PONSONBY NEWS - JULY '21

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JULY 2021

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INSIDE THIS MONTH

006

LETTERS & EMAILS

007

FROM THE EDITOR

010 DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW

014 PIPPA COOM: COUNCILLOR FOR WAITEMATA- & GULF 016 RICHARD NORTHEY, WAITEMATA- LOCAL BOARD 020

JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS

022

CHLÖE SWARBRICK: MP AUCKLAND CENTRAL

032

PONSONBY PARK

033

PREDICT WEATHER.COM

034

TRAVEL BREAKS

035

FASHION & STYLE

036

HELENE RAVLICH: TOP OF THE WINTER TIPPLES

041 EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY 049 LIVING, THINKING + BEING 053

HONOUR MITCHELL: COOKING AT HOME

054 FUTURE GENERATION 056 PONSONBY PETS

058 PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS 062

HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS

082

ARTS & CULTURE

088

JULY STREAMING GUIDE

090

HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS

091

THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

Cover Photography: Aaron K Photography Model: Jess from Red 11

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.

4 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

P36: Top of the Winter Tipples - the favourite winter cocktail for Buckwheat is, gloves down, a Hot Lips.

EDITOR/PUBLISHER: MARTIN LEACH M: 021 771 147 martinleach@xtra.co.nz or martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: JAY PLATT M: 021 771 146 jayplatt@xtra.co.nz or jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz 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.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

BLAIR HADDOW LOVING, LIVING & SELLING GREATER PONSONBY Blair Haddow 021 544 555

blair.haddow@bayleys.co.nz bayleys.co.nz/blair-haddow BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, PONSONBY, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

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A LT O G E T H E R B E T T E R

Re s i d e n t i a l / Co m m e rc i a l / R u ra l / P ro p e r t y S e r v i ce s

LETTERS & EMAILS

BELLIGERENT COUNCIL Thank you for the coverage of the destruction of the Western Springs Native Forest (front cover June 2021). In my opinion Ponsonby News let the Auckland Council off lightly and I call for our community to do more to hold Council and its CEO accountable for the “wanton destruction” of this much-loved community asset. Many healthy trees have been felled and the native understory destroyed by Council hellbent on achieving their own goal without bringing our reasonable community with them.

To the small number of community members who have been active on our behalf, thank you. Dealing with a belligerent Council must have been soul destroying. We stand with you.

Sharon Jones, Concerned Member of the Community AGAINST THE LAWS OF PHYSICS, GRAVITY AND LOGIC The ‘Native Bush Regeneration Plan’ for Western Springs Stage 1 will be completed when the ‘track’ is returned to a ‘significant ecological area’, topsoil reinstated, the walking track is opened to public and all fences are removed as the health and safety risk has gone.

The methodology changed from leaving felled trunks, therefore averting a fire hazard, to chipping the live pines full of toxic resins creating an ecological disaster. (Dead pines form grey, compostable mulch.) It has turned a gorgeous bush full of birdlife into a barren scene from Mars, the Red Planet.

Auckland Council estimate the native bush damage at 35%, attributed to the “care and precision” of the contractor, Treescape. That would be laughable, if it wasn’t so tragic.

“The intention is to remove all of the chipped material from site, however a small residual may be left in situ”, say Auckland Council.

“At this stage estimated to be completed at the end of June, weather and unforeseen events pending.” Whilst chipping wasn’t part of the initial contract they say, “There is no new contract and the removal of chip from site was factored into the initial contract with Treescape.”

That’s unusual for a contractor to do extra work without remuneration!

Stage 2 begins 9am on 18 July - Public Planting.

As natives grow slowly, let’s plant BIG trees, two to five metres tall to give the forest a head start, and create a sustainable bird habit in our lifetime.

The overall park plan includes improving water quality of the lake. Geese were removed, fish have been culled and volunteers planted grasses around the lake edge on 12 June. Whilst this may stop bread being thrown into the lake, this blocks children seeing birds with their chicks. We grow environmentally aware adults by interaction. Luckily, the ‘iconic double hump’ still gives close encounters with endangered eel.

Waitemata- Local Board voted for a design without questioning the one metre lowering of the lake for riparian planting would turn the lake back into a ‘puddle’! Instead, floating islands of riparian planting would create more bird habitat, I argued. Auckland Council Parks changed that to only lower one side of the Lake! So now the surface of the lake wouldn’t be horizontal. That would be against the laws of physics, gravity and logic. Surprise! Surprise! It has been abandoned and riparian planting proposed only where easily accessible!

We get what we vote for. Board members and Council employees, who either have no specific knowledge required for their roles or don’t do the research required, end up badly briefing projects.

Protect Te Wai-orea - Water of Eels, Western Springs Lakeside Park.

Gael Baldock, Community Advocate, appellant to the Environment Court on Western Springs Forest

BREAKING NEWS - Auckland Council have erected a temporary mesh fence in a day to be replaced with a solid wooden fence to block the lake view from residents, who have endured this destruction and Council’s lack of communication and respect. This decision is unnecessarily, vindictive and offensive, in my opinion.

CRISIS OF DEMOCRACY I refer to the recent review into Wellbeing at Auckland Council, commissioned by the Chief Executive, Jim Stabback. It was silent on the emotional harm and distress caused to our communities when there is a lack of authentic engagement.

The review might explain the current problems on the Western Springs Forest Community Liaison Group. It seems a small number of very senior staff feel empowered by the wellbeing review not to engage with the community by asserting health and safety. If a particular project becomes too much for a senior Council staff member, there needs to be a mechanism for them to step aside from the project, not simply disengage from the community they are there to serve.

Overall, the Wellbeing review seems one-sided. Where are the views of our communities, the people we are elected to serve?

I repeatedly hear from constituents that it is stressful engaging with Council. What are the views of elected representatives and the public whom the report uncritically asserts are aggressive and anti-social?

Why haven’t they been part of this review? This seems a real failing of this review.

We have a crisis of democracy here in Auckland. We have people all over our city, people who have never protested before now, camping in parks, being arrested standing up for fair process and quality community consultation. They are almost broken and I don’t see a council that cares.

To what extent has Council been aggressive and anti-social towards residents and rate-payers? To what extent has Council’s behaviour caused the behaviour that they then say is aggressive and anti-social?

Who is looking at the wellbeing of residents and ratepayers when they come to us with a genuine and authentic commitment for doing what is right by their communities - people who put hundreds of unpaid hours into community service, into holding us and Council to account? They come before us because they care deeply about their community issues.

My observation is that if these people, who have the best intentions, take a position that is opposite to what Council or the Board want to achieve, they get tied in knots with a lack of quality information carefully disguised as a thoughtful response. We do this until our community gives up advocating for what is right for their communities, or until we break them.

Who gets to draw the line when the public, or in my case an elected member, want accurate information and transparent decision making, but when a small but senior pocket of staff avoid this by saying the requests are affecting their wellbeing?

This approach, I fear, will shut down dialogue between Council officials and the public. It will heighten the often unfortunate adversarial stance between the Council and communities, eventhough the Council is supposed to be part of a democratic exercise. If democracy is to thrive, Council leadership, starting with the Mayor and the CEO, must be authentic and inclusive.

Sarah Trotman, Waitemat-a Local Board Member continued p26

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

6 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FROM THE EDITOR

Last month Ponsonby News was proud to receive the Penny Bright memorial trophy presented by board member Sarah Trotman at the monthly Waitematā Local Board meeting.

The award was for our consistent news coverage of important local issues like the demolition of the Western Springs pine forest. We remain concerned about the state of the native forest now the pines have been felled.

The forest is not in a suitable condition to accept 8,000 tiny native seedlings – it will be 30 to 40 years before the forest is regrown. Most of the pines were far from dead and didn’t need to be urgently cut down.

When the council is almost broke and rates are set to rise by at least 5%, how profligate was it to spend several million dollars destroying an existing forest including $50,000 a week for security to keep all citizens out. When will prohibition on entry be withdrawn?

It’s been 50 years since the Polynesian Panthers were formed in Ponsonby.

There is a podcast ‘Once a Panther’ where the Panthers share their story in their own words. As they told us, “long before risking our freedom as Polynesian Panthers, we were simply Polynesian. It was time to be heard.

It was time to mobilise. It was time to fight back.”

Rezoning Ponsonby? Last month the Urban Development Institute of New Zealand (UDINZ) held a panel discussion at Ponsonby Central to take a closer look at the government’s new national policy statement on urban development (NPS UP) and how it could impact central suburbs like Ponsonby. The event was provocatively headlined ‘Flexible zoning in Ponsonby?’ Unsurprisingly this resulted in a number of concerned and curious residents attending the event.

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treatments for clients in beautiful surroundings and a calm, peaceful environment. They have just opened at 88 Jervois Road. Refurbished with love, the tranquil sanctuary will provide a drop-in haven for clients seeking respite from everyday stressors.

Street signs. Several friends tell us that many of our local streets are not named at both ends. At intersections signs are sometimes on the opposite side of the road or behind trees. Driving is hazardous without having to look right as well as left before you turn into a street you are travelling to.

After 45 years carving out a stellar career behind the scenes of New Zealand fashion, it is most definitely local designer Paul Chaplin’s time to shine. Preferring to allow his work to speak for itself, the self-effacing creative talent launched his eponymous label last September.

Many locals love Bob & Friends, the store on Ponsonby Road which sells an eclectic range of homewares. They are now located near the Three Lamps end of the strip. Ron, the owner, would love to show you his new store. (MARTIN LEACH)  PN

M AT T & RYA N N 1 I N G R E Y LY N N*

“The house went to market on a Thursday and by Sunday Matt & Ryan had three offers for us, the best of which was above asking and we accepted it. We would unreservedly recommend Team Matt & Ryan to any sellers” William & Meg - Westmere

Matt O’Rourke 021 375 909

Ryan Harding 021 621 580

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r.harding@barfoot.co.nz

* G re y Ly n n b ra n c h - ye a r e n d i n g M a rc h 2 0 2 0

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 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.

8 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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.

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Richard Webster has had a career as a magician, mentalist, hypnotherapist, speaker and author.

His books have been translated into thirty-one languages and have sold more than eleven million copies around the world. He is a recipient of a VAC Scroll of Honour and in 2013 was presented with the Grand Master of Magic medallion and is an active member of the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians.

What are your special memories of Ponsonby growing up?

Until I was nine-years-old, we lived in Meadowbank, and every Sunday morning my father took my three siblings and I to visit his parents in Jervois Road. My grandfather was a carpenter and my grandmother sewed dresses and wedding gowns.

My happiest memories of Ponsonby were when our grandmother took my brother and I to see movies at the Britannia Theatre in Ponsonby Road. Afterwards, we always had a large ice cream from a milk bar that was next door to the theatre. I can’t remember what films we saw, but am pretty sure one of them was ‘The Court Jester’ starring Danny Kaye.

Tell us about your Grand Master of Magic award how did that come about?

This was probably the biggest surprise of my life. I’ve been involved in magic for most of my life and have been fortunate enough to work as a magician in several countries. I’ve also written dozens of books for magicians over the years and appeared on television on the Great Kiwi Magic Show in 1996.

Despite this, I had little contact with local magicians, except for Alan Watson and Ken Ring, both good friends. When visiting professional magicians from overseas visited New Zealand I frequently booked them to do a private show for my mainly non-magic friends. I must have done about thirty of these over a period of fifteen years.

At one of them, when I was introducing the guest performer, a group of local magicians burst into the room and, in front of sixty friends, presented me with the Grand Master of Magic Award. I’d never considered the possibility of receiving this award, as I intentionally didn’t tell magicians what I was doing.

Consequently, I didn’t think the local magicians knew anything about what I’d done over the years. Much to my surprise, they did, and I felt incredibly honoured to receive the award. It was made even better because it was presented to me in front of my friends.

Tell me, what is the difference between a clairvoyant and a mentalist?

The word clairvoyant means someone who ‘sees clearly’. Clairvoyance is the ability to pick up information using extrasensory perception. It covers everything from hunches to mind reading.

Photography: Catherine Hickland

LOCAL NEWS

DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD WEBSTER

What was your childhood like?

I had a happy childhood with plenty of freedom. There was a large park across the road where all the neighbourhood children gathered and we played there almost every day. My mother blew a whistle when it was time to return home for dinner.

You will die happy if ...

I die laughing.

What is your favourite TV series?

‘Would I Lie To You?’ I watch very little TV, but love this show, and ‘QI’, as they let me see well-known UK entertainers performing apparently impromptu.

What is the most Kiwi thing about you?

I love rugby. Racing and beer – not so much.

Tell me something you really disapprove of.

People who are ‘born again’ anything.

What motivates you?

Opportunities to do anything that are different or new. At the grand old age of 74, I’m returning to corporate speaking with a new talk on a subject that’s always fascinated me.

What do you think happens when we die?

Last time I believed in reincarnation, but this time around I’m not so sure.

What is your favourite movie?

‘Gloomy Sunday’. I enjoyed it because of the story and atmosphere, but especially for the theme song, which the whole film was about.

A mentalist is an entertainer who demonstrates mental or intuitive abilities, such as hypnotism, feats of memory, and clairvoyance, using natural means, such as body language, psychology, and magic.

How do you relax and chill out?

Walking, reading, watching stand-up comedians, playing with a deck of cards or Rubik’s Cube, drinking red wine, coffees and lunches with friends.

Did you come from a show business background?

No. My parents were encouraging, even though some relatives thought my interest in entertaining brought shame on the family.

What superpower would you like to have?

Teleportation. I could then travel anywhere without any airport hassles. (DAVID HARTNELL MNZM)  PN

10 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Our local rental market is certainly running hot right now. However, along with this period of high demand and low supply has come a new set of rules and regulations, as well as a lot of industry commentary.

At Custom Property Management, we know it’s our job to cut through the noise and deal with the new legislation on our clients’ behalf.

Rest assured, we’ll find you incredible tenants and position your asset for strong and safe returns long into the future.

FB.com/CustomPrMa

@custom_property_management

www.custompm.co.nz

STUFF: The 1981 tour protests at Eden Park

LOCAL NEWS

50 YEARS ON, POLYNESIAN PANTHERS SHARE THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN WORDS “Long before risking our freedom as Polynesian Panthers, we were simply Polynesian. It was time to be heard. It was time to mobilise. It was time to fight back.”

Stuff last month released ‘Once A Panther’, a podcast series about the group of young New Zealand-born Pacific Islanders who stood up to institutionalised racism and helped change the course of Aotearoa’s history.

The six-part series marks the 50th anniversary of the Polynesian Panthers, a movement that sprung up in response to the systemic racism experienced by Pasifika in the 70s.

Writers and producers Brad Flahive and Alex Liu spent the past six months creating rich, emotionally-charged audio documentaries that give deep insight into how this group of young activists started a homegrown revolution.

The podcast features Polynesian Panthers members, Will ‘Ilolahia, Melani Anae, Alec Toleafoa, Wayne Toleafoa and Tigilau Ness, alongside other influential people of that time like John Minto, Trevor Richards, Roger Fowler and Joris De Bres.

“Examining themes of identity, activism, racial division and sacrifice, provide a powerful commentary on events such as the Dawn Raids, Bastion Point, the 1981 Springbok Tour and indeed, race relations in New Zealand today,” says Liu. “Our history is relatively recent, but many New Zealanders still don’t know the stories about the people that now contribute to the rich tapestry of Aotearoa.”

The six episodes are out already. ‘Once a Panther’ was produced with funding from NZ On Air and is available at stuff.co.nz/onceapanther.

www.aaf.co.nz, The Dawn Raids, Educate to Liberate, Photographer John Miller 1972

“The intimacy of a podcast allows the Panthers’ stories to contextualise issues that affected Aotearoa’s Pasifika community since the 1950s - and continue to have ramifications today,” says Flahive.

“No journalist’s voice is included in the series. It is their story, in their own words.”

12 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

SMITHS LOCKSMITHS – A LOCAL FAMILY BUSINESS Earlier this year (21 February) Smiths Locksmiths, a 141-year-old Ponsonby business established back in 1880 went into receivership.

As Russell Smith explains, “After much negotiating the business rose from its ashes thanks to the deep dedication by my elderly father, Patrick Henry Smith (as the 5th generation locksmith in the family). Finally we brought Smiths Locksmiths back to 100% family ownership.

“The next step was for me to purchase the business with a 100% shareholding. My Name is Russell Patrick Smith and I am the 6th generation locksmith in the family... completing a dream I have had since I was five years old.

“I worked for Smiths Locksmiths from 1988 until 2001 and worked for another company for four years until starting my own business, Genesis Locksmiths in 2005.

“18 months ago I had a serious bicycle crash and was rendered quadriplegic with a broken neck and spinal cord injury. Thanks to the greatest ambos from St John’s Ambulance, I was rushed to hospital contemplating a life of being completely paralysed.

“A year and a half later I have come off ACC’s books (and am so grateful for their care) and have much gratitude for my full ‘miraculous’ recovery.

“Smiths Locksmiths is entrenched in the Ponsonby community and the support I have received since opening the doors again in May has been overwhelming. I live, love and work in Ponsonby and this is a wonderful ‘next step’ in my life.

“Having worked with Dad since I was five years old, I have seen many changes in the industry but so much still remains the same. Known as ‘Rusty the Locksmith’ I have a wonderful client base that are keen to see me and my dreams come true...

“But may I add, without the faith and support of my wife Denise and two teenagers Graham and Zared, my dream would be so much different.

“If you need our services please call in to see us, or give us a call.”

SMITHS LOCKSMITHS, 117 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 0350 or T: 021 278 7897

WE DON’T NEED TO SAY HOW GOOD WE ARE… OUR HAPPY SATISFIED CUSTOMERS DO THAT FOR US! “The locksmith had to manually create custom springs for my villa locks.

They got the job done in 25 minutes. Fantastic service. I’ve been here before and I’ll be back again.”

“Outstanding advice, offered free but while the store operator was helping me by finding more detail, I found two locks that fitted the role required perfectly. Very competitive pricing too. 10 /10.”

“Just the best service - courteous, kind and considerate. Did the best work on a difficult job. I highly recommend Smiths Locksmiths.”

SMITHS LOCKSMITHS 100% FAMILY OWNED & UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Mobile Locksmith Service•Emergency Lockouts•Restricted Master Key Systems•Safe Sales/Service 117 PONSONBY ROAD PH: 09 360 0350 OR M: 021 278 7897 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

13

LOCAL NEWS

PIPPA COOM: REZONING PONSONBY? I was recently invited by the Urban Development Institute of New Zealand (UDINZ) to be part of a panel discussion to take a closer look at the government’s new National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) and how it could impact central suburbs like Ponsonby.

The event was provocatively headlined “flexible zoning in Ponsonby?”

Unsurprisingly this resulted in a number of concerned and curious residents attending. Since the NPS-UD was first consulted on by government in 2019 it has largely so far flown under the radar even though it will have a significant impact on Auckland and other metro centres.

I was on the panel as the local councillor but as Auckland Council is currently working on an official response to the NPS-UD I provided an update on the process and only a personal view about the likely implications. I was joined on the panel by Chris Crow, Urban Economist PwC (who also gave a scene setting presentation), Geoff Cooper, GM Strategy, NZ Infrastructure Commission, Don Mathieson, Co-Chair, Herne Bay Residents Association and Colin Leuschke, Director, Leuschke Architects.

Council will need to carefully consider what locations fall within the directive and whether Special Character is a “qualifying matter”, and if so, should this apply across the board, or in some but not all areas. Council has the massive task of undertaking site-by-site surveys and analysis for every property in order to be subject to a qualifying matter. Personally I think we have to find a way of retaining the special character of neighbourhoods that tell the story of where we have come from and are valued by all Aucklanders.

I don’t think it is a zero sum game between providing much needed housing and heritage. As Don on the panel mentioned there are plenty of compact cities around the world that have found a way to grow at the same time as protect heritage. It is also a wider debate that what is considered heritage and the value of our landscapes is not just a European construct.

The Government prepared the NPS-UD as part of its Urban Growth Agenda to address New Zealand’s housing challenges. The NPSUD 2020 requires councils to plan for growth and ensure a wellfunctioning urban environment for all people, communities and future generations. It requires Auckland Council to implement a series of prescriptive “intensification” policies relating to height and density through a plan change to the Auckland Unitary Plan by August 2022.

At this stage however, it is important to note that council is only at the start of a lengthy period of detailed policy, planning and public engagement work on the NPS-UD and how it needs to be applied. Another challenge that has to be worked through is what infrastructure will be required to support the increased density and who pays for that infrastructure. No decisions have been made yet.

