Guest

Served on minted pea puree, creamy garlic mash, watercress salad and red wine
jus. 

An irresistible textured crumb from the rich sweet pistachios turns this lamb
dish into a total treat.

Red Wine Jus:

500ml beef stock

500ml beef glaze

½ cup port

500ml red wine

¼ cup red currant jelly

2 cloves garlic smashed

2 shallots chopped

1 sprig thyme

1 sprig rosemary

Place ingredients into a pot and reduce by half or until a thick syrup
consistency. (Makes about 2 cups).

Green Pea Puree:

100g green peas, boil and drain

Add 25g butter

50ml vegetable stock

Blitz with stick blender.

Fix consistency with vegetable stock.

Salt and pepper to taste.

Creamy Garlic Mash:

Boil potato until soft (to a mash state).

Drain and stand for 2 minutes.

Place in muli – muli mash.

Heat cream with butter and crushed garlic.

Combine together with a spatula.

Add salt and pepper to taste.


Dukkah Pistachio Mixture:

1/3 cup coriander seeds

1/3 cup cumin seeds

¼ cup white sesame seeds

1/8 cup black pepper corns

½ cup hazelnuts

½ cup pistachios

1 tablespoon sea salt

Toast all ingredients. Blend until coarse.

Lamb Tenderloin:

Trim and remove sinew cut into 180g portion – season with salt and pepper.

Heat pan until smoke appears.

Add oil, seal lamb 2 minutes each side or until golden brown.

Sprinkle dukkah/ pistachio mixture generously on top.

Place in oven 180 – 190 degrees celsius for 7 minutes.

Watercress Salad:

2 handfuls of watercress leaves

Julienne 1 carrot, 1 tomato, 1 red onion.

Mix all together.

Add salt and pepper, squeeze of lemon and drizzle of olive oil.

Pistachio Crust Lamb Loin

Indulge this winter with a cocktail at your favourite local. 

Secret Garden

151 Hardy St, Nelson | kismet.co.nz | @kismet_cocktailbar

Your taste buds will be led to a secret garden they will never want to leave
with a sour ratio of 4:2:1 using Cachaça, lemon juice and hibiscus, with an
activated charcoal simple syrup. Shaken and served straight up and smoked with
hickory cold smoke. - Adriaan Voorn Kismet 

Cherry Bounce Old Fashioned

Tatton’s | Upstairs Mama Cod, 300 Trafalgar St, Nelson | @tattons_bar

George Washington was so fond of cherry bounce that he packed a canteen of it
for a trip west across the Allegheny Mountains in 1784. This cocktail combines
Luxardo cherry and cinnamon infused bourbon, nutmeg simple syrup and bitters.
Stirred down and served over large ice blocks with grated cinnamon over an
orange peel. - Axel Didierjean 

Dark and Stormy 

Red 16 | 19 New Street, Nelson | @Red16

The Dark and Stormy allegedly got its name from an old sailor who compared the
drink’s murky hue to the colour of storm clouds. This recipe was handed down
from local legend, Jamaican Dave, and combines Black Spot Rum with Royal
Jamaican Ginger Beer, a splash of lime and a dash of angostura bitters. Perfect
to summon your inner pirate. - Matt Bainbridge

The Botanist 

Kiwi Spirit Distillery | 480 Abel Tasman Drive, Golden Bay |
kiwispiritdistillery.co.nz

A delicious cocktail delicately balanced yet full of flavour, lime tartness,
natural honey sweetness and a beautiful depth of flavour from our New Zealand
Botanical Greenstone Gin, all combined with fresh mint and aloe vera to create
this perfectly divine drink. - Jeremy Clark

Cocktail hour

An orchestral conductor with an eye for style, Costa Simpson’s love of fashion
and appreciation of quality results in a wardrobe that not only transcends
seasons, but also years.

What are you wearing?

The leather sneakers are by Common Projects from Workshop. The pants are a
straight-cut chino from Ralph Lauren. The black leather belt was bought at
Gustave’s. The petrol-coloured collarless linen shirt by Crossley and the black
knitted blazer/cardigan (blardigan) by Marni are both from Edit. The sunglasses
are a collaboration between Mykita and Leica.

What is your style?

Classic menswear with a contemporary twist – and always comfortable.

What is most of your wardrobe made up of?

Tailored pants, shirts in natural fabrics, wool sweaters – versatility is key.
And lots of corduroy!

What are you loving at the moment?

‘Pablo’, a sweet and citrusy fragrance by Auckland-based perfumier Curionoir. It
is divine and reminds me to live in the present.

What are you dressed for today?

I’m in Mapua meeting some friends for a drink at Rimu Wine Bar and afterwards
having dinner at The Apple Shed.

Where do you buy most of your clothes from?

Untouched World, Rodd and Gunn, Gustave’s, Edit, online.

What is your approach to shopping?

I generally look for beautiful natural fabrics in classic designs that will
complement the rest of my wardrobe and which I can imagine myself wearing ten
years from now. I highly recommend getting clothes fitted by a tailor, such as
Pyne and Eid on Hardy Street who do a wonderful job.

What is your all-time favourite purchase?

A mid-brown suede jacket by Rodd and Gunn. Expensive, impractical, heavy - and
yet completely gorgeous.

What wardrobe item should everyone invest in?

A long-sleeved classic Mountainsilk crew from Untouched World or any merino
sweater. Merino is a miracle fabric – lightweight, breathable, and produced in
Aotearoa!

Do you have a style rule you always obey?

Know the rules before you break them.

If you could raid one person’s wardrobe, who would it be?

Tom Ford.

Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…

Synthetic fabrics – keep those microplastics off my skin and out of our oceans!

On the street with Costa Simpson

Sprig + Fern Brewing Co. beers and ciders are well known around New Zealand, and
Sprig + Fern Taverns are popular in their communities with eight in Nelson
Tasman and 14 nationwide.

This month we get to know Pete Fry and Sue Bloomfield who own Sprig + Fern Mapua
and Sprig + Fern Motueka.

What do you do for fun? That’s if you ever have spare time between running your
businesses?

Pete: Coastal walks around our local area, gardening, playing pickleball.
Watching sport on TV to relax.

Sue: I enjoy being a nana, and some yoga, line dancing and power hooping.

What made you decide to own two Sprig + Fern Taverns?

Pete: Sue and I wanted to work together. We liked the Sprig + Fern brand and
concept.

Sue: We liked that Sprig + Fern Taverns don’t have pokies, pool tables or
screens. They are family-friendly and have that ‘extension of your home’
atmosphere.

Favourite craft beer on tap at your taverns currently?

Pete: OG Pilsner, I find it so pure and refreshing.

Sue: I enjoy the flavour of the Crème of the Hop Nectaron Pale Ale, but Ginger
Beer is my lifelong favourite.

If you could only drink one style of beer for the rest of your life, what would
it be?

Pete: A lager, like Tasman Reserve.

What makes Sprig + Fern Mapua special?

Pete: The building is awesome, nestled into the hill and the elevation, it’s the
jewel of the Mapua township. Our chefs produce excellent food to accompany the
extensive craft beer range.

Sue: The sense of community. We have met some fabulous people - locals and
visitors. We also appreciate our staff.

Favourite local sports team?

Pete: Tasman Mako, a team of over achievers, mostly home-grown men playing an
attractive style of rugby.

Sue: The ‘Racquet’ boys and ladies are always a laugh!

Favourite National sports team?

Pete: All Blacks, just ahead of the Black Caps.

Sue: I enjoy watching All Black games with Peter.

What keeps you motivated to own businesses in Nelson Tasman?

Pete: Living and working in a beautiful area with the best climate in NZ. The
continual growth of the business, our staff, and the Sprig + Fern brand.

Sue: Owning Sprig + Fern Mapua has enriched our lives in so many ways.

Offering 18 core beers and ciders on tap, as well as limited release products
which are often experimental in style or the hops used.

From hazys through to porter, hard seltzer and ciders, there is something on tap
for everyone.

Open 7 days Mon to Fri - 2pm to late Sat & Sun - 12pm to late

Meet your local tavern owners

Leaving a conservation job in Australia to come to Te Tauihu and study on the
Project Moturoa Trainee Ranger programme has been life-changing for Kiara Duke.

There wasn’t much being done to encourage indigenous perspectives in the
conservation role I was in,” says Kiara.

“I wanted to go somewhere where I could find that.”

Kiara was drawn to the mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) focus of the
programme, overseen by local iwi and taught on noho marae.

“Coming at it from a kaitiakitanga lens means you can delve deeply into the
learning with people who know so much,” says Kiara. “Anyone really wanting to
learn about conservation should do it this way.”

The programme, delivered by NMIT in partnership with the Department of
Conservation (DOC), has been designed specifically with rangatahi in mind. Te ao
Māori is woven throughout, with tikanga me ngā uara (protocol and principles) an
important part of the teaching.

Throughout the year, students spend time on Moturoa (Rabbit Island) learning
about pest control, whakapapa of animals and their place in the ecosystem.

Gaining an understanding of how humans impact our ecosystem enables students to
think about and work towards ways of re-establishing balance.

Working as a summer intern with the Department of Conservation, based in
Motueka, Kiara enjoyed the varied work and challenges.

“It’s not just going outside and setting a trapline or picking up possums,” says
Kiara.

“I organised a day out in the marine reserve for whānau from all over Te Tauihu
which was a lot of work,” she says, “but going out on the day, and teaching
whānau about the reserve and why we need to protect it, made it really
worthwhile.”

Kiara says the support and guidance she received was a key part of her learning
experience.

“I think the people I’ve met and got to know are now good friends, mentors and
people I can hang out with.”

“I would really like to be the connection between Māori and revitalising our
culture and conservation organisations.”

Apply now for the July intake. Visit nmit.ac.nz/project-moturoa

Conservation kaupapa

Sarah O’Connell has grown up with a ‘family full of jokers’ so a career in
comedy wasn’t such a great leap. Her journey to the stage has taken some twists
though. Judene Edgar catches up with the supermarket-worker-by-day and
comedian-by-night.

Sarah performing at the Backroom Comedy at Liquid Bar.One of the few shows that
wasn’t cancelled this summer was ‘The Great Kiwi Summer Comedy Roadshow’ at the
Boathouse. Part of a nationwide tour of comedians, Nelson played host to Jeremy
Elwood, Andre King, Paul Douglas, Jamie Patterson, Rhian Wood-Hill … and Nelson
comedian Sarah O’Connell. I’d seen Sarah perform before at the Backroom Comedy
in Liquid Bar, the home of Nelson comedy, so it felt good to see her on stage
alongside the line-up of national comedy acts. But for those who hadn’t seen her
before, they would never have guessed that she wasn’t a full-time comedian.
She’s really good, and not just “funny for a girl” good, as she’s often told.
Over summer she also opened at the Playhouse with Andre King and Glenn Cousins
for Nick Rado’s ‘The Get Back up Comedy Tour’, so I was keen to catch up with
Sarah to see where this comedy journey was taking her.

Considering the impact Covid has had on her life, it felt somehow appropriate to
be interviewing Sarah via Zoom while in isolation. Sarah is not long out of
isolation herself, with Covid having gone through their entire family. Starting
with her seven-year-old daughter Eve, it wasn’t long before all four members of
the family were sick. And that’s not the only time Covid has interrupted their
family. March 2020, less than two weeks into the country’s first lockdown, Sarah
gave birth to her youngest daughter Stella. The birth of her first daughter Eve
was anything but problem-free, so Sarah and her fiancée Mike had been looking
forward to a relatively straight-forward delivery. But turning up to the
hospital that morning, they still had no idea whether Mike would even be allowed
in. “It was incredibly stressful, but I just had to keep the humour going,”
Sarah says.

