PONSONBY NEWS - OCTOBER '20

Established: OCTOBER 1989

CELEBRATING 31 YEARS OF PUBLISHING HISTORY!

OCTOBER 2020

ART. COFFEE, COMMUNITY & CONVERSATION… Lisa Reihana’s work (pictured above) brings Helen White & Jacinda to Open Cafe - P96

ponsonbynews.co.nz

200 Queen Street, Northcote Point Boho-Chic Family Home Take the first exit after the Harbour Bridge to this impeccably presented and well-proportioned residence. In an elevated position, conveniently close to the attractions of Northcote Point, it promises a relaxed family lifestyle.

Lovingly refurbished by the current owners, this 1920’s bungalow fuses the elegance and grandeur of the era with a bohemian style and modern comfort. The inviting landscaped entranceway leads to a sympathetically renovated interior including an abundance of period detail intertwined with neo-baroque design elements.

The versatile floor plan provides functional areas for your family to live and play and flexibility for running a business from home. Upstairs, your master retreat is luxuriously appointed with a walk through wardrobe and an ensuite. A juliet balcony is your very own vantage point for sea and city views.

Family and friends will be drawn to the generous open-plan space on the main living level. In addition to the dining area, a relaxation and entertainment zone with adjoining separate media room fits nicely within a contemporary extension.

Featuring well-placed skylights, polished concrete floors and a gas fireplace, this warm and welcoming space sits adjacent to the gourmet kitchen. Bi-folding doors and windows connect you with the easy-care west-facing garden and lawn.

You’ll enjoy being close to local cafes and eateries, fine schools within walking or riding distance and terrific parkland.

4

2

4

Floor: 202 sq m (approx) Land: 551 sq m (more or less)

AUCTION: 12:00 p.m. Thursday 22 October 2020 On-Site (unless sold prior) • VIEW: nzsothebysrealty.com/NZE11275

CHARLOTTE KOFOED M +64 21 241 9394 charlotte.kofoed@nzsir.com

HAMISH KOFOED M +64 27 655 2250 hamish.kofoed@nzsir.com

Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

Stunningly curated outdoor furniture from Italy, Belgium, France, Indonesia and the Philippines. Before you purchase anywhere, you owe it to yourself to compare. Prices. Design. Quality. You will be so pleased you did. All products are in stock, fully assembled, and available for nationwide delivery. Sunbrella® cushions are included with the purchase of our deep seating pieces as shown on our website.

SUTHERLAND OUTDOOR TEAK AND ROPE DINING SET

CONCRETE DINING TABLE WITH TEAK BENCH AND CHAIRS

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COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Connor Crawford

Bob Campbell (MW)

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 024 JOHN ELLIOTT: LOCAL NEWS 029 EMMA MELLOW, NATIONAL PARTY 030 HELEN WHITE, NZ LABOUR 033 PREDICT WEATHER.COM 034 U3A PONSONBY 037 PONSONBY PARK 044 FASHION & STYLE 046 GREY LYNN AND AROUND 047 EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY 051 TRAVEL BREAKS 052 SPORTS AND FITNESS, YOUR PLACE OR OURS? 056 TADHG STOPFORD 057 OCTOBER STREAMING GUIDE 058 LIVING, THINKING + BEING 059 JOHN APPLETON 060 PONSONBY PETS 061 TEEN PICKS 062 FUTURE GENERATION 066 PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS 072 THE NEW NORMAL - WORKING FROM HOME 074 HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS 094 ARTS & CULTURE 098 HOROSCOPES: MISS PEARL NECLIS 099 PONSONBY PINK PAGES

Hear Master of Wine Bob Campbell talk about his favourite passion @Winetopia...

Friday 30 October & Saturday 31 October @Shed 10, Queens Wharf.

Get your tickets at www.iticket.co.nz

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

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.

PRINTED BY WEBSTAR, AUCKLAND. ISSN 1177-3987

4 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

@ponsonbynews @Ponsonby_News @ponsonbynews

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)

AUCKLAND KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION ARE TAKING ENROLMENTS NOW! Our kindergartens offer: • Beautiful large outdoor areas • 20 hours free ECE per week • Fully qualified teachers • Play based learning environments

• Long standing history and relationships in your community • An engaged, passionate and welcoming kindergarten team

Ponsonby Kindergarten 22 Ponsonby Terrace, Ponsonby 09 376 4931 ponsonby@aka.org.nz

Grey Lynn Kindergarten 25 Home Street, Grey Lynn 09 378 6941 greylynn@aka.org.nz

Freemans Bay Kindergarten 16 Tahuna Street, Freemans Bay 09 376 2465 freemansbay@aka.org.nz

Westmere Kindergarten 90 Garnet Road, Westmere 09 376 3833 westmere@aka.org.nz

Speak to our teams today or pop in for a visit to experience our kindergartens!

LETTERS & EMAILS

WESTERN SPRINGS LAKESIDE TE WAI OREA PARK DEVELOPMENT PLAN I am writing to reply to a number of letters in the last, September, issue of the Ponsonby News regarding the Western Springs Lakeside Te Wai Orea Park Development Plan. They contain some important misunderstandings about the contents and future implications of the Plan. The Plan was developed after extensive public consultation that identified water quality and habitat management as the most important plan outcomes for users.

It was adopted with some amendments in response to public submissions including making it clear the double humped bridge would be retained, at the August public meeting of the WaitemataLocal Board.

Some paths will be widened to accommodate the comfortable passage of all users and to encourage safe cycle use along the main path on the north side of the lake, but it is not the intent to turn the lake into a wetland nor increase the number of events held at the park. Public film showings and the like will continue but be limited to the quarry area. The only major event to continue will be Pasifika, which is a fantastic event where we welcome everyone to experience and celebrate the Pasifika culture in our lovely park.

Adopting the Plan will enable the upgrade of the children’s playground and the introduction of lake edge plants to improve the ecology of the lake and reduce pollutants and sediment entering it. Maximising planting opportunities around the lake edge might involve reducing lake levels but only by a few centimetres!

Richard Northey, Chair, Waitemat-a Local Board LEYS INSTITUTE LIBRARY BUILDINGS & SERVICES A big thank you to you and the Ponsonby News team for your thorough coverage supporting the restoration of the Leys Library buildings and services. From the many pages in the February issue, and right throughout the year, you have given the community a strong voice one that has clearly been heard by both Council and the WaitemataLocal Board.

This week the Board endorsed the findings of Council’s report which recommended the option for the strengthening and preservation of the Leys Institute buildings and library services. It was interesting to see in the report that the risks section placed the reputational risks on a par with the financial ones.

It was recognised that any attempts to sell the complex to developers would require a notified High Court hearing to vary the original Trust Deed (gift). Thus, Council could face a “reduction of trust and confidence”, and the community may also feel isolated by such actions. Too right!

There may be a considerable delay before strengthening commences, and this has yet to gain approval through other Council committees for the financing. However, several independent seismic strengthening experts have informed me that the costs involved are far lower than the indicative costs quoted in the report. It is hoped that the securing of the building parapets and cornices can get under way in the near future. The design work for this has already been done and paid for, and the strengthening could then proceed in stages.

As one who has followed this issue closely from the Thursday before Christmas when the 24 hour notice was issued to shut down the Library and Gym, I can confidently say that the hope that we will see restoration, as described above, would most likely not have been achieved without the dogged support of the Ponsonby News to give effect to the wide community concerns. In these difficult times, it is encouraging to see the effectiveness of your Fourth Estate role in maintaining community facilities and democracy. Bravo.

Bob Tait, Freemans Bay

WAITEMATA LOCAL BOARD BACKS LEYS INSTITUTE RESTORATION The development of a detailed business case for the restoration, modernisation and seismic remediation of the Leys Institute buildings has been given the go-ahead by Waitemata- Local Board.

The 114-year old Council-owned buildings closed in December 2019 following a seismic assessment that indicated structural issues meant they could be unsafe in the event of an earthquake. The buildings housed a library and gymnasium and were gifted to Auckland Council by the Leys family in 1964.

The board’s decision was based on a report which indicated that restoration was the preferred option to meet the ongoing and future needs of local people, and that the provision and restoration of a fitfor-purpose library was the best financial outcome.

Council’s analysis of Ponsonby and west Waitemata- shows a growing demand for library services in the area and for improved facility flexibility to deliver modern library services for changing customer needs.

The local board also emphasised the importance of preserving the heritage value of the Leys Institute as a scheduled category A heritage building, noting that the Leys Institute Trust Deed requires library services to be delivered from the buildings.

Waitemata- Local Board chair Richard Northey says the case for restoring the buildings is compelling.

“The Leys buildings are much-loved by locals and visitors alike.

They are an important part of the identity of our community and we cannot lose them. This, combined with a shortfall in library services and a growing population in this area, means now’s the time to start the process of restoration. The financial impacts of COVID-19 will obviously have an impact on how quickly this work can proceed, but we will continue to explore all possible funding options to ensure we can progress with the local board’s preferred option.”

The indicative costs for the restoration are between $15 and 22 million. The preparation of the detailed business case will help determine more accurate costs for the work. The local board wants to investigate a range of options to help fund the project, noting the potential for funding options such as selling other properties, philanthropic donations, targeted rates, and community fundraising.

Next steps Subject to the Long-term Plan, work on the detailed business case will begin in 2021/2022. A timeframe for commencement of restoration work will be dependent upon the findings and recommendations from the detailed business case and the availability of funding.

WE WANT A TREE In the crisis of climate change and the current conversation around trees, whether the attacking of Western Springs forest to the destruction of established plantings on reserves around Auckland, surely our council would be encouraging the planting of more trees.

Business Grey Lynn (not to be confused with the rebranded GLBA) have been asking for a replacement tree at the Grey Lynn shops since 2018. The old tree had died; it was cut down as soon as we reported it, and we waited anxiously for the replacement to be planted.

We chased up Council prior to the planting season to make sure it was planned, but alas, no. Someone had forgotten to lodge it; “No we can’t do it this season, all full... you have to wait now until next season 2021.” Really? How long can it take to get a replacement tree into our community space? Bureaucracy at its worst. If ever there was a “shovel ready project”, it was this one.

Darryl Ojala, Co chair, www.businessgreylynn.co.nz

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

6 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FROM THE EDITOR

After years in the making, Ponsonby Central has opened a brand new underground car park with space for over 80 cars. The entrance is on Brown Street. Go and visit them to dine, drink and shop.

photography: Connor Crawford

Excellent news for the Leys Institute from the September WaitemataLocal Board meeting! The council report tabled on the indicative business case for the four options for the Leys has recommended seismic strengthening, upgrading and full restoration of library services.

Starting with a total reprieve for the Western Springs pine forest, let’s stop the destruction of so much tree cover in the central city. It’s time to call on bureaucrats and elected members to halt this anarchy. Stop killing trees NOW. A new Council initiative known as Innovative Streets has merit, but it is unclear to us at Ponsonby News how it could be enacted on busy streets such as Ponsonby Road. Is it just another mechanism to get more cars off the road?

We would like to call on locals to ask the council to place their berm on the ‘NO Spray’ register. Even if only one in every three houses applied this would be almost civil disobidence. Does our council intend to wait until one of our citizens gets cancer and sues the city for damages?

New owners of glyphosate products Bayer have already shelled out $10 billion to cover court costs in the U.S. Some wit pointed out that Bayer will need more aspirin to counter the pain in coming months.

There are at least a further 1500 court cases pending.

We welcome to the ‘hood’ the new Fitzroy Hotel located on Richmond Road. Certainly not even the minutest of detail was spared in ensuring the hotel environment is flawless. And the commitment to complete, unreserved service will ensure that every guest’s need is taken care of.

CHANCES ARE WE’VE ALREADY MET YOUR BUYER

Jay Platt & Martin Leach

Since the first lockdown, sports, fitness and wellness providers have had to innovate and adapt how they delivered their expertise and services to clients. Many offered Zoom sessions, online classes and a range of support during lockdown.

The latest poll, as we went to press, puts Labour at 48%, National 31%, ACT 7% and the Greens 6% as the only parties who will be elected to the 2020 Parliament. This means Labour could govern alone.

Our cover story this issue is Lisa Reihana’s amazing artwork featured on the wall of Open Café. The photo was admired by PM Jacinda Ardern and Auckland Central Labour candidate Helen White.

Remember Artweek begins on 10 October and ends on 18 October – enjoy! Don’t forget to vote on Saturday 17 October.

(MARTIN LEACH)  PN

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

“We had multiple registered bidders and the auction exceeded our expectations” Tim & Nicole

Matt O’Rourke 021 375 909

Ryan Harding 021 621 580

m.orourke@barfoot.co.nz

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 *#2 Individual Salesperson Central Auckland 2020

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 7

LOVING, LIVING & SELLING GREATER PONSONBY

BLAIR HADDOW In excess of $350M sales in Greater Ponsonby #1 National Auction Agent 2017-2019 Top 5% Bayleys Salespeople 2010–2020

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

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

Grey Lynn, 503/12 Mackelvie Street

Grey Lynn, 502/199 Great North Road

For Sale

For Sale

Herne Bay, 2/55 Kelmarna Avenue

St Marys Bay, 8 Ring Terrace

For Sale

Sold September 2020

Ponsonby, 3 Buller Street

Grey Lynn, 53B Wellpark Avenue

Sold August 2020

Sold August 2020

Ponsonby, 73 Vermont Street

Grey Lynn, 3 Farrar Street

Sold July 2020

Sold July 2020

Residen t ial / Co mmerci al / Rural / P ro pert y Ser v ices

LOCAL NEWS

David Hartnell: One minute interview with Mr Magic MR MAGIC is one of New Zealand’s most popular award-winning entertainers for family events, birthdays, Christmas parties and more.

He has been creating magical memories for over twenty-five years and specialises in magic shows for discerning audiences in the local area.

I have seen him perform and his magic is never disappointing.

Tell us where your interest with magic began?

I perhaps took a sideways step into becoming a magician because I originally got interested in theatre and writing when I was young.

The magic was secondary. That was really useful later because I understood how to script and routine a show. There’s far more to being a magician than just knowing how the tricks work. I did my first show at intermediate school and that lead to doing birthday party shows. The majority of my work has always been in Ponsonby and the surrounding areas.

Is doing magic for family audiences different from doing magic for adults?

Totally different. Children still believe in actual magic, first of all, so trying to impress them with sleight of hand won’t work. It will be totally over their heads. Children want to have fun. They want variety and they want to get involved.

You’re on the committee of the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians (BAM), which was founded in Grey Lynn in 1945 and meets every month at the Surrey Hotel.

Tell us about the club?

The BAM is very special because it’s the only magic club in the country with a focus on membership from professional magicians. The BAM is also responsible for presenting the Grand Master of Magic medallion, which is a lifetime achievement award, only presented nineteen times since 1969. Magic is all about fun and entertainment, but for anyone who has chosen to make it their life, their career and their passion, we do take it seriously.

Where would be your dream holiday internationally?

Anywhere in Asia at 4am with lots of neon and Blade Runner Blues playing in my earphones. I’m not much into touristy stuff; I like to be anonymous and see how the locals do things. Spending a few months in a foreign country will teach you more about yourself than a year back home.

Do you read movie or TV reviews and would they sway your thoughts?

Reviews are only useful if you know where they’re coming from.

I used to seek out Roger Ebert’s reviews because, while I didn’t always agree with him, I understood what his tastes were. A good friend of mine has the self-confessed most awful taste in films, so if she hates something I’ll probably go and see it.

How would you like to be remembered?

I wouldn’t be so arrogant as to expect it. “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!” didn’t work out so well for Ozymandias. We all take ourselves far too seriously. Magic is a good antidote to that.

Visit MR MAGIC online at aucklandmagician.co.nz PN (DAVID HARTNELL MNZM) 

The name is in some ways a misnomer as we do have members who aren’t male, and also not everyone is based in Auckland; one of our members now lives in Canada and visits whenever he’s in town.

Did you come from a show business family?

No, not at all, but I do come from a business-minded one and in this industry that’s just as important. When I studied with the great Paul Daniels from England, he taught me that show business is two words – show and business. If there isn’t any business there isn’t any show.

As entertainers we must not just know our craft onstage but also how to manage a business, how to work with contracts and clients, and how to keep the tax department happy. It’s no different from anyone else running their own company. My family taught me all of those things, and one of my proudest achievements was receiving the Auckland Chamber of Commerce ‘Awesome Service Award’ because that’s purely a business award, nominated by happy customers who have received exceptional service.

Do you have any major disappointments?

Yes, but I’ve forgotten most of their names.

Who do you think is the most annoying celebrity today?

Anyone who is famous just for existing and not for contributing anything unique or positive to the world. We are facing a real problem with young people especially buying into the hype and believing that reality shows and social media feeds are reality.

What would you say if you were to give your teenaged self some advice?

Character is destiny.

10 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Be local — lease local ForLease.co.nz

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Discover high quality commercial spaces available for lease in Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Mount Eden and Parnell Visit www.forlease.co.nz Call (09) 5222 636

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

It’s a team effort... we couldn’t do it without our contributors CONNOR CRAWFORD

JOHN ELLIOTT

I am a working artist and photographer with a colourful and rhythmic perspective. I enjoy shooting the front covers of Ponsonby News.

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.

DAVID HARTNELL - MNZM

KEN RING

FINN MCLENNAN-ELLIOTT

KERRY LEE

GARY STEEL

LUCY KENNEDY

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.

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

I am a veteran writer and editor and run two websites – Witchdoctor and Doctor Feelgood – focusing on my interests in music, technology, and the wellbeing of the planet and its denizens.

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

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.

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.

HONOUR MITCHELL

PHIL PARKER

HELENE RAVLICH

PIPPA COOM

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.

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

JOHN APPLETON

ROSS THORBY

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.

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

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

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.

Target and release diet and exercise resistant fat.

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12 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

Four on Surrey...

Small in number but spacious in design, FOUR ON SURREY is about living local in a small scale development in the well located Grey Lynn area.

Situated on the sought after north westerly ridge, this boutique development has four brand new architecturally designed residences designed by Goodison Architects.

Long time Grey Lynn local, Richard Riddiford, the person behind the development, is one of the creators of the Gypsy Tearoom and Tuatara Bar & Café in Ponsonby. He has spent much of his career creating innovative new businesses in the neighbourhood.

“The intention was to design something small in scale that still felt like living in your own house. The idea for the lower levels was to build two apartments that were similar to townhouses,” Richard explains. “We wanted them to be light and spacious and suit families with children.

And we also wanted to allow what apartments usually don’t, a private garden at the back.

“We tried to incorporate some bespoke elements that make them a bit different from what else is on the market. We designed a void around the staircase and a small office under the stairs to add

FOUR ON SURREY

a feeling of elegance and style. And there are generous barn style doors that open up the media rooms.”

Upstairs there are two gorgeous penthouse apartments designed to really capitalise on the outlook, with large balconies to enjoy the expansive views and sunny north facing aspect.

Penthouse (approx. 103m2 plus 20m2 balcony) SOLD. Penthouse (approx. 109m2 plus 19m2 balcony) $1,800,000 including garage.

Four bedroom Townhouse (approx. 192m2 plus 6m2 balcony and garden) $2,300,000 including garage.

Four bedroom Townhouse (approx. 188m2 plus 5.5m2 balcony and garden) $2,300,000 including garage.  PN www.fouronsurrey.com Facebook @fouronsurrey Location 35 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn

Sitting on the sought after north-west ridge this is a rare opportunity to be part of a bespoke development in Grey Lynn with only four homes - with balconies and private gardens. www.fouronsurrey.com | facebook @fouronsurrey

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 13

LOCAL NEWS

On a recent visit with Cr Richard Hills, Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, to the Black Bridge Big Tree Nurseries where many of the impressive trees for Auckland Council projects are grown.

Pippa Coom: Councillor for Waitemat-a & Gulf The Super City turns 10...

I’m happy to admit to having been a Super City sceptic. In the lead up to the forced amalgamation 10 years ago of Tamaki Makaurau’s eight councils into Auckland Council, I had become active in communityled development. The governance structure for the new body, with the majority of council business driven by Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs), didn’t appear to sit well with local decision making and sustainable community building. If there had been a referendum, I’m sure I would have joined the majority of Aucklanders in voting “no” to a Super City.

10 years on I’m convinced the Super City has been for the best.

It shifted the strategic planning up a gear and made it possible to transform Auckland into a truly international city. It brought to an end the many, and often expensive, conflicts between the former councils and the old Auckland Regional Council and set the foundation for bold action and a united vision for the region. Grass roots decision making has been able to flourish via local boards who are funded to make things happen within their communities. This is particularly satisfying for the parts of the city neglected by their former councils.

However, throughout the 10 years I have been on Auckland Council, first as a local board member and since October 2019 as the Councillor for Waitemata- and Gulf ward, I’ve consistently felt uneasy and frustrated with the CCO model. It has been difficult to justify the lack of real control by democratically elected decision makers for over half of council’s operational budget when many of the promised benefits of CCOs have failed to materialise.

Over the years, I’ve got to know Auckland Transport (AT) especially well because one of the reasons I put myself forward for public office in the first place was to make Auckland a great place to cycle as part of a sustainable, safe, healthy, connected city. The stars seemed to align with funding, political backing and broad community support almost from the get-go. The CCO model should have allowed AT to focus on delivery without operational interference from politicians.

However, it has been painfully slow going, and AT’s approach to consultation has pleased no one. So, much of what the local board

14 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

achieved in my time - greenways, traffic calming, pedestrian safety, street trees - was despite AT rather than as a result of AT operating as a CCO. The review of Council’s CCOs by an independent panel, led by Miriam Deans and released on 11 August, found many of the ways to improve the model, accountability, and culture of CCOs hiding in plain sight.

The report is written in plain English, and the recommendations are easily digestible and make sense. The review has forced the Auckland Council “family” to collectively reflect on our role in making the governance structure work effectively for Aucklanders.

The panel found the CCO model is overall fit for purpose but needs to be strengthened using many of the tools and mechanisms available. It established that there’s significant room for improving the council’s relationship with, and oversight of, the CCOs. One of the key recommendations is for AT to review urgently how it designs, consults on, funds and implements minor capital works. These kinds of projects have been the source of much of my own frustration in dealing with AT and led to public criticism of CCOs being “out of control”.

