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DANCING QUEEN – CLAIRE HAS THE MOVES • FROM LAW OFFICE TO LEGAL THRILLER – LAWYER TURNS AUTHOR • FOR A HOOT AND A TOOT – MEET THE BAGPIPER • LOSING IT – TURNING CARE INTO THEATRE

COVER: Claire Patten at Summerset at Pohutukawa Place Photo credit: Sandra Henderson Photography

Whangārei

Milldale Hobsonville

St Johns

Half Moon Bay

Ellerslie

Manukau

Karaka

Katikati

Papamoa Beach

Rototuna

More than

10,000

Shoal Bay

Warkworth

Cambridge

Hamilton

Rotorua Taupō

Bell Block

Summerset home New Zealanders call

Napier

New Plymouth

Mission Hills

Whanganui

Te Awa

Levin

Hastings

Waikanae

Havelock North

Otaihanga

Palmerston North

Paraparaumu

Kelvin Grove

Nelson

Trentham

Richmond Blenheim

Masterton

Boulcott Aotea Kenepuru

Rangiora

Avonhead Wigram

Casebrook

Prebbleton Rolleston

KEY = Summerset village = Proposed village

Dunedin Mosgiel

Story to share? We really enjoy telling your stories. If you have an exciting or interesting tale to tell, get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you! magazine@summerset.co.nz

Hello from Ellie for Anzac Days, Saint days, and

inspirations behind his legal

birthdays! Win shares some tips

drama If That’s What It Takes.

and tales from his years of

Read his story on page 10.

playing on page 20.

The Summerset Charles Tour

September is World Alzheimer’s

is well underway, and in

Month, and in recognition

partnership with New Zealand

Summerset will be hosting a

Golf we are delighted to bring

webinar with Alzheimers New

the Summerset Slam to our

Zealand. The webinar will

residents. Details on the

explore what dementia is, the

upcoming competition are

early signs to look out for, and

on page 13, and two keen

practical ways to support brain

golfers share their stories on

Welcome to the Spring issue of Summerset Scene! Our cover star this issue is Claire Patten from Summerset at Pohutukawa Place in New Plymouth. Claire has spent decades honing her craft as a ballet and dance teacher and when she moved to her Summerset village she brought those skills with her. Now she teaches dance classes to residents of the village. Read her story on page four.

health at any age. Summerset

page 14 and 15.

Also from the same village is bagpiper Win Kerr. Win can be counted upon to play the pipes

who has authored his first book.

Down the Lane resident Sandra

Jude Dobson shares her

Shearer has turned her

documentary about a rugby

experience of caregiving for a person with dementia into a play. Along with her cowriter Ceridwyn Parr, Sandra acts in Losing It, which has been performed multiple times across Auckland and the Waikato. Read

great, and Lynda Hallinan shares tips about how to grow the humble spud in pots. We also have great reads, crafts and puzzles, as well as delicious recipes from Jan Bilton. Until next time,

her story on page 16. Also telling stories is Summerset by the Park resident Les Allen, Les discusses the writing and

Ellie Clifford

publishing process, and the

SUMMERSET SCENE EDITOR

Are you a member of Blind Low Vision NZ? If so, you can also find the latest issue of Summerset Scene in the Blind Low Vision NZ library.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Contents

Dancing queen New Plymouth’s ballet teacher

Losing it Turning care into theatre

From law office to legal thriller Lawyer turns author

For a hoot and a toot Win Kerr breathes life into his bagpipes

Our news

World Alzheimer’s month

Summerset Slam

Our latest updates

Webinar on Wednesday, 23 September

Competition kicks off in October

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

This publication uses vegetable-based inks and

Paper produced using elemental chlorine-free

environmentally responsible paper produced from

(ECF) and manufactured under the strict ISO14001

Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®)-certified, mixed-source pulp from responsible sources.

Environmental Management System.

Meet the golfers

Staff profile

Summerset sessions

Meet our golfers who are loving the Golf NZ partnership

Lani Wickens

What’s on

Recipes

Go greener

Dementia New Zealand

Joys from the Med

Green update

Understanding dementia

Jude on...

In the garden

Craft corner

Digging up Eden Park

Pots of potatoes

Little lanterns

Book reviews

Fitness

Finance

Spring reads

Spring into action

Flip the switch on savings

Travel log

Style

Poet’s corner

Lake Tekapo

Fashion adapts

Village wordsmiths

Village people

Brain tease

Five questions

Photos from around our villages

Puzzles

With Jim High

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Claire Patten at home at Summerset at Pohutukawa Place.

Dancing Queen BY ELLIE CLIFFORD

Three days a week at Summerset at Pohutukawa Place, a group of residents assemble in anticipation of their weekly ballet class. Most have never taken a dance class prior to this, but for Claire Patten, that doesn’t matter.

Claire brings the same enthusiasm to her

Ballet builds strength and flexibility and keeps the body moving. “I teach three types of ballet,” Claire says. “In the care centre I teach chair ballet, which is arm movements performed while seated. Serviced apartment residents may do some standing moves, and they use chairs for balance, and then downstairs in the village centre I teach a group who use the barre.”

Claire has seen firsthand the transformation

dancers at the village as she did to the youth of Taranaki, to whom she taught dance for almost six decades. For her adult students, just like for her young students, the classes are about confidence, freedom of movement and the ability to express themselves, whether they are 4 or 94. of her students who thought they were ‘too old’ to dance. “When it’s time for class, they are ready, they are waiting. After 30 minutes of ballet, they feel happy and loose,” Claire says. “Quite often they say they are able to move much more than they could before starting the class.” Claire has been dancing almost as long as she’s been able to walk, attending a dance school first in Petone, then at the nationally recognised Dorothy Daniels Academy of Dance in Wellington. After meeting her husband aged 18, the couple moved to Taranaki, and Claire started her dance school, beginning with 12 children in her lounge before demand required expansion. “I have taught thousands of students! There are families that I’ve taught three generations of,” Claire says.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Awarded Life Member of the Royal Academy of Dance and the New Zealand Association of Modern Dance (NZAMD), Claire taught ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary dance. Her technical expertise led her to develop and choreograph the national dance syllabus for the NZAMD, a curriculum that is still being used today.

Many of Claire’s students have gone on to have

Follies’, a fundraiser which ran for nine

highly successful dance careers, whether as

performances and raised $38,000. “I am a

performers or teachers, or in the case of

member of the New Plymouth Pakeke Lions

Cameron McMillan, as an international

Club, and last year I taught ‘Cygnets’ from Swan

choreographer, and Sarah-Jayne Howard, who

Lake, which seven male members performed at

received the Laureate Award from the Arts

the Christmas fundraiser.”

Foundation of New Zealand. Watching their success has been rewarding, but this has never been Claire’s measure of achievement. “Only about 10 percent of my students ever wanted to be ballerinas. Most would come to have fun and express themselves in a group.” Even so, the students were expected to work hard. Claire was strict but inclusive. “If a child lacked confidence or natural ability, you would bring them to the front and encourage them. You’ve got to make a student feel valued and supported for their efforts.”

Claire’s devotion to dance led to her receiving a Queen’s Service Medal for ‘Contribution to Dance in New Zealand’ in 2016, nominated by the RSA. “It was a great honour to have been put forward,” says Claire. “Dame Patsy Reddy presented it to me at Government House. It was a wonderful, though nerve-wracking, experience!” Claire has lived at Summerset at Pohutukawa Place for 18 months and quickly embraced village life. She plays indoor bowls, leads the ballet classes and enjoys being part of the knitting group. Beyond the village, she sings

This remains the goal in Claire’s village classes

with the Singing Angels choir, is a member of

now. “It’s not about being perfect. It’s about

the Troopers Leisure marching team, and

trying something new. I don’t care how you look,

volunteers as a FED (Friend of the Emergency

I just want you to have fun. The atmosphere is

Department) at Taranaki Hospital. “I’ve done it

very jovial. The students come in and help put

for nine years. I don’t do anything medical,

up the barre – which was made by a village

but I make the most wonderful cups of tea!”

resident – for the class. We all wear especially

she says.

made T-shirts with ‘Dance’ on it.”

With plenty to keep her active both inside and

Although the village residents who attend are

outside the village, Claire says the friendships

currently all women, Claire has taught many

and community at Summerset at Pohutukawa

men during her role as co-producer and

Place have made it feel like home. “I felt settled

choreographer for the New Plymouth RSA ‘Force

from the first day.”

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Members of Claire’s ballet class at Summerset Pohutukawa Place. Claire has taught thousands of children and received many accolades.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

OUR NEWS

Summerset St Johns wins Gold Summerset St Johns won Gold in the Winstone Wallboards Residential Projects at the 2026 New Zealand Commercial Project Awards. Our flagship village was recognised for its ‘Excellence in workmanship, construction and innovation.’ The Awards set the benchmark for New Zealand’s commercial construction, and celebrate collaboration and innovation across the building industry. Located in the heart of the eastern suburbs in Auckland, Summerset St Johns enjoys outstanding city and Hauraki Gulf views. Four buildings, 92 independent homes, 104 care units and a luxurious village centre were handed over in 2024, followed by two more buildings and 119 dwellings in 2025. Summerset St Johns also boasts the show-stopping Pinnacle apartment, which has four expansive balconies and a winter garden overlooking astonishing views.

N E W AU C K L A N D V I L L AG E L AU N C H ES Summerset Half Moon Bay was launched to the public at the Bucklands Beach Yacht Club on 21 & 22 July. Two hundred guests were in attendance for the launch, with presales for the village beginning on Friday, 24 July. Construction is progressing well, and is on track to welcome the first residents from August 2027. When complete, the village – which enjoys fantastic views across the waterfront – will offer a range of amenities and living options, including apartments, serviced apartments, care centre suites, and apartments in our innovative memory care centre.

