PONSONBY NEWS - AUGUST '21

Established: OCTOBER 1989

CELEBRATING 31 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

AUGUST 2021

MEET THE TEAM @ THE HEALTH CLINIC IN GREY LYNN

STEPHEN PARSONS & DR MARY GARVEY - P25

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LETTERS & EMAILS

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FROM THE EDITOR

016 DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW 022

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

024 PIPPA COOM: COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA- & GULF 025 COVER STORY - THE HEALTH CLINIC, GREY LYNN 026 RICHARD NORTHEY, WAITEMATA- LOCAL BOARD 034

EREBUS MEMORIAL PARK

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CHLÖE SWARBRICK: MP AUCKLAND CENTRAL

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PONSONBY PARK

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PREDICT WEATHER.COM

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HELENE RAVLICH: WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING?

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FASHION & STYLE

056 EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY 064 LIVING, THINKING + BEING

P50 - Helene Ravlich: What are you driving?

069 FUTURE GENERATION

EDITOR/PUBLISHER: MARTIN LEACH M: 021 771 147 martinleach@xtra.co.nz or martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz

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DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: JAY PLATT M: 021 771 146 jayplatt@xtra.co.nz or jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz

HONOUR MITCHELL: TEEN PICKS

072 PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS 077

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

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HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS

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ARTS & CULTURE

096 AUGUST WINTER STREAMING 098

THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

Cover Photography: Connor Crawford

PONSONBY NEWS is published monthly, excluding January by: ALCHEMY MEDIA LIMITED, P.O. BOX 47-282 Ponsonby, Auckland 1144, T: 09 378 8553, www.ponsonbynews.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS is printed on paper sourced from sustainable, well managed forests and manufactured under the environmental management system ISO 14001.

6 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

AD SALES & CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: ANDREA KAHUKIWA M: 021 689 688 andrea@ponsonbynews.co.nz ADVERTISING SALES/AD DESIGNER: MELISSA PAYNTER M: 027 938 4111 melissapaynter@me.com OPERATIONS MANAGER: GWYNNE DAVENPORT M: 021 150 4095 gwynne@ponsonbynews.co.nz CONTRIBUTING MUSIC EDITOR: FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT M: 021 134 4101 finn.huia@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: JOHN ELLIOTT M: 021 879 054 johnelliott38@outlook.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER: ARNA MARTIN M: 021 354 984 arna@cocodesign.co.nz ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: Within New Zealand $49. By cheque or credit card in NZ$. Please note: we do not hold back issues of Ponsonby News.

Our archive is all online as pdfs. Please visit www.ponsonbynews.co.nz The entire content of this publication is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechaal, photocopying, recording or otherwise - without the prior permission, in writing, of the copyright owner. Colour transparencies and manuscripts submitted are sent at the owner’s risk; neither the publisher nor its agents accept any responsibility for loss or damage. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher can accept no liability for any inaccuracies that may occur.

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LETTERS & EMAILS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR A neighborhood cat was found dead on Pompallier Terrace on Thursday evening, 8 July around 9pm. The driver had hit the cat and driven off leaving it helpless. Cat owners on Pompallier say that it’s a common occurrence that cats and kittens are hit by cars going down Pompallier. Pompallier is a common through road for Chelsea tractors of Ponsonby rushing around. It’s been good to see the police doing alcohol checks at the top of Pompallier of late, breathalising people driving from Ponsonby Road after dinner.

But seriously, I can’t wrap my head around someone hitting a large cat and driving off in a residential suburb. Is this really what Ponsonby is?

‘MONTY PYTHONESQUE’ BOARD MEETING Yesterday I presented at the Waitemata- Local Board with a hoarse, croaky voice, a metaphor for the lack of voice that the public have on serious issues like the breaches of the Resource Consent on Western Springs Forest and the decimation of 15,000 native trees in a 'Climate Change Emergency'. The only extra prop I needed was a dead parrot to make it truly Monty Pythonesque.

What did get these City Vision members excited was their 'Notice of Motion'; they had clearly caucused and coordinated previously with the City Vision members of the Devonport local board to take over two lanes of the Harbour Bridge once a month on a Sunday morning over Summer for walking and cycling. Both words 'Sunday' and 'Summer' were actually missing from the motion itself.

One presenter, in support of the motion talked about his 'civil right' to ride his bike every day across the bridge, and that he had been discussing with police to support him to do so.

A Board member got called out by a cycle lobbyists from the audience for saying a constituent had told her about their friend suiciding from the bridge and bringing the Board's attention to potential health and safety risks of no wind/safety barrier.

Several local board members had been stranded in Blenheim during a local government conference where they voted to put a remit into government to return tree protection, yet Auckland Council is one of the biggest offenders in the removal of mature trees, and

the Waitemata- Local Board has sanctioned an ecological disaster in Western Springs that was approved on a $400,000 budget but has now blown out to over seven times that at $3,000,000.

The removal of a healthy maturing native forest, to replace it with shrub and seedlings at a cost over $3 million appeared to be completely lost on them!

Michael Palin and John Cleese would have had a ball with this as a script.

Gael Baldock, Community Advocate WESTERN SPRINGS FOREST Good on you Ponsonby News for publishing that story about the destruction of Western Springs Forest. Public discussion about social matters is so lacking in this country and we are becoming afraid to upset people because our opinions dare cross the ‘party line’.

We have to read about it in ‘The Spectator’ from Melbourne I think.

There is a huge push to annul all of our public parks of anything not native, and Western Springs is just one of these areas. God help us if they start cutting out those magnificent species in Cornwall Park.

Keep going team!

Johny Black, Grey Lynn JOHN STREET STREETSCAPE I hope you might be able to help me. I am wondering if perhaps John Street is on the border of some invisible council line? It is the only explanation I can think of as to why the street planting is, on one side, looked after and on the other an embarrassing mess.

The first two images show the islands on the St Paul's side of John Street; tidy, if not predictably boring and colourless, but maintained non the less. The second two are of the Ponsonby Road side.

A shambles. One is the remains of a tree that blew down several years ago. The other, I've no idea.

Might you know why we aren't allowed nice things? Will anyone ever come and tidy this mess up? Why is it like this at all?

I am just hoping you might have a connection at the council who might be able to answer these questions?

Name and address provided but withheld on request continued p12

Pictured John Street Streetscape

Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.

8 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FROM THE EDITOR

There are two big issues currently facing our community – firstly the placement of the controversial Erebus Memorial and secondly, the Western Springs Forest.

Last month John and I had a friendly and informative guided walk through the Western Springs Forest with Lucy Kitching, corporate communications specialist and David Stejskel, the regional arborist and eco manager. Subsequently, John had several other discussions with those two contacts.

During our visit we were devastated by the wide barren road (the area looked like Mars!) constructed to allow machinery to get logs out, but impressed by how much native understorey still stood in pockets around the forest. Over 6000 native seedlings have already been planted.

Critics still have two main complaints. First, mountains of chip from chipped pine trunks make it impossible to plant seedlings deeply into soil, and secondly, that the road site has not been restored to its original contour as required by the resource consent.

There has been much controversy regarding the National Erebus Memorial in Parnell. However many locals support a new idea - the proposed, dedicated Erebus Memorial Park in Western Springs Precinct.

There have been other sites suggested but there are so many good reasons to have the memorial at Western Springs. There is the Museum of Transport and Technology’s Aviation Hall for a start.

There’s also the popular tram service, and locals know all about the beautiful walks out to Meola Reef. There is the Zoo and Western Springs Forest; families could make a day of it. The land suggested would be large enough to incorporate the Memorial’s existing design and a lower walled garden could contain a water reflection pool or waterfall within a beautiful garden setting.

Jay Platt & Martin Leach

The Erebus Memorial Park initiative is working to provide an option for the consideration of Erebus whanau and the wider community and welcomes your thoughts, input and involvement. For further details visit www.EMP.org.nz We are excited to learn we will have a brand new cinema opening in Ponsonby Central next year. Silky Otter Cinemas will bring the big screen to Ponsonby and we can’t wait!

Coveted French furniture brand Ligne Roset has expanded its presence within the New Zealand market with the launch of an exclusive showroom on Great North Road in Grey Lynn. Call in and have a browse.

In this issue we’d like to say goodbye and thank you to Sid and Chand, co-owners of Sidart. After 12 years the restaurant has been sold to Lesley Chandra, who takes over on 6 September.

In this issue Helene Ravlich asked 12 locals to tell us how they get around our city – either by car, bike or scooter. Enjoy the issue everyone.

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PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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OUR CONTRIBUTORS

IT’S A TEAM EFFORT... WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT OUR CONTRIBUTORS CONNOR CRAWFORD I am a working artist and photographer with a colourful and rhythmic perspective. I enjoy shooting the front covers of Ponsonby News.

DAVID HARTNELL - MNZM For the last 53 years I’ve been a freelance entertainment journalist and author. I’ve lived in the Grey Lynn area for nearly three decades; I have met and interviewed some amazing people.

FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT I work as a booker, promoter and festival programmer. Active in all areas of the music community; folk music is my specialty.

HONOUR MITCHELL I have lived in the Ponsonby area all of my life.

I write the column ‘Teen Picks’ which explores everything on offer in the greater Ponsonby area.

HELENE RAVLICH A freelance writer and copywriter for almost 20 years, I have written for publications all over the world and couldn’t imagine myself in any other job.

JOHN APPLETON I have a keen interest in nutritional medicine and how it may be used to support people with chronic illnesses.

KEN RING My yearly NZ Weather Almanacs began in 1999. During the tragic 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, my work created international interest. I currently live in Ponsonby.

KERRY LEE I’ve been a freelance writer for a year now, and what I love most are the wonderful people I’ve meet along the way. #best job.

LUCY KENNEDY I am a young local writer who loves to read! Each month you will find my reviews of new books for people who love to read as much as I do.

PHIL PARKER Journalist and published author, I have had a career involving both wine writing and hosting boutique wine tours in the Auckland region.

PIPPA COOM

I am Councillor for Waitemata- and Gulf Ward on Auckland Council. Formerly, Chair WaitemataLocal Board.

ROSS THORBY I have had a wanderlust for travel ever since I was old enough to own a passport. Since I discovered cruising, I have become unstoppable.

JOHN ELLIOTT

SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS

I am the founder of Ponsonby News and write for the magazine. My career has included politics, education and publishing. My interests include the environment, the economy and social justice.

A vegan for over a year and vegetarian for over seven years with a passion for writing. I am a local student reviewing some of Ponsonby’s best vegan eats.

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10 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LETTERS & EMAILS

continued from p8 WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD MANDATE Recently there have been a growing number of protests over matters within the mandate of the Waitemata- Local Board. These have ranged from physical protest, presentations at Board meetings, posts on Facebook and Letters to the Editor.

The subjects covered are the felling of the Western Springs Forest, the siting of the Erebus National Memorial, the implementation of “tactical urbanism” at the lower end of Queen Street and the roll out of cycleways.

Frequently, these protests are written off as the actions of a small, vociferous number of people. Well, that is far from the case – what we see, hear, and read is just the tip of the iceberg. At times in frustration the protestors do and say things that would be better not said nor done, but this should not be used as a lever to write off their views.

The Chair argues that these matters are no longer the business of the Board so there is nothing more they can do. Not true – there is nothing to stop them from passing a motion expressing their concerns and asking that Council re-look at the matter. There is nothing stopping them passing a motion asking the Ministry of Culture and Heritage to look at the MOTAT site for the Erebus National Memorial.

Keith McConnell keith@keithforwaitemata.com A CITY VISION THAT FAILS TO SEE THE WOOD FOR THE TREES Richard Northey’s writings as the Waitemata- Local Board Chair in July’s Ponsonby News was no ‘news’. The usual plodding and disappointing representation reflected a tired politician within a board whose masters are political parties and a council rather than its constituents.

Waitemata- Local Board has failed in a democratic potential we had been assured of within Auckland’s local government revamp. It is a rubber-stamping enterprise within a theatre of democracy.

For example, Northey completely ignores the distressed voices of many constituents over the brutal removal of trees from Western Springs Lakeside Te Wai Orea park. He dumps on their issues without acknowledging them. Like a grumpy principal be dismisses counter voices through “more than a decade of thought and local consultation on the matter”.

Citizens know all too well about Auckland Council consultation processes - a box ticking exercise within a process whose outcome is already decided. From mid-2018, a process invited consultation into this parks draft development plan and Grey Lynn Residents Association promoted it, “to improve the existing state of the park, without making any major changes”. The Council promoted the following ‘key changes’: bird feeding, the promotion of eel feeding, forest footpaths and discussions on the hump bridge. Where was the catastrophic damage to the park as well documented in the Ponsonby News in this consultancy process? Indeed a case of not seeing the woods for the trees.

12 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

However, the most concerning feature of Northey’s PR dump was his expression of the local board’s, “active concern about continuing issues relating to homelessness and what are sometimes related antisocial and criminal behaviour in emergency accommodation and on the streets in the town centres in the Waitemata- Board area.”

His response - “We have again written to the Government seeking the identification and appointment of a public agency to take the lead and ensure effective co-ordination and lasting solutions in this regard”.

These statements are appalling on many levels, primarily in demonising the homeless, and secondly for the complete lack of leadership responsibility on the issue.

As the chairperson of our local board, it is not sufficient to abdicate responsibility in some letter writing. City Vision, a coalition of Labour and Greens that put him in the position and whose members dominate the board, possess a powerful democratic agency to be part of the solution of homelessness in our city. City Vision local board members block-vote on matters; they did after all on his chairpersonship.

Therefore, they can make powerful statements and commanding directives on this critical issue.

In a 2019 Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health study, ‘Being at the Bottom Rung of the Ladder in an Unequal Society: A Qualitative Analysis of Stories of People without a Home’, it was found that for participants with a history of homelessness, insufficient income was the primary cause of their homelessness. They reported that insufficient income was a catalyst to other factors, including family or domestic instability, lack of employment, lack of suitable housing, addictions to alcohol or drugs, lack of support from friends and or family, physical ill-health, mental health condition, and a prison or jail record. These findings are consistent with several studies which reported that being poor and homeless are predictive of adopting maladaptive behaviour such as engaging in criminal activities, trading sex for money, and selling or using drugs.

Rather than associate homelessness with the real issues, Northey obfuscates, judges and blames. At present, inequality worsens, homelessness is now an accepted part of our street landscape, and the local board, council, government agencies and well-meaning agencies again fail to see the wood for the trees. They all fail to face the real issues. We do not need to reinvent the wheel. Overseas, councils take the primary role in coordinating wrap-around services to support Northey’s ‘lasting solutions’ of urban homelessness. It is about priorities in essential governance, not blame and deflection.

The local board, resourced through City Vision to get elected and therefore linked to political parties now in power, claims no agency themselves in addressing the shame of the very human suffering on our streets. That is not acceptable.

Russell Hoban, Ponsonby

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS

YOUR NEWEST LOCAL SPORTS STORE, OPEN NOW! Conveniently nestled just around the corner from Eden Park, Rebel Sport Morningside is perfectly placed for ardent fans to find much sought after supporters' gear.

From the All Blacks to the Black Caps, Rebel Sport Morningside has an extensive range of supporters' gear for fans looking to show their true colours with the right kit at the stadium. With its proximity to Eden Park, Rebel Sport Morningside is also the perfect stop for fans making a last minute purchase on their way to the game; the dedicated car park means it couldn’t be easier to pop in and quickly grab the gear you need.

Beyond the sporting codes played at Eden Park, the store has all the bases covered with its supply of supporters’ gear for baseball, basketball, football, NFL, rugby league, sailing and The Rock.

If you’d rather be in the thick of the sporting action than supporting it from the sidelines, Rebel Sport Morningside is also a great port of call for all kinds of players and fitness fans. With a massive range of activewear, footwear, sports gear and outdoor equipment; whether you’re into camping, hiking, yoga, boxing, basketball, the gym or anything in between, you’ll find what you’re looking for at Rebel Sport Morningside.

As a completely new store with a unique custom fit out, shoppers can also trial equipment out and experiment with sports gear as they take advantage of the latest interactive in-store features like a place to shoot hoops, play table tennis, or work on their curve shot with the in-store pool table.

Since opening recently, the store has already become the destination for all things active for residents of Ponsonby and Grey Lynn. With its easy location, accessibility and ample parking, stopping into Rebel Sport Morningside is perfect for people who’d rather spend more time being active than in traffic or navigating busy shopping centres. So the next time you need anything sport, stop by and Rebel Sport Morningside will knock it out of the park.

REBEL SPORT, 1 Taylors Road, Morningside, T: 09 846 0350, Instagram: @rebelsportnz, www.rebelsport.co.nz

14 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH HELEN PERRY Helen Perry has been a journalist most of her life and is the magazine editor for Times Media.

How has journalism changed over the years? Hugely - language constantly alters; it’s far less formal than 40 years ago. News priorities have changed in some areas and women’s place in journalism has progressed in leaps and bounds. Sadly, print advertising has slipped resulting in staff cuts for many publications thus reporting standards and range of news are not what they once were.

How have you survived the pandemic? I certainly have survived Covid-19 but has my life changed? Not dramatically – I worked from home during lockdowns, enjoyed socially distanced street meets and I didn’t succumb to the fury of baking which beset so many! However, curtailed travel means I’ve sorely missed get-a-ways to Oz and the Pacific, but then I’ve had more opportunities to explore beautiful Aotearoa.

What was your childhood like? Being a baby boomer, life was pretty simple and very happy. Living off Richmond Road, we didn’t have a car; we took the bus everywhere or walked. My mother sewed and knitted for us. The cake tins were always full, and on Thursdays Dad gave me a bag of sweets and 2/6d (25 cents) for my money box. At school, we banked weekly with the Auckland Savings Bank, drank supplied milk – cold in winter, hot in summer – and seldom wore shoes. We attended the Saturday matinee at the Esquire picture theatre (Richmond Road) or the Cameo in Surrey Crescent; 1/.6d (15 cents) bought a seat and an TT2 (ice block). I was presented with my first Louie heeled shoes when I was in Form 2 at Pasadena Intermediate, and suddenly I was all grown up!

Dream holiday? Europe, but if I have to narrow it down - France, Italy, Greece, and I like a bit of luxury - no camping and no rising at 6am to ride on a bus all day. Hotels or apartments for me, plus a pool, good food, wine and plenty of sunshine together with a bit of history and local exploration.

Bucket list? To live long enough to see my two grandsons (12 and nine) settled into careers.

What other job would you like? Drive a tour bus. I’m a people person with the gift of the gab. I love our country and I love showcasing it to visitors.

How would you like to be remembered? As a mother who loved her family, as a journalist who didn’t write half badly, and as a friend who would come to the rescue if she could.

If you were an ice-cream, what flavour would you be? Neapolitan - I never liked that flavour but as my life is one third family, one third work, one third fun, it kind of fits. But forget the strawberry; I am definitely not the strawberry shortcake type and although I can be vanilla bland, at times there is a dark side to my nature and thoughts which I seldom share!

Biggest disappointment? Never seeing the Beatles when they came to Auckland in 1964.

Dream home? Not too big, (who wants to clean all day?) less of the ostentation, big windows, beautiful view, some natural stone features, more living space, less in the bedrooms and definitely a walk-in shower.

Favorite hero of fiction? Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings - such an unpretentious little Hobbit who reluctantly takes on a Herculean task and, against all odds, accomplishes what must have seemed impossible.

Who would be on your dream guest list for a dinner party? Golly, as a journo there’s a myriad of greats and not so greats I’d love to dine with, including the inimitable David Hartnell who would, of course, unseal his lips and regale us with many a tale. In addition, my table of eight might include the late Billy T who knew how to laugh at himself and was a very kind man; author Irma Bombeck whose books and outlook on life were practical and humorous; naturalist (and much more) David Attenborough who values every aspect of our planet and has shared it so magnificently; actress Brenda Blythen, who must bring Vera to the table too (and because we both love game shows); local singer Lisa Lorell whose international cabaret style covers songs from many decades and virtually every genre - what a performance she could give and, finally, I’d have to toss a coin between poets James J Baxter and Hone Tuwhare. I love their words and we would surely debate society and the world at large. (DAVID HARTNELL MNZM)  PN

16 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS

Ligne Roset New Zealand Marketing Director Monica Tischler and Managing Director Matt Dickson with son Jude on the coveted Togo settee

NEW TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Bonjour and Kia ora! Coveted French furniture brand Ligne Roset is expanding its presence within the New Zealand market with the launch of an exclusive Auckland showroom.

For more than five decades, the brand has amassed worldwide domination; appearing in homes of the discerning design devotee in all corners of the globe – from Europe, Asia, America, Australia and even here in Aotearoa.

Ligne Roset’s Export Director for Asia Pacific, Bernard Vinson, says its presence down under reflects how the brand continues to grow from strength to strength.

Yet despite New Zealanders’ love of the product, never before has it made a foray into the Kiwi market as a stand-alone brand – a venture Ligne Roset New Zealand Managing Director, Matt Dickson is thrilled to bring to the table.

“Ligne Roset has flourished amid the Covid-19 pandemic as people look to invest in beautiful pieces for their home,” he says. “The demand has been so great that we have needed to increase staff numbers and have established an internship programme where we mentor workers on the craft of luxury furniture making.”

“Ligne Roset has made its mark across the world with more than 200 exclusive stores and 600 retail distributors,” he says. “So to bring a dedicated presence to Auckland is a significant step, not just for the growth of the brand, but the calibre of furniture that New Zealanders now have access to. We look forward to contributing to the beautifully furnished homes across Auckland and Aotearoa.”

Auckland born-and-raised Matt has a background in furniture retail and loyalty marketing, ensuring Ligne Roset is in safe hands as it makes its solo debut in New Zealand. Beside him in both business and life, is partner Monica Tischler; the pair live in Freemans Bay and welcomed their first child together – son, Jude – in June this year.

The Ligne Roset brand harks as far back as the 1860s, where it grew from humble beginnings making wooden parasols and has paved a solid reputation for its contemporary and sleek designs that don’t compromise on comfort and functionality.

The Ligne Roset Auckland showroom is set to open early-to midAugust 2021 at 299 Great North Road, Grey Lynn. On display will be an extensive range of lighting and accessories, and living and dining furniture from the 2021/22 collection, including Ducaroy’s coveted Togo settee.

It catapulted into global success in the early 1970s with the launch of the now famous design of Michel Ducaroy’s Togo sofa. The soft folds of fabric enveloping the foam structure were inspired by a tube of toothpaste, and it remains one of the brand’s most popular designs, selling over 25,000 pieces globally each year.

Other firm favourites are the Prado sofa by Christian Werner, Ploum sofa by R. & E. Bouroullec, Pumpkin armchair by Pierre Paulin and Pukka sofa by Yabu Pushelberg. The selection of outdoor furniture will arrive in time for our 2021 summer.  PN

For more than 160 years, Ligne Roset has remained a family owned and operated business, with the fifth generation – the original founders’ great-great-grandsons – now at the helm.

Viewing by appointment is available now; see ligne.nz or call T: 09 393 5636 for more information. Follow Ligne Roset New Zealand on Instagram and Facebook: @lignerosetnz

18 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Auckland showroom, 299 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, sales@ligne.nz, 64 9 393 5636

LOCAL NEWS

THE GOVERNMENT’S NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT ON URBAN DEVELOPMENT I am a supporter of intensification, but the Auckland Council’s recent support for the Goverment’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development shows shallow, sloppy un-Auckland thinking.