On 27 August, Auckland Council’s Governing Body agreed unanimously to progress all 64 of the panel’s recommendations. This includes agreeing to the merger of two CCOs, Regional Facilities Auckland and Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development, into a single entity to be established by 1 December 2020.

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Super City, I’m looking forward to the reset provided by the CCO review. I don’t think implementation will be as simple and straightforward as presumed by the panel due to the deep-rooted cultural and systemic shakeup needed. However, I’m hopeful that the implementation of the recommendations will be a circuit breaker to move beyond the scapegoating of the Super City and its CCOs, so we can focus on achieving the best from all parts of Auckland Council.

(PIPPA COOM)  PN Contact Pippa Coom via pippa.coom@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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Take a tour and see for yourself! Limited places still available for 2021.

Visit kristin.school.nz or call our Admissions Manager on 09 415 9566 ext 2324.

Kristin is located at 360 Albany Highway, Albany with dedicated buses across Auckland.

LOCAL NEWS

Richard Northey: Waitemat-a Local Board Chair Waitemat-a Board resolves for restoring the Leys.

The future of the Leys Institute was on the Waitemata- Local Board agenda on 15 September. A report from Council officers suggested we had four options. Option 1 — leave the Leys closed; Option 2 — restore it, starting quite soon; Option 3 — defer and restore some time in the future; Option 4 — build a new library instead. After discussion the board resolved unanimously to “endorse the... restoration, modernisation and seismic remediation of Leys Institute... as soon as practicable.”

The board also resolved to “recognise that there is strong community support for the early restoration and enhanced public use of the Leys Institute buildings.” These resolutions will now be referred on to Council’s Finance and Performance Committee and then the Governing Body for a final decision. The board recognised that the Leys Institute buildings are a very valued gift by the Leys family, a beautiful Category A Historic Place, and a much loved and used library and community meeting place and landmark.

At that September board meeting we heard from a joint deputation from the St Mary’s Bay and Herne Bay Residents’ Associations calling on Auckland Council to make greater efforts to clean up the water flowing into our streams and the Waitemata- Harbour. The Local Board will be supporting that call in its own advocacy to the Governing Body about what should be prioritised in Council’s next Long-Term Plan Thank you to those who let us know their views in our consultation with local community about our proposed Waitemata- Local Board Plan. At a special meeting on 3 November we will decide which of your ideas are priorities, and that we have the capacity to respond to, to put in an amended Board Plan which will guide our actions for the next three years.

At our 18 August board meeting we amended and adopted a strategic plan for the Western Springs Park. Riparian planting will occur around the lake shore to improve the water quality and protect wildlife. There will be no significant lowering of the level and size of the lake and it will certainly not be turned into a wetland. The playground is now being upgraded with a nature theme.

Apart from the Pasifika Festival, the main part of the park is not intended for major events. In response to public submissions, the double hump bridge will be kept. At our special 3 November meeting we will consider the future of the pine forest on the eastern slopes of the park. Because of their age, many pines now represent a danger and, therefore, that part of the park has had to be closed. The board has long wanted a healthy, restored native forest there and intends to decide whether this is best achieved by the full removal of the pine stand or by gradual selective pine removal over several years.

Ponsonby Road has been chosen as one of four projects in the Waitemata- Local Board area for the Innovating Streets tactical urbanism programme. We resolved at our meeting that Auckland Transport needs to work closely with the Ponsonby community and businesses to make the Ponsonby Road corridor safer and more user friendly for all for fun, getting around and business growth. The Waitemata- Local Board has opposed an application to extend the summer operating hours of a helicopter pad in Cremorne Street.

We all need to remind ourselves to maintain hand washing and social distancing to combat the return of COVID-19. Because of the drought we all still need to limit our water use. (RICHARD NORTHEY)  PN

Although the Board Office will remain closed at times, I can be contacted at 021 534 546 or richard.northey@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

16 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS

Patrick McAteer: Past, present and future of our favourite neighbourhoods This month we talked with Patrick McAteer, sales & marketing director at Ray White Wynyard Quarter.

How long have you lived in the Greater Ponsonby Area?

I’ve lived in and around the Ponsonby area since 1995 and have loved every bit of it, from buying my first home to raising a family.

I may be a Southern lad, but I LOVE Auckland.

We need a vibrant city centre that gives people a reason to bring their kids back in for a walk, to see old buildings, art, music and food. And it has to be for every Aucklander, not just those of us who have the privilege of being able to afford living here.

Five favourite people, places from the past?

1. Pride Parade: The scale and eventfulness of the 1990s era of the parade was just amazing. It was a community affair that connected us all together for one night and beyond.

How do you chose who you sponsor or support as a corporate entity?

I believe we have to look after our neighbours. There’s no denying that it makes sense to communicate with our target audience as we try and balance out how we contribute to our communities. This ranges from support for the local tennis club to getting right in behind city wide initiatives that support people in real need, such as Pink Ribbon and Punuku Harbour clean up.

2. Taking my “little” kids to Ley’s institute on a Saturday for story reading. When they were older they went back there for gymnastics.

3. Lime & Sponge bar - late nights singing retro songs.

4. PREGO with a very young Brandon running a tight ship.

5. Getting a park anywhere and it not costing a fortune.

Best places to walk the dog or the kids?

Wynyard Quarter and Westhaven loop through Point Erin Park! Great for teenagers and fur children.

What are you hopes for the area?

Urban design and planning needs to play a major role in how we optimise our neighbourhoods. We need to retain something from the past in terms of our heritage, green spaces and community, as well as preparing for the future.

Connecting locals to the shorelines is important, as is providing a mix of office and residential living and alternative urban transport choices with less emphasis on vehicle use, such as cycling and walking lanes.

18 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

What is great locally right now?

Wynyard Quarter and the Precinct connect the harbour suburbs with - and this is where Punuku have just opened -Urunga the Waitemata, Plaza to the public. Wrapped around the Park Hyatt, this is an amazing space that showcases the vibrancy of this area. Cleaning up the water quality in the inner harbour will be fantastic and will expand the usage for everyone. Bike lanes are making it safer for inner-city commuters.

What’s happening in Real Estate right now?

There is plenty of dialogue and many predictions are being made across New Zealand. However, being specialists in residential inner-city suburbs and apartments, the largest shifts we have noticed are in the number of people wanting to buy an investment property and those wanting to buy a bigger home! Both outweigh the properties available.

Want to know more? Call Patrick on 021 664 859 or email patrick.mcateer@raywhite.com PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

For local experts to cover our vibrant waterfront precinct and the inner city suburbs - talk to this team Ray White Wynyard Quarter | 132 Halsey Street | (09) 308 5511

City Realty Limited Licensed (REAA 2008)

Wynyard Quarter.

Great line-up.

In 1987, Ghazaleh Golbakhsh, along with the rest of her family, left Iran’s totalitarian regime to make a life in NZ. When she first arrived, Ghazaleh only knew four words of English; how to count to three and to say hello. Life wasn’t always easy, and she even found herself being yelled at when she couldn’t understand one of her primary school teachers. photography: Andi Crown

LOCAL NEWS

Kerry Lee: The Girl from Revolution Road

Her new book titled, ‘The Girl From Revolution Road,’ takes direct inspiration from her early childhood and shows us what it was like for immigrants living here in the 1980s.

Originally about her family’s escape, the book’s premise slowly evolved into an account about her life as an Iranian-Kiwi growing up in New Zealand.

“I wrote it initially as a short story intending to make it into a film, but once I started I realized that I could take these ideas and turn them into a series of essays. I’d been reading books by authors such as Ashleigh Young and Rose Lu who inspired me to explore more of my own background.”

As a teenager, Ghazaleh struggled with the idea of integrating her Iranian culture into her identity as a New Zealander. Eventually, she came to the epiphany that assimilation and integration were at total odds with one another.

“For me, assimilation meant you had to be one of us, and that becomes problematic because it sets up the idea of ‘us against them’.

“In the book I use an example about Whoopi Goldberg’s one-woman show made about E.T. the extra-terrestrial. Instead of going home, like in the movie, he chooses to stay on Earth and become a gangster, growing Jheri curls, wearing gold jewellery and carrying guns.

“When his family finally arrives to take him home, he winds up killing them because he doesn’t recognise them anymore; he’s assimilated so much to being on Earth that he’s forgotten his roots.

“For me, assimilation means foregoing everything you were and becoming something else. This is why integration is so important; because it lets

you keep your cultural identity instead of ignoring it, which is what I think a lot of kids are tempted to do nowadays.

“That’s the key difference; integration means joining a society without forgetting where we came from, whereas assimilation is letting go of our ancestry and who we are.”

When I asked why some writers chose to focus on the negative stereotypes when it came to the Middle East, Ghazaleh felt that, to some extent, it came down to ignorance.

In one instance, she recalled being cast in a commercial where they dressed her in an Indian saree, while her co-star, originally from Senegal, wore a Moroccan fez. It’s not that the casting directors were intentionally pigeon-holing them, it’s that they didn’t know any better.

“Negative stereotypes become toxic when they’re the only ones being used.

If you only see your people portrayed as terrorists or criminals on the T.V., what does that tell you, especially if you’re a child? (KERRY LEE)  PN For more information about ‘The Girl From Revolutionary Road,’ please visit Allen and Unwin’s home page at: www.allenandunwin.com or to learn more about Ghazaleh herself, follow the link www.ghazalehgol.com

Playgroup @ Ponsonby Community Centre Ponsonby Playgroup provides a relaxed and friendly meeting place for parents/caregivers and a safe environment for free play for preschool children.

Playgroup is led by the coordinator, Sarah Hughes, who creates different fun activities for the children every week. Playgroup is held at the Ponsonby Community Centre every Tuesday during the school terms, from 9am-12pm.

We request a donation of $4 per child or $5 for a family. This covers materials for creating and play as well as our Music Man, Antonio, who entertains the children every week.  PN

For more information ‘Like’ the Ponsonby Playgroup facebook Page - updates are sent out every week: Facebook.com/PonsonbyPlaygroup

Ponsonby Playgroup

0-5 yrs - ALL WELCOME Koha $4 per child or $5 per family Playgroup runs every Tuesday during the term drop in anytime between 9am and 12pm Check out our Facebook page for more info: /PonsonbyPlaygroup

Ponsonby Community Centre 20 Ponsonby Terrace www.ponsonbycommunity.org.nz

20 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

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22 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Leading by example The urge to reconnect with our home space has never been stronger and as the days grow longer we look forward to sharing our new outdoor freedom with friends and family - Ariki by Cove Outdoor

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LOCAL NEWS

John Elliott: Waka Kotahi - Innovating streets for people More space for fun on Ponsonby Road.

This new initiative by council sounds exciting at first sight, but what it actually means in practise is unclear.

Western Park.” I could find few details of how potential disruption to traffic would be mitigated.

It will use ‘tactical urbanism’ to make quick, low-cost, scalable improvements to create more vibrant, people-friendly spaces in our neighbourhood.

Many of the proposals sound like fun, giving local communities opportunities for friendly community get-to-gethers. It is true we walked up the middle of our streets during lockdown. This would be especially viable in suburban centres.

So-called ‘play streets’ will enable neighbours to temporally restrict traffic access to their street so the space can be opened up for play, recreation and to create a sense of community.

How it would work on busy central city streets like Ponsonby Road, I’m not so sure.

The whole concept sounds attractive and done well would enhance a sense of community.

Council, and particularly AT, need to be careful not to get too far ahead of residents.

Council says, “Projects range from safe street improvements outside schools, slow street interventions, and walking and cycling facilities to give Aucklanders more space to enjoy their streets and neighbourhoods through quick tactical changes. The innovative streets fund allows for quick, low-cost projects to be trialled as a transition for long term projects.”

Am I being overly cynical, or do I detect another assault on cars in Auckland city? Is this really a bike city benefit? A Pippa Coom legacy policy? A farewell present to Ludo Campbell-Reid?

Mayor Goff adds, “This will create places that are good for pedestrians and people on bikes to be.”

Councillor Darby says, “The lockdown has seen Aucklanders rediscover the delight of walking and cycling, and now is the time to lock in some of the good habits we took up during lockdown. Darby added that the programme would include “playful interventions like play street programmes, slow Sundays, low traffic zones, pop-up bike paths and car calming around schools.”

The proposal for Ponsonby Road looks more problematic. It is called, “returning Ponsonby Road to the people, creating a more people friendly environment on Ponsonby Road with a focus on three parts of Ponsonby Road - Three Lamps, Vermont to Williamson, and outside

24 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

Street parties can already be arranged with streets closed for several hours while residents get together. They can include bouncy castles, racket games, drinks and eats.

Forcing more cars off the roads for hours will only push them down side streets, pissing off local residents, and endangering children and the elderly.

How many readers remember the Western Bays Community Board trying to monitor traffic in John Street? They closed off parts of the street and redirected traffic for three months. There was civil disobedience. Cars mounted footpaths to get around street barriers, and there were threats with AK47 rifles. At the end of the trial, a vote showed about 90% of locals opposed the changes and the board quietly took down the barricades. This new scheme has merit, but the possible hidden agenda is a dark concern.

PN (JOHN ELLIOTT) 

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS

Domaines NZ - for real estate investments Domaines NZ is a boutique real estate investment company which has been based locally for the last 16 years.

Tell us about you.

You work in residential, serviced apartments?

My name is Emma Angelino, and I’m working as a consultant for Domaines NZ. I have a business degree and professional background in hospitality. After working in residential sales, it was a natural progression to join a company where I could combine my knowledge and expertise.

$308,294 and provide a fully-managed investment, with a guaranty on rent locked into a commercial lease. You’ll also be able to enjoy 10 days per annum free of charge in your apartment.

Domaines NZ Ltd is a real estate investment agency established in 2004. Throughout the years, we have carried out numerous real estate transactions and developed a trusted network of agents, developers, and lawyers. For the last 10 years, we have built a solid partnership with Safari Group, one of the largest and most reliable property developers in New Zealand. We offer, with Safari Group, a variety of investment options with a secure management agreement, flexibility, and an average return of 5% net on all products. The investment options consist of residential apartments, hotel apartments, visitor accommodations, and prime retail/office space. Each option offers a different advantage to their owner, ranging from full management to full occupancy.

“I bought an apartment in Auckland with the help of Domaines NZ. It was simple and they were very professional. I received very good advice and I am very happy with the investment! Everything went really well, so well that I am currently in the process of buying a second apartment with them.” Miss J.  PN

Emma Angelino

Do you have any testimonials from happy clients?

“Friends referred Domaines NZ to me, and I asked them for more information. [My consultant] answered all my questions with great patience. [She] took me to visit several properties in Auckland that were really what I was looking for. She took care of all the paperwork with the solicitor, so I was no longer stressed at all. I had a stress-free experience during the transaction and I would heartily recommend Domaines NZ to anyone looking to invest in New Zealand.” Miss F.

DOMAINES NZ, 35/332 Great North Road, T: 021 192 3023, www.domainesnz.co.nz

The Wellington development is well located. Tell us more?

This development will be managed by Ramada which is part of the Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest and most diverse hotel company. Wellington was awarded the coolest little capital in the world. This is a vibrant city with an artistic vibe. Ramada Hotel and Suites Wellington is located on Taranaki Street, a main arterial route to Wellington International Airport. The hotel is well placed in the heart of the central city with restaurants, cafes, shops and entertainment all within walking distance. You will find famous places close to the hotel, such as Victoria University of Wellington, Cuba Street, Courtenay Place, Te Papa Museum, Parliament, the Beehive, TSB Arena, Westpac Stadium and more.

Tell us about some of your other developments?

We have a new project located in Ellerslie, composed of 85 residential apartments and 46 visitor accommodations. All apartments are priced from $430,000 and will not exceed $930,000. This is a really good opportunity if you’re looking for a good return. If you’re looking for an investment associating pleasure with business, we have a welllocated development in Kawarau, Queenstown. Hotel units start at

26 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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LOCAL NEWS

John Elliott: It’s deadly quiet on central city streets - then suddenly a new election poll for Auckland Central With so little appearing to be happening in the campaign for Auckland Central, it was getting harder, not easier, to make predictions.

We know large gatherings are still banned, but small street corner debates could still be held.

And then out of the blue comes a new Reid Research poll which woke us all up. It likely has implications New Zealand-wide.

Helen White, Labour candidate for Auckland Central, is way in the lead on 42.3% with National’s Emma Mellow trailing on 26.6% and The Greens Chlöe Swarbrick close behind Emma on 24.2%.

That result must send shivers down the spine of all National Party devotees. If repeated across New Zealand, National would suffer its worst defeat - at least since 2002.

The poll showed the party vote was even better news for Labour Labour on 56%, National on 23% and the Greens on 12%. Fifteen percent of National’s 2017 voters said they would vote Labour in 2020 - a stunning turnaround since Nikki Kaye’s halcyon days.

There are still 25 days to go until the election, and, in these worldwide catastrophic times, anything is possible.

However, a comeback from those figures looks unlikely for Emma or Chlöe.

I suspect it’s hardest for Emma Mellow, who started with no name recognition at all after very late selection. Will she still pick up more of Nikki Kaye’s 2017 voters as she gets better known, or is the tide now so far out for National that it is beyond her reach? I know she is doing everything she can to build her profile.

What influence will Jacinda have on the electorate outcome? Although she was twice beaten by Kaye in Auckland Central she is, after all, a local, and half our Ponsonby News readers live and vote in Mt Albert. Can she help Labour’s Helen White get over the line?

I don’t think we have received a single flyer in the letterbox yet, and because of Covid no candidate has knocked on the door. I think all three leading candidates need the exposure door knocking can give, especially new candidates. When, hopefully soon, we return to level 1 more personal campaigning can take place.

I still think any time Swarbrick can debate the other two ‘big’ candidates she will shine, and if Chlöe can’t win Auckland Central I really hope the Greens can achieve 5%. This would enable the very able Chlöe, and enough of her colleagues, to return to parliament at a critical time in history when our planet is at such risk. I don’t want to see Labour governing alone.

28 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

Helen White debated on Jervois Road last weekend. I detected a newly-found confidence in her. Not only does she not have Nikki Kaye to contend with, she has a fast-rising Labour tide swirling her to the finish line. This poll could lead to a self-fulfilling prophesy; “Helen’s winning, I’d better join the winning team.”

I heard a bigoted National Party supporter say that Chlöe might be bright, but it would be ‘dangerous’ to elect her. I refrained from getting into an argument, but what the hell does ‘dangerous’ mean?

Is she a closet communist in league with Beijing? Is she a spy for Putin? What it tells me is that many in the National Party are still living in the 20th Century, are way out of date with climate change, care nothing about rampant inequality and poverty in Aotearoa/New Zealand, and want to continue with outdated neo-liberal policies.

Just one example will suffice. Imagine the backward decision to make the tired old warrior, Gerry Brownlee, the successor to the young and liberal Nikki Kaye as deputy leader. Kaye clearly said, “Enough of this reactionary behaviour is enough. I’m out of here.”

In a 2017 National seat, this bigotry does make it harder for Swarbrick, but she knows it and brilliantly argues it or just bats it away with a smile.

Now, in the latest switch on a switch, National has confirmed its 20th century neo-liberal mentality. Collins announced a tax cut mainly benefiting the rich. When we are so heavily indebted, she attempts a blatant bribe. What will National cut to finance that bribe?

Check my September article on tax and death. Remember 2009. John Key’s first action was a tax cut for the rich and an addition to GST, which disadvantaged the poor most. He called it ‘fiscally neutral’.

They never learn these Nats. Even business-friendly Fran O’Sullivan, Herald correspondent, called it “certainly bold, but a fiscal rort.”

O’Sullivan also said it was a plan “so cynical it just might work.” The money for the tax cuts would come from the decreasing number of billions left for any future Covid outbreak. Raiding the sick to aid the rich. How cruel would that be?

My latest prediction — Reid Research is a reputable polling company, so it looks as if local barrister and Freemans Bay born, Helen White, will be going to Wellington to represent us after 17 October.

She will be a worthy rep, but we must not forget that old adage, “It’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings.”

It’s still a three way go in Auckland Central, and neither Emma Mellow PN nor Chlöe Swarbrick can be counted out. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  www.votecompass.tvnz.co.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Within 24 hours of becoming National’s candidate for Auckland Central, we all went into lockdown again.

I know how hard it has been on so many Aucklanders. Across the city 400 people are losing their jobs every day, businesses are on the brink, livelihoods are at stake, and the stress on many families can be overwhelming.

Over the last two months, I have been listening to you. I have personally called over 1500 households since the lockdown. You have shared with me your frustrations that the Government’s failure to test people has seen Covid come over the border again. There is some anger, and some Aucklanders are feeling desperate. But there is also a quiet resilience in the community that is vital to supporting Aucklanders through these challenges.

This election, we need to elect a government that has a clear plan to rebuild the economy. We need a government that is solely focussed on delivering jobs to people who need them and opportunities for business to thrive again. If we are going to regain our standard of living, we need a government that invests wisely in infrastructure and is determined to deliver it.

First, we need a safe border. National will establish a unified border agency. It will have the personnel, technology and capability to provide a world-class defence against Covid. This will give confidence to businesses that our borders are safe again, and that we won’t yo-yo between alert levels.

Emma Mellow campaigning with volunteers in Ponsonby

It is the private sector, our local businesses, who create jobs, not the government. Our Jobstart policy will provide a $10k payment to businesses for each new worker they take on, and we will make it easier for people who have lost their job to start new businesses.

The Labour-Greens’ tax ideas will really hurt the people of Auckland Central. Both Chlöe Swarbrick and Helen White have publicly supported a wealth tax. They both want to raise income taxes. We are committed to reducing the tax burden on New Zealanders, not increasing it. Rebuilding our damaged economy will be a long haul, but no country has ever taxed its way out of recession. We must invest and grow our way out of it.

We will invest $31 billion in infrastructure in the Upper North Island. A lot more investment in more buses, ferries and trains will transform the way people get around Auckland, and we will unlock the congestion that clogs the city.

At the last election, the Labour Party made many grand promises.

They promised to eliminate child poverty. They promised to end homelessness. They promised KiwiBuild, and Light Rail. They have failed to deliver on any of them, even before Covid hit our shores.

National is committed to a second harbour crossing. The last National Government progressed work on an additional harbour crossing, which we said would be a tunnel, needed between 2025 and 2030.

Since the change of government, no substantive work has been done on those plans.

