The Hobson November 17

november 2017

a walk on the wild side p garage project p floral art local news, views & informed opinions

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The November Issue, No. 43 10

40

the editor’s letter

the grille

12

We meet Matthew Dunning QC, and the treasures in his Parnell garage

the columnists

42

14

the second act

the village The parlous pathway around the Parnell side of Hobson Bay, what’s underneath that digging in Teed St, Ellen Melville honoured, Sweet Louise lights up Orakei Bay Village, Ali Ward’s playful designs, and more

Sick days? Who has the time? Turns out we can all succumb, as Sandy Burgham discovers

44 the regimen Gretchen Carroll signs up for free fitness trials, with mixed results

30

46

the councillors News from Councillors for Auckland Mike Lee (Waitematā & Gulf) and Desley Simpson (Ōrākei)

32

the pretty Justine Williams brightens your life with pop-art picks for spring beauty

48

the suburbanist

the magpie

It’s NIMBYs v YIMBYs in the war of the vegetables, writes Tommy Honey

The Magpie’s eye is drawn to all things (very) bright and beautiful this month

33

50

the rep Epsom MP David Seymour is back in the House

the destination

34

We go to Queenstown to recline in extreme comfort at Eichardts, and share a table with Small Luxury Hotels head, Filipe Boyen

the greats

54

This issue, Hamish Firth puts the questions to resource management law expert, Russell Bartlett, QC

the sound Farewelling Tom Petty bring back happy memories of the Logan Concrete Centre for Andrew Dickens

35 the investment Warren Couillault has the short answers on short stocks

55

36

What’s happening in November

the district diary

the artist On the eve of her new exhibition, photographer Emma Bass talks to Claire McCall about the meaning and motivation in her floral works

56 the cryptic Our puzzle, by Māyā. Hint: keep Movember in mind

Silky Accent In time for Christmas giving (and wearing), superlative scarf creators Bird & Knoll introduce the “silk skinny” collection. Working with their popular travel theme, memories of Paris, Morocco and Africa are enhanced with ribbons of dual colour. Courtesy of Bird & Knoll, The Hobson has a silk skinny (RRP $175) to give away.

To win, email business@thehobson.co.nz with Bird & Knoll in the subject line by 5PM, Friday November 17, 2017. Please include your mailing address. A winner will be picked at random.

For more about the new collection, see www.birdandknoll.com or visit local stockist, Maman, 2a Clonbern Rd, Remuera the hobson 6

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issue 43, november 2017 Editor & Publisher Kirsty Cameron editor@thehobson.co.nz Art Direction & Production Stephen Penny design@thehobson.co.nz Advertising Sales Rex Pearce rex@thevalueexchange.co.nz 021 883 891 News Editor Mary Fitzgerald maryfitzgerald.thehobson@gmail.com Writers This Issue Kirsty Cameron, Gretchen Carroll, Mary Fitzgerald, Claire McCall, Wayne Thompson, Justine Williams Sub-editor Fiona Wilson Columnists & Contributors This Issue Sandy Burgham, Warren Couillault, Andrew Dickens, Hamish Firth, Tommy Honey, Mike Lee, Māyā, Deirdre Roelants David Seymour, Desley Simpson Photographers Emma Bass, Stephen Penny Cover A section of the western pathway around Hobson Bay, shortly before the point where the contentious track is closed. Photo by Stephen Penny. See The Village, page 14 THE HOBSON is published 10 times a year by The Hobson Limited, PO Box 37490 Parnell, Auckland 1151. www.thehobson.co.nz F: TheHobsonMagazine I: @TheHobson Ideas, suggestions, advertising inquiries welcome. editor@thehobson.co.nz Or via Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHobsonMagazine

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

For more about us, follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

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.

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ovember already! Exams are about to start for senior students, the weather WILL get better, and the My Food Bag Christmas dinner menu will arrive in your inbox. Our election may have dragged on — at the time of going to press with this issue, Winston Peters has still not revealed his decision — but that’s the only thing that feels as if time is standing still.

Here in the Epsom electorate, we are less one MP post-election. Barry Coates entered parliament for the Greens last October after the resignation of MP Kevin Hague. It was a short-lived service: at 10th on the party list, Coates was not returned.

We profiled Coates, the former head of Oxfam NZ, in our July-August issue, and back then, all was going swimmingly in the Greens’ campaign. Coates was enjoying his interactions in the electorate and from what we were hearing, his fundraisers were attended by an interesting cross-section of your neighbours. There’s a strong blue-green undercurrent in Epsom, and Coates was quietly confident the Greens would raise their party vote in the electorate, from the 12.5 per cent in 2014. But then Metiria Turei lit the match, the party vote sank and Coates is no longer one of our MPs. He is also no longer a contributing columnist.

I wasn’t convinced we needed three MPs talking in every issue, but a diversity of voices and views is always good. Now we’re back to two, mostly. Epsom list MP and National government minister Paul Goldsmith is missing from this edition while the Winston smoke clears, so it’s the indefatigable sole ACT MP, our electorate representative, David Seymour, who holds the talking stick this month. Enjoy all this issue has to offer,

Kirsty Cameron editor@thehobson.co.nz 0275 326 424 Facebook: The Hobson magazine Instagram: TheHobson

W

e love a good holiday story, and even more when it combines with good works. Remuera resident Richard Hart is always up for a challenging bike ride, and on a trip to Fiji earlier this year, went following sugarcane rail tracks inland on the main island, way off the Queens Highway. A third puncture saw Hart seek help at the nearest settlement, a 70-pupil primary school, ‘well off the beaten track’, where assistance was given, warmly. Talking to the teachers and parents, Hart learnt they were fundraising to add a kindergarten to the school, but had hit roadblocks sourcing the money.

The amount needed wasn’t huge, says Hart, so when he got back home, he got in touch with a building supplies company in Nadi, and the school got their kindy underway. Last month, Hart and friend Jimmy Matthews cycled back to the school to see the works. “We were blown away again by the kindness these people showed us. I got to be ‘chief’ for a day with the requisite kava ceremony, there was a sit-down lunch and a really special discussion with the children, involving a lot of questions about us and our bikes. And ‘what were you thinking of biking here?’ questions from the adults!

“The experience will stay with me forever. When you are next in the islands, go a bit off-track and see what little things can be done to make such dramatic changes in wonderful peoples’ lives.”

Richard Hart, right, with Jimmy Matthews and teacher Pranil Raj in Fiji last month.

Do you have a holiday/good works story to share? Contact editor@thehobson.co.nz

We’re delighted to now be part of newsroom.co.nz, a local, independent news and current affairs site. Check Newsroom out if you haven’t already — you’ll find well-written, in-depth reporting by leading journalists. Stories and columns from The Hobson are under the “New Auckland” tab, plus a link to our digital edition (via issuu.com).

the hobson 10

“At Auckland Obstetric Centre we understand that pregnancy and childbirth is the most important time of your life and that you and baby should have the highest standard of care.”

– Jane Patten, Clinic Manager

Auckland Obstetric Centre is a unique practice in Parnell made up of six leading specialist obstetricians and support staff.

Together we have many years of experience and feel privileged to be able to share in the care of women during their pregnancy.

To find out more about how we can care for you and your baby call our team on 09 3671200 or visit our website obstetrics.co.nz.

Lynda Batcheler Astrid Budden Eva Hochstein Katherine McKenzie Kirstie Peake Martin Sowter

The Columnists

Left to right from top row:

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.playclc.com Precious Clark (The Kaitiaki) is a professional director who sits on several boards, and a young leader of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. A law graduate, she lives in Ōrākei and contributes a periodic column.

Remuera resident Warren Couillault (The Investment) is an executive director and the major shareholder of Hobson Wealth Partners, a private wealth advisory group. He is a shareholder and director of Generate Investment Management Ltd; and manager of a registered Kiwisaver scheme.

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 and is principal of the Mt Hobson Group, a specialist urban planning consultancy. www.mthobsonproperties.co.nz Mary Fitzgerald is The Hobson’s News Editor. A Mainlander who transplanted to Remuera 13 years ago, she is passionate about hearing and telling our stories.

Urban design critic Tommy Honey (The Suburbanist) is a former architect. The Remuera resident is a regular guest on RNZ National, discussing the built environment.

Judi Paape (The Teacher) is a parent, grandparent and highly-experienced teacher and junior school principal.

A Parnell resident, her column appears bi-monthly.

Contributing writer Wayne Thompson is a former The New Zealand Herald journalist, covering Auckland news.

He has been a resident of Parnell for 33 years.

Contributing editor Justine Williams is an interiors stylist, writer and fashion editor. The Remuera resident has been the editor of Simply You and Simply You Living.

the hobson 12

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the village

the hobson 14

Town & Around PROCEED WITH CAUTION Erosion and a lack of maintenance to mudcrete paths around the western side of Hobson Bay have seen the Waitematā Local Board take the decision to officially close the coastal track between the Awatea Reserve and its end under the cliffs of St Stephens Ave. Wayne Thompson reports on the decision and a call for public consultation, and overleaf, Mary Fitzgerald digests recent local board decisions affecting both the Waitematā and Ōrākei wards Luke Niue hates the word “closed”, especially when it’s slapped onto a special part of what people like about living in and visiting Parnell.

As Parnell Community Committee chairman, Niue is fighting to keep public use of the whole Parnell section of the Hobson Bay Coastal Walkway.

Residents’ disgust with rough and muddy footing on the path in the wake of winter slips was reported in The Hobson’s June issue.

Responding, Auckland Council said staff were on site and the area was closed while “we investigate remedial actions to resolve the slip and allow safe access”.

But Niue says a “Track closed” sign is still nailed to an overhanging pohutukawa limb near Awatea Reserve, on the northern part of the walkway. This part goes only to the end of the cliffs near the Parnell Baths and is a no-exit. But that’s the beauty.

It’s always quiet, shaded on hot summer afternoons, a soothing wade when the tide’s high and usually sheltered from the wind.

It’s a place where people go to step off the racetrack and meditate.

After learning that Council parks officials had health and safety qualms about keeping this section open, Niue made a presentation to the Waitematā Local Board, with photos to remind them of the area’s charms.

He was disappointed that the board would consider “closing the northern part of this historic, iconic and much enjoyed walkway” without public consultation.

“I say this track is still very functional and needs only suitable maintenance to continue to serve.” In his presentation, Niue suggested that maintenance of the track should be a “seasonal and funded priority with community working bee involvement”.

The board, however, backed officials’ concerns and approved the closure of the raised “mudcrete” path below the cliffs between the Awatea Reserve access point and the northern headland of St Stephens Ave. Niue says it’s a case of using a perceived risk to get out of adequately maintaining a track — “a lazy, sledgehammer approach”.

Only a little money will be saved because maintenance has not been done and new signs will cost $15,000. He says the closure move is at odds with continued usage by walkers, runners and even trail-bikers.

the village

If the Council must have signs, then they don’t have to scare people away. Alternatives to “Track closed” are used elsewhere in Auckland, says Niue. On Maungawhau Mt Eden, a sign warns “Caution - track slippery or unstable” below the cliff at the southern end of Takapuna Beach, a sign says “Danger”, with a crumbling cliff symbol.

Board chair Pippa Coom told The Hobson that the wording of the new signs is under discussion but it won’t try to stop people from getting access to the coastline. In fact, it’s Council policy to open access to the coast. She says Niue told the board it was being namby-pamby and people should be able to take their own risk.

“But it would be irresponsible for us not to heed official advice that there is a risk. There is a safety issue walking on the mudcrete path on the toe of the cliff where there’s been a bad slip.

“From Awatea Rd 700m north, it’s too unstable to promote as a walkway. When you promote that as a walkway, it brings expectations that it will be a maintained path that is safe. So we need to be clear that the bottom of the cliff is not official walkway.

“You can walk along the coastline at low tide.”

Walkers are also currently forced well out into the bay at low tide beneath Logan Tce. A significant slip has seen a large pohutukawa block the small beach and the pathway north of the Watercare station. Council and contractors are assessing the remediation of the cliff, and the stairs from Logan Tce remain closed.

In the 2015 Point Resolution Taurarua Development Plan adopted by the board, design options for the entire walkway stretching from the edge of Bloodworth Park (the boardwalk there falls within the Ōrākei Local Board area) to the Pt Resolution Taurarua headland near Parnell Baths, included new mudcrete, some additional low boardwalks without balustrades and repairs to existing concrete paths, some of which has been done. (The report can be viewed on aucklandcouncil.govt.nz on the Waitematā Local Board page).

Coom promises further consultation on options to upgrade the walkway. This should avoid the possibility of it being further damaged by slips. “They might say it would make sense to construct a boardwalk away from the toe of the cliff.”

A more immediate local development, says Coom, will be reopening the steps down to the walkway from Elam St, closed for many years since they were found to be both unstable, and built on private land. An easement is now on that land title and a carport must be removed to let the pathway be properly opened up.

— Wayne Thompson p

NEWS FROM THE LOCAL BOARDS

of invasive weed species in the reserve, including part of the cliff within the reserve.