Instead of defending the city’s heritage inner city suburbs, the Council seems to think it can do so while complying with the Government edict.

Both Government and Council are badly wrong for the following reasons: 1. Auckland cannot go on absorbing unregulated exponential growth.

Instead the Government should develop a National Policy Statement on Population Growth - it does not have one - which would arrive at how much and where, and have much stronger policies and incentives around regional development; in other words, attract people to areas that are stagnant or have low growth where houses are available and much cheaper and recognise that the notion that everyone is heading to the CBD for jobs, retail etc., is not true and not desirable.

2. More people are working from home or working in centres outside the CBD. This is to be encouraged and will have the benefit of supporting and making economically viable other town centres (some in dire straits) such as Henderson, Westgate, Takapuna, Manukau etc. It will also help spread the infrastructure load so we are not designing transport etc. for everyone heading for the centre.

3. Heritage is not just “amenity for residents” as is being described in media. Heritage benefits much more widely than just people who live in it. It’s central to our identity as New Zealanders and Aucklanders and creates a sense of belonging and uniqueness, permanence and continuity. People like familiar landmarks; for large ones, think One Tree Hill, the Museum, for more local ones think the macrocarpa on the corner, the Freemans Bay dairy, Wah Lees etc. These are the living emblems of our stories from the past.

4. New Zealanders are not very good at recognising what is unique about their country unless it is superficial stuff like All Blacks and mountains. One of the unacknowledged prizes from our past are our

kauri suburbs. No other country in the world has these. San Francisco has a couple of streets of kauri houses built from New Zealand timber and they are celebrated and a tourist attraction. In New Zealand our kauri suburbs - Freemans Bay, Ponsonby, Kingsland are treated with a degree of disdain. I note the current commentary derogates them as homes of the rich and privileged (and therefore it is implied, deserving of demolition) because it is not recognised that heritage goes beyond those who live in it.

5. There are silly debates going on that while these suburbs might have character they do not have “heritage”. That’s nonsense. Applying RMA or legal type definitions to what we see in our daily life in our familiar neighbourhoods is not what determines heritage. If the villas go in favour of high rises, so will the large old urban trees, native and exotic. I have heard elected members talk about “the leafy suburbs” with almost a sneer while rabbiting on about the urban ngahere.

6. There is no way first home buyers or young people are going to be able to afford the apartments and town houses built in these inner city suburbs if high rise replaces villas. This is not where you need intensification. You want it in brownfield areas that are in need of redevelopment where you can amalgamate and replace low value houses on large properties with good quality apartments etc., especially those near good public transport. There are areas like this all over Auckland. This is happening in places like Glen Eden, but generally the quality of the replacements is very poor, as they are private-led small scale and cheaply built.

So there’s six reasons to reject the Government’s thinking and ask Auckland Council, “What are you thinking?” If they don’t defend Auckland from the barbarians, it will be left up to the heritage groups, historic PN societies and individuals to fight the good fight. (SANDRA CONEY) 

FUTURE MURKY FOR LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY Two weeks after the release of the Council’s Long Term Plan 2021-31, there is no clear information forthcoming about strengthening and restoring the Leys Institute to our community, despite multiple contacts with the Waitematā Local Board and councillors.

Richard Northey, WaitemataLocal Board chair, says, “The Local Board hoped and expected that the governing body and staff would make a clear decision about whether and when to seismically strengthen and renovate the Leys Institute.” But no decision has been made.

Budget information released by Finance Committee Chair, Councillor Desley Simpson, shows that there are substantial funds allocated for the seismic upgrading of community facilities in 2023 and 2024, stating, “With regard to Leys Institute, the ‘seismic retrofit budget’ could be allocated towards the cost of Leys Institute, subject to a detailed business case and informed by consideration of competing demands for use of this budget”.

But her office also says, “The project governance and indicative timeline for the development of a business case has yet to be determined.”

That means that any upgrading of the Leys Institute is effectively in limbo – no one part of Council is preparing a business case or taking responsibility

20 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

for the Leys restoration. The community has been waiting patiently for over 18 months, and has submitted on annual plans, Local Board plans and the Long Term Plan. Meanwhile our treasured Category A heritage library and gymnasium are still mothballed. Will they become derelict like Carlile House in Richmond Road?

Friends of Leys Institute is disappointed with this lack of a definitive path forward for the Leys. We suggest that concerned residents email the Waitemata- Local Board to advocate for a clear timeline and process, with exactly who will be developing the necessary business case in the Council.

Email addresses: waitematalocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Our local Councillor Pippa Coom pippa.coom@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Councillor Desley Simpson desley.simpson@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Anyone interested in becoming a member of Friends of Institute can email co-ordinator Helen Geary at heleng@maxnet.co.nz, and follow the Friends of Leys Institute Facebook page.

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LOCAL NEWS

JOHN ELLIOTT: INTENSITY OR HERITAGE? Let’s make the Ponsonby Pompallier - a win-win for Three Lamps.

As residents in the greater Ponsonby area digest the implications of the government’s edict on urban planning and housing solutions, the National Policy Statement – Urban Design, council officers are already padding the streets, tablets in hand photographing and recording details of each and every one of the 30,000 properties that sit within the Special Character Areas and/or Historic Overlays designated in the Auckland Unitary Plan.

Each property will be assessed against six criteria to qualify or not, as the council in due course may decide, for exemption from the requirement to allow six storey developments in the central city zones within 10-15 minutes walk from transport hubs.

Mayor Phil Goff has vowed that the bulldozers will not be tearing down villas willy-nilly, nor will there be pepperpotting of high rises amongst heritage homes in the historic suburbs. Councillors and engaged citizens grappled with the determinations of these zones and categorisations during the formulation of the Unitary Plan, but it seems here we go again. A defence of the heritage and historic amenity values is once more called for.

Simultaneous with this discussion, the council is currently assessing a resource consent application for a major new development – the Ponsonby Pompallier - which will transform Three Lamps. For Urban Collective, the developers of 286-306 Ponsonby Road, the NPS-UD is a timely reinforcement of the vision for Three Lamps, designated as a Town Centre zone (see H10 of AUP) and tagged for evolving 21st century urban centres that support sustainable growth and quality living environments. As opposed to residential streets that may be affected by the edict to increase density, this is an ideal site for the huge redevelopment.

But Ponsonby Road is also deemed a Special Character Area (for description see p108-114 of Schedule 15, 15.1.6.13 of the AUP) and if just some of the clauses of the Unitary Plan D18 Special Character Overlay (see below) are applied to this proposal, we should hope it will be notified so the community can have its say about what it values now and into the future because this building will certainly set a precedent and more will certainly follow.

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Clauses include: (11) Discourage the removal or substantial demolition of buildings that contribute to the continuity or coherence of the special character area as identified in the special character area statement.

(12) Require new buildings, alterations or additions to existing buildings, or infrastructure, which are within the overlay but are not character defining or character supporting buildings, to maintain the integrity of the context of the area by providing quality design, materials, colour and decoration which respects and enhances the built form and streetscape of the area.

(13) Require additions and alterations to existing character defining and character supporting buildings, to be compatible with and respect the special character and existing scale of development.

(14) Encourage the ongoing use and maintenance of buildings in special character areas.

But, not withstanding the proposed restoration of the heritage building at 286-292 Ponsonby Road, if this development is approved in its current format - an imposing contemporary five stories looming over the heritage precinct with 14 multi-million dollar apartments and an aesthetic that appears to have little relationship with its historic surrounds – the opportunity to satisfy heritage amenity values and reinvigorate active community by increased residential intensity and diversity may be lost.

Height restrictions in Town Centre Zones already allow for five stories, so why not 50 affordable apartments that can offer hope to first home buyers who have grown up in the community, or value what it offers as a place to make a home and are currently priced out? Or what about the aging downsizers who long to remain in the suburb they have built homes in for 30 years or more but struggle to find suitable options? Let us support the needs of the old and the young with services close to home that enable lifelong community engagement and thriving energised local town centres. Let us sustain diverse communities, not build monoliths that exclude. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS

Local board members Graeme Gunthorp and Adriana Christie at the Western Springs community planting day

PIPPA COOM: FOR THE TREES - AN UPDATE ON WORK TO RESTORE AND PROTECT AUCKLAND’S URBAN NGAHERE Auckland Council’s recently approved 10 year plan, the Recovery Budget, has some good news for increasing the tree canopy of Auckland.

Backed by a one-off 5% rates rise, an additional $14m will be invested in growing our urban and rural forests, including: • planting for up to 11,000 mature street trees;.

• partnering with community to provide up to an additional 200,000 native seedlings per year to support council projects, plus community and marae planting programmes; and.

• an additional 200 hectares of native forest on regional parks.

The priority on trees is one of the reasons I supported the budget.

Surveying is under way to determine locations for street trees, and the local board areas with the lowest canopy cover will be targeted first. This is on top of the planting programmes and ecological restoration already under way and in addition to the Mayor’s 1.5 million trees initiative.

In response to the draft Recovery Budget consultation a consistent concern raised by submitters was the need to protect urban trees.

That’s not a surprise – since the general tree protection rules were removed by the National government in 2012 there are limited restrictions on chopping down large trees on private land. I share the concern that, in a climate emergency, the fate of urban trees has to be very carefully managed.

- awhiri Last year, Auckland Council signed off Te Tarukea-T – Auckland’s Climate Plan, which included the undertaking to “grow and protect our rural and urban ngahere (forest) to maximise carbon capture and build resilience to climate change”. The Recovery Budget backs this up with new funding to contribute to our goal of reducing Auckland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

see council use the limited tree protection powers available. There are over 550 notable trees waiting to be scheduled in the Auckland Unitary Plan and the Auckland District Plan when resources permit.

I worked with Cr Cathy Casey to secure agreement in the Recovery Budget that “over the next year, scoping work programmes will provide greater protection to notable trees including actions from council itself and from the government in terms of restoring provisions for comprehensive protection for notable trees”. This scoping work will provide the basis for identifying the funds needed in the annual budget 22/23 for scheduling notable trees.

Recently I have been at the Local Government NZ AGM with the Mayor and Chair Richard Northey, advocating for the return of tree protection rules. Auckland successfully secured support for a remit that LGNZ advocate for the reinstatement of general tree protection in the RMA and advocate to use the current RMA reform process to ensure these changes are carried through into new legislation.

It’s currently tree planting season. It has been great to join local board members and community volunteers at the planting events - (PIPPA COOM)  happening in Waitemata.

PN pippa.coom@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Although our advocacy continues to central government to reinstate blanket tree protection powers as part of the RMA review, I want to

24 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

Photography: Luke McKeown

A recently updated council report provides a cautiously optimistic indication about overall tree coverage despite the removal of tree protection rules almost a decade ago. It is concerning to see the removal of any large trees but we do not have a “massacre” on our hands. However, the report also shows we have a lot more to do to achieve the Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy goal of 30% tree cover by 2050, especially in the five local board areas that are currently under the 15% minimum goal.

Western Springs planting day with the Conservation Volunteers

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LOCAL NEWS Photography: Connor Crawford

THE HEALTH CLINIC OPENS IN GREY LYNN The Health Clinic has recently opened in Great North Road in Grey Lynn. Ponsonby News talked to co-owners Dr Mary Garvey and Stephen Parsons about their new business.

What a great location you’ve chosen to open in - there’s Robinson’s vegan deli, Tart Bakery, Postal Service cafe, Wise Boys - it’s become our favourite part of Grey Lynn.

Have you met any of the other businesses yet?

Our neighbours right here have been great! We’ve done some walk arounds to visit quite a few of the local businesses and say ‘Hi’, and we’ve reached out by email to many of the Grey Lynn medical, health, beauty and fitness businesses. Everyone has been so welcoming.

Meeting all these like-minded professionals and residents has really helped us settle in and create a really nice vibe in the Clinic.

Please tell us about your backgrounds? Mary and Stephen?

Any specialities?

Mary: I’d left a busy job and career in Sydney and was planning my semi-retirement when I met Stephen late last year. We hit it off and realised we had a lot in common, especially our love of Chinese medicine. He was looking to set up a practice and it seemed just so logical to set up together.

Stephen: I started my career initially in the fashion industry and moved to Sydney where I started a large manufacturing and wholesale clothing business. The rag trade is a tough business and even though I loved it, I became very burnt out and needed a change. I returned home to New Zealand and started to use acupuncture myself for my own health needs as opposed to following the conventional biomedical approach, and got amazing results. It was this that made me decide to go and re-train in Chinese medicine. People often ask if I specialise in any particular area, but to be honest I enjoy working with all types of patients whether it be a simple sports injury to a complex chronic condition. However, I do love working with Chinese herbs and try and incorporate them into as many treatments as I can.

Chinese medicine practice is quite varied because it can help with all kinds of problems and conditions. At the moment we are seeing clients wanting to recover well from their surgeries, cancer treatments, injuries and infections. Other clients include women with period and menopause problems, kids with respiratory problems, others with anxiety, arthritis, fatigue, sciatica, indigestion or gut health concerns. Although we’ve only been open for a couple of months, there’s already quite a range!

What services do you offer?

We specialise in traditional Chinese acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Even if you think needles are scary, you’ll be surprised how comfortable and relaxing acupuncture can be. You’ll be able to try out moxa to relieve aches and pains, and to protect yourself from colds and flu.

Cupping and gua sha (skin scraping) is just as good as a massage and is excellent for relaxing and relieving tired and tense muscles. Chinese herbs can work quickly to take care of coughs, sleeping problems, fertility issues, mental and emotional stresses and can be great in combination with your acupuncture treatments.

What conditions are best treated by Chinese medicine?

Many people are aware of acupuncture these days and how good it can be to help with pain and injuries. The World Health Organization analysed all the research on acupuncture and its report lists a large variety of conditions that respond well. Researchers are constantly exploring the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and showing some amazing results. So its official: TCM can help with a wide variety of health concerns!

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

Chinese medicine offers some very good healthcare options for all ages and all kinds of conditions. Safe and effective treatment for general health, and for sometimes difficult health problems, are vital for most people, and this forms the basis of our approach in clinic. We often see people that have tried other modalities and are not happy with the result, or they end up with medications that don’t suit them, so as a last resort they give acupuncture a go.

We would suggest that people think about Chinese medicine to start with as we can often see excellent results in a very short space of time. And plus, you’ll leave after your appointment feeling very relaxed! Our main goal at the clinic is to place our clients’ health concerns first and to work closely together to set realistic outcome measures for your personal health journey.

For the month of August, we are happy to offer all Ponsonby News readers a discounted rate of $75 for your first consult, or ACC patients with a valid ACC45 a discounted surcharge of just $15.

We would love to see you all in clinic, so please feel free to call or email us with any queries, or book your appointment online direct.  PN

THE HEALTH CLINIC, 2/571 Great North Road, T: 09 360 0738, www.thehealthclinic.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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LOCAL NEWS

Community planting day at Western Springs Forest

- LOCAL BOARD CHAIR RICHARD NORTHEY: WAITEMATA

This is the tree planting season.

I and other community and Waitemata- Local Board members have been out planting trees along the Waipapa and Newmarket streams and then for Arbour Day on 26 June at Wellpark Reserve and at Fraser Park, where I planted a plum tree and an oak. Then there was a native tree planting day at Western Springs Forest on Sunday 18 July with so much volunteer participation by 200 community members that all thousand trees were well planted in only an hour.

Winter has brought gloom and not yet enough rain but there has been plenty to celebrate. In the last month I have been privileged to be present at the launch of my Deputy-Chair Alex Bonham’s book: “Play in the City”, MOTAT has opened its Love/Science Exhibition, the Auckland Museum with its Prehistoric Sea Monsters, and the Auckland Art Gallery with its Bill Culbert and Walters Prize exhibitions.

I have gone to great shows: The Lion King, the Cabaret Season, the Life of Galileo and the APO’s Haydn’s Military Symphony. There were joyous celebrations: the Karangahape Road reopening and the Prime Minister’s opening of Te Wananga Plaza, the new ferry wharves and the revitalised Quay Street.

On 4 July residents of Arch Hill organised and attracted over a hundred people to a Matariki Day street party that also celebrated the playground newly redeveloped by the Waitemata- Local Board. Looking to the future, I went on a tour of progress on the Central Rail Link project and had both my Covid jabs, which I hope you all will ensure you get before the end of the year. This month is the Elemental AKL Festival. Go to your participating eateries and enjoy a great winter repast.

The Waitemata- Local Board remains actively concerned about continuing issues related to homelessness and sometimes related anti-social and criminal behaviour in accommodation and on the streets in town centres in the Waitemata- Local Board area. We have written again to the Government seeking the identification and appointment of a public agency to take the lead to ensure effective co-ordination and lasting solutions for this issue. However, on 26 July the City Mission celebrated a major stage of its Homeground project and on 29 July Housing New Zealand shared its good progress constructing the Greys Avenue apartments project. Both will have a major benefit in reducing homelessness and providing wraparound services in the central city and suburbs.

On 17 July, while heavy rain started to fall in Marlborough, the annual meeting of the local councils in this country, Local Government New Zealand, considered my remit to them to urge Parliament to urgently amend the law to restore the right and the power to councils to develop and enforce policies to protect important and significant trees in their

26 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

area. It was carried by a 79% vote. I hope readers will lobby their MPs to take this vital action. Central Auckland and the inner suburbs need to retain and restore their trees on both public and private land to combat climate change, welcome our birds and other fauna and make for a higher quality living environment for people of all ages.

Auckland Council also received a well-deserved award in recognition for the best response by a Council to the challenge of Covid-19.

Auckland Council’s governing body resolved on its budget and Long-Term Plan last month. However, it did not make a clear decision on the WaitemataLocal Board’s top priority projects it lobbied for - the restoration of the Leys Institute for public use and the creation of the Ponsonby Park at 254 Ponsonby Road. There is money in the Long-Term Plan for earthquake strengthening projects, including for likely capital spending on the Leys Institute from the 2022/23 year, but how much gets allocated and when to the Leys project will depend on the business case we have requested and the raising of significant funds locally. This could include proceeds from the sale of some council properties and/or a local targeted rate.

These need to be consulted on locally to assess the strength of local support. The Waitemata- Local Board will continue strong advocacy for PN both projects. (RICHARD NORTHEY)  Our next Board Meeting will be on Tuesday 17 August. You can take part either in-person or by Skype. Contact our office for more information or to participate: waitematalocalboard@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz I can be contacted at 021 534 546 or at richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Matariki celebration at the new Home Street Reserve playspace in Arch Hill

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LOCAL NEWS

MI CASA, SU CASA Meet Cristina Casares, the Argentinean Kiwi at the top of her field. With “casa” in her surname, you’d be forgiven for thinking houses are in Cristina Casares’ blood.

Instead, the Argentinean-born Kiwi took an unusual path to real estate success. Growing up in the bohemian part of Buenos Aires, Palermo Hollywood, it was fitting that her first career was in digital animation for companies like Nickelodeon and Disney. After living in Canada, America and Chile, it was New Zealand that eventually stole her heart.

Like many immigrants to New Zealand, the path to success lay behind a mountain of hard work. While her work has paid off handsomely for Cristina and her children, she points out that balance is supremely important to a life well lived.

“I think the last 18 months have caused many of us to reevaluate what’s important in life. Your life can’t be all work - that is a recipe for burn out. I have learned to balance the intense pressures of my work as a real estate agent with a daily meditation practice, as well as outdoor hobbies like wind-foiling,” she says.

As someone who works long hours and a lot of weekends doing open homes, it’s important for Cristina to grab time to herself when she can.

“Wind foiling is perfect, since I keep all my gear at a lock-up at a boat club. If I have a couple of hours during the week and the wind is good, I can be on the water in no time,” she says.

Sounds like a great way to unwind and relax, but Cristina admits she has a competitive streak as required in the sales arena. “This of course flows on to my hobbies. I recently competed in the National Championships, and I find myself constantly thinking about how I can get better at wind foiling and everything I do.”

While you won’t see her at the Tokyo Olympics this year, you can find her at Ray White Ponsonby, if you have a home to sell.  PN For more information call 021 333 615 or 027 227 9622.

28 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

It’s no good having a tail wind… if you don’t know how to foil.

It takes more than a buoyant market to get the best price for your home. It takes marketing, presentation, networking and good old fashioned hard work.

Throw in the pulling power of the Ray White brand and we’ll make sure you have the right buyers in the room on auction night.

From one who knows a thing or two about selling (and foiling on the water) — Cristina Casares is the one to call for Ponsonby and Grey Lynn.

Cristina Casares 021 333 615 cristina.casares@raywhite.com Ray White Damerell Group Limited (Licensed REAA 2008)

LOCAL NEWS

JOHN ELLIOTT: OVER INTENSIFICATION OF AUCKLAND WILL KILL IT After thrashing out the Auckland Council’s Unitary Plan, the Government is apparently pushing Auckland to further intensify the inner city, way beyond the provisions of the Unitary Plan.

Council officers have begun going door to door assessing the quality of 30,000 character and heritage houses as low, medium or high character value. Those with the highest assessment might just be spared - unless the government interferes again.

• Low levels of noise, visual pollution, odour , nuisances • Safe environment for children, cyclists and pedestrians • Low levels of vehicular traffic

Two bright young sparks have already been up and down my heritage street of Wanganui Avenue. They had better not allow our heritage villas to be touched, nor try to squeeze a few six storey apartment blocks where they deem an old villa is not up to standard. What standard? Whose standard? You may well ask.

Mayor Goff says, “We will not be sending in the bulldozers to wipe out old villas.” I echo Christchurch Mayor, Lianne Dalziel who said, “bugger this, you’re not going to tell us how we see our city.”

Even City Council senior planning officer, Jacques Victor told councillors that this will not solve the affordability issue. “This is not the solution,” he said.

We don’t want a city shaped by developers, totally fixated on money, shoving six storey apartments wherever they can, irrespective of amenity values.

I have written about amenity values before, but the subject just continues to be ignored. Sadly, politicians, bureaucrats, planners, usually equate amenity values with NIMBYISM. I want to quote again a former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Morgan Williams. Dr Williams wrote in his 108 page paper about the reconciliation of intensification of Auckland’s population and the preservation of amenity values, “Amenity values are the things we really feel good about and cherish in our urban/ suburban environments. They are fundamental to city and community survival in the long term.”

Williams went on to say that “failure to appreciate linkages between major systems that affect amenity values in cities (i.e. population growth, demography, sewage, transport, water, open space, vegetation, including trees, building design) will inevitably result in a decline in the environmental qualities of our urban landscapes.” One hundred and eight pages are spent challenging councils to identify and manage amenity values while urban intensification proceeds.

There is no doubt that amenity values will change as a result of intensification, Williams agrees, but planning is the key to achieving the sound management of amenity values. Living environments with high levels of amenity have some or all of the following characteristics according to Williams assessment: • Low intensity development • Presence of trees and gardens • Landscaped frontages and street set backs • Off street parking • High degree of privacy

• A feeling of community • Non-residential support, business, community activities Williams says that good management of amenity values requires appropriate monitoring systems. He suggests that communities should meet and set up their own list of valued amenities that the Council should preserve and if possible enhance.

While musing over the thought of the bureaucrats assessing my home along with the 30,000 other character and heritage houses in the inner city to see if it is fit for purpose - his purpose - I thought of my kids’ cat buried under a tree, our studio at the back of our section where my partner ran a successful knitting yarn business for more than ten years while our kids were young, and the friends she made who often came more for company than to buy yarn.

