALSTON METHOD When I was nearing the end of a five week long course of daily radiation therapy towards the end of last year I was desperate to feel like the ‘old me’ again, and that involved being able to exercise in any way, shape or form. I gradually started getting back into Pilates classes at the wonderful re:ab on Selbourne Street, but was missing yoga and the emotional support it gave me.

Chronic tiredness and pain meant that many of the old classes I’d attended were just not an option, and then a friend recommended some one-on-one sessions with a woman called Nikki Ralston. To say that meeting Nikki was like a bolt of kindness and understanding from out of the blue would be putting it mildly – she and her self -developed Ralston Method have the possibility to be true life changers.

After her daughter Ahlianah turned two, she started teacher training. “I had a difficult birth and really appreciated the difference yoga could make to my body afterwards,” she explains, “especially as things that had always came naturally to my body became so much harder. I gained a much deeper understanding of what I needed to do to feel strong again and wanted to share that knowledge with others.”

The Ralston Method was born from observing clients over the years and “identifying gaps in the cohesiveness of their self care,” says Nikki. “I saw a need for a unified approach to wellness - it’s yoga and it’s massage and it’s skincare. It’s about making yourself a priority and having the tools to be able to do that.”

She herself has experienced “increased health, stronger immunity, vibrant energy and calmer state of mind” since beginning her yoga journey, and is passionate about yoga and its benefits. “I want to give people powerful tools to live life to the fullest and feel good doing it,” says the petite dynamo, who is living proof of how good it can make you look and feel. “People come to me because they know they need something, they need to know how to tune out – and how to tune in to themselves. That is the essence of what I’m doing.”

The first step is a goal setting meditation with Nikki (something I personally am hanging out to do), “so you can refine what you really want and I can get a good sense of what your goals are too. When you set goals through meditation it comes from a much more organic place within you, you can really surprise yourself when you’re not just focusing on what you think you ‘should’ be doing.” She likens it to “living in your future rather than just thinking about it”, and then she steps in to help you refine how you can get to that place.

For 2013 she is working on refining her retreat and workshop formula and currently still based at her pop up studio at 24 Mckelvie Street where she takes two group classes a week on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

For details visit www.theralstonmethod.com (HELENE RAVLICH) PN

“I think of myself as a yoga educator, empowering people who come to me with tools and awareness that last a lifetime,” she says, and she’s found that more and more of the work she is doing is one-on-one. She trained as a beauty and massage therapist almost 15 years ago and still loves working in that area too, applying her Ralston Method ideology to both when she can.

Her late father Jack was a top-level running and triathlon coach, and Nikki admits that he “really was the most inspirational person in my life. The Ralston Method philosophy was imprinted in me while I was growing up and is the backbone to what I have built upon through my practice of yoga and working with hundreds of clients for bodywork.”

She started her first business at age 24 doing corporate massage back when the concept of massage in the workplace was still relatively new. Around this time – after a few years dabbling in yoga on and off - she discovered Iyengar yoga, which at first was a great way to stretch out her sport-honed body. “I straight away thought ‘ooh I really like this!’” she laughs, “and Iyengar appealed because of its precision and intricacies.

I started going more and more and had a feeling that one day I’d like to teach it.”

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CLARE CALDWELL THE ART OF LIVING People often say when they hear that you paint, ”Oh that must be sooo relaxing!” Actually it’s anything but!

The activity of painting plunges us into a world of both despair and transcendence.

Creativity, serious creativity, demands enormous amounts of all-consuming and uninterrupted focus and energy. How many of us can take time out whenever we choose from the expectations and demands of our lives? Finding time to be creative is never that simple. Creative thought doesn’t automatically and conveniently kick in whenever we have space to utilise it and then often when we do get space, we have to combat that old adage – the creative block.

However, if we can get over this hump, the dividends of being an artist can emerge. We can begin to experience the timelessness of total immersion, that expansion of consciousness as myriads of ideas and possibilities surge through our minds ... until one surfaces and manifests onto the canvas with a shining, unconditional clarity.

This is the moment; this is the elation and excitement that transcends all other.

This is what makes it all worthwhile.

Because, then can follow the doubts. Do I re-work this or leave it as it is? Do I follow a lineal progression or embrace a more loosely linked lateral direction?

Do I slavishly stick to my original concept or embrace the laws of chance and new discovery? What am I trying to say here?

Working out definitive answers to these dilemmas can be exhausting and seems to rely on primal gut intelligence as much as cognitive, rational decisions.

Comments from others at this stage too, however well-meaning, can be confusing and can cause us to falter and lose confidence if the original idea is not perceived or validated.

Criticism at any stage is hard. Public criticism, bad reviews and misinterpretations can cause great hits to the psyche, despair and sometimes anger. Praise of course is encouraging but ironically, the insidious influences of too much popular success can be just as difficult as criticism, in more subtly manipulative ways.

EXPAND JOY, PLEASURE, AND CREATIVITY IN YOUR LIFE AROHA HEALING HAS STARTED THE 2013 YEAR with much to celebrate. With developments to existing treatments and services underway, Aroha Healing is thrilled to announce the launch of their sister brand - Sacred Tantra exclusively for women.

Sacred Tantra teaches women ancient techniques to feel more feminine, passionate, awakened, balanced and fulfilled in love, life and intimacy. Sacred Tantra offers private sessions and workshops that are designed for women, of any sexual orientation; you will be shown how to expand joy, pleasure, and creativity in your life and your relationship.

After a few sessions with Rosanna, women are invited to ask their partner to join them for couple’s sessions, so partners can learn how to massage, heal and ignite each other in their own environment. Women are encouraged to try Rosanna’s tantric belly dance classes, currently held two evenings per week, and there is an option of 15-30 minutes of personal tantric belly dance instruction that can be added into your treatment session.

In a safe, respectful and beautiful environment, you will be introduced to the foundational principles and practices of the “sacred dance of love.” Developed by the Aroha Healing and Sacred Tantra approach you will be taken through a step-by-step process to include meditation, conscious breathing, tantric belly dance classes, energy and self awareness plus Aroha Healing bodywork, and self love exercises. Rosanna Marks, founder of Aroha Healing and Sacred Tantra teaches women sacred skills and how to unleash their full capacity for intimate connection and bliss, both within themselves and within relationships. PN To read more about AROHA HEALING and SACRED TANTRA visit www.arohahealing.co.nz and www.sacredtantra.co.nz or call Rosanna Marks on T: 0800mindbody (0800 646 326)

So why do it? For me it’s my life-blood – a doorway to an inner world of endless mysterious visual manifestation. As with my art therapy work, this manifestation taps into the primal, pre-verbal world of the subconscious, so abundant with pre -cognitive, liminal and subliminal riches.

Sharing my inner world over the years through the vehicles of painting, sculpture, photography, murals and installations has created a path I feel compelled to follow.

Whether you choose it or it chooses you, the vocation of being an artist is a roller -coaster ride of great highs and great lows. But what a ride! 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

GREAT HAIR, RIGHT NOW: THE NEW KOKOMO DRY BAR WHEN IT COMES TO HAIR, THE “DRY BAR” CONCEPT IS MOST DEFINITELY where it’s at right now. Every woman loves a blow wave – some (like myself) a little more than others! – but don’t necessarily have the time or money to throw around on a serious ‘do. It’s amazing what can be achieved with a few products and some hot tools in a very short space of time however, especially when they are wielded by a truly expert hand!

I first became aware of (and mildly obsessed by) the dry bar phenomenon when travelled to London a couple of years ago. There seemed to be one on almost every corner, and some of the city’s top salons were starting to offer dry styles along with their traditional services. For those of you that have never been lucky enough to have one, a ‘dry style’ involves turning up at a salon with freshly washed and dried, squeaky clean hair, which is then turned into something quite marvelous by a stylist in around 30-45 minutes tops. Some – like Dry & Tea’s Louise Pilkington – work unbelievable magic in just 15 minutes, depending on what look you’re after and whether it involves a more labour intensive ‘up do’ or just loose, beachy waves.

The first dedicated dry bar - that I know of – to arrive in the Ponsonby area can be found in Kokomo hair salon, a popular spot that has been a Ponsonby beauty staple for 16 years. Owner Richelle Gott decided to add the Kokomo Dry Bar service to the salon after seeing the international trend for express styling go through the roof over the past year, and put a lot of thought into getting her own salon’s version just right. She has added the trademark Kokomo quirky retro personality to proceedings throughout, and even pays homage to the surrounding Ponsonby community by featuring styles named after popular cocktails, all presented beautifully within a leather bound folder. “It’s given us a fun theme to play with and we’ve really gone to town with it,” says Richelle.

They even have branded coasters placed in nearby bars and cafes (you can’t miss them) together with a ‘bar tab’ whereby clients receive a free style after five visits. You can also ‘pre pay’ your bar tab and save, making it an even more attractive option or a superb gift idea for a loved one.

If you fancy a Manhattan or a Mojito or want to embrace your curls with a Shirley Temple, there’s something on the list to please even the most discerning of clients, or you are welcome to come in with an idea of your own. Styles are priced from $40.00 upwards, and the very cute menu covers everything from classic looks to the latest trends. The options change out every six months too in order to keep the looks fresh and modern, which I for one think is a great idea. “While the listed looks help clients decide what look they want to opt for, it’s not limited to what’s on the menu. The options are endless and as long as it fits within the timeframe, we’ll do it,” explains Richelle.

You can also opt for a shampoo and treatment beforehand if you have time and a little extra cash to invest, with the salon also offering Steam Pod, Repair and Anti-Frizz treatments that have some serious power to transform tortured locks in one hit and in a relatively short amount of time.

The addition to the salon lets stylists get as creative as is required and encourages clients to pop in for a quick hair fix before an event or an important meeting, and the big, bouncy waves I left with after a visit there before Christmas lasted several days (and a couple of Christmas parties).

If you have something special on or just feel like spending some time treating yourself then I highly recommend you pay the lovely stylists at Kokomo a visit – get adventurous and go dry this Summer! (HELENE RAVLICH) PN KOKOMO, 51 Ponsonby Road T: 09 378 9225

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HOROSCOPES MISS PEARL NECLIS ♒ Aquarius (the Water Carrier): 21 January - 19 February

You feel like you have some kind of emotional attachment to something that happened in your past. If you feel like now is the time to touch on it, make sure you find the right person to confide in.

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

Exploring your imagination now will require you to make time and that is something you don’t always have a lot of. You could try and get a little balance in your life and then you might be able to get lost in your fantasies for a while.

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

If you feel like you need to splash out a bit on something for yourself now is the time to do it. You are always being told to be careful and budget, but occasionally you have to just enjoy yourself and deal with the consequences later.

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

You’re expected to be social at events and family gatherings but occasionally you don’t always want to be involved. Don’t beat yourself up about it, sometimes you have to take a stand if there is something you don’t want to do.

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

♌ Leo (the Lion): 23 July - 21 August

You have in the past said yes to anything when asked by acquaintances and friends to help out in some way, as you have always been a kind and generous person. But unfortunately this has finally caught up with you. Your health suffered in different ways last year, try and keep a positive attitude when you can as this will be your best defence.

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

If someone comes to you this month with a problem you need to show a bit more emotional support than you usually do. Dealing with emotions can be hard for you but on this occasion you need to be there.

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

If you find yourself in a sticky situation his month, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The help might come from an unexpected source but it will be worth your while to take it.

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

You feel like someone has been deliberately winding you up and you’re not completely certain who it is. You need to trust your instincts on this one, even if you have to be a bit devious to catch them out.

♐ Sagittarius (the Archer): 23 November - 22 December

If you try and hold back what you’re feeling, negativity will seep out and could damage you and those around you. Don’t avoid your emotions if you can instead take responsibility and listen and you might be able to deal with things a bit better.

You’re such a charmer that you’re able to talk your way out of anything this month especially as you seem to have been up to a bit of mischief lately. If you curb in your wild ways now an opportunity that you missed in the past has a possibility of presenting itself again to you.

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

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

You seem to always tell people how you feel when asked but sometimes you are not always honest with your answers. Last year wasn’t a great year health wise make sure this year is about you.

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You can be kept busy this month by trivial things that aren’t really that important in the grand scheme of things. But this may be intentional as you may be trying to avoid the real issues that you have to deal with. If you have problems they won’t go away by avoiding them. PN

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PLANET AYURVEDA: ASK DOCTOR AJIT Each month, DR AJIT, Australasia’s most experienced Ayurvedic practitioner answers a reader’s question. Please e-mail yours to info@ponsonbynews.co.nz

Q:

I have reached menopause and am having a terrible time with night sweats and hot flushes. I am reluctant to try HRT so want to explore more natural therapies. What can you recommend?

Name and address withheld

Menopause is a normal developmental event for middle-aged women, regardless of race, childbearing, weight, age of menarche or socio-economic factors. For some women the menopausal years may be asymptomatic but up to 75% of women have hot flushes, most for more than one year and 50% for more than five years. The physiological changes of menopause are caused primarily by declining ovarian function and a resulting decrease in ovarian hormone secretion. In the menopausal years, FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (lutenising hormone) produced by the pituitary gland are elevated, and oestradiol and progesterone organs (uterus, vagina, cervix) gradually atrophy.

A:

Hot flushes are caused by vasomotor changes. They are characterised by a rise in skin temperature, dilation of peripheral blood vessels, changes of electrical resistance in the skin, and transient increase in heart rate. The flush may be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, headaches, palpitations, sweating or night sweats. It is thought these flushes are triggered by estrogen withdrawal rather than estrogen lack. They can also be triggered by emotional stress, excitement, fear or anxiety.

According to Ayurveda, menopause is a natural phase of life. Any problems that occur during menopause are the result of earlier dietary and lifestyle habits that have caused toxins to accumulate. Hot flushes are considered a Pitta aggravation, when heat is trapped in the body by this accumulation. As heat becomes trapped, sweating occurs especially at Pitta time at night (midnight to 2 am). Other Pitta symptoms are irritability, short temperedness, anger, and an inability to adjust to warm temperatures.

