The Millwater Mag, July 2024

Editor’s Note

I can barely believe it, dear readers. It seems like the entire 10 years I have been living on the Coast we’ve been patiently waiting for a café to open in the half circle building on the hill, as I like to call it, opposite Butler Stoney Park in Millwater, where one could potentially sip one’s coffee while looking out on views right across the park and far out to sea.

There has been many a rumour over the years of openings being imminent. A café, a corner store/coffee bar, a wine bar was even the word at one stage, but alas, the doors they never did open. But if current rumours and facebook pages are correct, by the time this issue hits the streets the doors will be open and coffee will finally be flowing from a new establishment living inside the half circle building on the hill.

Whether you’re reading these pages in a café, as many of our readers do, or cosied up in the comforts of your own home, we have lots of Coasty goodness for you this month. Success on the stage for Orewa College, a young local man giving his time mentor our youth, info on all the services available at Hibiscus Community House, upcoming entertainment by Hibiscus Coast Singers, Centrestage Theatre and Estuary Arts, stories by a local writer and by a member of the local Coastguard crew, and on the cover, the low-down on The Kitchen People design centre that recently opened on Millwater Parkway.

Other highlights include two comfort food recipes for your winter table and some helpful pieces focussed on your health, from looking after your gut to the benefits of laughter and postnatal mental health in men.

Please, pop your feet up and enjoy.

Claire Nevans

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Book Reviews

Octavian’s Light

by Don E. McGregor

Octavian’s Light is a saga set in Roman Times. This compelling novel follows the interlinked stories of Mischella, who is born into slavery, street urchin Riccar with a talent for drawing, and Octavian, who is unexpectedly adopted by Julius Caesar, and who eventually becomes Rome’s first emperor, Augustus. For Octavian there are wars, plotting from rivals, bouts of illness, his wife Liva’s scheming, and an extraordinary meeting with Cleopatra. For slaves Mischella and Riccar, their lives are more about survival than grandeur, but they are nonetheless extraordinary.

What I enjoyed the most of about this novel is the details that bring the Roman Empire to life. The information about their homes, their clothing, what they ate and drank, the structure of society – it is so well down it allows you to walk the ancient streets, or to be there at the colosseum.

Impeccably researched with memorable characters, Octavian’s Light is a must-read for anyone with an interest in Roman history. It is a fascinating blend of fact and fiction.

Stargull Publishing, RRP $39.99

Karen McMillan | www.karenm.co.nz

The Story of You

by Rose Stanley

Local author Rose Stanley is a New Zealand writer with experience in creating beautiful picture books for young children that focus on emotional literacy and problem-solving. Her latest picture book, The Story of You, is a delight!

There’s a story to tell

It’s the story of you!

And no one can tell it

Quite like you do

The book begins with this message, and it goes on to explore all the ups and downs and arounds that make up a life and the very best story in the world—the story of you! This lovely picture book, with its text and charming illustrations that show a diverse range of children, encourages children to see their story as a unique treasure.

This is a book for all, and parents and children will equally enjoy this book in different ways. I am sure The Story of You will prompt many interesting discussions.

Austin Macauley Publishers, RRP $29.99

The Kitchen People

Our new local

The Kitchen People have been operating on the Coast for over 25 years now, but they recently became even more local to our community with the opening of a stylish new design centre at 177 Millwater Parkway.

Since taking over the business in December 2023, new owners (and Rodney locals) Mark and Leanne Gallagher have utilised their industry expertise to streamline processes and optimise ‘The Kitchen People experience’ for their customers. They are also now licensees for Mastercraft Kitchens. The new Silverdale design centre is the perfect base for them to provide the flawless design advice and top-notch communication and efficiency they have quickly become known for to clients in our area.

With a plethora of new housing developments close by and renovations popular both within our more established suburbs and increasingly within the earlier-built homes of Millwater, there are certainly no shortage of locals in need of their services.

‘Despite the name we do a lot more than kitchens!’ says Leanne, ‘we offer a comprehensive range of cabinetry options including everything from kitchens and sculleries to laundries, mudrooms, vanities, wardrobes, home offices, bars and builtin storage solutions for new home builds, renovations and extensions.’

With a factory set up at their original Stanmore Bay site, The Kitchen People combine the benefits of a design centre and the in-house manufacturing of larger companies with the experience and personalised service of a bespoke designer. They even use cutting-edge 3D rendering software to bring your project designs to life.

‘We are a small team and we really care about our customers,’ says Mark. ‘We stay up to date with the latest trends and product ranges and have a wide range of colours and materials to suit different budgets. It’s important to us that each kitchen and each cabinetry project is a perfect fit for both our client and for their home.’

The Kitchen People team offer a free, no-obligation measure and quote service, and while they’re happy to manage the entire project for you, they can also work in with your own trades people if you’d prefer.

So whether you’re building a new home, renovating with a

kitchen refresh or simply elevating your living space with a few built-in bench seats, pop along to The Kitchen People’s new Silverdale design centre and let the lovely folk there create the perfect solution for you.

Kitchens - Laundries - Vanities

Wardrobes - Custom Cabinetry

09 424 3468 | info@kitchenpeople.co.nz

Design Centre: 177 Millwater Parkway, Millwater www.kitchenpeople.co.nz

How will this impact first home buyers?

In May 2024, the Government announced they were scrapping the First Home Buyers Grant.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop said the First Home Buyers Grant was an ‘expensive and inefficient way to support first home buyers’ and it had gone from covering about 10% of a standard deposit when it was introduced in 2010, to just over 4% of a standard deposit in 2024. In most cases, they did not feel it made a difference to whether someone could buy a house or not.

The Government will now be redirecting these funds to social housing.

What was the First Home Buyers Grant?

The First Home Buyers Grant was a grant from the Government for first home buyers to top up their deposit, where they could have potentially gotten up to $5,000 for an existing home or $10,000 for a newly built home.

Mortgage Matters

First Home Buyers Grants have now been scrapped

To qualify, first home buyers had to be over 18 years old, earn less than $95,00 as an individual buyer, or $150,000 for a couple, and they needed to have been contributing to KiwiSaver for at least 3 years.

There was also a house price cap, which varied from region to region.

What does this mean for First Home

Buyers?

First Home Buyers Grants had assisted up to 40% of first home buyers each year, so removing this option will have a significant impact on prospective first home buyers. It may mean that a number of first home buyers will no longer be able to get on the property ladder without these grants.

If a first home buyer had an existing approval for the grant prior to its removal, the good news is that this would be honoured until the expiry of the approval. These existing approvals can last up to 6 months.

While the grant is being scrapped, the Government has confirmed they are keeping the First Home Loan scheme, which allows first home buyers who meet the criteria, to buy a house with a deposit of only 5%.

If you’re considering purchasing your first home, and you don’t know where to start, we recommend you seek expert help from an experienced Mortgage Adviser.

Let’s chat! Contact Wayne Henry on 021 423 818 or email wayne@waynehenry.co.nz

Wayne Henry | Wayne Henry Mortgages

Wayne and Karen Henry are Millwater locals. Wayne is a Financial Adviser specialising in mortgages and Karen supports him with all admin related work. Wayne’s Disclosure Statement is available free of charge on request or can be downloaded via website https://www.waynehenry.co.nz/wayne-henry-mortgage-adviser/

The Footy Night Club initiative

Footy Night Club is a local, social and fun community event held every Saturday night at the Millwater Hockey Turf from 7 to 9pm. Youth (aged 13-18) come along on Saturday nights from across the Hibiscus Coast and beyond to play two hours of 5-aside football, enjoy a pep talk from a positive role model in the community and share some pizza.

Footy Night Club began in February 2023 following the success of Ballers Night Club, which was started the previous year by Coast Community Trust with the idea of providing a safe and positive space for youth to be on Friday nights. Footy Night Club is carrying on the same values and mission as Ballers Night Club, providing a similar environment for youth who enjoy or want to try football.

Local football lover 18-year-old Luka Brown has been a driving force behind the initiative, involved from the beginning with helping to structure the programme, co-ordinate the evenings and plan the schedule. He has been playing football since he was seven and has a big heart for both the game and for people. The purpose of the programme is to use sport as a vehicle for developing a sense of belonging and to build community. The programme also encourages youth to be active, learn team values, develop confidence and build a positive social community supported by mentors. The programme also aims to provide a space to improve mental health through encouraging pep talks shared by a positive role model.

Through meeting new people, playing a team sport, enjoying delicious food together and chatting, those present form a bond and create a true sense of community that is positive, supportive and uplifting of one another. ‘It is incredible to see every week how a simple game of football and positive socialising can transform people’s lives,’ says Luka. ‘I see youth show up shy and

and then

The programme is generously sponsored by local real estate agents Stephen Reed and Rita Oliver from Barfoot & Thompson, and The Hockey Hibiscus Trust and Chairperson Merv Huxford are also great supporters, providing the venue for our youth.

The offer stands for all youth on the Coast to come on down and join in on the fun and get involved every Saturday night at the Millwater Hockey Turf from 7-9pm.

nervous

walk away full of joy and with a new-found passion for the sport.’

Scan the QR code to secure your spot today! 8th –19th

Passport to Paris Opening Ceremony

Virtual hang out with Gold Medallist Liam Malone & 2024 Olympian Camille French Plus unleash creativity & hone your motor skills!

Let the Games begin! Compete in Gladiator Games, get your own Passport, and create Notre Dame inspired art!

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Creativity wins! Unleash your inner artist! Design your own T-shirt, Creative Drawing and Make Mona Lisa smile Art Rely Races!

Compete

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In the loop

stand at Mitre 10

Silverdale

We are thrilled to say our new mag stand is now in place in the entrance of Mitre 10 Mega Silverdale. So if you need an extra copy or you live outside our distribution area, you now have another spot you can go to grab our latest issue.

Catch air with us at Flippin Fun! Create an air-some mini skateboard & skatepark and Battle of the Bridge STEM! (Trip Day)

Imagination and skill collide! Eiffel Tower Challenge, LEGO maze & more! Engineering & creativity as you create, compete and conquer!

Diggers but no development – Metro Park West

If you, like I, drove past Metro Park West last month – more commonly known by locals as Butler Stoney Park or simply The Bowl – and saw diggers at work at the lower end down by Bridal Place, and got excited that the long awaited development of the park was finally underway, it grieves me to have to tell you this is not the case.