Aucklanders will have opportunities to have their say.

Many will remember the bitter battle and difficult process over the Unitary Plan especially with regards to the extent of protection for heritage and special character. The government’s directive to councils to make room for growth and to remove rules that constrain supply means that the Unitary Plan has to be revisited. There is some alignment with the current plan (e.g. allowing more people to live closer to jobs, goods and services, providing greater housing choices), but the NPS-UD is likely to require significant changes to the Unitary Plan in some parts of Auckland.

This is just a brief summary of the NPS-UD. The UDINZ event provided the first occasion to share some initial thoughts at a very early stage.

Please refer to the Ministry for the Environment website for more details. (PIPPA COOM)  PN pippa.coom@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

The intensification policies the council has to implement focus on enabling greater heights and densities within “walkable catchments” of frequent transport networks and in “other locations” that are accessible to employment, goods, services, education or in high demand. In these locations there has to be a minimum zoning of six stories unless “qualifying matters” apply such as maintaining open space for public use or heritage orders.

Approximately 30,000 properties currently sit within the current Special Characters overlay that will fall within the NPS-UD areas that have to be considered for further intensification through up-zoning.

14 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

Pippa Coom UDINZ Panel discussion

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

Karangahape Road

- LOCAL BOARD CHAIR RICHARD NORTHEY: WAITEMATA

More than a decade of thought and local consultation has taken place over how best to achieve the restoration of a native forest on the sloping bushland at the eastern end of Western Springs Lakeside Te Waiōrea Park.

Clearly the pine trees that dominated the site were approaching the end of their natural life and it was desirable to plan and take action for the future nature and health of the forest. At a special 3 November Waitemata- Local Board meeting we decided to go ahead with implementing the carefully developed and designed resource consent to remove the ageing stand of pines that had been granted Council by the Environment Court. Most of us believe on balance that this was the best way of enabling the development of a healthy regenerating native forest there in the long-term.

This removal has now been completed with less short-term damage to other vegetation than anticipated – considerably less than 35% - to the regenerating bush from felling and removing the pines. The new native trees to be planted and the vigorous currently regenerating trees should sequester carbon better than the ageing pines and thereby contribute more to combatting climate change long-term.

Some believe that our native birds need these pine trees to shelter and nest in, but Aotearoa has had tens of millions of years of these birds being well suited to the native trees that are succeeding the pines. Of the 700 or so pine trees originally in the forest, less than 200 remained and a substantial number were already dead or dying. The Board was faced with the choice of either removing trees only when they clearly reached that state and could potentially fall on people, with each series of tree removals needing a clearance track and causing significant damage to other trees or, alternatively, carrying out all that removal at once using methods that were safe and cause less continuing damage to other vegetation.

As the pine trees were cut down, many were found to have rotten cores to their trunks without having any visible outward signs that they were diseased. It could have been dangerous to users to open up the forest

to the public while some of the pine trees were in such a state. We look forward to when, in a few weeks, it will be safe to open up the whole forest again for walking, running and public enjoyment. A native tree planting day has been set for Sunday 18 July from 9.30am with volunteer participation by those community members encouraged to take part. Find out more about the tree planting day at our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/waitemata On 11 June there was a dawn blessing for the completion of the Karangahape Road enhancement project, and on 26 June there will be a big celebration on Karangahape Road with a wide variety of events. It has been a long and disruptive time in coming but Karangahape Road looks and feels magnificent now. There are many intriguing art works, more trees and two rainbow pedestrian crossings included. It will be great for businesses, residents, and visitors. Go there and enjoy the food, shopping, events, and the overall vibe.

On 2 July the Prime Minister will open the exciting new Te Wananga Plaza on the seaward side of Quay Street and the revamped downtown area, with a renewed Quay Street itself flanked by mature pohutukawas, the new ferry berths, the new square Te Komititanga with the reopened former Post Office now the Britomart Central Rail Link Station.

The Waitemata- Local Board remains actively concerned about continuing issues related 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. We have written again 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. (RICHARD NORTHEY)  PN

I can be contacted at 021 534 546 or at richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

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LOCAL NEWS

BREW RUN – OUR NEW LOCAL FRESH COFFEE DELIVERY SERVICE BY ATOMIC Atomic Coffee Roasters opened its doors on Ponsonby Road in 1992. Originally, they were the scruffy kids, pumping out live music and top-notch coffee from between fine-dining restaurants.

In 1995 they made the move to Kingsland to secure a larger area for their growing coffee roasting and café business. They’ve become an integral part of this creative, eclectic community ever since.

If you live locally, you would have most likely visited their café or even purchased some fresh coffee for your home. But now there is a new, exciting, ecofriendly way for you to have the freshest Atomic coffee delivered to your home - Brew Run. Brew Run is Atomics’ full-service, coffee delivery experience; you’ll order coffee via the Brew Run app and the next weekday, a reusable canister filled with freshly roasted coffee will be delivered to your door.

Like the ‘old school’ milk bottle run, they will collect empty canisters to be refilled - a more sustainable way to deliver coffee and delivery that is free. This is the first refillable canister fresh coffee delivery service in New Zealand.

“We wanted to create a truly personalised service, one where we look after our coffee from roast, right through to the delivery to your door.

A service that ensures you receive the freshest coffee, which tastes the best, and one that is better for the environment,” says Casey Deane, General Manager of Atomic Coffee Roasters.

Initially Atomic will deliver coffee to the 8,000 locals and businesses that sit within a 2km radius of the Kingsland Roastery. “Delivery is a new territory for us, so we are starting with a confined area, servicing the locals that we love and who have supported us for so many years,” says Deane.

Atomic has a clear focus on sustainability. All their takeaway packaging, including cups, lids, cutlery, and containers is 100% compostable and made from sustainable sources, with no fossil fuels or plastic.

They also offer a discount to customers who get their takeaway coffee in a reusable cup, and they have started to deliver to their wholesale customers in reusable 10kg coffee pails. It’s a long road, but they are aiming to be zero waste to land fill by 2025 and the Brew Run canisters are another good step forward in this goal.

Visit www.brewrun.co.nz if you’d like to know more.

Post Covid, online ordering and home delivery has seen a dramatic increase. Through Brew Run, Atomic aims to deliver something simple and differentiated in this space.

“We’ve developed a bespoke app with our digital partners Putti. We plan to continue to evolve the service levels via our app and we also want to expand our delivery area in early 2022.”

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A DELIVERY SERVICE BROUGHT TO YOU BY

FRESH BEANS

ROASTEd &

DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR.

BY ATOMIC

n u R w e r B e r Explo

LOCAL NEWS

JOHN ELLIOTT: - LOCAL BOARD ONE VERSUS SIX ON WAITEMATA The Waitematā Local Board has six City Vision members and one Citizens and Ratepayers member. I interviewed the ‘one’, Sarah Trotman, and asked her first how and why she got arrested for trespassing in the Western Springs Forest.

The felling of all 200 odd old pine trees in the forest has been a very controversial issue. The destruction during the felling of more than half the growing native understorey exacerbated the problem.

Trotman was called to the entrance to the forest by a concerned resident early one morning. She agreed to enter the forest early with the elderly constituent on the condition that the woman would not endanger herself by sitting on the dangerous arm of the digger, as long as Trotman stayed with her. They sat together on a large digger for nearly two hours. After the lengthy sit, Trotman called out to a security guard to get his attention (the forest was being guarded 24/7 at a cost to ratepayers of $50,000 per week) and Trotman was subsequently trespassed and the police called. Police arrested Sarah Trotman, put her in a paddy wagon and took her to Mt Eden Prison.

She subsequently appeared in court.

Trotman told me her complaint was about ‘a lack of quality governance, not the environment’. She initially stayed on the digger to protect a constituent, and then used the platform to highlight misinformation, untimely information and incomplete information, which was constantly served up to board members, community liaison group members and the community.

Trotman was not alone in opposing the demolition of the forest. The board approved the resource decision, subject to an academic’s recommendation being implemented, “where legally possible”. The vote went four votes to three. Sarah Trotman had Alex Bonham and Adriana Christie on her side.

Sarah Trotman

Sarah Trotman seemed to me to be completely disillusioned with the Waitemata- Local Board, so I asked her how much the 6-1 majority to City Vision was a problem.

Trotman claims good governance experience prior to her election to the board, and says her time on the board is proving valuable for her future ambitions, which include a council seat.

She told me that right from day one she knew it would be difficult.

Richard Northey told her during a tea break, that he was going to be chairman. She told him the board had not yet met to vote on chair person. “I didn’t want it, “ she assured me. Northey replied “The city vision team have caucused and decided.”

“I won’t stand again for the board”, she told me. “I have been bitterly disappointed in the poor governance and the political manoeuvrings.”

She says the board is manipulated by a few powerful council staff.

After requesting a meeting with Council CEO Jim Stabback several times, she then instructed a QC to write to try to get a meeting with him to discuss some examples. That request was declined.

Although Sarah Trotman forced a discussion, it was the first of many battles she would lose, purely on the strength of the imbalance of the board.

Trotman says, “Local body politics shouldn’t be about left or right, it’s about what is right.”

She claims it is a manipulation of democracy, with Richard Northey setting the tone. City Vision repeatedly vote politically rather than following the result of due diligence after substantial discussion, Trotman asserts.

Sarah Trotman believes the community is giving up engaging with the board because they are not being engaged with in an authentic manner. There is a crisis of confidence in the Waitemata- Local Board’s behaviour.

“Thank you for your views,” is the standard, unenthusiastic response to every submission, including some very well thought out and comprehensive presentations in recent times by the likes of Jo Malcolm, Deborah Manning, Alan Matson and Annie Coney. Many of these people give hours of their time to promote local issues, and they are largely ignored.

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Sarah Trotman confirmed to me that she will stand at the next local body elections for the Waitemata- ward councillor’s seat, currently held by Pippa Coom.

She told me that Coom shot ‘an own goal’ by entering the harbour bridge to promote a cycle lane, giving media interviews at the top of the bridge, and there should have been consequences. “It was dangerous,” Trotman says, “and gridlocked commuters trying to get to the North Shore.”

I asked Sarah Trotman what she had learned from her time on the board. “The people of Auckland deserve a much better standard of governance. Good governance is not rocket science,” she asserted.

“It is also about common sense and integrity. I needed to prove my competence to the community, and I think I’ve done that. You need to be fair, honest and diligent, and I have been that.”

Despite difficulties on the Waitemata- Local Board, Sarah Trotman believes it is good preparation for a shot at a council seat.

PN A possible good fight is in the offing. (JOHN ELLIOTT) 

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LOCAL NEWS

CHLÖE SWARBRICK: AUCKLAND CENTRAL MP It was a chilly Friday morning, but thankfully, OPEN café buzzed alive with locals, regulars, and contributors to Karangahape Road filling up on caffeine before filing into the Studio One Toi Tū carpark.

- Ngati Whatua Orakei offered karanga to the rising sun, leading a delegation to bless the opening of our Karangahape Road. Soft pink spilled across the sky as fingers weaved across our own rough and beautiful street furniture.

Gasps were audible as the new, permanent panels behind our rainbow bus-stops were unveiled, the overbridge armoured with tukutuku woven by artist Tessa Harris, her sons and students from Auckland Girls’ Grammar’s Kahurangi Unit. Joined by poignant placards from the Prostitutes Collective, reminding all that High Street herb planting ceremony with nothing is just until we’ve all young members of the local inner city got our rights and protections, we arrived at St Kevin’s Arcade.

Speeches commenced. Frank words were exchanged about the pain of evolution, the importance of community and the timeliness of project completion. And just like that, there were no more roadworks (...on our road).

Talking to Michael at the KBA, it’s clear that foot-traffic is picking back up. Talking to our local Police, it’s also fascinating to learn that incidents of reported crime have decreased throughout the

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last fortnight. While nothing can ever be taken for granted, and work on our collective, Karangahape Road Collective, mahi to drive coordinated and holistic resourcing and responses to anti-social behaviour continues and is hugely encouraging.

All of these things are connected: when we have pride of place, more people want to check out our place, and more people out and about increases potential for inclusion and safety. All of this is a recipe for strong community and good business.

It can’t be overstated just how hard everyone has worked to make this happen, because as my experiences across the city have shown, it’s not something to be taken for granted – even when it’s technically the same development impacting trade. Further downtown in Albert Street, in stark contrast to the conversations with businesses around the CRL Beresford Square/Pitt Street, there simply isn’t the same magic sauce alignment of goals in collaboration across Government agencies, landlords and small businesses.

Thanks to the tireless work of Michael, creativity and innovation in the face of new challenges, and the strong brands and communitybuilding around K’Rd, it is likely why so many of you choose to call it home. There’s also something really important to be said about the landlords who recognise the long-term value of our street, our potential and the relationships and flexibility that make that happen.

As June slips away, we’re really looking forward to Te Karanga a Hape come 26 June. With the colour coding of KBA’s beautiful planner, we’re extremely proud of hosting the only explicitly whanau friendly event.

Please do drop by the office (76 Karangahape Rd, next to Monster Valley!) with your little ones between 3pm and 6pm for a raucously wholesome time of painting and planting. You’ll meet my wonderful team, Amber and Alexis, who do huge amounts for constituents and our community, and you’ll be able to check out some of the awesome murals we’ve commissioned in the space from local artists Junt and Shelley de Bruyn. (CHLÖE SWARBRICK)  PN www.greens.org.nz/chloe_swarbrick

09 302 0166 chloe.swarbrick@parliament.govt.nz Auckland Council - 09 301 0101 COVID-19 advice from Healthline 0800 358 5453 Healthline: General health advice 0800 611 116 Inland Revenue - 0800 257 777 Ministry of Social Development 0800 559 009 Need to talk? Free counselling helpline - Phone or text 1737

Chlöe Swarbrick MP for Auckland Central

Authorised by Chlöe Swarbrick, Parliament Buildings Wellington

22 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

Chlöe was present at the Leys rally way back in February 2020 (before I was elected as local MP)

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LOCAL NEWS

ENHANCE MIND, BODY AND SOUL AT THE LIFE CENTRE A sanctuary for multidimensional approaches to wellbeing.

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 peace, bliss and pure love.

Based on the ethos, ‘restore the spirit and the rest will follow’, 14 practitioners at the evolutionary centre will offer soul and life enhancing treatments ranging from massage, Reiki, energy balancing, counselling and more. 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. A particular focus for education will be the work of renowned scientists of the recent past in the area of quantum physics, including Max Planck and David Bohm.

Director Adonia Wylie says The Life Centre mission is, with compassion and expertise to empower clients to embrace a vision of whole health and wellbeing.

“We see clients as conscious intelligent fields of energy rather than merely physical bodies. We look for first causes of ‘dis-ease/dis-order’, only considering symptoms as indicators of their deeper cause,” she says.

“The Life Centre recognises that consciousness is the all-pervasive nature of reality and that we are all multi-dimensional beings. We are each a vibrational spectrum of soul, mind, emotions and physical body and all play a part in ‘wholistic’ health and wellbeing. Addressing all aspects of our being then becomes a natural evolutionary process.”

A Charitable Trust funded through a legacy left by businessman and philanthropist Ashton Wylie, The Life Centre offers the following treatments for clients: Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy Clairvoyant Intuitive Energy Sessions Electromagnetic Field Balancing Emotion Code Fascial Release Therapy Herbal Remedies Harmonyum Healing Holistic Life Coaching Homeopathy Hypnotherapy Inner Child Therapy

Kinesiology Massage (including Ayurvedic and Chakra Balancing) Naturopathy Toxin Screening Past Life Regression Positive Psychology Reiki Ren Xue Spiritual and Grief Counselling Theraphi - Plasma Light Technology The Life Centre is holding an Open Day from 10am-3pm Saturday 26 June at 88 Jervois Road, Ponsonby.

For more information, visit thelifecentre.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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LOCAL NEWS

JOHN ELLIOTT: CONES NOT ONLY PROBLEM ON AUCKLAND ROADS Those of us who still drive around the inner city have to negotiate umpteen red cones all over almost every street. It’s certainly a pain. However, I want to report another problem which falls into AT’s lap.

I have been told by several friends that many streets do not have signage at the end of their road. I had noticed this too, so, I ventured out with pen and paper, and several maps to investigate.

It is a problem. I’ll just cite a couple of examples. Driving along Williamson Avenue, from Ponsonby Road, I found four streets on the left not named - Pollen, Scanlan, Sussex, and Ariki–that’s a quarter of the twelve streets which run between Williamson and Crummer.

I’ve noticed that sometimes a street is named across the road, making it hard or impossible to see from driving on the left, aiming to go left when your chosen street has arrived. Sometimes the street you want to go up to Crummer on may already be a continuation of a street on the other side of Williamson. Scanlan and Sussex do fall into that category, but Pollen and Ariki do not. However, driving is such a hazardous activity that the drivers don’t need to have to look right as well as left to see if they have reached the street they are looking to travel on.

Some street signs are obscured by trees. One example is the sign indicating Meola Road from Pt Chevalier Road. Coming from Pt Chevalier along Pt Chev Road to turn left into Meola Road is difficult enough to judge without the only sign across on the other side of Pt Chev Road almost impossible to see for shrubbery. A couple of signs on Pt Chev Road both north and south of Meola would do the trick. It could say,

“Meola Road and Herne Bay right 100 metres”, with the other saying “left 100 metres”.

AT spend so much money on cycle tracks and other unasked for inner city street modifications, they would do well to ensure their streets are adequately named.

And one more gripe. I don’t go out much at night, but have confirmed what I’ve been told about the lack of street lighting. Particularly for women alone at night, well lit streets are an important safety feature. On some of our streets several lights have been out for days, and as one local said to me, “these streets are more dangerous than the chance of an old pine tree in the Western Springs Forest falling on you.”

I know from the old joke that it takes a few people to change a light bulb, especially if it’s on a tall lamp post - a ladder, some safety cones, a person to climb the ladder, a lookout person on the ground, a truck driver, and perhaps a fourth person to hold the ladder.

The good news is that AT are using LED lights which last longer, but they may be economising by using lower wattage lights - or is it lumens?

Anyhow AT, stick to your knitting, and ensure our streets are properly signed and well lit at night. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN

@ THE PONSONBY COMMUNITY CENTRE The Ponsonby Community Centre, with support from the Waitematā Local Board is going to be running activities for both kids and adults from the Freemans Bay Community Hall from Term 3 of 2021!

The first activity is a continuation of our very popular free Pre-schoolers Multisport Programme with the folks from Ready Steady Go Kids. Each class runs for a 45 minute duration, and they cover ten sports on a rotational basis. The classes are designed to focus on a specific gross motor, hand-eye/foot-eye and/or balance activity to complement the sport component and the programme structure is repeated each week so that participants become familiar and comfortable with the routine. Ready Steady Go Kids invites and encourages parental participation in the classes; parents love the classes as much as the kids!

To register for this free programme, email info@ponsonbycommunity.org.nz. Places are limited so registration is essential. If you have already attended this programme in the past please allow others a chance to be involved – we will be prioritising registrations from new participants each term. The Term 3 sessions begin on Friday 6 August at 9:30am and run every Friday for nine weeks.  PN www.ponsonbycommunity.org.nz

Registrations are essential as places are limited.

To register please email info@ponsonbycommunity.org.nz

Preschoolers MultiSport Programme!

FREE!!

Classes are held at the Freemans Bay Community Hall

Term 3: 6 August - 1 October @ 9:30am This programme is provided by the Ponsonby Community Centre and the Waitemata Local Board

24 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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LOCAL NEWS

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LETTERS & EMAILS

continued from p6 AN OPEN LETTER TO AUCKLAND COUNCIL CEO, JIM STABBACK Dear Mr Stabback, I’m writing to you about my concerns regarding the Western Springs Forest.

A quick background. I was involved in the return of the dawn chorus on Tiritiri Matangi Island. I served briefly on the committee, and planted a few trees towards the end of the project.

Tiri is a brilliant success.

Since discussions began re Western Springs, I have been concerned to secure an Inner City Urban Sanctuary, exercising predator control, possibly some predator fencing, and with plenty of volunteer support.

I accepted the Council’s assurance that the pines had ALL reached a senescent, dangerous stage, and needed to be felled. I made a submission supporting the resource consent, SUBJECT to certain conditions. I called for careful removal of the pine logs so that the maturing understorey of natives was not demolished. I requested the cost of helicoptering out some logs. I urged that a huge wide road not be cut into the forest.

