focus magazine October/November by focus Magazine

focus LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER. MOTIVATE.

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

ISSUE 24

OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2020

ssue 4th Birthday I

MARIA EVANS

NATURAL BODYBUILDING WORLD CHAMPION

PRETTY PINK DESSERTS STACEY JONES KITCHEN TAKEOVER EVENTS

WILDLIFE AND ARCHITECTURE OF DUNEDIN ome Take me h I’M FREE

Dr NICOLA DA VIS D

estined for medicine WIN

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IT TURNS OUT THAT DR NICOLA DAVIS ISN’T JUST A RAY OF SUNSHINE (WHICH WE ALREADY KNEW) BUT ALSO A BORN MODEL. OUR COVER PHOTOSHOOT WAS DONE AND DUSTED IN LESS TIME THAN IT TAKES TO SAY ‘BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH’. WATCH OUR BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!

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Purchase your annual subscription to focus magazine for only $38. The first five new or renewing subscribers will receive a pack of DryNZ’s delicious pure NZ drinking fruit sachets with their first edition. Made with the freshest fruit from trusted New Zealand orchards and mixed with New Zealand’s Mānuka honey, DryNZ’s fruit drinks boost your immune system and improve gut health. Each sachet contains up to 87.5% of your recommended dietary intake of vitamin C.

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BOOKS ABOUT STRONG WOMEN

CONTENTS | focus

24 CONTENTS

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER2020 COVER STORY

LIFE

Specialist oncologic breast and general surgeon

Kitchen Takeover founder

DR NICOLA DAVIS

STACEY JONES

MARIA EVANS

REGULARS

Natural bodybuilding world champion

WHAT’S ON? Best events over the next two months

FOCUS ON BOOKS New releases you’ll love

ASK THE EXPERTS

Things to know about shampoos and hypnosis

STYLE Be yourself!

FITNESS Boxing classes at UBX Boxing

RECIPES Pretty pink desserts

THE LAST PAGE

KELLIE ROGERS Safeguarding families’ future

ANGELENA DAVIES How to find your flow

SPOILT FOR CHOICE Is there the perfect BMW?

DUNEDIN CHARM Architecture and wildlife of New Zealand’s oldest city

BUSINESS 48

SHARON MANSSEN Engineer and fantasy fiction writer

RHEMA NANTHAM An intersectional conversation

Writer Rachel Weston focusmagazine.co.nz

focus PUBLISHER Align Publishing EDITOR Dee Collins dee@focusmagazine.co.nz CREATIVE DIRECTOR Alex Spodyneiko ONLINE EDITOR Kseniia Spodyneiko kseniia@focusmagazine.co.nz SALES advertising@focusmagazine.co.nz COVER IMAGE Vanessa Laval-Glad Laval Photo & Video FEATURE WRITERS Millie Freeman Jenny Argante Angelena Davies Rhema Nantham PRINTING Print People CONTACT DETAILS 62 10th Avenue Tauranga 3110 (n-Gon Group Head Office) P O Box 14004, Tauranga, 3143 Tel: (07) 578 6838 Mobile: 021 535 770 focusmagazine.co.nz facebook.com/focusmagazinenz DISTRIBUTION 5,000 free copies are delivered bi-monthly to high traffic areas such as high-end cafés and restaurants, hairdressers, fashion boutiques, waiting rooms and professional offices across BOP, Hamilton, Cambridge and surrounding areas. DIGITAL focus is available to view online and is supported by social media sites including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. focus is a free magazine (subscriptions are available) and is published six times a year by Align Publishing. focus is subject to copyright in its entirety. All rights are reserved and reproduction in whole or in part, without the written consent of The Publisher (Align Publishing), is prohibited. Align Publishing and all its related companies and officers hereby disclaim, to the full extent permitted by law, all liability, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising from or in connection with information or other material in this magazine, any negligence of The Publisher, or any person’s actions in reliance thereon. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and correctness of the information contained within this magazine and inclusion of any copy must not be taken as an endorsement by The Publisher. Views expressed by contributors are personal views and they are not necessarily endorsed by The Publisher. Any dispute or complaint regarding placed advertisements must be made within seven days of publication.

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With gratitude,

LIFESTY LE AND BUSINE INSPIRE. SS MAGAZ EMPOW INE. ER. MO TIVATE .

Dee

Bay of Plenty

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ENVIRO

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Scenic through journey the past

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TAURANGA

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ISS DECEMBERU E 1 4 2018 JANUARY 2019

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FORGOTTEN WORLD HIGHWAY

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OCT NOVEMB OBER ER 2020

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS ABOUT MAGAZINE. WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

Editor & Founder

COMPANY STATIONERY INVOICES STATEMENTS DOCKET

All material sent to focus (whether solicited or not) will not be returned unless otherwise agreed beforehand, and all rights, including copyright in such material will be assigned to Align Publishing upon receipt. The Publishers presume all letters and other material submitted to focus and related social media sites are intended for publication unless clearly labelled “not for publication”.

Editor’s Welco me

rum roll please! It’s time to celebrate our fourth birthday. Wow! What an achievement, even if I do say so myself. In 2016 I launched focus magazine with the intention of inspiring, motivating and uplifting women and I am proud that we’re still standing strong… those of you in business will certainly know what a challenge this year has been. Our October/November edition always has breast cancer awareness as its main theme and this year we shine a spotlight on specialist oncologic breast and general surgeon Dr Nicola Davis, one of only four breast surgeons in the Bay of Plenty. Nicola talked to us about her optimism for outcomes of early breast cancer diagnosis and her appeal to maintain two-yearly mammograms. In between test driving BMWs (someone has to do it) we also chatted to Stacey Jones, the brains behind the trendy pop-up restaurants in Tauranga; engineer Sharon Manssen, who works in a predominantly male profession but also delights in writing fantasy fiction; and gold medal and World Champion title holder, Maria Evans, who is making waves worldwide in natural bodybuilding. And, there’s plenty more so please take some time, sit down with a cuppa, and enjoy our latest issue. Four years is an amazing milestone and I want to extend my thanks to my brilliant team and all those people who have encouraged and cheered me along. And to our loyal readers and advertisers who have supported us so far – thank you.

