The Hobson - December 2014

december 2014

sparkling christmas gifts • on the waterfront local news, views & informed opinions

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The December Issue 8

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the village Remuera debuts a new look, we sample fundraising Christmas cakes, updates from the Local Boards and more the reps Columns from list MP Paul Goldsmith and Epsom MP David Seymour

the jewel box Presenting the sparkliest of Christmas gift ideas, exclusively from our leading local jewellers the pretty Beauty treats to put under the tree

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the investment Warren Couillault on seasonal bumps in the market

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the plan More charges are coming our way, warns Hamish Firth

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the cinema Caitlin McKenna’s screen picks for the whole family this December

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the bookmark Books to give or receive with love, selected by Gail Woodward

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the second act Looking the part keeps you in the game, says Sandy Burgham

the district diary All that’s on around here in December

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the waterfront Sir Bob Harvey writes exclusively for The Hobson on the changes to our waterfront

the journey Arts writer Leigh Melville reports on a very fulfilling week in London

the wellbeing Lee Parore on why a brain-gut balance is vital to your health

the psyche Dr Amrit Kaur on kids’ anxiety, and strategies to help them cope

the hobson suggests ....

A ride in style in a new BMW X5 M50d from Jerry Clayton BMW

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the plot Paul Thompson deals to unwelcome seasonal visitors to your garden the pause Season’s greetings

the sound Music critic Andrew Dickens decides his high notes of 2014 the suburbanist Tommy Honey offers a twist on cool ideas for Christmas

WIN!

Congratulations to Stephanie Chan, who won a stunning F.A.L Italy mirror from Sarsfield Brooke design showroom in our October issue competition.

Just in time for the holidays, we have summer-themed beauty treats selected by The Pretty columnist Melissa Williams-King, to give away. One reader will win a bumper pack worth in excess of $600. This prize includes everyone’s essential, Elta MD sunblocks from Prescription Skin Care (for more on Elta MD, please see page 37). As well as Elta MD broad-spectrum UV Sport block and UV Daily SPF 40, there are Bobbi Brown lipsticks from the Scotch on the Rocks collection, a St Tropez Self Tan pack, Guinot Glamour Sun Gel and a Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt fragrance.

We also have two runner-up prizes of fabulous packs of L’Oreal Paris Extraordinaire by Colour Riche lipsticks. Each pack contains 10 shades and has a value of $299. (Products pictured not necessarily the same as prizes).

To win, email SUMMER in the subject line to business@thehobson.co.nz by Sunday December 14. You must include your name and address, so we can courier the prizes to the lucky winners, who will be selected at random.

Jerry Clayton BMW

Takapuna

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issue 14, december 2014 Editor & Publisher Kirsty Cameron editor@thehobson.co.nz Art Direction & Production Stephen Penny design@thehobson.co.nz Advertising Inquiries business@thehobson.co.nz Writers This Issue Josie Desmond, Zac Fleming, Justine Williams, Melissa Williams-King Proofreader Fiona Wilson Intern Josie Desmond Columnists & Contributors This Issue Sandy Burgham (The Second Act), Peter Bromhead, Warren Couillault (The Investment), Christopher Dempsey, Andrew Dickens (The Sound), Hamish Firth (The Plan), Paul Goldsmith (The Reps), Sir Bob Harvey (The Waterfront), Tommy Honey (The Suburbanist), Amrit Kaur (The Psyche), Lee Parore (The Wellbeing), Caitlin McKenna (The Cinema), Leigh Melville (The Arts), David Seymour (The Reps), Desley Simpson, Paul Thompson (The Plot), Melissa Williams-King (The Pretty), Gail Woodward (The Bookmark)

hat’s me, exiting Brown’s in Remuera — I was pinged by photographer Vanita Andrews as she and writer/producer Justine Williams were on the main street shooting images for the Remuera Business Association’s new campaign, “Live Life Local”.

Given I’m the one usually inveigling other people to be photographed for us, it would have been churlish not to return the “favour”. Read more about Live Life Local and see some of Vanita’s photos of some of our favourite local faces (page 8).

This month we welcome a new writer to our pages.

Sir Bob Harvey walks us through the rapid pace of change on our waterfront in an article he’s written exclusively for The Hobson (page 26). A committed Westie — he was formerly mayor of Waitekere City — Bob has a long and fond association with our side of town too. His former ad agency, MacHarman Ayer, was headquartered in Parnell for decades, and he swears his grandmother’s house in Parnell’s Bradford St was haunted, but that’s a story for another time.

In this issue we also spotlight the dazzling wares of some of our local fine jewellers ... try leaving the magazine open on one of those pages and see where it leads on Christmas Day! And because we don’t want to be all about us, please think of making someone else’s Christmas shine by participating in the Salvation Army’s Adopt A Family program — the details are below.

Wishing all in your world a happy and safe Christmas,

Kirsty Cameron, Editor

Photographers Vanita Andrews, Carolyn Haslett, Stephen Penny, Paul Thompson Cover Model Kimberley wearing fine jewellery from local jewellers. Green wreath by Flowers After Hours. Jewellery details, see page 31. Photo: Carolyn Haslett The Hobson is published 10 times a year by The Hobson Limited, PO Box 37490 Parnell, Auckland 1151. www.thehobson.co.nz F: TheHobsonMagazine T: @thehobson

The content of The Hobson is copyright. Our words, our pictures. Don’t steal, and don’t borrow without checking with us first. We aim for accuracy but cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies that do occur. The views of our contributors are their own and not necessarily those of The Hobson. We don’t favour unsolicited contributions but do welcome you getting in touch via editor@thehobson.co.nz to discuss ideas.

The Hobson is Remuera and Parnell’s community magazine. We deliver into letterboxes in these neighbourhoods, and copies are also at local libraries, cafes, and at businesses including Vicky Ave and White Heron dairies, and Paper Plus Parnell.

For more about us, visit www.thehobson.co.nz or TheHobsonMagazine on Facebook.

Distribution by

This publication uses vegetable based inks and environmentally responsible papers.

wacpan/Shutterstock.com

Ideas, suggestions, advertising enquiries welcome. editor@thehobson.co.nz Or via Facebook: www.facebook.com/ TheHobsonMagazine

Merry Christmas Bayleys wish to thank the greater Remuera community for doing business with us during 2014. Seasons greetings and best wishes for 2015.

We would like to thank our clients for their continued support, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday. We look forward to seeing you after the break.

To discuss your next move, over the holiday break, contact Rachel Dovey 027 268 5550.

Rachel Dovey

Anna Stephenson

Carmel Mclaughlin

Cheryl Regan

Curan Loh

David Rainbow

Gaewyn Goodwin

Gary Wallace

Vicki Wallace

Harry Cheng

Helen Buchanan

Jackie Dragicevich

Jiali Liu

Jillie Clarke

John Partridge

Joneen Smith

Jude Finch

Lauren Andreoli

Amanda Maloney

Makuini Marr

Paul Sissons

Rob Ashton

Ross Tierney

Sharyn Lumsden

Trent Quinton

Wei Elder

Jenny Kek

09 520 8888 | 50 Remuera Rd Newmarket Auckland | www.bayleys.co.nz licensed under the REA Act 2008

The Columnists Left to right from top row:

The Hobson’s cartoonist, Peter Bromhead MNZM also writes and draws for the New Zealand Herald. A long-time Parnell resident, his Gladstone Rd-based business, Bromhead Design, retails contemporary furniture.

Sandy Burgham (The Second Act) is a brand strategist and an executive coach with a special interest in midlife change and transformational behaviours. She runs a central Auckland practice. www.sandyburgham.com Remuera resident Warren Couillault (The Investment) is a partner in and director of Richmond Investment Management, the manager of a boutique fund of hedge funds.

He is a shareholder in and director of Generate Investment Management Ltd; manager of a registered Kiwisaver scheme and an adviser to S.AG Private. www.richmond.co.nz Andrew Dickens (The Sound) is the host of Andrew Dickens’ Sunday Cafe on Sunday morning, from 9am, on Newstalk ZB. He is also the music reviewer on Jack Tame’s Saturday morning show on Newstalk ZB. He grew up in Remuera.

Hamish Firth (The Plan) lives and works in Parnell.

He is principal of the Mt Hobson Group, a specialist urban planning consultancy. mthobsonproperties.co.nz Urban design critic Tommy Honey (The Suburbanist) is a former architect, Remuera resident and Dean of College at Parnell’s Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design.

Dr Amrit Kaur (The Psyche) lives in Meadowbank and is a NZ-registered clinical psychologist specialising in helping children, families and young adults. She is part of the multidisciplinary KidzTherapy practice.

Caitlin McKenna (The Cinema) of Remuera is passionate about the cinema — she majored in film, sociology and marketing, graduating recently with a conjoint BCom/BA. Leigh Melville (The Arts) is the art department manager at ART + OBJECT auction house. She has worked for several Auckland galleries and is co-chair of the Patrons of the Venice Biennale. She lives in Parnell.

Lee Parore (The Wellbeing) is an expert in executive health.

A qualified naturopath and a personal trainer to elite athletes and executives, he works with both men and women at his wellness clinic in Newmarket. www.leeparorehealthlab.com Paul Thompson (The Plot) is behind www.podgardening. co.nz, and a passionate proponent of edible gardening.

One of New Zealand’s leading beauty and lifestyle editors, Remuera’s Melissa Williams-King (The Pretty) is a former editor of Fashion Quarterly.

Gail Woodward (The Bookmark) is the senior book buyer for Paper Plus Newmarket. A “forgiving reader” across genres, she belongs, and advises on selections, to book clubs.

the hobson 6

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“Live Life Local” — the Remuera Business Association has debuted new branding along with a new website to better showcase the suburb’s retail specialities. RBA manager Laura Carr commissioned photographer Vanita Andrews to capture people and places around the main precinct for the site.

“Remuera is already known as a beautiful, leafy suburb with

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wonderful family homes close to the best schools in Auckland,” says Carr. “It also has almost everything families need — parks, playgrounds, walkways, a library, sports clubs, there’s even Wilson’s Beach at the bottom of Vicky Ave. Add in the range of retailers, cafes and services in the shopping village, and it’s easy to live life local.” Visit remuera.org.nz to see more. p

1. Remuera Local Cafe Bistro’s Blerta Radovica 2. Design Quarter’s Scandanavian-inspired homewares 3. 4&20 baker Andrew Tse 4. Fruiterer Jack Lum at work 5. Gregory fashions 6. Thumbs up from the fish shop’s Bob Lovett 7. The Deli’s outdoor seating 8. Brown’s cafe courtyard 9. Ming Stevens of The Sitting Room 10. Wild Bunch florist Jo Mann. 11. Remuera Library 12. Poppies bookstore 13. Seedling kids’ store 14. A peek at Trumps’ wares 15. Jems of Remuera’ s John Lee Photos by Vanita Andrews the hobson 8

the village Auckland’s EFTPOS? Projects totalling nearly $5 million have been deferred across the Waitematā and Orakēi local board areas following Auckland Council’s budget cuts, despite November’s announcement that rates will rise faster, and higher, than promised.

Council’s budget committee last month voted to increase rates by 3.5 per cent for each year of the new 10-year budget. Mayor Len Brown campaigned on a promised 2.5 per cent increase.