Today I hear that Council is proposing a six feet high fence between the top of the forest and the neighbours on West View Road. These long suffering people have lost their beautiful pine canopy, much of the growing understorey is smashed, and the forest is full of mountains of chip. I don’t know where the proposed native seedlings will be planted, starting late July.

Is this fence being erected as retribution for the opposition of some Westview residents. I sincerely hope not. If the council has nothing to hide inside that sealed off bush, access should be granted for entry to inspect by selected, if not all comers.

I presented at Public Forum last Tuesday at Waitemata- Local Board, and asked portfolio holder Adriana Christie for permission to inspect the forest as it is now so I can offer suggestions going forward.

Rumours abound, and will only proliferate if Council remains secretive and denies access.

I would point out to you that the Waitemata- Local Board gave me a Lifetime Good Citizens Award last year, and the Western Bays Community Board gave me an earlier one for service to our local community.

It is those conditions which concern me now.

The forest has been protected 24/7 as if it is an important military installation, fenced, security, police.

I am not a cynical person by nature, but remain highly sceptical of some Council actions around the pine tree demolition. Could you please facilitate my entry into the forest for an inspection ASAP. I remain, John Elliott, Founding Editor, Ponsonby News. continued p30

@ LEYS LITTLE LIBRARY Kia ora Ponsonby. Well, it seems like winter has well and truly arrived. Here at the Little Leys Library we’ve got the doors closed to keep out the chill and the heaters going full blast. Come for a visit – you won’t want to leave.

Weather aside, there’s plenty to look forward to this season. School holidays are coming up in July and we’ll be running our popular dance organ activity once again. Kids (and caregivers) are welcome to come along to All Saints Church on Ponsonby Road on 13 or 14 July at 2.30pm to spend two hours dancing around on a giant organ to make music!

We ran this activity in the last holidays and heard several masterpieces, including Chopsticks, the theme from Jaws, and even a snippet of Für Elise. Come and have a go - all ages welcome - dance organ kindly provided by Auckland Organ Association.

Along with the Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, we’ll also be welcoming the Inspirational Kiwis Roadshow, i.e., Dreydon Sobanja.

Sobanja’s books – like, Ed Climbs a Big Hill, and Jean Dreams of Flying – present the stories of inspirational Kiwis in a fun, easy-toread format for kids of all ages. Pop by the bookshop at 10am on Saturday 17 July to pick up a signed copy!

No little ones at home? You can still get involved with your library this winter. From July through September, the Leys Institute will be running a series of community talks and workshops at All Saints Church.

Sessions will run every second Thursday afternoon from 2.30pm3.30pm, and the topics covered will include everything from arts and heritage, to smarter recycling.

Our first workshop, titled “DIY Cleaning Products” will run on Thursday 8 July and will involve making your own home cleaning

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products. Waste advisors from Auckland Council’s WasteWise team will instruct participants on how to make cleaning products from a few simple, natural ingredients that are less harmful to both people and the environment.

Come along and meet some new people living in your local area – all welcome! Sessions will be followed by mixing and mingling over tea and coffee. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more updates.

If none of that sounds like your cup of tea, not to worry. We can always recommend snuggling up with a good book instead to fend off the winter blues. My favourites for this time of year include the extra sun-drenched, A Room with a View by E. M. Forster and feelgood read, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. Or why not dip into someone else’s life with a lively memoir? Two of the toprequested volumes at Leys right now are Charlotte Grimshaw’s The Mirror Book, and Barack Obama’s A Promised Land. But I can also wholeheartedly recommend Claire Tomalin’s A Life of My Own and Alan Davies’ Just Ignore Him. Alternatively, pop into any of Auckland’s 55 libraries, tell us what sort of things you like to read, and we’ll recommend something just for you.

Keep warm!  PN THE LEYS INSTITUTE LITTLE LIBRARY, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

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LOCAL NEWS Green MP Hon Julie Anne Genter

JOHN ELLIOTT: PUBLIC TRANSPORT NEEDS STIFFENING UP IN CENTRAL CITY I have long supported the need for as many people as possible to get out of their cars and walk, cycle, or catch a train or bus.

Pippa Coom and others will be pleased to hear that I’ve got one last warrant of fitness for my car, and at nearly 83, I hope to give up driving by years’ end, but not if public transport doesn’t improve before then.

Let me explain. I rode a bike to secondary school for five years, but that was 65-70 years ago. My GP said if I was contemplating an e-bike, she would expect me to need a motorcycle escort around town, for my and others safety.

to their shareholders. Routes travelled and driver pay, become problematic for Auckland citizens, as do fare costs.

As Green MP Hon Julie Anne Genter told me, “Public transport is a public good. It’s time to treat it that way.” Genter went on to tell me, “Greater public ownership of public transport is critical. The experiment of fragmenting bus and ferry services with competitive for-profit objectives has not been effective at delivering a public transport network that works for people.”

I can walk so far - not far enough my partner will tell you. But there are places around the innercity where I do go which are too far from home to walk to, and where no buses venture. I’ve asked why we don’t have small buses, maybe 10 or 12 seaters, crisscrossing town where current buses are completely absent. Our councillor Pippa Coom, a fervent cycle advocate, told me the most expensive cost in running a bus is the driver’s salary, whether the bus is 10 seater or a double decker.

The Greens have a petition to change the law to allow public ownership of bus services, especially strategic assets like bus depots and vehicles.

I’ll give you a couple of examples where bus services don’t help me.

I go to Grey Lynn shops regularly. I get my hair trimmed, buy some meat, visit the chemist, sometimes have a beer. Grey Lynn Butchery, Gopals Pharmacy, Grey Lynn Tavern, and Grey Lynn Tyreworx, who have shod my cars for years, are all out of reach. Slightly closer to home, but still quite a stretch to walk, are my Doctor’s and the Grey Lynn RSC where I am a life member. With Leys Institute closed for renovations, I also visit Grey Lynn library from time to time.

Let’s hope it would also mean more flexible routes, sometimes in small buses, including circular routes across town from Herne Bay to West Lynn and Grey Lynn. These services need to be regular and reliable. The surest way to stop car drivers switching to public transport is if the buses are always late, or even sometimes late.

As a friend of mine opined, “if my doctor’s appointment is for 10.30am, it’s no good being 10 minutes late or you’ve missed your slot. However, as I asked him, “how often is your doctor right on time?” He laughed and saw my point, but he replied, “if I drive I know I’ll be smack right on time.”

Just last week I was considerably heartened when I received an invitation to sign a Green Party petition calling for public ownership of buses to be allowed, so councils could buy and run their own fleet. I had not known that councils are not granted subsidies for the privately owned bus services that they contract to. For example, Auckland is mainly served by NZ Bus, owned by Australian private equity firm Next Capital. Their major concern is to return a profit

Julie Anne Genter told Ponsonby News that, “public ownership will prevent firms like Next Capital from running bus services into the ground, eroding wages and conditions for drivers. It will also help as we look to transfer our bus fleets to zero emissions.”

Privately owned companies will be looking for the best bang for their buck, and that may be fair private enterprise, but it won’t take enough cars off the roads. I hope Julie Anne Genter can garner enough petition signatures to persuade government to change the PN law, allowing councils to run their own show. (JOHN ELLIOTT) 

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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LOCAL NEWS

LIFE HACKS OF TRIBAL ELDERS: PART 3 Disengage between your work life and your home life; protect each from the other.

Let me introduce you to this month’s featured tribal elders, a couple of happy city dwelling retirees with enough experience between them to give wise advice in both the manufacturing and education sectors.

or industry matters at home, except for sharing occasional humorous anecdotes. It was a rule of thumb that worked for this couple, to protect their private life together.

Lyn and Neil Laurenson have both had quite different challenging professional careers and remarkable life experiences in very different fields of work. Neil had a distinguished career in the education sector here in New Zealand and overseas. He was a teacher, manager and leader for 25 years in the field of Catholic education, playing a significant and influential role through a challenging period of philosophical, cultural and political change. For most of her working life Lyn was an executive assistant to a variety of general managers and managing directors in various industries, and witnessed many changes particularly in the demanding and innovative sphere of local carpet manufacturing in New Zealand.

In today’s post pandemic world of remote working from home offices, their wise advice is more relevant than ever. We should try to maintain clear boundaries between work activity and home/family life; find a way to disengage between work time and personal time. In today’s world, that may require a different strategy of separation, but the principle is still important. Work is only one domain of our lives and our family, our home, is more important anyway.

Sipping coffee and nibbling home-made biscuits with Neil and Lyn on their sun-drenched balcony overlooking the city, it is clear that this couple are a world away from that hectic professional stage of their lives. I was interested to know how they had managed work/ life balance throughout their busy careers and I wondered if they had some ‘life hack’ wisdom to share with the younger generation of salaried and freelance workers.

Both Lyn and Neil agree that keeping work and home life separate has been a very important strategy. Both had to commute to work and Neil recalled how he specifically used that time to create a distinct bubble of free space for letting go, for transitioning. He enjoyed listening to music on the radio or on CDs and audio books as well. Lyn remembers a similar strategy of leaving all the workplace hassles, set-backs and dramas at work. She never talked about office

Nowadays, Lyn and Neil make the most of everything on offer in the city; the range of entertainment and educational options, the happenings in Aotea Square, events on the waterfront and most of all, the superb range of restaurants and casual eateries available across the city, Ponsonby and Grey Lynn.

They have grown to appreciate living in the mixed-use environment that is Auckland city, and they value the diversity of neighbours that come with the territory. They enjoy greeting and chatting with all their fellow apartment dwellers and local shop keepers alike. Although there are no opportunities for a chinwag over the garden fence, there is still a real community in and around our inner-city buildings.

Currently, Neil is vice president of the Probus Club of Ponsonby and Lyn is editor of the monthly news bulletin. They extend a warm welcome to anyone interested in joining this group of active retirees and ‘tribal elders’ who gather monthly to hear interesting speakers, socialise and go on some fun outings from time to time.

(ALEXA LAWRENCE)  PN

If you think you would enjoy getting together with other like-minded retirees for new experiences and friendships, contact Rosie Armstrong on T: 09 486 5181, or E: rosiearm@xtra.co.nz

28 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PUDGIE SOFA/ SHAGGY LOUNGE CHAIR

www.dawsonandco.nz

LOCAL NEWS

PONSONBY U3A: JUNE 2021 Themes, obsessions, and ideas in architecture.

When you think about it, houses and buildings are a miracle. Not only do they provide us with the basic human need of shelter, at their best, they delight our senses. Ponsonby U3A members were treated to many such delightful experiences when well-known architect and artist, Pete Bossley welcomed by President Philippa Tait, canvassed his life and times doing the work that feeds his senses, be it drawing, painting or architecture.

Pete is the director of Bossley Architects based in Ponsonby, a firm which has received over 40 architectural awards including the New Zealand Architects Gold Medal for services to architecture. The long list of buildings he has designed includes The Museum of Te Papa Tongarewa, the Sir Peter Blake extension to the New Zealand National Maritime Museum, the Plant and Food Research Headquarters in Mount Albert, and many well-known houses and resorts around the country. More recently, the firm has completed the Park Hyatt Hotel in the Viaduct Basin.

Pete also paints and sketches compulsively. In 2019 he published a book called One Year Drawn about his travels through Europe in 1982, and last year, he had an exhibition of almost 200 sketches called 40 Years Drawn and a painting exhibition.

For Pete, good buildings, be they large or small, need a red-blooded idea; for without the idea, the personality of the building cannot shine through. Pete took his Ponsonby U3A audience beneath the surface to give a riveting account of the themes consistently generated in his work, from acknowledging the perils of geology, given New Zealand’s ‘shaky ‘and rugged landforms, to the importance of natural light sometimes reflecting in buildings our beautiful sky and seascapes.

Precedent, intuition, and narratives inform Pete’s ideas to connect the observer to, for example buildings reminiscent of the Kiwi bach and the red sheds that still dot this country’s rural landscape.

LETTERS & EMAILS

Liz Buchanan, a member of Ponsonby U3A provided new insights into the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, giving an impassioned reminder that it belongs to us, the people of Auckland.

A retired dietitian, Liz is an experienced volunteer at the museum and a strong advocate for what it has to offer. Opened in 1929, this, the oldest museum in New Zealand, was built to commemorate the over 7000 who signed up in the Auckland province for WW1 and did not return. Of neo-classical design, it won New Zealand’s Institute of Architects‘ Award at the time. A surprising snippet of information is that there must be no obstruction of the view from the harbour to

continued from p26 FASTBOOK POST FROM PIPPA COOM I have just read a recent post by Councillor Pippa Coom from her Facebook page.

It warrants repeating in this letter. It reads and I quote: “Now we’ve had the official blessing for the Karangahape Road enhancement project I’m calling it. The cycleway is actually a ‘cruise lane.’ The design best suits every type of micro mobility at a slow pace. Speedy riders please use the vehicle lane.”

Say what! The cyclists have had their dreams come true and had every other rates and taxpayer fund a network of cycle lanes especially for them, and they are now being exhorted to avoid using those very lanes.

30 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

Pete Bossley and Philippa Tait

the museum. It is an official navigational aid. Liz gave a fascinating account of the various tours on offer from the Secret Museum to the Heritage, to the Rooftop Tour.

Every month on the second Friday, Ponsonby U3A showcases guest speakers covering diverse topics, and a member gives a short presentation on their lives and interests, enabling other 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 but are asked to first telephone President Philippa Tait on M: 027 452 3108. Guest speaker for July meeting is distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley, the PN ‘New’ New Zealand-2030. (CHRISTINE HART)  NEXT MEETING: 9.30am Friday 9 July at Herne Bay Petanque Club,

Salisbury Street, Herne Bay. ENQUIRIES:

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

That being the case – why didn’t they just stick to the normal roads that already existed and have NZTA and Council paint a single white line down the middle of the footpaths to allow pedestrians on one side and slow moving “micro mobility” users on the other side.

This madness is a classic example of why central city Aucklanders are turning away from the efforts of Bike Auckland, the various zealots and the politicians who are abusing their electorates by advocating for cycleways that are not economically or environmentally justified and that negatively impact on the other 99.5% of Aucklanders who do not wish to ride their bikes to work through the rain, wind, cold and hilly terrain – five days a week.

Ms Coom has finally revealed the full extent of her disdain for the majority and as a result we can all now look forward to the next local body election. Roger Hawkins, Ponsonby

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Rethink your Investments

Expected average annual returns After fees, before tax on a suggested minimum investment term of 5 years.

To find out more call us on 0800 377 2277 or visit www.nzfunds.co.nz Total funds as at 31 May 2021 including both retail and wholesale mandates: $49 million. Monthly return for May 2021: +0.6% Total returns since inception in October 2020: +7.2%. All numbers after fees, before tax. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future returns.

Expected average annual returns are based on modelled returns only, which may not be an indicator of future returns. For more information on the calculation of expected average annual returns, see ‘Other Material Information’. Visit nzfunds.co.nz/income-generator to view the latest copy of the Product Disclosure Statement.

New Zealand Funds Management Limited is the issuer of NZ Funds Income Generator. Total returns since inception calculated from 22 October 2020 to 31 May 2021.

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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LOCAL NEWS

PONSONBY PARK - JULY UPDATE Ponsonby Park is the working title of the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road - currently the Liquor King site. The land was purchased by Council in 2006 after the ‘Ponsonby Open Space Study’ completed in 2000 by Boffa-Miskell Ltd, identified a lack of urban open space in the area.

In 2015 the Waitemata- Local Board initiated a Community-Led Design (CLD) process to build on the community engagement that had sought to create a whole of site park on the land. The CLD group was tasked with delivering a design with an indicative budget and this resulted in the (international award winning) LandLAB Park+ design, as illustrated on this page.

Timeline of 10-year Budget 2021-2031

Ponsonby Park is the Waitemata- Local Board’s priority capital project, aka ‘One Local Initiative’ project (OLI). Each local board is able to submit one project to Council that they would otherwise be unable to fund themselves.

Ponsonby Park as the Waitemata- Local Board’s OLI was scheduled to obtain funding approval at the Finance and Performance Committee meeting on Thursday 19 March, 2020. However, the published agenda was set aside in order to address the implications of the Covid-19 outbreak and no funding allocations were progressed.

Council has since been working on a new Long Term Plan (Recovery Budget) which at the time of writing, had not been yet been formalised.

On 29 June 2021, the Governing Body is scheduled to approve the final 10-year Budget 2021-2031. The 10-year Budget 2021-2031 becomes operational on 1 July 2021, the first day of their new financial year.

The Waitemata- Local Board has continued their strong advocacy work to Council for Ponsonby Park as their OLI project. Once again,

they have taken into account the views expressed by the community through the submission process to ensure this long-awaited and much needed community project is delivered as soon as possible. So we are optimistic, and we look forward to the progression of Ponsonby Park, once the final 10-year Budget 2021-2031 is approved.

The vision for Ponsonby Park has always been for a place where people gather to rest, relax, and recreate - a place to meet new people or to catch up with old friends or simply to spend some time to chill and take a moment. We all need to be able to come together, to have the common ground and public spaces where both optimism and resilience can be nurtured and sustained.

Ponsonby Park is this place. (JENNIFER WARD)  PN www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz

32 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

KEN RING: WEATHER BY THE MOON AUCKLAND WEATHER DIARY, JULY 2021 July is likely to be drier than average, less sunny, but with average temperatures.

The first week is the driest and warmest, the second and third weeks are wettest with the lowest barometric pressure, and the fourth week has the most sunshine. Winds should average from the south. Millibars should average around 1018. Most rain may be around 14th and 18th.

The 3rd/4th and 24th/25th may be the best weekends for outdoor activities.

For fishers, the highest tides are around 25th. The best fishing bite-times in the east are around dusk on 7th - 10th, and 22nd - 25th. Chances are also good for around noon of 1st - 2nd, 15th - 17th, and 30th - 31st.

For gardeners, pruning is best between 1st - 9th and 25th - 31st (waning moon descending), and sowing is best between 11th - 22nd (waxing moon ascending). For preserving and longer shelf-life, pick crops or flowers on neap tide days of 4th and 19th.

PN Always allow 24-hour error for all forecasting. (KEN RING) 

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.

Your right to choose doesn’t have to expire when you do All your life you’ve had a say over your choice of wardrobe, music, hobbies, and friends.

So why is it, when it comes to your final wishes, there is hardly any choice?

That’s not the way we see things at Sibuns. We think a funeral should be as unique and personal as the individual it honours. Whether that means playing Jimmy Barnes instead of Andrea Bocelli, or having your ashes sent into space instead of a vault, that’s the kind of freedom of choice Sibuns Funeral Directors believe in. And if this is the sort of freedom you seek, even after you’ve gone, call us.

582 Remuera Road, Auckland | 09 520 3119 | staff@sibuns.co.nz | www.sibuns.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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TRAVEL BREAKS

ROSS THORBY: WE LIVE IN A LAND OF PLENTY It had all started innocently enough. I was booked on the Queen Mary 2 for her inaugural cruise through Fiordland, and Martin (good friend and publisher of our favourite magazine The Ponsonby News) was having a weak moment over dinner.

“Why don’t you write about it for the magazine?” he asked.

What followed that fateful night in 2013 were 91 columns about cruising and my introduction into the thorny world of journalism.

It was a whole new game, grammar, constructive verbs, adjectives, paragraph building, spellcheck and editing... a lot of editing. Thank you mother for all those hours you spent slaving over a hot desktop.

All this combined with trying to formulate something that might pique the interest of a reader - any reader. I was only looking for one, but one that might be encouraged to throw off the shackles of landlocked confinement and try a bit of cruising. If I could convert just one - it would all be worthwhile.

So what followed were stories about divas and dames, pirates and security officers, canals and bridges, missing islands and forgotten tribes and mountains, icebergs, glaciers and volcanoes, shipwrecks and disasters, parties and celebrations. Highlights included close calls with the ship’s brig, an actual jail confinement in Egypt, being left behind in Guatemala and a game of dominoes with a dictator’s chef in Panama.

It’s been quite a journey and it all nearly ended permanently for me and the column when a vicious microbe chased our ship clear across the Atlantic.

There have been a few laughs along the way, with film stars and celebrities, commodores and stewards, holocaust survivors and footballers wives. I got to write stories about them all and I hope you have enjoyed at least a few of them.