Growing up, comedy, gags and the ability to laugh at yourself had always played
a key role in her family life, so it is no wonder that the
Countdown-worker-by-day and comedian-by-night turned to humour to help her
through. “Our family lived on comedy; it’s just full of jokers,” she says. “We
turned everything into a laughing affair.” Whether it was a witty quip, a funny
one-liner, or eating a snail from the garden for shock value, they would always
find a way to break the tension. As Sarah says, “we’d acknowledge, make light,
then move on.” So, despite needing a C-section and being in an operating room
surrounded by a team of surgical staff kitted out in full PPE, she spent a lot
of the time in surgery cracking jokes, talking about funny shows … “and mocking
Mike relentlessly!” In fact, Mike is often the subject of Sarah’s comedy
routines. “He’s okay with it; he takes it on the chin,” she laughs. “Although he
has threatened to charge a royalty fee!” And besides, she didn’t want him to
feel left out, because it was his birthday after all!

Despite describing herself as a very quiet child, she says she never missed an
opportunity at school to act out stories, mimic characters or mock teachers
(also relentlessly). After high school Sarah went to Wellington to study
performing arts, but soon found herself drawn to the local comedy scene,
performing shows, skits and sketches in local bars. “I love comedy because it’s
fast-paced and there’s immediate reward (or not),” she laughs. She was talked
into entering The RAW Comedy Quest and although she didn’t win, was buoyed on by
the judges’ comments. Despite this, she continued her studies towards an acting
career and left comedy behind her, or so she thought.

Returning to Nelson spelled an end to her acting aspirations, so she got a job
at Countdown. Ten years later and despite all of the interruptions that Covid
has brought to the role, she still sees the positive side. “It’s a job where
some people look down on you, but it’s a job that has supported me during my two
maternity years off, and I’ve met some really great people, workers and
customers,” she says. “At the end of the day I’ve been able to leave work at
work and I get to perform knowing my bills are always paid and my family is
cared for.” In fact, if it wasn’t for Countdown, Sarah may not be in Nelson at
all. Her mother also worked for Countdown, and a transfer to the Nelson branch
when Sarah was 11 saw the family relocate from Whangarei.

When not performing on stage Sarah works at Countdown.On her return to Nelson,
she received a call from Dave Vandy who organises the Backroom Comedy. “It was
totally out of the blue,” says Sarah. “I didn’t remember him, but he’d seen me
perform in Wellington and he wanted me to open for Cori Gonzales-Macuer. I
hadn’t done comedy for years, but I said yes anyway. And then Dave just kept
asking me back, so I soon became a regular.”

Despite the stereotype of comedians being fairly raucous, Sarah’s quiet side is
evident in her comedy. She likes to use everyday problems or observations mixed
with elements of truth and self-deprecation, with a bit of a surprise at the
end. “You can’t come out with too much arrogance and expect the audience to
laugh,” she says. “It’s like a partnership with the audience.” Perhaps this
partnership approach is also why she says she’s rarely been heckled. Creating a
safe place for the audience to laugh is important to her, and she says that she
tries to connect with the audience and acknowledge them to help them to relax.
“Without an audience there’s no show, so I’m just always so appreciative of the
support I get and want them to have a good time.”

While a lot of her material is about her family and everyday life, she also
reads widely and watches a lot of news and TV shows for inspiration. She says
that she tries to change up her material for different shows and different
audiences, adding a few new jokes each time. “No one really teaches you comedy,
you just work out your own style. My biggest inspiration is at work talking to
people and observing them and their behaviours and idiosyncrasies.”

As well as appearing regularly at the Backroom Comedy, honing her craft, she has
been to a few writing workshops run by Andre King and says he’s been an amazing
and supportive mentor to her. She also finds that her fellow comedians are
always keen to share their knowledge and that there’s a really good community of
support. 2022 has been a good year so far, but she’s keen to do more and take
her comedy further. “I’d like to tour my own show or with a troupe and have
someone open for me!” she laughs. She recognizes that these are big dreams but
says that there are golden opportunities in life that you need to take – like
when Dave called her up out of the blue.

The next step on this journey is performing in Auckland later this year. “Mike
and the girls have seen me perform quite a few times, and of course, watch me
practice, but some of my family have never seen me perform,” she says. “I’ve got
a really huge extended family, so this will be a great opportunity for them to
come along.” While she doesn’t know where her journey will take her, she’s
hoping that she’ll be able to inspire other women to get up on stage and give
comedy a try.

Doing it for the laughs

Jack Malcolm

Respect, responsibility, determination and caring. Those are the core values at
the heart of Victory Boxing which have seen it grow bigger than anyone could
imagine 10 years ago when it started. Jack Malcolm takes a closer look.

Photo by Evan Barnes, Shuttersport.Paul Hampton started the gym with one goal,
helping kids. As a teacher at Victory Primary School he took the direct
approach. "We spoke to the kids about needing support and a focus. They said
boxing." In the programme’s first year, they were at the YMCA, had barely any
gear and 20 children. Through the help of Scott Gibbons, who offered the gym a
place to call home when they needed it, and the Goodman family's continued
support, the gym has expanded to something bigger and better than he could have
ever imagined. Now they cater to over 500 young boys and girls a week from their
own boxing gym in the heart of Victory. All of their students are working
towards earning, or have already achieved, the honour of receiving a Victory
Boxing singlet. The programme includes non-contact, fitness-based classes
underpinned by the gym's core values, with participants also having to represent
their values inside the gym, at home, at school and in the community. On
average, it takes 12 weeks to complete. Paul says the programme is the core
element of the gym, with adult classes used to subsidise the costs. "It's $25 a
term, but anyone who needs to be here will be. "The reason our numbers are so
high is the retention rate…it's why we have been here for over ten years. "I'm
just as passionate as I was on day one, the hardest thing is not getting burnt
out. The passion and motivation is not a problem. It's just getting more and
more people to spread the load."

Kate Donaldson and Amber Rowland-Connor in action at the third instalment of
Fight 4 Victory held in 2016 in the Trafalgar Centre.Paul remembers when they
started the programme there was some push back at what they were doing. "There
was a perception we were just teaching at-risk youth how to fight better, but
that's their assumption. We work very hard so that our values are taken out of
the gym, but the boxing isn’t. Over our 10 years I can't think of one scenario
of it being out on the street." He says most people now see the benefit of
helping people with their self-esteem and empowerment through the vehicle of
boxing. "A lot of our work is into that mental health space. Everyone’s got a
fight going on, whether it be golden gloves or getting out of bed. When it's
done properly, you can get some great benefits." Boxing has a lot of life
lessons, like getting off the canvas and having good people in your corner, he
says.

On the gym's wall, written in massive letters, is a quote from Angelo Dundee.
"Notice who's in your locker room after you lose, not after you win."

Part of the gym's success is the solid foundation and principles the gym was
made of, says Paul. He's worked tireless hours to make the place a reality but
says they couldn't do it without the volunteers. They have over 20 volunteers
and added an administrative support person to their payroll. He says some of
their volunteers have been with them since they started. "We train them up and
make them skilled at what they're doing. We invest in our people to make them
the best they can be. We see ourselves as a jigsaw, and we're just a part. We
want to keep learning and keep growing. We are really passionate and believe in
what we do. Knowing what we had to do and how hard we had to work to get here."

A place to have fun. Victory Boxing’s mainstay is its kids classes, these
classes were the reason the gym was founded back in 2012.Paul had to quit his
job at Victory School to start working on the gym as it expanded. He says the
community kept coming to him and they wanted to help. They now work with groups
from all corners of society, from people with Parkinsons to the Makos and the
army. "It's very, very diverse in a day and that's what makes it so special."
Paul says it's humbling how much the programme has succeeded. "There's a million
stories within stories, like this one guy who came in and lost over 20kg. I
bumped into his wife and she thanked us for saving his life. Or the parent of a
child who came in with absolutely no self-confidence to being in front of a kids
programme running a group. If you'd said to me 10 years ago, 'where do you see
Victory Boxing?' When we started, we just wanted to help some kids. The growth
has been really humbling, we never planned to have all this. I still get blown
away by people's response to this place."

He says one of his favourite programme’s to work with is the group of people who
come in with Parkinson's every week. "They're fighters, every day. They're
amazing people to be around."

Dotted on the walls of the gym, by Paul's office, are scores of awards he and
the gym has been presented over the years. Medals for fighters,
acknowledgements, thank you letters, a Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the year Local
Hero award, and a Nelsonian of the Year. It's not flashy or showing off, just a
quiet pride in their achievements on their journey so far.

Victory Boxing’s Parkinson’s group meets up every week for a fitness session.
Despite the quick rise, Paul says the key is to keep your feet on the ground and
work hard. “Focus on the little things, you never want to be overconfident. You
can’t rest on your laurels. You have to keep doing the work and doing the
basics.”

Paul says their solid foundation and proven results have seen their support from
the community skyrocket. "We're in every part of the community. We do what we
say and people get behind us.

"If you've got a really good programme base and you're doing things for the
right reason, people will support it."

Former WBA world heavyweight boxing champion Joseph Parker was an inspiration to
many when he visited the gym in 2015.The gym has no plans of slowing down. Paul
says they're already considering expanding to another location. With so many
students and people coming from as far as Motueka to train, it only makes sense.
"We're bursting at the seams. We’ve got plans for a gym in the Tasman area.”
Alongside the social work and box-fit classes, the gym also hosts a full-time
competitive boxing programme that caters to those who want it. "We're not just
about the fighting, but we can offer a programme as good as anyone else. We
value our people the same, every single person who walks through in the gym."
Paul says it doesn't matter if you're Shane Cameron, you're still getting
treated like everyone else when you turn up for a fitness class.

The gym has always had support from the boxing community, with Shane visiting
the gym at least twice a year to offer classes and get involved. Next to signed
fight posters of Shane in his prime are quotes scribbled on the wall in sharpie
from notable people who have come to train in the gym. "100% formula to success
= 1% work, 1% talent, 98% relentless desire," reads the quote from Leicester
Fainga'anuku.

Victory Boxing gym fighting stronger than ever 10 years on

Mother’s Day is a time to acknowledge and celebrate the amazing mother figures
in our lives. Mums can come in many different forms, whether by blood or by
fostering, through marriage, as a caregiver, another family member or as a close
family friend. In this issue, we honour some inspirational mums around the
region and find out how they plan to spend their Mother’s Day on 8 May.

Words: Amy Russ

Sally Russ

Sally Russ with her step sons Connor, left, and Finn and her daughter Molly.Busy
sales and marketing extraordinaire, Sally Russ is a mum and stepmum to three
beautiful children, 16-year-old Connor, 15-year-old Finn and 8-year-old Molly.
Becoming a part of the boys’ lives 10 years ago, Sally says was a privilege.
“Jamie, my husband, had them weekly and I feel this has really cemented me
feeling part of their world. I have always felt welcomed and loved. From day one
I treated the boys as my own and love them as my own.” Sally credits maintaining
a good relationship with the boys’ mum and stepdad as helping to create a
nurturing environment for the children. “They say it takes a village to raise a
family, I am lucky enough to just be one of the puzzle pieces.”

There are always challenges when raising children, says Sally, but family will
always remain her first priority. “Finn has autism, some would say this could be
a challenge, but he is such a special human I think it helps us grow as people.
Never having been a mum before it was never about Finn being different, it was
about him being my family.” The teenage boys are now over 6ft tall but are
gentle giants with big hearts. “Naturally, there is always some sibling rivalry
in the house between the kids to keep us on our toes.”

“Raising happy, healthy and grounded children is all we can ask for. Being a
stepmum or a mum is one and the same to me, it’s all about having a safe and
loving home environment.” Sally looks forward to a family breakfast on Mother’s
Day and perhaps a food bribe or two to spend time with the kids. “I am sure some
homemade cards will be on the list, and not forgetting celebrating our own mums,
too.”

Melanie Potter

Melanie Potter is a dotting mum to her dog Indiana (and cat Charlie who wouldn't
pose for the photo).Passionate businesswoman and ardent animal lover, Melanie
Potter, is mum to a 15-year-old Maltese pooch called Indiana and an adopted
kitty, the ever-playful Charlie. Her babies mean the world to her, as a child
Melanie grew up around animals, and she says she would not imagine life being
any other way. “At one stage we had three Maltese pooches living with us
simultaneously. Sadly, we are down to one now, Indiana is our little old lady.
We have always had cats and dogs growing up. I can’t imagine not having pets in
the house now and we tend to call them our fur kids.” Charlie was found as a
stray kitten on what Melanie says was a cliché story of being a cold rainy
night. The kitten was not microchipped and despite Melanie searching for her
owner for two weeks, Charlie claimed her home and made herself comfortable. “It
was pretty obvious we were keeping her. She’s our ratbag and keeps us and our
neighbours entertained with her antics, she is not shy!”