Orakēi Local Board chair Desley Simpson says the deferrals are “grossly unfair”. “We’re the EFTPOS machine for Auckland,” she says. “We’re being asked time and time again for more money and not seeing investment back.”

At the time of going to print, Orakēi deferrals into 2015/16 totalled just under $1.5 million, including more than $800,000 for upgrades to Glover Park, and public facilities at Stonefields. Deferrals in Waitematā totalled more than $3.4 million, including the planned Hobson Bay to Pt Resolution walkway, and continued upgrades at Judges Bay. Waitematā Local Board chair Shale Chambers says the most disappointing deferrals are parks and playgrounds. “The council has always over-promised and under-delivered,” says Chambers.

“Now these local projects that have huge community support are not happening.”

Desley Simpson says the mayor has broken his promise and the result is “not a fairer Auckland”. “At the end of the day we’ve been asked year after year to increase the amount we pay into the coffers.

I acknowledge we won’t get all our rates in our ward back, but we’re paying for projects everywhere else in the city.”

Mayor Brown told Council last month he can see no other way to bridge the council’s funding gap, and he is challenged by the “reality of keeping costs down” and delivering what communities want. Calls for Council to find savings from its own costs haven’t been answered. “I challenge anyone to tell me every single council employee is vital to our core business,” says Simpson. “As somebody who operates with a number of council offices, there can be further savings found within the organisation.”

Simpson says she now has “little faith with [the consultation] process”. “It’s just so disappointing. All of a sudden, whoop, they whip the money away. Help me explain that to my community, because I can’t.”

Shale Chambers says the WLB will keep trying to prioritise its projects as long as needed. “People only want to pay so much in rates and that’s the end of it. You can only squeeze the lemon so much.”

There was one potential deferment however that may have survived — The Hobson understands that the Parnell train station is to go ahead, but this was not confirmed at the time of going to print.

“The Parnell Rail Station is critical in our point of view,” Chambers said. — Zac Fleming For a full list of deferred projects in both the Waitematā and Orakēi local board areas, visit thehobson.co.nz p Have Your Cake, And Feel Good Too The Hobson delivered samples of three fundraising Christmas cakes to Shaun Williams, local foodie of good taste, for a blind sampling session. He found ….

Cake A: “A Christmas cake for grown-ups. Generous with the fruit and peel which is packed tightly into the mixture. A rich but not overly sweet creation which feels more like a gourmet slice than a cake. Strong on colour and with a hint of booze on the nose, but nothing overpowering.”

This was the Mercy Hospice cake. 500g cake $24, 1kg $35, 2kg $49. Order via mercyhospice.org.nz, buy from Mercy reception, 161 College Hill, Ponsonby; or call 376 7579.

Woman pays $10,000 for non-visible artwork “Fresh Air” was just one of the works exhibited at the Museum of Non-Visible Art. The museum houses a variety of non-visible works of art that can only be admired by reading the artist’s description. When someone buys one of these unusual creations all they get is a card with a description of the artwork made by the author and a letter of authenticity.

You’d have to be crazy to pay $10,000 for an invisible work of art wouldn’t you?

At Frame by Frame we don’t have time for mad gimmicks like that, but we do like to come up with crazy offers from time to time — like this one...

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Entries close Dec 18, winner notified the following day, one entry per person

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27 Remuera Rd, Newmarket.

Cake B: “A delicious good-old-fashioned Christmas cake. An abundance of sultanas and a good amount of peel suspended in a lovely light cake mixture. A great balance of flavours with a lovely brown sugar or treacle style sweetness. A simple cake executed extremely well. My favourite cake.”

This one was the St Cuthbert’s College cake (pictured left). 10cm square $16, 15cm $30, 20cm $50. Order via the Development Office: 520 4159, ext.7467 or felicity.rosenberg@stcuthberts.school.nz Cake C: “Lighter on fruit and in colour than the others but with the nice addition of almonds. It also had a strong presence of ground almond which gives that marzipan flavour – without the icing. A slight departure in flavour from a traditional Christmas cake, this cake has a slightly tropical fruit taste.”

The Lions Club cake, which raises money for a wide range of Lions’ supported good works. $16 for a 1.2kg cake.

Order from the Remuera Lions: call Cyril Moore, 021 611 227, or cyriljmoore@internet.co.nz p

eight won the Excellence in Innovation and Business Management awards at the Young Enterprise Scheme awards evening held at AUT’s business school. Nude Water’s MD, Emma Beggs, 17, also won “Managing Director of the Year’. As Auckland Central overall winners, the girls will be in Wellington on December 10, when Beggs and communications director Pia Wickstead, 16, will present their fruit-infuser drink bottle to a panel of national judges, Dragon’s Den-style. “We sold 1000 bottles within three weeks and we’re looking to continue Nude into next year,” says Wickstead. p Ruby’s Cake Pops Ruby Seeto has debuted her new fundraising tea towel for Starship and this year is all about cake pops. It’s the eighth tea towel cancer survivor Ruby, 17, has designed to raise money for the children’s hospital. Ruby had major surgery in 2006 to remove a 1.6kg tumour

Change at St. Paul’s Terry Wall, the vicar of the Orakei Methodist Parish based at St Paul’s Church in St Vincents Ave, Remuera, is to retire after Christmas. Dr Wall has served the community for the past 11 years, and was also the University of Auckland’s Maclaurin chaplain for five years. A replacement minister has not yet been announced. p A Quality Spot Congratulations to Quality Hotel Parnell, which was one of four NZ properties — out of an Australasian pool of 270 entrants — to win a Gold Award at the Choice Hotel group awards recently. The award means the Gladstone Rd property — probably to be forever known to locals by its former name, The Barrycourt — sits within the top 10 per cent of properties within the Choice brand. Choice is Australasia’s largest mid-market franchise hotel group. p Winning Ideas Congratulations to the St Cuthbert’s College Young Enterprise “Nude Water” team featured in our October issue. The team of

from her liver, and spent 12 months at Starship undergoing intensive treatment. Money raised from the cake pops design will go towards surgical theatre upgrades. The cotton tea towels are $10, with $6 (proceeds after costs) going to Starship. Available now at Wallace Cotton stores and online at www.wallacecotton.com. p

the village Parnell Eats Out Parnell Rd is coming to life again as a foodie destination. Biskit Café and Kitchen has opened next door to Paper Plus, serving Allpress coffee and a comprehensive menu in an airy, light-infused space designed by Material Creative. “The word biscuit has multiple meanings. The one you think of first is a baked sweet cookie. Another identity for the word biscuit is unglazed porcelain or pottery,” says owner Nick Bashota. “This meaning has texture, feeling, evokes a laid-back spirit, a sense of calm and also connection of the earth to the food.” Across the road, work continues on the new restaurant to be operated by the Blue Breeze Inn’s Mark Wallbank. The hoarding promises “something smoking is coming to this spot” and we’re hungry with anticipation, given the deserved accolades heaped on the Blue Breeze.

And Italia Square is due to open this month, taking over pretty much the entire ground floor of the Geyser Building (100 Parnell Rd). Expect to be able to buy Neat Meat, Kapiti cheeses and Lewis Rd Creamery goods from the grocery side, and dine-in on Italian food, wines and beers.

Parnell will also be the new home to My Food Bag, the cookat-home smart dinner delivery service. The team, headed by chef Nadia Lim, are moving in after Christmas to 283 Parnell Rd. p

away in a pod (the i-sopod) filled with 30cm of a highly-concentrated Epsom salts solution.

For claustrophobics or those afraid of the dark, the i-sopod has a large door that can be opened from either side and is non-lockable.

Anyone over the age of 15 can enjoy the benefits of floating, which include pain and stress relief, full-body relaxation and sports recovery.

At least that’s what the experts say. I must admit when I was first invited to trial the float experience, I was a bit wary. Total sensory deprivation did not sound like something I would willingly subject myself to and being in a blacked-out tub of water for over an hour did not scream ‘relaxation’.

However, after my float I was left feeling supple and rejuvenated.

My tight muscles were more movable and my skin felt smooth. And an hour and a half unplugged from technology probably wasn’t a disadvantage, either. — Josie Desmond Float Culture is offering The Hobson’s readers 20 per cent off their first single-float session. Book at www.floatculture.co.nz and enter the promo code “wellbeing”. p In The Frame An update on The Hobson Bay Boatsheds to Baradene painting

by Andrew McAlpine, featured in our October issue. Prints of the work are now available at Frame by Frame, 27 Remuera Rd. p

Floating Away The Hobson was invited to try a float for relaxation at Float Culture, a new business in Eden Terrace. Josie Desmond took the plunge.

Forget yoga and Botox. Float Culture, a new sensory deprivation ‘float centre’, has opened at the apt address of 12 Water Street, Eden Terrace, and is offering a form of beauty therapy and stress-relief.

In your own private room, shower, relax and let your troubles float

waitemata¯ Local Board News from the Waitematā Local Board . . .

Parnell Inc is an association of businesses along the Parnell ‘strip’, Parnell Rd. Formed on the back of Les Harvey’s excellent work restoring the villas on Parnell Rd, the association has been around for a number of years, promoting the interests of Parnell’s main street.

However, with new businesses opening in the former Carlaw Park and the growth of businesses in lower St Georges Bay Rd, it seems timely to consider extending the boundary of the association — these areas are referred to by Council as a BID, or Business Improvement District — to incorporate these two areas of business activity, and to step up in terms of promoting Parnell as a great place to do business. Over the next few months, Parnell Inc will be working hard to seek the approval of those businesses to be included in an expanded Parnell Inc Association. If successful we can look forward to greater visibility and increased support for the diverse businesses throughout Parnell. If you are a local, I urge you to give your support to our local businesses, I know I will be.

As year-end approaches, and solstice celebrations commence, your Local Board has been working hard on a range of issues. Not least of which has been the Mayoral Long Term Plan proposal, which seeks to keep the average rates

increase to only 2.5 per cent. To achieve this a cut to the Parks, Culture and Lifestyle budget of 39 per cent over 10 years has been proposed.

This budget covers parks, community halls, and facilities such as swimming pools and essentially will mean some deterioration in parks and community facilities, and lower levels of service. Uniquely all 21 Local Board chairs have jointly written to the Mayor seeking discussion about where a broader range of cuts could be made across the Council whanau, rather than in one specific area.

Despite this, the Local Board has developed a three year programme of works based on community feedback received earlier this year.

Of note to Parnell is the investment in restoration of Waipapa Stream, an ongoing piece of work that is starting to show the benefits of works from earlier years. Credit must be given to former Parnell resident, Richard Simpson, for his work in researching this fascinating part of our area. It was great to learn that water from the stream was used for a brewery, and later for a (flax) rope factory.

Finally, Shale Chambers (board chair), Pippa Coom (deputy chair), Greg Moyle, Deborah Yates, Rob Thomas, Vernon Tava and I all wish you the best for the festive season, have a wonderful summer holiday. — Christopher Dempsey, member, Waitematā Local Board and resident of Parnell. p

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A Remuera

Christmas Christmas decorations, Christmas music, Santa and Mrs Claus make Remuera the place to be during the festive season!