But now dear reader - I’m about all done, the world is a changed place, my favourite mode of transport is scattered, moored, berthed and some of them even dismantled. But there is still hope. A small smattering of cruise lines are awakening and stirring, crews are being shaken from their slumbers and gathered from their homes around the globe and bookings are again being reopened, calculated and tabulated.

Governments and tourism sectors of an industry that will rise once again like a phoenix out of the ashes of this Covid nightmare are

beginning to stir and stretch their wings. Internal cruising has started once again in Britain, the Caribbean has reopened its doors and just started accepting foreign tagged ships, and the American CDC is arguing over the legality of cruise-lines demanding inoculation certificates from its passengers. It will be a new world, a brave world and one that will inevitably return, haltingly at first, but stronger with each new ship taking back to the seas.

Yes, there will be new protocols; testing will be mandatory, masks probably, social distancing and ships not being filled to capacity. Who knows what will happen to the midnight buffet and the free-for-all champagne cocktails?

I’ve said it before and I will say it again - we are the lucky generation.

We could travel freely around the world with just a flash of a New Zealand passport and a piece of number 8 wire in our back packs.

How the new world will seem, time will tell, but there is definitely hope on the horizon; hope that when cruising is finally reborn, I’ll have more tales to tell.

Fortunately for us in the meantime, we live in the land of plenty.

Plenty of scenery, that is. Although still tethered to Aotearoa and landlocked, I’ve hired a motorhome - fully equipped with ensuite bathroom, full size fridge for the gin and a comfortable bed. It may not be a ship of the seas, but it’s a ship of the tarmac and I’m happy to try it. I’m off to discover more of New Zealand and join the world of the trailer-park-boys.

From Aruba to Africa, Argentina to Ascension, my upcoming ports will now be full of the wonders of Taupo and Rotorua, Hanua and Hamilton, Tutakaka and Piha. New Zealand has never looked so good.

So the time has come. COVID-19 has not only killed the video star but my travel column as well, and until our borders are open, our vaccinations complete, and my passport revalidated, we are dry-docked and temporarily in suspension, awaiting a refit on indefinite furlough.

Thanks Martin, and thank you readers for coming along. It’s been a blast.

Signing off for now. Roscoe and Mother. (ROSS THORBY)  PN roscoesseafever.blogspot.com

34 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE

LOCAL FASHION: MEET CHAPLIN’S PAUL CHAPLIN After 45 years carving out a stellar career behind the scenes of New Zealand fashion, it is most definitely designer Paul Chaplin’s time to shine.

Preferring to allow his work to speak for itself, the self-effacing creative talent launched his eponymous label in September of last year.

Despite the tumultuous nature of 2020, word soon began to get out about the Chaplin label, whilst a recent pop-up at Ponsonby Central allowed his audience to grow. Now his beautifully executed and unabashedly timeless garments are admired and worn by a collective of women of all ages, which is exactly how he wants it.

Paul’s childhood dreams of becoming a fashion designer were stymied early on as he graduated into an industry at a time when female designers were highly sought after. After sketching garments from the age of 12 and graduating with a diploma in fashion design and pattern drafting from the New Zealand College of Fashion Design at the tender age of 17, he found himself unable to secure a design job so embarked on a very successful career as a pattern maker and grader. His prodigious talent saw him go on to support some of New Zealand’s biggest names behind the scenes, working with designers to help bring their vision from a sketch to a reality in the most effortless and creative way possible.

Married with two children and with the full support of his wife Linda, he continued to design for himself after hours, developing a passion for working with natural fibres like wool, silk and linen. In 1977 he entered the Benson & Hedges Fashion Design Awards and received two nominations in the Day Wear and the Young Designer categories, winning a highly commended award in the Young Designer section.

He continued to receive regular nominations throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, in 1994 winning the Woolmark Fashion Award with a beautiful hand-dyed wool look inspired by costuming in the Jane Campion film, ‘The Piano’.

Come 2002 he started his business as an independent under the moniker, PJD Pattern Services Ltd, and also met his current partner, Andrew. The move offered Paul the freedom to work for a variety of design companies including David Pond, Ricochet, Gregory’s, Maggie Potter, Sabine and Isakelle, but when the middle market began going offshore with its production, streamlining saw him consolidate further.

He pivoted to working closely with emerging design labels committed to keeping their ranges small and locally made, and loved spending time providing support to much missed local label Harman Grubiša in its early days, as well as Paris Georgia and Taylor.

piece that will be loved for a lifetime. I personally love the fact that it has pockets, with Paul laughing and saying: “over the years I have learned that every woman loves pockets! They definitely shouldn’t just be for men.”

The Elsa shirt is another hugely popular signature piece. Oversized and in 100 per cent pure linen, it can be worn as a shirt or duster jacket, with details like deep side splits and an attached half belt giving the garment that little bit extra that makes it pure Chaplin.

The designer is still passionate about natural fibres and the use of deadstock fabrics to minimise the impact on the planet’s resources, as well as creating timeless pieces that won’t be worn once and thrown into the back of the closet. “I think creating timeless but not boring pieces is key,” says Paul, “adding that extra special element that makes a garment stick out from the crowd.” He names all of his pieces after women who have inspired him, be it due to their intelligence, wit, beauty, or what they have achieved. The Elsa for example, being named after the inimitable Elsa Peretti.

Chaplin is currently only available online, but Paul is committed to further pop-ups after the first proved such an invaluable experience.

“The feedback we got during that week was so important to me,” he says, “and allowing women to see the garments up close and feel the beauty of the fabrics was essential.”

Paul has worked with many family-owned and run design and manufacturing businesses, and is proud that his own label has become a family affair of sorts. His daughter Veritty has been creating accessories for Chaplin as well as styling many of the campaign and lookbook shots, and his son Jordan created the soundtrack for short films on the label’s website showcasing special garments.

Paul says he never stops creating, with a workroom at his downtown Auckland home and inspiration coming from all manner of sources.

“They say that designers never really stop,” he laughs, “they just PN die.” (HELENE RAVLICH)  www.chaplindesign.co.nz

He is one of the foundation supporters of the New Zealand Fashion Museum curated by Doris De Pont, and when the NZFM held a runway show at Silo Park recently, the show line-up included Paul’s awardwinning Woolmark garment. When the twenty-somethings working on the show remarked how much they loved it and would happily wear it now, it was further encouragement that he was on the right path.

“I don’t believe in releasing collections these days,” says the designer, “instead allowing things to gradually evolve over time and adding them to the line up.” The Chaplin offering is also quite transseasonal and speaks to layering, which is a factor so essential given New Zealand’s unpredictable climate.

Hero pieces currently on offer include the Paloma waistcoat, which received a lot of attention during May’s pop-up shop at Ponsonby Central. Crafted in light-weight Italian wool with the Chaplin label’s signature pocket detail, it has an incredibly flattering cutaway back that forms an elongated centre back panel. It can be worn alone for evening, or layered over a shirt by day, making it an essential classic

Photography: Aaron K Photography

Now concentrating solely on his own label, he brings a wealth of experience to what he does, and at 65 also has the time to sit back and get things exactly right. “I also feel like my age has no relevance, as I’ve always kept very current but not only following the industry, but actively working with young labels within it.”

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HELENE RAVLICH:

TOP OF THE WINTER TIPPLES

photography: unsplash.com

With the mercury in freefall on many nights, now is the perfect time to hunker down at home with a glass, or bottle or two, of your favourite winter beverage on hand.

Whether you’re on a date or entertaining a crowd, there are a plethora of delicious beverages available to suit any taste.

36 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY New Leaf Kombucha

I always associate the cooler months with a warming red wine, and Squawking Magpie Wines Gravels Syrah 2019 makes for great winter drinking. Full of berries, plenty of savoury and great with rich hearty winter fare, it’s what many of us will be serving guests over the winter period.

When it comes to spirits, a new arrival on the local scene is Peddlers Rare Shanghai Gin, a rather special drop that is made in China and now served in New Zealand. With notes of Sichuan pepper, Buddha’s hand, and Chinese mint, the award-winning flavour profile makes it delicious in a cocktail or mingling with mixers.

Founded by a group of Kiwi and Chinese friends all living in Shanghai, the multicultural team at Peddlers were able to create the first craft gin from China and it’s now winning multiple awards and attracting a strong following amongst the bartending scene in its homeland.

Peddlers Gin

For non-alcoholic indulgence, the team at Ponsonby News can’t get enough of what’s on offer at the New Leaf Kombucha Tap Room on Grey Lynn’s Crummer Road. A family business that believes less is more, New Leaf Kombucha is small-batched brewed with only four ingredients: filtered water, organic tea leaves, organic fair-trade cane sugar, and their own organic kombucha culture. They never add any flavourings, colourings or preservatives to their brew which is on tap year round with bottles ready to go.

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Bucklwheat

38 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY Cinema Italiano’s Paolo Rotondo

When it comes to asking locals what they’re drinking this winter, chat had to begin with the preternaturally glamorous, Buckwheat. A true New Zealand drag icon entertaining and educating audiences the length and breadth of the country for over twenty years, Buckwheat certainly knows how to get the party started and has the perfect cocktail recipe to do just that. Her favourite winter cocktail is, gloves off, ‘Hot Lips’. A mix of coconut-infused tequila, lime and guava juice bring a taste of both winter and summer to warm the cockles of your heart, while the chilli salt rim kicks you in the mouth before the cocktail ignites your tastebuds. Buckwheat describes the mix as “a fiery party starter which always goes down a treat with dinner guests.

It’s easy to make and never fails to impress, bringing the tropics to winter with every sip! It has a fabulous name and just smashes in flavour,” she adds.

Sarah Lindsay is the woman behind the boutique fitness studio known as SALA on Brown Street which offers everything from (what I believe to be) the city’s best barre classes to yoga, HIIT Pilates, strength training and more. It comes as no surprise then that her winter tipples of choice are most definitely health-focused, beginning with Almighty Charcoal Filtered Sparkling Water.

I have no idea how they made this water taste so ‘clean’ but now I’ve tasted it, it’s difficult to drink any other water. My fridge is always fully stocked with this stuff! She’s also regularly indulging in daily doses of Mother Made Mushroom Powder. “Drinking the PM blend with a spoonful of cacao for a pre-bed treat, I love how nourishingly decadent it feels.” Last up, the new mum can’t go past Good Sh*t Soda which she calls her current favourite on-the-go fizz hit.

“It’s so delicious. 2021 has been my year of improving my gut health so it’s so nice to have more fun options that still support that goal.”

Sala’s Sarah Lindsay

Cinema Italiano: The Italian Film Festival Director, Paolo Rotondo is passionate about not only the enduring charm of Italian film but also the nation’s equally as fabulous dedication to the art of eating and drinking.

“The defining principle of drinking ‘Italian style’ is that it must always be accompanied by food,” says the actor and director, whose favourite winter drink is a Negroni Sbagliato, “which would be sipped before dinner and accompanied by some Prosciutto Crudo or Farina’s famous Carpaccio with Grana Padano and watercress. We say that an Aperitivo drink and a little snack ‘Apre lo stomaco’ - literally ‘opens your tummy’, and prepares you for a meal which of course would arrive a little later and naturally be accompanied by wine. In my case, I’m delighted by the Organic Sangiovese 2018 from award-winning international winemaker Rod McDonald in Hawkes Bay - an Italian grape making its presence felt in Aotearoa.”

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Energy healer and coach Olivia Scott from Love by Olivia appreciates the importance of balance in life, and that also applies to her winter drinks of choice. She loves the Detox Smoothie from Little Bird Kitchen, saying: “there’s nothing that quite literally cleanses the body like this smoothie. It’s more bitter to the taste than a typical smoothie, and I find myself craving this when I need a dose of greens. It hits the spot and my immune system and skin seems to thank me for it.”

On a Friday at around 5pm you’ll quite likely find Olivia at Lilian, “as I often find myself quite inclined to wander down the road for one of their negronis over a catchup with a girlfriend. No one quite makes them as good – and I have tried a fair few around town!

Lastly, Sara Higgins, owner of HANA, picks a neighbouring business as her place to kick off a chilly morning. “Nothing signals that the day has begun like a long black from Ozone cafe,” says the wellness expert, “and I love that it’s conveniently located right beside HANA. My dog Teddy and I enjoy a morning chat and pat with the friendly team as much as the coffee!” And now that the temperature has cooled, her other daily ritual is “a mug (or three) of the Adapt tea from Mayde Tea, a herbal blend to ease stress and help with mental clarity. This always brings some calm and stillness into my day!”

(HELENE RAVLICH)  PN

40 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

photography: unsplash.com

Hana’s Sara Higgins

Adapt tea from Mayde Tea

Olivia Scott

They come in quite a large tumbler too, which I swear makes Friday evening a little merrier for it.” Lastly, she professes much love for the pots of chai with hazelnut milk served at Ponsonby Road’s Orphans Kitchen. “If I have already had my caffeine intake and want something warm, the chai at Orphans made with fresh spices is so comforting, especially on a cold day. I love just sitting and sipping on one of these, watching Ponsonby go by. They come in a large pot too, so are perfect for sharing.”

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

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Photography Simon Moore

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Photography Greta Kenyon

Photography Josh Griggs

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PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

FRENCH WINE EXPLAINED When you lift the lid on French wine, it is not all as complex as it seems. As the French celebrate Bastille Day with full French flair in July, it seemed timely to focus on France.

With a few key pieces of information, we’ll have you an expert (or seemingly so) in no time at all.

Bordeaux Bordeaux, located in France’s south-west, has for many years been the centre of the world’s fine wine trade - an historic region producing exceptionally long-lived wines. The five key red varieties of Bordeaux red wines are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

White wines focus on Sauvignon and Semillon. The top producers make outstanding wines, year in, year out. In great vintages they require a good part of your lifetime in the cellar, whilst the tougher vintages are usually earlier drinking.

2018, 2019 and now 2020 the latest vintages from Bordeaux - the greatest trilogy of vintages ever! Now that is a big call, however the wines fortunately have no difficulty achieving these great heights; they deliver.

Burgundy The romantic region of Burgundy starts with Chablis in the north and finishes with Beaujolais in the south. Wines from Chablis are made from 100% Chardonnay, and from the heart of Burgundy white wines are also made from Chardonnay, whilst red wines are made from Pinot Noir. In the south, the grape variety of Beaujolais is Gamay. A tip – the 2019 vintage in Chablis is exceptionally good, unfortunately tiny quantities made though. Worth seeking out.

Alsace The region of Alsace makes it a little easier to understand by putting the variety on the label. The five noble varieties grown here are: Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc and Muscat. The classification system is also a little simpler (perhaps the addition of a little German efficiency has helped this small northern region), there’s AOC – Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée and Grand Cru.

Rhone Distinctly broken into two sections, the Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône, and stretching itself over 800km from just south of Lyon in central France to Avignon in the south of France. The Northern Rhône is home to the great Syrah of France, rich and superbly textured. The white superstar of the north is Viognier which is grown in and around the village of Condrieu. The Southern Rhône is home to Grenache and the great blended wines of the Rhône.

Loire Valley There are numerous wines produced in the Loire - we choose to focus on the areas of Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé and Vouvray. Sancerre is produced around the town of the same name and wines are made from Sauvignon Blanc. Pouilly-Fumé (not to be confused with Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy) are also made from Sauvignon Blanc, the term fumé not referring to a smoked flavour in the wine but rather to the mist that rolls into the region. The wines of Vouvray are grown on top of the steep chalk slopes alongside the Loire River. Vouvray wines are made from Chenin Blanc and in a wide array of styles from dry to very sweet.

The South Lumped together it is a big generalisation and a large area to cover.

The south coast of France produces the most diverse collection of styles in France. Starting in the west, close to the Spanish border, there are rich and robust reds like the wines of Madiran and Banylus. Moving east and across the sun-drenched beaches of the Mediterranean all the delights of Côtes de Provence Rosé hit you, which, just for the record, is not just a summer drink. Try a Rosé with roast duck in winter; the match is delicious.

To put your newly found knowledge or refresher to the test, pop in store any Thursday, Friday or Saturday during July as we’ve got French wine open for tasting in store. Or come along to Glengarry Victoria Park on 24 July to taste through the wines of France with us.

Booking details online.  PN www.glengarrywines.co.nz

Here at Glengarry

IT'S ALL ABOUT FRANCE WWW.GLENGAR RY . C O . NZ P: 0800 733 505 E: SALES@GLENG AR R Y . C O . NZ

42 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LUNCH TIME EATS BURGER BURGER

Old Smokey Burge r and BB Fried Chick en

CHOP CHOP

Cobra Kai Ramen

E

BIRD ON A WIR Bird Bowl

DDY x GO GO aDwA o ay lunch b Thai take s) lunchtime (weekday

EL SIZZLING

MY FRIED CHICKEN

HIDDEN VILLAGE

Pulled Pork Savoury Pancake

Beef, Blue Cheese or Pork Chorizo Empanadas

TOKYO CLUB

OLAS AREPAS

BREAD & BUTTER

The OG Chicken Sandwich

Takeaway sushi selection

Reina Arepa

PONSONBY CENTRAL

CAR PARK

Freshly made bread rolls

• First 30 minutes FREE • 0ver 80 car parks • Under cover & secure

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

FACES AT GREY LYNN FARMERS MARKET Elise Batt is the founder of LAZY gluten-free and vegan baking mixes. She sells these at Grey Lynn Farmers Market.

Where did you grow up and what brought you to Auckland?

I grew up in Christchurch and moved up to the big smoke in 2015 to study a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Finance and Analytics.

Has food played an important part in your life?

I’ve always been a foodie! My mum is an amazing cook and has her own catering business, so I’ve always been surrounded by good food. It’s something we’ve always loved to do together, and even though we live in different cities now, we are always sending recipes and photos of our dinner to each other. While my whole family loves food, surprisingly I’m the only one of my sisters that has really taken to preparing the food; the others just love to eat it!

How did you come up with the idea for LAZY mixes?

I remember having a gluten-free vegan cake at a friend’s birthday. We discussed how annoying it was that baking for dietary requirements was never as good as ‘regular’ baking.

I also felt disappointed that my friends had to eat a very average cake to suit my gluten-free requirements - it was these moments that were the catalyst for LAZY and my desire to create a quality product that was suitable for most dietary requirements but was still considered delicious by those who followed a ‘regular’ diet.

You have changed your packaging recently - why was that?

The first packaging for LAZY was quite rudimentary as I just wanted to test the product to see if anyone else liked it.

I had such a good response from the customers at Grey Lynn Farmers Market that I felt comfortable making the investment into professional branding. Now I am totally in love with our LAZY characters - Millie Measures, Stu Spoon and Sammy Spatula.

How has the market helped you grow your business?

The market has been absolutely essential to the growth of LAZY. Being able to talk with customers and get immediate feedback on the mixes has been invaluable. If it wasn’t for the Grey Lynn Farmers Market, I would have never learned that most schools are nut-free, and I would have continued to try to sell a nut bar for school lunches.

Where can we find your mixes, and what is next for LAZY? As well as Grey Lynn Farmers Market we sell online, or you can find our mixes at The Vegan Shop in Grey Lynn, and Bulk Food Savings in Mount Eden. We’ve just started selling to shops so hopefully you’ll

see us in more stores very soon. We’ll also be releasing a couple of new products this year. Next up is a brownie! We’ll be keeping you up-to-date on our Instagram @lazymixnz.

What do you enjoy when you aren’t working?

Prior to Covid-19, I loved travelling - mainly for the food of course! In my spare time I love to be in the kitchen trying new things and eating at new restaurants around town. I’ve also got a Spoodle called Fig who keeps me busy. She’s a lot of fun and super social. We’ve made a lot of new friends and she loves to drag me to the park every night to see them!  PN www.lazymix.co.nz

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 44 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS: VEGAN VIBE I recently visited Satya Chai Lounge on Karangahape Road with my family on a Wednesday evening after an exhibition opening at a local gallery.

It’s in the heart of the arts district so a great way to continue the night with friends for a round of drinks and shared communal food.

Satya Chai Lounge is the brainchild of Sammy Akuthota whose family has owned and run the Satya restaurants for many years.

Sammy is behind this Chai Lounge and another in Sandringham, that is well worth a visit, as well as the “World Famous in Central Auckland” Hyderabad Hotel pop-up in Ponsonby a year or so back. The Akuthota family are deeply entrenched in their local communities and have even been offering free Christmas meals to anyone that needs them at their Satya restaurants for the past eleven years. These are good people doing good things.