The emphasis in Ayurveda is on prevention so that imbalances and subsequent problems do not arise. Prevention is based on following an Ayurvedic diet, daily and seasonal routines and following Ayurvedic principles during menstruation. The main recommendation at this time of a women’s life is to follow a Vata pacifying diet. You need to avoid dry, rough, cold foods, and have warm, smooth moist foods rather than raw foods like salads. A low protein diet will be helpful to maintain or improve the

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strength and density of the bones. Food sources of calcium are cow’s milk, yoghurt, sesame seeds, carrots, coconut and almond milk. A nutritious drink is to soak almonds overnight in water and in the morning remove skins and blend in with a cup of warm spiced milk. As snacks, include small amounts of soaked almonds and raisins every day. Lightly boiled whole milk with fresh grated ginger or cardamom is helpful in the evening before bed. Sesame seed toasted with jaggery is also very nutritious. The main items to avoid are red meat, yellow cheese, coffee, excess tea, recreational drugs and alcohol.

DAILY ROUTINE • Rise early and go to bed early (this is dosha balancing) • After going to the toilet, clean the teeth & scrape the tongue (removes ama and stimulates the internal organs).

• Drink a glass of warm water with ginger, honey and lemon (encourages the bowels to move, aids the circulation and expulsion of ama) • Self-massage using warm oil such as sesame or Vata oil (reduces Vata).

• Light exercise or yoga would be ideal or a short walk.

• Deep breathing – five minutes at least six times a day • Regular meditation is also beneficial (calms the mind) • Eat regular, warm cooked meals.

• Walking after dinner would be helpful (allow 30 minutes rest after the meal) • Allow at least three hours between the evening meal and retiring to bed.

• Monthly massage from a qualified Ayurvedic massage practitioner is advisable. The massage will stimulate the flow of prana in the body, as well as aiding the circulation and expelling toxins.

• The most beneficial Ayurvedic herb is Shatavari (asparagus racemosa), 1tsp, taken at night in hot milk. You could also try Planet Ayurveda’s Gynocare, a special preparation of Ayurvedic herbs to help regulate menstrual function.

By following some of these suggestions, you will ensure that this natural transition in your life occurs smoothly, allowing you to live a full and balanced life. (DR AJIT) PN If readers have any health concerns they are welcome to contact me at my clinic, PLANET AYURVEDA WELLNESS CENTRE, 41 Gillies Avenue T: 09 522 5390 or email info@ planetayurveda.co.nz

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FUTURE GENERATION CHILDREN’S BOOK REVIEW MADISON MOON AND THE HOT-AIR BALLOON

by C Gurney, illustrated by C Foreman. Scholastic, $19.50.

Madison Moon is tired of travelling by car every day. She dislikes being stuck in long lines of impatient drivers, but Madison Moon has a bright idea. She will buy a balloon to rise above the traffic chaos. She is so delighted with her new toy that she visits the country, the zoo and the beach. Madison decides to share her feeling of well-being with her friends and invites them for a ride. Unfortunately they all enjoy the experience so much that they too buy balloons!

This bright, rhyming story bounces along like the balloon, providing an engaging one -on-one or group read for preschool children. PN DOROTHY BUTLER CHILDREN’S BOOKSHOP, 1 Jervois Road T: 09 376 7283 www.childrensbookshop.co.nz

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BILLY HARRIS: KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY

JAMES MEAD - THE PONSONBY BOY WHO’S COME A LONG WAY, SO TO SPEAK For most of us, speaking in front of a crowd is up there with sky diving and swimming with great whites as one of the most nerve wracking things you can do. Not so for London lad James Mead.

The 11-year-old arrived from England in February, and quickly made his mark at Ponsonby Primary school when he entered the public speaking competition. With a speech he wrote himself, he took first place and went on to compete against the best speakers from 11 other schools in the inner city competition, held at Bayfield School.

He won again.

Now he was off to the Auckland Primary School public speaking finals as the inner city schools representative to pit his skills – which at this stage received a tune-up from Michaela Roonie - against the best speakers from the 528 schools who’d entered the competition.

James’ opening sentence demonstrated a clear understanding of how to get his listeners’ attention: “You’re all cheats! Every one of you.” His audience sat enthralled for three and a half minutes as James talked about cheating, and why not to do it.

In the end James had done himself and his school proud again by finishing a highly creditable third.

James wasn’t totally new to the experience of being on stage though. According to his mum Sara, shyness was never an accusation you could level at James, and from the time he could walk and talk, he’s been performing in one way or another singing, reciting poetry or acting out a skit. He was fortunate to attend Alleyn’s school in Dulwich, London, which encouraged participation in the arts, and James got his first big job at age four as narrator for the school play Hansel and Gretel.

From then on he was heavily involved in anything and everything going on at school, including the Wizard of Oz, in which he played the Scarecrow and sang a solo. He also competed in the school poetry competition, coming third in year three, and first in year four.

So what brought James and his family to New Zealand? His father Paul, a Kiwi, had been working in commodity markets and was itching to return home, while Sara was keen to raise her children in Godzone and instil in them what she sees as the Kiwi mentality – that if it’s broke, fix it, if you want it, go for it and work hard to get it, believe in yourself and reach for the top!

Not that these qualities appear to be lacking in James. So Paul and Sara brought James, Sophie (nine) and Dan (five) to Auckland where they were thrilled to find a house in Ponsonby which gives them a view of the sea, and is within walking distance of town and a great selection of shops, cafes and restaurants. It also put them in the zone for Ponsonby Primary, which, as with any parents wanting their children to attend a good school, was the icing on the cake. Or, more accurately, the cake itself.

James is making the most of the change in direction, grabbing every opportunity put in front of him. He loves music and is currently playing the trombone and marimba. He sings in the APPA choir and recently sang at the Town Hall. He enjoys reading, tennis, table tennis, sailing and swimming.

Just as Alleyns did in England, Ponsonby Primary has given James every assistance in expressing his talents, and at the sports awards dinner last week he was given the role of compere which included introducing Bianca Russell and Andrew Blowers to the audience.

Though the family are here for the foreseeable future, James has a plan in the back of his mind to return to England to study at Cambridge University. Before that happens, James starts another chapter in his life this year at Kings College, where we can be fairly sure that he’ll do what he’s always been doing - going for it, and reaching for the top. (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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FUTURE GENERATION PONSONBY KIDS’ HOLIDAYS From the Far North to Point Erin pools - Ponsonby kids enjoyed some classic fun in the sun these holidays.

Meet six favourites, who share their destinations and activities.

RUPERT LEO BOCOCK-FOLEY 15 months I had a super holiday relaxing with my mum, dad and family back in New Plymouth, and discovering the beaches around Auckland once we were back in the city. Water play was a perfect solution to escape the summer heat and it was so much fun to tinker in the sand, collect shells and enjoy my first experience of playing in the waves! I am now a well and truly initiated beach babe.

ADAM ANDREWS 5 years Adam turned five just this Christmas, and for the first time ever he stayed in Auckland the whole holidays...Lots of sleepovers with friends, day trips to Point Erin and Parnell Baths, an afternoon on Minehaha Beach on the Shore. Most importantly - the city is full of things to climb! (Picture: Adam Andrews climbs at Ponsonby Intermediate).

STAN URLICH 6 years My brother and I are at Cape Reinga at the top of New Zealand. There is a spirit tree on the side of a rock, it’s a pohutukawa and it has never flowered. It’s called a spirit tree because it makes stairs for the spirits to walk down when they leave New Zealand.

STELLA MURRAY 10 years These holidays I went with my family to the States. We went to New York, the Carribean and all over California. It was heaps of fun. My favourite place was Yosemite National Park, where I got to see snow for the first time. The best fun was Californian Screamin’ at Disneyland. Photo - My brother Max, my mum (Felicity) and me at Top of the Rock in New York.

JOE URLICH 10 years This is me jumping off the Whangaroa Harbour wharf after dinner with some other kids who we ended up finding out were our cousins. One even had the exact same name as my Dad! It was really fun because I did it at twilight and the water was still very warm.

AHLIANAH RALSTON (right) and neighbour MILLIE JENNINGS 7 years In the holidays it was my birthday, I went to Rainbows End. I was excited, I turned 7. Two friends came with me. I had lots of fun, I also got lots of presents! PN

RECORD SUCCESS FOR KRISTIN STUDENTS IN THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE Kristin School has a record set of examination results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

The school’s 2012 results maintain a proud academic tradition which has consistently exceeded world averages over the past 23 years. This includes a 98% pass rate and a record 21 students scoring 40 points or more of the maximum 45 available in the Diploma; 20% of Kristin’s candidates scored at this elite level, compared to a world average of 6%.

Kristin was the first school in New Zealand to introduce the IB Diploma programme in 1989 and since then its students have developed a reputation for producing consistently high results in the demanding course.

Kristin’s IB students are regularly accepted into the leading tertiary institutions in Australasia, Europe and the US, many on fully funded scholarship programmes.

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The IB Diploma consists of six subject areas including native and acquired languages, social sciences, experimental sciences and mathematics and the arts, and is designed to be academically challenging and holistically balanced. In addition to their six chosen courses, students are challenged to broaden their educational experience through community service, self-directed research (in the form of a 4000-word extended essay) and critical examination in the Theory of Knowledge.

Senior school students at Kristin have the choice to follow the NCEA pathway from Year 11 to 13 or to undertake the two-year IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13. On average, 58% of students elect to complete the Diploma, which usually equates to approximately 100 students in each year level. These students represent just over 30% of New Zealand’s IB Diploma students. PN KRISTIN SCHOOL, T: 09 415 9566 www.facebook.com/kristin.school.nz

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KERRY RATCLIFF - MY FAVOURITE ROOM

KERRY RATCLIFF WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SOUTH AFRICA. FROM THE time she was a little girl she was interested in art, drawing and clothes. Kerry moved to New Zealand in 2007 for a job as a clothing merchandiser, but she says she always felt she was meant to work for herself. When Kerry was made redundant in April 2012, she knew it was time to take the plunge and combine her experience in fashion production with her other love - training and fitness gear – and FITforever was born.

Kerry lives in a little apartment in Grey Lynn, which she calls “my haven – my place of creativity.” She only moved to Grey Lynn and Greater Ponsonby in March 2012 but she loves it. Her favourite room is her study and living area – the central hub of activity a.k.a. the FIThead quarters.

“I use this room for everything,” says Kerry. “Designing. Fitting. E-mails and communication. It’s my think tank. It’s not just my favourite room – it’s my favourite part of the apartment. I find it calming and tranquil.”

“I love the huge sliding doors, which I use as a pinboard. I tape ideas and notes on the window. It’s like the inside of my brain – full of life and colours and thoughts.”

FITFOREVER, T: 021 275 3779 www.fitforever.net.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS REAL ESTATE TIP OF THE MONTH! Can renovation increase your rewards?

Renovation can make a big difference to the value of your property. But, what adds value and what does not? Maybe spending your savings on a new bathroom or a new kitchen will increase the value of your home, then again, could you get just as much earnings without all the outlay and effort?

I think it mainly depends on the property! If it has a value of an affordable entry level home, in a desirable location and ideal for families then I would say leave the renovation to the new owner.

Conversely, if the market is busy, full of young professional people, they may want everything ready and completed by the time they move in. And yes, on the other end of the scale, top end homes need to have a quality kitchen without the scratches and marks from the time the owners raised their four kids in it. In this situation a sparkling new kitchen would also make a difference to the result of the selling price.

Rental properties are a different proposition again. To get quality, long-term tenants requires a quality environment.

There is no simple answer. It may not always be necessary to renovate, but if you are going to do it, it’s always necessary to do it correctly. I would recommend advice from experienced real estate agents to ensure that the money you put in to your renovations will be given back to you through the sale of your property. (LEILA MORRIS) PN

ARE YOU SELLING? ‘you can’t sell a secret... good marketing makes a difference every time’ www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS DREAM DESIGNER Akira Isogawa is one of Australia’s most recognised and feted designers. But the Japanese-born, longtime Sydney resident came to Auckland for interviews late in 2012 without fanfare, simply dressed in a cardigan, tee and jeans. The fashion designer was in New Zealand briefly to launch his third collaboration with Designer Rugs. Ponsonby News’ Julie Roulston found out more about the articulate and humble designer.

IT’S CLEAR FROM YOUR WEB BIO THAT YOU ARE VERY TACTILE. WHAT’S THE BEGINNING OF YOUR DESIGN PROCESS? There is an inspiration for each collection. For example, this collaboration with Designer Rugs is called ‘Hirameki,’ which is the Japanese word for ‘inspiration’. At a planning meeting for this third edition of ‘Akira Isogawa for Designer Rugs’, at my studio in Marickville, I realised that I was surrounded by textiles and started picking out the few I felt completely in tune with - the process was quite organic.

For a collection, inspiration could come while I am traveling to Paris, or Kyoto to see my family, visiting flea markets and then finding particular colours or techniques that make a textile very unique - like the Shibori hand-dye technique. I visit Bali quite often because we have a textile manufacturer over there. I go to Ubud and may meet, say, a textile artist or a hand embroiderer over there - people who deal with things with their hands are really inspirational for me.

Also, the women who wear my designs - it’s always exciting to see. A woman who wears Akira in a way that I love is my Woollahra store manager of 19 years - Christiana Lehmann. She wears my designs in a particular way. It’s always interesting to see how she puts it together and she often gets involved in the styling part of the creative process.

ONCE THE INSPIRATION IS FOUND, WHAT COMES NEXT? Once sourcing inspiration is complete, the next step is investigating how the inspiration could actualise as a textile, and determining the shape it will take on the body. Normally what happens is, the textile calls for a shape - it just happens like that. It’s best to let the textiles behave how they want to behave, rather than try to train them against that.

IS THERE A PARTICULAR FABRIC YOU PREFER? I tend to use crepe, silk crepe a lot. It drapes beautifully and takes colour beautifully. Actually, all sorts of silks take colour really well, rather than artificial fibres.

IS THERE ANY PART OF THE WHOLE PROCESS THAT YOU PARTICULARLY LOVE? I love the challenge of manufacturing, which depends on the nature of the design. Some of the styles are very straight forward, but I tend to like things that are complicated. I think it’s part of my nature to make things more challenging so that I never get bored! Manufacturing requires discipline and skilled planning, especially when you design fabric that is so handcrafted - it just won’t happen overnight. Some fabrics can take a week to create one length.