Summerset at Monterey Park are Sustainability Award winners! Congratulations to residents of Summerset at

diverted into specialist recycling streams –

Monterey Park who have won at the Retirement

helping reduce landfill waste and support the

Villages Association (RVA) Sustainability

wider community.

Awards. The Awards celebrate practical,

Our Summerset Mountain View village was also a

creative ways villages are improving sustainability across New Zealand, and our Hobsonville residents were recognised for projects led ‘by residents, for residents’.

finalist for their Workshop Wonders group, which brings residents together to make, repair and repurpose everyday items. These projects show what’s possible when

At the West Auckland village, residents have

residents lead the way. The practical ideas,

created a network of easy-to-use recycling and

commitment and sense of community are making

repurposing stations. From textiles and batteries

a real difference – not just in reducing waste, but

to soft plastics, materials are reused, donated or

in bringing people together.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Winning the toss Bringing the ‘best of life’ to our residents means providing unique experiences as well as beautiful homes, amenity-filled villages and top-notch care. Our Summerset Milldale resident Jill was thrilled to receive complimentary tickets to the ANZ Netball Premiership Grand Final game. Jill was delighted to be called upon to do the official coin toss before the game!

VILLAGE #40

SU M M E RS ET K E LV I N G ROV E

Summerset Kelvin Grove has officially launched, marking our 40th village in New Zealand! Almost 200 guests from our Friends of Summerset database attended the information sessions on our second Palmerston North village at the Orlando Country Club. The plans and village model gave prospective residents a clear idea of what the completed village will look like. Construction is well underway and the first residents are expected to move in at the end of the year. The village has a lovely rural outlook with views of the Tararua and Ruahine Ranges. Once complete it will offer residents a variety of living options and amenities.

SUMMERSET MILLDALE WINS DESIGN AWARD Summerset Milldale’s village centre has been recognised for its design excellence at the 2026 NZ Timber Design Awards. The village centre used cross-laminated timber (CLT) for the roof structure, as well as for the mid-floors. CLT is prefabricated layered timber boards bonded and pressed together. The crisscross layering results in an extremely strong structure, which is why it can be used for loadbearing. CLT is a carbonstoring renewable material, leading to a significant reduction in carbon emissions compared to a steel and concrete build.

Planning milestones for Summerset Summerset’s plans for a proposed new village on the Kāpiti Coast have moved ahead, with Kāpiti Coast District Council accepting the Otaihanga Private Plan Change. The proposed site, about 3.5km from Paraparaumu town centre and 4.3km from the coast, would put a future village close to shops, services and the easy coastal lifestyle the area is known for. A further milestone has been achieved for our Lower Hutt village, with resource consent granted for the 1.3ha village extension site adjoining Boulcott’s Farm Heritage Golf Club. The extension will include 48 independent living units, along with a central clubhouse and pickleball court overlooking the golf course.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

F RO M L AW O F F I C E TO

legal thriller For retired commercial lawyer Les Allen, his book If That’s What It Takes is representative of New Zealand’s legal world. “So many books are courtroom dramas, but the vast majority of law practitioners never set foot in a court,” says Les. “There is plenty of drama in other aspects of the law.”

Les’s book opens with an actual historical event in

years to sort out and was incredibly stressful. That

1970s Northern Ireland, which forms the back story

experience left him disenchanted with the law for

to one of the main characters. From there, the book

a time. “I considered quitting, but thanks to the

is a drama set in small-town New Zealand, featuring

people around me, my team, and my clients, I

the kind of legal problems Les encountered with his

regained my enthusiasm.”

clients. Mortgagee sales, ethical pressure, financial

“That affection for the people behind the

troubles and the internal life of a law office all became part of the world he wanted to explore. While his book is fiction, some scenes were inspired by real cases Les worked on during his

profession runs through the novel. Les wanted to write not just about lawyers, but about the ‘back of house’ people who keep a firm moving – receptionists, secretaries and staff, who often see

career. The quarry at the centre of one storyline,

a different side of clients from the partners.”

for example, grew out of a dramatic mortgagee

In the book, Les deliberately allows some

sale he dealt with, while several characters are amalgamations of people he knew. The protagonist, Jim Mansell, Les describes as a reflection of people he admires. “Jim is the kind of lawyer who tries to protect ordinary people and

wrongdoers to avoid punishment. It reflects, he says, the reality that justice is not always served. Powerful people can escape consequences, and legal outcomes can feel incomplete. Sometimes the people who try hardest to do the right thing

small businesses, even when doing the right thing

pay the highest price.

costs him personally,” says Les. That idea came

Les’s legal training made the writing easier in

from a difficult period in Les’s own professional

some ways because he understood the world he

life when a partner’s wrongdoing left others

was depicting. It also made the process slower.

legally bound to repay defrauded clients. It took

He found himself constantly checking details. He

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Les Allen at his home at Summerset by the Park.

wasn’t the only one. “My editor questioned a scene about a bank opening specially for the lawyer, saying it wouldn’t happen. I had to explain that it could, because it did.” The novel took about four years to write, mostly while Les was still working full time. He wrote on weekends and during holidays. Much of the book is set in Northland. “I’ve a deep affection for the coastline around Tutukaka and Matapouri Bay.” Authenticity was important, so Les would drive around Whangārei gathering street names and checking other details. He asked his wife, Jenny, for help with visual aspects, such as describing women’s clothing for female characters. “Which, he says, “she found hilarious.”

Still, the book found its audience. Readers told him they finished it in one sitting. Les donated two copies to the village library. “I think I have always been a frustrated author,” he says. “My goal was to get a story out into the world.” These days, Les is a member of the book club at Summerset by the Park, where he has lived for almost 18 months, and is a regular in the village library. It’s a fitting next chapter for someone who’s spent years weaving the stories around him into a book of his own. To learn more, visit lesallenauthor.com

Writing the book was one thing. Design, publication and marketing were another. “I wanted the book to look like something you’d find at Whitcoulls, so I didn’t cut corners on the cover. My son developed the concept design, and self-publishing specialists YourBooks produced the colourful and dramatic final artwork.” After approaching publishers and often receiving little response, Les chose to self-publish an initial print run of 300 copies, followed by another 100. Getting noticed by bookshops and readers was an ongoing challenge. “Marketing was harder than writing,” he remarks. “In Australia, local authors receive stronger support; I’d like to see more backing for homegrown fiction here.”

Les’s book.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

WORLD

ALZHEIMER’S

MONTH

Join us this September for an informative webinar

a diagnosis is important, and how creating

with Caroline Bartle from Alzheimers New Zealand.

dementia-friendly communities helps people living

In recognition of World Alzheimer’s Month, this

with dementia stay connected and supported.

session will explore what dementia is, the early

Whether you’re looking to maintain your own

signs to look out for, and practical ways to support

wellbeing, support a loved one, or simply learn more

brain health at any age.

about brain health, this webinar offers valuable

You’ll learn about everyday habits that can help

insights and practical takeaways for everyone.

reduce dementia risk, why acting early and seeking

The session will conclude with a live Q&A.

When: 2pm, Wednesday 23 September Presented by: Caroline Bartle, Director, Dementia Learning Centre, Alzheimers New Zealand Join via Zoom: summerset.zoom.us/j/83960781337 Meeting ID: 839 6078 1337

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

COMPETITION KICKS OFF NEXT MONTH

Calling all Summerset golfers, from beginner to expert level! In partnership with our friends at Golf New Zealand, we’re pleased to present the Summerset Slam competition, which will take place from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027. Play nine holes and go in the draw to win a trip to Queenstown for the NZ Open in February 2027. The grand prize package includes flights, accommodation, a corporate hospitality package to the NZ Open, $1000 spending money, and transport to and from the NZ Open. The grand prize will be drawn at random, only nine-hole rounds are eligible, and every round completed counts as an entry. So, the more nine-hole rounds you play, the more chances you’ll have to win! Our grand winner will be contacted on 2 February, and we’ll make an announcement in village newsletters on 5 February.

You must have a Golf NZ membership number to enter. New members are welcome – you can simply purchase the Golf New Zealand Flexiclub membership or sign up to your local golf course. The player with the most Stableford points in a single round for the month will also come away with a prize. To keep track of the live Summerset Slam leaderboard once the competition is underway, just login via the Golf NZ app or website and select the Competitions page. If you have any questions about the competition, please email competitions@summerset.co.nz. Together with our friends at Golf New Zealand we wish you the best of luck!

The Summerset Slam is a Stableford competition. Stableford competitions are a fun, points-based format where every good hole counts. It’s easy to play, suits golfers of all abilities, and means one bad hole won’t spoil your round. To enter: Complete the registration form by scanning the QR code on your smartphone’s camera or head to: campaignware.com/golfnz/slam26.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Meet the Golfer Heather Thanks to Summerset’s partnership with Golf New Zealand, some residents will get the chance to tee it up in Pro-Am events held alongside Summerset Charles Tour stops around the country. At the Muriwai Open Pro-Am, Summerset resident Heather Spencer played alongside fellow keen golfer, and friend, Michelle Dee and professional golfers Rhys Thomas and Laura Owen. They say golf is a game for life – and for Heather that rings true. In her 20 years of playing, Heather says she still loves the many challenges the game offers for players of all skill levels. “There’s no negative side to golf really,” she says. “You can play badly and it’s still a good golf day. For Heather, who has a handicap of 12 for 9-hole golf, and 22 for 18, the appeal of the game stretches well beyond the fairways. It’s a sport that

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

has rewarded her with lasting friendships, a reason to get outdoors, and a routine that keeps both body and mind ticking over. “Fitness and companionships; you just get up and go,” she says. Playing a full 18 holes in the Pro-Am rather than 9 is a little harder than it used to be, but that’s hardly the point. Yet for all the friendships forged on the fairway, Heather is no stranger to competition. Her proudest golfing moment came last year when she claimed the North Harbour 9 Hole Champion of Champions title at Whenuapai Golf Club – a win that brings a smile to her face as she recounts the tale. Should Michelle be unavailable, Heather’s dream pairing doesn’t lack ambition – none other than LPGA Hall of Famer and New Zealand’s own Dame Lydia Ko. A pairing like that would call for her favourite driver to be well and truly on song. The Pro-Am is a day out – but for Heather, a real draw is what she returns to at Summerset. “It’s the security and the relaxed living and just being surrounded by lovely people. It was the best decision ever.”