The council advises the works were to ‘manage the water flows down Butler Stoney Crescent’. The work included ‘creating a new swale at the low point of the park to prevent large water flows onto the footpath and direct the water towards the existing stormwater infrastructure.’ I’m thrilled to hear we shouldn’t have a pond down there, but perhaps the news is not quite as exciting as trees and playgrounds and public toilets. This work is slated to begin ‘from July 2026 onwards’.

The Fiction Spot

The Root System of the Dandelion

By Lorraine Brockbank

Over the summer, Josie witnessed multiple deaths. In the suffocating heat, the plants in her garden wheezed bronchi-ally, pleading: give us water and sustenance. Wandering through her garden, supping an early morning coffee, Josie surveyed her withered plants. Her hand reached for the curled, burnt foliage on a hebe; like the crispy cornflakes she’d eaten for breakfast, the leaves crunched between her fingers. As lifeless as threadbare clothing left too long forgotten on a washing line, the branches on the willow tree swayed dejectedly in the slight breeze. Deflated pumpkins, oozing mushy orange innards, sighed from within their wizened skins. Spidery lines, similar to a child’s squiggly pencil drawing, splintered the baked soil. Like the aftermath of a bushfire, the offensive smell of burning plastic loitered in the air. Taking another sip, Josie spat out the acerbic-tasting coffee.

Only the sprightly, yellow dandelions survived the carnage of the scorching summer.

Like wild dogs squabbling over a bone, Howie and Josie bickered

over the garden’s demise. With teeth and gums exposed and nostrils flaring, Josie barked that Howie was to blame for the carnage in the garden; he had not installed the water system before the predicted scorching summer. Howie snarled between his clenched teeth that the garden’s demise was not his fault; it was accidental. As neither would admit defeat and let go of the bone, the wrangling, barking, tugging and snarling continued.

The Summer of Death destroyed the once healthy, lush plants.

The Summer of Disharmony destroyed Howie and Josie’s once healthy, loving relationship. Josie surveyed their withered romance. Their coupling that once held promise with roots firmly planted, tenaciously stretching in all directions, overcoming adversity to bloom triumphantly, was as deflated as a burst party balloon.

Nowadays, Howie wears a permanent curled-cornflake grimace, finding fault with everyone and everything. Resembling globules of pus, words ooze from his mouth as if from an open wound. Like fine lines on an aged, delicate porcelain plate, Howie’s rants splinter the harmony, the splinters expanding into cracks and the cracks widening to chasms.

The rains finally came. Too late to nurture, too late to resuscitate and revive, Josie ruminated as the petrichor arose from the dampened soil and freshened air.

The rains dampened the soil and freshened the air but failed to quell the disharmony between Josie and Howie. Their alliance plummeted through the chasms.

But the garden can bloom again. After installing the watering system, I’ll wrench the plants from the soil and replace them.

Dandelions, decapitated by lawnmower blades, cling to life and bloom once again. Their tenacious tap-root system, penetrating deep into the soil, and grow lateral roots, allowing the plant to thrive and bloom.

Could Howie and I penetrate deeply, sprout lateral roots and bloom again? Josie thought not.

After all, we are not dandelions, are we?

www.hibiscuscoastwriters.org

Email Paula Kora, Membership Secretary at paulajkora@hotmail.com for more information

Hibiscus Coast’s ‘How to’ Guide for managing excess food

For days when you were too enthusiastic at the supermarket, or an abundance of home baking overfills the fridge, the Hibiscus Coast community harbours several solutions to utilising this excess rather than throwing it into the bin.

Community pantries: A decentralized dolution

Local groups have established community pantries all across Rodney to combat food wastage, to provide essential items to those facing hardship and to share abundance with our community. These pantries offer a decentralised approach to food distribution, making it easy for anyone to donate or take food as needed. The most frequented pantry sits on Harris Drive, but others are scattered throughout the Rodney area, including locations on Centreway Road, Brightside Road, Karepiro Drive, Motutapu Ave, and Whangaparāoa Road.

The concept is simple yet powerful: if you have extra food, you can drop it off at any of these pantries. If you’re in need, you can take what you require. This system not only reduces food waste but because the pantries are accessible to everyone, they also foster a sense of community and support.

By using the food pantries, you can make sure your excess food benefits those who are grateful to have it, rather than it ending up as landfill. So next time you find your fridge a bit too full, remember that the community pantries of Hibiscus Coast are ready to help you share the bounty.

Supporting the pantries: Salt Community Trust

A significant player in supporting these pantries is Salt Community Trust. This charity, dedicated to improving the lives of children, families and the broader community of Hibiscus Coast, actively promotes the pantries on their website and occasionally supplies excess bread and other items.

Salt Community Trust collaborates closely with local food banks such as LoveSoup, Salvation Army, and Whangaparāoa Baptist. This cooperation helps prevent duplication of efforts and ensures that resources are distributed equitably, reaching as many families as possible. While Salt Community Trust does not accept food donations directly, their coordination efforts are vital to the smooth operation of food distribution in the area.

Beyond pantries: composting and sustainable practices

Not all excess food is suitable for the pantries, but that doesn’t mean it should go to the rubbish tip. Composting is an excellent alternative for food scraps that are not pantry appropriate. Composts love all food scraps (except meat, bones and oils), tea and coffee grounds, garden waste, tissues and paper towels, paper and cardboard along with vacuum dust. Local gardens and soils would benefit far more from food scraps than the landfill. Composting not only reduces landfill waste but also enriches our local gardens and soils.

Madison Derbyshire-Smith | Features Contributor

Get your fruit trees sorted this Winter!

Winter is an important time to care for fruit trees and roses; while the branches are bare and trees dormant it’s the best time to tackle lurking diseases and insect pests. If you pre-emptively spray, pathogens and insects can’t get a foothold in spring. It’s much easier to prevent than cure!

Winter is also your ideal opportunity to prune; deciduous fruit trees can be pruned as soon as all their leaves drop. Make sure to keep your tools sharp and clean.

When spraying fungicides, remember good coverage is essential, as they work by coating the plant surfaces with a protective barrier.

Distorted and discoloured foliage on stone fruit trees is caused by a fungal disease called leaf curl. In severe cases it reduces the tree’s ability to photosynthesise, which can affect plant health and

fruit yield. Winter is the time to act to prevent this disease, so, get the sprayer ready!

Diseases like leaf curl are prevented by killing the spores before they infect the new leaves. You can break the disease cycle by spraying fruit trees with Yates Liquid Copper.

A winter application of Yates Lime Sulfur will also control diseases like powdery mildew and rust, which lurk on fruit tree stems during winter, as well as insect pests. Don’t spray Lime Sulfur on evergreen plants though, as it will cause leaf burn.

Yates Copper Oxychloride can be mixed with Yates Conqueror Oil as a combination spray, to target both insects and fungal spores. Apply every 2-3 weeks throughout June and July. Our tip for mixing Copper Oxychloride is add a little warm water first and mix it into a slurry before adding the water.

Orewa College shines bright at ShowQuest

In the heart of Aotearoa, an extraordinary showcase of talent and creativity unfolds annually, bringing together art, music, dance, drama, culture and technology. This is ShowQuest, a grand stage where students from across New Zealand transform into performers, creators and storytellers.

ShowQuest isn’t just another competition; it’s a mini-Broadway experience where young minds produce and perform original narratives. This year, a team of 94 Orewa College students from years 7 to 13 took to the stage with their performance, Skool Sux, a witty exploration of modern school life.

‘Fame? Fortune? Glory?... All without breaking a sweat. Maaaate you’re dreamin’! Our performance enters the halls of a modern school where the only thing heavier than textbooks are the excuses for not doing homework. From dreaming of becoming overnight Instagram sensations to fantasising about dominating the gaming world, these students have big aspirations... but tiny motivation. Come with us as we give the spotlight to those wanting all the treats… without doing any of the mahi.’ Conceived by a dedicated leadership team, the performance hilariously critiqued the allure of instant gratification versus the value of hard work, encouraging students to dream big and work even harder.

Behind the scenes, teachers Miss Rebecca Pinder and Miss Keighley Woodroffe led the ShowQuest team, supported by colleagues from the art and technology departments who lent their expertise in propmaking, costume and set design. This collaborative effort extended to student leaders who meticulously choreographed dance routines, designed stunning backdrops, lighting plans & cut music.

Months of preparation culminated in a marathon day of performance, where nerves were high but spirits higher. The countless hours of rehearsals and brainstorming sessions that preceded the competition were evident through the students’ energy and impeccable performance on competition day.

When the results were announced, joy erupted among the Orewa College team. Tears of happiness flowed freely as they realised their hard work had paid off. Winning was just a bonus. Orewa College now advance on to the digital nationals, where they will compete against other top schools nationwide, aiming for the top rankings and technical awards.

For Orewa College students, ShowQuest isn’t merely a competition; it’s an experience that celebrates their talents, the power of creativity, teamwork and perseverance.

Keighley Woodroffe | Orewa College Teacher

Bullying The bystander effect

It’s no secret that bullying is a serious problem in New Zealand schools and that the effects of bullying can be wide-ranging and serious. Bullying involves a social or physical power imbalance where a victim may experience verbal or physical attacks, social exclusion, reputational damage or cyber-bullying.

Many parents have strong views on how schools should handle bullying but as an ex-teacher myself, I can attest to the complexity of the problem. One approach that has shown to be effective focuses on the impact of bystanders in preventing and stopping bullying and encourages students to align with the victim rather than the bully.

Prevention and management of bullying should start at home through open communication about the impact of bullying and the importance of not falling into the social trap of siding with the

bully. It can be all too easy for us adults to insist that our children tell us about any bullying problems, however, research tells us that for many children it’s just not that simple.

Why don’t they tell?

Among many other reasons, sometimes children don’t tell because:

• childhood social structures can be complex and highly dynamic and sometimes it’s not clear to the child if they’re being bullied or not

• guilt or anxiety about calling the bully or other children names at times too

• some children become self-identified with being the victim and don’t seek change

• they don’t feel they have a trusting adult to tell

The last point is interesting because for some children the bullying/victimisation can become worse after adult intervention, particularly if the adult doesn’t understand the nuances of the situation. To foster open lines of communication, ensure your child knows that if they tell you about any incidences of bullying you will work with them to plan your next steps, so they aren’t afraid of losing control of the situation and things becoming worse.