One of the reasons I enjoy designing on a mannequin rather than on paper, is so I can take a piece of fabric and drape it on the mannequin. Based on physically handling the fabric myself against the mannequin, I know immediately how the fabric wants to behave and I can see how much wastage there is in the design.

have been involved in what I do, we immediately move on to another thing. We are always looking at what’s next as if we were climbing some sort of a hill in search of another aspiration - whatever it looks like! We never know what it is really and that’s probably why we never stop.

THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE IN OUR INDUSTRY SINCE THE TIME YOU LEFT YOUR STUDIES. HOW HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THAT CHANGE? The core essence of that I do hasn’t changed, I still think in the way I used to 19 years ago - but the surroundings have changed. The way we communicate - its quite different from back then. I remember the first time I went to Paris I was faxing invitations furiously to a number of buyers - that was only back in 1998. And you couldn’t really access any info via the web - it was print media and simply word of mouth. But now the way people absorb information and how quickly it can turn around is quite amazing, it’s fast!

HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED THAT SPEED? We have more enquiries by email - on almost a daily basis - and often email is very specific. More and more, the people who go to my boutiques already know what they want. People shop differently nowadays because they can access the information so easily.

DO YOU LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA? Frankly, I prefer not to deal with it! But at the same time I can see why it is important and why people use it. Because of the nature of what I do, I find myself dealing with other humans - I’m really engaged and busy with that - rather than dealing with virtual reality.

DO YOU SEE A CHANGE IN MODEL FOR THE FASHION/DESIGN INDUSTRY THAT EMBRACES YOUR LOVE OF THE PLANET AND THE TRADITIONAL? I think how consumers buy design is going to become more and more specific. There will always be a population who will invest money in things of particular beauty which are very exclusive and expensive, and treasure them. Then there is the mass, who play a vital role in fashion - we all wear basics. Brands like Uniqlo play a key role in terms of offering those sorts of items.

I think a huge hole in the middle - between luxury and High Street - will develop, and eventually demand for items that don’t belong at either end will diminish.

WITH SUCH SPECIAL FABRICS, CAN YOU EVER BE WASTEFUL? I used to, I used to cut into vintage textiles, I used to cut up vintage kimonos. But I don’t do it so often now because they are becoming so rare to find. I try to save them and use them for inspiration.

ARE THERE OTHER AKIRA ISOGAWA BRAND EXTENSIONS? There is Bridal - we now work with David Jones for bridal wear, and it’s available in my boutiques in Australia. In 2013 we are launching furnishing fabric, a collaboration with a company called Woven Image based in Australia. What I enjoy most about designing fashion is the textile element. Designing textiles is something I feel quite passionate about.

HAS THERE BEEN A NOTABLE HIGH POINT IN YOUR CAREER? The dress I made which was worn by Naomi Campbell on the cover of Australian Vogue - I was quietly pretty proud of what happened and seeing my work on the cover of Vogue. That was in about 1997.

Rugs in the Akira Isogawa for Designer Rugs collection are meticulously hand made to the standard size of 200x300 cm, with two rugs in a standard size of 250cm diameter.

Additionally they can be custom coloured and sized to suit any interior space, whether commercial or residential. PN

YOU’VE ACHIEVED SO MUCH ALREADY - IS THERE AN ASPIRATION BEYOND WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED? I feel that, along with a few people who

www.designerrugs.co.nz www.akira.com.au

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THE HISTORICAL BOROUGH OF PONSONBY AND GREY LYNN

STREET NAMES: ALBANY ROAD Albany is the ancient poetic name for the Scottish Highlands but the city fathers probably named this street in Ponsonby after the Duke of Albany, Queen Victoria’s youngest son.

Prince Leopold was far more interesting and intelligent than his three older brothers but was the first, and as far as we know, the only haemophilia sufferer in the royal family.

Where it originated is a mystery because the gene is carried by women and there is no history of the condition among Victoria’s ancestors unless a long line of carriers happened to have children who died before being diagnosed with the condition. Otherwise the mutation must have started with Victoria. The current Royal Family is descended through male lines who didn’t suffer from the disease so it wasn’t passed on to their children.

Victoria’s mother was the first to sense there might be a problem with the newly arrived Leopold who hardly ever slept and had poor digestion. He was born during a time of tension in the family and the Queen’s anxiety about his health was complicated by a feeling of guilt. This resulted in a difficult relationship between mother and son. Many years passed before it was accepted that Leopold had a serious problem. He bruised easily and a minor fall would leave him lame for several days. His screaming was put down to bad temper but he was probably suffering pain in his joints.

Poor Leopold was not Victoria’s favourite son. She listed his perceived failings in a letter to her eldest daughter: ‘He is tall but, holds himself worse than ever, and is a very common looking child, very plain in the face, clever but an oddity’. After recurring bouts of bleeding he was eventually diagnosed with haemophilia for which morphine to relieve pain was the only known treatment. He spent a major part of his childhood in bed with doctors attending him round the clock. The Queen’s initial disappointment in her son changed. She became extremely protective of him, realising he could never lead an active lifestyle.

After a particularly bad attack of bleeding doctors advised he spend the winter in a warmer climate. It was decided he should spend six months in Cannes with Dr Theodore Günther as his medical attendant. The eight year old’s health improved and he enjoyed playing croquet and picnic expeditions into the mountains.

Then the unexpected happened. On 2 December Prince Albert wrote a sad little letter to Leopold, the last he would ever send. He died a few days later. Against Günther’s advice, Leopold was returned to a very gloomy palace and a distraught mother.

Emotional trauma is thought to increase the severity of haemophilia attacks and the little boy, who had been doing so well abroad, fell ill within weeks of returning home.

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The Queen decided Leopold should never leave home but be groomed to take on the role his father played as her assistant and advisor. Leopold on the other hand wished to be independent and away from her over-protectiveness. His words in a letter to her -‘it is impossible that one’s intellectual, moral, or social powers should be properly developed by a continual residence at home’.

After much argy bargy his long held ambition to attend university was fulfilled. He studied various subjects at Christchurch College in Oxford and graduated with a doctorate in Law. The interesting friends he made there included Lewis Carroll, John Ruskin and Oscar Wilde and having a passion for literature he became a patron of the arts. He attempted to undertake official appointments in Australia and Canada but both countries refused to accept him because of his health problems.

Marriage would enable him to sever the ties his mother imposed and he embarked on a series of romantic liaisons without success because of his illness. After continuous rejection from various members of European nobility he met Princess Helena Frederike of Waldeck. The couple instantly fell in love and in spite of Victoria’s misgivings they married. Helena soon gave birth to their first child and immediately became pregnant again. Sadly their happy life together was cut short. Leopold was suffering severe pains in his smaller joints and doctors advised a stay in Cannes. While there he enjoyed a claret after dinner then had a fall which injured his knee. He died, not from haemophilia but due to the effects of alcohol and morphine, just before his 31st birthday.

(DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS ANYA BRIGHOUSE: LOVING LIBERTY William Morris is the owner of my favourite quote. To paraphrase, he said to ‘surround yourself with things that are both beautiful and practical.’ It is the motto I live by, and it is a real joy to find things that do the job they are meant to, and brighten our lives at the same time.

Liberty fabrics are most certainly beautiful. With their incredible timeless quality they have been used for clothing and upholstery for nearly 140 years in some form or another. Another generation is discovering them for themselves, little knowing that many of us have loved them for the longest time. I had a friend over for dinner the other night and she was talking about the pyjamas she and her sister had owned as small girls - and that it was so nostalgic to see the pattern being used again in a range of products now.

Above: the DOC MARTEN boot; below: LIBERTY LONDON

The most obvious collaboration is with Doc Martens. The boots and shoes are just beautiful. The collaboration is called Wild Nature and the most iconic of the fabrics is the Strawberry Thief - so very well known. With the boots retailing at $439 they are investment pieces, but I imagine the collaboration will be one that will become quite iconic. The boots are available at CLASH boutiques in Auckland and Christchurch.

Photography: Liam S A Tremayne-Reichsburg

Madder & Rouge have made up some gorgeous Liberty cushions ranging in price from $98 to $129 - they have a lovely softness about them, perfect for a battered old beach house or a child’s room, or to soften the more minimalist home.

When you are wanting Liberty for patchwork or for sewing, www.christabels.co.nz (Havelock North) stocks Liberty Tana Lawn, Liberty Kinly Cord, Liberty Twill and Liberty Varuna Wool. At around @$50 per metre, there is a large range to choose from - either instore or online. PN As we head into winter, this classic small flower pattern will continue to make our days a little more beautiful. ANYA BRIGHOUSE www.beautifulbedlam.co.nz

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS BEAT THE BACK-TO-WORK BLUES WITH MUSIC Getting back to work after the holiday break can dampen the mood of even the most enthusiastic. As you trade long lazy days for long hours at a computer, task lists, and heat-induced frustration, the vibe won’t be quite as bright as the holiday sun outside.

Back-To-Work-Blues affect most of us at some point as we return to real life. What better way to combat this, we thought, than with a few great tunes? Or even the ultimate “Beat the Back-To-Work-Blues” playlist!

We spoke to Kate Vale, Managing Director of Spotify New Zealand & Australia, about the best beats to aid the transition between holidays to working-days. “I love listening to songs that put a smile on my face and are upbeat. Going back to work is not that hard for me because I actually enjoy what I do, but good tunes definitely boost my productivity. The hard part is narrowing down just a few - there are so many great songs out there,” she said.

PLAYLIST: MUSIC TO BEAT THE BACK TO WORK BLUES Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream Kimbra – Warrior - Bonus Track Opshop – Maybe Jamie McDell – Life in Sunshine Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks Jetski Safari – Like a Lie (feat. Helen Corry) Kingswood – Medusa Bloc Party – Banquet Calvin Harris – Merrymaking At My Place Shapeshifter – Diamond Trade INXS – New Sensation Aaradhna – Wake Up Aloe Blacc – I Need A Dollar St. Lucia – September Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child (Radio Edit) [feat. John Martin] LISTEN FOR YOURSELF HERE: http://spoti.fi/Xx71U6 Of course, the most important part of picking music to motivate is choosing the tunes that you love! Head to Spotify for access to millions of songs, and set yourself up a Back-To-Work playlist full of your favourite beats. www.spotify.com PN

Kate says that listening to music that reminds you of your holiday is a great way to ease yourself back into the swing of work, and reignite the summer vibes while you’re at it. “I tend to mix it up a lot and pick songs with quite different styles when I need that little extra push. I am known for my constantly changing playlists around the Spotify office!” says Kate.

Right now, Kate is beating her blues with the Spotify New Zealand “Music to beat the back to work blues” playlist. Warning: These tracks may inspire an unexpected level of motivation.

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PONSONBY U3A: JANUARY 2013 “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? Best-selling author and animal psychologist Jeffrey Masson will give enlightening answers to this question to members of Ponsonby U3A at its meeting on Friday 8 February. Jeffrey Masson has written nine books on the emotional life of animals, including Dogs Never Lie About Love, which has sold a million copies worldwide. U3A is delighted to welcome Jeffrey Masson as its first guest speaker for the year.

Ask U3A member Kathy Walker about Greece in the 80s and her eyes light up. She lived there for three years, teaching English in Athens and spending summers on the idyllic Cycladic island of Paros. “It was just the best,” she exclaims. “A wonderful place and a wonderful time to be there.” Kathy will share her experiences as the 10-minute speaker prior to Jeffrey Masson’s talk.

Marianne Willison has almost finalised the guest speakers’ programme for the rest of the year and she promises some real treats - fascinating and stimulating speakers and a wide range of topics. The March speaker, for example, is well-known television writer and newspaper columnist James Griffin, known for such television programmes as Outrageous Fortune and Nothing Trivial.

As well as two speakers at its monthly meetings, the essential ingredient of U3A is its interest groups, which operate mostly in members’ homes, or in the case of petanque at the Herne Bay Petanque Club. Special interest groups include art history, current affairs, classical studies, gallery visits, ramblers (outings to interesting places in the Auckland area) and the green fingers (gardening) group.. You can play petanque or scrabble, listen to music or share travel experiences. The supper club eats at an interesting and reasonably priced restaurant each month and for many it is seen as an essential social activity among a friendly and interesting group of people. Through the groups some great friendships are made as members share educational, creative and leisure activities.

U3A is a learning co-operation for older people and most members are in the third age, although this is not a criterion to become a member. Sufficient time to participate is all that is needed. No educational qualifications are required and there are no examinations to be taken or certificates to be awarded.

Visitors and new members are welcome at Ponsonby U3A meetings held on the second Friday of the month on the First Floor, Leys Institute, 20 St Marys Bay Road, Ponsonby at 9.45am.

Friday 8 February – guest speaker Jeffrey Masson; Friday 8 March – guest speaker James Griffin. For enquiries: Norman Stanhope T: 09 376 6406. (PHILIPPA TAIT) PN

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

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RAY WHITE Grey Lynn office situated in the West Lynn shops

SUCCESS AND GROWTH FOR RAY WHITE GROUP DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS THE RAY WHITE GROUP THROUGHOUT New Zealand has maintained a high level of growth through 17 new offices, with a particular focus on the Auckland market with new offices opening in Grey Lynn, Broadway, New Lynn, Papatoetoe, Remuera (Upland Road) and Mission Bay. The Damerell Earwaker Group has been part of the Ray White Group expansion with the opening of their third network office in Grey Lynn to join their already successful offices in Ponsonby and Pt Chevalier. Grey Lynn, which incorporates the diversified West Lynn market, has seen consistently strong levels of capital gain for property owners and this has seen the area grow in popularity.

Business Development Manager for the Damerell Earwaker Group Gower Buchanan said that Grey Lynn has been a successful part of their sales business for many years. “We decided to open the new office based on the strength of our market share and that also having a local office in Grey Lynn adds to our already strong network. We have seven salespeople operating from the new office and we are currently looking for additional Grey Lynn specialists to complement our strong teams in Ponsonby and Pt Chevalier.

Carey Smith, Chief Executive of Ray White Real Estate, said that Bryce Earwaker, Simon Damerell and Gower Buchanan have grown a very successful business in the inner west area of Auckland. “The opening of the Grey Lynn office provides a strong local influence on the Grey Lynn and West Lynn market.

It is good to have local specialists in each of the areas throughout the inner west and as a group the Damerell Earwaker network has maintained a high market share due to their excellent levels of service and commitment to providing value to their clients.”