Santa’s in Remuera every Saturday 10am-2pm starting 29 November Take a ‘Selfie with Santa’ in his Grotto in the Village Green or with Santa’s Sleigh Post a letter to Santa in the Santa Mailbox and join the Christmas Treasure Hunt Live life local and enjoy the festive season in Remuera! www.remuera.org.nz

the village Creative Communities “Art in a Day” encourages artists to get out and create, in a single day, a work on canvas that captures the essence of the neighbourhoods of Parnell, Grafton or Newmarket. The event, on Saturday February 21, will take place over eight hours, with a submission deadline of 4pm. The judges include artist Harold Coop and Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design co-founder Michéle Whitecliffe.

The works will be exhibited at the Parnell Community Centre, and there’ll be a people’s choice winner as well as other awards and prizes. See www.artinaday. org.nz for more information. There will also be more details in the next issue of The Hobson. — Josie Desmond p

¯ Local Board Orakei

News from the Orākei Local Board With our new Orākei Point to Shore Rd Walkway assisting Remuera residents to access Orākei train station, we are finally beginning to see more people use rail in our ward. Auckland Transport (AT) plan to launch a new rail timetable on December 8, and whilst I haven’t seen it, I do know it will have the same frequency of service for our residents. The Eastern Line (the one through our ward) will also be fully electrified in December enabling a more reliable train service with more passenger capacity, with double units (six cars) at peak times. Departure times are being adjusted, so please check the new timetables, which should be on the AT website by the time you read this.

I’m pretty certain the new train timetables won’t be as confusing as the information on the Unitary Plan hearings process, which has been loudly echoed by the Remuera Residents’ Association members. This complex process has been raised in suburbs other than Remuera too. Orākei was one of only three boards that brought this to the attention of the hearings panel, and they seemed to have received and acted on our concerns. If you go to aupihp.govt.nz you will now find a summary how-to guide, a YouTube video explaining the guide, a schedule of drop-in clinics for submitters and a spreadsheet to identify for submitters which hearing topics their submissions are linked to.

Sports club users on Shore Rd Reserve have unfortunately experienced significant vandalism by way of vehicles driving on to the fields after hours. This has caused considerable damage and a lot of money to rectify. To prevent this happening again we have installed a number of large stones around the edges of the sports fields and believe now it will prevent further harm to an already over-stretched resource.

On a positive note, we have been pleased to fund an initiative presented to us by the Remuera Business Association. New lights have been installed on the old Post Office building, today’s ANZ, on the corner of Remuera Rd and Victoria Ave. Take a walk by at night to see how wonderful this 1914 building looks all lit up.

If you want help with your Christmas shopping you may find the Remuera Business Association’s new website at remuera. org.nz helpful. Among much else, you’ll find a business directory and a section on Remuera’s history and heritage.

My congratulations must go to Remuera Local café at 371 Remuera Rd, which is in Metro’s top 50 cafes for 2014 – congratulations! I highly recommend their coffee.

Finally, while supporting our local businesses, let’s not forget the true purpose of the Christmas season – spending time with friends and loved ones. Our board wishes you and your family a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year. — Desley Simpson, chair, Orākei Local Board p

the hobson 14

andrew cox D E S IG N E D I NTE R IO RS

KITCHENS • BATHROOMS SOFT FURNISHINGS

andrewcoxinteriors.com andrew@andrewcoxinteriors.com M: 021 132 4881 T: 09 308 9859

the reps

DAVID SEYMOUR

S

PAUL GOLDSMITH

R

eason’s greetings. I am humbled to be your MP and grateful for your support. The Epsom race is one of the more confronting electorate contests, of any in the country.

The power to effectively choose the government does not rest on one electorate lightly, but in recent elections it has rested on Epsom nonetheless.

Thank you to all those who responded to my campaign.

As a result of this election result I am already supporting government legislation in Parliament that was stalled prior to the election.

The election was a disruptive one, and some of the more tiresome performances probably explain why record numbers chose to vote early and get it out of the way.

Beneath all of the white noise and theatrics though, was a material choice.

Should New Zealand continue policies that have formed a consensus for 30 years, or elect an opposition that was seriously challenging those policies for the first time in a generation? New Zealanders chose to retain consensus policy settings on things like tax, trade, the Reserve Bank, electricity markets, and the role of government, instead of lurching backwards as the opposition proposed. All of the global evidence about government policies argues that this choice stands New Zealand families in good stead for years to come.

My campaign in Epsom was based on maintaining stable government, but also on a promise to be an approachable, committed, and competent member of parliament at home in the Epsom electorate. In a perfect world, no constituent would ever have cause to contact their local MP. In our world though, things do tend to crop up from time to time.

From local issues such as schools, intensification, motorway tolls, and open fireplace bans; to national issues of inequality, health and education, along with those nobody has even anticipated yet, I am committed to representing your views to the best of my ability.

You are welcome to contact my staff or me at our office, (27 Gillies Ave), by phone (522 7464), or email davidseymour. epsom@parliament.govt.nz. If you have feedback to give regarding my performance as an MP, either at home in the Epsom electorate or down in Wellington, I am willing to hear it. Ultimately the representation I can give you is only as good as the feedback you give me.

I am also happy to attend local events. If you are hosting such an event and believe it appropriate for a local MP to attend, please feel free to get in touch.

As we head into the festive season I hope that you, your work, your family, friends and neighbours enjoy the best our great country has on offer.

eflecting on 2014, it seems to me we have much to celebrate. We continue to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. One only has to wander up this magazine’s eponymous mountain (Mount Hobson) on a fine Saturday morning to be reminded of that.

We continue to live in peace and relative tranquillity, while our population is highly diverse. Sadly, looking around the world, that is not the norm. I recently had the pleasure of speaking at a Diwali function arranged by the Auckland Harbourside Rotary Club. With its membership a third Pākehā, a third New Zealanders of Indian extraction and a third of Chinese origin, it exemplifies modern Auckland – all working together to raise funds for local projects.

Finally, our economy continues to perform well, underpinning the living standards of all New Zealanders.

The continuation of strong, stable and financially sustainable National government has helped on that score.

Of course, there are many challenges. We’ll only hold or improve our living standards if we remain internationally competitive, and the bar for that keeps rising. Meantime, many families continue to struggle.

One of the areas in the Commerce and Consumer Affairs role I want to focus on is the effort to boost financial capability across the community. Money trouble extends into every community (it doesn’t matter how much you earn, if you continue to spend more life can get complicated), but it affects our most vulnerable families most.

To increase levels of financial literacy, our government announced a $22 million funding boost over four years for budgeting services in the 2014 Budget. We have trebled our funding contributions to this sector since 2007/08. With $15 million in annual funding by 2015/16 for budgeting services, we expect that more than 42,000 people will get access to one on one budgeting advice.

We’re also tackling the predatory end of the payday money lending industry. In consultation with the banking industry and consumer groups, we are developing a Responsible Lending Code – a voluntary code that sets out principles and guidelines that lenders should follow.

The Code is currently available in draft form, and we are seeking feedback on it. We need to ensure that we strike a good balance between protecting consumers from the most predatory lenders, while enabling already responsible banks and lenders to continue to refine their lending practices.

I am responsible for ensuring that the Code is ready for implementation next year.

Wishing you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

David Seymour is the MP for Epsom and ACT party leader.

He is a parliamentary under-secretary for education and regulatory reform

Paul Goldsmith is a List MP based in Epsom.

He is Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Associate Minister for ACC.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Thanks for your ongoing support

AMANDA MORRISON M 021 174 5928 E a.morrison@barfoot.co.nz Parnell 09 366 0015 | barfoot.co.nz/a.morrison TRUSTWORTHY ENTHUSIASTIC DETERMINED LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

the investment

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Santa’s Cheer

e have just come through something of a rocky time in world stock markets with a noticeably broad, sharp sell-off and marked increase in volatility (see my article in the September issue). The world share market (in aggregate) is down about seven per cent over late September and October, while NZ’s market is down approximately two per cent.

Interestingly, this sell-off has tipped the world share market (in aggregate) into the red for the 2014 year to date, now down by nearly three per cent. New Zealand has thus far proven somewhat stronger with its market performance still in the black at eight-plus per cent year to date. So where to from here as we head to the end of the year and into early 2015?

The honest answer is I don’t know. But I do know that every year in December and January there are some strange happenings in financial markets, particularly in the US. Over the past 100 years, the performance of the stock market in December has been better than that of any other month in the year.

In fact, the best known market index in the US, the Dow Jones, has gained on average 1.4 per cent in December over the past 100 years, and perhaps more interesting has posted positive returns nearly three out of four December months over the same period.

Analysts have looked at the trading data for December months even more closely, and have noticed that a lot of the month’s gains actually occur around Christmas — indeed carrying on into the New Year. Positive market returns during this period have become known as a “Santa Claus Rally”. (To be precise, the time period associated with the Santa Claus Rally is the last five trading days of December and the first two trading days of January.)

Of course, the time period associated with the Santa Claus Rally does not always see a rally in the stock market, and many investors believe these years are particularly ominous. In fact, many believe the years following the period in which there is no Santa Claus Rally are most likely going to be bearish – and they often are!

Nobody knows for sure what causes a Santa Claus Rally.

However, some of the most common theories explaining why the stock market goes up include the following: investors are more optimistic and happier around Christmas; people are investing their Christmas bonuses (if they’re lucky enough to receive one!); and my personal favourite, all the market bears are on holiday!

Leading on from the Santa Claus Rally is the equally fascinating phenomenon called “the January Effect”. This phenomenon occurs between the last trading day in December and the fifth trading day of the new year in January.

The January Effect is predicated on the idea that stocks which have been sold in December for tax reasons (investment fund managers trying to lock in tax reductions by selling some lossmaking stocks) will be at a discount to their market value and by January, bargain hunters buy the “oversold” stocks thereby creating buying pressure in the overall market. Performance of the stock market in the month of January turns out to be a good predictor of the trend of the stock market for the rest of the year: when the (US) market gains in the first five trading days of the year, there is about an 80 per cent chance that the stock market will rise for the year.

So if you’re a bit worried about the recent volatility in the markets and sell-off, and are concerned about the prospects for 2015, look carefully at what happens over the next few weeks, and particularly late December into January. Any Santa Claus Rally or January Effect might provide some sort of indication. — Warren Couillault

the plan

Charges & Changes I

t will come as a surprise to many that from July 2015 — yes, mid next year — we ratepayers will be charged directly each time our red-lidded rubbish bin is collected. Currently, ratepayers of the former Auckland City have rubbish charges covered in the general rates collection.

The new Waste Management and Minimisation Plan was adopted by Auckland Council in June 2012 after consultation that occurred between November 2011 and January 2012. You may have missed the opportunity, or forgotten about the policy; but its roll-out and implementation in nearly upon us.

The Council’s aims were laudable – to deliver services more efficiently, find better ways to recover and reuse resources, and send less waste to the landfill. However, it comes with a sting in the tail. Each week your rubbish bin is emptied there will be a charge, which has been estimated to cost around $2.50 to $3.00 per time. It is understood this will be charged on an invoice basis, in a similar way to receiving a water or power bill.

There is no mention of a drop in rates to offset this new charge, so in effect it becomes a rate rise or if you like, one less service deducted from your rates. With no berms being mowed and proposed motorway tolls, there will not be much left that the rates used to cover.

On a positive note, the blue-lidded recycling bin will still be picked up for free, and there will be a green waste bin, separating the rubbish from the reusable.

