The Hobson March 2016

march 2016

creating art in remuera • orakei's next councillor? local news, views & informed opinions

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The March Issue, No. 26 8

32

48

the editor’s letter

the candidates

the teacher

10

Former principal Judi Paape on helping your kids get back into the swing of school

the columnists

Local politicians Desley Simpson and Cameron Brewer reveal their plans for the upcoming Auckland Council elections

12

36

the village

the creative

Changes to the Proposed Unitary Plan we didn’t see coming, roads out of The Domain, local events, people, and more

Parnell arts consultant Jillian de Beer prepares to orchestrate Remuera’s White Night of art and performance

21

39

the plan

the portfolio

Hamish Firth reviews the infrastructure wins for Auckland

Introducing a new feature, spotlighting student art

22

40

the reps

the second act

News from local MPs David Seymour and Paul Goldsmith

Sandy Burgham cruises into a new life stage — a multi-generational holiday at sea

24

41

the suburbanist Tommy Honey considers the muchmaligned “suburbia”

25 the investment Warren Couillault on the infrastructure we really need — and how to fund it

26 the party There was many a local face at Omaha’s surf club fundraiser

30 the hobson + remuera This month, we meet business owners Chun Chung from Bakers Delight, and Jo Mann from The Wild Bunch

the hobson + lumino Preventative care of your gums and teeth will pay dividends for life

42 the pretty

49 the sound Losing our heroes — Andrew Dickens on a generation’s collective grief

50 the cinema Movie choices for March, selected by Caitlin McKenna

51 the bookmark Gail Woodward chooses new reads for a healthy body and a tidy house

52 the appetite Sue Fleischl shares the food of her childhood

54 the district diary What’s going on around here this month

Justine Williams browses the beauty aisle

56

44

the cryptic

the magpie

A hint: some of the answers are local

Treat yourself to some new plumage this March

46 the journey Graeme Clark has an adventurous close shave in Istanbul

WIN!

Maman boutique and Celine’s “Baby Audrey” sunglasses will make you, or someone you love, a very stylish girl. Courtesy of Maman, 2 Clonbern Rd, Remuera, we have these très stylé, luxurious hand-crafted frames from the French fashion house to give away to one lucky reader. Suitable for a petite face, they have an RRP of $549. Email business@thehobson.co.nz with MAMAN in the subject line by 5pm, Friday March 18. You can double your chance of winning by liking THE HOBSON’s Facebook, and commenting on the giveaway post.The winner’s name will be selected at random.

The fine print: By entering this giveaway, you agree that your name and email contact details will be retained by THE HOBSON for our own database purposes, and shared with Maman.

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issue 26, march 2016 Editor & Publisher Kirsty Cameron editor@thehobson.co.nz Art Direction & Production Stephen Penny design@thehobson.co.nz Advertising Sales Sarah-Jane Cooper thehobsonads@gmail.com Writers Kirsty Cameron, Penny Lewis, Sarah Lynch Sub-editor Fiona Wilson Columnists & Contributors This Issue Sandy Burgham, Shale Chambers, Graeme Clark, Warren Couillault, Andrew Dickens, Hamish Firth, Sue Fleischl, Paul Goldsmith, Tommy Honey, Māyā, Caitlin McKenna, Judi Paape, Desley Simpson, Justine Williams, Fiona Wilson, Gail Woodward Photographers Vanita Andrews, Stephen Penny, Dominique White Cover Polish artist NeSpoon and one of her street art projects.

NeSpoon will be creating a work at Remuera's White Night — see story page 36. Photo courtesy of NeSpoon.

THE HOBSON is published 10 times a year by The Hobson Limited, PO Box 37490 Parnell, Auckland 1151. www.thehobson.co.nz F: TheHobsonMagazine T: @thehobson Ideas, suggestions, advertising inquiries welcome. editor@thehobson.co.nz Or via Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheHobsonMagazine

THE HOBSON is Remuera, Parnell and Orākei'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, visit www.thehobson.co.nz or TheHobsonMagazine on Facebook.

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

The Hobson Ltd is a member of the Magazine Publishers Association

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This publication uses environmentally responsible papers

D

id you go to White Night events last March? A night of art, music, performance and installations that mix all three, it’s an excellent idea that started in Paris and has spread across the globe. In Auckland it's part of the Arts Festival, which runs for most of this month. White Night is March 12, and if you haven't attended before, give it a try this year (it was biannual, and is now annual) — last year Remuera and Parnell were both buzzing with people and atmosphere on the night.

Our cover celebrates the street art of Polish artist NeSpoon, who is coming to NZ and will create one of her extraordinary works in Remuera for White Night. We don't know which building she will use as her canvas, but I’m intrigued to see the result. Parnell will also light up for White Night. One of the highlights will be the auctioning for charity of monkey statues painted by local artists as part of Chinese New Year celebrations.

Chinese New Year was welcomed with food, fireworks and much celebration last month. With the ever-popular Lantern Festival moving to The Domain, and Remuera's paint-the-town red festival night, we had great family events right on our doorstep. However you celebrated, I hope your Red Fire Monkey year is off to a great start.

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

Whether you like the status quo, the alternative flag offered or are generally underwhelmed by the whole process, you will have an opinion on the flag debate. No real surprise perhaps that the PM is one of the locals signalling his vote in the upcoming referendum — that's his St Stephens Ave gate.

Congratulations to Priya Pragji and Catherine Brabbs, both of whom won an elegant Petra Bettjeman Jewellery Super Fine Black Diamond stacker ring in our January-February issue giveaway.

Z

Why am I getting THE HOBSON? If you've only just noticed us turning up in your letterbox, it may be because you live in Orākei or a part of Remuera which we have recently added to our distribution area. We launched in September 2013 as your local, community magazine — that’s our brief, to be local, inform and connect our community. We also put copies into the Remuera and Parnell libraries and various dairies and cafes around the place. There’s more about us on our website, www.thehobson.co.nz. the hobson 8

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

Hamish Firth (The Plan) lives and works in Parnell and is principal of the Mt Hobson Group, a specialist urban planning consultancy. www.mthobsonproperties.co.nz Sue Fleischl (The Appetite) is a caterer and passionate foodie. She heads up The Great Catering Company, and also manages the heritage Abbeville Estate function venue. www.greatcatering.co.nz, www.abbeville.co.nz Urban design critic Tommy Honey (The Suburbanist) is a former architect, Remuera resident and Dean of College at Parnell’s Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design.

Dr Amrit Kaur (The Psyche) lives in Meadowbank. She is a NZ-registered clinical psychologist specialising in helping children, families and young adults, and is part of the KidzTherapy practice. Her column appears bi-monthly, alternating with Judi Paape.

Caitlin McKenna (The Cinema) of Remuera is passionate about the cinema — she majored in film, sociology and marketing for her conjoint BCom/BA. Judi Paape (The Teacher) is a parent, grandparent and highly-experienced teacher and junior school principal.

A Parnell resident, her column appears bi-monthly, alternating with Amrit Kaur.

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

Gail Woodward (The Bookmark) of Meadowbank is the senior book buyer for Paper Plus Newmarket.

She belongs to, and advises on selections for, a number of book clubs.

the hobson 10

the village

Town & Around

Proposed changes affecting Orākei, Kohimarama and part of Remuera: properties falling within the blue lines are upzoned for intensification in “out of scope” revisions to the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan. Image, Auckland Council. To see the plan in detail, visit zoningmap.co.nz

A DENSE SURPRISE FOR ORAKEI Residents of Orākei, Remuera, Mission Bay, Glendowie and other areas within the Orākei ward received a surprise when Auckland Council revealed the latest set of revisions to the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP). The suburbs are amongst those across the isthmus to face more intensive housing than has been initially flagged, with a broad sweep of rezoning to allow multi-storey buildings and apartments in what has until now been mostly singledwelling neighbourhoods.

Across Orākei ward, almost 10,000 properties — a third of those in the ward — have had zonings changed to allow more intensification, without notification or the opportunity to respond. Under the PAUP, the planning blueprint for the city, 11 per cent of the suburb of Orākei was proposed as “mixed housing urban”. However, “out of scope” revisions by Council released just prior to Christmas have seen that number jump to 54 per cent (see table). Neighbouring Mission Bay

sees an increase from 15 per cent to 58 per cent.

“I don’t think very many people are aware of the significance of these changes,” says Don Stock, chair of the Mission Bay and Kohimarama Residents Association. “Tens of thousands of people are going to be affected by these changes for the next 50 years.”

Glendowie, which remained mostly single-house zoned in the Draft Plan and the following PAUP, has now been upzoned, with 85 per cent change, making what was single house zones into mixed housing.

“To have this considerably upzoned without feedback is unfair”, Orākei Local Board chair Desley Simpson told a packed public meeting mid last month at the ASB Stadium in Kohimarama.

“And, it’s potentially lacking in natural justice for those who didn’t submit [to the PAUP], based on what they saw as the suggested zone for their home and community.”

the hobson 12

Breakdown of Zones

Auckland-wide

Mission Bay

Orākei

PAUP

Proposed

PAUP

Proposed

PAUP

Proposed

Terrace Housing & Apartments

5%

6%

6%

6%

6%

8%

Mixed Housing Urban

11%

17%

15%

58%

11%

54%

Mixed Housing Suburban

44%

44%

48%

22%

73%

38%

Single House

31%

26%

32%

14%

10%

0%

Large Lot

9%

8%

0%

0%

0%

0%

examples of rule changes

Zone PAUP (as notified)

Single House

Height

8 m max

8 m (+1 m)

Density (1 building per site sized)

600 m

600 m2 but can convert existing dwelling to two

Height

10 m (+1 m) max

11 m (+1 m)

300 m , or 250 m (with criteria), unlimited density > 1200 m2 (with criteria)

No density controls

40 m2

30 m2

Mixed Housing Urban

Density

(1 building per site sized)

Council’s new position as of December 2015

2

2

Minimum dwelling size

2

Terrace Housing & Apartments

Height

14.5 to 20.5 m

16.5 m to 22.5 m (+2 m non-notified)

Storeys

4 to 6

5 to 7

Information of zone and rule changes courtesy of Orākei Local Board

While the first round — the Draft Plan — and the second round — the PAUP — have had community consultation and feedback opportunities, the newest set of plans released at Christmas contained changes to the PAUP that had not been sought by way of submissions from the the public, consultant planners or architects.

Council submitted to the Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel (IHP) on January 26 for “out of scope” changes, which the IHP has the power to grant.

“Out of scope never used to exist,” Auckland 2040 co-founder and experienced planner Richard Burton told the Kohi meeting.

Organised by local residents’ associations, the meeting of more than 700 people were told by Burton that in his 30 years experience as a planning consultant, he’d never come across plans such as this that had been changed without submissions requesting so.

“Out of scope means that there is no submission, or further submission lodged with the Council requesting the change. The signficance of Council doing wholesale out of scope changes is extraordinary.

“It deprives you, the residents, of any ability of getting involved in the process, and having your say.”

Formed to work with resident groups in response to the Unitary

Plan, Auckland 2040 has pushed for intensification needs to be balanced with infrastructure capability, and maintaining the character of residential areas. Burton said the process of changing residential zones to allow intensification should involve research to determine whether infrastructure — sewage, stormwater — and impact on schools and traffic could support the changes. “There’s a whole raft of studies usually done as part of a major zoning change.”

At the meeting, residents were urged to lobby councillors — a “no” vote would reject the “out of scope” changes. Five councillors at the meeting — Cameron Brewer (Orākei), Denise Krum (Maungakiekie/ Tāmaki), George Wood (North Shore), Sharon Stewart and Dick Quax (Howick) — said they would vote against this new iteration. The earliest that councillors could vote would be mid year — the IHP will report its recommendations to Council in July.

“The whole Unitary Plan remains in serious trouble,” says Cameron Brewer. “Council only has itself to blame.”

The revised plans for the eastern suburbs are not available on the Auckland Council website. To view the map showing the areas of change, visit www.zoningmap.co.nz or the Mission BayKohi Residents Association site, missionbaykohi.co.nz. Further information can be found at auckland2040.org.nz p

the hobson 13

the village NEW YEAR CONGRATULATIONS Several local names were amongst those celebrated with New Year’s honours. Receiving a CNZM (Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit) was Parnell businessman Peter Masfen, for services to business and philanthropy. John Taylor of Remuera, received a MNZM (Member of the NZ Order of Merit) for services to education.

George France, Newmarket (services to business) and Bill Francis, Parnell, (services to broadcasting and cricket) both were awarded ONZMs — Officers of the NZ Order of Merit .Queen’s Service Medals (QSMs) were awarded to Remuera residents Noeline Farley (services to the community) and Diane Wilson (services to genealogy and the community). Rugby legend Dan Carter, recently of Remuera and now of France, was also honoured, with an ONZM. p

ART OF GOLD Petra Bettjeman is a jewellery designer and trained goldsmith who calls Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs home. Her studio can be found in the Coates Ave shops in Orākei, where she stopped for a chat with THE HOBSON. How did you start out, and why jewellery? I’ve always been creative, and come from a very creative family. I first considered jewellery as a career after a V&A exhibition piqued my interest while I was in London. After some research I returned home to begin my goldsmith studies, and found my niche.