Melanie has an extremely close bond with her mum, Paulette, co-owning the
Caci-Clinic in Nelson together, and Melanie says going into business with her
was a natural progression. “My mum and I have always been close. We have worked
together for 17 years, and we love what we do.” With the growth their business
has seen over the years, Melanie says it is great to have each other on hand for
support. “We are fortunate to have different strengths and work well together as
a team.”

Dining out at a favourite local restaurant on Mother’s Day has become somewhat
of a tradition for the tight-knit family. “We take both my mother and father,
and my mother-in-law out for lunch. This year we have booked a table at
Forster’s Moutere Hills, and no doubt we will have a wine or two to celebrate
them.”

Danielle Hennessey

Danielle Hennessy and her mum Violet share a home with Danielle’s partner Rohit
and their two children, Elora and Aria.Travel agent Danielle Hennessey has
travelled the length and breadth of the country as a child and has certainly
seen the sights of the world in her adult years. Growing up in Nelson from high
school age she has now settled back in the region, calling Nelson home, and says
her biggest adventures in life have been raising her two children, four-year-old
Elora and four-month-old Aria. “I grew up here from a high-school-age and still
have a close relationship with all my school friends. It’s great being back home
here in Nelson and sharing the motherhood journey together. My partner Rohit is
from India, having lived in New Zealand the past 12 years, so our girls have the
gift of two cultures in their lives.”

Going back to work when Elora was eight months old had its challenges with
juggling her job as a travel agent and being a mum, but she made it work, she
says, with no regrets. “If I’m honest my journey of being a mum has been filled
with so many wonderful highs, but also some lows thrown in there too. I think a
lot of mums can relate to that. It is certainly a role that I had to learn along
the way and at times I have felt a bit out of my depth, but during the hard
times I just remind myself that tomorrow is a new day.” Watching her children
reach their first milestones, feeling the unconditional love and hearing their
laughter, is pure joy for Danielle.

“I feel very blessed to be their mum. Seeing the world through their eyes can
ground you when you need it the most.”

The young family have faced their fair share of challenges along the way in the
past four years. They have owned their own business while bringing up a new
baby, then sold the business at the beginning of the pandemic and built a house
during Covid with another little one in the mix. “It has not always been easy,
but we have pushed through, and I am proud of where we are today.”

Family is of the highest priority for Danielle, so much so that when building
their new home in Brightwater, she and her partner invited her mum to join them.
They incorporated a private space into the planning of their home to ensure her
mum had the freedom and privacy to relax. “It works well most of the time, but
we have had to put a lock on the door so Elora is not in there at 5am!” “We are
very lucky to have mum's support. Every day I remind myself how privileged I am
to have her. She is an ear to listen when I question myself in parenting
decisions, she takes Elora on lots of adventures and it's nice to just sit and
have a wine and a laugh with her.”

The family plan on celebrating with a relaxing lunch at Nahm for Mother’s Day,
content in each other's company. “I just feel a general appreciation for the
superstar job that all mum’s out there are doing. It’s not always easy but it is
certainly all worth it.”

Raina Masters

Raina Masters with her three children, Arlo and new-born twins Noelle and
Willow.An international model, and mother of three, Raina Masters is the epitome
of a strong independent woman. The Auckland-born, social media stunner has
travelled the world, residing in New York, London, Australia and Germany, but
credits her beautiful children with bringing out the very best in her. “I think
every day is Mother’s Day”, says Raina. Her eldes,t Arlo, will be three in July
and she says he is her rock. “I wasn’t in a good mental space when I found out I
was pregnant with him, but that news truly was the biggest blessing for me. He
gave me so much motivation in life to be the best version of myself.”

After a high-risk pregnancy, Raina has also welcomed identical twin girls,
Noelle Ivory and Willow Oakley, into the world earlier this year. The twins
arrived in March, seven weeks early, and spent 15 days in NICU. “Both girls are
little fighters. I feel like they came into my life at such a perfect time and
seeing them with Arlo melts my heart. They bring me, and everyone around them,
so much joy. Their little personalities are starting to show and there is never
a dull moment.”

Fiercely independent, Raina says bringing up the children on her own has been a
huge struggle but also an extremely rewarding one. “I wake up every day for my
kids and do absolutely everything to ensure they are happy, healthy and loved.
They continually inspire me and watching them reach their milestones confirms to
me that I’m doing a great job.”

Raina is very familiar with life being busy, growing up in a family of six, and
says maintaining a strong family bond and building her own home is something she
is extremely proud of, fulfilled in knowing she has provided a safe and warm
environment for the children to grow up in. “I lived with my parents during the
time my house was being built. Dad (koro) and Arlo have such a beautiful bond.
He’s a very gentle, polite and patient man so I’m grateful Arlo has him as a
strong male role model and my mum is Arlos’s kindergarten teacher. She has
really helped me to teach Arlo to talk about his feelings, to use kind words and
just overall has taught him to communicate so he never struggles in the future.
He has such a kind gentle nature about him. He is extremely empathetic, and the
girls are so lucky to have him as a big brother. I would do anything for my
babies, and I know Arlo knows that.”

Spending time surrounded by her family is the perfect way to celebrate Mother’s
Day, says Raina. “Every day feels like a blessing with my babies. I will forever
be grateful to them for blessing my life.”

Celebrating our mother figures

If money was no object and a luxury holiday in Nelson-Tasman was on your radar,
you’d probably be booking a night in one of the region’s stunning and
often-little-known luxury accommodation providers. While many of us may not even
be aware these lodges exist, Adrienne Matthews takes a look inside at some of
the very best in our region.

Falcon Brae Villa is a luxury private retreat of the highest standard.In a few
months tourists will start to flock back to our part of the world and among them
will be the rich and famous, some of whom will be spending thousands of dollars
a night on accommodation and thousands more experiencing the very best of
Nelson-Tasman.

Having worked especially hard during the last few years of Covid to attract New
Zealanders to their facilities, accommodation owners are optimistic about the
future. Tracee Neilson, the visitor destination manager for the Nelson Regional
Development Agency, says there are good summer bookings coming in from overseas
tourists. “This is a really important part of our local tourism industry that
flies completely under the radar,” she says.

The sun lounge at Stonefly Lodge.“Tourists who stay in this type of
accommodation are very private so not much gets talked about it, but they
contribute a substantial amount of revenue to many businesses in the region. Not
only do they stay in the high-end luxury accommodation, but they also spend on
adventure tours, art, wine, food and the like. It is encouraging to see them
beginning to come back to our shores.”

Clifftop Retreats in Aporo Road, with its spectacular views out into Tasman Bay,
has had its share of local Nelson people to stay but it looking forward to
overseas tourists coming back. “[Locals] love that they can drive a short
distance from home and be in a completely different world”, says owner Bob
Haswell.

Stunning view’s across Tasman Sea from the spa at Clifftop Retreat.At Clifftops,
an architecturally-designed, purpose-built cottage is set amongst a huge garden
that, after a twenty-one year labour of love, resembles an arboretum. Special
touches include a unique shower with two of its walls being windows into a
native garden, while a skylight over the bed showcases the night sky in all its
glory. A luxurious clifftop spa and treatment room, provision of beautiful
robes, alpaca throws and a selection of delicious treats, including local wine
and beer, are much appreciated touches.

Westhaven Luxury Retreat perched on a hilltop above the Whanganui (Westhaven)
Inlet, south of Farewell Spit and with the Tasman Sea crashing on beaches on the
western side, is another that has welcomed many New Zealanders, in part, due to
its location. Austrian immigrants Bruno and Monika Stompe fell in love with the
four hundred hectares of land in 1991 and have put their luxury mark on it with
buildings constructed from timber, enhanced by a hundred tonne of Otago schist
and with recycled rimu and teak on the interiors. Aided by daughter Monika and
her husband Tomas Vratil, the family manages the luxury accommodation which
includes a heated indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy spa and infrared sauna.

The 24 metre heated swimming pool at Westhaven Retreat is set among a profusion
of exotic indoor plants.Guest rooms have private verandahs, luxurious king beds,
hydro-jet showers and private bars and extensive views. “The scenery takes
people’s breath away,” explains daughter Monika. “There are seven walking tracks
including a favourite that goes through the second largest Nikau forest in New
Zealand with trees up to three hundred years old. Below, on the west coast, is
the palm-rimmed private Turtle Beach. Another takes them to the highest point on
the farm with three hundred and sixty-five degree views and spectacular
limestone rock formations.”

For those looking for luxury in the city on a historic site, Pihopa Retreat, set
in five and a half acres bordering the Bishopdale Reserve, is an ideal location.
With park-like gardens from its time as the Nelson Anglican Bishop’s residence
that includes many heritage trees, it now has six luxurious suites and is a much
desired location for getaways along with special occasions such as weddings.
Owner Sarah Mellor spent twenty years experiencing many different accommodation
types around the world and was thrilled to find the hidden gem that is now
Pihopa. “I have tried to incorporate the best I have seen elsewhere here in one
place,” she says. “When people come to stay I want them to feel that they are
experiencing something unique.”

Finishing touches of the highest standard at Pihopa Retreat.The spacious,
private suites, named after previous bishops, are the epitome of luxury and
appointed in keeping with the property’s heritage. Each has balconies with views
onto the gardens and well-equipped kitchenettes. The attention to detail
includes the provision of local treats such as chocolate and honey made from
Pihopa’s own beehives. Luxury travellers are becoming increasingly conscious of
the environmental standards the places they stay at abide by. Pihopa has an
extensive range of sustainability practices in place and has achieved the Ekos
Carbon Friendly Certification.

Fishing is an experience that attracts luxury tourists from around the globe to
this region and there are several luxury lodges that cater to the fisherman’s
every need, including Stonefly Lodge. Sited in Stanley Brook, it was the dream
build of Australians John and Kate Kerr who spent five years visiting New
Zealand to locate the perfect site for a luxury fly fishing lodge. “We would
come over every summer,” says John, “and finally we found this wonderful spot
only fifty minutes from Nelson city and on the banks of the Motueka River with
views to the Mt Arthur Range.”

The library at Westhaven Retreat is filled with family games and books.The lodge
is constructed of timber and stone from the one hundred and forty hectares on
which it sits, providing a “rocky mountain” warm and sumptuous ambience in
keeping with the surroundings. All rooms come with private ensuites and the best
of linen is used along with hand-crafted furniture and New Zealand art grace the
walls. As with all local luxury lodges, local masseuses and beauticians are made
available for guests.

The new Falcon Brae Villa, situated above Stonefly Lodge in the Motueka Valley,
is an award-winning development, built to the highest of standards for the most
discerning clients. With rivers on two sides and spectacular native bush walks,
its shape echoes the falcons that fly above. A rich tapestry of timber including
oak and red cedar is used in its construction, along with precision stonework.
The interior contains sumptuous living areas including a sunken bar, three
dining spaces, grand piano, media room and high-end commercial kitchen where
executive chefs prepare gastronomic delights. Three guest suites with floor to
ceiling windows show off the spectacular views, each with a cocktail bar,
substantial living area, luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms. Alongside the helipad
there is a modern gym, pool and spa and a barbecue area for outdoor dining.
Falcon Brae’s owners have made the buildings as sustainable as possible with a
large ground-based solar array. A local spring water source is utilized for
everyday use and the property has its own wastewater system. Stonefly and Falcon
Brae are noted for their cuisine. “For several years we have been working with
our executive chef of Stonefly and Falcon Brae Villa to produce a cookbook that
has just been released,” says John. “‘Flavours to Savour’ is a celebration of
many favourite recipes that have been served to our guests from all around the
world.”

