Acoustic spirit

Whiskey SoHo is the Bay’s top-shelf blend of musical talent.

Words Shiree Schumacher

Singer-songwriter Waylon McPherson has been steeped in music since childhood – strumming his way through various bands and playing to crowds over the years with some memorable success. But a voice injury, and the pandemic, forced a hiatus. After time to recalibrate and heal his voice, Waylon re-emerged as Whiskey SoHo – a multi-genre percussive solo-acoustic act that’s as interesting as it sounds. Singing, playing and percussing on his guitar using effect pedals manufactured by McPherson Stompboxes, his own Papamoa-based family business, he produces a full band-like experience. His sound is funky, soulful – and just like a great whiskey, hits all the right notes. 

What led you to become a musician?
I can always remember being drawn to music. When I was three or four years old, and my dad put on a Dire Straits Live Concert VHS, and that's when the penny dropped: “Wow, so this is how music is made!” I began to learn guitar at 10 years old and was totally into it, but it wasn't until I was around 18 and I played my first live show that I knew music was something that I wanted to be a large part of life.

How did you end up creating Whiskey Soho?
I’d been playing the cover circuit for quite a few years but during lockdown, all my gigs were cancelled. This coincided with a vocal injury, and I was advised not to sing until it was addressed. After quite a bit of vocal therapy, I was able to heal my voice back to a point where I could perform, and in late 2022,  I started working on Whiskey SoHo. 

What do you love about what you do?
The biggest thing I love about playing music live is how it brings people from all different walks of life together in a positive way. It's an addictive feeling when you are playing in front of a crowd that's really engaged. I love my day job, which is a company my wife Shelley and I started in 2008, McPherson Stompboxes NZ Ltd. We work with musicians all over New Zealand and around the Bay, building, servicing, repairing and modifying musicians’ instruments and gear. We are a musical household 24/7 around here.

What are your music career highlights so far?
Being managed by Ray Columbus and having a single on the NZ Charts. Being nominated for best new artist in the Juice TV Music Awards. Performing on Top of the Pops with Chefu and Opshop. Performing live on the Good Morning Show. Rotorua Sound Shell performance to a crowd of over 30,000 people. Supporting Midwave Breaks on the Mount Maunganui leg of their tour. I have played many memorable gigs, and they all make up epic lifetime experiences.

What inspires your music?
Life experiences, random thoughts and ideas. My style of writing is all about the vibe. Songs can have several storylines that are all intertwined. Even though my songs have meaning to me, I would rather the listener have their own idea of what it might mean to them. When I was six or seven, I remember really liking a song, and watching an interview where the artist was describing what the song was about, and I felt like knowing the backstory took away some of the magic of what the song meant for me.

How is it being part of Papamoa's music community?
Papamoa and the wider Bay of Plenty is such an incredible musical community, supportive, encouraging and helpful. The quality of the musicians in the Bay is world-class. There is so much inspiration every time someone releases new music, or you get the opportunity to catch a live show.

What is your favourite instrument to play?
Guitar! I'm totally obsessed with the guitar and have been since I was 10! The entire Whiskey SoHo act is built around pushing the boundaries of what you can do with just one acoustic guitar.

Who is your favourite band or musician right now?
I love so many styles and types of music, hence the  range of genres I write and play. I love that there is something for everyone and more amazing music is being written, recorded and released every day. When I connect with a song, I can enjoy it, regardless of the artist who wrote it, or who performs it. Every style or mix of music has its place and has the opportunity to connect with people, and the big thing is how to give people the opportunity to hear your music.   

whiskey.soho

Bella cucina

Forget takeaway pizza – these simply mouthwatering recipes from Kiwi chef Bri DiMattina will transport your tastebuds to the Italian countryside

Tomato with Whipped Feta

This tomato medley salad plays with the contrasting flavours of whipped feta and a sweet honey-chilli drizzle. Make extra of the whipped feta and the honey-chilli drizzle to reconstruct this later as a dip with other garden goodies. Though, honestly, it is best with fresh tomatoes – an addictive combination.

SERVES 2

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp honey

• ½ tsp chilli seeds

• 1 tbsp butter

• 2 tbsp capers

• 500g mixed heirloom (or homegrown) tomatoes, sliced (little ones can be left whole)

• ½ small red onion, finely chopped

• Small handful of Italian parsley, roughly chopped

WHIPPED FETA

• 80g feta

• 40g sour cream (or yoghurt)

• ½ garlic clove, minced

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 tsp olive oil

• Lemon zest and cracked pepper (optional)

Method

To make the whipped feta, blend the feta and sour cream in a food processor until smooth, then stir in the remaining ingredients by hand. Chill until required.

In a small pot, heat honey until runny (no need to simmer or boil) then add chilli seeds and stir thoroughly.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a small pan and fry capers until crispy. Leave to cool.

Layer whipped feta on the base of the plate, followed by tomatoes, capers, red onion and parsley. Drizzle with the honey chilli just before serving, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Zucchini Arancini

Arancini are usually made with rice, often from leftover risotto. They have a delectable filling, such as cheese, truffle or ragu, and are rolled in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. A lot of Italian cooking represents this
style of using up everything, and is the spirit of this dish. If you, like me, are seduced into planting lots of zucchini, unsurprisingly you will have lots of zucchini to use up, so this is for you. Arancini are Sicilian and southern Italian, and a similar recipe in Rome is called suppli. There are many variations and other names as you travel through Italy, but I think this one, made purely from grated zucchini, is a uniquely New Zealand garden version.

SERVES 6

INGREDIENTS

• 3 zucchini, grated

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• Small handful of parsley, finely chopped thyme leaves, to taste

• 1 tsp cracked black pepper

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup pecorino, finely grated 

• ½ cup fine dry breadcrumbs, plus more, to coat

• 100g mozzarella, cut into 1cm cubes

• Vegetable oil, to deep-fry

METHOD

Place the grated zucchini into a clean tea towel and wring out over the sink, to remove excess liquid. Place zucchini into a large bowl.

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat. Gently cook the onion and garlic until translucent, then add to the zucchini. Add the parsley, thyme, pepper, eggs, pecorino and breadcrumbs. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. If the mixture seems too wet, add some more breadcrumbs, though it should be fairly moist.

Take a small handful of the mixture and flatten a little in the palm of your hand. Place a cube of mozzarella in the centre, then enclose with the zucchini mixture and shape into a ball. Roll in the fine breadcrumbs to thoroughly coat.

Half fill a large saucepan with vegetable oil and heat over medium high heat. Deep-fry arancini in batches until golden brown. Drain on paper towel.

NOTE: You can make these in big batches and freeze them after crumbing. They make a great lunch snack in the middle of winter.

Grilled Capsicum & Tomato Tart

This tart is almost better cold the next day than it is straight from the oven. Feel free to use puff pastry instead of shortcrust, but still leave a border around the edge so that you get a lovely crust.

SERVES 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra to drizzle

• 2 anchovy fillets

• 2 shallots, finely chopped

• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

• 500g shortcrust pastry

• 150g gruyere, grated

• 4 tbsp chopped herbs (such as thyme, sage and oregano), plus extra, to serve

• 2 large heirloom tomatoes, sliced

• 3 large capsicums, cut into pieces and lightly chargrilled

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 190°C fan-forced. Lightly grease a large baking tray.

Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and cook the anchovies, shallots and garlic for a couple of minutes, until softened. Set aside to cool.

Roll out the pastry to a 30cm × 20cm rectangle and place onto the prepared tray. Spread the cooled anchovy mixture over, leaving a 2cm border around the edge.

Sprinkle with gruyere and herbs, then layer the tomato and capsicum on top, slightly overlapping.

Fold the edges of the pastry over to make a crust. Drizzle the topping
with olive oil. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until pastry is golden.

Cool slightly and serve topped with a sprinkle of fresh herbs and cracked pepper.

Spiced Apple Cake

This recipe hails from my mother’s café, Eliza’s Pantry. It’s super simple and uses four apples with their skin on. The apples don’t have to be at their best, it’s a little like a banana bread recipe for apples. They can be rescued because no one is inclined to eat them, and turned into something delicious – but the best part is that it is all just mixed up in a food processor, then baked.

SERVES 12

INGREDIENTS

• 4 apples, quartered, cored

• 2 eggs

• 2 cups sugar

• 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 2 tsp ground allspice

• 250g butter, at room temperature, chopped

• 2 cups plain flour

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• Ice cream and caramel sauce, to serve

CINNAMON CRUMBLE

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup rolled oats

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 25g butter

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C fan-forced. Grease a 23cm springform tin and line with baking paper.