Meet the Golfer Raewyn Golf has been part of Raewyn’s life since she was seven or eight, tagging along with her golf-mad mother on Sundays at Ngāhinepōuri Golf Club, the very same club that produced Summerset Charles Tour winner Tyler Wood, and “the best nine-hole golf course in Waikato,” according to Raewyn. She played through her teenage years, a stint in Sydney, marriage and motherhood, and she has a long association with Tieke (formerly Lochiel) Golf Estate. After her husband passed away in 2004, she returned to her home club at Ngāhinepōuri, where she still plays three times a week. This year brought her proudest golfing moment yet, claiming her club’s most prestigious trophy, the Ngāhinepōuri Cup, following in the footsteps

laughs. It capped off a golfing philosophy built over decades: “You’ve gotta be cunning rather than smart. Wily.” Raewyn moved into Summerset down the Lane in April of this year, and it wasn’t a hard decision. She’d known the village since it was just a concept, having lived nearby for years, and had a close friend already living there. “Summerset down the Lane says friendly, homely, comfortable,” she says. “There were a lot of things here that said, yes, this is the right one for me.” At Summerset down the Lane Raewyn got her first taste of simulator golf, on the village’s machine. “I find it daunting to hit into a wall,” she admits, “and I think you start to hit too hard to start with.” Even so, she’s sold on it. “I’d recommend it. I’ve never been keen on a driving range, but now I’m using the simulator, I could probably enjoy one.” Her advice for anyone thinking about giving golf a try? “Have a go, laugh with friends and laugh at yourself.”

of her mother, sister and brother, past winners going back to the 1940s. “I just had to win it,” she

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

LOS I N G I T:

TURNING CARE INTO THEATRE It was over coffee dates that Sandra Shearer and Ceridwyn Parr discovered they had more in common than a love of theatre. The pair met through the same theatre class and,

the exhaustion and frustration of navigating a

as their friendship grew, discovered they shared

health system struggling to cope. There were

significant life experience. Both had been carers for

other emotions too. “Like mental health never

loved ones living with dementia and understood

used to be mentioned, and some aspects of

the profound loneliness the role can bring. “It began as a cathartic conversation, then as we talked more, we realised that dementia affects so

dementia are often viewed as taboo,” says Ceridwyn. “Like the anger and resentment that you can feel towards the person you are caring

many in the community. We said, ‘Hang on, we

for. We wanted to normalise them.”

should write a play about this,’ because it impacts

Sandra agrees. “Carers are often left out of

so many lives,” says Ceridwyn. The result is their play, Losing It.

conversations, but their worlds shrink too. Some friends feel uncomfortable; they don’t know what

To revisit their experiences, both women

to say, so they don’t visit or call. Your entire world

returned to the journals they kept during their

begins to revolve around the needs of the person

years as caregivers.

you are caring for; you lose the balance in your

“I had four-and-a-half years of journals,” says

own life. You might bear the brunt of aggression

Sandra, who lives at Summerset down the Lane. “Keeping them was a way of processing and

and violence, as well as the confusion. We wanted to give our audience permission to recognise

making sense of all the experiences and

these feelings, and to not feel so alone.”

subsequent emotions I experienced at the time.”

The 45-minute play draws on their lived

Both women experienced the grief of watching

experiences, but while it tackles a difficult

someone they loved slowly slip away, alongside

subject, there are moments of levity.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

“Not every moment of being a carer is serious and sad,” Sandra says. “There are happy memories too, and we try to convey that in the play.” Some scenes draw plenty of laughs, including a lolly scramble that invites audience participation. Music and singing also feature. “We sing songs everyone knows. We give out song sheets so everyone can join in.” Unlike many plays and films about dementia, which end when the person moves into care, Losing It continues beyond their death.

performed in a church, we perform to both men and women, and to young people. The issues remain the same.” Although she steers clear of politics, Sandra believes any political party needs to recognise the growing impact of dementia and respond accordingly. “Dementia is becoming so common,” she says. “It is affecting so many people and so many different communities.” The response to the play has exceeded anything either woman expected. What began with an audience of just 15 people in Sandra’s garage has spread by word of mouth, with the pair performing more than 30 times in the past year across Waikato and Auckland. They’ve also been

“The play explores some difficult realities,” says

invited to Christchurch, although travel costs

Ceridwyn. “Dementia is a progressive disease; it

remain a challenge.

will get worse. We want to give our audience a green light to accept what will happen.” Questions are encouraged after every performance, giving audience members the opportunity to continue the conversation. It has been a bonding experience for some. “At one performance, audience members realised that there was no carer support group in their area, so they started one,” says Ceridwyn. What has struck the pair is how dementia crosses cultural, gender and age boundaries.

“We don’t charge, but we do ask for a koha from the audience to cover costs and petrol money,” says Ceridwyn. “We received funding from Waipa Networks to bring it to three communities in the Waikato. While we would love to travel further with it, flights, accommodation et cetera means we would need sponsorship from somewhere.” Performing Losing It has also inspired the pair to write another play. “I like that we are in our seventies, yet we are travelling, we are trying something new,” says Sandra. “I hope that we can

“We have performed at a marae in a

give other people confidence that they can try

predominantly Māori community, we have

something new too.”

1: Performing Losing It. 2 & 3: Ceridwyn Parr and Sandra Shearer.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

S TA F F P R O F I L E

Lani Wickens BY ELLIE CLIFFORD

Lani Wickens was named Clinical Nurse Lead/ Memory Care Lead of the Year at the Summerset Applause Awards. She works at Summerset on the Landing in Kenepuru in Wellington. It was caring for her grandfather that inspired Lani to pursue a career in aged care. “Looking after him reinforced the importance of providing person-centred, compassionate support,” Lani says. Born and raised in Batanes in the Philippines, Lani moved to New Zealand to complete her nursing degree and has worked at Summerset on the Landing since it opened. As Clinical Nurse Lead, Lani provides leadership and support to the nursing team to ensure safe, high-quality, person-centred care. “My role includes co-ordinating resident care, mentoring and supporting the nursing team and care givers, overseeing clinical documentation and collaborating with residents and their families.” Lani says it is a privilege to be able to advocate for residents when they are unable to speak for themselves. “I believe every resident deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion, and I take pride in being someone they can rely on,” she says. Lani also rises to the challenges her job entails, such as supporting staff through unexpected and sometimes complex clinical situations, while communicating effectively with residents and

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

their families. Yet Lani finds her role rewarding, making a positive difference to residents’ well-being and empowering the nursing team. Lani also enjoys working with her team. “They feel like my second family. I’m surrounded by supportive and caring people, and I always feel appreciated,” she says. “Winning the Applause Award was a very proud and humbling experience. It was rewarding to have my dedication, hard work and commitment recognised. It’s motivated me to continue learning and developing my leadership skills.” When she is not working, Lani – who lives with her family in Papakōwhai in Porirua – enjoys being outside. “My garden is very relaxing. I also enjoy going for walks, as it gives me time to think, reflect and unwind.”

“THEY FEEL LIKE MY S E C O N D F A M I LY. I ’ M SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTIVE AND C A R I N G P E O P L E .”

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

FOR A HOOT

AND A TOOT

BY ELLIE CLIFFORD

At his villa that he shares with wife, Val, at Summerset at Pohutukawa Place, the rich, instantly recognisable notes of ‘Scotland the Brave’ fill the room as Win Kerr breathes life into his bagpipes. “The sound stirs the blood,” says Win when asked why the bagpipes still resonate with so many people. “They were played in war for centuries; used to prepare for battle.” The instrument is astonishingly loud, yet Pepper the family cat is so used to it he doesn’t turn a

Now, numbers are much smaller. Members of the Eltham band have been incorporated into the Stratford Pipe Band, where Win has “a hoot and a toot” once a week. Learning to play, though, is anything but simple. “They say it’s seven years learning, seven years practising and seven generations of breathing!” says Win. Beginners don’t start on the pipes; they must first master a bagless practice chanter, which looks like a recorder, to learn the finger work of the notes. “It took me about a year to get proficient,” says Win. Moving on to playing the pipes requires an immense amount of coordination. The piper blows through the blowpipe to fill the bag, which supplies a steady stream of air to the reeds and creates the pipes’ distinctive sound. The chanter

whisker. Win has been playing the Scottish

plays the melody.

Highland war pipes for sixty years, helping to

“You play the notes with your fingers, seal your

keep an ancient tradition alive. Win’s great-grandfather, an accomplished musician who served as Piper to the Earl of

lips correctly onto the blowpipe, then co-ordinate pressing the bag with your elbow while breathing steadily. It is complicated in a

Sutherland, emigrated from Scotland to New

basic way,” Win chuckles.

Zealand in the late 1800s. He later helped to

Inevitably, over the years there have been

establish the Eltham Pipe Band after the First

mishaps. “Not long ago we were leading a parade

World War. Win’s set of pipes, made from ebony

in New Plymouth when my chanter popped out

wood, are a family heirloom, but he didn’t begin

of my bag,” Win says. “It fell on the road and the

playing until he was 32. “I played the cornet

whole parade had to stop while I put it back

instead,” says Win, a former farmer. “I played in

together, then everyone had to start again.”

the Eltham Brass Band, but once it folded I joined the local pipe band to learn.”