Path repair works are to continue, with improvements to paths in the reserve over the coming months. Some areas may need to be fenced off, however access will continue through the reserve to the stairs and to the Pt Resolution pedestrian bridge over Tamaki Dr. Also in the pipeline is an upgrade of the permanent fencing around the top of the reserve.

Point Resolution Reserve development

Parnell Baths upgrades

The Point Resolution Taurarua Development Plan is progressing as initiated by the Waitematā Local Board, with some exceptions as noted above.

In 2015, the Board developed the plan for the Pt Resolution Reserve, which is the northern tip of St Stephens Ave. From the small, historic park, stairs lead to both the Parnell Baths and to the pedestrian bridge spanning Tamaki Dr. The board’s progress made under this plan includes an upgrade to the stairs (pictured top, right), weed control and removal, and continued pathway improvements. The upgrade of the upper stairs and the concrete path from the top of the stairs to the reserve entrance is now finished, including the section of path between the flights of stairs. The board has approved funding for the control

Waitematā Local Board’s Rob Thomas confirms that during the Parnell Bath’s winter closure, enhancements have been made in time for the swimming season, which opens on November 4.

The baths have been undergoing repairs and maintenance on the plant, the male changing rooms, the foyer, stairways, and the turnstile and gate entry points. An investigation for further work to be undertaken during next year’s off season, (April through to November) has also been completed. This work will include the replacement of pool pipework, the replacement of the concourse, and the structural strengthening of the main plant room.

Despite allocating $140,000 in 2016 to extend the saltwater pool’s season with the installation of solar panels to heat the water, the plan has not proceeded, but Thomas says it’s still an option.

the hobson 16

advantageous to see if this could be achieved at the same time as the street improvements.

“I specifically requested the Laneways project team identify what designs could be incorporated within the existing budget to reduce storm water overflows,” says Thomas.

“With more than 70 per cent of Auckland's inner-city covered in impervious surfaces, this has significantly increased the amount of storm water entering the old pipes, resulting in pressure building up in the pipes, when it rains, with the combined wastewater discharged into Hobson Bay.” As a result of underground redesign work, 80 per cent of Teed St’s storm water will be filtered through bio-retention pits.

The streets adjacent, in the Seccombes Ave area, do not have a reticulated storm water system but have large sink holes to manage storm water, which then slowly drains through volcanic rock.

Parnell and Newmarket are among the oldest suburbs in Auckland and still have some of the oldest infrastructure, with some parts still relying on a non-separated sewage storm water network, says Thomas.

Trash crushers come to Ōrākei Going underground in Newmarket

In an effort to clean up our streets, while being environmentally friendly, the Ōrākei Local Board is introducing 25 solar-powered crusher rubbish bins into the Ōrākei ward this financial year.

The first bin is already at work crushing rubbish on Tamaki Dr in Kohimarama. Board member Kit Parkinson says the new “Big Belly” solar compactor bins were provided under a new contract with maintenance contractor Ventia in July, and will allow for the compression of over five times the capacity of rubbish, compared to other standard public rubbish bins.

“The bins are economically and environmentally friendly – they get bolted down and they get to work driven by solar power,” Parkinson says. Another advantage of the new bins, according to Parkinson, is ratepayer savings, because the bins do not need to be emptied as often as the standard rubbish bins.

Reducing the school traffic crunch

As we reported last month, the Osborne and Teed streets upgrade is in progress as part of the Newmarket Laneways Plan, initiated by the Waitematā Local Board.

In addition to the street level improvements in that plan, the board is tackling the storm water issues that have led to sewage overflows into Hobson Bay. Board member Rob Thomas says it was

Ōrākei Local Board presented Auckland Council with a case in August and will do so again in November, for a walking and cycling connection on Gowing Dr, between the Meadowbank and Kohimarama sides of the Pourewa Valley.

The proposed connection will feed off the second stage of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Dr shared pathway, due for construction in 2018. Each of the 21 Local Boards is asked to present one advocacy item for potential inclusion in the Auckland Long Term Plan.

“The Ōrākei Local Board’s chosen advocacy initiative for this walking/cycling connection will optimise the construction of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Dr shared pathway for our local communities,” says board member and transport lead, Carmel Claridge.

“This will enable Selwyn College and St Thomas’s Primary students to get to and from school on foot or by bike, taking a considerable amount of vehicular traffic off the busy St Johns/Kepa Rd arterial route, which gets extremely congested at peak hour travel times.”

The board has allocated up to $2 million for this project, but construction of the underpass will require additional funding from other sources, potentially NZTA, Auckland Transport, or through long term funding from Auckland Council, says Claridge.

— Mary Fitzgerald p

the hobson 17

the village

REMUERA WRAP-UP On September 28, the Remuera Residents’ Association held the first of what are to be regular, monthly public meetings, at the Remuera Library.

Key items RRA chair Iain Valentine reported on, included: Community facilities at 4 Victoria Ave used by Plunket and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. The association is concerned with Panuku’s (Auckland Council’s economic development CCO) lack of progress in addressing the future of the community facility. “We say the asset belongs to our community and that Remuera requires this community hub for our residents,” says Valentine. During the meeting a member of public suggested the association conduct a comprehensive resident survey, to establish the evidence of need for a community hub.

Public suggestions for relocating a community hub elsewhere in Remuera included using space at Remuera Rackets Club rooms, or the Parnell Cricket Club rooms.

Resident requests for angle parking on St Vincent Ave. Auckland Transport has investigated the new parking option but are unable to make the parking changes as the road is not wide enough. Ōhinerau Mt Hobson maintenance requirements. The association has scheduled a meeting with the Maunga Authority in February to address resident concerns relating to the upkeep of Ōhinerau Mt Hobson. — Mary Fitzgerald p

FOUNDATION GARMENTS Sweet Louise, the charitable foundation supporting those living with incurable breast cancer, brought supportive style to Orakei Bay Village with the installation of what was believed to be the country’s first bra chandelier. As we reported in our October issue, a special partnership between Sweet Louise and OBV saw promotions and events to mark both breast cancer awareness

month, and world metastatic breast cancer day, on October 13.

The Sweet Louise team collected bras from a cross-section of Kiwi women to represent each of its 595 current members, ranging in age from their mid-twenties through to late eighties.

The chandelier was created by 20-year-old Claudine Nalesu, who is studying a Bachelor of Creative Technologies at AUT (pictured above, left, with Sweet Louise’s Rachel Milburn-Shand).

Labour leader Jacinda Ardern was one of the first to answer Sweet Louise’s call out for bras, right in the middle of the election campaign. “I am really happy to join hundreds of New Zealand women who have contributed their bras to build Sweet Louise's bra chandelier,” she said. “It's sobering to think that the bras collected represents the number of Kiwis living with incurable breast cancer.

My heartfelt wishes go out to each and every one of them.”

Bras were also donated by Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye, and Breakfast sports presenter Brodie Kane, who recently became an ambassador for Sweet Louise, and by expat model Rachel Hunter, who stepped up during a brief visit home. “I am honoured to donate one of my bras to help women on such a tough journey,” she said. ”My heart goes out to each and every one of you.”

Radio Live and TV3 presenter Ali Mau donated one of her

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Welcome spring this year among the roses, at the Parnell Festival of Roses.

• Wander through the gardens where you’ll find all sorts of food and craft stalls, and entertainment dotted throughout the park, including swing, jazz and classical music, dancing, the Bug Wrangler, Canine Cuddles, Trash Puppets and ever popular Fairy Clare.

• Talks on offer include perfume making, bee care, gardening and compost sessions. Many of these talks also provided with New Zealand Sign Language.

Fun

Find out more: parnellroses@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or Facebook.com/waitemata

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Our International Programme is in high demand. We’re looking for local families who can Homestay our international students and individuals or families who can act as part-time guardians to our international boarders.

Our international students come from diverse countries. They love to experience all that New Zealand has to offer and our host families and guardians enjoy the opportunity to learn about a new culture.

Host families and guardians are well supported by the team in the International Department at the College whilst being financially compensated.

Ideally Homestays should be located near to transport links to allow students to travel by train to our Ōtāhuhu campus.

Guardians must be able to supervise their student(s) during Public Holiday weekends and Exeat weekends during the school year when our boarding houses close.

Learn more about our Homestay and Guardianship Programme from Libby Calder, Homestay Coordinator by emailing l.calder@kingscollege.school.nz or visit www.kingscollege.school.nz/admissions/international-students.

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favourites, saying; “It will be particularly nice to see all those ‘instruments of torture’ used to create a beautiful work of bra art.”

Sweet Louise CEO Fiona Hatton said she was moved by the diversity, shapes, sizes and colours of bras donated by the public figures and celebrities, as well as from everyday women across the country. “Our goal was to create a piece of art that would become a conversation starter and we have certainly done that.”

For more about the work of Sweet Louise or to donate, see sweetlouise.co.nz p

A GLITTERING SOUL Tucked away at the rear of Total Care Hair and Beauty salon in Norana Ave is the Remuera branch of Tan in the City. Step through the door, and a literally glittering world is revealed, courtesy of the creative talents of local designer Ali Ward.

Tan in the City owner Jess Binnendyk is “my favourite interior client”, says Ward. “She allowed me complete freedom and trusted me to create a space that represented both her brand and personality. This space was designed and completed in just two weeks.”

Both women are more than happy with the results — which include hand-mixed pink glitter grout — Ward for the creative outcome, and Binnendyk for an investment in her brand that is paying her back handsomely.

“I have a great love for creating spaces that inspire as I believe it can be life-changing,” says Ward, who lives in Ōrākei. “Whether a small business or one that is ready to grow, there is so much to gain from an interior or space that leaves an impression for all the right reasons.”

Initially working as a photographer, Ward’s OE became extended periods in California and London, where she studied at the London College of Fashion, launched a yoga wear collection and started to take on small interior design projects.

Moving back to Auckland in 2008, she saw those projects become bigger and bloom into some spectacular work with leisure industry businesses, such as restoring Auckland Zoo’s playground favourite, the concrete dragon, and murals at Butterfly Creek.

“I am forever grateful for the last nine years working on projects with John Dowsett at Butterfly Creek,” says Ward. “I’ve been free to experiment, make mistakes and ultimately gain enormous amounts of knowledge in that process has been invaluable.

“Creating the enormous rocket ropes tower murals [at Butterfly Creek] completely freehand was something I could hardly wrap

"We started with pure black as a base for practicality," says Ali Ward, above, of her Tan in the City renovation. "We worked in a subtle mid-century urban jungle theme beginning with the gold and black Cole and Sons animal print wallpaper. We brought in touches of glamour by custom-making the pink glitter grout reception desk and painting the Resene Gold Dust wall for the lashes bay.

"Almost everything in the salon is customised and hand-created for the space, from the window art to the pink parrots. [Owner] Jess believed in the design, which made the process easy and enjoyable with fabulous results."

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my head around, but sometimes it’s a matter of just showing up and going for it, trusting you’re going to figure it out along the way. I think we were working on seven levels high of scaffolding, so there were weeks and weeks of sprinting up and down stairs so I wouldn’t lose so much time. In the end, the towers looked fantastic.

“Working at Butterfly Creek led me to Auckland Zoo to restore the iconic concrete dragon, rebuilding and creating features at Pirates Cove/Treasure Island Mini Golf, and onto play structures in gardens and kindergartens.”

Ward, who has her own young daughter, Poppy, says she’s especially inspired by children and their ability to react to an environment or space.

“I love the integrity of projects geared towards kids and their learning experience. I find real value in projects that push the boundaries. I am in the process of designing a nature-scape play zone at St Joseph’s School in Ōrākei, with the wonderful principal, Caroline Bush.

“We have a shared vision of children learning through imaginative play. This is something I would love to see much more of in our community.”

For more of Ali’s work, see cornerroomdesign.com

From the Far North to the Deep South

There’s a Mike Pero agent nearby to help sell your greatest asset.

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LOG THAT LOSS The Tree Council has launched a mobile phone app that will enable the public, arborists and anyone else to record trees they observe being removed or having been removed.

The loss of the urban forest is a huge concern and given that most urban trees now have no formal protection, this is happening at an ever-increasing rate and is not being recorded. Developed by Steven McLeod, the app is available for download from the Google Play and AppStore, and is free and easy to use.

The Tree Council urges people to record what they see happening to trees in their neighbourhood. It has a Givealittle page at givealittle.co.nz/cause/treelossapp to support the further development of the Tree Loss app. — Wayne Thompson p

GLOBAL AMBITION Remuera student Olivia Cen has been selected to represent New Zealand on the prestigious Global Development Tour organised by United Nations Youth New Zealand (UN Youth), and as part of that delegation, will attend the international Columbia Model United Nations Conference, hosted by Columbia University in New York.

Cen, a Year 13 student at St Cuthbert’s College, will join 21 other young New Zealanders on the tour early next year, and is seeking sponsorship to help raise the $8500 fee.

The Global Development Tour is a month-long educational trip to Europe and New York and seeks to educate students of the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

“I’m extremely excited to be given this amazing opportunity to further my understanding from my school studies about the sustainable development goals,” she told The Hobson. Cen plans to pursue law and an arts degree in either geography or international relations next year, and is happy to discuss what she can give back to individuals or organisations in return for sponsorship.