To make the crumble, combine the ingredients in a food processor and process until crumbly. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

For the cake, place the apples into the food processor and process until finely chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and process for 1 minute. Pour into the prepared tin and sprinkle with the topping.

Bake for 1–1.25 hours, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve with ice cream, caramel sauce, or both. 

Consistent returns through uncertain times

SPONSORED

In an era of economic volatility and market uncertainty, investment opportunities that provide consistent returns can be hard to come by. Local company First Mortgage Trust (FMT) shares strategies that have managed to achieve this for more than 27 years. 

With their conservative investment strategy and stringent lending requirements, FMT has not only weathered the storms but has also managed to consecutively increase its investment return rate over the past five quarters and is anticipating further increases.

“In our 27 years no FMT investor has ever lost a cent of capital, even during the GFC and, more recently, the Covid-19 pandemic,” says CEO Paul Bendall. 

This accomplishment is a testament to FMT’s disciplined approach, their risk management strategy, the expertise of their team, their local property market knowledge and their commitment to the preservation of investor capital.

“We know these are uncertain times and people are cautious, especially when it comes to investing and deciding what to do with their nest egg and savings,” says Paul. “Living costs and inflation are high and this can be hard for savers. We understand this and that’s why we are pleased to have been able to deliver increased investment returns for the last five quarters, and because of our consistent investment returns and the peace of mind we provide we’ve seen many of our investors invest more with us and recommend us to their friends and family.”

How FMT works

Investors invest in either the First Mortgage Trust Group Investment
Fund or the First Mortgage PIE Trust, then FMT lends the money out to Kiwis seeking property finance. FMT differs from some other investments as both funds are trusts. The trust structure means each fund is supervised by an independent supervisor. The supervisor plays an integral role in the governance of FMT and they have oversight of lending decisions. 

“This gives our investors confidence that their money is being managed
well,“ says Paul. “The money our clients invest with us helps New Zealanders achieve their property related goals. It builds homes, businesses and it helps shape communities.  In return we are able to provide a stable return to our investors to help them achieve their investment goals.” 

Increased investment return rate

FMT has showcased its expertise in wealth protection and generation by progressively increasing its investment return rate. Their March 2023 quarterly rate was a pre-tax return rate of 6.61 percent (annualised), which was well received by investors.

fmt.co.nz

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

First Mortgage Managers Limited, the manager of the First Mortgage Trust Group Investment Fund and the First Mortgage PIE Trust, is licensed under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 as a manager of registered schemes and is not a registered bank under the Banking (Prudential Supervision) Act 1989. Professional investment advice should be taken before making an investment.
Product Disclosure Statements are available at fmt.co.nz

Shine a light

An upcoming event shines the light on men’s mental health by demonstrating that it’s braver to seek help than to tough it out alone.

Words Liz French

Zane Munro

For too long, Kiwi culture has celebrated the tough guy. While women have felt free to seek help from friends and professionals, men have bottled their problems. If they expressed vulnerability or showed their emotions they risked being told to “harden up”.

With one simple word and a lot of support, Cassandra Hogan intends to help change perceptions about how men deal with their mental health. The event on October 13 that will put the focus firmly on the male state of mind is simply titled: he. 

The pendulum is gradually swinging, but not fast enough, says Cassandra. As a certified life coach, she sees far more women than men, but she also gets to talk to men more deeply than many. “I’ve got a lot of guy mates,” she explains. “If they confess to me that they are finding life hard and I ask what they’ve done to get help, the answer is usually… nothing.” 

Kenrick Smith from rake Healing with one of his mammouth artworks

Awareness that the men she talked to were just the tip of the iceberg, Cassandra germinated the idea that has evolved into he. And it’s got bigger than she anticipated.

While keen to facilitate an event about men for men, she knew it needed to be by men as well. Cassandra only had to put the word out to influential males in the mental health arena to have speaker offers flooding in.

Zane Munro is a speaker who is upfront about his struggle with depression, anxiety and feeling isolated. He says that the birth of his son five years ago was the impetus for the men’s mental health support group, For All The Brothers: “I didn’t want him to grow up like this.” 

For All The Brothers provided a platform where blokes could comfortably share their experiences. It took off on social media (40,000 followers on Instagram!) and there are now branches in many centres. It has organised men’s walks all over New Zealand and Australia. “It’s easier to talk while you are walking side-by-side,” Zane points out.   

Cassandra Hogan

Cassandra is an ambassador for The Shaka Project, an Australian initiative to ignite the conversation around mental health. Sean Weir from Shaka is coming to talk about the benefits of connection, mateship and brotherhood. Shaka was inspired by a dad’s love for his kids and his friends, something Kiwi men can certainly identify with. 

Tai Tupou from Hamilton will also be an inspirational speaker. He experienced a downward spiral when a broken ankle axed his chances of playing league the day after selection. He represents The Last Chance Project, supporting men with burdens from haunting past issues to everyday pressures. The Last Chance Project provides a safe, healing and nurturing environment for men to walk positively into the next chapters of their lives.  

Kenrick Smith is better known for his pictures than his words. Kenrick started drawing in the sand during lockdown as an outlet for his energy. So began Rake Healing, which creates mindfulness and calmness by putting artistic lines in the sand. Kenrick’s greatest pleasure is helping individuals fulfil their potential. If it’s fine on he. day, his work will appear on the beach outside the venue, Mount Maunganui Surf Club. 

Co-ordinating he. is a big job for a woman with a business and a young family. Cassandra gratefully acknowledges her supportive family and friends and the assistance of Kim Brown of She is Unleashed, a networking group for self-employed women. Both women stress that while they are ensuring he. happens, this is the men’s do. 

Serious action does not mean acting seriously. he. is planned as an evening of open sharing, laughing and realising others have your back. The Surf Club will create an intimate atmosphere in an inspiring location. Attendees get a drink as they arrive and dinner is served between speakers. Sponsor enthusiasm ensures the goodie bags will be very good! Women are welcome whether as partner, friend or interested supporter.  

Well known sportsmen are already lining up to be involved in the next
event. “Next!” laughs Cassandra. But her supporters are already talking
about he. becoming a regular event and spurning spin-off groups. 

The he. event will take place on October 13, 5.30pm at Mount Maunganui Surf Club. For more information, head to the Facebook page:

 he.mensmentalhealth

Cloud Nine on Welcome Bay

You’ll never be so thrilled to get to the end of the road as
when you’re viewing this magnificent outlook.

Words Jo Ferris

When it comes to views, Tauranga boasts among the most spectacular scenery. It’s all about perspective - whether you prefer being up close and personal, or above it all on cloud nine.

Welcome Bay is blessed with an extraordinary panorama, thanks to its north-facing outlook over Tauranga city, harbour and ocean vistas. The higher into the hinterland you go, the more exquisite the view becomes – and more peaceful.

Nestled into the hillside, just below the Waitaha Road ridge line, this home commands a magnificent outlook that stretches from Motiti Island to Coromandel. To enjoy Pāpāmoa sunrises and sunsets over the Kaimais, you need simply stroll to the top of the hill behind and stand in awe. The panorama not only catapults to another level, it pans right around to the hills behind Oropi and beyond.

The serenity is bliss – more so, learning the dedication to this property’s creation. What began as a significant block of farmland, was carefully carved by these vendors into a boutique enclave of 12 lifestyle properties. Their home sits above it all – removed from close proximity to neighbours below; and cherishing idyllic privacy.

Sheltered from prevailing winds, thanks to the way this home cuts into the hillside, it stands alone. With the hill plateau behind and gardens sloping down into grazing below, nature underpins the serenity here. This address is literally the end of the road.

The home is testament to sustainability and longevity. Constructed from imported aerated concrete blocks, the exterior walls are 250mm thick, interior walls are 175mm. A hushed, insulated ambience is in tune with the tranquillity outside. 

Innovation flows throughout the home, in ways that ensure the view is always centre of attention. Apart from one bedroom and the intimate TV snug with its wood burner, every room embraces the postcard scenery. Polished concrete flooring is aesthetically beautiful and functional. While harnessing the sun’s warmth, there’s also a gas fire for mood. Double-sided, it serves the living area on one side and instils romance to the master bedroom next door.

Bathroom indulgence also embraces the astonishing scenery. No need for frosted windows here. Picture windows ensure bath relaxation savours the stars and Tauranga’s twinkling lights at night – both in the master ensuite and guest ensuite.

Outdoor intimacy is integral to this home’s subtle ambience. Decking extends its full length to connect with every room. The master bedroom
might boast its own fire. But few bedrooms can claim a lap pool outside their door; as the ensuite guest room enjoys. When it comes to alfresco entertaining however, this aspect takes a more secluded approach.