This new policy may have many unforeseen downsides. Putting aside the teething problems these changes bring, there may be more dumping of rubbish, or non-collection of bins from those people who cannot or will not pay. Further, as rubbish collection becomes chargeable, we may see competition entering the market offering a lower-priced service. This could mean three or more operators collecting rubbish from a street on different days.

An extensive education process has begun with media campaigns on what is recyclable. This will be followed up by more education on the timing and rollout. The full policy can be read online at: http://wasteplan.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/ On another matter affecting our neighbourhood, Heritage and Character zones are prevalent in the residential areas of Parnell, Newmarket and Remuera. This generally has a positive effect and it ensures, within reason, that new dwellings are generally in keeping — albeit in a modern form — with their neighbours.

However, the downside is that every external addition and alteration in a Heritage and Character zone also requires a resource consent, and this adds time and cost to any building project. This includes such minor matters as adding a skylight or relocating a window. And not all consents for additions and alterations will receive the tick of approval from Council.

My consultancy has been involved in some recent applications where the Council has advised that proposed garages will detract from the character and amenity of the streetscape, the area and the site itself. Early engagement with Council in the form of a formal pre-application meeting is strongly advised.

Allow for an additional two to three months in your timelines, and understand that sometimes it is better to wait for the resource consent to be approved before embarking on working drawings and building consent documentation. — Hamish Firth

Brighton Road Cafe is THE place to visit for your Christmas needs. Book your Christmas ham, cake, mince pies and party catering now, or talk to us about your requirements for events large or intimate.

Everything is made on the premises from quality ingredients. We use only free range eggs and meat, and our milk (and coffee) is organic. Our deli showcases delicious house-smoked salmon, ham, pates, cheeses and olives, and our baking is justifiably famous! Try our amazing sweet crepes and savoury gluten-free galettes, available every weekend.

Brighton Road Cafe is a friendly and relaxed choice for staff Christmas lunches. We are licensed, with an eclectic wine list and a selection of craft beers.

Open from 7.30am 7 days a week right up to Christmas Eve. 58 Brighton Rd Parnell. Tel: 373 3735 email: brightonroadcafe@xtra.co.nz www.brightonroadcafe.co.nz

Epsom Electorate Office Suite 2.4, Level 2, 27 Gillies Avenue, Newmarket.

PO Box 9209, Newmarket 1149.

To contact me for an appointment please call 09 522 7464

David Seymour, MP for Epsom davidseymour.epsom@parliament.govt.nz

Promoted by David Seymour, MP for Epsom.

the district diary - december

monday

1

Mercy Hospice Trees of Remembrance Remember a loved one by hanging a bauble on a Hospice tree, located at Auckland shopping malls, until Dec 24 Term Four Ends Saint Kentigern Girls’ School

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Mrs Selwyn’s Christmas Step back to a Victorian Christmas with George Henare and Cathie Harrop. 7.30pm, until Thursday 18. Selwyn Library, 8 St Stephens Ave, Parnell. See poster opposite for more information

Longest day of the year

29

wednesday

2

8

22

tuesday

thursday

3

4

King’s School Carol Service 7pm, Holy Trinity Cathedral Parnell

Adults Book Group 10 - 11am, Parnell Library 545 Parnell Rd, Parnell

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10

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Remuera Bowling Club Social Bowls Final Morning 10am - 12 noon 6 Market Rd, Remuera

Remuera Bowling Club Christmas Dinner With entertainment by the BBC Jazz Trio. Email rembowls@xtra. co.nz for information

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Remuera Bowling Club Social Bowls 10am - 12 noon 6 Market Rd, Remuera

Term Four Ends Auckland Grammar, Baradene

Term Four Ends King’s School, Diocesan School (Years 0-6), Saint Kentigern Boys’

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Tim Beveridge in concert with special guests Dame Malvina Major and Simon O’Neill to benefit Hospice.

Holy Trinity Cathedral, 7.30pm.

Book at iticket.co.nz

23

Term Four Ends St Cuthbert’s College (junior and middle school)

Term Four Ends Remuera Primary, Victoria Avenue School

Term Four Ends Epsom Girls Grammar

18

Term Four Ends Parnell District School

U3A Monthly Meeting 9.30 - 11.30am Parnell Community Centre, 545 Parnell Rd, Parnell

24 Christmas Eve

30

Term Four Ends St Peters College

31 New Year’s Eve

Got an entry for The District Diary?

Community groups, schools, special events welcome.

Email details to hobsondiary@gmail.com

Parnell will be alive with Christmas spirit and festive cheer on Saturday December 6.

Tick off your Christmas list at local speciality boutiques and enjoy food, fashion shows and entertainment at Parnell Village’s old style Christmas Fair (from 10am), which is fundraising for Mercy and North Shore Hospices. Santa will be at Heard Park from midday (corner of Parnell Rd and Ruskin St) and there’ll be carols and Christmas fun around the giant tree.

the hobson 20

25

Christmas Day

friday

5

Term Four Ends Diocesan School (Years 7-13), Mt Hobson Middle School Write to Santa Post Santa letters in the special letterbox in Remuera’s Village Green

12

saturday

sunday

6

Parnell Village Christmas Fair 10am - 1pm, fundraising for Mercy and North Shore Hospice; plus Santa and Carols in the Park, 12 noon - 4pm Heard Park, Parnell Rd

7

La Cigale French Market Every Saturday and Sunday morning La Cigale, 69 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell

Santa will also be in Remuera every Saturday until Dec 20

13

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Celebrate Christmas at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell Auckland Philharmonia, 7.30pm, and tomorrow at 3pm. Call 623 1052 to buy tickets

Craft Harvest Market Arts and handmade goods for sale in the Jubilee Hall alongside Parnell Farmers’ Market, 8 11.45am, 545 Parnell Rd. Craft Harvest will also be held with the Farmers’ markets on Dec 6 and Dec 20

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Term Four Ends Remuera Intermediate

School’s Out For Summer Meadowbank School

Selfies with Santa The bearded gent will be in the Village Green, Remuera

Boxing Day

the hobson 21

notes

the hobson suggests: jerry clayton bmw

X Appeal

Urban planning consultant Hamish Firth sizes up the new BMW X5 M50d text: hamish firth photography: vanita andrews

T

hanks to a long weekend I had the chance to hit the road, escape the city and explore what the X5 M50d had to offer. So on the motorway, just north of the Orewa turn off, the traffic thins and the city is left behind.

The accelerator is pressed and you would swear the X5 M is being thrust from a missile launcher. And combined with the noise, that throaty roar, life has been given to this beast. This diesel-powered SUV is more than a head -turner, it is a performance machine.

BMW may need to rename this triple-turbo vehicle the M50:WOW! such has been my week of sheer driving pleasure. It started with a personalised drop-off service to my Parnell office by sales manager Craig Pryor. He gave me a rundown on the need-to-knows, and then tossed me the keys and wished me all the best! He must have known I was going to have a week of fun driving.

Being very tall, I need plenty of leg and head room. The M50d does not disappoint on this front, from its spacious front-seat environment with wonderfully supportive and comfortable sports seats, to the rear bench where my two kids and their car seats still left plenty of room for a fifth passenger. A third row of seats can also be utilised for those friends and family days.

In terms of making driving easier, parking wasn’t difficult thanks to a very clever 360-degree surround camera system. There is also a Heads-Up-Display that projects a speed readout onto and beyond the windscreen giving no reason not to have your eyes on the road. The iDrive system makes managing the vehicle’s controls simple and easy to use. Most functions are operated by scrolling through logical onscreen menus using a rotary dial that’s positioned just behind the gearstick, where it’s easy to reach. The screen is

positioned high on the dash. This helps with usability because it means you can always keep an eye on the road.

And then there is the Connected Drive. This means the days of guesswork over brake pads and oil filters are over as well as peace of mind in the unlikely event of a break down or emergency. BMW’s website sums up this concept very neatly: “1. If you need emergency services, the SOS button connects you to a BMW helpdesk, which will then connect you to police, fire or ambulance, who will automatically have your co-ordinates to find you.

2. If you are in an accident, where your airbag is deployed, a call is automatically made to your car via the BMW Helpdesk.

If there is no response, emergency services are deployed immediately.

3. The car is detecting oil levels, brake pad wear and a host of other metrics for servicing, and will inform the Help Desk, who send an email to us, and then we call you to book a convenient time to get all servicing needs seen to, ordering parts well in advance of your visit, lessening time in the workshop.

4. Concierge Services enable the owner to speak directly to our help desk to find directions to anywhere that they want to go and have those directions sent directly to the navigation system, or any other arrangements that you need like booking a hotel, finding out weather conditions at your destination, or any information that you need whenever you need it.

5. Remote Services allow you to lock and unlock your car remotely, as well as search via Google maps for a destination, and send the directions to the car’s navigation system.

6. Facebook, Twitter and your emails are accessible in the car as well as full internet capability.”

And for the kids, not only is there plenty of room and safety features, but the huge panoramic glass sunroof is great fun for games of eye-spy, reducing that cooped-up feeling and completely cutting out the “when are we there” whines that go with drives out of Auckland. The X5 M50d made me smile

from ear to ear all week. From the massive performance, to the serious handling, I have been in heaven every time I got behind the wheel. I would jump at the chance to have this in my garage to fulfil my all-wheel-drive family-hauler needs any day of the week. — Hamish Firth

Opposite: Jerry Clayton BMW sales manager Craig Pryor introduces Hamish Firth to the BMW X5 M50d. Hamish’s week included out of town trips, business appointments and plenty of local stops too, including the Parnell Lawn Tennis Club in the Domain — Jerry Clayton BMW is a proud sponsor of the historic club.

the new bmw x5 The new X5 is available in four models: Hamish drove the top-of-the-line M50d, a six cylinder, eight-speed sport automatic with a drive-away price of $174,500 (which includes GST, registration and Road User Charges for 10,000 kms).

Jerry Clayton BMW offers a five year warranty on all its new BMWs, three years of no-cost servicing, and a five year roadside assistance program.

Servicing is designed to be convenient for eastern suburbs’ residents: courtesy vehicles are available, as is collecting and returning your car from your workplace or home.

For further information, please contact Jerry Clayton BMW sales manager Craig Pryor (09) 488 2058 or craig.pryor@jcbmw.co.nz

Simply Matching Pe

www.remuerareale

A selection of recent sales

y err as t M stm an ri rilli om h C a b , fr d ear erry n a Y ,T w Ne iana iona D &F

Terry King 021 484 332 terry.king@remueraregister.co.nz

The Kings of

Remuera Real Estate Register

eople with Property

estateregister.co.nz

We will be here right through the Christmas holidays, so if you want to sell your house, leave it in our care and we will sell it for you while you’re away!

“Thanks Terry and Diana for your very professional and passionate approach to the sale of our Remuera house. It all happened while we relaxed with our family on Vomo Island, and the prompt result you achieved in under three weeks was to our complete satisfaction. We can’t speak highly enough of you both in recommending your unique “Register” to any prospective vendor” - John and Jacqui Sharp

Diana King 021 613 884 diana.king@remueraregister.co.nz

f Real Estate

Limited licensed REAA 2008

the waterfront

The Transforming Shore Sir Bob Harvey — author, ad man, former mayor of Waitakere City — is the chair of Waterfront Auckland, the body charged with the rejuvenation of the CBD shoreline. Here, Sir Bob walks readers of The Hobson through the changes, plans and developments bringing new life to our city’s edge.