While piping may be a less common hobby, it is still popular. The New Zealand Pipe Band

Back then, pipe bands were a common sight.

Championships took place earlier this year, and

“Almost every town had one,” Win says. “New

55 bands, including from Australia and Canada,

Plymouth had three! Years ago, Eltham had

descended on Inglewood to play in front of

enough pipers for a senior and a junior band.”

enthusiastic crowds. Win has taught many

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

3. 1 & 3: Winn Kerr on Anzac Day 2026 at Summerset Pohutukawa Place.

2. With granddaughter Piper at the 2026 National Pipe Band Championships.

learners over the years, including one who is now a pipe major in Sydney and who played the solo lament at the city’s Anzac Day service.

A little closer to home, the tradition is continuing within his own family, with his 13-year-old grandson William learning to play. “I’ll teach him the basics and gently encourage him,” Win says. With only nine notes and no sharps or flats, the bagpipes have their limitations. “You can’t play everything on them,” says Win. “A lot of modern songs are built around the chords and words rather than notes. But there are thousands of tunes written for the pipes.”

Among them is the pibroch, the stately sound usually played for military ceremonies or funerals, and lasting between 10 and 20 minutes. “If done properly it gives me goosebumps,”says Win. At his Summerset village, where he and Val have lived for three-and-a-half years, Win is well known. “I think I’m the only piper in the village, or at least the only one silly enough to put my hand up!” Win plays for celebrations and commemorations in the village, such as Burns Night, St Andrew’s Day and Anzac Day. And there is one modern tune that Win will often break out, to the delight of fellow residents. “I like to play ‘Happy Birthday’ to my neighbours here,” Win says.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Summerset Creates The Summerset Creates Creative Arts competition series celebrates the creativity and talent of Summerset residents. Whether you’re an experienced artist or trying something new, we encourage you to enter! Creative Design category Submit an original handmade creation in any medium. This could include sculpture, ceramics, carving, woodwork, resin art, textiles, embroidery, doll-making, mosaics, mixed media, or any other crafted or creative project. Judges will be looking for creativity and originality, effective use of materials and medium, technical skill and craftsmanship, and the overall visual and emotional impact of your work. Painting & Drawing category: Landscape Create a landscape painting or drawing featuring natural scenery. Structures and figures may be included. Mediums include watercolour, acrylic, pencil, charcoal, pastel or mixed media. Judges Cary Cochrane and Sofija Matich – Directors of Art in the Park – will assess creativity, composition and balance, technical skill, storytelling, and the effective use of colour, light, shape and shadow to create depth, atmosphere, and visual interest. Entries open 1 October and close 15 October. Please read the full competition details in your village newsletter prior to entering. To enter, send a photo of your original artwork to activities@summerset.co.nz

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Summerset Big Quiz Wednesday, 14 October 2:30pm Wednesday, 11 November 2:30pm Wednesday, 9 December 2:30pm Join fellow residents for friendly competition, laughter and brain-teasing trivia. Whether you’re taking part at your village’s quiz event or from home, it’s a great chance to connect with the wider Summerset community, test your knowledge and enjoy an entertaining afternoon of quiz action. Join using the Zoom Meeting ID: 842 4509 1683 Summerset Sings – 2026 Wrap Party Concert Wednesday, 2 December Join Will Martin and special guests The Lady Killers, featuring New Zealand music legends Tina Cross, Suzanne Lynch and Jackie Clarke, for an end-of-year celebration filled with music, dancing and singalong favourites. Packed with upbeat hits, festive favourites and plenty of opportunities to join in, this feel-good concert brings all the fun of a great night out to your village. Whether you’re on the dance floor or singing along from your seat, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the season and wrap up 2026 in style.

Series Interview with Jackie Clarke Released Wednesday, 7 October at 2pm

A Summerset World Released Wednesday, 18 November at 2pm

Filmed at Summerset Mount Denby in Whangārei, Jude Dobson sits down with Jackie Clarke MNZM, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated entertainers.

A Summerset World is an entertainment series where each episode profiles a different village and showcases the talents and interests of the residents living there.

In this engaging conversation, Jackie reflects on her remarkable career spanning television, theatre, music and live performance. Renowned for her powerhouse vocals, quick wit and captivating stage presence, she shares stories from her journey through the entertainment industry, including her time on popular television programmes, collaborations with leading New Zealand artists, and touring the country with her acclaimed solo show Jackie Goes Prima Diva and the celebrated vocal trio The Lady Killers.

In this episode, co-hosts Nick Tansley and Anna Childs visit Summerset Palms in Te Awa and discover a village rich in talent, creativity and community spirit. They meet the singing group and line dancers, explore a remarkable shell collection and a garage filled with model cars, chat crafts with a talented resident, meet a gifted pianist, and uncover a touch of magic from a resident magician. Every story offers a glimpse into the people, passions and friendships that make Summerset Palms so special.

To watch past interviews in our ‘Interview With” series, simply visit our website: www.summerset. co.nz/a-summerset-interview-with/ and enjoy them at your leisure.

Recycling Week 2026

Jackie Clarke

Recycling Week 2026 runs from 19 to 25 October and is New Zealand’s largest educational campaign for waste minimisation and recycling. The week encourages us to think beyond recycling and consider the full waste hierarchy: avoid, reduce, reuse, repair and recycle. Recycling should be the last resort after exploring ways to reduce waste in the first place. At Summerset, all villages will be focusing on Recycling Week, so keep an eye out for what’s happening in your village and take part. You can support the initiative by bringing a reusable container for takeaways, carrying a reusable coffee cup and water bottle, choosing products that can be repaired or reused, and ensuring recyclable items are clean and placed in the correct bin. Remember to check whether an item is recyclable, give containers a quick rinse, and recycle containers without lids where appropriate.

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DELICIOUS RECIPES

JOYS

F R O M

T H E

M E D

R E C I P E A N D P H OTO G R A P H S BY JA N B I LTO N

HEALTHY MEDITERRANEAN FOOD IS THE ULTIMATE FEEL-GOOD FEAST! IT’S ALL ABOUT VIBRANT, SUN-SOAKED INGREDIENTS LIKE FRESH VEGES, JUICY FRUITS AND PLANT-POWERED LEGUMES. AND HEART-HEALTHY EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.

This season we are celebrating rye bread

easier to eat. Traditionally, cream is added

bruschetta with cannellini beans, feta and

to Tetrazzini, but wine offers a not-so-rich

olive oil; pasta with chicken and parmesan;

version. This dish can be prepared ahead,

plus a lemon twist on the Italian tiramisu.

covered and refrigerated. Bring to room

Cannellini beans, also called white kidney beans, are a staple of Italian cuisine, and are known for their distinctively creamy texture, mild, nutty flavour and delicate skins. They are excellent in soups and stews because they hold their shape well while releasing starches that naturally thicken liquids.

temperature, then bake. It can also be frozen in meal-size portions. Add a little wine or cream when reheating. Okay, tiramisu contains a heap of calories, but this lemon version is just so tangy and delicious you’ll want to try it – it’s a real ‘pick me up’. It will keep in the fridge for three to four days, and you

Chicken Tetrazzini is usually prepared with

can also freeze it in portions for up to

long pasta, but I used spirals; they’re

three months.

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CANNELLINI BEAN

BRUSCHETTA SERVES 4 AS A SNACK OR 2 AS A MAIN

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

400g can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

Roughly mash the beans so they can absorb the flavours. Add the olive oil, spring onion, garlic, lemon juice, chilli flakes and black pepper. Stir to combine.

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 spring onion, chopped 1 large clove garlic, crushed 2 tablespoons lemon juice ¼–½ teaspoon chilli flakes Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Drizzle the toast with a little olive oil. Top with the bean mixture. Crumble the feta on top and drizzle with more olive oil. If preferred, add some colour by dusting the feta with paprika.

4 thick slices rye bread, toasted

TIP

Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

The topping can be prepared a day ahead, covered and chilled.

50g reduced salt feta Ground paprika for dusting (optional)

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CHICKEN

TETRAZZINI SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

1¾ cups dried spiral pasta

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add the pasta and cook until just tender. Drain and place aside.

200g skinned and boned cooked chicken, shredded 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 medium onion, diced 125g brown mushrooms, finely sliced 2 cloves garlic, crushed 2 tablespoons flour or cornflour 1 cup chicken stock ½ cup dry white wine or cream ¾ cup finely grated parmesan cheese, divided

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a non-stick frying pan. Add the onion and sauté until softened. Add the mushrooms and cook until limp. Stir in the garlic. Add the remaining oil to the pan. Stir in the flour. Gradually stir in the chicken stock, stirring continuously until thickened. Stir in the wine or cream until thickened. Remove from the heat and add a ½ cup of the parmesan cheese. Then add the shredded chicken and cooked pasta. Mix well. Place in a 25cm x 16cm baking dish. Preheat the oven to 190°C. Sprinkle the pasta with the remaining parmesan. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until hot and bubbling. Great garnished with sliced cherry tomatoes, pitted black olives and parsley. TIP I used gluten-free pasta.

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LEMON

TIRAMISU SERVES 6–8

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

2 large egg yolks

Beat the egg yolks and icing sugar in a bowl set over warm water, until light. Cool.

½ cup icing sugar

1 cup cream

In a large bowl, beat the mascarpone until smooth. Fold in the egg yolk mixture. In another bowl, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. Fold into the mascarpone/egg yolk mixture.

½ cup lemon and barley fruit syrup

Combine the lemon and barley concentrate, lemon essence and limoncello or lemon juice in a shallow oblong dish.