EVENTS

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focus | OUT & ABOUT

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – BA5 Baycourt Community and Arts Centre went all out on a tropical island-themed evening at a recent Tauranga Chamber of Commerce BA5 event. On a cold evening, Baycourt staff, in their island-appropriate outfits, welcomed guests with floral leis, jazzy cocktails and delicious canapés. The event included an update on what events are happening this year and a backstage tour. Images VANESSA LAVAL-GLAD (LAVAL PHOTO & VIDEO) 1. Stacie Taylor (JJs Waste and Recycling), Dee Collins (focus magazine), Lynne Taylor (Lynne Sinclair Taylor Fine Art) and Maxine Taylor (Sharp Tudhope) 2. Robert Huggins (Findex NZ Limited), Duncan Tindall (GHD Ltd), Donella and Trevor Jones (both Architectural Design Group) and Eddie Groenewald (n-gon Group - Print People) 3. Tangiwai Manihera-Palmer (Mo's Matakana Island Tours), Jill Fryer (Upshot NZ), Taka Ino (DreamTube Media Creatives) and Sarah Harcourt (Get The Message) 4. Fiona Mackenzie (The Culture Co) and Lyn Trail (Surveying Services) 5. Wanita Wood and Hannah Goodhue (both First Credit Union - Tauranga)

8 | focusmagazine.co.nz

OUT & ABOUT | focus

DESSERT WITH PETA MATHIAS

A recent Wonder Women event included dessert with respected gourmet traveller, chef, author, and TV star, Peta Mathias. Peta entertained us with snippets from her new book Eat Your Heart Out, sang for us and answered our questions. Proceeds from the night went to the Cambodia Charitable Trust. 1. Peta Mathias and Dee Collins 2. Ruth Lee, Peta Mathias, Karen May and Julianne Hawkey 3. Ann-Marie Morris and Catherine Thompson 4. Shiree Edgar, Maree Brookes and Linda Pattison 5. Ange Blatt and Liz Wilde 6. Mallika Dey and Emma Butler 7. Sue Finlayson, Sandi Taylor and Carylln Cheyne

Coombes Johnston BMW Tauranga, 113 Hewletts Rd, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga. (07) 575 5280 www.coombesjohnstonbmwtauranga.co.nz

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focus | WHAT'S ON?

Image by master1305 / Freepik

WHAT'S ON? OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020

WOMEN’S ORGANISATIONS IN TAURANGA 7 October Tauranga City Library, Tauranga Learn more about the history of local women’s clubs, unions and committees from heritage specialist Abigail Wharne. Free entry and no booking required.

SONG CONTEST: THE ALMOST EUROVISION EXPERIENCE

VEGAN VIBES 24 October Soper Reserve, Mt Maunganui facebook.com/veganvibesnz

8-17 October Riverlea Theatre, Hamilton sites.google.com/view/ songcontesthamilton

From vegan food producers to community groups and even government representatives, Vegan Vibes festival is a celebration of all things sustainable and ethical. Non-vegans are welcome to indulge in mouthwatering meals and attend talks and workshops as well!

A cross between a musical comedy, a concert and a sporting event is as close as it gets to the biggest European song contest: eleven countries, a multitude of anxious contestants, a gushing hostess and, of course, you get to vote for the winner of the night!

WOMEN'S LIFESTYLE EXPO

10 | focusmagazine.co.nz

Image by Wikipedia

Two days of exploring artisan goods, beauty, fashion, eco-friendly products, fitness equipment, and gourmet food & beverages from over 160 New Zealand brands. Pop into the Beauty Lounge, Taste Zone, Artisan Craft Zone and don’t forget your goodie bag.

Image by Freepik

10-11 October Trustpower Baypark, Mt Maunganui womenslifestyleexpo.co.nz

WHAT'S ON? | focus

ESCAPE! FESTIVAL 17-18 October Tauranga taurangafestival.co.nz Little festival with big ideas. Speakers include award-winning journalist Tom Scott, crime writer Nikki Crutchley, outdoor swimming advocate Annette Lees and more. Local voices are represented by children’s writer and publisher Debbie McCauley, Tauranga GP Dr Andrew Corin and small-town champion Karen Summerhays.

TAURANGA HOME SHOW 16-18 October Trustpower Baypark, Mt Maunganui taurangahomeshow.co.nz Rescheduled due to lockdown, Tauranga’s legendary Home Show is back with 250 home service and product exhibitors. Make the vision of your perfect home come true and take advantage of exclusive show specials and generous giveaways.

VOYAGE GOURMET TASTING DINNER 25 October Villa Vie, Katikati voyage-gourmet.com Spend a perfect evening at the picturesque Villa Vie wedding venue at the base of the Kaimai Ranges, enjoying the views and tasting 15 delicious meals, including flavourful Brandy Flambéed duck, Chicken cacciatore and Char-grilled leg of lamb.

OKTOBERFEST TAURANGA 31 October The Historic Village, Tauranga wearethemakers.co.nz Don’t miss the first-ever Oktoberfest, celebrating all things German, in Tauranga! Think beer, music and dancing, gourmet Bavarian hotdogs and prizes for the best dressed. Strictly R18!

BAY OF PLENTY GARDEN & ART FESTIVAL 19-22 November Western Bay of Plenty gardenandartfestival.co.nz Explore the wonderful Bay of Plenty and visit your choice of over 70 beautiful gardens and meet more than 100 artists. Enjoy landscaped gardens, exhibitors, live music, tasty food and beverages and the amazing Festival Gallery at the festival hub, “Bloom in the Bay”, at the Tauranga Race Course. focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | BOOKS

TOP NEW BOOKS Words DEE COLLINS

AMNESTY, ARAVIND ADIGA SCATTERLOGICAL WISDOM, FRANCES HALL

BROKEN, DON WINSLOW If themes of corruption, crime, vengeance, betrayal, guilt and redemption are your thing, then this book of six intense short novels will keep you entertained. A great collection of short crime fiction and ideal for a long, rainy weekend.

Scatterlogical is a word Frances Hall created to reflect the process of bringing all her varying careers and roles together – from lollipop making to sales, writing, journalism, tour leading and parenting, Frances has had a crack at most things that have come her way. Frances is someone who has lived an extraordinary ‘ordinary’ life and in this book she writes about the best and worst parts of her life and the lessons learned. The book is a fairly quick read and is written with humour and grace – a downto-earth memoir that embraces how unpredictable and messy real life can be.