W

aterfronts have always been a strong reflection of the times and have represented our connections to the world. From pre-European times to the modern era, the Auckland waterfront has been the trade gateway to our young nation.

Times are changing, and our waterfront is too.

Sustainability, place making, liveability, innovation, urbanism – these are the defining terms of today. Our waterfront, as it has in years gone by, is transforming itself in ways that will reflect these new times.

This is epitomised in the work Waterfront Auckland has done to date in Wynyard Quarter, the location of a 20 year revitalisation, and New Zealand’s largest urban regeneration project outside of Christchurch currently.

New public spaces opened in 2011 have transformed how Aucklanders interact with their waterfront. From being cut off and only engaging with the city waterfront as part of a night out in the Viaduct or to catch a ferry into the Hauraki Gulf, the reopening of Wynyard Quarter with large open spaces, designed with people in mind, has totally recalibrated the public’s relationship with the waterfront.

Key to this has been a design-led approach by Waterfront Auckland and its precursor agency, Sea + City, a subsidiary of the former Auckland Regional Council. The foundation for this was laid from the start, with the creation of NZ Institute of Architecture award winning Urban Design framework for the revitalisation of 18.5 hectares of former industrial land. This, combined with a conscious decision to retain cues of the area’s gritty working waterfront past and a commitment to true mixed use development, has created a truly authentic character to the Wynyard Quarter revitalisation.

This has recently been recognised by two major international awards. North Wharf Promenade and Silo Park beat a number of global projects (including the HighLine in New York) to win the Rosa Barba International Landscape Prize at the International Biennial of Landscape Architecture

of Barcelona, Spain. Waterfront Auckland also beat nine projects from around the world to win the Best Waterfront Project Award at the International Society of City and Regional Planning congress held in Gydnia, Poland.

Good design is not all about awards and aesthetic either, as there are tangible economic and social benefits.

Restaurants and cafes are thriving and activities are being programmed all year round. These include major events which attract thousands onto the waterfront, as well as “pop up” mini events and activations such as the outdoor cinema programme each summer in Silo Park, which are designed to bring our spaces to life.

Given that people are fundamental to the life of any city or space, specific attention was paid to making sure that these new public spaces were well loved and used by all visitors. To this end Waterfront Auckland established a ‘place making’ team as part of its development plan. This team, working closely with communications, design and property management, works to host events, foster relationships with the local creative industries, and build a programme to make sure that Auckland’s new waterfront is surprising, delightful, and welcoming.

This place-led approach has provided extremely fruitful, with WA’s work now being internationally recognised on the growing place making stage.

The commercial property market is picking up on this too with an increasing amount of businesses also establishing themselves around the waterfront. Over 5,000 workers are now based in Wynyard Quarter. ASB moved over 1,300 staff into its Jellicoe St head office in mid-2013, and they have injected a new energy into the North Wharf area.

Reflecting our commitment to keep the waterfront authentic and supporting the marine cluster, over 350 jobs are marine and fishing related.

We are managing world class marinas around the waterfront in a very dynamic way. We are changing berths to adapt to the needs of new boats and owners. 4

“Many said our development plans, sustainability goals and design standards were too demanding to attract interest from investors”

An impression of a residential building in Wynyard Quarter, which will get underway next year. Overleaf, the popular Silo Park playground, and an impression of a future development in Daldy St. All images courtesy of Waterfront Auckland

the hobson 27

the waterfront

We are also opening up marinas so that the public can enjoy the water’s edge, balancing the need to ensure the functional requirements of the marina. The Westhaven Promenade is under construction, and by the end of 2014 Aucklanders will be able to enjoy walking alongside our iconic Westhaven Marina.

Queens Wharf continues to flourish too in its new role as a public space and last year’s refurbishment of the 100-year-old former cargo shed, Shed 10, has proven a hit with event organisers and the cruise ship passengers that use the space. The next steps are all about stitching the wharf back into lower Queen St and the new shared space planned there, and how we can maximise the space towards the east linking through to the Captain Cook wharf and beyond.

Given the amount of activity that is happening already, and the development that has been completed, it’s a bit daunting to think that these are only the first steps. The pace of activity will only accelerate over the next few years, particularly as the next stage of Wynyard Quarter is developed.

Earlier this year we successfully attracted private investors to develop a 3.5 hectare site in the centre of Wynyard Quarter. Many said that our development plans, sustainability goals and design standards were too demanding to attract interest from investors. However, after an international promotion, we have established this year development agreements with three developers. These developers share our enthusiasm and vision to create one of the best urban mixed use waterfront communities in the world.

Willis Bond will develop over 90,000m2 of residential apartments (over 600 apartments). Detailed designs are being developed for approximately 28,350m2 of apartments which will be built in the first phase of development. Over the next 10 years, we will see the numbers of people living in the Wynyard Quarter lift from the 280 or so residents who are here already, to well over 1,500 residents.

Precinct Properties will develop 48,000m2 of commercial space. Working collaboratively together with us and each other, the developers will build each component of the development in ways which complement the other, and Wynyard Central will transform from being a cool place to visit, into also being one of the most convenient and comfortable places to live, and the most inspiring place to work.

Fu Wah International will build a 200 room, international standard 5-star hotel, which they will support through strong promotion of New Zealand as a tourism destination in China.

the hobson 28

These new developments will demonstrate how, with clever partnering and clearly describing the outcomes we seek, we can encourage private investors to take responsibility for developing our city in a socially and environmentally responsive way.

As the momentum of development gains pace, it is important that issues such as transport, sustainability, and engagement are well managed.

Every time I walk or bike around our waterfront, I can’t help but feel proud about the transformation we are leading. The exciting thing is that the transformation is happening at pace. I encourage all Aucklanders to visit the waterfront frequently to witness and be excited about the changes that are happening. p

Everything you need to create outdoor living spaces for New Zealand homes.

The Alfresco brand of furniture is designed and made in New Zealand exclusively for our store and is accentuated by gorgeous homewares and accessories to compliment any setting and great gifts.

You will be inspired as soon as you walk through the door into our contemporary upper level following through to our outdoor garden area.

Phone 09 309 3643 Visit 223 Parnell Rd, Parnell, Auckland alfrescohomeandgarden.co.nz

the hobson suggests: lucy & the powder room

Summer Packages

You’ll be prepped and primed for summer with our perfectly tailored packages for face and body

The Summer Facial: 75 mins $99 (value $160) Our summer facial is a supercharged skin treatment to cleanse and fortify your skin.

Focusing specifically on pigmentation, we energise your skin using Synergie’s key skin brightening ingredients such as high potency vitamins, hydrating peptides and powerful antioxidants.

Next, we apply the finishing touches an alluring lash tint to enhance the sparkle in your eyes, and an application­­of Coola Mineral Matte Finish, the latest in organic SPF sun care.

The Summer Body: 75 mins $99 (value $160) Get summer started with a Medical Pedicure to rejuvenate and polish tired feet.

Afterwards, achieve a sun-kissed glow (without harsh and aging UV rays) with Lucy’s Organic Spray Tan, loaded with natural properties. Our experts will select the most natural of tones for your skin type and carefully apply – it takes just 15 minutes to spray and dry, and you can shower within the hour (or two if you want a deeper tan).

Lucy’s Top 5 Products for Summer 1. Sans [ceuticals] Moisture and Protein Infusion 20, $60 2. Coola Mineral Matte Finish SPF Sunscreen, $55 3. Synergie Enlighten, $179 4. Davines Sea Salt Spray, $42 5. Becca Beach Tints, $60 What you can expect ... beach-ready toes and glowing, sun-kissed skin.

To book your summer treatments, call Takapuna 09 488 0585 or Newmarket 09 524 6702. Packages available from November until February 28 2015.

the hobson suggests: the jewel box

Bright Christmas photography: carolyn haslett styling: rachel morton hair & Makeup: carolyn haslett for mac model: kimberley de vocht, red 11 management

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, and place under the tree some beautiful, collectable, covetable gifts from our local fine jewellers. Above, Kimberley wears green tourmaline and diamond bow earrings, $20,100 from Sutcliffe, Parnell; 19ct matte gold necklace, $5750 from Sanders of Remuera; art deco diamond and ruby Russian ring, circa 1910, $11,000 from Graeme Thomson Antique & Estate Jewellery, Parnell; green tourmaline and diamond bow ring, $65,000 from Sutcliffe. White top from Gregory.

Both rings also shown on the cover, and ruby, diamond and South Sea pearl earrings by Autore, $15,000 from Graeme Thomson.

the hobson 31

the jewel box

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me .... a trove from Graeme Thomson Antique & Estate Jewellery. 15ct amethyst and paste earrings, $1250; 15ct gold and enamel pendant necklace, circa 1880, $10,500; 18ct garnet bracelet, circa 1882, $4500 (top); 18ct turquoise bracelet, circa 1910, $6500 (middle); 15ct turquoise, diamond and pearl bracelet, circa 1900, $6750 (bottom).

Silk top with jewelled collar (altered) from Gregory.

the hobson 32

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me .... an armful of gold from Sanders of Remuera. On wrist, from top, three 9ct bangles, $635 each; 9ct hollow curb bracelet, $4850; Daniel Wellington watch with changeable strap, $289; 18ct hinged bangle, $5300; 9ct belcher bracelet, $1299.

9ct wide hoop earrings, $1100. White shirt from Gregory.

the hobson 33

the jewel box

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me .... dazzling precious gems from Sutcliffe.

Top hand: Oval rubelite, onyx flowers and diamond ring, $33,075; 23ct tanzanite dress ring set with diamonds, $44,390. Lower hand: 20.93ct green tourmaline with diamonds and bow detail $65,000; cushion-cut rubelite with pink sapphires and diamonds, $26,400.

Pale pink shirt from Gregory

the hobson 34

ABOUT THE JEWELLERS

96 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell. Ph: 09 302 2499 artisanooring.co.nz Antique jewellery specialist Graeme Thomson sources top quality fine jewellery from around the world. His specialities include Victorian, Edwardian and art deco rings, necklaces, bracelets and brooches.

Graeme Thomson Antique & Estate Jewellery, 259 Parnell Rd, Parnell. Phone 303 1912 www.antiquejewels.co.nz

Showcasing both handcrafted jewellery of their own design and specialist imported lines, Sanders of Remuera is located in the Remuera shopping precinct. As well as beautiful jewellery, Sanders also sells timepieces, including Classique Swiss watches.

Sanders of Remuera, 385 Remuera Rd, Remuera. Phone 520 3630 www.sandersjewellers.co.nz

Jeweller Brent Sutcliffe’s many awards include the prestigious British Goldsmiths Craftmanship and Design Awards for Diamond Mounted (Jeweller) of the Year, and the Gold Award for Small Work. His specialities include commissioned bespoke pieces.

Sutcliffe, 203 Parnell Rd, Parnell. Phone 309 0127 www.sutcliffejewellery.com

NOW

AVA I L A B L E

AT

371 Remuera Road, Remuera, Ak. p h 0 9 5 2 4 0 8 4 3 w w w. h e d g e r ow. c o . n z

the pretty

Behold!