Stepping out from the living area, this outdoor zone combines sheltered alfresco dining around an open fire with a spacious setting that curves into the hillside. Rockeries and gardens embrace this corner within nature, before stepping up to the hill behind. The forethought here points to an understanding of nature, the elements and how to connect with the environment; not dominate it.

Careful to ensure this enclave preserved nature, the vendors created something special in this hillside retreat. Their decision to now put their own home on the market hasn’t been taken lightly. It’s time to step back and create a smaller haven. They have made sure nothing else can split up what they developed in this hillside enclave. That assurance is something to appreciate well into the future. Standing on the hilltop here - gazing down and out to all that sits below - that’s something to cherish. Cloud nine is hard to find. 

332 Waitaha Road, Welcome Bay

oliverroadestateagents.com

Culture shock

Will Johnston has a solution for one of the Tauranga CBD’s problems, and he’s practically giving it away.

It’s fair to say that I was excited to go to Hamilton. That’s not usually a sentence that comes out of my mouth. Cold and foggy isn’t my cuppa. However, this time, Hamilton was going to be different.

It was at Spark Arena in Auckland, and it’s the musical about Alexander Hamilton that’s taken over the theatre world since its first performance in 2015. My wife is a huge musical theatre fan, so this was a must for her and, by association, me. Don’t get me wrong, I like a musical as much as the next 39-year-old musically untalented guy. But mid-show when I noticed my forearm was wet from the tears of joy and sorrow emanating from my wife’s face, I realised I was not at her level of enthusiasm/hysteria. Bless.

But the thing that really struck me while we had our baby-free weekend in Auckland was that we are lacking a vibe in Tauranga. 

There’s a buzz in Auckland (if you tell an Aucklander I said that, I’ll deny it). Maybe it’s more people, maybe it’s bigger buildings, maybe it’s just traffic (though we have that in spades here – amiright)? Or maybe it’s the fact that businesses are actually open and operating at night – not just food and booze businesses, either. 

I hear the same old argument about Tauranga not being big enough to support opening at night, or even support half of the businesses during the regular shopping hours. But rather than just complaining – as I’m prone to do as I sink into my late-30s role of dad jokes and loathing of bad parking – I have a solution! 

All I ask for this fix is a humble working week’s worth of fees that the Tauranga commissioners charge per day of work each. $1,500 each x 5 work days = $7,500. I know, generous of me, right? I’m not even charging the chair’s fee of $1,800 per day. Which I would be totally justified to do as I am quite clearly the chairman of my own board. 

So here it is: Whack it on the rates, mate! 

Every residential ratepayer gets an allowance built into their rates that must be spent on tickets to shows/events every year. If you don’t spend it, it gets divided up as an annual cash payment among all businesses/organisations in the CBD that would benefit from an entire theatre of people coming to town before/after a show. 

Worst-case scenario for the ratepayer: You get to go to a bunch of shows a year, expand your horizons, and fill the CBD with reasons for businesses to operate there. Worst-case scenario for a business/organisation: They get a sweet cash payment at the end of every year to keep the doors open/pay their staff and reinvest into their business to make the CBD a more attractive place to socialise for the ratepayer. 

Now, who do I invoice for this idea? 

All this aside… It worries me that I’ve mentioned rates AND went to Auckland and enjoyed myself. Who have I become? Middle-aged?! 

 radiowill

Where the boys aren’t

The Hits radio personality Lauren Mabbett is single and ready to mingle… But where are all the men?

Calling all singles in the Bay of Plenty! We're putting on a speed-dating night!"

What joy I felt reading those words as a single 30 *mumble* year old gal in the Bay of Plenty. I moved back here from living in Auckland and Wellington a couple of years ago and fairly quickly noticed the lack of 30-something single guys or even meetup-style events. So when a local bar started promoting their speed-dating evening, myself and a few of my single girlfriends were rapt. Finally! A chance to meet potential dates face-to-face and not via a dating app. As tempting as those photos of dudes holding up a fish or a dead deer are, or the profiles that solely consisted of a pic of some cash spread out on a bed (cool that you've got $180, go you!), it just wasn't working out for me.

Two days before the speed-dating night, the bar organising it posted on Instagram: “Apologies ladies, due to the lack of interest from males we've had to cancel the speed-dating night.” 

You could hear the resounding heavy sigh from women across the Bay. My point had been proven.

And it's not for lack of trying. Many nights my friends and I will go out and try and meet someone the good old-fashioned way – getting on the piss at a pub. However, a quick scan of the room usually results in disappointment. Groups of men old enough to be my dad, young enough to be my children, or all sporting those bloody wedding rings.

In the two years I've been back in Tauranga, I've been on one date. I met a guy from Tinder at a bar in town and straightaway realised he didn't look at all like his photos. His profile said he was 36 but he informed me in person he was 45 and didn't know how to change his age on the app (side note: If you can't figure out how to type in your own birthday, that's a bit of a red flag in itself). He then proceeded to spend our whole date talking about how much he hates the government and “Cindy”, all the while continuously calling me “chickadee”.

On the way home, while sitting on Cameron Road for 45 damn minutes, I thought to myself, “Even though I'm single, if the right guy for me isn't out there right now, there's no point pushing it. I have friends in other cities who will end up dating the wrong person for the sake of not being alone. They're not happy, but they believe they're happier than they would be being single.”

As the great Robin Williams once said, “I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people who make you feel alone.”

As nice as it would be to at least be able to go on a few promising dates, being single certainly has its upsides. I have so much time for my good friends and family, I get to wake up and start my day exactly the way I want to, I can travel without having to work around anyone else, and I don't need to bother changing the second pillow case on my bed (apart from when it's covered in cat fur). Seriously, though, it's given me heaps of time to focus on myself which I haven't taken for granted. I've been filling my evenings doing standup comedy, hosting pub quizzes or going out for lovely dinners with friends. And if among all that I have no plans, there's something quite enjoyable about hibernating at home, ordering Uber Eats and catching up on White Lotus. Perhaps opening a bottle of wine too.

If you're single and over 30 in Tauranga, first of all, call me! Secondly, embrace it. Make each day your own and enjoy it. And if you get really desperate, I know a guy who has $180.

Listen to Lauren weekdays 9am to 3pm on The Hits 95.0FM. 

Wines worth hunting for

UNO’s new wine columnist Jess Easton is introduced to the wild Wairarapa through a unique fine wine.

Photos Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media

JESS EASTON

Jannine Rickards arrived for our Martinborough meeting adorned with luscious wines and an apology. She'd wanted to catch up earlier but needed to break down a boar she'd shot, she explained. And the day before that was a write-off, landing a hefty kingfish while out fishing.

Any further attempts to say sorry by the Wairarapa winemaker – who sells under the crazily appropriate Huntress label – were met by our group with thoroughly deaf ears and a barrage of questions, which she quickly silenced by opening a bottle of her Waihonga.

Fermented with wild yeasts, each of her vintages is a unique expression of the wild Wairarapa. Jannine (Ngā Puhi/Ngai Te Rangi) has an uncanny knack of conveying her love of nature and passion for hunting and foraging through her wine. Her own wairua (spirit) shines through, with an earthiness and intense connection between whenua (land) and palate.

Waihonga is Māori for “nectar” and the honey-coloured amber wine comes from pinot gris grapes fermented on skins with a dollop of skin-fermented riesling. It's fresh and vibrant with a deliciously long finish, dragging tones of peach, honey and spice along for the ride.

And what a ride it turned out to be. Tasked with finding wine matches for Kitchen Takeover's “Ki Tua” event earlier this year, combining delicious liquid offerings with the culinary mastery of Kārena and Kasey Bird, meeting Jannine seemed like a sign from the gods. One sip and I knew immediately this wine was going on our menu.

Fast forward a few months and Jannine's Waihonga sat serenely alongside Kārena and Kasey's Kai Kōhua dish, a deconstructed boil-up featuring bacon broth, nasturtium and watercress.

Ki Tua presented diners with five delectable courses, each inspired by legends of female Māori atua (gods), each paired with wines from Māori-owned vineyards or winemakers.

It was entirely fitting we opened things up with Tohu's Rewa Rose Méthode Traditionelle 2017. Tohu is acknowledged as He mātāmua taketake – the original and first Māori-owned and operated wine label. The stunning Greywacke Riesling 2021 was next up, made by winemaker Richelle Tyney (Ngati Tama ki te tau Ihu/Te Atiawa/ Ngāti Maniapoto/Ngāti Porou).