Upon arrival I was immediately struck by the atmosphere that was warm and welcoming and felt as though we had been transported to another time and place. The extensive drinks list made it hard to choose, but it felt apt to try the ‘cashew iced chai’ drink at a chai lounge. It was beautifully aromatic and was so good it hardly lasted five minutes!

The environment sets the scene for a lovely date night as well; the low lighting and candles scattered throughout the rug filled room make it the perfect atmosphere for a more intimate night out with one’s significant other. Definitely recommended.

PN (SOFIA ROGER WILLIAMS) 

- Gusto Italiano GUSTO MEANING ‘TASTE AND ENJOYMENT’

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.

Satya Chai Lounge specialises in Indian street food - sharing plates and communal grazing. We ordered a selection of dishes off the menu, all of which except one were vegan or could be made so. We began with the dahi puri, which although was not listed as vegan, was able to be made so by swapping the yoghurt for a flavour punch of tamarind chutney. These little bite sized nibbles had the perfect balance of crunch and deliciousness, savoured rather quickly by us all.

If you like fried food you’ll love what’s on offer here. We decided, in the interests of thorough research, to order every possible dish that was vegan - ‘onion baji’, ‘idly fry’, ‘cabbage 65’, ‘mushroom magic’ and ‘curry flower’. All were deeply indulgent with beautiful spices and aromatics, but we all felt the ‘curry flower’ stood out.

Described as ‘spiced cauliflower flash fried’, this dish did not disappoint. The cauliflower was beautifully cooked and practically melted in our mouths, creating a burst of caramelised goodness.

We collectively agreed that the ‘vege dumplings manchurian’ were our favourite. These tasty little morsels packed flavour, crunch and chew into each and every bite but would possibly order two of these next time - one wasn’t really enough.

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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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

WHAT IS ON AT DIDAS THIS JULY? 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 - the site being the original for the Jakicevich family, who established Glengarry on this spot in the 1940s and continue to own and manage it today.

So, what is happening at Dida’s this July? Sunday roasts continue throughout the month, however they are booked out weeks in advance (which is all a little overwhelming), so we do recommend you book quickly as we would love to see you.

On Tuesday nights we run a meatball special. Our chef is a master at meatballs which, for our pick, match perfectly with Pinot Noir and our warm open fireplace. Wednesday nights are all about sparkling wine and there is a different special each week. What is better than a mid-week get-together with friends?

French makeover. Our brilliant chef is busy crafting fine French fare to match. We cannot wait to share his creations with you, which match so well with the excellent French wines by the glass.

Mark it in your diary though, Friday nights at Dida’s when each week the team come up with a cocktail creation. Cocktails start from $12, with a delicious weekly cocktail that will see you coming back week-in, week-out. Cocktails by the fireplace in mid-winter, what could be better?

Winter has well and truly got its grip on us, which sees our new winter menu rolling out very soon.

Along with our neighbour Glengarry Wines, who are celebrating all things French throughout July, our ‘Wine of the Month’ is having a

See you soon.  PN DIDA’S, 60 Jervois Road, T: 09 376 2813, www.didaswinelounge.co.nz

T M

W

T

$12 All cocktails now $12 with new creations COME DOWN AND SEE US. every Friday ― 60 JERVOIS RD | 376 2813 | DIDAS.CO.NZ

46 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Proudly sitting in the middle of Ponsonby Road with the best view of the city, your local Burger Wisconsin is a true Kiwi icon.

New Zealand owned and operated since 1989, Burger Wisconsin was doing gourmet burgers before burgers became cool, way before. At Burger Wisconsin it’s always been about the food, and sourcing topquality ingredients from local NZ suppliers and producers, such as 100% Free Range Chicken and Eggs, as well as prime NZ Angus Beef; making their handmade-to-order burgers the best they can be.

Committed to reducing both their carbon footprint and impact on the plant, all their packaging is made from recycled materials from local sustainable forests and printed with water-based ink.

The local Ponsonby store has just launched a new $12 lunch menu so you can feel good about getting stuck into your favourite burger during your lunch break or after the kids’ sports games at the weekend.

Not only do they serve up a good time with their gourmet burgers, but you can also enjoy a special thick shake feature each month! Their chocolate and hazelnut flavour for July goes down a treat – but it is only around for a limited time so make sure you head in for one soon!

Whether you are an old school Kiwi Classic lover, a sweet tooth cranberry and chicken craver, or you’re totally into the Vegan hemp vibe, you can always rely on Burger Wisconsin to deliver the goods.

You can now get stuck in till late on Friday and Saturday nights. Nice.

BURGER WISCONSIN, 168 Ponsonby Road, www.burgerwisconsin.co.nz

GET STUCK INTO LUNCH $1

AE 2C

SAR SAL AD W ITH

EG

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Hazelnut

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THICKSHAKE OF THE MONTH

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VISIT YOUR LOCAL TODAY, DOWNLOAD THE APP OR ORDER ONLINE BURGERWISCONSIN.CO.NZ OFFERS AVAILABLE AT PONSONBY STORE, 168 Ponsonby Rd

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

PHIL PARKER: MID-WINTER WINES By the time this is published, the shortest day will be behind us and we’ll be heading towards spring.

Again, it has been a mild winter and we’ve rarely been down to single digit temperatures in the central city. As a physio student back in mid-1970s Auckland, I vividly recall crunching my way across white frosted grass on my way up the hill to the school in Grafton in my flared plaid pants, green wool jacket and tan suede boots. My Parnell student flat bedroom had a broken windowpane which I patched with cardboard and Sellotape – to little avail.

I do miss those clear, crisp frosty mornings where you could almost smell the cold in the outside air in the mornings and layer-up against the cold – and then be rewarded with a blue-skied sunny day. Anyway, here’s to magnolias and tulips and fresh buds on the grapevines!

Bohemian ‘The Composer’ Gewürztraminer Alsace, France 2018 - $21.99 Classic Alsatian gewürzt. Medium sweet and 12% alcohol. Lush and spicy with musky Turkish Delight, marmalade, dried pear and a tangy finish. Bargain. Fab with a cheese board, pork dishes and mildly spicy Asian foods.

Available Fine O Wines, Little India.

Greystone Nor’wester North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2018 - $19.99 Still a youngster at three years old. Bright and light bodied, with savoury umami soy and a hint of smoke. Cherry and dark berry fruit, with medium tannins on the finish. Match with rich ratatouille or slowcooked beef casserole.

Available: Caros, Blackmarket.co.nz Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2011 - $40 Wow. Pinot perfection. Gorgeous wine from north Canterbury. Soft and seductive, with ripe black cherry, spiced plum, soft tannins, mocha and savoury mushroom umami. Goes with your best duck dish or eggplant masterpiece.

Available: Pegasusbay.com Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Aged Release Prima Donna Pinot Noir 2010 - $115 Gracefully aged and very savoury, with hints of black cherry and a hint of tawny port. Complex and soft with roasted mushroom, cigar

box and dark chocolate. Match with venison or robust tomato-based winter dishes.

Available: Pegasusbay.com Pegasus Bay North Canterbury ‘Maestro’ Merlot Cabernet Malbec 2016 - $49.99 Another fab, ripe and full-bodied red from the Waipara Valley. There is so much hype about North Island ‘hot climate’ reds, yet the South Island can produce some stunningly good reds in a good year. Big bold and juicy. This is a fruity red, with flavours of Christmas cake, spiced plums and blackberries. Match with beef, lamb or bold tomatobased vege dishes.

Available: Pegasusbay.com, Vinofino.co.nz Soljans Barrique Reserve Kumeu Pinotage 2019 - $32 Spicy aromas. A medium-bodied wine with soft tannins and typical pinotage smoky/tar flavours. Black currant, plum and fruit cake. Soft and silky. Great with lamb or spicy tomato pasta.

Available: Soljans.co.nz No 1 Family Estate Assemblé Non-Vintage - $33 The very latest release of Daniel Le Brun’s flagship methode. 22 Ct gold colour, fine beaded bubbles. A good whiff of CO2 and a hint of yeasty brioche on the nose. Mouth filling and rich flavours of pear, crisp apple and stone fruit, with a dry mineral tangy finish.

A traditional blend of chardonnay, pinot noir (and pinot meuniere 60/35/5) with a minimum 18 months lees (on yeast) aging.

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

48 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

www.finewinetours.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

NEW SCREENING PROGRAMME ALREADY SAVING LIVES IN CENTRAL AUCKLAND The Auckland DHB’s Bowel Screening Programme has been running for fewer than six months and is already saving lives, with fourteen cancers found through screening.

The programme, for people aged between 60 and 74, aims to catch cancers early, when they can often be successfully treated.

Remuera local, Anthony, received his bowel screening test kit in the mail and after completing the test at home, posted it back in the prepaid envelope to the laboratory. Anthony then received news that he had a positive FIT (faecal immunochemical test) result, which meant that some blood had been found in his bowel motion.

“I was surprised to get a positive result as I didn’t think there was a problem. My weight is stable, my bowel motions are regular, and I feel well. Receiving the news was scary, but the staff were very reassuring and the information they provided was very helpful and easy to read.”

For most people, a positive test result does not necessarily mean you have bowel cancer. About seven in every 100 people who get a positive test result will have cancer, but due to earlier detection will be more likely to have a successful outcome. People who are diagnosed with early stage bowel cancer, and who receive treatment early have a 90% chance of long term survival.

Anthony was surprised to hear that his friends didn’t participate in the screening, as bowel cancer is more common in those over 60, ARPHS ADHBat Bowel Screenrisk Adverts (Team) APR21_v1.pdf 3 4/9/2021 5:17:02 PM with men being higher than women.

“I said to them, don’t be silly, just get on with it. It’s free; we don’t have to pay for it. Men are their own worst enemies when it comes to this stuff. We get complacent; we can take so much for granted living in New Zealand.”

Two weeks after receiving his results, Anthony went for a colonoscopy at the Greenlane Clinical Centre where small biopsies were taken for further analysis. Anthony was delighted to get the ‘all-clear’.

“The procedure happened very quickly. I was given medication to help me feel comfortable and there was no pain or discomfort during or after the procedure. They took a biopsy and I didn’t feel a thing!

I can’t emphasise the positive benefit of doing the bowel screening test. At least I can be confident and know that I’ve done the best I can by participating.” Anthony said he will happily partake in the screening process again to check in on his bowel health.

Bowel screening is free for those aged 60-74, and eligible for publicly funded healthcare. Invitations to participate in the programme appear in the letterboxes of those eligible (dependent on their birth date) and continue on a two-yearly cycle.  PN For more information, talk to your family doctor or visit timetoscreen.nz

PNWS APR21

Ponsonby News (180mm deep by 190mm wide)

Time to

screen

Talk to us about bowel screening.

It may save your life.

My body, my health, my future

TO FIND OUT MORE GO TO

www.timetoscreen.nz Free phone

0800 924 432 or talk to your doctor

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

TADHG STOPFORD: OTAGO UNIVERSITY ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANNABIS At the recent North Island GP conference, Associate Professor Giles Newton-Howes of Otago gave us all a dose of the cannabis paradox. “All that you need to know about cannabis” was the title of his talk.

Associate Professor Newton-Howes is a strikingly tall and handsome man with a strong personal style. ‘All you need to know about cannabis’, was aimed at the thousand medical professionals attending the North Island GP Conference. It was the only talk on cannabis at the conference, and it had four points - all arguably a combination of irrelevant and wrong.

To a full house, he said: • Kiwis use a lot of cannabis - True. With little knowledge, few harms, significant benefits.

• It’s stronger than ever - Unlike alcohol and paracetamol, it can’t kill. Educate/regulate.

• It can cause youth harm - Yes. THC is unhelpful for teenagers. CBD , CBG, CBC, could save some from psychosis, or suicidal anxiety and depression.

• There’s not enough evidence to prescribe cannabis - Incorrect. Defensible, but wrong.

This last one made my heart race and stomach turn because once again the subject of cannabis was being absolutely misrepresented to prescribers, and through them, to Kiwis.

Otago University is a centre of medical research excellence, and it has numerous researchers in cannabinoid therapeutics. (Pharmacology is, I believe, the number one globally ranked subject of both Otago and Auckland Universities). Their work in synthetics is, as far as I am aware, based on patentable synthetic cannabinoids that target your cannabinoid system.

Most medicines target your cannabinoid receptors, because they maintain normal function. In fact, about two thirds of global pharmaceutical revenues come from drugs that target your cannabinoid system. That’s $900 billion USD. That’s why ‘medical’ cannabis is a fast growing multi billion dollar industry, and that’s why cannabis is political because if hemp was regulated like a normal food product, it would compete against big pharma, and it would demolish big pharma’s market share.

Big pharma know this because they used to grow it and sell it.

‘Control the market, control the consumer, and control cannabis’ is their mantra.

Deregulate cannabis; it’s a herbal remedy. Let’s treat it as such. Make it a food again and get it out of MoDA. The Cannabis Paradox: where an important medicine isn’t medicine, although it’s a medicine.

The Cannabis Paradox: where an ancient and important food is a prohibited food.

Who benefits? (TADHG STOPFORD)  PN

50 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

TheHempfoundation.org.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LIVING, THINKING + BEING

PLASTIC-FREE SHOPPING TIPS Does the term ‘plastic free shopping’ conjure up images of a life spent eating solely dried pulses and nuts? There are lots of options if you’re looking to reduce your waste this Plastic Free July.

Give single serves a swerve - It seems like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to accidentally pick up a bag or box that’s filled with individually wrapped sweets, or single serves of miso soup. Carefully read the outer packaging if you’re unsure.

Buy big or go home - Whether you’re shopping for TP or tea bags – if it works with your budget and storage space, buy the biggest amount/largest container you can. This works best for non-perishable items you use often, like laundry liquid, body wash, cooking oil, and dry goods. There are double size and bulk versions of many ecostore products for the home and your humans.

Refill Nation and Bin Inn stores. Kit yourself out with cute Weck or Mason jars, or start saving good looking, uniform jars and lids of food you’ve already eaten.

Tip: You can now refill your favourite ecostore liquid products at 100 refill stations around New Zealand.

Contain yourself - Some supermarket’s deli, seafood and butchery departments now let customers bring their own containers. Next time you shop, bring clean containers with well-fitted lids, and ask at the counter.

Concentrate on reduction - Buying concentrated products is a great way to lower the packaging load. Consider switching to solid bars for your soap and haircare, for example. You could also try home care products like the new ecostore cleaner refill concentrates: one tiny recyclable glass bottle makes a whole 500ml trigger pack.

Nude food - In the produce aisle, look for unwrapped fruit and veges and pop multiples in mesh bags or even reuse clean plastic bags. Or shop for fresh further afield: farmer’s markets and food coops are a useful source of packaging free produce, which (bonus) is often spray free or organic.

Incredible bulk - For an artful wholefood filled pantry that’s sustainable (not to mention ‘grammable’), packaging-free bulk shopping is becoming widely accessible. In Auckland we have GoodFor,

Tip: Now you’re sorted to head to the shops, bring a couple of extra reusable bags you’re not attached to, so you can help a forgetful fellow shopper out. What goes around comes around.

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

PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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LIVING, THINKING + BEING

JOHN APPLETON: DIESEL PARTICULATES A POTENTIAL THREAT TO OUR HEALTH Government plans to place levies on petrol and diesel vehicles in order to subsidise the purchase of electric vehicles will not only be a very unpopular ‘move’, it will not even come close to addressing what I believe the conversation needs to be about.

All of us in New Zealand will at some point need to be thinking about how we are going to limit the impact of emissions from diesel vehicles that have increased substantially in numbers over recent years.

When I am out walking in the evening it’s become almost impossible to avoid the emissions from diesel powered cars, utes, trucks and buses. Sometimes I find myself holding my breath for up to a minute as vehicles pass by. We should all be concerned about this and what it could mean for our own health and that of many of us who live in urban areas.

Internationally there is a lot being said about diesel particulates from cars, trucks and machinery. With lung cancer in New Zealand being our biggest killer in terms of cancer (1,600 deaths annually) we have every reason to be concerned. The very conservative American Cancer Society and the British Cancer Research Society have both come out and said that diesel exhaust fumes have been conclusively linked to lung cancer. Scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organisation) say that diesel exhaust is a definite carcinogen in the highest possible category. A headline in the British Daily Mail reads, “Diesel exhaust fumes are a major cancer risk and as deadly as asbestos and mustard gas, says World Health Organisation”.

In New Zealand, we have allowed the importation of thousands of cheap second hand diesel vehicles that would not have been allowed on the road if appropriate emissions regulations were in place.

No one seems to care and as more and more car transport ships arrive at our ports to unload their cargo of vehicles, the problem will continue to get worse.

Four of the world’s biggest cities - Paris, Madrid, Athens, and Mexico City - are to ban diesel vehicles from their centres within the next decade. Tokyo banned ‘dirty’ diesels from its streets in 2000 unless they could meet strict emission standards. How many of these discarded vehicles ended up in New Zealand?

Diesel exhaust is made up of two main parts - gases and soot (particles). Each of these in turn is made up of many different substances. The soot is made up of microscopic particles known as PAH’s (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). These are less than one fifth the thickness of a human hair and can be deposited deep within the lungs where they can mutate the DNA over time.

Dr Saiful Bari, programme director school of engineering University of South Australia, an expert on diesel fuels, is emphatic about the dangers of diesel emissions for the general public. He says, “all particulates from diesel engines are harmful; even the latest socalled “clean” diesels are not necessarily safe because the particles are so small they can bypass the lung’s natural defences.”

As well as thinking about ourselves, surely we need to think about the children who are exposed to diesel emissions as they walk to and from school. How will they cope with very considerable exposure over many years?

Diesel engines have become very popular as they were seen as being ‘greener’ due to their CO2 output being significantly less than that of petrol engines. However while exhaust emissions from petrol engines are toxic, they don’t have the diesel particulates that are so harmful.

If petrol engines were all fitted with catalytic converters which reduce the toxicity of emissions as they have been in the U.S since 1975, this could be a major step in the right direction and we could progressively PN reduce our reliance on diesel engines. (JOHN APPLETON)  E: john@johnappleton.co.nz www.johnappleton.co.nz

MICHAEL OWEN SHEN® THERAPY

T: 09 376 9599 Email: mowenshens@gmail.com www.emotionalwellbeing.co.nz

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

HONOUR MITCHELL: COOKING AT HOME TWO TERRIFIC TEEN-FRIENDLY SPECIALS Living in Ponsonby means we are surrounded by excellent restaurants and cafes.

What’s more, there always seems to be something new popping up for us to try.

I would certainly be lying if I didn’t say that I like eating out more than I do at home. This is partly because I’m a lazy chef and partly because I feel like nothing ever reaches “restaurant standards”. It is incredibly hard to find an appetising dish that you can make easily for lunch or dinner. By that I mean, one that doesn’t involve a hundred different ingredients or half the day preparing food and washing dishes.

Set aside in the fridge. For the salsa, grab a bowl, add all the ingredients, mix everything together then refrigerate until needed. This can be done a couple of hours in advance to improve the combining of flavours.

It’s taken a very long time for me to devise a recipe specifically suited to my cooking abilities - in a nutshell: quick, easy-to-find ingredients, nutritious and extremely tasty. Between you and me there’ve been multiple failures along the way. Hey! - but I guess we can’t learn if we don’t make mistakes.

Heat coconut oil in a large, heavy frying pan then place the pieces of fish in the pan in a single layer. (Add more oil as necessary). Cook until golden, about 2-3 minutes each side. Fish should flake when it’s cooked. Before serving, quickly season with a few grinds of salt and pepper. As the fish is cooking put the tortillas in the oven to warm up for about 5 minutes. (I wrap the the tortillas in a damp handy towel to keep them soft). Once the fish is cooked, take the pan and place it on the table along with your warm tortillas, salsa, guacamole and lettuce. Assemble and enjoy!

Below I share one of my favourite savoury recipes as well as a sweet one. Both are healthy but thankfully do not compromise on deliciousness.

All ingredients can be sourced from Farros (Westmoreland St) and Harvest by Huckleberry (Richmond Road).

For the guacamole, mash the flesh of a ripe avocado with a a fork and add a squeeze of lime juice.

PEANUT CHOCOLATE SLICE Preparation and cooking time 30 minutes.

Allow another hour for cooling and to chill the topping.

Base: 1½ cups of roughly chopped peanuts 1 cup rice bubbles ½ cup roughly ground sunflower seeds ½ cup chia seeds 1 cup finely ground oats 1 tablespoon of honey 6 tablespoons of maple syrup 4 tablespoons of coconut oil

FISH TACOS WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA Ready in 30 minutes, serves four.

