Getting to know... Shelley Haring

A CrossFit enthusiast and dedicated family taxi driver, Shelley Haring – organiser of Feast Whakatū – balances her love for adventure with well-organised lists. She’s a fan of red wine, four-wheel driving in her Jeep, and taking life one fun-filled weekend at a time.

At the weekend you’ll find me... Every Saturday starts with CrossFit followed by coffee at Little Engine, after that its family time and all the usual life admin tasks, plus catching up on work. Having a wine on our deck with friends also happens most weekends. We have also just started getting into four-wheel-driving in our black Jeep Wrangler. So fun!

After work, you’ll find me... Work stops? This is a new concept to me! But depending on what day it is, I can be doing anything from karate or guitar lesson drop-offs, to youth group pick ups or some other kids’ activity, I am bascially a taxi for my kids most afternoons. Then at some stage work out what to have for dinner, thank goodness for my thermomix!

I’m a real nerd about... Lists, run sheets and organising, love a good to-do list and getting stuff ticked off.

My most useless skill is... Being able to recite the flight attendant briefing still from four years as a hostie with Air NZ.

At a party you’ll find me... On the dance floor, drinking red wine or gin, chatting and making sure everyone is having fun. Unless its after 10pm, then I’m heading home to sleep!

Something I learnt way later than I should have... What people think of me is none on my business. Running events opens yourself up to a lot of opinions, and sometimes criticism from people, I have had to learn not to take everything to heart and stop people-pleasing!

My simple pleasures are... Walking Boston, our three-year-old Golden Retriever, hanging with my husband and kids, red wine, good food, fresh sheets, sunshine and a book, camping in our 1970s caravan, having nothing to do and nowhere to be... bliss!

One thing I’ll never do again... Get strapped up to go bungy jumping.

I wish more people knew... That Feast Whakatū – Nelson/Tasman’s newest foodie festival – is coming from 1 to 10 November, and that the Cider Festival is back in Nelson this year on 2 November. It’s okay to do a bit of shameless selfpromotion, right?

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken... Buying a Beer Festival! And keeping it afloat during covid. But the risk is worth it when I get to produce a festival that thousands love and come back for every year.

My biggest pet peeve is... Don’t get me started on pet peeves, I have way too many. People who take ages to get off a plane, slow walkers, long story tellers (like, get to the point!), eating loudly, not being able to use the same password, chewing gum.

The colour that best describes me is... PINK! Always with the pink.

I hope in ten years I will be... Still living my best life but hopefully with less work and more play, I’ll be an empty-nester by then, assuming they will leave home at some point!