The Tiki WJM Waipara Pinot Noir 2017 followed The Huntress as the fourth match, produced by Sue (Ngāi Tahu) and Royce (Ngāti Ranginui) McKean. The second Tohu offering – the Raiha Reserve Noble Riesling 2016 – provided silky apricot and honey flavours with a dash of zesty lemon meringue and sweet citrus to finish.

Showcasing Māori wine talent was such a proud moment for our team.
And while New Zealand is renowned for our Marlborough sauv blancs and Central Otago pinots, plenty of sensational boutique offerings are
out there. Using Jannine Rickards as inspiration, sometimes you've just got to go hunting for them. 

Jess Easton is a director and owner of Kitchen Takeover, complementing her career as a Tauranga-based lawyer. Her lifelong love of wines has been taken to the next level, tasked with crafting the wine list and wine matches for Kitchen Takeover's culinary masterpieces.

In the ‘hood

Kids can have big emotions. Simple self-care for parents
helps find and lend kids our calm.

Words Holly Brooker, Parenting Place 

Parenthood is an incredibly fulfilling, beautiful journey, but it can also be one of the most challenging experiences. During times of high stress, it’s important we care for ourselves and build our own reserves so we can manage the stressors we face, and be present to support our tamariki. It’s like the safety message we hear on planes: Put your own oxygen mask on first. 

Fitting in self-care

Life as a parent is incredibly busy. But self-care doesn’t have to be the luxe pampering you see on Instagram. It can be the small things, little and often, to achieve balance, like refraining from starting that gripping Netflix series at 10pm. Getting a good balance of fruit and veg (and no, the “grape juice” that goes quite well with Netflix doesn’t count as fruit). Moving your body, even if a daily five-minute walk around the block is all you can manage. Or snatching two minutes of silence during times of high stress to process the triggers you might be feeling. 

Creating space for ourselves is an important tool to help ensure we are able to keep calm during periods of stress, so we can provide our kids with the emotional stability and support that they need. 

Our kids need self-care too, with a gentle balance of sleep, good food, movement, and play. Consistent routines, exceptions and boundaries increase our child's feelings of safety and security, especially during times of extra stress and uncertainty. 

Expect the unexpected

If there is one given in parenting, it’s that our children will have big emotions and big behaviours – often when we least expect it (like when we’re running out the door, already late). Big emotions can make children feel out of control. Children generally express themselves through behaviour rather than words, and sometimes that behaviour can be pretty confronting and loud. 

Hence the need to look after ourselves first, so we’re well-resourced to be a cushion for our kids when their big feelings erupt. This is when our kids really need us to help them find their calm – we can lend them some of ours, but only if we can prevent ourselves from having our own emotions triggered by their big feelings.

Pause, reflect, engage

“Pause, reflect, engage” is a simple strategy to help reduce the brain’s threat level, enabling our prefrontal cortex to do the work it was designed to do. It’s particularly helpful if you’re struggling with additional stressors as well. 

“Pause” is about stopping and taking a slow, deep breath (or 10!) in a stressful situation. It really is just about breathing. Oxygen is a gift to the brain and nervous system, and a very quick and effective way to calm things down a bit.

When we “reflect”, we gather information about and from ourselves, as well as from our surroundings. We use “reflect” with empathy to notice our thoughts and feelings based on the situation we’re in.

We do this by asking the following questions:

• Name the feeling you are experiencing.  It might be, “I feel frustrated.” No judgement, just acknowledgement. 

• Now consider, what might my child be feeling?  “They seem to be feeling sad.” Accept where they are at, without judgement. “Those are their feelings, and that's okay.”

• Consider the why? “I’m wondering whether I’m feeling so frustrated because they are making me late to work by mucking around?” or “I’m wondering if he could feel sad because I’m getting snappy and grumpy?”

Now we “engage”. Once we have that information, we can use it to better understand ourselves, our kids and the situation, and we can plan of how to move forward together. A simple, sharing conversation could be enough.

“When you and I were arguing before, I noticed that things were getting out of hand. So I just needed to stop and take a breath. When I did, I realised that I was feeling really angry and frustrated. Then I thought, well, maybe you felt angry too, maybe even sad because we were arguing? I don’t like feeling that way and I’m sure you don’t either. I’m sorry that it happened. There must be some way we can work this out. Let’s give it a go.”

This simple process of understanding our triggers and emotions, as well as our kids, and sharing these through conversation can provide a healthy process of connection. 

Our children’s behaviours can be so big and intense that it is difficult to see the emotions underneath. When this happens, we are easily drawn into their emotional turmoil. But if we approach them with an attitude of empathy, compassion and understanding, we show them that their relationship with us is more important than their challenging behaviour. It might be a work in progress, but it’s always progress when you're moving toward connection at the forefront. 

parentingplace.nz

Business meets bliss

A trip to Sydney gives the opportunity for some work-life balance.

Words Jenny Rudd

Why bother flying somewhere fun if you aren’t going to give yourself the time to enjoy it? This year I’ve been back and forth to Australia for work, and last time I went to Sydney, instead of cramming everything into a couple of days and whizzing back home, I extended the trip and turned it into a wee holiday for one. It was just the right blend of career and care. 

A top-rated apartment in the CBD was found on booking.com, made all the more luxurious as they organised and paid for a taxi on arrival. I did nothing. A message popped up on my booking.com app as soon as I’d landed, telling me where to meet the driver. A great start to the week.

A CITY WALK

I’d been sitting in a plane for many hours, so fresh air and leg stretching were first on the list. An easy loop started at Hyde Park with giant fig trees and the Archibald Fountain, a tribute to the Franco-Australian relationship. You can walk straight over to the Botanical Gardens, and follow the water’s edge round to the money shot - the Sydney Opera House. The garden holds deep cultural significance as it’s situated on the traditional lands of the Cadigal people. You can learn about Aboriginal heritage with artwork, and interactive displays explain indigenous plant uses and the connection between Aboriginal communities and the land. Past the Opera House, I settled in for the French menu at Whalebridge. Warm evening light, a view of the bridge over the harbour and rippling water. I was ready for work the next day.

BONDI

It’s oh so easy to travel in Sydney. I just tapped my Visa card on and off trains, buses and ferries. Staying by Town Hall station made everywhere seem like a few minutes away. I had a meeting in Bondi, so we met at Blackwood Cafe. Bright pink tuna crudo eaten in the sunshine and talking to ambitious founders of a business bound for the States was followed by a walk round the iconic beach. I’d stuffed my bikini in my handbag so got happily smashed about in the waves before heading back to the CBD.

LIGHT UP

I’m not much of a party girl these days, but I do love to walk around cities at night. Each year Sydney’s buildings and skies light up with their Vivid Festival in May. Hundreds of drones take to the skies and videos of artworks cover landmark buildings. Follow the light walk from Circular Quay and grab snacks en route.

BARANGAROO

Everyone here likes to have early meetings, which has been perfect as I get the rest of the day to explore. The morning was spent with Startmate, one of Australia and New Zealand's best-known tech startup accelerators in the Stripe offices at the incredibly hip WeWork building. The whole area, Barangaroo, has been recently redeveloped. The land is named after an influential Aboriginal woman from the Eora Nation. Gleaming buildings line the water, it’s a pretty magnificent working environment. The development has turned an inaccessible industrial area into a waterfront for everyone to enjoy, and linked up some of the central Sydney points with the Wulugul (kingfish) Walk.

SHELLY BEACH

Take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Beach and walk the picturesque pathway cut into the cliffs round to Shelly Beach. A towel, snorkel, mask and a good book are all you’ll need to while away a good part of the day. There’s a lovely beachside restaurant called the Boat House which doesn’t take bookings. And a huge reef round the headland at the end of the beach, which is where your mask and snorkel comes in handy. If you’re hot on the walk back to Manly to catch the ferry, stop off at Cabbage Tree Bay and have a quick dip off the rocks.

INDOOR WATERFALL

Okay, I think this is my favourite thing in Sydney, and I found it by accident walking through Town Hall shopping centre to get to the train. An actual waterfall covering an entire wall in Eternity Café. I went there every day. It’s got a very kitsch vibe. I was a big fan of the smoothie bowls and salads. 

Top tips for solo travel in Sydney

Use booking.com app for the best one-bedroom apartments in the CBD.

Eat outside peak restaurant hours to get the best seats in town.

Walk everywhere! You’re on your own schedule.

booking.com

The little store making a big difference

Katoa is a place where local youth can learn career skills to help them thrive.

Words Catherine Sylvester

Photos Jahl Marshall

Stepping through the doors of Katoa in beautiful Mount Maunganui, you’re met with all the hallmarks of a humming café. Happy chat and laughter bubble up from the young staff behind the counter, where a delicious array of smoothies are on offer.

