Whangārei
Milldale
Hobsonville
Ellerslie
Karaka
Rototuna
Warkworth
Parnell
St Johns
Half Moon Bay
Flat Bush
Katikati Papamoa Beach
More than New Zealanders call
Hamilton
7,400
Cambridge
Nelson
Richmond
Bell Block
New Plymouth
Whanganui
Waikanae Levin
Paraparaumu
Trentham
Lower Hutt
Aotea
Rotorua
Taupō
Napier
Te Awa
Hastings
Havelock North
Palmerston North
Kelvin Grove
Masterton
Avonhead
Wigram
Prebbleton
Dunedin
Blenheim
Rangiora
Casebrook
Kenepuru
KEY
= Summerset village
= Proposed village
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magazine@summerset.co.nz
COVER Paul and Janice Mckeany with their show roses. Photo credits: Marijke de Jong from Photography by Marijke.Speaking of kindness, Neil and the gang from Summerset Mountain View have been lending a hand to their village residents and their community for years. If you need things built or repaired, they are your go-to guys. Read about their efforts on page 10.
the shelves at the venerable Bodleian Library at Oxford University, and we chat to Katikati resident Marlene Gillingham, who took a skydive at the age of 70! We also have autumn’s best books, recipes and fashion, as well as puzzles and crafts, and a great line-up for Summerset Sessions.
Welcome to the first issue of Summerset Scene this year –and what an eventful year it has been so far. Cyclone Gabrielle and the resulting floods caused much upset and disruption across the country, and my heart goes out to those affected, especially the residents and staff in our Hawke’s Bay villages.
Out of every misfortune there are instances of kindness. Tales of strangers pitching up to help flood victims or opening their homes to the displaced have featured on the national news, and closer to home stories of our residents checking on one another and staff volunteering to help have shone a light on our compassionate Summerset family. We share some of these stories on page 40. As ever, I am struck by the kindness of others.
Our cover stars for the autumn issue hail from Summerset by the Dunes. Paul and Janice McKeany have won many awards for their rose-growing efforts over the years, something that has continued since they moved to our Papamoa village, with the pair taking home top awards at the recent National Rose Show. Read their story (and get some growing tips!) on page 4.
On the subject of growing, love has blossomed out of a musical friendship in our Summerset at Wigram village. Residents Grahame and Lynley’s romance has been more than 77 years in the making – read their story on page 38.
Over in Summerset in the Sun we catch up with Chris Boot, whose research on a very well-known author is gracing
Happy reading!
Ellie Clifford SUMMERSET SCENE EDITOR
“I’d love to have the whole place swimming in roses,” declared Molly Bloom in Ulysses.
James Joyce’s character would enjoy a visit to Paul and Janice McKeany at Summerset by the Dunes. The Papamoa couple have been winning awards for their prize roses for more than 20 years and have delighted village residents with their dedicated rose garden, where they currently grow 26 different varieties. “I have always loved roses,” says Paul. “What other flower gives you blooms ten months of year?”
Although the pair, who have been married for 51 years, were both born to farming stock, cultivating plants to show came to them later in life. Says Paul, “I was in the Royal New Zealand Engineers in the military. When I retired, Janice and I moved to the UK. I worked as a gardener there and began to learn more about roses.” On the couple’s return to New Zealand, Paul
became the head gardener at St Peter’s School in Cambridge – a rose enthusiast’s dream with over 700 varieties of roses.
Paul studied the Amenity Horticulture course at Wintec in Hamilton, and the couple grew 150 show roses at their Waikato property. “I wanted to find work closer to home. Luckily, Amore Roses nursery was just starting up, and the owner, Jan, asked us if we would work there.” The couple jumped at the chance, with Paul looking after the field roses and trial beds while Janice took care of the propagation of new rose stock.
“Roses aren’t hard to grow. They mainly need lots of food and lots of water. They are extremely hungry,” says Paul. “Like anything, though, they need looking after.”
So, what are some top tips for growing beautiful blooms? “A complete food for them,” advises Paul. “I do what I call ‘rose patrol’ – checking
the plants daily for insects and other pests. You also need a decent pair of secateurs, as the more you deadhead, the more they will bloom. In this climate it can be hard for them to go dormant; therefore, hard pruning when the time is right is important. Try not to choose your plants based on perfume and colour, as the heavily scented blooms tend to be more prone to disease. There are probably only three or four breeders in New Zealand successfully growing roses that are both healthy and smell nice.”
The couple are heavily involved in the Waikato Rose Society, with November being the busiest month on the rose circuit with numerous shows held across the country. Paul shows full-size roses whereas Janice shows miniature roses, which tend to be one-quarter the size
We rarely pick ours; we like to leave them on the plants for everyone to see. This is in line with the New Zealand Rose Society’s motto: To implant roses in the hearts and gardens of the people.
of regular roses – although roughly the same amount of work. “We have been very lucky to reap the rewards of our efforts,” says Janice.
Paul is also a national judge, though obviously doesn’t judge his own blooms. “Judges tend to work in pairs, sometimes threes. It takes about five to seven years to become a judge, and we must follow a set of guides and take exams. We judge on form, substance, freshness, stem balance and foliage, with marks awarded out of 100. There are different show classes too.” This past November, Paul took home a couple of Champion awards at shows, as well as the coveted Champion of Champions award at the National Rose Show held in Auckland. He won for his rich red rose ‘Loving Memory’, which he grows in his villa garden. Does he have a favourite? “It is hard to pick just one! ‘Loving Memory’ is my favourite show rose. My favourite scented rose is the mauve ‘Perfumed Kiss’, and for colour it’s ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, which is a beautiful rich yellow.”
The couple have lived at their Summerset by the Dunes villa for 12 months, and while the villa gardens are usually maintained on residents’ behalf, Paul and Janice take care of their own. “We were going to stop growing and showing roses altogether when we made the decision to sell up our home. But we found we couldn’t give them up, so we asked Summerset if we could start our own rose garden here, and they were happy for us to. It is therapeutic, and it’s wonderful to see people’s faces light up when they see our blooms. We rarely pick ours; we like to leave them on the plants for everyone to see.” This is in line with the New Zealand Rose Society’s motto: “To implant roses in the hearts and gardens of the people.”
Left: 1: ' Absolutely Fabulous' 2: "Summer Dawn' 3: 'Pirate King' 4: Paul tending to his roses 5: 'Legend' 6: 'Loving memory'
7: 'Newsflash' 8: 'Perfumed Kiss' 9: Paul pruning his roses 10: 'Perfect moment'. Top right: Paul on rose patrol. Bottom right: Janice with her miniature roses.
Mark your calendars and dust off your dancing shoes, Summerset is proud to be sponsoring Dementia Hawke's Bay’s first ever charity ball and auction on 7 July. Mate wareware (dementia) affects 50 million people globally, and as a partner of Dementia NZ, we are determined to help raise awareness of dementia and improve the quality of life for those affected by it. Held in Hastings in the lavish Toitoi Assembly Ballroom – a fine example of Edwardian Neo-Baroque elegance – the ball will offer exquisite food, a full bar and great company. A great line-up for the night includes author and broadcaster Wendyl Nissen as guest speaker, and a live charity auction. Coinciding with the opening of the Summerset Palms memory care centre in the Te Awa village, the ball gives us an opportunity to help a cause we are incredibly passionate about. So, shake out your suit and get your glam gown on – it’s time to party for the cause!
Tickets are available from 0800 BUY TIX (289 849)
Following a successful trial, we are delighted to announce we intend to roll out a product called Lumin over the next few years at some of our villages. Lumin enables residents to stay even more connected to village life. Launching first at Summerset on the Landing in Kenepuru, Lumin is a tool specifically designed for seniors, and gives our residents another channel to communicate with their families and friends via video calls and receive communications from the village staff via instant messages and alerts. Available via a free screen that is provided, or by software downloaded to residents’ personal iPads, Lumin offers large touch tiles for functionality, so no squinting needed! Using Lumin, residents can view and book into village activities, outings and events, and read village newsletters online instead receiving of a printed copy. The Lumin team will communicate and work with village staff and residents ahead of the rollout, and training will be provided on how to use the screens. How il-lumin-ating!
We are proud to announce that investment analysts Forsyth Barr have rated Summerset as one of the top 12 New Zealand companies – and the top retirement village operator – on the New Zealand stock exchange for our ESG work. ESG is the environmental, social and governance impacts of what we do and how we do it as a business. ESG measures our carbon emissions and environmental impact areas, health & safety, diversity, human rights and modern slavery, data security, board, auditing and much more.
The ranking is for Forsyth Barr’s Carbon and ESG ratings for NZX-listed companies. Our A-grade puts us in the ‘leaders’ category; the other categories being ‘fast followers’, ‘explorers’, and ‘beginners’. We know we have more work to do, but we are delighted to know that the work we have done so far has been recognised by an independent company.