I remembered one of my favourite environmentalists, Canadian Professor David Suzuki describing a real estate flyer in his letter box. “It’s time to sell,” it said. “Prices of houses in this area are sky high.”

Suzuki took the flyer and walked around his property. In doing so he saw a lovely view of Vancouver Bay, soaked up the sun and warmth, and eyed a carved fence post by a very old friend who had helped him build the fence. He walked past trees where favourite pets were buried, went into the kitchen and saw the unit his father had built for he and Tara, which they had brought from their first flat and still cherished.

So many lovely memories - this was not just a house worth a certain amount of money. This was their home full of treasured artefacts and precious memories. It was not for sale.

Discussions of real estate values have become vulgar and boring.

Auckland should be about more than a few more ten million dollar apartments. Council and Government must respect owners who have loved their home and their community for twenty, or thirty years, as we have, and want what it is and where it is protected from large, ugly, modern buildings where the main criterion is how much money the developer can make out of it.

“Home is where the heart is,” embodies an essential truth. “What we fear most is separation, loss, exclusion, exile, death,” says Suzuki.

I had thought that Covid-19 lockdowns and lost love ones would have brought some sort of epiphany, with a new discussion about the meaning of life, how to live more gently on a planet under extreme climate pressure, and the importance of wellbeing instead of money.

It certainly hasn’t happened yet. Of course NIMBYISM exists, but most of the things that keeps Auckland near the top of the World’s Most Liveable Cities, are the amenity values as John Morgan Williams espouses in his paper.

• Daylight and sunlight access PN We need to protect them. (JOHN ELLIOTT) 

• A high proportion of private and public open space

30 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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LOCAL NEWS

@ GREY LYNN & AROUND The importance of having full time permanent representation of Grey Lynn’s issues to key stakeholders within Auckland has never been more evident than in the last month.

To say that engagement has been both intensive and expansive, covering a wide range of issues for impacted businesses is an understatement. The Grey Lynn Business Association tries to ensure we are responsive, however as a largely voluntary organisation the requirement to operate in the professional consultative engagement space can be challenging. I know many of the businesses are appreciating the additional time we have spent on specific issues.

We respect the call for early engagement and consultation as even seemingly small changes can have a significant impact on day-to-day trading and activity. It is regrettable that a relatively small project pertaining to safer schools around the Grey Lynn Primary School, a project which is very much supported by the school community, became so contentious. The further disruption resulted in small businesses in the immediate area incurring additional financial damage and we all as ratepayers take a double hit as AT’s costs escalate. Yes, we should expect consultation, engagement and more detailed communication as projects proceed, but equally we must accept our part is to work constructively and collaboratively with all impacted parties to achieve the best outcome.

We would make the point that consultation won’t always mean agreement. But it does mean a fair and clear process, a critical evaluation of options presented and the development of an implementation plan which may or may not be the original plan presented. Divergent views are to be expected and welcomed. It is equally accepted that sometimes no matter how good the intent, processes do break down. When this happens, it is incumbent upon us all to work swiftly and constructively to address the issues and even slow down or stop a project where necessary.

West Lynn proved to be a difficult and flawed AT project, however throughout that process the Grey Lynn Business Association continued then, as it does today, working constructively and

collaboratively with all stakeholders. There are many aspects of the West Lynn project that we rejected back then and there are many aspects of the project we dislike today and wish they could be fixed. There are some modifications that must be made to ensure the safety of those in our community with disabilities, plus some corrective drainage work, and we will continue to be active to see these completed. However, there is a weariness within the West Lynn business community for us to push for any further major work. We are continuing to work toward other minor changes, and on a more positive note the reduction in speed around the West Lynn village is quite noticeable with the introduction of the R30 speed limits.

Returning to the original point, it has become very clear, reinforced by the happenings of the past month, the businesses of Grey Lynn require consistent on-going professional and respected representation at all levels when engaging with key stakeholders.

When combined with future funding uncertainties there is a realisation that our present voluntary model will not be enough. Becoming a business improvement district appears to be the best option going forward ensuring a positive and vibrant future for the businesses of Grey Lynn. Greater funding certainty enables us to deliver events such as the recent night markets in Grey Lynn village and dedicate more time to addressing issues and developing opportunities for all in the community.  PN www.greylynn-around.com

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LOCAL NEWS

TURNING YOUR BACH INTO A BUSINESS IN TIME FOR SUMMER Some of us haven’t even made it to the snow yet, and already baches and holiday homes around the country are booking out for the busy Christmas and New Year period.

We all know the high demand over the January holidays means the later you leave it, the harder it is to lock in your ideal bach. However, early signs point towards it being even more important this year to get organised early: this goes for both guests looking to book, and holiday homeowners looking to rent out their properties!

New figures from Bachcare, New Zealand’s largest serviced holiday home management company compared to this time last year, show there are 101% more bookings for the Christmas week and 36% more bookings for New Year week. The stats are just as impressive in terms of revenue paid to property owners, up 110% and 54% for the respective periods.

We spoke to our Auckland-based owners, the Aitkenheads, who own a holiday home in Queenstown, about why listing with Bachcare made sense for them. While the year-round destination is in the midst of its peak ski season, people are already locking in stays for spring and summer.

Living in Auckland, ‘Lakefront Delight’ [Bachcare property ID 1049845] gives the Aitkenheads the perfect combination of holiday and family time, while also renting it out when they aren’t there. They were attracted to the ease of Bachcare’s holiday home management service, the revenue management aspect, and the local manager, all of which was particularly important given that they live in Auckland.

“Bachcare are proactive with the booking calendar and adjust the rates up or down depending on occupancy in the area.”

After the initial decision to buy a different home ‘off the plans’ fell through, the couple decided to go bigger, and purchase a much more sizeable house on the lake. This appeals to guests traveling with families and gives the Aitkenheads the space they need to have family members over to stay. Not to mention it provides plenty of storage for the kayaks, bikes, and ski gear! The 'Lakefront Delight' already has 71 nights booked between now and the end of the year.

If you have a holiday home sitting empty, now’s the ideal time to get everything in order and make the most of Kiwis seizing summer.  PN www.bachcare.co.nz

32 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TURN YOUR BACH INTO A BUSINESS. Is your holiday home rental sitting empty? Increase your occupancy and returns by using Bachcare.

We’re the only holiday home management company with a team dedicated to optimising your revenue based on demand. Using industry-leading software, we deliver higher bookings per property and higher revenue*.

Our team also seamlessly manages your holiday rental on bachcare.co.nz and across Airbnb, Booking. com, plus 20 other partner sites. Meaning we can more than double your booking potential, without the double bookings! Plus, you can relax knowing all the cleaning, bookings, and marketing are taken care of.

Our team is local and here to help. Call us 0800 42 22 42 or visit bachcare.co.nz to get your free rental appraisal. *based on Bachcare properties on super income max vs fixed rate.

LOCAL NEWS

A DEDICATED EREBUS MEMORIAL PARK FOR THE NATIONAL EREBUS MEMORIAL On 28 November 1979, 257 lives were lost when flight TE901 crashed on Mt Erebus, Antarctica.

The ensuing failures of the government of the day, and Air New Zealand, compounded the suffering of Erebus families including those involved in the ice phase (recovery).

Forty years on, 28 November 2019, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, apologised, “for the actions of the airline then in full state ownership”.

• Adjacent to Meola Reef Reserve Te Tokaroa which is the subject of a major upgrade. Te Tokaroa is home to diverse wildlife on the - It is also dog walking friendly. shores of the Waitemata.

A pledge was given to build a National Erebus Memorial but the question remains, where?

• Be a destination in its own right and be a true place for reflection and remembrance.[1]

Proposal for a dedicated, purpose-built, Erebus Memorial Park.

The design concept of the Erebus Memorial Park has two key elements:

The purpose of this kaupapa is to develop the opportunity for a dedicated Erebus Memorial Park for the National Erebus Memorial, for the consideration of all those affected by the Erebus tragedy and the wider community.

The upper, formal area incorporates the Te Paerangi Ataata - Skysong (the existing proposed Memorial design element) that looks skyward and toward Meola Reef Reserve Te Tokaroa, the rock formation built by fairies out into the harbour to escape at night before the morning light. The outfall on the eastern side of the reef is from the springs that were the second major water source for the nascent city.

The proposed Western Springs Precinct location presents the following key opportunities: • A dedicated Erebus Memorial Park • Central Auckland location, close to major transport links motorway, bus, cycleway and carparking • Adjacent the aviation section of the Museum of Transport and Technology - opportunity for ongoing education on the Erebus tragedy and for long term, inter-generational remembrance

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The lower, walled garden includes opportunity for a waterfall and fresh water reflection pool within a private, garden setting. The lower aspect of the site is currently a carpark. The Erebus Memorial Park would transform asphalt to grass, trees and water-source, a place of new life and renewal, and provide opportunity for family members to select trees for this living memorial.

[1] Refer to Boffa Miskell, Erebus Memorial Site Selection Process, 17 August 2018.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The current location selected by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage for the National Erebus Memorial is the historic Dove Myer Robinson Park on Mataharehare /Taurarua Pa- site in Parnell, Auckland.

However, the site selection process for that location was poor and its unsuitability established by the Ministry’s independent advisors.

That site has been rejected by large sections of the community including Erebus whanau due to flawed process. Aubrey Brough was a passenger on TE901 and his daughter Margaret’s change.org/ mataharehare petition to parliament has collected 15,000 signatures.

For more information on that site visit www.SOSNZ.org.nz New Zealand needs to find a meaningful home now for the National Erebus Memorial, and the proposed, dedicated Erebus Memorial Park at Western Springs Precinct could provide this.

We want locals to view the plans and give us their suggestions regarding the design and the location.

There have been other sites suggested but there are so many good reasons to have the memorial at Western Springs. There is the

LOCAL NEWS

Context for the proposal of a dedicated Erebus Memorial Park.

Museum of Transport and Technology’s Aviation Hall for a start.

There’s also the popular tram service, and locals know all about the beautiful walks out to Meola Reef. There is the zoo and Western Springs Forest; families could make a day of it.

The land suggested would be large enough to incorporate the Memorial’s existing design design and a lower walled garden could contain a water reflection pool or waterfall within a beautiful garden setting.

We are not speaking on behalf of all Erebus families. We are simply putting this opportunity out there. It is an informed opportunity, based on the Boffa Miskell report, and the Colmar Brunton survey.

(Boffa Miskell Erebus Disaster Memorial site selection process. 17 August 2018.) (Colmar Brunton Families of Erebus / Overdue Ice Phase Members prepared at the request of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage. 14 August 2018.)

The Erebus Memorial Park initiative is working to provide an option for the consideration of Erebus whanau and the wider community and welcomes your thoughts, input and involvement.  PN For further details visit www.EMP.org.nz

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Photography: Connor Crawford

LOCAL NEWS

EREBUS MEMORIAL PARK CONCEPT - SUNDAY 25 JULY @ 200 MEOLA ROAD, WESTERN SPRINGS PRECINCT

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

WONDER - A NEW DEVELOPMENT FROM URBAN COLLECTIVE Urban Collective are a team of experienced multi awardwinning developers who have made a philosophical decision to focus on building freehold high-end and boutique residential developments.

Established to fill a gap in the market for attainable luxury, with bespoke architecture, sophisticated interiors and distinctive design. "As developers we recognise the importance of creating buildings that endure, by using the best materials and methods available and investing in an architectural and design strategy based on quality, durability and honesty."

Wonder is their transition into sustainable development and their fifth project on the northern slopes of Eden Terrace. They continue to anticipate the needs of discerning residents, utilising practices that result in reduced ongoing costs and carbon footprint.

Their showroom will be open to the public from Saturday 7 August, see their website for further details. wonderapartments.nz

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LOCAL NEWS

JOHN ELLIOTT: WESTERN SPRINGS FOREST AFTER THE PINES The sad news is that the 200 old pines have gone for good. Many local residents will miss them daily - the sun skewering through the foliage in the late afternoon was a joy to see on a sunny afternoon.

The other bad news is that many of those pines were not rotten. They did not all need to come down. However, there is some good news.

Martin Leach, and I, were taken through the forest by Lucy Kitching, Corporate Communication Specialist, and Regional Arborist and Eco Manager, David Stejskal for an inspection. I was pleased to see huge swathes of rejuvenating natives still in place. They will grow from a current 10 to 12 feet, to mature trees more quickly than some people predict, if conditions in the forest are optimum.

There is, however, a huge bare patch where the road was put through for equipment to drag logs out, and chip most of them. Much of the chip (95% David reckoned) has been removed but a lot of chip still sits there on, above, and below the road where new planting has already begun.

I asked Lucy Kitching, to get answers to some questions that exercised my mind. Answers were supplied by courtesy of Taryn Crewe, GM Community Facilities.

A planting plan was sent to me. Pasadena Intermediate students were invited to begin the planting. I saw the fruit of their efforts - 140 natives planted just above the road. They included a number of cabbage trees (Te Kouka).

I was concerned to see so many cabbage trees in one clump, in what will be the middle of the rejuvenating forest.

The list of natives to be planted is very varied and comprehensive and includes well-known natives like manuka, kanuka and mahoe (2000 plus in all). Others to be widely sprinkled through the forest include karamu (650), houhere (lacebark, 325), with a generous coverage too of karaka, kahikatea, kohekohe, porokaiphiri (pigeonwood), kawakawa, kohuhu, totara, kowhai and puriri.

One of my disappointments is that all those mentioned above are one to two litre size – very small. These littlies will take a long time to grow to maturity.

There are, however, 20 specimen trees to be planted - five taraire, five karaka, and 10 kohekohe. These will be 45 litre, much bigger trees.

As I have told readers before, I helped with the restoration planting of Tiritiri Matangi Island, and served on the Tiri committee for a short time.

There are planting guidelines that need to be heeded.

It is very important to determine which natives thrive best in the middle of a forest, and which prefer the fringes. Cabbage trees like the bush fringe, so too do kawakawa. Kahikatea are happy with wet feet, so do well on swampy ground.

38 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

It is not just a case of jamming any of them anywhere at all. After talking with David Stejskal, I’m sure council arborists will be good advisers on these matters.

My other main concern about new planting is dealing with the depth and coverage of the chips from the chipped pine logs. Where the road was put through must be remediated to satisfy the resource consent, returning the original contours of the forest. Maybe planting should have been held up on the roadway until the 15-20 centimetres of chip is dealt to. Planters are meant to dive down to the earth below the chip when planting.

The council reply to me said this about the chip: “where there are pockets of deeper mulch, these will be shifted to allow for planting. As a result, there may be smaller piles of mulch between the planted natives.”

This could be problematic, and will certainly require mature planters.

Fortunately most planting is being done by Wildland.

I had a chance, thanks to Lucy Kitching’s facilitation, to have a further chat with David Stejskal on my concerns about the replanting. David was very approachable, knowledgeable, courteous and professionally helpful.

He explained so lucidly what was happening, the benefits of cabbage trees - strong roots on sloping ground giving stability, their attraction for insects (food for birds) and the subsequent spreading of seeds. He also defended the planting with one litre and two litre grade seedlings. “They will take more easily than bigger seedlings”, David maintained, “and may even outgrow the 20 or so large specimen natives which will be planted up on the ridge.” Much of the remaining chip will be ‘broadcast’ away from where planting is occurring making it easier to plant down to soil, David further assured us.

I came away from those discussions confident that council plans for the replanting, are sound. They know what they are doing.

So, finally I would say that the result of the demolition of the pine trees has been uneven, with some bare spaces, but with large groups of regenerating natives still in place and thriving.

The forest will need regular maintenance after planting, for some years, and we know that noxious weeds will be a constant irritant.

Next month we will address the question of weed and pest control, and discuss the council plan to use glyphosate quite liberally. We hope that can be more strictly controlled, or preferably banned outright, whatever the outcome of the present review by the Environmental Protection Authority.

(JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN

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Gabriela Galateanu Licensee Salesperson 020 4141 3853 gabriela.galateanu@raywhite.com

PREMIER MEMBER 20-21

André Boddé Licensee Salesperson 021 662 873 andre.bodde@raywhite.com

Deep knowledge meets high standards Just Listed

8/18 Blake Street, Ponsonby

Just Listed

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For Sale $1,150,000

This is city fringe living at its finest, with location and comfort at its best. This modern and sharp townhouse, sits behind the many chic shops, delicious cafes and restaurants along Jervois Road, giving you the quiet lifestyle with the close proximity to all the hustle and bustle.

This townhouse comprises of three levels, two good sized bedrooms with access to a private deck and combination bathroom.

View as advertised online

SOLD

3A/99 Custom Street West

13A Emmett Street, Herne Bay

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Auction 5:00pm, Tuesday 24th August 2021 (unless sold prior)

This solid, sound investment located on the northern slopes of Herne Bay offers sunny indoor/outdoor flow to a large north-facing deck.

Private and secure, this is a unique opportunity and entry level to one of the most sought after suburbs around. Close to parks, Ponsonby primary and motorway access.

View as advertised online

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34 London Street, St Marys Bay

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132 Halsey Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland 1010 | 09 308 5511 | wynyardquarter.nz@raywhite.com | City Realty Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008)

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LOCAL NEWS

Rutherford Rede Building

College Hill 1885

91 COLLEGE HILL – A BUILDING WITH A PAST… REFURBISHED FOR THE FUTURE Chances are as you have been heading to or from downtown Auckland you will have seen the heritage building at 91 College Hill. It has been a feature on the rise up from Victoria Park since early in Auckland’s growth into the city it is today.

Walking tours stop and give it the eye, and it now stands as an example of sympathetic, but bold renovation, undertaken by respected financial management advisory firm, Rutherford Rede.

Rutherford Rede’s business founder, Jocelyn Weatherall, says she applied principles familiar to the world of finance to the refurbishment of the building when it was purchased in 2018: “respect and learn from the past, understand the present and prepare for the future”.

As a result, the building is now set to serve generations to come.

“The building has a rich, interesting history, but when we purchased it to support our own growth as a company it was needing work to make the most of its potential; much TLC – tender loving care – was required, and given to the project,” says Jocelyn.

91 College Hill, now the Rutherford Rede Building, was built in 1885/86. It is understood that it was built for a woman who lived on the other side of the city in Rose Road, Parnell – making her an early property developer (and someone clever about diversifying their assets).

Bordering St Mary’s Bay, where along with Parnell some of Auckland’s grandest early homes were built, the building originally faced open paddocks before they were filled in with workers cottages linking through and up to Three Lamps and Ponsonby.

College Hill itself, too steep for horse drawn carriages, dropped down from the ridge of Ponsonby/Jervois Road to shipyards, sawmills and of course from 1905 to the city rubbish incinerator (known as ’The Destructor’), whose chimney remains a feature of Victoria Park village.

Clearly, much has changed; since that time, and through the hands of multiple owners, the building has served as a respite for veterans, a lawyer’s office and a boutique hotel. There was a dubious period in the 1980s when it was operated as a “health club”.

Jocelyn Weatherall in Rutherford Rede Board Room

to give a sense of space and connectedness. The individual rooms were converted to open plan office areas while the entrance foyer was kept and furnished to serve as a comfortable area to welcome clients. Ground floor areas were renovated for luxe meeting spaces of various sizes for flexibility – including a grand board room.

Sustainability is another part of Jocelyn and Rutherford Rede’s ethos. With this as part of their values, natural features of the building were enhanced and beautiful native timbers were repurposed where possible.

“Places are important to people. They can give a sense of belonging and heritage buildings such as this can also represent the solidity and security that we embody as a business as well.

“I enjoy coming here for work, even when there is the option more and more for people to work from home. When you create an inviting space you play to that need for connectedness, for focus, and that in turn creates a positive culture,” adds Jocelyn.

“When we took it over the interior had been painted an oppressive dark blue which, coupled with a dark carpet, led to a closed-in feeling whenever you entered the building; upstairs were multiple small rooms.”

The Rutherford Rede Building continues to link the communities of Three Lamps/Ponsonby and St Mary’s Bay with their past and their future.  PN

Jocelyn, who has renovated a number of villas over the years, knew the value of opening up spaces, and keeping the interior as bright as possible utilising white tones, and bringing in natural light

As part of that, readers are invited to share any stories of the history of 91 College Hill with Rutherford Rede at mhornblow@rutherfordrede.co.nz.

40 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

MARK GRAHAM: CREATING A BETTER AUCKLAND Our city is inevitably and irrevocably changing and we need to shape that change, not resist it.

There’s a lot going on and some are not happy. Change is not comfortable, but it’s being forced on us by factors outside our control.

Those who don’t want change have little choice but to accede.

Our neighbourhoods need changing, too. Make our residential streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and kids and make a nicer environment in which to live.

Am I saying we should just accept what Council and Auckland Transport are proposing with no question? Absolutely not.

Let’s be clear – encouraging change to habits does not mean cars will be banned. There are those who need to use a car for an assortment of reasons, but for the rest of us, we must change our habits, starting now.

Council is often wrong, has improvements to make to its communications with the community, and can be inefficient. But wholesale opposition to everything Council and AT do because of perceptions of unproved corruption, or a desire to keep our streets and our lives as they are now, is counterproductive, retrograde, imposes extra costs and forces badly needed changes to be delayed indefinitely.

We have processes for involvement in decisions and it’s time we stopped tantrums every time something happens we don’t like. The abuse of our elected members and council officers must stop, too.

Auckland faces a complex mix of critical issues. We have a shortfall in infrastructure spending going back decades, so not only do we need to adapt to a challenging future, but we must catch up on building infrastructure that is adequate for today and future decades.

Our shopping villages are dying. I think that changing how we live and how we get around will see a revival in our local urban villages, but they need to change, too. Make them more attractive places to be, and make them easily accessible with public transport and alternative modes.

The evidence of climate change is all around us. We must change our individual behaviours and our city must build to encourage them. It also needs to anticipate these changes with infrastructure because it lasts for decades.

There are those who want to retain the past–keep roads flowing, ensure plenty of carparks, minimise infrastructure spend, leave things as they are. This is not realistic.

We have grown from barely one million people in 2006 to now nearly two, with increases in cars and trucks (and bigger, too). Increased air and water pollution, changing shopping habits and new styles of living are all impacting on our daily lives and we must adapt on a personal basis – as must the city.

Change is inevitable and Council and AT, despite their inefficiencies and sometime incompetence, are actually leading our response. Our only real choice is for us all to work to meet the challenges before us and in doing so create a better city. (MARK GRAHAM)  PN

We need more homes for people to live in and built in a way that will minimise environmental impact. We must change our transport habits to accommodate these extra people or continue our endless sprawl across productive land, adding to our clogged roads and air pollution. More roads are not the answer.

Mark Graham ran for council at the last election, was part of the Western Springs Pohutukawa Savers Group, and has been active in local issues for three decades. He was a publisher in building and architecture before an accident two years ago gave him severe concussion, from which he is recovering.

@ LEYS LITTLE LIBRARY Kia ora koutou, it is August, and though Plastic Free July may be done and dusted, now is the time to imbed some of the changes you made to reduce waste and single use plastics.

Perhaps you’ve started to use those beeswax wraps someone gave you as a present instead of plastic wrap. Or you’re making a concerted effort to use the reusable coffee cup you got for Christmas instead of the single use takeaway one.

Here at Leys we are definitely trying to be better at using our reusable cups for our caffeine fixes.