We need a government that can bring optimism and hope to New Zealanders. Labour is campaigning on the fear of Covid, but National’s positive plans will give confidence to businesses to invest again, confidence to families that they’ll be able to manage through short-term struggles and confidence that National will support New Zealanders to get back on their feet again.

National’s tax relief plans will provide an extra $3000 per year to the average worker. Although this will certainly help struggling families, it will also provide vital stimulus to our economy. We can support our local hospitality, retail, tourism and services, and create jobs if we have more money to spend. Put simply, we know you can spend your money better than the government.

Auckland Central is the beating heart of our region’s economy and cultural life. I’m determined to do all I can as Auckland Central’s next MP to listen to you, understand your concerns, and fight hard for you.

(EMMA MELLOW)  PN Live on facebook: fb.com/emmamellow

Emma Mellow Monday 8pm

Live on Facebook: fb.com/emmamellow

Authorised by E Mellow, 48A College Hill, Freemans Bay, Akl.

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 29

LOCAL NEWS

Emma Mellow: Candidate for National for Auckland Central

LOCAL NEWS

Helen Clark & Helen White

Helen White: My vision for the role as an Electorate MP Kia Ora. Last election I came very close to winning Auckland Central for Labour.

I have been heartened by the latest Reid TV3 poll putting me at 42.3%, with the National Party candidate Emma Mellow at 26.6% and the Green candidate Chlöe Swarbrick on 24.2%.

Our team has been working hard, both door knocking and phoning, and I am hoping I can win your support to represent you in Parliament this election.

Labour’s Values and the Response to the Pandemic During Labour’s time in Government so far, I hope we have earned your trust and respect. I was proud of the way we have responded to the tragedy of the racist attack on our Muslim community and the way we proactively addressed the threat and the catastrophic effects of a global pandemic.

The decisive leadership shown in response to these disasters was no accident, it was the application of Labour’s core values; to value and protect people first and put their welfare first and foremost. As the saying goes: He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata - What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

While the pandemic has had devastating impacts on many people and businesses I do not wish to minimise, it could have been so much worse without leadership committed to these values. That has been recognised internationally. In these tough times we are in good hands, and I hope you join me in wanting to keep it that way.

My vision for the role as an Electorate MP The way I see it, Auckland Central needs competent, decisive leadership and representation, driven by these Labour values at the electorate level.

Auckland Central’s Voice in Jacinda’s Team I believe there couldn’t be a more important time for this community to have a strong advocate within government and vice versa: there

couldn’t be a more important time for Labour to connect on the ground so it can listen and respond to the needs of our biggest city.

I see the role of the electorate MP as a pragmatic one, to help people if possible and to connect them with the support they need, no matter who they vote for. In the years ahead we have significant issues confronting our community. As an employment lawyer for over 27 years, I can offer genuine experience and insight into what will support people in need in our community.

Again as an experienced employment lawyer, I genuinely appreciate the stresses on small businesses and the efforts people are making to keep others employed.

Supporting the Healthy Growth of the City I grew up in Freemans Bay when living in the inner-city was affordable for many more people than it is today. I appreciate it was easier to build affordable homes with adequate green space in that time because we had less people, but as our city grows it is important to me it grows in a way that means people can have a good life here, whether they are rich or poor. It is also important that those who have lived here a long time can stay in their own homes, even when their income reduces. After all, a home is more that an asset; it is the place we connect with our family and friends on our own terms.

As I see it right now, Auckland Central needs to be supported as far as possible to become a city that is much nicer to live and work in.

One example that I can see is it will need an inner-city school for the growing number of young children. They also need more space to play, less cars and decent, warm, dry homes regardless of whether their parents can afford to buy or rent.

Listening to You We have had a difficult campaign logistically. We have phoned and door knocked over 10,000 households. If we haven’t made it to yours, and if you would like me to call, then please send your mobile number to my email at helen.white@labour.org.nz or contact me on www.facebook.com/HelenWhiteLabour. (HELEN WHITE)  PN Authorised by Dianna Lacy, 160 Willis Street, Wellington.

30 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Helen White

for Auckland Central www.labour.org.nz/helenwhite Helen.white@labour.org.nz

Helen_white_labour Helenwhitelabour Authorised by Timothy Grigg, 160 Willis Street, Wellington

LOCAL NEWS

John Elliott: Lead the world on Covid, still fail on glyphosate Aotearoa now has a leader respected around the world, and we are lauded for the strong, yet compassionate way we have dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic.

The weed control of our city streets and berms has recently been taken back from Auckland Transport control. Many of us thought that would mean a concentrated effort to ban the use of Roundup and other chemicals containing glyphosate from our environment.

How wrong we were. Council’s recent Project Streetscape - Weed Management Report sets out the new guidelines. Glyphosate can still be used despite escalating world-wide proof of its carcinogenic properties.

Bayer of Germany recently bought Monsanto, the makers of glyphosate products, for $62 billion in cash!

As one article I read pointed out, Bayer will need some more aspirin to deal with the legal suits mounting up against them around the world. Following a 2015 report from the IARC (the WHO cancer committee of 15 reputable scientists), glyphosate was declared a ‘probable human carcinogen’.

Bayer is now trying to put out the fires raging about its continued use. They have paid $259 million to one non-Hodgkins leukaemia sufferer and have just announced an eye watering $10.9 billion to settle a large class action in the USA. Bayer stock has taken a huge nosedive on the share market, and they are trying to bury the ‘Monsanto’ name.

Glyphosate decimating monarch butterfly numbers and being found in mother’s breast milk are just two frightening occurrences being discovered around the world. Many cancers don’t emerge in the bodies of glyphosate users for years and years.

More and more countries around the world are banning, or drastically restricting, herbicides which contain glyphosate, but New Zealand won’t budge. Why not, you may well ask, if the science is so settled?

The decision on hazardous substances is handled by our EPA (Environmental Protection Authority). The New Zealand Authority takes its cue from the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

The US EPA is a highly questionable organisation which has been proven in court to have been in league with Monsanto to deny any

32 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

harm from glyphosate. It was, until recently, run by a Trump appointee who is a climate denier. Lawyers for cancer sufferers have obtained colluding internal emails between the EPA and Monsanto. It’s like the tobacco industry denials all over again. In fact, some of the tobacco protagonists have switched allegiance to the chemical industry and are producing the same old lying articles in defence of glyphosate that they used to write in favour of cigarettes.

New Zealand must break the ties with the unreliable US EPA and take on board more compelling international research which has proved cancer connections with glyphosate use.

As Weed Advisory member Hana Blackmore says, “That we fought so hard to take back our streets from Auckland Transport only to have Council take the axe to safe, non-chemical methodologies is outrageous and totally unacceptable. The fact that it will also result in the closing down of any innovation in this vitally important sector is doubly distressing and short-sighted.”

Auckland Councillor, John Watson, is upset Council will continue to use glyphosate on our berms and in our parks and reserves. He says, “The proposal seeks to lock in the use of glyphosate for the longterm while eliminating innovation and the use of alternatives. It’s a pro-glyphosate agenda.”

Glyphosate is now a proven carcinogen and, in Auckland, keeping our streets weed-free should not become ‘just a cost exercise’. Our health is at risk. Children who ingest glyphosate may not suffer the effects for many years, but experience around the world says they will suffer and probably die much sooner than they should. New Zealand’s EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been proven incapable of protecting New Zealanders and should be ignored and probably closed down.

More careful and independent costings around alternatives to glyphosate must be investigated. Suitable products are available.

The time to ban products containing glyphosate is now.

PN (JOHN ELLIOTT) 

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

Ken Ring: Weather by the moon Auckland Weather diary, October 2020 October has average rain and, although cooler, is sunnier than average.

Expect scattered showers and fine spells for the first two weeks. The third week is the driest, has the most sunny days and is also the coolest. The fourth week sees the heaviest rain. The best weekend is the 17th/18th (the night of the 17th may plunge to around 5°C). Atmospheric pressures should average about 1018mbs, with winds from the south or southwest on about 20 days.

For fishermen, the highest kingtide may be around 17th. The best fishing bite-times in the east are at dusk on 1st-3rd, 16th-18th, and 31st (and in the west around noon on those days), and chances are also good in the east for noon of 9th-11th and 23rd-25th and in the west around dusk on those days.

For gardeners, the best pruning days are 3rd-9th (waning moon descending) and 18th-22th are best sowing days (waxing moon ascending). For longer shelf-life for crops, harvest at neap tide days on 10th and 25th. Allow 24 hour error for all forecasting. (KEN RING)  PN For future weather for any date, see www.predictweather.com

Please contact my office if you would like to discuss any constituency issues with me Drop in constituent clinic, 48C College Hill Freemans Bay, Monday 5th Oct 10 - 11am Hon Nikki Kaye MP for Auckland Central 48C College Hill Rd, Freemans Bay, Auckland nikki.kaye@parliament.govt.nz • 09 378 2088

Authorised by Nikki Kaye MP, 48C College Hill Rd, Freemans Bay, Auckland.

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 33

LOCAL NEWS

Ponsonby U3A: September 2020 In late August and in Alert Level 3 again, Ponsonby U3A’s AGM was held by Zoom and members elected a new Committee and President, Philippa Tait.

Philippa has been a member of Ponsonby U3A for almost 10 years. A journalist, Philippa has been responsible for the monthly contribution to Ponsonby News as well as for managing Ponsonby U3A’s internal, monthly newsletter.

Hers will be a capable and friendly presence and members are looking forward to Philippa’s term of office.

Following the AGM were two ten-minute speakers from the membership. Innovator Brian Adamson spoke on the Maker Revolution: 3D Printing. He is part of a contemporary sub-culture labelled the ‘Maker Movement’.

Starting in San Francisco and spreading world-wide, it represents a technology-based DIY approach which focuses on physical objects developed by individuals in their homes, garages or in a place with limited manufacturing resources. Brian made a 3D printer using disparate items from his own garage and showed us how this fascinating new 3D printing technology works.

Robyn Chalmers entitled her talk, ‘Achieving After Adversity’. She gave an inspiring account of how one can prevail despite devastating hardship. Before Covid-19, Robyn was selected for the New Zealand Senior Petanque Team to play in the Trans-Tasman 2020 tournament, but the team never got away because of lockdown.

Nevertheless, she has achieved a top sporting award despite devastating physical and mental trauma. Following an injury, medical treatment led to her being in pain and permanently on crutches.

Resolute, she became her own advocate and found an overseas expert able to diagnose and solve her dire situation. She joined the Petanque Club and now leads a full and active life.

The September meeting was again rich in substance and presentation.

Elizabeth Berry, U3A member and former clinical specialist, gave a fascinating history of pandemics, including three major pandemics associated with patterns of trade, exploration or warfare: Bubonic plague in the sixth century; Black Death in the 14th century; and

China plague in the mid-19th century. Elizabeth outlined the various responses over the years, and it was fascinating to see the parallels with our own responses to Covid-19 in this century.

Guest speaker at the September meeting was Jenny Lynch, former editor of the NZ Woman’s Weekly. Jenny inspired members with a romp through her diverse and fascinating career, giving insight into what it’s like to be in the world of print, especially in the 1960’s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s, the golden years of journalism.

Working for editor Jean Wishart, she rose rapidly through the ranks doing whatever job was required, from ‘Sunshine Lady’ of the Pixie Pages of the NZ Woman’s Weekly, to editor. Her recently published book, Under the Covers, the Unreported Side of Life in Print promises to be as informative and funny as her presentation.

As well as monthly guest speakers from diverse backgrounds and ten-minute speakers drawn from a talented membership base, Ponsonby U3A provides over 25 interest groups where friendships are forged and there is an exchange of ideas and learning. Interest groups range from current events, history, drawing, poetry and science to architectural appreciation, gardening and gallery visits, to name a few.

In non-Covid times we visit the theatre, vintage cinema, local restaurants and concerts and ‘ramble’ to special destinations.

Meeting mainly in members’ homes, special-interests group members aim to keep minds and bodies active, to develop friendships and to achieve continuous learning by sharing knowledge with, and learning from, others.

Guest speaker for the October meeting will be Catherine Hammond, Head of Documentary Heritage at Auckland Museum - Extraordinary Everyday: Documentary Heritage at Auckland Museum.

(CHRISTINE HART)  PN NEXT MEETING: 10am Friday, 9 October either by Zoom or at

St Columba Centre, 40 Vermont Street, Ponsonby.

ENQUIRIES:

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

John Elliott: Western Springs pine forest may still be saved As the old musical saying goes: ‘It’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings’.

The controversial resource consent to fell all 200 or so old pines in the Western Springs forest is not going to be actioned any time soon. The Council has agreed to explore a plan for a more managed demolition – a so-called Plan B. One wonders, perhaps cynically, whether this might, at least partly, be a question of saving the many hundreds of thousands of dollars the total demolition would cost the devastation of the growing native trees thriving in the understorey is also a concern. Experts predicted 80% of these would be killed by falling or fallen pine logs should a major road be built to provide access for machinery.

If you are opposed to the resource consent to fell the whole 200 or so pines in one fell swoop, or have questions about the process, you now have time to lobby the Waitemata- Local Board. Given the destruction of so much tree cover in the city in recent years, it’s time

34 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

to call on bureaucrats and elected members to halt this anarchy. Stop PN killing trees NOW. (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS

Council report says restore Leys Institute Excellent news for the Leys Institute from the September Waitemat-a Local Board meeting!

The council report tabled on the indicative business case for the four options for the Leys has recommended option two: seismic strengthening, upgrading and full restoration of library services.

The Local Board has accepted the report, and now a full detailed business case will be developed with repair works scheduled to commence in 2023/24.

Friends of Leys Institute co-ordinator Helen Geary addressed the Local Board, congratulating them on their strong support and advocacy for the buildings. Attention was drawn to the community concern about maintenance of the mothballed buildings, demonstrated by the recent guerrilla gardening by local residents and signs that have been attached to the fence surrounding the Leys calling for its restoration.

The full council report can be seen here on pages 23-42 of the Local Board meeting agenda: https://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2020/09/ WTM_20200915_AGN_9825_AT.pdf It talks about the heritage significance of the buildings and their sustainability, the increasing need for library services in the area, and highlights how much the local community values the Leys Institute.

Friends of Leys Institute will keep members posted on the next steps towards returning to our treasured buildings.

Anyone interested in becoming a member can email co-ordinator Helen Geary at heleng@maxnet.co.nz and follow the Friends of Leys Institute Facebook page.  PN

@ Leys Little Library Kia ora koutou. Somehow, we are already in October.

Normally in October we are busy preparing for the Heritage Festival; brushing up on our history of the Leys Institute, searching for a new gossipy tidbit to share with you during the library tours and taking RSVPs for evening talks. Understandably this is not happening this year (but if you do have some historical gossip about the library please share).

In lieu of the heritage events that would normally fill our library at this time of year, I thought it was time to highlight Kura, Auckland Libraries’ Heritage collections online. Kura is an amazing resource of photographs, maps, manuscripts and much more and includes a wonderful array of historic photographs of the Leys institute, Ponsonby and St Mary’s Bay. Recently, some photographs from the Ley’s collection have been added to Kura including a water-colour of Thompson Leys and group photographs of the Leys Men’s Basketball team. A 1930s basketball uniform is really something to see! During October we will be adding some of these images to the digital screen at Little Leys, so if you don’t get the chance to browse the Kura collections online have a look when you next visit us.

Auckland Libraries’ Recommendations: Kia ora, Sarah-Jane here. Libraries can lead you down all sorts of information rabbit holes.

My rabbit hole began with one curious cookbook, The Noma Guide to Ferments. I loved the recipes for kombucha flavoured with Nordic pine needles and pumpkin seed miso, but I drew the line at building my own fermentation lab.This is a book for the pros! However, I was intrigued and wanted to know more, so I read Hungry by Jeff Gordinier.

Leys’ Men’s Basketball Club, 1938 Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections

This is a profile of René Redzepi, the Danish chef who started Noma which is considered one of the best restaurants in the world.

Still wanting to know more, I found the documentary Ants on a Shrimp on Beamafilms.

This doco is a great account of Redzepi setting up a Noma popup in Tokyo. It follows him through the processes of creating a menu, foraging in forests, and aiming for perfection obsessively. Noma pushes boundaries with food; ingredients include turtle, fish sperm, ants and mushroom water. Needless to say, this little journey down the food information path changed some of my ideas on food.  PN LEYS INSTITUTE LITTLE LIBRARY, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 35

LOCAL NEWS

Ponsonby Park – October Update There is an under-provision of urban, open space in the Ponsonby area. This issue was first identified in the year 2000 and unfortunately this shortfall has only increased over the 20 years since then.

With the local population projected to grow by 35 percent in the next 30 years, this shortfall will only continue to increase. Ponsonby Park, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road, is being developed to satisfy this ongoing community need.

The ‘needs analysis’ carried out as part of our (volunteer) communityled design process identified this gap as a place to meet, create new connections, engage in community-building and a place to host events to bring the community together.

Despite the Ponsonby Park project being temporarily delayed by the budget constraints imposed by COVID-19, it is still the WaitemataLocal Board’s ‘One Local Initiative’ project.

We note the Waitemata- Local Board has: “Confirmed that proceeds from the sale of a commercial building at 200 Victoria Street go to fund the Ponsonby Park project at 254 Ponsonby Road and urged [the Governing Body] that that project only be delayed by a year.”

We are hugely appreciative of the Waitemata- Local Board’s ongoing support and advocacy work for Ponsonby Park on behalf of our community.

This month, on Wednesday 7 October, Independent Hearing Commissioners will (pursuant to section 34A of the Resource Management Act 1991) hear and determine submissions to ‘Proposed Plan Change 36’. This proposed plan change, amongst

36 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

other things, seeks to: “Rezone land recently vested or acquired for open space purposes so that the zoning of the land reflects its purpose and intended use.”

We are pleased to hear that Council is recommending the zone change for 254 Ponsonby Road be accepted by the hearing commissioners.

This zoning change will be the achievement of another significant milestone towards the realisation of Ponsonby Park, the new civic space at 254 Ponsonby Road. So, the Community-Led Design group will (Covid permitting) host a celebratory event once the plan change has been ratified.

You’re all invited and we will confirm the details soon. Keep an eye on our Facebook page, “Ponsonby Park” and on our on-site noticeboard for further information.

The vision for Ponsonby Park has always been of a place for people to gather, rest, relax and recreate; a place to meet new people, catch up with old friends, or to simply spend some time to take a moment.

These things are even more important now.

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 will be this place.

(JENNIFER WARD)  PN Further information, to contact us or access archival documents, please visit our website www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Made here Live here Love here Erin Whiting Honesty, energy and positivity is what you should expect and that’s what you’ll get.

Plus, as an accomplished sports person with a background in marketing and project management I’m also bringing discipline and determination right to your door.

barfoot.co.nz/e.whiting

19 Kingsview Road, Mt Eden

12 Lincoln Street, Ponsonby

2/52 Aitken Terrace, Kingsland

46 Hackett Street, St Marys Bay

Talk to a local original: Erin Whiting Residential Sales Ponsonby Branch e.whiting@barfoot.co.nz | 021 644 483

Fable Hotels & Resorts opens its first Luxury Boutique Hotel - Hotel Fitzroy curated by Fable Nothing was left to chance when it came to creating an unforgettable guest experience at Hotel Fitzroy curated by Fable.

Not even the minutest detail was spared in ensuring the hotel environment was flawless, and the commitment to complete, unreserved service will ensure that every guest’s need is taken care of.

For every guest that checks into the five-star boutique hotel, our host will do whatever it takes to make their stay as memorable as possible.

Guests are encouraged to make themselves entirely at home, indulge in the complete and utter comfort on offer, and join us every evening for cocktails and canapes.

“To be leading the launch of our first curated by Fable hotel is something every customer-centric general manager dreams of; it brings you back to why you love hospitality. The truly luxury boutique hotel experience that’s been curated within Hotel Fitzroy is nothing short of exceptional, from the hosts who have been handpicked to bring the experience to life through to the most exquisitely designed suites, guest spaces and food and beverage the property offers.

Hotel Fitzroy will be a fantastic addition to the vibrant Ponsonby neighbourhood but will also set a new benchmark for boutique hotels in Auckland,” says General Manager, Chris Dickinson.

Inside the heritage two-storey villa on the corner of Fitzroy Street and Richmond Road in Ponsonby, are elegantly styled rooms that allow guests to relax in complete style and comfort. On arrival, guests are welcomed into an intimate reception area, comfortably sinking into overscaled Moooi designer chairs and refreshed with a Manuka, lemongrass and ginger sours tea with parmesan and sumac shortbread.

The landmark villa is juxtaposed by a contemporary building with a dramatic black slatted exterior, an external sculptural spiral staircase and four superior rooms.

Breakfast, designed by award-winning Group Executive Chef, Jinu Abraham, is delivered to each guest’s room in the morning. Each breakfast has a focus on local inspiration, whole foods and sustainable local produce and is included in the room rate. So too is the tumbler of whisky in the library and custom-selected minibar.

For guests wanting a nightcap, a place to read the newspaper or to catch up on work, the intimate Fitzroy library has been designed with exactly this in mind. There is a well-stocked bar and an extensive collection of books for guests to enjoy a moment of quiet.

38 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

LOCAL NEWS In these shared spaces, the artwork has been carefully selected to include pieces by local artists who have an international presence.

Fable believes strongly in sustainability, and this can be seen in everything from the locally sourced, environmentally-friendly amenities in the bathrooms to the delicate wooden key cards. As a new hotel brand, Fable Hotels & Resort was founded on the principles of an environmentally friendly policy, social responsibility and local suppliers.

But it is the hosted moments that separates Hotel Fitzroy curated

by Fable from all other hotel experiences. Fitzroy’s hosts get to know each guest and understand what they are seeking from their Auckland stay. Their skills and commitment to what redefining luxury means allows them to mold each stay in a way that perfectly fits with every guest’s wishes. Tailor-made experiences and instinctive service equates to an unforgettable stay; it will be a story that stays with you. “After all, that’s why we’re here, to care for our guests,” says Chris Dickinson.

The hotel opened its doors on 17 September.

THE FINER DETAILS: Address: 43 Richmond Road, Ponsonby-Grey Lynn Interiors: Designed by Devi Lecchi of Mandala Design Interiors highlights: Italian-sourced beds are found in the villa’s luxury rooms, while custom rugs from SF Design give depth to the hotel’s hallway and fern frond wallpaper from Seneca by Elitis adds drama to the library.