In Sydney, Sri Lankan immigrant Danny has overstayed his student visa, which makes him an illegal alien. Working as a cleaner for privileged Sydneysiders, Danny learns that one of his clients has been murdered by another. Over the course of 24 hours, Danny is faced with the dilemma of giving up his livelihood and girlfriend and risking deportation by informing the police. The book brings up the complex bureaucracy about people who have arrived in the country legally but then overstayed their welcome, and asylum seekers who enter illegally. In Danny’s case, he faces a legal dichotomy of having left a war-scarred, tsunami-ravaged homeland yet his asylum application is rejected because he wasn’t smuggled in.

THE AIR THAT WE BREATHE, KARA DOUGLAS Kara Douglas, a New Zealand author, spent ten years researching this novel, which is a fictionalised account of one of Australia’s worst industrial disasters. In the 1960s, Abele Moretti is recruited in Italy with the promise of a house and financial security to work at a blue asbestos mine in Wittenoom, Western Australia. Abele and his wife, Maria, leave their family and friends and relocate to the harsh and desolate outback. The work is backbreaking and despite health warnings to management, which are wilfully ignored, the mine

12 | focusmagazine.co.nz

continues to operate. Thirty years later Abele becomes ill and the family begins a challenging journey to seek justice. The story is told initially by Abele and the Wittenoom mine manager, and later also by the lawyer and Abele’s daughter. * It is estimated that around 20,000 people, including workers, wives and children lived in Wittenoom and that more than 2,000 people have died as a result of being exposed to asbestos fibres. Wittenoom has since been struck off the map of Western Australia.

BOOKS | focus

MORE MYSELF, ALICIA KEYS

THE SUPER WOMAN SURVIVAL GUIDE, JESS STUART

Fifteen-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Alicia Keys released her autobiography earlier this year. Most of the book is in her words and tells the story of her journey to success, from her childhood with an absent father, to being manipulated into a provocative magazine shoot, to fame and how she has found her way “to becoming who I am as opposed to being what I’ve been told to be”. Her passion for music shines through – there is an obvious innate talent but the book also covers some of the hard work she put in to become world famous. Although I’m not a big fan of her music the book includes some beautiful poetic writing that deserves to be read again and again. Alicia also writes about the celebrities she has met – Prince, Oprah and Barack Obama – and her campaign #NoMakeup, which she started to encourage women to show off their natural beauty.

Jess Stuart is a Wellington-based author, coach and international speaker, who empowers women to be their best. Growing up, Jess was steered towards settling down and having a ‘proper’ job, which she did, but once she realised how unhappy she was, chucked it all in and rebuilt her life around her passions. Her life experience is enormous – she’s travelled around Australia in a camper van, visited Bhutan (the happiness country), taught English to Buddhist monks in Thailand, lived in ashrams, studied Buddhism and qualified as a yoga teacher and life coach. This book helps us understand that, as women, we often set ourselves up to fail because we place such high expectations on ourselves. Through her book, Jess teaches her readers how to master the art of self-belief, overcome imposter syndrome, focus on strengths, minimise the self-talk that often holds us back and put ourselves first on the list so we don’t burn out.

WILD KINSHIP, CONVERSATIONS WITH CONSCIOUS ENTREPRENEURS, MONIQUE HEMMINGSON

CRAZY BUSY, KERENE STROCHNETTER

Monique is an avid wellness advocate for our planet, mind and body. As a former owner of a popular café in Mount Maunganui, Monique came into contact with a number of forward-thinking small businesses and felt they had an important story to tell the world. With that in mind, Monique has put together a collection of conversations she’s had with entrepreneurs who are forging a new path and changing the world in their wake. Many of these businesses are from Australia’s Byron Bay, well known for its alternative lifestyle vibe. Monique’s passion for design, whole foods, holistic wellness and creative entrepreneurship are evident in this beautifully presented hardcover book.

‘Negativity bias’ – focusing on the likelihood of things going wrong – is designed to keep us safe, but can also make us prone to overlooking the good things that happen. That adds pressure to our lives and often causes us to be more self-obsessed, critical and negative, which, in turn, takes a toll on our health, happiness and relationships. Crazy Busy is a book for busy people with active minds, who want to practise mindfulness. The author shares her story of how she used mindfulness to jumpstart her life and explains that anyone can meditate with the right intention, instructions and support, which is exactly what this book offers. There’s an easy-to-follow 8-week programme, free downloadable workbook and access to the Mindful at Work app, and requires only a few minutes of mindfulness meditation each day to have a positive impact. focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | ASK THE EXPERTS

ASK THE EXPERTS AM I IN CONTROL AND SAFE DURING HYPNOSIS?

KIMBERLEY CLARK THE HAIR HUT thehairhut.co.nz

SUPERMARKET VS SALON SHAMPOOS? Are salon shampoos really better for your hair and worth the extra cost? It’s a question we often get asked and we can absolutely say that shampoos aren’t all created equal. You might feel that your supermarket shampoo is doing its job but these shampoos often contain more water, sulphates, fillers and silicones – cheap formulas that aren’t doing your hair any favours. They often strip your hair of natural oils, making it drier and less manageable and can irritate the scalp as well. The salon products we recommend are designed to nourish your hair from the inside out. They contain high quality ingredients such as collagen, vitamins, micellar, peptides, oils and minerals and they’re much more concentrated, which means you use a smaller amount. We’ve also got products to give your hair UV/ thermal protection and, if you’ve had a colour added, we recommend a shampoo with anti-colour fade technology. If you’re still on the fence about making the change, we have travel sizes to purchase and samples to give you and, of course, our stylists will discuss the best options for your hair. It will take a few weeks to get the supermarket shampoo out of your hair but after that, you’ll find your hair is softer, more manageable and healthier. You won’t want to go back!