Mandy Bradshaw | Counsellor and Coach millymandz@gmail.com

0272 880178

Don’t sit on your symptoms Why gut health is so important

Bowel cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand and is more common in those aged over 50, but it affects people of all ages, even young people. It is treatable and beatable if detected early enough.

Dr Cameron Schauer, Gastroenterologist at Waitemata Endoscopy explains why gut health is so important, things you can do improve it and symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored that might mean you need a Colonoscopy.

Gut health is so important, because:

• your gut absorbs all of the nutrients in the foods that you eat and diffuses them out into the body

• your gut manages the waste and filters and eliminates toxins from the body

• your gut is crucial to your immune system

You can improve your gut health by:

• taking natural prebiotics – fermentable foods that feed your own natural bacteria, like brown rice, brown bread, grains, legumes and beans that optimise your gut health

• eating foods with natural probiotics such as sauerkraut, kombucha, kimchi and yoghurts

• maintaining a healthy weight and regularly exercising

The gut is the engine of the body. When the gut is working well, the body is working well. Implementing these changes, you’ll see changes to your physical and mental wellbeing.

Symptoms to look out for relating to bowel issues include:

• a change in bowel habit

• bleeding from the bowel

• knowing your family history with bowel health

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy involves flushing and cleansing the bowel of all the stool so we can see what’s inside the colon. It’s a day stay procedure that only takes about 3040 minutes. One of the massive benefits of a colonoscopy is the ability to detect and remove polyps, the precursors to bowel cancer.

To view Dr Schauer’s full video and to learn more about gut health, please scan the QR code below or visit https://waitemataendoscopy.co.nz/ medical-conditions

have reduced wait times for Colonoscopy & Gastroscopy

With increased capacity, Waitemata Endoscopy is able to offer greater and timelier access to a group of experienced Gastroenterologists and Surgeons, dedicated to providing excellent patient care.

Appointments are available within 7 working days for most standard Gastroscopy & Colonoscopy procedures by matching patients with the availability of our Specialists.*

If you need an appointment, talk to your GP about a referral to the Waitemata Endoscopy Group, or you can self-refer at www.waitemataendoscopy.co.nz/referrals

Or call us on (09) 925 4449

SHEET

VINYL HYBRID

• Waterproof: vinyl is a waterproof product, making it an ideal choice where spills and moisture are common. Its impermeable surface prevents water damage to the sub oor and ensures easy cleanup of spills and splashes.

• Durability: able to withstand heavy foot tra c, moisture, and daily wear and tear without showing signi cant signs of damage.

• Low maintenance: cleaning sheet vinyl ooring is a breeze, requiring only regular sweeping and mopping with a pH neutral detergent.

• Comfortable underfoot: a cushioned feel underfoot, providing a comfortable surface to stand on. This added comfort can be particularly appreciated in bathrooms where you often spend time barefoot.

• Cost E ective with a wide range of designs, colours & textures.

Hybrid is a durable & hard wearing ooring option that comes in a wide range of designs that mimic the natural texture & variations such as timber. Hybrid is made with a Stone Plastic Composite core board, providing substance & rigitidy to the oorboards.

• Waterproof: Hybrid ooring is a completely waterproof product & can be used in any part of the house without the risk of swelling or water damage.

• Installs over most existing hard oors: utilises a click-lock system & can be laid over existing at and dry sub oors.

• Durability: a hardwearing top coat is applied for protection, making it durable & scratch resistant.

• Low maintenance: does not need waxing, sanding, polishing or re nishing. Instead, regular cleaning with a slightly damp mop & sweeping will maintain its appearance.

Have you got the power?

When winter strikes it may be tempting to winterise all your power tools and lock them safely away until the warmer temperatures return in spring. That’s great for tools you’re not likely to be using for several months, but some power tools are incredibly handy to have at the ready all year round.

Here’s a few power tools that will help you get your winter chores done a lot faster and, let’s face it, make them a lot more fun! Just remember when temperatures are very low it’s a good idea to bring power tools to room temperature before use.

Chainsaw

Your chainsaw is your best friend when chopping up wood for the fire and getting rid of any broken or downed tree branches after winter storms. Make sure you wear the usual ear, hand, eye and leg protection when using chainsaws, and over winter, make sure any scarves are well tucked away and if the ground is wet or icy, put on some non-slip boots.

Leaf blower and vac

not only make them look better but make them less slippery too, and when you want to clean out your rubbish bins faster so you can get back inside in the warm, water blast away, my friend.

Generator

When you’ve had a big bout of rain, a leaf blower is great for blowing the water off your outdoor tables and chairs. This limits any weather damage and dries your chairs off faster for those marshmallow toasting sessions around your outdoor fire.

It’s also great for drying your car off after a wash at home – saving your hands from getting cold – and use the blower or vac to clear debris out of your car while you’re at it. These tools are also useful for getting rid of any dust and cobwebs you have lying around.

Water blasters

Water blasters (aka pressure washers) are also handy for getting rid of stubborn cobwebs on the outside of your house, garage or shed. You can blast away the dirt and mould from concrete and decks to

While candles may be cosy there’s nothing more annoying than the power going out over winter and not being able to keep yourself warm, cook your dinner or run important machines needed at your home or your place of business. Having your own generator means you can keep the things you really need running. With a large range of sizes and prices now available, there are models suitable for domestic, farming and industrial use. You can even take them on your next camping trip.

Remember, if your power tools need a service or it’s time to make a new addition to your arsenal, get along to Gatmans and let their experts help you choose the right one.

www.gatmans.co.nz

What’s in a Name?

Hibiscus Coast Singers mid-year concert

The Hibiscus Coast Singers are pleased to announce their midyear concert What’s in a Name? is coming up at the end of July, with performances taking place on 27 and 28 July at 2:00 pm at Red Beach Church, 76 Red Beach Road. This concert will explore songs with names in their titles or lyrics, offering a rich and varied afternoon of music.

What’s in a Name? will showcase a diverse range of pieces, including the powerful ‘Go Down, Moses,’ the classic love song ‘Michelle’ by The Beatles, the traditional English folk song ‘Widecombe Fair,’ about the hapless Tom Colby and the fate of his poor mare, and ‘Aura Lee’, known to many as the tune behind Elvis Presley’s ‘Love Me Tender’.

Conductor Robyn Allen Goudge, known for her exceptional leadership and musical direction, will lead the choir. Michael Bell will accompany the choir, again bringing his experience and skill to the performance. His mother, Prue Bell, the choir’s rehearsal pianist, will also sing with the choir, as she does in every concert.

Aiden Allen also joins the choir again. Aiden is an exceptional young baritone whose voice adds balance to the whole choir.

Experience engaging music centred around the theme of names at the concert. Whether you’re a long-time supporter of the choir or attending for the first time, it promises to be an enjoyable and memorable event for everyone.

For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the choir’s website, email them at coastsingers@gmail.com or give them a call on 021 563 304.

If you are interested in joining the choir to participate in the yearend concert, please email Robyn at coastsingers@gmail.com for more information or visit the choir’s website: www.hbcsingers.com

Hibiscus Coast Singers | Connecting through music

Your own personal chef Cooking Questions with Mark Lane

I have been cooking professionally for 39 years, both in New Zealand and internationally. My business, Culinary Lane Catering is based in Millwater, providing three and five course dinners in your home, out-catering and grazing tables. Now you can gain the benefit of my experience by emailing me your cooking questions.

Mark: My wife has been told she has high blood pressure and she needs to reduce salt in her diet. What is the best way to achieve this without changing the taste of food too much as the family are used to well-seasoned food?

Wow, what a great question. As a chef, we are taught very early on to season food well. When I say ‘seasoning’ I just means salt and pepper. When you go to most good restaurants, salt and pepper aren’t on the table because the chef has seasoned the food the way they intend you to eat it. Your body needs some sodium, but the daily recommended intake of sodium is 2,300 mg. That’s about one teaspoon of salt –not much is it?

Here are some natural ways to add more flavour to food without adding extra salt.

Adding more fresh or dried garlic (not garlic salt), lemon juice helps to bring out the flavour of food, ground black pepper, onions, nutritional yeast, paprika, vinegar, herbs and spices. They won’t make the food salty but will help to enhance the flavour.

There are lots of choices of salt substitutes which you find in health food shops and specialty shops. Potassium chloride is very good as it is very similar to salt, but the potassium helps to lower the blood pressure.

Tyler: I can cook ordinary food okay but I’m no chef. Can you suggest a couple of dinner dishes that I could serve to a couple of guests at home that look impressive but aren’t too hard to make.

You don’t have to be a chef to cook good food. I believe most of the best dishes to eat are the classics or ‘ordinary’ food done well with the best ingredients and maximising the flavour.

Cook favourite dishes you feel confident with and jazz them up a bit. Use the best ingredients you can find. If it’s a chicken pasta dish with tomato, herbs and parmesan, then get the best freerange chicken from the butcher, make the best Napoli sauce with fresh Roma tomatoes, shallots (not onions) fresh garlic and fresh oregano. Use quality Italian dried pasta and cook it to perfection. Use fresh herbs to finish such as basil, Italian parsley and chives and use the best Italian parmesan ‘Parmigiano Reggian’ and of course, a good extra virgin olive oil.

I’ll come around and eat that with you rather than a fancy, more ‘pretentious’ meal anytime!! Happy cooking.

Mark Lane | Culinary Lane Catering

www.culinarylane.co.nz | email culinarylane@gmail.com

Taking a Hike

Bob’s Cove

My daughter lives in Queenstown and I am lucky enough to visit her often. When I‘m in town I love getting out and about enjoying all the hikes, walks and cycle trails the area has to offer. When time is of the essence a favourite of mine is a short hike around Bob’s Cove. It’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in the beauty of Southland.

To get there from Queenstown takes a scenic 15 minute drive along the Glenorchy Road. Keep an eye out for the signs on the left. Parking is at a premium, but we always manage to find a spot.