As soon as exams are finished, Cen and other students selected for the tour will start their fundraising campaign in earnest.

To find out more or to help Cen reach her goal, visit her fundraising page at Givealittle, givealittle.co.nz/cause/gdt/ donations or contact cen.olivia@yahoo.co.nz. p

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ELLEN'S LEGACY A CITY GEM The hoardings have come down and a jewel of midcentury, modernist, design has once again been revealed with the refurbishment of the 1962 Pioneer Women’s and Ellen Melville Memorial Hall, in Freyberg Place.

The hall, rechristened as the Ellen Melville Centre, and Freyberg Pl have jointly received an $11 million, 12-month renovation to create indoor and outdoor venues for city workers and residents. A listed Category B building, the hall was designed by the then-Auckland City Council chief architect, Tibor Donner. Donner’s other legacy works include the Savage Memorial at Bastion Point, the Civic Administration Building and the Parnell Baths.

Heritage aspects of the building (seen in the mid 1960s, above) have been preserved by architects Stevens Lawson, while an upgraded interior (the main hall right), improved facilities and a commercial-grade kitchen give the building new life to serve the central city and its 45,000 residents as a community facility.

Ellen Melville (1882-1946) was New Zealand’s first female city councillor, and one of the country’s first women lawyers. She suggested that a hall be built for women’s societies and a memorial to the pioneer women in the province, and also that it include a childcare facility, a forward-thinking notion for the times.

Due to WWII, the project was delayed and it was not until after Melville’s death that the hall was finally given the green light to go ahead. In the early 2000s, its façade was obscured by retail outlets, now gone to reveal Donner’s building once again to Freyberg Pl, which has become a pedestrian precinct.

In keeping with Melville’s legacy, the names of each of the rooms within the centre honour prominent women, as recommended by the National Council of Women’s Auckland branch — Helen Clark, Elizabeth Yates, Betty Wark, Marilyn Waring and Eleitino (Paddy) Walker. The upper floor hall space is officially called the Pioneer Women’s Hall.

Tukutuku panels presented to the New Zealand Pioneers’ and

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Images Courtesy of Mr. Bigglesworthy

8 KIRKMAY PLACE, ST HELIERS

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by Vladimir Cacala this home is a prime example of his leading edge work and the era he created it.

The large 1,384 sq m site (more or less) remains relatively unchanged delivering the new owners a crafted masterpiece on a blank canvas to add their personal touches of this modern era.

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Rejuvenate your smile with Digital Smile Design

Descendants’ Club by Mr and Mrs Eruera Stirling for the opening of hall in 1962, were restored by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei weavers, and rehung in the renovated hall.

Outside, Freyberg Pl’s makeover includes concrete terraced seating, a new water feature and native planting set around an open plaza designed for events. The design was led by Isthmus Group, working with Auckland artist John Reynolds. The design references the land’s volcanic history — steps and platforms cascade down the hill as a lava flow once did, with a ‘stream’ running through and native planting paying homage to the nīkau palm grove that once grew there. Designs for children have been included — climbing trees, stepping stones in the water and paths weaving up the hill.

A new shared space on Courthouse Lane will connect pedestrians from Freyberg Pl to Chancery Square. The statue of Lord Freyberg, New Zealand’s seventh governor-general, was removed during the works but has returned to the area to a prominent position within the terraces.

The overall project was led by Auckland Council's Development Programme Office and supported by the Waitematā Local Board and the Auckland City Centre Advisory Board. The total project budget of $11 million was funded through the Waitematā Local Board and the City Centre Targeted Rate. Artworks by John Reynolds, Lisa Reihana and Graham Tipene were funded through the regional public art budget. p

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Tania Clifton-Smith of Remuera was the very lucky, and very surprised, winner of New World’s Win-a-Holden Spark promotion.

“I got a call from Adrian [Barkla, owner-operator of New World Remuera] and I thought it must be about some work,” says CliftonSmith, a breathing dysfunction expert whose clinic, Breathing Works, is not far from the supermarket. “But then he said no,Tania, you’re our winner. I thought I’d won some groceries!”

By swiping her New World club card when she did buy groceries, Clifton-Smith was automatically entered into the car giveaway.

Above, she receives her keys from Schofield Holden’s Richard Thomson, left,and Barkla, right.

With a family farm to visit and a keen skier, Clifton-Smith usually gets around in a four-wheel drive, but the handy city size of the Spark is appealing, and there’s much interest too from son Oliver, who turns 16 this month. p

WHY IS MY STREET CALLED . . . ARNEY?

Photo: 881-7 Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries

Historical writer Deirdre Roelants introduces Sir George Arney, the colonial jurist who gave his name to Remuera’s Arney Rd, and the reserve on the corner of Shore and Arney roads.

George Alfred Arney was born in 1810 in Salisbury, England.

He gained both a BA and MA at Oxford, where he was regarded as a noted classics scholar. In 1829, he was admitted to practice at Lincoln’s Inn, and was called to the bar eight years later, two years after marrying his wife, Harriet. Widowed after seven years, Arney became a well-known barrister on the Western court circuit for two decades, where he was regarded as a cautious, conscientious practitioner, wedded to detail and the principles of the law.

On the advice of Justice Lord Coleridge, Arney was appointed by the Colonial Office as New Zealand’s second Chief Justice, a role he would hold for 17 years. He arrived on the Gertrude in 1858, and was immediately appointed to the Legislative Council.

During his tenure in the colony he was faced with a range of varied and intricate cases, however he was more than up to the task. His scholastic training allied with a reported charming and penetrating wit helped enormously — so much so, that only one of his judgements was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Arney was the first owner of the grand house “Waimarama,” which on its original holding was 36 acres, with a Bassett Rd address, at the top of what became Arney and Seaview roads. The 1927 sale of the house reported in the New Zealand Herald noted it “commands a magnificent panorama of the Waitemata Harbour”.

But with the relocation of the capital from Auckland to Wellington in 1865, and as a Legislative Councillor, Arney would have spent much time south, in the new seat of government.

As Chief Justice, Arney attempted to instil in the new colony more of the English Bench and Bar traditions than that of his rather academic predecessor, Sir William Martin. His summaries were carefully delivered, and would indicate he was a safe rather than a strong judge. Perhaps where he shined most was his influence on the Legislative Council, on which he served as administrator for eight years. His outstanding speeches made a deep impression on his contemporaries and the warm liberalism he manifested towards

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the village

the topic of social justice. According to his entry on Te Ara, the Encylopedia of New Zealand, this was particularly evident in his attitude on the subject of the Māori people, and the land wars.

Knighted in 1863, Arney was held in high regard both within his profession and publicly, according to an account of a dinner hosted by the legal profession in his honour. The report in the July 3, 1868 edition of the Herald says about 30 “legal gentlemen” were present at the event in the Bellamy’s long room, in Auckland’s Provincial Government Buildings. During the proceedings, the chairman

proposed a toast to Sir George, and referred to the high estimation he was held in. Those present responded with cheers.

Arney resigned from his judgeship in 1875 and returned to the UK, retiring to Torquay. His brother, Colonel Charles Arney, who had served with the 58th Regiment in New Zealand, died in 1879 leaving George a substantial inheritance which allowed him a pleasant retirement.

George Arney died in Torquay in 1883. He is commemorated with a window and tablet in Salisbury Cathedral. p

Meet Your Reps

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ontinuing with our series profiling local board members, this month Mary Fitzgerald meets the Ōrākei Local Board’s Rosalind Rundle. The Ōrākei resident has extensive customer service experience as a former motelier and retailer — she and husband Dennis owned Remuera’s Rural Delivery gift shop — and has spent many years in administration of sports teams. Rundle is a past committee member of the Mission Bay/ Kohimarama Residents’ Association, and is interested in the development of the Ōrākei ward’s recreational facilities. She was elected to the board last year.

Why did you stand for this role?

Having been involved in the community already for many years through active administrative roles in netball and schools, I wanted to make a difference in a wider sense. Representing Ōrākei ward voters is something I consider as a privilege. I had the time, the energy, and a keen enthusiasm to ensure the voters’ ideas and values were taken into consideration.

What board portfolios are you responsible for?

I am the lead for Economic Development, and the alternate for the Community portfolio.

Since being elected what do you consider to be the top two things you have achieved in your role?

1. Establishing good working relationships with our community groups — the resident and business associations have been a priority for me. These working relationships are the foundation for achieving the goals the board is setting for the term. The board selected me to support and liaise with the four business associations [Remuera, Mission Bay, Ellerslie, St Heliers], ensuring one person is overseeing this important part of

economic development. This offers me the platform of being able to share similarities across the business associations, and understand the complexities of each of them.

Getting to grips with the entire Auckland Council family. There is so much to learn and know about the Council — who’s who, and who does what within the governing body, through to local boards, to Auckland Transport, to Watercare and a whole lot more.

What top four things do you intend to achieve in the time remaining in your role?

1. To continue to support, advocate and liaise with the four business associations.

2. To deliver an assessment on how local events affect the businesses within the ward.

3. To continue the Visitor Strategy started last term. We plan to develop a visitor app containing local information with points of heritage interest and walks in the area.

4. Support community groups in weeding and planting programmes to regenerate natural bush in our reserves.

Tell us something about yourself that will surprise your community.

I lived in Namibia with my husband. We set up an inbound travel agency and a photographic safari operation — we started with just the two of us, a Kombi van and a desk. When we left Namibia, we had grown the businesses into a multi-sphered internationally recognised tourist company, with over 100 staff, 20 safari vehicles, several luxury lodges and an aeroplane charter company. It was a very exciting time of our lives to start from scratch, and very rewarding looking back at what we achieved.

If you were Prime Minister, what would you do to improve Auckland?

I’d make Auckland a global city, that all young people can be proud of, a city they will want to stay and live in, where there is enough work for all, where visitors see Auckland as an amazing destination, and investors can’t resist investing their dollars.

What is your favourite escape in Auckland?

Anywhere away from noise and business —a bush walk or beach walk, there are so many wonderful areas close by to enjoy.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’m Auckland born and bred, my husband Dennis is Zambianborn. Our two daughters Camilla, 25, and Paige, 20, were both born in Namibia, but lived in Auckland growing up. They both live overseas now, but have enjoyed the best local education and will hopefully one day return to NZ. rosalind.rundle@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz p

the hobson 26

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Limited licensed REAA 2008

the councillors

I got involved. Since that time I have been working with Keith Gordon, and an international marine salvage expert, Clive Sharp, trying to get something done about it.

Unfortunately, officialdom, ie Maritime NZ — the leading responsible agency — Auckland Council and Northland Regional Council are still very much in denial. To get around this wall of denial we decided to approach the regional conservation boards. In response to our joint presentation, the Auckland Painting: C B Norton 1917, Australian National Maritime Museum Collection. Courtesy Searov Technologies Conservation Board chair Lyn Mayes wrote to Minister of Conservation Maggie Barry and Transport Minister Simon Bridges: “The Board strongly recommends that funding is allocated to remove the oil from the Niagara now rather than waiting until the wreck erodes further and fuel is spilled part from working to get the Council to deal with the into the Gulf creating an ecological disaster. Oil slicks up to 15 ongoing pollution of the Waitematā (including Hobson km long have already been seen from the wreck and a major Bay and Judges Bay) from sewage contaminated spill would affect many of the 27 species of seabirds that live stormwater, over the last year I have been involved in raising in the Hauraki Gulf, including Cook’s petrel, NZ storm petrel, awareness of another threat to our marine environment; this black petrel, Pycroft’s petrel and fairy tern. Ecologists have time in the outer Hauraki Gulf. While this threat is still only a expressed their concern about the risk to breeding colonies potential one, it could be catastrophic in its consequences. The and habitat . . . Accordingly, we ask that urgent attention is problem is oil trapped in the wreck of the Niagara. given to making the wreck safe and removing the fuel oil from RMS Niagara was a NZ trans-Pacific liner sunk early in the Niagara. This is a preventable environmental disaster. It is WWII in a mine ambush laid by a German navy raider. Niagara better to act now to minimise the effects than to let the wreck was built in 1913 for the Canadian–Australasian service. Such totally fail in the next decade or so and have a catastrophic was its size and opulence she was known as “the Queen of the effect.”

Pacific”.

In August, Keith, Clive and I, along with Karen Baird of On 20 June, 1940 (only two weeks after the Dunkirk Forest & Bird and Birdlife International, presented to the evacuation), a few hours after sailing from Queens Wharf Northland Conservation Board where we received similar bound for Suva, Niagara struck the mine and sunk. support. There has also been growing media interest.