Guests can enjoy a game of pool at Stonefly Lodge.Falcon Brae Villa is designed
for exclusive use, however special domestic rates are offered while the borders
are still restricted where individual suites may be rented.

Owen River Lodge in the Owen Valley near Nelson Lakes has been the passion of
Felix Borenstein for the last nineteen years. It is the first fishing lodge in
the world to obtain B Corp certification which measures social and environmental
performance. Fifty percent of their guests are repeat visitors. “The quality of
the fishing here is outstanding,” says Felix. “We provide an extensive library
of up-to-date fishing gear for our guests and our chefs produce outstanding
food. Our priority is to provide top comfort and experiences for people in a
comfortable, relaxed environment where nothing is a bother.”

So, how much would a stay in one of these luxury lodges cost? Accommodation
rates can vary depending on the time of year and whether they are booked per
suite or for exclusive use. But expect to pay from $450 per night to $1990 for a
couple per suite.

Helicopter Nelson.So what do the rich and famous do when they’re visiting our
region?

 1. Being chauffeur-driven in a luxurious vehicle to stunning locations
    showcasing the best wine, art and wilderness sounds like a pretty nice way
    to spend a day in our humble opinion. The tour, by Wine Art and Wilderness,
    provides insights into curious local attractions and contemporary and
    historical New Zealand life. wineartandwilderness.co.nz
 2. If you have a spare $10,000 for one day of fun, Simply Wild Journeys offers
    over 40 guided luxury travel adventures by helicopter, boat and vehicle.
    Packages start at $1500 with $10,000 the most expensive option. 
    simplywild.co.nz
 3. Spending your days sailing around the top of the South Island is luxury by
    most people’s estimations. Abel Tasman Sailing Adventure has a luxury
    sailing catamaran Te Harinui available for an exclusive day celebration or a
    multiday live aboard sailing holiday. You won’t get better Insta-worthy pics
    than that. sailingadventures.co.nz
 4. But if a car doesn’t meet your standards, there’s always a helicopter. Enjoy
    a bespoke private charter including breath-taking mountain landscapes and
    glaciers as you head to your favourite lodge or vineyard. Where do we sign?! 
    helicoptersnelson.co.nz

A look at luxury

The month of May marks one year since Nelson Regional Development Agency (NRDA)
CE Fiona Wilson made the move from Tasmania to Nelson with her family of six. We
talk to Fiona about her experience moving to the region and NRDA’s mission for
the local community and wider district.

You have lived in many different places; how does Nelson Tasman compare?

I have been lucky to live and work in some great places with very diverse
environments. My work has always involved working with local communities to help
support the economy, all facing similar challenges but for different reasons.
Without upsetting any other places, Nelson Tasman region does have it over the
rest on a few fronts – it was always our favourite place to holiday in New
Zealand before we moved here.

What is one thing that pleasantly surprised you about the region?

That we can be skiing within a couple of hours in winter, kayaking within 15
minutes and picking fresh raspberries on Christmas Eve. There is so much to
discover here.

What does economic development mean to you?

It is about helping communities to thrive. To build off the strengths of a
place, and to grow the opportunities for jobs, income, business and investment
in the region, and at the same time to try and tackle the challenges. Often
those are closely linked. NRDA is a CCO (Council Controlled Company), funded by
Nelson City Council, with additional funding from Tasman District Council and
central government, tasked to promote and strengthen our place for people to do
business, visit and live.

We must work with a long-term view, but also deliver short-term programmes and
provide immediate response - Covid-19 has certainly needed that.

While one part of our team helps to attract research and development funding
into companies, another is working to inspire kids into regional industry
careers. We encourage events, promote our place for visitors and workers,
support capability building among our businesses, provide data and information
to help business planning, and attract investment into regional projects. We
need to be very broad in our reach, which makes our work so interesting, but
also very challenging. We are privileged to work with some amazing businesses in
this region.

What is a key area of focus for the NRDA in the next six months?

We are looking forward to our region being fully open for business! We will keep
our focus on attracting investment and supporting business connections. We will
be profiling the huge strengths and opportunities in the region’s oceans-related
industry, science and technology.

We are thrilled to be welcoming our international visitors and will continue to
support many important regional events and major conferences that were delayed
during lockdowns. As we head into winter, we’ve got a new campaign launching,
encouraging people to enjoy, and be ambassadors for our region – our visitor,
retail and hospitality businesses need us to be out and about!

What is your favourite thing about living in Nelson Tasman?

Finding new things all the time - including this couch, what a stunning view!

On the couch with NRDA CE Fiona Wilson

By day Rachel Gagliardi is an emergency nurse at Nelson Hospital, by night she
swaps uniform to support the St John service as a volunteer for their Major
Incident Support Team (MIST). Here’s what she gets up to.

Rachel Gagliardi with the St John Ambulance.5.45am - Bbbbeeepppp! Bbbbeeepppp! I’ve gotten pretty good at turning my alarm
off within seconds so that it doesn’t wake up Charlotte, 18 months, or my
husband, Kris. I sneak out of bed and into the shower. After much-needed coffee,
I jump in the car and head for work.

6.50am - Parked up outside the hospital, I take a deep breath, pop my mask on
(the new COVID uniform) and head for the doors of Nelson Emergency department,
my third shift this week.

7.00am - Nursing handover time. I’m given a list of patients left in the
department from overnight and assigned to care for two of them. Thankfully it’s
short. Although I know that won’t last long, the department will be pumping by
9am. We have a brief chat and prepare a game plan for the shift.

12.00pm - Chest pains, Covid, broken bones, abdominal pains and a trauma call,
the morning has been busy! The reason I became an emergency nurse is no day is
ever the same. It’s break time, 30 minutes to scoff some food (if I’m lucky) and
have a breather, then back on the floor.

3.15pm - Phew! The shift went fast. I hand over to my fellow afternoon nurses,
get out of my scrubs and head out the door to pick up Charlotte from Hardykids.

5.00pm - The evening routine of chaos begins as I throw together a somewhat
healthy dinner for Charlotte, pop her in the bath and chase her around the
lounge to get PJs on. I manage to somehow whip into my MIST uniform while having
a toddler cling to my legs begging for me to play.

6.45pm - Kris is finally home! I demo some pre-prepared dinner down, kiss
Charlotte goodnight and grab my bag, heading out the door towards Nelson for our
monthly MIST training.

7.00pm - I arrive at Nelson station. After a quick hello and chat, we crack into
the back of our beastly old ambulance, turned MIST vehicle. We start checking
equipment/replacing expired drugs, and adding new equipment. Tonight, we are
practising putting up the major incident tent. During a major event or incident,
it’s our job to ensure that this tent is put up quickly and safely, so practice
makes perfect.

7.30pm - It’s a large and heavy tent that takes four of us to get it up. A few
adjustments of position, some hysterical laughing, and humorous jabs at each
other, because we all forgot which way the valves go to blow the tent up (oops,
that’s why we practice!). We check for leaks and look over the general condition
to ensure it’s ready for action. Looks good! Time to put it down.

8.00pm - After brute strength contributed by all, the tent is rolled up and
hauled back into the MIST truck. Time to head inside for some discussions.
Tonight’s agenda is new recruitment and training. We have lined up nine new
recruits for our team which is a huge expansion for our team of six and brings
new challenges and excitement. We discuss rolling out multiple nights of
training for our new recruits including a CPR scenario, tent and equipment
familiarisation and general induction. We wrap up our meeting with setting some
training dates for the rest of the month, then head home.

10.00pm - After a chat on the couch with my hubby, I’m off to bed with my phone
to catch up on the day’s news and social events, then set my alarm ready for
another day and drift off to sleep wondering if tonight’s the night the MIST
pager will go off…

A day in the life of Rachel Gagliardi

Designed and developed in collaboration with Vining Investments, Scott
Construction, Aaron Walton Architecture+Design Ltd and Arthouse Architects. Six
years of planning, around 30 million dollars and two Covid lockdowns. The
stunning Oceanview Apartment complex in Tāhunanui is now complete.

From its grand position to the views and immense attention to detail in the
build, the sense of pride from the team is apparent. A mammoth task from the
outset, Scott Construction project manager, Robert Glenny, says the project was
a huge undertaking and the design and build team did an outstanding job
throughout the entire process.

“The building stands in such a proud position, overlooking the fields,” says
Robert. “No matter how built up the area becomes, that will never change. You
have views from all angles – whether in the north-facing apartment and
overlooking the beach, sea and Rocks Rd, or south-facing and looking all the way
out to Richmond and Mt Owen.”

Aaron Walton Architecture+Design and Arthouse Architects says the design team
were given a brief from Tony to produce a Gold Coast-style resort that would
suit this unique site overlooking Tahunanui beach. The concept for the building
was to try and reduce its scale by using a selection of materials to break it
into smaller buildings.

“Each apartment has generous spaces, living areas open out to the beach,
bedrooms get views back to the hills behind Stoke. With the addition of two
swimming pools, a spa, gym and BBQ area available to all owners, we believe this
appeals to a wide range of people wanting to live in this beautiful part of
Tahunanui.”

With the concept completed, collaboration with Scott Construction and Tony
Vining and Jacques Reynolds from Vining Investments began in 2017. The project
was initially listed as part of a special housing area (SHA) by Whakatū
Incorporation in 2016. Now, Tony’s vision for a gorgeous Gold Coast-type resort
is coming to fruition with the completion of Oceanview Apartments and the
upcoming next phase of construction, with plans progressing for a block of land
situated next door.

Tony Vining, director of Vining Investments, hints the next phase of the massive
Tāhunanui transformation has now begun, saying concept plans and talks are
underway for the 2000 sqm section near Muritai St for, potentially, a
four-storey complex with commercial ground floor and space for, what Tony
describes as, a ‘metro-style’ supermarket.

Keeping things that people value is the key to a successful complex, says
Robert, and he credits Tony and the design team with creating apartments that
both fulfil a functional growing need and provide a safe and peaceful
environment for its residents.

“The landscaping is amazing. It would have been easy for Tony to have
capitalised on the remaining land and built more dwellings, go for maximum floor
area, but he was quite mindful of creating a quality place for residents to
live. It is easy to get that wrong and go too far. Tony created a perfect
balance of apartment living and the wide-open spaces that Nelson is known for.”

Seeing the build through two local lockdowns did not deter the team from pushing
forward and using the time to their advantage, tweaking plans and designs so
they could hit the ground running when operating levels were once again opened
up.

Robert says a build of this magnitude was a massive undertaking for the whole
construction industry in Nelson and Scott's worked hard to make the design as
efficient as possible. Teamwork between sub-contractors was a huge component,
with both local and out-of-town contractors collaborating to deliver more than
what they would have been capable of by themselves.

“We had to work extremely hard to design and prefabricate as much as possible,
some building elements were under construction and stored off-site six months
before they were required, just to meet the installation timeframes. It is such
a big development and right at the limit of what the city could offer. We did a
lot of work with Tony and his team over these last years to get it all over the
line. A lot of pride goes into these builds.”

Proud of everyone involved, from workers on-site, project managers,
sub-contractors and suppliers, Sally Klein, project co-ordinator for Scott
Construction, says everyone came together to make the construction happen. “It
was a huge team effort right from the beginning through to completion. It is
really exciting to see what happens next.”

Tony cannot speak highly enough of the Scott Construction team, saying it was
more than just an apartment block, they helped see his vision through, of
creating a lifestyle for everyone who resided within it.

“We have to credit these guys with so much. The plan really evolved over the
whole six years. It was refined and tweaked from the initial plans. From the
aluminium cladding to the use of timber in the gym and the stairwells. It is
those touches that really make it beautiful.”

With the massive complex now completed, Robert says the team have learnt a lot
of valuable information that will transfer over to future builds, and he is
enthusiastic about the effect structures of this size will have on the region.

“The resources being put back into the community during the build of Oceanview
Apartments were huge. Using local tradies and suppliers is a big plus, but even
the out-of-town contractors were staying at local accommodation providers,
buying provisions locally, and using local facilities. It all gets pumped back
into the economy.”