Who are your mentors? My mum and dad — Grant & Phif Bettjeman of Bettjemans Salon. If I can be as successful in business, and as

Golden girl — jeweller Petra Bettjeman in her Orākei studio

happy in life, then that’s what success looks like to me.

Did you ever consider joining the family business? Yes, and I’ve worked at Bettjemans but it never sparked my fire!

What does a typical day entail? Once I’ve had my coffee from Good Day, you’ll find me down in the studio tinkering away on my commissioned work and retail ranges. I’m very fortunate that I get to do both retail, and special commissions. For retail I create what I love, and as my ranges aren’t mass produced there isn’t much repetition. With commissioned pieces, I enjoy working with clients to create something unique to celebrate their special memories.

What’s an interesting commisison you’ve had? A large emerald and diamond cluster divorce ring. It’s a ring a customer’s having made for herself to celebrate a new life!

Why did you choose Orākei for your business? I grew up here and always gravitate back. The Coates Ave shops are booming, and it’s only getting better. My favourite places are close by too — Kohimarama beach for a swim, something to eat at La Fourchette in St Heliers.

What’s next from your studio? I’m working on some exciting colabs and have more retail ranges in planning. You can expect to see everyday staple pieces and another statement collection.

— Sarah Lynch p

PLANS FOR THE DOMAIN – STILL TIME TO HAVE YOUR SAY Auckland Council has released a consultation document on the future of the Auckland Domain. Submissions close on February 29 — the draft master plan can be viewed at shapeauckland.co.nz/ consultations/draft-auckland-domain-master-plan, and there’s also a link to a comments survey to share your views.

In our inaugural readers’ poll, published last March, THE HOBSON readers voted The Domain as a great place to visit and enjoy, a true asset to the city. We asked THE HOBSON columnist, urban planning consultant Hamish Firth (The Plan), to look over the draft master plan and give us his take.

In short, the Draft Auckland Domain Master Plan sets out the 20 year aspirations of how the park can develop and further consolidate its position as Auckland’s premier park.

The aspirations are many, and include major concepts such as: • proposing to close the internal roads around the sports fields and grandstand and the museum • introducing shared paths along many of the existing roads • providing dedicated links from the Parnell railway station to the city and other Domain access points • reducing carparks • improving pedestrian and cycle routes And more minor concepts, being: • designing gateway features to enhance the entry points to The Domain • sports field enhancement – drainage, lighting • upgrade the paths around the duck pond • eco sourcing of new and replacement plantings The key principles behind the master plan are based upon improving and enhancing The Domain for use as a place for peaceful respite, recreation, a place for events while protecting the heritage and cultural aspects of the park. While not preventing vehicle use and thoroughfare, the master plan seeks to reduce the dominance that cars may have over pedestrians and passive users of the park.

Improving the connectivity of The Domain to Parnell, Newmarket,

the village the city and Grafton is a key theme. Again the emphasis is on pedestrians and cyclists and passive users of the Park.

Never fear, HOBSON readers — the master plan does not propose to close off Domain Drive from the Parnell Rd and Ayr St interchanges.

While it may slow up the journey by narrowing up the roads — and places a real emphasis on sharing the space — the key route that many of us use to get from home to work each day, and back again, has been preserved.

All in all, I think the Council has done a good job of presenting a future direction and plan for what is a special place to us all.

My only real concern is around security and safety as The Domain bush area – adjacent to the railway line and the grandstand — have increasing become a place to live for a few of our more hardy citizens. The Domain is frequented day and night by people passing through The Domain, whether it be hospital workers or students, or people going for a run or walk. There is a sense of heightened anxiety as you go past theses areas. There is nothing in the master plan in how to deal with an increasing permanent population that call The Domain their home. — Hamish Firth p

GREEN DESIGN IN ST GEORGES BAY The St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell, precinct is a constructive hive of activity, with two major new developments by Mansons TCLM now underway. Rising at 96 St Georges Bay Rd, on the corner of Garfield St, is the $100 million St

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the hobson 16

George Corporate Centre (top two images, left). Due for completion late next year, the complex, designed by FORMiS architects, will have around 1000m2 of offices and retail, a central garden plaza and two levels of carparking. The building will be 5 Green Star certified by the New Zealand Green Building Council, which means it has achieved NZ excellence in green design. The certification is based on a building’s overall environmental impact, with points awarded across nine categories: energy, water, materials, indoor environment quality, transport, land use and ecology, management, emissions, and innovation.

Adjacent is Manson TCLM’s own new headquarters, designed by Fearon Hay Architects (image at bottom). This building will be 6 Green Star rated — world leadership level — and is expected to be completed a few months ahead of the Corporate Centre. The familyowned company, headed by developer/philanthropist Ted Manson ONZM, has several other green-certified projects underway in the city, including apartments at Victoria Park. Images courtesy of Mansons TCLM p

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Promoted by David Seymour, MP for Epsom.

State Enjoy the sneezing season? It was a great summer for makers of antihistamines and sinus washes, thanks to an abundance of allergens in the air, like this flowering tree privet flourishing on the Brighton Rd edge of Thomas Bloodworth Park. Unfortunately for allergy sufferers, the highly-allegenic and invasive tree is only rated as a “surveillance species” (as is jasmine) by Auckland Council on its Regional Pest Management Strategy. That means Council isn’t obligated to remove it from public land and can’t enforce removals from private land. The strategy is currently being updated but it’s unlikely privet will get an upgrade to “total control pest plant” status (lantana, white-edged nightshade) or “containment” (ragwort, wild ginger). p

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the village

KICK-STARTING A COLLECTION Art isn’t the first thing you would normally associate with interestfree finance, but now there’s a way to use credit to put art, rather than a wide-screen TV, on your walls.

Parnell art lovers Sonja and Glenn Hawkins set up interest-free lending scheme myart.co.nz late last year. My Art is backed by Avanti Finance, which Glenn founded 26 years ago. “Sonja enjoys art and I enjoy the finance side of things,” says Glenn.

How the scheme works is that clients can apply online at myart. co.nz and be pre-approved for finance between $1000 and $25,000.

Once they have chosen an artwork at a participating gallery, they pay a 10 per cent deposit, and then pay the balance in nine equal monthly instalments. A work which costs $1000 will need a $100 deposit, with nine monthly $100 payments.

The Hawkins looked at websites ownart.org.uk, which has been operating in the UK for a decade, and the Australian model, artmoney.com, set up a year ago. “We talked to a couple of galleries here to work out the issues and found that people lay-by a lot.” From

there, My Art “was developed reasonably quickly,” Glenn says.

Sonja says lay-bys add to gallery owners’ workload and they take on the risk of the purchase not being completed. “With My Art, gallery owners can pay artists straight away,” Sonja says.

Tim Melville of Tim Melville Gallery (timmelville.com) is one of the gallerists who have signed up to offer My Art. He says there are no downsides, and the scheme is almost philanthropic. “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity Sonja and Glenn are offering. It’s a business, but there’s a kind of authentic goodwill they bring to the scheme that I really value. They’re not out to be sharks. They just want to get good art into people’s homes.”

My Art helps new and existing collectors. “Especially the new collectors who don’t have $5000 to spend straight away,” says Melville, “but they could do $500 over 10 months. It makes serious art accessible.”

Melville has had two clients sign up to My Art so far. “This was at the end of last year when galleries traditionally quieten down.”

Artists are not too familiar with the scheme at the moment, but Melville says they will appreciate the impact soon. “Artists are always

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happy to be paid straightaway, well everyone is happy to be paid straightaway!

There are pluses for everyone.”

Melville says it helps the Hawkins are genuinely nice people who love art.

“They are supporting broader culture, by supporting artists and keeping gallery doors open.”

Participating galleries are listed on myart.co.nz with more joining as the scheme becomes more established. As well as Tim Melville, Auckland galleries taking part include Gow Langsford, Michael Lett, Bowerbank Ninow, Melanie Roger, Parnell’s Bath St and Black Door galleries and Newmarket’s Warwick Henderson. — Penny Lewis p

the hobson 19

Opposite page: Andrew Blythe, “Untitled” 2014, acrylic on paper; Joe Sheehan, “Safety Glasses” 2004, NZ pounamu, sterling silver.

This page, photographs by Russ Flatt — “Half a Person” 2015, and “Girl #2” 2013. All images courtesy of the artists and Tim Melville Gallery

waitemata¯ Local Board

T

his is another big year for Auckland, and one in which you will have the opportunity to vote on city leadership both at regional and local board levels. The main issues will be the prioritising and funding of public transport improvements to get Aucklanders moving and relieve congestion; housing affordability and availability to meet the significant and growing housing shortage in Auckland; meeting the infrastructure costs of the significant growth in our city; city affordability, with rates having increased significantly above inflation over recent years, and the health of democracy in our city. The wrong response from some is the push for the sale of community assets, when expenditure restraint on Auckland Council is what is really required.

But before the local body elections we are asking you to take part in the Annual Plan review.

In the Annual Plan 2016/17, the Waitematā Local Board will focus on a number of initiatives which we will be asking for your feedback on, including our plans to: • Increase capital investment in local parks and open spaces to enable the delivery of actions from the recently adopted park development plans for Pt Resolution Taurarua, Grey Lynn Park, and Western Park.

• Continue to make children and young people a priority and achieve UNICEF Child Friendly City accreditation.

• Support community-led development and place-making such as the open space design for 254 Ponsonby Rd. • Support initiatives from our new Low Carbon Plan, including plans to install a solar heating solution at Parnell Baths to extend the pools opening hours.

This is an important decisionmaking process to take part in so I encourage you all to get involved.

Discuss regional and local issues at the Have Your Say event at the Auckland Town Hall on March 3, 6-8pm, or provide feedback online at www.ShapeAuckland.co.nz.

There is much happening in the all-important transport space in Parnell that members of the Waitematā Local Board have been supporting.

A public meeting was held near the end of 2015 between Auckland Transport, NZTA, The Strand community and local Parnell businesses. We were there to support the efforts to guarantee a bus network change to introduce a circuit bus stop in The Strand area, currently a housing zone bereft of public transport options. Things went well, and we can expect to see the new option soon.

NZTA has now also proposed a pedestrian crossing on The Strand to align with Augustus Tce. NZTA has been reluctant until now to see this occur on their highway, so this shift will be welcomed by locals. As those who have tried crossing The Strand can agree, it is a very stressful experience. Also importantly, with the completion of the Auckland Transport Parking Strategy, plans are in place to roll out resident’s priority parking schemes in central city suburbs, including Parnell.

I hope that you’re enjoying the popular Jazz at the Auckland Domain Band Rotunda, which is now halfway through its eight week programme. Every Sunday between 1pm and 4pm, there is live jazz music played by a different group every week. We are very lucky to have this cultural attraction during our summer months and so I encourage readers to show their support.

— Shale Chambers, chair, Waitematā Local Board Above: Myself and deputy chair Pippa Coom at the site of the new Parnell Train Station

the hobson 20

¯ Local Board Orakei

2

016 has started with two very contentious issues. The first is the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP). Just prior to Christmas, Auckland Council released new maps and rules updating the Council position for intensification. Many Orākei ward ratepayers are upset, as many of these changes were not hinted at in either the draft Unitary Plan or the PAUP, which went out for consultation.

Large areas to the south of, and surrounding, Remuera village have been up-zoned to allow for more terraced housing and apartment buildings, while properties which had shown no previous up-zoning (almost a quarter of the single house zones on Remuera's northern side) have now been reclassified as mixed housing. The suburb of Orākei has also been significantly up-zoned — which is strange when bus routes were recently suggested to be reduced in this area by Auckland Transport.

Some people may like these changes, but because the new maps strangely disappeared from the Council website in January, significant variations were made to properties without consultation. And because feedback is only allowed to those who have previously submitted, I led our board to work with local residents’ associations to hold a well-attended ward-wide public meeting (see story, page 12).

The meeting helped our community understand what changes were made behind closed doors, the legality of these changes, and what residents could do to voice their opinion and influence the decision-makers. Please contact your local residents’ association or the Orākei Local Board office if you need an update.

The second issue is Council’s Annual Plan. Auckland Council (in all its parts) is required to have a collective plan in place that outlines prioritised activities and projects, intended service levels, and funding and financial policy information for the coming year. Consultation on the Draft Annual Plan for 2016/17 takes place between 15 February and 15 March, and is an opportunity for Aucklanders to contribute their ideas before decisions on project priorities and budgets are made.

Based on strong feedback from our community, the key issues that we are advocating can be found at www.aucklandcouncil. govt.nz/Orākei. One of the main projects is the Meadowbank Community Centre upgrade. This has not been fit for purpose since well before Auckland’s supercity amalgamation. Despite an increasing demand for the centre, funding for the muchneeded upgrade has been pushed back by the mayor and councillors to 2020/21 as part of Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). The Orākei Local Board continues to advocate to have the budget reinstated in 2016/17, as per the previous LTP. The proposal for a Purewa/Selwyn rail station (which has become even more feasible as growth is accommodated in newly-approved special housing areas in the St Johns/ Kohimarama area) also continues to be promoted for action this coming year. As well, local linkages to the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared pedestrian/cycleway — which began construction last year — and the development of further carparking at the eastern end of Shore Rd Reserve, along with the installation of an extra field.