Look a little closer, and you’ll soon discover Katoa is a smoothie bar with a twist – and a greater purpose. Opened last November by The Get Group, it exists to provide a space in which young people are trained with the skills needed to work in customer service, and to also house the Group’s not-for-profit Little Heroes Project.

The Get Group was launched in 2015 by friends Angela Spice-Ridley and Noeline (Noels) Cook, who met while working in adult education. The organisation seeks to provide training in basic career skills to those for whom school is not a natural or easy fit.

“We started by going into schools to run workshops,” explains Angela. “Practical things like barista skills, horticulture, food safety, customer service and interview techniques.”

The pair’s experience working in adult education meant they were able to identify certain gaps that young people were encountering. They realised that filling those gaps would be their mission.

“Noels and I have a passion for young people and love their energy. They have so much to offer,” says Angela, smiling. “We hear a lot that young people don’t know how to work, but have they been taught to? We felt they were getting a bit of a raw deal and wanted to change that.”

The Get Group employs young people to work in all areas of the business. They teach workshops, run school holiday programmes, operate the Katoa Food Truck, and work in the café. They’re also encouraged to give back to the community and are given time off yearly to do so.

It was through one of these altruistic initiatives that the Little Heroes Project came to be. Encouraged to find ways that were meaningful to them and would benefit others, one young wahine chose to help teen mothers by creating and gifting care packages. From the beauty of those small beginnings, something even bigger was born.

A call to the community for donations for these packages resulted in an overwhelming response. The collection and distribution of goods on a larger scale was enough to warrant the Project registering as a charitable trust that now supports individuals and organisations throughout Aotearoa.

Angela explains the Katoa store allows The Get Group to train and employ young people, and to raise funds for the Little Heroes Project. 

“We partner with young entrepreneurs across New Zealand, providing them with a space to showcase and sell their creations,” says Angela. “We also have a range of Katoa merchandise and upcycled clothing for sale, which profit the Little Heroes Project.”

Jorgia Neill first encountered The Get Group when she took their Gateway course while still in high school. 

“We were learning interview skills, and afterwards Noels invited me to do some work experience with them,” the 21-year-old says. “I was able to try a bit of everything to see what I would enjoy the most and where I would thrive.”

Fast-forward four years, and Jorgia now manages the head office in Palmerston North. 

“It was a shock to be asked to join as I didn’t have much confidence in my abilities,” she explains. “This has built my confidence and helped me grow. It’s also helped me to know my worth in the workforce.”

Noels is keen to point out the beautifully collaborative effort that has gone into ensuring Katoa thrives. 

“The biggest thing Angela and I do for each other is to be calm when the other is freaking out,” she says, laughing. “I don’t think I would have survived without her. This venture wouldn’t have got to where it is without it involving the two of us.”

Both women’s husbands are fully committed to the vision, contributing their building and business skills to projects.

Noels sums it all up with a smile: “When all is said and done, it is our incredible team of young people that makes it worth getting up every day and keeping it all going.” 

katoa.org.nz

Team spirit

Twisting, tumbling, flipping, flying…Competitive cheerleading has a
strong foothold in the Bay of Plenty.

Words Hayley Barnett 
Photos Quinn O’Connell

Cheerleading has always been known as an all-American cultural activity of sorts. A way to provide overly enthusiastic encouragement to sports teams and “cheer” them on to victory. But in recent years, the way we view cheerleading has completely changed, thanks in part to the highly-acclaimed doco-series Cheer on Netflix. Watching the agile young athletes twist and turn, we were all reeducated on what it means to make it as a true professional cheerleader.

Cheer, which premiered in 2020, offers a glimpse into the cutthroat world of pro college cheerleading and the sheer hard work and athleticism required to make it to the top. What you might not know is that, for the past 10 years, the Bay has been training its own cheer talent in the form of Bay Twisters Cheersport.

Offering competitive and non-competitive cheerleading from the age of four and up, the local club, based in Judea, Tauranga, has more than 140 students. Rebecca Grigson, alongside cheer champion daughter Anna, trains their students to compete both here and on the world stage.

“Anna started doing cheer in Auckland from a young age,” explains Rebecca. “Then we moved here to the Bay and there was nothing. I was worried she’d miss out on cheerleading, so one day I just said, ‘How about we try doing something on our own?’ It was crazy, but it worked!”

Today 22-year-old Anna, who has been doing cheer for 15 years, is on three cheer teams – two representing New Zealand and one being the
Top Gun All Stars team in the United States.

CELEB POWER

When Rebecca got in touch with US cheer team Action Cheer, the opportunity arose for Cheer Season Two star Jeron Hazelwood to fly in from Texas to train the young students of Bay Twisters. He was tasked with choreographing a competitive routine for 99 girls at Tui Ridge in Rotorua earlier this year.

Asked how our Kiwi cheer world differs from the all-American version, Jeron answers it’s not that much different.

“There are a lot of different rules and regulations around safety and that kind of thing, but all in all it’s not that much different,” says Jeron. “It would be good to see some more boys involved, but we have that problem in the States too!”

Jeron says the key aspects he loves about the sport aren’t just physical.

“Although I love being the show pony as much as anyone else, the best thing about cheer is that it teaches you not only physical strength but mental strength as well.

“Over in America, we don’t really care for crybabies,” he laughs. “It can be a bit of an eye-opener for some people.”

Rebecca insists Bay Twisters is not quite working to the same extremes as Cheer in terms of pushing the envelope.

“We haven’t had any serious injuries!”  

Cheerleading has finally been recognised as an Olympic sport globally, but Rebecca says, in New Zealand, it still has a long way to go when it comes to recognising cheer for what it really is.

“To be officially recognised as a sport at the Olympics, after so many years, that was an amazing feeling,” she says. “People still think it's all about pom poms and short skirts at rugby games, and it does my head in. When people say it’s not a real sport, I say I'd like to see them go out on the floor for two-and-a-half minutes and do the routine that these kids do. We're slowly getting there, though.”  

baytwisters.co.nz

Tones of tranquility

The quiet-natured qualities of soft green has a calming effect, creating a peaceful interior space that is a joy to be in.  

Styling Amber Armitage
Photos Wendy Fenwick @ Flash Studios.

Wall colours Resene paints

Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pumice. Skirting in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Rice Cake. Built-in sideboard painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pumice, with the wood top finished in Resene Colorwood Pitch Black. Floor finished in Resene Colorwood Bask. Medium Denver Vase $159.99, Small Cirque Pillar Candle $34.99, Broste Sandvig Carafe $89.99, Linear Tumbler $16.99, Leo Travertine Slab $69.99, Stone Bookends (set of two) $109.99, The Fi Greig Method $49.99, Kinfolk Island $99.99, Simple Fancy $44.99, A House Party in Tuscany $69.99, A Good Day to Bake $49.99, Vinnie Travertine Coffee Table $1,999.99, Small Gerome Wide Vase $89.99, Round Brass Tray $259.99, all from A&C Homestore. Wooden Cava Bowl $195, Yellow Rose Print $75, Ink Bottle $45, all from Flotsam & Jetsam. Mackenzie White Straw Rug
from $1,350 from Baya. Valentina Bar Cart $1,495 from Republic. Tampa 3 Seater Sofa $1,899 from Danske Møbler.

Stylist tip

Create a harmonious interior by building on the soft green backdrop of Resene Pumice with complimentary natural tones. Mid and dark wood pairs well here, as well as earthy clay and light, raw linens, striking the perfect balance. 

Back wall and plinth painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pumice. Skirting in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Rice Cake. Floor finished in Resene Colorwood Bask. Latina Sideboard $2,499 from Danske Møbler. Monaco Framed Print in Natural $799.99, Florence Table Lamp $379.99, Kinfolk Island $99.99, Simple Fancy $44.99, A House Party in Tuscany $69.99, Corfu Travertine Vessel $54.99, Vinnie Travertine Coffee Table $1,999.99, Small Gerome Wide Vase $89.99, Dome Glass Vase $25, Linear Tumbler $16.99, A Good Day to Bake $49.99, The Fi Greig Method $49.99, all from A&C Homestore. Pottery Jug $75 from Flotsam & Jetsam. Mackenzie White Straw Rug from $1,350 from Baya. Hubert Occasional Chair $379.95 from Mocka.

Back wall in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pumice. Corkboard in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Jaguar, Resene Just Right, Resene Contour, Resene Pumice and Resene Rice Cake. Stockholm Desk $1,799 from Danske Møbler. Botanical Jungle Notebook $11.95 and Note Square Sticky Pad $8.95, both from Father Rabbit. Corfu Travertine Vessel $54.99 and Medium White Stackable Multi-Box $44.95, both from A&C Homestore.