To continue our waste reduction journey, we are hosting a workshop on Thursday 12 August at 2:30pm in collaboration with All Saints Church and the Auckland Council Wastewise Team.

We will learn how to transform old clothes into shopping bags; upcycling clothes we no longer wear is something we can do to reduce our use of plastic and single use items, not to mention a great opportunity to meet other locals in the community. So, bring along some old clothes (jeans are especially great) and join us for this fun and interactive workshop. You can also ask at Leys for the DIY home cleaning products recipes from our workshop in July; we can email them to you or print them on the spot.

David’s Film review: M (available on Beamafilm) Ostensibly a crime film about the hunt for a serial child murderer, Fritz

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Lang’s first sound feature M (1931) reaches beyond its own plot to insinuate that the German nation as a whole had entered a new dark phase of its history, in which it is difficult to tell the criminal underworld and the forces of law and order apart. The film’s crosscutting between these two groups, and the kangaroo court at the end, conducted entirely by members of the underworld, are especially subversive.

But perhaps the most chilling thing is the film’s detachment, its calm, analytic treatment of all the disturbing goings on.

The opening is characteristic: a circle of children innocently intone a nursery rhyme about a man who is coming to chop them up. Peter Lorre plays that man, and plays him so well that he subsequently found it difficult to get acting work where he wasn’t cast as some sort of psychopath. Hugely influential, this picture was voted best German film of all time in a 1995 ballot of five hundred German film historians.

Little Leys Classic Film Club returns at 3pm, Friday 27 August at Grey Lynn Library Hall. Library opening hours: Monday – Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday 9am-4pm. (CHLOË – COMMUNITY LIBRARY MANAGER)  PN LEYS INSTITUTE LITTLE LIBRARY, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

CHLÖE SWARBRICK: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP The future of our iconic Leys Institute remains unclear at the time of writing despite the recent release of the Auckland Council Long Term Plan.

Amid the ongoing uncertainty, I want to give a shout out to the incredible team who’ve made the Little Leys Library a stellar success. The Classic Film Club, storytime sessions and activities for the younger members of our Ponsonby community are just a handful of the innovations playing out in collaboration with local businesses and clever utilisation of existing community venues across our neighbourhood.

Dedicated people are absolutely key to making magic happen. But 19 months on from being boarded up - and 17 months on from a rally in support coordinated by Friends of Leys Institute - our celebrated heritage library and community gymnasium haven’t had the chance to play Hogwarts. In my regularly scheduled check-ins with our Waitemata- Local Board, I’ve been deeply encouraged by and worked alongside their staunch advocacy within Council’s many and varying processes to ensure life is once again breathed into this treasure chest of memories for our community: past, present and future.

Taking a cue from doing a whole lot without the infrastructure, it’s been fascinating to talk to locals and small businesses of the understandably diverse views on the future of transport around our city. For the better half of a year, I’ve been actively involved in advocacy of progress for projects like creating a more peoplecentred downtown Queen Street, to evolve from being a thoroughfare to a destination unto itself. Of course, these things don’t come without change, and change doesn’t come without challenge. It’s been critically important to connect with local residents and small businesses to discern their needs and adapt accordingly.

Perhaps nowhere has that been more required than with the development of the City Rail Link, which has had a disproportionate impact on businesses in Albert Street compared to those around the ‘Uptown’ Eden Terrace station, Beresford Square and Cross Street stations.

Partially, this is down to severity of exposure; intensity of works, sound and air pollution and far, far greater interruption to the flow of the street. But comparing the impacted geographies and working with businesses surrounding each of these worksites, it’s become clear there’s a few other fundamental factors: strong relationship management between the site and those businesses (requiring constant communication, flexibility and investment of resources in innovative and creative solutions), an already-developed sense of community ready and able to as-a-matter-of-course support those impacted (including locals who visit their local, and a defined sense of neighbourhood identity) and commercial landlords coming to the

table, recognising long-term gains in proximity to transformational public infrastructure.

My role continues to be working closely with these businesses, collaborating across the board and holding decision makers and project leaders accountable in ensuring everybody not only survives, but thrives.

Talk of such developments and improvements – most recently and notably the opening of a native-tree lined, separated cycle-laneadorned Karangahape Road – has started to lead some to question if, what and when something ‘big’ happens to our very own infamous stretch of Auckland city. You may or may not know that back in 2014, the Waitemata- Local Board endorsed a 30 year ‘Ponsonby Road Plan’, mapping out actions and goals to improve access to, and quality of, civic spaces (Ponsonby Park, anyone?) and the safety, fun, ease and quality of our journeys to get there. With the original drafting of the plan signed off seven years ago, a pandemic and thousands of fewer bikes and pedestrians on our roads and footpaths ago, I’d be fascinated to know what you think of how it makes sense in 2021.

What could we do better, what would you change and how do we keep it uniquely Ponsonby?

As always, I encourage you to reach out to my office to share your thoughts on this and other local issues. (CHLÖE SWARBRICK)  PN You can always drop us a line at chloe.swarbrick@parliament.govt.nz or give us a call on 09 378 4810. www.greens.org.nz/chloe_swarbrick

KIA ORA PONSONBY Please get in touch with any local issues. My office is here to help.

Chlöe Swarbrick MP for Auckland Central 09 378 4810 chloe.swarbrick@parliament.govt.nz Authorised by Chlöe Swarbrick, MP for Auckland Central, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

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LOCAL NEWS

HERNE BAY PONSONBY RACKETS CLUB HAS ITS HISTORY RECORDED IN A CENTENARY BOOK Recently the Herne Bay Ponsonby Rackets Club (formerly Herne Bay Lawn Tennis Club) had a gathering of around 150 past and present members to launch the book detailing the Club’s history that commenced in 1910.

Past members attended from as far away as Wellington, with ages ranging up to the nineties. The Club evolved on the same Bayfield Park site from the YMCA & YWCA LTC, morphing into the Herne Bay LTC and eventually the combined tennis and squash club.

The story includes an interesting commentary on how the Club’s management worked together to meld the different social cultures of the Herne Bay tennis and Ponsonby squash players together. Only the work of active administrators overcame the differences for the mutual benefit of both parties.

The book also contains 200 bios of past and present members ranging through tennis and squash national champions, administrators and regular players. These cover Davis Cup players Brian Fairlie and David Mustard, plus squash professionals Shelley Kitchen, Lara (nee Petera) Heta and Campbell Grayson. Additionally, there are the records of some of the romances, war stories and quirky off-court happenings of many members.

Herne Bay is only the third Auckland tennis club to have recorded its PN history, the others being Eden Epsom and Remuera.  The book titled ‘A Century Not Out And Playing On...’ is available at $60 per copy by contacting the Club on service@hernebayrackets.co.nz or the author, Chris Ronayne on chris.ronayne@xtra.co.nz

THE EMOTIONAL TOLL OF RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS Sarah Trotman ONZM, Business leader and CEO of Business Mentors New Zealand tells us all.

Running your own business may sound glamourous, but business owners will often tell you that while the rewards are there, it can be extremely challenging – not just financially, but emotionally.

A recent Business Mentors NZ survey* revealed that 70% of small business owners are stressed and anxious and nearly half of those surveyed* felt burnt out.

Being solely responsible for your company’s success or failure can take an enormous toll.

Fortunately, we now have a business environment where mental health is being acknowledged and many companies have a very strong focus on keeping their people well, physically and mentally.

However, if you’re at the helm of a small business, there’s a high chance that you’re overlooking your own mental health while you focus on staff, revenue and challenges. When cash flow falters, putting it on the credit card – or worse, putting it on the house - brings with it massive stress. I know. I’ve been there. And I’ve coached and mentored many small businesses owners over the years that have also had to make sacrifices to keep their business going during tough times.

Covid has exacerbated the situation for many, but struggling to cope with the complexities and stress of a business is not new.

Long hours and blurred boundaries between work and home are the norm when running your own business. Finishing a day in the office does not mean you’ve finished your day. Administration, accounts and keeping up with industry information and regulations more often or not can become nightly tasks, along with catching up with unreturned calls and working on new business opportunities. Home and relationships go on the back burner and you find you’re not the only one being affected by the daily stresses of running a business.

We know that social isolation can negatively affect people’s mental health, including insomnia, fear, stress, depression and emotional exhaustion. Of the 1000 small business owners surveyed, just over

44 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

one third of them reported feeling isolated and vulnerable.

Sometimes it is just that awful feeling of being overwhelmed. Not enough people to do the jobs and no one who understands to really share the challenges and provide an ear and sounding board.

Getting a mentor can provide support in a number of valuable ways. From helping you find ways to be more effective with your time, sharing a problem and getting help to solve it, to generating new ideas and connecting business owners into relevant networks.

One of the biggest benefits reported by business owners who use a mentor is just having that sounding board.

New Zealand is a nation built on small businesses, with around 97% of all businesses being classified as small businesses (fewer than 20 employees), contributing over one quarter to GDP. Nearly half of new jobs are created by small businesses.

The rewards of owning your own small business are plenty, but there’s no doubt, that for many, these rewards come at a cost. Never before has there been a greater need for support for this critical – but often PN overlooked - segment of New Zealand’s commercial landscape.  If you feel a bit overwhelmed, anxious or just want to talk: • Call or text 1737 for support from a trained counsellor.

• Get support from an experienced business person, call 0800 209 209 or visit www.businessmentors.org.nz *Business Mentors NZ surveyed 1000 small business owners nationwide in July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

SILKY OTTER CINEMAS BRING THE BIG SCREEN TO PONSONBY Ponsonby locals are set to get slice of the big screen experience as the perfect match between locally owned Silky Otter Cinemas and community favourite, Ponsonby Central, opens in early 2022.

Silky Otter is bringing the cinema experience back to the heart of Ponsonby for the first time in more than 50 years. A large part of the ground floor in the new Ponsonby Central development will soon be home to a four screen luxury boutique cinema complex, expanding on an already unique dining, drinking and shopping space. This will not be just any cinema, priding themselves on cutting edge technology, a focus on customer service, premium food, beverages and the ability to hire your very own cinema, Silky Otter reaches the next level in cinema viewing.

“Ponsonby is a cultural hub that caters to different interests and tastes, and everything you could want is here – except a cinema,” says Andy Davies, Ponsonby Central's owner.

“We wanted to create a home away from home, and the team at Ponsonby Central got that because it’s their vision too. We really couldn’t have wished for a better collaborator,” says Silky Otter Managing Director, Ahmed Almukhtar.

Silky Otter Cinemas Ponsonby will open in Ponsonby Central in early PN 2022.  www.silkyotter.co.nz www.ponsonbycentral.co.nz

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LOCAL NEWS

PONSONBY U3A: JULY 2021 What will New Zealand look like in 2030?

Guest speaker at the July meeting, well known sociologist, distinguished Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley, steered Ponsonby U3A members through the next decade of social change painting a picture of a ‘new’ New Zealand.

Using a mesmerising array of statistics, he predicted that by 2030 there may be six million people in New Zealand. The population, its rate of growth, its composition, and its dispersal, will look significantly different.

By 2030, one and a half million of us will live overseas, and, with regional decline we will be clustered in Auckland. Dependent on migration, we will be worried about a shortage of workers; at the same time, the number of people over 65 years of age will double, and fertility rates will drop to sub-replacement levels. This pattern of depopulation and demographic change is mirrored in countries overseas. It is not a crisis, contends Professor Spoonley, but rather a situation that needs to be understood and responded to by way of new economic models and new ways of living.

Interesting statistics emerged. For example, already over half of the population lives north of Hamilton. While New Zealand’s fertility rate is already low by world standards, it is likely that between 30 and 40 percent of millennial women will choose not to have children.

Currently, no one country has found the key to incentivising women to have more children, not even Hungary where if one has four children, there are no taxes to pay for life.

Even now, we are witnessing the implications of low fertility as school and bank closures abound. Many sectors of our work force are suffering skill shortages and our cultural and leisure profile is changing. The one thing that will make a difference asserts Professor Spoonley is immigration-led diversity. It will be critical to our population growth and our labour and talent supply. Fuelled largely

by Asian immigrants who have the skills our workforce needs, the ‘new’ New Zealand population is likely to be ‘super diverse’.

Ponsonby U3A member Ian Ramsay, filled the 10-minute speaker slot to tell us in his charming way, something of his early life. Born in Hong Kong, Ian was educated at boarding schools in India, Canada, and New Zealand, gaining his BCL from Oxford. Following twelve years in private practice, he spent two years back in Hong Kong as a magistrate where he found his lenient sentencing often did not meet the harsh expectations of the prevailing culture.

Professor Emeritus Paul Spoonley

For him, the move to the Children’s Court was, by comparison, delightful. Nevertheless, some of the instances of cruelty meted out to children were horrendous and probably reflective of a society largely run by triads. Fear and retribution were the order of the day and ordinary folk were long suffering and obedient to a fault.

Nowadays, Ian finds it hard to reconcile such people with the heroic protesters of recent times.

Every month on the second Friday, Ponsonby U3A showcases guest speakers covering diverse topics, and a member gives a short presentation on their life and interests enabling members to learn more about the talented and creative individuals in their midst.

Members are encouraged to join special interest groups offering about 30 different topics. Usually held in small groups in people’s homes; this is where the learning and the friendships are made.

If people are new to the area, in need of a stimulus or a bit lonely, there is always a welcome to be found at Ponsonby U3A. Guests are invited to attend monthly meetings (except for the next meeting in August which is the AGM). Guest speaker for the August meeting is PN well-known actor, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, CNZM. (CHRISTINE HART)  NEXT MEETING, AGM: 9.30am Friday, 13 August at Herne Bay

Petanque Club, Salisbury Street, Herne Bay. ENQUIRIES:

Philippa Tait, President, Ponsonby U3A, M: 027 452 3108, www.u3a.nz

LETTERS & EMAILS

Catherine Moorhead: My City is a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) She’s down, Status 1 Life threatening injuries sustained My city is an RTA Code Red, As green and pink Life blood leaking out onto congested black limbs My city is an RTA I sanitise my hands, wear gloves and mask as I walk upon her wounded form Stretched out in front of me Life, less than before My city is an RTA But it wasn’t Covid that did her in I say

Something else is at fault here, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, Disguised.

My city is an RTA Blindsided by tactical urbanism She never saw it coming Never stood a chance My city is an RTA Call for help But all help brings are sticks and cones No help at all

My city is an RTA A senseless act of codesign Has brought her to this There’s no going back it seems My city is an RTA I witness her demise A spectator, a rate payer My memory of her dusty file, now incompatible with the present My city is an RTA Disabled, inaccessible Unacceptable MY CITY IS AN RTA

46 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

GUERRILLA PLANTING OF LARGE TREES NEEDED FOR NATIVE FOREST IN OUR LIFETIME On Sunday 18 July, I joined about 60 people on the ‘Western Springs Public Planting Day.’ Despite Auckland Council claiming, “The intention is to remove all of the chipped material from site, however a small residual may be left in situ”, the seedlings were planted in at least 6” of red chip hardly reaching the clay underneath.

Waitemata- Local Board Chairman Richard Northey admitted to Stuff that works had moved away from the Board’s resolution, that “a wider area had been cleared” and “chipping [of] logs on site [occurred], after advice from the tree felling contractor.”

its valleys for the overland water courses. Nor was the chip, metal and underlay, forming the ‘track’, removed and the topsoil returned.

I’ve submitted a complaint to Town Planning and the Environment Court over the breaches to the Resource Consent. I was hoping that we could turn over a new leaf regarding engagement and work together on the new forest; regrettably it looks like the battle isn’t over.

The community had gone to environment court mediation to prevent the Auckland Council’s ‘preferred contractor’, Treescape, from dictating the methodology that did not consider the environmental impact on the existing native forest, and yet here Mr Northey was admitting that they had done exactly that.

It would be surprising if these seedlings of cabbage, kanuka, manuka and the mahoe that we planted in neat rows set out by Wildlands, survive in this chip that hasn’t weathered to remove the pine resins.

Either way, some guerrilla planting of large trees will be necessary for there to be a forest of sorts in my lifetime. Imagine if Auckland Council had spent that $50,000 per week on big trees instead of security guards.

According to Wildlands, the 12” high seedlings had come from three - - Whatua - Or nurseries across Auckland, with most from Ngati akei, who had supported this ‘regeneration’ project.

At least I got to see what was behind the guarded security fence as a member of the public, because the Environment Court mandated community liaison group still hasn’t been granted access.

Wildlands also confirmed that Auckland Council had given compliance to the ‘reinstatement’ of the ‘track’. Yet the slope hadn’t been returned to the former glory of the ‘Significant Ecological Area’ with

The walking track is being reinstated with new steps. There is as yet no date for the removal of the fences and opening the park to the PN public. (GAEL BALDOCK) 

THE PASSING OF TEVITA LATU St Columba Church in Grey Lynn farewelled one of its kaumatua with great sadness in late June.

Tevita Latu died at his home in Mangawhai surrounded by his family.

This was the place to which he and his wife Maralynne retired in 2016.

In exchange for the busyness of the city life, his 26-year career as a senior practitioner with Child Youth and Family, and a long-serving vestry member of St. Columba, he enjoyed the freedom of beach life and the fishing until his final days.

Tevita Naikaki Latu was born in Hihifo, Tonga in 1950. He attended St Andrew High School and after graduating began working for Nuku’alofa Port Customs. In 1973 his mother agreed to let him migrate to New Zealand to help provide a better life for his family back home.

Tevita arrived in New Zealand and began work in Grey Lynn. Within two years, he had met the love of his life, Maralynne Esta Bigham, and they were soon married. Their partnership was to bring many blessings to their family, church and the local community.

The Latus settled in Grey Lynn where their children - Heather, Tevita Jr and Emma - were born. Their first home in Sussex Street was the family home for 37 years. There was only one policy in the Latus’ house: there would always be an open door and open hearts to all who came there. It’s because of this generous hospitality that many young people, friends and families still call Sussex Street, and now Mangawhai, ‘home’.

In 1988 Tevita began studying for specialised social work. He was known for his selfless care for the next generation, and his ability to recognise and unearth the potential that lay beneath the surface, and he was constantly on the lookout for the leaders of tomorrow.

He helped write youth law legislation, provided wise counsel for many young people during difficult times, and supported and encouraged many youth leaders into ministry training.

His humble, non-judgmental Tongan approach meant he could connect to and support individuals and families toward their own preferences for change. He actively advocated for young people in the church as a youth leader and in his work as a social worker, seeing with his big Tongan heart what others didn’t. He was a mentor of many and encouraged them to aim high and look beyond what they could see.

Tevita’s long-held vision of a camp for young people was still on his mind during his final days: he saw Mangawhai as a place where a camp could take place. Learning to catch, prepare and cook fish, enjoying the moana and God’s creation were just a sample of the ideas he had.

Now the ‘Camp Tevita’ dream is for others to bring to fruition to honour his life’s work of affirming and guiding young people. Tevita’s legacy will live on in the community he inspired and through his love for all people, particularly the young. Tevita made a lasting and significant contribution both to the Church and the wider local community. He will be missed by many.

Faka-malo atu mei he uitou Marilyn Latu, fanau moe fanga mokopuna kihe famili, kainga, moe maheni ho tau komiuniti ‘i Grey Lynn,’ofa atu malo pea malo e lotu moe manatu ‘ofa malo.  PN www.saintcolumbas.org.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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LOCAL NEWS

PONSONBY PARK - AUGUST UPDATE Our (volunteer) Community-Led Design (CLD) group has been deeply saddened by the unexpected passing on Thursday, July 8th of long-serving group member Andy Smith.

Now, tragically, Andy will not get to see the fruits of his many years of advocacy work for the creation of Ponsonby Park. It is our hope that the final park will be as bright, fun-filled, and community serving as Andy was, and we recommit ourselves to the task he has left with us.

Allocation of funding to progress other projects is dependent upon a phased approach to be confirmed after year four of the 2021-2031 LTP. Allocation of budget to specific OLI projects will be confirmed through future Annual Plan and LTP decisions.

The work continues. Auckland Council’s 10-year Recovery Budget* was formally passed by Council on 29th June.

This is not the news the CLD group, the community, the local businesses nor visitors to Ponsonby wanted to hear. A delay of four years is significant and prolonged. Although these are exceptional times, we had hoped our Ponsonby Park project that has so successfully been developed via a Community-Led Design model, with all zoning requirements in place, and adjacent to the city centre, would have been an ideal ‘shovel ready’ project to progress sooner.

Mayor Phil Goff says, “Despite a $750 million projected revenue loss caused by the pandemic, we have not imposed austerity measures that would put essential services and projects at risk. Instead, we have pulled every funding and fiscal lever we can to retain the essential services and investments our communities rely on.”

However, due to the revenue loss and fiscal constraints imposed due to Covid-19, the ‘One Local Initiative’ (OLI) programme has been severely constrained. The CLD group requested information via the ‘Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act’ to seek clarity around the OLI process, and we have been advised of the following; In the 2021-2031 Long-term Plan (LTP) $361 million has been allocated to the OLI programme.

The budget allocation to the OLI’s is a continuation of the previously approved programme, but the phasing or timing of the budgets has been adjusted to reflect the constraints and priorities for the regional approach to community facilities investment over the next 10 years in the LTP. The OLI projects are being progressed through Council’s Investment Development Framework and subsequent LTP prioritisation. Through the LTP prioritisation the Orewa Seawall and Flat Bush Library and Community Centre have been identified as the next priority projects.

It has been 21 years since the need for the new civic space was identified and 15 years since the land was purchased. The WaitemataWard is one of the fastest-growing areas in Auckland with its population projected to grow by 35% in the next 30 years. Both the wider and local communities have shown significant and sustained engagement for the Ponsonby Park project. And why wouldn’t they when it has so much to offer? It will be an urban oasis that will be good for the people, good for the environment, and good for Auckland.

So we will continue our advocacy work, alongside the Waitemata- Local Board and we hope to see the development of Ponsonby Park begin (much) sooner than anticipated in the 2021-2031 Long-term Plan.

To facilitate this, we are planning a series of community action events.

These will give the Waitemata- Local Board robust evidence of the community’s desire for Ponsonby Park to be enacted earlier than currently indicated. With this increased support, the Board will be in an even stronger advocacy position.

PN Ponsonby Park - Ready now! (JENNIFER WARD) 

www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz

Full documents available: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/budget-plans/ The-10-year-budget-2021-2031/Pages/default.aspx

48 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

KEN RING: WEATHER BY THE MOON AUCKLAND WEATHER DIARY, AUGUST 2021 August is likely to be drier than average, sunnier, and with below average temperatures. The first week is the sunniest but coolest and with the highest pressure, the second and last weeks are the wettest, and the fourth week is the warmest. Millibars should average around 1017. Most rain may be around the beginning of the second week. The 14th/15th could be the best weekend for outdoor activities.

For fishers, the highest tides are around 25th. The best fishing bite-times in the east are around dusk on 7th- 9th, and 21st- 23rd. Chances are also good for around noon of 1st-2nd, 14th-16th, and 28th-31st.

For gardeners, pruning is best between 1st-5th and 24th-31st (waning moon descending), and sowing is best between 10th-18th (waxing moon ascending). For preserving and longer shelf-life, pick crops or flowers on neap tide days of 3rd and 18th.

Always allow 24-hour error for all forecasting. (KEN RING)  PN For future weather for any date, and the 2021 NZ Weather Almanac, see www.predictweather.com

Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.