Melissa Williams-King finds beauty treats for under the tree, with packaging as gorgeous as the contents

Elizabeth Arden Limited Edition Gold Collection Eight Hour Cream, $29. The beauty gold standard now gets its own gilded case. Life Pharmacy (Wylie’s) Remuera and Life Pharmacy 277 Kerastase Keratine Thermique, $46. Heat styling is normally damaging to hair, but Kerastase has figured out how to make it polish and smooth the hair instead. Heat activates the key ingredients, adding moisture and sealing the cuticle. At Serville’s Newmarket and Mission Bay

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Tin of Treasures, $69. This year’s festive flavour, Glazed Apple, will make you feel like a kid in a candy store and the silver tin could work as a centrepiece. The Body Shop, Newmarket

Tender Love + Carry with Kelly Thompson cosmetics bags, from $18.95. Keep beauty clutter looking chic in these limited-edition bags designed by New Zealand illustrator Kelly Thompson (her art has appeared everywhere from Penguin books to Escada perfume ads). Life Pharmacy 277

Paco Rabanne Invictus, $135.

For the champion man in your life, a fresh woody scent in one of the coolest fragrance bottles we’ve seen.

Life Pharmacy (Wylie’s) Remuera, Newmarket: Smith & Caughey, Farmers, Life Pharmacy 277.

MOR Twinkle Twinkle Marshmallow Duo, $59.95.

The sweet pink tin will come in handy long after you’ve enjoyed using up all the jumbo-sized Hand & Body Wash and Hand & Body Milk. Hedgerow, Remuera

Jurlique Nutri-Define Superior Retexturising Facial Serum, $175.

All-natural anti-ageing? It’s possible thanks to Jurlique’s potent new serum based on liposome technology, captured in this stunning silver bottle.

Night cream, $145, and day cream, $155, also available.

Smith & Caughey’s, Newmarket

Nars Audacious Lipstick, $68.

Created to celebrate the makeup maestro’s 20th year in business, this range features high-pigment hues, moisturising formulas and a cool matte, magneticclosure case. Mecca Cosmetica, Newmarket MAC Keepsakes Face Palette, $142. We love MAC’s entire Christmas range, but this compact takes the cake for its sparkling cameo case and bounty of content. Smith & Caughey’s, Newmarket

Narciso by Narciso Rodriguez, from $110. This woody, white musk with a touch of gardenia is memorable yet understated, and as elegant as the milkywhite modern cube it comes in.

Newmarket: Farmers, Smith & Caughey’s and Life Pharmacy 277. the hobson 36

Elizabeth Arden Beauty Blockbuster, $99 when you spend $75. A makeup maven’s dream come true: two full palettes plus six lipsticks, two eye pencils, two lip pencils, a mascara, brush set and more, with a value many times the price. Life Pharmacy (Wylie’s) Remuera

the wellbeing

D

Brain Down

o you know of someone that complains of poor thinking, feels bloated, has low energy? In my world, this is a classic sign that your gut is likely affecting the function of your brain, or vice versa.

The ‘Brain Gut Axis’ is a feedback system with neurotransmitter and neurochemical dialogue going back and forth. The problem is that once this axis starts to fail, be it from either the brain first or the gut first, the result is the same — an inflammatory cycle that eventually breaks down the gut through intestinal permeability (leaky gut) that sets up the stage for autoimmunity, where your overzealous immune system starts to attack itself.

Let’s start with the gut. If you have a digestive disorder, how do you know if the brain is involved? The key question is whether there’s a motility issue — do you have to drink coffee or take laxatives or magnesium to have regular bowel movements?

Motility, the movement of food through your gut, is a brain phenomenon. Your brain has to fire a specific neurological pathway to stimulate digestive motility, release enzymes and get blood flow and nutrients into your gut.

When you lose this brain-driven motility, you fail to move food efficiently along the digestive tract and it ferments, and you can get bacterial and yeast overgrowths. Anytime you don’t have sufficient gut activation from your brain, you don’t release the necessary enzymes.

If you have a gut issue and no one has been able to figure it out, there’s a good chance it could be a brain-gut issue. Treating it with prescription drugs and digestive enzymes will not solve the problem. You need to reactivate the muscular activity necessary to stimulate proper gut motility —it’s like having a weak bicep muscle that you have to activate to get strong again. With your gut, you need to fire the right neurological pathway to stimulate motility.

Gluten, a protein composite found in wheat and related grains is but one example of a food source that can leave you feeling bloated, with weight issues, joint pain, low libido and a lack of those feel-good chemicals that are essential to mounting a strong immune response. In this scenario, it’s not all in your head — it’s gut inflammation that is the root cause.

Think of the intestinal end of the digestive tract as akin to the engine of a high performance Ferrari, and the brain as the commander in chief, with the immune system — both from the brain (the glial cell) and within the body — the moderator as to what is and isn’t tolerated.

More severe symptoms of brain-to-gut degeneration can include losing your sense of smell and taste, whereby nothing tastes good anymore. You may have complaints of stiffness and constipation too.

Be careful with exercise overtraining, for it can open your gut to inflammation. Most gyms don’t tell you that, let alone understand the importance of loading and unloading the correct training intensity and volume. Get it wrong and all hell can break lose in your body, and you can kiss goodbye to getting lean and mean fast with washboard abs.

Fix your gut and many issues go away. It’s all about what you can and can’t tolerate, for environment dictates how our genes are expressed. — Lee Parore

Lee Parore is a naturopath and fitness trainer: for medical advice, always consult your GP

the hobson suggests

Vital Sunscreen Facts

The single best thing you can do for your skin is to commit to using a top quality sunscreen that both protects and treats your skin. The experts at Prescription Skin Care have the perfect range: Elta MD

90 per cent of skin ageing is from sun exposure UVA rays penetrate deep into the skin, causing uneven pigmentation, wrinkles and loss of elasticity, even on cloudy days and through glass. Says the American Academy of Dermatology, “the most potent cosmeceutical that can prevent and reverse the signs of ageing is sunscreen”.

Advanced technology Elta MD uses transparent zinc oxide so there’s no white residue. It won’t clog pores and is fragrance and parabenfree, so ideal for sensitive skin. Think high protection, in a formula sheer enough for everyday use.

Protect and treat As well as superior sun protection, Elta MD incorporates medical-grade ingredients to improve your skin — for example, hyaluronic acid to moisturise, or antiinflammatory agents to calm acne or rosacea. In many people it replaces the need for a moisturiser.

Repair skin damage Sunscreen use not only protects skin from daily UV assault, it can repair past damage, by allowing your skin to heal as it is now protected.

Buy the best available Elta MD is a doctor-only brand. Beware of buying it from discount sites, as imitations are common. Visit us for all your Elta MD needs, or go to eltamd.co.nz.

Prescription Skin Care are specialists in skin health, facial rejuvenation through Botox, fillers, laser, peels and facials and fat reduction. Led by Plastic Surgeon Stephen Gilbert FRCS, FRACS (plastic).

243 Remuera Road, Remuera. Phone 529 5784.

the second act

B

Looking the Part

y the time this is published I will have been on a tour of digital organisations in San Francisco. As someone who specialises in mid-life reinvention, it is particularly appropriate to consider the adapt-or-die context we live and work in. And what I will be quietly looking out for in the appropriately named Silicon Valley, is telltale signs of the much talked about new trend of male plastic surgery.

Think “plastic surgery” and you conjure up an image of an ageing dolly bird who after years of trading on her looks, realises she is a depreciating asset. But cosmetic enhancement is one area where the gender gap is closing. The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that male plastic surgery has increased 121 per cent in 15 years. And much of it is due to guys trying to stay competitive in an increasingly youth-obsessed job market undergoing radical transformation in the digital age.

In 2007, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the declaration, “Young people are just smarter”. As irritating as this may be, it may be useful to know that a recent survey discovered that out of the 32 most successful US tech companies, only six had a median age workforce over 35.

In the digital age ‘years in the game’ means nothing. It’s ideas, insights about the contemporary world and digital competence that are increasingly valued. Young people have this in spades. Older executives may have these qualities, but often they simply don’t look as though they do.

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Randy Adams, 62, is a case in point.

Despite a stellar career, when he was undergoing his midlife reinvention he struggled to find an appropriate senior role that would allow him to play in the hotbed of tech innovation – his age was getting in the way of his talent. So he had a makeover. Out went the button-down shirts and in came t-shirts and Converse trainers.

He shaved his head, carried the latest gadgets (presumably he knew how to use them) and, wait for it, confessed to getting an eyelid lift.

He may have had all the smarts in the world but he needed to look the part too (he has gone on to do some amazing things).

Tragic? Won’t catch on here? Who are you kidding?

We already know that men have increasingly been attending to

their moobs (man boobs) through surgery and dabbling in Botox.

Cosmetic surgery is just one step further.

I talk a lot about “authentic leadership” in my work and thus a penchant for surgical enhancement seems to be a contradiction.

One of the joys of maturing is that we care less about what others think – we literally grow into being more comfortable in our slightly baggier skin. So does it really matter what we look like?

In the era of the social platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and selfies, the answer is yes. What one looks like from the neck up is under scrutiny. Even LinkedIn – the more serious social media platform for the commercial world — demands a professional photo. And a little retouching is all part of the deal. Don’t I know it — my shot on the contributor’s page is a kind version of myself courtesy of Photoshop. Caring about what you look like is not about being inauthentic. It’s about putting your best foot forward, or so I say to myself as I write this while getting my ‘natural’ hair colour reapplied at Stephen Marr in Newmarket.

So I have decided to share for male readers considering a little bit of work for the sake of work, what women already know.

First up it’s about ‘tiny tucks’ (we don’t want you looking like Mickey Rourke). Secondly, make sure you still look like you (this is where Michael Jackson went wrong). And thirdly, don’t lie about it (‘fess up like Randy Adams).

Women shudder at actress Renee Zellweger, 42, who recently allowed her surgeon to slice away her distinctive hooded eyelids in favour of looking like everyone else. She responded by saying the startling changes were due to a “healthy lifestyle”. Really, honesty will get you everywhere. Joan Rivers looked like a ventriloquist dummy but her career thrived at 80. She was comfortable in her skin — she just chose to stretch it.

And it is why women delight at Helen Mirren, who in her 70th year, was recently named a face of cosmetics giant, L’Oreal. Mirren has said she doesn’t mind the idea of little cosmetic surgery if you play by the rules above, and it makes you feel good.

Why invest in what you look like? Because you are worth it.

— Sandy Burgham

the psyche

M

Helping the Anxious Child

ost children have fears or worries of some kind. In most cases, fears in childhood are fairly transient and shortlived. Nonetheless, anxiety disorders in children are the most common reason for children and adolescents to seek psychological treatment.

Fears are often specific to the age of the child. For infants and toddlers, tears can be triggered by strangers, loud noises, and especially separation from a parent or caregiver. Preschoolers may show anxiety by being shy, or tearful when faced with insects, animals, the dark, or again, separation.

While infants and young children don’t generally worry, children over six or seven have the cognitive maturity to anticipate a future in which bad things might happen. School-age children might be afraid about supernatural things (like ghosts), and may worry about social situations, failure in exams, criticism, getting sick or hurt.