The Damerell Earwaker Group offices are part of the 50 office network in Auckland and 134 offices nationwide for Ray White. PN For further information on buying or selling contact Gower Buchanan gower.buchanan@raywhite.com or M: 0274 484 943.

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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

JAY PLATT

GRACE: A MEMOIR

By Grace Coddington (Random House)

THE LANDGRABBERS

By Fred Pearce (Beacon Press)

In London, during the late 90s, I was a member of The British Society of Magazine Editors and they regularly hosted member lunches. One of these included Joan Collins as the after lunch speaker and my table colleagues included Grace Coddington who was back in the UK to receive a lifetime achievement award.

She was understated, almost humble, coupled with a dry sense of humour!

I wasn’t aware she had written this book until I spotted a Facebook post from Colin Mathura-Jeffree, who had just finished reading it.

Grace Coddington’s extraordinary talent and fierce dedication to her work as creative director of Vogue have made her an international icon. Known through much of her career only to those behind the scenes, she might have remained fashion’s best-kept secret were it not for The September Issue, the acclaimed 2009 documentary that turned publicity-averse Grace into a sudden, reluctant celebrity. Grace’s palpable engagement with her work brought a rare insight into the passion that produces many of the magazine’s most memorable shoots.

With the witty, forthright voice that has endeared her to her colleagues and peers for more than 40 years, Grace now creatively directs the reader through the storied narrative of her life so far. Evoking the time when models had to tote their own bags and props to shoots, Grace describes her early career as a model, working with such world-class photographers as David Bailey and Norman Parkinson, before she stepped behind the camera to become a fashion editor at British Vogue in the late 1960s. Here she began creating the fantasy “travelogues” that would become her trademark. In 1988 she joined American Vogue, where her breathtakingly romantic and imaginative fashion features, a sampling of which appear in this book, have become instant classics.

Delightfully underscored by Grace’s pen-and-ink illustrations, Grace will introduce readers to the colorful designers, hairstylists, makeup artists, photographers, models, and celebrities with whom Grace has created her signature images.

Grace reveals her private world with equal candour – the car accident that almost derailed her modelling career, her two marriages, the untimely death of her sister, Rosemary, her friendship with Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Liz Tilberis, and her 30-year romance with Didier Malige. Finally, Grace describes her abiding relationship with Anna Wintour, and the evolving mastery by which she has come to define the height of fashion.

An unprecedented land grab is taking place around the world. Fearing future food shortages or eager to profit from them, the world’s wealthiest and most acquisitive countries, corporations, and individuals have been buying and leasing vast tracts of land around the world. The scale is astounding: parcels the size of small countries are being gobbled up across the plains of Africa, the paddy fields of Southeast Asia, the jungles of South America, and the prairies of Eastern Europe. Veteran science writer Fred Pearce spent a year circling the globe to find out who was doing the buying, whose land was being taken over, and what the effect of these massive land deals seems to be.

The Land Grabbers is a first-of-its-kind exposé that reveals the scale and the human costs of the land grab, one of the most profound ethical, environmental, and economic issues facing the globalised world in the 21st century. The corporations, speculators, and governments scooping up land cheap in the developing world claim that industrial-scale farming will help local economies. But Pearce’s research reveals a far more troubling reality. While some mega-farms are ethically run, all too often poor farmers and cattle herders are evicted from ancestral lands or cut off from water sources. The good jobs promised by foreign capitalists and home governments alike fail to materialise. Hungry nations are being forced to export their food to the wealthy, and corporate potentates run fiefdoms oblivious to the country beyond their fences.

Pearce’s story is populated with larger-than-life characters, from financier George Soros and industry tycoon Richard Branson, to Gulf state sheikhs, Russian oligarchs, British barons, and Burmese generals. We discover why Goldman Sachs is buying up the Chinese poultry industry, what Lord Rothschild and a legendary 1970s asset-stripper are doing in the backwoods of Brazil, and what plans a Saudi oil billionaire has for Ethiopia. Along the way, Pearce introduces us to the people who actually live on, and live off of, the supposedly “empty” land that is being grabbed, from Cambodian peasants, victimised first by the Khmer Rouge and now by crony capitalism, to African pastoralists confined to ever-smaller tracts.

Over the next few decades, land grabbing may matter more, to more of the planet’s people, than even climate change. It will affect who eats and who does not, who gets richer and who gets poorer, and whether agrarian societies can exist outside corporate control. It is the new battle over who owns the planet... PN

WELL ADJUSTED A visit to the chiropractor can benefit every man, and his dog.

For the those who have discovered its benefits, regular chiropractic adjustments can provide effective relief from a wide variety of ailments and diseases. But while we take our pets to the vet, few people would think of taking their dog or cat to see their chiropractor.

Dr Kirk Stevens of Kingsland’s Chiropractic First clinic is one of a growing number of chiropractors who also treat their patient’s pets. Dr Stevens has been in practice for over 10 years and became interested in chiropractic as a teenager.

“After I experienced the benefits that chiropractic adjustments had on my health, I decided I wanted to make that same difference in other people’s lives.” he explains.

“In my practice, I meet many different people who are interested in maintaining their health and improving the way they feel, from newborn babies, to elite athletes and 98 year old great grandparents. The great thing about chiropractic is that we can treat everyone safely, effectively and naturally.”

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Over the years Dr Stevens has successfully treated many of his patients’ pets, from a three-legged dog that had injured its neck and couldn’t eat, through to paralysed cats and rabbits. He has even cured dogs of snoring. He explains that in both humans and animals, chiropractic works by correcting subluxations of the spine.

“A subluxation occurs when a misalignment of the spine places pressure on the nerves that control and coordinate your body.” he says. “Subluxations may present as backache, sciatica, headaches or neck pain. You might even experience seemingly unrelated symptoms such as indigestion, stress, or fatigue, but they are all caused by interference to your nervous system.”

Dr Stevens says that by removing this interference and restoring the natural communication channels of your body, regular chiropractic adjustments help you heal faster and experience life to your fullest potential. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a lawyer or a labrador.” he laughs. “You’ll still benefit from a regular visit to your chiropractor.”

CHIROPRACTIC FIRST, 211 Sandringham Road, Kingsland T: 09 845 4640 www.chiropracticfirst.co.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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ASK AN ARCHITECT: PAUL LEUSCHKE 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:

Should my extension go up, down or out the back?

Each case is different but when thinking of extending your house you need to consider the driving reason for the extension. Is it to gain roof top harbour views, expanding the house to accommodate a growing family or basement garaging? Extensions tend to run away with cost and scale unless you keep them under control, so focusing on the driving reason is critical.

You also need to consider the quality of the new space you want. By going up do you get that harbour view? Is there really only a meter width of stand up space in the middle of the roof so the extension is going to be a pop-top or dormers and very low headroom?

Consider you will need a stair whether going up or down and the space required for the stair is approximately the size of a small bedroom. You now need two extra rooms as you lost one with the stair. Two bedrooms suggest a bathroom, now the extension is not just a simple bedroom in the roof space but a stair, two bedrooms, a corridor and bathroom. By going down do you create a sunless black hole nobody wants to be in, although it could be an acceptable garage space?

For a simple extension of your house on the same level you will need to investigate if the council development rules allow you to extend the house. Every site is allowed a maximum building coverage. If you are allowed to extend a single leveled extension it is simply that, no stair, no extra bathroom. Not all extensions need to be huge.

Sometimes the extension to an existing room can change its shape and make it a generous workable size where the lounge furniture fits. The original 12 foot (3.6m) wide lounge is now 4.0m or even 5.0m wide to accommodate a modern layout and so a full room extension is not required.

A glassy bay window can turn a dark room into a bigger and lighter room. Recently the extensions to our client’s houses have been outdoor rooms, deep porches or pavilions which allow outdoor entertaining while being out of the sun and rain. These have replaced the dark internal winter dining room and have become the most used rooms in the house. (PAUL LEUSCHKE) PN www.leuschkekahn.co.nz

LEAF VERSUS PAPER PLATES ROHAN AND KOMAL PATEL SET UP THEIR BUSINESS, GREEN TRADING, IN July last year because they wanted to sell products that are environmentally friendly.

They have a unique range that is ecologically sound and very competitively priced.

Of particular interest is the disposable tableware that is fashioned out of palms from the Arecanut tree. The sheath, which is an extension of the palm leaf is of hard material that has good tensile strength. It is collected once the leaves have fallen so it doesn’t lead to environmental degradation of the tree itself, unlike paper or bamboo plates which involve killing millions of living trees.

The leaf plates that Green Trading sells are made the ancient way by pressing the leaves with heated metal moulds of varying shapes and sizes. Being chemical free and compostable they are completely eco-friendly. They are microwave oven and refrigerator safe, can hold liquid for three to four hours, will handle any type of hot or cold food, are sturdy and light, which makes them convenient to use for buffets, drinks parties and picnics. They are odourless and tasteless so don’t affect the flavour of foodstuffs. Because the composition of the leaf sheath is 70% cellulose, the finished product provides a highly oxygenated base making it ideal for packaging fruit and vegetables. Tests have shown that this material keeps raw produce fresher for a longer time than plastic containers.

Green Trading also has a comprehensive range of Neem products. Neem oil is pressed from the fruits and seeds of the evergreen tree, Azadirachta indica which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and is important for organic farming and medicinal compounds. What’s more, unlike snake oil, that old fashioned term for fake remedies, the claims made about neem hold up under scientific study. The bark, leaves and oil have been used in India for several thousand years and the sacred tree is regarded as the ‘village pharmacy’. The oil is valued as a natural insect repellent and pesticide and used for skin care and skin disorders as well.

Scientists have identified over 150 active substances in it and many have been proved to be as effective in laboratory studies as claimed in folklore.

Other Green Trading products include stainless steel lunch boxes and organic cotton clothing. Plastic is all around us because it has countless uses and is relatively inexpensive, but oh the damage it is inflicting on our environment! It should only be used when suitable alternatives are nonexistent. Green Trading’s stainless steel boxes are handcrafted in India from 100% pure metal and will see a child through all his or her schooldays. As for clothing, thousands of chemicals are used in the textile industry in order to develop all those vibrant colours we see today. Green Trading’s cotton and linen is dyed using herbs, plant materials, minerals and oils that eliminate the impact of harmful chemicals on the body’s largest organ, its skin.

Rohan and Komal personally visit their suppliers to ensure the workers receive fair wages and that safe organic production techniques are in place. They are trying to keep their prices affordable to encourage and involve the community in making changes towards a sustainable lifestyle. They supply an organic shop in Newmarket called Wise Cicada and Maldito Mendez in Ponsonby Central serve food on their leaf plates.

Recycling is an integral part of daily life in India, particularly in the villages where nothing is thrown away. Of course poverty is also a strong incentive to practice frugality. The Indian government has announced its intent to make a major contribution towards mitigating climate change by reducing its emissions and as the call for ecological sustainability grows louder, the country’s corporates are working towards adopting sustainability measures. Unlike New Zealand, India may yet become a shining example of a country that advances the cause of environmental health. In the meantime Rohan and Komal are doing their bit for the planet. After all, from the tiny acorn grows the mighty oak.

Their website has a ton of valuable information about their products and orders are couriered out promptly. Just click on www.greentrading.co.nz (DEIRDRE TOHILL)

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REAL ESTATE UPDATE: KAREN SPIRES WHY YOU CAN BUY A HOME AT AUCTION WITH CONFIDENCE IT’S WELL KNOWN THAT SELLING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AT AUCTION IS the best way to sell in the current market. And while the thought of having to bid in a live auction makes some buyers nervous about proceeding, buyers should actually be taking comfort from the fact that auctions are the most transparent and straightforward way to buy.

There’s a reason, for example, why TradeMe is the biggest website in New Zealand, and why so many of us buy and sell through this auction platform.

Buying a home, essentially, uses exactly the same strategies as buying off TradeMe – with auctions creating an environment where a property will sell for exactly the price the market (that’s you, and other potential buyers) says it’s worth on that day.

This transparency is a huge advantage to buyers, who can see who they are bidding against, and exactly what price others are willing to pay. Bidders can be self-assured that they don’t have to take a proverbial ‘stab in the dark’ when putting in an offer through private tender… hoping they haven’t shot too far above the next best offer or, conversely, miss out on their chosen home because they’ve submitted an offer that falls short by a few bucks.

A little-known fact about auctions, that will come as a relief to many home -hunters, is that buyers are free to request variations on the vendor’s specified terms and conditions in the sales contract. This includes the settlement date and the deposit amount. If both the vendor and bidder agree pre-auction, that

negotiation becomes the contract the buyer is bidding with, at no disadvantage to those bidding unconditionally.

For those looking to buy a home around Herne Bay and St Mary’s Bay, this month is your chance to throw yourself into the auction scene and see the widest selection of properties - all presented simultaneously, and all going to auction on the same day. Because this month, Bayleys is running one of the biggest residential auction campaigns in New Zealand’s real estate history… The Big Call.

I’m particularly excited about a couple stunners from Herne Bay….. Firstly, a very handsome and fully-renovated villa on the ‘sunny side’ of Ardmore Road. And secondly, a gracious ‘old girl’ at 11 Dunedin Street – she’s in need of some DIY work around the beautiful kauri floorboards, fireplaces, grand double sash windows and veranda, but perfectly sited with a north-facing garden and harbour view. Both these homes are being auctioned by Bayleys in central Auckland at our Big Call auction event on February 28.

As the cliché goes… it should be an interesting day at the office.

Coverage of the auctions will of course be featured in the next issue of Ponsonby News. (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.

CHILD’S PLAY HELPS COMBAT OBESITY

Previous research has found significant differences in the health and weight of children from lower socio-economic backgrounds compared to middle income families.

Research published last month in the New Zealand Medical Journal suggests that children can benefit more from active play compared to structured exercise.

“After school community activity programmes have been identified as a means of increasing overall activity levels in children, however the emphasis of these should be on ‘play’ rather than physical activity.”

“When it comes to combating obesity and increasing children’s daily physical activity levels, active play is just as important, if not more so, than structured exercise,” says Associate Professor Erica Hinckson from AUT University’s Centre for Child Health Research and Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition.

The research examined perceptions of physical activity versus ‘play’ amongst parents and children from socio-economically deprived areas. Findings revealed that participants viewed physical activity and play quite differently, which could lead to barriers in engaging with any type of healthy activity.