We are delighted to open the village centre at Summerset on the Landing. Located at Kenepuru, it is the largest village centre Summerset has completed to date. It’s farewell to the temporary recreation centre, as the 190 residents who currently live in villas and apartments at the village are now able to enjoy all the benefits the village centre offers. For example, keeping fit in the exercise room and indoor swimming pool, and relaxing in the spa pool, or socialising in the resident bar and public café. There is also a recreational bowling green, resident workshop, movie theatre, and hair and beauty salon. Summerset on the Landing offers a variety of care accommodation options, including serviced apartments, care apartments and care suites. There are also 20 apartments in our industryleading memory care centre for those people living with dementia. Summerset on the Landing will eventually be home to more than 400 residents.
Above: The lady who inspired Summerset.
Mountain
Neil has been the mainstay of the Residents’ Workshop for six years, since he moved into the Summerset village in New Plymouth with his wife, Bev. He, along with five others – Ian Donald, Graham Steele, Noel Titchener, Phil Mayhead and Allan Meads – has been responsible for creating many of the wooden pieces around the village, including the 30-odd Christmas trees recycled from pallets, and a wooden Santa, sleigh and reindeer. “Our collection has grown over the years. We decorate them with solar lights, too. Come Christmastime the village looks very festive.”
Seasonal decorations aside, the group are well known for making other items. Rummikub tile holders, wooden toys for the grandchildren, bird feeders and jigsaw puzzle trays are all popular
items. “We have made about 125 Rummikub sets. A lot of the residents here like to do 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles, so we make trays for them that can slide under the sofa or the bed. I’d say we have made about 60. We make them with drawers, too, to hold the pieces. Other popular items are native wood coasters, lazy Susans and coffee tables. We make them plain or patterned. We display them in the main building twice a year to show people our wares.”
It is not just the residents and their families who benefit from the skills of the group, but also the wider community. “The village is close to the pony club's grazing land. There was a bench in their field that was in a sorry state. We stripped it back, rebuilt it and presented it back to them.” The group are
View don’t need to go far if they need something made or mended – they simply cross the village to find a member of the Residents’ Workshop. “Walking sticks, belts, shoes,” says Neil Spedding. “You name it, we do it. We take requests!”
also involved with New Horizons Aotearoa. “A local building firm supplies us with the timber required for making flatpack rodent traps, which are assembled by local schoolchildren and then placed in the mountain national park.” The group also helps to keep the village looking nice. “We repainted all the outdoor furniture. Summerset provided the paint and we put our hands up.”
From their meetings early on in a shipping container, the group moved into a proper workshop space five years ago. Hand tools the members brought with them when they moved to the village were pooled, and a bench saw and drop saw were donated. The group acquire timber from several sources, but often come by offcuts from building sites, or from the grown children of residents. “Several residents have family in the trades, so we are often gifted it. It keeps our costs down as the only timber we need to buy is for the Rummikub sets and the jigsaw puzzle trays. We did have to be a bit strict, though, as people started to just dump their rubbish at our door!” The group ask for a donation for their work – sometimes only chocolate biscuits for repairing items. Commissioned items are charged, but a fraction of what it would cost to buy in the shops. “We do this for our fellow residents. Otherwise they would have to pay a tradesperson, and they charge just to visit! We use the money to build up the basic supplies, such as glue and sandpaper. We have built up our tool collection over time too. We have a wood lathe now, and a thicknesser.”
Surprisingly, there is not a carpenter among the six-strong team. “I suppose we came from an era when we had to learn to do things ourselves because of supply shortages after the war,” Neil says thoughtfully. “We had to work out how to build and fix things. Before retirement, Ian, Noel and Graham were farmers, Phil was a motor mechanic, Allan an electrician and I was a procurement and logistics co-ordinator in the oil industry.”
The mixed background of the men means that the group all do a bit of everything. “We like to throw ideas around. We are quite critical of one another’s work and aren’t shy to speak up about it. We work well together.”
This is a friendly village and we have been well supported by management. I think it’s the comradeship between us that has kept the group going for so long. We are here together for about 2.5 hours every morning. There is a fair bit of yakking and putting the world to rights over the essential coffee break chats.”
Left: Santa greets the village. Right: The workshop space. Bottom: Beautiful and practical crafts.It’s our annual Frontliner Day – a day to recognise and celebrate all our hardworking teams across our 35 villages nationwide.
Caregivers, nurses, diversional and recreational therapists, office staff, property and gardening teams, activities coordinators, kitchen staff, housekeepers and those working in our laundries. Thank you for all that you do. You demonstrate daily what it means to be strong enough to care and bring the best of life to our residents. We wouldn’t be Summerset without you!
Summerset Scene caught up with some of our awesome frontliners to hear what their job means to them. This year, to say thank you, our frontliners have a shared brunch on us! Summerset partnered with Foodstuffs to send yummy treats and healthy food to our villages. Each village also has a physical gratitude wall, sharing messages of thanks from residents, their families, and fellow staff to our frontliners. Members of our Operational Leadership team will also experience being ‘Frontliners for a Day’, undertaking shifts at a number of our villages. If you’d like to help us thank our people, please kindly write your message on one of our postcards at reception and we’ll add it to the gratitude wall.
" Activities coordinators build a connection with our residents, and we give support, information, activities and create an environment where all residents have something to look forward to and enjoy regularly. We are more than just activities!
The most meaningful part of my job is supporting residents when they are at their most vulnerable and helping a resident improve their quality of life. Sometimes it is supporting them as they need more care after surgery or giving support after the loss of a loved one.
It’s great when I get to see residents living a meaningful and happy life at Summerset. When I get to see residents making new friends and enjoying activities, seeing them build confidence in themselves to start their own groups, and when I get feedback from residents or their families how moving into the village has changed their life for the better.
Just recently I took a group out in the van for a picnic lunch where we played lawn games. Afterwards a resident said to me, “You’ve made a group of oldies very happy today, thank you.” Hearing things like that is what drives me and is so meaningful.
I love that no two days are the same, with every event I can get as creative as I wish, and I can make the residents' ideas turn into reality with just a little hard work.
Also, I love taking the residents on van outings. We explore many places in Canterbury and I consider it a perk of the job.“
Anna Childs – Activities Coordinator
“My job involves collaborating with GPs and other healthcare personnel so we can meet our residents’ needs. We are the resource and support person for our staff and family when they want some information or assistance regarding a resident. We are the captain of the ship and we should do our best to keep it sailing smoothly and remain stable.
When I see that our residents' needs are met, seeing them comfortable, happy, safe and feel satisfied, it makes me feel fulfilled and happy myself. Same also with the family when they give a compliment to us for looking after their parents – it is truly rewarding.
I like the teamwork we have, especially when it comes to unexpected events. We all deal with it naturally as one team. We go above and beyond to solve any issues that come our way. I love meeting new people and interacting with them during meetings and training. I love that other Summerset staff from other sites support each other, which only shows we are strong enough to care.“
Carmela Casimiro – Clinical Manager at Summerset by the Ranges, Levin“Being a nurse is a highly trusted profession. We become very important in our residents' lives. My job gives the opportunity to connect with residents and build wonderful, caring relationships with them. The most meaningful part of my job is to make my residents feel they are safe in my hands.
I'm still learning and gaining insights from my team members. Being a nurse is the most rewarding job.”
Shilpa Anthony – NurseSummerset in the Sun resident Chris Boot would not have predicted that at age 74 she would have research accepted by one of the world’s leading academic institutions, the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.
For 27 years, Chris and David Cornwell (better known by his nom de plume John le Carré, author of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, The Night Manager and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) had corresponded in regular bursts until his death. Last year, Chris’ research into le Carré’s 21 books – all of which she has read at least 6 times – were added to the 90 metres of shelving the library has allocated to his works. “I have a bachelor’s degree in English and music,” says Chris, a former recital pianist. “I don’t have an MA, let alone a PhD. I was stunned when, after about 20 emails verifying the validity, firstly, of his letters, which necessarily had to include the dated and stamped envelopes, and secondly, of my research into his entire opus, they sent me a 10-page legal document to be signed in triplicate, accompanied by detailed instructions as to how to pack and dispatch these by the securest means possible!” A three-month delay followed before the Keeper of the Archives finally designated and signed off Chris’ gift to the Bodleian in March 2022.
So how did the communication between the two begin? Chris came across le Carré’s books in the 1960s while at university. “I thought The Naïve and Sentimental Lover was an introduction to romantic pleasure!” she laughs. But it wasn’t until 1992 that their correspondence began. “My daughter was a pupil at Kristin School on Auckland’s North Shore, and I wrote to him extending an invitation to come to New Zealand to speak at the school. I also referenced several of his books, including A Perfect Spy. His response, I think, gave me a glimpse into the man behind the author.”
What was it that Chris found so entrancing about his books? “I found him a deep-thinking author. To me his books are like drinking a top red wine very slowly; there is a depth of contour and flavour.” Although the author never made it to speak at the school, the pair continued their written correspondence over the years. ‘Your card will sit on my mantelpiece for a long time,’ wrote le Carré to Chris. “We never met, though that was not necessary, as it was his literary writings that it was all about. His are works of great literary art,” says Chris.