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Yes, you are in control and safe. It’s the same as the natural state we all go into upon waking or drifting off to sleep. People have preconceived ideas from watching stage hypnosis that you are not in control, as they think the hypnotist has control over those on stage. However these people under hypnosis have surrendered themselves to be on stage and act like chickens, or whatever is asked. You may notice that when someone starts to come out of the deep state, the hypnotist will take them off the stage to ensure the show is successful. Some people are more susceptible to hypnosis than others. A great example of hypnosis in everyday life is driving a car. You learn to drive a car at, say, 16, and years later you automatically drive that car. You do not need to think how to do it, and sometimes you cannot remember passing landmarks or traffic lights. Who is driving your car? The subconscious mind, of course; the programmed part. Hypnotists can safely and easily (with your permission) reprogram the subconscious mind so that you can overcome selfsabotaging or self-defeating behaviours such as smoking or weight gain. The subconscious is also our gatekeeper and keeps us safe. EasyLife Hypnosis offers a variety of hypnosis options including the Virtual Gastric Band programme for Weightloss.

ANGEL ESVELLA easylifehypnosis.co.nz

focus | STYLE

Rainbow Stripe Retro Logo Crop T-Shirt NIKE $90.00

Mom Fit Bermuda Shorts ZARA $45.90

Puff Yeah Slide UGG $85.00

Hey, Funky!

Rainbow Spout Earrings HUIA $39.00

BEING UNAPOLOGETICALLY YOURSELF IS SO IN. WEAR YOUR BEST SMILE, PAINT YOUR CLOTHES RAINBOW AND SPRINKLE IT ALL WITH A GENEROUS PORTION OF NOT TAKING LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY. Women's Sol Circle Bag THE WOLF GANG $329.99

Delusion Dress KETZ-KE $185.00

90s printed tie-dyed cotton-jersey T-shirt RE-SLASH-DONE $266.00 Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses GLASSONS $29.99

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FITNESS | focus

WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR? THAT’S THE QUESTION PARTICIPANTS ON A UBX TRAINING CAMP 6-WEEK CHALLENGE HAVE TO ANSWER. IS IT FOR YOUR FAMILY, YOUR FUTURE OR, PERHAPS, YOUR MENTAL HEALTH? IT’S THE REASON AND MOTIVATION TO GET YOU TRAINING WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT. EVERYONE’S FIGHTING FOR SOMETHING AND IN MY CASE, I’M FIGHTING TO GET FIT AND HEALTHY AGAIN. Words DEE COLLINS

arlier this year I was determined to regain my fitness of long ago but enthusiasm for this quickly fizzled out during lockdown … too much baking and too many excuses, methinks! Fortunately, UBX Boxing at Bayfair invited me to take part in its latest 6-week Training Camp Challenge which mirrors the physical and mental preparation a boxer undergoes before a fight. Interestingly, 65% of its members are female! Who would have thought? UBX is a boutique gym with a small community. Sessions involve moving around 12 three-minute stations, with a 30-second breather in-between, and combine boxing and aerobics. At each station a TV screen lets you know what exercises you have to do and guides you on technique. Thankfully for me you work at your own pace, and exercises can be dialed down if you’re not quite ready to leap onto boxes or do extensive burpees. There’s a trainer on the floor for each session showing you technique, cajoling you along and joining in every so often. The workouts change daily to switch things up so you never quite know what to expect. The 6-week Training Camp Challenge charts your athletic progression and gives you additional tools such as nutritional and mindset guidance to help you transform your body. At the start and end of the Challenge you have a body composition scan, which measures and analyses the amount of fat or lean mass in your body as well as information on the water, protein, muscle and bone mineral components – all really valuable in assessing what progress you have made. There are also three exercises you need to complete that record endurance, core strength and anaerobic conditioning – these are then repeated at the end of the Challenge so you can assess your overall progress. There’s also a very cool Training Camp App that allows

you to set goals, assess your progress and mindset, and gives you daily menu plans with recipes and shopping lists. Team UBX also sends out regular emails with tips and words of encouragement. The beauty of UBX is that there are no fixed times so no joining the back of the class because you were held up in traffic. A new round starts every three minutes so you can just jump in when you’re ready. If you have a My Zone fitness tracker you can also access this at the club. The UBX team also recommends taking progress photos – you know those confronting photos that give you a physical jolt? Forward, front and back – preferably in a swimming costume *sharp inhale of breath*. If a Challenge isn’t your thing you can still join up and, if you’re still undecided, UBX offers a free session. Knowing that you can burn up to 750 calories per workout might also be a clincher for you. At the time of writing this, I am half-way through the Challenge and can already see progress – in fitness and agility – and look forward to seeing what six weeks does for me. I would absolutely encourage you to give UBX a go – hope to see you there!  ubxtraining.com focusmagazine.co.nz

Beauty hits focus | BEAUTY

SPF 50 BB CREAM, NIVEA $11.49

This two-in-one face sunscreen and BB cream protects your skin against sunburn and premature ageing, provides skin with natural antioxidants, moisturises and tints. All without that nasty greasy or sticky feeling.

NAIL ADDICT, ARDELL $8.00 Why waste time and money on a manicure when you can sport a new style every day in seconds? Designed by pro nail artists, Ardell nail sets include 24 nails to mix and customise. There are nine styles – from haute holographic to delicate nudes – two lengths and three shapes to choose from.

ULTRA DARK SELF TANNING LOTION, BONDI SANDS $24.99 Rich and flawless bronzed glow? Easy as! With the innovative dual-action formula, your tan will look natural and stay longer. Lotion is formulated with Aloe Vera and coconut, so it’s ultra-hydrating and lightweight, leaving your skin soft and smooth. The product is vegan and cruelty-free.

HEEL BALM PLATINUM, DERMAL THERAPY $21.95 No more dry, cracked heels! Apply this balm once or twice daily for visible results in just one day. It contains 30% urea and provides faster and more effective skin regeneration. Once heels are healed, the balm can be used as a daily preventative moisturiser.

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HYDRO MASQUE EXFOLIANT, DERMALOGICA $108 The latest addition to the Dermalogica family, Hydro Masque combines the benefits of a scrub and face mask in one product. Massage it into the face and neck and let it activate for 3-5 minutes. Bamboo is rich in minerals and delivers gentle exfoliation; Snow Mushroom holds 450x its weight in water; Jojoba Seed, Sunflower and Safflower fortify skin’s natural moisture balance; Sugar Beets deliver Amino Acids, while Cucumber Extract provides a soothing finish.