Next on the cards for Scott Construction and Vining Investments is an apartment
complex at 71 Haven Rd. The 31 apartment, five-storey building on the edge of
the port hills overlooking Trafalgar Park will be the tallest cross-laminated
(CLT) building in the South Island with apartments being released to the market
shortly.

CLT is a highly environmentally-conscious building product gaining favour
worldwide, says Robert. “Instead of spending a lot of carbon creating cement for
concrete, the construction will have solid timber walls all the way through.”

The cross-laminated, wood panel system is a lightweight and eco-friendly product
that is quickly becoming popular in buildings across the country. “It is fast to
put up, durable, and looks fantastic.”

Sally says there is a lot more opportunity to build high-density living in
Nelson’s CBD. “It makes sense for us to use land that has already been developed
and the infrastructure that is already in place, rather than impacting on
valuable greenfield space.”

The Vining Investments and Scott Construction team seem to be a force to be
reckoned with. Tony credits this to the large faction of professionals who have
seen the Oceanview Apartments through to completion.

“We are all happy to get stuck into the next project. There has been a heck of a
lot of trust built up between us and we now run like a well-oiled machine.”

Apartment living and wide-open spaces

With autumn already here, now is the perfect time to think about the warmth
retaining benefits that you can gain from having good quality window coverings.

Guthrie Bowron Nelson owner operators, Greg Hunt and Jude Griffiths, are
passionate about helping you create the perfect look for your home and preparing
for winter at the same time.

Jude says they love meeting with people, getting a real sense of their
personality, and exactly what it is they need. “Using our showroom enables us to
show the client exactly what the fabrics look and feel like, which is hugely
important for the end result.”

100% locally owned and the best in the business for all interior and exterior
home decorating needs, the Vanguard Street showroom is a great one-stop shop
where you can chat about what you like and see the full range of curtains,
shutters and awnings, including the cost effective ‘Every Day Free Curtain
Making’ range.

Greg and Jude are joined by interiors consultant Amy Austin, and paint gurus
Phil Goad and Steve Newton to make up their dynamic team. Their combined
specialist knowledge assists them in advising clients on all their interior and
exterior decorating requirements and realising their home decorating vision.

With over 900 samples of curtain fabric, plus blinds, venetians and tracks on
display, call in to Guthrie Bowron if you are building, renovating or
considering a make-over to freshen up your home. Bringing in measurements from
existing tracks, curtains, windows, or a building plan, is a great way to enable
an in-depth consultation and an accurate idea of cost. You can talk through the
aspects that are most important, whether it be privacy, insulation or both.

One of the hottest selling products just now is the stunning Aspect Shutters
range - made from completely sustainable hardwood, multi-facing, and tailormade
to your specifications, they are the most affordable shutters in New Zealand.
“Shutters create a timeless elegance in a home,” says Greg. “They are classic
and an investment in style.”

Another popular option is Lumishade, by Luxaflex. With its innovative vertical
tracking system it is an elegant alternative for stacker and ranch slider doors,
and much safer than vertical blinds of old. There are no chains, no weights on
the bottom, making them much safer for young families.

When it comes to outdoor protection the revolutionary Evo MagnaTrack
self-correcting awning system is a state-of-the-art blind built to withstand
wind pressures of up to 185km per hour.

Evo MagnaTrack and Lumishade are the latest and greatest collection from
Luxaflex, says Greg. These and the Aspect shutters, like all of their products,
will ensure beauty, longevity and be a worthwhile investment for your home.

Adding a personal touch to home decorating

Newlyweds Ben and Lydia show us how to do small living well at their home on
Vanguard Street. With their eclectic style and passion for antiques, the couple
have transformed this rental into their very own love nest.

Photos: Tessa Jaine

Where is your home and who lives here?

This house is on Vanguard Street. We have lived here with our birds, cats and
flatmate for about six months.

What four words would you use to describe your home?

Vintage, wholesome, homely and sunny.

The home features the original kitchen.What inspired this look?

I have always been a little obsessed with vintage furniture. The home is made up
of mostly second-hand vintage furnishings. My current pride and joy is the
Victorian wash bench, which was given to us by my grandparents in-law as a
wedding present. Another ornate piece I love is the little cabinet in the
kitchen. It was my mothers and as soon as we can we are going to get it fixed up
as it has seen better days.

What’s your favourite spot in the house?

It is a mix of the kitchen, lounge and my art studio. The sun pours into the
kitchen and lounge in the morning, and I just love it! There is nothing better
than a sunny house.

The cabinet in the kitchen, inherited from Lydia’s mum, is framed with Beatrix
Potter prints and artwork by Lydia.Where do you shop for homewares?

Most of the newer stuff we have bought is from Harvey Norman, though once Ben
and I buy a house I will be looking at Eclectic for a lot of homewares and
furnishings.

What’s your decorating style?

I try to make everything as aesthetically pleasing as possible, and I do like
everything to have some sort of consistency. Everything needs to kind of match,
though I do really enjoy mixing modern with vintage. If it’s done right, it can
look stunning.

What’s next on your interiors list?

House plants. More house plants! The next time I see a Monstera... I am grabbing
it.

The mantle is home to antiques and a growing pot plant collection.When it comes
to homeware, do you save or splurge?

Recently, Ben and I have splurged. Though we put quality over everything. I
always say I cannot afford to buy cheap. This is more of a recent mindset
though. Now that we are financially sound, we can put money into the things we
hold important to create a home we love.

Best seat in the house?

The couch. Oh my goodness, that couch is heavenly. That would have to be the
most expensive individual item we have bought so far.

Do you have any tips on how to keep your living area orderly?

Be consistent, and don’t let things get too far out of control. But if they do,
then set a day aside to just work on the house. I often keep things organised,
but sometimes you just can’t keep it organised every second, so I set aside some
time and get it all out of the way. I try to think how much nicer it will be
when it is clean and tidy, and that always motivates me.

The marble-topped Victorian wash bench is a much-loved 19th century antique,
given to the couple as a wedding present from Ben’s grandparents.What do you
love about the neighbourhood where you live?

Honestly, it’s loud here on Vanguard. What I would give for some peace and
quiet! But that really is the only issue. The neighbours are lovely. The house
was previously owned by a well-loved lady named Betty, and we sometimes get
asked how the house is doing by old friends of hers that live up the road. Our
neighbour Tony will mow our lawn occasionally, we come home and it’s just, done!
If there was no street noise, I would consider buying this house. I truly love
it.

What is one thing you would change about your home if you could?

The kitchen is so tiny, we can’t even fit our fridge in it. The fridge is out in
the laundry next to the washing machine. A major kitchen renovation would be a
must-do.

My Home

Simple yet impressive, these individual Deconstructed Banoffee Pie’s are served
with a dangerously delicious caramel sauce. Recipe courtesy of The Tides. 

Serves 4

For the caramel sauce:

300ml runny cream

2 cups soft brown sugar

50g butter

1 tsp vanilla essence

Method 

To make the caramel sauce combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat gently
until sugar has dissolved.

For the Banoffee Pie:

4 bananas

½ packet malt biscuits, crushed

100g butter, melted

300ml cream, whipped

300g mascarpone

Brown sugar to caramelise bananas

Dark chocolate, grated, to garnish

Method

Crush malt biscuits and add melted butter.

Whip cream and add vanilla essence until soft peaks form.

Whip mascarpone with a little of the caramel sauce until the mascarpone is
smooth with a slight caramel flavour.

Cut bananas length ways and sprinkle with a little brown sugar, put on a tray
and grill at 200 degrees for 5-10 minutes or until sugar has caramelised.
Alternatively, you can use a brulee torch.

Assemble all ingredients on a plate in a desired fashion. Use a hot spoon to
gently quenelle cream and mascarpone or alternatively you can use a piping bag
for both. Finish with grated chocolate.

Deconstructed Banoffee Pie

Sprig + Fern Brewing Co. beers and ciders are well known around New Zealand, and
Sprig + Fern Taverns are popular in their communities with eight in Nelson
Tasman and 14 nationwide. 

This month we get to know Justin and Barbara Frost who own Sprig + Fern
Brightwater.

What do you do for fun if you ever have spare time outside of running your
business?

Justin: Hanging out together as a family, BBQs and bike rides.

Barb: We have three daughters aged 3, 4 and 7 so they keep us very busy. We love
to get out to the beach or river and explore together.

What made you decide to own and operate Sprig + Fern Brightwater?

Justin: We live in Brightwater and really enjoy the village vibe here. The Sprig
+ Fern brand is a Nelson Tasman original and it’s great to be a part of it. I
also like beer, and the beers are great! 18 taps of beer and cider to choose
from!

Barb: We live in Brightwater and love the area/community. Sprig + Fern is a
great brand, so when the opportunity came up, we jumped at it.

Favourite craft beer on tap at your tavern currently?

Justin: Crème of the Hop Nectaron Pale Ale - it’s a delicious beer.

Barb: Trifecta Fresh Hop Hazy.

If you could only drink one style of beer for the rest of your life, what would
it be?

Justin: Pilsner/Lager, ice cold and crisp.

Barb: Pale Ale.

What makes the Brightwater Tavern special?

Justin: The speakeasy cozy, snug vibe. It’s a community pub hub that feels like
an extension of your living room.

Barb: It has a chilled out vibe and it’s a great spot to meet some friends for a
pizza and drinks and to just hang out.

Favourite local sports team?

Justin: Tasman Makos.

Barb: Wanderers Pirates.

Favourite National sports team?

Justin: All Blacks.

Barb: The Silver Ferns.

What keeps you motivated to own a business in Nelson Tasman?

Justin: It’s just such a great place to live and raise a family. We have put
down roots here and this is home for us. It really is a privilege and pleasure
to live here.

Barb: I grew up in the Tasman district, so it’s a dream come true to own a cute
little Tavern here.

Favourite part of owning Sprig + Fern Brightwater?

Justin: The people, getting to know our locals and being a part of this awesome
community. Also the beers!

Barb: The customers and locals. We have great regulars, they make it all
worthwhile and fun.

Offering 18 core beers and ciders on tap, as well as limited release products
which are often experimental in style or the hops used.

From hazys through to porter, hard seltzer and ciders, there is something on tap
for everyone. 

Tues, 3pm-8pm, Wed-Fri, 3pm- 9pm

Sat, 2pm-9pm ,Sun, 2pm-8pm, Monday closed

Meet your local Sprig + Fern Tavern owners

With its sunny climes and dedicated growers crafting some of the best hops in
New Zealand, Nelson has earned itself an enviable reputation when it comes to
the art of hop growing. Paula Hulburt discovers more about the ancient craft and
the people who make it so special.

Dean Palmer and father John Palmer celebrate reaching a 1000 bale record last
year.Seas of green stretch as far as the eye can see as the bine stems twist
their way skyward. An earthy, pine-tinged tang fills the air as the day warms
and work gets underway.

Voices call out in greeting and slurps of caffeine are hurriedly taken on the
go; it is the busiest time of year for hop growers as harvest is underway.

It is 7am on a Tuesday morning and the papery, light cones are ready for
picking; post coffee and some sleep, the team are ready to swing into action.
For Hinetai Hops grower Dean Palmer, it is the busiest yet most rewarding time
of the year.

He rolls his neck from side to side, shaking off the residue of the six or so
hours of sleep he’s managed.

From mid-February until the end of March, Dean leaves his home and family behind
in Motueka and heads to oversee harvest in Tapawera. This year, he has a caravan
on site.

“Just in case I have to isolate,” he explains.

Like the rest of the world coping with a pandemic, harvest for the Hinetai Hops
team means making some changes. “It’s always frenetic,” Dean explains “but more
so this year. There’ve been extra challenges with staff but we’ve been
particularly lucky. “We’ve got a great crew.”

Hayden, Colin, Thomas and David Oldham enjoying some of the fruits of their
labour.Worries over possible staff shortages for harvest may have proven
unfounded but Dean is nonetheless grateful for those workers whose help is so
invaluable.

This year, the industry offered better wages and free accommodation to entice
workers in to help, he says, as he pays tribute to the RSE workers and regular
local workers who make up this year’s crew. “We even had a Kiwi from Auckland
show up because they wanted to help with the labour shortage.”