Chris would send him her favourite quotes from his books, which she also included in her gift to the Bodleian Library. “My research consists of much more than mere analysis of the plot; it reveals some of the essence of David Cornwell’s thinking. His first letter to me is illuminating. For example, he mentioned how pleased he was to have patched up his quarrel with Graham Greene before he died.”
Chris believes they were often on the same wavelength. “When I heard he had died, the thought that immediately entered my head was ‘I have, at times, held his mind in mine.’”
This is not the first overseas research gift that Chris has made. “A few years ago I sent research on the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (of Finlandia fame) to the director of the Sibelius Museum in Turku, on Finland’s west coast.” Chris says that she feels that as a New Zealander it is a natural duty to promote her homeland overseas, and with the Sibelius research she included copies of a CD that she had produced in 2014 of a New Zealand suite for piano that she had composed and performed. The CD also included a booklet of original poetry celebrating New Zealand’s scenic wonders, and was hand-delivered by the Sibelius Museum’s staff to Sibelius’ great-grandson, who lives in Helsinki. Additional research was also forwarded last year.
Nowadays her piano playing has been superseded by hobbies such as e-biking, canoeing, skiing and swimming. Chris and husband John have booked an overseas trip to Oxford University and Finland “to see my research in situ!” she laughs. “There’s no need to be bored in our senior years, now, is there?”
Left: Chris at the Sibelius Museum in Finland. Top: A John le Carré book collection.
At Summerset we have been measuring our carbon emissions since 2017. Our original target was to reduce our emissions intensity by 5 per cent. We have far exceeded that, achieving almost 17 per cent at the end of 2022 when comparing against our base year.
While this is great news, we refuse to become complacent. Residents at our Karaka village in Auckland had expressed interest in and a willingness to support the introduction of food waste recycling. To ensure we introduced systems and processes to divert as much waste from landfill as possible, we invested in a waste audit at Summerset at Karaka, auditing 950kg of landfill waste.
than 80 per cent of the waste from the kitchen was food waste that could be composted. In the serviced apartments, 65 per cent was paper waste – primarily newspapers that should be recycled. Summerset at Karaka currently diverts about 41 per cent of their waste from landfill. If they act on all the recommendations from the audit, they could achieve 75 per cent!
• Be sur e you are sorting your waste appropriately. Recycle, reuse or repurpose when you can. For example, buy items second-hand from op shops or from friends.
• S uggest a ‘shop split’ with your neighbours. Dividing items between multiple households can be more economical and less wasteful.
Overall, 57 per cent of the waste that was audited could have been diverted from landfill using existing services. Organic waste – which includes food waste, green waste, compostable packaging and paper towels – was the biggest contributor at 46 per cent of the audited amount. Paper came in second, and then plastics.
To help us understand what to work on in different areas of the village, we looked closely at where the waste was coming from. For example, more
• Ensur e you are storing your food correctly. Bread – a common food waste culprit – lasts longer when kept tightly wrapped in the fridge or freezer.
Different councils have different rules on what they can accept as part of the recycling services they provide. Check with your property manager, read signage carefully, and take a look at what is recycled by your local council and sort your waste accordingly.
We are serious about our commitment to sustainability at Summerset. In our quest to reduce our carbon footprint, Summerset on the Landing is the latest village to have an electric vehicle (EV) instead of one reliant on fossil fuel. The Lexus EV is the village vehicle for running errands, taking residents to appointments and more. Summerset on the Landing has a Meridian public charging station and the first Wallbox/Summerset-branded chargers. Summerset Palms took delivery of their EV in January, and Summerset Heritage Park, Summerset at Avonhead and Summerset Rototuna already have EVs. Summerset Fleet Manager Blaise Hotop says, “The Lexus is a great bang for buck vehicle. It has so
many luxury extras like heated and cooling seats in front, heated seats in the rear, and more. The staff and residents will love it.”
On 1 December 2022, Summerset invited residents living in the upper North Island to enjoy the inaugural Summerset Sings live Christmas concert. More than 400 residents from eight villages from Auckland, Whangarei and Hamilton were whisked by coach to the SkyCity Theatre in Auckland’s Sky Tower for a night of festive fun, hosted by internationally acclaimed recording artist and entertainer Will Martin.
Summerset CEO Scott Scoullar said, “We pride ourselves on providing social, physical and mental experiences for our residents to bring them the best of life.
“The last couple of years have challenged us to think differently about how we host events and how we can bring fun and interesting activities to our residents safely. One of the few positives of
Covid-19 is that it’s made us innovate and create our Summerset Sessions to provide truly unique experiences to our residents that they can enjoy online or in person.”
The concert featured a wonderful selection of tunes that people know and love, performed by Will, along with some great classic Christmas carols that all were able to sing their hearts out along to.
Someone once told me that the only constant in life is change. They are right. However, it’s the dealing with change that is the tricky bit, I reckon. In theory, as we get older we should get better at it, more resilient to it, but I’m not sure that’s a given. Change by its very nature means that you’re moving away from something that you know about and are comfortable with to something that is new and can sometimes feel scary.
For Summerset residents, moving into a village is a huge life stage change, and I take my hat off to every one of you who has made that move. Moving house is well recognised as a stressful life event, and when it’s coupled with a change in your personal circumstances, it adds another set of things to muse on. My husband and I have lived in the same house for 24 years, and the thought of one day going through all the stuff we’ve collected in that time (having had three children) to downsize is somewhat daunting. It is the rainy day job that never seems to get to the top of the to-do list. Maybe, finally, 2023 is the year to do a bit of that sifting and sorting exercise because we are new ‘empty nesters’.
Our oldest daughter (27) has lived overseas for three years. Her 24-year-old brother joined her midway through last year, and this year the youngest of the family (19) has also flown the nest to live overseas for a university exchange. Thankfully they are all in the same country, and the little one can join the big ones, when she is able, by taking a 90-minute flight. That makes this mummy very happy.
I was pleased to be able to go and settle her into her new university with her older siblings. They had done the same thing a few years back at different universities and can relate all too well to the sinking
feeling of “Why did I think this was a good idea?” The realisation of what goes with changing countries, changing living environments, changing learning systems, changing technology and changing cultures is challenging stuff.
Even though the kids are not living at home, they are constantly top of mind for me. I know what time of day it is there, and I have the university timetable stuck to the pantry door, just as I have had all the school and uni timetables housed there over the years. It was a habit when the kids were younger so everyone was reminded of what the day held as they ate brekky.
It does feel rather weird having just my husband and I rattling round the house. I suppose we will get used to it. Come year end, when the kids all come home for Christmas – the little one to move back in and the big ones just for a visit – I will welcome the noise, food bill and inevitable mess that all brings. In the meantime, I guess it’s just another life stage I need to adapt to and support the kids as they adapt to theirs too.
Our popular An Interview With series – hosted by Summerset ambassador Jude Dobson – kicked off with garden designer, author and broadcaster Tony Murrell. Tony’s love of all things horticultural means he is ideally placed to judge our newest addition to the Summerset Sessions series, Summerset’s Best Garden. Our next guest will be presenter, author and TV personality Kerre Woodham on 27 March. We have a whole host of exciting speakers coming up this year, including Suzanne Paul, Sir Ian Taylor, Liam Malone, Hilary Barry and trail blazer Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon. Better still, An Interview With … will be filmed live in a village once every quarter, so keep your eyes peeled for an event near you.
Summerset Sings is back, bigger than ever! The music series, hosted by platinum-selling recording artist Will Martin, is welcomed back in April over the Easter weekend. Will is also joined by some great guest vocalists. Summerset Sings will also be hitting the road with live concerts in the lower North Island and Christchurch, as well as a mid-winter mini tour of the Hawke's Bay villages.
Look who’s coming to dinner! Brett McGregor is back in the kitchen in Cooking with a MasterChef. Join the Kiwi chef, author and MasterChef winner as he takes you on a tour of your tastebuds, all from the comfort of your own kitchen. Residents will have the chance to ask him questions in the live Q&A Chat with the Chef sessions, as well as get meal inspiration! Cooking with a MasterChef will also be making quarterly appearances in some of our villages, so you may not have to simply imagine how delicious his dishes are for too much longer!
Proud of your petunias, or boastful of your broccoli? Maybe your ficus is fabulous or your succulents super! Submit a photo to Tony Murrell as he leads the hunt for Summerset’s Best Garden. Houseplants, balcony pot plants, vege patches, rose bushes, space or size are no issue – the competition is open to all residents. The competition kicks off in March, and Tony will hold a Zoom series for a Q&A on everything greenery.
A Summerset World, hosted by NZ actor William Kircher, has its official launch this year. Our new variety TV show showcases Summerset by the Ranges, our first featured village, as well as Summeset at the Course, Summerset in the Orchard and Summerset in the Bay. The show, also created and produced by William Kircher, showcases village life and highlights the people and activities that give each village its individual personality and vibrancy.
Finally, we have the Summerset Big Quiz series hosted by Summerset’s friend and ambassador Jude Dobson. Every second Thursday of the month at 4pm, grab your favourite tipple and join us online on Zoom to test the grey matter.
summerset.zoom.us/j/87566090726
We have heaps of great things lined up for our 2023 Summerset Sessions and we are so excited to share them with you.