The final Annual Plan public meeting will be held at 6.15pm on March 10 at the Orākei Community Centre on Kepa Rd. Please come and have your say.

— Desley Simpson, chair, Orākei Local Board

the plan

Unlocking The Jam

P

rime Minister John Key’s recent Auckland road and rail funding announcement could not have come soon enough.

Driving around the city these last few weeks made me feel that the Christmas traffic rush had not ended. Endless queues on the Southern motorway at all times of the day, and for no apparent reason, and near gridlock getting across the city, is motivation to consider better transport options.

The Government has set a timetable and committed the 50 per cent funding sought by Auckland Council to the City Rail Link (CRL) and the establishment of an East–West connection. The completion of these two projects cannot come soon enough – and even then, 2022 is six years away The CRL has long been advocated by mayor Len Brown. It involves an underground rail line linking Britomart and the city centre with the existing western rail near Mt Eden. A 3.4 km twin tunnel up to 42 metres below the city centre is proposed, adding three more rail stations and providing a loop meaning that Britomart, which is fast approaching capacity, is no longer a terminating station.

Couple this with the newly electrified trains and Parnell Rail Station — which has an expected opening date this July — and catching the train for THE HOBSON readers becomes a viable option in terms of being able to easily access the city and Mt Eden.

When a wide cross-section of the community see benefit in an idea like this, and the opposition’s only issue is it should have happened sooner, you know that the CRL as it is known will only make Auckland a better place to live and work.

The proposed East-West connection may not be as well known, but probably ranks in equal importance to the CRL. It is proposed to provide better links between Penrose and Onehunga. It’s primarily aimed at reducing the chronic congestion that currently hinders this route, and slows freight movement, restricting growth and development of this area. While many of us may not see this congestion in our daily travels, I would advise you to avoid Neilson St or Church St in Onehunga during business hours if you want to retain your sanity.

This project is not only limited to improving commerce opportunities. It is proposed to extend the existing cycleway, improving commuter travel flows into Onehunga. According to Auckland Transport the area between Onehunga, East Tamaki and the airport employs 130,000 people and generates more than $10 billion a year in GDP. Later this year the widening of parts of State Highway 20 is expected to commence, with the balance of construction expected to begin in 2018. This provides certainty for business in the area moving forward.

A WIN FOR THE TENNIS We have been working as the town planners for Auckland Tennis to achieve a resource consent for the redevelopment of the ASB Tennis Centre on Stanley St, which will bring tennis in Auckland into the 21st century. After two months of indepth consultation, and significant input from all parties we are pleased to announce that the resource consent for this project has been approved.

Hopefully the 2018 ATP and WTP tennis tournaments can be held in this new and modern facility, which will have a retractable roof so events are less influenced by the weather.

— Hamish Firth

the reps

PAUL GOLDSMITH

A

s 2016 begins I hope THE HOBSON readers have had a happy holiday season. It has been a calm and quiet period politically, which, looking around the world, is no bad thing. Kiwis have every reason to be confident that the overall direction of their country is positive.

I've written frequently in these columns about the need to respond to the challenges of growth in this booming city. Significant and sensible investment in infrastructure is required to keep us moving. Hence the investment in electric trains and the Waterview Connection, which will take so much airport traffic off the roads in Epsom.

So, naturally, I was very pleased with the announcement from the Prime Minister advancing work on two projects that will make a real difference to this part of the city.

First, the City Rail Link will stretch 3.4 km, with stops planned at Karangahape Rd and Aotea Square. It will connect Britomart and the existing line at Mt Eden. It will cut an estimated 17 minutes from the trip between Henderson and downtown Auckland; fundamentally it will enable the system to cope with rapidly growing rail patronage. As Auckland continues to grow I am sure a lot of development will cluster along the rail corridors, which will help with the overall efficiency of the city.

Second, the government also has plans to fast-track the consent process for the East-West connection. This will provide a link between the Southern motorway, around Mt Wellington, and the Southwest motorway around Mangere Bridge. The Neilson St area currently is a freight and traffic nightmare. When completed, the East-West connection will greatly improve airport access for the eastern suburbs.

Also dominating the news is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It will be New Zealand’s biggest Free Trade Agreement (FTA), giving our exporters much better access to more than 800 million customers in 11 countries across Asia and the Pacific. It’s our first FTA with the largest and third-largest economies in the world – the United States and Japan.

It will eliminate tariffs on 93 per cent of exports to our new FTA partners – the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico and Peru.

Successive NZ governments have worked hard to achieve this for 25 years, knowing it would help diversify and grow the economy. So it really is unthinkable that any responsible government would now walk away from the TPP. It will be positive for our country and for our future.

In uncertain economic times globally, New Zealand must grasp every opportunity. Bold investments in infrastructure, and our most significant trade agreement ever, provided such opportunity. I'm proud to be a member of a government that is laying the foundation for future growth. As always, it is a privilege to work for you.

Paul Goldsmith is a list MP based in Epsom and Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs

DAVID SEYMOUR

T

he Government began the year by capitulating to Auckland Council on the City Rail Link (CRL). John Key’s announcement changed little in substance; now, as then, an immense amount of detail remains to be negotiated between the Government and Council.

One of the details is how other infrastructure, particularly education, will be affected by the intensification that comes with the rail upgrade.

The Epsom electorate has quite a number of train stations, so the effects of the link will be felt strongly here, perhaps more so than anywhere. For those using trains it will be a significant advance.

The idea that the rail link will reduce road traffic congestion is highly questionable though, because surprisingly few people will use it in the greater scheme of things. The Government agreed to go ahead with funding when rail trips taken by Aucklanders reached 20 million per year. It was considered an ambitious target. However with 1.5 million people, 20 million trips could be taken by just 30,000 people who take two train trips every day. Of course, these numbers will grow with the new link, but the point is that the CRL is a drop in the ocean, rather than a silver bullet, for Auckland’s traffic problem.

The other side of the effect is that rail tends to work in highly dense places such as London, New York, and Tokyo.

The areas around stations will need to become denser, and large apartment developments are already planned near Grafton and Mt Eden stations.

These matter in a context where schools with zones — practically all schools in the Epsom electorate — are already highly stretched. The large high schools in particular are under some pressure to absorb increasing rolls. The Grammar community, for instance, has just raised two thirds of the cost of a new classroom block (the taxpayer paid for the other third) and EGGS has had to raise more funds than any other school in the country.

For my part, I am acutely aware of the value Epsom electorate residents place upon education. Many people live here to access their school of choice, and have often paid a premium on property in order to do so. I have approached the Prime Minister and Minister for Education, making the case that if the government is going to fund half of the $2.5 billion rail link, they must consider the effects on education in the area too. It doesn’t appear that Council has thought this through. When they briefed me last year, they appeared not to have considered education infrastructure at all.

As always, I’m keen to hear your views. You can contact me at my office at 27 Gillies Ave, at 522 7464, or via davidseymour. epsom@parliament.govt.nz David Seymour is the MP for Epsom.

Come and see how a St Cuthbert’s education can open a world of opportunities for your daughter.

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN at 122 Market Road, Epsom Saturday 19 March, 12.00 - 3.00pm REGISTER ONLINE AT STCUTHBERTS.SCHOOL.NZ

Dr Paul JM Salmon BhB MBChB FRACP FACMS AFFILIATED SOUTHERN CROSS PROVIDER

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PAUL GOLDSMITH NATIONAL LIST MP BASED IN EPSOM

107 Great South Road, Greenlane PO Box 26 153 Epsom, Auckland 1344 P: 09 524 4930 E: paul.goldsmith@parliament.govt.nz W: www.paulgoldsmith.co.nz facebook.com/PaulGoldsmithNZ Funded by Parliamentary Service and authorised by Paul Goldsmith 107 Great South Rd Auckland

www.national.org.nz

Suburbs Are Urban Places, Too

S

uburbs have always had a bad rap. Often the subject of the urban sneer, they are seen as lesser, boring, empty and unsophisticated. In the early throes of modernism, a declaration of the International Congress of Modern Architecture in 1933 said that the suburb is “a kind of scum churning against the walls of the city” and “one of the greatest evils of the century”.Thus marked the birth of urban snobbery.

It wasn’t always so. Some say the suburbs are as old as – if not the hills – then at least the cities that nestled into them. Cities have always had edges and people have always lived there. Over time, the proportion of people dwelling outside the city centre has risen and fallen, largely on the tides of economics. If we’re being realistic, most of the world is urban and most of the urban dwellers live in suburbs or some form of them. So why are we so scathing of a condition most of us find ourselves in?

A new book edited by Laura Vaughan, Suburban Urbanities: Suburbs and the Life of the High Street, suggests that suburbs have complex urban qualities, but they are poorly understood.

Traditional research has usually separated suburbs out from cities and explored them as some kind of blurry, unfocussed melange far from the specificity of the centre – although where this line is drawn is often at the convenience of the writer. This new book attempts to consider both together – the suburb and the city – and finds much in common, making a case for suburban urbanity.

We should not overlook the value of metropolitan suburban centres, which can exist in a variety of scales. If we consider that many commuters might eat their lunch downtown but their dinner in their local suburban centre, perhaps we could pay closer attention to the people and what hey want, rather than where they happen to live. There are, too, many urban type activities that sometimes exist more easily outside the city centre than within: people working from home, start-up businesses selling on the internet, weekly markets, informal labour, and so on, as well as the similarly diverse range of leisure activities that take place outside of the home.

If we are to understand the place of suburbs better, perhaps we should look no further that China, where they are the fastest growing housing model. If there’s a “Chinese Dream,” it can be found on the fast-growing outskirts of Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities.

As of the 2010 census, the vast majority of Shanghai’s population lived in suburban areas. Between 2000 and 2010, suburban areas grew by 50 per cent or more, compared to the city’s central districts, which grew slower or in some cases even shrank. This has been a consequence of the meteoric rise of the middle class, defined nationally as earning on average NZ $48,000 (about 3.5 times what the working classes earn). As China grows ever more urban, villages are left behind. The migrants seeking a better life head to the cities, but stop at the edge at the many new settlements that dot the edges, where life is more affordable than at the city centres.

As our city grows and changes, afloat on a roiling sea of rising house prices, Central Rail Loops, diversifying populations and Unitary Plans, we would do well to remind ourselves that the issues we face are no different from those faced by thousands of urban centres worldwide. We can look to these places to learn from their solutions, but we should also take a moment to look at what we already have, our suburbs, and how they developed.

— Tommy Honey

the investment

The Projects we Need, and how to Fund Them

J

ust as I sat down at my desk to write this month’s piece – I’d chosen the exciting topic “Five Risks to Financial Markets for 2016” – I was distracted by something I saw on the NZ Herald website. A release from the National government entitled “Backing Auckland to Succeed”. Take that Phil Goff! Upon reading this release and the Herald’s report on the government’s coming infrastructure spend-up, my chosen topic was quickly unchosen and binned (though perhaps it might be re-chosen at a later date).

The key (ha ha) components of the government’s announcement are to commit and bring forward its funding for the Central Rail Loop (CRL), and fast-track consenting and commencement of a motorway to connect the existing SH1 and SH20 motorways in south Auckland, a spend of about $1 billion and $1.85 billion respectively. That’s great, even if you don’t think we need the CRL, but why stop there? We all know Auckland needs a whole lot more infrastructure to make it “the world’s most liveable city”.

Here’s what I’d be pushing for in Auckland to get the city moving and living better: 1. Fast-track, and I mean properly fast-track, 50,000 – 100,000 new houses, which we immediately need to meet both the current shortfall and near-term demand (recall my comments in THE HOBSON in June about the pressures on Auckland housing from immigration into the city, both foreign and domestic) as well as natural growth. And don’t tell me there’s no room for more housing, so we need lots of apartments in the city near these new train stations. There is so much land three kilometres either side of the motorway from Albany to Orewa, as well as the opportunity from more efficient use of existing state housing holdings around Auckland.

2. Continue motorway improvements including another harbour crossing. Another lane all the way up to Orewa and beyond to connect with the new Puhoi – Wellsford Extension will certainly ease current congestion, as well as facilitate more

housing development needed along the way, like we are seeing at Millwater Silverdale.

3. Rail access to Auckland Airport. Passenger numbers are only going to increase, as will freight volumes. Getting as much airport-related traffic as possible off the roads can only be a good thing, notwithstanding the improvements to come from the abovementioned East-West link.

4. Develop ferry commuter services from the East Coast Bays suburbs including Takapuna, Browns Bay etc. There is no reason terminals cannot be built to enable ferries to carry commuters (note: feeding into the expanding Britomart terminal and CRL) in all weather and sea conditions. If you can ferry across the English Channel, the Waitematā and inner Gulf must be achievable.

