UNO Issue 46

Ridiculously talented

The cover story in this issue doesn’t follow the usual path; the entire feature is about one piece of art. Compare your feelings about the portrait from when you first saw it on the cover to after, having read the wonderfully thorough explanation by the artist, Mr G.

Go to his Instagram feed too. It’s a great ride through what goes on in Graham’s mind and all the things that are important to him: te reo Māori, people and seafood. The artist has teamed up with Izakai Bar and Eatery (also featured in this issue on page 94) for an exciting project – stay tuned on social to find out what it is.

One of our favourite stories to come out of this issue takes us back a century. Two men dragged their buildings together on Cameron Road to join businesses and form Sharp Tudhope, one of Tauranga’s oldest businesses. The physical act says so much about the importance of doing things together, instead of alone. Apart from having more chance of success, it’s way more fun! And that’s what life is all about.

Last month, we had Florence van Dyke from Nelson-based drinks company Chia Sisters stay with Mat and I. She’s been named as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30, is a 2019 Women of Influence finalist and Chia Sisters is a SheEO Venture finalist. Over dinner, we talked about having your mind open to solutions from unexpected quarters, instead of fixating on problems in the way.

There are so many people in this issue who display that wonderful mindset – looking at opportunities for growth, then getting out there to create solutions. People like Marie Latus from Earth Energies Sanctuary. She lost her first husband in a mining accident in Australia and then became a health and safety officer, then set up her retreat above the Hauraki Plains, giving people a chance to relax and energise.

Dominic Tupou went for it in his audition and landed himself the role of young Jonah Lomu in a television mini-series. There are many women who, by the time you read this, will have strutted their stuff at Tarnished Frocks and Divas, many of who have never been onstage before.

And don’t get us started on the restaurateurs and bar owners who make it their business to give us a good time. We had fun cheering them on at the Bay Hospitality Awards, and some of them feature in this issue like Izakai, Clarence Hotel and Ours Café. Get out there and dive into the brilliant and exciting world. And tell us all about your adventure! Hearing your stories is the best bit about our job.