½ teaspoon lemon essence

1 cup lemon curd, stirred

Cut the sponge into 1.5 cm-thick fingers or use the ladyfinger biscuits. Dip the fingers into the lemon mixture to moisten. Place a single layer of fingers on the base of a 26cm x 20cm dish. Spread half the mascarpone mixture evenly over the top. Dot with half the lemon curd, then spread evenly. Cover with more fingers, then the remaining mascarpone. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.

1 small lemon, thinly sliced to garnish

To serve, warm the remaining lemon curd until liquid and drizzle over the top. Garnish with lemon slices just before serving.

250g mascarpone

3 tablespoons limoncello or lemon juice 350g sponge cake or 200g packet lady finger biscuits

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

GO GREENER

Green Update Solar power has become one of the clearest signs of Summerset’s sustainability work in action. It is now planned into all new village developments from construction stage, including new builds in Australia, so cleaner energy is part of the design from the start. Some of our existing villages are also making the most of the sun. Solar panels

Goodbye gas

have been retrofitted at Summerset by the

Saying goodbye to gas is another

Lake in Taupō, Summerset Palms in Te Awa

important part of Summerset’s

in Hawke’s Bay, and Summerset at the

sustainability work. Plans have been

Course in Trentham. These arrays generate

brought forward to transition all 28

clean electricity on site, reduce demand on

existing villages off gas by the end of

the wider grid, lower emissions linked to

2028, replacing gas-powered systems with

energy use, and help villages stay more

electric alternatives and reducing reliance

resilient during disruptions.

on fossil fuels.

The first retrofit, at Summerset Richmond Ranges, has shown what a difference solar

The programme covers the systems that

can make. In its first year, the system

keep villages running day to day, including

generated 154,000kWh of clean electricity

hot water, kitchens, laundries and

– enough, according to the Ministry of

fireplaces. As these are upgraded, villages

Business, Innovation and Employment – to

will reduce their direct emissions and

power around 21 standalone New Zealand

move towards lower-carbon operations.

homes for a full year.

Summerset at the Course in Trentham has

Residents are showing interest too. At

already become the first village to fully

Summerset at Monterey Park in Auckland, a solar pilot programme for independent living residents has been well received, with residents keen to take part in cleaner energy at home.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

transition off gas, with other villages now working through the upgrade process.

Solar panels at Summerset Cambridge.

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Understanding dementia, at your own pace Having access to clear, reliable information can make it easier to understand dementia mate wareware. For many people, that understanding builds over time, whether it’s for themselves, someone close to them or others in their community. For one care partner, finding that information made a real difference: “Before finding the Dementia Navigator, I was drowning… (the) diagnosis had left me confused and scared. It felt like someone finally handed me a flashlight in a dark room. Having all the modules in one place means that I don’t have to spend hours sifting through unreliable Google searches.” (Evelyn, wife, Waikato) Developed by Dementia New Zealand, Dementia Navigator is a free online resource that provides practical information you can return to whenever it suits you. It brings together short, easy-to-follow topics covering areas such as what dementia is, getting a diagnosis, planning ahead and the different types of dementia. It also looks at some of the changes that can occur, including behaviour, helping people better understand what they or someone close to them may be experiencing. There’s no set order, and no expectation to take everything in at once. You can spend a few minutes or longer, depending on what feels right, and return to it whenever you need.

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For some, the value comes in understanding what’s happening day to day and responding differently as a result. “The Dementia Navigator didn’t just give me an understanding of clinical definitions, it gave me practical advice and visual cues to use. I learned that her ‘sundowning’ wasn’t personal; it’s part of the condition. We’ve gone from three meltdowns a day to one.” (Alyssia, daughter, Hawke’s Bay) Dementia Navigator has been developed in conjunction with Dementia New Zealand’s nationwide network of affiliates. It is designed to sit alongside the support available in local communities, offering something you can come back to as things change. It’s there when you need it. Explore Dementia Navigator: dementia.nz/resources/ dementia-navigator/

JUDE ON... DIGGING UP ED EN PA R K When I went to the CEO of Eden Park a couple of years ago and asked if I could dig up some of the hallowed turf and take it offshore, I wondered what his respone might be! The result of that conversation is the documentary From Field to Front, now online at TVNZ+. It follows the story of Dave Gallaher, captain of New Zealand’s 1905 ‘Originals’ All Black team. Considered the ‘Father of the All Blacks’, Dave was a leader on the rugby field and on the battlefield. It was the latter role that prematurely took his life in World War I. The documentary explores these two defining parts of Dave Gallaher’s life, and more. With the blessing of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei as kaitiaki of the land, we followed the emotive removal of soil from Eden Park and gifted it to three poignant places: • Ramelton, County Donegal, in the Republic of Ireland, where Dave was born in 1873. • Parc des Princes, the Paris venue where Dave played his last All Black test in 1906 against the French (in France’s first-ever test). • His grave at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Nine Elms British Cemetery in Belgium, near where Dave was killed in battle in 1917. I thought long and hard about what the inscription on the boxes of soil should be, and, with the help Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, came up with the below, which I think is apt for Dave:

Mateparae was happy to remove the soil with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to start the journey. Then I had to find funders, a broadcaster to play it, a crew to make it and the right people to ensure the soil got around the world and back again through bio security. Who needs sleep, I say. When we got to the point of filming, it was so beautiful to see the love each country held for Dave’s memory, as they gifted soil to take back to New Zealand. Emotive stuff. Each place handcrafted a box that represented their country and represented Dave personally. The one that houses the soil from Dave’s grave was made by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), and is now on permanent display at Eden Park inside the gate where the statue of Dave Gallaher is. It is handcrafted by artisans from the CWGC using the same 80-year-old French oak that is used in all CWGC cemeteries, and is inscribed with the same silver fern that is on every New Zealander’s headstone. The journey has finally come to an end for the soil exchange, for the making of the documentary itself, and for me as a producer. It is just too hard to get the sort of documentaries I like to make funded, so I am hanging up my proverbial boots there. But I have to say it was a meaningful documentary to finish my doco-making career with. If you are looking for something to watch and have 45 minutes free, give it a go. You might need a hanky though.

He toa i runga i te papa tākaro, he toa i te parekura. A hero on the field, a hero in battle. The next step was to ask legendary All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick if he was happy to be a soil courier in Ireland and Belgium, and ‘bring Dave home’ to New Zealand. And, being the good man that he is, he said yes. Fellow former All Black Andrew Mehrtens also said yes to helping in France, and Lt. Gen. Sir Jerry

At Eden Park.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

IN THE GARDEN

POTS OF POTATOES A R T I C L E BY LY N DA H A L L I N A N

Get ready to dig up a bumper crop of gourmet baby potatoes from your own backyard, says Lynda Hallinan. In spring, retailers start ticking off the shopping days until Santa comes down the chimney, whereas keen gardeners count the days until the first new season’s spuds are ready to dig up for Christmas dinner.

doses of seaweed or liquid fish fertiliser. If you have a conservatory, sheltered balcony or even just a set of sunny north-facing glass doors, you can even keep your bucket of spuds indoors to speed up growth.

From plot to plate, it takes roughly three months for early potato varieties to yield their buried treasures. With this in mind, my grandfather Albert bedded in his rows of government-certified seed potatoes every year, without fail, on the first of September. Grandad’s spring planting of waxy ‘Arran Banner’ or ‘Sutton Supreme’ was followed up in November by rows of ‘King Edward’, a dependable main crop variety still grown to this day.

It’s possible to grow great potatoes using store-bought tubers that have started to sprout in your pantry, but I prefer to buy certified virus-free seed potatoes from garden centres. Line them up in an egg carton to “chit” (pre-sprout) for a few weeks prior to planting; they’re ready to go into the soil when the sprouts emerging from their dimpled eyes are 1–2cm long.

Albert was a Waikato farmer with acreage to spare, but spuds can also be grown successfully in small plots and large pots. Garden centres sell specialist potato planter bags, but a cheap 10-litre plastic bucket also does the trick. I’ve judged many a school spud-in-a-bucket competition where a single seed potato has spawned a prize-winning feed. If you fancy challenging your neighbours to a spud growing contest, whack a few drainage holes into the base of a bucket, half fill with good quality potting mix or recycled mushroom compost, pop in a seed tuber and top up with more potting mix. Fertilise with sheep pellets, a sprinkle of slow release granules and weekly

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

If growing spuds in a garden bed, mound up the soil around the plants to keep their roots cool and mulch well to prevent any shallow tubers turning green. In frost-free areas, potatoes can be grown year-round, but in colder climates, be aware that the tender green tops will turn to mush if tickled by Jack Frost. Protect on freezing nights with frost cloth or even sheets of newspaper. Early varieties such as ‘Rocket’, ‘Swift’ and ‘Jersey Benne’ have firm, waxy flesh and are best eaten steamed, boiled or in potato salads, whereas main crop varieties such as ‘Agria’ or ‘Rua’ have floury, starchy flesh that fluffs up when roasted, baked or fried. As a rule, early varieties take 70–90 days compared to 120–150 days for main croppers.