In older childhood and adolescence, the focus of fears becomes less concrete — they may think a lot about family relationships, war, what their friends think of them, their self-image.

In general, anxiety needs to be addressed if it is stopping the child from doing the things he wants/needs to do, if it is seriously impacting the family’s functioning and if it compares poorly to that of other children of the same age. For example, while it’s common for most kids to experience some fears about separation when going to school for the first time, this tends to be far less common for a nine-year-old who has been going to the same school since Year 1.

Some of the signs indicating that your child may not be coping too well include frequently seeking reassurance or approval; nausea, tummy aches or vague pains especially at specific times and occasions; intense anxiety way in advance of planned social events; excessive shyness; perfectionism; overreaction to criticism; reacting badly to changes in routine and sleep troubles.

There are various strategies you can try to help, starting with encouraging them to talk about what it is they fear. However, remember that you can’t demand that the child tell you what’s on their mind. Like adults, children only share information when they’re feeling safe, supported and not judged. It can help to initiate

discussion while engaged in some other activity like playing with Lego, taking a walk, cleaning or baking.

Even if the fears sound silly to you, they are very real to your child so you do need to validate them. Let your child know that you understand that they are frightened by repeating what they said back to them in your own words — “It sounds like you feel very scared when Mummy drops you off at school, because you worry she won’t come back to get you”.

It is also helpful for children to know that everyone gets scared at times, even grown-ups. Talk to them about how you face your fears. And include some coping strategies, such as breathing and relaxation exercises. Tell the child to take slow deep breaths as if their tummy is a balloon and they are filling it up with air, or tell them to “go floppy like a puppet with the strings cut loose so all your muscles are loose and relaxed”. Another useful strategy is talking through a fear. “It’s just a grasshopper. It can’t hurt me”.

Encourage the child to face their fears gradually. You may want to provide them with a lot of support initially, but you can reduce this slowly. For example, a child who fears dogs may be exposed at first to pictures and videos about dogs, followed by small dogs behind a fence, on a firm leash and so on. Make sure your child can stay calm at each step, before moving on.

Praise the child for facing their fears. The socially anxious child may be applauded for saying hello to someone in the playground.

The experience of success will make it more likely that they will be able to muster the courage to invite another child to play the next day.

Sometimes children simply have to do the things they are afraid of, such as seeing a doctor or starting a new school. At these times, don’t allow your child to avoid the situation, as this can exacerbate the fear and prevent them from learning the truth of their feared situation. For example, a child who has never made a visit to the dentist would not get to learn that a visit to their family dentist is not such a bad experience after all.

If the fears and anxieties continue despite your best efforts, it may helpful to consult a professional. — Amrit Kaur

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the sound

S

Total Recall

o we come to that time of year where we cast our minds back to look at the highlights of 2014 and realise that our memory is shot, and we can’t accurately remember what happened last week.

Which is going to make my review of the music of 2014 a tad difficult.

For instance, you’d automatically assume that Lorde’s Pure Heroine would be there until you realise it was released in September 2013. So that’s out. But then again, it has been the year of our Lorde. Barely a week has gone by without a mention of her world conquering campaign. There she is blowing away Lollopalooza!

There she is making waffles with Taylor Swift! There she is getting criticised for dancing like there’s a wasp stuck in her bra!

The remarkable thing about watching Lorde become part of the pantheon of pop stars is realising that she shouldn’t really be there.

Her whole schtick is against her contemporaries and their values, just as Joel Little’s stripped-down beats rail against the overproduced puffs of pop from princesses like Miley and Katy. In a way it’s been like a prank and parody of the pop world and in saying that, I’m wondering if the joke is starting to wear a little thin.

So 2015 is going to be an interesting year for Lorde, and we’ll all be waiting to see which way she’ll jump next. If she repeats the “Royals” trick again I don’t think she’ll enjoy the success she’s had this year. That’s not to say she’s over, I just doubt her all-pervasiveness will continue.

With Lorde out of the mix, I’m going to have to give the NZ album of the year to Joel Little’s other project, Broods’ Evergreen. This is the loveliest album, and I’ve gone back to it time and time again. Less challenging and more conventional than Lorde, it is still unique. In “Mother and Father,” Broods has produced one of the great coming of age pop songs.

Rather than being about first love, it encapsulates the doubts and fears of leaving the family home and growing up. Miley will never write a song about flatting, and that’s why it’s so great. I’m a sucker for kitchen sink pop, which is why I’ve always loved Pulp.

An honourable mention must go to Shihad’s FVEY (pronounced “five eyes”). What a slab of a record. I never reviewed it on ZB for fear of giving some of Jack Tame’s audience a coronary. Angry and monstrous, it was compared to their classic Churn album. But it was more than that. The same primal crunch, but with a soaring melodiousness that has come with age. It’s all good, Jon Toogood.

There are plenty of nominees for the SURPRISE! record of the year.

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s Great American Songbook record

Duets for one. Who knew the Lady had such chops. The same goes for You + Me’s LP Rose Ave. It’s Alecia Moore and Dallas Green’s band. The surprise is realising Alecia Moore is pop powerhouse Pink, and that the tender alt-country record they’ve produced is superb and restrained. Pink and Gaga have shown their depth of talent and I’m impressed.

But the SURPRISE! record of the year goes to Coldplay’s Ghost Stories. It gets the award because originally I didn’t like the maudlin, downbeat, post-Gwyneth marriage break-up album that Chris Martin and the boys had produced. I’ve come to love it after repeated playing on quiet Sunday afternoons. It is delicate and sad, and features Chris’ rhythmic keyboard soundscapes that they abandoned in the stadium part of their career.

So SURPRISE! The first Coldplay album I’ve liked since A Rush Of Blood To The Head, which I like very much.

So to Record of the Year, and Concert of the Year, which I want to award to the same artist.

That rules out Sam Smith as his concert isn’t until next year. But his album In the Lonely Hour is my second favourite album of 2014. He himself describes the album as the diary of a lonely 21-year-old, and it is. Heartbreaking, aching, doubting, questioning. The single “Stay With Me” is a wonder.

It could have been Beyonce’s Beyonce which she released out of the blue, and followed up with a blockbuster series of concerts in Auckland. Her show was gobsmacking and reminded us she has been the Queen of Pop for years now, despite healthy competition. A lot of these blockbuster arena shows have become more akin to going to the circus, and call me old-fashioned but I still get a kick out of music being the feature and not the costume changes. So here’s to Justin Timberlake for keeping it real.

But my pick goes to the Arctic Monkeys for their album AM and their stunning Vector Arena show. It’s the perfect album. Popular, it’s spawned radio single after single, and yet critically acclaimed.

The band’s fifth album, it marked a change away from brattish energy to full rock star swagger yet with the band’s trademark lyric genius. Live it was a brute. I swear every time the kick drum hit a blast of wind came from the stage. Alex Turner, the lead singer, has gone from smartarse in a woolly jumper to Southern rock god complete with snakeskin boots, big belt buckles and a brylcreemed pompadour. It was ROCK. Complete with great lights and hair-onthe-neck-up-on-end-ness.

So that’s my year. Well as much as I can remember. See you next year and Merry Christmas. — Andrew Dickens

Above: Broods, siblings Georgia and Caleb Nott. Photo courtesy of Universal Music. the hobson 40

the suburbanist

cashmere affair

Perfect Xmas Gifts

Men’s & Women’s Scottish Cashmere Luxe Italian Loafers, Silk Tees, Candles

complot/Shutterstock.com

S

Cool Christmas Ideas

o you’re looking for some cool ideas for Christmas – no, not shopping; if you’re looking for gift help, turn the page. No, I’m talking about ideas that are cool, for you to contemplate while lying on a beach, or sitting in traffic on the way to the beach or pulled to the side of the road, beside the traffic, on the way to the beach, while your navigator takes everything out of the boot (do SUVs have boots? What are they called now? That would be a cool idea, coming up with the name for the space formerly known as the boot…) while they look for the solar charger for the iPhone (because the brand new cigarette lighter charger – the third this year – has failed again) so they can find Google Maps (because “we’re not taking a map, that’s so last century”) and stand on the roof of the car (why aren’t car rooves made of solar panels? They spend most days in the sun? A mini solar array embedded in some carbon fibre with USB ports inside and outside; that would be a cool idea) to try and get a signal so we can be sure of where we are going so we can rejoin the line of traffic 800 cars back (oh not the three caravans and the boat, quick, quick, get in front now) and finally – finally – get on our way again.

You know what would be really cool – a way to send all our luggage to the beach ahead of time, so it would be waiting for us when we arrive. In the car you’d just have carry-on – “one bag each kids! 7kg only, we will be using the scales” and room to move, while in the dead of night your eight bags, two kayaks, windsurfer, camp fridge, tent, second tent, spare tent and Weber – the Family Q – are silently transported along with the luggage of unknown others in one of those gigantic trucks they use to deliver frozen goods to the supermarket. That would be a cool idea.

We are happy to say goodbye to our luggage when we board a plane, why not when we board our own car?

Incidentally, if you are not going to the beach this season but are passing through Hong Kong, you can now check out of your hotel and check your luggage in for your flight at a subway station – aptly called “in-town check-in” – get your boarding pass and go shopping.

You won’t see your luggage until you get to your final destination – yes, really – and you can continue your day unencumbered. Now that is a really cool idea.

While on the beach – finally – (or in your tent, up a mountain, down a river, roundabout) if you’re stuck for a cool idea you could dip into your copy of What Is Your Dangerous Idea? (sub-titled: Today’s Leading Thinkers on the Unthinkable) edited by John Brockman (available on Kindle) for inspiration. Or visit the Cool Hunter website for the same. Be sure to do so conspicuously so those around you know where the centre of the universe of cool is.

And once the muse arrives (sometime after 5pm, the sun starting to drop in the sky, a cold condensate forming on the outside of your G&T) think about the pitch you will make at the next meeting of the Cool Ideas Society (coolideassociety.com yes, really), the global movement that started in – but, of course – the Netherlands, where people share their, you know, cool ideas. No chapter in your home town? You could start one — that would be cool. — Tommy Honey

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the journey

Why I Went To ... London The Hobson’s arts writer, Leigh Melville, recently spent a whirlwind week in London in the company of friends enjoying the Frieze contemporary art fair

I

love London. The joy of breakfast in Notting Hill and a wander back through Hyde Park on a sunny Sunday morning, to be met by the Life Guards of the Household Cavalry proceeding down Carriage Drive on horseback, is definitely a ‘pinch me’ moment.

Combined with a feverish week of art, we were destined to have a good time.

Our trip was conceived by arts curator Stephanie Post, who suggested a patron’s tour to Frieze London. Stephanie organised a programme of art and food events that took us all over London, in and out of our comfort zones, and left us all thrilled but exhausted at week’s end. Following are some highlights and recommendations in case you should be fortunate enough to visit in the near future.

A new sculpture commission has been installed outside the Serpentine Sackler Gallery and it brightens the greyest London day. Bertrand Laviers’ Fountain is a playful interpretation of a classical garden sculpture. Jets of water emanate from an apparently unruly mess of garden hoses; the bright colours and recognisable forms feel so out of context with the classical building behind it, but something about this sculpture feels very right. Inside, we were treated to a wonderful exhibition

by Cerith Wyn Evans, who is currently featured in Auckland Art Gallery’s Light Show.