Fortunately, all 349 passengers and crew were rescued (and The amount of oil that escaped from the Rena in 2011 was most of the 8 tonnes of gold she was carrying later salvaged). only 350 or so tonnes and we saw the damage it caused. The Niagara was also carrying a cargo of armaments, half the rifles amount of oil in the Niagara is estimated to be four or five and ammunition in New Zealand, hastily dispatched to Great times that. The outer Gulf is an ecological hotspot of world Britain in her hour of need after Dunkirk. importance, especially for seabirds. It is also near some of our The wreck lies at a depth of 120m, equidistant from most important marine protected areas, the Poor Knights, the Mokohinau and Hen and Chicken islands, just over 2 Leigh and Tawharanui marine reserves. Waiting to react to a nautical miles inside the Auckland Coastal Marine Area and major pollution event is not tenable. The chemical dispersants the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. The alarm was first raised by normally used to deal with oil spills are highly toxic in diver and conservationist Wade Doak and ROV (undersea themselves, as damaging to marine life as the oil. remote operated vehicles) expert Keith Gordon. Gordon, who Preventative action is therefore needed. The oil needs to be wrote the authoritative history of the ship, Deep Water Gold, extracted. The sinking of the Niagara was an act of war against believes there is at least 1600 tonnes of bunker oil trapped New Zealand – 72 years after WII, this act still presents a clear within the wreck. He points out that other wartime wrecks and present danger. are now collapsing and releasing oil – creating environmental headaches for Pacific nations like the Solomon Is. After being Mike Lee is the Councillor for Auckland representing the contacted last year by marine biologists and seabird scientists, Waitematā and Gulf ward

MIKE LEE

A

DESLEY SIMPSON

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ate September saw the release of Council’s Annual Report. This covers the performance of Auckland Council for the year 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 against the annual budget set in the last electoral term by Mayor Len Brown’s council. Because it is performance against a budget that was set before I was elected as a councillor, I am viewing this as a benchmark against which I can judge the coming three years.

It’s not all bad. Some budgets were met, savings targets realised and our AA credit rating maintained. Underneath the big picture though, there are some real areas of concern where I will be looking for improvement.

The biggest concern is the excessive $42m staff salary budget blowout. Not only is this a concern for the reported year, but of greater concern is that this budget area has blown out for three years in a row. In 2014/15, the staff budget was exceeded by $63m, in 2015/16 $32m and in 2016/17, $42m. This unbudgeted excess has to stop! Staff numbers across the group (Council plus its Council Controlled Organisations, or CCOs) continue to rise, with the total number of full-time staff over 10,000 for the first time since the formation of Auckland Council. Whilst this is against a backdrop of rapidly increasing population, it is also in the context of more automation and efficiencies in how we deliver our support and services, so it does raise alarm bells — loud ones. Auckland Council has a very poor rating with regards to trust and confidence. Budget blow-outs for staff against service cuts is certainly not going to help improve that.

The number of staff earning more than $100,000 per year is also up by 202 to 2250, with 194 earning over $200,000 and 39 earning more than $300,000.

The other item of concern is the increase in severance

payments. Last year, the largest of these was over $400,000(!) and the total for the group was $1.7m – almost double the total cost when compared to the previous year, and more than double the number of payments. This is an area of expense where ratepayers do not receive value for their money and so it must be minimised going forward.

There is some good news though. An operating surplus of $340m was achieved, meaning that Council continues to meet its savings targets overall. It is also good news for Auckland’s infrastructure with $1.7 billion of capital investment made including $724m for transport, $310m for Watercare, $110m for our stormwater and $165m for our parks. The flip side to this investment is that our net debt also climbed by nearly $500m to $7969m. While this is a staggering figure, the key point is whether it can be serviced without impacting on Council’s credit rating and without causing additional cost to Auckland’s ratepayers. On these results, Auckland remains within all of the key parameters and has had its credit ratings affirmed. It will make for very interesting discussions as we work through the Long Term Plan and associated budgets however.

Finally, October 8 saw me celebrate one year in this role.

I’ll write more on this next month, but in brief, our Ōrākei ward has had some wins. Lowest rates rise since formation of Auckland Council (2.5 per cent), highest Uniform Annual General Charge (meaning the rating on the capital value of our homes is less), approval of nearly $5m more funding for capital projects for the Ōrākei Local Board (over and above what was in the 2015-25 Long Term Plan), and the flooding mitigation works for Tamaki Dr. There is more to do without a doubt, but it’s a good start and a big improvement on former deliverables.

If you would like to receive my monthly newsletter, please contact me on desley.simpson@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Desley Simpson is the Councillor for Auckland representing the Ōrākei ward

Serving Auckland families for over 100 years. Helping you celebrate life your way.

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the hobson 31

the suburbanist

Of Courgettes & Kings

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he weird thing about epithets in the urban development wars — NIMBY, YIMBY, BANANA et al — is that they can be used derogatorily, and be worn as badges of belonging. NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) has been around for a long time and where once it was — and still is — used with a sneer by those who seek greater density in cities, it has become a kind of “stand our ground” statement of position of those asserting their desire for the status quo; they’re out and proud.

YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) is a word formed in direct opposition, and it too is owned by its members and is often accompanied by fighting talk.

But where once it was a simple term to identify which side of the fence on which one fell, it has developed into an organised movement. It allegedly had its birth in 2013, when a San Franciscan maths teacher, Sonja Trauss, started a letterwriting campaign which quickly spread. Her argument is that current housing shortages are not financial or technical, but “100 per cent political”.

It is a particularly hot issue in the San Francisco Bay Area, which has among the highest rents in America. Between 2010 and 2013, 307,000 new jobs were added, but fewer than 40,000 new housing units were built, according to state of California estimates. To YIMBIEs, it is clear that this is a housing shortage and that the problems are driven by too-tight regulations, and the solutions lie in relaxing them.

In Australia, economist Leith van Onselen (who writes as the Unconventional Economist) argues that markets where land supply is unresponsive (inelastic) via planning constraints or geographical barriers, are far more prone to suffer from more expensive housing, higher house price volatility, and bigger boom and bust cycles, than markets where land supply is relatively responsive (elastic) to changes in price.

“In essence,” he says, “housing markets where strict regulatory barriers are in place – such as urban growth boundaries, restrictive planning/zoning requirements,

minimum lot sizes, and upfront development taxes – are incapable of quickly and efficiently supplying low-cost housing. These supply constraints thereby ensure that increases . . . in housing demand feed primarily into higher . . . prices instead of changes in affordable new construction.”

Millennials, many now in their late 20s and early 30s, look at this situation, get angry, and then get organised. Around the world, they have started attending planning meetings to advocate for more housing, often in high density urban infill developments.

Planning boards and committees would often hear only detracting opinions when they held public meetings, but they are now seeing groups petitioning in favour of development.

And these groups are often composed of people who might ordinarily be thought to be on the other side of the table to the developers: young, liberal, focused on waste reduction, reusing, recycling, cycling and sustainability. In doing so, they are changing the conversation.

At a City of Berkeley, California, council meeting, a woman complained that a proposed housing development would block the sunlight to her zucchini garden, making her point by waving one of the vegetables in the air.

She was met with fierce opposition from one person at the meeting who said, “You’re talking about zucchinis? Really?

Because I’m struggling to pay rent”.

Since that meeting in June, the YIMBY movement has adopted the zucchini as the symbol of their anger. It has developed into a kind of shorthand for their opposition, spawning memes like a picture of a hunter with a rifle, on “opening day of zucchini season.” They share courgette jokes and tips about how to grow zucchinis in the shade.

Oh, and urban development’s BANANAs? They would prefer that we “build absolutely nothing, anywhere, near anything”.

— Tommy Honey

the hobson 32

the reps

DAVID SEYMOUR

T

hank you. It is an honour and privilege to be elected as your local Member of the 52nd Parliament. If you voted for me, thank you. If you did not, please rest assured that I am here to serve all residents of the Epsom electorate – that’s Epsom, Mt Eden, Parnell, Newmarket, and Remuera.

In the previous three years, approximately 2500 people approached my office with all manner of issues concerning their treatment by Government departments.

Whether they were employers trying to get staff through Immigration New Zealand, parents worried about their children’s treatment by the healthcare and education systems, communities worried about attacks on school children, or people endangered by unsafe trees that Auckland Council refused to let them cut down, I have been available to help all Epsom electorate constituents navigate their challenges. For this term of parliament, too, I hope that you will consider me an option to help where other avenues have failed. You can reach my office by phone on 522 7464, or email davidseymour.epsom@ parliament.govt.nz.

So, what happens now in Wellington?

There has been some confusion about what has been happening in Wellington as various parties attempt to negotiate a governing coalition. As I write this, the governing parties have not been confirmed, but I can still answer some questions that I’ve been asked frequently: Will ACT/David Seymour be part of the Government?

No. For the previous three elections, the Epsom electorate has made a centre-right government possible by voting for ACT’s candidate. This election, National(56 seats) and ACT (1 seat) together cannot form a government (which requires 61 seats). As a result, Bill English has sought to form a government with New Zealand First (9 seats).

Specialist Women's Healthcare Anil Sharma MB ChB 1987 (Leicester) DGM (London), FRCOG (London) CCST (UK) FRANZCOG (Melbourne) Diploma in Legal Aspects of Medical Practice (Cardiff)

• Period problems • Endometriosis • Fibroids • Bladder weakness/Prolapse • Ovarian cysts • Abnormal smears Level 4 Ascot Central, 7 Ellerslie Racecourse Dr, Remuera, Ph (09) 520 0745 practice.manager@dranilsharma.co.nz www.dranilsharma.co.nz

So, did Epsom voting ACT make a difference?

Yes. Epsom added an extra seat to the right and ensured that ACT remains in parliament. Unlike the previous three elections, the outcome has not been sufficient for an ACT/ National coalition, but Epsom got us closer than we might have been otherwise.

What will ACT’s role be?

I will sit on the cross-benches, representing the views of Epsom and ACT voters in parliament. I will serve the electorate on local issues. I will strive to rebuild the ACT Party nationwide in order that we may have a truly centreright ACT-National Government come 2020. I am now the only minor party MP to represent an electorate seat. I look forward to using my independence outside of Government to leverage more wins for the people of Epsom, working with both sides of parliament to do so.

As always, your advice, concerns, and feedback are welcome.

David Seymour is the MP for Epsom

The rest of the team: Dr Neil McIlree | Anne Whineray-Smith Dr Michele Atkins | Dr Henry Yong (Anaesthetists & Practice Manager) Affiliated Provider Southern Cross Health Society for selected services

the greats

A Resourceful Man This month, urban planner Hamish Firth sets aside his usual column, The Plan, for the second interview in an occasional series, “Interviewing the Greats”

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ocal resident Russell Bartlett QC is the second candidate in my “Interviewing the Greats” series. Russell specialises in resource management law, representing clients in council hearings and through the judicial and court system. He is very successful and rarely, if ever, loses a case.

He has a unique ability to showcase incompetence, usually at a council bureaucratic level, and does not take kindly to councils usurping their already wide authority. His bluntness cuts through the crap, but is usually done with a sense of humour that softens the obvious exposure of ill-thought proposition.

His names for me are “Boy” and “Einstein”. I take these to mean that I am still young with a lot to learn – almost compliments! Working alongside Russell means you must be well-prepared and competent, or you will suffer the same fate as courtroom opponents. Russell lives in Remuera and works from Shortland Chambers, in the CBD.

spend my time with people who are not in trouble.

Can you give us a general example of a case you have been involved with, what your role is and how this plays out.

No two cases are the same. Some very large projects where there are no significant non-compliances with the rules are processed without delay and objection. Much of my work does involve notified projects where opponents make submissions and want to be heard, often with the intention of lodging an appeal.

I have made a study of how community objector groups work,

Hamish Firth: By profession you are a barrister, a QC and a resource management lawyer. Can you give us a brief rundown on what this all means?

Russell Bartlett: University legal training is followed by completing professional law courses that allow admission as a barrister and solicitor. A common career path is for people to become senior solicitors or litigation partners within a firm before setting up on their own account as a barrister.

Shortland Chambers has around 30 barristers, each running his or her own practice. Half of those are Queen’s Counsel, having been appointed to that senior rank.

However, it’s not quite like it sounds. Like anyone else, you will not hear from Her Majesty personally until you turn 100.

How did you go from lawyer, to planning lawyer?

I was admitted to the Bar about 40 years ago. As happened then, in a mid-sized city firm, I was exposed to a range of District Court litigation. My particular interest became property law and planning, and as a result I became increasingly involved in planning work.

You seem to enjoy what you do. Why, particularly?

Most of my work concerns the future – representing people, usually risk takers, who want to create something. That is much more enjoyable than litigating to recreate the past where typically all parties have done something that they now regret, but are slow to admit.

I do admire my colleagues who spend all their energy on making the best of messy personal or financial situations, while I

and have repeatedly seen how the tamest proposal can create a local frenzy, from which people can struggle to back down – even when they finally receive qualified advice that their fears and apprehensions are misguided. It is very difficult to strike out parties even where they have no case, so often the applicant just has to let things run their course.

The Resource Management Act 1991, the RMA, is New Zealand’s primary planning and environmental legislation. Do you prefer this effects-based approach to the more activitybased approach of the previous regime?

I think the “effects-based approach” has been overstated.

There are still plenty of examples of councils sticking to rules for rules’ sake, even where the policy behind the rules is hard to understand.

The RMA is now 16-years-old and has been amended many times. And it’s been blamed for many things. If you could change the RMA, what would you do?