For fellow grower Colin Oldham from New Hoplands, also in Tapawera, harvest is
going well. Not affected by staff shortages, Colin says he has kept things the
same as always on his 38 hectares of hop gardens.

The 50/50 mix of local staff and RSE workers get free accommodation as usual, he
says.

Colin, wife Alana and sons Hayden and Thomas took on New Hoplands from Colin’s
father, David, in the mid-1990s. The hops are an obvious passion and Colin’s
voice fills with warmth and enthusiasm as he describes how well harvest is
going. “I’m only overseeing though, not putting in the hard yards physically,”
he is quick to explain.

“I’m only doing around 10 hours a day, seven days a week.” For a man whose
relatively small hop gardens once caught the eye of America’s Budweiser beer
baron, August Busch III, Colin is certainly humble about all he has achieved.

Colin Oldham with his wife Alana Oldham on the farm.Like Dean, Colin too is
expecting a good harvest. The mix of rain at the right time and plenty of
sunshine has been kind to growers he says.

“We got plenty of rain at the right time for the hops,” he points out, “just as
they were coming into flower. The only problem with heavy rain is a lot of
weight goes on the hop garden, but that didn’t happen on my farm.”

As the cones and varieties mature at different rates, harvest is naturally a
long process, spread out over about five weeks.

Dean and his team are bracing themselves for the most hectic part of harvest as
several varietals become ready at the same time. At that point he can say
goodbye to his one day off a week.

“They become ready between 15 and 25 March and I’ll be working every day at that
point.”

Some of the harvest crew at Hinetai where teams have formed friendships over the
years.Dean’s fascination with hops began as a boy when his grandfather and then
father grew hops. He has clear memories of running around the hop shed as dust
motes spiralled and the air filled with the enticing aroma of lupulin.

“Running around the hop shed are some of my earliest recollections, he smiles.
“I’d collect hops that fell on the road, bundles of them, and just keep them, as
kids do.”

Decades on and while his passion for the plant hasn’t waned, he no longer keeps
the flowers stashed in a bag in his room, he laughs. The romanticised image he
built up in his mind as a child has broadened both with time and experience
though.

While days during harvest can stretch to 10 and even 12 hours long, both Dean
and Colin have no qualms about putting in the time. “It’s really full on but
genuinely very exciting. The people, the sense of community and the good yields
make it worth it,” Dean says.

“It’s quite rewarding, working so hard together. You get a real variety of
people, and while there’s not much of a chance to chat during harvest, there’s
always the after party.”

His sentiments are echoed by Colin who says he looks forward to welcoming back
familiar faces every year. “If they’re still in the country, they come back. We
make sure they have a good time,” he says.

For Dean, hops were something he grew up with, a legacy passed down through the
generations. From land bought in Waimea West by his great, great grandfather,
John Palmer, to the 63 hectares the family use for hops today.

Ten varieties include an organically-grown garden of the highly sought-after
variety, Nelson Sauvin. Across Nelson and Tasman, the bines have done well this
year, both men agree.

“We had such a good summer and then rain in early February and that was perfect,
the farm is so lush and the hops are looking really good. Everything is on
track,” Dean says.

At New Hoplands, where the organic gardens now make up 10 hectares overall,
there is a buzz in the air, a sense of purpose. For self-confessed beer lover
Colin, it is a sight he and his family have worked hard to achieve.

Row upon row of abundant green cuts through the landscape in clean lines. From
above the fields are a swathe of colours, gently undulating as the bines twist
and flex in the breeze. The flowers hang almost ready for picking. It is a sight
that never fails to gladden, Colin says.

Harvest is well underway at Hinetai Hops where an abundant crop is expected.
“It’s difficult to put into words, but I’ve always been passionate about hops. I
love the way they grow so fast.”

A third generation hop grower, Colin believes Nelson is perfect for growing. His
sons do too and are coming on board as the fourth generation to turn their hand
to the craft. It is very much a family concern.

In 1990 Hoplands turned over some of their land to grow organically, and at one
point were the only organic grower in the world, before a Belgian business also
made the switch ten years later. “Nelson is a great place to grow hops as we’re
disease-free here and have very cold winters,” he says.

For an Order of the Hop recipient for his work with organics, Colin is a bit shy
about what he’s achieved. He does, however, enjoy extolling the many virtues of
the gardens.

“Social media means people can know more about it than ever before but there are
lots of people who don’t have a clue. We had 25 dairy farmers here the other
day. “They wanted a break from dairy farms so came to see us and had a tasting,
they had a great time and left with smiles on their faces.”

Dean too is rightly proud of all that the team at Hinetai Hops have achieved. In
2016, and again in 2018, Hinetai Hops earned the ‘NZ Hops Grower of the Year’
title. 

“I believe in doing some of the simple things well to develop our industry and
produce really great hops,” Dean says. “I’m proud of our family history, too.
Over 100 years of collaboration, sharing knowledge, Tasman’s growers working
together – that all makes for a strong group of growers, producing a really
great product.”

Hop Heroes

Angela McIntosh, also known as Angel Blush @angelblushnz, is Nelson’s own pinup
star, having been a finalist in the Miss Pinup New Zealand Pageant and soon to
compete in Miss Vintage Australasia. Angela shares with us her vintage style
secrets.

What are you wearing?

My dress is a mid-century vintage reproduction by pinup couture, purchased
pre-loved from Trademe. My hat is 1940s halo style, bag and gloves are true
vintage and shoes are vintage reproduction by B.A.I.T Footwear.

What is your style?

Vintage pinup, the 1940s and 1950s era.

What is most of your wardrobe made up of?

Vintage reproduction dresses.

What is your approach to shopping?

Quality over quantity and trying to find pre-loved items whenever possible.

What is your all-time favourite purchase?

My dark blue velvet evening dress that I wore in last year’s Miss Pinup New
Zealand Pageant. It is a mid-century reproduction from La Femme En Noir and has
a vampy, film noir feel. The length (just below the knee) means that I get a
surprising amount of wear out of it, rather than a floor-length gown that would
sit neglected in my closet!

What has been your worst clothing disaster?

I am a Burlesque performer, and last year at a local showcase right as I was
about to go onstage, the zip on my 1950s evening gown completely, irreparably
burst, and I was unable to go on stage. Luckily I have an amazing local
seamstress, at Grey Door Clothing Alterations who was able to replace the zip.

What wardrobe item should everyone invest in?

A winter coat in your preferred style that is flattering and makes you feel
amazing.

Do you have a style rule you always obey?

More of a preference than a rule, but I only wear skirts/dresses that fall on or
below the knee, which keeps my look more authentic to the time period, and is
more practical.

If you could raid one person’s wardrobe, who would it be?

Rita Hayworth, specifically her 1940s era evening-wear.

Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…

Anything that doesn’t make me feel amazing!

On the Street with Angela McIntosh

Sarah Hedger, the woman behind local breakfast food company Yum Granola
certainly has her plate (or bowl) full with managing a growing business and a
busy toddler. Sarah shares a weekday in her life with us.

7.00am - I realised pretty early in life that alarms are not for me. My
three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Rai feels the same way and when that sun
turns orange, we’re up!

7.30am - My skills as a chef are utilized at Yum and also around mealtimes in
our house. Making breakfast for Rai and then putting together her lunchbox takes
almost as much thought as the five course degustation meals I used to create at
Whare Kea Lodge! No joke.

8.00am - Hopefully Rai is dressed by now! We’re ahead of schedule which means a
quick game of role-playing Paw Patrol. Oh, did I really just mention that?! Yes,
I’m Ryder and she’s one of the pups… that’s enough of those details!

8.20am - Rai and I set out on our e-bike to Busy Bees kindy. She always asks to
go on the e-bike and I think we both are in better moods with more sunshine and
fresh air in our lives.

9.00am - If I haven’t gotten in some form of mediation or breathwork before 7am,
this is where I sneak it in. I go for a short walk on the railway reserve near
Yum. Whilst only 15 minutes, it adds tremendous value in the form of joy to my
days.

9.30am - Get to work! I wear a lot of hats with Yum. From CEO to my chef role of
creating new recipes, fostering relationships with our suppliers and stockists,
liaising with our employees and Mike, my husband, who handles the production
side of things (and the other 31 hats) at Yum. Today we are working on our next
Chef’s Edition Seasonal Granola, which is exciting as I love the creation of
something new and delicious that is fresh, whilst learning about new ingredients
available and grown here in New Zealand. I also get to meet a lot of neat people
in our community in this space as well. Connecting Yum to the world is one of my
favourite parts.

1.00pm - I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve got to 1pm before realizing I
haven’t eaten, eeks! And we own a breakfast company! Anyhow, I really like
savoury things first off in the day, before snacking on Yum in the afternoon.

3.00pm - I pick Rai up from kindy and I always look forward to this. The
afternoon time I get with her is special, we visit Ruby’s in the port for a
special treat ice cream and a cuppa. I feel really, really lucky that I have
this time with her. Everything else stops. No phone answering, no social media
checking, no email checks… nothing. Just quality time being present with my
favourite little human.

5.00pm - We’re all home and I’ve had time to think about what to make for dinner
by this point. I’m really good at making something good from what we have on
hand… It’s like a cooking challenge every day!

7.00pm - Nighttime for Rai which leaves a couple of hours to get sorted for Yum
tomorrow and then relax with some yoga.

9.00pm - This is the goal time to go to bed! 10pm has not been recharging the
batteries lately so it’s been moved up to 9pm for me. I really love sleeping…
Such an underrated part of our lives.

A day in the life of Sarah Hedger

Each winter hundreds of people from primary school children to adults take to
Saxton Field to play netball. Organisers say this year will be a big one for the
code.

Netball season is fast approaching and Nelson Netball Centre board member and a
lifetime lover of the sport, Lisa Friis, says there are some exciting
initiatives underway for netball in Nelson. 

Bayly Conning from Richmond F45. Photo: Barry Whitnall/Shuttersport.Lisa serves
NNC as an appointed board member and has played netball for most of her life.
Passionate about the sport from a young age, Lisa is excited to see more younger
players becoming involved and more inclusion for male participation.

The Nelson Netball Centre has been undergoing a restructure in its day-to-day
workings and Lisa explains this as being a perfect opportunity to revitalise the
experience their members receive. “The real focus is looking after the netball
community. There is so much that goes on in the background. When I was only
playing the sport, I had no idea what was being organised behind the scenes. We
want our life members, officials, volunteers, umpires, players, and everyone who
is involved to feel a real sense of community within the centre.”

NNC is promoting the Netball Smart drive and Balance is Better campaigns, with
centre activator Ani-Marie Waitai leading the charge and covering all centres in
the Top of the South.

Netball Smart is a Netball NZ and ACC-funded national programme developed by
former Silver Ferns’ physiotherapist, Sharon Kearney. The framework is made up
of six principles helping to improve performance in a sport by preventing
injuries.

Chelsea Reed from Prices/Waimea Ahurei. Photo: Barry Whitnall/Shuttersport.Ani’s
key role is to support the delivery of Netball Smart and Balance is Better
principles and practices within the Nelson centre and its surrounding areas. 

Holding a deep passion for the sport, Ani is keen to share her knowledge and
years of training with players and says the initiatives are about helping
players across all codes of sport bring out the best versions of themselves from
a ‘grassroots’ level.

Leigh Gibbs, former Silver Fern gold medalist and head coach, holds many strings
to her bow. Currently the general manager for NCC, Leigh is leaving the Centre
soon to take an opportunity with New Zealand Netball, but will remain locally
and, Lisa says, will still provide great support to NNC.

Leigh is enthusiastic about the new initiatives and says the restructure is all
about delivering the best netball experience to its members. Including warm-up
times into the game schedules are a great part of the Netball Smart initiative,
says Leigh, with the aim of trying to reduce sports-related injuries. The number
of sports injuries are higher in teens, she says, but as players get older these
injuries can become harder and more expensive to fix.

The new strategies are about taking care of all involved, she says, from players
to staff, volunteers and management. “We are hoping to build a better future for
Netball Nelson and for the sport as a whole.”