Fish 400g of white fish fillets (Tarakihi is a good choice) 2 tablespoons coconut flour 2 tablespoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons coconut oil Pineapple salsa 1 cup of fresh pineapple finely cubed 1/2 a red pepper finely cubed 1/2 a small red onion chopped finely 1 small bunch ofcoriander, very finely chopped 2 tablespoons of lime juice 1 tablespoon of Ceres Coconut Aminos Seasoning 1 tablespoon of sesame Oil Splash of tamari/soy sauce Pinch of chilli flakes (optional)

Topping: 100g of dark chocolate 100g cacao butter 100g cacao powder Stevia or maple syrup as needed for desired sweetness Method: Place all the dry ingredients into a bowl and make a well in the middle. Then combine the honey, maple syrup and coconut oil in a small pot and melt fully. Once melted, add to the dry ingredients and stir quickly. When fully combined and at a sticky consistency press into a 25 x 25cm baking tray lined with baking paper. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden.

Let the slice cool completely before adding the the chocolate topping.

For the topping, melt the chocolate, cacao butter and combine it with the cacao powder, and any sweetener. Stir briskly then pour over the fully cooled slice. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before cutting into small squares. Take to school for a nutty-choc treat! (HONOUR MITCHELL)

Guacamole I medium ripe avocado Squeeze of lime juice TO SERVE: 8 tortillas, 2 cups of sliced lettuce Method: First cut the fish into bite-sized pieces. Then on a separate plate combine the coconut flour and cornstarch. Coat the pieces of fish by tossing them in the cornstarch and coconut flour mix.

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FUTURE GENERATION

MEET THE TEACHER Jared is Head of Mathematics at Western Springs College | Ngā Puna o Waiōrea.

How long have you been teaching?

16 years - over 12 years at Springs, and I’ve been the Maths Head of Department since 2010.

What do you enjoy about teaching Mathematics?

I really like the subject so teaching it means that I get to do maths every day. I’ve always liked explaining things to people and seeing them “get it”. Of course, teaching is much more than some good explanations the fact that many students don’t really like maths is a tough problem that I have to work on, and it is rewarding to solve challenging problems.

You have been a long-time member of the Sustainability Council at Springs, can you describe it for people who might not know about it.

The Sustainability Panel is a group of students, teachers, parents, and ex-parents (often Board members), who are keen to drive our school forward to become more and more sustainable. As part of the panel, we have four active student groups in the school: Kaitiakitanga, Healthwise, Wastewise and Travelwise.

What has motivated you to be so involved with the Sustainability Council?

Sustainability is so important. On the whole, young people in our community know this. Many are very anxious about the future when they see how we are struggling to make progress. I think students need to see adults who care about this stuff doing something about it.

And students need to have a place where they can start to become the changemakers we need.

You support the Travelwise students - you must be delighted at the number of bikes that are parked at school most days.

Yes, we do have a high proportion of staff and students on bikes (even one on a unicycle). Far more of our kids actually walk to school, and a large number use the school bus or public buses. Still, we do want to get even more of our students out of their parents’ cars.

You cycle to work - how far is your commute and what do you enjoy about it?

I live in Hillsborough and it’s 10km, roughly half an hour. I like that I get to be active out in the fresh air. My ride to and from work is some nice downtime. I do like that I am making a positive choice for the environment and for the community with one less car on the road.

Are you ever tempted to just drive?

No, well not very often. I drive about once a term when I need to transport something. Cycling is a habit every morning, and no longer a conscious choice.

What keeps you occupied when you aren’t teaching?

My wife and I have two primary-aged kids who keep us busy. Before the kids, I did some mountain biking and I’ve built a small pump track in my front yard that I like to play on which helped to keep me sane during lockdown. And over the last couple of years I’ve been doing a Masters degree.

Tell me a bit more about doing your Masters.

I was lucky enough to get a teaching fellowship at Auckland University in 2018. I got to do some lecturing, interacted with their Maths Department, and also had enough downtime to start some Masters level study in Mathematics Education. Last year, I finished my dissertation on the topic of using technology to teach maths.  PN

I LOVE LUCY BOOK REVIEW:

It’s My Life - Stacie Ramey - 11+

“In a fair world, I’d be one of those girls, walking like they do, stride for stride, living my best life. We would be inseparable. If only I had a body that worked and a doctor who hadn’t screwed up.”

Jenna has cerebral palsy, and has learnt to deal with her disabilities. She spends her life subjecting herself to whatever new operation her well-meaning parents and doctors believe can help her. However, in light of new information that her condition was actually caused by an injury Jenna is livid with her parents, who have withheld the truth from her for her whole life.

We follow Jenna as she navigates high school with cerebral palsy, catfishes her crush by anonymously helping him with homework, hangs out with her gay best friend and tries to ‘fit in’. The story gives insight into what living with this condition is like and I like the fact the Jenna is determined and doesn’t let anything stop her from doing anything she sets her mind to.

I thought that this book was pretty good, but some parts felt a bit cheesy. Jenna’s character was interesting, but there were some parts where she displayed some classic main character traits - “I’m not pretty! He could never like me back!” These added a tiny bit of a cliche to some parts. Overall, ‘It’s My Life’ is an easy read which kept me entertained.

3 out of 5 cats. (LUCY KENNEDY)  PN Available at www.dorothybutlerbookshop.co.nz www.lucykennedywriter.wixsite.com/reviews instagram @luce_kennedy

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out of 5!

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Amazing friendships Years 7-13

Open Day Tuesday 24 August

Register: stcuthberts.school.nz

PONSONBY PETS

PONSONBY PEOPLE & THEIR PETS Diego is an African Grey parrot originating from Equatorial Africa, although he was hatched in exotic Whangarei. He is a well known face at New Leaf Kombucha, the only kombucha taproom in New Zealand - Diego works the Dolly Parton shift with the business owner Derek Hillen.

Where is Diego from and is there any history of his breed you’d like to tell us?

Diego is a three-year old African Grey parrot, a parrot reputed to be the smartest of all the parrot species.

What are his favourite foods?

He loves sunflower seeds and the odd finger.

We know he talks. How extensive is his vocabulary?

Although still quite young, Diego talks a lot. He even has little conversations with himself. The latest one going through his little parrot head is this: “Do you want a sunflower seed?”

“No?” “Here you go!”

will tear the paper into little pieces just to drop on the floor and watch us clean them up. Cheap entertainment but not appreciated, Diego!

We hear Diego likes a drive in your car - how far is he happy to go?

Yes, Diego loves driving but he’s not very good at it, so I keep him in a pet carrier on the seat beside me. He would go driving all day if he had his choice.

Does he go on any sales trips or meetings?

Diego is in the taproom with me all day and every day. We go home together at night and come to work together in the mornings. He joins all my meetings in the taproom and gives sage advice.

Does he have any friends, apart from me?

Diego has a huge fan club among our customers and now even has his own Instagram account (@diego_the_kombucha_parrot).

He seems clever - does he have any habits - good or bad?

Diego has excellent personal hygiene and is constantly preening and grooming himself. He is always looking his best. One of his less desirable habits is his love of tearing into the local media. (We put newspapers on top of his cage and he always climbs up there). He

He has also made friends with the local sparrows who dart into the taproom to eat whatever is under his cage (he’s a messy eater).

When they land near his cage he cocks his head and looks down at them and often says, “Hello, Buddy!”  PN

NEW LEAF KOMBUCHA, 37 Crummer Road, T: 09 360 0199, www.newleafkombucha.nz

56 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Your pet deserves the best care.

Animates Vetcare Richmond Rd More than just exceptional veterinary care.

Find us inside Animates at

316 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn animates.co.nz/vetcare

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

TALKING TRUSTS: RICK & JESSICA Rick and Jessica had set up their trust almost 20 years ago. It owned their family home, a commercial investment property and the shares in their residential investment property company.

Tammy McLeod

They were the trustees together with their lawyer. Rick and Jessica had two adult children and they had been considering helping them into their own homes. The trust didn’t have any ready cash but it did have a lot of equity and Rick and Jessica were thinking of ways that the trust could access the equity to help their kids.

Rick and Jessica had also heard about the changes to trust law under the new Trusts Act which had come into force earlier in the year. They were keen to make sure that they complied with the new Act, but were relying on their lawyer to make sure everything was OK. They hadn’t heard anything from him, and a friend mentioned that they had been to see a specialty trust lawyer to check that the trust deed was OK. The friend told them that the lawyer’s specialty was asset structuring and so she could also help with making sure that they structured things correctly when helping their kids. Rick and Jessica really wanted to make sure that they would be helping their kids only and protecting their kids from the ramifications of any relationship split.

They made an appointment and took their trust documents in to see the lawyer. She said that some of the terms of the trust needed some tweaks because of the new Act, but she was mostly concerned with the power to appoint and remove trustees. She explained to them that most lawyers used precedents when they were preparing documents for clients, but sometimes those precedents weren’t carefully used and you could end up with unintended consequences.

In their case, the precedent had been used in such a way, that their lawyer had the power to say who the trustees of the trust were.

The lawyer explained that sometime this may be OK; for example if they both died it may be appropriate for the independent trustee (in this case the lawyer) to be able to say who the trustees would be to retain some independence. However, in this case, the lawyer could actually say who the trustees would be now. This could become an issue if Rick and Jessica separated and the lawyer chose to remove one of them and side with the other. The lawyer kindly said that she thought this was a mistake in the trust deed, and

not something which the lawyer who prepared it had intended to happen. However, she said that it was a good reminder for people to have a good review of their trust deeds to ensure that not only were they up to pace with the new Trusts Act 2019, but that there were no unintended consequences with a mis-use of a precedent.

The other issue with the power of appointment of trustees in Rick and Jessica’s trust was that it didn’t provide for what would happen if the person who had the power of appointment and removal of trustees loses capacity. As the population ages and life expectancies increase, lack of capacity is becoming more of an issue with trusts. Previously when life expectancies were lower, people often died before they lost capacity. These days, people are living longer, but physical health does not equate to mental health and more people are losing their mental capacity as they age. This can become a problem in trusts which don’t provide for that occurrence.

Even though there was a fundamental flaw in Rick and Jessica’s trust deed regarding who held the power to hire and fire trustees, there was also no provision for what would happen if that person lost capacity. Their new trust lawyer explained that this can be a real problem, and even though the new Trusts Act deals with how to remove an incapacitated trustee, it does not deal with what to do if the person who has the power to appoint and remove trustees loses capacity. If that happened, they may need to go to Court, depending on the circumstances.

The lawyer recommended looking to see if there was a power to vary the trust deed to make Rick and Jessica the people to have the power to appoint and remove trustees while they were alive, and further to provide for what would happen if one or both of them lost capacity.

Fortunately there was the power to vary the trust deed in their trust.

But the lawyer explained that there are many trusts which do not have the power to vary the terms of the trust and so people can be stuck with trust deeds that do not work as intended.

This story illustrates how important it is to understand the terms of your trust deed and make sure it says what you actually want it to say. Now is the perfect time to get expert specialised advice on what your trust deed actually says, and then a plan on how to fix it.  PN

DAVENPORTS LAW, 331 Rosedale Road, Level 1, Building 2, Albany, T: 09 883 4400, www.davenportslaw.co.nz

58 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 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 4 4 0 0 DAV EN P O RTS L AW.CO.N Z

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

LOGAN GRANGER: MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATES – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The Inland Revenue has just released its vehicle kilometre rates for the 2021 income year, and it’s not good news, particularly for employers who will need to quickly update mileage reimbursement systems for the new rates.

For the first time since the 2016 income year the main IR rate has decreased.

The rates are as follows:

The rates have come down because of lower fuel costs experienced because of Covid-19 and reduced interest and maintenance costs.

The IR kilometre rates are relevant in the following circumstances: • Working out the amount of vehicle expenses a self-employed business person can claim, • Working out the amount of vehicle expenses that can be claimed by a close company that meets certain criteria, in relation to vehicles provided to shareholder-employees, and • Working out how much an employer can pay tax free to an employee to reimburse for work-related use of the employee’s personal vehicle.

Of course, self-employed people or employers are not required to use the IR kilometre rates; other methods are allowed, but the IR kilometre rates provide what is intended to be a simple, cost effective method of calculating these amounts.

the 2021 year – the year ended 31 March 2021 if you have a standard balance date. The decrease in the rate will reduce the amount of vehicle costs you can claim when you file your 2021 tax return. If you have already filed your 2021 income tax return, and relied on the 2020 kilometre rates, then strictly speaking the amount of deductible vehicle expenses must be recalculated. Depending on the amount of the difference between the two amounts you will either need to request an amendment to your 2021 income tax return, or you may be able to self-correct the difference in your 2022 income return.

Employers If you are an employer and are reimbursing employees for work related travel, the reduced rates apply to reimbursements made from the date that they were issued – 27 May 2021 - and you need to review your reimbursement policy. When the rates have increased in the past, a lag in updating rates paid to employees, while potentially disadvantageous to employees, did not cause a PAYE problem. However, a decrease in the rates does require immediate attention.

As a reminder, the Tier 1 rates (which reflect the fixed and variable costs of running a vehicle) can be used for the first 3,500km of business travel, or the business portion of the first 14,000 of total travel in the vehicle. After these limits, the lower Tier 2 rates (which only reflect variable costs) apply.

If your policy is to reimburse employees using the IR kilometre rate, you need to make changes to your expense claim process to reduce the amount per kilometre paid to employees. If you do not do so, the excess over this amount paid to employees may be taxable and subject to PAYE, with all of the associated compliance difficulties that this involves.

We have written several articles in the past on the practical problems with the two-tier kilometre rate method in particular for reimbursing employees and suffice to say these still exist where employees are reimbursed for high levels of work related travel. If you’d like to refresh your memory on this method, we wrote about the practical issues with introduction of the two-tier system in August 2018, and updated it with new developments in September 2019.

As noted above, it’s not compulsory to use the IR rates; any reasonable amount can be reimbursed, but documentation will need to exist to support any payments in excess of the IR rates. If you have separately negotiated reimbursement rates with employees, you need to review these to determine whether the amount paid to employees could now be in excess of the updated kilometre rates allowed by IR. (LOGAN GRANGER)  PN

WHAT DOES THIS CHANGE MEAN FOR YOU?

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.

Self-employed and close companies If you are a sole trader or qualifying close company and use the kilometre rate method to claim business vehicle costs, this new rate applies for

60 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

JOHNSTON ASSOCIATES, 202 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 361 6701, www.jacal.co.nz

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Property transactions that come up smelling of roses.

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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

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

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HERNE BAY PROPERTY VALUES TOP THE LIST FOR NEW ZEALAND – AND IT’S NO SURPRISE TO THOSE IN THE KNOW Latest real estate sales figures show that four suburbs around Central Auckland’s inner western fringe are among the top 10 most expensive neighbourhoods in New Zealand when it comes to residential values.

The data comes as no surprise to one of the region’s leading real estate salespeople who knows the suburbs intricately.

annual growth on $1.5million home is $150,000 and once a suburb reaches that top echelon of values, it usually tends to remain there.”

June figures from real estate data analysis agency CoreLogic show that the tightly-held locale of Herne Bay is New Zealand’s most expensive suburb for residential housing, recording a median sales value of $3.158million.

Just as CoreLogic’s figures were being released, Blair Haddow was concluding the sale of a beautiful Ponsonby villa-style residence at 30 Tawariki Street which was purchased post-auction by negotiation for $3.537million. The grand early settler single-level dwelling, which had been relocated from Epsom many years ago, was bought as a family home.

Second spot on the CoreLogic list is snapped up by neighbouring St Marys Bay with a median sales value of $2.787million, while Westmere comes in at fifth place on the CoreLogic chart with a median sales value of $2.346million, and Ponsonby taking out seventh place with a median sales value of $2.263million.

For high-performing Bayleys Ponsonby salesperson Blair Haddow, who specialises in marketing residences in Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Ponsonby, Freemans Bay, and Grey Lynn, CoreLogic’s latest statistics underpin sales trends he has tracked from his own sales records for many years.

“Viewed over the medium to long-long-term, property prices have always continued to rise in these areas. Suburbs such as Herne Bay, St Marys Bay, Ponsonby, Freemans Bay, Grey Lynn, and Westmere have long been among the most sought-after city fringe locations in Auckland, along with Parnell and Remuera to the east, and sales values simply reflect that,” said Blair Haddow.

The address was one of two big sales Blair Haddow conducted last month - with number one John Street in Ponsonby going under the hammer for $2.65 million. The four-bedroom/two-bathroom dwelling was fought over by four bidders.

Meanwhile, as this edition of Ponsonby News was going to press, Blair Haddow’s listing for an executive style four-bedroom/two-living area residence in Masons Avenue, Herne Bay, was going under the auctioneer’s hammer.

Blair is now busy networking with multiple potential vendors preparing them to take their homes to market in spring, using comparable sales data as a pricing guideline rather than any reference to out-of-date Auckland Council rating valuations.

“There is only a finite amount of land in these areas and people want to live there for a multitude of reasons: proximity to the city, a high level of social amenities, safe communities, good schools, and likeminded neighbours.

“June, July and August – apart from last year because of the impact of Covid-19 – 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, and this year has seen a return to that historical pattern,” said Blair.

“And on simple cold mathematics alone, the price growth percentage on a high-value home is more by dollar value than say the same percentage growth on a mid-value home, so 10 percent annual growth on a $3million property is $300,000 for example, while 10 percent

“Saying that, my colleagues at Bayleys Ponsonby and I are still seeing auctions being brought forward as vendors are accepting early offers, so those vendors taking their home to market now are definitely finding success on the auction floor.”  PN www.facebook.com/blairhaddowresidential

1 John Street

62 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

30 Tawariki Street

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

WARMER, DRIER RENTAL PROPERTIES: HEALTHY HOMES STANDARDS COME INTO FORCE Healthy Homes Standards (HHS) application starts now, so if landlords have not prepared for this until now, it is becoming urgent to do so.

What is the HHS compliance start date?

From 1 July 2021, all new or renewed tenancies must provide a statement of compliance with HHS included in the Tenancy Agreement and if there are still some deficiencies to meet all the required criteria for ventilation, insulation, heating or drainage, they should be remedied within 90 days.

When do existing tenancies need to comply with HHS? If there is an existing tenancy on a periodic contract signed prior to 1 Dec 2020, landlords have up to 1 July 2024 to comply with HHS or when there is a change of tenant, whichever is earlier.

How do I go about doing a HHS assessment for my rental property?

There are three assessment options for owners; a self-assessment, a low-cost provider with a maintenance arm, or getting an assessment from an impartial provider who provides a Healthy Homes report.

Doing it wrong could result in fines due to errors and non-compliance.

Owners should make sure they are familiar with what is required.

There are some useful calculators online for heating, insulation and ventilation and Tenancy Services has provided an example statement.

Is there any exemption to the compliance with HHS by the deadline?

The short answer is no for any long term residential rental in New Zealand. However, properties that are due to be demolished/rebuilt soon for a site redevelopment or a true short term “Airbnb” rental may be exempt. In other circumstances, partial exemptions to meeting some of the standards may apply, for apartments in a multi storey building notably.

Is there a benefit in involving a property manager for managing this?

This is not a one-size fits all situation and each property should be treated individually. Good property managers work hard and assist at finding the best solution (not just the ‘compliant’ solution) for each home. They can organise an independent assessment and can review findings and organise remediation if needed. Engaging an independent assessor to complete the report will undoubtedly save

landlords time and give them the assurance and protection needed to comply with the law changes.

Get in touch with the team at New Lease and they will take care of it for you for a stress free experience.

Fun Quiz on HHS: To celebrate their rebranding from Catalise to New Lease, send your answers to this fun quiz to sandie@newlease.co.nz to be in the draw for a 3 months free property management prize (conditions may apply).

New Lease will publish the correct answers in our next Ponsonby News article!

1. Is a shower dome a qualifying device for moisture control in bathrooms according to HHS? Yes/No 2. Do you need to install a kitchen extractor fan if your stove is in front of the kitchen window? Yes/No 3. If you can feel a draft coming through old wooden windows joinery, is this acceptable due to the age of windows? Yes/No 4. What is a ground moisture barrier? It is...

NEW LEASE LTD, 203A Symonds Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland, M: 021 352 670, sandie@newlease.co.nz, www.newlease.co.nz

“inject new life into your property”

We are personable and passionate about property and people.

We act professionally and proactively to bring out the best in your property and make your investment more profitable.