From the parking area the track heads down a gravel path through native bush and beech forest. It’s a short and easy ten minute walk to Bob’s Cove Beach – a sheltered pebble bay with the sparkling turquoise blue waters of Lake Whakitpu lapping at the shoreline. The gum trees give off a vague Australian outback vibe – they were planted long ago to fuel the kilns for The Wakatipu Lime company that quarried limestone in the area. The old Queenstown courthouse and the Kawarau River suspension bridge were both built using lime from this mine.

It’s the perfect spot to stop and have a swim but usually we carry on down, past an historic kiln from the 1800s along to the jetty, stopping here for a swim in the summer. It’s a fabulous phototaking spot as well. We’ve watched many a charter boats pull up here with tourists. Once we even had a stag do stop in for beers and some bombs off the jetty.

A few minutes past the jetty is a fork in the trail where you can carry on to the Twelve Mile Delta track for a longer hike or head up the short-but-decently-steep hill to Picnic Point. For a little bit of effort you are rewarded at the top with incredible views out over Lake Wakatipu towards Mount Nicholas and Walter Peak in one direction and back towards Queenstown in the other.

It has some steep drop offs on one side. I’m not a fan of heights so I try to keep well away from the edge while attempting to get the best camera angle and capture the stunning vistas in a picture.

Bob’s Cove Track is easily one of the most accessible and close to Queenstown hikes and any time of year it’s stunning. Perfect for a summer swim or just to enjoy the view of snow-capped mountains in winter. It’s a great walk for kids as well – just about any age could manage this picturesque track.

Carmen Bird | Carmen Bird Photography www.carmenbirdphotography.co.nz | 021 310320

For framed landscape prints PRINT SHOP | All | Carmen Bird Photography

Get your website found on the web

Over 90% of online experiences begin with a search engine, and Google hold over 90% of the search engine market share. Paid adverts appear at the top of Google, however, it’s the organic search results that don’t have that word ‘Sponsored’ above, that usually achieve the higher click through rate.

One of the first things you should do when optimising for search yourself is to set up your Google business profile. It’s easy and will allow you to appear in the map searches.

Search engine optimisation (SEO)

SEO is about optimising your site to get the best search results. You can use an agency, but if you do want to take a DIY approach here are some tips.

Keywords: Think like a customer. Research the keywords through sample searches and see what comes up. If it’s your competitors, this is a good place to start.

Keyword phrases (known as long-tail keywords): Customers use a combination of words such as: ‘garage’ ‘door’ ‘maintenance’, so be sure to include these in ‘speakable’ phrases. Over 95% of Google searches are four or more words.

Plugins: Find a good SEO plugin. Make sure you read up on it and use all it’s available tools. There are too many to recommend, so search the top five for the website platform you’re using and ask for recommendations.

Metadata (the title and description displayed in your search results): Complete and optimise the title to a maximum of 60 characters. Add Schema: (Code recognised by search) you can find all schema language references at https://schema.org/.

Social optimisation (defines how your shared content and links

should be displayed on Facebook): You can do this yourself, or ask for help from www.linku2hibiscuscoast.co.nz or www.stokedigital. co.nz

Google ads: This is a paid service that will increase the chances your site being higher up the Google rankings. Remember, organic search gets a higher click through rate.

Images: Use key words in your image names.

Long copy: Another way to appear in searches is to add a blog to your site and write articles that include your keywords. This can earn your site over 50% more traffic.

Inbound and internal links: Partner to get other websites to link back to your site and link internally between your own site pages. If you have no external backlinks, you run the risk of being classified in the over 65% of sites that will get no Google organic traffic.

Update: Keep your website updated and make your text fresh and relevant.

And finally, submit your page to Google for indexing by logging in to your Google account and submitting your URL.

Now test your page with tools such as Google Rich Results test, Structured Data testing tool and Mobile friendly test, website speed and performance optimisation (a good tool is GTMetrix) and check for keyword density (a good tool is https://www. seoreviewtools.com/keyword-density-checker/). Now keep working on your site as the internet is always changing.

Written by Sarah Carr of linku2hibiscuscoast.co.nz.

Edited by Chris Norris.

Bucket List Travel

Sydney Opera House

Just as incredible inside

Anyone who has been to Sydney has likely visited the city’s iconic opera house, however, how many of you have been inside and done a walking tour with a guide? I’ve been to Sydney many times over the years and swung by the opera house, but I’d never done a walking tour. Last week I finally got around to doing one, and goodness, I am so glad I did.

This visit to the Sydney Opera House was an unforgettable experience that immersed me in both its architectural marvels and cultural richness. As I approached along the waterfront, the sight of its iconic sail-like rooves against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour was breathtaking.

used, each individually positioned to achieve the iconic curved shape that defines the building’s silhouette.

The sheer magnitude and intricacy of the design became even more impressive up close, with each sail meticulously crafted to form part of the harmonious whole. The Opera House’s stunning design makes it a photographer’s paradise too, offering endless angles to capture its beauty against the backdrop of the sparkling harbor.

Inside, the Opera House buzzed with energy. Walking through the halls, you could feel the history and marvel at the skill and creativity that shaped this world-renowned venue. From the grand Concert Hall to the intimate Drama Theatre, each venue exuded its own unique ambiance. Attending a performance there was a sensory delight—the acoustics were impeccable, enhancing every note of the music and every word of the actors.

Learning about the Opera House’s history was equally fascinating. Construction began in 1957 and faced numerous challenges, ultimately taking 14 years to complete. Over 1 million roof tiles were

Exploring the Opera House also revealed unexpected delights, like the array of restaurants and cafes offering stunning views of the harbour. It’s not just a cultural hub but a social one too, where visitors and locals alike come together to enjoy art, music and the beauty of Sydney’s waterfront.

In essence, visiting the Sydney Opera House isn’t merely about admiring a landmark, it’s about immersing oneself in a living testament to creativity, craftsmanship and the enduring power of artistic expression.

So next time you fancy a jaunt across the Tasman and a spot of shopping in Sydney, get along and check out what lies inside the sails of the Sydey Opera House.

Michelle | Bucket List Travel, Red Beach info@bucketlisttravel.co.nz

We believe that selling and buying a house or property can be stress-free and exciting when you have the right knowledge and insights, partnered with a supportive real estate agent and sales system. As top local agents who know the Millwater/Silverdale area, know the current market, and know how to get results, all while providing our clients with the best possible service, we offer a down-toearth yet bespoke approach to real estate. We hope you'll find the next few pages provide some information and insights to help you make informed decisions about your next move. We welcome the opportunity to chat with you about your current and future property plans. So have a read and send us a message or call us any time.

jake.morgan@harcourts.co.nz

jen.singleton@harcourts.co.nz

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT OUR FEATURE

2 4 2 2

A Sad Goodbye - Sensation Home

Our vendor is making the move to a retirement village and is motivated to sell this much-loved home . This beautiful single-level home, built by the always desirable Sensation Developments, offers an incredible opportunity for a new family to enjoy the same comfort and warmth experienced by its sole owner for the past 8 years. When asked what she has loved most about living here, our vendor particularly enjoys the way the morning sun floods the kitchen and living space in the morning, transitioning to the formal living and dining areas in the afternoon, creating a bright and cheerful ambiance throughout the day. With 4 bedrooms plus a study nook, this home is perfect for easy living or accommodating family and work-from-home needs. The heat pump and underfloor heating in all the tiled areas will keep you warm and comfortable, regardless of the season. Don't miss the chance to make 144 Harris Drive your own. Contact us today to arrange a viewing and experience all that this beautiful home has to offer.

MAINTENANCE PLAN THE BARE-MINIMUM HOME

ention to the four

e your car, your body it the 80-20 home-

1. Clear the gutters once a year. Blocked and non-performing spouting can be a disaster.

Wash your home every year or two. This can stop moss from growing and helps look after your paint job. If you are out-sourcing this job, make sure you ask for a softer wash if your paint-work is nearing the end of its life.

2. Keep trees away from the property. This stop rodents from getting into your roof, improves the amount of sun you get and protects your gutters and paintwork.

3. Paint the outside if it needs it. Every 8-10 years for plaster homes especially and also in a coastal environment.

5.

4. If you have a fireplace, get it checked each year to make sure it's safe to use. Some insurance policies insist on this.

6. Check that your home insurance is up to date. If your insurer uses a 'sum-insured' value then review this amount every year or two to make sure you won't be left short-handed if the worst possible scenario happens. Try searching for an online replacement-cost calculator, or speak to your preferred local valuer for advice. You’d probably be surprised how much the cost of building has gone up in the last 2 or 3 years.

8.

Invest in a home ventilation system along with the best insulation you can afford. Keep your home healthy and dry. Ground moisture barriers are an affordable and under-rated addition as well.

7. Take a walk! It's easy to go months without having a close look at every part of your property. Slowly walk around the outside of your home, every 3-6 months, looking for any signs of cracks, damage, or blocked drainage. It's a good idea to do this on a windy and rainy day so you can see if gutters are loose or over-flowing too.

There you have it. The lazy homeowner's guide to maintenance!

If you need suggestions for a local valuer or tradesperson to complete the jobs above, don't hesitate to get in touch. We can often make suggestions or point you in the right direction. It's all part of the service.

If you are thinking of moving in the next 3-6 months and aren't sure which maintenance jobs to priorit give us a call. It's a question we love talking through with our clients and it's important to spend money in the right places to maximise your sale price. Get in touch today!

Jen Singleton: 021 820 373

Jake Morgan: 021 447 534

Jake Morgan: 021 447 534

Jen Singleton: 021 820 373

The Green Spot

Going reusable with your sanitary products

Plastic Free July is a good time to think about the next steps in your waste free journey. There was a time I never would have thought I’d go as far as using menstrual cups or underwear but now they are much more normalised as women are discovering the many benefits they offer, including comfort and cost. Recently I discovered menstrual discs and they have been a life changer for me as sustainable sanitary products up their game again!

Discs are similar to cups but sit higher up and as a result are much less prone to leaking and feel like they’re not even there. This has even facilitated mess-free intimacy for many couples. There are a few brands now available. I purchased the awardwinning Hello Disc from New Zealand company Hello Period and found their design works well as they have a pull tab for ease of removal. It should be noted that discs empty on removal as opposed to afterwards like a cup so you need to be ready for that. You pinch them for insertion and they will hold up to 50mls, which is five times the volume of tampons or pads.