After Nick Smith, the biggest problem with the RMA is the

the hobson 34

the investment

extent of discretion it bestows on council officers — many of whom have private agendas that have nothing to do with the rules, and who operate unsupervised.

They are in a position to delay and sometimes to decline consents. Ideally, I believe council staff should do no more than process applications. All decisions as to requests for further particulars, notification, consenting, and imposing conditions would be undertaken by independent commissioners.

The Auckland Unitary Plan has in part been derived to help solve a housing shortage in Auckland. Will it achieve the goals of more housing than the previous district plans?

The Unitary Plan provisions on density are quite radical.

Already we are seeing a number of in-fill housing proposals being developed. So long as it costs half as much to build a two-storey terrace house as it does an apartment of equivalent size, the market solution will be through the considerable in-fill now allowed in the urban and suburban areas.

The concept of “urban design” has grown in NZ over the last 10 years. The ideology has merit. What about the on the ground, day to day reality of trying to get consents?

Councils are generally giving a strong lead in respect of quality urban design for public places. Wynyard Quarter and the shared spaces in the CBD are good examples. Residential standards of design have also improved.

Unfortunately, many of the urban designers engaged by councils are social engineers trying to impose their own political values – most of which are not the values held by ordinary families. They will make you go to extraordinary lengths to conceal your garage door or your shop’s carparking – no matter how much land it wastes or how much inconvenience is caused. They will tell you how high your front fence should be and where to put the front door. They will tell my very experienced retirement village clients what sort of outdoor spaces their prospective customers will want.

As we saw in the Unitary Plan process they tried, unsuccessfully, to introduce as plan rules some new design obligations that went beyond lawful requirements under the Building Act. You battle against Auckland Council on a regular basis and have a track record of winning. It’s as though history just keeps repeating, all at ratepayer’s expense. Why do you think this is so?

The underlying problem here is that councils reserve discretions as to design quality without saying what the criteria are, and then delegate decision-making randomly to staff whose private agendas and missions may have nothing to do with the Resource Management Act or the District Plan.

As I have said, a number of projects are approved by councils without conflict. Because we have a contestable process with rights of appeal, there will always be arguments, and that keeps everyone on their toes. I must say however, the quality of Council decisionmaking has improved significantly with the advent of independent commissioners. And yet, people will always oppose change.

Despite the fact that New Zealanders travel widely abroad, it remains firmly ingrained that anything in this country over two storeys is a large building, with potentially adverse effects. There is still nostalgia that in moving away from quarter-acre residential sections we have somehow “lost something”, even though typically they were and remain unattractive, un-landscaped and unused.

Thank you, Russell. p the hobson 35

The Short Answer

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he current investment environment is one which has seen a significant increase in asset values (including most asset classes of shares, bonds and property) not just here in NZ, but all around the world. What is perhaps more interesting this time though, than other typical upcycles, is high asset-price correlation: ie, nearly all asset prices have seemingly moved up together. If all assets have increased in value, then it becomes increasingly difficult for investors to find investment strategies that will effectively safeguard their position against any market downturn (other than to hold more cash!). For example, oftentimes when equity valuations are high, bond values are relatively low so a protective switch to the latter is available. But not when bond prices are high too! So, in such an environment, it might make sense for investors to consider the merits of an “equity long/short” strategy.

This strategy is not new, but it is somewhat uncommon in NZ. A long/short investment strategy is centred on two core activities: first, investors will hold or own a number of securities in the conventional manner — sometimes referred to as “long” investment. Second, investors will “short” a number of securities, which involves paying someone to borrow their shares for a period of time, selling these borrowed securities with the intention of buying them back later at a lower price, and returning them to the lender.

More simply put, a long/short investment strategy will see a combination of investing in “long” positions in securities that are expected to appreciate over time, with “short” positions in securities, that make money as the prices of these underlying securities decline.

In the New Zealand share market, gaining from shorting stocks has been rather difficult in recent times given the strong upward trend in prices we’ve experienced. However, if we consider a specific stock, say, Fletcher Building, one could argue a case that the recent resilience in its share price is at odds with the magnitude of the forecast profit downgrades the company has announced. In cases such as this, the best approach would be not to buy and hold the company’s shares, but to ‘short’ them as described above on the basis that one would be able to buy the share back later at lower prices. By way of example, an investor may borrow some Fletcher Building shares, and sell them for $8 on the premise that forecast earnings downgrades will continue, and weigh on the share price. This would then allow the investor to purchase the stock back at a later point for, say, $7.50, making a healthy gain from the share price decline.

That said, long/short investment strategies such as that very simply outlined above, should really be considered as something of a complementary approach to a diversified portfolio strategy. Usually, if shares/equities are declining in price or underperforming, bonds will hopefully be doing the opposite. So, as always, a balanced and well-diversified portfolio should protect you in times of real market decline or stress. Indeed, this strategy can see a portfolio be somewhat resilient to broader market movements, providing lower volatility, as well as other diversification benefits.

— Warren Couillault

the artist

This page, “The Matriarch” by Emma Bass. Opposite, the artist in front of her work, “The Geisha”. All images courtesy of Emma Bass

the hobson 36

Embellished with Meaning Art photographer Emma Bass was the only New Zealander invited to exhibit at last year’s Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. Although her floral portraits have won many fans both here and overseas, Emma didn’t always follow such a painterly path. She was a cardiothoracic nurse before she discovered the joy of photography. But, as she tells writer Claire McCall, she can see parallels between these two professions

E

mma’s latest collection, Embellish, is inspired by the Dutch Masters and continues her exploration of the nature of beauty, with sumptuous blooms set against a moody background.

Tell us more about your childhood.

I was born in Liberia, West Africa, because my parents had relocated there when my father was studying tropical medicine. I don’t remember much about it but to this day I love African music – it must be a primal thing! My father, Nigel Bass, was a cardiologist who had graduated from Oxford University so after two years in West Africa, we returned to England and then came to NZ when I was six. We came to NZ for my father’s work, as at that time Greenlane Hospital was the finest place in the world to specialise in cardiology, under Sir Brian Barrett-Boyes. Mainly I grew up in Epsom, while Dad worked as a cardiology consultant and mum as a radiographer at Greenlane and Auckland hospitals.

Where did you study?

I went to school at St Cuthbert’s then studied nursing in Auckland. Dad was devoted to medicine; as a child I can remember him showing me jars of hearts preserved in formalin. I was fascinated. But I was also always passionate about photography. I saw the world through a lens, taking loads of pictures at family gatherings. During a stint nursing in London, I took a short course in photography and found that others thought I had a “good eye”. When I returned home I studied photography at Unitec.

Why floral portraits - what began this inspiration?

I see flowers as one of the most universal forms of beauty. Every culture celebrates them in some way – from the East where they are meditative offerings, to the West, where in the time of the Dutch Masters, they were symbols of wealth and status. They are also tokens of love and a natural expression of the environment. During difficult times, they are a reprieve. Some, like peonies, are impossibly beautiful.

But because they bloom and fade so quickly, they are also metaphors of life and death.

You explore the nature of beauty in the works - how has this exploration evolved?

Embellish is a body of work that progressed from my previous series, Imperfect, some examples of which can be seen at Parnell Gallery. In this series, I explore how we tend to build facades in our life. We create them to enhance our beauty or conceal realities, and I ask whether that compromises our authenticity? I am interested in the paradox of embellishment versus being true to ourselves, as we move through life and take on different roles within our family and the wider world. These new floral arrangements are augmented with a range of enhancements, which include paint, objects, artificial flowers and complementary lighting.

What do you like to do when you’re not making art?

Spend time with my children – Olive who is 16 and attends Diocesan and George, 8. I have also started learning to paint and am reinterpreting old Dutch Bosschaert floral artworks. I long for more time to develop this! Oh, and knitting: I’ve just

the hobson 37

the artist

finished a multi-coloured alpaca wool scarf.

Where do you get the flowers that feature in your works?

From everywhere — friends, neighbours, markets, even the side of the road. I often pop in for a cup of tea to my mother’s place in Remuera. She has a lovely English-style garden with roses, nasturtiums, lavender, magnolias, Japanese anemones and star jasmine creeper. Sometimes we go for walks up Mt Hobson — I especially love the spring time when the slopes are covered in jonquils and daffodils.

What has art brought to your world – and the world of others?

It has filled me with a sense of purpose. Making my floral ‘portraits’ feels like a calling; I’ve always wanted to fulfill the artist within me, and this is the perfect medium. I feel privileged that my work brings beauty and joy into the world since there’s far too much ugliness around us. As an ex-nurse, I think art has an important place in hospitals because something beautiful can make a difference to someone’s day especially when they are feeling vulnerable. I am proud that 12 of my portraits are in scattered in different places around Auckland Hospital. While flowers inspire different responses in people, I would like to think that my work is healing. p

This page, “The Neighbour”, top, and “The Memory”. The exhibition, Embellish, by Emma Bass opens at the Smyth Galleries, 41 Jervois Rd, St Marys Bay, on November 9, to November 30.

the hobson 38

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the grille

The Garage Project In the first of a new series about the automotive treasures of the neighbourhood, Parnell’s Matt Dunning took The Hobson’s questions on his auto passion.

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he garage that sits alongside Matt Dunning’s Parnell home draws interest and conversation from passers-by, intrigued by what is revealed when the doors are open. A barrister and Queen’s Counsel, in his free time Dunning can often be found working on his classic cars. His admits one of the attractive things about buying his home was the scope to build the detached garage with space for three vehicles, and a hoist for a fourth and the serious hobby of car restoration. And there’s no “garage queens” here — Dunning believes a classic car should be used regularly, and a number have filled the role of daily drivers, including, for many years, a restored 1972 BMW 3.0 CSi. It’s since been sold, not without regret, as have others as they make way for the next daily driver (a first series Honda NSX in that case) and the current restoration project.

What do you have in the garage, Matt?

I’m restoring a 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage, and there’s a 1953 Jaguar C-Type replica. The C-Type is a toolroom copy of a factory original which used to be in Queenstown some time back, with all period-correct Jaguar running gear, and a C-Type head.

Do you have any special skills when it comes to working on vehicles?

Nothing special, beyond a habit developed from the age of 14 of fiddling with vehicles. I leave the important parts to the experts, but I adhere to something told to me a while back — that if it was made by somebody once, it can be taken apart and made again, hopefully by me! I do the stripping down and cleaning — the dirty work — and most of the assembly, which is the fun part. But the engine and gearbox, and panel and paint, I leave to specialists.

The Aston is the first full restoration I’ve done. I was just going to take the engine out — that was eight years ago! Over the years, you do eventually find your full suite of people to work on a restoration, oldschool painters and the like. Frank van Lingen at Waiuku, for instance, is an artist with aluminium. He redid the nose of the DB6 for me. I had been aware of the C-Type for some time, but through the restoration of the Aston, I found out Frank had built it using templates taken from the original in Queenstown. It’s a very artisanal process, and a source of magic to me, whereby flat sheets of aluminium are shaped by an English wheel and other hand-wielded tools into the threedimensional, complex curves of a car body. The knowledge that Frank built the C-Type was a significant reason why I pursued it.

I’ve got the Aston Martin here for about another month, then it will go away for six months to be completed by painters and trimmers. It was red originally, then “Roman Purple” when it came to NZ — [Aston Martin’s] David Brown’s favourite colour, but we’d call it Ford Escort Purple, so not a good look! When it comes back to me it will be Old English Pewter. A lot of people go for the James Bond silver, but it’s too cliched, and I prefer the depth of pewter.

What was your first car?

A Hillman Minx.

And what is your dream car?

Ferrari 288 GTO, or an Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato.

Do you have automotive regrets — is there one that got away, or one that seemed a really good idea at the time?

Top: The 1953 Jaguar C-Type replica.

Above: The DB6 straight six engine, originally 4.0L, with three Weber carburettors, 325 HP, and a 0 to 60 mph time of 6.1 seconds. The car has a 5 speed ZF manual gearbox.

It has been bored out to 4.2L (a common and acceptable modification in the UK), and is being converted to fuel injection using GTC/Jenvey throttle bodies developed to mimic the Webers to preserve the look of the engine bay.

Right: Matt Dunning with the Aston Martin in his garage.

the hobson 40

There was an Iso Grifo [an Italian grand tourer with a Chevrolet V8 engine] for sale at Bonhams’ auctions, in England. I was told not to go near it by an expert, so naturally, I did. Bonhams messed up the phone connection, and I couldn’t bid for what was essentially a pile of rust in the shape of a car, which was probably fortunate since, a, the expert was right, and b, it sold for six times the estimate, for approximately $300,000 landed here in New Zealand.

Any advice for someone looking to acquire a classic car to restore?

Do a lot of research, and be prepared to walk away, and expect it to take longer and cost more than you think – it’s a cliché, but true, that’s why it’s a cliché.

What/where is the best car trip you have ever done?

Seattle to San Francisco.

It’s a fine Sunday, the C-Type is running like a dream — where do you go?