For a trusted partner, contact Sandie:

www.newlease.co.nz 64 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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203a Symonds St, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1010 PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

ALBERTS OFFERING A NEW CBD WORKSPACE SMES CRAVE Small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) searching for an economic solution into a workspace that provides a central city location and opportunities often only seen by larger corporates, are finding the answer with Alberts.

Alberts sets out to redefine the modern workplace, providing aspirational design, modern technology solutions, high quality meeting spaces, and exceptional amenities to meet all SME requirements in the modern world.

Kylie Metzener, Alberts leasing manager, says that Alberts goal is to make the workplace solution simpler for our tenants and members, providing them the opportunity to grow and breathe while upgrading to A-grade premises, with Alberts offering a choice of five CBD locations.

“Providing high quality offices is the foundation of the Alberts offer, but there is much more to it than that. We want SMEs to have the same experience as large organisations, which is why we wrap them in world-class service and amenities including food and beverage, high quality collaborative spaces, outstanding concierge services and many opportunities available through our exclusive private tenants’ club.”

enjoy a workspace with high-quality design that is a modern solution to ensure your organisation works smarter. Finally, Alberts also offers traditional lease terms suitable for tenants who have a more specific requirement.

Alberts has three workspace options, explains Kylie. “Alberts Private Suites are ready-to-use secure offices where you can walk in and start working. Alberts Bespoke offers a made-to-measure space designed in conjunction with your needs and brand. Fully fitted out and secure, refits come at no cost to the tenant. This means you can

“Anyone interested in experiencing true design quality, customer service, technology and an unrivalled location for their business should consider Alberts as their next workplace destination. If you want to be part of a growing community with outstanding culture, then we’d love to show you around Alberts.”  PN

ALBERTS, five CBD locations, Auckland, Email: info@alberts.co.nz, T: 09 886 7472, Linkedin: Alberts NZ, Facebook: @wearealberts, Instagram: @wearealberts, www.alberts.nz

REPOSITION YOUR BUSINESS. LITERALLY.

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KERRY LEE: BOOK REVIEWS Shadow Over Edmund Street

by Suzanne Frankham Describing herself as a storyteller and an insomniac author, Suzanne Frankham has spent the last 30 plus years wearing a variety of different hats on her journey to becoming a novelist, starting with her first novel, a murder mystery titled Shadow Over Edmund Street, set in the Auckland suburb of Ponsonby.

Raised in Grey Lynn, Suzanne left New Zealand a few years after graduating from university, finding work as an environmental scientist in the Philippines. Eventually, she did what every other young Kiwi did before her, and had her Overseas Experience (OE) before settling in Melbourne, Australia.

In 2010 she decided to hone her skills as a writer at her local Hampton Community Centre under the tutelage of Australian writer Lucy Treloar and later, crime novelist Leigh Redhead.

Under Treloar’s guidance, she finally put pen to paper and started writing Shadow Over Edmund Street, which she had already mapped out in her head years before. It tells the story of Edwina, described as a battler who grew up in the once poverty-stricken suburb of Ponsonby, which has now been gentrified by a new generation. After she’s murdered, it’s up to the police to delve into her past and present to help them find her killer.

As a former resident of Grey Lynn/Ponsonby, Suzanne’s a huge fan of the area, and she felt that it needed to be included in the book.

“I love the new Ponsonby, as much as I love the old one, and I tried so hard to make it one of the main characters, so to speak; the place is very special to me. “The important thing about the area is that it’s undergone such a revival in my lifetime, and that’s what I wanted to include in the book,” said Suzanne.

On 31 August, Suzanne will be attending a book launch for ‘Shadow Over Edmund Street’ at the Women’s Bookshop at 105 Ponsonby Road, at 6pm.  PN For more on ‘Shadow Over Edmund Street’, please visit www.womensbookshop.co.nz And for more on Suzanne, go to www.books.google.co.nz

Shackleton’s Endurance

by Joanna Grochowicz Based on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1916 expedition to Antarctica, Shackleton’s Endurance is the story about his ill-fated attempt to traverse the entire continent by foot. His plan was fairly simple; enter the Weddell Sea, make landfall on the Antarctic mainland, and then simply lead a group of men across it.

Unfortunately, while on route, his ship became trapped in the sea ice and nine months later sank, leaving Shackleton and his men stranded with no way of communicating their whereabouts to the outside world. They would need to rescue themselves.

After drifting northward on the pack ice for what must have seemed like forever, they finally launched the three small rowboats they had salvaged and made the dangerous crossing to inhospitable Elephant Island, situated in an isolated stretch of the Southern Ocean.

Still with no hope of rescue, Shackleton took a small group of men, and made the even more perilous sea voyage to South Georgia, an island some 1300km away, where they knew they could get help from those stationed at whaling bases.

“One of the things about this story is just how brutal each of the challenges they faced were. It’s astonishing that not one of the 27 men that accompanied him died,” said author Joanna Grochowicz.

It’s an amazing adventure, but I was left wondering how Joanna had managed to get so much of the minutiae of the crews interactions into the book. That answer lay in the expedition’s journals and the various personal papers that she researched in order to get a better idea of how the crew and their leader really got on.

“Everything in the book comes from a primary source. The men kept journals and many wrote about their experiences afterward. The material is very detailed; excellent records were kept of food, equipment, and the activities they undertook while on the sea ice.

“The journals are a wonderful source of information about the men’s relationships and the team dynamic. It wasn’t always easy to be living in such close quarters for such an extended period of time and facing such uncertainty.

They really didn’t know if they would survive.

“Shackleton is such an important character in that age of heroic exploration, and even though he didn’t achieve any of his major polar aspirations, he was still an incredibly inspiring person. Just an iconic explorer.”

Shackleton’s Endurance is now available at the Children’s Bookshop in Fountain PN Court, Three Lamps, corner Jervois & St Marys Road.  For more on Shackleton’s Endurance please visit www.allenandunwin.com And for more information on Joanna Grochowicz, visit www.joannagrochowicz.com

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

The Pols Potten range

Ring storage units, another classic design by Joe Columbo, Circa. 1964

Boby Trolley by Joe Columbo

The Calvo side table from SCP

Naver Collection Entertainment Unit Danish design at its best in Walnut and Corian

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

@ BOB AND FRIENDS

BOB & FRIENDS, 253 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 378 7350, www.bobandfriends.co.nz

We’ve moved into our new home at 253 Ponsonby Road, Auckland.

Come in and say hello, we can’t wait to show you the space.

Open 7 days a week: 10am to 5pm Monday - Saturday 10:30am to 4pm Sunday Mobile: 022 021 0455 ron@bobandfriends.co.nz Tel: 09 3787350 www.bobandfriends.co.nz

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

YOUR NEW HOME AWAITS YOU This could well be the best time to secure an apartment in the new Proxima Residences, with construction due to commence.

Located high on the ridge of Eden Terrace, Proxima Residences will create a new landmark designed by award winning Construkt Architects.

The apartments have been designed to appeal to owner occupiers and have an elegance that oozes luxury. The top-class finishings, the most spectacular of which is the inclusion of European designer kitchens from Matisse, are more often found in luxury homes.

The experienced team behind Proxima Residences had a vision to design with utmost quality, long term vision and sustainability, and these characteristics are sure to impress.

Each apartment has a large outdoor living space, and northerly views towards the harbour and city from many of the two bedroom apartments. The one bedroom apartments are generous in size, many with an office/study, and have an attractive outlook towards volcanic Auckland.

As it is said, location is everything in Auckland. The central location in Eden Terrace provides convenient access to motorway junctions and allows an easy walk to Ponsonby, the City Centre, Basque Park and Karangahape Rd/Train Station, once complete.

With the tender process underway, construction is due to commence with an estimated construction period of 18 months.

Variable home loan interest rates by major lenders are at a record low for new developments, resulting in a sudden surge in sales.

Exciting options are still available at Proxima and it’s certainly not too late to secure your new home.

One bedroom apartments start from $699,000, one bedroom plus study units from $728,000 and two bedroom apartments from $1,156,000. There are also sub-penthouse and penthouse options available from $1,880,000.

Air-conditioning is included and all windows are double glazed for year round comfort, affording full compliance with the current healthy homes standards. Most apartments have car park options available.

For further information: Aaron Cook T: 021 612 642, E: a.cook@barfoot.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

PERFECTLY PROPORTIONED 501/70 DALDY ST, WYNYARD QUARTER This is a perfectly proportioned apartment in the recently completed ‘30 Madden’ building by award-winning developers Willis Bond and architects Studio Pacific.

The new waterside community of Wynyard Quarter sets the gold standard for downtown urban living in Auckland city. Two bedrooms plus media room, one secure basement car park and ample opportunities for world- class sunsets await at your new west-facing abode.

Meticulously configured, the sparkling new apartment boasts a sprawling floorplan of 113m2 on the fifth floor, light and lofty living spaces connect seamlessly to the chef’s-quality kitchen complete with European appliances and a calming neutral colour palette, ensuring the perfect backdrop for every occasion. Clean lines, luxurious textures and a clever configuration are evident throughout two generously proportioned bedrooms, while the master is elevated by a walk-inwardrobe and tiled ensuite. The living flows to the west-facing balcony to enjoy all the alfresco occasions.

Perfectly positioned within one of the city’s most anticipated urban developments, the Wynyard Quarter precinct has fast become the city’s premier live and work destination, boasting a high proportion of worldclass businesses, retailers, restaurants and green spaces. Transport links in all directions pair perfectly with cycle trails, waterfront walkways and promenade picnic spots to ensure balance and harmony between the designer lifestyle and connection to the outdoors. Included are the exclusive to residents landscaped and expansive terrace gardens and courtyard; 30 Madden has targeted a Homestar 7 rating in the quest to create a green-conscious community.

Brand new and never lived in, a change of circumstance has meant it is now offered to the market, just as the first residents of 30 Madden begin to move in.

Call Carl Madsen for a Private Viewing on 021 953 152 or c.madsen@barfoot.co.nz

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

104 Mt. Eden Road Mt. Eden, Auckland Phone: 09 638 8463 www.lahood.co.nz

Are you renovating, redecorating or building a new home?

FREE CURTAIN MAKING*

Phone 638 8463 for an in home design consultation* 20% OFF

ROMAN BLIND MAKING

20% OFF *

CURTAINS • BLINDS • INTERIOR DESIGN • AWNINGS • ROLLER SHADES • UPHOLSTERY *Special conditions apply – lahood.co.nz/promotions. Offer finishes 31/07/2021.

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

AUCKLAND PROPERTY INSIGHTS

By Rebecca Williamson Where we live, how we work and the ways in which we spend quality time with our families have been crucial considerations for the past 12 months, more so than ever before.

Our homes have become our sanctuaries through lockdowns and the multitude of challenges brought on by Covid-19. International travel – both for business and pleasure – has been put on the backburner. This realisation of ‘home is where the heart is’ has undoubtedly led to a shift in priorities, and this is reflected in the current high-flying New Zealand property market.

New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty (NZSIR) Managing Director Mark Harris says more and more New Zealanders are not only investing in the best-possible education for their children, they are investing in the best-possible homes.

“We are seeing people throughout all stages of life trade up their homes and move within communities, as well as cashed-up expats returning home to NZ with their children to take advantage of the excellent schools and opportunities we have here,” he says. “These factors are driving a heated market in Auckland, particularly in the suburbs proximate to excellent schools.”

Since June 2020, activity in the NZ property market has accelerated, and continues to do so. Buyer demand has remained strong and prices are high because inventory levels are constrained, which is great news for vendors in sought-after locations.

Auckland has experienced the busiest April month in five years and the median year-on-year house price has significantly increased in popular areas such as Parnell (40% rise), Remuera (49%) and Epsom (65%).

Mark Harris, NZSIR Managing Director.

Harris says right now is the optimal time for vendors to achieve higher sales before the effects of recent Government and Reserve Bank policy changes set in.

The extension of the Brightline test, the prevention of investors offsetting interest paid on home loans against rental income, and LVR restrictions have been implemented to slow house price inflation.

“Combined with a stagnant population growth due to closed borders, these changes suggest that demand may begin to waver over the coming months,” he says.

“But while the market may start to plateau, I don’t think there will be a big correction. My assessment is that we are at or near the domestic demand peak, although we do expect to see continued growth at the higher end of the market as ‘Brand NZ’ maintains momentum in attracting wealthy internationals and expats.”

295 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland +64 9 353 1220 nzsothebysrealty.com

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. Browns Real Estate (Licensed Under The REAA 2008) MREINZ.

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, LAHOOD WINDOW FURNISHINGS HAS BEEN AUCKLAND’S PREMIER WINDOW FURNISHINGS SPECIALIST Today their legacy of quality, style, design expertise and customer service continue from their superb showroom and offices at 104 Mt Eden Road.

Peter Lahood started the business founded on those principles of quality, style, and service, and quickly gained an enviable reputation.

Now with a 25 strong team, Lahood is a name synonymous with innovative design and a shared passion for fabric. “Selecting the perfect curtain, blind or shutter is something that can completely transform a home, and our team are experts in understanding and interpreting a client’s aesthetic and lifestyle needs,” explains Managing Director, Peter Lahood.

“We’re a people business. After all, it takes talented and experienced people to develop ideas and deliver unique interiors. More importantly it’s about how our people collaborate, relate and interpret your goals and aspirations,” says Peter.

Lahood have been able to strike just the right balance between size, scale and capacity. They are big enough to secure exclusive fabric distribution supplies from the world’s leading textile manufacturers, yet small and agile enough to ensure a bespoke and personalised design service, from large scale development clients to individual homeowners.

New and returning customers are driving new trends in how we want and need our home and office spaces to look. A smart home is one of the most noticeable design trends for renovations and new builds.

Technology provides numerous benefits. Child safety, for example, is often a concern for family homeowners and a motorised system is an ideal cordless solution that combines safety, style, and convenience.

Homeowners can open and close their window furnishings at the touch of a button or remotely using their phone, as well as scheduling their window coverings to operate at set times. This keeps a room warm in winter and cool in summer.

Customers are loving the soft warm neutral colours coming back, those natural linen and earthy tones, as well as all tints and shades of green to bring the outdoors in and of course, the rich greens, blues and terracottas in luxury fabrics and big bold patterns. The earthy, clearer colours reflect the desire to feel more in tune with the planet, reflecting the eco-friendly trends.

Securing fabrics and materials quickly from local and international suppliers is more of a challenge in our Covid world, so planning ahead becomes more necessary these days. It’s important to visit Lahood’s showroom or book your consultation as early as possible in the planning stage.

For more information on Lahood’s range of fabrics, textiles, blinds and soft furnishings, and their interior design service, contact Lahood today.  PN

LAHOOD WINDOW FURNISHINGS, 104 Mt Eden Road, Ph: 09 638 8463, www.lahood.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

GREEN WITH ENVY Choosing the colour palette for her client’s new kitchen was a fairly natural process for Michelle Gillbanks from Kitchens By Design, as their home was layered with different shades of green in the wall-hanging art and the pottery dotted around the living room.

“My clients, a professional couple with older children who have left home, came to us wanting something clean and uncluttered, easy to maintain, and also to create a scullery and extra storage in their existing laundry space. Most of all though, they wanted colour,” says the designer. “The one thing they were certain about, right from the start, is that they didn’t want a white kitchen.”

The cabinetry is the largest surface in any kitchen – it therefore sets the tone for the rest of the space. Most people opt for white, or shades thereof, and for good reason; it’s easy. Everything goes with white, and when it comes to selling, white doesn’t offend anyone.

With this kitchen however, Michelle’s clients were not putting in a new kitchen for anyone else, or for whoever was going to live in the house in the future – they were doing it for themselves, for right now.

“With the base colour of the kitchen established as a deep, rich green, I then took my clients to select the natural stone for their benchtop, waterfall end and splashback. They instantly feel in love with a striking slab of Macchiato Quartzite, with contrasting folds of teal and coffee brown, from where it gets its name,” she says.

Interestingly, however, the shade of green that Michelle had chosen for the cabinetry didn’t quite match the lighter, aqua shades of the stone. So, it was back to the stone supplier with the colour palette underarm, to match a new shade of green to the stone her clients had fallen in love with. And she did so, perfectly.

Looking at the final polished benchtop, it’s almost inconceivable that the forces of nature have come together to forge such a dazzling palette of colour – and using the same stone for the splashback

74 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

enhances the effect, sitting behind the cooktop like a piece of modern abstract art.

For the practical surfaces, hardwearing and easy-to-clean stainless steel was used on the hob bench, as well as in the scullery. Michelle also hid the fridge and pantry behind tall, handle-less doors, to give her clients the clean, uncluttered effect they asked for. She even gave them a ‘hidden’ drinks cabinet, which was also disguised within the cabinetry along the back wall.

To finish off the look, and to give the kitchen an extra dose of pizzazz, a smoky glass mirror was wrapped around the front of the island, enhancing the beautiful stone and creating a startling ‘floating’ effect when viewed from certain angles.

“The best part of the whole process for me was when we saw the stone for the first time and my client commented that the colour reminded her of the fish-and-chip shop back home in Scotland! I had to laugh,” says Michelle.

If you thinking about putting in a new kitchen, give the team at Kitchen By Design a call, or pop into their showroom at 3 Byron Avenue, Takapuna, T: 09 379 3084. For inspiration, take a look at their website at www.kitchensbydesign.co.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Visit our showroom today.

3 Byron Avenue, Takapuna (09) 379 3084

Forces of nature creating a dazzling colour palette. kitchensbydesign.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

MELUKA All Meluka arrives fully assembled and fully customisable. Shop the latest and greatest NZ made trends at Meluka Furniture. www.meluka.co.nz

BY

DANSKE

MØBLER

Furniture. Simply.

20% FF EVERYTHING! SHOP ONLINE OR IN STORE NOW

76 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

PONSONBY NEWS + ED CRUIKSHANK GIVEAWAY Ed Cruikshank and his team love creating beautiful enduring furniture and objects that get people together to have conversations that matter.

The Infernorator poker and blower is the ultimate way to get your fire burning and keep it alive, whether it’s a roaring outdoor brazier or a crackling living room fire.

Valued at $445, Ed has gifted us one of these marine stainless steel and saddle leather beauties to offer as a gift to you our readers...

Please email info@ponsonbynews.co.nz by Friday 16 July mentioning Ed Cruikshank in the subject line. We will draw the winner and advise them by email.  PN For more info on the Firebrand range see www.firebrandnz.com

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366 Great North Road

78 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

Grey Lynn

t:09 376 2895

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

T H E B A I L E Y TA B L E

w w w . r o s e a n d h e a t h e r. c o . n z

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

@ DAWSON & CO. Introducing new rugs by GAN at Dawson & Co. Manual manufacturing processes and the use of natural materials are two of the most distinctive features of GAN products. When making their products, they aim at minimizing their impact on the environment. This premise is applied starting with the initial design stages, to guarantee the desired results. When sourcing natural materials, such as wool, cotton, linen, silk or jute, they select those that have been obtained sustainably and locally, and they minimize the dyeing cycles as much as possible.

At GAN, manufacturing processes are linked to essentially rural communities, and in this way, they support their social and economic development through activities that do not pollute. For a few years now, some of their collections are made with recycled PET threads.

GAN supports the reduction of plastic use worldwide while providing a longer useful life for existing materials, preventing it from degrading the environment uncontrollably.

Above: Female artisan weavers from the Uttar Pradesh area collaborate with International designer Patricia Urquiola to create and adapt new designs that go into the next collection of rugs by GAN. Left: Zoe 208cm x 240cm rug by GAN RRP $10,429 Below: Ply Blue 204 x 300cm rug by GAN RRP $5,999

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

80 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

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

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

Join us on Sundays at 2pm... for our weekly service including demonstrations of clairvoyance.

25 New North Road, Eden Terrace / www.goldenlight.org.nz

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CREATIVE FUN WITH AUCKLAND’S LEADING THEATRE FOR CHILDREN Hit the Stage! these school holidays...

This month, Tim Bray Youth Theatre will be offering their ever-popular Hit the Stage! 5-day holiday programme for children aged 7-12 at TAPAC in Western Springs from 12-16 July and for ages 8-12 at The PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna from 19-23 July.

During five exciting days, under the direction of the creative team from Tim Bray Youth Theatre, young actors will take part in rehearsing and performing their own unique theatrical creation, ready to ‘Hit the Stage!’ at the end of the week with a performance for family and friends.