The discs are made from medical-grade silicone and since silica is found in sand it is a much better eco-friendly alternative to plastic, which is petroleum based. It is more ocean friendly as it is non toxic to aquatic and soil organisms and won’t break down into micro contaminants. Importantly, silicone is much more durable and longer lasting than plastic and while it is not biodegradable it can be recycled after a lifetime of use.

If these alone aren’t enough reasons to try menstrual discs, Hello Period is offering a 15% discount for readers who use MILLWATER15 at the checkout during the month of July. This can be used on their range of products found at helloperiod.com, including reusable pads, underwear and cups, which are all fabulous options.

Hayley Crawford | @trashtalkingmama

Hibiscus Coast Community House

The things they do

Since 1990 the Hibiscus Coast Community House has been providing a wide range of services to our local community. As a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation that does not receive external funding, they rely on their services to keep them going. Despite being involved in the community for such a long time, many locals don’t know they exist or understand what they do.

Occupying two sites owned by Auckland Council (one on the Western Reserve and one on the corner of HBC Highway and Centreway Road), the organisation has a governance board made up by local people, five paid part-time staff who look after the day-to-day running of the complex, and a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers.

that benefits the environment and local families in need (they even do pick-ups and deliveries)

• assisting families in crisis by providing food parcels and/or other household necessities

The range of services they provide to the community is quite astonishing, including:

• offering goods to local families at affordable prices from their Community Shop

• accepting saleable donations of goods in a win-win exchange

• facilitating a wide range of courses, support services, hobby groups and meetings

• a car seat rental service with advice from a trained technician

• a jigsaw library service

• supplying a Breakfast in Schools programme at a local school

• supporting other local not-for-profit groups through our monthly initiative of donating one day of shop income to another organisation and working with other agencies in the area to support families and individuals

• supporting new initiatives such as the community garden, Repair Café and school uniform bank run by other groups on our sites

• having a defibrillator on the 214 site for emergency use

They also have two venues available for hire at very affordable rates, both with parking and kitchen facilities.

To make use of their wide range of services, or to offer your own services as a volunteer, contact www.hbccommunityhouse.org.nz or phone 09 426 3598.

Boost winter wellness with a regular dose of laughter

‘Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.’

Victor Hugo

Laughing is a natural health tonic with multiple benefits for helping us endure cold, dreary wintry days.

Physical health benefits

Laughter boosts our immune system. Laughing decreases stress levels and at the same time increases the amount of infection-fighting antibodies protecting us from winter illnesses. Laughter is a cost-free health check.

Laughter strengthens relationships. Laughter eases tension and can promote group bonding. We appreciate humour when we trust others to laugh with us and not at us. Sharing laughter with others does need to be a safe connection.

Laughter relaxes the whole body and can reduce pain. A hearty laugh relieves physical tension and relaxes muscles for up to 45 minutes. Heightened physical pain can be a reality of winter temperatures. Utilising relaxation techniques helps, including laughter. Laughing activates the vagus nerve, our powerhouse for regulating stress levels. When cooped up inside on wet days with fractious children or adults, creating humour can ease friction.

Laughter protects our hearts. Laughing increases blood flow and blood vessels’ functionality. It helps reduce blood pressure and can be as effective as aerobic exercise. When the weather is too inclement for your daily walk, run or cycle, be creative with indoor exercise that gets you laughing. Dancing to a favourite playlist works for me.

Mental health benefits

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, our body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins act as a natural mood booster and shift our thoughts about the gloomy weather. Scheduling fun nights with family and friends creates enjoyable experiences that are not weather-dependent. Meet-ups at quiz nights, karaoke or cultural events can be part of weekly activities. Dust off the board games or organise a card-playing evening.

Laughter builds resilience against depressive thoughts. Lack of sun and warmth can negatively influence our well-being. Unpleasant feelings may arise when experiencing unpleasant weather. Laughter creates lightness in our souls. It warms and calms our minds like nourishing soup warms our bodies.

How can you bring laughter into your daily routine? Your well-being will thank you: mind, body and soul.

‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.’ Proverbs

17:22

Trish | Life Coach & Counsellor trishbeauchamp.com

Self-service? Yeah, nah

It’s one thing to buy your favourite takeaway from a self-service kiosk but would you buy a diamond ring without the advice of an expert? Are you able to distinguish cut, colour, clarity, and carats. The monetary risks are obviously substantially higher when it comes to diamonds but when choosing eyewear –the first thing that people see when they look at you – expert advice can make all the difference between an ok or a fantastic choice.

Did you know that a professionally trained Dispensing Optician can guide you through the exciting process of choosing eyewear? They have the expertise to show you how different frame shapes, colours and styles can impact your look.

When it comes to choosing glasses or sunglasses all frames are not created equal, and there is no such thing as one size fits all.

Choosing a new frame can feel a bit daunting and most people base their choice mostly on colour – the frame they are most attracted to. Sometimes that leads to frustration and anguish, not to mention potentially leaving a big hole in your wallet when the frame proves to be ill-fitting and uncomfortable. Self-service frame selection can be a very costly mistake!

Trained Dispensing Opticians look at the colour of the frame on your face but there is so much more to consider. They note your skin and hair colour and the shape of your face to achieve the right look. Personality also comes into play alongside what you need from your new eyewear. There is also the important consideration of how your prescription can impact and influence your frame choice.

At Orewa Optics we are excited to announce the opening of our eyewear

styling consulting room! Our dispensing opticians have completed an international styling course and are trained as eyewear stylists. We would love you to come into the store and enjoy the benefits of expert advice as part of a fun and exciting experience. Our stylists will spend uninterrupted time with you, gathering information to be able to present a selection of beautiful frames that will highlight your look.

We are happy to help with the journey to finding you a beautiful pair of glasses that you’ll love.

Visit us Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, and enjoy extended hours until 7:00pm on Tuesdays. Call us today 09 426 6646 or book online at www.orewaoptics. co.nz and book your styling consultation with us.

The Fishing Spot

June has seen some great fishing out there still. This winter has been really warm so far and the water is still holding its temperature. I tend to stick to bait fishing this time of year, mainly due to the risk of the fish not being active when I’m fishing with lures. This could also be that I’m no expert on soft baiting!

Fishing around structure and in the channels is where you need to be in the winter. I take plenty of burley, usually three, and buy some harder baits that will stay on your hook longer. Patience is your friend as the water gets colder. The small fish feeding in your burley trail will excite the big ones and they always turn up. It might only be for half an hour, but they will always swing by for a look to see what’s going on. It’s also important to try different bait sizes. Sometimes big baits don’t work and baits around 2cm on a single hook get snapped up by the big fish as it floats down.

I’ve been sticking to my usual spots this month up and around the Kawau area. Both sessions have produced great average-sized fish and the fish have been in great condition with waxy fillets, so there must be a lot of food around at the moment.

Our next adventure is down to the top of the South Island to fish Durville Island for four days chasing grouper, bluenose, kingfish, terakihi and blue cod. We leave from Mana, Wellington next Thursday and make our way across the Cook Straight stopping at famous reefs such as Fishermans Rock and The Brothers along the way. Our accommodation is at Durville Island Wilderness Resort, which will have

some welcome creature comforts after long and cold days on the water. We can’t wait to put the snapper rods away and fish with our electric reels in 100m+ water. This trip has been on my bucket list for a while now. Hopefully the weather holds out for us and I can give you an update next month – tight lines!

Tim Lawrence

Hospice volunteer on mission to educate Asian community

In Malaysia it’s traditional for a daughter to look after her parents as they age and lose their health. But for Sue Chau, from Orewa, this was impossible when her father became ill. She had emigrated to New Zealand and had a young family to care for.

Not being able to be there for her father was distressing for Sue. So, years later, when she found out about hospice services on the Hibiscus Coast, she saw volunteering for hospice as a way of making up for the care she couldn’t provide her dad. ‘It became my way of giving back,’ she says.

This month Sue, 63, will be recognised for five years’ service at Harbour Hospice’s Long Service Awards. Sue volunteers at Harbour Hospice’s Orewa shop and, for three years, contributed on its Hibiscus Coast Advisory Board. She launched and ran the Orewa Asian Food and Cultural Festival from 2019 until Covid and unpredictable weather made the event too stressful for her to continue to run.

Sue says she started the festival because she wanted to raise awareness in the Asian community about hospice. ‘The majority of Chinese people think that hospice is just a second-hand shop. They don’t realise that the shops are there to raise funds to run a healthcare service that is there for everybody at the end of life.’

Sue still tries to educate the Asian community through talking to people when they come into the shop. ‘I want Asian people to understand that hospice can help them look after their parents; that hospice can go into their homes and give them a break.’

Harbour Hospice social worker Natalie He agrees that ‘it will still take some time for the wider Asian community to have a good

‘The majority of Chinese people think that Hospice is just a second-hand shop.’

understanding of the Hospice service. ‘But I am noticing that there have been an increasing number of requests from Asian clients and their families for Hospice care,’ she says.

Part of Natalie’s role is to engage with local social support services to facilitate a cooperative approach to promoting Hospice services – and with support from people like Sue, Natalie says that job is made just a little bit easier.

For more information about Hospice services on the Coast, go to harbourhospice.org.nz

Does your website need a little polish and pizzazz?

Want to wow with written content that is clear, concise, engaging and error-free?

Online or in print, I can help make your words sing.

For editing, proofreading and content writing services, contact: Claire Nevans

Meet the residents at The Botanic

Laurie and Lanie McGrath

(and Maya the miniature schnauzer)

Where did you move from? We moved to The Botanic from Stanmore Bay where we lived in a single level, three-bedroom home with a big garden. It was a lot of work, and we were starting to have a few health issues, as you do. In the end, Laurie realised he liked playing golf more than he liked gardening, so here we are!

What do you love most about The Botanic? It’s a wonderful community and we’ve made so many new friends. If you’re not well, everyone is so caring and it’s a secure and safe place to live.

What are you enjoying about retired life? There is always something happening. Lanie has gone back to playing bowls, and Laurie’s playing bowls as well as golf now. We just love being retired.