“To mitigate the risk around ACL injuries for example, we have factored more
time to stretch and warm-up into the overall court-time.” An added bonus being
that congested traffic in surrounding carparks during the netball season has
been alleviated by the extra cushioning of time for caregivers to pick up and
drop off players.

The incorporation of the Sport New Zealand ‘Balance is Better’ (BIB) campaign
into NNC is another programme that the club is excited about sharing. Balance is
Better is a proven philosophy designed to support quality sport experiences for
all young people, regardless of ability, needs and motivations. It is about
young people staying involved in sport for life and realising their potential at
the right time.

“We are wanting to provide a better environment for kids to choose to stay in
sports. We collaborate with them, the player, and put them at the forefront of
the decision-making,” says Leigh.

NNC is also encouraging the participation of more males into the sport with the
hopes of seeing a rise in numbers and the ability to host both women's and men's
competitions in the future.

According to both Leigh and Lisa, the ability for men to participate in the
sport over the years has been restricted, however, they say, international rules
have eased and clubs are now able to encourage more people to participate at a
more ‘profound level’.

The Nelson mens representative side who are aiming to play at Nationals again
this September. Photo supplied.For the first time, this year will see a
fullyfledged all-male team participating in the premier competition, as an
invitation team.

Leigh believes having both men and women playing, including mixed teams, gives a
new edge to the sport pushing players' abilities and forcing them to use
different strategies to their normal gameplay.

“It enables players to enjoy a game using all of their skill sets. I do not
believe one has more of an advantage over the other. Just different abilities
and skill sets, and it uses all of the players experience and expertise to
create a different style of play. We would love to have more men involved and
grow the sport.”

Lisa agrees, adding that getting more males involved in the sport is fantastic
and long overdue. “As a player, I love going up against a men's team, they are
so tough to compete against. It’s a whole different way of playing.”

Jared Lock heads up the men's division at NNC and is excited about the
nationwide push to create a pathway for male netball players. “At the moment,
boys can only play netball up until age thirteen. What we are now trying to
create is a pathway in the format of a men's division so that these kids can
choose to carry on participating, with a sport that they love, at more than just
a social level.” 

The move has been a work in progress, says Jared, with a goal of having enough
men's teams to compete at premiership level in 3-4 years.

Embracing youth culture and bringing a new perspective into the centre is the
boards’ youth representative, Isla McTague. Lisa says Isla is already making her
voice heard for the youth sector.

“Isla brings an enthusiasm and refreshing perspective on things.” Lisa says she
has embraced the role and is quickly bringing the centre up to speed on the
social media interaction with their youth members.

Having played netball since she was five years old, Isla says introducing the
new initiatives into the centre is an extremely important step. “Netball Smart
and Balance is Better are resources that are one hundred per cent vital for
young players and helping them to find that balance in sport, and in their
family and life.”

Relishing her new role, she says that the opportunity to have a youth
representative on the board is a great way for the centre to get another fresh
perspective and is a role that she is very much enjoying.

Trials are already underway for the top tier teams, but registrations for social
clubs are open until mid-April for those looking at getting involved.

Visit nelsonnetball.co.nz for more information and a list of club contacts.

Words: Amy Russ

Netball season lifts off

Expedition adventure racing is like a gruelling cross-country version of The
Amazing Race. But one woman competing in this male-dominated sport, believes the
finish line is not as far away as we may think.

Team Avaya with the GODZone Champion Trophy. Photo: Sean Beale.Just like you,
Sophie Hart enjoys a good night’s sleep. But for about a week, every now and
then, she will settle for a whole lot less. Last month she was part of team
Avaya, the GODZone adventure race winners (not for the first time). She spent
six days and nights bush crashing, pack rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and
navigating her way through tricky New Zealand terrain with long time teammates,
Nathan Fa’avae, Stu Lynch and Chris Forn. You could try it too if you want -
seriously, it’s not that big of a deal. Says Sophie, “A lot of people are far
more capable than they give themselves credit for. You’ll hear things like, ‘I
don’t know if I could do that because I just need to sleep. That’s not a good
reason not to try though, in my mind, because I totally fall into that category.
But until such time as you try these things you really have no idea.”

All four have plenty of experience in expedition racers (over 50 events for each
of the guys, ‘somewhere in the mid twenties’ for Sophie) which can be useful for
winning, but it isn’t everything. The second-placed team were relative newbies.
“I think as long as we have a really good solid race and perform well and we do
all the things well that we know we can, I think we probably get more
satisfaction out of that rather than necessarily the end result. Of course, we
want to win, but I think we know what we are capable of now if we are sensible
and race smart and have a good strategy.”

Nathan is the team captain and they rely heavily on him for all the pre-race
planning, but when Chris says, “Let’s go this way”, the team go this way. That’s
because Chris is a top-notch navigator. Knowing where to go is perhaps the most
crucial skill when well off the beaten track, since backtracking is a
morale-crushing, race-losing activity no team wants to experience. Sophie says
Stu is also an excellent navigator, a great allrounder and their highly valued
white-water whisperer. Stu reads the currents, and the rest go with the flow.
Sophie, self-effacing, reckons she just tries to keep up. [I’d think having a
medic on the team would help me sleep at night. Maybe even the entire four hours
of it.]

Sophie is a GP three days a week at Harley Street Medical and a
marshmallow-negotiator on the remaining days. As we talk over the phone, her son
Huxley (3) becomes restless, though in his defence I didn’t ask him a single
thing about adventure racing. While they both endure my rapid-fire questioning
for longer than either of them could have wished, one of them at least earns a
sweet treat for putting up with the interrogation. The Keeper of the
Marshmallows is notably cheerful and easy going. Useful traits for 23 adventure
racing, among others. “I love the outdoors and you have to not be too worried
about getting a few scratches here and there, going a few days without a shower,
and challenging yourself, because there is a bit of suffering involved at
times.”

Being fit also comes in handy and not working as a GP full time does allow
Sophie the luxury of training (oxymoron). She thinks it might be impossible
otherwise, though insists there is not as much preparation involved as you would
think. This depends a bit on whether you think 10-15 hours a week falls into the
‘not much’ category. She feels very fortunate to have a supportive husband and
her parents also came to help with the kids for six weeks prior to the race.
They’re all justifiably proud of her and were a welcome surprise at the finish
line, though she admits she probably didn’t match their energy levels at the
time.

Sophie would love to see more women try adventure racing, which she pitches as a
slightly harder version of a walk in the park. A walk in the park could be where
it begins. “It doesn’t have to be that demanding. You have to have a baseline
level of fitness and then I think the conditioning of the feet is important. If
you can get in a few multi day hikes with heavy packs, then that’s really great
training. It doesn’t have to be that your every spare moment is training and you
don’t see your family, it’s not like that at all.”

So, you start tramping with friends and then sign up for something like the
Spring Challenge which is an adventure event just for women. You can choose from
3, 6 and 9 hour options. “Your baseline doesn’t have to be that great to raft
for an hour, walk for hour and bike for an hour. And because of that [Spring
Challenge] you go along to these orienteering events now, these rogaines, and
it’s such a turnaround. It used to be rare to see women there and now most of
the entrants are women. It’s awesome.”

Once you are addicted to the Spring Challenge, try a few 24-hour races (because
anyone who is reasonably fit can grit their teeth for a day and a night).
Eventually you’ll be eyeing up a multi-day adventure challenge website telling
yourself that life is too short and scanning your brain cells for at least three
other people who have tendencies to mutter ‘carpe diem’ at random intervals.
While GODZone requires a degree of forward planning, ultimately, it’s a
seize-the-day philosophy that will get you to the start line. And a few other
things.

If you are pessimist, then you only need to have a positive attitude for 6 to 9
days. Don’t forget to toughen your feet up a little. And what the hell, the rest
of your muscles while you’re at it. As mentioned, you also have to be prepared
to forego a full night’s rest for a week, though on the flipside, it sounds like
the jokes are hilarious once the sleep deprivation kicks in. You must be able to
tolerate amazing views. You’ll need to store them in your memory bank though
because no phones are allowed. No selfies, no video clips to upload to Tik Tok.
Just you and her and her and her. The sounds of the bush and the river. You are
never more than 100 metres apart. Etch it all into your grey matter. After a few
of these you’ll get to talk about the other adventure races you did together and
remember them too. “We’ve shared a lot of intense moments over the years in
really obscure corners of the world doing really strange things, and we did have
a moment during the race …We were doing a top five and bottom five all-time
[memories] and that was really interesting and quite fun to get everyone’s
moments over the decades, and the majority included us as a four.”

Must really like the other three people. Better move that to the top of your
list. It’s on Sophie’s.

Team Avaya, Nathan Fa’avae, Stu Lynch, Sophie Hart and Chris Forne arrive at
Paerau on day five of GODZone.“For me, I don’t have any real desire to turn up
and race in a random team because so much of it for me is being part of a team
that I feel connected with and I know we race smoothly together and it’s easy…If
the team are keen to do GOZone next year, I won’t be able to say no, I don’t
think.”

Sophie Hart, adventuress. Try and keep up.

Words: Britt Coker.

Doctor, mum, adventure racing champion

Nelson in the 90s. It was the decade the city turned 150, a three bedroom house
in Stoke cost $180,000, the Giants were national champions and wearable art
exploded onto the scene with a creative burst of energy. Amy Russ takes a look
back at a decade full of colour and energy.

Nelson’s greatest achievement of the 1990s will go down in history as the
creation of the World of Wearable Art. It was a show that transformed Nelson and
one that endures to this day, albeit in another city. But for many who lived
here during that time, it was a place full of great fun, good music, dodgy bars,
manual cars and when we all, somehow, became basketball fans.

Eelco Boswijk and World of Wearable Arts performers. Photo: Craig Potton.These
were the days when The Gathering, hosted on Takaka Hill, was high on festival
goer’s calendars, Kaiteriteri hosted – what essentially became – an annual
Cantab’s vs locals’ event with Tug of War and Mr and Miss Kaiteriteri
competitions in summer. Wizards Space Parlour, Preston’s Surf Shop and Everyman
Records were the go-to, and Shakespear’s, Zhivago’s, Horatio’s, Kacey’s and
Metropolis were frequented nightlife hangouts, with a pit stop through Friar
Tucks for a pack of chicken and chips with garlic rolls – or the late-night food
bus.

Fifeshire FM was blasted on the radio, Georgie Pie came to town, and Hanafins
was where you would patiently wait to get your photos developed from the
weekend’s adventures.

A packed Montgomery Square, where New World and Dick Smiths use to be.
Long-serving radio host for Fifeshire FM, Al Colombus, says the 90s was a decade
where it felt like the region had started to ‘find its feet’. “Watching the city
grow and change over the years, back then, things started to really take off. It
was a whole community thing, and it became more cosmopolitan. The arts have
always been strong in the region, but the likes of the Wearable Arts really put
the place on the map. It was a landmark event and a highlight in community
involvement.”

The Fifeshire FM team circa 1992, featuring Al Columbus in the trendy waistcoat.
Al remembers those days fondly and his wedding history has been a source of
great ribbing from friends over the years. “If I remember rightly, there were
two marriages in that decade!”

He loved being a part of the Wearable Arts scene and the opportunity to co-MC
their first show in Wellington. The music then was similar to 90s fashion, says
Al, “it became more embodying, more encompassing. The 80s were too
higgledy-piggledy. Post-punk was my go-to during my time at Fifeshire. It was
hard to delve into your own style when you were so immersed in that environment,
but I’ve held on to a lot of punk new wave music, which I’m actually starting to
revisit now.” Live music really peaked in those days too with Al even having a
stint playing in his own band during that time. He remembers DJing at Led Zebra
and MC-ing at a festival involving one of Nelson’s biggest live bands in its
day, Mumblegrunt.