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Back wall in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pumice. Skirting in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Rice Cake. Latina Sideboard $2,499 from Danske Møbler. Monaco Framed Print in Natural $799.99, Florence Table Lamp $379.99, Kinfolk Island $99.99, Simple Fancy $44.99, A House Party in Tuscany $69.99, Corfu Travertine Vessel $54.99, all from A&C Homestore. Pottery Jug $75 from Flotsam & Jetsam.

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Resene Testpots (from top) in Resene Contour and Resene Half Colins Wicket. Resene A4 Drawdowns (from left) in Resene Contour and Resene Half Colins Wicket.

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Resene Testpots (from top) in Resene Rice Cake and Resene Just Right. Resene A4 Drawdowns (from left) in Resene Rice Cake and Resene Just Right.

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Stylist tip

Combine practicality with style in your home office by mounting cork tiles onto the wall, creating an oversized pinboard that brings texture into the space. Finish this off with a framed cork board, cutting the cork tiles into a tetris of shapes, then painting a selection of them to bring your colour palette together.

Walls in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pumice. Floor finished in Resene Colorwood Bask. Corkboard in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Jaguar, Resene Just Right, Resene Contour, Resene Pumice and Resene Rice Cake. Stockholm Desk $1,799 from Danske Møbler. Maya Plush Dining Chair in Rattan $650 from Republic. Botanical Jungle Notebook $11.95 and Note Square Sticky Pad $8.95, both from Father Rabbit. Medium White Stackable Multi-Box $44.95, Corfu Travertine Vessel $54.99, Bella Table Lamp in Black $159.90, Lulu Stool in Sage (used as a waste bin) $319.99, all from A&C Homestore. Fayette Round Floor Rug $1,380 from Baya.

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Walls painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pumice. Built-in sideboard painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Pumice, with the wood top finished in Resene Colorwood Pitch Black. Medium Denver Vase $159.99 and Small Cirque Pillar Candle $34.99, both from A&C Homestore. Wooden Cava Bowl $195, Yellow Rose Print $75, Ink Bottle $45, all from Flotsam & Jetsam.

Life is a cabaret

Celebrated vocalist and Pāpāmoa local Mandy Meadows is taking her internationally acclaimed cabaret, Piaf: The Legend, around the North Island.

Words Karl Puschmann

Édith Piaf is a true French icon. The singer was one of the country’s biggest stars and one of its few musical acts to have a global impact. Her songs, largely autobiographical ballads about love and loss, were received as instant classics that immediately joined the standards songbook to be covered and reinterpreted forevermore.

But despite all of Édith’s fame, her life remains shrouded in mystery. Even decades after her death the renowned French chanteuse still
keeps many dark secrets. 

“She was a very complex, complicated character,” vocalist Mandy Meadows says. “She was abandoned by her mother and father who were circus performers and grew up in a brothel. Nobody really knew exactly where she was from.”

Mandy has been fascinated by Édith for as long as she can remember. As an international singer, it’s no surprise that she’d be enamoured by the songs, but Édith’s life also captured her imagination. So much so that she created a cabaret style show around it.

Titled Piaf: The Legend, the show tells the story of Édith’s life via her remarkable songs like La Vie En Rose, La Foule and Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. For complete authenticity, Mandy sings them in their original French.

“All the songs are in French but the story is in English, so everybody can understand that because it is a show for everybody,” she says. “Whether you're a fan or not, it's really her incredible story that’s so captivating.”

Édith’s life was full of contradictions but never boring. From her childhood as a street urchin to helping POW’s escape during the war to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world.

“She was a real contrast of flaws and beauty,” Mandy says. “And unapologetically human, which is what I really like about her. She was a phoenix, rising above the ashes. There was nothing pretty about her life. It was really very tragic. But through all of that, she created these absolutely stunning songs and had a big, booming voice out of someone so small.”

Mandy first performed Piaf: The Legend in London’s Piccadilly Circus around seven years ago after funding its development by joining a paid clinical trial.

“I literally gave my blood for this show,” she laughs.

Since then she’s taken it all over the globe, leaving audiences spellbound and earning four and five-star reviews. Now she’s bringing that special French je ne sais quoi to the North Island. 

With dancers, a six-piece band that includes French accordion and clarinet and, of course, Mandy’s acclaimed vocals and performance leading the way the cabaret is all but guaranteed to transport you out of the regions and straight over to Paris. 

“I get quite emotional actually,” Mandy replies when asked how she feels while performing Édith’s passionate and powerful songs. “I really feed off the audience and I always cry. I always have that moment on stage where something really emotional happens and I feel the audience tense up. I do the same. It's a real energy and a beautiful thing. It's a really unique experience.” 

For more info, videos and tickets visit piafthelegend.com

Cool, calm and collected

With its artfully designed space, locally-sourced
treasures for sale and delectable food on offer, every detail of this café has been thoughtfully curated.

Words Hayley Barnett

As far as locals go, Gather is up there with the best. The vibe, the crowd, the food. It’s slightly bigger than a hole in the wall, but everything just works. And not one bit of it is an accident. Chatting with owner Steph Meaden, it’s obvious there was a very clear focus when she and husband Sam took over the Pāpāmoa spot three years ago.

“We knew we wanted to run a neighbourhood café but we both agreed it had to be three things – good for the community, good for the body and good for the environment,” explains Steph.

Having spent most of the first year behind the counter with their first baby in a front pack, this wasn’t easy to execute, especially during Covid 19 when supplies were limited and there were very few customers. But this is a couple who knows an opportunity when they see one.

They first opened the Tay Street Store two years prior to opening Gather, selling local products (mainly created by innovative and entrepreneurial friends), with the aim of branching out into food. When Gather came up for sale in 2020 the couple jumped at it. They had a bit of experience with a coffee caravan business , Lulu Coffee, which was a great first taste of the hospitality scene. It was just lucky they weren’t put off by dire times.

Today Gather is run by an all-women team, bar Sam who runs the finance and payroll back of house. Their head chef, Dominique Rojo Vivot, is Argentinian and the menu is largely influenced by her home country’s cuisine, with a colourful, vegan twist. The cheese puffs, vegan carrot cake and chimmi chilli eggs have all become loyal customer favourites. Thank goodness they’re staying on the upcoming, otherwise-new winter menu.

Steph and Sam aren’t chefs themselves but they were inspired by the very “farm to plate vibe” that they picked up on their travels overseas. “When we came home, we realised there’s an abundance of good food out there – you just need to know where to get it from,” says Steph.

Keeping in line with their noble ethos, they worked with their friends
– Mt Atkinson Coffee – who has a direct trade relationship with Ugandan coffee farmers and gives back through village projects. It does, however, come all the way from Auckland, which is quite a way away for Steph and Sam these days. A lot of product in the café is close to fully local, even the wide array of wares, skincare and clothing they sell in store. The clothing is actually designed by Dominique herself. Steph and the multi-talented chef even have plans to start their own pantry range.

With another baby in the front pack, Steph and Sam certainly have their
work cut out for them, but that’s all part of the fun.

“One day we’ll get back on the road – that’s kind of the idea of setting up a business!” she laughs. But right now, they’re both enjoying being part of a community which has embraced them and their passion for all things local and delicious. 

gatherpapamoa.co.nz

Thriving together

Tauranga Business Chamber’s chief executive Matt Cowley says owners of local businesses big and small benefit from support, collaboration and networking opportunities.

Leading an organisation can be a lonely position. It’s easy to feel the weight of the entire business on your shoulders as you carry ultimate responsibility for the finances, marketing, human resources, administration and operations.

It can be a massive relief to meet people in similar roles; to share problems and help each other discover new solutions.  

Our lives feel like they’re only getting busier, so it can be challenging to find time to connect with other business owners and leaders. However, times are extra tough for businesses right now – and that connection has never been more vital.  

I encourage you, if you’re feeling the strain, to prioritise connection. 

Tauranga Business Chamber connects with hundreds of business leaders across all industry sectors on any given month. As the region’s business hub and champion, it’s a great place to start.  

We hold several events a month, covering a range of networking opportunities and leadership conversations with industry and political decision-makers. We also provide targeted forums like our Business Women’s Network and LINKT – Young People in Business.

We also help keep you up to date with the latest trends, legislation changes, and new business support offerings, as well as what’s happening across the Western Bay business community.  

An incredibly effective way to build rapport with people quickly is by offering help without strings attached, sharing experiences, and welcoming them into your network.    