HEALTH | focus

Michelle Smith, 5th from left, with her team, who threw a Pink Brekkie for her first day back at work in July, raising $1,000 plus another $1,000 matched by PMG.

IN THE WORKPLACE supporting employees through breast cancer WHEN YOU RECEIVE A BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS, IT HELPS TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING EMPLOYER SUPPORTING YOU.

ast October Michelle Smith of Tauranga was waiting for her biopsy results when she read a focus article about three breast cancer survivors. Little did she know she was about to start her own journey. “My news was not good, but it had been caught early and I was just about to have everything thrown at it! I was working full time as a graphic designer but from that day forward I just disappeared from the office as I began a conveyer belt of appointments. Then came several operations, six months of chemo, radiation therapy, and now hormone treatment.” She said from the time of her diagnosis, her employer, PMG Funds, went above and beyond in their support for her. “Right from the start they rode all the ups and downs with me, and immediately set up support systems and allayed my fears about not being able to work. It was a huge relief because I could just focus on the process in front of me without getting stressed about letting them down.” Michelle was on full pay for three months and then worked on an hourly

rate when she could. Even now, post-treatment, her employers have prioritised her recovery by allowing her to work flexi-time – a godsend when there are still plenty of appointments to attend. Support also included homebaking, My Food Bag deliveries, paid counselling services and many home visits and shoulders to cry on. “They’ve just been amazing and I want to show other companies what can be done to support team members in a major time of need.” Here are some ideas to consider: 1. Allay fears and concerns about the employee’s role and put in place support systems, like a gate-keeper to manage communication flow. 2. Consider offering flexi-time, remote working, reduced hours or job-sharing schemes so your employee can attend appointments and treatments without feeling guilty. 3. Educate yourself and team members on treatment side effects. Exhaustion, forgetfulness, moodiness, brain fog and nausea are just some of the things she may have to contend with.  focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | HOME

EMBRACING THE CALM MINK WEIGHTED BLANKET, SLEEP HEAVY $399.99 Mimicking the feeling of a comforting hug, these blankets help slow your heart rate, relax your muscles and release serotonin and melatonin. Especially recommended for people with sleep deprivation, insomnia, autism, anxiety, ADHD and PTSD.

WITH A FEW DESIGN TWEAKS, YOUR BEDROOM WILL BECOME THAT COSY, HOMELY SPACE YOU’VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT. LEAVE THE STRESS OF A BUSY LIFE BEHIND AND STEP INTO A SANCTUARY OF RELAXATION AND COMFORT.

PROJECTOR ALARM CLOCK, LENOXX $37.20 Too sleepy to turn your head and check the time on your nightstand? This alarm clock projects a display on the ceiling! It will also lull you to sleep with a unique countdown timer.

White Cassia Wall Art KOWHAI INTERIORS $220.00

Lamp ARKANDA LIVING AND INTERIORS

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Decorative Sage Urn KG ELECTRONIC $74.78

Waxed Perfume ASHLEY & CO $54.95

Short-pile Rug H&M $59.99

FRENCH TAPESTRY CUSHION, LINEN & STONE $145.00 A bunch of bold and colourful pillows will brighten up any room. The Linen & Stone store in Cambridge offers an exclusive French collection.

LIFE 20

STACEY JONES

THE CREATIVE MIND BEHIND KITCHEN TAKEOVER

NICOLA DAVIS

ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO BE BREAST AWARE

KELLIE ROGERS

AT THE FOREFRONT OF FAMILIES’ FUTURE HEALTH

Plus PINK DESSERTS, DUNEDIN SIGHTS, TIPS TO ACCESS YOUR FLOW

focus | PEOPLE

Creating memorable events

STACEY JONES APART FROM KNOWING THE THEME – HUNTER GATHERER – AND LEARNING THE EVENT WOULD BE IN MOUNT MAUNGANUI, FURTHER DETAILS WERE ONLY REVEALED AN HOUR BEFORE OUR DINING EXPERIENCE. EVEN THEN, WE ONLY KNEW A STREET ADDRESS AND HAD TO FOLLOW THE LANTERNS TO OUR SECRET LOCATION. Words DEE COLLINS Images ERIN CAVE, ILK PHOTOGRAPHY

ake it from us, if you’ve never attended a Kitchen Takeover event then put this on your must-do list. Stacey Jones, the brains behind the pop-up restaurant, and her team, deliver an outstanding experience that’s filled with mystery, intrigue and incredible food. PLEASE TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. I’m London born and bred. I also started my career there after getting a place in a top London advertising agency’s graduate scheme. There I worked on brands like Sony, Nissan and Tesco working on big budget campaigns. I then came to New Zealand via South America and have been here for 10 years. In that time I’ve started and sold a successful e-commerce business and worked for Priority One for several years to promote the region. The thread has always had a creative marketing focus. HAVE YOU ORGANISED EVENTS BEFORE? Yes. Big and small. When I was in London I worked on some amazing brand events including the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada. In Tauranga I was lucky enough to start the Groundswell Festival of Innovation – a marathon of 30 events across Tauranga across a week. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SETTLE IN TAURANGA? My hubby had a work exchange with a sustainable product development business. Three months turned into 10 years. TELL US ABOUT KITCHEN TAKEOVER AND WHY YOU CREATED IT. I started the pop-up restaurant because I wanted to bring a slice of the big city to little old Tauranga and offer people the chance to try envelope-pushing food and connect with their

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undiscovered foodie friends. The word is getting out and we have people travelling from far and wide to attend – our events sell out in minutes so I feel like we have hit the turning point. HAVE YOU ALWAYS WORKED WITH CHEF SHANE? No, I cooked the first event myself – a 10-course Vietnamese banquet and almost died. After that I realised I needed a chef! WHAT’S THE LONG-TERM PLAN? We want to continue to raise the profile of the Bay’s food scene through unique edible experiences. We ran some truffle hunts with Te Puke Truffles in July after featuring them on the plate at the pop-up. I’d love to work with more brands in this way and even host a food festival eventually. However, Covid has thrown a bit of a spanner into the works for now. WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THESE EVENINGS? One thing I’m not short of is ideas. I get inspired by all sorts – art, food trends, produce, people. FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT NEVER HAVE ATTENDED A KITCHEN TAKEOVER EVENT, TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT. It’s a taste-tangling, fine-dining, secret supper. You buy a ticket without any idea of the location, menu or who you will be dining alongside. Our events sell out quickly so people seem to like the formula! TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR MOST MEMORABLE KITCHEN TAKEOVER EVENT. They have all been memorable in their own way. The thing I love the most is seeing strangers turn into friends. We once