5. Build a power station dedicated to Auckland city. We’re going to need a lot more electricity for projected population growth, as well as the motor vehicle fleet switches from combustion engines to electric power. Relying on South Island hydro, as good as that is, won’t be sufficient. I’ll leave you to figure out what type of generation I recommend for this new power station!

6. And while we’re at it why can’t we get the government to throw in a retracting roof for the ASB Tennis Centre in Stanley St? (editor’s note — see The Plan, page 21) And paying for all this will be a lot easier than you think and I’ve said it before: SELL THE PORTS OF AUCKLAND! Selling to Port of Tauranga (POT) on the basis that it winds down the Auckland operations over the following 10 years is a no-brainer.

POT would phase freight out of Auckland and in to both Tauranga and Northland. This would not only free-up Auckland motorway capacity, but also facilitate the much needed rail upgrade between Auckland and Northland. Easy! — Warren Couillault

OPEN MINDS

OPEN HEARTS

OPEN

DAY

PresCHOOL

the hobson 25

the party

A Marquee Event A fundraiser in Omaha saw holidaymakers rock up in support of surf life saving

D

espite lashing rain leading up to the event, the sun finally prevailed and all was bathed in late-afternoon light when guests began arriving for the inaugural “Omaha in White” party. Organised by Megan Baker-Smith as a fundraiser for the Omaha Surf Life Saving Club, the ticketed night drew holidaymakers and residents from Omaha, Matakana, Point Wells, Leigh and bays inbetween. The Selles family lent their ocean-side section, other neighbours provided power and water, Baker-Smith organised the marquee, the music and a thousand other things. And as the rain clouds hovered, her husband, Tim Smith, nobly dug a trench right around the tent, just in case. Guests dressed in white brought themed table decorations, picnic dinners and enthusiasm for both the cause, and Shane Cortese and The 8 Track Band. A healthy $6000 was raised towards the purchase of a Laerdal QCPR dummy for the surf club’s CPR training. Once dinner was done, just about everyone hit the dance floor, singing as they danced to Kiwi and Australian classics. The most fitting song, and the one belted out by the crowd with the most gusto? Dragon’s “Rain”.

the hobson 26

Clockwise from right: Sarah Hassett, Ant Hassett, Roger Wall; Kerry George, Ric Last, Kiri Last; Katy Hunter, Danvers Devereux, Wendy Hart, Richard Hart; hosts Tim Smith and Megan Baker-Smith; Alan Perkinson and Marnie Oberer; Shane Cortese and The 8 Track Band in "Gutter Black" action; boys on shore leave, from left, Chris Rogers, Julian Ostling, David Hall; the party scene at dusk; Kiri Last, Sarah George, Sarah Hassett; table decorations inside the tent reflected the theme and ocean-side setting; First Order Stormtrooper (Craig Spillane) and Princess Leia (Rachel Spillane).

the hobson 27

Fe Th at is ur m e P on ro th’ pe s rt y

Simply Matching Pe

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If you’re looking for the feeling of a larger character home, without the extra spaces you ‘don’t require’, then this is it. A perfect ‘lock up and leave’ but with wonderful, north-west facing, outdoor living and privacy.

Floor Area: Land Area:

Situated just near the Benson Road shops the position is one of convenience and growing popularity.

Viewing by appointment at a time to suit you

The main floor features a lovely entrance hall, staircase, interconnecting living rooms, open-plan kitchen, a full bathroom plus bedroom or study area.

On the top floor is the master bedroom and ensuite, another bedroom plus family bathroom. The garage level has two additional living areas that could be used as a theatre room, hobbies area or great storage.

211m² 1/2 sh 690m²

3

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The kind of house that once viewed, you will just want to move in.

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

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Our Register of Remuera buyers, and their needs, means that we can directly match them to properties that we list. The result is quite often an almost immediate sale.

Little need for expensive marketing campaigns

We sell the majority of properties within the first week of listing. This is often the result of having the ‘right’ buyer already on our Register; the majority of sales have been to local buyers; the majority of sales have been for record prices in their respective areas and across the spectrum of price categories.

We prefer to sell by price

We take responsibility for setting a property’s value - we agree values and selling prices with our vendors, and price properties accordingly. This makes it easier for buyers. They know from the beginning whether a house is within their budget. The majority of our sales have been for the agreed asking price, or close to it.

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the hobson + remuera live life local

A Bundraising Business Chun Chung and his Bakers Delight Remuera team are committed to the local community

T

he team at Remuera’s Bakers Delight don’t loaf around when it comes to providing for the community. Such is his passion and commitment, owner Chun Chung says his door is “always open for more approaches”, even though he already provides free baked goodies to area schools, community clubs and kindys for sausage sizzles and fund-raising.

Chun, what’s behind the huge amount of support you give?

One of my personal mantras is “consistency”; in our service standards, our products . . . and in what we do. We’re really proud of our involvement with local groups, and have been there for them since we opened 11 years ago.

What’s your background – are you a baker?

As much as I’d like to take credit for our wonderful breads, I have amazing bakers who look after that part of the business for me. I was previously an accountant, although I’ve done stints in all areas of the bakery. Now I’m strictly management!

How many bakers do you have on site?

We have five bakers, and around 15 staff overall. Our parttime staff are mainly local kids, working weekends or after school. I’m fortunate to have great staff – we get a lot of compliments from our regulars about the service.

What happens to the leftover bread?

We bake fresh daily, so all leftovers go to charities like local churches or the Auckland City Mission. We have really strong social and environmental values, and it’s a tremendous feeling to be able to help in this way.

Do you live locally?

Yes, I’ve lived in Remuera for around eight years now, and my kids have all grown up here.

Do the kids show any interest in the business?

In the food? Yes! Not so much the business, as they are probably a bit young for that, although my oldest does come in and sweep the floor occasionally.

Easter is around the corner. Does that mean you’re baking hundreds of hot cross buns?

Thousands! Hot cross buns are one of our biggest sellers, with the traditional bun beating out the chocolate version by a whisker.

What’s your favourite product?

The plain old fresh white block. Toasted with butter and peanut butter – you can’t go wrong.

What’s a favourite with Remuera people?

Cheeseymites are always popular, as are the custard and apple scrolls. Bread-wise, it’s the hi-fibre, low GI, white block. Anything that keeps the kids fuller for longer is bound to be popular!

support starship this easter the annual Bakers Delight Bundraiser is on March 5. For every pack of hot cross buns sold, $1 will be donated to the Starship Foundation.

Owner Chun Chung in his Bakers Delight Remuera store. Interviews by Fiona Wilson, photos by Vanita Andrews the hobson 30

live life local

Pick of the Bunch The Wild Bunch’s flower-filled space showcases the creativity of florist Jo Mann

I

t’s turned into a very good thing that Jo Mann found herself in a floristry holiday job some 25 years ago.

Originally a time-filler between leaving school and starting university, that casual job blossomed into a career that has seen her work and study with talented master florists, both in New Zealand and in Europe. She has owned Remuera’s The Wild Bunch for 16 years.

Where does your creativity and inspiration come from?

I’m lucky enough to come from an artistic background. My father has always painted, and mum was a florist, who at 80 still tends an acre of garden! I love the excitement of working on something from design stage through to installation, and I get inspiration from everywhere; from the products that come through the store, from flowers and nature, from fashion and design.

What are some of the memorable projects you have done?

There have been a few! I’ve created a fresh flower monkey for the 2016 Year of the Monkey celebrations, I’ve decorated cars and created hanging gardens, designed a horse with fresh leaves and a floral harness, and just last week decorated a wedding with 20 metres of fresh flower garlands.

Have you seen many changes in floristry over the years?

Absolutely. Floristry is like the fashion industry where trends come and go with the seasons. Currently the loose, just-picked look, full of glorious foliage and florals, is huge.

Garden flowers are always very popular: roses, foxgloves, delphiniums, hydrangeas . . . even gypsophila is back.

Who do you work with in your shop?

I am lucky to have a fabulous team. We really enjoy sharing our love of flowers and design ideas with each other and our customers.

What do you like about working in Remuera?

The friendly village vibe – you can’t walk down the street without greeting or chatting to someone. When my son was born a few years ago, a few of my lovely customers used to come and walk him in his stroller while I worked, and others brought in home-baked goodies for morning tea. There is definitely a true family feel to Remuera.

What do you enjoy most about a typical day?

Each day can be so different! You can one minute be purchasing fresh product on the auction floor, then the next be up a ladder suspending a floral chandelier.

Finally, what’s your favourite flower?

Hmm, I could answer this seasonally, or by colour, but I really can’t thin it down to just one flower! Perhaps the perfume of a bloom might just be my favourite thing.

SPECIAL READER OFFER Order a bouquet or posy of fresh flowers online*, apply the coupon FREEVASE at checkout, and they will be presented in a complimentary glass vase. *Online only (for delivery or instore collection), one per purchase, limited number availABLE. www.thewildbunch.co.nz

The Wild Bunch owner/creative director Jo Mann with a fragrant armful of flowers the hobson 31

“I wouldn’t be doing this without a door opening”, says Desley Simpson of seeking nomination as the Orākei ward councillor, the seat presently held by Cameron Brewer.

the hobson 32

the candidates

The

Plan for Orākei Local body elections in October will reshape Auckland Council. There will definitely be a new mayor, and a likely change of other faces around the 21 seats in the council chamber. The Orākei ward’s councillor, Cameron Brewer, and chair of the Orākei Local Board, Desley Simpson, show their hand to THE HOBSON editor, Kirsty Cameron.

A

s political manoeuvring goes, this play has been conducted on the best possible terms, according to the protagonists. The one who’s planning to take the other one’s seat at the Auckland Council table is at this moment offering him a plate of club sandwiches and the last of the Christmas cake in her Orākei living room. The mood is as calm as the environment itself — a room of velvetcovered chairs, embroidered cushions, roses in a vase.

Cameron Brewer, the councillor in question, accepts the plate and glass of sparkling water. It’s not a poisoned chalice.

Over the past year, Brewer, the Orākei ward councillor, and Desley Simpson, owner of this living room and chair of the Orākei Local Board, have come to an understanding.

Early this month, they will publicly and formally announce their plans. After two terms, Brewer is to step down from Council. And after two terms of chairing the OLB and a term on the old Hobson Community Board before that, Simpson will seek selection on a C&R ticket as Orākei’s councillor when nominations open in July.

“This was something that Cameron decided was right for him,” says Simpson of the timing. “So when Cameron intimated, hinted; and then went from a hint, to a “don’t tell anybody, but . . .” And so it was settled, without any blood spilt on the polished floorboards. Brewer will not seek re-election, and at his suggestion, and if all goes to plan, Simpson will step up from community board to the governing body.

It’s a progression for Simpson, who has the admiration of those on the other side of the political table for the work she’s done to this point. More on that coming up. But first, why now for Brewer? At 43, he’s still a young man in political terms. The answer lies between current mayor Len Brown and the Prime Minister, John Key. Brewer recently moved from Ellerslie to Helensville, with wife Kate and toddler son (they have another baby due in July, and he also has a 10-yearold daughter from his first marriage).

Helensville is the electorate held by the PM. Whom, the

pundits predict, is likely to retire from politics after the 2017 election. It doesn’t take a psephologist to analyse Brewer’s intentions.

In 2013, the second election of the super city, Brewer was elected unopposed (even with strong National Party ties, he ran in 2010 and 2013 as an independent after a selection stoush with C&R). He had $3000 of newly-delivered signage in his garage when he got the call from the returning officer to say he was it, no-one else had nominated. That was disappointing, he says, not just for the $3000, but because he wanted to go back with a strong majority, a mandate to continue as an opposition voice on the Labour-dominated governing body.

As it turned out, Len Brown’s personal self-implosion scuppered that in any case — Brewer didn’t need to be kicking at an open door. In the second term too, Brewer says management got cannier when answering his media-cat nip requests for how public money was being spent when it came to administration costs. “The organisation blocks me at every level.

“Now, they won’t give me anything. I can’t get any costs. I get a press release saying, “Oh, if you want this information, you’ll have to find $5000 to fund it”. Or, “It’s beyond our resources and here’s our policy, and as you can see, we’ve dropped our budget by 10 per cent, so what are you worried about?”

“So my ability to go out and inform constituents about what’s really happening has been blocked, and for me, that’s probably the greatest disappointment with this administration currently.”

And, he doesn’t want to be cast as the eternally grumpy guy, morphing from “Mr Positive” in his high-visibility preCouncil role as CEO of the Newmarket Business Association, to “Mr Negative,” the noisy opposition voice. And while he “might not have secured as much money and investment for the Orākei ward as we all would’ve liked, I reckon my actions and exposure on costs has made for a more disciplined

Opposite: Simpson and Brewer photographed at Simpson’s Orākei home for THE HOBSON by Stephen Penny

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the candidates Council and saved ratepayers in the long run.”

“I take pride that I haven’t been political wallpaper. People either love me or hate me. I get ratepayers ringing me from all over the region because they believe I might be able to help.”

Post-election, Brewer will be full-time in his public relations consultancy — a business partnership with Carrick Graham and Ricardo Simich ended almost as soon as it began — and we assume, waiting for the PM to retire as the member for Helensville.