OBITUARY: ANDY SMITH - COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, MUSICIAN, CREATIVE CHANGE-MAKER AND FRIEND Our dear friend and colleague on the ‘Ponsonby Park’ Community-Led Design group died unexpectedly at home, on Thursday 8 July.

He was a true community champion and knew, as do all those working for change, that it is a long haul and not a quick trip. His focus was primarily local, but he also had an international influence through many organisations, roles, and connections that had built up over decades of advocacy work. He was a dedicated visionary and a gentleman, described during the service as a real magician: he was always creating a new path and he looked at life from many perspectives. He will be sorely missed.

RIP Andy. Arohanui e hoa. (JENNIFER WARD)  PN

Photography: Jennifer Ward

His life-celebration was held at the Purewa Chapel, on Saturday 17 July. Dancing, live music, colourful garlands and eccentric head-dresses welcomed everyone upon arrival. It was a perfect start to the event as Andy, who long ago had decided to work towards making the world a better place, had determined to always have fun doing so.

Andy was always colourful and larger-than-life; here he is celebrating active transport access across the Waitemataharbour on 30 May.

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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LEXUS RX 450hL - overseas model shown

HELENE RAVLICH:

WHAT ARE YOU DRIVING?

Forget what you eat - for those that love their cars, you are what you drive. Many think of their cars as extensions of themselves and their personalities, whilst others eschew cars altogether and take to the streets on two feet or two wheels.

I asked a few local faces what they are driving at the moment and how it makes them feel, as well as posing the question: if money and time were no object, what would you aspire to drive?

Nikki Ralston is an Auckland yogini and founder of Brown Street yoga studio, Urban Ashram. A favourite with locals and those that make the trip into Ponsonby alike, her studio is always incredibly welcoming and the wonderful Nikki’s passion - and laugh - is instantly infectious. Having devised her own yoga practice which blends together the best elements of hatha, vinyasa, precision alignment and mindfulness teachings, Nikki has created something really rather special in her boutique Ponsonby oasis, empowering her students to become their own guru in whatever they do. When she’s not on the mat, she’s often seen zipping around town in her very sleek 7-seater SUV, new rescue puppy Moose riding shotgun like the furry little boss he is.

When asked what she is driving and how it makes her feel, the yoga teacher says: “I’m currently driving a black SEAT Tarraco, and I feel sexy, sporty and confident!” She says if given all the cash in the world, she’d still stick to her current ride, “because I’m just so happy with the SEAT Tarraco; it suits my lifestyle and vibe perfectly. But if money were no object, I’d just like to switch to the e-HYBRID version if I could.”

Nikki Ralston and her ride

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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Adrian Hailwood

Designer Adrian Hailwood of the Hailwood label is all about a sleek ride, as well as one with plenty of space to transport samples and the like in the lead up to his show at New Zealand Fashion Week later this month. He drives a LEXUS RX 450hL from Lexus of North Shore, and if money and time were no object, he would take the step up to a LEXUS LF-FC fully Electric Luxury Coupe. And as for what he’ll be bringing to the runway this fashion week? “Sleek lines, contrasting colours, textures and a bit of old school glamour to celebrate my 21 years in the business.”

backstage which looked like a lot of fun. But that wouldn’t be very practical when trying to park on Ponsonby Road!”

Isabel Pasch is the owner of Bread & Butter Grey Lynn and the bakery’s stall at Grey Lynn Farmers Market, and in a previous life was a microbiologist and science journalist. Passionate about the future of the planet, it comes as no surprise to learn that Isabel favours two wheels over four, cycling to work most days on her Avanti road bike.

Becs Caughey is the co-owner and co-founder of Cook & Nelson, a company that scours the globe in order to bring to New Zealand exceptional fare crafted by the best artisan producers in the world.

She and her husband Nick work together in the company, and are always swapping between their two vehicles. “If you see us in the van we’re working,” she says, “and if you see us in our car we have our two kids and our giant labradoodle in tow.”

Their car is a Skoda Octavia which is Cook & Nelson branded, “and is a station wagon so always super helpful for either delivering stock or loading in bikes and scooters,” says Becs. “I will always remember the day we got the car as it was the same day as I gave birth to our first child, our daughter Ella. I think Nick all of a sudden decided we needed a suitable family car so went out and bought a brand new very safe station wagon - a day of firsts!”

photography: Babiche Martens

After a couple of years of delivering stock out of the Skoda the pair almost blew the tyres thanks to a particularly heavy load of McClure’s Pickles, so decided they needed a delivery van. Their Seedlip-branded VW Caddy is now always out and about delivering their products, and has also been an amazing way to make new friends. “We often get stopped by people asking about the product and where to try it, so we kept Seedlip samples in the glovebox,” says Becs. “You’ll often see us passing these out to people talking to us in car parks or stopped at traffic lights!”

If money and time were no object, Becs says she would love a classic van for when they hold events and create experiences, “one that’s converted that we could instantly create a party from. When I was in the music industry touring internationally, there were some amazing converted double decker buses with spa pools and bar conversions Becs Caughey

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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“It’s a 7.5km distance from home to work and welcome exercise after a whole day of sitting at a desk,” she says. “It’s great because I always know how long it’s going to take to get to work and back home; it’s exercise that I enjoy and need and it doesn’t cost anything. Our family also has one car - a Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid.”

Isabel isn’t afraid to say she isn’t really a car person per se, adding, “I don’t even really know the different brands of cars, so I have never had a dream car. If money wasn’t an issue though, I would like to have a better electric car with a longer range.” At the same time she believes that for New Zealand, hybrids are the best option, “because it will take a very long time before the electric charging infrastructure gets into all the small towns and far flung places”. She doesn’t believe that electric cars are going to save us from climate change however, saying: “my dream would be that people use electric bikes, scooters or pushbikes for most of their trips. That way we could save a lot of energy and make our cities more liveable, spaces for people - not cars. Have a car just for when it is absolutely necessary. That’s what I try to do.”

Ponsonby resident Kathryn Wilson, CEO of Kathryn Wilson Footwear is a big fan of the Volvo mark, with a new model taking her everywhere she needs to go in style. “I am currently driving the new Volvo XC40 recharge PHEV (plug-in) and I love it,” she says. “It is such a cool looking car that fits car seats easily for school drop offs and pick-ups, and is also amazing to drive to the Coromandel for family weekends away with the dog and cat and kids in the back!” If money was no object and time were no object, she says she would love to be in the fully electric VolvoXC60 that arrives by 2030, “and they have announced big plans to have all Volvo’s available as fully electric cars by the end of the decade... so awesome!”

PN (HELENE RAVLICH) 

Isabel Pasch, Bread & Butter Grey Lynn

Kathryn Wilson in her Volvo

Kathryn Wilson’s daughter Lola

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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Bamboo Body Mara Top $113

Lemon Tree Maggie Dress $197

Lemon Tree Maggie Dress $197

Rundholz Black Ruffle My Hem Dress $619

Lemon Tree Kaitlyn Paisley Dress $187 NYDJ Ankle Bootcut Jean $283

FASHION + STYLE

@ ZEBRANO

ZEBRANO, 22 Morrow Street, Newmarket - opposite Westfield, T: 09 523 2500, www.zebrano.co.nz

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54 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE

PONSONBY NEWS

READERS ARE EVERYWHERE Marney Ainsworth is photographed with her 5-year-old granddaughter Maya in Tallinn, Estonia back in August 2019.

They are standing by one of the brilliant free-to-user trams/light rail that are both fast and frequent.  PN

THE AUCKLAND

VINTAGE

Textile Fair SUNDAY

22 August 2021 10am – 4pm nd

Admission $12.00 ALEXANDRA PARK RACEWAY Corner of Greenlane & Manukau Rd Epsom | Auckland | FREE PARKING

Genuine VINTAGE • Fabrics • Clothing • Hats • Linen • Accessories • Trims • Buttons • Lace • Books etc

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

FACES AT GREY LYNN FARMERS MARKET Bryone Vonk is The Good Baker at Grey Lynn Farmers Market on Sunday Mornings.

How did you come up with the name, The Good Baker?

The name comes from my business values - being good for: health, environment, animal welfare, and community. I solely use plant-based ingredients, I use local suppliers and growers, and minimize waste and plastic as much as possible.

Do plant-based products mean that you need to compromise on taste?

Not at all - one of my main goals is to show plant-based products are just as good and even better than products containing animal products. One of the main pieces of feedback that I get from customers is that they are amazed to learn all my products are made with all-plant ingredients, and they are unable to tell the difference.

Are any of your pastries gluten-free?

Yes!! Right now my only gluten-free products are apple and rhubarb turnovers and gluten-free cakes. Making gluten-free pastries is a challenge and I’m currently working on a gluten-free brioche recipe.

Why did you become a vegan?

My journey to veganism started when I was advised to cut out dairy products because of a health issue. However the more I learned, the more environmental and animal welfare factors motivated me to live a plant-based lifestyle.

Where did you grow up?

Pukekohe is where I spent the majority of my childhood. I was surrounded by food growing up, wandering around my grandparent’s restaurant kitchen. I have fond memories of “sampling” the signature chocolate tart as a child. My passion for food and dessert began here, leading me to study culinary arts.

Gordon Ramsay has a big reputation - what was it like working for him?

It was intense, but I learned so much. My time at the restaurant was spent working long hours and being in a tough environment because perfection was expected in every dish. Having worked my way to being trusted to run the pastry section, I was told to be tougher on the chefs below me, which I found difficult.

Where did you go when your visa ran out?

I moved to Montreal and worked at one of the best French-Canadian patisseries in the city. Unfortunately, I had to cut my time in Montreal short when Covid-19 prompted New Zealand to call Kiwis home.

Have you always worked with food?

Yes - after graduating from culinary school I worked at The French Cafe where I made lifelong friends in a challenging and positive working environment.

So you were here when we went into the Level 4 lockdown?

Yes, I arrived home two days before lockdown. I was lucky to be able to self-isolate at that time. The lockdowns gave me plenty of time to think hard about what I wanted to do next.

And you have worked in fine-dining overseas Yes - I began my OE in a French vineyard, but after I learnt enough French I worked at a traditional patisserie in Bordeaux. I had always aspired to work in a Michelin Star restaurant so I was very grateful to work in Gordon Ramsay’s 3 Michelin Star restaurant for a year when I moved to London. Then I worked for a year at Hide restaurant which gained its first Michelin star while I was there.

What are your future plans?

I’m enjoying being at the market, getting direct feedback from my customers, building up a following, and learning from other stallholders. Eventually, I’d like to set up a bricks-and-mortar patisserie and dessert cafe.  PN instagram.com/thegoodbakernz

GREY LYNN FARMERS MARKET @ the Grey Lynn Community Centre, 510 Richmond Road, www.glfm.co.nz

Sunday mornings at the Grey Lynn Community Centre 510 Richmond Road 56 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY Photography Simon Moore

Photography Josh Griggs

BESPOKE EVENTS AT SID AT THE FRENCH C AFÉ

THANK YOU PONSONBY for your patronage over the past 12 years.

We hope to see you one last time before we hand over the reins to Lesley Chandra on 6 September.

210 SYMONDS STREET T: 09 377 1911 www.sidatthefrenchcafe.co.nz

SIDART, Level 1, Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Road T: 360 2122 www.sidart.co.nz

sidatthefrenchcafe

- Gusto Italiano GUSTO MEANING ‘TASTE AND ENJOYMENT’

Photography Greta Kenyon

When you dine with us, the focus is on freshly prepared classic dishes, featuring an excellent range of pasta, seafood, meats and our pizza classics.

We also offer our pasta dishes to takeaway, phone for details or check our website for the menu.

263 PONSONBY RD, THREE LAMPS, 09 361 1556 www.gustoitaliano.co.nz

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THE CHANGING FACE OF AUSTRALIAN WINE This month at Glengarry we shine the spotlight on Australian wine. If you are reading this and thinking big, ripe, juicy wines, think again.

This month we lift the lid on a raft of new styles and producers that are making Australian wine so exciting.

There was most certainly a time when big, ripe, and juicy wines were right on trend, particularly compared to the restraint from our friends in Europe. Rolling forward and, although there is always a place for the big styles, the market for them is fickler and, for many producers, not profitable. Sadly, this has led to the demise of many big names in the Australian wine scene.

The new refreshed look we are starting to see from Australia is one where the wines have more restraint, show much clearer regional identity, and champion the unique and diverse regions of Australia. This change is throughout the industry, with many large well-established producers right at the front. De Bortoli in Yarra and Yalumba in Barossa spring to mind – the innovation and change in both family owned companies is quite remarkable and something to be admired.

A 'Wine Intelligence' report shares with us that younger Australian wine drinkers are driving a lot of the change, as these new styles are being welcomed with open arms. Chardonnay is not as popular

TASTING

WGTN AUCK

So this month, why not come in and give a new Australian wine a go?

We are super proud of the collection we’ve put together – the wines are so delicious.

We’ll be opening a good number at Victoria Park for a Saturday walkaround tasting. It’s a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon in winter; book online and come and join us. All stores will also have wines open for tasting during the month; you’ll find those details on PN our tasting page.  www.glengarrywines.co.nz

Sat urda y August 28 t h 1

Thorndon Victoria Park

m -3p

A USSIE WALK AROUND

with more aromatic styles preferred, such as Pinot Grigio, Fiano, and Moscato. And on the red front, it’s the likes of Tempranillo and Zinfandel that are favoured.

W W W . G L EN G A R R Y .C O .NZ P: 0 8 0 0 7 3 3 50 5 E: S ALES@GL ENGARRY. CO. NZ

58 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

KNIVES TELL STORIES OF FAMILY HISTORIES All knives have stories, and at Kiwi Blade Knives, Willie van Niekerk is restoring some of humanity’s oldest tools back into their rightful place in family histories.

Knives aren’t just objects or tools according to Willie; they are tangible reminders of people who have left us and places that we have left.

“That’s why they are so special,” he adds.

“People often tell us about Granddad and his days on the farm and how he would carve the Sunday roast, or about Grandma whacking the back of her knife with whatever she could find to hew through a meaty bone. It’s all those stories that make knives remarkable because they are so much a part of every day life.”

At Kiwi Blade Knives a swathe of knives have been lovingly restored and given a second life. The list of renovations is lengthy: from a WWI cavalry officer’s parade sword and, French kitchen knives from the mid 1800s, to Japanese knives mistakenly used by a well-meaning daughter to slice open a coconut. “Obviously that wasn’t going to work,” adds Willie with a smile. “We love the stories attached to the repairs we get asked to do.”

Willie’s partner, Angela, adds another story to the conversation - about a young couple who brought a knife in Japan while on honeymoon.

“It was a significant knife and it was intended to be loved and revered as a memento of their nuptials until it was used to chop a frozen blueberry and didn’t look quite the same afterwards. It was a bit of a sore point from that time forward. Willie repaired it, thankfully. Together we are saving marriages, one knife at a time,” she adds playfully.

Other repairs that have been previously destroyed in dishwashers or have been found lodged down the back of something, have also found their way to them. They get cleavers delivered to them, with a degree of glee, by customers who have managed to find an old sturdy blade in the back of a dusty workshop or in a second-hand store.

“We get knives to repair that have been used for the wrong applications and knives that have been ruined by a generous friend

Willie van Niekerk at Kiwi Blade Knives

who offered to sharpen the blade with an angle grinder. There’s a real variety. It’s a bit like a knife version of ‘Antiques Roadshow’ here sometimes, and we love it.”

Then again, they also get knives that have been well loved and well cared for, and that simply need a bit of a rebevelling or blade thinning.

“All knives need a bit of edge alignment over long periods of time. It certainly helps their cutting ability, which of course is what you want them for,” offers Willie.

Old knives are definite treasures to be valued, so before you abandon all hope for an old knife and consign it to the back of a dark and dingy drawer for the rest of its life, give Willie or Angela at Kiwi Blade Knives PN a call. There might be life in the old gal yet! 

www.kiwiblade.co.nz www.facebook.com/kiwibladeknives M: 022 464 7499

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SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS: VEGAN VIBE Everyone has places which are like second homes to them - places where they feel welcomed, which they love and where they spend time with the important people in their lives.

As a regular coffee spot for me, my friends and family, Postal Service Cafe (formerly known as Kokako Cafe) in Grey Lynn has become a place to call home.

One of my favourite things about local cafes is the regular customer base which is built through the relationship between the staff and visitors. I may be a little biased, but the Postal Service team creates this cosy environment and makes it memorable. However, no good cafe is complete without a fabulous menu served alongside good coffee. Having served Kokako coffee for years and working alongside All Good Organics too, Postal Service has a strong focus on serving organic and fair trade beverages. The baristas truly know their stuff and the perfect morning start is guaranteed with a large variety of plant based milk alternatives on offer too.

The entire cafe is vegetarian but almost everything can be made vegan if not already. The menu classics; the Huevos Rancheros, Agria Hash and rotating pancake variations, have been seasonally altered and served for years due to their popularity - and it’s no surprise!

Postal Service’s huevos rancheros is a take on the Mexican classic breakfast dish consisting of blue corn tortillas, black beans and fried eggs or scrambled tofu, and is one you can not pass up on.

The balance of savoury flavours paired with a sweeter salsa keep you coming back for more. Another classic, the agria hash, is what I would call a fancier and heartier take on a hash brown but placed alongside seasonal greens, poached eggs or scrambled tofu and the housemade harissa and cashew aiolis - both of which are to die for.

As well as these rotating classics, the Postal Service menu is regularly updated with new and exciting seasonal dishes. Featured on the current menu is a roasted cauliflower, miso glazed eggplant, mushrooms and halloumi on toast, winter porridge and pumpkin risotto - all of which are incredibly delicious and wonderfully generous.

As a vegan who always quite liked dairy, it is great to see places like Postal Service serving vegan cheese toasties and scrambled tofu alternatives.

It’s the only cafe that isn’t solely vegan that I’ve come across with a plant based cheese toastie on offer.

Not only is it on offer, it is also a beautiful rendition of the comforting favourite, being beautifully crispy on the outside and full of oozy cheesy goodness within.

The options within the fresh and daily made cabinet selection are perfect for those on the go or wanting something a little lighter. With a wide range of plant-based meat alternative sandwiches and lovely sweet treats, there is plenty to choose from when in a hurry - all of which match perfectly with a coffee to go of course.

As we are going to print, I learnt that the cafe is changing hands with new owners who I hope will continue the commitment to the plant based food that Postal Service is known for. Places like Postal Service never make a vegan feel like they’re missing out.

PN (SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS) 

POSTAL SERVICE CAFE, 537 Great North Road, T: 09 376 6086, www.facebook.com/postalservicecafe

60 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

WHISKY AT DIDA’S WINE LOUNGE Dida’s Wine Lounge is situated at 60 Jervois Road, right beside Glengarry Jervois Road.

Dida’s, which translates into Grandfather in Croatian, is a fitting name for an epic wine lounge located on the site where it all started for Dida Joe many years ago. This site being the original for the Jakicevich family who established Glengarry on this spot in the 1940’s and continue to own and manage it today.

So, what’s new in August? We are introducing Whisky Wednesday's.

Whilst every night at Dida’s is the perfect occasion to enjoy a dram, on Wednesday nights we shine a spotlight on all things Whisky. Dida’s has an incredible selection that encompasses different styles from all around the world. There’s a collection of Malts that are just simply amazing. Including Malts from Scotland, Ireland, America, Japan, New Zealand and India.

Each Wednesday night, the team at Didas are choosing a different whisky to taste and share. It’s Whisky Wednesday’s at Didas. Each dram they select will also have an even better price.

So come in and speak to the team about the huge selection on offer and enjoy a dram by the cosy fire.  PN DIDA’S, 60 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 2813, www.didaswinelounge.co.nz

WHISKY WEDNESDAYS AT

Come in and see us at Dida’s, our family’s Jervois Rd location for all things vinous and spirit-oriented for over 75 years.

Each week we take you into the intriguing world of wines and spirits, releasing something special from our extensive range of top-quality finds and rarities that’ll have your taste buds humming.

We look forward to meeting you there!

6 0 J E R VO I S R D | (0 9) 376 2 813 | D I DAS .CO. NZ

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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PHIL PARKER: SUPER MAN August is an auspicious month for me. It is the month of my 65th birthday. That is 780 months on Planet Earth, folks. And now I am officially the same age as old people. How did that happen? I demand to see the manager!

As a newly minted superannuitant, I have already discovered my secret powers of constantly losing my reading glasses, forgetting why I went into the kitchen, and not being able to hear my friends in noisy cafés - not to mention going “Errghhh” when I bend down to ground level to pick something up from the floor - or feeling no connection with contemporary popular music, or waking up with a new selection of aches in my formerly comfortable body.

A month ahead of my birthday, I received a Gold Card from the New Zealand Government along with a handy, jolly booklet all about the benefits of not falling over, getting regular exercise, and eating well.

I think I have those bases covered.

And I have also subsequently acquired an Auckland Transport Super Gold Card which entitles me to free off-peak travel on buses, trains and most ferries. I can now catch a couple of buses from Pt. Chev after 9am, and then leap on the Waiheke ferry and pester some of my favourite wineries. For free! I’ll drink to that!

Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Aged Release Riesling 2010 - $42 Amazingly youthful for an 11-year-old wine. A wee hit of CO2 spritz plays on the tongue with broader flavours of orange marmalade, canned peach, and quince. Off dry, with a tangy and lengthy citrus finish. Match with cheese board, rich seafood dishes, or vege Pad Thai.

Available: pegasusbay.com, Fine Wine Delivery Co. Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Aged Release Riesling 2011 - $40 Just nudging off-dry. Again, still a youthful wine at 10 years. Rich and unctuous with flavours of dried apricot, orange peel and lime marmalade. Tangy and predominantly citrussy with a lengthy finish.

Match with cheese or – how about good old duck a l‘orange?

Remember that?

Available: pegasusbay.com, Cahn’s Wines and Spirits.

Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Aria Late Harvest Riesling 2018 - $42 Pegasus Bay Aria is made from grapes affected by ‘noble rot’ late in the picking season i.e., a very naughty fungus named botrytis that

sucks out water in the grapes, leaving concentrated sweet juice. If it hits your chardonnay early in the season you will be rightly ticked off.

But if you are praying to Bacchus for it to hit the trophy riesling weeks after harvest... and it does, then you will be a happy winemaker. Sweet and luscious at 11% alcohol. Flavours of grapefruit, clover honey, honeysuckle, beeswax and a crisp, clean finish. Wow. Match with mildly spicy pork, Thai or your fave Vietnamese.

Available: pegasusbay.com, Cahn’s Wines and Spirits, Blackmarket, Vino Fino.

Villa Maria Taylors Pass Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018 - $59 A classic light bodied Burgundian style and packed with character.

Smoky and savoury with ripe cherry and plum fruit flavours. Soft tannins and a hint of vegemite umami. Great with rare roast beef or mushroom dishes. Available: widely.

Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 - $50 Young and fabulous. Weren’t we all? My how time flies, but I digress.

Tamarillo and plum palate, with a hint of clove spice. Similar style to the Taylors Pass, but would reward two to three years cellaring.

Definitely a match with Italian tomato-based dishes. Available: widely.

(PHIL PARKER)  PN www.finewinetours.co.nz

FINE WINE & FOOD TOURS “No. 2 Auckland Wine Tour” – TripAdvisor Your host, Phil Parker wine writer.

Affordable tours for small and large groups.