The problem with Auckland is that it’s difficult to get out of – half of it by motorway, before getting to decent roads. I like Hunua through to Miranda, or Mangawhai via SH16 and Tomorata. But the best is further north, Mangakahia Rd to Kaikohe, or Maungatoroto through Waipoua to Rawene. Shame about the road surfaces though. p

the hobson 41

the second act

Rebranding Ageing

I

recently came face to face with my own mortality, and so, my age. With a firm — yet perhaps misguided — belief that mid-life, fit and healthy people like me “don’t get sick,” I ended up travelling to Auckland Hospital by ambulance after a particularly bad chest infection morphed with asthma, leaving me gasping for air. I was admitted for a couple of nights, all the while denying how sick I actually was. Hospital isn’t for people like me, it’s for the general public, I had thought, so it’s understandable that it took a while for me to get with the public health system program. I had to stop myself asking if there was a low carb option on the menu: the food — now, there’s a reason to stay well. When I was discharged, I actually asked the doctor, who was about 12-years-old, if she would leave a prescription at reception when I checked out. It’s not a hotel, she said. Oops.

Clearly, I need to get over myself. I am the general public and we get sick. And as we age we have “to look after ourselves”. This is of course a term I hate – I am not a child, nor am I elderly. I am at mid-life, or so I thought. Just two weeks previously, I had found myself at a lecture on brain science and the learned professor had been discussing people at mid-life being within the age bracket of 35-45. I had to stop myself correcting this oversight when I realised that by official calculations he is right. It’s only people like me who have made 50 the new 40.

There have been other telltale signs that I am ageing, which I have chosen to ignore. My gynaecologist noted I was “drifting gracefully” through menopause; I had obviously been too busy to notice. While I felt pretty smug about this, perhaps I was in denial about my actual, physical age. The same night as I received that news, we happened to throw a party. We like to start early, after-work drinks style, so our guests have left by 10.45pm and everyone can be in bed by midnight. During the evening, I found myself in conversations ranging from the

virtues of regular colonoscopies, to going to the chiropractor to remain mobile. We were talking about our health, travel plans and downsizing far more than about our kids. Mortality was there too. One guest, a seasoned TV producer my age, was telling me that she had been working on a crew list for a major job when she realised that two of the trusted crew she was going to hire, were in fact, dead.

You’re only as young as you feel, or so the adage goes. And I felt totally wiped out for a few weeks after my chest infection.

I am aware this column is supposed to be more inspiring about life in the Second Act, but let’s makes sure there’s a Third Act too. It is time to put my health first, which people, including my wonderful doctor, have been banging on about for years.

So, what gets in the way aside from egoic denial? A tendency to do too much. I am a pretty capable person and there’s a lot to do in life, but just because I can do it doesn’t mean I need to. I am learning to be more vulnerable; I am learning to ask for and accept help.

I have noticed my husband kicks in when I stop ordering him about. While the meal quality slides after his strong start at breakfast (omelettes, the low-carb option), he really is enormously capable. Everything ran like clockwork while I was recuperating, with minimal stress — as the family keeps reminding me. I am so appreciative and a little guilty, since I am no Florence Nightingale when he gets man-flu.

Women like me have lived under the misguided notion that we are good at multi-tasking, when in fact neuroscientists have quashed this notion by declaring we are simply adept at task-switching, really, really fast. How exhausting.

So, no more over-the-top effort from me; no more assumptions that I have to do everything, no more thinking I am invulnerable. I’m choosing a gentler life for enduring health. — Sandy Burgham

Yes, even Mahé needs a navigator.

J U S T N O T O N T H E W AT E R

GUIDING, GROWING, AND P R O T E C T I N G YO U R W E A LT H

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the hobson 42

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the regimen

Stepping Up Local writer Gretchen Carroll decided to shake off a long winter’s exercise hibernation by trialling several neighbourhood offerings. Here’s what she discovered on her journey back to fitness

Barely fit at BAReFiT It had been a long day – husband overseas, torrential rain and my preschooler at home. Happily my mother-in-law took over in the evening and I escaped up the road to BAReFiT Bootcamp. Some of my friends are dedicated BAReFitters, and having never tried a bootcamp, I was curious to give it a whirl.

BAReFiT offers numerous classes at various times and locations around Meadowbank. During winter it tends to be held indoors or at sheltered venues; in the warmer months you’ll be outside.

But let me come clean first about two things – I’ve never been a weights person; and my wrists aren’t what they used to be. When I explained this to instructor Melissa, it was no problem and she suggested alternatives to some exercises the group would do.

There were 10 of us, all friendly, one man even found me some lighter weights at one point (it must have been obvious I’m a wuss!). We were tasked with a mix of strength and cardio drills, all set to music while Melissa helped people out. By the end I was suitably exhausted.

Steve, who runs BAReFiT and takes some classes, followed up the next day and was understanding when I said it wasn’t right for me at the moment. He offers a free trial for a week, and after that, what options you go for determines the cost (between $35-$44 a week). I can see why people become devotees.

BAReFiT Group Training, Meadowbank. barefitnz.com

Love all at Orakei Tennis Club Back in the day, my parents used to send me off to school holiday tennis programmes, which means I have passable skills that have got me through social tennis and interclub over the years.

Even though I enjoy a hit, I rarely get the chance these days and I’m in a permanent state of rustiness. So it was with enthusiasm I headed along to midweek tennis at Orakei Tennis Club one beautiful Thursday morning, where I was greeted by about a dozen women.

The club’s facilities are good, with seven courts and club rooms that are small-ish but perfectly formed, with a bar for a post-evening tennis drink.

I played two matches, one doubles, one American doubles (a rotating two-against-one), and it was a decent level of tennis, with plenty of running around, particularly in the latter. I was offered a third round, but my right arm was giving me grief. Still, it didn’t take much twisting by the ladies for me to stay for the morning tea. I was happily led astray by the home baking, potentially undoing my hard work.

It seemed to be a social group, with events organised outside of tennis.

The club also offers evening and weekend tennis, coaching, and cardio fitness classes on the courts. There are a range of membership options, and five or 10 visit passes are available if you don’t want to commit fully.

Overall, a civilised and enjoyable way to get fit, and is on my list for the future.

Orakei Tennis Club, 16 Kupe St, Ōrākei. orakeitennis.org.nz the hobson 44

Getting physical at Genesis Fitness

Ommmmm

I’ve belonged to my fair share of gyms over the years, and it’s usually the classes that appeal, or if I attempt the machines, I need a buddy to make sure I actually put in the work. The good thing about gyms is it doesn’t matter what the weather is like, and offers time flexibility.

One mid-week morning I headed along to Genesis Fitness, which is within the College Rifles’ campus in Haast St, Remuera.

The facilities are 10-years-old and well maintained. The gym is spread over different levels with cardio machines, weights room and a PT area.

A friendly instructor showed me around, and mid-morning there were only a few members working out, meaning no queues for the cardio machines. Speaking of which, some of the machines had TVs, providing me with some motivation to keep going. The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills was on that morning, and I wondered if any irony was intended by the programme choice?

Genesis also offers group fitness classes (spin, yoga, barbell, boxing, Pilates) held across two buildings onsite. There are various membership options, with special online prices.

I tried out a few of the machines and I enjoyed it for a while.

But seeing as I don’t relish weights, and I prefer my walking or jogging outdoors, it’s not the option for me. If you have more discipline, then it’s a well-equipped and handy gym, with parking right outside.

Finally, I decided to try something relaxing. I went with my husband to Om Yoga in Stonefields, where he has a membership that includes a one-off guest pass. We chose a Sunday morning Vinyasa Flow class, one of the several yoga practices available across the timetable. There’s even kids’ yoga, and mums and bubs’ yoga for those inclined.

While still very much a beginner, I have done yoga before at various places and usually enjoy it, although I confess, sometimes I get a little bored. That wasn’t the case in this class which was a pleasant mix of challenge and relaxation.

There were about 30 people, but not every class is as busy. It attracted a mix of ages; a few men; and I was impressed by one couple who had managed to convince their teenage son to come along (and was giving it a go!).

Om Yoga is housed in modern facilities dedicated to yoga.

You can bring your own mat or hire one, and there are changing and shower facilities with lockers for no charge. There are membership options; 20, 10 or 5 visit passes; or just pay for a casual visit.

I’ve since bought a five pass card and am “taste testing” a few of the other classes – so far so good. Yoga might not get you fitter, but it will hopefully make you more flexible and relaxed: always a bonus leading up to the silly season.

Om Yoga Studio, 40 Stonefields Ave, Stonefields. omyogastudio.co.nz

Genesis Fitness, 33 Haast St, Remuera. genesisfitness.co.nz

SKIN TO LOVE: CLINIC 42’s PHOTO FINISH Clinic 42’s unique Photo Finish treatment is fast becoming one of its most requested treatments, and the incredible results make it clear why. Photo Finish delivers unrivalled hydration to the skin due to a blend of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Botulinum Toxin. Essentially, it’s a specialised cocktail of HA and Botulinum Toxin delivered directly to the superficial layers of the skin via a hand-held device. Think of it as delivering an internal moisturiser which refines pores, softens lines and smooths skin, leaving it radiant and glowing — for up to six months after treatment.

“The face, neck and chest are the most commonly treated areas, along with the backs of the hands,” says Dr Joanna Romanowska (MBChB, FRNZCGP, FNZCAM), one of Clinic 42’s highly-experienced doctors. “But any area of the skin may be treated. The effects appear in approximately 10 days and last for months. It’s a great treatment to have a month ahead of a special event in your life. Our clients love it, it gives wonderful, rejuvenating results that look very natural.”

Photo Finish is delivered via a specialised hand-held machine with five micro-needles. It offers precise depth and accurate dosing for a quick and effective treatment with minimal pain and downtime for patients.

Treatment should be viewed as more regenerative: HA attracts moisture, super-hydrating the skin, and the tiny doses of Botulinum Toxin reduce the action of the superficial layer of the facial muscles, tighten pores and minimise acne breakouts. The direct effect of this HA/ Botulinum Toxin combination helps to smooth fine lines and improves the texture and sheen of the skin, while still maintaining normal facial mobility and expression.

For more information about Photo Finish, plus before and after treatment advice, visit www.clinic42.co.nz. A leader in cosmetic medicine practice, Clinic 42 is centrally located at 321 Manukau Rd, Epsom, with parking at the door. After work and Saturday appointments are available.

Phone (09) 638 4242

www.clinic42.co.nz

the pretty

Bright Future Justine Williams calls for a pop of colour in your summer beauty arsenal With more beauty awards that you can shake a stick at, Bondi Sands Gradual Tanning Milk is what the cool kids are into. The It Girl of tanners, it’s perfect for everyday use, hydrating and nourishing skin while giving a gradually-built golden glow. $22.99, from pharmacies The change of season, end of year stress and excess treatments can all play a part in making your scalp sensitive. Kérastase Spécifique Bain Vital DermoCalm, $43, is a shampoo designed to hydrate the scalp, to relax it from external aggressions and leave hair feeling light and airy. From Kérastase stockists

Matte, dense colour, comfortable on the lips and such a fun applicator – this little guy is a highly addictive pop of lip colour.

Lancôme Matt Shaker in Yummy Pink, $45 from Lancôme counters

This is my bathroom bestie.

The QVS Exfoliating Glove is a one-size -fits-all glove that works to cleanse and exfoliate skin. Available in white, pebble and summery raspberry. $9.99, at pharmacies and on QVS stands

Maybelline has always been the boss of mascara, and what I love even more than this fab new one is the tag line “lash like a boss no matter your gender”.

Sales have soared, so vote for inclusive beauty with Maybelline New York Volume Express Colossal Big Shot Mascara, $24.99.

Available at Maybelline stockists

For that effortless cool look, Bobbi Brown introduces Crushed Lip Color, designed to leave a stained flush of colour on the lips for a just-kissed look.

Swipe in the morning and it lasts all day, feather-free, fadeproof wear. $58, from Bobbi Brown counters

Love your MiuMiu fragrance? Get it in an on-the-go size, so perfect for keeping in your handbag or travelling. The petite 20ml bottles of Mini Miu Eau de Parfum and Mini Miu l’Eau Bleue are $75 each, or $129 for a duo pack. From Smith & Caughey’s Essie Gel Couture Nail Lacquer is a new two-step collection, designed to last up to 14 days of wear and give instant, gel-like, shine — no UV lamp required. Party nails, done! Here in Dress Call (lilac) and Model Citizen (pink), $18.99 each at Essie stockists

A cult favourite for good reason, this Too Faced Glitter Bomb Eyeshadow Palette is 10 ways of awesome – such depth and breadth of colour to play with. $72, available at Mecca Cosmetica (Broadway) or Mecca Maxima (Queen St), or via meccabeauty.co.nz When was the last time you edited the contents of your makeup purse? Treat yourself to a new one while you’re at it. This Tender Love + Carry Braid Clamshell looks good, and better still, it zips down both sides, allowing it to open wide for easy access to products. $19.95, from Farmers and pharmacies

Every few years, Kiehl’s collaborates with a global charity to launch a limited edition fundraising product. This year, Kiehl’s has partnered with Autism Speaks. For a limited time Kiehl’s x Autism Speaks Ultra Facial Cream, $98, will be for sale through Kiehl’s boutiques. Great product – great cause. From Kiehl’s counters

the hobson 46

Image: Amber Shirley

Stephen Marr is delighted to announce it has been selected as one of the first salons globally to use O&M's newest development, Cor Color.