Design summary: “...a stylish, comfortable and crafted boutique hotel in a beautiful synergy of old and new,” says Devi.

ABOUT CPG: CPG Hotels is one of New Zealand’s largest privately-owned hotel groups with 15 properties in some of the country’s top tourist hot spots, including Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Picton and Dunedin.

Properties currently in the group include two five-star boutique hotels and a range of three and four-star hotels. CPG Hotels has strong commitments to sustainability, with recycling and environmentally friendly policies at its properties and a strong social responsibility.  PN www.hotelfitzroy.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 39

LOCAL NEWS

Sewer separation project to clean up St Mary’s Bay Planning and design is underway on a project to separate the wastewater and stormwater networks in St Mary’s Bay to improve water quality in the area.

The project, which is part of a joint Watercare and Auckland Council initiative, involves the construction of a new public wastewater network and extensions to the existing network so it can be used for stormwater.

Individual private property networks will also be separated.

Watercare improvement programme manager Anin Nama says the $33.4 million project will prevent wet-weather overflows into the Waitemata- Harbour.

“In older parts of Auckland, one network was built to handle both wastewater and stormwater flows. In dry periods, the wastewater flows end up at the Mangere Wastewater Treatment Plant, but when it rains, the pipes are inundated and diluted wastewater and stormwater enter the waterways,” Nama says.

“The pipes we are separating were built in the early 1900s. St Mary’s Bay is a problem area for water quality. It receives wet-weather overflows about 100 times a year — every time it rains. The work we are doing will reduce overflows to between two and six times a year. It’s about fixing a legacy issue and cleaning up an area that is a popular spot for recreation.”

The project in St Mary’s Bay is part of the wider Western Isthmus Programme, a 10-year programme of works to improve the

40 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

water quality in urban streams, and ultimately our harbours. It is jointly funded by Watercare and Auckland Council’s Water Quality Targeted Rate.

More than 450 St Mary’s Bay properties will have their private stormwater and wastewater pipes separated. Watercare will be in touch with property owners over the next few months to confirm existing drainage locations and assess the best options for separation.

Construction is expected to begin mid-2021 and will be delivered

by Watercare’s design and construction partners GHD and Fletcher Construction.

The separation programme is aligned with Auckland Council’s Healthy Waters stormwater tunnel, currently under construction. The new pipeline will collect and screen stormwater and discharge it at a new marine outfall location, reducing wet weather overflows and significantly improving water quality.

Healthy Waters general manager Craig McIlroy says, “The St Mary’s Bay Area Water Quality Improvement Project will restore St Mary’s Bay and Masefield Beach to being thriving, lively places where people come together to enjoy themselves.”  PN

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HELLO P O N S O N B Y, WE’RE HERE T O S TAY @fablehotelsandresorts

BE HOSTED IN LUXURY From the moment you arrive, every touchpoint at Hotel Fitzroy is curated to turn your stay into something memorable. This boutique hotel heralds the launch of New Zealand’s newest five-star luxury hotel brand Fable Hotels and Resorts.

— 43 RICHMOND RD, GREY LYNN

fablehotelsandresorts

H O T E L F I T Z R OY. C O . N Z

LOCAL NEWS

Eddie Reid’s new business name - Reid Property Services Eddie Reid is a well known local tradie who started his painting business nine years ago. Recently, Eddie made some changes to his business.

What is happening with your business and why the name change?

In 2012, Reid Painters started as a painting company servicing predominantly the inner city suburbs. Our main scope of work is interior, exterior residential, commercial and schools. We have been very fortunate over the years to have worked with a wonderful group of clients who continue to use our services to this day.

Over the years, common requests from our clients have been whether we can recommend a plasterer, electrician, builder, plumber and roofer, and also whether we can manage their entire project for them, so we have recruited our own plasterer, builder, electrician, roofer and plumber. Providing a variety of tradespeople allows us to schedule each trade into the job from start to finish and provide a more efficient service with minimal delays.

Tell us about some of your jobs?

At the moment we are working on; • 22 townhouses in Grey Lynn and Te Atatu - installing new kitchens, changing standard lighting to LEDs, painting/plastering, and building an additional bedroom in the garages; • A two-storey villa in Grey Lynn - repainting and some weatherboard replacement;

• A three-bedroom house in Manurewa – repainting the roof and exterior, some weatherboard replacement, and deck replacement from pine to Vitex decking; • An apartment block in Remuera - building a new fence; • A complete bathroom make-over including floor replacement, waterproofing, gib installation, plastering and painting.

Our main work is residential and rental property maintenance.

Commercial work is consistently increasing with projects coming up in the next two to three months. We are finding we are getting calls for more lighting upgrades from the standard light bulbs to LEDs. How far will you travel for work?

We travel Auckland-wide. However, we have clients in Taupo, Tauranga, Papamoa and Waiheke, so we do go further afield.

Anything else you’d like to tell us?

To bring the team together under one group we are changing our brand from Reid Painters to Reid Property Services. We have also gone live with our new website. This will show who we are and what we do. Please take a look.  PN www.reidpropertyservices.co.nz

Because we all deserve freedom SAFE helping animals out Help us fight cages

safe.org.nz

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

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

42 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WHEN QUALITY MATTERS

GO WITH A TRUSTED LOCAL COMPANY

Established in 2012, Eddie and his team have earned a reputation for delivering the highest standard of service, commitment and quality workmanship, covering all your commercial, residential and rental property requirements.

PAINTING + BUILDING + GIB STOPPING + PLUMBING + ELECTRICAL + ROOFING

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

“Take the stress out of being a landlord - Call us.”

- Phillipa Gordon

T: 09 378 9560 M: 0274 746 507

1/1 Franklin Road, Ponsonby E: Phillipa@hotpropertyrentals.co.nz

www.hotpropertyrentals.co.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 43

Maaike Autumn Top in Black - $347

Siren Tie Dye Dress - $129

Siren Duster Shirt - $159

Zebrano has now relocated to 22 Morrow Street, Newmarket - opposite Westfield

Maaike Autumn Top - $397

Curate By Trelise Cooper Maxi On Dress - $329

FASHION + STYLE

@ Zebrano

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

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44 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FASHION + STYLE

@ Workshop The Vampire’s Wife is available at Workshop Ponsonby and Newmarket and online now.

The Vampire’s Wife is the design vision of Susie Cave, titled after an abandoned book project by Susie’s musician husband Nick Cave. Since its launch in 2016, the label has gone from a small cult fashion label to a juggernaut that is revitalising women’s wardrobes all over the world.

The Liberty Dress

The Mini Festival Silk Dress

www.workshop.co.nz/collections/the-vampires-wife

WORKSHOP, 74 Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby, T: 09 361 3727, 18 Morrow Street, Newmarket, T: 524 6844, www.workshop.co.nz

@ Step Inn Shoes New Season – Summer 2020

Ara - Loafer: Ambra, Navy, Coral - $320

STEP INN SHOES

SUMMER 2020 COLLECTION INSTORE NOW

United Nude - Sandal: Rockit, Black, Nude - $425 Step Inn Shoes Auckland, Three Lamps, 283 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby

Ph 09 360 5512 MONDAY TO FRIDAY: 9am to 5pm SATURDAY: 9am to 4pm SUNDAY: 11am to 3pm

Think! –Thea: Multi, Apple - $349

STEP INN SHOES, Three Lamps Plaza, 283 Ponsonby Road, T: 09 360 5512, www.stepinnshoes.nz

Step Inn Shoes www.stepinnshoes.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 45

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Grey Lynn & Around Heartbeats Artweek 2020 10-18 October.

ARTS Come and enjoy our inaugural Papatu- anuku - urban flora and fauna trails.

In locations across our buzzy neighbourhood, our place will be alive with art and festivities.

There’s something for everyone, with local businesses hosting displays of artworks along the trails and events and live experiences for locals and visitors to enjoy.

There will be visual artists, photographers, ceramicists, and sculpture installations in Kelmarna Gardens. Art is so valuable to our souls.

- tradition, Papatu- anuku In Maori is the land. She is a mother earth figure who gives birth to all things, including people. Trees, birds and people are born from the land, which then nourishes them. Let’s connect and learn from our artists, care for our local environment, and, above all, explore and have fun here in Grey Lynn & Around.

Pick up a FLYER anywhere along the Trail – walk to 32 amazing venues! Please check opening times.

And you can do a bit of bird-spotting along the Papatu- anuku - urban flora and fauna trails. Ten metal bird sculptures have been installed between Grey Lynn and the West Lynn shops. Each has a letter attached and they spell a code. Simply use this discount code at checkout on www.metalbird.co.nz and be in to win prizes during Artweek.

Grey Lynn & Around is renowned for its eclectic collection of cafes, restaurants and bars. All of them are popular, with some of them downright famous. To celebrate Grey Lynn Eats & Beats, participating businesses will create and offer a unique signature dish or beverage that will capture the spirit of our neighbourhood.

You can dine out on a sustainable plant-based burger or go large at the city’s hottest new BBQ joint; select from a kaleidoscope of global cuisines at their best or call into one of the many vegan cafes/ restaurants and bakeries - all Auckland classics. There’s a fine lineup to suit all tastes and budgets.

Make the most of the opportunity to reconnect with friends at a series of live music events, hosted by some of the city’s best-loved watering holes.

Whether you’re eager to revisit an old favourite or experience somewhere new, keep your eyes peeled for Elemental Eats & Beats stickers at participating eateries and bars.  PN Like to participate? Contact info@greylynn-around.com Proudly brought to you by Grey Lynn & Around.

Sustainable. Creative. Diverse. Niche. www.greylynn-around.com

Elemental T-amaki Makauru AKL.1 -31 October EATS & BEATS We welcome you to enjoy our neighbourhood, transformed with the month-long festival of arts, eats, and beats.

46 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Sour dough, locally organic down to the grain All Bread and Butter Bakery wheat sourdoughs will once again be made with stoneground organic wheat flour. But that’s not all: we have partnered with Chantal Organics to now finally obtain flour made from New Zealand grown grains.

The wheat grain comes from Willomere Organic Farms. Located on the Canterbury Plains, Willowmere Organic Farms has been providing New Zealand with BioGro certified organic produce for over 25 years. This family farm is now run by son, Kelvin Hicks, who has practised organic farming for many years and strongly believes in the benefits of regenerative agriculture and the importance of positively impacting the environment around him. He grows wheat, rye, potatoes and carrots, using crop rotation to allow pastures time to rest and the microbes to revitalise. He has a mix of sheep and cattle and plants a variety of pasture species (a minimum of ten grasses, plantains, clovers and other feed crops) for them to feed on.

Farming near the base of Mt Hutt ski field, the temperatures are often freezing in winter and 30+ celsius in summer. Kelvin uses this to his advantage, choosing a specific mix of crops to ensure the weather plays its part in pest control.

Not only is the climate in Canterbury much more suited to grain growing than dairy farming, diverse operations such as Willomere Organics are also not dependent on just one income stream (i.e. the farm gate price for milk solids), making them more resilient and profitable. Farming in a regenerative, organic way allows them to mitigate issues that could otherwise be problematic.

At Bread & Butter Bakery we then slowly ferment the flour in our sourdoughs, allowing the microorganisms of the starter to extract and transform nutrients in such a way that they are optimal for your health.

We will be introducing the New Zealand flour to our sourdough range only, as the stoneground quality is not refined enough to use in pastries and whiter breads such as baguette, ciabatta or lighter buns. If you purchased the white sourdough range breads such as

Willomere Organic Farms

At Chantal Organics in Napier, the grains that Kelvin Hicks sends up from Canterbury are milled using a German Heger stone mill. Using smaller batch stone-grinding is a gentler way to extract the nutrients, thus leaving more of the wholesome goodness in the flour. The stoneground flour is not sifted quite to the same refined state as standard white flour, and this makes products darker in appearance and higher in fibre and minerals. While this may mean a small amount of volume is lost, it also means the breads have a higher nutritional value. More fibre is more goodness for your gut microbes.

Parisien, Batard, Sourdough Baguette, Sourdough Rolls, or Ancient Grain before, you might notice the change in colour of the crumb. We will also be using the flour in our Campagne – 5 Grain Sourdough, Walnut Sourdough, and Red Quinoa Sourdough, however these are breads that contain other wholemeal flours, so the change in colour may not be quite as apparent. In any case, I can assure you that all will be delicious and even more healthy than before. (ISABEL PASCH) To read more visit www.breadpolitics.com or visit: www.breadandbutter.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 47

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Faces at Grey Lynn Farmers Market Lara Hayes’ smile and steaming pots of broth greet market customers on chilly winter mornings.

Where did you grow up?

Most of my early life was spent in rural Northland. We lived in a strong community with a strong culture of sharing food and supporting our neighbours.

Is that where your passion for food was kindled?

Absolutely - Mum taught me how to cook. We always had vegetables from our garden, fruit in the orchard, fresh fish and home-baked bread. In our home, if you cooked you didn’t have to do the dishes, and I hated doing the dishes, so I often cooked.

And that attraction to cooking has followed you through life.

Yes - I have worked in a lot of restaurants, usually front-of-house.

Before I went to London, I worked at the Italian Job in Jervois Road.

One day, a friend who was dining there quipped to the chef, “Lara’s mussels are better than yours,” and that led to a light-hearted, cookoff. And I won by one bowl! I was so proud.

Did you cook when you went to London?

Yes, I worked as a private chef for wealthy families. I was with one family for five years. They always had a full house with lots of guests, so I would be cooking for nine or 10 people most nights, and there were lots of dinner parties and big celebrations for up to 200 people.

Tell me about the Russian oligarch?

I spent six years working in the super-yacht industry in the Mediterranean for a self-made entrepreneur, and he didn’t fit any of the stereotypes that the label suggests. He was very focussed on his family and didn’t take their wealth for granted. He and his wife would tell me stories about “when we were poor.”

How did that family affect your food journey?

They were extremely focussed on good, healthy food and had two rules for the food that I made for their children: 1) Fresh bone broth every day, and 2) fresh cake. The nannies got to eat the leftovers.

Are these the broths that you are selling at the market?

Yes - it makes my heart swell to see a two-year-old swallowing my chicken broth at the market. My chicken, vegetable, and barley was adapted from my Nana’s recipe. The Russian children loved it too.

Tell me about your brand name “A Bit Dressy”?

It was salad dressings that were the inspiration for my business.

I have always loved making salads, and the dressings are vital to making salad delicious. My Russian family was a big fan of salads, and it was their request for an oil-free, fat-free dressing that challenged me to develop the N0.2 Umeboshi Goodness dressing. Combining

nutty tahini and Umeboshi fermented Japanese plums is great for gut-health - they loved it so much that I made it for months!

What challenges has the COVID-19 situation created for you?

After months of waiting in the queue for MPI approval for my dressings, it finally arrived two days before we went into Alert Level 4! While I was able to sell broths and dressings from my Facebook and Instagram pages, it was a relief when the market re-opened at Alert Level 2 so that I could talk directly to customers and let them try the products.

What other challenges are there for your new food business?

My biggest challenge at the moment is finding a more suitable (shared) commercial space as production grows. I’ve been lucky to have the use of an A-grade cafe space, but it’s compact! Selling in glass jars for customer return and being planet-friendly are important to me, but glass weight, transportation, and storage require a more efficient space and considered systems.  PN @abitdressy www.abitdressy.co.nz www.glfm.co.nz

Sunday mornings at the Grey Lynn Community Centre 510 Richmond Road 48 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

FRENCH INSPIRED NEW ZEALAND CUISINE

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

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

- 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.

CONTEMPORARY INDIAN DINING 5 Fort Lane, CBD T: 09 379 9702 cassiarestaurant.co.nz

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

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 49

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY

Phil Parker: Top drops from all over the shop Six wines this month; some complex and diverse whites and some blockbuster pinot noirs for your perusal and, perchance, purchase.

Spring is definitely on the wing. It’s getting lighter in the mornings, and the tui in our Point Chevalier backyard are raucously territorial.

And big thanks to the locals who have dragged me out of (semi) retirement over that last month on tours to Waiheke, Matakana and Kumeu! It’s so great to catch up again with wine industry folk that I have known for over 20 years now. We are blessed with some amazing Auckland region wine tasting venues and welcoming, knowledgeable cellar door staff. Anyway, the wines...

Spade Oak ‘Prospect’ Gisborne Pinot Gris 2019 - $28.00 A complex, dry and quite different take on the run-of-the-mill typical New Zealand pinot gris style. Crisp and fruity flavours of apple cider and pear, with a dry tangy yeasty finish. A perfect match for slow cooked pork with apple sauce or a mildly spicy Vietnamese or Thai dish with lots of coconut cream and kaffir lime.

Available: online at www.spadeoak.co.nz Spade Oak ‘Voysey’ Gisborne Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $18.50 A very approachable and friendly Sav for sure. Lots of fresh black currant on the nose and palate. Soft acids with a bit of gooseberry, ripe citrus and passionfruit. Official food match as of tonight: pan fried gurnard on a pea mash with mint and parsley.

Available: online at www.spadeoak.co.nz Collaboration Impression White Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2018 - $30.00 These days, I approach New Zealand chardonnays with a tad of trepidation. But have no fear, this is a stunningly good wine. Tasted blind, I would have picked it as an aged Kumeu River Matés Vineyard.

Toasty, creamy, full-bodied and lush with peachy citrus flavours and a funky hit of minerality. Match with creamy pasta, or rich seafood.

Available: Azabu (Dhall & Nash distributors).

Hawkshead Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 - $44.00 This pinot is in a feminine, lighter style (12.5% alcohol) with red berry fruit flavours, silky tannins and savoury spice, and a lengthy, smoky palate. Lovely with chicken, duck or mushroom dishes.

Available: Meldrum Philips wines & spirits, Jervois Road.

Rockburn ‘Eight Barrels’ Gibston Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 - $96 Nice medium single vineyard pinot from hand-picked special barrels.

Savoury aromas with a hint of florals. Silky tannins and a mouthful of funky savoury soy, mushroom, dark chocolate and black currant.

Food match: Beef Wellington, mushroom risotto, spices roast duck.

Available: Glengarry.

Rockburn ‘Eleven Barrels’ Parkburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 - $199 Okay, I opened both these wines tonight to compare and contrast.

Somehow this job fell to me. Soft, rounded, plump and seductive (the wine, not me). If Dawn French was a pinot noir, this would be her. It’s a big pashy French kiss, with black cherry, savoury spices, and a lengthy finish. Great with roast lamb, beef, mushrooms or anything truffle related.

Available: Glengarry. (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

50 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

www.finewinetours.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TRAVEL BREAKS

Ross Thorby: “We will get you home” So that was how it was to end - our ship of dreams fleeing across an empty Atlantic ahead of the hurricane of Covid. This heralded the termination of our South American cruise.

Cunard decided to cancel our cruise once we had reached the top of the Southern Continent at Curacao, an Island made famous for its 40% proof blue liquor that matched the cerulean sea surrounding the Dutch Caribbean island that was covered with brightly painted houses and floating bridges. We didn’t know it at the time, but our stop here was to be our ‘last hurrah’ on our South American odyssey, our last chance to pretend nothing was happening and that the world was really as it should be, not as it really was.

Many who returned to the ship that afternoon carried armfuls of duty-free bottles that would fuel our coming days and calm our anxious nerves.

In the midst of so much infection across the world’s cruise ship fleet, Cunard was running scared, so once we were back onboard, they slammed shut our hull doors, dropped our lines and fled northward to the nearest American port and a chance at what we thought was safety. It wasn’t to be. The virus was moving so fast that by the time we docked in Florida a few days later, America too, had become a petri dish of germs, and POTUS closed its ports only a few hours after our arrival.

Our next option was Cunard’s home of Southampton some 11 days sailing away, so despite the closure and whilst the port officials were looking in the other direction, we quietly slipped our berth and made for the open seas. We were refugees of a virus once considered so insignificant as to be dismissed by the WHO but now an earth and economy shattering pandemic. Some of our passengers had taken the opportunity to abandon their staterooms and take their chances on American soil, but the airports were quickly closing and escape routes diminishing. Some found themselves stuck in the States for weeks while we sailed on. Our ship’s company decimated, we sailed nearly empty.

As we sailed northward, it seemed that every day brought about a new set of challenges as the world closed down, flight routes closed and transit countries began to refuse entry. It was at this point that one realised how freely we had previously traversed this world and how fragile that state really is.

Stuck on a ship halfway across the Atlantic there was an incredible feeling of helplessness as distant families pleaded for us to get on planes and come home asap. This was an impossible task made not so simple when you were surrounded by water with not an Uber in sight. Our Internet was stretched to its limits and at US$35 per minute, the ship to shore phone line exorbitantly restrictive when planning flights. Trying to plan a return trip home from somewhere half way around the world isn’t as easy as you think when the world isn’t in its normal equilibrium.

Every flight I booked and paid for was cancelled within days, and each escape route closed, sometimes within hours. Travel agents worldwide became bogged down with pleading customers trapped in foreign countries, their travel funds running low. Emails went unanswered, phones rang off the hook, but unsung heroes to many, they persisted. I was four flights down with an astronomical bill of $21,000 sitting on my credit card for useless flights which would never be used. It looked bleak.

Finally, an agent in Scotland answered her phone early one morning and managed to wheedle me on to one of the last Qatar flights leaving Heathrow. However, there was a proviso - by the time our ship reached the UK three days hence, the chances were that, they too, would not be flying.

Qatar, the airline that used the byline, ‘We will get you Home’, did.

Despite the risks to their crew and their reputation in a sky of uncertainty, they continued to fly at great financial risk and indeed helped thousands to get home.

The joy of getting off the plane in Auckland and being met by a 6’3” Samoan New Zealand policeman with the greeting of, “Welcome home; glad you made it!” meant it was all I could do not to drop my bags and give him a grateful hug.

There’s a world-wide pandemic out there. We are in an enviable position here and Godzone NZ is the best place in the world right PN now. It’s time to get out and explore more of it. (ROSS THORBY) 

Now everything had changed.

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 51

SPORTS & FITNESS

Dr Morgan Edwards: “F45 Grey Lynn has changed my life I am the fittest in my at 36 and the happiest too”

SPORTS AND FITNESS, YOUR PLACE OR OURS?

Since the first lockdown, sports, fitness and wellness providers innovated and adapted how they delivered classes and expertise to clients.