E: phil.parker@xtra.co.nz

62 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

www.finewinetours.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

G I M B L E T T G R AV E L S | H AW K E S B AY

A jewel in Hawke’s Bay’s crown of boutique wineries, SQUAWKING MAGPIE have been creating award-winning wines for over twenty years.

THIS YEAR IS THE

POLYNESIAN PANTHERS

50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Aw a rd w i n n i n g s i n g l e v i n eya rd w i n e s .

Jenny Dobson, Senior Winemaker

WINERY OF THE MONTH

If you’d like to support them by purchasing a tee shirt, please email Will on polypanthers6@gmail.com

W W W. S Q U AW K I N G M A G P I E . C O . N Z

Experience the magic of Matakana, base yourself at one of our luxurious new Plume Villas and enjoy the superb food and wine at Plume Restaurant. Country life starts here.

Plume Restaurant is an oasis for gourmet travellers, recognised for superb cuisine and as the cellar door for Runner Duck Estate Vineyard’s fine wines.

Plume Restaurant is now complemented by Plume Villas, an enclave of 12 new luxury 1-3 bedroom villas, set within landscaped grounds. These villas share a swimming pool and are a relaxed stroll from the restaurant.

Perfect for a weekend getaway for two, as well as a wonderful venue for weddings, conferences, meetings and private events.

For all enquiries telephone 09 422 7915

www.theplumecollection.co.nz

SCL/PLU2018/30

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

GO SLOW: THE ANTIDOTE TO FAST FASHION According to Statista, retail sales of apparel and footwear are globally forecast to top three trillion by 2030. Behind these figures lie the tangled threads of excess production and waste, opaque supply chains, and mindless consumption that embody fast fashion.

Slow fashion is the opposite of – and a reaction to – fast fashion.

It’s a philosophy that aims to evolve the textile and fashion design industries to be better for the planet and for the people who grow, make and wear clothes.

The hallmarks of slow fashion are slower production schedules, small-batch collections, and zero-waste designs. Slow fashion brands often produce clothing in-house or locally, giving them greater control over quality and waste. Supply chains, processes and labour conditions are more transparent, and materials have sustainable benefits themselves: organic cotton or hemp, traceable merino, or repurposed vintage textiles. each item. When you kick the fast fashion habit, you’ll have more space in your wardrobe, and your weekend.

SEVEN WAYS TO START GOING SLOW Do some research – Find out how clothing brands’ practices and products align with values of quality, circularity and longevity. Their website should have transparent details about their processes, as well as their philosophy.

Understand the benefits – Remember: by embracing slow fashion, we can learn to buy more thoughtfully while saving money and building a better more wearable wardrobe.

Take a breath – Phone a friend before splurging on a new pair of shoes, or consult your current wardrobe before purchasing an item that won’t work with anything you own.

Buy less (but spend more) – This means potentially spending more money per garment, but also spending more time looking for

Take a capsule (wardrobe) – Only a select number of pieces can fit in a capsule wardrobe – an incentive to choose carefully.

Each garment needs to earn its place in terms of quality, style and practicality.

Old is the new new – The world is not going to run out of clothes anytime soon. Learn to discover the joys of buying (or selling) pieces at your local designer resale stores. The other principles of choosing well made, timeless pieces still apply.

Be a proactivist – Get in the habit of asking brands about their practices and supply chains, both in store and on social media. While you may not get immediate answers, you’re letting them know these topics matter to their customers.  PN

ECOSTORE, 1 Scotland Street, Freemans Bay, T: 09 360 8477, www.ecostore.co.nz

64 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Specialist Obstetricians.

Auckland Obstetric Centre is a unique practice in Parnell made up of six leading specialist obstetricians and support staff. Together we have many years of experience and feel privileged to be able to share in the care of women during their pregnancy. To find out more about how we can care for you and your baby call our team or visit our website.

09 367 1200 obstetrics.co.nz

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

TADHG STOPFORD: SEXY HEMP: STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE It's winter! I hope that this finds you well and happy with life.

Bed is often the warmest place to be in Ponsonby, so with that in mind let's pull back the sheets on sex, and cannabis.

www.med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2017/10/ regular-marijuana-use-linked-to-more-sex.html

Did you know that hemp/cannabis can lower inhibitions, increase your libido, decrease your anxiety, and increase your perception of pleasure?

In women, sexual function is improved; including prolonged and multiple orgasms, with regular connoisseurs having twice the likelihood of a ‘satisfying orgasm’.

This can greatly aid healthy sexual relationships, according to Stanford University School Of Medicine, with evidence from 50,000 Americans recently proving that cannabis improves sexual function.

Non cannabis using men were more likely to reach orgasm too quickly, too slowly, or not at all.

"I am definitely hornier with hemp/cannabis. It really makes my sex drive better," says health care professional 'Amanda'. Finding hemp/cannabis improved her libido, orgasm, and reduced pain was a bonus, because 'Amanda' was only looking to improve her sleep and appetite.

Anecdotally, just between you and me - both hemp (low THC) and cannabis (high THC) have been celebrated for thousands of years as aphrodisiacs. For centuries it has also been a well established treatment for impotence and erectile dysfunction in Africa. A herbal viagra if you will. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1831906/

"Frequent hemp/cannabis use doesn't seem to impair sexual motivation or performance. If anything, it's associated with increased coital frequency," says Michael Eisenberg MD, assistant professor of Urology at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Most of New Zealand thinks it should be decriminalised, and the benefits of supporting your cannabinoid system far exceed the horizontal rhumba. Why don’t you grow your own?

(TADHG STOPFORD)  PN

More specifically, people who use cannabis have about 20% more sex than those who don't.

www.thehempfoundation.org.nz

SEPTEMBER

NEXT ISSUE

SEPTEMBER FEATURES: ART + DESIGN + THE REAL ESTATE MARKET COPY DEADLINE: Friday 20 August PUBLISHED: Friday 3 September

66 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

THE LIFE CENTRE IN HERNE BAY Escape to the haven that is The Life Centre, a new multidimensional wellbeing centre offering a range of treatments for clients in beautiful surroundings and a calm, peaceful environment.

Refurbished with love, the tranquil sanctuary will provide a drop-in haven for clients seeking respite from everyday stressors. With a pyramid meditation room for quiet contemplation, and green spaces filled with unique exquisite crystals, clients will enter a new realm of calm centredness and peace.

Based on the ethos, ‘Restore the spirit and the rest will follow’, their 14 highly experienced practitioners offer a wide array of complementary, herbal and energy healing modalities, including kinesiology, massage, fascial release therapy, naturopathy, energy balancing, holistic life coaching, Reiki and much more. The practitioners and modalities have been carefully selected to guide clients back to their fundamental wholistic nature, clearing negative belief systems, replacing fractured energy fields with unified coherent ones, and restoring spiritual, mental, emotional and physical balance for wellbeing.

Therapy rooms are themed around rare and beautiful crystals alongside artworks featuring mandalas and sacred geometry. The Life Centre is also an educational facility, with rooms for hire for workshops such as meditation, yoga and breathwork.

For more information and bookings, please visit their website or call in to see the team at The Life Centre.  PN THE LIFE CENTRE, 88 Jervois Road, T: 09 869 4430, www.thelifecentre.nz

THE LIFE CENTRE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL WELL BEING a sanctuary for the soul, mind and body

Reiki - Massage - Naturopathy - Ren Xue - Yuan Gong Qigong - Theraphi - Kinesiology - Electromagnetic Field Balancing - Harmonyum - Energy & Spiritual Healing - Past Life Regression - Emotion Code - Venue Hire and much more

8 8

J e r v o i s

t h e l i f e c e n t r e . n z R o a d , P o n s o n b y , A u c k l a n d

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

JOHN APPLETON: MORE MONEY WON’T NECESSARILY RESULT IN A HEALTHIER NATION I have written about this in the past, but I remain very concerned that the goal of having a healthier nation continues to elude us.

When it comes to our health, the dollar figures become ever larger as we hold on to the view that more must be better. While our rapidly expanding population does create additional demand, any sage observer must surely be wondering if the current ‘model’ is in need of some new thinking.

Back in 1998 taxpayers forked out $6 billion for health, but now just over 28 years later in 2021 we are spending four times that amount $24 billion. This colossal sum amounts to nearly $68 million every day. Despite this massive expenditure, the waiting lists for surgery grow and demand for health care services is outstripping our ability to keep paying. It seems to me that our health system itself is sick.

I wonder how anyone could think that we could anticipate a different outcome by simply doing more of what we have always done. The reason that our hospitals are filled to overflowing is that we have ever increasing numbers of sick people.

Quite plainly if our objective by spending $68 million every day is to have a healthier nation, the statistics certainly don’t suggest that we are even close to achieving this objective. The problem is that instead of promoting health and everything that is involved with keeping people out of the health system, we keep pouring money into the treatment of sickness.

As many a Grandma said, ‘an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure’. Currently we are spending $24 billion on the ‘cure’ side of the ledger and almost nothing on prevention. Rather than a health care system, what we have is little more than a disease care system.

Years of study and reading of the medical literature has convinced me that the goal of having a healthier nation will continue to elude us until we implement preventive measures, and we give people the freedom to choose the type of health care that they want. This

would necessitate allowing doctors to use treatment options that they believe would achieve the best outcomes for their patients.

The Declaration of Helsinki 1964 (of the World Medical Organisation) states, “It is the mission of the physician to safeguard the health of the people. His or her knowledge and conscience are dedicated to the fulfillment of this mission. A physician must be free to use the most appropriate treatment if in his or her judgment it will result in the alleviation of suffering or the restoration of health or saving the life of the patient”.

Sadly today, doctors who choose to practice along these lines using their knowledge and skill to find the best way to help a patient, can risk ridicule and censure by the Medical Council. In New Zealand we have some of the finest doctors and specialists in the world but until we give them freedom to look beyond what they were taught in medical school and learn more about nutrition, and how to prevent the onset of disease, we will almost certainly continue on the path we are on.

With an aging population. the need to consider preventive healthcare options becomes even more important. Nutritional interventions for heart disease, arthritis, diabetes infectious diseases and respiratory illnesses already exist and are based on simple biochemistry. Given that end of life care is so massively expensive one would think simple inexpensive interventions would be welcomed. Unfortunately, they are not.

When it comes to our health, we should not see the need for change as a threat, but as a challenge that can be embraced in the best interests of all New Zealanders. (JOHN APPLETON)  PN appletonassoc@xtra.co.nz www.johnappleton.co.nz

HOMESICK FOR PONSONBY? If you, your friends or family are missing Ponsonby, why not subscribe to New Zealand’s BEST read community magazine?

Photography: Everall Deans, Ponsonby Business Association

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68 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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Visit ponsonbynews.co.nz or email jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz for more information.

NEWS + LOCAL POLITICS + FASHION + STYLE + CELEBRITY + EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY + TRAVEL + LIVING, THINKING + BEING + PETS + FUTURE GENERATION + SPORTS + HOME + REAL ESTATE + ARTS + CULTURE

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

THE BEST START TO A BOY’S EDUCATION The vision at King’s School is to develop the individual talents of each boy for life.

Teachers are focused on offering every child the opportunity to discover and explore his full potential. Headmaster Tony Sissons believes children should be given the best possible chance to flourish.

“Our goal is to ensure each boy who passes through our gates is given a solid foundation of learning, has a sense of self-confidence and self-belief, is motivated, flexible and resilient,” Tony says.

Small Class Sizes – All classes at King’s School have a dedicated teacher and homeroom. Class sizes are kept small so that teachers can provide personalised attention and no-one gets lost in the crowd. Tony is not a fan of the government’s Modern Learning Environment model.

After 35 years in education he is convinced that children must feel secure and supported before they can learn effectively. Boys need to form a solid bond with their teacher and classmates so that they feel confident to take risks and challenge themselves.

Literacy and numeracy are the primary focus at King’s School and there are extra teaching staff for these subjects at each year level.

This ensures exceptional teacher:pupil ratios and allows staff to teach to the appropriate level for the development of individual boys.

Specialist Teachers – King’s also offers a wide range of enrichment subjects to inspire and stimulate boys. Specialist teachers deliver music, drama, art, science, French, physical education and swimming programmes. Every child learns a musical instrument and there are a variety of cultural groups and sports teams to join. Boys are encouraged to follow their passions and the school celebrates success and achievements across all disciplines.

Manners and values are important at King’s and are integrated into every aspect of the school day. Boys are expected to live by the Golden Rule, “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.”

Focused on Boys – Life at King’s School is very much geared for boys with shorter class times, more visual and tactile teaching methods, opportunities for students to be active and move around the school, and male mentoring and buddy programmes. All these strategies are backed by research on how boys learn best.

Tony Sissons is committed to giving boys the best possible start to their education. “I am proud of my team and believe a King’s School education provides our boys with a strong foundation for the future by instilling a love of learning with values and integrity, while establishing PN friendships for life. It’s the best gift you could give your child.” 

KING’S SCHOOL, 258 Remuera Road, Auckland 1050, T: 09 520 7770, www.kings.school.nz

King’s School

Open Days 17, 18 & 19 August 9.00am Register at kings.school.nz Accepting applications for 2023

FOCUSED ON BOYS PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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FUTURE GENERATION

ST MARY’S BAY LOCAL - AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT WITHIN SPECIAL OLYMPICS AS AN ATHLETE LEADER Auckland’s Chrissa Pearce has just returned from eight days at Outward Bound where she joined 11 other Special Olympics New Zealand athlete leaders on a course that saw the group traverse high ropes, scale rock faces and swim before sunrise on an adventure designed to help them discover their full potential.

Outward Bound course design manager, Kelly Hamilton says that just like any Outward Bound course, the athlete leaders were given the opportunity to push their mental and physical limits and discover what they are truly capable of.

“While the group completed many of the same activities as a 21-day Outward Bound course, this co-designed course focussed specifically on what it means to be a great leader.

The Special Olympics athlete leadership programme has an inspiring curriculum that Outward Bound supports by offering real life leadership experiences. It’s also a chance for Outward Bound to ‘give back’ to students who are very active in their communities,” says Kelly.

Chrissa, who is 31 and lives in St Mary’s Bay, is an active participant within Special Olympics as an athlete leader. She skis, swims, snowboards and plays basketball as well as being on the leadership team where she organises school events and does speaking engagements.

“I enjoy encouraging other people to try new things,” says Chrissa.

“I help with school programmes and over lockdown I did things on social media like Zumba to encourage others to have fun and keep fit. I love meeting new people and making friends and I made lots at Outward Bound. I also learned new skills such as sailing and Waka Ama, which I really enjoyed. But I did find the alone time hard not having others to talk to because I love to talk!”

Special Olympics CEO Carolyn Young says Outward Bound’s ethos of ‘There is more in you’ reflects the spirit of the athletes.

“Our athlete oath is, ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt’. Our athlete leaders from all over Aotearoa embody that spirit and we are delighted this course will provide them with skills, achievements and memories that they can bring back to inspire their Special Olympics whanau and communities.”

“While I found Outward Bound challenging emotionally and physically, it was lots of fun,” says Chrissa. “I’m proud of my achievements and PN would recommend the course to other people.” 

I LOVE LUCY BOOK REVIEW:

My Best Friend’s Exorcism - Grady Hendrix - 16+

“Corn dogs,” the exorcist said, “are all the proof I need that there is a God.” If you, like me, are currently obsessing over the 1980s and the horror genre (books, movies etc.), then this is most definitely the book for you. Set in 1988, the story follows the senior year of high school students (and best friends) Abby and Gretchen. We learn their past, and how they became friends. We see the ups and downs of their friendship and how everything changes when something strange happens to Gretchen after a night in the woods behind a friend’s house.

Something happened in those woods that turns well-behaved agreeable Gretchen, perfect daughter of perfect parents into something much more sinister. Can Abby save her friend from whatever has got her in its grasp, causing her to spiral out of control?

This novel is part nostalgia, part comedy, and part full-out demonic possession - a beautiful mix that works crazily well with one another. It is packed with ‘80s references, including the book cover design being an ‘old school’ video cassette rental, and every chapter named after a song from the era - you can listen to playlists of these songs on Spotify. I found this to be a really nice touch that definitely added to the book and made it more interesting and interactive. Being a huge fan of both the 1980s and supernatural possession based stories, “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” by Grady Hendrix is right up my alley and now has pride of place on my bookshelf.

(LUCY KENNEDY)  PN www.lucykennedywriter.wixsite.com/reviews instagram @lucykennedybookreviews

70 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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out of 5!

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

HONOUR MITCHELL: TEEN PICKS - MY JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - IN THE WAIRARAPA Everyone has that one place that feels like a second home: a place you know so well but yet never seems to bore you. And for me, that place is Masterton.

Located near Wellington in the Wairarapa region, this town was named New Zealand’s ‘Most Beautiful City’ in 2017 and in my opinion it is well-deserved! Possibly the main reason Masterton is so special to me, is that my grandparents live there and I have been visiting them since I was born. Putting aside the family connection, this is a fun-filled place to holiday with an impressive range of activities to focus on, including nature, food, shopping, festivals and day trips.

Nature In the centre of the town is the expansive and beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park. This park has an exceptional playground (which my grandad helped build), a miniature train, a flying fox, paddle boats, a swing bridge, a cricket oval, a bowling green, a skate park and mini golf! With all of these different attractions you would think there’d be no space to roam around and just sit. Well, there is. Picnic tables and benches abound, plus there are acres of leafy, green spaces for resting and strolling on a perfect sunny day. Often I find just walking through the park is interesting enough.

Just outside of the town centre is another green marvel, Henley Lake.

Numerous paths and routes circle a shimmering pond where swans swim and birds tweet. I love to take morning runs around the lake, which is pretty serene and calming. It’s clearly a community favourite and patronised by both young and old, walking, running or playing throughout the day.

The Food If I am being truthful, one of my favourite things about Masterton is the food! There are so many restaurants and cafes that I love, but I will narrow it down to three for you covering breakfast, lunch and dinner.

First we start at Ten O’clock Cookie Bakery (aka10CC) for breakfast.

I always struggle to choose from the extensive menu, but their smashed avocado stack is quite delectable. There’s also a fine range of baking to take away for which 10CC have won numerous awards.

(These beautifully packaged treats always go down pretty well as presents for friends and relatives).

For lunch the endlessly popular cafe, Entice, is perfect for picking up a scrumptious picnic to take across the road to Queen Elizabeth Park.

Entice has many vegetarian and dietary-friendly options which is always a plus... and they can even cater for events (like Grandma’s 80th!).

Finally, dinner, at my all-time favourite restaurant - the Screening Room.

Sounds like a movie theatre? Well it is! However, not an old, smelly, rundown movie theatre, but a luxurious boutique-like eatery and cinema combined. You can choose to eat in the stylish dining area or have wine, coffee or food delivered while watching a movie! My go-to dishes are gooey mushroom arancini, coconut Thai dahl and a decadent hot brownie skillet for dessert. This really is the best movie theatre ever!

Shopping Book lovers alert! Masterton proudly boasts the biggest Paper Plus in New Zealand with some of the most knowledgeable staff you’ll ever meet, so you can always count on leaving with a juicy novel or two cradled in your arms. For an authentic Farmer’s Market, hit the Solway Showgrounds early Saturday morning and you’ll be able to pick up everything from organic vegetables to a gorgeous tie dyed T-shirt.

If you’re interested in quaint boutiques and a further array of delicious eateries, Greytown is barely a half hour drive away. I must say this is quite honestly the cutest town I have ever seen. This year the ‘Festival of Christmas Night Markets’ ran every Saturday evening through July; we were lucky enough to be in town for the celebrations and the festival was a special highlight. Imagine a European-style market with street dining, mulled wine, marshmallow toasting and much more. It was just my cup of tea!

Day Trips If you run out of things to do in Masterton there are plenty of interesting day trips all less than an hour’s drive. Some excellent options include Mount Bruce where you will find the Pukaha National Wildlife centre. Visit the Kiwi breeding nursery, embark on multiple bush walks loaded with wildlife and stand in the free-flight aviary where birds will swoop and glide over your head.

Castlepoint and Riversdale beaches are for swimming, surfing and walking. Plus, if you’re visiting Castlepoint, there’s a short hike to the iconic lighthouse which is accompanied by a spectacular view!

Martinborough is for tours to an excellent range of boutique wineries, particularly if you’re a fan of world-class pinot noir. A shame I’m not old enough to drink up large yet, but thankfully Martinborough is exploding with beautiful scenery and cafes, which is more than enough to keep me occupied. (HONOUR MITCHELL)  PN PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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TALKING TRUSTS: BILL & JANE Bill and Jane were in their early ‘70s. They had been living in their house in Ponsonby for 35 years and that is where they had brought up their children.

They had run a very successful business which they sold ten years ago. Initially they had the sale proceeds in term deposits but because of the low interest rates those moneys were now invested in managed funds.

the lawyer looked at Bill and Jane’s trust deed, she saw that not only were their children and grandchildren’s partners and spouses potential beneficiaries, but also any carers for those people. This would include the nanny of their eldest daughter’s children. The lawyer said this wasn’t necessarily a common inclusion, but she had certainly seen this before. Clearly this is not what Bill and Jane had intended when they set the trust up.

Bill and Jane’s house had increased hugely in value since the time they Tammy McLeod bought it in the late 1980s. It still bewildered them to think that the house was worth so much more than the business had been when they sold it. They had worked so hard in the business and yet with the family home all they had to do was to continue to own it. The house and the managed funds were both in a trust which had been established when they had their business. Bill and Jane were the beneficiaries of the trust together with their three daughters and their children. The trustees were Bill and Jane and their accountant.

Bill and Jane were particularly concerned as their youngest daughter was going through a messy divorce and it was a worry to them that her ex-husband was a beneficiary of the trust.

Unfortunately, the lawyer said, that given the age of the trust, there was no power to remove beneficiaries. She said that sometimes in these cases the trust deeds could be varied to include a power to remove beneficiaries which could then be exercised. But again, in their case there was no power to vary the trust deed. The only options open to them were to resettle the trust which meant setting up a new modern trust with a smaller class of beneficiaries and settling the assets onto that trust or winding the trust up and put everything back into their names.

Bill and Jane had decided that they might move into a retirement village. The house in Ponsonby had been getting too much for them. The grounds were extensive (they were one of the few sites which had not been subdivided) and the stairs were starting to get a bit much for Bill who had had a knee replacement. They had friends who were in a retirement village in Remuera who loved it and raved about the lifestyle they now had. Bill and Jane discussed this with their daughters, spent many weekends looking at the different villages and finally settled on one.

Bill and Jane were told that they needed to get legal advice on the occupation right agreement. They went to see their lawyer, who they had needed to visit infrequently since the sale of the business.

She said that they should take the opportunity to review their wills and their trust documents at the same time. However, she said that trusts had become quite a specialty area and she thought it would be a good idea to get some expert advice. She referred them to a lawyer who specialised in trusts.

When they went to see the lawyer, she explained that trust law had changed quite a lot since they set their trust up in the mid 1990s.

Back in the 1990s, trusts would often have extensive beneficiary lists. This would often include spouses and de facto partners. When

Bill was reluctant to wind up the trust given the effort and cost of setting the trust up and maintaining it over the years. However, the lawyer advised them that the right to occupy the villa in the retirement village wasn’t able to be owned by the trust in any event, and now that they didn’t have the business risk or any obvious family issues that would necessitate a trust, winding it up would be the sensible option. She said that the trust had done its job and they could still protect their daughter’s inheritance with wellcrafted wills.