You can do this by meeting like-minded people at our events, or by sharing your expertise through our trusted communication channels.  

We have recently made membership more affordable and accessible to business owners and leaders, allowing you to choose the level you want to engage with us. Our entry-level membership is less than $270 per year and comes with a host of benefits – perfect for small and new businesses.  

As a larger business, membership showcases your corporate citizenship and helps the next generation of businesses. You’re also supporting the Chamber to be a strong, independent voice of business as we advocate for better outcomes for local businesses.   

It’s time to come together, support one another, and ensure the Western Bay’s dynamic business ecosystem continues to thrive through the economic turbulence heading our way. 

Tauranga.org.nz

Style status

Keep cosy but cool with key elements this season.

Words Nicky Adams

LAYER UP

Winter is the time when fabrics really come into play. Texture adds a whole new layer to any piece, so the distinctive look of mohair, or the sheen of silk or satin can take an outfit to the next level. Wool is at the fore in its many forms, and a modernised Fair Isle jumper is a cool retro aesthetic. Match with a pair of leather pants and chunky boots, or a statement sweater in cable knit or an on-trend colour (there are greens and pinks galore), and you have an outfit that breezes from day to night. If a jumper feels like too much of a temperature commitment (no one wants to feel trapped sweating it out on a mild Bay day), then consider a cardigan. Versatile to the end, it’s the ultimate seasonal sneak piece as you still get to showcase the outfit beneath. 

Wrapping up in something snuggly has never been more acceptable with the post-pandemic love fest for leisurewear. A determination to prioritise comfort has led to a burgeoning market for anything you feel good in. Meanwhile, a solid staple that’s hit the big time this season is the white shirt – with the potential to be styled in multiple ways, it’s a foundation piece that you can’t do without. Winter accessories are surely the most gratifying, and this year the bigger the scarf, the more on-trend. A lightweight version comes into its own with its ability to double as sleek outfit accent and draught excluder when you get the seat no-one wants next to the open office door

Mulberry Bronte Bag $85, for stockists contact antlernz.co.nz 

Principessa Dress, $570, twentysevennames.co.nz

Cable Knit Fair Isle Sweater, $299.95,
scotch-soda.com.au

Geo White Shirt, $269, Chartreuse Sailor Jeans, $289, nz.kowtowclothing.com

Peter Alexander Knit Check Cardi $99.99, peteralexander.co.nz 

Easel Combat Boot, $400, mipiaci.co.nz

Garica faux leather pants, $255, urbanvogue.co.nz

Green Abstract Leopard Scarf $39, for stockists contact antlernz.co.nz

TRENDING NOW

Most wanted this season.

Unpack the partywear

Looking polished in winter always feels like a bit more of an effort – but the dazzle can still be worked into the outfit, just in different ways. The most obvious route is via your outerwear – a stylish, quality winter coat or jacket is an investment piece that will not just elevate your look but will be with you to the end. When you’re going glam in winter, you want hard-working multifunctional looks that will translate just as well at a milestone birthday party as a black-tie event. Balancing statement with staples is easy
to achieve with an on-trend maxi dress or skirt. Full-leg coverage makes this the ultimate cold-weather piece that can turn its hand to a host of different looks. Style with a blazer or larger-than-life faux fur for a super cool classic silhouette, or throw on a low-key jacket for contemporary. Plush textures are going strong, so don’t shy away from a furry, feather or shearling aesthetic. To extend your looks still further, consider winterising items in your wardrobe by incorporating layering pieces. Fine knit merinos or turtlenecks will slip under dresses and can be styled either to blend in or as a contrast.  

Ruby Ariel Dress $329, rubynz.com

Nautica Ring $379, silkandsteel.co.nz

Curtis sleeveless Blouse $199,
rubynz.com/collections/liam

Scarf Mini Skirt $519 (limited edition), zara.com/nz  

Nautica Hoops $269, silkandsteel.co.nz

In your element

The scarf trend has crept into clothing and can
be found incorporated into everything from coats to skirts. Embellishments are key; however, it’s worth thinking about the type of event before you commit to a look – stand-up versus sit-down can be more of an outfit barometer than you think (hours on a seat-full of sequins can be prickly). Instead tie these aspects in other ways. A black ankle boot will be a wise investment, good with maxis and pants, a sleek slimline heel makes this the perfect footwear to swap in to replace ankle-baring heels. If you’ve opted for a minimal design outfit then top the look off with an evening bag with extra va-va-voom; high shine or intricate detailing is a sartorial win.

Angel Feather Jacket $499, stormonline.com 

Cashmere oversized sweater, honeydew,
$859, standardissue.co.nz

Darcy Suede Boots $490, scarpa.co.nz 

C/MEO Reciprocate Mini Dress $349,
cocowellington.co.nz 

Brie Leon Antonia Bag $250,
paperplanestore.com

COLOUR ME PRETTY

Work out which shades will light up your life. Words Nicky Adams

While we live in a time of obsessing over miracle creams and tweakments, the more achievable secret to looking our best is far simpler and lies not in a needle but in our wardrobe. For men and women alike, some colours will quite literally take years off you by visually brightening your skin tone. Others will suck the very life force from you.

Deciphering the colour palette that best suits your skin tone is not an exact science. A professional colour analysis is one way of doing it, or you can DIY it by holding up different colours close to your face to see which give you a lift. No matter how light or dark your skin is on the outside, cool, warm and neutral undertones are the colours that come through from under the surface of your skin. By looking at the veins on your wrist you may be able to work out where you sit. Blue or purple veins indicate a cool skin, green means warm. If, like me, you have spent lots of time staring at your veins but remain none the wiser, it might be that you sit between both and are neutral. Another tried-and-tested way is by looking at your jewellery or watch; silver looks good on cool skin tones, while gold flatters warm tones. Failing all these methods, most people will know how they react to the sun’s rays – warm undertones tend to tan, cool will burn more easily. While hair colour is no clear-cut indicator, generally the darker your hair, eyes and skin, the brighter the better, whereas naturally fair of skin and hair will find pastels and paler shades complement their features.

Once you’ve got a baseline of the shades that theoretically flatter you, don't be too literal. It’s very common to simply dismiss a colour and all the shades that lie around it when armed with the perception that the base colour does not suit you. However, different hues within the colour wheel can be subtle to the eye yet throw off a totally different look. Using white as an example, the wrong hue can easily make you look washed out – while pure white looks fabulous on cool complexions, a shift to ivory makes it stunning for warm. So, if there is a colour you’ve mentally banned, try again with an alternative that sits in close proximity. 

If you’re reading this with a view that it’s irrelevant because “one size fits all” black is your go-to, then I have bad news. Black has long been considered the safe option, but for many complexions it can drain all the colour from the face; worse still, it can cause shadows that pool in those fine wrinkles, which of course is more obvious as we mature. If this is the case, you might find that swapping out black for navy is like switching on an internal light.

Once you’ve found those shades that really make an impact, don’t be scared to dial it up a notch. As we mature, vibrant colours become a statement. We’re in a fashion moment where dopamine dressing rules supreme - nevertheless, if you simply can’t make your favourite colour work then don’t despair, all is not lost. The key is to keep it at a distance from your face, so anything worn from the waist down will work. Equally use the colour to build on to accessorise with bright heels or matching bags. 

Cool dressing 

Pink or bluey-red undertones tend to blush more easily. Aim for bright greens, purples, bold and pale blues, jewel tones, cool greys, crisp white and sea shades.

Warm wearers

Yellowish or olive undertones look good in earth colours. Try greens, browns, warm reds, orange, peach, coral, yellow, taupe and off-white.

Neutral undertones

You suit a variety of hues and shades and can get away with most colours, so wear what makes you feel best, but be careful of bright colours.

Universally flattering colours 

Anyone can wear these, whether you're cool, warm, or neutral, so don't be afraid to go bold with true red, teal and dark purple

FASHION FORECAST

Get ahead with the latest spring fashion trends.

What Lies Beneath

Lingerie-inspired looks have left the bedroom and will be hitting the high street. Think corseted tops and beautiful satins along with sheer fabrics and luxurious lace trimmings. The ubiquitous slip dress will be seen with lacy accents, and pretty camisole tops abound. To be this slinky needs confidence, and this trend is a something of a twist on power dressing.

A New Angle

Well, hold onto your hats – flattering and relatable? Surely not! Asymmetric hemlines are big for spring. This look lends itself to a fabric with movement and ruching along the seam; both aspects make this super easy to wear.