“Physical activity was seen as structured activity, undertaken for a specific timeframe every day, whereas play was seen as unstructured activity which involved having fun,” says Hinckson.

“The view that physical activity is something structured (in order to be beneficial) seemed to distance participants from engagement. There was a strong perception that physical activity was ‘good for you’, rather than ‘being fun’, and this perception seemed to be a barrier to children getting involved in physical activity.”

A group of South Auckland school children (age 8-12), and their parents took part in the study where the aim was to identify factors influencing healthy and overweight children’s after school activities.

Hinckson says that while interventions focusing on active play have proved successful at increasing physical activity, some practitioners do not view play as physically demanding or able to provide children with the same benefits of structured exercise.

Despite this, previous research has shown that children engage with more moderate to vigorous physical activity from active play during lunch break at school than from structured exercise in physical education classes.

Parents in the study also highlighted a number of potential barriers to increased physical activity levels in their children; these included time, money and transport.

Community support and communication were identified as important in creating safer communities and places to play for children.

“For after school community activity programmes to be successful, a safe neighbourhood environment in conjunction with increased community support is really important for parents.

“Free or low cost programmes, supervised playgrounds, improved community communication and support, car pooling kids to activities – these were amongst some of the recommendations we received from our parents to increase physical activity of children in their neighbourhoods,” says Hinckson. PN

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FIONNA HILL

THE PONSONBY GARDENER

CHEEKY, GARDEN-PICKED, VALENTINE’S DAY POSY The idea of plants having meanings is traditional; the Victorians used the language of flowers to express coded messages allowing them to convey feelings which otherwise may not be spoken.

Tussie Mussies were used in the 1400s as small round posies of flowers and herbs with symbolic meanings.

Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity for some flirting and instead of using the old addiction to red roses, why not check out your edibles garden and put together a saucy number like this one? This is a cheeky Valentine’s Day posy without a red rose in sight, in fact with very few flowers at all and all picked from the edibles garden, and sending a few veiled messages for good measure. I chose the meanings that suited my message as some plants have more than one meaning.

I was tempted to raid a few small unripe fruit off the apple tree and used sate sticks to create a false stem to pop them into the posy. Apples mean temptation and are a symbol of ecstasy, fertility and abundance as well as love. At her wedding to Zeus, Gaia gave apples to Hera the Greek goddess of marriage representing long love and union. Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, offered Apples to entice Aphrodite and earn her love.

Marjoram in the Victorian language of flowers is for blushes. Aphrodite the goddess of love pops up again here too. It was believed that she created sweet marjoram as a tender symbol of happiness. Both the ancient Greeks and Romans crowned bridal couples with wreaths of marjoram to symbolise love, honour and happiness.

It is a traditional ballad of Great Britain in particular Yorkshire. The song relates the tale of a young man who instructs the listener to tell his former love to perform for him a series of impossible tasks, such as making him a shirt without a seam and then washing it in a dry well, adding that if she completes these tasks he will take her back.

(I’d steer clear of him. He can make and wash his own shirts!)

Parsley in current Western magical use is used among other things, to increase fertility and inspire lust. For the posy, I chose parsley seeds which apparently convey a message of fertility if the recipient plants them. That may or may not be welcome?

Sage was celebrated as a medieval symbol of power.

Rosemary represents fidelity, love, and remembrance and is often used in traditional wedding customs.

Thyme symbolises courage. The Victorians attributed festivity to parsley, esteem to sage, remembrance to rosemary and activity to thyme.

Fennel for the Victorians meant ‘worthy of all praise’ However, it is also known as a symbol for the strong, unhindered bonds of love.

Camellia means admiration and perfection.

Angelica means inspiration and magic.

Coriander is concealed merit. (I used its white flowers.)

Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme have a symbolic meaning that goes back centuries and it is also known that they were the main ingredients to an old witches love potion.

Sorrel is for affection.

And remember “Scarborough Fair” sung by Simon and Garfunkel?

Maple means reserve which may be a bit downbeat but the pink tinted leaves looked so lovely beside the blushing apples that I popped it in.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme; Remember me to one who lives there, She was once a true love of mine…

Geranium leaves – I included them only because they were fresh, green and gorgeous.

The posy is wrapped in a vintage tea towel and presented in a shopping basket. The message of this gift may lean too much towards domestic virtue and this mischievous liaison attempt may be history by 15 February! All’s fair in love and war. (FIONNA HILL)

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

TICKING OFF THE BUCKET LIST JANUARY SAW THE HARBOUR BRIDGE ONCE AGAIN FILLED WITH RUNNING shoes pounding the pavement, while the harbour waters churned like a Samsung washing machine with hundreds of bodies jostling for position, all in the name of multisport. And right in the thick of it was one of The Edge morning host’s, Dom Harvey, well, the pavement pounding part, not the churning the harbour waters part.

An avid lover of running, Harvey was greeted with a feeling of disappointment late last year when he flew all the way to New York to then be told that due to the effects on the city of Hurricane Sandy the annual marathon had been cancelled.

The box in his recently published book – A bucket list of an idiot would remain empty – at least for a further 12 months.

And while a group run around Central Park on the day the race was supposed to be run made that disappointment subside for a while, it wasn’t enough to see Harvey put pen to paper and swipe that box with a ball point pen. So when the chance to compete in his first Ironman arose he pounced at it, an Ironman in his own backyard was way too good of an opportunity to pass up. Harvey then set about luring two others to join his crusade. “I wish I was doing the whole thing,” Harvey admitted prior to the race, “but it’s the swim that puts me off.”

Harvey and his team mates Kevin Crane on the bike and Victoria Sintes swimming put in a performance to be proud of coming home in a time of 4.40.56, fourth in the mixed section and fifth overall. Not bad for a group of part time fitness buffs that were quickly put together. The eight weeks of training obviously paid off, although there was obviously no amount of training that could have averted their mix-up in the bike to run transition, when Crane came in earlier than expected, Harvey was nowhere to be seen.

Turns out he was in the port-a-loo’s having a quick nervous one.

Now that’s ticked off Harvey’s bucket list he’s already eyeing up the next challenge “The Comrades in South Africa, which is 100km. One day, when I have a bit more time and money, I would love to try and train for this. I say “try and train” because I have absolutely no idea if I would be tough enough to do it.” (GEORGE BERRY) PN

RETURNING TO INSPIRE THE NEW The next crop of Auckland’s aspiring equestrian riders were greeted with the opportunity to learn from one of the world’s best in January, when world number four Jock Paget returned home to host training clinics all over the country including West Auckland’s Wood-Hill Sands.

Back in New Zealand for the first time since his official Olympic duties, the bronze medallist embarked on a gruelling two week road trip, which saw him dish out advice and assist a bunch of up and coming riders from Lake Hayes in Central Otago to Auckland’s Wood-Hill and everywhere in between.

Paget, who is the first of the New Zealand team to return home in a training capacity was delighted to be back and get a break from the bleak English winter. “It’s snowing all over the UK and Europe at the moment, so I’m very pleased to be away from that.”

“The young talent we have here in New Zealand is something else, I hold training days all over the UK, and I can comfortably say our young riders in New Zealand could easily compete on the same level.”

“It’s been great to be back in Auckland too, I haven’t really been back here since shifting my Murawai base to just on the outskirts of London two and a half years ago, so it’s nice to see the changes that have taken place, see old friends and catch up on a few home comforts and things we can’t get in England.”

“Woodhill is turning into a real international calibre facility, the Auckland riders are lucky to have this so close to town.”

At only 28 now, if Paget’s anything like New Zealand legend Sir Mark Todd, he will no doubt get the chance to ride with some of those he’s currently offering advice to when he’s 57 years of age. “I have to still be riding when I’m 57,” joked Paget, “but yeah, these guys definitely have the potential and there’s a few there that have the potential to go all the way.”

Returning to his base in Surrey, Paget says he won’t be wasting any time and hopes to continue his rapid rise up the world rankings. “I have managed to team up a couple of new owners since the Olympics, so I’ve got more horses to ride, my team is starting to come together, so I am in a good place to keep going in the right direction. We have the world champs in France next year, so that’s a good marker point to aim for, before re- setting our sights for the next Olympics in Rio de Janerio, Brazil in 2016.”

“The New Zealand team is pretty strong at the moment, and Andrew Nicholson is leading by example, he’s the current world number one and he won a number of big events last year, so knowing him he’ll be doing everything he can to stay there this year too, he’s been a big help to me.”

Paget’s team mate Sir Mark Todd will also return home to part with some of his wealth of knowledge, and compete at this year’s Horse of the Year in Hawkes Bay in March.

The Eventing division of New Zealand Equestrian received a significant boost in funding from High Performance New Zealand, so expect London’s team bronze to turn into gold in Rio, and maybe even an individual medal for long time servant Andrew Nicholson. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

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SIDELINE WITH GEORGE BERRY

BREAKERS BOUCHER AN UNSUNG HERO KIRK PENNY, CEDRIC JACKSON AND THOMAS ABERCROMBIE ARE OFTEN the ones to receive the praise when the Breakers have won games throughout the Australian NBL competition. But as Dillon Boucher continues to prove week in and week out, it is in fact him that makes the Breakers unbreakable.

He’s not a prolific scorer, averaging just 3.8 per game, he’s grossly undersized at 196cm to play in his position, and at the ripe old age of 37 he’s no longer the fastest in the league. But as his competition realises on a weekly basis if you underestimate his wily old skills it is at your peril.

Sitting back reading his stats, notably minutes played, it’s no wonder coach Andrej Lemanis is reluctant to see Boucher hang up his size 11 sneakers on his long standing career.

There will be others, just as Jackson filled Penny’s shoes when he headed to play in Greece, there will be someone to fill the small forwards position on the court, but somehow I think it will take a lot more than just wearing his number 24 singlet.

A SAD STATISTIC Our coastlines are far from the calm ankle lapping Mediterranean, in fact many of the country’s west coast beaches are at times violent to say the least, but it seemed as if every time I picked up a paper over the summer the headlines were dominated by stories of someone drowning nearly as often as the words KimDotCom appeared.

One day it was a heroic story of someone saving someone from drowning the next a crazy statistic pointing to our embarrassing position as the third worst in the OECD for male drowning’s and the next another situation ending in a fatality.

These sorts of headlines got me thinking, they could only allude to one thing. Our systems for teaching people water safety don’t appear to be working, and are second rate at best.

Having played for the Perth Wildcats and the Brisbane Bullets, the foundation Breaker brings with him a work ethic and a desire to win like no other. He’s a quietly spoken guy, but when he says something be it basketball related or not everyone stops and listens.

He’s often battered and bruised. His commitment to the cause is demonstrated by the numerous black eyes or cuts to the head he sports throughout the season. And that is something the Breakers will struggle to replicate.

With giants thundering down the court heading for the basket, Boucher takes up his position – as if he was David and his opposition Goliath and draws the foul. He thinks nothing of the consequence to his own body, yet is happy in his work time and time again.

It will be a sad day when Dillon Boucher pulls the pin. The Tall Blacks haven’t quite been the same since his retirement from international basketball; let’s hope that isn’t the case for the Breakers too. (GEORGE BERRY) PN

It used to be our school’s responsibility to teach kids to swim.

Our beaches used to be patrolled by paid life guards during the summer months. Albeit more of a token gesture rather than an amount anyone could view as a potential career choice, neither of these can now be viewed as the norm.

Potential issues surrounding our waterways have been highlighted forever and a day, they have been brought into our living rooms with shows like Piha Rescue, a show dedicated to the risks of swimming at some of Auckland’s west coast beaches, but as if we were caught in a fast flowing rip we seem to be going backwards, rather than getting close to fixing the issue.

Considering the ease of getting to any of our beaches, rivers or lakes I feel both should be reinstated – and the government should be in the driver’s seat in turning this sad situation around.

We have some of the world’s best lifeguards, so we should be supporting them in such a way that they can actually do their job. Our lifeguards are being invited to run water safety camps and lifeguard training camps in places like Turkey and other parts of developing Europe emphasising how the rest of the world views our skills in this area.

And kids under a certain age engaged in a learn to swim programme should be offered that for free. There’s plenty of focus on reducing the road toll, alcohol and smoking related deaths, and equally there needs to be as much emphasis on reducing deaths in and around water.

Maybe it’s people making stupid decisions and or alcohol related, but surely we can’t sit back and believe this sort of thing to be acceptable.

It’s about time local and central government stopped sitting on their hands wasting valuable resources on rubbish that has little or no benefit to our people and got on with being a government and protecting the public. (GEORGE BERRY) PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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LAURA CAYGILL: LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY NEWS WHEN OUT AND ABOUT DOWN AT THREE LAMPS I OFTEN GET ASKED WHERE I work. “At the library just down the road,” I reply. As a librarian I like to think that everyone else loves libraries as much as I do, so I am often surprised when people tell me they had no idea the library was there at all. So for this, the first of a regular spot here on these pages, I would like to introduce you to the Leys Institute Library and what we offer. Some of you will be regulars and for others it will be entirely new – if you fall into that group please drop in and say hi; we’d love to meet you.

The Leys Institute Library (so named after its founders, brothers William and Thomson Leys) was opened in 1905 and now stands as one of the 55 branches of the Auckland Libraries network. You can join up for free (just bring in some ID and proof of your address) and if you are already a member at another Auckland library just bring in your library card and start browsing. It’s that easy!

While books are a big part of what we do, we also offer regular events and programmes for the community. Our regular book club meetings are now underway for the year. Run by our fantastic manager, Niki Wright, the group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 10-11am for a cuppa and a chat about good things to read. Niki always has a great selection of new and intriguing books for the group to borrow. (If you can’t make it in for a meeting you can find lots of recommended reads on the Staff Picks blog at aucklandlibrariesstaffpicks.blogspot.co.nz) Offering services to families and children is a big part of my job and as I write the team at Grey Lynn Library and I are finalising plans for our big celebration party for Dare to Explore, Auckland Libraries fantastic summer reading adventure for five to 13 yearolds. Now in its second year the programme has gone from strength to strength (more than 7500 young Aucklanders participated this year across the city), and it has been great to see the families of Ponsonby and Grey Lynn getting involved.