Note that most early varieties are shy to flower, so don’t fret when their green tops yellow off before they bother to bloom; it simply means it’s time to dig them up. Conversely, when main croppers start to flower late in summer, it’s a sure sign that your spuds are coming along nicely, but remember to leave the tubers in the ground until the plants have fully died down so their skins harden for better keeping. On a road trip around Tasmania last year, I was chuffed to see roadside stalls hawking bags of heirloom ‘Pink Eyes’ and ‘Dutch Creams’. In New Zealand, we have our own prized heritage potatoes or taewa, such as long purple ‘Urenika’ or ‘Tūtaekurī’ mottled ‘Moemoe’, pink ‘Whero whero’ and badger-faced ‘Kowiniwini’. These so-called ‘Māori potatoes’ are ideal for growing in pots and tubs, as they are smaller growing and require less room per plant than modern hybrids. The Irish have a quaint old saying that “if beef is the King of meat, the potato is the Queen of the garden”. The French took this literally; Marie Antoinette once tucked a spray of potato flowers into her hair while her husband, King Louis XVI, wore potato flower buttonholes in a bid to promote potatoes to peasant farmers. But I’m less likely to wear my potatoes than eat ‘em! Scrubbed, steamed and served with lashings of butter and chopped mint, layered in a cheesy

gratin or baked in their jackets with sour cream and chives, I’ve never met a potato I didn’t like! “Every single diet I ever fell off of was because of potatoes and gravy of some sort,” country superstar Dolly Parton once quipped. But guess what? If you’re monitoring your bloody sugar levels, potatoes aren’t necessarily off the menu. Massey University research has found that cooking, cooling and gently reheating leftover potatoes the following day triples their resistant starch content (a form of fibre that our bodies can’t easily absorb, so it doesn’t cause a spike in blood sugar levels like most carbs). So eating potato salad or last night’s leftovers fried for breakfast means you can still enjoy our nation’s favourite vegetable.

S E ASO N A L C H EC K L I ST Sow heirloom tomatoes, peppers and chillies in punnets indoors. Sow peas and broad beans direct. Plant broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce. Cut back perennial herbs such as mint, oregano and rosemary to encourage fresh growth. Feed potted citrus trees and roses.

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CRAFT CORNER

LITTLE LANTERNS ARTICLE BY MELISSA WASTNEY

Bring a touch of nature inside with this simple and elegant project. By pairing pressed leaves or flowers with a simple glass jar, you can create a beautiful glowing lantern to warm up your windowsill or table, or to give as a gift. These look great flickering on an outside table or lined up along a mantlepiece, too. Collect some botanical treasures on your next trip to the garden or park, and press them under a heavy book, ready for this project. I’ve used hydrangea and buttercup flowers, leaves and seedpods for the three lanterns shown here. You can place a simple and classic tealight candle inside your lantern, or try using LED battery-operated tealight candles for a fire-safe choice.

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SUPPLIES A shallow, clean glass jar with smooth sides, free of labels or stickers A selection of pressed leaves and flowers – lightweight and thin pieces work best Mod Podge with gloss finish, or another clear craft glue A small paintbrush A tea light candle or battery-operated LED tealight

METHOD 1. Ahead of time, collect some small, relatively flat and thin leaves, flowers or petals, and press them between the pages of a heavy book for a few days. 2. Map your design by deciding how you will arrange your botanical pieces around the jar. You could create a dense ‘garden’ of plants around the base of the jar, or simple use one or two flowers for a minimalist look. 3. Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge directly onto a section of the jar. Gently press your leaf or flower into the wet glue, smoothing it down from the centre outward to remove any air bubbles. Try to keep your brushstrokes going in the same direction if you can, for a neat effect. Don’t worry if your work looks streaky and cloudy – it will dry completely clear! 4. Once you’re happy with your arrangement, carefully brush another layer of Mod Podge over the outside of the jar to seal your design. Let it dry for a few hours. 5. Once your lantern is dry, pop a tealight inside. To embellish it further, tie a piece of twine or ribbon around the rim of the jar. You could also twist wire around the rim and create a loop to hang the lantern in a tree if you’re decorating an outdoor space.

THE ART OF PRESSING F L O W E R S A N D L E AV E S You don’t need fancy equipment to press flowers – just a little patience (or a microwave!). Look for thin, flat specimens. Fern fronds, clover leaves, pansies, buttercups and petals from roses are all good choices. Avoid thick, chunky flowers, as they hold too much moisture and won’t stick well to the glass. Here are two easy ways to press some botanicals for your lantern: Traditional: Make sure the plant matter is completely dry before pressing. Place your leaves or petals between two sheets of baking paper and tuck them inside a heavy book, and stack a few more books on top. Leave them for 5–7 days, until they are flat and paper-thin. Quick method: If you want to make a lantern immediately, place your leaves or flowers between two pieces of paper towel. Put them on a microwave-safe plate and weigh them down with a heavy, microwave-safe dish or cup. Microwave on low defrost for 30-second bursts. Check them each time – they should dry out and flatten within a few minutes.

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REVIEWS BY KAREN MCMILLAN

BOOK REVIEWS

The Target R I L EY C H A N C E His last novel, Weeping Angels, was shortlisted for the NZ Booklovers Award, and Riley Chance’s new thriller, The Target, is once again a page-turning, thought-provoking read. It brings back two memorable characters: former US agent Marla Simmons and New Zealand journalist Grace Marks. Marla is living a quiet life in a remote South Island town after surviving a few attempts to kill her by the agency she once worked for. The only contact she has with the outside world is a weekly encrypted call with Grace and getting groceries. In Wellington, Grace is covering escalating union protests, and she meets with one of the trade union leaders. But when a bomb explodes in their offices, echoing the 1984 Trade Hall blast, they are both injured. Grace has many enemies, so was she the target, or was she in the wrong place at the wrong time? Marla risks returning to Wellington to see her friend. Meanwhile, another agent is in New Zealand with an assignment to assassinate a target, and the TWO ROADS RRP $40

bombing was just the beginning of a complex operation. The stakes have never been more dangerous for both women...

Vice, Virtue and Villainy BO B R I C H M O N D This debut novel is both humorous and compelling, a romping read bursting with wit, charm and personality. Former Detective Inspector George Simpson moves to a small coastal town after being injured in the line of duty. However, the quiet life he was hoping for is disrupted when he is confronted by a woman with a gun, which puts him in the middle of a gang war between two rivals. Unable to stay on the sidelines, George begins investigating this complex case, joined by a group of strong-minded women seeking justice, drawing on all his police training to find the truth. Following the leads, it seems events are linked to the injury that forced him to leave the force in the first place. This is a highly entertaining, cosy crime novel, with just the right balance of mystery, action, romance and suspense. Bob Richmond has a natural talent for humour, so this novel is genuinely funny and heartwarming without losing its criminal elements. If you enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club, you would enjoy this novel, MCKENZIE PUBLISHING RRP $38

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hopefully the first of more featuring George Simpson.

His Story H A N S B. G RU E B E R Hans B. Grueber has lived an extraordinary life. His earliest childhood memories are of playing in the rubble of his badly bombed German town, after the city centre was incinerated by Allied forces in World War II. He describes the visceral upset at sitting through a documentary in high school about the liberation of the concentration camps. As a university student, Hans smuggled banned books to his friends in East Berlin. He has fled from police during student revolts in Paris and seen anti-Vietnam War demonstrators being tear-gassed by National Guard helicopters while studying at UC Berkley. He describes some of the cases he worked as a young lawyer. Moving to New Zealand was a new chapter for Hans, and he was a key player in introducing MMP to New Zealand, but he also shares a painful episode: his first marriage breaking down and the international custody case for his children that followed. Hans has an easy, relaxed writing style, with just the right mix of humour, WRITES HILL PRESS RRP $40

honesty and insight. Anyone interested in people’s personal stories, history, law, politics and societal issues will enjoy this engaging book.

Uncomfortable Economics DAV I D SC H N AU E R Thinking of his grandchildren and believing we can do better for them has prompted this retired lawyer to pen a book calling for action ahead of the New Zealand general election. The overriding concern is that New Zealand once ranked among the world’s most prosperous nations, but that is no longer the case, so David Schnauer examines what can be done to turn things around. Covering all the big topics – health, education, housing, the public sector, banking, immigration, infrastructure, tax, welfare, climate change and more – the author offers ideas that you may or may not agree with, but which will spark thought. He argues that people need to care as much about having a winning economy as they do about their favourite sport team winning. And it’s also a call for politicians to make the hard calls and look at things for the long term, rather than focusing on election cycles and short-term fixes. It’s surprisingly readable and will certainly encourage debate, as New Zealand, like many other countries, faces the challenges of unaffordable MARY EGAN PUBLISHING RRP $40

superannuation and health care, overpriced houses, lack of savings and government deficits. Thankfully, there are many positive suggestions.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

FITNESS

Spring

INTO ACTION Spring is an opportunity to shake off the winter blues, get some sunshine on your body, move outside and enjoy nature as it transforms right in front of our eyes. So whether your exercise routine has been

if possible, lift your knees in a marching fashion.

hibernating during winter or you’ve remained

You can also practice calf raises, rising onto

steady and active, here are some tips to get you

your toes for 10 seconds, then doing 10 lifts.

moving for spring.

Doing that every day will take you less than 5

• Get into a group class in your village. Every

minutes and set you up well for being steadier

Summerset village has a variety of activities, and many offer CB FIT – perfect for working on your strength and balance. Classes are social, and you’ll have an experienced teacher guiding you through.

• Get on a bike, or better yet, an e-bike. If you’re a keen rider (or once was), cycling offers a wonderful opportunity to travel longer distances, see more scenery and escape your normal living environment. Always go with someone else as support!

• You can start at home today with simple

on your feet.

• With any exercise, start slowly and never do

more than what you can handle. Leave at least 30% in the tank for next time.

• Don’t feel like you must always walk further or do more each workout. You might keep the

same routine for 3–4 weeks before increasing the distance or difficulty.