At the time of writing, Simpson will stand for Council as a C&R candidate. C&R has legacy in the ward, and the new National Party-backed Auckland Future ticket is expected to leave well enough alone. Simpson is, she says, hopeful that Auckland Future will put together a team of candidates across the region, for the reasons of majority of like-minds in Council, and she’s not ruling out a closer association before nominations close in July.

If Auckland Future is to extend a hand to Simpson, it may have to hold an olive branch. In Metro magazine’s January/February issue, editor-at-large Simon Wilson wrote a detailed feature on National’s intended plans for control of Auckland Council, via Auckland Future, rather than the traditional C&R (once Citizens

realise that it wasn’t going to be [sports fields and park land]; it was going to be intensive housing.”

But there’s a list that rankles too for Simpson, most of it around the lack of investment into the ward, which covers 10 suburbs — Orākei, Remuera, Meadowbank, Stonefields, Ellerslie, St Johns, Glendowie, Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St Heliers — and which she’s memorably dubbed “Auckland’s EFTPOS”. Two examples of the lack of funding — the Meadowbank Community Centre renewal, which has dragged on and on; and action on the improvements flagged in the OLB’s Tamaki Drive master plan.

“There has been no significant investment in the highest residential rate-paying ward that not only pays the most but also has facilities with it — for example, Tamaki Drive and our beaches — that are used by all of Auckland. There has been absolutely minimal investment in this ward, and that’s not right.

“I absolutely believe there should be investment in growth areas, and of course we have to look at the city as a whole. But absolutely, as far as this community is concerned, one of my aims is to make sure there is a greater investment back. That’s not Cameron’s problem, or fault.”

“We need to find the 12 disciples, or the dirty dozen, or whatever you'd like to call it ... who share some common values” and Ratepayers, now Communities and Residents or just C&R).

Auckland Future is organised by former party presidents Michelle Boag and Sue Wood, and in the article, Boag was quoted as being underwhelmed by Simpson’s ability to lead a centreright grouping in Council, which has been floated as a potential role for her, should she win in October. “She’s a chair of a local board,” Boag said. “It’s a big step up. I know she’s very ambitious, but I don’t really think she’s a leader”.

Simpson really doesn’t want to respond to this comment, but does allow herself to say that yes, it is a big step up, and that Boag generally only sees her in social situations, many of them National fundraising events, where she’s usually attending in support of her husband, party chair Peter Goodfellow. So it’s an ex-president’s poke at the current one, via his wife? She won’t discuss it further, and steers the conversation away.

A more positive assessment of Simpson in the Metro story came from the deputy mayor, Team Brown’s Penny Hulse, who likes Simpson. “Don’t underestimate her,” she told Wilson. “She works like a Trojan and she is not a puppet.”

For the $79,300 remuneration attached to the OLB chair, Simpson has given conscientious return on investment. She has high visibility, is an adroit networker and can achieve consensus when she needs to — she organised and fronted a successful delegation of local boards to Council over the former Auckland city wards being left with the legacy of user-pays sports fields, while sports clubs in the Waitākere and Rodney areas had no such imposts.

She can tick off things she’s pleased have happened on her — and Brewer’s — watch. Getting Council to acquire Colin Maiden Park from the University of Auckland and retain it as a public asset is one.

“I think that’s one of the biggest highlights, if not the greatest,” Brewer chips in. “I said I was happy to support that, but you guys”— indicating Simpson —“led that. That is a project that Desley and her team can take pride in for the rest of their lives, because it's one that will be held in perpetuity. And anyone who doubts it needs to

Cameron: “It’s not?”

Simpson laughs. “It’s a problem, but not his fault. The problem is the makeup of the councillors and the mayor. What I think needs to happen in the future is we need to find, you know, the 12 disciples or the dirty dozen, whatever you’d like to call it, that core group of 12 people who share some common values.”

In other words, a majority of centre-right-leaning representatives in the 21 seats (the mayor plus 20 councillors), who can be counted on to work together when needed. “We just need people who will make good regional decisions that stick to core Council business.”

Simpson has forged strategic alliances before — with her at the table for the sports fields fees was Shale Chambers, chair of the City Vision/Labour/Greens Waitematā Local Board.

Simpson will continue to lead the OLB until the election — she is not standing for re-election in that role — and she’s keen to leave it in safe hands. At this point she doesn’t know how many of the board’s other seven members will seek another term. Many are veterans and may wish to step back. One of the younger members and one her deputies (she brought in a revolving deputy role), Mark Thomas, is already out on the hustings as a mayoral candidate.

“I believe that a good captain doesn’t walk away from the ship,” she says of her board role. “A good captain looks to somebody else to be the next captain, whether it’s just guiding, or whether it’s completely giving direction.

“I want to then be able to go to my community and say, “Look, I'm not going to be here next time, so I’m looking for people who may be interested. Come and talk to me, because I will have no skin in the game; hopefully!” I really want to talk to people honestly, and truthfully, about what’s involved.”

So, from board, to council, to where next, Ms Simpson?

“One step at a time, one step at a time!”

For further information about the work of the Orākei Local Board and the upcoming election, call the board office on 521 7021 or visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/orākei

the hobson 34

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the creative

the hobson 36

The Artist's Way Remuera’s White Night of art and performance promises to be a stand-out event, thanks to the passion of curator Jillian de Beer. By Penny Lewis

T

he city-wide White Night free art event will return this year, on Saturday March 12, as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. Previously held biannually, its popularity has upped it to an annual night of visual art, performance and interactive works.

Arts strategist and consultant Jillian de Beer has curated all three of Remuera’s previous White Night evenings, after completing an arts plan for the suburb several years ago.

She strives for each White Night showcase to be different from the last, so don’t expect to see anything you may have encountered previously. This year, a highlight will be an installation in Remuera by acclaimed Polish street artist NeSpoon, who is making her first visit to New Zealand.

Many of NeSpoon’s works, made in clay or painted on walls, reflect traditional handmade lace particular to a region. She’s sought after for festivals and public art events globally. What she will execute in Remuera is unlikely to be revealed until the night — as with the other artists and performers participating, part of the experience is the sense of discovery for visitors.

De Beer, who lives in Parnell with her husband, historian Rendell McIntosh, spoke to THE HOBSON about art, gymnastics and the bold vision her childhood instilled.

Let’s start at the beginning. Where did you grow up?

In the mountains near Mt Hutt. We farmed sheep, and crop farming was on the flat land that stretched from the south bank of the Rakaia Gorge. Our family holidays extended to the lakes and the Mackenzie Country beyond Lake Tekapo.

The landscape shaped my thinking . . . from high altitude, you can look out across the plains towards South America.

You see the sea which joins with the sky, and your thinking is borderless. There are no objects or constructs other than nature itself. The environment shapes one’s sensitivity to form, texture and colour.

Can you remember when art made an impact on you?

My mother would draw for me — she had a fine arts degree from the University of Canterbury. She would create

beautiful sketches of horses, and draw portraits. I was so inspired that I began to draw at a very early age. When I was 13, my sister gave me a book on Michelangelo. I read it cover to cover and it changed the way I thought about art, science and my life.

How old were you when you left Mt Hutt, and where did you go?

When I was no more than six, I watched a TV programme on the Olympics. I remarked that I would one day represent New Zealand. It was a spontaneous comment, and a vision.

A year later I was hand-picked by a talent scout who formed a national training squad to take New Zealand gymnastics international. One of our coaches was Peter Chen, the father of lawyer Mai Chen. I attended training camps and competitions overseas, and I loved it. I became Australian Girls’ Champion at the age of 15. I trained each day, all day, and learned to suppress pain and tiredness under really strict coaches.

That’s extraordinary. Where did gymnastics take you?

A highlight was the 1970 World Championships in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. The World Championships are a lot bigger within the sport than the Olympics. For me, getting to train in Russia, Czechoslovakia and USA – with and alongside the great champions at that time – was transformational.

They were masters of precision, excellence and beauty.

By the time I was 16, I’d travelled to more than 80 countries. School study inbetween overseas trips was kept up-to-date through speed reading. Our training squad of six girls became like family.

How did you come to the career you have now?

I grew up in an immensely creative and culturally rich environment — there was a great appreciation for nature, making and innovating. When I came back to New Zealand [De Beer lived in Greece for several years, teaching English and then working in administration for the Greek National Ballet], I became involved in export and working in knowledge-intensive businesses. I was at Ernst & Young

Opposite: Jillian de Beer in front of one of her favourite neighbourhood public works of art, Terry Stringer's "Mountain Fountain" on the forecourt at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell. Photo by Stephen Penny

the hobson 37

the creative for seven years, before establishing my own business. Some of the very early work involved highly creative projects around organisational and community leadership, and change.

So you also work in the area of change management, as well as arts and culture?

My work is in the field of transformation and change — working with people, organisations and communities to be resilient, and realise aspirations and goals in our rapidly-changing environment.

In 2008 I was invited to join the IncrediblEurope innovation forum, with great innovators of change. It was transformational — it took me to many of the great art fairs in Europe and to areas of great political change and survival in eastern Europe. I’ve developed a deep interest in ethnography and the stories told by indigenous peoples. I am very interested in what people make, and the generational stories that are shared through that.

Back home, what do you enjoy most about living in this neighbourhood?

I love being near the water and looking out to our beautiful natural harbour. We have a great neighbourhood, and there are interesting walks through beautiful parks and gardens.

What about your favourite places to eat and drink?

My cousin’s house – she should have been a chef! La Cigale

French Market, because it provides a strong sense of place and community. Browns Eatery in Remuera, it’s a very nice place with great service. In Dunedin, Vogel Street Kitchen and Pequeno Bar – coffee in amazingly creative spaces, inside reclaimed and retrofitted heritage buildings with great street art! I also like Waiheke vineyards with a view of the sea – you know you are in the Pacific, and Mangere Bridge village – great coffee in a beautiful country setting on the edge of the city, where people really enjoy life.

Besides art, what other passions do you have?

Emerging technologies, innovation, and the cross-over of art and science. Design with purpose, furniture design, interior colours and textures, contemporary jewellery, photography, classic cars!

The transformation of cities and towns, and developing strategy to enhance and realise business and cultural aspirations while protecting authenticity, relevance and meaning.

Thank you, Jillian.

The White Night festival, which originated in Paris in 2002, will be held across 20 venues in Auckland (including Remuera and Parnell) between 6pm and midnight on Saturday March 12. Free buses will travel between the precincts. For further information, visit the Auckland Arts Festival site, aucklandartsfestival.co.nz

Polish artist NeSpoon will create a work in Remuera for White Night. Her work beautifies, and honours history — the design on this building, in the old city of Fundao, Portugal, references the style of lace typical to the region. “It’s as though the lace is a form of protection too”, says de Beer of this installation. Image courtesy of the artist.

the hobson 38

the portfolio

I

ntroducing “The Portfolio”, a new feature highlighting some of the extraordinary work of student artists at our local schools. These paintings and drawing are by Jaime Scott, above, who produced them last year as a Year 13 student at St Cuthbert’s College. “I really started to see links between the lifestyle of celebrities today and the subjects of famous paintings in art history”, she says of her pop-culture inspired subjects.

“They lived really extravagant lives with lots of opulence. I started to think, “who would these painters be painting if they were alive today”?”

(The Miley Cyrus work, above, is based on Fragonard’s The Swing, while the Kardashian-West family, right, references Holbein’s Darmstadt Madonna).

A recipient of the Auckland Art Gallery’s Pat Hanly award for students who demonstrate outstanding commitment and passion for visual arts and community awareness, Jaime was also awarded a design scholarship to AUT, where she is now studying.

Images courtesy of Jaime Scott

the hobson 39

the second act

Out of our Holiday Comfort Zone

A

hhh, the great NZ summer holiday, when literally thousands of us leave town at precisely the same time, on the same day, to venture to the beach, = bach or a combination thereof.

You know the drill — squeezing too much stuff you don’t need into the car, obsessively checking to make sure the phone charger has been packed, shoe-horning in ridiculous amounts of wine in the gaps under the seats, and lastly the kids and dog squeezed into allotted spots.

The trouble with these so-called family summer holidays is that they are somewhat exhausting. There’s not only the packing and getting there drama, but as much pleasure as there is derived from watching the kids surf and frolic, there is the continual catering, fish-filleting and boat cleaning to deal with. Don’t get me wrong.

I love spending time with the kids. But just when I was enjoying more relaxation time on our bach holidays as the kids became more independent, they suddenly started not wanting to be where we were, mumbling words like “Whangamata” and “The Mount” (which we duly ignored).

So this holiday just gone, we went and tried a completely different take on the family holiday. Yes, it’s happened. It appears we have moved into the “cruise lifestage”.

There was a time where the idea of being trapped on a boat for two weeks with my closest blood relatives (“Man overboard . . .”) would have left me cold. Aside from the risk of magnifying the irritating habits of the nearest and dearest, I imagined ghastly smorgasbords, other people’s screaming kids, and tasteless décor.

But clearly there comes a time in a girl’s life where surrendering to a four-star cruise has a certain appeal, provided the screaming kids factor is low, the food quality high and the ship large enough to deal with various big personalities amongst our lot — we need space.