SUMMERSET WAIKANAE
This is the perfect spot for a relaxed coastal retirement lifestyle. The first delivery of homes will be ready in late-2023, with pre-sales starting in mid-2023.
SUMMERSET BOULCOTT
Perfectly positioned next to Boulcott’s Farm Heritage Golf Course, the first delivery of homes at this Lower Hutt village is scheduled to be ready in mid-2023 and pre-sales are already underway.
SUMMERSET MILLDALE
Summerset Milldale offers easy access to everything on the Hibiscus Coast that a busy retirement life demands. The first delivery of homes will be ready in early 2024, with pre-sales starting in mid-2023.
On the edge of Auckland’s Eastern Bays, Summerset St Johns is the address for a luxurious retirement experience. The first delivery of homes will be ready in late-2024, with pre-sales starting in early 2023.
Boulcott, Wellington
Waikanae, Wellington
Milldale, Auckland
St Johns, Auckland
Blenheim
Parnell, Auckland
Masterton, Wellington
Rangiora, Canterbury
Half Moon Bay, Auckland
Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North
Rotorua, Bay of Plenty
Construction is well underway for four of our future villages in both the Auckland and Greater Wellington regions.
Marlene Gillingham has lived in Summerset by the Sea in Katikati for almost seven years. She is a former nurse, and has 4 children and 12 grandchildren with her husband Steve, to whom she was married for 49 years. Marlene is a member of the Summersetters, Katikati’s 16-piece resident band, first playing drums and now conducting.
What is the most adventurous thing you have done?
My whole life has been quite the adventure. I lived in Australia and Canada for some of my nursing career, and I met my husband, Steve, when we were 28,000 feet above the ground, flying to Singapore in a C-130 Hercules jet! He was an RNZAF pilot and I was an army nurse. The adventures didn’t just come with my job though – I have climbed Mount Egmont/ Taranaki, and I did a skydive when I was 70!
What skill or talent would you most like to learn?
I love technology, and I like to be able to upskill and stay up to date with new tech. I use technology to communicate and for leisure. I have family overseas and I use it to communicate and keep in touch. Zoom, messaging and video chatting, banking, checking my calendar … everything I need to do I do on my Samsung phone. It’s like a friend that's always attached to my finger.
What is your ideal way to spend a weekend?
Packing up the car and heading either to Lake Tarawera or Pukehina Beach. I grew up by the sea in New Plymouth so I love the water. We have a bach on the lake, and my son has a house on the beach.
I am equally content to be there with or without family. I enjoy sitting on the deck in the evening and watching the sun set, the magic of nature all around me.
What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?
I wish I had learned more about money management and how to make it work for me. I earned big and spent big when I was single. Marriage, family and responsibility came as a shock! I had to learn how to budget when I was 28. I would have liked to make money earn for me more. My grandson invests in Sharesies and he’s only 16!
Where would you most like to travel to and why?
I would most like to travel to Antarctica to experience the wildlife there. My favourite animals are penguins. They just appeal to me. I love the way they seem to know where they are going and the way they look out for one another and care for each other. The elders go without so the youngsters can get what they need. I have seen the Little Blues at Phillip Island in Australia and in Oamaru – they are so cute. As I have got older, I have started to waddle like a penguin too!
Above: Marlene Gillingham.
Photo 10: Couples and friends got together for a Valentine’s Day high tea at Summerset on Cavendish
Photo 11: Summerset down the Lane care residents commemorate Waitangi Day
Photo 12: Year of the Rabbit. Summerset at Wigram residents ring in Chinese New Year with a meal at a local Chinese resturant
Photo 13: Tah-dah! Summerset Richmond Ranges residents show off their cynotype prints after trying last issue's Craft column
Photo 14: Summerset by the Dunes have been busy fundraising for Parkinson's Disease
For Abba Samman, her previous career as a pastry chef is a great asset in her role as Diversional Therapist (DT). “Baking sessions are always a hit. Who doesn’t love the smell of baked goods? It makes you think of grandma’s house, right?” says Abba, who has been a DT in the care centre at Summerset by the Park, Manukau, since 2019.
“I was a pastry chef employed externally before everything was bought in-house. I was looking for my next career move, and the manager of the care centre thought my personality would be a good fit for the diversional therapy role. I had not heard of diversional therapy before the opportunity arose, but I make sure now that everyone in my life knows how valuable diversional therapy is in aged care facilities. Summerset supported me to get assessed, qualified and registered by the New Zealand Society of Diversional and Recreational Therapy.”
In Abba’s job there is no such thing as a typical day. “I am a storyteller, exercise instructor, bingo caller, newsreader, dancer ... My goal is to improve the lives of our residents through recreation and leisure, focusing on their overall wellbeing/hauora.” To take care of her own health, Abba has been competitively
powerlifting for four years, and baking provides some much-needed relaxation.
An Aucklander born and bred, Abba grew up in Howick and Botany with her older brother and her parents, who originally hail from Ghana. “The home of Whittaker’s Chocolate cocoa beans! There are only the four of us in New Zealand, but I always say that working here I have loads of grandparents!”
Abba enjoys the creativity she can bring to her role. “Summerset recognised the importance of DT and so I feel encouraged and supported to learn and grow each day. I work within a brilliant team, and the residents are great. With some residents, DT can be a gradual process – but small things can lead to bigger things down the line. If I can make just one person smile a day then my job is done, and tomorrow we do it all again."
“SUMMERSET PUTS THE BEST INTERESTS OF ITS RESIDENTS AND STAFF FIRST.”
LUCKILY THEY SURVIVED SEVERAL NEAR-DROWNINGS FROM UNSEASONAL MID-SUMMER DOWNPOURS. NOW MY VEGETABLES ARE THRIVING. MY FAMILY HAS ENJOYED MANY A VEGE STIR-FRY TOPPED WITH A POACHED EGG, FRITTERS WITH A VARIETY OF CHUTNEYS AND SAUCES, AND ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVES, RATATOUILLE. THERE ARE ABOUT AS MANY VERSIONS OF THIS RECIPE AS THERE ARE FOR PAVLOVA. I FAVOUR MY MICROWAVE ADAPTATION.
Ratatouille is a tasty, nutritious treat that can be prepared at least two days in advance then covered and refrigerated. Add a dollop of ratatouille on the side of a meat or fish main – either hot or cold –use as a topper for bruschetta, or serve as a main garnished with your favourite cheese. A great dish to share with your Summerset friends.
The air fryer, which is currently very popular, was the brainchild of Dutch
inventor Fred van der Weij, who was looking for a way to crisp French fries without deep frying. He started developing the air fryer in 2005, and the first commercial model was marketed in 2010. He said that before his invention, alternative methods for cooking fries at home took too long, with disappointing results. But now we can also enjoy air fryer crispy chicken, cheesies, koftas and much more. Thank you, Fred!
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon olive oil
300–400g eggplant
2 courgettes
1 red capsicum, seeds removed
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
510g jar tomato and basil pasta sauce
This recipe was prepared in a 1000-watt microwave. It could also be cooked in a saucepan on the hob for about 30 minutes on low heat or until the eggplant is very tender.
Place the onion, garlic and oil in a 2-litre microwave-proof bowl or casserole. Cover and cook for 1 minute.
Cut the eggplant, courgettes and capsicum into 2.5cm pieces. Season.
Add to the onion mixture, then sprinkle over the thyme. Cover and cook on high for 5 minutes. Stir well, then continue cooking for another 5 minutes. Stir in the pasta sauce. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
Cover and stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Ratatouille may be prepared ahead and reheated or served cold.
500g lean minced lamb
2 tablespoons each: chopped parsley, mint leaves
1 tablespoon chopped thyme leaves
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons each: ground cumin, coriander, smoked paprika
½–1 teaspoon each: salt, ground chilli
1 cup plain unsweetened yoghurt
2–3 teaspoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons finely chopped mint leaves
Combine the lamb, herbs, garlic and spices. Take generous tablespoons of the mixture and form into ovals about 4cm long. Press firmly to maintain the shape.
Preheat the air fryer on 180°C for 3 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with oil.
Place 5–6 koftas in the basket in a single layer. Cook for 6–8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
Alternatively, pan-fry or grill the koftas for about 15 minutes, turning often.
Meanwhile, combine the yoghurt, lemon juice and mint in a serving bowl. Serve as a dip or a sauce.
As with microwaves and conventional ovens, each air fryer model cooks slightly differently. Use recipes as guides to cooking times and check your food occasionally for ‘doneness’.
2 cups wholemeal flour
1 teaspoon each: baking soda, ground cinnamon
1/4 cup finely diced crystallised ginger
125g butter, melted
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon white vinegar
2 large pears
MAKES ABOUT 10 MUFFINS
Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a 9 or 10 hole muffin tray with paper or silicone cases. Lightly brush with oil.
Place the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger into a large bowl. Mix well.
Whisk the butter and brown sugar in a medium bowl until well combined. Add the milk, egg and vinegar. Mix well.