This new-generation colour from Italy delivers incredible results in depth and hues, and like all O&M colours, is created without chemical nasties contained in traditional colour products (ammonia, PPDs, resorcinal). Stephen Marr stylists have received specialist training in O&M Cor Color. And Cor Color's natural properties sit well within Stephen Marr's commitment to environmentally sound practices.

16 Morrow St, Newmarket (09) 524 6702 newmarket@stephenmarr.co.nz 37 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby (09) 360 0588 ponsonby@stephenmarr.co.nz stephenmarr.co.nz

Stephen Marr

the magpie

A Summer Primer The Magpie spies, with her little eye, a bright season ahead 1

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1. Last summer’s swan is this season’s feather duster. Say hello to your new pool chum, the Sunnylife Inflatable Ride-On Peacock. Until someone does an inflatable magpie, we’re happy enough with this. $125 from Hedgerow, 371 Remuera Rd. hedgerow.co.nz 2. Once the sun hits the pool this summer, the only exercise The Magpie intends on doing is to chase her Aperol Spritz around the pool, in this cute-as-heck Inflatable Cup Holder Crab. $9.99 from Cotton On, see cottonon.com 3. Fill with ice and pour a fabulous mocktail in these fun, summery Pineapple Drinkers. $17.99, from Typo 4. For those of us without a second home on the Amalfi Coast, this stunning sofa goes a long way to taking us there in spirit.

Available in a number of variations, the Amalfi Aluminium Sectional Sofa, price on application, is from Design Warehouse, 137, The Strand, Parnell 5 A little shagadelic, but oh such fun!

These psychedelic Beach Towels are $30, from Factorie. Resting beach face, anyone?

See factorie.co.nz for local outlets

available in hot orange and sunny yellow, they’re $59 from Hedgerow, 371 Remuera Rd. hedgerow.co.nz

6. So stylish, and comfortable too. The Kobii Relaxing Chair and Side Table looks like the sort of place The Magpie could perch all afternoon, all summer long.

Exclusively at Design Warehouse, 137 The Strand, Parnell. Price on application

10. How civilised is a spot of croquet on the lawn? Play in pairs or make it your fledglings versus theirs. The Sunnylife Croquet set, $95, is available from Hedgerow, 371 Remuera Rd. hedgerow.co.nz

7. Run away to the beach or pool with a Karen Walker Girl Cameo beach towel. A luxe 100 per cent cotton, she’s a friend for those beach days ahead. $75, from Karen Walker, Balm St or karenwalker.com

11 The Magpie is picking that Miley Cyrus’s “Malibu” is the song most likely to be heard blasting from the Cotton On Wireless Beach Speaker over the coming months. $29.99, from Cotton On stores or cottonon.com

8. Put your favourite girl’s name on a label, wrap them up and you’ll enchant at least one young heart with these Le Specs Enchantress sunglasses. UV-protecting, they’re $89.95. Available at Amazon or lespecs.com 9 To market, to market, to buy . . . some cool things, because everyone can see what you got! All the same, we love this Sunnylife Market Bag in neon pink. Also

the hobson 48

12. If she didn’t have wings, The Magpie would be very happy gliding to the Parnell Farmer’s Market on this divine Woman’s Saint Germain Bike, $1590, by the Martone Cycling Co (NYC). The SRAM 2-gear automatic hub requires no gear shifting — it adapts automatically throughout your urban journey. Available in NZ at seletticonceptstore.com

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A Place at the Lake Feel like a little us or me time? Queenstown’s luxury boutique hotels are calling your name, writes Kirsty Cameron

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or the Queenstown visitor seeking respite and luxury, two centrally-located properties will welcome you with a sincere smile and greeting (to see why this is important, read the interview with Filip Boyen, right).

Lakeside Eichardt’s Private Hotel and a little further up the hill, Hulbert House, are both members of the global network, Small Luxury Hotels of the World (as is a third property in the region, Blanket Bay, at Glenorchy). To be an SLH member means maintain exacting standards, wherever you are on the globe. An authentic connection to the area, as well as the requisite high thread-count linens, superlative food and Champagne are all part of an SLH marque, which, in beautiful-at-any-time Queenstown, both Eichardt’s and Hulbert House deliver without pretension and with much good cheer.

EICHARDT’S PRIVATE HOTEL The jewel of Queenstown’s waterfront, Eichardt’s has been offering accommodation since the early 1860s, when its patrons were tourists and prospectors drawn by the fortunes to be made during the Otago gold rush. Today’s crowd is less likely to be lugging panning equipment, but an alluvial gold seam would be useful if you’re going to book the $10,000 a night penthouse (it does come with its own butler, a car-and-driver service and a chef to make you the canapés you can eat in your hot tub, on the vast lakefront terrace).

Local developers Skyline Enterprises completed a stone-andglass complex next door to Eichardt’s last year, which has allowed the hotel to discreetly expand. Founders William Rees and Albert Eichardt’s original stone building — a Category 2 historic place — houses five guest suites, the guests-only parlour and the street level Eichardt’s Bar, where drinks have been served since 1867, and tapas plates more recently. The neighbouring addition, designed by local architect Michael Wyatt, links to the old by a glass atrium, and houses two more lake-facing suites, that breath-taking penthouse, and on street level, The Grille, which is large and buzzy and offers a full menu for lunch and dinner, seven days.

A short walk away is the Eichardt’s “Residence” — a three-

the hobson 50

the destination

You Have Him at Hello Small Luxury Hotels CEO Filip Boyen has a simple measure for feeling welcome

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bedroom home— and a few steps away again are the hotel’s apartments, four fully self-contained units, all with those lovely Queenstown views. All three sites are flanked by many dining options: Ruby Woo is a few metres away from the historic building, Botswana Butchery a few paces from the apartments.

The suites and the penthouse are linked with design elements and the elegant handwriting of interior designer, Virginia Fisher. Locally engineered fireplace surrounds of burnished metal are in each room, mirroring the fireplace in the historic bar. Possum throws are tossed on the beds, and the bathrooms are marvels of gleaming Perrin & Rowe tapware.

Small details for guest comfort are the icing: fires are lit ahead of check-in, there’s a bowl of fruit, home-made biscuits in the kitchenettes and a lemon and a sharp knife wait on a piece of schist, to be pared into an evening drink.

While Eichardt’s dining more than holds its own to outside offerings, the region is famous for its wine and food, and the hotel’s car-and-driver service can be booked to take you further afield, be it for lunch, skiing or a mountain-biking drop off. Our party headed out on a snow-flurried Sunday in an Eichardt’s Landrover Discovery 4 with the knowledgeable Mick Calligy at the wheel, through the Gibbston Valley for lunch at the Wild Earth Kitchen, which sits beside the Kawarau River as it nears Cromwell. »

hen constant traveller Filip Boyen checks into a hotel, he’s not judging it by the quality of the free bubbly in the room, nor the thread count of the sheets. His measure starts in the lobby.

“I want to feel that they want me to be there,” Boyen says. “That’s a very important question that I always ask myself. Sometimes in hotels, if I stand at the front desk, and there is no eye contact, and people are looking down at their computers and their screens, and answering phones, then the answer to that question — do they really want me to be here — has to be ‘no’.

“But if somebody stands at the door when you walk in, and shakes your hand, and gives you a real greeting, an honest greeting, they look you in the eyes, they make you feel comfortable, then yes, they want you to be there. For me, that’s a key issue.”

After three decades in the hotel business, Boyen has checked in at more front desks than a long-haul pilot. He began his hospitality career as a commis chef in his native Belgium, rising through hotel management to become the chief operating officer of Orient-Express Hotels (now Belmond), before his appointment two years ago as chief executive officer of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

SLH is a member organisation of some 500 properties in 80-odd countries, from maharajah palaces to private islands and glamping safaris; modern architectural wonders to rooms within historic walls in metropolitan centres. The guest experience must be authentic to the location — no waking up in a room that could be anywhere. SLH owns no properties but demands exacting standards to be accorded membership.

Since Boyen’s been CEO, he’s unapologetically made it harder to join the brand, and harder to stay.

“When I started, we had 517 hotels, today we have about 500.

We’ve slightly gone down and I’m absolutely happy with that, because the quality issue has been extremely important. That was my first priority.

“What was key, in the quality process, is that our portfolio of hotels is as consistent as it possibly can be. The level of quality needs to be consistent, so we have the trust and confidence of the travel trade, and the travel community. That is everything in this business.”

Generally, a “small hotel” is a maximum of 200 rooms, but it’s relative to place — 200 rooms can be boutique in Manhattan or Shanghai, it would not be so in, say, Christchurch. Boyen was recently in New Zealand to visit member properties: Eichardt’s Private Hotel and Hulbert House in Queenstown, Glenorchy’s Blanket Bay and Bay of Many Coves in Queen Charlotte Sound. (The George in Christchurch, Greenhill Lodge in Hawke’s Bay and Solitaire Lodge, Lake Tarawera, are also SLH hotels). » the hobson 51

the destination

Part of the collection of historic buildings at the Goldfields Mining Centre, don’t let the tour buses in the carpark put you off. Tasting Wild Earth’s wines is a worthwhile stop, and the menu, much of it cooked in retired French oak pinot noir barrels, is some of the best in a region famously foodie.

Eichardt’s Private Hotel, Marine Parade, Queenstown eichardts.com (03) 441 0450 Suites from $1750, apartments from $1400.

See website for seasonal deals and packages General manager, James Cavanagh Wild Earth Kitchen, 803 Kawarau Gorge Rd, State Highway 6, Cromwell. wildearthwines.co.nz (03) 445 4841

HULBERT HOUSE Eichardt’s local sister in the Small Luxury Hotels family is a vast villa on Ballarat St, with views to the lake and a short, downhill walk to the centre of town. Hulbert House has just six guest rooms, each named in honour of someone with an historic connection to the property, like the splendidlytitled Horatio Nelson Firth, Queenstown’s receiver of gold before he went to jail for embezzlement.

If luxury travel were a symphony,

we’d be your composer.

Business World Travel We make a world of difference in the way you experience travel.

A Virtuoso travel advisor provides the value, expertise and connections you expect from all of your trusted professionals. Put us to the test.

We’ll make your next travel experience music to your ears.

Contact Business World today: Tanya Warman twarman@bwt.co.nz Gay Miers gmiers@bwt.co.nz Kristin Black kblack@bwt.co.nz 09 5293700

It was Horatio who commissioned the building of a “gentleman’s villa”, in 1888. In the decades since, it has had many lives including a boarding house, girls’ school, maternity hospital and a backpackers, before its restoration four years ago to a world-class private hotel.

Like Eichardt’s, it is recognised by Heritage NZ, with a protective covenant.

From the outside, the double-fronted villa is impressive but the view from the street belies its size. Inside, the interior unfolds in a panoply of lush colours and furnishings. From the “Blue Willow”-inspired carpet — designed here, woven of NZ wool offshore — to the different décor and colourways of each suite, and the statuesque French armoires and antiques, Hulbert’s offers a colourful, personality-rich retreat.

The tariff includes a generous breakfast, and drinks and canapés as the sun goes down, hosted by the warmly effervescent house general manager, Jade Hansen and cooked by her partner, chef Jay Errington. For dinner, Queenstown is your menu, and very handily, the top-rated Rata is only a short stroll away.

Each suite has a full bathroom, there’s a drying room for ski gear, e-bikes to whiz into town and the hospitable warmth of hosts who absolutely love what they do.

Hulbert House, 68 Ballarat St, Queenstown hulberthouse.co.nz (03) 442 8767 Suites begin at $975 General manager, Jade Hansen Kirsty Cameron stayed as a guest of Eichardt’s Private Hotel and Small Luxury Hotels p

While SLH properties are disparate, the travellers are not.

Whatever their life stage, small luxury hotel guests are not seeking the formulaic or a predictable, beige-on-beige experience.

“Luxury,” says Boyen emphatically, “is not a bottle of champagne on arrival.”

“All the [travel] trends are pointing in our direction. It’s exactly what the company’s been doing for the last 26 years, which is championing small hotels, personalisation, connection with the local community and the local culture.

“The other big trend is that people to an extent want to be taken out of their comfort zone. And that is very interesting. That doesn’t mean you have to kick them out of a plane with a parachute, but things like parasailing, hot air balloons, mountain biking. They’re looking for adventure and they want to be pushed, not to their limits, but they want to be pushed a little bit further than the normal dinner on the beach . . . that’s getting clichéd. They want an experience that’s a combination of luxury, of authenticity, character and physical activity.”

Boyen is extremely happy with what he’s encountered on this trip, and the reception he’s had at Eichardt’s, where he’s staying for two nights. “The general manager is easygoing, there is no arrogance, he gets along with people. He makes people comfortable. He is truly representative of the destination, and that’s what we do so well.”

Boyen travels for six months of the year. Home is London, with his wife and their two children, a university student daughter and 11-year-old son. He has a goal of having personally visited every SLH property within another two years, and when he isn’t checking in to member properties, he attends most of the large travel trade fairs in America, Europe and Asia — 75 per cent of bookings are via travel agents and top-level suppliers like Virtuoso and American Express.