PEOPLE | focus

With only four events per year, Kitchen Takeover evenings are sold out within minutes. Find out about the next event and book online. kitchentakeover.co.nz

had a 30-year-old couple and a 70-yearold couple befriend each other over the meal. They discovered they were in fact neighbours and by the end of the evening, they were best mates! HOW LONG WOULD EACH KITCHEN TAKEOVER EVENT TAKE TO PLAN AND PUT INTO PLACE? About three months, often more. It’s always in the back of my, and Shane’s, mind simmering away. YOU WERE PLANNING TO INTRODUCE PRIVATE DINNERS – HAS THIS HAPPENED? TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THIS. Yes we have although we only offer a few each year as they are so involved. It’s like doing a pop-up restaurant designed just for you. Every touch point is thought about and the menu and wine list completely customised.

I’m a mum of three kids aged 6, 4 and almost 2 so I’m generally headfirst in the washing machine. WHAT DO YOU LIKE DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME? Cook food, read about food, eat out – anything food based. WHAT BUSINESS ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO WOMEN VENTURING OUT INTO A NEW VOCATION? You don’t have to go all in at the start. Test and learn and build over time. The first pop-up I did was for 24 people and one night, the last was 450 over nine nights. If I had tried the latter straight off I’d have fallen flat on my face.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR EVENTS? The joy it brings, seeing people having an edible experience.

WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED ALONG THE WAY? • Don’t get a Job, make up your own • No one has it all • Never work for an a***hole • Trust your gut • Let go of the mum guilt (I’m still working on that one) • It’s easier to do than not to do

WHEN YOU’RE NOT ORGANISING A KITCHEN TAKEOVER EVENT, WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN? If you lose, don’t lose the lesson.  focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | ADVERTORIAL

Dentists Estée and Riaan Kriek own Pyes Pa Dentists and Omokoroa Dental Surgery.

PYES PA DENTISTS WHEN IT COMES TO TEETH, LOOKS AND HEALTH ARE TIGHTLY INTERTWINED. MODERN, SPECIALISED DENTISTRY CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS IN BOTH AREAS, CHANGING LIVES AS WELL AS SMILES.

hen you smile, chances are people will remember your teeth the most. But teeth can also put a dent in your confidence and self-esteem, particularly in social situations, simply because they are such a crucial part of your smile. Moreover, teeth are not only linked to self-esteem but also play a significant role in general health. "It has been so wonderful to find a dental clinic that I can honestly say is a pleasure to go to. All of the dentists are superb, but in particular Riaan and Estée are exceptional in both their calm and experienced approach and their friendly and informative manner." – Katy Martley

DIGITAL DENTISTRY FOR COMFORT, CONVENIENCE AND PRECISION We offer a broad spectrum of highly specialised digital dentistry services. For example, when treating patients for crowns or bridges, digital technology

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allows us to fit full-ceramic crowns in just one, one-hour visit. Not only do crowns look good, they also strengthen teeth. We believe in a pro-active approach, and often recommend crowning teeth early to prevent major problems such as broken or cracked teeth and even tooth loss in future. Some patients with unsightly stains or old fillings in front teeth may only need veneers to have their smile restored. Another digital technology – guided implant surgery to replace missing teeth – has also dramatically improved precision and safety when placing artificial roots for crowns.

COMPLETE AND ALIGNED TEETH There’s more to teeth than just health and looks. In order to produce a proper bite, the upper and lower jaws have to be complete and fit together. After all, digestion starts in the mouth, and only two full and well aligned dental arches are able to cut and chew food properly.

Image by Vanessa Laval-Glad

pyespadentists.nz 07 577 1478

Aligning teeth to create or restore the bite can be achieved at any age. In fact, we see an increasing number of adult patients, even in their 60s, who are getting their teeth straightened with Fastbraces, and they’re enjoying the benefits of finally being able to clean between their teeth, chew properly and, most obviously, smile with neatly aligned teeth.

SECURED IMPLANT-BASED DENTURES More and more of our patients who need dentures opt for implant-based dentures. Unlike conventional dentures that have no connection except to the gums, implant-based dentures are fixed in place. This means no embarrassment with flopping false teeth and no pressure ulcers on gums. When patients understand how improving their smile and confidence also helps to prevent dental problems at a later point, then it’s us who are smiling at their feedback. And we smile a lot!

focus | COVER STORY

DR NICOLA DAVIS

BE BREAST AWARE FOR EARLY CANCER DETECTION

Words: Millie Freeman Cover & main images: Vanessa Laval-Glad, Laval Photo & Video. Other images supplied. Makeup: Sita Engling

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COVER STORY | focus

BREAST CANCER SUCKS; BUT EARLY DETECTION MAKES A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE TO OUTCOMES. WITH REGULAR SCREENING AND BEING AWARE OF CHANGES IN OUR BREASTS WE CAN INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOLLOWING A CANCER DIAGNOSIS. SPECIALIST ONCOLOGIC BREAST AND GENERAL SURGEON NICOLA DAVIS JOINED TAURANGA’S BREAST CANCER TEAM 18 MONTHS AGO. SHE URGES WOMEN TO BE BREAST AWARE. FOCUS TALKED TO NICOLA ABOUT WHY SHE’S OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE FOR WOMEN WHO RECEIVE A BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND WHAT’S KEPT HER FIXED ON HER MEDICAL CALLING SINCE AGE 14. focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | COVER STORY

icola Davis is one of three consultant breast surgeons in Tauranga, as well as a general surgeon, and one of four women surgeons across the Bay of Plenty. She says in most breast cancer cases women are likely to do well if their cancer is found early. “Screening via mammogram every two years between ages 45-69 is really important and tends to pick up very early, treatable breast cancers. Overwhelmingly, the women who come to screening do better.” Nicola also recommends all women from about age 25 examine their breasts every month to notice any changes – in the shower is easiest when it’s soapy and slippery. “If you’re concerned, don’t wait for something to change. Go and get it checked out,” she says. The range of treatment options now available is also helping to increase the number of positive outcomes, and Nicola says the future is optimistic for the majority of women who get breast cancer. Surgery itself has improved as have other breast cancer treatments, such as neoadjuvant therapy (which aims to shrink a tumour prior to surgery) and radiotherapy. While screening is key to early detection, Nicola knows there can be downsides of mammograms potentially picking up benign lumps, requiring women to go through an anxious few weeks while they await biopsies and results. Sometimes