Halve and peel the pears. Use a teaspoon remove the cores. Slice one half pear thinly to make 9–10 slices for the muffin tops. Dice the remaining half and whole pear.
Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in the diced pears until just mixed.
Spoon into the muffin cases. Top each with a slice of pear. Place in the oven and reduce the temperature to 180°C.
Bake for 20–25 minutes until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Dust with sieved brown sugar if preferred. Serve warm with table spread, whipped cream or ice cream.
The vinegar and baking soda react, creating light, fluffy muffins.
Lynda Hallinan recalls her childhood fascination for fuchsias, and reveals why these nostalgic flowers are perfect for baskets and pots.
Who loves flamboyant fuchsias the most: grandparents or grandchildren? My grandmother Patricia was a big fan of potted fuchsias, and even as her gardens grew smaller, she could always find room for more. She was forever snipping off slips to propagate and share with family members.
As young girls, my sister and I would pinch fuchsias from Grandma's garden to dangle from our ear lobes − in some countries they're affectionately known as "angel earrings" − and we'd put on dance shows for our dolls, imagining the ruffled flowers to be ballerinas in tiny tulle tutus. My friends' daughters now play these same games in my garden.
Predominantly hailing from Central and South America, these subtropical shrubs flower from spring until the first frosts. The flowers are in every shade of pink, plus cheerful bicolour combinations with red petals and purple underskirts, or ruffles of pink and white. The blooms are edible, as are the fleshy red or dark purple berries that follow. As well as the exotic hybrids found in garden centres, New Zealand boasts three native species:
the deciduous tree fuchsia or kōtukutuku (Fuchsia excorticata), shrubby Fuchsia colensoi and a scrambling groundcover, Fuchsia procumbens, whose berries are beloved by birds.
Tree fuchsia berries were prized as an indigenous raw snack and as a source of jam for early settlers, and Fuchsia excorticata features in its own Māori harvest proverb. "i whea koe i te tahuritanga o te rau o te kōtukutuku?" translates to mean "Where were you when the leaves of the fuchsia tree began to grow in spring?". (This "do the gardening mahi" message, that you reap what you've sown, is the same sentiment expressed in the children's morality fable, The Little Red Hen).
For the best displays, plant fuchsias in pots of fresh, free-draining potting mix and feed with liquid tomato fertiliser (it's high in potash, which boosts flowering) through the growing season. Keep wellwatered, but don't let the plants sit in wet soil. Pinch off any lanky stems to keep them nice and bushy and remove the old flowers as they fade. Heading into winter, the half-hardy types will drop most of their leaves, but don't panic. Just leave them be until spring, then give them a haircut to get them growing again.
Many varieties have a naturally arching habit that makes them perfectly suited to growing in hanging baskets in a conservatory or patio, where they can
be sheltered over winter. Fuchsias are no fans of hard frosts, but it's easy to take cuttings in autumn to root indoors in jars of water as an insurance policy. Replant again in spring.
Fuchsias also make charming miniature mop-tops for pots. Take the strongest shoot in spring and tie it to a stake, then snip off the lower shoots and repeatedly trim the tops until you have a pleasing lollipop shape.
If growing fuchsias in a garden bed, keep the soil clear beneath the plants to allow good airflow, as powdery mildew can be a problem. Strengthen the plants' immunity with seaweed-based tonics and scatter sheep pellets or slow-release fertiliser for a pick-me-up if they show any signs of yellowing.
Although I loved my Grandma's fuchsias, I've only recently come to love them as a grown-up gardener. Last year I started collecting colourful varieties to plant in a cheerful row along the sheltered south side of my colonial cottage, as fuchsias perform best in partial shade. In full sun, their foliage can scorch. The little plants have flowered non-stop since spring, with their hanging, bell-shaped blooms arching over my cottage path. I have to be careful not to stomp on them ... and I have to remind myself to look the other way when small visitors pluck their pretty flowers off!
• Plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages and cauliflower for spring harvests.
• Sow dwarf and climbing peas. For a novelty, try the purple-podded snow pea 'Shiraz' (King Seeds), which has pretty pink and purple flowers as a bonus.
• Sow broad beans such as 'Exhibition Long Pod' and 'Imperial Green'. In pots, sow the dwarf varieties 'Robin Hood' (Kings Seeds) and 'Coles Early Dwarf' (Mr Fothergill's), as these don't require staking.
• Plant punnets of silverbeet, spinach and kale for a steady supply of greens throughout winter. Salad green mixes such as mesclun can also be sprinkled in tubs and troughs.
Our bodies were never made to stay in the same position for long.
Sometimes we may sit to rest from standing, or stand from sitting. Even lying down too long can make us uncomfortable. If we remain in any position for enough time, at some point our body is going to ask us to move.
And that is precisely why daily movement in a variety of ways is key.
Something I do with all of my one-on-one clients is to ask them to sit down (or stand) and write out their weekly exercise schedule. What are they doing well? What are they potentially missing? If you’re an avid walker, chances are you have no issues climbing a flight of stairs or having consistent energy throughout the day. If you’re a regular to yoga, your joints probably have good range and you feel supple when getting up and down off the ground. After getting an idea of what they may wish to include, the next question is usually “What are you avoiding?” This may be because of an injury, weakness, lack of knowledge or all the above.
This question really is key for progress in many people’s exercise. Leaning in and approaching the movements we may be avoiding, such as balance training, strength training, coordination or aerobic fitness will ultimately give us the best chance of improving and maintaining our health.
Your body is made to do infinite amounts of movements, so why not give it what it’s asking for and add a few different movements in?
Here’s a fashion fact that might surprise you: according to the style experts, leopard print is a ‘neutral’. In other words, everyone can wear it, at any stage of life and in (nearly) every situation. Animal prints are synonymous with danger, excitement and – let’s be honest – being a little naughty. But that doesn’t mean they can’t also be classy. Dame Helen Mirren has rocked fabulous animal print outfits, as has Catherine Deneuve, Jamie Lee Curtis and Iman. Even Camilla, the Queen Consort, has dabbled in the trend, wearing an animal print face mask to liven up a monochromatic ensemble in 2020. Are you ready to roar?
The really clever thing about animal prints in their natural tones is that they go well with nearly every other colour beyond the base shades of black, brown and white. This also means that there’s a variation to suit every skin and hair colour, every age and every body shape. If you find brown and tan tones a little dull, there are plenty of other colour options that will live in harmony in your wardrobe – even if they don’t exist in nature.
If you’re starting out, look at adding an animal print accessory first. Bags, belts or jewellery are a brilliant choice for adding a touch of wild to any outfit. If you’ve got an animal print scarf that you’re not bold enough to wear yet, try tying it to the handles of a bag or wearing it as a belt. A cosy faux fur animal print coat is a fun addition to a late-autumn wardrobe, and you can often find great options second-hand.
Can men wear animal prints? They certainly used to. In the 18th century, fashion-conscious chaps wore leopard print frock coats, waistcoats and breeches, or coats with leopard print lapels and cuffs. This look started in Italy, then gradually spread to England via moneyed young men who’d travelled to Europe on the Grand Tour. By the 1960s and '70s, wearing animal prints was a way for self-confessed wild men like The Rolling Stones, Bryan Ferry and Rod Stewart to express their untamed attitude to style.
These days, it’s a bold – or very young – man who embraces top-to-toe animal prints. But that doesn’t mean more seasoned men should ignore the call of the wild. Start with animal accents (cuffs, a T-shirt, a casual pair of shorts) rather than the whole beast, and see how you go from there. Remember that good-quality fabrics are a must; no man should wear synthetic animal print unless he’s playing Tarzan or an extra in The Flintstones.
If your style persona leans more to mild than wild, you can still dip your toes into the animal print trend. A sensible loafer, brogue or boot looks much more lively in animal prints, bringing an unexpected dash of excitement to an otherwise plain ensemble. If that’s too bold, zebra, tiger, leopard or even giraffe-print socks are a clever and cheerful way to embrace the look without everyone having to know about it. And in the comfort of your own home, nothing will get you purring contentedly faster than a cosy pair of animal slippers.
I recently used some fabric scraps to make little pouches for my nieces, each personalised with an embroidered initial. These are the perfect secret place to keep sweets or other small treasures.
In this tutorial I’ve given measurements for a small child’s pouch. But because the template is so simple, you could use it to create all sorts of bags – size it up to make a craft project bag, or cut the pieces even bigger to make reusable wrapping for a book or other gift.
Large drawstring bags make useful travel companions – you can keep shoes or laundry separate in your suitcase. A tiny one, cut from velvet or silk scraps, would be nice for jewellery, or you could add patches or buttons to decorate. Take this ‘recipe’ and make it your own. Happy making and gifting!