Many offered Zoom sessions or online classes and some arranged more one-on-one remote support. Big names, like Les Mills, partnered with TVNZ to bring their fitness brand straight into people’s lounges via free-to-air broadcasts, and local personal trainers, made contactless equipment drop-offs and special remote group sessions to help keep people motivated in their bubbles.

Now that we are all mostly back to normal (Alert level 2 as of writing), are people still opting for online options, or are they getting back to their favourite yoga studios, work out gyms and group training sessions? Are we now craving the support that only ‘in-person’ fitness can offer, or do we want to stay safe in our bubbles, keeping our world’s as small as possible? We talked to a range of local sports and fitness providers and their clients to hear how their businesses managed during lockdown and what the local sports and fitness world is looking like now.

Local personal trainer Keri Ropati was quick to connect with clients as soon as our prime minister announced the country was moving to

52 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

Alert level 4. As we moved down the alert levels, Keri, and colleague Seamus O’Loan, continued to innovate to support clients in what many were calling ‘the new normal’. For Liz Wheadon, the extra support Keri and Seamus provided was really appreciated as she had to be more careful than others to avoid the risks of Covid 19.

“I couldn’t go back to the studio until everything was back to at least level 1, but with Keri’s support I’ve kept training all the way through; I didn’t have to stop,” said Liz. In the three days before level 4 lockdown kicked in, Keri and Seamus organised contactless drop offs of equipment and planned different ways to support their clients during the lockdown period, no matter what their circumstances. “They were incredible. I really have to take my hat off to them. They realised it was going to be a difficult four weeks for clients both financially and emotionally, and they were there to do whatever they could”, says Liz. For Liz, the online sessions have been essential to her continued fitness. “I train twice a week via Zoom. I usually start with a run, so PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Marysa Theiler from Barrefigure points out that we are lucky to have so much choice in the local area not only when it comes to places to eat, grab coffee or retail shop but also in our fitness training choices.

“You’ll always find me grabbing a mocha at Ripe, Crumb, Honeybones or Ozone. And Lululemon, Ponsonby holds a special place in my wardrobe, but I also love P.E Nation activewear too,” shared Marysa.

Having choice to find an exercise option that fits your lifestyle and makes it fun is vital in Marysa’s opinion.

Prior to the onset of the recent pandemic, Marysa was already diversifying the way clients could enjoy the unique benefits of a Barrefigure workout. “I was really lucky that I launched my online

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 53

SPORTS & FITNESS

Keri Ropati Weightloss and Fitness Keri Ropati Weightloss and Fitness L to R: Steve Hosking, Katherine Dyer, Steph Brown & Susan Morrison

For many of us, keeping motivated can be the hardest part, and having the right gear or treatments can make us feel good and keep us in the zone. “After lockdown, going back to Steph Brown at Lux and Duke was one treat that really made me feel a bit more normal.

Having a great haircut really sets you up for feeling good about yourself, and that’s always a key part of staying motivated.” Another regular go-to for Keri is local activewear stores of which there seem to be more and more in Ponsonby and Grey Lynn. “I am very much an everyday active wear type gal, so I am all over Lorna Jane on Ponsonby Road. Then, of course, there are the local cafes which can include the everyday healthy options or something more indulgent.

“For a treat, my fav of favs cafe is Mary’s on St Mary’s Bay Road; their French toast is the bomb.”

Keri Ropati Weightloss and Fitness L to R: Sarah Figgins, PT Genevieve Berge & Jacqui Whyte

Of course, it hasn’t been easy, and lockdown has been financially tough for everyone in the fitness industry, including Keri. However, her passion and belief in the essential role fitness plays in people’s well-being keeps her going and has seen her go above and beyond for clients. “It’s the key to life longevity. It’s the most important thing as long as you are above ground, and in times of uncertainty and stress it is the magic medicine,” says Keri. “Sun’s out guns out”, she jokes. She’s completely committed to the idea that we need to keep motivated to exercise and remember that our bodies are made to move. Her advice: “Be happy you are healthy and able to move that beautiful body. Get your heart rate up, get your blood moving through your veins and your muscles working.”

Keri Ropati, of Keri Ropati Weightloss and Fitness

I just pop Zoom on and Keri comes for a run with me,” explains Liz. “She’s extremely motivating.” When it comes to specific exercises, Keri finds ways to make the one-on-one sessions work with whatever clients have in their homes. “Even without all the studio equipment I get a great session. Keri’s very resourceful.” Online sessions are now an on-going part of the Keri Ropati Weight loss and Fitness service, either as private one-on-one sessions or as group training sessions that anyone can join at any time.

Barrefigure Studio

platform at Christmas 2019, so I already had 10 professionally filmed videos in my library. It had been a year in the making, and I’m grateful I had it up and running before covid hit,” explained Marysa.

Marysa continued to develop films for classes during lockdown. “Whilst we were in level 4, I had to pivot and film them myself at home on my iphone and often with my children making appearances. Clients didn’t mind and could relate that I was also juggling everything at home,” she said.

Barrefigure also rolled out Zoom and Instagram Live classes during the first lockdown. “Some clients like to have the live classes because it keeps them accountable as they still have to show up for class at a certain time, and the teacher can still see them and motivate and correct them in real time,” explained Marysa.

When the second lockdown rolled around her focus was more on building the content for the online platform rather than continuing to offer Zoom classes. “We also found people didn’t quite have as much motivation during the second lockdown and preferred to workout in their own time. With Barrefigure Online they could work around their own schedule and choose whatever length video they felt like doing.”

Since the alert levels have relaxed, people have started coming back to the studio but not with the flurry they did the first time around. “To be honest, I did think people would return faster after this second lockdown. People didn’t seem to have the same motivation to workout at home (I found it harder also!), so I thought they would be running back into the studio but numbers are still fairly low.”

Marysa has reduced capacity in the Barrefigure studio by 50% to allow for physical distancing but is offering a full schedule of 37 classes a week. “It’s probably a bit soon as the demand isn’t quite there, but it’s a balancing act between having enough classes so clients have a wide variety of options, providing stable work for my instructors and also keeping in mind my business expenses. It’s a stressful time for small businesses.”

However, overall, online classes are continuing to be popular as people adjust to the changes and nuances of the different alert

54 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

levels. “We continue to add new content weekly to Barrefigure Online, and we now have over 70 videos. We’ve just updated the platform to add more functions so members can search videos by the length or the body part they want to focus on.”

The key again is to stay motivated, and Marysa’s advice is simple, “Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t do what you set out to do.

Starting small, even five to 10 minutes a day, is better than nothing.”

She explains that more than anything it is important to choose things that you love and that make you feel great. This means the workouts need to work for you and your lifestyle.

Barrefigure Online now has a growing number of local members as well as from Australia, Bali the US and even in the UK. It seems that since lockdown, people have been reminded just how important exercise is to their overall wellbeing. “The funny thing is that in times of stress or lack of energy, exercise is the first thing that people forego. I am no different, and over the second lockdown, when the majority of my revenue was abruptly stopped and I had the stress of working from home with two toddlers, I stopped my daily workouts.

I was stressed and rundown and ended up getting sick. But once I recovered, I really appreciated our online platform as I didn’t have to think about what I was going to do and could just push play on a short 15 minute workout. It’s amazing how you feel after.”

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Speaking to Amy about when the first lockdown was announced, she explained; “We quickly moved online with our team of trainers coaching F45 sessions for our members using Zoom and social media to keep everyone moving through lockdown. We also organised a register and rented out equipment so that our members had the choice to workout with or without equipment. It was all about looking after our community and making sure we sustained our members and our business.”

When you train hard (something you can’t help but do during a F45 session) there must always be a place for treats. And while the F45 Challenge portal has some delicious and healthy options, Amy points out, there are some local cafes that have F45 Challenge approved options. “A few of my personal favourites are Honeybones, Ozone and Five Loaves. Now that we are at level 2 teams can enjoy that kind of treat together.”

SPORTS & FITNESS

Of course it isn’t just about the endorphin rush and physical benefits.

Working out in a team environment amongst people with shared goals is far more motivational than working out alone, not to mention beneficial for overall mental health and well-being. Amy Carroll, Ry Imry and the team from F45 Grey Lynn specialise in circuit based HiiT training, that’s highly motivational, results-driven, group fitness.

“While there is a big focus on personal training at F45, it’s also got a strong team approach and can be easily adapted to suit any fitness level.” One thing that really comes across when talking to Amy is the focus on fun and the positive energy that comes from working out hard in a team environment.

One thing lockdown has brought us is a more seamless blend of online and in-studio style work outs to suit our ever changing lifestyles.

If you were ever nervous that you weren’t ready for an in-person session with a personal trainer, a burn inducing Barrefigure class or an intense results driven F45 session, there’s now no excuse. Our local fitness trainers have you covered and can help support you as PN you transition from your home to their studios and fitness centres. 

F45 Grey Lynn

“Since we returned to level 2, our members have been really positive about being back at the studio and in that team training environment. Our members couldn’t wait to get back through the doors! We’ve adapted our sessions to cope with new social distancing requirements, including the addition of extra classes on the timetable as well as enhanced cleaning and sanitisation protocols to ensure the safety of our members”. While Amy admits it’s a different environment now for members and trainers, she says everyone is on board and has embraced the new protocols, adapting in a true community spirited way. “It’s been great, and there is such a positive energy; it really helps keep everyone stay sane during such a crazy time in the world.”

F45 Grey Lynn

They took the idea of community and the comradery of training together one step further through lockdown. “We wanted to keep people connected and motivated, and I think this really helped them transition back to the studio environment once the alert levels dropped. So many of our members commented on how much it helped just being able to see a familiar trainer’s face each day and how their F45 at-home workouts kept them sane during lockdown.”

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 55

LIVING, THIKNING + BEING

Tadhg Stopford: Here Now - NZ’s first legal cannabis oil “Our cannabis oil is a legal dietary supplement in the USA, EU, & UK,” says Tigerdrops.com founder, Tadhg Stopford. “But in NZ, we can only sell it as a holy oil, in accordance with scripture.”

“So far, we’ve found great support from the Anglican and Samoan churches. One priest wanted four bottles, and we hope that the Catholics will return to Jesus soon too.”

Cannabis as a holy herb is proven by archaological evidence from 750BC, and there are many mosaics of Adam, Eve, Jesus and God, surrounded by cannabis in the Cathedral of Monreale. This thousand year old church (1174AD) has been blessed by three Popes.

In fact, cannabis sativa, ‘the tree of life’, was likely humanity’s first crop, and the holy oil of the Jews appears to have been a cannabis oil. CBG is a hemp cannabinoid.

“Even agnostics and atheists are finding faith again with our product,” says Mr Stopford. “But it’s a prohibited food, and not intended for the treatment or prevention of any disease or condition. We can only offer it as an oil for anointing precious objects to make them sacred.”

“This type of holy oil was originally only for priests. They hoarded it for themselves. Like today, it was forbidden to commoners, so it’s great to bring holy oil to the people.”

“Tigerdrops ‘Precious Oil’ is a world class product at an internationally competitive price,” says Mr Stopford. “It’s organic hemp CBG, and we’re very proud of it; but it could be holier.”

“In time I’d like to recreate the original recipe,” says Mr Stopford; “500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of q’aneh-bosm, 500 shekels of cassia - all according to the sanctuary shekel - and a hind of olive oil. But the ingredients are expensive, and CBG is called the ‘Rolls Royce’ of cannabinoids for good reason.”

Purchase your...

THC free Holy Oil and Novel Cannabis Collectable at

www.tigerdrops.com

56 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

It’s interesting to note that ‘Jesus’ means ‘to rescue/to deliver’, and ‘Christ’ is a translation of the Hebrew ‘Messiah’, which means Anointed/Leader. Messiahs (priests) were anointed with Cannabis/ kaneh bosem oil.

Tigerdrops is a New Zealand owned company, established in 2020 by Tadhg Stopford. (TADHG STOPFORD)  PN www.tigerdrops.com

Not Intended for the Treatment or Prevention of any Disease or Condition.

Prohibited Food (FSANZ) THC Free Holy Oil and Novel Collectable.

Contains: Organic Hemp CBG & Terpenes, MCT Oil. Tigerdrops.com / Grow your own

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Mulan This movie is a spectacle and a triumph. Though not without controversy, this latest Disney epic has everything you might wish for in a female led, action movie suitable for the whole family. The story of Mulan is an ancient one told and retold in various forms from poems, operas and plays, to local Chinese cinema, animated feature films and now a blockbuster American action movie. It’s cinematic storytelling the entire family can enjoy, and this makes it a must see. If you haven’t watched it already, make a night of it these holidays with the entire household, young and old. It should not go without notice that this movie is beautifully and sensitively directed by New Zealand’s own Niki Caro with a crew of incredibly talented women behind and in front of the camera.  NETFLIX

Cuties, NETFLIX

Cuties Continuing a theme of controversy is Cuties, a confronting French coming of age film that follows a young girl from a traditional Sengalese family, navigating a place for herself between her home world and her social life at school in France.

Conservative commentators (who have largely not watched the film) have called for it to be banned due to what they consider inappropriate oversexualised portrayals of young girls. However, these critiques have largely missed the entire cinematic point of the film.

Anyone who has a tween who imitates TikTok or Fortnite dances will recognise similarities and perhaps find Cuties raises some disturbing questions. It is precisely the incongruence between the hyper-sexual dance moves that young kids copy (without appreciating their nuanced meanings) and they’re still very childlike view of the world that is starkly highlighted in Cuties.

The tension between Amy’s traditional patriarchal homelife which has specific expectations of an 11 year old female child, and her desire to find acceptance through joining a dance group that performs music video style dance routines, raises a host of questions but does not seek to provide any superficially moralising answers.  NEON

The Great Delicious, devilish and provocative. With the tagline ‘an occasionally true story’, The Great is a clever and exhilarating dramatic comedy that transports you to a version of eighteenth century Russia that is thoroughly immersive, enlightening and not too misleading. From the costumes to the social conventions, the world of Catherine the Great of Russia is an eye-opening and inspiring story of a famous woman leader with a strong female gaze.

The rich performances by the cast bring these wellrounded and richly developed characters (even the made up ones) to such abundant life that you completely surrender yourself to Catherine’s singular goal - to rule Russia. 

© 2020 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. HBO® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.

Disney+

Perry Mason This series is full of incredible performances, style, perfect pace and human intrigue. Against the gritty, bleak backdrop of a country in the grips of the great depression, this prequel style series begins with Perry Mason as a younger man broken by the horrors of World War 1 and struggling to make ends meet as a private investigator.

It is not the kind of mystery that simply relies on a question of ‘who dunnit’ (although that is there) but rather one which focuses on the pursuit of truth and its value. It offers a rich story world with meaningful characters that cross all ages, sexual preferences and genders to reveal the nuance and equity of truth as a concept and as a right. Will it be revealed or buried? With the talents of John Ligthgow, Matthew Rhys, Tatiana Maslany and Gayle Rankin to name a few, this is a thoroughly satisfying series to be savoured one well paced episode at a time.  PRIME

The Honey Wars Some of the best characters just emerge, and Ron Murray, business owner of Tai Tokerau Honey, is not only engaging and entertaining on screen but he and his wife Lon and wider whanau are also fierce examples of the optimism and resilience that make New Zealand businesses a phenomena. The never give up tenacity, the hard work ethic, the strong commitment and sense of community (and humour) in the face of adversity paint a realistic yet heartwarming example of what people can achieve with determination and support. 

The Honey Wars

© 2020 MRC II Distribution Company, L.P.

OCTOBER STREAMING GUIDE

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 57

LIVING, THIKNING + BEING

Barrefigure – still Ponsonby’s favourite barre workout It’s been a challenging year for everyone and lots of things have changed, but one thing has stayed the same. Whether you are working out in the studio with Marysa and her team, or from home online, you simply can’t beat a Barrefigure workout.

“Every muscle in my body was screaming at me; even picking up my toddler was a challenge. What a wake-up call that the other exercise I do clearly doesn’t work my body this much. And, oh, how much I need to stretch more often. I’m now hooked and will be back for more.” - Tania Former Royal New Zealand Ballet dancer, Marysa Theiler, founded Barrefigure in 2014 after years training and dancing in New York and London. After opening the doors of her Barrefigure studio on Richmond Road, Ponsonby, her classes quickly became known as ‘the place’ to experience the burn and create the lasting changes everybody wants to see.

With 37 classes on offer each week, ranging from barreSIGNATURE and barreSTRETCH to barreBABY, and over 70 videos to choose from online, there is something for everybody at the Barrefigure studio. But don’t just take our word for it - go and experience a Barrefigure class for yourself in the beautiful Ponsonby studio, or try a class online for as little as $9.99 for 24hours access or $29.99 for monthly access.  PN BARREFIGURE, 166 Richmond Road, T: 09 361 2083, www.barrefigure.co.nz

58 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

‘How’s your liver today?’ is a common greeting in Russia and there’s good reason for it. Our liver is absolutely vital to our health and wellbeing, and this is why the Chinese refer to the liver as the ‘father of all organs’. Many medical terms that refer to the liver start with hepato, or hepatic, which derive from the Greek word for liver – ‘Hepar’.

The liver, our largest internal organ, is truly the workhorse of the human body fulfilling a wide variety of roles, and yet it is also one of our most under-appreciated organs. We find the liver ‘wedged’ beneath the lower right rib cage, and, with a width of approximately 20 cms and weighing approximately 1.5 kgs (somewhat smaller in women), it occupies much of the upper right side of the abdomen.

Some of our liver’s many functions include: conversion of excess glucose into glycogen (which is then stored ready to be used for energy), production of cholesterol and the storage of iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and vitamin K. The liver also regulates blood clotting, and it produces immune factors that help us resist infections.

While our liver might just look like a spongy piece of reddish/brown ‘meat’, it’s a very complex organ with some big jobs to do in order to keep us healthy. There are three major functions that our liver has to perform: metabolism, filtration of blood and secretion. Metabolic functions involve the breakdown of nutrients, drugs and chemicals, which arrive in the liver via the blood coming from the intestinal tract.

With our hard-working liver functioning as a vascular filter, it has to cope with nearly 1.5 litres of blood circulating through it every minute. During that time, the liver not only extracts wastes and toxic matter from the blood, it also regulates overall blood volume. While all this is going on each day, our liver secretes a litre of bile (which is stored in the gallbladder) which facilitates the digestion of fats.

When we see someone who is jaundiced (yellowing of the eyes and skin), this is a sign of over-production of bile or a blockage of bile movement through the liver’s duct system. It can also be caused by a

leakage of Bilirubin into the bloodstream. Bilirubin is a product formed by the breakdown of old red blood cells, and it’s what gives bile its colour. Bilirubin is also the pigment that gives faeces its brown colour.

There are many ways we can harm our liver, and right up there with drugs is alcohol consumption. 90-98% of the alcohol we consume has to be broken down in the liver, and it’s a by-product of this process, known as acetaldehyde, that does the damage.

With so many people combining drugs and alcohol, it’s amazing that our liver can retain its ability to function at all. Acetaminophen, the active ingredient found in seemingly innocuous, over-the-counter pain relief products, can be very harmful to the liver if dose recommendations are not strictly adhered to. In 2017, a 20 year-old Dunedin student suffered acute liver failure and died after significantly exceeding the recommended dose of paracetamol.

The reason that our liver is so forgiving is that it’s the only internal organ capable of regenerating itself, being able to fully regenerate up to 75% of its tissue. This should, however, not be a reason for going out of our way to harm this very important organ.

Loving our liver is really important if we want to maintain good health.

Cut back on alcohol and drink plenty of fresh pure water, preferably tepid. Try to limit your consumption of very fatty foods. Your liver will love you if you eat lots of vegetables and especially consume fresh PN vegetable juices. (JOHN APPLETON)  E: john@johnappleton.co.nz www.johnappleton.co.nz

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LIVING, THIKNING + BEING

John Appleton: How’s your liver?

PONSONBY PETS

The sweetest fundraising event of the year!

Mark your calendars: SPCA Cupcake Day is taking place Monday 2 November.

It’s been a difficult year, so SPCA are keen to end it with something we all enjoy… delicious baked goods! Yes, we are telling you that you can enjoy scrumptious home baking and feel good about providing for animals in need all in one fell swoop.

Each year, SPCA sees close to 40,000 abused and neglected animals come through their doors, whether they are brought in by concerned members of the public or rescued by SPCA Inspectors.

All of these animals need love, care and shelter. From life-saving surgeries to microchipping and desexing, the bills quickly add up.

Yet SPCA receives very little government funding and relies largely on donations and fundraising efforts from their supporters nationwide.

This is where SPCA Cupcake Day comes in.

Since the first SPCA Cupcake Day fundraiser in 2009, supporters around the country have helped New Zealand’s leading animal welfare charity raise over $3.2 million dollars to help care for the animals in need, simply by selling cupcakes!

After everything 2020 has thrown at us, we all deserve a little treat, and what better way to counterbalance the sweet-treat guilt than with the feel-good vibes we all get when donating to a worthy cause.

Officially taking place on Monday 2 November, participants are encouraged to take part however and whenever they can. Workplaces look a little different this year, but what better way to enjoy the company of workmates you’ve seen far too infrequently than over a

cupcake and cuppa? Or, why not sell in your local neighbourhood, or to friends and family?

To get involved, simply register at www.spcacupcakeday.co.nz, bake cupcakes of your choosing (Us? We’ll be going for chocolate buttercream icing...) and sell your delicious creations to co-workers, friends and family. Whether you bake or buy this year, don’t miss the chance to support the animals of New Zealand, all while indulging in some tasty treats!  PN

Bake a difference for animals on Monday 2 November It’s easy. Just bake, sell and raise money!

Register at spcacupcakeday.co.nz

60 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

Honour Mitchell: Teen Picks With spring finally here, I am celebrating my birthday this month and, with (hopefully) no lockdowns in sight, it’s the perfect time to update my wardrobe. I’m ready to head to the shops!

4. Flo & Frankie At 79 Ponsonby Road is Flo & Frankie. They carry a mix of fashion, design and lifestyle goods. While I like browsing through the clothes, I tend to favour the jewellery. I own a pair of gorgeous lightning bolt earnings from the brand Linda Tahija. They’re a decent price for sterling silver. I really love them and wear them all the time, as they go with absolutely everything... They have many more cute, affordable options to check out!

5. Glassons (Vintage) Now, I know Newmarket is not exactly part of Ponsonby, but if you just hop on the OuterLink bus from Ponsonby Road, it feels as if it is.