What have you learnt about retirement that you wished you’d known before? If we had our time again, we would have moved sooner. We’re now 82 and 80, and in hindsight we should have moved about five years ago. The older you are, the more stressful it can be to move, but now that we’re here it’s wonderful.

How do you live a life filled with purpose? That’s easy! There’s plenty to do here. It’s a bit like being on a cruise. You can choose to participate or not. Life has got much busier and we have to make the time to see our outside friends.

What’s the best thing about living on the Hibiscus Coast? For us, it’s definitely the proximity to water. The beautiful beaches are all around us with lovely views, and Orewa is just down the road. The sea is never far away.

The Botanic is a pet-friendly village. Did that help you make the decision to move here? That was everything to us. There was no way we would have moved without Maya too, and we needed to make sure the village worked for her too. She’s loved by everyone.

If we go away, there are plenty of people at the village who will look after her for us.

How has the ‘Lock up and Leave’ lifestyle changed your life? If we go away, it’s such a relief to come home and the garden looks immaculate. You don’t come home to a foot-long lawn!

What’s your favourite dish or food at The Clubhouse Café? For Laurie, it’s the lamb shanks and Lanie’s a fan of the roast chicken stuffed with mushrooms and bacon.

What is your favourite Botanic amenity? The Clubhouse Café and the bowling green but when our great-grandchildren come to visit it’s straight to the pool. They just love it in there.

What is great advice to live by? Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself. Don’t step back in retirement, always step forward. Enjoy your life and make sure you stay active.

www.thebotanic.co.nz

THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY | 5 PM TO LATE

O P E N F O R N I G H T S

Clara Cafe Silverdale

Phone: 09 688 2068

Address: 3 Brian Smith Drive, Silverdale, Auckland 0932

Email: silverdale@claragroup.co.nz

Silverdale & Districts Historical Society (Inc) & Silverdale Pioneer Village

Reflecting on the last year

At the recent AGM of the Silverdale & Districts Historical Society, President Ian Hacking reflected on the enormous amount of work that had been done at the Pioneer Village to bring the project of re-piling the Parsonage and the Neville House to the point where both buildings are once again open to the public. There is still some exterior work to do but this will have to wait for better weather.

Certificates of appreciation were presented to the many families, groups and organisations that have supported us. Retiring members of the Committee were also recognised.

The saying ‘Many hands make light work’ is true of so many voluntary organisations and none more so than ours. If you are interested in helping in and around the Pioneer Village museum and gardens, pop in any Saturday or Sunday between 10am and 3pm or email us at pioneervillage1968@gmail.com.

(09) 426 8272 | pioneervillage1968@gmail.com

www.silverdalepioneervillage.com

Enduring Powers of Attorney are not just for the elderly

There are two kinds of Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs); one for your personal care and welfare and one for your property (which covers more than just your home, but also your bank accounts and anything else you may own in your personal name). These documents give the people you appoint (your attorneys) the power to act for you in regard to your care and property matters if you lose mental capacity. For the EPA for property, this can come into effect earlier whilst you still have mental capacity if you want it to. For example, some people like to elect this if they have difficulty physically signing documents and want a loved one to do this on their behalf.

Many people have the misconception that EPAs are only for the elderly. However, mental incapacity can occur at any age due to an

accident or illness. It is important to put these documents in place while you still have mental capacity so that you can appoint the right people to make these important decisions when you cannot.

If you do not have EPAs in place, and you lose capacity, then nobody will be able to deal with your property or financial affairs without a court order, this includes your spouse or partner if you do not own property jointly. Not having an EPA in place can cause your loved ones a lot of stress, time and money at an already difficult time.

Like all legal documents, it is important that you review your EPAs regularly, especially if you have just been through a major life event like getting married, moving countries, having children or if you have separated from your previous partner. You can amend your EPA at any time as long as you have mental capacity.

When you are making a decision about your EPAs, it is important that you get sound legal advice from a team with experience in life and estate planning. Get in touch with our team at Simpson Western North at office@simpsonwesternnorth.co.nz or 09 421 0559 and we can help you with the EPA process.

Anushka Sequeira | Solicitor Simpson Western North

Note: This article is published for general information purposes and should not be relied upon as legal advice. For advice specific to your legal issues, please engage a lawyer directly.

Our friendly team are here to provide you with a thorough eye examination, the latest fashion frames and technologically advanced lenses for work, sports and everyday wear. We stand by our products, services and expertise with integrity and have proudly supported and cared for our Hibiscus Coast community since 1987. We are right here in the heart of Orewa – Call on us today.

Our Dispensing Opticians Petra, Angela, Christine and Laura

The most important people in your family

Contemplate a family of five: two parents and three children, all the children under the age of five. If I were to ask the parents, ‘Who are the most important people in your family?’ most will invariably answer, ‘the children’. If asked to explain why, the parents will suggest that their children ‘are the future and they have their whole lives ahead of them’.

I would suggest that they are wrong! The most important people in the family are the parents. It is the parents who instil values, cultivate a work ethic, establish boundaries, nurture, socialise and mentor their children to ensure they become well-adjusted and caring members of the community and to prepare them properly for responsible citizenship. Family psychologists will tell you that raising the child(ren) as the most important person(s) in the family is the first step towards raising a child who feels entitled.

It therefore follows, that the most important people in the family (the parents) need to be properly insured to ensure that, in the unfortunate event of premature death or critical illness, this does not create an unbearable financial burden on the young family and jeopardise their development.

Many people I personally know who have lost a parent early in their lives have stressed how grateful they were that their parents had life insurance, to enable the children to be provided for and to grow up and enjoy a childhood without the family enduring financial hardship.

As the great Merle Haggard said in his song Holding things together:

Holding things together

Ain’t no easy thing to do

When it comes to raisin’ children

It’s a job - meant for two Alice please believe me I can’t go on and on

Holding things together

With you gone.

If you are a parent with children and don’t presently have a protection plan for your family, I invite you to contact me for an initial no-obligation consultation. This will be conducted in the gentle, respectful and sensitive manner for which UProtectNZ Insurance Services is renown.

It’s what we do.

Theo Simeonidis | UProtectNZ Insurance Services

Theo Simeonidis is a Financial Adviser, living and working in Millwater on the Hibiscus Coast, and specialising in personal and business insurances. Theo can be contacted on 027 248 9320 or email theo@uprotectnz.com

Any assistance is provided on a free, no-obligation basis. A public disclosure statement is available on the www.uprotectnz.com web site.

Art Speak

Spotlight on sculpture

For the month of July the Estuary Arts Centre will be shining a spotlight on all things sculpture great and small. The exhibitions in the downstairs galleries as well as around the building reflect the diversity in sculpture making by contemporary New Zealand Sculptors.

The comprehensive 4-week programme, which includes workshops and artist talks, incorporates over 40 exhibitors showcasing their unique designs. Included are large corten steel pieces by Neil Donaldson, designed to compliment New Zealand’s outdoor scenery, to rich native wood sculpture by self-taught sculptor and carver Joe Kemp, who enjoys the secrets and surprises our native timbers bring with them, to small gemstones made of upcycled 44 gallon steel drums by the Metal Metcalfe sisters, whose pieces come from a combination of play and a strong focus on sustainability. You can also view a range of ceramic artworks, mosaic and even felted vessels.

The July School Holiday programme runs for two weeks from 09 July to 18 July and will be focussed on celebrating Matariki and sculpture. On offer are a range of classes focussed on construction and design to align with the exhibition. Join a full day class or a half day class with our amazing kid’s tutors. There are also specialist teens classes which will extend and push their arts practice to the next level.

Term three classes are now available to book and these classes commence the week following the school holiday programme on 22 July. Our ever popular painting and clay classes are filling up fast, so do get your registration in as soon as you can.

Go to www.estuaryarts.org or pop into the centre at 214B Hibiscus Coast highway. We are open daily Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm, Fridays 9am to 3pm and weekends 10am to 3pm.

Kim Jennifer Boyd | Centre Manager BAFA, PGCE, MA Arts Management, Dip Production Design/sculpting

Family Corner

Postnatal mental health and men A

new dad’s perspective

The number of new childcare facilities popping up all over the Coast indicates that our local demographic includes a fair number of families with very young children. When I read this article recently it struck me as a topic of importance to our local community and one that is not, in my opinion, discussed enough. Claire Nevans, Editor.

Over the past twenty-ish years, New Zealand has seen an explosion of public kōrero, media and education targeting men’s health and wellbeing and typical ‘Kiwi’ attitudes on the subject. Thankfully, there has been a cultural shift, and it’s far more common and acceptable for men to talk about how we’re feeling now. I’m just not sure that we’ve quite figured out how to take these new and improved post-90’s attitudes and apply them to the way in which we talk about dadhood.

think there is a correlation between lawns that look like bowling greens and male emotional repression.

The struggle is real

To be completely honest, I’m not even sure if I had a single emotionally stable day in my first three months of being a dad. Sometimes it was amazing, but there were plenty of days where I felt as if my life would never be enjoyable again.

I didn’t actually experience postnatal depression, but after going through what I can only assume was a fairly typical first-time parent experience, I completely understand why one in ten men struggle with anxiety or depression after their child’s birth.

A great response only requires one thing: honesty.

Research shows that around ten percent of dads experience some form of postnatal depression. Rates of postnatal anxiety among dads are thought to be similar. Before having a kid myself this would have been a major newsflash to me, as growing up, I admit I had only ever heard of women experiencing postnatal depression.

Weren’t men supposed to just get on with it? Work hard, suck it up and if anything ever got too full on, just head outside and mow the pain away?

Since becoming a dad, I have actually found myself laughing out loud at the ridiculousness of that staunch, emotionless paternal archetype, usually while I’m mowing the lawn. I’m even beginning to

Take time to korero. That’s why we need to talk about it. It doesn’t have to be that hard either. The easiest question to ask is this: ‘So bro, you just had a kid. How’s that going for you?’

I don’t typically have a problem with being honest as most of the time I am fighting the opposite battle – being too honest. This often gets me into trouble at restaurants, and is also the main reason why I now do most of the cooking at home.

However, it’s far from easy fessing up about how much you’re struggling when you’re a new dad, especially if it feels like your partner is doing so much of the work.