“

this happens when women go for their first mammogram as there is no baseline with which to compare. “Some women end up falling out of the screening programme because of the anxiety they experienced the first time. I completely understand their apprehension, however it’s so important to continue with two-yearly screening because of the much higher likelihood of picking up early-stage cancer than if they didn’t have a mammogram. Sadly, this is a common disease – one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lives.” It was during Nicola’s third and fourth year of surgical training that she chose to specialise in breast surgery, largely because of the excellent mentorship she had received from her colleagues, who “showed me what a privilege it is to be a breast surgeon”. “I meet people going through this traumatic experience and am able to help them come to terms with what breast cancer means to them and support them as they start their journey,” she says. “I see it as an extraordinary privilege to be able to do this work. “I also enjoy using a combination of skills in breast surgery – general surgical skills as well as plastic surgery skills. Removing cancer is the number one priority, but getting a good cosmetic outcome comes a very close second.”

COSMETIC ADVANCEMENTS Screening via mammogram every two years between ages 45-69 is really important ... Overwhelmingly, the women who come to screening do better.

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This emphasis on cosmetic results has been one of the major changes in breast surgery during the last 10-15 years and has made a huge emotional difference to the outcomes for patients undergoing surgery, she says. Women used to endure disfiguring ‘radical mastectomies’ with significant removal of breast tissue and muscle, however modern-day breast-conserving techniques, such as lumpectomy with sentinel node biopsy, result in far more satisfactory cosmetic outcomes for the majority of patients. The culture change towards better patient-centred care, where patients are actively consulted in their treatment, has also transformed the daunting medical process for many people, she says. Now, women navigating breast cancer in New Zealand are supported by a wrap-around team of specialists, from the breast-care nurse, to medical oncologist, surgical team and radiation oncologist. “Working with patients in distressing or bad news situations is the hardest part of our work but as doctors we are trained for that and it’s important we are resilient and strong for our patients,” says Nicola. “At the same time we are respectful to what’s going on for them and give them time and space to ask questions. In my practice I make sure my patients have all the information they need to make a decision that’s right for them, and when I understand what’s important to them I can make recommendations for treatment based on their needs and wants. “It’s important to me that when patients leave a consultation they feel fully informed and have had their questions answered. I want them to feel they can move forward on their journey knowing they’re having the right treatment for them.”

COVER STORY | focus

DESTINED FOR MEDICINE Nicola was in the fourth form (Year 10) at Manurewa High School in Auckland when she decided she wanted to be a doctor. She’s now 40. The life course she set for herself so early on is one random trait she shares with her favourite backyard pets – honey bees, which she’s kept since her early 30s. Much like the daily flight path they follow between flowers, Nicola has never questioned her decision to follow a medical career, let alone deviated from her own flight path. After six years of Med School in Auckland, she worked as a house officer for three years at Middlemore and Auckland City hospitals before embarking on the next phase of her training – initially as a non-training registrar for four years and then five years training through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Having decided during this time to specialise in breast surgery, she then spent another two years in Australia doing her fellowship, before being appointed to her Tauranga role last year. Manurewa high School also happened to be the setting for another life-changing decision. She met a guy she quite liked in her sixth form (Year 12) Stats class and the two formed a relationship. Despite living apart for spells when she was training around the country, Aaron became her husband, and her greatest support, and they’ve been together for 22 years.

REFINING HER GOALS Medicine was a good choice and natural fit for Nicola because it’s a profession requiring both science and social skills. She remembers as a young fourth-year med student assisting during a laparoscopic surgery and being allowed to remove a patient’s gall bladder through the belly button. “It was amazing!” she says, and helped her refine her goals towards a surgical specialisation. She was totally hooked! “Seeing that patient the next day feeling well enough to go home made me realise how much of a positive difference I could make for someone. In the majority of work you do, people come in with a problem, you fix it and they’re better for it. That really appeals to me.”

BE BREAST AWARE – EARLY DETECTION COUNTS • Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting New Zealand women with more than 3,300 cases diagnosed each year. • Screening mammograms are important because early detection can result in more positive outcomes. • Women aged between 45-69 are encouraged to get a mammogram every two years. Screening is free through BreastScreen Aotearoa. • Self-awareness is also important. From age 25, all women are encouraged to examine their breasts to learn what is normal for them and recognise changes. • If you notice any changes, such as a lump or thickened area, nipple inversion or discharge, persisting redness, unusual pain, breast distortion, or dimpling or puckering, see your GP for an assessment. While many breast changes are due to non-cancerous conditions, it is important to get it checked.

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | COVER STORY

On the ‘people skills’ side, Nicola has plenty of experience to draw on. Growing up in a big family in south Auckland with communityminded parents (her father ran a youth justice programme to rehabilitate young offenders and her mother was a GP practice manager), she was always involved in community events and fundraising for the likes of Women’s Refuge. Empathy for others was instilled at an early age, so when Samoa was devastated in the 2009 tsunami, Nicola didn’t hesitate to step up and offer her medical skills for three weeks in the island’s short-staffed smaller hospitals. Along with her parents, she arranged a “massive” container of household and medical supplies, including donations from GP clinics of medicines and sutures that were so desperately needed.