His years as a manager in locations from Moscow to Bora Bora provide a source of knowledge for savvy member hotel owners and operators — he knows what it’s like to live onsite with a young family, and have your pre-schooler point out, loudly, the very fat man in the swimming pool (as happened in Peru); he knows that your title shouldn’t stop you serving breakfast— one of his nuggets of wisdom is that the bigger the title on the business card, the humbler the bearer should become. “There is nothing to be gained from arrogance.”

“When I was in Bora Bora, I used to go to breakfast in the restaurant at 7am. When I see that two staff haven’t turned up, I start serving coffee and breakfast. An American client said, ‘But Filip, you’re the GM, you welcomed us last night, why are you serving us coffee?’ That’s very easy, I said. You’re paying us $1000 a night, so if I’m not going to serve you and you’re going to sit here for 20 minutes waiting for a cup of coffee, I’m going to see you anyway in the lobby, and you’re going to be in one hell of a terrible mood! Don’t you think it’s a lot easier that I serve you coffee?!”

Like many of his stories, it’s punctuated with roars of laughter, and an expressive sense of wonder as to why any manager would think it above them to pour the damn coffee. The hotel business is built of relationships, and Boyen’s radar for emotional intelligence, or EQ, is well-calibrated.

“When I go to America to these trade shows, I always ask the travel agencies, so what do your clients enjoy most when they arrive at a hotel? Is it the champagne in the room? The flowers? The strawberries and chocolate? What is it? Ultimately it always comes down to what they enjoy most is the GM at the door shaking their hands, welcoming them personally. And during their stay, at least once a day the manager comes around, doesn’t matter where, on the beach, by the pool, in the restaurant for breakfast, just to have a word to see if everything is fine, if there’s anything they can do. That’s what they enjoy most. ” — Kirsty Cameron p the hobson 53

the sound

Concrete Love Song

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Rip It Up, 1980

ate on October 3, the radio finally confirmed that Tom Petty was dead.

Just a week after finishing a triumphant 40th anniversary, four-month tour at the Hollywood Bowl, Tom went to his home in Malibu. The 66-year-old just wanted to hang out with his grandchildren. He’d grown to resent touring because of the time taken away from loved ones. So we all kind of knew this last tour was, to quote the Traveling Wilburys, the end of the line.

Tom went home after the last great tour and rather than relaxing with the mokopuna, he had a massive heart attack and the world was shocked to learn, after a day of conflicting reports, that he had died.

It’s a sad day because Tom Petty was always one of the greats but it’s not until his death that many will realise it. Schooled in ’60s pop rock; he freely admitted he stole everything from Roger McGuinn and The Byrds, but he added an edge of youth and freedom. As time went on, he added even more grit and symphonic greatness. Song after song had a massive riff, a soaring chorus and the feeling of elation. A true American icon.

His death has taken me right back through the years. For me it’s personal because he was the first real rock concert I ever went to. In 1980, I was 17 and I went to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Logan Campbell Centre. He was touring his third album, the one that would be his breakthrough, Damn the Torpedoes. I remember it all as clear as a bell.

The hits were there but so were the concert-only moments. Playing “Luna”, guitarist Mike Campbell brought out a magnetic pick known as an Ebow which makes the guitar hold notes like a keyboard. There were two spotlights, one on Mike and one on Tom, who was behind the keys. I was transfixed.

And then there was “Breakdown”. A song I knew as a 2 minute, 39 second, blues groove, became a 10 minute workout. It blew my mind. Tom played forever. Three encores. Finishing with a raucous cover of “I Fought The Law”. He often said that the 1980 New Zealand tour was one of his favourites. We were the first country to take his albums to top of the charts and our crowds were nuts.

I've just read Duncan Campbell's review of that concert in Rip It Up and I learnt something new — that was the first time the Logan Campbell Centre was used a rock venue.

For Auckland at the time it was a revelation, the same way Vector [now Spark] Arena was when it opened. It holds 3000 people with 2000 onsite carparks. It was the arrival of indoor concerts. Duncan's review praised the venue and its sound.

Which is hilarious, because the venue is known to all as the Logan Concrete Centre. An echoey, grungey venue that many Aucklanders hate.

I don’t agree. First of all, I like its grunge. Rock n’ roll is supposed to be in a dark hole. But secondly, some of my fondest rock concert venues are in the old Logan Campbell Centre.

I saw U2 there the first time they came, and it was electric.

The crowd was bouncing off the walls which is fine, because if there’s one thing about the place is that it is tough, and can take the punishment.

The Pretenders played there and again it was an intimate and boisterous gig. I remember Chrissie Hynde leaving the stage, thanking the crowd and telling us we’d made an old rocker so very happy.

Echo & the Bunnymen played there late in 1981.

There was only 500 people there but the band were magnificent. A fight broke out and a fight ring formed. The band stopped and watched and then Ian McCullough, the lead singer, asked “What's this about? The tour’s over boys”, referring to the Springboks tour. We all stopped. And laughed. And then away we went again.

Then there was The Clash. Never have I been to a louder, more distorted, more physical concert.

The reviews criticised the sound. Honestly, who cared!

It was THE CLASH. It’s supposed to be distorted.

Then there was Split Enz on their “Enz With A Bang” tour in 1984. The band was finished and they played three nights in a row at LCC. I remember skipping around the floor. Joyous music and memories.

The last time I went to the Logan Campbell Centre was for a Joan Armatrading/Bryan Ferry double bill, which was a bizarre concept in itself. Joan opened and we nodded to her awesome bedsit tunes. Halftime came, and then out came Bryan in full Eurotrash, glitter-jacketed pomp. He was snaky and so damn cool. It was brilliant. If the venue was low-rent, it didn’t matter when the entertainment was so top drawer.

So we’ve lost Tom Petty, but we’ve still got the old Logan Concrete Centre and once again I'll stand in its brutal modernist banality, and enjoy The Human League in December. And I’ll love it. — Andrew Dickens

the hobson 54

the district diary

November 2017 1 Museum-goers young and old can interact, climb, roll, push, pull and bounce, with Jae Kang’s tactile rope and net exhibit, Knot Touch. Until mid-2018, NZ Maritime Museum, cnr Quay and Hobson streets, free entry

18 Discover the charm of the Highwic Christmas Garden Festival, today and Sunday. Garden tours, plant stalls, Christmas shop, pop-up café, live entertainment, art in the garden and flowers in the house. Free entry, 40 Gillies Ave, 10am-4pm

4 Join Parnell Heritage in celebrating Parnell’s 1950s milliner-to-the-stars, Lindsay Kennett. Kennett’s biographer, Hilary Hunt, will speak about his life and remarkable artistry (one of his design illustrations is pictured, right). Kinder House, Ayr St, Parnell, 5pm. For tickets, which include bubbles and canapés, email enquiries@parnellheritage.org.nz, or call Sue on (09) 846 7661

19 The city’s most fragrant event is on today —the annual Festival of Roses.

Free, fun, family-friendly, there’s food, entertainment and those lovely tussiemussies. Parnell Rose Gardens, Gladstone Rd, 10.30am-4pm

The Parnell Baths open today for the summer season 5 The first Sunday morning of the month sees the return of the Paws in Parnell specialist dog market. 9am-12pm, Heard Park, Parnell Rd. But later tonight, lock up your pets — it’s Guy Fawkes.

Visit aucklandforkids.co.nz, keyword fireworks, for local displays Savour and enjoy nine delicious dishes prepared by chef Ben Barton at the annual Totara Hospice Long Lunch. Hosts include Cuisine magazine editor Kelli Brett, restauranteur Luca Villari, and more. Tickets from eventfinda.co.nz 8 NZ has a heritage of strong female pop, rock and RnB musicians, from the Yandall Sisters to Shona Laing, to Ladi 6 to Lorde. Sing It, Sister – Music & Misogyny is part of Auckland War Memorial Museum’s LATE series. Tickets from aucklandmuseum.com or at the door, 6-9pm 9 NCEA exams start today, to Dec 1 10-12 In its 17th year, Big Boys Toys has new music and construction Zones and the Milwaukee Action Arena. ASB Showgrounds, 10am-6.00pm, tickets from iticket.co.nz or at the gate

11 Don’t miss all the fun of the fair at Michael Park School. This annual event is renowned for games, exceptional crafts and its sell-out cake stall. Rain or shine, 9.30-3.30pm, 55 Amy St, Ellerslie Celebrate spring with a candlelit supper of dishes from around the world, and a backdrop of festive music and sparkling song. Community of St Luke, 130 Remuera Rd. 7.30-9.30pm, stlukes.org.nz for tickets 12 The Auckland Retro Fair is back with a huge array of all things retro. Furniture, bric-a-brac, clothes, collectables, curios, jewellery. Tickets $10 at the door, Alexandra Park Raceway, Greenlane Rd West, 10am-4pm

For an afternoon of glorious voices, hear baritone Dr Te Oti Rakena and the Auckland Youth Choir with Lachlan Craig, perform with the St Matthew’s Chamber Orchestra. St Matthew-in-theCity, cnr Wellesley and Hobson streets, 2.30pm. Tickets via eventfinda.co.nz or at the door 23 The next best thing to a pony in the backyard is taking your horse-mad child to Equitana Auckland. Enjoy equestrian entertainment and education including show jumping, dressage and showing.

Visit equitanaakl.co.nz for tickets and info, 8.30am-8pm (also on Sunday 26) 24 We heard it through the grapevine that it may be a midnight special when Bad Moon Rising: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Tribute, play a night of quality CCR sounds at the Remuera Club, 27 Ohinerau St. Venue/door sales only, $20, from 7.30pm

The Epsom Remuera Croquet Club is hosting a family open day with games, prizes, demos by leading NZ players, a BBQ, tea and coffee. Wear flat shoes, all ages welcome, 259 Gillies Ave, 9.303.30pm, free

26 You better watch out, you better not cry, because Santa Claus is coming to town!

No really, he is. The 84th annual Farmers Santa Parade starts on Federal St at 1pm, and finishes up with rides, giveaways and refreshments at Aotea Square

17 For sweet treats and beautiful blooms you can’t go past the Baker & Bloom markets, held to help you transition into the weekend in the sweetest way possible!

Third Friday afternoon of each month, 1.30-5.30pm in Heard Park, Parnell Rd

30 The Auckland Mama Market showcases quality products for parents, babies and young kids. This special pre-Xmas market will have over 20 stalls. Ellerslie War Memorial Hall, 138 Main Highway, 6.309.00pm, parking behind the hall

the hobson 55

the cryptic by mĀyĀ

ACROSS

DOWN

1 What cad twirls, spilling so much tea (9) 6 Bill’s indulging in heartless sex - for Sitting Bull, for example (5) 9 A type of 1 that may be held by a 12 (9) 10 Gosh, Mr Le Pew, it’s a one-time settlement near Taupo! (5) 12 What one of the Distinguished 21 may be in 16 (5) 13 Refiners accommodating our respecters (9) 15 You German idealist - nameless, with bicoloured stripes! (11) 18 Company rivals you overthrow with great appetite (11) 21 Blonde admirers of Harry, meet Glenn (9) 22 Heard to eat cream puff (5) 24 Kindle a key arrest (1-4) 25 A type of 1 mucks around with garden implement (9) 26 Betrothed bachelor, given what one of the Distinguished 21 may do in 16 (5) 27 Owner of a famous 1 entering temple bareheaded for concubine (9)

2 No slipshod rising is going to make a bloomer (6) 3 The City of Grahame? (6) 4 An Arabian port where you’ll find thieves (4) 5 Almost intercept Queen’s Cavalry for Cheryl West, for example (4,2,9) 7 Endanger outside a type of 1 (8) 8 Location of 1 expected to maintain its stiffness (5,3) 11 The circle of 21? (7) 14 National’s chipped in first - it backed Buddhist school (7) 16 Glower after advance cut short - time to get a new walrus or toothbrush? (8) 17 A parting shot is totally fashionable? Amen to that! (4,4) 19 Rushes out; that could be a factor (6) 20 Pretend Aberdeen Angus said it’s a numbers game (6) 23 Militant group’s almost diseased (4)

Set by Māyā. Answers will appear in our next issue (December 2017). Can't wait, or need help? Visit https://thehobsoncrossword.wordpress.com/

OCTOBER CRYPTIC CROSSWORD ANSWERS Across: 1 The Hobson, 6 India, 9 Cotter house, 10 Cut, 11 Throw, 12 Slouchier, 14 Hidings, 15 Stalest, 16 Lutyens, 19 Totemic, 21 Overseers, 22 Noddy, 24 Eli, 25 Tragicomedy, 26 Night, 27 Guy Fawkes Down: 1 Tacit, 2 Entered, 3 Overwinters, 4 Schisms, 5 Neurons, 6 Ice, 7 Ductile, 8 Antarctic, 13 Chattanooga, 14 Halloween, 17 Teeming, 18 Shebang, 19 Testify, 20 Midweek, 23 Yo-yos, 25 Tot

the hobson 56

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