Besides, you’re a man, so feeling like you might have to admit that trying to keep a glorified Tamagotchi alive is actually overwhelming and you may be nearing breaking-point, can be kind of difficult. It took me a while, but when I finally began being honest about this with some of my more experienced dad mates, I couldn’t believe the feedback I received. Most of it went along the lines of:

‘Bro, I know! Those first few months are so relentless.’

‘It was traumatising.’

‘One day I was so over it I considered just getting in the car, driving to Bluff and attempting to swim to Stewart Island. That seemed easier than carrying on parenting.’

Conversations like these have been a massive help in surviving the biggest challenge of my life so far: being a dad.

As my honesty about my mental health and experience of dadhood has increased, so has my ability to manage the feelings of stress, anger and being trapped that inevitably arise from time to time. Perhaps the best part, other than having mates to talk and empathise with, is the simple fact that some of the worst moments also make for the best laughs. And that’s what us dads need – a chance to be honest, laugh, cry and complain about not being able to go on more hunting trips.

Phil Baker | Parenting Place Contributor

Condensed from original article on parentingplace.nz

What's on

at Ōrewa Library

Last month the Orewa Library building closed for around 15 months to allow a significant upgrade to take place (refer to our June issue for the full story).

On Monday, 9 July a mini library will open in the small hall at the Ōrewa Community Hall at 40/46 Ōrewa Square. In the interim, many services including Orewa branch book holds are available from Whangaparaoa Library.

The following services will run from the mini library.

Weekly adult programmes (will not run during school holidays)

BrainFit: Thursdays from 11am to 12pm from 10 July

Craft group: Knitting, Wednesdays at 9:30am

Weekly children’s programmes (will not run during school holidays)

Wriggle & Rhyme: Wednesdays at 10.30am (0 to 2-year-olds) from 24 July

Storytime: Wednesdays at 11.30am (2 to 5-year-olds) from 24 July

Care of children

Navigating the family court with CAB

When families split, navigating through the Family Court system can be difficult. Trying to negotiate what is best for the family, especially minor children and their day-to-day care, can be one of the most challenging issues a separated family has to face.

Family Court navigators help people navigate the Family Court by providing families, parents and children with information, guidance and support through the Family Court process. Family Court navigators also have a role in connecting the court and its users with appropriate supports available in the community. The service is run by the Ministry of Justice and there are Family Court navigators available throughout New Zealand.

North Shore Family Court offers support to help with:

• Care of Children Act/custody

• family violence

• Oranga Tamariki

• divorce

• protection of personal property

• understanding the language, processes and outcomes of Family Court proceedings

• where appropriate, access out-of-court services to help reach agreements about care of children

• remain engaged and involved in any Family Court proceedings by working to stop any barriers that prevent participation

• with client’s agreement, make connection with other agencies and services in the community to support as needed

This is a free service and all information shared with a Family Court navigator is confidential.

Get in touch with Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to find out more about their free Family Court navigator walk-in clinics held at the following CAB North Shore branches on alternate Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10am to 1pm :

Birkenhead: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month

Hibiscus Coast (Orewa): 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month

Call the CAB free nationwide on 0800 367 222, send us a message online via our website www.cab.org.nz or hop on the live chat, or visit a CAB near you. Not sure? Ask us!

Beauty Aspects

Rethinking the role of foundations

A foundation is something you wear all day every day, so it’s important that it not only provides coverage but that it does so without creating unnecessary inflammation or irritation, which can be caused by some traditional foundations.

Created with the idea of making the last layer you place on your face as important for the health of your skin as the first layer, the Decoded Triple Complex is a new development in foundations developed using the latest scientific and ingredient discoveries to decode and formulate a new generation of skin technology, specifically designed to build, support, and protect the health of your skin.

It acts as your colour and your skincare all in one, specifically designed to build, support and protect the health of your skin. Here’s how the triple complex works.

Skin barrier and biome defence

Ceramides are one of the natural building blocks in skin. They work by boosting the natural repair mechanisms in the skin and help support the maintenance of your skin’s barrier. A healthy barrier is key to a healthy microbiome and healthy skin. Triple complex includes Cermides 2 to boost the natural repair mechanisms in the skin, supports the maintenance of the skin’s barrier and increases the skin’s moisture.

Moisturisation and anti-oxidant complex

Vitamin E and glycerin are two ‘superhero’ ingredients combined to help protect your cells against free radical damage throughout the day while moisturizing and improving the elasticity and smoothness of the skin. These ingredients offer antioxidant and antiinflammatory benefits, prevent inflammation, refresh the skin’s surface appearance and support the skin’s natural microbiome.

Firming peptide support

A special six-amino-acid peptide blend helps improve skin firmness and tone by smoothing wrinkles and assisting with correcting age-related damage. It signals the skin to look younger by improving skin firmness and tone and enhances the barrier function and hydration levels.

Who can use it?

The foundation is available in five shades and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive. It supports in-practice treatments by providing overall skin health and resilience without the risk of the inflammatory effects of some traditional foundations.

If you’ve ever suffered from irritation from foundations, or you’re keen to only put products on your face that are designed to help and protect your skin, get in touch to give this new development in foundations a go.

Amelia | Beauty Aspects amelia.beautyaspects@gmail.com

What's On Hibiscus Coast

Hibiscus Coast

Scottish Country Dance Club - Every Weds Silverdale Hall

7:00pm

Hibiscus Coast Artists

Group - Meet on Mon

9.30am-1pm • Stanmore

Bay Community Hall

Whangaparoa • All

Welcome

Shana 021 650 184

Hibiscus Coast Rock & Roll Every Tues • W’poa Hall

7pm lessons • 8pm general dancing • Wear soft sole flat shoes • See website & Facebook

Dance Fitness ClassEvery Tues/Thurs evening

7-8pm • Kingsway Jnr

Campus • First class FREE then $10 per session Richard 021 504084

Puhoi Celtic SessionsEvery 2nd Thurs • Orewa North Primary School

A sing-around/play-around event • Contact Alan alanthewag@outlook.com

Suicide Bereavement

Support – Last Mon of every month (Jan-Nov) 7-9pm HBC Community House

Support for anyone who has lost a loved one Susan 021 884 162

Orewa Garden Club - 2nd Thurs of month • Feb–Nov

12.30–3pm • St John’s Catholic Church Hall, Orewa • Visitors welcome Valma 021 0634852

Hibiscus Coast Orchid Society - 2nd Sunday of the month • Feb–Dec 1-3pm Masonic Lodge, Centreway Road, Orewa • Visitors welcome

Contact Bruce 09 947 5787

St Chad Market - 1st Sat of every month 8am-noon

117 Centreway Rd, Orewa Grant 021 0830 7743 or email chadorewa@gmail.com

Ukelele Classes - Every Thurs • St Andrew’s Church Hall • 107 Centreway Dr 1pm-2:15pm • $15 includes music

Avon Hansen-Beadle 021 421 109

Hibiscus Coast Concert Band - Every 2nd Thurs

All ages & abilities welcome hccb.org.nz Call 021 186 4599

Whangaparaoa Indoor Bowls Club - W’poa School Hall • Mon 7pm

All ages, beginners welcome • coaching provided Maurice 027 392 0541

Hibiscus Coast Embroidery Guild - 2nd Weds 7-9pm & 4th Thurs 10am-noon Hibiscus Coast Community House • Josie Slack- hibiscus. embroidery2022@gmail.com

Red Beach Combined Club 3rd Wed of every month

Orewa Presbyterian Church 10am-12pm •Friendship Club for seniors • Morning tea, guest speakers & outings Colleen 021 112 3409

Hibiscus Coast Country Music Club - 1st Sun each month • Orewa Community Centre 1-4pm

$5.00 • Everyone welcome Janet 0212367094

Bowls Orewa - Free coaching & introduction to lawn bowls every Friday 10am-12pm, bowls provided • Housie every Fri

12.30pm ($1000 jackpot)

214 Hibiscus H’way Ph 09 426 5937

Millwater parkrunEvery Sat 8am • See www.parkrun.co.nz/millwater for more details

HBC Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren

Monthly 1st Wed, Support Group • Maygrove Retirement Village • 10:30-1:30 free lunch

Weekly for Coffee Group each Wed 10:30 (various locations)

Donna 021 024 30064

HBC Senior Citizens Assn. Inc.

Meet on Tuesday for Indoor bowls and cards

Orewa Community Hall.12-4pm.

Membership $5/yr.

$2 entry includes afternoon tea.

Val Lincoln 09 963 8242

Silverdale Ballroom Studio

Every Thurs Silverdale Hall at 7pm. Adult & Improvers classes for beginners and social dancers 021 031 4216

Pioneer Dance club Every Thurs Silverdale Hall 1.30-3.30pm Social Ballroom Dance for seniors  021 031 4216

Line Dance Classesbeginners class Weds 10am-midday • Silverdale Hall • great way to exercise to music & make friends Sue 021 99 1717

Travel Club – with Bucket List Travel • 2nd Tues of every month (Feb-Nov) 9:45am–11am • Red Beach Surf-Lifesaving Club Michelle 094261490

Hibiscus Coast Frienship Club – 4th Wed of the month at 10am • Bridge Club rooms, Edith Hopper Park, Manly Speakers/outings/luncheons together Peter or Jeanne 09 4268675

Rotary Club of OrewaMillwater - 1st & 3rd Tues of every month 7pm at The Wade Tavern, 2 Tavern Rd Silverdale orc.secretary@outlook.com

Ladies Crafts GroupEvery school term Tues Orewa Community Church 235 HBC H’way • 9am-12pm

$2 for morning tea & craft creche provided

Silverdale Village Market - Every Sat 8am -1pm Silverdale St Silverdale

Kiwi Club - 4th Sun of each month • Social Dance 5-8pm • All welcome • Silverdale Hall

Hibiscus Petanque Club

Every Tues/Weds 9am12 & Sun 1pm • 214 HBC Highway • New players welcome, free coaching Colleen 021 1774820

10 pin Bowling for Seniors W’poa Bowling Centre, Arkles Bay • Looking for senior players to join club for league games • Mon & Fri 10am • Lots of fun and advice Brett 0210530905

Hibiscus Coast Quilters1st Tues of the month at 9.30am & 3rd Weds at 7.30pm W’poa Community Hall