So on a warm evening in mid-December, as Auckland’s arteries clogged up with stressed-out executives on their way to late night shopping or obligatory drinks parties, the Diamond Princess sailed out of the Waitematā Harbour with my husband and I aboard, sipping martinis, bound for two weeks across the Tasman and back

around our fair country. Oh yes, along with our kids and many others from our clan.

Amongst our large Christmas cruise contingent was one poppa, two sisters, three nephews and probably a partridge in a pear tree. For all of us it became a Christmas to remember — the fourcourse meal laid on, no last minute shopping, or dishes, prep or cleaning up. And après the Christmas feast, a choice of luxurious places to snooze, including your luxury cabin. What’s there not to hanker for when one is safe in the knowledge that everyone, from your 88-year-old dad (listening to jazz piano in the Atrium) to the 15-year-old son (in a spa pool surrounded by teenage girls) is having the best Christmas holiday, ever?

While we all did our fair share of lounging around, it seemed rude not to dabble in the activities on offer. One sister became addicted to bingo, the other drawn to the library and lectures. A brotherin-law was mad keen on the Japanese bathhouse, and our young scattered into various swimming pools. My husband and I decided to surrender to the whole experience and try whatever we fancied.

One afternoon, after our couples massage, I went to see the face reader, while he joined a ukulele band, before becoming victorious with my brother-in-law in the gingerbread house competition with a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired entry. We met up later at Latin American dance hour, had dinner with the clan, and sang a bit of karaoke before doing the Beatles quiz with our daughter. And so it went.

What a unique way for family in their first, second and possibly third acts to collectively experience NZ at holiday season. One morning at dawn, we all gathered on a balcony — we were amazed that the young people were awake — to watch as we approached the South Island. As the west coast breathtakingly stretched out to our left, and Fiordland towered ahead, our usually hard-to-impress daughter sidled up to me and whispered, “Wow . . . makes me kind of proud to be a New Zealander”. Indeed, there is something to be said for getting a new perspective on an old setting.

— Sandy Burgham

the hobson 40

the hobson + lumino

Love the Gums you're with Periodontal (gum) disease is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. However, this does not have to happen with the preventative benefits of regular dental hygienist visits. This is why the dental hygienist has become such an integral member of the modern dental practice

5 Things to know about Dental Hygiene 1. DIY doesn’t work You can’t clean and scale your teeth to the standard that the trained hygienist can. It is easy to miss difficult to reach areas, typically those hard to get places between your teeth.

Also the hygienist has access to a number of different scaling and root planning tools, as well as diagnostic tools that we don’t have in our bathrooms at home. Even with the best intentions, build-up of plaque takes place in a very short amount of time.

2. The mildest gum disease (gingivitis) is reversible with hygiene treatments Gum disease is when your gums become infected; this is indicated by red, swollen or puffy and even bleeding gums. Gum disease is the precursor to periodontitis so it is best to treat it at an early stage. The dental hygienist will spot the early warning signs of gum disease, which may be invisible to you as the patient. With the hygienist’s treatment and your dental home care, you can reverse the damage.

3. One size does not fit all For the average person, two hygiene visits per year is recommended.

Some of our ‘at risk’ patients have up to four hygiene appointments per year. On the flip-side, some people with great home care habits and no other risk factors need less than two appointments per year. A small proportion of patients will also require extensive deep root planning for their comprehensive hygiene programme.

4. Regular hygiene appointments help prevent the onset of other medical conditions Good oral hygiene and oral health can improve your overall health, reducing the risk of serious disease.

The phrase “healthy mouth, healthy you” really is true – and is backed by growing scientific evidence.

Research shows that there is a clear link between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease risk, with increased risk of stroke and heart attack.

5. Regular hygienist visits can’t replace the need for a full dental exam carried out by your dentist Prevention is easier and less expensive than cure, so regular visits to a hygienist means long-term problems could be avoided, thus reducing the overall cost of your dentistry.

However, this does not replace the need for your regular comprehensive examination with your dentist, which includes x-rays and other diagnostic assessments.

Here are some questions to ask when making a dental hygiene appointment:

• Ask if the clinician treating you is a

qualified hygienist.

Ask what other checks will take place at the appointment – such as diagnostic x-rays, oral cancer checks and periodontal charting.

You will find that the cost of the hygiene treatment is proportional to how comprehensive your appointment is.

Ask what sterilisation protocols are in place at the practice and ask if they can show evidence that this training has taken place.

Ask if there is the opportunity to have back-to-back appointments – that is, a full exam with the dentist followed by the hygiene appointment.

•

If you haven’t been before, don’t be surprised if the practice can’t tell you over the phone exactly how long your hygiene appointment will be.

The current state of your periodontal health will impact the time required to complete your hygiene treatment.

In some cases, a second appointment is necessary to regain optimal periodontal health.

At Lumino The Dentists, we are proud to offer high quality dental care for all New Zealanders. We want to ensure that everyone is armed with relevant information to help make informed decisions about their dental provider.

With practices in Parnell, Newmarket and Remuera, we would love to have you as our patient for life.

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the pretty

The New Essentials Put your best face forward with Justine Williams' pick of the beauty department

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0 in The Instant Attraction, $48, provides vivid, pigment-packed colour that lasts up to 12 hours. Powered by SeaNutritive Mineral Complex, it delivers skinnourishing benefits including reduced appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness, plus boosted moisture levels.

All while looking very pretty.

At Mecca Cosmetica, Newmarket

Smarten up your kit with Tender Love + Carry Monstera Tangerine Utility Box, $22.95.

A bright, tropical print bag, long enough to keep your brushes tidy and tote other beauty essentials. From Life Pharmacy Remuera

Mascaras have got so high tech, and Lâncome leads the pack. Lâncome Hypnôse Volume-à-porter, Cashmere Sensation Volume Mascara, $59, is their latest to hit the shelves, but reading the detail in the press release left me with a headache. From using the mascara I can tell you it’s super-easy to apply, the brush is exceptional and the formulation is lightweight, but rich in colour. And it feels unbelievably comfortable on the lashes. My new favourite.

At Lancome counters

YSL Top Secrets Instant Moisture Glow, $99, is a game changer. This is a take-everywhere, 72-hour moisturiser and blurring radiance enhancer.

You could describe it as a moisturiser and soft focus tool for the skin.

Applied alone, pre or postfoundation, it’s a great weapon in your beauty arsenal. At YSL counters

I have a soft spot for travel-size anything, and the Grab & Go Goodness Try-Me Kit, $24.99, measures up. Free from artificial fragrance and colours, never tested on animals, always in recyclable packaging. And when you use the biodegradable products, the waterways will be left clean.

What’s inside? Cleanser, scrub and creams rich with organic chia seed and fatty acids to nourish your skin. Small, and perfectly formed.

Available at supermarkets

Summer takes its toll on skin. Address the visible signs of aging as well as dark spots and discolouration with La Mer’s The Hydrating Facial, six masks, $545.

Hydrating ferments and tourmaline saturates the skin with moisture, while marine extracts do the heavy lifting with this very luxurious spa-at-home treatment.

Smith & Caughey’s Newmarket

“Happiness in a stick” is how I would describe Karen Murrell’s new Coral Dawn Lipstick, $29.95.

Karen says “I designed Coral Dawn to breathe sunshine into the day.

Even on the darkest of days, this colour makes me feel warm and sun-kissed”.

At Unichem Broadway

the hobson 42

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the magpie

Quick, March!

The Magpie swoops on the things you’ll want this month 1 The Avant-Garde Collection of Allure Velvets by Carlucci have arrived in town from Italy. Eclectic in style, rich in colour, The Magpie wishes to feather her nest entirely with this range. Recover a sofa or armchair, have a headboard made, wallpaper the lounge or update a room with new cushions. Call Unique Fabrics on 0800 864 783 for local retail stockists. uniquefabrics.com 2 Taylor Unequivocal Tunic, $497. An edgy, easy piece that does the work-to-social play effortlessly. Wear loose over skinny pants for daytime, cinch at the waist and add a slip for evenings out. The pleated fabric creates fluid movement, and that green is sublime.

Taylor Boutique, 1/1 Teed St, Newmarket. taylorboutique.co.nz 3 Deadly Ponies has dived deep for the new Black Ocean collection. The collection plays with tone-on-tone layers of coloured leathers (khaki, wisteria, ink) and tactile suede and hides. Mr Farrow Bag, $790, from Deadly Ponies, 16 Osborne St, Newmarket. deadlyponies.com 4 Delicious on its own, but did you know Sanpellegrino Sparkling Limonata allows you to knock up a Tom Collins in a jiffy?

Just add gin and serve over ice. And if gin isn’t your thing, white rum and fresh mint is equally rewarding. Cheers to another long

hot summer in style. Available at New World Remuera, Clonbern Rd

and has been hand-painted, and sealed.

Pauanesia, 35 High St. pauanesia.co.nz

5 With autumn styles now in store, Working Style’s Burgundy Box-Weave Merino Blazer, $790, caught my eye. The design and fabric combine to let air flow through the fibres.

Unlined and slim in profile, it’s perfect for either for a warm autumn day, or layered up for a cooler evening. Working Style, 523 Parnell Rd. workingstyle.co.nz

9 There’s a very good reason to buy this gorgeous LV Silver Lockit pendant — it’s a fundraiser for UNICEF. Inspired by the unpickable tumbler lock invented by Georges Vuitton in 1890 to protect his clients’ belongings, today, it’s a symbol of protection for vulnerable children around the globe. $300 from every $800 Lockit pendant or bracelet sold goes to UNICEF. Louis Vuitton, 56 Queen St. louisvuitton.com

6 How could The Magpie not love this? Lifelike birds coiffed in real feathers perch oh-soelegantly on a coppered wire shade. Designed and made in France, the Volière Grande Pendant by Challieres, $1535, comes as a floor, table or pendant-style lamp. So French, so chic. From ECC, 39 Nugent St, ecc.co.nz 7 “Smart casual” can confuse the smartest amongst us. This Neuw Mens Tank Jacket, $249.99, fulfills the brief however. It’s a denim jacket, but it’s not your regular ol’ DJ. And it’s the bomber style so hot right now with the kids, but no-one’s going to call you Maverick or Goose. From Service Denim Store, 34 Customs St East, Britomart. servicedenim.co.nz 8 Based on the plumage of our beautiful, extinct, huia, Pauanesia’s Huia Feather Brooch $35, is made from reclaimed rimu

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the hobson 44

10 In celebration of their 10th anniversary, Fantastic Man magazine presents the Fantastic Man book, $75. The UK title covers the charismatic and compelling, and in this book, celebrates 69 influential and creative gents, Tom Ford, Helmut Lang and David Beckham amongst them. At Fabric, 6b Teed St, Newmarket. thisisfabric.com 11 Designed in 1958, this Delfino by Erberto Carboni for Artflex chair and footstool is asignificant example of the “organic” furniture style, which developed in in the mid 20th century, taking its inspiration from nature. We simply love the look of it. From $5800, Studio Italia, 25 Nugent St, Grafton. studioitalia.co.nz

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the hobson 46

the journey

When in Istanbul ...

No trip to Istanbul would be complete without visiting the city’s Blue Mosque, the baths, markets or in Graeme Clark’s case, having a shave.

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henever I walked past his shop, the local barber would smile widely at me and gesture for me to come in. One morning during a breakfast outing I relented. Had I been seduced by his hand-painted sign showing a customer being shaved whilst wearing a fez?

Not sharing a common language, my communications with him involved me miming a shave. He seemed to understand perfectly well and I sat down in the barber’s chair. He then cheerfully set to work on my face with a shaving brush and an odd-smelling soapy concoction. It didn’t smell like any shaving preparation I had ever previously encountered, but then again I was in the Beyoglu fish market in Istanbul.

I raised a metaphorical eyebrow when he started lathering my forehead with the shaving soap. Curiosity rapidly turned to apprehension when this mixture hardened with the speed of Super Glue and within moments, my face was concrete and my mouth was cemented shut. Breathing had become very difficult. Seemingly satisfied with his progress, my barber friend then wandered off into the market for a cigarette break with his chums.

He returned a few minutes later to undertake the next phase of my treatment. From an ancient metal container on his work station, he extracted two cotton wool plugs. They had been long fermenting in a bath of hot wax, possibly since the reign of Constantine the Great. They felt unpleasantly warm when he inserted them into my nostrils. He then decamped back to the market for another cigarette break.

This man was a dedicated smoker.

Up to that point breathing had been difficult. With the warm, waxy, nasal impediments in place, breathing was virtually impossible. Be stoic, I told myself. In fact it’s very simple to internalise your terror when your face has the same level of mobility as a Byzantine paving slab.

The barber returned to continue his good works. His next move, carried out with a theatrical flourish, was to vigorously rip out each nasal plug. These he triumphantly held aloft for my scrutiny, and to allow me to fully appreciate his handiwork. The pain involved hardly justified the miserable display of my nasal hair on each plug. Nevertheless I feigned delight and appreciation for his efforts on my behalf. After all, he had opened up a new world for me. It was my first “nasal Brazilian”.