And in Newmarket there is a special Glassons on Broadway which has a vintage section! Bam! After you’ve checked any new arrivals in the front, head straight to the back for vintage options. There are so many cool sweatshirts, T-shirts and more. An hour ticks over pretty fast. Last visit, I bought a sweatshirt with that worn-in, comfy feel and look. I didn’t spend a fortune, and, best of all, it’s unique, so I know I won’t bump into anyone wearing the same thing. Definitely worth the bus ride.  PN

Superette

3. Lululemon Opposite Superette (quite convenient!) is Lululemon. If you’re on the lookout for active wear, everything they make is such high-quality and super nice. Like Superette, splurges here do require a bit of planning!

Even though this is the case, buddying up with a friend and getting a pair of shorts or a singlet for a birthday present is a good tactic!

I have actually been on the receiving end of one of these presents, and I was very happy to get such stylish and comfy activewear!

LA Tribe T-shirt

2. Superette If you’re after an excellent mix of fashionable brands, look no further than Superette (282 Ponsonby Road), but only if you’re up for a splurge! Even though Superette’s prices are beyond most teen budgets, fear not - by saving up and combining birthday vouchers, buying something special is often within reach. This is the exact method I used to get the new LA Tribe T-shirt, and I am totally in love. Superette also carries shoes, beauty items and various other covetable bits and pieces, including Slip silk sleep-masks, which are my personal fav! And, luckily, my friends clubbed together to get one for my birthday. So appreciated!

Levi Authorized Vintage Jeans (NWT)

1. Tatty’s Interested in a spot of vintage shopping? Tatty’s Designer Recycle Boutique (161 Ponsonby Road) is the place to go. Tatty’s holds amazing, sometimes hidden, gems. Yes, you have to search hard, but isn’t that part of the fun? I recently found a pair of Levi Authorized Vintage jeans (NWT) for 80% less than original retail. Perfect! I saved money, helped the planet by recycling AND I got some cute jeans that I wear all the time. What’s not to love?!! They have some great One Teaspoon denim skirts at excellent prices for those looking for a summer staple.

Tatty’s Designer Recycle Boutique

And the good news is I don’t have far to go; I’m spoilt for choice in my own neighbourhood! Ponsonby is lined with so many great clothing stores. There are endless possibilities - it’s just as easy to pick up a vintage bargain, or if you’ve got the cash for a splurge, something special. Fashion is such a big part of who we are. Our clothes define us, right? So it’s a good thing Ponsonby caters for all of us. Below are my favourite five!

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 61

FUTURE GENERATION

Meet the Teacher Verity Hall is the K-ahui Ako Within School Leader for Writing at Te Rimu Tahi - Ponsonby Primary School, where she also teaches a Year 4 class.

You trained and taught in the UK before moving to New Zealand three years ago. What do you like about the New Zealand system?

I love the freedom that schools have to really shape their own curriculum and even more so, the ability to tailor your own classroom programme. It allows me to be a more creative, passionate teacher and gives my students genuine scope to steer their own learning.

Standardised testing in UK primary schools can be a distraction from the wider educational picture.

What brought you to Aotearoa?

We spent time here a few years ago and loved the world-class scenery and easy way of life. We took the long, slow way here, travelling from London to China by train and spending time in South-East Asia and Japan.

You recently took on a Within School Leader role for Te K-ahui Ako o Waitemat-a - The Western Bays Community of Learning. How is it helping to shape the delivery of teaching in the community?

- Ako has enabled me to connect and collaborate with Joining the Kahui many passionate teachers within the Western Bays community. The sharing and development of best practice through collaborative inquiry and coaching develops a strong sense of continuity and cohesion for our teachers and, most importantly, our students as they progress through our primary and secondary schools.

What have you enjoyed about the role so far?

I love having the time to work with different classes and focus groups and have enjoyed leading staff with planning, moderations and distance learning. At a literacy symposium I attended last year, the phrase “to

be an author, you have to have authority” really resonated with me. It is my aim to give students that authority over their writing to help them remain intrinsically motivated, inspired and successful.

Do you think the way we teach in the future will be influenced by this pandemic?

Teaching had to adapt quickly. The use of technology is an essential part of distance learning, and our students showed amazing resilience during the whole process. There is a lot to be said for bespoke online learning and assessment, which no doubt has a place now and in the future of our profession, but there was relief all around when we were back in the classroom, particularly from parents!

What do you do when you aren’t teaching?

We both love Japan and like to visit whenever we can. Outside of the school day, you’ll find me on walks, doing some painting or at the Malt pub quiz.

If you weren’t teaching, what would you be doing?

I have always wanted to raise a family in the countryside and love the idea of having my own lavender farm and a few bees. I might have been watching too much Country Calendar during lockdown, but that sounds idyllic to me.  PN

I Love Lucy Book Review: Apple and Rain Sarah Crossan 12+ This book made me laugh, gasp, cringe, and put me on the verge of tears (twice!). That is why this book will receive my first ever 5 out of 5 rating!

Apple and Rain is set from the perspective of a 13 year old girl named Apple. When she was about 3 years old, her mother left her (on Christmas Eve!) to go off and pursue dreams of becoming an actress. Apple lives with her overprotective grandmother, and after 11 years her mother returns... and she wants to be a part of Apple’s life.

Apple is happy as a clam to be whisked away by her mother to a world of late night parties, drinking cocktails with interesting names and much, much more... but was leaving her grandmother in the dust a smart choice? Her mother is not the prime example of a responsible parent.

Apple learns which of her friends are true, makes a new friend who turns out to be a very interesting person and finds out something her mother may have been hiding from her... or should I say someone?

A new teacher helps Apple to discover her hidden talent for poetry, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. My favourite line from one of Apples poems has got to be, “She meant that love is a quiet doing - a day to toil in the dark.”

Overall, a lovely book and I one hundred percent recommend it.

PN (LUCY KENNEDY) 



out of 5!

Available to order at www.dorothybutlerbookshop.co.nz www.lucykennedywriter.wixsite.com/reviews instagram @ilovelucybooks

62 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

FUTURE GENERATION

Innovation and Progress is in our DNA Kristin School, founded in 1973, is one of the youngest independent schools in Auckland. Even so, it has quickly found its place, is proud to have set many firsts and has a clear vision for what it aims to nurture within its students, Alumni, staff and the wider school community in general.

Kristin has never been afraid to take up a challenge and look to the future. In 1986 Kristin became the first International Baccalaureate (IB) World School in New Zealand, offering the globally renowned and highly respected IB Diploma Programme. Many of these students have gone on to study at the world’s top universities.

This programme’s focus on ensuring students have a breadth of subject knowledge not found in many other curricula, along with an embedded core of internationalism and global perspectives, provides the skills required to take on the challenges that life throws at them. A few years later, Kristin made the decision to introduce the IB Primary Years and Middle Years programmes, becoming New Zealand’s first school to offer all three Programmes, spanning Kindergarten to Senior School.

The Senior School at Kristin also offers students the choice to study either the IB Diploma Programme or NCEA, dependent on the subjects they wish to take and the opportunity to select an approach that works best for their personal learning style and preferences. Both of these pathways offer students exceptional teachers, programmes and the chance to achieve at the highest level.

In true innovative style, Kristin led the way too, in ensuring that students had access to technology to support their learning with a focus placed on developing skills in how to benefit most from its use. Kristin was New Zealand’s first school to issue its students laptops and to support this with an online Learning Management System (LMS).

The ongoing development of this, and the implementation of a new LMS in early 2020, has meant that the students have been able to quickly adapt in the face of recent COVID-19 lockdowns. Any potential impact on their learning has been both well managed and, in terms of achievement, barely noticeable.

Kristin’s Head of Digital Learning is reviewing students’ and teachers’ experiences from lockdown and how the positives that have come out of this time can be incorporated into regular daily teaching, further supporting the students in terms of their well-being and studies.

Kristin is aware that the ‘school years’ are not purely about academic achievement: they are a time when students grow, develop and flourish. For this reason, Kristin has an extensive and highly successful pastoral care platform for all its students.

There is a focus on developing the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of the students and on developing the whole student, providing skills and the resilience that they will need in later life. Every Kristin student is encouraged to think creatively, communicate effectively and embrace learning – at school and in life.

The school has always placed importance on creating positive relationships, both between students and also between students and staff. This has been proven to have a marked influence on the enjoyment and the performance of students at school. Many of Kristin’s teachers are bringing aspects of coaching and mindfulness into the classroom, and the benefits of this are becoming evident across all areas of classroom practice.

Over the past 47 years, Kristin has made sure that every student is recognised as an individual, is free to explore their dreams and also has the opportunities to thrive and follow their passions. In this, Kristin is true to its original vision and motto, ensuring that every student can “progress with vision, integrity and love”.

David Boardman/Kristin Senior School Principal Kristin School is an independent co-educational school for students from Early Learning to Senior School. Located on park-like grounds with superb facilities in Albany, the school is well known for its focus on student wellbeing, high quality teachers and leaders, IB or NCEA pathways for Senior School students, and its vast array of cocurricular, leadership and service opportunities.

Dedicated school buses covering 20 routes across Auckland also make Kristin a convenient option for families from areas all over the city, such as Ponsonby and Westmere to Matakana, Gulf Harbour, Waimauku, Titirangi and beyond. Learn more, book a school tour or apply now at kristin.school.nz.  PN

KRISTIN SCHOOL, 360 Albany Highway, Albany, T: 09 415 9566, www.kristin.school.nz PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 63

FUTURE GENERATION

Developing the mastery to lead at ACG Parnell College As a “shy, nervous and awkward” Year 9 student, Aqsa Kothiwala never dreamed she’d become Head Girl.

But the five years she has spent at ACG Parnell College have been, quite literally, transformative.

“I didn’t think I could ever become a role model given how shy I am, and I am so grateful that senior management saw the potential in me,” says Aqsa, ACG Parnell’s Head Girl for 2020.

In addition to helping with ACG’s peer tutoring and the buddy reading programme, in her spare time Aqsa enjoys practising archery and playing netball and cricket.

It has been the experience of a lifetime, giving Aqsa invaluable opportunities for personal growth and the chance to encourage others in the process.

“I’ve also been working towards my Duke of Edinburgh silver award, which has pushed me out of my comfort zone, developed my confidence, and taught me the importance of finding balance. I’m super-grateful I’ve been able to build these skills during my time at ACG and know they will be very useful in the future.”

“I have worked on my confidence a lot this year, and I’ve learnt to trust myself and my leadership style. Being Head Girl has helped me come out of my shell and develop my decision making and team working skills. But my biggest goal has been to make people feel welcome and inspire those who thought they could never be leaders.”

Aqsa will soon say farewell to high school to take the next step in her learning journey – studying Biomedical Sciences at the University of Auckland. Until then, she plans to squeeze every ounce out of her ACG experience and her role as Head Girl.

Aqsa began her leadership journey in Year 10 as part of the Middle School student council. Year 11 saw her join the Senior School student council, and, last year, she was a member of the prefect team.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at ACG Parnell. I have built relationships and memories that will last a lifetime, and I feel really lucky to have had these experiences and opportunities.”

“I feel lucky to have had all these different leadership opportunities.

They have enabled me to make lots of new friends and leave my mark at ACG Parnell.”

If you’d like to know more about ACG Parnell College, please join us for our next Open Day on Saturday 17 October or visit parnellcollege.acgedu.com

64 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

TOP IN NZ

IGCSE 2019

5

TOP IN THE WORLD 2019

10

TOP IN NZ 2019

Early Learning | Primary | College

Open Day Saturday 17 October 9.30am – 1.30pm Enrol now | parnellcollege.acgedu.com

Financial fitness is as important as your physical and mental fitness and arguably could assist with improving the last two. However, the opposite is also true; ignoring financial woes can cause a huge amount of stress on individuals and wh-anau.

How do we stave off money worries? It boils down to living within your means – spending no more than the amount you earn - and borrowing money only if you can repay it.

The easiest way to see how you are doing is to sit down and make a budget which lists your income and expenses. There are several websites which offer online budgeting tools, such as Sorted or Work and Income. Or if you would like a face to face service, our CAB branch offers a free budget clinic once a week by appointment. Seeing the numbers in front of you helps focus on ways to reduce expenditure, for example, looking for a cheaper power or internet provider.

But what if things are already out of hand, and you have a hire purchase on that TV, your credit card is maxed to the hilt and on top of this you have lost your job or had your hours cut back?

CAB interviewers can talk with you about options; our budget service can assist you to advocate with creditors and to make applications where appropriate. Here are some ideas: Consumer Credit Contracts If you are having problems paying back debt on a TV or a car bought with finance because of an unforeseen change in your circumstances, for example, a job loss, you can apply to the lender for hardship provision. It’s important to communicate with the lender as soon as

Property transactions that come up smelling of roses.

SpeCial FIxEd FEE PrE‑AuctIOn rEPOrt $300

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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.

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Naku te rourou nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi With your basket and my basket the people will live

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66 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

Business & Commercial

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Coming to such an arrangement may mean that you pay off the debt in smaller amounts and/or take a ‘repayment holiday’ until you can afford the full payments again. However, the down side is that interest still accrues during this time, so you will probably end up paying more in the long run.

Kiwisaver You can apply for an early withdrawal of Kiwisaver on the grounds of significant financial hardship. Often providers ask you to seek budget advice before making your application. The amount you can withdraw may be restricted to only what you need to cover the costs incurred by your hardship. Note that you can only withdraw from the funds that you and your employer(s) have contributed and not the government contributions.

If you are still receiving income and paying into Kiwisaver, you can change the rate of your contribution or apply for a contribution holiday.

Loans It is important to get advice when you borrow money. The Sorted website has tips for choosing the cheapest loans. Be aware that finance companies have higher fees and interest in exchange for less strict lending criteria than banks. There have been recent changes in the law, but it is still important to get advice before signing. If you are in dire need of assistance, some charities provide no or low-interest loans to people on low incomes, for example, the Good Shepherd provides Good Loans.

Personal Insolvency Most people think of businesses in relation to insolvency, but there are options available for individuals. Before considering any formal insolvency procedure, we advise you to look at all other options and get help to do that. There are significant impacts on your, and, if relevant, your partner’s life going forward with insolvency. There are three options: Debt Repayment Order - a formal arrangement with creditors to repay some or all debt over time. You might qualify if you have less than $50,000 in unsecured debt.

No Asset Procedure - an alternative to bankruptcy and may be available where secured and unsecured debt is between $1,000 and $50,000.

Bankruptcy - a legal process where debt cannot be repaid.

Unsecured creditors cannot then collect their debt from you. This covers most types of debt.

Our website has information on all of the above matters, and our volunteer interviewers are able to talk with you face to face (at level 1 or 2) and on the phone or chat by email or online enquiry (at level 3 or 4).  PN

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

you think you’ll have problems as this option is not available to you under certain circumstances, such as being too long in default.

Property

Lesley Bradley, Manager of Citizens Advice Bureau, Grey Lynn/Ponsonby Branch, 510 Richmond Road, T: 09 376 0392; E: ponsonby@cab.org.nz PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

Death and Taxes To the age-old certainties of death and taxes we can add another: retirement.

For many, the word retirement is not top of mind; for others, it is approaching all too quickly in the current environment where paid employment can no longer be taken for granted.

Attitudes towards retirement can be separated into two camps: those for whom life’s ‘glass’ is half empty and those for whom it is half full.

I prefer the more optimistic ‘half full,’ as I believe that a planned retirement is actually a ‘retread’: you are no longer dependent on paid employment to fund your preferred lifestyle. It is a time when, instead of working for money, your money is working for you.

Retreading rather than retirement is about spending the time you now have available to do all those things, such as hobbies, travel, volunteer work or family support, that you were unable to do because of the commitments of paid employment.

The difficulty with the traditional concept of retirement is that it is viewed as a time of rest prior to eventual death, rather than an

opportunity to have a more balanced and meaningful life, doing things you never had the time or opportunity to do whilst working.

Life is not a rehearsal, so it makes sense to enjoy a balanced life of working in fulfilling employment, yet still making time for family, friends and non-paid activities that provide enjoyment and balance.

Sadly, for many of us, the end of paid employment which funds our lifestyle is unplanned or unexpected. In the current Covid-19 environment the likelihood of a DCM (Don’t Come Monday) is a frightening reality for many salary and wage earners.

For the 50-plus section of our community, the prospect of reemployment at your current income which funds your present-day lifestyle and financial commitments is dismal.

However, if you have a retirement plan you are better positioned to ‘roll with the punches,’ allowing you to revisit and reprioritise what is important in your life and the role of money to achieve your lifestyle and financial goals.

The time to start this process is now if you do not have a written retirement plan in place.

We can be contacted on 09 309 3680 or greg@oneplan.co.nz for assistance with this. Also, listen to our podcast ‘NZ Guide To Financial Freedom’ at www.gregmoyle.com/podcast.  PN ONEPLAN, T: 0800 1plan4u, www.oneplan.co.nz

0800 1PLAN4U or 09 309 3680

198 FEDERAL STREET, AUCKLAND CBD, AUCKLAND 1010 WWW.ONEPLAN.CO.NZ

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 67

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

Trust Law is changing Is your Trust 2021 ready?

The Trusts Act 2019 is coming into force in January 2021, bringing many new changes to Trust law as we know it. The current act has been in force since 1956 and over time has been interpreted by courts, which have amended the letter Tammy McLeod of the law. The purpose of the new Act is to make trust law more accessible by codifying the law and making sure everyone can understand their responsibilities and rights under the Act. “While the reasons people set up trusts have changed over the years, there are still very good reasons why trusts are still the most flexible asset owning structure we know,” says Tammy McLeod, Director and Trust Specialist at Davenports Law. “The most important part, though, is to review your trust structure and ensure that it does the job you want it to. Make sure that it has been set up the way you want and will benefit those who you wish to benefit in the way that you intend.”

The biggest change in the new Act is that beneficiaries have increased statutory rights. Beneficiaries aged 18 and over have the right to be notified that they are beneficiaries and be told who the trustees are, so they can hold them to account. They are also entitled to copies of the trust deed and any variations, information about the assets and liabilities, trust financials and information regarding the administration of the trust.

Sometimes, the beneficiary class of a trust is much wider than the person setting it up intended, which will mean more people will be able to access trust information. “It is so important to ensure that the beneficiaries of your trust are only the people who you want to benefit from the trust. This is the change that is likely to create the greatest concern for many trusts, and it is important to get specialist legal advice if this concerns you,” says Tammy. “There may be options available to amend your trust documents and set out your wishes more specifically in relation to the beneficiaries.”

Under the new Act, there is also an increased responsibility on trustees to carry out their duties properly and have greater accountability to the beneficiaries. The new Act divides trustees’ duties into two broad types: mandatory duties, which you cannot contract out of, and default duties that apply unless your trust deed says otherwise. The mandatory duties include understanding the trust deed, acting in the best interests of the beneficiaries and accounting to the beneficiaries.

The default duties, which can be modified, include that the trustees must act unanimously, invest trust assets prudently, and that all trustees must hold core documents. “It is important to check your trust deed in light of the new Act, to ensure that the trustees are complying with the mandatory duties and to see if the default duties need to be modified,” says Tammy.

The new Act extends the time period for trusts from 80 to 125 years.

This has come about due to increasing life expectancies and people wanting to hold assets in trust beyond one or two generations. The new Act also makes it compulsory to remove incapacitated trustees.

This is a welcome change to the current system which, if the trust deed is silent, requires an application to the Court to remove an incapacitated trustee.

While not part of the new Act, it is timely when reviewing your trust structure to consider your will and any wishes you may leave to the trustees of your trust. “Too often people sign these documents and then don’t look at them again,” says Tammy. “It is important to constantly review wills and wishes to ensure that they still reflect your wishes and give good guidance to those you leave behind.”

The new Act is a timely reminder of change and the need to move with the times. It is important to review existing trust structures and accompanying documents to make sure they comply, are doing the job you want them to and are fit for purpose. For specialist trust advice don’t hesitate to contact Tammy McLeod, or the Trust team at Davenports Law, by calling 09 883 4400 or visiting davenportslaw.co.nz.  PN

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

68 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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

Trust law is changing.

Is your trust ready?

The current Trust Act has been in force since 1956, so with the new Trusts Act 2019 coming into force in January 2021, it brings many new changes to Trust law as we know it.

Reviewing existing trust structures and making sure they comply and are fit for purpose is paramount.

Contact us for more information.

0 9 883 4 4 0 0 DAV EN P O RTS L AW.CO.N Z

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

Logan Granger: Covid-19 Wage Subsidy – Really not Taxable... Oh Yeah...

There has been a confusion amongst many tax payers, not necessarily the ones in small and medium size business but also amongst some of the large tax payers, on whether the Covid-19 wage subsidy is taxable or not taxable. Let us look more closely into this.

According to the Inland Revenue Department website we can see a broad notification under the url www.ird.govt.nz/covid-19/ business-and-organisations/employing-staff/wagesubsidies as detailed below: The employer is not liable for income tax or GST on the subsidy received from MSD and is not entitled to an income tax deduction for wages paid out of the wage subsidy.

While most tax payers read the first part (not liable for income tax or GST) they do not proceed to read and assimilate the latter part which contains the sting in the tail!

It is true that the wage subsidy received in general is not liable for income tax or GST, but one should remember that the wages paid out of the subsidy received are not tax deductible to the tax payer. Let us explore this with a small example: Company A applies and gets wage subsidy of say, $15,000 from the Government. It has a wage bill over the period that is applicable to the receipt of wage subsidy of say, $18,000. Based on the current rules, the subsidy of $15,000 is not taxable and wages paid to the extent of $15,000 (of the $18,000 paid by the company) are not deductible!

In reality most of the tax payers tend to believe that $15,000 is not taxable and $18,000 is tax deductible! Can this be true?

In a typical business such as yours, the wage payments are taken to wages expenses directly and are normally treated as a deductible expense. Because of this normal treatment, the wage subsidy received is required to be taken to some kind of income (taxable) to the extent it is used for paying the wages. Therefore, we can say that the wage subsidy is in fact taxable, but the tax on this income is offset by the tax deduction on the subsidy paid out.

A lot of confusion may have been avoided if the Government and the IRD explained this position clearly to all business owners.

We would even say that it may have been better to disclose that these wage subsides are taxable receipts to the business, instead of saying that they are not taxable to start with. We would have preferred omitting the statement that the wages paid out of the subsidy are not tax deductible! This, in our view, may have made the taxable nature of the wage subsidies clear to business owners.