• Get your coffee takeaway with a friend and walk around the village instead of staying put. You’ll get some movement, good conversation and get to enjoy nature on the way.

exercises such as standing on one leg (with a

It’s never too late to start and never too small

bench or chair for support) walking up and

to make a difference – there is always an

down your hallway forwards and sideways and,

opportunity to move.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

FINANCE

F L I P T H E S W I T C H O N S AV I N G LIZ KOH

For many people, managing money in retirement presents an unexpected challenge. After spending their working life diligently saving, budgeting and investing for the future, they suddenly need to flip the switch and face the task of spending their hard-earned savings. Saving takes considerable effort and discipline, and people who are good savers take pride in their savings achievements. Becoming a spender rather than a saver is a challenge to their sense of identity, even though the money saved is exactly for this purpose. Saving habits can become deeply engrained over several decades. Good savers feel guilty spending money, especially on the ‘nice to haves’ such as eating out, new clothes and travel. Often these behaviours and attitudes come from childhood and the values instilled by parents. Aside from these behavioural factors, there are a number of reasons why retirees are reluctant to spend their savings. At the top of the list is uncertainty – both in terms of life expectancy and future retirement living costs. Being frugal is a typical response to these uncertainties. Feelings of insecurity also play a part. There is something reassuring about having money in the bank or invested, and when that amount diminishes, anxiety levels can increase. Beliefs about money are also important. In times gone by, retirees would invest their money in the bank and live off the interest, while keeping the amount invested intact. In these times, it is almost impossible to live comfortably in retirement using this strategy unless you have a very large sum of money invested.

These behaviours, feelings and beliefs can cause friction in a relationship when partners have different views about spending and saving. They can also cause loss of enjoyment in retirement caused by underspending. Let’s face it – if you don’t spend your retirement savings, your children will receive a bigger inheritance and they will spend it instead of you! Making a successful transition from saving to spending requires a change in mindset. A retirement nest egg is not meant to be preserved for the next generation – its purpose is to support your retirement lifestyle and be used up gradually over your lifetime. Money enables you to enjoy life, and it is appropriate to spend it on things that provide enjoyment and comfort. It should be used to experience life to the full, to create memories, to enhance social connections, to help family when needed and to preserve health. Taking a planned approach to running down your retirement savings can help reduce any fears and anxieties about spending, so you can make the best use of your funds and enjoy retirement. One easy way to do this is to assume you will live a long time and divide your remaining years into three segments – short, medium and long term. Decide how much you want to have left at the end of life and allocate the remainder to each of these three time periods for spending. As time goes on and your circumstances change, review your spending plans. Liz Koh is a money expert specialising in retirement planning (www.enrichretirement.com). The advice given here is general and does not constitute specific advice to any person.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

TRAVEL LOG

LAKE TEKAPO ARTICLE BY CARRIE INGHAM

ACCOMMODATION

Lake Tekapo welcomes in spring with a burst of colour. The lake’s turquoise water seems even brighter beneath clear spring skies, the longer days invite visitors to slow down and spend more time outdoors, and the surrounding Mackenzie Basin offers a mix of alpine scenery and fresh air. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing escape or an active few days away, it’s always an ideal time to discover this spectacular South Island gem.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Choosing where to stay in Tekapo is all about making the most of the scenery. Waking to uninterrupted views of the lake or mountains transforms a good getaway into a great one. For contemporary comfort at a reasonable price, try the self-contained Grand Suites Lake Tekapo. Spacious, modern units feature balconies or patios, while its central location means cafés, restaurants and the lakefront are all within an easy stroll. If you’re looking to indulge, Galaxy Boutique Hotel offers a luxury experience. Every room offers views across Lake Tekapo, and many have a skylight, so you can lie in bed and see the stars in these world-famous night skies.

EATING Start the day with breakfast at Jack Rabbit Café, where locally roasted coffee pairs perfectly with fresh cabinet food and generous brunch favourites. For lunch, make your way to Kohan Japanese Restaurant. Looking out across the lake, the casual eatery has fresh sushi, sashimi and warming bowls of ramen.

1. The sky above Lake Takapo is filled with stars. 2. The view from Grand Suites. 3. Stargazing at night. 4. Takapo Springs. 5. The Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of Lake Takapo.

As evening falls, grab an early dinner at Dark Sky Diner, where seasonal South Island produce takes centre stage. The menu changes regularly to showcase local ingredients, while hearty mains and carefully selected Central Otago wines make it an inviting place to linger after a day exploring.

ACTIVITIES

As darkness falls, Lake Tekapo reveals another of its greatest attractions. Located within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, the region offers some of the clearest night skies on the planet. Join a guided stargazing experience or simply step outside your accommodation on a clear evening to witness thousands of stars scattered across the sky.

There is a plethora of walking and cycling trails around Lake Tekapo. Hire a bike from BeSpoke Bike Tours, join one of their tours or meander at your own pace and stopping often to admire the ever-changing shades of the lake. For a different perspective, rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from Paddle Tekapo (open

STATS Region: Mackenzie

from November to March) and venture onto the

District, Canterbury

remarkably clear water. On calm mornings, the

Airport: Christchurch

lake often reflects the surrounding mountains like glass, creating unforgettable photo opportunities. No visit is complete without spending time at

Main road: State Highway 8 Population: 550

Tekapo Springs. Soak in the geothermal hot pools while taking in panoramic views of the lake and mountains, or indulge in a massage for the ultimate holiday treat.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

STYLE

FASHION ADAPTS PINKY AGNEW

As a reasonably fit and healthy 70-year-old, I knew

I needed upper garments which could be easily

little of the world of adaptive fashion. The last few

undone around the neck and arm opening

months has educated me on the subject! Adaptive

without having to be passed over my head –

fashion is clothing designed around the needs

and Stanley. We assembled likely candidates

and abilities of people with varying degrees of

for adaptation from my wardrobe. She

disability, permanent or temporary. Fortunately,

unpicked the straps on singlets and refastened

mine is temporary.

them with domes on the right side. She took

My learning curve started earlier this year with a

T-shirts and unpicked the top seam of the

cancer diagnosis – non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is treatable by chemotherapy. Whisked into hospital, I had a PICC line implanted. This thin, flexible tube goes into my upper arm and under the skin to my chest, and helps me receive treatments without

sleeve, again fastening with domes, so Stanley and I could step in and out of them. Likewise a favourite sleeveless tunic was unpicked on one shoulder, and two sturdy domes inserted and a gorgeous cheeky red fabric heart appliqued on

constantly getting ‘needled’. My upper arm has two

to cover the fix.

toggles which connect to the line. It’s a great

You can also try poppers or magnetic options on

system, and makes my life so much easier as I face months of chemotherapy. In hospital for my first round of treatment, I was introduced to ‘Stanley’, a tall, wheeled stand hung about with bags of chemotherapy fluids. This plugged into my PICC, and voila, I was on 24-hour chemo for five days.

leg openings and side seam openings for adaptability for ostomy users. People who use wheelchairs or spend more time seated can benefit from the front rise shortened for comfort, while the back rise is higher for coverage. Other adaptive ranges cover easy fixes like tactile tape

One problem. I was effectively trapped wearing

and raised poppers for visual impairments.

the singlet and T-shirt I had on – for five full days.

I am fortunate to now have a mobile

The garments could not be passed over my head, then over Stanley and the chemo bags. The only option was to cut them off. Yes, I wish someone had thought of this before they hooked me up to my life-saving treatment.

chemotherapy pump which is zipped into a bag that slings over my shoulder, so I can have my 24-hour chemo sessions at home. I am very glad to have kept a couple of ponchos, which look so elegant and cover the pump nicely when I am out

Enter my great-niece, seamstress Poy Ling.

and about. Another adaptation has been in

Trained in sewing for the theatre, she also has

headwear. I have lost most of my hair, and kind

some experience in adapting school uniforms for

friends and the Cancer Society have donated a

students with disabilities. We googled ‘adaptive

variety of beanies and ‘cancer wraps’. My go-to

clothing’, and discovered some very ugly

favourites though are the colourful cotton

garments – grey tracksuits rippling with Velcro.

squares which Canteen sell as a fundraiser.

However unwell I became, Great-Aunt Pinky was

Regular readers know me – it’s got to be bright,

never going to wear a grey tracksuit with Velcro.

comfortable and cheerful!

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

POET’S CORNER Alone?

Heirloom

I’ve watched you come into the café

I have an heirloom watch

To have coffee or tea.

Here upon my arm.

You look around and sit alone.

Her face is nice and clear,

Why won’t you sit with me?

She never gives alarm.

I do the same each time I go.

Though her hands are old and thin,

I don’t know what to do.

They move at a steady pace

I know you’re on your own again.

Through every minute of many years

Why won’t I sit with you?

Going around her face.

We need to have a system,

If she’s tired, a little slow,

To take away the doubt,

New batteries do the trick

That we would love some company,

And make her strong and moving

Each time that we go out.

With a steady tick.

We all could have a little sign

Something to keep her comfy

Available at counter for free.

Is a gold expanding band,

All it would say in a few words,

To hold her in position

‘I’m here, please sit with me.’

Not slipping to my hand.

By Ross Gourley Summerset at Avonhead

I’m thinking now of Olden Days When times were like no other, And this watch was bright and new, Belonging to my mother. By Dorothy Coop Summerset at Heritage Park

If you would like to submit a poem for consideration in Poet’s Corner, send it to magazine@summerset.co.nz

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

V I L L AGE PEOPLE

Take a look at some of the recent village happenings. 2

Photo 1: Summerset by the Lake residents try a unique experience – a Siberian husky racing trip! Photo 2: Looking glam at the mid-winter Black and Gold party at Summerset Waikanae Photo 3: Delicious delights for Summerset at the Course residents on World Chocolate Day

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

Photo 4: Summerset at Karaka residents celebrate Matariki. Photo 5: Yeehaw! Summerset Blenheim residents have a spot of Americana bingo for the 4th of July.

Photo 6: Age is but a number to Summerset at Pohutukawa Place resident Martin Smyth. Happy 102nd birthday Martin! Photo 7: Tacos, sombreros and margaritas!

Photo 9: Summerset by the Bay residents bring some Texan sunshine for their mid-winter lunch. Photo 10: Beating the mid-winter blues with a Mad Hatters tea party at Summerset at Wigram.