• Fabric scraps – I recommend something like linen or heavy cotton for the outer bag, and silk or finer cotton for the lining and casings
• A ruler or tape measure, pins, iron, sewing machine, scissors, thread, safety pin
• 2x lengths of 22" of a thin cord, narrow cotton tape or ribbon
• Embroidery thread, needle and hoop (optional)
CRAFT CORNERCut out the bag pieces. You’ll need:
• 2x outer pieces measuring 8" wide by 7" tall
• 2x lining pieces measuring 8" wide by 7" tall
• 2x casing pieces (this could be the same as your lining fabric, or different) measuring 9.5" wide by 1.5" tall
1. Press all fabric pieces. To make the casings, fold each short end in ½" and press. Fold in another ½" and press again. Then fold the whole piece length-wise and press once more. Set aside.
TIP: If you’d like to decorate the front of your pouch, now is the time. You could embroider an initial or a small flower, or add an appliqué or ribbon ... whatever you fancy!
2. Place the outer bag pieces right sides together, pin, then stitch around the sides and bottom. Repeat with the lining pieces. Clip the corners on both, and press. Turn the outer bag right side out, push out the corners and press again.
3. Take one casing piece. With raw edges together, pin the casing to the right side of the front bag outer. The casing should be slightly shorter than the front of the bag outer itself. Centre the casing so there is a small gap at each outer bag side seam. If it’s too long, refold the edges and press again.
4. Stitch the casing to the outer, as close as you can to the raw edge. Take the second casing and repeat the process on the back bag outer piece. It should look like this:
5. Place the completed bag outer inside the bag lining, right sides together. Match the side seams and pin in place. With a 1/4" seam, stitch around the entire top of the bag, catching all the layers together. It should look like this:
6. Turn the bag right side out through the gap you left in the lining base. Press everything and check that the casings were sewn neatly. Push the lining inside the outer and press the casings so they are pointing up and away from the bag outer. Hand stitch the lining gap closed.
7. Cut one piece of cord or ribbon and attach the safety pin to the end. Thread it through one casing opening, then through the second, and tie the ends in a secure knot. Insert the second piece of cord or ribbon in the same manner but in reverse, through the other casing opening.
STEVE
Travelling Light is a travel memoir that follows the adventures of young couple Steve Lowndes and Lisa Potts as they journey across the globe in the 1970s. It makes for fascinating reading, as they spend nearly a decade travelling the world together.
This is an entirely different type of travel than what we experience today. No mass tourism. And no credit cards, mobile phones or the internet. It is more complicated than travelling now, but it also seems much freer in other ways, and there is a palpable sense of adventure. Certainly, the cities weren’t as clogged then as they are today. It’s a slower pace of life, with more space and the chance to relax and experience all the small moments along the way – the travel every bit part of the adventure as the end destination.
Steve has a very engaging writing style that brings their adventures to life, capturing the romance of travel in this era. The photographs by Lisa are a highlight of the book. Travelling Light is a must-read for anyone interested in travel or other people’s stories and anyone with an adventurous heart.
RODERICK FRY
Hong Kong, 1943. Marie Broom is at home on Hong Kong Island when the Japanese invade. She is Portuguese Chinese, 27 years old, the mother of four young children, and now frantic with worry. Her New Zealand husband, Vincent, is working in Singapore as a marine engineer, and it is not long before Singapore falls to the Japanese also.
A Message for Nasty follows the fate of Marie and Vincent over the next two years, separated from each other and without any means to communicate. Marie does her best to protect her children, but danger, starvation and death lurk on every corner. Vincent tries desperately to escape occupied Singapore and eventually embarks on a perilous journey across China to try to rescue his family.
A Message for Nasty is a gripping, page-turning read; a novel that packs an even bigger emotional punch when you learn that the story is based on the author’s grandfather and grandmother. It brings vividly to life the chilling occupation by the Japanese of Hong Kong, and the extraordinary story of a husband and father willing to go to any lengths to rescue his family.
Drawing on inspiration from his work as a family doctor, David Whittet's The Road to Madhapur is a story that follows the lives of two people. Theo is inspired to go into medicine after meeting a Ugandan refugee in his last year at high school. Meanwhile, teenager Elisha is upset when her father announces that the entire family will go with him on his next missionary campaign to India. They move there, and Elisha is even more miserable, but worse is in store when her beloved mother dies after a preventable accident at a local Indian hospital.
Theo and Elisha’s lives intersect when they are both a little older. Theo is on assignment in Madhapur, and Elisha has decided to take up nursing there – and both are a little wiser after their life experiences. But nothing will prepare them for what will happen next … The Road to Madhapur will appeal to readers of true-to-life medical dramas, with action that goes from New Zealand to Uganda to India, from missionary work and medical fieldwork with the poorest of patients to the ritzy world of models and appearance medicine.
With glorious full-page photography by distinguished photographer Jane Ussher of interiors from across New Zealand homes, and with text by John Walsh, this is a must-have book for anyone interested in interior design. It’s a book to treasure, from the stunning cover, French fold jacket and hot pink fabric case underneath to divine endpapers and two velvet ribbons to complete the package.
The photography was taken over two years, and each photograph draws you in with its lavish detail and superb lighting. All the images unique, intriguing and beautiful.
The 90 homes featured in Rooms are varied. There is Government House in Wellington, Larnach Castle in Dunedin, Mahurangi House in North Auckland, and various villas, houses and cottages around the country.
Information about each home in the back of the book satisfies many questions, but it is the photographs that are centre stage and in the spotlight in all their glory. Rooms is a stunning book. Thank you to Jane Ussher for these sensational photos and to John Walsh for the insightful text – and thank you to the homeowners who agreed to have these gorgeous spaces photographed for us all to enjoy.
For Lynley Clarke and Grahame Wright, love took a long time to blossom between them – more than 77 years, in fact! The couple, who got married before Christmas, attended primary school together before meeting by chance 75 years later when Grahame spotted Lynley at Summerset at Wigram a few months after she moved in. He recognised her instantly.
“I heard a voice say ‘Lynley Fraer!’, which is my maiden name,” said Lynley. “He reminded me we went to school together and told me I hadn’t changed a bit!”
Inspired by their mutual fondness for music, the pair rekindled their friendship at the village. Grahame, a euphonium player in his youth, had rediscovered the enjoyment of playing the instrument and would perform in the village’s monthly concerts with two other brass players. For Lynley, music has always been a huge part of her personal and professional life, and she was delighted to introduce Grahame and his late wife, Helen, to her pride and joy, her grand piano. The pair saw an opportunity for mutual music appreciation and would meet regularly to rehearse pieces for their piano–euphonium partnership.
“I have arranged more than 70 pieces of music for Grahame,” says Lynley, a long-time music teacher, “often thinking ‘Oh, this would be ideal for the euphonium.’ Grahame’s brass band background meant he hadn’t done many solos before, but now that has changed.”
The pair became very close friends, and when Helen passed away at the beginning of 2022, Lynley supported Grahame in his grief. It wasn’t
long before they realised that their friendship had turned to love, and in September 2022 they became engaged.
“We went on a trip around Banks Peninsula on a stunning day and we were in the car overlooking the beachfront at Wainui,” Lynley recalls.
“Grahame had been reminiscing about trips he had made there in the past, and then he asked me to marry him. I didn’t hesitate to say yes!”
“We have a very deep love. We have so much in common. I hold him in such high regard. Grahame is gentle, thoughtful and even-tempered, with a zany sense of humour,” says Lynley.
We were so fortunate to have both had good marriages before – Grahame with Helen for 58 years and me with Ian for 57 years. To find love a second time around is incredible.
The wedding was held at the end of November at the Cashmere Presbyterian Church, where the couple worship every Sunday and where Lynley is one of the three organists in the church’s music ministry team.
“It was such a busy day. We had more than 90 guests and it went by in such a blur. When the photographer sent through the wedding video recently, it was lovely to be able to sit down together and leisurely re-live the day.”
Their special day went without a hitch, but married life began eventfully, starting with the honeymoon. The pair had married on a Saturday and were due to perform in the monthly Summerset concert the following day before flying up to Auckland to catch their international flight to Rarotonga. On Saturday evening, Lynley bumped her foot on the brass leg of the coffee table. “We had to cancel our performance the next day as I had to go to Urgent Care to get my toes strapped together. Then, as we boarded the plane to Rarotonga, Grahame tripped and
dislocated his knee! As soon as we landed, we had to go straight to the hospital. He had to wear a knee brace for seven days.”
Luckily, neither injury was serious, and the couple were able to enjoy ten days sipping cocktails on the sand before returning to New Zealand, when Grahame promptly caught Covid-19, just in time for Christmas. “Can you believe it?” laughs Lynley. “Grahame had to isolate in his villa, which fortunately he hadn’t yet moved out of. We had great fun telling everyone we had separated after three weeks of marriage! Our first Christmas as a married couple was spent sitting in his garden with his family, with him talking to us through the patio door!”
So far 2023 has been smooth sailing for the pair, who are in the throes of moving Grahame into Lynley’s villa. They continue to practice music together regularly. “We have the same appreciation of beautiful music. It was the music that brought us together.”
Valentine’s Day 2023 is one many of us would rather forget. The winds and rain of tropical Cyclone Gabrielle has caused widespread destruction and chaos across the North Island, with few areas escaping unscathed.