More importantly, it needs to be mentioned that the subsidy is in fact taxable in the hands of the final recipient. If you are self-employed and have wage subsidy, you will include this as a taxable income and are required to pay tax on this subsidy receipt at your marginal tax rate.

If you are trading under a company and normally get shareholder salary paid out from the company, this will be included as income in your hands as the shareholder and will not form part of taxable income to the company.

In conclusion, most business owners and tax payers will feel the impact in the 2021 tax year, barring some who may have received the wage subsidy before 31 March 2020 and disbursed wages before 31 March 2020. Both the IRD and the Government could have handled this in a better manner and avoided this confusion.

The team at Johnston Associates wish the Ponsonby News readers all the very best in these hard times, and we are here if you need us!

(LOGAN GRANGER)  PN Disclaimer – While all care has been taken, Johnston Associates Chartered Accountants Ltd and its staff accept no liability for the content of this article; always see your professional advisor before taking any action that you are unsure about.

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

70 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

PONSONBY PROFESSIONALS

Local Market Wrap with Charlotte Kofoed August – a month known for its scatty weather and lack of long weekends. The outlook remains brighter on the real estate front, however, with the greater Ponsonby real estate marketplace continuing to show stability along with a continuation of the sellers-market that has taken shape over winter.

The REINZ August statistics for the greater Ponsonby area (Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Herne Bay, Saint Marys Bay, Freemans Bay, and Westmere) show that stock constraints continue to play a role in the upward price pressure on sales, with 51 completed transactions down from 62 in July.

Hamish has also seen banks starting to compete again for market share as we move into spring. ”While the banks generally aren’t doing as many seasonal promotions as in prior years, they are proving very keen to work with brokers and their clients to help conclude lending applications, significantly more so than earlier in the year.”

The median sell price for greater Ponsonby continued to inch higher compared with July as well as August 2019. We did, however, see a reduction in the average sell price over the period, which was largely a result of an increased proportion of one and two-bedroom property stock transacting during the month.

MAXIMISE YOUR SEARCH A common theme over winter has been ‘plenty of buyers and not enough sellers’. So what can buyers in the current market do to maximise their chances of securing their ideal home? In my experience, purchasing successfully in Auckland is really about the ‘art of the compromise’ - everyone has a list of their ‘must-haves’ when buying property, and it might be that three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two-car parks are an absolute must. However, many buyers miss out on properties to others who are able to compromise on one or two aspects when purchasing.

GREEN SHOOTS IN THE LENDING MARKET In the immediate aftermath of the initial Covid-19 emergency, the banking sector was understandably facing a number of significant challenges that effectively put a handbrake on the lending plans of a number of local buyers. I recently spoke to local Ponsonby mortgage advisor Hamish Chandra from Total Finance to understand what lending market trends have emerged over the quarter.

Hamish has a real connection with the area and is about to commence building a new home in Westmere. I asked him to share with us how the lending market was fairing and how buyers can benefit. Hamish says, ”The winter period was the busiest I have been in my twenty years in the lending space. The market has been very active and has been rejuvenated through new ex-pat clients coming home from places such as New York, Dubai, Hong Kong, and London. In addition, many clients who were planning holidays are instead using funds to either upsize, purchase a more suitable property or renovate their existing property.

“There are also first home buyers who are now forgoing their OE.” Hamish adds that lending criteria adjustments can potentially benefit clients right now. “Lending has really gathered momentum of late with historically low-interest rates. In addition, a relaxation of both the LVR rules and also the banks ‘servicing rates’ that are used to test clients’ ability to service their loans are helping more clients to own their dream home. More clients are also looking toward the purchase of a second property as deposit rates make ‘money in the bank’ less appealing.”

Properties Sold Average Sell Price Median Sell Price

August 2020 51 $1, 697, 894 $1,650,000

Meanwhile, those of us (yes, I’m guilty too) who have pursued perfection end up regretting not buying earlier and making the necessary changes to the property. How often do we say, “If only I’d bought that home in Saint Mary’s Bay I looked at ten years ago?” Often things such as that guest powder room, walk-in robe or pool can be added down the track as long as your core must-haves are being met.

If you would like assistance finding a home, please contact me. We can help you work out which properties currently on the market (through us, our colleagues, and those listed with other companies) will fall into your price bracket and are likely to suit your requirements. By having my associate work through this side of things with you, you’ll save time in your property search, and, as a bonus, we are often able to show you properties that are not yet being advertised.

If you are thinking about selling, I’d be happy to talk with you about the greater Ponsonby market trends relating to your property at any stage.

Thank you for reading.

CHARLOTTE KOFOED, M: 021 241 9394, T: 09 353 1220, www.ckre.co.nz, E: charlotte.kofoed@nzsir.com July 2020 62 $1,832, 581 $1,625,000

August 2019 48 1,776, 229 $1,602,500

REINZ statistics for Freemans Bay, Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Westmere, St Marys Bay & Herne Bay

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 71

WORKING FROM HOME

THE NEW NORMAL WORKING FROM HOME If I lived on Auckland’s fringe, and it took me 45 minutes twice a day to get to work and home again from the central city, I’d be excited to try working from home.

Because so much office work is done on computer, the current work of stay-at-homers is often not much different from how they work at the office. It would have been impossible pre-the internet.

Ponsonby News talked to a young couple, William and Emily, who live in part of a converted barn on a family property in West Auckland.

Both have had stints working at home during Covid.

William works in the music/events industry, hard hit by social distancing and venue number limitations. Emily works for a city council department. Both are normally based in the central city.

The first point Emily made was about the wasted and tiring time of commuting. It’s costly, too, running your own car. For those who subscribe to the theory that the commute is somehow therapeutic, Emily said you could go for a brisk morning walk to replicate your time commuting and maybe feel more ready for work.

Emily acknowledged that self-discipline was necessary at home and an ability to be efficient at time management, but it did allow people to use their breaks more efficiently too. It can allow time to do a little gardening or feed the chooks. If you have a dog, as William and Emily do, the pooch will love you being at home all day.

The efficiency of emailing was highlighted. Emily does bookings, writes programmes and reports, emailing her colleagues regularly.

She stresses the need to keep work colleagues informed, with plenty of follow up, courtesy emails. She uses break times more effectively and saves money she would otherwise spend on bought lunches.

72 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

A potential downside of working from home is lack of social contact with workmates. Emily acknowledges that, but points out that being newly engaged to be married, she has no need for extra social stimulation. She does, however, not like to feel out of the loop and recommends meeting in person for lunch or drinks on a regular basis.

Both William and Emily agree working from home beats wandering around Queen Street during break times.

William spends a lot of time on the computer wherever he is, making bookings, emailing clients, and setting timetables. Many of his clients are normally from overseas so their absence during Covid has slowed his work down. For a time, he was on just two days a week.

Going forward, many big organisations are talking about how they will staff their offices. Many will have increasing numbers working from home and zooming in for meetings. Some companies will abandon the large city offices altogether, downsize, and relocate to suburban centres.

It’s kind of mad to have thousands of Aucklanders rushing into the central city every day, wasting time, using climate damaging fuel, and clogging roads.

William does listen to pod-casts while commuting, but would rather control his own day from home.

The last word goes to Emily, “We’re lucky there’s just the two of us.

We couldn’t have worked like we do if we still lived with five others in a big house. There were too many distractions.” (JOHN ELLIOTT)  PN PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WORKING FROM HOME

What is your renovation approach for your home?

When I first started working for Jeremy Salmond in the mid-1990s, a lot of our work involved the renovation of period houses that had already had a make-over in the 1970s, with what at the time were modern alterations often using anodised (natural) aluminium joinery.

These additions had not dated well, and our brief usually involved removal of these and renovating in a style similar to the existing house. We continued this kind of work well into the early 2000s and focused on additions that blended as seamlessly as possible with the exterior. Where the interior could not reflect the proportions of the existing house, we would simplify the details to suit.

are potentially successful, but either way, the key thing is getting proportion and scale right. (ROSALIE STANLEY)  PN SALMOND REED ARCHITECTS, 58 Calliope Road, Auckland, M: 021 37 22 78, www.salmondreed.co.nz

Over the past decade, there has been a move to design in a way that clearly distinguishes a contemporary addition from the existing original. This acknowledges a conservation principle in which new work should be readily identifiable as “of its time” rather than a replication of the original. This may be good in theory, but I can’t help harking back to those 1970-90 additions.

The thing is, high-contrast contemporary design is just one of the available strategies for making additions to traditional houses, but I remain firmly of the belief that the subtle adaptation of the original architecture is still a healthy way of resolving this. Both options

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 73

WORKING FROM HOME

Work hard; garden easy...

2020 is certainly shaping up to be the year of the home.

Staying home, renovating the home and working from home are all becoming the norm for most Aucklanders, and it’s evident that the more time we spend in the confines of our home spaces the more value we want to get out of them. Martin from City Botanics says winter this year was not your average cool season experience.

“The whole industry is buzzing. Garden centres are packed, plant supply is getting tricky, pots are being sold and filled quicker than our importers can ship them in, and spring has only just started! It’s a crazy time, but I’m excited to see so many people connecting to nature and finding peace in their gardens.”

“Working for nine hours a day at home behind our computer screens may be making the separation between work and personal life difficult, but a well designed garden space can help with the transition and provide a place of retreat inbetween our busy lives and stressful work days,” says Martin.

“Whether you have a tiny apartment balcony, a small yard or an underutilised deck, there is plenty you can do to transform that space into a functional garden retreat. Your new garden room can act as a transition zone between work and play.

A morning coffee in the sun surrounded by lush plants can be really grounding and help to shift your mindset into focus for the day ahead. Returning to our outdoor space for the lunch break is something we don’t get to have when we work from the office and its certainly one to be grateful for.”

with a comprehensive maintenance guide following every installation, and our eight week plant guarantee and complimentary follow up visits ensure that we plant for the future success of your garden and not just the instant wow factor.”

For those who are concerned about what to plant and how to take care of them, City Botanics has you covered.

So, if you’re feeling a little cooped up at home or if you need to find some solace and balance in your working week, perhaps a well PN designed outdoor room is the perfect solution. 

“Choosing the right plants for your space is critical for success followed by a sturdy maintenance plan. We provide all of our clients

For further details please call Martin on 027 215 7884, E: grow@citybotanics.com www.citybotanics.co.nz

74 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

WORKING FROM HOME

Growing food at home organically Asking where your food has come from has become important with the move to conscious, healthy eating.

Coupled with a year of spending more time in the home and garden, what could be better than growing your own organic fruit and vegetables? There’s satisfaction in getting hands in the soil, nurturing plants to the point of production and knowing there is no chemical interference in the food chain.

Central Landscape Supplies in Avondale recognises the growing popularity of gardening without chemicals. They understand that modern gardeners want to manage their gardens naturally, encourage good biological activity in their soil and grow strong, healthy plants.

Father and son team, Tony and Jarrod Marwood, of Central Landscapes Avondale, have been instrumental in moving to stock organic certified products. “We’ve always had products that are natural or sustainable, such as our popular Reharvest wood chip mulches or the NZ made Jakmats which create perfect pebbled surfaces for cars and paths. But lately, with Covid and lockdown, we’re seeing more people requesting planting mixes that are chemical-free, and our Living Earth organic certified Veggie Mix is ideal. Aso, our customers are pleased when we show them products that contain worm castings and fish and seaweed extracts which are ideal for growing healthy vegetables.”

Among new product additions for the organic gardener are Aquaticus Organic Booster for liquid feeding and Revital’s Grow-all, a rich compost containing worm castings.

Jarrod says, “Grow-all has been great for mixing through our existing vegetable beds to condition the soil ahead of planting a new round of crops. Liquid feeding our plants helps them establish better as seedlings and provides plenty of minerals as they grow.”

If you’re keen to build a raised bed, building them out of sleepers looks really good. Tony and Jarrod recommend using Trustwood sleepers. These are made from NZ pine with a long-lasting copper treatment that is safe for use around vegetable growing.

Avondale Central Landscapes is open seven days, so come and visit the friendly team and view their vegetable beds, organic products and general landscape supplies.

Borrow a free loan trailer, or get everything delivered.  PN

CENTRAL LANDSCAPES AVONDALE, 419 Rosebank Road, T: 09 828 5533, Facebook: @CLSAvondale, www.centrallandscapes.co.nz

We dig organic food.

Central Landscape Supplies Avondale has a new range of certified organic products for everything natural in your vege patch.

Central Landscape Supplies Avondale

09 828 5533

419 Rosebank Rd, Avondale, Auckland www.centrallandscapes.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 75

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Urban apartment living now sought-after following Auckland’s latest Covid-19 lockdown Auckland’s recent isolation from the rest of New Zealand under Covid-19 regional travel restrictions has created yet another aspect to the Ponsonby property market.

Bayleys Ponsonby leading salesperson Blair Haddow said cityfringe medium to high-density dwellings were the latest subcategory to grow under his listings portfolio, which usually reflected high-end converted villas and homesteads in the Grey Lynn/Ponsonby/Herne Bay catchment area.

“There are so many sub-plots to what’s happening in the property market at the moment, from cashed up ex-pat’ New Zealanders returning home and buying $2million-plus dwellings, through to inner-city small apartment dwellers moving out to the suburbs where they can buy a house with a backyard. Added to this, a sector of the population is now looking to spend more time at their holiday home while not fully selling up their Auckland presence, and not wanting to get stuck in an inner-city shoebox either, should Auckland go back to a regional level-three confinement under Covid-19,” Blair Haddow said.

Haddow said the pattern was exemplified in several of his current listings in the Ponsonby News area.

Unit 2 at 55 Kelmarna Avenue in Herne Bay, for example, is a terraced freehold three-bedroom/two-bathroom townhouse which Blair Haddow expected to sell for around the $1.95 million mark. Units 1 and 3 in the same block have already sold offplan to owner-occupiers with completion scheduled for December.

“With three-storeys, the Kelmarna Avenue home is big enough that if the new owners were forced to stay in Auckland in a resumption of regional Covid-19 travel isolations, then there’s enough space to convert one of the bedrooms into a functional office, along with enough living space to retain one’s sanity,” he said.

“Yet, it’s also functional enough to be utilised as a ‘lock and leave’ residence whose owners could choose to spend time at their holiday home outside of the city, without having to worry about body corporate fees or property maintenance on what will be a brand new home filled with top of the range appliances.”

A similar scenario was on offer through Blair Haddow’s listing at the SOMA apartment block at 12 Mackelvie Street in Grey Lynn, where an entry-level penthouse on his books was expected to sell in excess of $1.2million. The six-storey SOMA Apartments complex was built in 2018 and features two towers separated at right angles by a central stairwell and lift shift.

“For a single owner/occupier or couple, the 94-square metre twobedroom/two-bathroom SOMA penthouse apartment with sizeable living room/dining room/balcony space could again be configured as a work-from-home entity, or an Auckland cornerstone residence which could be used during the week by its owners in conjunction with spending more time at their holiday home on the weekends,” said Blair Haddow.  PN www.facebook.com/BlairHaddowResidential

76 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Dakota Bed and mattress queen size from $6340 in Kauri and Ash. Available in all sizes and finishes

Trenail Desk – 1 of 2 made for 2020 and available for Christmas $8740, L150cm D70cm Guest bed and mattress queen size from $5540 in Kauri or Ash. Available in all sizes and finishes

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

@ Rose & Heather

ROSE & HEATHER, 366 Great North Road, T: 09 376 2895, www.roseandheather.com

W E H A V E A N E W H O M E..

We’re now at 366 Great North Rd. Greylynn

w w w. r o s e a n d h e a t h e r. c o. n z instore and online 7 days t: 09 3762895 78 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

@ Homage

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1. Click dark grey dining chair & Four dining table 2. Paon dining chair & Beam dining table 3. Click black dining chair & Four dining table 4. Click multi2 dining chair 5. Click petrol dining chair & Leaf dining table 6. Paon dining chair & Flor cafe table

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HOMAGE, 254 Richmond Road, T: 09 360 0616, www.homage.co.nz

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254 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn T: 360 0616

Danish outdoor design at its best...

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30 Broadway, Newmarket T: 520 5711 Weekdays 10am-5pm Saturday 10am-4pm Sunday 10am-4pm Grey Lynn only Shop on-line www.homage.co.nz

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 79

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Five ways to a greatCATALISE customer experience ED in property management Building a good customer service experience doesn’t happen by accident, it happens by design.

Catalise Property Management is extremely proud to be a selected finalist in the Auckland Business Awards 2020 in Excellence for Customer Service Delivery.

Here they explain five key values a customer focused business should implement to deliver an excellent customer experience and why it is important.

1. Create a clear customer experience vision With the multiple issues that can arise in these troubled times of Covid-19, having a trusted partner by your side is extremely important. The support, the innovative thinking or an empathetic voice are not something a chatbot can provide. Good businesses know how they want their customers to feel when they interact with them and should measure how well they deliver on this vision by collecting or encouraging feedback. For example, a core value of Catalise is to provide a quality, no stress, proactive management experience to help the client succeed by offering comprehensive managed solutions to resolve problems. 93.5% of Catalise customers said they were “very satisfied” with the service.

2. Know your customers Customers are well informed and have a lot of options to choose from. Businesses should be genuine in being truly customer centric, taking the time to offer a personalised service to understand their clients’ needs, motivation, and communication style so they can tailor an adequate management strategy. The better they know their customers, the more targeted help customers can receive.

3. Go the extra mile Don’t settle for a good service, aim for a great one. It should be about businesses doing what they say they will do for their customers and

being prepared to listen and improve. This could be something as simple as giving a quick response to queries or spending a little extra time to ensure a good understanding of the issue before giving an easy answer. This makes a customer feel valued. In truth, the simple things and acts of care make a difference.

4. Think long term Patience and dedication are what it takes. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and similarly, building long term relationships takes time. Many can relate to the frustration of having to repeat their life story because management has changed yet again, or they have been passed from one customer representative to the next.

Property management is a business where clients typically stay for several years, and the recommendations made should have long term value in mind, for example, the choice of an appliance model, allowing a pet for a good long term tenant, or which renovations will optimise rental value.

5. Agility and ongoing learning The landscape of property investing is fast changing, however, the property management industry is not regulated and qualifications are on a voluntary basis. Sandie is a qualified NZ Residential property manager level 4, and everyone in Catalise attends ongoing training to gain an in-depth understanding of regulations to deal with complex tenancy situations. Long before Covid-19 made it a necessity, their data was securely stored in the Cloud and accessible from anywhere, and walk-through videos have become a standard tool to allow remote viewings or inspections during lockdowns.

Book an appraisal or a meeting with Catalise and you will not look back!

CATALISE LTD, 203A Symonds Street, Eden Terrace, sandie@catalise.co.nz, M: 021 352 670, www.catalise.co.nz

unlock your property potential providing a pathway to To look after your biggest asset, you need someone you can trust - contact Sandie:

www.catalise.co.nz 80 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

Residential/ Commercial/ Air BnB

Step by step, we partner with you to bring out the best in your property, attract the right tenants, and succeed with your investment

success 021 352 670 sales@catalise.co.nz 203a Symonds St, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1010 PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

GlassProtech - serious about surface protection GlassProtech is a New Zealand-owned, nationwide specialist window-film service provider that serves a wide range of customers, from residential home-owners to infrastructure providers.

Their services for the residential and retail market include installation of solar control film/tinting for UV-protection, privacy and reduced fading, as well as specialised films for safety, security and decorative effects.

Run in Auckland as a family business by brothers Chris and Tom Bennett since 2012, the company has created a reputation for quality work and exceptional customer service.

As a result of Covid-19 lockdowns and more people working from their homes, GlassProtech Auckland has seen a huge increase in requests from home owners needing to improve the privacy and sunlight glare in their home office spaces. And with young children spending more time indoors, there is a need to secure large windows with new safety film.

The changing landscape has also led to an increased number of requests from property developers and interior designers, looking to repurpose buildings to allow for more flexible tenancy options.

As the modern window films have highly technical specs, the selection of the correct product can be daunting. There are many variables to take into account, such as existing glass type, energy efficiency, heat insulation properties, light levels during different times of year and aesthetics.

GlassProtech supplies only the best quality Solar Window Film products from the world-leading manufacturers 3M and AveryDennison and offers a solid workmanship guarantee.

GlassProtech completes projects for residential and commercial customers, both on new builds as well as retrofit projects. ď Ł PN

GLASSPROTECH AUCKLAND, 166 Lansford Crescent, Avondale, T: 0800 457 776, Facebook: @glassprotechauckland, www.glassprotech.co.nz

Window Films for Daytime Privacy, Fade-protection and Glare Reduction Create daytime privacy in your home while preserving your view, with our range of technically advanced, high quality solar window films.

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PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 81

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Closing the loop Right now, New Zealand’s recycling is overwhelming and plastic is the main problem.

Despite plastic being a valuable resource with the potential to be reused and remade, very little of the stuff you carefully rinse and put in your kerbside recycling actually gets a new lease on life.

The truth is, so much of the plastic packaging in our recycling stream is contaminated (either dirty or a number that’s not recycled here) or ends up being shipped overseas where it’s someone else’s problem.

And sadly, tonnes of plastic ends up in our waterways each year too.

New Zealand’s health and safety laws require used bodycare packaging to be heat treated and extensively cleaned. It takes much less energy and water to chip, melt and remake old bottles into new.

The ecostore Plastic Return Programme is turning old ecostore packaging into new bottles here in Auckland.

This initiative absolutely needs local people to get on board if it’s to work. So, if you’re keen to close the loop on some of your household packaging, please visit recall.ecostore.com/bottle-drop for your nearest bottle drop location.

How it works All empty ecostore plastic bottles smaller than 20 litres can go in the Bottle Drop Box in store (including 5 litre bulk containers).

Lightly rinse bottles before bringing them in and popping them in the Bottle Drop Box. Labels can stay on as they’re recyclable plastic and melt down during remaking.

Ecostore bottles only are being accepted right now. Once the system’s been tested and fine-tuned, there will be opportunities to work with other brands to remake their bottles too.

Save a trip. Many ecostore bottle drop locations are also refill PN stations. Check recall.ecostore.com/bottle-drop for details. 

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

82 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

Curtain fabric: Acqua Viva Melumba by Casamance

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Our complimentary design consultation is the perfect opportunity to see what fabrics and styles work best in your home. Each of our Design Consultants have over 15 years interior design experience.