Summerset Rangiora residents enjoy a Mexican fiesta. Photo 8: Summerset by the Dunes residents dress up for the Alphabet party. Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

BRAIN TEASE

PUZZLES

DOUBLECROSS

Reveal a completed crossword by deleting one of the two letters in each divided square.

SUDOKU

Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1-9

the missing letter in each puzzle WORDWHEEL Insert to make an eight-letter word reading

WordWheel

E T

E L A ?

clockwise or anticlockwise WordWheel

1239

O NWordWheel O R

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anticlockwise. Previous solution: GRUESOME

S ?

1241

S I

I H

Across: 1. Subdued, 4. Paraphrase, 9. Pilgrim, 13. Evil, 14. Bedaub, 15. Influx, 16. Mermaid, 19. Radiate, 20. Waitangi Day, 21. Inhale, 22. Danger, 23. Simply, 25. Unrelated, 30. Together, 31. Shrink, 32. Plotter, 36. Carnival, 37. Follow, 38. Troy, 39. Mayor, 40. Tad, 42. Emery, 44. Marked, 48. Stump, 51. Cap, 55. Liver, 56. Fake, 57. Teeter, 58. Venerate, 61. Pretext, 62. Scrawl, 63. Sorcerer, 66. Valentine, 68. Redden, 69. Defect, 73. Hawaii, 74. Cut-and-paste, 77. Excited, 79. Abdomen, 80. Invert, 81. Gratis, 82. Menu, 83/84. Coast to Coast, 85. Cyst, 86. Thistle. Down: 1. Spear, 2. Building, 3. Deepen, 4. Playwright, 5. Rabbi, 6. Primacy, 7. Refuge, 8. Sound, 10. Inevitable, 11. Gumshoe, 12. Icicle, 17. Categorise, 18. Hyper, 22. Deficit, 24. Perform, 26. Ninety, 27. Negate, 28. Browse, 29. Fedora, 31. Solar, 33. Team, 34. Grid, 35. Rout, 41. Aviary, 43. Reap, 45. Actual, 46. Knell, 47. Dressed, 49. Uneven, 50. Preference, 51. Crab, 52. Predict, 53. Meet, 54. Beacon, 59. Experiment, 60. Irrelevant, 64. Stuck, 65. Seat belt, 67. Amazons, 68. Repute, 70. Bamboo, 71. Unless, 72. Resist, 75. Tango, 76. Soggy, 78. Deuce. WORDWHEEL: 1. ELONGATE. 2. GRAPHITE. 3. VISITORS.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

eight-letter word reading clockwise or CODECRACKER anticlockwise. Previous solution: GRAPHITE

DOUBLE CROSS

? A

G R

Insert the missing letter to complete an eight-letter word reading clockwise or anticlockwise. Previous solution: ELONGATE

Insert the missing letter to complete an

CROSSWORD

T E

1240

SUDOKU

64 66

70 73

71 74

Across 1. Quiet, downcast (7) 4. Put in other words (10) 9. Religious traveller (7) 13. Malevolent (4) 14. Smear (6) 15. Large scale arrival of visitors or immigrants (6) 16. Mythical sea creature (7) 19. Give off heat or light (7) 20. Celebration which became a public holiday in 1974 (8,3) 21. Breathe in (6) 22. Peril (6) 23. Easily (6) 25. Not linked (9) 30. As one (8) 31. Become smaller (6) 32. Conspirator (7) 36. Festival (8) 37. Pursue (6) 38. City destroyed by ancient Greeks (4) 39. Civic leader (5) 40. Small amount (3) 42. Material used for a nail file (5) 44. Branded (6) 48. Tree remnant (5)

51. Place a limit on (3) 55. One of the body’s organs (5) 56. Fraudulent (4) 57. Wobble (6) 58. Worship (8) 61. Excuse (7) 62. Scribble (6) 63. Wizard (8) 66. Third-century Roman saint remembered every February (9) 68. Blush (6) 69. Flaw (6) 73. Most westerly US state (6) 74. On a computer, Ctrl X, Ctrl V (3-3-5) 77. Thrilled (7) 79. Part of the body between the chest and the pelvis (7) 80. Turn upside down (6) 81. Free of charge (6) 82. List of food offerings (4) 83/84. Annual 243km New Zealand sports event (5,2,5) 85. Abscess (4) 86. Scottish symbol (7)

Down 1. Javelin (5) 2. Construction (8) 3. Intensify (6) 4. Shakespeare’s profession (10) 5. Jewish religious teacher (5) 6. Dominance (7) 7. Place of safety (6) 8. Noise (5) 10. Unavoidable (10) 11. U.S. term for a private investigator (7) 12. Frozen column (6) 17. Classify (10) 18. Excessively energetic or excited (colloq) (5) 22. Shortfall (7) 24. Act (7) 26. Four score and ten (6) 27. Neutralise (6) 28. Look casually through a book or magazine (6) 29. Soft felt hat (6) 31. Of the sun (5) 33. Group of people working together (4) 34. Lattice (4) 35. Ignominious defeat (4) 41. Enclosed area for birds (6)

43. Harvest (4) 45. Real (6) 46. Toll (5) 47. Clothed (7) 49. Bumpy (6) 50. First choice (10) 51. Edible crustacean, papaka in Māori (4) 52. Foretell (7) 53. Encounter (4) 54. Hilltop fire (6) 59. Scientific test (10) 60. Beside the point (10) 64. Unable to move (5) 65. Safety item in vehicles (4,4) 67. Mythical female warriors (7) 68. Fame (6) 70. Panda food (6) 71. Otherwise (6) 72. Oppose (6) 75. Call sign for the letter T (5) 76. Squelchy (5) 78. Two, in cards (5)

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

FIVE QUESTIONS E I G H T Y-Y E A R- O L D J I M H I G H L I V E S AT SU M M E RS E T AT M O N T E R E Y PA R K W I T H HIS WIFE, ANNE.

What is your favourite piece of music?

What is your greatest adventure?

I am a keen listener of classical music. My favourite is probably Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. It was the first choral symphony, and ‘Ode to Joy’ is extremely stirring.

My wife and I have been very fortunate to travel extensively. I think that out of all our adventures my favourite was travelling down the River Nile in a felucca (traditional sailing boat). We travelled from Luxor to Aswan and saw birds, villages and temples. There is such a huge history there and the trip gave us an insight into a very different way of life.

Who is your favourite author? I spend plenty of time reading, and like books about historical military campaigns. My favourite fiction writer is Tom Clancy. His books have detail about radar, new planes, innovations in warfare and spy technology. He has a lot of technical knowledge and his stories are quite gripping.

What is your favourite way to spend the day? Playing golf! I moved to Summerset at Monterey Park very recently and I am looking forward to finding a golf club in the area.

Summerset Scene | Spring Issue

What advice would you give to your 21-year-old self? That is a hard question! Probably to learn to recognise those people who are not trustworthy or honourable, rather than assuming everyone is.

DIRECTORY AUCKLAND–NORTHLAND

HAWKE’ S BAY

Summerset Mount Denby 7 Par Lane, Tikipunga, Whangārei 0112 Phone (09) 470 0280

Summerset in the Bay 79 Merlot Drive, Greenmeadows, Napier 4112 Phone (06) 845 2840

Summerset Falls 31 Mansel Drive, Warkworth 0910 Phone (09) 425 1200 Summerset Shoal Bay* 65 Hillary Crescent, Belmont, Auckland 0622 Phone (09) 489 9142 Summerset at Monterey Park 1 Squadron Drive, Hobsonville, Auckland 0616 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, Auckland 1072 Phone (09) 950 7980 Summerset Half Moon Bay* 25 Thurston Place, Half Moon Bay 2012 Phone (09) 306 1420 Summerset Milldale 50 Waiwai Drive, Milldale 0992 Phone (09) 304 1630 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 9480 BAY OF PLENTY

Summerset Rotorua* 171–193 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua 3010 Phone (07) 343 5130 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 9080

Summerset Mission Hills* 11 Pakeke Drive, Poraiti, Napier 4182 Phone (06) 835 2580 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 55 Te Hirawanui Drive, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North 4470 Phone (06) 825 6530 Summerset by the Ranges 104-112 Liverpool Street, Levin 5510 Phone (06) 367 0337 WELLINGTON

Summerset on the Coast 104 Realm Drive, Paraparaumu 5032 Phone (04) 298 3540 Summerset Otaihanga* 73 Ratanui Road, Paraparaumu 5032 Phone (04) 296 4300 Summerset on the Landing 1–3 Bluff Road, Kenepuru, Porirua 5022 Phone (04) 230 6720 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 0000 Summerset Boulcott 1A Boulcott Street, Lower Hutt 5010 Phone (04) 568 1440 Summerset Cashmere Oaks* 60 Cashmere Oaks Drive, Lansdowne, Masterton 5871 Phone (06) 370 1790 NELSON–TASMAN–MARLBOROUGH

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 3430 Summerset Blenheim 183 Old Renwick Road, Blenheim 7272 Phone (03) 520 6040 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 3200 Summerset on Cavendish 147 Cavendish Road, Casebrook, Christchurch 8051 Phone (03) 741 2330 Summerset Rangiora 141 South Belt, Waimakariri, Rangiora 7400 Phone (03) 364 1312 Summerset Prebbleton 578 Springs Road, Prebbleton 7604 Phone (03) 353 6311 Summerset Rolleston* 153 Lincoln Rolleston Road, Rolleston 7615 Phone (03) 353 6980 OTAGO

Summerset at Bishopscourt 36 Shetland Street, Wakari, Dunedin 9010 Phone (03) 950 3100 Summerset Mosgiel* 51 Wingatui Road, Mosgiel 9024 Phone (03) 474 3930

* Proposed village