In February we’re starting up all our regular school-term programmes for the year: Wriggle & Rhyme for 0 to two year-olds on Thursdays at 10.30am, and Storytimes for three to five year-olds on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10.30am. I know many of you have missed Wriggle & Rhyme over the summer break and I assure you I am looking forward to it starting back up as much as you are!

Last but not least teens can join us for our teen book club, which meets on the fourth Friday of the month from 4-5pm. The first meeting of the year will be Friday, 22 February.

You provide the readers and we’ll provide snacks and plenty of hot new books and magazines. Don’t hesitate to pop in and check out our displays and recommended shelves. For more updates follow us on Facebook - Leys Institute Library Ponsonby.

(LAURA CAYGILL) PN LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY, 20 St Marys Road T: 09 374 1315

Leys Institute Library – a display for Auckland Libraries’ summer reading adventure

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HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

CANON REWARDS THE GARDEN TO TABLE TRUST The corporate philosophy of Canon is kyosei or “Living and working together for the common good”, but the company expands the definition to “All people, regardless of race, religion or culture, harmoniously living and working together into the future.”

Undoubtably the time has come for global companies to foster good relations, not only with their customers and the communities in which they operate, but also with the environment. With this objective in mind, Canon in New Zealand offers $15,000 worth of product grants to support worthwhile environmental initiatives undertaken by various organisations around the country.

The $15,000 is divided among three categories and the ones chosen for 2012 were Grass Roots, Regional and School. Auckland’s Garden to Table Trust won the Regional Award and Catherine Bell, the Trust’s Founder and Chairperson says the Canon Environmental Grant is a fantastic initiative that could not have come at a better time, with trying economic times leading to a downturn in charitable donations. The trust runs a programme in New Zealand schools where children aged from seven to ten learn to grow, harvest, prepare and share food.

The trust relies on volunteers and donations to make the project a reality and receiving the grant is invaluable because it’s not in the position to purchase expensive equipment.

With imaging equipment the children can monitor the progress of the gardens they have established, document milestones and showcase their efforts to the community.

Since its establishment the Trust has been able to fund seven schools in Auckland one of which is Freemans Bay School. The Trust is becoming a recognised food education model that will continue to be rolled out to other schools across the country. The aim is to change the way children approach and think about food with the hope of instilling healthy lifelong eating habits.

As well as working directly with schools, Garden to Table is launching a purpose built shared facility on 1500 square metres of land in the Wynyard quarter. The industrial wasteland on Daldy Street will be turned into a community garden where up to 600 children a week will learn to grow food. Catherine Bell believes this project will cement the Trust’s enterprise in the city by providing it with much-needed headquarters in such a high traffic area. Connie Clarkson, a spokesperson for Waterfront Auckland has welcomed this plan for the city. “The Trust’s philosophy aligns well with the sustainable living approach we wish to cultivate in the precinct as Wynyard Quarter develops into an urban community.”

The land will be turned into a large and highly productive organic edible garden growing a wide variety of vegetables and fruit with local restaurants contributing compostable food scraps. It will also house classrooms, an after school care facility, an events venue, a shed, a glasshouse, beehives, worm farms, compost bins and a chook pen, turning the whole area into a fully sustainable site. Late last year leading New Zealand chefs Al Brown, Des Harris, Michael Meredith, Natalia Schamroth, Jonny Schwass, and Nic Watt lent their support to a Gala Dinner fundraiser for the project.

There was once a time when nearly every household the length and breadth of New Zealand cultivated a large vegetable garden, so why has this rewarding task gone by the board? After all there’s still plenty of space in both the inner and outer reaches of suburbia. Sociological changes that aren’t necessarily for the better are partly to blame. The breakdown of the traditional family unit, not many stay at home mothers, solo parents struggling to manage on one income and long working hours have all contributed to a lack of incentive when it comes to producing home grown produce and fast food in many cases is the norm. Hardly a quarter acre pavlova paradise any more!

Fortunately there’s a wind of change in the air. The Garden to Table Trust helped set up garden beds at East Tamaki Primary School that has flow on benefits. The school is plonk in the middle of state houses that have a view of the gardens and the sight of them has spurred residents into creating their own gardens and swapping their vegetable crops at harvest time. Canon New Zealand’s Managing Director, Yusuke Mizoguchi welcomes the opportunity to provide the best imaging equipment available to like organisations that dedicate time and energy promoting environmental and sustainability practises. (DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT

THE BABY BOOMERS ARE RETIRING!

BY AND LARGE THEY’VE HAD A GOOD RUN - NO WARS TO CONTEND WITH, and mostly affluent times. Their parents retired on government pensions, and lived on these comfortably, although they may have trouble doing so because of the consumer society they have become used to. Mostly they haven’t got private pensions. By now their house should be mortgage free, and possibly they have an investment property. They’ve had the benefit of free education and huge property inflation. What does the future hold?

Maybe they’re looking at downsizing now that the kids have left home, and taking out some of their equity to augment meagre pension provisions. Or possibly they might consider a reverse mortgage, to provide cash now and the interest accumulates and is paid off later.

So it’s time to do some financial planning. It’s never too late to start, and important to make sure that you have made the best provision possible for your retirement years. Big changes lie ahead of us. Somewhere out there we may want to go to a retirement village.

From a legal viewpoint, there are some essentials. Firstly, it’s time to make or update your Will, to make sure that your trustees are suitable, and the provisions of your Will are up to date. Some of the bitter disputes we see are from badly made Wills where the beneficiaries squabble over the deceased estate. This may be avoided with a well made Will.

Government has clamped down on tucking money away in trusts, in that you can’t quickly gift assets to your trust and avoid the cost of care in retirement.

Nevertheless, if you have a trust you should make sure that you have appointed replacement trustees in your Will, and that your memorandum of wishes to your trustees is up to date.

Lastly, if you haven’t already done so, you should consider reviewing or making your enduring power of attorney. This is a special power of attorney that outlasts your incapacity. A ‘normal’ power of attorney is only as good as the capacity of the person who grants it, and if they lose capacity then the power of attorney is useless.

An Enduring Power of Attorney continues if you lack capacity. There are two kinds, one for care and welfare, and the other for property. There are lots of variables to consider, and the document must be signed off in a special way, and not only witnessed by a lawyer or appropriate person, but also certified by the lawyer that you understood what you were doing.

Your enduring powers of attorney enable your appointed attorneys to look after your needs when you are no longer able to make those decisions for yourself.

CLARK & CO, Level 1 283 Ponsonby Road T: 09 360 2413 www.clarklawyers.co.nz This article is not meant to be legal advice. If the comments have raised concerns, then see your lawyer to discuss. PN

MOST OF US WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND OUR RETIREMENT IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT EARNING ENOUGH MONEY, AS MOST OF US are earning the most we have ever earned. The problem however, is that as quickly as the money comes in the front door, it seems to fly straight out the backdoor. It is not until you find the money that is currently going walk about, that you can even start projecting the future.

The role money plays in our lives, your psychology of spending and how money affects personal relationships is the number one thing everyone must master now. When you understand what you spend your money on you can make informed and smart decisions about the future and still have a life now. From our experience, people fritter too much money, are paying too much in interest (on their mortgage) and too much in tax (within their business, if self employed). These inefficiencies cancel potential progress, and without progress retirement planning is merely an empty projection.

At enableMe we are working with a resounding number of 50-something’s, who have realised time is no longer on their side with regards to getting their retirement sorted.

To give themselves a real chance at retirement they need to either overhaul their finances, or at the very least capture their financial inefficiencies and design a plan of attack that is tailored to their situation, goals and capability. A plan without progress is much like a tramper without a compass. So many people need to climb their financial Everest but they don’t even know where to start.

The first step for everyone is to capture the money that is being frittered, pay your mortgage faster and simultaneously build a retirement plan and start making progress.

Understand where you are starting from, articulate where you want to be and then get started. Doing one thing in isolation will not create the needed result, but doing everything correctly can bridge the gap to an enjoyable retirement, even for those who have left their run late. PN Hannah McQueen, founder and Director of enableMe – Financial Personal Trainers Call enableMe on T: 0800 897 898 and speak with Hamish about booking a one-onone consultation with Hannah www.emablme.co.nz

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PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT THE NEWMAN-REID APARTMENTS AT SELWYN VILLAGE – EASY LIVING FOR A BUSY LIFESTYLE IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT IS LOOKING AT RETIREMENT options, the Newman-Reid Apartments at Selwyn Village in Point Chevalier should be on your must-see list. Opened in January 2013, these prestigious apartments have been designed by multi-award winning architects and showcase the latest thinking in retirement accommodation.

These stylish one and two-bedroom apartments offer open-plan living and spacious balcony or patio areas, and their low maintenance design allows you to get on with enjoying life to the full within this popular retirement community.

With oven, dish drawer, fridge, heat pump, washing machine, dryer and an undercover lock-up garage included in the price, the Newman-Reid apartments make the transition to retirement village living something special to look forward to.

Selwyn Village has been serving older people with integrity, warmth and respect for almost 60 years. Today, it offers a variety of modern retirement apartments and villas, as well as extensive rest home, hospital and dementia care services.

Owned by The Selwyn Foundation, one of the country’s largest, not-for-profit aged care providers, the Village has onsite banking, shopping, hairdressing, fitness and games facilities all available, enabling residents to maintain their independence with the added assurance that 24-hour medical assistance is also on hand, should it be needed. PN If you’d like to know more about easy retirement living to match your busy lifestyle, please call T: 0800 4 Selwyn (0800 473 599), E: sales@selwyncare.org.nz or visit their website: www.selwyncare.org.nz

GET ORGANISED Make your new year’s resolution to get organised a reality, using these six tried and tested tips.

PRIORITISE Work out what is causing you the most grief in your home or office and start with this. What would make you happy in that space? Could it do with a good de-clutter or rearrangement of furniture? What about new storage solutions? Map out what steps need to be taken to make that space a happy one.

Quick success will energise you to continue.

CREATE AN INSPIRATION BOARD Hunt down pictures of organised spaces that you love (look in magazines and catalogues) and put them in a prominent position to inspire you how great an organised space can look.

motivated to organise, pick a time of day when you feel most energised and make a start then. Make this a habit by scheduling it in to your week, fortnight or month and you’ll get amazing results all year long.

About professional organisers A professional organiser creates customised solutions to help others get organised.

They provide education, hands on assistance and moral support to help clients find balance and restore order to their lives. Professional organisers make a noticeable contribution to the effectiveness, productivity and sense of control of the space in your home and workplace.

About Charlie’s Angels Accomplished member of the Australasian Association of Professional Organisers, Charlie’s Angels are “time savers for busy people”. This Ponsonby based organisation has a passion for organising, developing the industry and undertaking professional development to offer clients the highest standard of service. PN For more information please contact: Charlie Perry; T: 09 360 4126 M: 021 424 475 charlotte@charliesangels.co.nz

ADOPT A SIMPLE ORGANISING PROCESS Clear and clean the area you want to organise; sort every item that you’ve cleared from your space into categories: keep, sell, donate, bin, recycle or repair; then, for the items you want to keep, group like items together and store in your space.

TAKE BABY STEPS Avoid getting overwhelmed by starting on a small section of the space that you want to organise. Even spending 10 minutes a day on a problem area will make a huge difference. Over a few days you’ll see the difference which should spur you on.

AVOID THE SHOPS, FOR NOW Avoid the temptation to rush out straight away and spend up big on storage containers and boxes. Only look at alternative storage solutions once you’ve cleaned out your areas and purged unnecessary items.

PICK YOUR TIME If organising makes you feel energised choose a time of day when you’re feeling in a lull before starting an organising task. On the other hand, if you find it difficult to get The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS LOGAN GRANGER

ENTERTAINMENT EXPENSES IT’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE AT CHRISTMAS OR IN the new year entertained your prospective/existing client or simply your staff. Unlike your general allowable business expenses, entertainment expenses have their own rule for deductibility. Basically entertainment expense runs in two folds, 100% and or 50% deductible.

To help determine whether expenditure is 50% or 100% deductible, look for a reasonable amount of personal benefit from the entertainment. If this exists, it is likely the expense will be 50% deductible. It is extremely important, when analysing your expenditure, to ensure entertainment expenses are kept separate from other business costs. If there is any expenditure which is 100% deductible this needs to be kept separate from the 50% deductible expenditure.

For all your entertainment expenses, IRD expects you to keep a record of the date of the expenses, the names of the people entertained, the business they represent, the position they hold and the reasons for the entertainment. A convenient way of keeping a record is to pay entertainment costs with your credit card and write the names of the person you entertained on your copy of the transaction. If you have the name of the person, you are likely to remember the business they represent, the position they hold and the reason for the entertainment. If you are doing so much entertainment this could become a problem, write up your entertainment records each time you receive your credit card statement.

We are not endeavouring to give you a comprehensive list of the 50% and the 100% items because they include a number of exceptions which are unlikely to affect you.

50% DEDUCTIBLE COSTS Food and drink will be 50% deductible if there is a personal enjoyment element.

Remember the rule. A Christmas party for staff or if you take a customer out to lunch or for a corporate box treat [including temporary seating, seats in a stadium], accommodation in a holiday home, time share apartments or similar but not accommodation incidental to business activities including entertainment on boats and pleasure craft are all 50% deductible.

You also have to make GST adjustments for business entertainment expenses you’ve incurred that are only 50% deductible. Don’t include any non-taxable allowances. If you provide benefits that employees can enjoy at a time and place of their choice, they are subject to GST adjustments, but you have to pay FBT on the value of the benefit.

100% DEDUCTIBLE COSTS Perhaps this title is a misnomer because the whole idea is that the food and drink is not really being consumed for your “entertainment”. There is one exception. If you are out of the country then all your entertainment expenses are fully tax deductible.

You can take as many overseas customers to restaurants as you like and claim 100% deduction.

Food and drink incurred while travelling away on business is 100% deductible. You are not “going out for dinner”. IRD is not so rigid as to deny you reasonable sustenance and a full deduction for it. Interpret this to be a meal at a restaurant and a modest amount of wine. Be sure you are dining alone or your cost is back to 50% deductible.

If you go to a conference, the cost of food and drinks is 100% deductible provided the course lasts for more than four hours and that excludes the time for the meal break.

So, if a meal is involved, find out if the course goes for at least four hours. If it’s of a shorter duration, you will need to know how much the meal cost and claim only 50% of that cost.