So, Bill and Jane agreed to wind their trust up and put in place new, more extensive wills. They sold their Ponsonby home, and purchased the occupation right to a villa in the retirement village.

The balance of funds from their Ponsonby home was added to their managed funds which were now just in their own personal names, which meant that their tax returns were more straight forward and there was no need to go to the extra cost of preparing a set of accounts for the trust annually.

Bill and Jane were very happy with the outcome, still understanding that their trust had done a great job for them and given them peace of mind when they needed it.  PN

DAVENPORTS LAW, 331 Rosedale Road, Level 1, Building 2, Albany, T: 09 883 3284, www.davenportslaw.co.nz

72 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

C RAFTED L EGAL ADV ICE FOR PE ACE OF MIN D.

Asset protection.

Do you need a trust?

The protection of assets that we have all worked so hard to acquire is an important consideration for most people.

Trusts are invaluable asset protection mechanisms, which allow a person to hold property and assets on behalf of another for the good of the beneficiaries.

However, not everyone needs a trust, so ensuring other forms of asset structuring including your will and enduring powers of attorney are up to date is important.

Contact us for more information about asset structuring.

0 9 883 32 84 DAV EN P O RTS L AW.CO.N Z

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

LOGAN GRANGER: DECIPHERING CRYPTOASSETS TAX – THE NZ TAX TREATMENT WHAT ARE CRYPTOASSETS? Cryptoassets are cryptographically secured digital representations of value that can be transferred, stored or traded electronically. They use some form of distributed ledger technology such as block chain.

The cryptoasset sector is still developing and there is currently no standard terminology used.

Tax treatment of Cryptoassets IRD treats cryptoassets as property for the purposes of tax, so normal income tax rules apply. What people make from selling, trading or exchanging cryptoassets is essentially taxable.

The IRD default view is that most people acquire cryptoassets with the intention of selling them. That’s because cryptoassets don’t pay interest and it’s only upon disposal that someone will realise a return on their investment. This is very similar to its position on gold.

As such, in most cases, the profit an investor makes from disposing or exchanging cryptoassets is taxable. Also, if you make a loss when you sell your cryptoassets you may be able to claim this loss.

To determine if tax is payable, IRD will look at the main purpose for acquiring cryptoassets at the time of acquisition (not disposal).

A person will face an uphill battle to challenge that they did not acquire cryptoassets with the intention of selling them. They will need to provide clear and compelling evidence that support this claim which could include factors such as: • the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the crypto, its use, and its disposal; • the nature of the crypto (whether it provides an income stream or any other benefits while held);

• Non-resident taxpayers are subject to New Zealand tax if their cryptoasset income has a source in New Zealand.

Cryptoasset tax for businesses These taxes apply to businesses that trade in, or use, cryptoassets.

• Businesses that operate cryptoasset mining, dealing, or exchange must pay income tax on their profits. There is guidance about what defines a crypto-asset mining operation as a business, including the size of the operation, the length of the operation, the regularity of mining activity, and how much people make from mining.

• the number of similar transactions; and • the length of time the crypto is held.

It does not matter how long someone plans to hold on to cryptoassets for before selling or exchanging them. A person’s main purpose can still be to sell or exchange them despite holding for several years.

Cryptoasset income must be included as ‘other income’, business income or self-employed income in the tax returns.

Any cryptoasset holder is expected to keep accurate and complete cryptoasset records for at least seven years.

Cryptoasset tax for individuals • New Zealand tax residents who buy, sell, trade, exchange, or mine cryptoassets must pay income tax – even if they acquire and dispose of it overseas.

• Businesses that trade in cryptoassets must also pay income tax on their profits.Those that don’t fit the definition of cryptoasset businesses but do use cryptoassets in their business, must also account for these assets in the same way as any other business asset. Therefore, must pay income tax.

• Businesses can pay employees in cryptoassets, however, these are still subject to standard PAYE and fringe benefit taxes. In cases where employee share scheme rules apply to cryptoasset payments, these are still subject to income tax.

For more information on any of the above topics, please contact us at Johnston Associates. (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

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PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

Keith McConnell’s Penny Bright Memorial Award

At last month’s Waitemata- Local Board Meeting, member Sarah Trotman awarded Keith McConnell with The Penny Bright Memorial trophy. This was given to Keith for his work on better governance in PN Auckland City. 

Metro Law Appoints Associate Metro Law is pleased to announce the promotion of Annemarie - Porou and Te Arawa, to Associate.

Schenk, of Ngati Annemarie joined Metro Law in 2017 while completing her degree.

She specialises in property, commercial law, trusts and estate work.

METROLAW, 169a Ponsonby Road, T: 09 929 0808, www.metrolaw.co.nz

Spacious and timeless Freemans Bay

SpeCial FIxEd FEE PrE‑AuctIOn rEPOrt $300

Property transactions that come up smelling of roses.

2/23 Napier Street

NEW VIEWING LISTING FINAL

©Copyright Ross Jones 2010- 2016

www.jonesthepainter.com

When you’re buying or selling a property in the Auckland region, our legal expertise makes for smoother transactions, right down to securing the keys on settlement day.

Talk to us about conveyancing Call us today Nestled in a quiet spot, and after 25 years, this stunning three bedroom townhome comes to the market for the very first time.

Clever design combines abundant light, voluminous spaces and green outlooks through the huge windows. The ground floor double bedroom with ensuite overlooks the truly well kept designer garden.

The expansive middle floor, with two separate living areas & stunning open plan designer kitchen. Upstairs, retreat to the two double bedrooms, bathroom/en-suite and fabulous roof deck with Sky Tower views. Double garaging plus one visitors park - a rare commodity! The owners are off on a new adventure. Viewing a must. bayleys.co.nz/1671656

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Auction (unless sold prior) 2pm, Wed 11 Aug 2021 Bayleys House, 30 Gaunt Street, Auckland View Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm or by appointment Suzie Paine 021 976 008 suzie.paine@bayleys.co.nz BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, PONSONBY, LICENSED REAA 2008

169a Ponsonby Road Ponsonby, Auckland +64 9 929 0800 www.metrolaw.co.nz Trusts & Wills

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Business & Commercial

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Property

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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@ ACQUIRE FINANCIAL Acquire Financial is your GPS on your financial journey, helping you navigate to your financial destination.

Tell us about your background?

I have been working in the Financial Services Industry for just over 12 years after moving from the United Kingdom. I worked in roles with Westpac before moving to financial planning providing individual personalised financial advice. The next step was setting up my own financial planning practice and Acquire Financial was born. I have been a financial adviser for the past 11 years and love helping New Zealand clients achieve their financial goals.

Tell us about the services you offer?

Acquire Financial’s vision is to help as many New Zealanders as possible to achieve their financial goals, whatever stage they are at on their financial journey. At Acquire Financial we like to build long lasting relationships by helping clients in all aspects of their financial lives. We understand that everyone’s financial situation is different and tailor our financial advice to each individual and family’s situation, ensuring that they can achieve their financial goals whilst living the life that they want to live.

We believe that it is about finding the right balance. We are able to help clients with mortgages, investments, Kiwisaver, retirement planning, insurance and general financial planning allowing us to help clients throughout their entire financial journey. I believe that every financial goal is achievable as long as you have the right financial plan.

What is the feedback from your clients?

I sometimes wonder why I do what I do, but it comes back to one simple message, which is to be able to help everyday Kiwis achieve their financial goals; whether that is buying their first home, next shop, getting set up financially or planning for retirement, I am with them every step of the way. There’s a lot that goes into a financial plan and the journey that I take with my clients. It is the peace of mind that I give them knowing that I am always there to provide the advice they need, when they need it and that they have their financial life under control.  PN For further information email richard@acquirefinancial.co.nz

MORTGAGES • INSURANCE • INVESTMENTS • KIWISAVER & RETIREMENT PLANNING

We put clients at the centre of everything that we do

022 107 0106 richard@acquirefinancial.co.nz www.acquirefinancial.co.nz 76 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

@ YUVA YUVA is a specialist importer of kilims and other vintage rugs, runners, saddle-bags, cushions and bags.

Aliah Herki Runner 5.14m x 0.82m - $2350

Kilim Tote Bag - $145 Kilim Cushions Cover 40cm x 40cm - $85

Karmal Mini Rug 0.88 x 0.60m - $295

Kilim Cushion Cover 60cm x 60cm - $150

The finely handmade products are all one-of-a kind pieces and will add colour and warmth to your interiors. Shop our latest collection of woven goods online at www.yuva.co.nz or get in touch to make an appointment to view.

Call us on 022 163 5300 to make a showroom appointment.

We’re located at 53 Wood Street (Franklin Road End) Freemans Bay, Auckland.

Woven Collections Quality handmade rugs, runners, cushions, bags and more. www.yuva.co.nz @yuva_nz 53 Wood Street, Freemans Bay 022-163-5300

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

TOP REAL ESTATE AGENT REVEALS HIS LITTLE-KNOWN CHARITABLE SIDE New Zealand’s relative enforced isolation as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic has allowed high-performing Bayleys Ponsonby salesperson Blair Haddow time to reflect on some of the more important things in his life outside of work.

While he has recently become a member of Bayleys’ elite $400million club – for Bayleys salespeople who have sold at least $400million worth of property during their careers with the agency – he has also had time to look back on some of the more personally rewarding philanthropic aspects he has achieved during his time selling homes.

Over the past decade, the list of charities receiving support from Blair Haddow includes Make-A-Wish, which grants the wishes of children who have critical illnesses – giving them hope, strength and joy.

Make-A-Wish New Zealand is a national charity with more than 140 volunteers throughout New Zealand – granting more than 150 wishes locally each year. Like Make-A-Wish, Blair believes that these wishes are transformational for the child recipient.

Blair has also been a long-standing supporter of the SPCA – donating monthly to assist the organisation in its care for abandoned, lost, injured, and stray animals.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has some 40 centres in New Zealand. These centres are run by paid staff and volunteers – with approximately one staff member to every 10 volunteers, helping more than 35,000 animals annually. With very little government funding, the SPCA is reliant on donations such as Blair’s to continue its admirable day-to-day operations.

Blair’s love for animals also stretches back to the years when Bayleys Real Estate was the primary sponsor of the Guide Dogs branch of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind.

“I believe it’s morally important to have an ethical work-life balance and give something back to society,” says Blair, who specialises

in marketing residences in Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Ponsonby, Freemans Bay, and Grey Lynn.

“Normally, like many Kiwis, I spend July and August abroad on holiday – taking advantage of the quiet residential real estate selling period.

Obviously that’s just not possible this year because of Covid-19 travel restrictions, so it’s given me the opportunity to self-reflect on my life and what I’m doing.

“June, July and August have always traditionally been the quieter selling months on the residential real estate calendar across Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Freemans Bay, Ponsonby and Grey Lynn, and indeed across New Zealand – apart from last year because of Covid19’s impact when sales volumes spiked. However, this year has seen a return to that historical pattern,” said Blair.

“That’s given everyone a chance to take a bit of a breather and just come back to earth and look at our lives a bit closer.”

For Blair, in addition to busily networking with multiple potential Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Ponsonby, Freemans Bay, and Grey Lynn vendors assisting them in preparing to take their homes to market in spring, that has included looking back warmly on his philanthropic affiliations.

“I think it’s a good, and very closely linked balance. On one side, in my professional life I’m bringing happiness to my vendors by selling their property assets for them. And at the same time I’m bringing happiness to the purchasers – giving them the next step in their lives as they buy their new home. That balances perfectly with my charity support – helping organisations which do so much good work for others. They both leave me feeling very comfortable with what I’m doing in life,” said Blair.  PN www.facebook.com/blairhaddowresidential

78 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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HOROSCOPES

HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS – WHAT YOUR STARS HOLD FOR AUGUST

Aquarius (the Water Carrier) 21 January - 19 February You are very much in demand as a worker bee, but you would much rather be a social butterfly fluttering from one exciting event to another. However you may feel, you are doing too much professionally and privately.

But it all contributes to the greater good.

Pisces (the Fishes) 20 February - 20 March You have never been one to conform, and no matter how much pressure you feel to fit in, you have always taken a risk to be individual. Do what you have to in order to be accommodating, but don’t change your personality.

Aries (the Ram) 21 March - 20 April You might be waiting for someone to just say the wrong word to you this month as you are feeling a bit on edge. You might be in a defensive mood without realising how you feel.

Don’t worry though; your bark is worse than your bite.

Taurus (the Bull) 21 April - 21 May As long as you are not too distracted this month you can take confidence in knowing that you have an opportunity to plant some roots again. You still have plans for the future: don’t let anyone persuade you otherwise.

Gemini (the Twins) 22 May - 21 June You seem to be always fantasising about new ways to make money and your spending is almost beyond control. Instead of dreaming, why don’t you just try and practise selfdiscipline first.

Cancer (the Crab) 22 June - 22 July Try to involve as many people as you can if you are planning on starting something new as you need to make sure they know your intentions. Nobody will be in the dark, if you’re clear from the start.

Leo (the Lion) 23 July - 21 August Make sure this month you get the closure you need, otherwise you will feel unfulfilled.

The best thing you can do is to make sure there is a connection between what you’re currently doing and what you are about to start.

Virgo (the Virgin) 22 August - 23 September You seem to be looking for an answer to something, but no matter how much you look, you’re just in the wrong place. If it’s just advice you’re after, you should look no further than your close friends.

Libra (the Scales) 24 September - 23 October You might not be happy at the moment - especially after falling out with a family member. But whatever happens next, you must listen to the advice you have been given. You are appreciated; it’s just that you don’t always believe it.

Scorpio (the Scorpion) 24 October - 22 November Don’t waste any time this month feeling sorry for yourself, which will only exhaust you. Instead you should try and reignite the passion you have and channel it into something you really want to do.

Sagittarius (the Archer) 23 November - 22 December You may have to keep all your ambitions on hold again this month as unfortunately other people and their problems will again take precedence. At some point though, you will have to do something, as any desires you have may dwindle.

Capricorn (the Goat) 23 December - 20 January You find it hard to read or understand some people because their behaviour can be so unpredictable. Try to avoid any direct conflict as you might hear something you really didn’t want to.

80 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

@ GATE & GARDEN

CUSTOM MADE TO MEASURE Gates + Fences + Automation + Garden Screens + Planters & Structures + Giftware CALL US ON 0800 242 837 OR VISIT US AT 41 PONSONBY ROAD www.gateandgarden.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

@ MELUKA Shop our latest collection of statement occasional chairs with Meluka Furniture. The Taro and Jicama chairs could be the perfect new addition to your room. Plus shop 15% off all SIDEboys and DESKS this August at meluka.co.nz or in any Danske Mobler Showroom

www.meluka.co.nz

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82 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

HOME IN THE CITY - 3/143 PAKENHAM STREET, WYNYARD QUARTER This brick townhouse-style mews home, with an award-winning design pedigree and impressive HomeStar 7 sustainability rating, is positioned towards the northern end of a row of only eight houses.

With its own access from Puanga Lane, it offers 165m2 (including the roof deck/courtyard/balcony areas of 36m2) of high-quality urban living split over three levels.

The house is organised for living on the uppermost levels, with a roof terrace to enjoy abundant sun and light and room to grow a small kitchen garden. A cosy bay-window seat is built into the kitchen – dining space, and the kitchen features quality Miele appliances. The second level living room with balcony is arranged adjacent to the master bedroom and ensuite bathroom. The ground floor provides a coveted drive-in garage alongside the main entry courtyard, and a second bedroom and bathroom completes this level.

Part of Wynyard Central, designed by award-winning architects, Architectus, and developed by Willis Bond right in the heart of Wynyard Quarter, this is an intimate community offering a unique waterfront lifestyle in the city’s most exciting new area.

The neighbourhood has outstanding restaurants, cafés, parks, and entertainment, with close proximity to vibrant Commerical Bay, CBD, Viaduct Harbour and the Americas Cup Village.

The mews house offers the opportunity to enjoy the best of urban living.

Contact Carl for an exclusive viewing on 021 953 152, E: c.madsen@barfoot.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

URBAN COLLECTIVE LODGES RESOURCE CONSENT FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF HISTORIC PONSONBY ROAD SITE Auckland-based property development company Urban Collective has lodged a resource consent application for the enhancement and development of a 1,869m2 site at 286-304 Ponsonby Road.

The Pompallier on Ponsonby proposal sits at a strategic intersection above Three Lamps and realises the potential of the iconic corner site and its adjacent historic two level brick buildings.

and cutting-edge global culture – to create a precinct of quality, sustainability and character; a vibrant destination where people and communities come together in meaningful ways."

Urban Collective acquired the site late in 2019 for $28M and has spent the past 18 months working with Fearon Hay Architects designing an urban response for the community that embraces its heritage and thoughtfully integrates a combination of 1117m2 high end retail and hospitality, 1664m2 commercial spaces and 14 boutique residential apartments between 85m2 (1 brm) - 400+m2 (3 brm).

The design creates public laneways connecting Ponsonby Road, Cowan Street and Pompallier Terrace, congregating at a compact new urban square for indoor/outdoor dining, community recreation and entrances to apartments. The design approach is inspired by the existing Ponsonby Road heritage retail frontages, with features such as recessed entrance ways, raised sills, finely framed shop-front windows and the character of vertical modulation.

The collaborative efforts of project partners Urban Collective, Fearon Hay, Paul Brown Architects, Boffa Miskell and LandLab take great care to retain and protect the heritage buildings in a way that maintain key features including the service laneway structures, shopfronts, canopies and internal partitions as well as the historic character of the buildings cornering Ponsonby Road and Cowan Streets. The existing two levels are to be upgraded and re-occupied in a contemporary mix of retail and commercial use.

An additional third level, which sits under the 13m height control, is set back from the parapet and will remain visually subservient to the heritage building. The laneways established to the west and north of the existing heritage buildings separate a new structure to occupy the Ponsonby Pompallier corner. Ground level retail frontages continue the character of the street with commercial and residential occupation of the levels above.

The plan will deliver a revitalisation of the northern end of Ponsonby Road. Kelly McEwan, Development Director, Urban Collective Limited explains: "In collaboration with the award-winning Fearon Hay and Paul Brown Architects, Urban Collective is excited to announce our most ambitious and transformational project yet.

“Rising atop of College Hill at the northern end of Ponsonby Road, we're set to deliver a genuine architectural landmark to revitalise and reshape the Three Lamps area and redefine the Auckland skyline.

“Offering high-end apartment living along with premium retail, hospitality, civic and workspaces, we're channelling Ponsonby's progressive spirit – through the prism of contemporary design

84 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

Jeff Fearon, founder of Fearon Hay Architects with Tim Hay, says the energy, history and enduring character of Three Lamps inspired the project, “Fearon Hay focuses attention on detail and context. In an urban environment, we look for a design response that creates opportunities of movement through and around active built form.

The response seeks to reinforce and respect enduring qualities of the existing environment, while bringing new opportunities for architecture and creation of place on the Ponsonby ridge line.

“In this design collaboration with Urban Collective, we see the opportunity for a truly mixed-use development of a key site that can further anchor the energy of Three Lamps precinct. This response sees the establishment of new urban laneway connections, a viable mix of retail, commercial and residential uses, and the inclusion and upgraded re-occupation of historic Ponsonby Road retail structures.”

Urban Collective has confirmed Ray White Damerell Group will be taking space for commercial offices for up to 100 team members, retail and auction rooms. Managing Director of Ray White Damerell Group in Ponsonby, Gower Buchanan, states, “We’re excited to be part of such a significant regeneration project in an area that we are so passionate about. Working with a team who have such an impressive catalogue of works is a privilege."

Kelly McEwan shares his enthusiasm to develop this iconic site with Auckland’s design leaders, “We're thrilled to have such respected, talented partners together on this and look forward to working together PN to bring this to life in line with the resource consenting process.”  Further information at www.urbancollective.co.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Showroom: 366 Great North Road

09 376 2895

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Open 7 days

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Grey Lynn

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Auckland

www.roseandheather.co.nz

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Newport bedside dark light finish

Trenail 3 seat sofa

Newport hall table in dark light

Newport bedsides in clear ash

Astrid 6 drawer lowboy in black and whitewash

Newport bed with one drawer motif bedsides

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Trenail sofa whitewash and linen

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

LONGING FOR THAT SUMMER WARMTH AND SUN TO ARRIVE? Better start planning those outdoor awnings and sunscreens now.

Planning to have your outdoor area covered this summer? Or to protect some of your indoor rooms from the sun? Did you promise yourself it would be done last year, and it never quite happened!

Living in Auckland, it's natural to want an outdoor space where you can dine, entertain friends or just relax. At Lahood Window Furnishings we know the key to the perfect outdoor space is to create an area that is a comfortable extension of your home. A way of creating a seamless link between indoors and outdoors.

With our Covid world impacting on supply lines and production schedules, we all need to plan ahead. Lead times are stretching out so thinking about and acting on these home improvements needs to happen now if you want these in place by summer.

Outdoor shades and awnings dramatically improve the functionality of your outdoor spaces. By providing shade and shelter from rain, outdoor spaces are ready for use regardless of the weather conditions.

Whether you're hosting a summer BBQ and want to avoid the sun or feel like resting with a book outside while it's drizzling, a great awning system can help you make the most of your outdoor space.

Lahood partners with the Luxaflex range of awnings and sunscreens, their design excellence and contemporary European styling is perfectly suited to protect you from the intense summer heat and harsh UV light we experience in New Zealand.

weather conditions, they can be installed in a variety of ways to control temperatures inside the home during summer for maximum effect.

This is the time of year to think about awnings or screens for that summer shade. With the latest technology in shade and awning products, Lahood's experienced design consultants and installers will ensure we create the ideal bespoke design for your property.

Send us a photo of your outdoor area and we will design the perfect solution and arrange an On-Site Consultation. sean@lahood.co.nz And because you are a Ponsonby News reader you will go in the draw for $500 worth of Ponsonby Restaurant Vouchers with your order. (For orders accepted before 30th September 2021)

Te Ra and Nordic are great examples of folding arm awnings from the Luxaflex range. Te Ra awnings allow for maximum spans of seven metres in width and can project up to four metres out from the building. Luxaflex awnings are easily controlled and modified with remote controls so you can respond quickly to sudden changes in the weather or adjust angles and positions to suit the time of day.

And for those rooms that face North or need to be cooler in summer, sunscreens and roller blinds are so versatile at filtering the light, screening the sun or creating darkness when wanted. Luxaflex EVO sunscreens and blinds from Lahood are designed to allow air flow and light into a home through open windows while filtering out the harsh UV rays and heat. Developed to suit New Zealand's demanding LAHOOD WINDOW FURNISHINGS, 104 Mt Eden Road, T: 09 638 8463, www.lahood.co.nz

86 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Erin Whiting Honesty.

Energy.

Sold.

“Erin is a passionate, warm-hearted real estate professional that gets the job done. We engaged Erin because she lives here and understands what makes the location so desirable. And in the end, to ensure we get the best possible result.”

The next move is yours: Erin Whiting Residential Sales Ponsonby Branch e.whiting@barfoot.co.nz | 021 644 483

barfoot.co.nz/e.whiting

YOUR NEW OFFICE HAS A MEMBERS CLUB

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

@ DAWSON & CO.