Beginners, experienced quilters & visitors welcome Jill 0211890866

Hibiscus Coast Literary Club 2nd Sat of the month 1pm

W’poa Library Workshops • by authors/writing competitions Friendly atmosphere Everyone is welcome Lorraine 02102680132

Hibiscus Coast MidWeek Badminton Club

Every Weds 9am-noon All welcome • Orewa Badminton Hall, Victor Eaves Park 021 0870 8118

Arts Group - Every school term Friday • Orewa Community Church 235 HBC H’way • 9am-1pm • $2 incl. morning tea

Alan 021 039 7155

FREE Family history research advice - Mon/Wed/Thur & Sat 10am-12noon at Whangaparaoa Library • by Volunteers from HBC Genealogy Group

Contact Garry on 021 902715 or garryphillips2010@gmail.com

Lunchtime Toastmasters Every Fri 1-2pm

Orewa Library • Evening Toastmasters meets fortnightly Thurs orewa.toastmastersclubs.org/

Heartbeats Cardiac Survivors Support Group - 1st Tues of every month 10am • HBC Community House • Open to all heart event survivors & their families Trent Lash 0220 606 199

Orewa Lions Club - 1st & 3rd Weds 6.30pm (7pm start) • St Chads Hall 117 Centreway Road, Orewa Wendy 021 841 125 orewalionsclub@gmail.com

Silverdale Naval Clubmeets the 3rd Sun of each month at HBC Community RSA at 15.00 Vince Sturmey 09 4285222

Dairy Flat Music Club

Weekly dances/events with live music held at The Dairy Flat Hall, Postman’s Rd. Visit www.dairyflatlive.com for more info.

Support Your Local

Fashion / Art / Gifts Homewares

Estuary Arts 09 426 5570

Food, Entertainment, Sport & Recreation

Centrestage Theatre centrestagetheatre.co.nz

Clara Café 09 688 2068

Hibiscus Coast Singers 021 563 304

sKids Holiday Programme 021 773 301

Health & Well-Being, Fitness & Beauty

Online Counselling & Coaching 027 288 0178

Tuatara Counselling Services 022 692 7351

Home, Garden & Design

Cypress Sawmill 09 420 5485

Gatmans Mowers & More 0800 800 960

Midway Flooring 09 424 3790

Mitre 10 Silverdale 09 426 0760

Shades Direct 0800 742 337

The Kitchen People 09 424 3468

TK Revive Ltd 027 677 0747

Insurance / Finance Business Services

Claire Nevans Editorial Services 021 771140

UProtectNZ Insurance Services 027 248 9320

Wayne Henry Mortgages 0800WHENRY

Legal

Simpson Western North 09 421 0559

Local Government, Council & Community

Forrest Funeral Services 09 426 7950

Harbour Hospice harbourhospice.org.nz/joyful

Hibiscus Funeral Services 0800 420 470

Mark Mitchell MP 09 426 6215

Silverdale Church silverdalechurch.org.nz

Medical / Dental Optometrist

Orewa Optics 09 426 6646

Visique Hawkins Optometrist 09 426 5308

Waitemata Endoscopy 09 925 4449

Motoring / Boating Transport

First Auto Electrical 09 427 5748

Rodney Auto Centre 09 426 5016

Silverdale Car Services 09 421 1413

Printing

Treehouse Print ryan@treehouseprint.co.nz

Real Estate

Dylan Turner at Ray White Orewa 021 428 138

Jake Morgan at Harcourts 021 447 534

Jen Singleton at Harcourts 021 820 373

Roger Sumich at Ray White Orewa 029 666 6666

Recycle

Alexander Scrap Metals 09 426 9150

Retirement Living

The Botanic 0508 268 264

Local Recipes

Minestrone soup

4 to 6 portions

Ingredients

5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 medium brown onion, finely diced

2 medium carrots, peeled and medium dice

2 medium ribs celery, medium dice

¼ cup tomato paste

2 cups agria potatoes, 1 ½ cm dice (not too big)

4 cloves fresh garlic, finely diced

1 ½ tsp dried oregano

1 ½ tsp dried thyme

2 cans diced tomatoes, with their liquid

1 bottle of ‘pasta sauce’

1 L vegetable stock or water with Vegeta stock powder

1 tsp sea salt

2 bay leaves

Pinch of red pepper flakes (more if you like it a bit hotter)

Freshly ground black pepper

1 cup raw small shell pasta or macaroni

2 cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 tsp lemon juice

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnishing (optional but highly recommended)

Method

Lightly heat (not too hot) 3 Tbsp of olive oil in a large heavy bottomed pot or stockpot over a medium heat. Add the chopped garlic and onion and sweat till soft with no colour. Add the carrot and celery, sweat again with no colour stirring often until the vegetables start to soften. Add the tomato paste, oregano and thyme, cook for a further 1 minute.

Pour in the diced tomatoes and their juices, pasta sauce and vegetable broth. Add the salt, bay leaves and red pepper flakes. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper.

Raise heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Simmer for 15- 20 minutes. Just lightly stir occasionally to make sure it hasn’t caught.

Add the diced potatoes, pasta and beans. Continue simmering for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.

Remove the pot from the heat and remove the bay leaves. Stir in the lemon juice and remaining 2 Tbsp of olive oil. Taste and season with more salt and pepper until the flavours really sing. Garnish bowls of soup with grated Parmesan and crusty Ciabatta bread.

Mark Lane | www.culinarylane.co.nz

For 3 & 5 course in-house lunches and dinners, out-catering, grazing tables and corporate catering.

Pork, bone marrow and fennel sausage rolls

A winter warmer. The perfect item to put out when a friend pops over, or if you need to take a shared plate. These sausage rolls are a gourmet take on a classic.

Ingredients

750g of coarsely minced pork shoulder

70g fennel seed

1 marrow bone split long ways

Puff pastry sheets

Lavender salt

Method

Get your butcher to mince 750g of pork shoulder for you. Don’t be afraid to use a slightly fattier mince. Remember, fat is flavour! Into a mixing bowl, we want to add our fennel seeds, scope our bone marrow and tickle with a topping of cracked black pepper. I like to make the mix a day before and let all the flavours get to know each other and hang out for a while.

Grabbing some puff pastry sheets, this is where you get to determine how big, small, long or short your sausage rolls will be. I like a thumb length, two bite size.

Fill the pastry a couple of centimetres in from the edge, allowing you to fold the pastry over to meet the edges before crimping with a fork. Cut the sausage roll at this stage rather than once cooked, as your pastry will flake and you will lose a lot of what should be in your mouth!

Brush with some egg or milk and lightly flake over some salt, (I’ve chopped and added lavender to my salt). Cook for 25 minutes at 190°C. These little golden nuggets will be sure to win everyone over. The marrow plays perfectly with the fennel.

Rustic, fun and yum. Enjoy!

Nick Thomson | Marrow www.marrowstore.co.nz

Coastguard

Tales from the crew

Two years ago I started volunteering with Coastguard and like most good things I’ve done, it was my wife Jezamine’s idea. At the time I was a newly minted Coastie. Having grown up sailing out of Bucklands Beach, the Hibiscus Coast was merely a place I drove past on my trips north, but my wife had grown up here and we decided to buy our first place together on the Coast. At the time I didn’t really know what coastguard volunteers did. I had a vague idea they zoomed around helping people on the water but not really the what or how of it.

I fired through an email to Coastguard NZ saying I’d like to volunteer and got a reply from Coastguard Hibiscus rescue asking me to come to a meeting. So off I went on a winter Tuesday evening to the Hibiscus Coast Boating Club. I met with a very enthusiastic woman who I had been emailing, Rachel our now president, who regaled some of her recent 12+ hour days on the boat. Between Rachel and her stories it’s a wonder I didn’t run for the hills!

Before long they had me out on the boat as a recruit to see if I liked it and, more importantly, if they liked me. It was a windy winter’s day with 10-15 knots of breeze and a sloppy northeast swell coming in. No one expected any jobs but it looked to be a good training day, so we set out from Gulf Harbour in Hibiscus Rescue One (HIB1). The crew was jolly yet professional as the they took turns on helm and navigations, getting tutored by the more experienced hands. I later learned the professional nature was only put on for the boat work and they are mostly a group of loveable oddballs and jokesters… a trait not uncommon in us kiwi boaties.

As fate would have it we did have a tasking on my first day out – a keen pair of lads fishing off of Army Bay. While they managed to land a few pannies they also found some engine trouble. We towed them back to Stanmore Bay where we barged them back in and onto their trailer. The weather had turned nasty so the two lads were incredibly grateful and impressed with our assistance.

And that was it… I was hooked!

Two years later I am still here, now a fully-fledged deckhand

thanks to some amazing mentors within the unit. I certainly have some of my own twelve-hour day stories now… all with Rachel as the skipper! I have towed boats all over the Hauraki Gulf, rescued some helpless first-time boaties and even more salty sea dogs who always protest ‘this has never happened to me before!’ I’ve built skills that will be with me a lifetime and a confidence on the water that only hours among well trained experts can create. As sappy as it sounds though, it has been the great friends and sense of community that being part a of Coastguard Hibiscus has brought me that has been the real reward.

Andrew Lord | Coastguard Hibiscus

15 JUL 01:29 2.7m 07:43 1.0m 14:04 2.5m 20:05 1.1m

16 JUL 02:15 2.6m 08:33 1.0m 14:59 2.5m 21:00 1.1m WED 17 JUL 03:05 2.6m 09:26 1.0m 15:56 2.6m 21:55 1.1m THU 18 JUL 03:57 2.6m 10:20 0.9m 16:51 2.6m 22:49 1.0m FRI 19 JUL 04:52 2.6m 11:14 0.8m 17:44 2.7m 23:42 1.0m SAT 20 JUL 05:47 2.7m 12:06 0.7m 18:34 2.9m - -

SUN 21 JUL 00:33 0.9m 06:42 2.8m 12:55 0.6m 19:22 3.0m MON 22 JUL 01:24 0.7m 07:35 2.9m 13:44 0.5m 20:10 3.1m

TUE 23 JUL 02:15 0.6m 08:27 3.0m 14:31 0.4m 20:58 3.2m WED 24 JUL 03:05 0.5m 09:17 3.1m 15:19 0.4m 21:46 3.2m THU

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