Now that I could breathe again, the rest of my “shave” was relatively uneventful. A long slow shave was followed by an upper body massage and manipulation, a thorough inspection of my inner ears (I think he was very disappointed by my lack of ear hair), a quick eyebrow trim, shampoo and then some hair styling with a lot of exotically perfumed hair lotion. For the modest sum of about $20, I had not only been properly shaved, but also I had benefited from a full Turkish male grooming experience. All without once having to leave the barber’s chair.

I strolled back to my apartment in my own personal fog of heady Middle-Eastern fragrances. My feelings of innerpeace and wellbeing having been heightened because they had closely followed the previous sensations of curiosity, trepidation, asphyxiation and mortal terror.

As I walked past his shop the next morning he welcomed me warmly, and tried to usher me in again. Clearly he now saw me as one of his regular customers. Sadly I declined.

This day was earmarked for another adventure. I was off to visit the local Turkish bath . . .

Well-groomed lawyer Graeme Clark lives in Parnell.

THE HOBSON invites travel tales from readers: contact editor@thehobson.co.nz

Opposite: A barber at work in Istanbul's Pera district. Photo by Peter Grace

the hobson 47

the teacher

Ringing in the School Year

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t is a new year and by now you will be well ensconced into the routines of school again for 2016. For some of you it will be a brand new experience, and for others it will be same old, same old. Whether their summer was jam-packed with activities or being bored with nothing to do, children will often have a tough time transitioning back to school.

If it is a brand new experience for you, I want to pass on some important tips.

Firstly, make sure your child is prepared emotionally. It is not only children who get anxious about this big new change; it also emotionally affects parents as well especially if it is your first child starting school. It is very sad to see them growing up and moving to the next stage. However it is important to let them go, to be free to experience the newness and the unknown. This is the first stage of building a strong character and for them to gain selfconfidence in making simple little decisions, that may or may not always be right.

Our job as parents and teachers is to stand back a little and let them experience all the wonders the world has to offer. Don’t ‘hover’ around the school playground to check to see if they have friends to play with. The school playground is where children find their social place, and they need to manage this by themselves.

However we also need to remember there are many things that will be new to them, and they will flounder at times so, just as a mother elephant offers her trunk to rescue her wee one from quicksand, we need to open our arms to catch them if they fall.

If your child is a little older and is returning to school, they may have found they will not have all their friends in their class. This can initially be disappointing for them but, believe me, this will soon change as they discover new friends, an important part of a new school year. They can usually take up to around six weeks to settle into these changes. A lot of discussion is usually had at the end of each year to place children in a class that will best suit their learning. If you do have any issues, make sure you keep talking to the teachers so you can be reassured that your child is settling well and is learning. As I said in my last article, most children will

have lost up to a month’s worth of learning over the holidays, and teachers will be working hard to catch this up.

Next, make sure you build up a good relationship with your child’s teacher(s). No matter what level your child is, it is always valuable to meet their teachers, so I strongly advise you to attend as many functions as the school has to offer. It is so important to support your learner, to let your children know you are interested in what they are learning. If you want to talk to teachers, always make sure you find the right time. Don’t expect to have an extended conversation as you deliver them to their classroom or when you pick them up at the end of the day. If you want a quick response, write a short note in the homework diary or send an email. Most schools have a ‘by the end of the day’ policy to respond to you, depending, of course, on what the issue is.

Teachers like you to supply any data regarding your child that could affect their learning. You know your child better than anyone, making this information highly valuable. All schools will have data on your child to pass onto new teachers but there are things they will not know.

In the early years and as the year progresses try not to focus on results too much. Focus on what your child loves most, how he/ she learns, and what they struggle with. This way you can look at the whole picture of your child together with their teacher.

However, as students move into their senior years, results will be highly important as a focus.

Lastly I want to encourage you to sit with your child and set some goals for the year. This is really important for older children to start thinking about as achieving goals and dreams are what make this 13-year journey a success. Goals can be set for achievement in the short-term, as well as the long-term.

I read recently that the adolescent brain will absorb the largest knowledge intake ever over this period of their life. I told this to my adolescent granddaughter and I was thrilled with her response.

She said, “Well I’d better make sure I listen more carefully this year!” My fingers are crossed!

— Judi Paape

the hobson 48

the sound

Live Forever

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t's moments like this that I wish I had trained as a psychologist.

That’s because I see a growing trade in baby boomer and Gen-X grief counselling as their rock and pop heroes start shuffling off this mortal concert stage. And if I want to make a real killing (pardon), maybe I should be buying up back catalogues galore.

It’s been a real summer of loss starting with David Bowie, as always, leading the pack.

Two days after his birthday. Two days after releasing his best album in decades, Bowie surprised us all by doing something we thought the crazy old alien would never do. He died! How dare he!

His greatest hits albums now dominate the charts but it’s not the real fans buying them because the real fans already have all the songs.

The real fans are inconsolable. And I include the editor of THE HOBSON in that. I have a bet on at the TAB that Bowie’s on this cover (You’ve lost — editor). She’s posted a picture of her comprehensive collection of Bowie vinyl. She’s posted articles on social media describing how for a certain generation and type of person this will be the biggest blow of them all. She even changed her Facebook profile picture to a photo of Aladdin Sane. Which, of course, resembles nothing like her actual elfin beauty with a 1000 watt smile.(Clearly, he’s grief-stricken — editor) She’s a Bowie tragic and she's hurting. And so am I. But as our heroes leave the tour bus, different heroes affect different people. Bowie fans may have also grieved the death of Steve Wright. Aussies sure did. Hailed as Australia’s first international pop star, the lead singer of the Easybeats became ill on Boxing Day, and died the next day at the age of 68. The Easybeats gave us “Friday on My Mind”. A pop masterpiece that Bowie covered on his Pin Ups album. He was a crazy old loon who tore up stages. Australia grieved a grief that may only be matched by the forthcoming departures of Barry Gibb and Olivia Newton-John.

I was also touched by the death this holiday season of Natalie Cole, the daughter of Nat King Cole. Taken on the last day of December at the age of 65. While it was her heart that gave up on her, it actually goes back 10 years to when she got hepatitis after years of drug abuse. That lead to a kidney transplant, lung difficulties and finally her ticker. So just like Bowie and Dave McArtney, it’s a lesson to all popstars to look after your liver boys and girls.

I had a soft spot for Natalie purely because her voice was as smooth as silk, just like her old man’s. I had a secret love for “Pink

Cadillac”, the Bruce Springsteen song that was one of her biggest hits. But I also had a sympathy for the difficulties she had following in dad’s footsteps. A difficulty she resolved with her tribute album to Nat, Unforgettable. Her story is sad in a Whitney Houston way, except Natalie was likable and Whitney was not.

And course there was the shock that was the death of Glenn Frey from the Eagles, America’s most successful band. The Glenn Frey/Don Henley writing partnership was a phenomena and they deserve to be up there with Lennon and McCartney and Rogers and Hammerstein. Locally, Alec Wishart, the lead singer and driving force behind Hogsnort Rupert. What a great name. What a great band. Alec found out he had lung cancer last November when he had trouble huffing on a harmonica. I actually talked about him on the radio last year as they continued to play all over, particularly in Hawke’s Bay. Apparently his death was dignified and gracious, and his funeral was a hoot. Alec was a real musician who did it until the day he died, and I respect him for that.

And there were more this summer, including one of David Bowie’s drummers and as I write this, news is coming through about the death of Paul Kantnor from Jefferson Airplane who died at the age of 74, from a suspected heart attack and not chasing a White Rabbit. And for me personally, I was very sad to hear of the death of the musician called Black who gave us Wonderful Life back in 1986.

I have that album and I seemed at the time to be the only one of my friends who loved it. His real name was Colin Vearncombe and it was sad news. It was a car crash. He was the same age as me, with three kids. That’s a bit close to home.

We, of a certain age, need to brace ourselves for the coming monsoon of music mortality. Presley, Lennon, Jackson and Bowie were just the warm up. Jagger, McCartney, John, Stewart, Townshend, Page and Plant and a raft of others are coming. Roger Daltry may have sung “Hope I die before I get old,” but I’m glad he didn’t so I got to see him at North Harbour Stadium. But you can’t beat the reaper so don’t fear him (as Blue Oyster Cult said).

I’m viewing it as a celebration of the first generation of truly global superstars, who enriched our lives and lived it large. Their passing will be sad but the old cliché is so very true. The music will live forever. — Andrew Dickens

David Bowie, photographed shortly before he died. Photo by Jimmy King, courtesy of Sony Music.

the hobson 49

the bookmark

Body, Mind and Soul THE HAPPY LIFE Lola Berry (Pan Macmillan) Happiness. It's the big one; the thing we're all striving for. But rather than happiness being something you 'get' from status or material things, it's something you must find within yourself. This beautiful, honest book starts with what we put on our plates.

It features more than 60 delicious wholefood recipes, as well as practical advice on how to maintain optimum health across all areas of your life.

FUEL FOR LIFE Bear Grylls

EAT RIGHT FOR YOUR SHAPE

JULIA & LIBBY'S WHOLEFOOD KITCHEN Julia & Libby Matthews

Lee Holmes (Murdoch) Holmes takes a fresh look at the ancient Indian healing system of Ayurveda, and applies it to the way we eat. In Ayurvedic practice, identifying your unique body type, or dosha, and keeping it in balance is the key to maintaining your weight and overall health. The recipe section includes shopping lists and more than 120 seasonal dishes.

COOK. NOURISH. GLOW. Amelia Freer (Penguin) Following the phenomenal success of her bestselling Eat. Nourish. Glow, nutritional therapist Freer returns with her much awaited cookbook. With chapters ranging from “Kitchen Confidence” to “Eating the Rainbow”, there’s recipes for on-the-go nutrition, to entertaining.

Many of us feel pressure to be perfect in the kitchen but, with Freer, anyone can learn how to assemble nourishing food in minutes.

(Random House) Not to be left out, here’s eating advice from a bloke, for those who may well think nutrition means boring, complicated and tasteless meals. The adventurer shows how cheesecake, pizza and burgers can be made ultra-healthy, and ultradelicious! Packed with comprehensive advice, Grylls’ book dispels common nutritional myths, and includes over 70 simple, tasty recipes.

(Penguin) Five years ago, these Kiwi sisters were sick of feeling tired and rundown, so they decided to change what they ate. Highly-processed, sugarladen products were binned and foods closest to their natural state were on the table. In this, their first cookbook, they share their favourite recipes as well as tips for a healthy mind, body and soul.

SPARK JOY Marie Kondo (Random House) Moving from the body to the “earthly soul.” Kondo follows up her best-selling The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying with the key to a decluttered home and how to decide what to keep and what to let go. If an item “sparks joy”, the process becomes easier to undertake. An illustrated roomby-room guide to decluttering and organising, this lovely hardback edition comes with an elastic band to keep the book itself neat. — Gail Woodward

the cinema

March at the Movies A BIGGER SPLASH - director Luca

in January. Based on a Barry Crump tale, a national manhunt is ordered for Ricky (Dennison), a notoriously rebellious kid, and his reluctant foster uncle Hec (Neill), when they go bush. The pair must not only survive in the wild, but also fend off the relentless lady from Child, Youth and Family (House). Variety’s review called it a “pleasing comedy adventure” and noted its “salute to and gentle parody of” NZ film classics, including Sleeping Dogs (which also starred Neill), Goodbye Pork Pie and Smash Palace.

Guadagnino. Starring Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson, Matthias Schoenaerts. When the vacation of rock star Marianne Lane (Swinton) is disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend, her relationship with her filmmaker beau (Schoenaerts) is put to the test as old feelings return between the reunited friends. Featuring Ralph Fiennes in an uncharacteristically (for his career) light-hearted role, and Dakota Johnston, for the most part clothed, as his daughter, this is the third film starring Swinton directed by Guadagnino, and looks to be a festival favourite this year.

MAHANA — director Lee

HAIL, CAESAR !— directors Ethan and Joel Coen. Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Ralph Fiennes, Jonah Hill, Scarlett Johansson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum. From the creative brothers who brought us The Big Lebowski and No Country For Old Men, comes their latest star-studded extravaganza. Set in the 1950s at the height of cinema’s golden era, Hollywood fixer Eddie Manix (Brolin) has the arduous task of keeping stars in line. When leading man Baird Whitlock (Clooney) is kidnapped and held for ransom, Mannix must call on his clients to help with the rescue, before the studio suits find out he’s missing.

HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE — director Taika Waititi. Starring Julian Dennison, Sam Neill, Rhys Darby, Rachel House, Oscar Kightley, Rima Te Wiata.

Waititi, the comedy mastermind behind Boy and What We Do In The Shadows has more fun with this Kiwi caper, which was well received at its Sundance Festival debut

Join Rialto Cinemas & the Alliance Française French Film Festival for the first Ladies Film Night event!

“Chic! takes on the Paris fashion world with heart, humour and style.” LA Times

Wednesday 9 March | Film start 6:15pm Tickets include a glass of wine & goodie bag.

Book online www.rialto.co.nz

Tickets* 50

$22 *$24.50 for non-Cine Buzz members.