Clockwise from Top Less System 5 suspension lamp by VeniceM from RRP $29,799 Misty table lamp by VeniceM RRP $5,829 ED 046 circle suspension lamp by Edizioni RRP $5,389 ED054 hanging lamp by Edizioni RRP $3,729 Urban Floor 3 floor lamp by VeniceM $7,749

DAWSON & CO., Northshore Showroom, 38 Constellation Drive, Rosedale T: 09 476 1121, Parnell Showroom, 115 The Strand, Parnell; info@dawsonandco.nz www.dawsonandco.nz

88 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

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HAVE A PROJECT? CALL FOR A FREE, NO OBLIGATION QUOTE Call 021 062 9104 Email eddie@reidpropertyservices.co.nz Visit reidpropertyservices.co.nz

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ARTS + CULTURE

PONSONBY CENTRAL + RADIKAL NEON POP-UP NEON ART GALLERY Could this be Aotearoa’s brightest exhibition?

Radikal Neon and Ponsonby Central have joined forces to bring their first ever neon pop-up art exhibition to Auckland’s city fringe.

The renowned custom lighting creatives have designed a visual spectacular that will illuminate the heart of Ponsonby this August. Lovers of art and creators themselves, Radikal Neon are collaborating with a handpicked selection of New Zealand's most impressive artists to bring their works to life...in LED Neon!

Just to name drop a few, the largest pop-up store in Ponsonby Central will be home to works from Otis Frizzell, Shane Hansen, Lissy & Rudi Cole, Victor Edsel and Glenn Jones. The never- before-seen custom pieces will be available for viewing and purchase until 22 August.

“We're wildly excited to finally have a space that we can dedicate to some of Aotearoa's favourite artists, expressing their unique styles in LED Neon - bringing entirely fresh designs to light just for this pop-up. It's a first for New Zealand, we've never done or seen anything like it and cannot wait to share it with the wider public. We pulled out all the artistic stops, went over

and above with each artwork to ensure each visitor leaves impressed,” says Radikal Neon.

As a part of the local community, the Radikal Neon X Ponsonby Central pop-up will be injecting the colour we need into our lives this winter. Day or night, rug up and come out to eat, drink, shop and experience the magic this August at Ponsonby Central.

Radikal Neon x Ponsonby Central pop-up neon art gallery runs until PN 22 August.  www.ponsonbycentral.co.nz

HAVE YOU GOT A WILL? This is one of those subjects designed to ruin any dinner party conversation.

Few of us like to confront that particular inevitable. Death is inevitable, but talking about wills can highlight this in a way that forces us to confront that inevitable.

People think, now is not the time: “I’ll leave it till later, till I buy a house, till I have kids, till I’m older, till I have something worth leaving.”

Not having a will can cause additional grief for those left behind already dealing with loss. But anyone who has assets worth more than $15,000 should seriously consider getting a will.

It might surprise a lot of people, who don’t think they have much to their name, to know they do actually have assets of more than $15,000 – in their Kiwisaver accounts. Even on the minimum wage, contributing 3% (along with employer and annual government contributions and interest earned by your fund) it would not take many years to reach that amount.

If you die without a will and more than $15,000 in assets - two things happen. Your closest relative will need to apply to the High Court for approval to deal with the assets and the law sets out the priority as to who will inherit. That in itself can cause issues within families. When you make your own will, you choose who administers the estate (called the Executor or Trustee) and you choose who receives funds or specific items.

So, it really does pay to make a will. Maybe you yourself do have a will, and maybe think your family and friends who might not have one – encourage them to make a will.

• whether you want to be buried or cremated, whether you want to donate parts of your body for medical or scientific research, and how you would like your funeral to be carried out (but tell your family about these plans as they may not see the will until after the funeral!); • instructions for how you want your money and other assets to be distributed to your family, friends, charities etc; • the names of the people you would like to receive specific items in your possession, such as family heirlooms or other precious items; • what you want done with any digital assets you have, for example your social media accounts; To read more about this, check out this article on our website: www.cab.org.nz/article/KB00000842 - What should my Will cover?

For your will to be legally valid, there is also a specific process to follow.

That is why it can be a good idea to get professional advice with preparing a will. Your will must be: • in writing, • witnessed by two people who are not beneficiaries of the will, that is, they are not receiving anything from your estate, • signed by the witnesses, • and signed by you The witnesses and the will maker have to be in the same place at the same time so they can all watch each other sign. At CAB we can assist there – our volunteers can witness a signature on a will.

It’s not difficult to get a will. At CAB, we regularly receive queries from clients about how to make a will and who can help. We can’t assist you to draft a will but we can point you to the right direction for who can – you can get a will drawn up by a trustee corporation, a lawyer or by doing it yourself. Our website tells you a bit more about these different options: www.cab.org.nz/ article/KB00000843 - Who can draw up a will for me?

Finally, make sure you give a copy of your will to someone close to you or tell them who is holding the original (for example your lawyer). It’s always good, too, to review your will regularly over your life time. Circumstances can and do change. If you made your will as an unmarried person, your will is automatically cancelled if you get married or enter a civil union (unless you made your will with the marriage or civil union in mind). At that point you will need to make a new one.

In your will you should include amongst other things the following kinds of information – it’s not only about the money:

Save those close to you a lot of hassle and put it on the top of your to do PN list - get a will! (BRIGIT TIMPSON, MANAGER) 

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU, 510 Richmond Road, T: 09 376 0392, www.cab.org.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

LOSER KID “A SAFE PLACE FOR STUPIDITY” @ LIGHTWORX GALLERY From 5 August to 16 September a mustsee exhibition of Illuminated Fine Art Photography arrives at Lightworx.

Lightworx Gallery Auckland is delighted to present in collaboration with creative production house and artist agency, Loser Kid, an exhibition titled “a safe place for stupidity”.

The show, which opens on 5 August, features limited-edition illuminated fine art photography by New Zealand artists Amber Jones, Benn Jae, Charles Howell, Clare Pluekhahn, Hamish Melville, Jamie Bowering, and Olivia Kirkpatrick.

“This is a rare opportunity to experience the artists behind the lens and to view works that will never be created beyond this exhibition.

Shot on film and presented in striking black and white format, the imagery on show is absolutely breathtaking”, says Director of Lightworx Galleries, Pauline Bianchi.

Photograph by: Clare Pluekhahn, Title: Named, 1000 x 1000mm

“The exhibition title, ‘a safe place for stupidity’ takes reference from South African artist William Kentridge, where the studio is an artist’s castle – a place where he/she/they can play king or buffoon,” explains Benn Jae, the Founder and Director of Loser Kid. Exploring the notion of creative freedom without having to conform to anyone else’s agenda, the work ranges from the carefully constructed to the unharnessed beauty and wildness captured in moments of unrehearsed life.  PN LIGHTWORX GALLERY, 1/110 Customs Street West, www.lightworxgallery.co.nz

Photograph by: Charles Howell, Title: Dollar Bill, 1500 x 1000mm

Auckland Exhibition Opening: 6 - 8 PM, Thursday 5th August 2021 Where: Sidespace Gallery // within Lightworx Gallery, 1/110 Customs Street West, Auckland Finish Date: 16th September 2021 www.lightworxgallery.co.nz

EXHIBITING ARTISTS —

Amber Jones Benn Jae Charles Howell Clare Pluekhahn Hamish Melville Jamie Bowering Olivia Kirkpatrick

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@ {SUITE} Wayne Youle’s new series of text-based paintings serve as an artistic diary.

Reflections and meditations on daily life sit alongside art historical and literary references, as well as snippets of words and phrases that jostle for space in Wayne’s busy mind.

Originally trained as a graphic designer and typographer, Wayne has had a long standing interest in text and fonts, liking his word- based work to convey ideas through lexical fragments rather than visual imagery.

Against a background of white, rendered immaculately in subtly different layers of paint, Wayne’s stencilled, vinyl lettering in Times New Roman font grant power and strength to the typography of simple phrases that speak to the joy of creating and being an artist.

Wayne Youle, A concise history of art, 2020-21, Framed acrylic on canvas, 600 x 600mm

After returning from Brisbane in March 2020, Wayne was required to self-isolate in his studio.

A period of great productivity also led to a chance discovery of a book about Mondrian, found buried at the back of Wayne’s bookcase, which has since led to a self- described Mondrian obsession.

Some paintings inspired by this obsession are included in the exhibition, his own interpretation of a floorplan with walls, windows, and doors, designed in signature Mondrian colours of yellow, red, dark blue and black.

Wayne Youle, ‘You should have been here yesterday’, is on show at {Suite}, 189 Ponsonby Road until 14 August.  PN

Wayne Youle, Space + Time + Good manners, 2021, Framed acrylic and enamel on canvas, 422 x 522mm

To view the exhibition online visit www.suite.co.nz or call David Alsop on T: 09 218 4399 to receive an email catalogue.

ST MATTHEW’S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Sunday 15 August @ 2.30pm

Utterly Mozart – absolute magic with Conductor Andrew Crooks and soloist students from the Classical Voice Department at the University of Auckland.

The Classical Voice Students who sing at this concert are always popular; some of them are the stars of the future – see if you can pick them. They are sopranos Sophia Yang, Libby Montgomery, Hannah Ashford-Beck, Larissa Kent, Maeve Herd, Alexandra Francis, and Joy Lee. The baritones are Takerei Komene and Te Ohorere Williams. The tenor is Sid Chand.

Conductor Andrew Crooks, who has helped the University of Auckland voice students prepare the all-Mozart programme for this concert, has recently returned to New Zealand having worked in Germany and the United States as a vocal coach and conductor. His academic achievements include degrees in music, conducting, opera and

Sun 15 August at 2.30pm RISING STARS programme

Utterly Mozart - absolute magic soloists

Classical Voice Students from the University of Auckland conductor

Andrew Crooks st matthew-in-the-city Cnr of Wellesley & Hobson Street, Auckland City

92 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

German. Andrew was Head of Music at New Zealand Opera and in April he made his conducting debut with the Christchurch Symphony.

St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra is an accomplished orchestra performing a wide repertoire of music and is dedicated to providing performance opportunities for New Zealand musicians, composers and conductors.  PN TICKETS Eventfinda or Door sales. Eftpos or Cash.

Adults $30, Concessions $25, children under 12 free. Student rushon-the day $15.

ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY CHURCH, corner Wellesley & Hobson Streets, www.smco.org.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

UPTOWN ART SCENE A Wednesday wander around some of Ponsonby’s art galleries is a great way to brighten the day, even when the weather’s so wet and grey.

David Alsop at {Suite} Gallery (189 Ponsonby Road) was busy installing Wayne Youle’s latest exhibition: a mix of text-based works and some bright abstract paintings that give a nod to Mondrian. {Suite} has been on the Ponsonby Strip for a year now, a second location for the well-established Wellington gallery.

While the road-front gallery hosts regular solo exhibitions, there is a gorgeous courtyard out back with large sculptures, and an upstairs with salon-style hanging of Ans Westra photography, and works by represented artists such as Richard Lewer and Kate Yesberg.

Richard McWhannell at Orexart

There was a group show at Orexart along at 221 Ponsonby Road, which included a delicate painting of the Pink and White Terraces by Martin Ball, vivid gestures of paint by Philippa Blair, and a quiet studio scene by Richard McWhannell.

It’s great to see art on the main street, adding to the cultural buzz of bars, restaurants, and boutiques. The wonderful FHE Galleries just next door has an incredible exhibition, “Oceania”, which mixes traditional korowai, whakairo, and tapa with contemporary photography and sculpture.

Heading back in the rain to Studio Art Supplies, I popped in to Scott Lawrie Gallery to see what local artist Cruz Jimenez has been up to. His exhibition of dark oil paintings hinted at galaxies and starbursts emerging from a midnight sky. In some, wide washes of white veiled the almost back-blue backgrounds. These works offered a dynamic contrast to the stock room, where bright paintings by Nicholas Ives and Julian McKinnon hung.

I was very pleased to see a painting by Tony Guo also on display: a surreal scene of animals packed onto an ornate stairwell. Tony recently graduated with his Masters from AUT, and he undermines his very academic style with narratives which are bizarre, full of humour, modern parables that are obscure yet completely contemporary.

I replaced my wet shoes with new Converse from Knowear and warmed myself with a Bolognese pie from Daily Bread – what a wonderful day to PN browse the neighbourhood! (EVAN WOODRUFFE/STUDIO ART SUPPLIES)  www.studioart.co.nz

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@ SCOTT LAWRIE GALLERY Kirsty Lillico: Carpet Burns 31 July – 22 August

Kirsty Lillico made national headlines in 2017 when her fantastic carpet drawing ‘State Block’ won the prestigious Parking Drawing Prize, New Zealand’s most prestigious drawing prize. But her drawings were made of carpets, which caused a massive controversy and an exciting discussion about what ‘is’ a drawing?

I think Kirsty is one of the most exciting – yet ridiculously under the radar – artists working in New Zealand today.

FIRST TUESDAY CONCERT @ ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY

This show, her first major solo exhibition in Auckland, is a jewel box of highlights from the past 10 years. These works are feminine. Tough.

Beautiful, and utterly sensual, with their lolling folds and organic forms cascading down the gallery walls. And yes, most of the works are ‘just’ made of carpet, and a handful of fixings. Utilitarian. Domesticated.

Furnished. Unfurnished. The substrate of life. (Well, until floorboards became trendy again.) But Lillico repurposes it spectacularly.

St Matthew’s First Tuesday concert on Tuesday, 6 September will be presenting solo and vocal ensembles from students at the music department of Waikato University on the theme of springtime.

As art writer Andrew Paul Wood in a newly-commissioned essay explains, “For all that Lillico’s sculptural work has a very formal, aesthetically logical structure to it, there is also an element of luxurious sprawl in the way that it unapologetically occupies space on its own terms. The indulgent tactility of it, its robustness, and its defiance of polite dimensions seems almost a provocation against the traditional white cube ethos of, ‘Do not Touch’.”

The desire to interact with a Lillico sculpture, to touch it, is almost compulsive. The process of their existence is infinitely flexible, sometimes cool, intellectual, and aloof, at other times full of Eros, joy, and comedy.

Personality writhes through the substance of it like Dr Frankenstein’s stolen lightning. It’s a beautiful, powerful show that we’re bringing into our neighbourhood for everyone to experience, and we’d love to chat you through it.

Gallery hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-5pm. Free parking.

Opens Saturday 31 July, where you can meet the artist. Drinks from PN 3pm-5pm. All welcome.  SCOTT LAWRIE GALLERY, 15 Williamson Avenue, M: 021 0826 5633, www.scottlawrie.com

Kirsty Lillico

~ Carpet Burns 31 July – 22 August 2021 2 Murdoch Rd, Grey Lynn (Off 15 Williamson Ave) Weds to Sun, 11 – 5pm

The Vocal Programme at the University of Waikato is well known for its vibrant and diverse programmes and its extensive community appearances with numerous productions and concerts. These recently have included oratorio, opera, music theatre, showcases, an intensive Art Song Festival, and lunchtime concerts. Invitations from outside of the university have resulted in appearances in many other centres around the country.

The Vocal Programme has received valuable support from the Dame Malvina Major Foundation and has produced a remarkably high number of significant voice graduates who are forging outstanding professional careers in England, Europe, the USA and here in New Zealand.

The current voice team consists of Gina Sanders, Kristin Darragh, Ian Campbell and James Harrison, with pianist Francis Cowan.

The programme being presented is entitled ”Murmurs of Spring and Beyond” and promises to be both an inspiring and entertaining mix of vocal ensembles and solos. Celebrate beautiful melodies which welcome the imminent arrival of the joyous season of spring and more from young homegrown performers who have everything they need to show the world.  PN www.stmatthews.nz

Vocal Students from Waikato University Murmurs of Spring and Beyond Tuesday 6th September, 12.10-12.50pm Entry by kohā.

scottlawrie.com

94 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE The Destruction, oil on linen on board, 400 x 545mm

ARTWORK OF THE MONTH @ OREXART The more we look at a Richard McWhannell painting, the more ‘real’ it becomes.

The experience is never finished, the painting changes as we change, the continuous act of seeing matches the continuous act of painting.

What elevates his work to the highest plane is the remarkable intensity of his observation, the clarity of purpose, his single-minded adherence to the traditions of great art.

He forces us to slow down, to focus on one image for a length of time, to go against the competing desires for speed, change, and instant gratification. The dialogue then is between art and the viewer, the tug of war between the specific and the enigmatic. McWhannell is one of our most celebrated artists.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 5pm.  PN

OREXART, 221 Ponsonby Road, M: 021 213 4449, E: rex@orexart.co.nz, www.orexart.co.nz

Spring, oil on canvas, 1250 x 1545mm

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We are spoilt for choice when it comes to the variety of streaming platforms and the range of content we have at our fingertips.

- (Maori - Television) released MAORI+, Recently Whakaata Maori a free, streaming service with nearly 2000 hours of content commissioned or curated especially for local audiences. It supports Chromecast and Airplay and can be easily added to most Smart TV’s, meaning you can take your favourite content anywhere and share it with friends and whanau.

NETFLIX Black Lightning Cres Williams is a compelling superhero wrangling with the injustice and devastation of a black community dominated by gang culture; or is it?

Season 1 is a roller coaster ride through the reality of a community oppressed by crime and drugs to the point of hopelessness. Many feel their only hope for salvation is a vigilante meta-human super hero (Black Lightning) who disappeared from sight a decade ago.

As tensions in Freeland, Georgia, ramp up, Black Lightning reluctantly returns only to discover a more insidious source to the communities woes and his continued criminalisation by authorities.

The diverse female supporting characters emerge as the real superheroes of this series. The authentic urban storyworld and very contemporary nature of the social political backdrop it creates elevates Black Lightning above the typical formula for this genre giving the viewing experience a bit of a jolt. 

TVNZ Science on Ice From start to finish, Sonny Ngata, host of this incredible docuseries draws you in to the Antarctica experience and a world of science on ice. Young and old will be taken on a fascinating journey into the coldest and windiest place on earth.

96 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

Black Lightning, NETFLIX. Photo Credit: Mark Hill

The Pursuit of Love, AMAZON Prime

AUGUST WINTER STREAMING

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE Ake Ake Ake, M AORI+, Photo Credit: Jos Wheeler

There are so many facts, features and fascinating phenomena to discover in Antarctica that these are truly fully packed episodes. It is a whirlwind adventure that is over too soon and leaves you wanting to know and experience more. 

AMAZON PRIME The Pursuit of Love Sexy, period, costume dramas continue to have allure and deliver; this captivating mini series just released on Amazon is an easy binge.

Over three episodes, strong fascinating female characters present a pre-war coming of age story that will appeal to the 17 year old optimist in all of us, especially those that are hopeless romantics at heart.

YOLO - you only live once - may be the catch cry of contemporary teenage girls, but the concept is one that has motivated generations of women who are not content to follow a formula dictated to them by others.

While many have compared The Pursuit of Love to other popular steamy historical costume dramas like Bridgerton and The Great (which really is great), The Pursuit of Love is less sexually charged and more thoughtfully provoking.

Fanny and Linda are aristocratic English cousins and best friends with divergent personalities and an almost unbreakable bond. It is their intertwined character arcs, not the plot or lavish sets - though the costuming is fantastic - that drive this story forward.

Perhaps the most scandalous thing revealed by The Pursuit of Love is that no matter what epoch of time you examine, women are consistently told by society how to dress, think and behave as sexual beings in a way men never are. 

MAORI+ App Ake Ake Ake This three part documentary evokes a powerful emotional response as it recounts the confronting and often devastating events that led - occupation. It’s a series that illustrates to the most recent Ihumatao just how well placed MAORI+ (the streaming app from Whakaata - - Maori - Television) is to become a media game changer for Maori local stories that matter.

Ambitious, innovative and compelling, Ake Ake Ake is an example of - broadcaster to not only entertain, but the commitment by our Maori to bring important stories to the fore.

Ake Ake Ake is must see cinematic storytelling with visually compelling cinematography that unpacks some of the more complex nuances around the fight to save Ihumatao.

- through the eyes of six Understanding the occupation of Ihumatao cousins who recount their experience and retell the stories of their whenua provides a unique insight and appreciation of a struggle that for many seems never ending.

All three episodes of Ake Ake Ake are now available on MAORI+ (which supports both Chromecast and Airplay) along with almost 2000 hours of great content. 

Science on Ice, TVNZ onDemand, HEIHEI

From singing seals and penguins to waste management and historic huts, Sonny has a wonderful way of describing what he is feeling and seeing, making it feel like you are there with him.

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MICHAEL OWEN SHEN® THERAPY

T: 09 376 9599 Email: mowenshens@gmail.com www.emotionalwellbeing.co.nz

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Experienced wedding & ceremony celebrant.

Your ceremony will be special, memorable & exclusively for you.

T: 09 256 1081 M: 021 868 610 www.aucklandcelebrant.co.nz

BECOME A FRIEND OF KELMARNA GARDENS

FOR AS LITTLE AS $5 A MONTH Your regular donation will help connect more school children with nature, empower people all over Auckland with sustainable living choices and develop and maintain a therapeutic garden. Join now at: www.kelmarnagardens.nz/donate

The Covert Theatre in Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby is NZ’s home of improvised comedy.

With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone.

Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com

You can support all the good giggle’s by donation right here, www.coverttheatre.com/how-to-help Registered charity CC53421

98 PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

T: 378 9560 M: 0274 746 507 E: Phillipa@hotpropertyrentals.co.nz 1/1 Franklin Road, Ponsonby www.hotpropertyrentals.co.nz

“TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF BEING A LANDLORD – CALL US” AUCKLAND CENTRAL-AUCKLAND CITY, 3A/6 DOCK STREET Love Life at The Vulcan Sitting on the edge of leafy Victoria Park, the boutique Vulcan apartment block is New York City chic in the heart of city. The home has a spacious open plan living, office snug, dining and kitchen hub that opens straight out to a west facing balcony enjoying evening sunsets. Two bedrooms and two spacious bathrooms lie to the rear of the apartment; both have direct access out to a very private and secluded courtyard. Just a short stroll from great cafes, the gym, the CBD and up College Hill to Ponsonby Road, this desirable designer residence offers so much to love. Pet-friendly and with a very affordable body corporate fee.

FOR SALE: $1,525,000 VIEW: nzsothebysrealty.com/NZE11389 Viewing by appointment

SHARENE TEMPLE: M +64 27 224 6045 sharene.temple@nzsir.com CORBIN HOWARD: M +64 27 249 8361 corbin.howard@nzsir.com

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

CEREMONIES CELEBRANT Weddings, Civil Unions, Funerals - LGBTQ friendly

www.facebook.com/aucklandwestcelebrations M: 027 582 3077 E: ronald.jones@xtra.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ August 2021

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Design Warehouse, has the reputation of fully assembled, in stock furniture for our customers and designers.

Visit our website. You will see we are ready for you.

A SELECTION OF OUR ITALIAN INDOOR RANGE

Perfect Day Recliner Sofa (black)

Modena Contemporary Armchair (black)

Bellagio Relaxing Swivel Chair with piping (cream)

Milano 250cm Plush Sofa (anthracite)

A SELECTION OF OUR OUTDOOR LUXURY FURNITURE

Studio Rope Relaxing Chair Two Tone Weave

Ibiza Teak Sectional Collection

Usso Outdoor Dining Chairs (coal) with Hunter Reclaimed Teak Dining Table

Komodo Outdoor Relaxing Chair with Zig Zag Outdoor Aluminium End Table (black)

137 - 147 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland | 0800.111.112 | Open Daily from 9:30 until 5:30 sales@designwarehouse.co.nz | commercial@designwarehouse.co.nz | www.designwarehouse.co.nz