Six of our villages – in Northland, Waikato, and Hawke’s Bay − were affected by power cuts. In the case of Summerset Palms in Te Awa, when the floodwaters began to rise residents were advised – as a precautionary measure – to evacuate by the Civil Defence.
While none of our villages flooded, not even in the most stricken parts of the Napier area, our Te Awa residents had to spend an uncomfortable and worrying night away from their homes. As mains power, telephone and mobile lines were down across the country, communication was extremely difficult. For many in Hawke’s Bay, the rest of the country had heard the stories of devastation across the region before they did.
In the aftermath of the worst of the weather, the Summerset Emergency Response team got together to look at what was needed to support staff and residents on the ground. More generators were brought into the area to the village centres to give residents access to charging stations and Wi-Fi, staff from around the country came in to support their colleagues, extra food deliveries were planned and a helicopter was sourced to fly in emergency supplies.
Tony Casey is the Chair of the Summerset Residents’ Association at Summerset Palms in Te Awa. He and his wife evacuated to his daughter’s home in Napier. “We didn’t realise how serious the situation had become when we evacuated. We were reliant on the radio for news for about 24 − 36 hours. There was no way to communicate at all.” Approximately 90 residents were evacuated to St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College in Napier. The stories of hospitality and care and attention residents received there have been heartening. “There have been discussions about fundraising for them in the future as a way for us to say thank you,” says Tony.
The way Summerset has rallied around has astounded Tony. “We have been so impressed with the way Summerset stepped up. The village staff and the construction staff, the Head Office, it was an incredible team effort. The efforts they went to get generators, food, and water to us – in almost impossible circumstances − has been phenomenal."
Opportunities for new friendships have arisen between the residents. “Summerset have been providing hot breakfasts for us in the rec centre. It has been a bit like camping, all chatting together over our morning cups of tea. We have enjoyed big BBQs at night with legs of lamb and beers and soft drinks from the bar. Generator power to the rec centre meant we could watch the news and charge our phones.”
The privations have not been easy for some to cope with. “Some of the more vulnerable residents have found it very stressful,” says Tony. “But staff and fellow residents are rallying round those who have found it more of a struggle.”
Tony is relieved he was in a Summerset village when the cyclone hit. “We live in a villa, so we are independent, but we have had such support from Summerset. We wouldn’t have had anywhere near that where we lived before. We are so thankful.”
“I woke up on the Tuesday morning thinking we had just had a big storm. I turned on the TV and then the power went out. I live on top of a hill overlooking Taradale [Napier’s largest suburb] and cars and caravans drove up as water was flooding the streets below. Four families came into my home because they had to leave theirs. The bridges were damaged or washed away, so Napier essentially became an island. Choppers were airlifting people out to the hospitals. I have friends who have been rescued from their rooftops by the RNZAF. Water was coming up 2.5m high in some places, places that were at least 1km from the river.”
Despite the lines of communication being all but severed, Tara is impressed by the coordinated response from Head Office and the other villages. “The teamwork is incredible. Caregivers, nurses, property managers – staff from so many places were drafted in to come and help and they have really taken the pressure off and done what has been needed. We have staff that live in Napier and work in our Hastings or Havelock North villages and vice versa. They couldn’t get to their usual place of work so they showed up at the village they could get to. They just rolled up their sleeves and got on with it. The support has been outstanding. Whatever we have said we need, we’ve got. I feel so privileged to work with such a great team.
Tara appreciates being able to help and to be helped by the community. “We have had two amazing chefs come down from Auckland, cooking for 350-plus people. They came to me asking what to do with the leftovers. They ended up feeding fresh pie to the queues outside the Ministry of Social Development and the members of a marae – around 60 meals in all! Mainfreight donated a big BBQ to us, so we are cooking a big BBQ lunch for the emergency services working on the recovery effort in Eskdale. Everyone is looking out for everyone.”
If you would like to donate to the relief effort for Cyclone Gabrielle, please donate to the Red Cross’s New Zealand Disaster Fund at www.redcross.org.nz/ support-us/our-current-appeals/new-zealanddisaster-fund/ or telephone 0800 RED CROSS.
A stone’s throw from Christchurch city, the Waimakariri District has beaches, bushwalks and busy little townships full of charm and appeal. It’s the perfect destination for a weekend away to explore provincial New Zealand.
Wherever you choose to base yourself for your Waimakariri adventure, you can rest assured that your next destination is just a short, scenic drive away.
If your plan is to get away from it all, Pigeon Place Hut fits the bill. The two-person luxury hut is located on a working farm at Coopers Creek near the township of Oxford. After your day exploring the nearby towns and walking trails, return to your private oasis where you can whip up a simple meal in the kitchen and dine on the deck while taking in the expansive rural views. This unique, off-grid destination offers comfort, peace, and quiet in spades.
If a bit of bustle is more your style, the BNZ Heritage Apartments are located in the centre of Kaiapoi – a busy little river town with shops,
walkways and water activities aplenty. Recently opened, the high-spec apartments are full of contemporary furnishings with some interesting original features, making for an easy, comfortable and central base during your Waimakariri stay.
Waimakariri is home to two exceptional farmers’ markets. The Ohoka Farmers’ Market takes place every Friday morning at the Ohoka Domain, while the Oxford Farmers’ Market is on Sunday mornings in Oxford. Both markets offer an array of delicious breakfasty foods − think bacon butties, freshly baked pastries, and barista coffee − as well as an abundance of fresh local fruit, vegetables, flowers, preserves and much more for you to squirrel away for later.
With plenty of cafés dotted throughout Waimakariri, you’ll never be short of a great lunch spot. Brick Mill Café in Waikuku offers one of the best menus in the district. On SH1, the café is located within an historic brick mill with freshly made baked goods, excellent coffee and a delicious lunch selection incorporating local, seasonal produce. Finish
off with a poke through the neighbouring Brick Mill Complex gift store and gallery, and a walk on Waikuku Beach.
Rural Waimakariri is the last place you’d expect to find an exceptional Thai eatery, yet that’s exactly what you get when you visit Lemongrass Restaurant. Located on a fruit and nut orchard in Loburn – a short drive from Rangiora – Lemongrass is a bit of a local secret. The small restaurant offers authentic, flavourful Thai dishes. Lemongrass is BYO only, so if you fancy a tipple make sure you bring your own.
Walkers are spoiled for choice in Waimakariri. The district boasts plentiful trails ranging from easy, river-side ambles to hill climbs in the foothills. Mt Thomas Forest Conservation Area is well worth a visit, offering picturesque bush walks ranging from the one-hour Kereru Loop through to the half-day climb to the Mt Thomas summit. Bring your picnic, plenty of water and clothing for all weather as the foothill climate can be temperamental.
For a small district, Waimakariri has an unexpectedly bountiful range of boutique shops. Spend a Saturday morning in Rangiora
walking the High Street and popping in and out of the town’s beautiful clothing and gift stores. Oxford and Kaiapoi are also home to some delightful little boutiques, while the settlement of Cust is known for its eclectic second-hand store and emporium. Avid shoppers won’t be disappointed!
Another unexpected find in Waimakariri is New Zealand’s only airboat. These incredible vehicles skim across the shallow waters of the Waimakariri River, giving you a thrilling yet scenic journey. Learn about the fascinating braided river system as you zoom upriver before heading back on your high-speed adventure, spotting birds and waving at locals as you go. The airboat is operated by Alpine Jet Thrills, just south of Kaiapoi township.
Region: Waimakariri
Airport: Christchurch
Main road: SH1 travels through Kaiapoi, Woodend and Waikuku.
Population: 64,700
For many people living with dementia, the ability to occupy themselves in a satisfying manner slips quietly away. Initiation, concentration, motivation, planning and organisational skills are all the corner stones to a person being able to set themselves up to occupy time well and do things. As dementia progresses, a person’s abilities and skills may change. The challenge for the carer is to encourage and enable meaningful activities without overwhelming the person with dementia or making them feel like a failure. This involves finding ways to modify or adapt what the person used to do, and make it possible for them to keep doing it by simplifying the task or breaking it down into small steps. Using old skills is usually more successful than introducing new tasks to learn. For example, most adults have played Scrabble or Bananagrams sometime in their lives, so it ticks the ‘familiar and old skills’ box. For many people with dementia, their ability to recognise words and letters remains intact long after their verbal language begins to falter. Likewise, many people are more fluent when reading aloud than in their spoken language, so it’s worth giving it a try and see how it goes. For people who are struggling with visual issues, remember to play on a contrasting, uncluttered surface so the tiles are easier to see.
It’s also useful to remember that everyday tasks that we often see as chores have value as purposeful activities for someone living with dementia:
• Washing the dishes or emptying the dishwasher
• Hanging out the washing
• Setting the table
• Dusting
• Folding clothes
• Doing simple baking or preparing lunch together
The challenge for carers and families is to find ways to support a person living with dementia to ‘do’ things.