Term 3 Youth Theatre Tim Bray Youth Theatre begins its Term 3 drama classes for ages 5-19 the week of 26 July at TAPAC. Classes are also offered on the North Shore in Takapuna and Browns Bay. These weekly classes encourage self-confidence, self-expression and focus where students can explore their imaginations, harness and express their creativity and also learn various acting techniques such as improvisation, voice, characterisation, movement and scene work. At the end of Term 3, each Tim Bray Youth Theatre class will present a performance for family and friends.

The 17-19 years Performance Class at TAPAC is ideal for young actors who need a place to learn and to perform and who are passionate about theatre and all it involves.

Endorsed by Children’s Autism Foundation Extraordinarily Creative are drama classes for children and teenagers who are differently wired to find their own voice and place. North Shore venue.  PN For more information: www.timbray.org.nz/youth-theatre

TIM BRAY

YOUTH THEATRE A 5-day creative escape for children for ages 7-9 and 10-12 from July 12-16

Engaging our students with all aspects of theatre

Western Springs, Takapuna and Browns Bay locations for 5-19 year olds

Weekly

DRAMA

Enrol for July School Holidays & Term 3 now www.timbray.org.nz

82 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE Judy Darragh at Objectspace

UPTOWN ART SCENE The domestic scene is the place where we are ourselves. We can let our public façade slide and finally relax on the couch (or tend to the demands of children). It is a rich playground for the visual arts.

There are few New Zealand artists with such a sense of play as Judy Darragh, whose show, Competitive Plastics, fills Objectspace (13 Rose Road, Ponsonby) with the colourful noise of this ubiquitous material.

From stacks of costume heels and fishnets stuffed with shiny objects to children’s chairs pierced by funnels, Judy both celebrates and questions our magpie obsession with this modern substance. There’s no denying the attractive qualities of toys, ornaments, and everyday objects that glisten and sparkle, simultaneously filling our world with junk that will last forever.

All four exhibitions at Studio One Toi Tu (1 Ponsonby Road) also bring strands of the domestic to our attention. The bright LED sculptures of Lissy and Rudi Robinson-Cole honour their tupuna, whose forms dance in brilliant neon colours.

Rachel Kiddie McClure sews and weaves symbols and sayings of the everyday (“I don’t want to do the housework, so I won’t”) into quilts

and embroideries, and luscious soft sculptures. Ceramics are treated with a playfulness by Devyani Sethi, while Nga Rangatahi Toa shows us the close community response to lockdown for their rangatahi on the East Coast.

At night, we can glaze into the window project space at Studio One Toi Tu, as local artist Deborah Crowe fantasises about the urban environment we might have, through an eleven minute animated projection.

This artwork collages images of our neighbourhood - backstreets off Karangahape Road, views from her home near Myers Park, and architectural reflections around the South end of Ponsonby Road where Deborah Crowe has worked in her studio for over 12 years.

On a cool winter’s evening, it feels lush and inviting, and a little like the beckoning home of the living room.

(EVAN WOODRUFFE/STUDIO ART SUPPLIES) www.studioart.co.nz

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@ {SUITE} Currently on show at {Suite} is a selection of prints from a new series of work by Richard Lewer. The title of the series, ‘Dirty Cheating Dogs’, refers to famous sports cheats and incidents of cheating which have both intrigued and enraged sports fans worldwide.

One of the most popular images from the series is The Underarm Incident. Lewer writes about the story in the accompanying exhibition text: ‘New Zealand needed a six off the final ball to tie the 1981 one-day cricket international at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Not wanting to see his team beaten, the captain of the Australian team, Greg Chappell, instructed his younger brother Trevor to deliver the final ball underarm along the ground. New Zealand Captain Geoff Howarth said later, it was “not in the spirit of cricket,” and hundreds of thousands of Australians and New Zealanders agreed with him.

Some of the other prints in the show include ‘The Hand of God’ – Maradona’s famous but contentious goal in the 1986 World Cup Quarter Final, and ‘Lance Armstrong’, a portrait of cycling’s most well-known drug cheat.  PN

Richard Lewer ‘The Underarm incident’ photo by Christian Capurro

{SUITE} GALLERY, 189 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 218 4399, www.suite.co.nz

@ SCOTT LAWRIE GALLERY Cruz Jimenez – Candide 3 July – 25 July Cruz Jimenez’s painting career spans over 20 years, and in this, his second solo show with Scott Lawrie Gallery, he continues to push the boundaries of his practice with large scale, powerfully emotive works.

The paintings in ‘Candide’ offer a glimpse into the ethereal world of memory, meaning and place, interspersed with deeply personal memories of a childhood growing up in California, and also more recent meditations of the land and sea scapes in his adopted home here in Aotearoa.

At first glance, these paintings seduce us with their visual depth and shimmering nuanced colours, wrestling with our eyes through a continual search for symbols that might, somehow, offer us a navigation point for meaning. Yet time and again in these works, we are brought back to moments of self-awareness and find ourselves searching, in other words, within ourselves.

What these paintings seem to represent then, is a struggle for internal order and peace out of geopolitical chaos and the global pandemic.

And while these aren’t lockdown works per se (Cruz has been focusing on these paintings in his studio for months) they do speak to isolation and self-discovery.

Opens Saturday 3 July, with drinks from 3pm-5pm. All welcome. Gallery hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 11am-5pm. Free parking.  PN SCOTT LAWRIE GALLERY, 15 Williamson Avenue, T: 021 0826 5633, www.scottlawrie.com

Cruz Jimenez ~ Candide 03 July - 25 July 2021

2 Murdoch Rd, Grey Lynn (Off 15 Williamson Ave) Wed to Sun, 11 – 5pm

scottlawrie.com

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21/06/21 10:19 PM

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE Easter, oil gesso gold leaf on panel 700 x 1200mm

THIS MONTH AT OREXART Tony Lane’s work draws inspiration from art history through the ages: Byzantine altarpieces, Italian frescoes, early Renaissance landscapes, and 17th century Spanish still-life.

Using traditional methods and materials, Lane explores themes and concepts that occupied his predecessors for centuries: divinity, nature, and how colour affects us. Contained in hand-gilded frames, his gessoed and waxed panels proffer an enigmatic combination of religious motifs which pose a delicate balance between ritual and routine. These are three magnificent works now available from his personal collection.

Since graduating from Elam in the 1970s, Lane has held more than 100 solo exhibitions in museums and galleries throughout New Zealand, and exhibited in galleries in New York, London, Barcelona, Seville, and Gstaad. His work is represented in major public collections in New Zealand: Auckland Art Gallery, Dowse Art Museum, Dunedin Art Gallery, Govett-Brewster Art Gallery and Te Papa Tongarewa.  PN OREXART, 221 Ponsonby Road, T: 021 213 4449, E: rex@orexart.co.nz, www.orexart.co.nz

Four Tables and Wine, oil gesso gold leaf on panel 1400 x 900mm

Table and Cloth, oil gesso gold leaf on panel 650 x 650mm

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ARTS + CULTURE

@ ST MATTHEW’S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA - SUNDAY 25 JULY 2.30pm

FIRST TUESDAY CONCERT @ ST MATTHEW-IN -THE-CITY Luca Manghi (flute) and David Kelly (piano) will be performers at First Tuesday on 3 August at St Matthew-in-the-city.

Conductor Ken Young with Pianist Sylvia Jiang

In a programme of music by Mozart, John Harbison and Ralph Vaughan Williams, they will show off both their exemplary talents and the heavenly acoustics of the space.

Programme Holmes - Prelude for Strings.

Liszt - Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S.125.

Luca Manghi was born in Parma, Italy, and became a prize-winning flute player as a student at Boito National Music Conservatory. After an orchestral career in Europe he moved to New Zealand where he is an active teacher (Universities of Auckland, Otago and Waikato) and a freelance chamber musician in high demand.

Beethoven - Symphony No. 3 in E flat, “Eroica,” op.55 St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra is delighted to welcome back Sylvia Jiang, whose performance of RACH 2 at our May concert was spell-bindingly brilliant.

Liszt wrote his second piano concerto during his “virtuoso” period – perfect for Sylvia Jiang, who is being hailed by critics as ‘New Zealand’s most notable young emerging pianist’ and ‘a gifted young pianist of genuine substance’.

Sylvia’s performances have featured on BBC News, TV3, ABC Australia, Radio New Zealand Concert, Maori Television, and other notable news networks and publications. She has won numerous top prizes at national and international level competitions including the prestigious Wallace National Piano Competition.

David Kelly (piano) is a graduate of University of Canterbury and a busy répétiteur for New Zealand Opera. David enjoys a strong association with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, Auckland Chamber Orchestra, and the Christchurch Symphony. He is also an active chamber music performer, often in association with Luca Manghi (flute).

Manghi and Kelly have selected a programme which anticipates the gift of spring in a sunny sonata by Mozart and Suite de Ballet for piano and flute by Vaughan Williams.  PN www.stmatthews.nz/first-tuesday-2021-concert-series

Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony (subtitled ‘Eroica’) was initially dedicated to Napoleon before he declared himself Emperor! On hearing the news Beethoven scratched out the dedication in fury. Conductor Ken Young is one of New Zealand’s leading conductors and composers.

He is the current Mozart Fellow at the University of Otago.

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 PN and conductors.  TICKETS Eventfinda or Door sales. Eftpos or cash.

Adults $30, Concessions $25, Children under 12 free.

Student rush on the day $15.

ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY CHURCH, corner Wellesley & Hobson Streets, www.smco.org.nz

Sunday 25 July at 2.30pm programme

Leonie Holmes Prelude for Strings Liszt Piano Concerto No 2 in A major S125 Beethoven Symphony No 3 Op 55 in E flat “Eroica”

David and Luca

Luca Manghi & David Kelly Soaring Flute and Sweet Piano

Tuesday 3rd August, 12.10-12.50pm A programme of music by Mozart, John Harbison and Vaughan Williams.

Entry by kohā.

Sylvia Jiang conductor Ken Young soloist

st matthew-in-the-city Cnr of Wellesley & Hobson Street, Auckland City

86 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ARTS + CULTURE

EVERYTHING AFTER @ Q THEATRE Simon Prast storms back to the stage this July performing in Shane Bosher’s Everything After. Known and beloved as a mainstay of Aotearoa’s stage and screen, you’ve no doubt seen him in more than one show you’ve loved!

Prast is back on the boards, performing “the role of a lifetime”, honouring the survivors of the HIV/AIDs crisis of the 90s and fought for change at the fore of Aotearoa’s gay liberation movement. Prast describes the work as “intimate and epic” and audiences are sure to be blown away.

Shane Bosher invited Prast to play the role throughout the development of the play, which Prast desbribes as “enormously flattering.”

The pair’s partnership spans many years and the chance for Prast to bring the character to life with Shane in the director’s chair is “sublime”, with Prast commenting, “I trust him so much and I feel so comfortable. There is so much of it that felt torn from the pages from my own life that I could relate to.

I just felt a connection.”

Photography: Andi Crown Photography

The script is the first full-length work from Shane Bosher, known to audiences for his artful direction of Angels in America, A Streetcar Named Desire, When The Rain Stops Falling and Homos. The script took out the Adam Award for Best New Zealand Play in 2018, and comes to the stage this July for a highly anticipated world premiere season.

Shane Bosher’s Everything After, plays at Q Theatre from 2-18 July. Strictly limited season, get your tickets now at qtheatre.co.nz

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ANGELS IN AMERICA & HOMOS

Q T H E AT R E / J U LY 2 - 1 8 Q T H E AT R E . C O . N Z WINNER

ADAM AWARD BEST NZ PLAY

everything after WRITTEN & DIRECTED

BY SHANE BOSHER

PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH Q THEATRE

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There is an excited hum in the greater Ponsonby area these days. There are mid winter market days, Te Karanga Hape festivals for Matariki as well as new cafes, design stores and events popping up all over. But with the nights getting longer and colder it’s good to know there’s a range of great entertainment options out there to snuggle up at home and share.

NETFLIX

Shot in New Zealand and directed by our own Toa Fraser (The Dead Lands) this series features a few beloved local landmarks (check out Auckland Zoo and The Strand Railway Station) as you have never seen them before. Co-starring great local acting talent (Jodie Rimmer, Anna Jullienne, Sarah Peirse, Andrew Lang, Jared Tuner, Suli Moa and musician Marlon Williams to name a few) it’s no wonder it’s Netflix’s number one show right now.

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It’s an adventure story with a lot of heart and you will want to watch it with whanau and friends. From mysterious hybrids (babies born part human, part animal), to a community of paranoid ‘survivors’, this series is a commentary on a world in flux that sometimes doesn’t feel much different from our own. When society struggles to understand what really matters sometimes the path has to come from a more unusual place.

Our hero Gus, (Sweet Tooth played by Christian Convery) together with Jepp, (Nonso Anozie) take us on a journey to ‘home’, a place as much as a concept, and you can’t help but see the world through a different lens after seeing it as Gus sees it.  for whanau viewing

SWEET TOOTH - Jared Turner as George Anderson, Anna Jullienne as Beverly Anderson and Tom Kerr as Rusty Anderson Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2021

Sweet Tooth Critics love Sweet Tooth. Set in a post pandemic world and based on a popular DC comic book series, it shows humankind at its worst and best. When ‘the sickness’ hits and the world as we know it falls in the ‘The Great Crumble’ everything changes and sometimes the most human are the half breeds.

SWEET TOOTH - Jodie Rimmer as Judy Cr. Kirsty Griffin/Netflix © 2021

ARTS + CULTURE

SWEET TOOTH - (L to R) Christian Convery as Gus and Nonso Anozie as Tommy Jepperd Cr. Kirsty Griffin/Netflix © 2021

STREAMING GUIDE FOR JULY

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Lupin After enjoying a sample of French films from the recent International French Film Festival Aotearoa, (running till July 14), Lupin is a fabulous follow up. It’s like a French version of James Bond and Sherlock Holmes crossed with Ocean’s Eleven. It’s a wonderfully suspenseful series full of exciting and outlandish heists, plenty of humour, and characters who are totally charming.

Based on the character Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief from Maurice LeBlanc’s 100+ year old novels Assane Diop, is a modern day ‘con man’ with a heart of gold. While he breaks the law, he does so with such charm and skill that it is hard not to like and forgive him.

ARTS + CULTURE

Creamerie This is another post pandemic story world with a new social order thought up well before Covid-19 made its presence felt on the world. Life imitating art? Not quite. This virus only infected men, leaving a world where female driven wellness values seek to restore bliss and balance to the world. What could be more perfect for a community healing after the tragedy of losing sons, husbands, brothers and fathers?

Well, scratch the surface and the new world order is filled with corruption, deceit and social manipulation. This is a well written black comedy that balances beautifully developed characters against a backdrop of something almost unimaginable - a world without men.

While this is one best savoured, it is hard not to binge. 

CREAMERIE - (L to R) JJ Fong, Ally Xue and Perlina Lau. PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Klitscher

LUPIN - Omar Sy as Assane Diop Cr. Emmanuel Guimier /Netflix © 2021

TVNZ ON DEMAND

Played by the charismatic Omar Sy, Assane Diop delivers a performance complete with the allure of the gentlemen thief and the humour and swagger of a modern day lovable rogue.

With intricate plot points to keep you guessing and episodes full of satisfying thrills and fantastical twists, this is a totally fun series that will keep you so entertained you will forgive the outlandish heist plans and barely notice the subtitles. Season 2 has just dropped so there’s plenty to look forward to.  binge worthy watch

QUAY GALLERY @ PONSONBY CENTRAL Quay Gallery is a long-established name in the New Zealand art industry and has represented Kiwi artists for over 15 years.

Based originally in Ahuriri Quay in Napier, the gallery has an incredible history in offering New Zealand artists a place from which to present and promote their art.

Dalene Meiring. Quay is currently evolving to include some amazing emerging artists.

In 2020, Quay Gallery owners thought it time to retire. It was at this time that Auckland residents Nicki and Grant Richards decided to fulfill a dream of owning an art gallery. Quay Gallery presented the ideal opportunity and has been operating in the Auckland market since the acquisition in September 2020.

“Our approach to the Auckland market is a considered one. We bring art to the people, as opposed to waiting for people to come and find us in one gallery space. Offering a personalized service, in-home presentations, group viewings, exhibitions and shows throughout Auckland, will enable us to fulfill the promise of promoting our artists and their art.”

Quay’s artist list includes surrealist, Kate MacKenzie, landscape painter, Richard Wilson, the incredible Gary Waldrom, and Auckland artist,

Please join us at our next show of Quay Artists @ Ponsonby Central, PN 136 Ponsonby Road from 12 to 25 July. 

QUAY ART GALLERY, E: info@quaygallery.co.nz, www.quaygallery.co.nz, T: 021 362 113

Contemporary and Fine Art View at Ponsonby Central, 136 Ponsonby Road 12 – 25 July 2021

w: quaygallery.co.nz e: info@quaygallery.co.nz p: 021 362 113

Richard Wilson Kate MacKenzie Gary Waldrom Dalene Meiring Clare Wilcox David Traub Gaye Jurisich Angus Walker Sue Schaare Tut Blumental PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

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

Aquarius (the Water Carrier) 21 January - 19 February You would like to hide away from a lot of things that demand your attention this month and none of them focus on any of your own goals. A bit of time alone is good for you as long as it doesn’t become a habit.

Pisces (the Fishes) 20 February - 20 March If you have had any disagreements with friends or family you will know how draining physically and emotionally they can be. You have to reach a resolution even if you have to be the one extending the olive branch.

Aries (the Ram) 21 March - 20 April Try not to complain too much, as eventually you will not be heard and your ideas probably won’t get the attention they deserve. You can still make an impact as long as you’re willing to listen.

Taurus (the Bull) 21 April - 21 May Your productive juices are flowing this month and you seem to be riding a wave of success personally. Going that extra mile at last seems to be paying off.

Gemini (the Twins) 22 May - 21 June Maybe you need to dig a lot deeper to process any feelings that have been buried in order for you to have a normal life. To move ahead, you might have to go backwards first. As painful as it sounds, it could be just what you need.

Cancer (the Crab) 22 June - 22 July Doing the same old routine day in and day out might have caught up with you and maybe it’s about time to change your habits.

Or simply enjoy each moment for what it is.

Leo (the Lion) 23 July - 21 August Keeping your feelings bottled up inside will only make them stronger, so venting your frustration occasionally can be good for you.

Don’t let any arrogance get in the way of sharing things that matter.

Virgo (the Virgin) 22 August - 23 September Make sure you’re able to take responsibility for your actions if things don’t go according to plan. You have a support network close to you as always, but you shouldn’t make any demands.

Libra (the Scales) 24 September - 23 October Keeping your opinions firmly in check has always been the right thing to do as far as you’re concerned. However, occasionally you just have to say what’s on your mind and bugger the consequences.

Scorpio (the Scorpion) 24 October - 22 November Don’t lose your rag this month if you can help it. Keeping calm and capable is the way you have always been. If being a rock for others is taking its toll, it’s time it was your turn.

Sagittarius (the Archer) 23 November - 22 December You really do see the positive in everyone and everything, even though sometimes you get nothing back. It’s important though for you to maintain your sunny disposition as you touch many lives.

Capricorn (the Goat) 23 December - 20 January Try not to over react because your ego says you have to, just adapt to your surroundings if you can. You can choose to improve any situation as there are no winners where egos are concerned.

90 PONSONBY NEWS+ July 2021

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

THE PONSONBY PINK PAGES

WHY TOLERATE LOW RETURNS? A well managed business should provide a pre-tax return on investment (ROI) of at least 20% to a prudent investor.

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REINZ Accredited Business Broker BA, Dip RE, AREINZ

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INTRODUCING OUR NEW ITALIAN INDOOR RANGE Traditionally founded in outdoor luxury furniture, Design Warehouse has sought to expand outside its current outdoor collections, broadening its expertise and sense of design artistry to introduce luxury furnishings for the interior spaces. Featuring world-class designs that bring innovative aesthetic elements along with colourful rich fabrics, textures, materials, and silhouettes which work in harmony to deliver excellence in craftsmanship and quality, expressing an artful interpretation of luxury indoor furniture that endures.

Perfect Day Recliner Sofa (crystal white)

Amalfi Leather Executive Chair

Viceversa Chaise Lounge (moderna 998)

Venezia Luxury swivel chair with chrome base (milk and coffee)

Bellagio Relaxing Swivel Chair (deep blue)

Aspettami Sectional Sofa (oak)

Nomade Lounge Chair

Prezioso Sofa (blue)

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