Shine Bright

Silver is coming out as leader of the metallics. A little more discreet than gold, it can be toned down to pewter, and slides into daywear with ease. Meanwhile, lime is the shade that will sing spring from the low-sheen colour chart. Refreshing and with a range of tones suited to most people, it’s a bold choice, but one that signals summer is on its way. With a colour this vibrant, the design is best pared back to let the hue do the talking.

Ethereal Beauty

Sleek draped dresses and skirts – dreamy, goddess-like and the new romantic on the runway. Avoid looking too costumey by keeping accessories to the minimal. It’s a soft, undone, and with its pleats and gathers in all the right places, very flattering look. It’s also a style that can be played around with for day wear, but translates easily into sultry evening attire or sophisticated event wear. The Greek goddess look is the ultimate classic.

Sole searching

Mount Maunganui photographer and creative Tasha Meys, better known on Instagram as @tastefullytash, shares her top winter footwear picks from SOLECT

Boots in

“A high-quality black boot is a staple in my winter wardrobe. Pair with jeans, winter dresses or smart trousers.”

Timberland Cortina Valley Chelsea Boot $360

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Cream please 

“I’m all about a sneaker which works as well for a run up the Mount as it does with jeans for a casual vibe.”

ASICS Gel 1130 $190 

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 Cosy toes

“These pink sheepskin slippers feel like a fluffy hug for my feet. Snuggly indoors yet easy-wear outdoors due to their hard soles.”

EMU Australia Mayberry Slippers $80

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Shear comfort

“A shearling-lined cold-weather version of these classic Birks is a dream. Wear with cute socks for extra warmth. They feel like slippers but are totally acceptable to wear in public!”

Birkenstock Arizona Shearling $350

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Star turn

“I love that the lift gives you that extra bit of height! Leather is warmer than the canvas version, so perfect with jeans for cooler days, or a dress and trench for an evening look.”

Chuck Taylor All Star Leather Lift Low $150

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Support local

“Alongside a black boot, I love a brown boot in winter for a softer look. Ideal with blue denim and a white shirt.”

Chaos & Harmony Montreux Boot $390

solect.nz

Pawsome advice

Animal expert and vet David McDonnell of Tauranga Vets is a wealth of knowledge on pet health and wellbeing.

We all want our four-legged companions to be happy, healthy members of the household, but knowing how to help them thrive, and understanding what’s going on between those ears, isn’t always clear. Vet David has some suggestions – from tricks for calming your feline to recognising when it’s time to visit your local vet. 

How do I keep my cat calm and safe after a move?
Moving house can be a stressful event for our furry friends. The good news is there are lots of useful aids to help make the transition into their new home as stress free as possible. I would recommend in the 2-3 weeks prior to moving house, starting them on the Royal Canin Calm diet. This food should be continued once you have moved until your cat has settled into the new environment. This special food has something called L-Tryptophan in it which helps cats to feel calm. We have had great feedback from our clients on this food. Other things you may wish to consider are keeping your cat inside the new house for the first 2-3 weeks, and using a Feliway plug-in diffuser. The Feliway diffuser releases a pheromone that cats will smell but you won’t. It helps them to feel less anxious and more relaxed in their new environment.

Does my pet need its teeth cleaned?
Good question! Yes, absolutely dental healthcare is equally important for
pets as it is for us humans. It has been scientifically proven that pets with good dental health live longer lives and 80 percent of pets have some degree of dental disease by two years of age. In the first instance, I would recommend getting your pet’s teeth checked by your vet or vet nurse and a specific dental plan created which is tailored to your individual pet’s dental needs. We offer a free dental health check with our veterinary nurses. Some animals, for example, small dogs, can require annual professional dental cleaning every year, others may only require this once or twice in their life. |The frequency of dental cleaning is influenced by many factors including breed, diet and how much dental homecare the pet owner is able to achieve. Introducing your pet to toothbrushing daily when they are young is a great way to help prevent dental disease. We also have special dental foods that are designed to
keep your pet’s teeth clean.

My cat always seems hungry, what shall I do?
Hunger in cats can be caused by a few different things. I would recommend getting its health checked by a vet and ideally a blood test too which would include checking thyroid levels. Sometimes as cats age, they can get a condition called hyperthyroidism. This causes them to feel very hungry and eat a lot, but they’ll often still lose weight despite this. The good news is, that there are lots of great treatment options available to help and even cure these cats once we get a diagnosis.

My cat keeps vomiting, what could be the problem?
Vomiting in cats can be caused by many different things ranging from problems with the gastrointestinal tract, food allergies, through to pancreatitis and other disease conditions outside of the intestines too. The best way to get to the bottom of this type of problem is to have a complete physical examination with your vet and often some other diagnostic tests are required as well depending on what the vet finds and your pet’s symptoms. Some of the diagnostic tests for causes of vomiting may include a blood test to help eliminate things outside of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as ultrasound, x-rays and sometimes diet trials. 

Bopvets.co.nz

Art of the city

A $3 million commitment to public art is set to redefine Tauranga’s public spaces.

Words | Monique Balvert-O’Connor
Photos | Anne Shirley + Sam Hartnett

Public art humanises the built environment, sparking community engagement and fostering appreciation for creativity. Now Tauranga is set to become a destination renowned for public art, thanks to a just-launched Public Art Framework.

Tauranga city’s commissioners have adopted a “bold and ambitious” new plan for public art, dedicating up to $3 million toward undertaking major public art commissions over the coming years – works of scale and vision the likes of which the city hasn’t seen before.

Tauranga City Council’s arts and culture manager James Wilson says the plan is to build a world-leading collection of public art, and to invest in developing local artists and the community to create “incredible” new pieces and installations, all of which will help make Tauranga a destination renowned for its public art.

“The framework has been developed alongside a wide range of Tauranga artists and arts organisations, and I’m hugely excited by what this will enable for the city. It is focused on shining a light on the stories of our city – working with artists and communities to give visibility to Tauranga’s stories, and to create a sense of place and belonging, by bringing great public art to our re-imagined public spaces,” James says.

Especially wonderful, James says, is the fact public art is the most accessible of art – works the whole community can engage with, without having to buy a ticket, or cross an art gallery entrance.

Freelance art consultant and curator Ellie Smith, who has been involved in developing the new framework through Supercut Projects, says the public can expect an invigoration of Tauranga’s artistic landscape. Think: Lightboxes, sculpture, pop-up installations, light works, participatory works, creative hoardings and ngā toi Māori in all its forms. All this as well as still supporting and encouraging community and temporary installations such as murals, she says.

The framework involves a region-wide view. There will be significant commissioning of work for downtown Tauranga, yet inspiring pieces of public art will also be placed at the Mount, Greerton, Pyes Pa, and other significant locations. The Framework includes a 10 Year Master Plan which will map public art activity, in step with city-wide development and Tauranga City Council’s Long-Term Plan. 

“Our city has been going through some growing pains, but I am so excited to see how this transforms Tauranga,” Ellie says.

She’s noted both hunger and support in the community for this ambitious undertaking, which comes with many benefits. It is globally recognised that cities succeed both economically and in wellbeing statistics when arts and culture are prioritised. 

“The Public Art Framework will contribute to the local economy, give opportunities to local artists, and give space for mana whenua to tell their narratives. It will add to the city’s vibrancy and also show domestic and international visitors that the city is about more than solely a beach,” Ellie says.

Incubator director Simone Anderson says the new Public Art Framework
and arts investment gives reassurance that Tauranga can “begin the game of catch-up.”

“We can become a city where arts are not considered an indulgence but
a necessary ingredient to nourish our city’s identity and to encourage and welcome expressions of culture and storytelling,” she says.

The new framework aims to enable projects that will explore the diverse cultural narratives of the city. This has been met with enthusiasm by Julie Paama-Pengally, who chairs Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust – an organisation committed to building the capacity of Māori artists and enhancing the contribution of Māori to Tauranga Moana.

“I believe this is an opportunity to bring to life, in unique ways, the significant legacy of Māori visual language. In articulating the rich art traditions of Aotearoa, New Zealand, Māori have so much value to add to this space.

“For our Māori artists and the community, this will be an important expression of a Māori arts legacy for future generations. Our landscape will reflect our aspirations as artists, as people, as a unique destination in the world, and as a place that reflects its people,” she says.

The Public Art Fund will open on July 1 next year, but Tauranga will welcome new public art before then. A work called Kōwhai Grove by Bobbie Gray has been commissioned, opening over King’s Birthday weekend. It will be installed down a laneway off Grey Street. There are also some other significant Tauranga City Council-led projects in the works – check out the app City Art Walk Tauranga.

Artists wishing to know more about the commissioning process (and the support available) can contact Council’s Arts & Culture team at: publicart@tauranga.govt.nz