REMEMBER:
• Realistic expectations
• Work at the person’s pace and concentration skills
• Praise and encouragement, not criticism
• Be careful not to over-help – find the `just right’ amount of guidance, prompting or assisting
• Create activities with a low chance of failure, and reward effort as well as success
• Enjoy the process – the outcome isn’t important
• Keep in mind WIN (What’s Important Now)
March is Brain Health Awareness Month and Dementia New Zealand is encouraging everyone to take a step to improve their brain health. For more information visit: stepsfordementia.nz
1. Always use adapted adult activities people living with dementia are adults with a neurological disease, not children
2. Be the initiator if the person struggles to get started
3. Work on tasks and activities together
4. Work at the pace of the person living with dementia − stop if it causes agitation
5. Do things within the persons concentration span, little and often
6. Have periods of activity followed by periods of rest
7. Focus on the process of doing and enjoying, not what the finished product looks like
8. Let go of unrealistic expectations
9. Let go of the rules and do it just right just doing it for fun
10. Let go of 'competition' if it is not useful (keeping it if it is!)
To express my love For the Summerset Scene
But words I must find For this I am bound Battle I do
Going round and round
To express what is wordless
My love that abounds
Like a light switched on To lighten the depths of my soul!
And out flows the love
Like a rainbow of flowers
Warming all my senses
My love that abounds
Erola Whitcombe
Summerset on the Coast
This poem was written with love and appreciation by care centre resident Erola to say thank you to staff
This poem’s not about the mouse, that recently came to our house; instead I’m going to have a chat, about our lovely Siamese cat.
She’s very clever, but hasn’t a clue, what to say or what to do if a mouse walked up to her, and squeaked out a BOO!
We have great conversations, she talks a lot, I know Her favourite word is “Meooww” when her food is on the go.
At half past 6 she wakes me, “Come on, get out of bed –my tummy’s really empty, it’s time that I was fed!”
She loves to sleep on our La-Z-boy chairs –when we shift her, she growls, I’m certain she swears!
She’s happy in our villa, so has no need to roam.
She’s treated like a queen here, in our lovely sunny home.
Every night she goes to sleep, between the Mr and Mrs, and in the darkness, licks my face, I know that’s Bindi kisses.
Fay Tuffin, Summerset RototunaIf you would like to submit a poem for consideration in Poet’s Corner, send it to magazine@summerset.co.nz
The
One of the world’s oldest national symphony orchestras, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) has enthralled audiences with memorable concert experiences featuring exciting guest artists and recordings since 1947. Today it is recognised as an outstanding orchestra of international stature, and a jewel in Aotearoa’s crown. The NZSO's reputation for artistic excellence attracts many of the world’s leading musicians, conductors
and soloists each year, while also celebrating homegrown artistic talent.
2023 features conductors Gemma New and Sir Donald Runnicles, pianist Paul Lewis and superstar violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter performing music from Beethoven, Shostakovich, John Williams and more. Summerset residents enjoy 25% off concerts* using discount code SUMMERSET25
Find out more at nzso.co.nz.
(*some exclusions apply)
NZSO and Summerset are proud to continue a thriving partnership in 2023, which includes exclusive offers for Summerset residents.
Like the singer he is named after, Pavarotti the canary has a big voice, treating the residents of Summerset Mount Denby to many a cheerful tune. “He loves to sing,” says owner Marcia Alley. “He tends to all year round, except when he is moulting. He has become quite well known in the village for his beautiful voice.”
Marcia has owned Pavarotti for seven years, after her husband, Pete, brought him home for her as a gift when he was one year old. “We have been told that because of his voice he is likely to be a male Norwich canary. He loves to sing, and to eat. He is a great fan of eating broccoli and bok choi.”
Calm he may be, but Pavarotti especially enjoys a bit of competition in the noise department. “He loves it when the vacuum cleaner, lawn mower or cake mixer is going. He sings especially loud. It’s like he tries to outdo them,” laughs Marcia.
Marcia and Pete, who have lived in the village for a year, are no strangers to owning birds. “We used to live in Western Australia and Pete bred a range of parrots there, both large and small. Many we reared by hand. We have always been bird and animal lovers.”
There is one member of the Alley family who especially likes the look of Pavarotti, and that is Lily the cat. “She does need reminding from time to time that Pavarotti is family, and we don’t eat family!
I keep a spray bottle of water handy to deter Lily and the local village cats, who are fascinated by a caged possible meal!”
Summerset Mount Denby
7 Par Lane, Tikipunga, Whangārei 0112
Phone (09) 470 0282
Summerset Falls
31 Mansel Drive, Warkworth 0910
Phone (09) 425 1200
Summerset at Monterey Park
1 Squadron Drive, Hobsonville, Auckland 0618
Phone (09) 951 8920
Summerset at Heritage Park
8 Harrison Road, Ellerslie, Auckland 1060
Phone (09) 950 7960
Summerset by the Park
7 Flat Bush School Road, Manukau 2019
Phone (09) 272 3950
Summerset at Karaka
49 Pararekau Road, Karaka 2580
Phone (09) 951 8900
Summerset St Johns
180 St Johns Road, St Johns 1072
Phone (09) 950 7980
Summerset Parnell*
23 Cheshire Street, Parnell 1052
Phone (09) 950 8212
Summerset Half Moon Bay*
25 Thurston Place, Half Moon Bay, Auckland 2012
Phone (09) 306 1422
Summerset Milldale*
Argent Lane, Milldale, Wainui 0992
Phone 0800 786 637
WAIKATO
Summerset down the Lane
206 Dixon Road, Hamilton 3206
Phone (07) 843 0157
Summerset Rototuna
39 Kimbrae Drive, Rototuna North 3210
Phone (07) 981 7820
Summerset by the Lake
2 Wharewaka Road, Wharewaka, Taupō 3330
Phone (07) 376 9470
Summerset Cambridge
1 Mary Ann Drive, Cambridge 3493
Phone (07) 839 9482
Summerset Rotorua*
171–193 Fairy Springs Road
Rotorua 3010
Phone (07) 343 5132
Summerset by the Sea
181 Park Road, Katikati 3129
Phone (07) 985 6890
Summerset by the Dunes
35 Manawa Road, Papamoa Beach, Tauranga 3118
Phone (07) 542 9082
HAWKE’S BAY
Summerset in the Bay
79 Merlot Drive, Greenmeadows, Napier 4112
Phone (06) 845 2840
Summerset in the Orchard
1228 Ada Street, Parkvale, Hastings 4122
Phone (06) 974 1310
Summerset Palms
136 Eriksen Road, Te Awa, Napier 4110
Phone (06) 833 5850
Summerset in the Vines
249 Te Mata Road, Havelock North 4130
Phone (06) 877 1185
TARANAKI
Summerset Mountain View
35 Fernbrook Drive, Vogeltown, New Plymouth 4310
Phone (06) 824 8900
Summerset at Pohutukawa Place
70 Pohutukawa Place, Bell Block, New Plymouth 4371
Phone (06) 824 8530
MANAWATU–WHANGANUI
Summerset in the River City
40 Burton Avenue, Whanganui 4500
Phone (06) 343 3133
Summerset on Summerhill
180 Ruapehu Drive, Fitzherbert, Palmerston North 4410
Phone (06) 354 4964
Summerset Kelvin Grove*
Stoney Creek Road, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North 4470
Phone (06) 825 6530
Summerset by the Ranges
104 Liverpool Street, Levin 5510
Phone (06) 367 0337
WELLINGTON
Summerset on the Coast
104 Realm Drive, Paraparaumu 5032
Phone (04) 298 3540
Summerset on the Landing
1–3 Bluff Road, Kenepuru, Porirua 5022
Phone (04) 230 6722
Summerset at Aotea
15 Aotea Drive, Aotea, Porirua 5024
Phone (04) 235 0011
Summerset at the Course
20 Racecourse Road, Trentham, Upper Hutt 5018
Phone (04) 527 2980
Summerset Waikanae
28 Park Avenue, Waikanae 5036
Phone (04) 293 0002
Summerset Boulcott
1A Boulcott Street, Lower Hutt 5010
Phone (04) 568 1442
Summerset Masterton*
Lansdowne, Masterton 5871
Phone (06) 370 1792
Summerset in the Sun
16 Sargeson Street, Stoke, Nelson 7011
Phone (03) 538 0000
Summerset Richmond Ranges
1 Hill Street North, Richmond 7020
Phone (03) 744 3432
Summerset Blenheim*
183 Old Renwick Road, Blenheim 7272
Phone (03) 520 6042
CANTERBURY
Summerset at Wigram
135 Awatea Road, Wigram, Christchurch 8025
Phone (03) 741 0870
Summerset at Avonhead
120 Hawthornden Road, Avonhead, Christchurch 8042
Phone (03) 357 3202
Summerset on Cavendish
147 Cavendish Road, Casebrook, Christchurch 8051
Phone (03) 741 3340
Summerset Rangiora*
141 South Belt, Waimakariri, Rangiora 7400
Phone (03) 364 1312
Summerset Prebbleton
578 Springs Road, Prebbleton 7604
Phone (03) 353 6312
OTAGO
Summerset at Bishopscourt
36 Shetland Street, Wakari, Dunedin 9010
Phone (03) 950 3102