Frieze Art Fair is a dynamic event housed in a ‘bespoke structure’ in Regents Park. As well as a wealth of contemporary art, there is a sculpture park, a large programme of debates, panel discussions and lectures, live performances and artist commissions, cafes, restaurants and Frieze Masters for those who prefer something a bit more traditional. All the big names in art were there – including New Zealand’s own Simon Denny, represented by his Berlin gallery.

During Frieze Week everyone puts their best foot forward, so we saw brilliant shows at the dealer galleries by big name artists including Steve McQueen, Paul McCarthy and Yayoi Kusama, whose bronze pumpkins at Victoria Miro Gallery were so surprisingly beautiful I wished for a spare couple of million, not to mention a garden large enough to put one in! At the auction houses we attended previews for important pictures and saw rooms full of Picasso, Rothko and Warhol, to name a few.

At the other end of the spectrum we visited a number of not-forprofit spaces including Camden Arts Centre, Gasworks, Parasol Unit and Chisenhale Gallery.

There we were able to visit artist’s studios and see some of London’s premier emerging talent.

We all agreed that a visit to the Royal Academy for a private view of their Anselm Kiefer exhibition was a show stopper. The most significant exhibition of Kiefer’s work ever held in the UK, The Guardian’s Jonathan Jones wrote “What is the most exciting show coming up in Britain this autumn?

No question – it is the German artist Anselm Kiefer’s exhibition at the Royal Academy. Kiefer is one of the most imaginative, original and serious artists alive”.

Our curated tour lived up to the hype and was followed by a visit to the Mayfair home of a well-known London collector.

We were overwhelmed by her generous, warm hospitality, not to mention the collection and its environs.

You need energy to tackle this much art, so food was also a highlight. Favorite breakfast haunts include Ottolenghi, Granger and Co. and Daylesford. We had a delicious lunch at Rochelle Canteen, owned by New Zealander Margo Henderson.

Housed in an old school bike shed, the Canteen looks out onto

Laviers’ Fountain outside the Serpentine Sackler Gallery; Cerith Wyn Evans and Damien Hurst artworks at White Cube, Frieze.

All photos courtesy Leigh Melville the hobson 42

Clockwise from top left: Wyn Evans at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery; a very London moment; Wolseley breakfast; the on-tour team with Kusama’s bronze pumpkins; lemon tart at Rochelle; Ottolenghi

a pretty walled garden and after a couple of glasses of Chablis you could almost forget you were in the heart of East London.

Tapas and sherry fortified us in the South at Pizarro Restaurant, just down the road from London’s biggest gallery, White Cube.

It would not be a trip to London without a visit to Peter Gordon’s

Providores, where we dined with the man himself. A perennial favourite of mine, Nopi in Soho, did not disappoint; you can’t go wrong with coriander seed-crusted burrata with slices of blood orange and courgette and manouri fritters. Sated by both art and food and great company, it was a week of sensory fulfilment. p

the cinema

Family Fare

paddington — director Paul King. Starring Nicole Kidman, Ben Whishaw, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Michael Gambon, Hugh Bonneville, Imelda Staunton. Based on the lovable children’s book character, this is the first cinematic adaptation of Paddington Bear and his adventures as he arrives in London in search of a new home. A blend of live action and animation, this film features a very all-star Brit cast, as well as Kidman. Whishaw (Q in the recent James Bonds) gives voice to the marmalade-loving bear. annie — director Will Gluck, PG. Starring Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne, Quvenzhané Wallis. In this the latest adaptation of the Broadway classic, the story of little orphan Annie takes a contemporary turn with Annie played by the Oscar-nominated African-American actress Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild).

True in part to the original musical, this modern Annie is set in 21st century New York where all manner of mod cons replace the hardknock life, radiator heaters and class divide present in the Broadway show. Whilst this is not the usual Annie, it’s still a musical, with the well-known tunes about heart-break, child abandonment and adversity, so you may come out whistling “Tomorrow”.

the hobbit: battle of five armies — director Peter Jackson. Starring Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Evangeline Lilly. Part Two of Sir Peter’s Hobbit trilogy, Five Armies picks up on the company of dwarves as their actions in releasing Smaug causes havoc throughout Middle-earth. With growing trouble from a vengeful Smaug and Sauron’s Orc Army advancing, the company must enlist the help of the Thranduil and the Elven people to push back the armies as they descend on the Lonely Mountain. This tale is expected to be just as visually captivating, and as long, as you’ve come to expect from a Jackson film. what we did on our holiday — directors Andy Hamilton & Guy Jenkin. Rated PG. Starring Rosamund Pike, David Tennant, Billy Connolly, Celia Imrie, Ben Miller. After a bitter trial separation Doug (Tennant) and Abi (Pike) are forced to reunite for the birthday of Doug’s terminally-ill father (Connolly). Taking the kids to his millionaire brother’s house reignites childhood rivalry. The film to see this Christmas if you want a giggle at the expense of someone else’s family drama. — Caitlin McKenna

All films listed will screen at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket this month

Bring your knitting to the movies!

We’ll put the lights on dim so you can get through your project.

Monday 8 December 6:30pm BOOK ONLINE November2014.indd 1

10/10/2014 5:34:57 p.m.

the bookmark

Perfect Gifts

grahame sydney paintings 1974-2014 (Craig Potton) This magnificent book is a major retrospective survey of over 200 paintings from Sydney’s 40-year career as an artist and is an important contribution to the literature of New Zealand art.

Complimented by an autobiographical essay, and an extended essay from man of letters Vincent O’Sullivan about Sydney’s paintings. green modern — Claire McCall (Penguin) Showcasing design-conscious New Zealand houses that embrace a more sustainable way of living. Ranging from inner-city homes to remote retreats, each house demonstrates how thoughtful design and environmentally-responsive building techniques can work together to produce beautiful and ecologically sound living spaces. lists of note — Shaun Usher (Allen & Unwin) The follow-up to the bestselling Letters of Note. Humans have been making lists for even longer than they’ve been writing letters. From a to-do list from Leonardo da Vinci, to Charles Darwin on the pros and cons of marriage or Julia Child’s list of possible titles for what would later become an American cooking bible, a constantly surprising A-Z of what makes us human. the gardener’s garden — Musgrave & Atkins (Phaidon/ Penguin) Weighty and wonderful, this lavishly illustrated tome is the ultimate garden book — both a collection of gardens from around the world and a resource for those seeking inspiration on garden design and planting. Featuring over 250 permanent gardens by

leading garden designers, horticulturalists and landscape architects, from the 14th century to the present day. saison: a year at the french café— Simon Wright (Random House) This second cookbook from Wright showcases his glorious approach to food and his respect for the seasons in which ingredients are at their peak. Lavishly produced and beautifully photographed, it’s the next best thing to dinner at The French Café! sepia: the cuisine of martin benn — Martin Benn (Murdoch Books) Renowned chef Benn takes the reader on a culinary journey through 60 of his exciting dishes. Text, design and photography combine to recreate the atmosphere and the sophisticated, art deco feel of his Sydney restaurant, Sepia, and location photography captures a sense of old-fashioned, cosmopolitan glamour. bungalow from heritage to contemporary — Nicole Stock & Patrick Reynolds (Random House) A glorious celebration of one of New Zealand’s most significant residential architectural styles. If you live in a house built before 1940, chances are it’s a bungalow. It may be small and utilitarian, or it may be a high-flown celebration of the Arts and Crafts movement. Either way it’s a housing style that’s instantly familiar to New Zealanders. Like its antecedent, the villa, its style has given our older suburbs their generous atmosphere and tone. — Gail Woodward

the plot

Very Hungry Caterpillars W

ith the garden entering its busiest month and the start of some serious productivity, there comes the expected encounter with a few less welcome visitors. To refer to any of the insects we periodically share our gardens with as ‘pests’ neglects the important part they play in ensuring that a balanced ecosystem, and a diverse growing environment surrounds us. There certainly are a bunch of annual visitors that we encounter and do battle with but the aim should always be balance and not annihilation. Using natural methods and acting promptly can reduce the impact of insect attack on our crops so that we still have plenty enough for the kitchen table. Here are some useful tips on how to control a couple of common summer crop consumers.

Cabbage White Butterfly From now until April, Cabbage White butterflies are on the wing. Their hungry caterpillars are often the culprits as plants like cabbages, kale and broccoli start to develop holes in their foliage. The butterflies are fairly fast flyers, and will leave a plant they are perched on as you approach them so it can be hard to target them. You may be successful if you whack at them with a badminton racket or a fishing net. Plants can be protected with fine mesh netting. Scattering broken eggshells around the base of your plants is said to deter butterflies from landing on what they believe to be plants that are already infested with other butterflies. Planting nasturtiums near your brassicas draws

Cabbage White butterflies away from your plants — they will lay on the nasturtiums that can then be removed and composted along with eggs and caterpillars.

Green Shield Bug Green shield bugs appear in the garden from early spring through summer to autumn. They have strong mouthparts with which they pierce leaves, stems and fruit of plants so that they can suck sap and juices. This causes plants to wilt and produce becomes impaired with holes that can cause fruits to rot. Tomatoes, beans, melons, squashes, grapes and capsicums are popular targets. Adult shield bugs can be picked off leaves by hand and should be the number one target as a female can lay hundreds of eggs over summer. Best time to do this is in the early morning when they are still sluggish.

Once the sun warms them up they move fast and can even fly to escape capture. Often they’ll simply fall off plants and then scurry away, if you hold a jam jar underneath them before they leap off a leaf they’ll fall in and can be disposed of. If you do catch one, squeeze it and throw at the base of a plant. Any shield bugs in the vicinity will act on this warning sign and jump off plants to play dead on the ground. If you put a sheet underneath plants it makes it even easier to spot and collect the fallen bugs. Dispose of them permanently — chucking them out of the garden will only see them returning in next to no time. — Paul Thompson

Above: The Cabbage White butterfly, and inset, the green shield bug. Photos by Paul Thompson. the hobson 46

V E T E R I N A R Y VCEETNE TR RI EN A A RNYD CCEANT T R ER E YA N D

CATTERY

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• The only “Best Practice” accredited clinic in central Auckland • A high standard of care with a focus on preventative medicine • Veterinarian-monitored onsite cattery

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Mention The Hobson to receive 20% off a Spey or Neuter procedure* *Valid until the end of March 2015; one discount redeemable per visit.

Like us on Facebook at “Greenlane Veterinary Centre and Cattery” to read about our latest, most interesting cases, and current offers. For a full list of services visit our website www.greenlanevets.co.nz

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The Hobson is distributed to household letterboxes in Parnell and Remuera, and to the libraries, cafes and businesses in the wider area, including Newmarket. Our next issue will be our double January/February, which will be out the weekend of December 20. The booking deadline for that issue is Friday November 28 and material is due Friday December 5.

To receive a rate card and our monthly newsletter, please email business@thehobson.co.nz

the pause

The century may have ticked over, but we’re still enjoying the Parnell Baths and the restoration of Judges Bay as a swimming spot. With best wishes for 2015, have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year.

Historic Parnell postcard from the collection of Rendell McIntosh

the hobson 48

ross.hawkins@sothebysrealty.com

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