Sign up to Cine Buzz online or in cinema.

Tamahori. Starring Temuera Morrison, Nancy Brunning, Akuhata Keefe, Jim Moriarty. A tale of family rivalry and reconciliation in rural New Zealand. Set in the 1960s, teenager Simeon (played by screen newcomer Keefe) attempts to step out from the shadow of his family, challenging his patriach grandfather and the history of a longstanding feud with another local family. Based on the Witi Ihimaera novel, Bulibasha, the production reunited Tamahori, Morrison and producer Robin Scholes 22 years after their collaboration on Once Were Warriors.

- Caitlin McKenna Films listed will screen at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket during March

the appetite

From Vienna, with love This month, chef Sue Fleischl shares the food iinfluenced by her Austrian émigré father

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arch is still warm and is sometimes the best month of the year. I thought these dishes may be good for picnics, days on the water on the boat, at the beach or just at home with friends.

Schnitzel — or my “Schnitty Bits” — is in my blood. My father grew up in Vienna before he emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Napier. As a family, we had either chicken or veal schnitzel for dinner once a week.

This is a version uses light breadcrumbs than the regular crumbs Dad used. We used to dry bread out in the kitchen, and zap it in the food processor rather than buy crumbs from the supermarket.

A good coleslaw or a simple rocket and pear salad would go well with this dish, but remember, lemon is compulsory!

The Fry Pan Pie can be made any size and shape you like. The recipe is just a guide, fill with your favourite vegetables and be creative! Enjoy eating it where the mood or season takes you.

Schnitty Bits with Easy Caper Sauce Serves 4 8 free range, boneless, skinless chicken thighs Flour Mix 1 cup of standard flour 2 pinches Maldon sea salt 6 grinds black pepper Egg Mix 2 free range eggs 1 cup buttermilk 2 pinches Maldon sea salt 6 grinds black pepper Crumb Mix 150g Panko bread crumbs 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves 1 ½ tsp sweet paprika 2 tsp Maldon sea salt 1 tsp ground black pepper the hobson 52

To Cook ½ cup rice bran oil (you may not use all of this) 30g butter, cut into cubes Mix all of the flour ingredients together onto a dinner plate. Whisk the egg mix together with a fork in a mixing bowl. Stir the crumb mix together with your fingers to combine well. Place onto a dinner plate.

Dip a chicken thigh into the flour mix, turn over and ensure all of the chicken is covered. Shake off lightly and place into the egg mix. Make sure the chicken is covered in the egg mix, lift and let the excess egg drip off, and place on the crumb mix. Cover the chicken with the crumb mix, gently pushing the crumbs to stick to the egg. Gently shake off excess crumbs and place on a clean tray. Repeat this with the remaining chicken thighs.

Try not to stack the crumbed chicken on top of each other as the crumbs will go soggy.

Place the tray in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Heat enough oil in a fry pan to generously cover the base. Heat until you can see a light shimmer in the oil. If you are not sure, drop a few little panko crumbs into the oil, they should dance and sizzle happily — this is a sign that the oil is the right temperature.

Add a cube of butter and swirl into the oil. Carefully fry the chicken without crowding the pan — you will need to cook it in batches. It will take about three minutes, or until each side is golden.

Don’t worry if it takes longer, the crisper the better and the chicken will remain moist. If the oil starts to get burnt bits in between the batches of chicken, discard the oil (safely) and reheat a fresh batch.

Remove the chicken when brown and drain on paper towels for two minutes.

Place the drained chicken on a clean tray and keep warm in a low oven (about 150C) until the rest is cooked.

Above: Fry Pan Pie, and opposite "Schnitty Bits" with Easy Caper Sauce.

Food photographed by Dominique White Photography.

Serve with lots of fresh lemon wedges and the caper sauce.

Mix all the ingredients together and store in the fridge until ready to use.

Tips: This chicken can be crumbed a day in advance and stored in the fridge covered with Glad Wrap.

It can also be frozen, crumbed. Freeze on trays, and then store in the freezer in plastic bags. Simply thaw in the fridge in a single layer before cooking.

You can cut the chicken into strips and crumb and fry to serve with drinks.

Try different herbs and spices in the crumb mix.

The buttermilk can be substituted with milk or yoghurt.

I always season every step of the crumbing process, it has a much tastier result.

As you practice more with crumbing food, you will master a technique of keeping one hand for the dry steps, and one hand for the wet steps, so you don’t get the build-up of gooey crumbs all over your hands.

Tips This can be made three days ahead of time.

Play with other flavours if you don’t like capers — olives, paprika, fresh soft herbs like tarragon, thyme, chervil, chives.

Easy Caper Sauce (serves 4) 1 cup of your favourite mayonnaise (or if you have it, home-made) 1 small clove garlic, crushed (optional) 2 tsp chopped capers (more or less to taste) Salt and pepper to taste if necessary, this will depend on the mayonnaise

Fry Pan Pie Serves 4 Packet of filo pastry 200g melted butter Filling: 2 tbsp rice bran oil 150g chorizo, diced into 1cm cubes ½ onion, diced 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 bags fresh spinach, picked, washed and drained in a colander 200g feta (cow or goat), crumbled 200g fresh bocconcini, ripped into bits 4 free range eggs ½ tsp salt ½ tsp ground black pepper Cook diced chorizo in a fry pan in one tbsp of the oil until lightly browned.

Remove and cool. Add remaining oil, heat and add onion and garlic. Cook on a medium heat so they don’t burn, but the hobson 53

just soften. Add the drained spinach to the pan with the onion and garlic — be careful, it may splatter. Cook for three to five minutes until wilted but still green.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Remove and cool. Beat the eggs in a large bowl with the salt and pepper. Add the chorizo, spinach and cheeses to the bowl, and mix together.

To Assemble Preheat a fan oven to 180C. Brush a 23cm fry pan (one that can also go in the oven) with melted butter.

Lay one sheet of filo onto the bench and brush with butter.

Very lightly season with a grind of salt and pepper.

Place the sheet into the fry pan and let the ends flop over the side.

Repeat with another sheet of filo, but place this a quarter turn on top of the last sheet in the fry pan. Repeat with six more sheets so the bottom is well covered and there is a lot of filo overhanging. Fill with the spinach and cheese mix, and gently fold the filo over the edges of the filling. Top with one more buttered sheet of filo to fill in the hole in the top. You can sprinkle the pastry with toasted sesame and cumin seeds at this point (optional).

Place the pie into the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

the district diary - march

monday tuesday wednesday thursday

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The 10th Alliance Francaise French Film Festival continues at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket, to March 13. Programme and booking via rialto.co.nz

Auckland Arts Festival opens today, to March 20.

Programme and event details at aucklandfestival.co.nz

Book group at Parnell Library 10am

Book group at Remuera Library 11am

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Preschooler Storytime Stories and songs for 3 to 5-year olds. Every Monday during term-time at Parnell Library, 11 - 11.30am

Wriggle & Rhyme Active movement for babies to 2 yearold, 9.30 - 10am every Tuesday in term-time at Parnell Library

Rhymetime Song, stories and rhymes for 18-month to 3-year olds, Wednesdays during termtime, 11 - 11.30am at Parnell Library

Baradene College of the Sacred Heart Open evening for prospective parents, 6.30pm.

Inquiries to Felicity Lister: flister@baradene.school.nz

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ASB Polyfest starts today, to March 19, Manukau Sports Bowl. Good luck to entrants from local schools

Saint Kentigern Preschool Open Day Register at saintkentigern. com

Parnell U3A, 9.30am, Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd. Today's speaker: Auckland University's Tony Roberton on bacteria

King's College Campus Tour From 9.30am, see kingscollege. school.nz

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24 Maundy Thursday

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Easter Monday

Got an entry for The District Diary?

Community groups, schools, special events, birthdays and anniversaries too if we have room! Email details to hobsondiary@gmail.com

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friday

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saturday sunday

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Parnell Farmers’ Market, every Saturday from 9am in the carpark at the Jubilee Building, 545 Parnell Rd La Cigale French Market Saturday and Sunday mornings, 69 St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell

Run/walk/cheer the 44th Ports of Auckland Round-the-Bays race, then recover with a hot cross bun. All hot cross buns sold today during the Bakers Delight Bundraiser raise money for Starship. Bakers Delight, 1 Vicky Ave, Remuera

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Pasifika Festival The world’s biggest celebration of Pacific culture, food and heritage runs this weekend, Western Springs White Night in Remuera, Parnell and across the city, from 6pm.

See aucklandfestival.co.nz for info, including free buses

Parnell School Gala All the fun of the fair today at Parnell District School, St Stephens Ave/ Gladstone Rd. 11am - 3pm Parnell Heritage Garden Party Enjoy the history of a hidden garden. 5 Bradford St, Parnell. $10, 4pm - 6pm

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St Cuthbert’s College Open Day 12 - 3pm. Register at stcuthberts. school.nz

Palm Sunday Holy week begins at Holy Trinity Cathedral. For details on daily and evening services and choral eucharist, visit holy-trinty.org.nz

THE HOBSON April edition distributes this weekend

25 Good Friday

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notes

27 Easter Sunday

Parnell School Gala

Sunday March 13th, 11-3pm Parnell District School, St Stephen’s Ave Carnival rides, candy floss, 2nd hand toys, clothes and books, food, games, cake stall, fudge, plants, preserves, and much, much more!

the hobson 55

the cryptic by maya

ACROSS 1/26 The number of the beast?

(13,4) 9 Wicked lighter! (3,4) 10 Packhorse upset Mr. Batty (7) 11 Vessel originated in Apollonius Rhodius' Greek odes (4) 12 Residence I abandoned, leading to court order (6,4) 14 See 20 Across 16 The MÄ ori edge aboard a type of 25 (5) 18 See 1 Down 20/14 Author Julie mingled with two birds in a 25 (4-4,8) 23 Befit Mr Owl's unfortunate howler (6,4) 25 Stroke allotment with end of stick, then sit down (4) 27 How one may put one's affairs alphabetically? (2,5) 28 Secure one alien back at the

Strawberry Alarm Clock, say (7) 29 Wind down from Ponsonby, perhaps (13) DOWN 1/18/24 Bathrooms hold two designed for a 25 (6,10) 2 Brisk, detailed moral tale, with gold finally returned (7) 3 Sounds like P.M. could become a "Pier" of the Realm! (4) 4 Edward's introduction, holding "Iron in the Soul", made an impact (9) 5 Pistol a servant conceals a threat to Connery's Bond (5) 6 Hot jazz classic? (10) 7 Sailor stands up on ships, perhaps on one of these? (7) 8 Preview a type of 25 (7) 13 Object to bibliophile and psychic (4,6)

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15 Make short work of new movie, either way (9) 17 Refrain from rating dye (7) 19 Wyn Moon composition for unaccompanied crossword setter (2,2,3) 21 Hair-raising, our charm! (7) 22 Revealing devil's infiltrated heaven (6) 24 See 1 Down 26 See 1 Across Answers on page 17

Simply Matching People With Property

Outdoor Furniture Manufactured with A-Grade Teak, Reclaimed Teak, Wicker, Concrete, 316 Stainless Steel, Sunbrella, Batyline, and Aluminum

Introducing

GOMMAIRE Organic Living Outdoor Furniture FEATURED: COPENHAGUE DEEP SEATING COLLECTION INCLUDES OUTDOOR CUSHIONS (throw pillows not included)

Gommaire MILLAR BENCH

RAW CONCRETE TABLE, SANDRA & TRESTLE

Gommaire NOOR VASE In-store only

ABBEY RELAXING

Gommaire CURVE DINING CHAIR

BROOKLYN

Gommaire CUMI ROOT TABLE

Gommaire Mouth-Blown Glassware TONY VASE In-store only

You’re invited to be inspired at our huge (6,500 sq. metres) and stunning showroom, Parnell’s old wool shed, as it is now full of new outdoor product.

We cater to the most discerning buyer with the very best of taste. Everything is fully assembled and ready to take home for your outdoor space.

Ph: 09 377 7710

toll free - 0800 111 112

137/147 The Strand, Parnell/Auckland

sales@designwarehouse.co.nz

www.designwarehouse.co.nz

Wholesalers open direct to the public daily 9:30 - 5:30

Premium Parnell Apartment

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Perfectly positioned at the bottom of Parnell Road in a quiet cul-de-sac and up on level three, this substantial 380 sq m (approximately) luxury residence, including decks, presents a very exclusive opportunity. The Patterson Architect’s design is modern and open including a substantial kitchen plus scullery which opens through to open living onto a massive deck overlooking the entire harbour. All three bedrooms also enjoy this outlook and are fully set up with ensuites.

With American oak floors and extensive use of marble throughout the kitchens and bathrooms, the quality of this masterpiece will be stunning. Due for completion at the end of July The Ford Residences is set to become one of Parnell’s most desired living environments. This really is a one off opportunity.

PRICE: On Application The Ford Residence Sub Penthouse

nzsothebysrealty.com

nzsothebysrealty.com/NZE10496

Ross Hawkins M +64 274 720 577 ross.hawkins@sothebysrealty.com

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