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Teka outdoor dining table and chairs by Gordon Guillaumier for Roda

Creating outdoor rooms of outstanding beauty Take inspiration from outdoor collections at ECC. Now is the time to gather your ideas and get your outdoor living ready for the summer. Although it seems early to mention Christmas, we are talking about what is on the ECC showroom floor now, or on the boat already from Europe, that will be gracing your exteriors this Christmas holiday. It’s just as well ECC has an extensive outdoor range of brands and styles in store.

Finish off your garden area with a range of outdoor pots from Serralunga. Place them in an entranceway, on decking or strategically around the garden to add extra height and form to your landscaping.

PN View the full outdoor range online or visit the ECC showroom. 

ECC, 39 Nugent St, Grafton T: 09 379 9680, www.ecc.co.nz Lounging around in the sun is on the agenda with a great range of generously sized armchairs in store. Paola Lenti’s best-selling Nido armchair is a great example of the use of their high-tech outdoor woven rope. For extra plush comfort, choose the Shito armchair made from padded tubular knit also woven around a stainless steel frame. If that’s not enough to send you off to sleep, ECC also has rocking armchairs with fitted cushions for extra comfort.

Summer is always a time to entertain family and friends, and eating alfresco is one of the great delights. Take your dining outdoors with table and chair settings from Roda. Unique ceramic tops on tables will bring a touch of Italian style to your home. Some other tables are extendable which is great for larger groups. Roda is entirely dedicated to outdoor furniture with over twenty years of experience, so you can trust the quality and cosmopolitan style of this design driven company.

Ensure you have enough seating for summer gatherings with the addition of an outdoor sofa. ECC has many different styles from their Italian brands. Minotti’s classic Alison sofa has strong rectangular form, but there are softer curves on the Liz sofa from Expormim.

The beautiful Piper sofa employs the refined style of Rodolfo Dordoni and features coloured aluminium frames and soft cushions. It’s easy to find a style that suits.

ECC can also assist in creating a lighting design for your garden area.

If you are undertaking a landscaping project, be sure to consider pathway, step and feature lighting early in the process. Balancing light and shadow gives the best effect, which can be achieved by selecting trees, plants or walls to feature. In addition, some of our brands are producing portable, rechargeable table lamps that can be carried from indoor to out, providing a flexible lighting alternative.

Laze rocking chair by Gordon Guillaumier for Roda

84 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

ecc.co.nz

Royal Botania

Organix Lounge

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Create the perfect outdoor space to entertain, dine and relax The key to the perfect outdoor space is to create an area that is a comfortable extension of your home.

“Living in Auckland, it's natural to want an outdoor space where you can dine, entertain friends or just relax,” says Clayton Sceats from Lahood Window Furnishings.

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

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

In our search for the ultimate awning, we found a natural affinity with Luxaflex.

With a design that epitomises contemporary European design excellence, Luxaflex Te Ra- Awnings have quickly become a favourite of design professionals.

“Te Ra- Awnings offer the best in open-plan outdoor living. From tiny terraces to large outdoor entertaining areas, there are solutions for every situation, all designed for our New Zealand conditions. If you want

86 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

designer shade, then Te Ra- Awnings are your go-to,” says Clayton.

Refined and modern, Te Ra- retractable awnings effortlessly blend and complement any home.

“Most awnings are automated now,” explains Clayton. “With a single touch on your remote or using an app on your phone, you can control your awning to provide shade or to retract and enjoy the sunshine and watch the sun set. We even have an automated awning in our showroom so you can come and see exactly how automation works.”

When designing the layout of your outdoor space, you want to create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living. By adding an awning, you transform your outdoor space to an outdoor room that can be enjoyed all year-round.

If you're interested in transforming your outdoor space with an awning or external screens, our in home consultations will ensure we create the ideal bespoke design for your property.  PN LAHOOD, 104 Mt Eden Road, T: 09 638 8463, www.lahood.co.nz

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

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PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 87

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Successfully Selling Brilliant Homes In Your Neighbourhood

HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Latest from Meluka

Shop the latest range from Meluka furniture. The new Cooper Drawer front is a modern twist to our classic design, shop our full NZ made drawers range online or in your nearest Danske Mobler store today.

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PONSONBY NEWS PONSONBY NEWS      

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Georgie Malyon floral artist, ‘Immersed in Flowers’ www.georgiemalyon.com The Grey Place, 37 Scanlan Street, Grey Lynn, www.thegreyplace.nz Georgie Malyon floral artist, ‘Immersed in Flowers’ www.georgiemalyon.com The Grey Place, 37 Scanlan Street, Grey Lynn, www.thegreyplace.nz

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PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 89

HOME WHERE ARTSTHE+ HEART CULTURE IS

@ Metrix 1. Duravit’s archetypical open oval of the Happy D. design classic runs through all elements of the Happy D.2 Plus range designed

by Sieger Design. Above-counter basins with precise lines, standalone consoles and matching cabinets as well as circular mirrors combine to make perfectly harmonised washing areas.

The new colour variants of refined Anthracite Matt or a two-tone contrast of glossy white inside and Anthracite Matt outside lend the above-counter basins an extra layer of individuality and class.

2. Dornbacht Meta by Sieger Design is synonymous with contemporary minimalism. With this tapware series, Dornbracht has perfected and enriched this principle, using a range of surface finishes, enabling Meta to demonstrate its flexibility, stylishness and progressiveness – all while remaining true to its own core values.

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3. Dornbracht’s VAIA elegant tapware design harmoniously blends into traditional modern-minimalistic architectures combined with elements of different styles. Characteristic features of VAIA are the soft radii, the fine silhouette and flowing transitions. Dornbracht has raised the bar for depth and brilliance of colour in tapware to an unprecedented level with a specially developed manufacturing process and a unique matting method. Additionally, the silky surface texture originating from the particularly fine brushstrokes is exceptionally pleasant to touch.

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4. CRISTINA’s Italy tapware range combines industrial production and artisan experience, representing the pinnacle of excellence being Made in Italy. The design is a re-proposition of modernity with the classic forms of the 1920s, characterised by the purity of shapes with the union of surface elements, to achieve a unique and timeless style. In addition to the suggested total look finishes, Italy offers several options to combine handles in marble or stone to the body in the various finishes.

5. CRISTINA’s indoor/outdoor shower series is simple, extremely elegant and functional, ideal for ultimate relaxation by the pool or in the garden. The open-air product range also fits perfectly in modern interiors, minimal industrial and spa areas.

To see the latest in luxury bathroom ware, visit Metrix Showroom PN 155 The Strand Parnell or enquire about our latest catalogue.  www.metrix.co.nz 3

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90 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)

155 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland

Duravit Dornbracht Vola Paini Kaldewei Inda Valsir Cristina Glass Design Marblo Almar Effe 47

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Tapware. Accessories.

Saunas. Showers.

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PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 91

Sika Rossini Chair

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Miro Cabinet, Ferrier Coffee Table & Melrose Bedside Tables

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

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HOME WHERE THE HEART IS

Urban Chic – 65 Lincoln St, Ponsonby This uber-cool, light-filled, square-front villa is truly irresistible…

This seriously stylish home cleverly combines its original character with modern simplicity, accentuated by a cool white palette. It boasts three double bedrooms (master with walk-in-wardrobe and ensuite), a modern kitchen bathed in natural light, luxe bathroom and offstreet parking. Beneath, you have a full basement storage area along with the bonus of your own private studio.

The light-filled, open living space flows seamlessly to the covered sun-drenched deck, brick paved courtyard and north-facing terrace garden with rhododendron, magnolia and lush green plantings amidst the chorus of native birdsong. Enjoy the peace and tranquility in this very private inner city sanctuary and a perfect setting to entertain family and friends.

With the vibrant, energetic pulse of world class restaurants, cafes and designer boutiques in fabulous Ponsonby Road - an easy walk away, this is the essence of inner city living.  PN For a private viewing phone Carl Madsen on 021 953 152.

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 93

ARTS + CULTURE

A warm welcome to Scott Lawrie Gallery!

After COVID-19 brought The Vivian in Matakana to a close in April, Director Scott Lawrie has arrived in the heart of Grey Lynn with a new gallery space and a new name - Scott Lawrie Gallery.

His first solo artist show features extraordinarily powerful new work by Auckland-based artist Monique Lacey. This is Monique’s third solo show with the gallery, and her practice continues to go from strength to strength with her work being collected and shown not only in New Zealand, but internationally in Australia, the USA, and Paris.

The show, entitled Bipartiss Solucius, is an ironic ‘nose thumb’ to Donald Trump and his erratic, belligerent, and often unfathomable (not to mention intentionally misleading) use of language.

“In this time of flux and turbulence, our ability to make sense of the world seems to have been obliterated. I frequently listen to CNN while in the studio, as I’m interested in the ongoing political tensions in the US and their implications and effects,” explains Monique.

“Over time, it’s become apparent that Donald Trump’s ability to skew a soundbite into a completely new language leaves us focussing on the memes and not the message. My recent work attempts to speak to the nature of these circumstances.”

Monique’s artworks have remarkably surprising origins, beginning life as ordinary cardboard boxes or even mundane plastic or paper bags, which she then manipulates with her body to crush, or flatten, twist and reform. She then uses special techniques to ‘petrify’ the forms with resins, pigments, plaster and paints. Once their function is removed, these objects quite literally become something far more special as a result – beautiful, awe-inspiring and deeply thoughtful artworks.

Opening Saturday 3 October @ 2-5pm, sponsored by Sawmill Brewery and Babich Wines. Everyone welcome. Free parking at 15 Williamson Avenue. Normal opening hours: PN Thursday to Saturday 11am-5pm.  SCOTT LAWRIE GALLERY, 2 Murdoch Road, T: 021 0826 5633, www.scottlawrie.com

@ Whitespace Bob Kerr: The Intersection 11 October - 5 November Part of the Artweek Auckland 2020 programme Paintings about land, memory and memorials At daybreak on Sunday 21 February 1864, Colonel Marmaduke Nixon led an attack on the undefended settlement of Rangiaowhia. The inhabitants took refuge in the two churches and their whare. The thatch of one whare was set alight. An unarmed, elderly man came out with a white blanket raised above his head. He was killed by a hail of - attempting to escape from the fire met the same fate. Twelve bullets. Two more Maori Maori were killed, including women, children and the elderly. Five members of the British force died.

“I also arrived at Rangiaowhia on a Sunday morning. I wanted to paint it as it looks now. Where the whare stood is much like any other rural Waikato intersection. A blue road sign points to Kihikihi four kilometres away and to Te Awamutu six kilometres in the other direction. There are power poles, Give Way signs and a white wooden crash barrier. Neatly clipped hedges mark out phosphate green paddocks dotted with English trees. Nearby is the Rangiaowhia War Memorial Domain commemorating the First World War, The Second World War, The Korean War and the Vietnam War. Recently a plaque has been added to acknowledge the Waikato Wars and the deaths in the paddock next door.”

This exhibition coincides with Te Putake o te Riri, the National commemoration of the land wars on the 28 October.

Bob Kerr was born in Wellington and has a DipFA (Hons) from The University of Auckland. He has written and illustrated a number of children’s books, receiving the Best First Children’s Book Award in 1993 for The Optimist (1992). His paintings are held in private collections across New Zealand and overseas, with his best-known work appropriately appearing on the cover of Michael King’s book, The Penguin History of PN New Zealand (2003).  WHITESPACE, 20 Monmouth Street, T: 09 361 6331, www.whitespace.co.nz

BOB KERR

THE INTERSECTION

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

11 OCTOBER – 5 NOVEMBER 2020

scottlawrie.com

20 monmouth st, grey lynn, auckland | whitespace.co.nz

94 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

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PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January) 22/09/20 9:38 AM

ARTS + CULTURE

Violinissimo - A “thank goodness I came” event Virtuoso Soloist Andrew Beer in Concert with St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra and conductor José Aparicio Sunday, 18 October @ 2.30pm Born in Vancouver in 1982, Andrew Beer commenced his studies on violin at the age of five. He holds a BA magna cum laude from Stony Brook University as well as an MM and GD from the New England Conservatory of Music.

Andrew has performed extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As a chamber musician he has appeared in concert with Midori and members of the Emerson String Quartet.

Contemporary music and humanitarian and outreach concerts have been important in Andrew Beer’s musical output. In 2006 he was awarded a U.S. Congressional Commendation. In 2014 he was appointed concertmaster of the APO. Andrew plays a J.B. Vuillaume violin from 1845, and uses a J.J. Martin bow from 1880.

José Aparicio will conduct St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra for the fifth time.

He began studying music with his father at age five, continuing his flute studies at Alicante’s Music Conservatoire where he won the graduation competition and the Sociedad de Conciertos de Alicante Prize.

Studying at the Guildhall, José worked with conductors such as Sir Colin Davis, M. Rostropovich, Charles Dutoit, V. Ashkenazy, Leonard Slatkin, Bernard Haitink, and Michael Tilson Thomas.

In 2009, José emigrated to New Zealand. He is currently Artistic Director of the Napier Civic Choir. He tutors young singers taking part in Project Prima Volta.

“Andrew Beer’s performance of the Ligeti Concerto was one of the most exciting things I have heard for a while.” Peter Hoar at RNZ. The San Francisco Classical Voice calls him a ‘virtuoso soloist’. Strad Magazine describes his string tone as ‘glorious’, and the New York Times says he is a ‘musical gift’; high praise indeed. St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra is an PN accomplished group with a stellar reputation.  TICKETS: Eventfinda or cash only door sales.

Admission: Adults $30, Concessions $25, Children under 12 free, Student rush on the day only $15.

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

First Tuesday concert @ St Matthew-in-the-City Paul Chan meets Henry Willis III.

The beautiful Henry Willis organ at St Matthew-in-the-City will be the central feature of the First Tuesday concert at St Matthew’s on Tuesday 3 November.

Luckily for us, it will be played by Paul Chan, Director of Music at St Matthew-inthe-City. His expressive accompaniment of liturgy each Sunday and his playing of dazzling voluntaries demonstrate his wonderful insights into the potential of the organ in a way that few others know. His concert work features tone colours from bold and brilliant to soft and subtle, underpinning his deeply thoughtful interpretations in every one of the pieces he chooses.

In this programme, Paul will play a grand Fantasia and Fugue in G minor by Bach and Elgar’s Imperial March alongside some music of a more tranquil mood.

This organ was built by Henry Willis III in the United Kingdom. It includes pipes from the original ‘Father’ Willis instrument which dates back to the original St Matthew’s building. It was restored and expanded and then finally installed in the current building in 2000.

Sun 18 October at 2.30pm programme

Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin J Conus Violin Concerto in E minor 1898 Sinding Suite im alten Stil Op 10 Poulenc Sinfonietta

The organ, with its four manual console, is one of the larger church organs in New Zealand. Varieties and mixes of soft sounds are seemingly limitless and the grand solo and deep pedal stops can give an almost apocalyptic sensation.

This will be the final First Tuesday concert for 2020, and we are pleased to confirm we are planning further concerts for 2021. While it has been a challenging year because of Covid-19 restrictions, we have had some marvellous performances, and the First Tuesday 2020 series has been a great success. The diversity of repertoire has continued to expand, and the quality of performance continues to delight while our audience continues to grow.

Many have been reminded how important live music is for ourselves and our larger community. We look forward to an exciting series of concerts on offer for 2021. www.stmatthews.nz

Paul Chan - Organ

Paul Chan Meets Henry Willis III Tuesday 3rd November, 12.10-12.50pm A concert for organ including Bach’s Fantasia and Fugue in G minor and Elgar’s Imperial March.

Entry by koha.

soloist Andrew Beer conductor José Aparicio st matthew-in-the-city Cnr of Wellesley & Hobson Street, Auckland City

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 95

ARTS + CULTURE Photography: Connor Crawford

Friday 18 September @ Open Cafe - Eightthirty Coffee Roasters Christy Tennent is the new owner of Open Café (Eighthirty Coffee Roasters) and she was very proud to have Lisa Reihana’s incredible artwork on the wall of her new business.

Our October cover photo shows Jacinda Ardern and Helen White with the well-known artist, admiring and discussing the artwork. Other groups were also present and each of them gathered around to tell their stories to Jacinda and Helen. It was a pleasure listening to this community interaction. (MARTIN LEACH)  PN

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96 PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020

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ARTS + CULTURE

Uptown Art Scene I love when someone is so struck by an artwork they’re compelled to tell everyone about it.

Ponsonby News team Martin Leach and Connor Crawford were on hand at Open Café (formerly Eightthirty Coffee) in Karangahape Road when Jacinda Ardern and Labour candidate for Auckland Central, Helen White, popped in for coffee.

Rather appropriately, on the wall above our Prime Minister and Minister for Culture and Heritage was an image by one of our most - Hine, valued and loved artists, Lisa Reihana MNZM (Ngapuhi, Ngati - Tu).

Ngai It is a large, still image taken from Lisa’s celebrated video work in Pursuit of Venus (infected), which was shown to record audience numbers at Auckland Art Gallery in 2015 and has since toured the world to critical acclaim.

The 32 minute video loop opens up much more complex narratives around Cook’s exploration of the Pacific and interaction with Pacifica peoples than the colonial version of events. Lisa took a twenty-panel scenic wallpaper, Les Sauvages de la Mer Pacifique, made in France in 1804 and which depicted Voltaire’s idea of the Noble Savage, as her mise en scene.

Using sophisticated digital techniques, Lisa animated that vista and populated it with Polynesian and European protagonists interacting in intricate and nuanced ways. The linear, romanticized depiction of first contacts is replaced with a more realistic, human series of exchanges, both benign and violent.

The still image at Open Café has, at its centre, a cultural exchange.

European sailors are having kirituhi (moko for non-Maori) performed on them. Tattoos were usual for sailors, and this commonality represents a positive conversation between them and their hosts.

The depiction of a meeting of strangers with the exchange of ideas, coming together through shared experience rather than antagonistic difference, is perfect for our everyday meeting house: the café.

The image is also suited to our current political and social situation, where we need to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.

We are all complex stories, not idealized stereotypes.

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

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 97

ARTS + CULTURE

Horoscopes: Miss Pearl Neclis – what your stars hold for October

Aquarius (the Water Carrier) 21 January - 19 February Don’t worry if you have realised that not all friendships last. Sometimes you have to sever ties to move on, and this might be the crossroads that you’re at. You will instinctively choose the right path going forward. With chaos going on around you, the common sense you have will overcome any obstacles.

Pisces (the Fishes) 20 February - 20 March Your perception of the world has definitely been altered, as it has for many others.

What was said yesterday may not be true tomorrow, and you might be feeling disorientated with all the fake news that’s out there. Trust your gut and your instincts and keep safe.

Aries (the Ram) 21 March - 20 April The outlook on life that you have is infectious.

The people that matter to you are the ones that help you grow and live life to the full. Keep your communication strong, and your network will flourish.

Taurus (the Bull) 21 April - 21 May Be careful how you speak or handle things with colleagues this month. You might be feeling sensitive but so are a lot of other people. Share how you feel rather than let people think they’ve done something wrong.

You have great skills that could be put to very good use.

Gemini (the Twins) 22 May - 21 June Unfortunately, you’re not a very good poker player. You have a lovely face, but it’s far too expressive. That’s probably why you’re not always told everything, especially when you tend to blurt things out without thinking. You are a fantastic communicator, but you may be communicating in the wrong way.

Cancer (the Crab) 22 June - 22 July There is no need to feel like you’re not good enough for any situation. You have proved that you can hold your own, no matter what.

You could use this month to connect with your own ideas. Finding time for yourself is only the first part of a process to revitalize your life.

Virgo (the Virgin) 22 August - 23 September Whatever you feel inside does not reflect what’s shown on the outside. There’s no need to worry about the details any more.

You should take satisfaction knowing that you have a very open mind that, in turn, has opened lots of doors for you. The path you’re on now has always been the right one.

Libra (the Scales) 24 September - 23 October You want to start something new as you feel as if this year has been a bit of a non-starter.

You’re not the only ones to feel like this, of course. You have been taking in information that you normally wouldn’t and want to do something about it. There are plenty of people that need help. Just look around you.

Sagittarius (the Archer) 23 November - 22 December You’re making progress on creating the future that you want, in both your professional and work life. You have been able to navigate life with ease. Share your knowledge in some way. You could make a difference in someone’s life.

Capricorn (the Goat) 23 December - 20 January You could let your guard down this month if you let yourself become open to new ideas.

The friendships you have developed over the years are very important to you. Try not to let emotion guide you, though. Think about your next move before you make it.

Leo (the Lion) 23 July - 21 August You have always been a workaholic, and you’re positively bursting with new ideas.

However, try and reign in your focus by concentrating and finishing something that’s within your capabilities. This way, you’ll see progress made, which in turn will fuel your desire to continue.

Scorpio (the Scorpion) 24 October - 22 November I know it feels as if you are being attacked from all sides, and you might feel overwhelmed by it all. You need to be clear to others this month that you’re not going to tolerate bad behaviour. Your opinions do matter, so please don’t stop giving them.

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T: 09 256 1081 M: 021 868 610 www.aucklandcelebrant.co.nz

YES!

We do CASUAL LETS for Owners/Landlords who prefer to manage their own EXECUTIVE rental properties

Merrill Guttenbeil

Property & Rental Manager 021 37 47 57

merrill@executivepropertymanagement.co.nz

Growth Maintenance is a highly efficient service provider for HEDGE & TREE WORK – working hard to keep costs down.

For free advice and quotes, Phone Mike 021 075 2356 / service@growthmaintenance.nz

www.growthmaintenance.nz

Clothing Alterations

Alter Ego Roong

T: 09 376 8689

M: 021 032 9128

182-4a Jervois Road, Herne Bay E: ra_cha29@yahoo.com “I get all my bits & pieces done by the smiling helpful Roong... and she’s got Eftpos = sorted...” MARTIN LEACH

PONSONBY NEWS+ October 2020 99

MATT O’BRIEN

SOLD BY MATT IN AUGUST & SEPTEMBER SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

House values are always moving.

My values never change: honesty, integrity, communication, hard work. Let’s talk.

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

Matt O’Brien 021 687 866 matt.obrien@bayleys.co.nz BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, PONSONBY, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Re si d e n t i a l / Co m m e rc i a l / R u ra l / P ro p ert y Services