Meal allowances, morning/afternoon teas and any entertainment that a business provides as an incidental part of a function open to the public, or a trade display to advertise the business are 100% deductible. Although monetary sponsorship is fully deductible, any entertainment received as a result of that sponsorship must be taken into account.

For example say you sponsored $5,000 to your local club and in return you got tickets to the game worth $500, hence 50% of the value is deductible, leaving you with $4,750, which is fully deductible.

If you have any further questions or would like to discuss this matter please do not hesitate to contact Ashwin Kumar or 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

ARE YOU SELLING? ‘you can’t sell a secret... good marketing makes a difference every time’ www.ponsonbynews.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ASK A LAWYER Miles Agmen-Smith and Ponsonby resident Moira Frankovich, both of ASCO Lawyers, look at some big questions about property matters.

If you would like to know more email: moira.f@ascolegal.co.nz

Q: A:

Why is it even more important to look after myself when buying or selling a property in today’s property world and how can I do that?

The big issue is that things are always changing and life gets trickier. This applies just as much in buying and selling properties as for everything else and maybe even more sometimes.

Major changes include new laws, new obligations, new rules, and new paperwork.

To mention just a few examples, there is a brand new set of standard agreements in place for most property transactions. These contain new details and different wording in many places. Another is that under the Unit Titles Act – if you are selling now you must supply to buyers a disclosure document before they sign – but what should you disclose?

Real estate agents can have disclosure obligations to buyers based on what seller clients tell them. Then there are leaky home claims and the time horizon for making these has or may be running out. But what really is a “leaky home” and what do you need to know about them if you have one or are buying a property which might be one?

If you are considering buying or selling a property you need to take proper legal advice before you sign anything. You will need advice that best serves your own interests, and documents which actually do work in your interests not those of anyone else; and not everything that looks as if it might do so actually does. PN www.ascolegal.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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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.

I am a gardener, last year I travelled overseas for six months and while I was away I left my business in the hands of an associate. I asked him to look after my clients and we agreed when we discussed it that he would not take any clients for himself personally. I got back three months ago and my associate has now told me that a number of my old clients are switching to his services. Is there anything I can do?

Q:

Holiday snap of MICHAELHEMPHILL? (Editor - surely not!)

Not all contracts are written and signed documents. You can have oral contracts (that are agreed verbally) or they can be partly written and partly oral contracts. An oral contract is as binding on two people as a written contract. As a general principle you are bound to whatever you agree with someone as long as you can provide sufficient details of the content of the agreement and there is some consideration provided. The main issue with an oral contract is proving the terms of the contract.

A:

It seems likely that you should be able to establish that there was an agreement between you and your associate. Any written correspondence that you had with your associate may help provide evidence of the agreement. The fact that you provided him with contact details and other information for the clients and he then has carried out work for them should provide good evidence of an agreement.

Obviously it would have been better if you had documented the terms of your agreement, particularly the term that he would not take any clients. This could have easily been done by bullet pointing these terms in an email. If there is not anything in writing about this term then you need to consider how you could prove this term; do you remember the occasion when you discussed this issue with him? Where were you when you had the conversation? What was his reaction? What other details do you remember of the occasion? It is worth noting down your recollection of any such discussions now as your memory will only fade over time.

Your associate may also be in breach of a fiduciary duty. A fiduciary duty can arise when a relationship exists where someone is in a position of trust over the affairs of another. In these instances that trusted person has a duty to safeguard the interests of the other person. An example is the fiduciary duty that a lawyer owes to each and

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every client. It seems that you did put him in a position of trust and he has abused that position. A breach of fiduciary duty is recoverable through the court. You may be able to get an account of any profit that your associate received from breaching their fiduciary duty. The court may also prevent the associate from continuing to do work for those clients. You need to consider the cost to you of losing the clients as this will determine the best way of proceeding.

You should discuss with him that he has breached your agreement and follow this up in writing. If the loss is under $15,000 then you could consider making your claim in the Disputes Tribunal which could be a cost effective way to get a remedy. Lawyers are not allowed to appear in the Disputes Tribunal. It would be a good idea to get in touch with a lawyer to help guide you through this process to ensure your rights and your business are protected. (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

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOOK ... WHO IS IN THE ZOO! ‘MAN OF THE FOREST’ NEEDS YOUR HELP THE ORANGUTAN, FOUND ONLY ON THE ISLANDS OF BORNEO AND SUMATRA, is genetically 97.4% the same as us, making it one of our closest relatives.

The word orangutan translates literally as ‘man of the forest’ – an appropriate name given this great ape, a herbivore, is the largest tree-dwelling animal on Earth. It’s also known as the ‘gardener of the forest’ as it plays a vital ecological role as a seed disperser of hundreds of trees and plants – in other words, it poos out great fertiliser!

Auckland Zoo is home to six orangutans - a family group of parents Charlie and Melur, seven-year-old son Isim and ‘auntie’ Wanita, as well as male Isim and female Gangsa, who live in a separate enclosure.

Get along to an orangutan encounter when you’re next at the Zoo, or do a Zoom behind-the-scenes tour with our primate keepers, and you’ll discover just how awesome and smart these animals are.

Our orangutans play an extremely important role as advocates for their wild cousins – who are fast facing extinction as their rainforest home continues to disappear – mostly to make way for oil palm plantations to produce palm oil.

In fact, in an hour you might spend cooking or eating with your family, the equivalent of 54 rugby fields of Indonesian rainforest will have been destroyed to make way for palm oil.

Palm oil is an ingredient in at least one in 10 supermarket products – mostly food, but also cosmetics, cleaning and bath products.

In itself, palm oil isn’t bad. The problem is the destruction of rainforests – home to a massive diversity of species – to grow it, which is happening despite deforested land being available to use. At the current rate of deforestation in Sumatra, the Sumatran orangutan could be extinct in the wild as early as 2015.

Auckland Zoo believes the only way to help save these animals and their habitat, is to reduce palm oil consumption, and therefore demand. We’re saying, as much as you can buy local and unprocessed foods, and products that are palm oil free.

SUMMER ZOO LATES Auckland Zoo is staying open until 7.30pm most Wednesdays throughout February and March – a magic time to be at the Zoo. So why not come and chill out after school or work with family and friends. Our cafes will be open, most animals will still be up, and there will be live music at the band rotunda from 5.30pm - 7.30pm.

We’ll be open late on 13, 20 and 27 February and 6, 13 and 20 March. If you come to the Zoo earlier in the day you can simply stay late – no extra charge. If you arrive from 4.15pm, it’s $15 for adults, $10 for children, and under four year-olds are free.

On Wednesday 13 February, the Prohibition Big Band will perform. The Craig Williams Set featuring Hannah Grant will entertain you on 20 February, and on 27 February come and cruise to The Afro-Jazztet featuring James Langabeer. PN Further details at www.aucklandzoo.co.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

To help you buy palm oil-free, the Zoo has an online Palm Oil-Free Shopping Guide containing hundreds of supermarket products that will shortly also be available as a smartphone app. Check it out at www.aucklandzoo.co.nz DID YOU KNOW? • Indonesia alone converts 340,000ha of forest into oil palms annually – that’s 54 rugby fields every hour. If the current rate of deforestation continues, the orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Asian rhino and elephant could all be extinct in the wild by 2022 • The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP) – a conservation project that Auckland Zoo has been supporting since 2002, is working hard to ensure this great ape’s future. View an NBC interview with SOCP director, Ian Singleton, in northern Sumatra http://video.msnbc.msn.com/rock-center/49472280#49472280 PN www.aucklandzoo.co.nz

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PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS

ANIMALOSOPHY: DR MEGAN ALDERSON

A WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION FOR 2013

MONTY: REST IN PEACE

For many of us it was a struggle to get through to the end of the year.

MONTY, my faithful companion and the much loved canine face of Bashford Antiques passed away peacefully on 30 December, aged 14 and half years.

The psychological stressors which plague higher functioning apes-financial, work, family stressors and emotional upheaval-had sucked the life blood out of me as I crawled my way towards the finish line.

Depleting my swollen adrenal glands of all remaining cortisol I pepped myself up with a good measure of ‘bad stuff’. Finally sitting down on the eve of the 26th I relished the first chapter of a good book. Complete bliss.

I have been overwhelmed with many wonderful comments from friends, family and customers in response to Monty’s rest in peace email.

And then it started all over again.

In the meantime my equally hard working self-employed cat-fancying friend cast herself a LifeRing. She shouted herself a luxurious detox week at Gwinganna, a pricey Australian lifestyle retreat.

Scoffing at the expense and absurdity of spending precious time off eating leafy greens, drinking water and getting up at five o’clock in the morning I was eager to hear her thoughts on the experience. Returning radiant with renewed work and creative vigour she had the desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle into 2013.

On reflection of the past year an ambition to nourish oneself and tame those stress hormones might be the most precious therapy I could prescribe for improving your own pet’s health. I’d been having a niggling feeling that the channeling of energy between pet and owner goes both ways.

We all know the health benefits of pets for human health but could we be detrimental to theirs?

Studies show the release of oxytocin, a calmative love hormone, improves with the close contact shared between pets and owners with multiple health benefits.

With animals being natures furry energy sinks, can our stress hormones (cortisol and adrenalin) in return deplete their immune systems leading to adverse health?

Last year sleepless nights coupled with constant anxiety eventually peaked when Sydney, my dear old Labra-Bear, was diagnosed with a mast cell tumour.

I bravely booked her in for removal.

While checking for metastases Veterinary Radiologist Chris allayed my greatest fears-her organs were clear-she was not going to die. Her only abnormality was a doubling in adrenal gland size. Could this be a mirror image of my own current state of adrenal health?

A change in lifestyle is in order for our mutual optimum wellness. For my pets and owners I would recommend ritual, routine, rest, movement, good nutrition and meditation - all the things our pets love to do with us - for a healthy 2013.

Did you get a cute, cuddly kitten for Christmas? The most important thing for their optimal health is to desex them before 6 months of age. Book with us in February and March and receive a 50% discount on the procedure. Call The Strand Veterinarian now on T: 09 377 6667 for more details. (DR MEGAN ALDERSON) THE STRAND VETERINARIAN, 114 The Strand T: 09 377 6667 www.thestrandvet.co.nz

The following is a selection which sum up the AMAZING life of Monty: “Not a day could pass where you never got a kiss!”

“We admired Monty in visits to your store and he inspired us to have Jack (nearly called Monty also but there could be only one”).

“He will be missed by all who visit your shop” “We always enjoyed seeing Monty when visiting your store.”

“I loved him featuring in your marketing and photos and I know just how very special he was to you.”

“We will miss seeing him in the store, but his energy will always be there.”

“The unconditional love one receives can never be replaced, some day hopefully we will find out how it all works.”

“He was a cool dude.”

“A great and lovely friend to you for many years.”

“Monty had a fabulous life and was truly loved. Mark Twain said, ‘a dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven not man’s” “He was a lovely little dog and very much a part of The Bashford Antiques team.”

“What a blessing to have such a mate for all those years.”

Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss.

A new dog never replaces an old dog; merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs your heart is very big.

Monty had a few short months with his new friend ‘Mr Beaumont’, who is another special schnauzer and although he has ‘big paws’ to fill, he will in his own way shine forth as the canine face of Bashford Antiques. Monty, my beloved constant friend and companion I will never forget you, I will love you for ever – farewell until we meet again.

(JILLIAN BASHFORD) PN

HYDROTHERAPY FOR MR JACK Sadly, Jack, our beloved Ponsonby News Scottie is getting on in age! He turns 12 in May and is suffering from a little arthritis in his front leg and has developed a limp.

For the past month he has become a regular (three times a week) at Nose to Tail in Albany. Cathy, the owner (pictured right) says, “water hydrotherapy is great. I’ve seen some fantastic results in dogs with mobility issues.”

Judith Holterbrinck concurs, “this is a gentle treatment and was a lower cost alternative to the suggested operation from our vet.” PN www.nosetotail.co.nz

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JACK is nervous at first, but once he has his life vest on, he is ready to swim

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ASK ALEX BUNNIES – THE IDEAL FAMILY PET Rabbits are cuddly, cute, and surprisingly suited to living both indoors and outdoors.

Each month Dr Alex Melrose answers readers’ pet related issues. email yours to: alex@vetcare.net.nz

‘’Rabbits can be fun and interesting to have around. Many families adopt rabbits as a family pet, with parents and children looking after them together,” says SPCA Auckland CEO Christine Kalin.

I would first like to thank you, Vanessa and your other lovely nurses, for looking after me so well for most of my life. Your comprehensive “Vetcare Wellness Exam” has again shown me to be in tip-top condition for a cat that has just had his 20th birthday. As a senior Abyssinian Burmese cat I have always appreciated being known personally by name, when coming in to see you all, and I especially enjoy the little ‘nibble treats’ if I behave myself. Thanks again for the BEST care, and giving my owners the privilege of attending to my every whim for so many, many years.

“It’s a great way for children to learn about the joy of having a pet and the responsibilities of pet ownership. Proper care for rabbits is essential including regular grooming and feeding them the right food.”

I am writing to ask if you could please invent a more dignified way for a cat to have his temperature taken, and in doing so become world famous (amongst cats anyway), and when will I get a letter from the Queen? AUBREY

“Rabbits are active and love the company of people. You can create hours of entertainment and fun activities for rabbits, they’re intelligent and easy to train,” says Christine. “For instance, set up a confidence course inside their pen and train them to run through tunnels and jump hurdles.”

Thank you so much for your very kind words and most interesting questions.

As one of our most treasured senior citizens, I’m seriously impressed with how sharp your mind still is, as sharp as the claws you thankfully never use on us during your now frequent visits. Seeing our hard-case feline characters live on forever, happily tormenting their human servants is one of the great pleasures of being a veterinarian.

SPCA Auckland currently has lots of rabbits and some guinea pigs looking for new families to care for them.

You can ‘rabbit proof’ your home pretty easily so your new pet can live entirely indoors.

Even an apartment can be ideal – so long as your rabbit can’t fall off your balcony.

Simply remove chewable items – especially electrical cords – from their reach and set aside a caged area in a tiled room as their ‘base camp’.

“Once settled, a rabbit will often join you on the sofa and hang out with you pretty much like a cat - providing a soft, warm, and cuddly companion. Bunnies thrive on love and attention. If you’re looking for a pet, please consider rescuing an animal in need and giving them a home for life.’’