Kim Merry (right) was the creative director for the Nelson Arts Festival in the
90s.Canaan Downs saw its fair share of festival go-ers in the 90s with the
influx of people across New Zealand seeing the New Year in at The Gathering.
Co-founder Grant Smithies and his partner Josephine Cachemaille helped
co-ordinate the events in 1996 and 1997. Grant remembers a more unrestricted
time with a lot more alternative and youth culture. “Places like the Black Fly
Bar, Zippys café spring to mind, the Nelson Community Centre – which became The
Artery, then The Hub.” The big social was at Everyman Records says Grant, “on a
Friday night the place would be jammed up with people”.

“Metropolis was where it was at. It was flashy and it was great! Lots of touring
bands, like Supergroove, used to call through Molly’s then too. Back then there
was old-school licensing. Bars were bars. Ramshackle rock and roll bands played
in town, they had club nights and lots more live music playing than nowadays.”
Fifeshire FM presented the region with Stage Challenge and Pete Rainey made
Rockquest a nationwide event with Waimea College band the Exploding Poppies
becoming the first Nelson band to win the national competition in 1992.

The first Stage Challenge in 1993.While the music scene was thriving, so was the
hospitality sector. Chez Eelco led the way decades earlier but it was still a
favourite throughout the 90s. “Chez Eelco was a staple Nelson eatery,” says Al.
“The Chez Burger and tinned mussel soup were particularly tasty.”

Doug McKee owned and operated Quayside Restaurant on Rocks Rd. A visit to
Quayside to tackle their steak, and the salad bar stacked in a rowboat in the
middle of the restaurant, was a fantastic way to spend a few hours - basking on
the balcony, watch the sailboats, and taking in the view. The curried egg salad
was a favourite amongst many patrons and Doug admits to still having the
original recipe book from that time, including the infamous curried egg. “The
pages are a bit worn, but it is all still there.”

The Quayside was a popular place to dine from 1986 – 1998.Christmas Day and
Mother’s Day were the Quayside’s biggest nights of the year, seeing six to seven
hundred meals sent out on each night. After endless hours working, Doug made the
decision to close Quayside’s doors near the end of the decade, but with his
foresight, ‘The Waterfront’ became the first multistorey apartment block in
Nelson. “It was the best use for the site. I decided that the waterfront was
going to be apartments and it was a gamble worth taking. That was where the need
was.”

As Quayside was getting ready to close, another new café popped up in the middle
of town, Lambrettas. Lambrettas Café and Bar owners Leanne Odey and her husband
Rhys say you could count the number of cafes on one hand in the late 90s. “I
remember a massive waitlist for night-time service at Lambrettas, and shock,
horror, smoking inside!” Leanne says one clear memory from the 90s was Tina
Turner performing at Trafalgar Park. At the time, Turner was one of the world’s
biggest pop stars and, arguably, her show is still the biggest act to come to
town.

The 90s was also a great decade for local sport fans. The Nelson Giants captured
the region’s hearts when it won its first NBL championship in 1994 and its
second in 1998. Bill Dahlberg coached the Nelson Giants and said it was a great
decade for developing young players. Four of his young Nelson basketball high
school players went on to represent New Zealand in the Tall Blacks at the Sydney
Olympics, and three of them made it to the World Champs in Turkey a few years
later. “We did some good stuff. The nineties were a build-up of our age-group
players. That is what I see from back then. A solid background in Nelson junior
basketball. That was the group that came through in those days. A very elite and
successful group of players.”

The Nelson Giants won its first NBL championship in 1994 and its second in 1998.
It wasn’t just the Giants bringing sporting success to Nelson though. Rower Dave
Schaper competed at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.
Back in 1992, before the Mako, Nelson Bays famously won the third division of
the national provincial rugby championship with a nail-biting win over
Horowhenua in Levin. In 1999 the union won the second division for the first
time.

Nelson Bays coach John McKenzie with players Dion Mytton and Mark Milne,
celebrate winning rugby’s 1992 National Provincial third division championship.
The retail scene was also a bit different, particularly in Richmond, which at
the time was a fraction of the size it is now. Former Village Cycles owner, Jim
Matthews, owned a small apple orchard in Spring Grove, just a few doors down
from where Wearable Arts were born, before deciding to open a cycle shop in
Richmond. “Richmond was just a little village when we started the cycle
business. That’s where the name Village Cycles came from. We were lucky enough
to see the cycling world boom in the nineties, first with ten speeds and then
with mountain bikes. It has gone into another hemisphere now with e-bikes.”

Late night shopping in Richmond on Thursdays in the 90s was at not one, but two
malls, complete with an indoor water fountain and chandelier, an outstanding
record store, DEKA and a concrete playground. Since then, the Village Mall and
Richmond Mall combined to create a mall that has four times as many shops as the
two smaller malls did.

The outside concrete playground at the Richmond Mall.“It’s funny” says Jim, “You
think of all the years you’ve worked and all the things you’ve gone through,
then you look back over the decades and not realise where they all go.”

United Video was a popular store in the 90s, with the Nelson team named
best-performing franchisee in the national chain’s large store category.The 90s
was also the decade a young Nick Smith first won a seat at parliament, winning
the Tasman seat in 1990. Kerry Marshall was the mayor of the Tasman district for
most of the decade (1989-1998) while Philip Woollaston held the chains in Nelson
from 1992-1998. All three men helped push through the building of Whakatu Drive,
providing a bypass for Stoke, with work starting towards the end of the decade.

Former Tasman Mayor, Kerry Marshall, with Dame Catherine Tizzard and CEO Bob
Dickinson.As far as lowlights go, the fire that destroyed the Majestic Theatre
in January 1996 has to be up there.

In some ways there’s not a huge amount that has changed. In some ways everything
has. People still hang out at the beach and listen to music, we still host
fantastic festivals and local sports teams are still smashing goals. Shops have
come and gone, we have seen buildings rise and fall, but the heart of the
region, a strong sense of community, pride in our city and all things arty, has
remained.

Nelson Tasman continues to grow, evolve, adapt and change. There will always be
something emblematic about the place, its golden beaches and sailboats dancing
in the shimmering sea protected by its half-moon haven. The iconic markets,
sunshine, culinary delights and clever creatives.

Nelson in the 90s

One of the biggest challenges Covid has brought is our ability to stay connected
with friends and family.Border closures and lockdowns mean many of us have had
to deal with extended separations from loved ones.It's brought the topic of
social connection into the spotlight, and with good reason. Dr Marissa Kelaher 
explains.

Social connection is a part of health we often take for granted, yet it’s one of
the strongest predictors of health and longevity.

We are hardwired to be social creatures - the gene for kindness is one of the
oldest genes in our DNA.

Having social connection is having a life where other people play a vital part -
for emotional, physical, and practical support.

It includes socialising (spending time with others), social support (having
others we can rely on to help us) and sense of belonging (feeling included and
valued).

Loneliness impacts on our physical and mental health - studies show that people
who are chronically lonely have a higher risk of early death, high blood
pressure, insomnia, heart attacks and strokes, dementia, and poor mental health.

In contrast, having strong social connections reduces inflammation, improves
immunity, switches on 'anti-ageing' genes, lowers blood pressure, and protects
our brains.

A famous study from Harvard University followed a group of men over 75 years and
found that the single most important predictor of health was having strong
social connections.

Connecting with others affects our health by buffering against the negative
physical effects of stress via its effect on our nervous system.

It activates our parasympathetic (rest and digest) system, counteracting the
fight or flight response we have to stress. Even short positive interactions
drop our blood pressure and heart rate and increase energy.

Being kind and connecting with others releases several hormones from our brain:

 * Oxytocin (love hormone, protects the heart, helps blood pressure, and
   improves self-esteem and optimism).
 * Serotonin (happy hormone, speeds healing from injuries, makes us feel calmer
   and happier).

 * Endorphins (feel good hormone, reduces pain, improves energy and strength,
   and makes us feel positive).

When we are connected with others, we're also more likely to look after
ourselves when stressed, ie eat well, exercise, sleep, and avoid harmful
substances. We also stay more focused and are less likely to give up.

One of the most important parts of social connection is not necessarily how many
friends we have, but how close we feel to them, and knowing we can rely on them.

If you are feeling lonely or want to improve your social connections, try these
tips. 

 * Be positive when with others
 * Make time with loved ones a priority and try new things together
 * Be interested in other people's lives, and be supportive and trustworthy

 * Put digital devices away and focus on connecting and being truly present with
   others
 * Reach out to people you haven't seen in a while
 * Volunteer
 * Find supportive online communities
 * Join new groups with a common interest, or try new activities

 * Help organise or attend community events
 * Set yourself a challenge to perform a random act of kindness each day, or
   strike up conversation with people you come into contact with in public

And if one thing doesn't work, try another - there's nothing to lose.

Social Connection

Minami Takashima’s style is a reflection of her life as a tantra teacher,
spiritual life coach and jewellery maker. Minami is influenced by her teachings
as well as an appreciation of natural fabrics and sustainable living.

What are you wearing?

A handmade Batik (traditional Indonesian dye print method) tunic from Warriors
of Divine. It has symbols of yoga and tantra teachings and I feel like I’m in my
element when wearing it. This metallic head wrap scarf is from an op shop hunt,
a nice and stretchy material. These earrings are my own, handmade (IG
@danceofgoddessnz) - so in love with the long chain & the pale green quartz,
giving me a good vibe.

What is your style?

Boho and elegant.

What is most of your wardrobe made up of?

Cotton/linen pants and tops, boho maxi tunics/dresses and yoga-wear.

What are you loving at the moment?

Head wraps (scarfs), A-line dresses and anything with a higher percentage of
linen/cotton. I really believe that the natural material has a higher
vibration/frequency. It matters to me a lot because I teach yoga, meditation and
energy-work.

What are you dressed for today?

Nature walk and meditation.

Where do you buy most of your clothes from?

I find so many hidden gems from op shops. I am a petite person, but I sometimes
find clothes that are double my size, and they drape so nicely! I wouldn’t have
learnt this tip if it was not for op shop hunting. It is an eco-friendly option
too - we have to wake up from materialism at one point and invest in our inner
journey, don’t we?

What is your approach to shopping?

I try to buy things that represent and remind me of yoga and tantra teachings -
something that brings out my inner divinity.

Not to compare myself with others but to really enjoy and embrace being in my
own skin, as a radiant soul!

What is your all-time favourite purchase?

Moss green, long sleeved A-line dress I bought in Chaing Mai, Thailand. My
A-line dress obsession probably started then…

What wardrobe item should everyone invest in?

Clothing that tells cultural stories that are important to you. I like to get to
know the authentic culture and invest in learning – through real people (and
fashion).

For me this is Yukata (Japanese Kimono-like summer dress) reminding me of home.
You can educate yourself in a certain culture through fashion. I love seeing the
living culture and human touch in fashion.

Do you have a style rule you always obey?

Less is more – just like yoga/zen teachings.

If you could raid one person’s wardrobe, who would it be?

Indigenous mystics and shamans of all cultures.

Finish this sentence – You would never catch me wearing…

UGG boots and crocs. Not my cup of tea…

On the street with Minami Takashima

We all need a bit of gardening advice now and then! Daltons gardening experts
are here to help. Send in your gardening question and you could win a Daltons
gardening prize pack! See entry details below.

I have blueberry plants in pots, and they have produced well the last two years.
In spite of fertilising with acid food they have failed to produce berries this
season. Why?

There are two possible reasons why your blueberries have not produced berries
this year. It is quite likely that the plants have become root bound in the
pots, causing difficulties in the uptake of nutrients and water.

The second reason could simply be insufficient watering. If blueberries become
dry early in the season, flowers and young developing berries will fall from the
plant. While dryness doesn't necessarily kill the blueberry growing in a pot,
the result is limited or no berries in that season. We recommend repotting the
blueberries into larger containers with fresh Garden Time™ Outdoor Container
Mix, or plant the blueberries in your garden, in a sunny, sheltered position.

You may also find it helpful to read our free How To Grow Guides for more
gardening advice: daltons.co.nz/how-to-guides
[http://www.daltons.co.nz/how-to-guides].

Lifestyle

Conservation kaupapa

Legal

Terms

Privacy

Nelson App

About

Contact

Nelson App is owned by Top South Media. a locally owned media company.