Animals adopted from the SPCA are all vet checked, de-sexed, micro-chipped, wormed, rid of fleas and have initial vaccinations. PN Rabbits currently available for adoption at SPCA Auckland can be viewed at www.spca.org.nz

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

Q:

A:

I know how well-trained you have them after 20 years of strict behavioural modification; you have them wrapped around your little claw. With improved diets and health care you are living proof of the doubling of lifespan our patients have experienced over the last few decades. 20 years is still more than double the average lifespan of cats and is a testament to the exceptional level of deservedly spoiled lifestyle you have maintained.

We have made some great advances here with thermometers and now exclusively use a new super-fast model (no kidding), and my superstar team of nurses have personally drafted you a letter on behalf of the Queen. It’s on its way to you now.

Looking forward to your 21st.

(DR ALEX MELROSE, BVSC MRCVS) PN VETCARE GREY LYNN, 408 Great North Road T: 09 361 3500 www.vetcare.net.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT WHITESPACE HEAVY SHADOWS – Graham Bennett 5 - 23 February In 2012 Graham travelled to Korea as artist in residence with the ISF 2012 programme. While there he made and exhibited Tipping Point, a 3.6 metre work at the Hangaram Art Museum in Seoul. Building on this experience Graham is planning to create a spectacular suspended work over the forecourt at Whitespace as part of his exhibition; Heavy Shadows.

The rest of the show comprises of a mixture of interior and exterior works all based in the patterns and place of Aotearoa New Zealand - but with a universality that resonates internationally and cross culturally. His work derives from a knowledge of history and humankind, an emotive bond between identity and place and an enquiring mind that is alert to questions of connection.

Auger/Augur by Graham Bennett

Painstaking examination of detail and an awareness of the broader framework, coupled with an eye that is tuned to pattern and shape. These qualities can be seen in the environmentally responsive works, moving with the wind or casting dramatic shadows to create yet another trajectory.

Graham’s public sculpture Reasons for Voyaging grace the foreground of the Christchurch Art Gallery, Sea/Sky Kaipara was commissioned for the Gibbs Farm in 1994, Kurashiki City in Japan commissioned a major work in 2003, to name but a few of the major public works from his outstanding international career, alongside many years of public and private exhibitions in New Zealand.

Heavy Shadows coincides with the ISC Sculpture Conference in Auckland. PN WHITESPACE, 12 Crummer Road T: 09 361 6331 www.whitespace.co.nz

SHOWING AT BLACK ASTERISK THE KISS - A Pride Festival Exhibition 8 - 18 February; Opening Party: 9 February 6.30pm As part of the Auckland Pride Festival, Black Asterisk will be putting on the ‘Pride Festival Exhibition’, showing the work of up and coming and established artists of the rainbow community. Artists featured are Graeme Hitchcock, Ross Hamilton, Mark Beehre, Peter Liggins, Eu-Jin Loh and more. As with the festival, the ‘Pride Festival Exhibition’ aims to ensure that Auckland’s rainbow community thrives and is actively supported and recognised for the strengths, diversity and colour it brings to Auckland. The group show will present pieces from a variety of mediums and styles with cast glass and bronze sculpture, painting, and photography.

DISTRACTIONS - Chris Moore 20 February - 5 March; Preview: 19 February 6.30pm Chris Moore’s ‘Distractions’ presents a full exhibition of figurative forged steel and cast bronze sculpture. His work is characterised by its detailed textured surface, each figure built up from layer upon layer of worked wax. The works are often deeply pocketed, with a playful interaction between light and shadow across their unpolished surface. Moore appears to be less concerned with monumental expression, more so with character and emotion. The figures are introspective. Often alone or self-examining, his works carry titles that reflect the thoughtful scenes, such as 'Down and Out', 'In the Shadow', 'Confrontation', and 'Almost Lost'.

Chris Moore has been a full time designer and artist for over a decade. Originally focusing on oil painting and portraiture, Chris later moved his attention to metalwork, completing an apprenticeship in traditional blacksmithing in Europe.

BLACK ASTERISK GALLERY, 10 Ponsonby Road M: 021 040 1168 www.blackasterisk.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE SHOWING AT MOMENTUM GALLERY During February After the sale of Ross’ original ‘Rocketman’ in December, we are off to another cracker start to the year at Momentum! Ross’ artworks have exploded in popularity over the last 12 months, both locally and internationally as well. Over the holiday period Ross has again been inspired and we can all look forward to some wonderful new works in 2013.

A delicious, new Ross Jones original will be in the gallery soon with stunning prints too!

February see’s the Ross Jones original artworks move up the road to Vinnies by Geoff Scott, with a ‘not to be missed’ sit down artist dinner on 21 February. Ross has his new ‘Moment in Time’ publication coming in March as well, which will be worth waiting for indeed. Don’t forget we are open every day from 10am to 6pm to satisfy your framing and New Zealand print requirements. Happy New Year! PN MOMENTUM GALLERY, 1/182 Jervois Road T: 09 376 4749 www.momentumgallery.co.nz / facebook.com/MomentumGallery www.jonesthepainter.com

The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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LOCAL NEWS: DEIRDRE TOHILL 9

BREECHES, BONNETS, AND (AHEM) BIG BALLS There’s no lack of fun to be had when the Fringe Festival hits Auckland once again. Venues across the city are all ready and set to à go-go and artists of every persuasion will perform in no less than 115 events from Friday, 15 February to Sunday, 10 March. This is a once every two years extravaganza that started in 2009 and was firmly consolidated in 2011 with 99 shows and an audience of 51,888. There’s no set criteria and anyone who has an idea for a show just registers it and helps make the festival happen.

Penny Ashton’s performance at TAPAC is bound to attract full houses given Jane Austen’s enduring appeal. Back in 2010 Auckland’s leading Improv Troupe, ConArtists, performed ‘Austen Found :The undiscovered Musicals of Jane Austen’ at the Herald Theatre, which Penny directed.

The show was a sell-out success and now Penny has decided to do what no Regency woman would dare to - go out alone and completely unchaperoned. She has written all the lines and lyrics for ‘Promise and Promiscuity: A new Musical by Jane Austen’. This theatrical scripted piece is a step in a new direction because all her former shows have been improvised stand-ups.

Penny did her first solo dance show at the Repertory Theatre in Christchurch as a nine year old and since leaving school has made a name for herself as a global poet and comedienne. She is a multiple award winner, performed by invitation at The Glastonbury Festival in 2010 as well as reporting from the Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas, won Best Performance by an International Poet at the London Farrago Awards in 2011, travels regularly to both the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals and is well known in New Zealand for her radio, television and journalism work. She also runs Poetry Island which is a big event at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival.

Penny now has another string to her bow. She tried to become a marriage celebrant for 12 years but kept being told by the Internal Affairs Department that she didn’t fit the criteria. Not one to accept defeat, she kept applying and finally gained acceptance in September last year after her ninth attempt.

She’s a romantic at heart, believes in the institution of marriage, and is able to offer a unique service to couples wanting a young and flexible celebrant. She’s very excited to have fulfilled this long held ambition and received 13 bookings immediately after qualifying.

Her latest show is a Pastiche of Jane Austen featuring classical pieces with lyrics and many of Jane Austen’s own lines such as the opening words in Pride and Prejudice – “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”. Penny will be delivering post modern versions of these sorts of lines such as “I’m two and twenty and fast becoming a spinster”.

FROM HERE TO THERE AND BACK AGAIN MONTH SEVEN: Tokyo, Bangkok and Great Barrier Island TOKYO - I left London, my base for four months, said goodbye to friends and family and flew to Japan to spend a few days with my son Joel. Joel has fulfilled a lifelong ambition in moving to live and work in this fascinating and beautiful place with century’s old culture. It was a privilege to be chaperoned by a fluent Japanese speaker. We relaxed at a traditional Japanese bathhouse, naturally his and hers, a thorough scrub and soak. The food is sublime and the fish market offered wonderful traditional cuisine. I had an evening with friends at a downtown venue, huge fun too. The magical touch of considered design touches everything from the largest building to the tiniest ornament. All our explorations, galleries, shops and eateries in my short time were most rewarding.

BANGKOK - I spent the last week of my overseas trip staying with Thai friend Thor and wife Na in their beautiful home. It was a welcome and soothing respite after the whirlwind of Tokyo.

Their home has been in Thor’s family for more than half a century and is exquisite, with lush tropical gardens and houses tastefully restored by Na. I received superb hospitality with banquet style breakfasts, swims in the neighbouring pool and souvenir shopping till I dropped in markets and the famous MBK centre.

GREAT BARRIER ISLAND - Before settling down to the serious business of finishing pieces for my up-coming exhibition of works from my travels, I joined Christine and Derek again on their yacht at Barrier. The scenery, the swimming, a chance to learn to paddle board, a daily catch of seafood and watching the dolphins fish and play, provided inspiration and a reminder that we live in the best of places. (CARLINA GOFFE) PN

Robbie Ellis has recorded all the classical pieces that accompany the lyrics and there will be little jokes throughout the show with some social commentary along the way.

Penny has steeped herself in the Jane Austen world where a woman’s lot was pretty vile if you didn’t have money.

Penny’s partner, Matthew Harvey is a one man cabaret of spoken word, comedy and music. She co-starred with him in “Gush! Love and Other Filthy Habits” which was his Fringe debut in 2011 and directs him in this year’s Fringe performance, “Dangerman!”

He’ll be spouting on about Tom Jones, Woman’s Day, and Masterchef twats in cravats and he’s ‘totally scrumptious’ according to Theatreview Auckland.

These two shows are bound to be sell-outs so it would pay to book early. Promise and Promiscuity plays at TAPAC from Wednesday 27 February to Saturday 2 March at 7.00pm and on Sunday 3 March at 6.00pm.

Dangerman plays at 8.00pm from 20 to 22 February at the Whammy Bar, St Kevins Arcade. Ticket prices - $15 full, concession $10. Free to Fringe Artists. T: 09 361 1000 (DEIRDRE TOHILL) PN

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ARTS + CULTURE PACIFIC SHOWCASE COMES TO THE CLOUD Enrich your heart and soul and awaken your senses to the Best of the Pacific at the Pacific Showcase. The Pacific Cooperation Foundation, in partnership with regional and local businesses brings this exciting summer event to Auckland’s waterfront held in The Cloud over five Saturdays throughout February and March.

This is a unique experience blending culture and cuisine and a fusion of regional Pacific food, artisan products, design, art, jewellery, fashion, beauty products, live performance and quality fresh produce.

SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY Music and live performance, traditional and contemporary inspired performances and artist demonstrations including dance, music, weaving, and Tatau (tattoo) by internationally recognised Samoan Tatau artist Corey Weir along with artist in residence, Sylvia Marsters.

SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY Food and beverage with demonstrations from international celebrity chef and Pacific cuisine specialist Robert Oliver who’s most recent book Me’a Kai – The Food and Flavours of the South Pacific was the 2011 winner of the Best Cookbook in the World at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Paris. Enjoy the robust flavours of island grown coffee, sample specialty breads in the Pacific café.

SATURDAY, 16 FEBRUARY Family will be at the heart of the day with fun attractions for to the whole family including live performances, kid’s activities, an art zone, face painting and trips in a Waka.

SATURDAY, 2 MARCH Travel, as an integral sector of the Pacific’s infrastructure and economic activity, travel will be the primary focus and Pacific tourism businesses will be on hand to acquaint visitors with the delights and beauty of the region; tropical, exotic island destinations; sun, sea and the friendliest of people.

SATURDAY 9 MARCH Fashion, health and beauty will be the highpoint of the final Pacific Showcase weekend. Prominent beauty company Pure Fiji and established fashion label TAV will exhibit alongside newcomers including handbag and accessories company, TeRa. Other facets of health and wellness will be featured during the day. PN Hours are from 8.00am – 5.00pm and admission is free.

Full details are available at www.pacificshowcase.co.nz

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FRANKLIN ROAD LIGHTS Saturday 1 December

We don’t know how they manage to, but every year the lights keep getting better and better drawing locals and visitors to Ponsonby. Our locals make such a huge effort and we thank them for their creativity! PN The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied

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FRANKLIN ROAD: SWITCH-ON AT THE ROB ROY Saturday 1 December

We were disappointed and a little surprised not to have a LOCAL resident switch-on the lights last year.

1. Ross Thorby, John Campbell, Roger Donaldson and Hamish Keith; 2. Just clowning around!; 3. Celia Harrison, creative director of Art in the Dark, with Actor Oliver Driver; 4. Dona White of North Port Events, Kim Dotcom and Auckland Mayor Len Brown; 5. And the lights are on!; 6. Labour List MP Dr Rajen Prasad, Prem Prasad, Labour List MP Jacinda Ardern, and Grace Kayes-Moller; 7. John Elliott & Kim Dotcom; 8. Family fun & BBQ!; 9. Ross Thorby, Franklin Road Lights 2012 organiser Amy Calway, with John Campbell; 10. Crowd gather at the refurbished Rob Roy Tavern. PN

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TELECOM CHRISTMAS TREE, VICTORIA PARK Saturday 1 December

Congratulations to Telecom NZ for choosing a great location for their tree last December. MC Oscar Kightley does a brilliant job each year, keeping the children and their parents amused.

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THE HULA JOURNEY, LEYS INSTITUTE, PONSONBY Monday, 3 December

Aotearoa’s first official Hawaiian hula school took residence in one of Ponsonby’s historical treasures, Leys Institute Gymnasium Hall, and launched its new holistic branding. Guests enjoyed a night of song, hula, chants, inspiring speeches, great food, and an education of this unique style of cultural dance.

1. Rob Matamu of Ponsonby Community Centre, and Anita Matamu; 2. Aruna PoChing performs with Paseafika Rim Productions; 3. The Hula Journey; 4. Darragh Walshe of Hawaii Tourism, Aruna Po-Ching of The Hula Journey, Russell Williss of Hawaiian Airlines, and Gerry Hill; 5. Melanie Rands, Ahilapalapa Rands of Eco Store, with Jacque Drew of The Hula Journey; 6. Hula. PN

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THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES Bring this coupon into us and receive gorgeous heart shape chocolates when you spend over $60 instore during February 2013

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 February 2013 130 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2012

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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