Find it before you feel it – NZBCF Boob Bead Keyring 2mm – size of the smallest cancer found by a regular mammogram 14.5mm – average size of lump found during regular mammogram 22mm – average size of a lump found by self-examination

RAISING AWARENESS FOR WOMEN By appealing to women to become more breast aware and maintain two-yearly mammograms, Nicola hopes to increase the number of positive outcomes for women who get breast cancer. At the same time, she wants to increase another concerning medical statistic – only four female surgeons practise in the entire Bay of Plenty. Historically surgery has been considered a male domain, and women have been discouraged from entering the specialty profession, lacking the mentors to aspire to. “Women make up 60% of Med School graduates yet only 11% of the surgical workforce, which means we’re missing out on some of the brightest and best,” she says. “It’s up to us to encourage and mentor the junior female doctors and give them an opportunity to see the seniors out there doing it.” In July Nicola and her registrar Dr Sharon Jay hosted an inaugural networking evening with female house officers and registrars, and Nicola plans to make it an annual event with other social get-togethers in between. “It’s about changing perceptions. I want to normalise the fact that women can be surgeons. It’s such a great career and I want women to feel it is accessible to them. From a patient point of view, overwhelmingly people like to connect with someone like themselves, which is why diversity in medicine, especially breast surgery, is so important.” Luckily for our region, and just like the bees in her backyard by the sea, Nicola’s future flight path remains rooted in the Bay. She has no plans to deviate to hospitals in other countries, saying her role here is “incredibly rewarding”, and why would she leave this little slice of paradise, especially when she and Aaron love hiking, kayaking and fishing in New Zealand’s great outdoors? We couldn’t agree more! 

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“

It’s important to me that when patients leave a consultation they feel fully informed and have had their questions answered. I want them to feel they can move forward on their journey knowing they’re having the right treatment for them.

DJ10708_Grace_Hospital_Breast_Cancer_Nurse_Advert_v4_ol.indd 1

18/08/20 9:36 AM

focus | PEOPLE

STRONG but healthy WITH A WHOPPING 16 GOLD MEDALS AND FOUR WORLD CHAMPION TITLES, MOUNT MAUNGANUI LOCAL MARIA EVANS MAKES WAVES IN NATURAL BODYBUILDING. Words KSENIIA SPODYNEIKO

YOU’RE ONE FIERCE COMPETITOR. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, YOU WERE LEAVING CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH ARMS FULL OF TROPHIES. Haha, thanks! I’ll never forget my first competition. It was in Australia in 2017. I didn’t tell anyone I was doing that, except for my then boyfriend (now husband) Tim Evans. Imagine our shock when I ended up with four first places! Later the same year I also gained my biggest title – Ms Pro Bikini World Champion in Bali.

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THE FOLLOWING YEAR YOU UPGRADED DIVISIONS, WHICH REQUIRED MORE MUSCLE TONE. WHY THE SWITCH? It was a natural progression for me. Once I gained my Pro World title, I could either keep going for the same title year after year or set myself a new challenge. After talking to my husband and my coach, we agreed on upgrading a division. It allowed me to still look feminine but also become even stronger.

I BET THE STEREOTYPES ABOUT FEMALE BODYBUILDERS LOOKING LIKE MEN IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO FACE QUITE OFTEN. Stereotypes are definitely there. I don’t take it personally as everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It even took my parents a while to understand what I was doing, it was so unconventional to them. Understanding the difference between a bikini female bodybuilder and a figure female bodybuilder with

PEOPLE | focus

excited about what they can bring for future drug-free competitions.

a significantly higher muscle mass and different posing routine is the next level of awareness. Media doesn’t help with that either. For them, it’s either you’re built like Arnold Schwarzenegger or you’re not a bodybuilder at all. And you can only imagine what a female version of him would look like! NOT A FAN OF SCHWARZENEGGER’S PHYSIQUE? BUT ON A SERIOUS NOTE, IS BEING ABLE TO STILL LOOK FEMININE THE REASON YOU PREFER NATURAL BODYBUILDING? In my case, it’s more about my own strict policy of never using any enhancers. Ever since I first attended the fitness show in Perth as a backstage helper for one of my girlfriends and fell in love with this world, I knew I would never take any drugs or steroids. I’ve never done it in my life and wasn’t planning to start. For me, it was always about working out, a balanced diet and strong focus on a final goal. WHAT ABOUT PROTEIN POWDER, SUPPLEMENTS? Protein powder helps with recovery and maintaining muscles. I do take some while preparing for a show but stop around three weeks from competition day. Any form of steroid – in tablets, gels or injections – is a line I'll never cross. I genuinely never had an interest in it even though I have been around people who were doing it. I accept that there are many safe steroids out there for both men and women now, but the cleaner my diet is and the more I rely on wholefoods to improve my physique the safer it is for my own health. WHAT DOES YOUR DIET LOOK LIKE?

I have two of them: competition diet and off-season diet. The first one is very clean and is programmed by my coach. I work my way around my main macros: protein, carbs and fat. I also use the app MyFitnessPal so I know the macro content of all my foods. At first, I didn't like my food so bland and the fact I couldn’t have an ice cream on weekends. But once I followed my coach’s programme to a tee and sacrificed flavour for fuel, I understood what foods give me better functionality, clarity and endurance. Eventually, I got used to the basic flavours of meat, vegetables, occasional peanut butter and stevia, and mentally switched my ‘craving for taste’ into a ‘craving for aesthetic results’. Rice cakes are life now! My go-to is peanut butter on rice cakes. At the bodybuilding shows it’s hilarious how almost every competitor in their skimpy bikini and dark tans would be standing backstage, snacking on peanut butter and rice cakes. BODYBUILDING WITHOUT STEROIDS IS NOT SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT. DO YOU THINK WE NEED MORE AWARENESS? At the moment, there is definitely not enough information. Not all bodybuilding federations do drug testing at events. So, you never know who you are up against – a natural bodybuilder who only relied on chicken, broccoli, oats and protein shakes and trained six days a week for a year, or someone who only went to the gym twice a week for the last two months, eats McDonalds and pizzas for dinner and has been injecting enhancers to get stage ready. Luckily, ICN New Zealand is planning to change this and I’m

DESPITE THE INSANE WORKOUT SCHEDULE, YOU DON’T DO IT FULL TIME. WHO ARE YOU OUTSIDE THE COMPETITIONS? Since we moved back to The Mount after living in Australia for a while, I’ve been working at a real estate agency. I’ve also studied psychology at the University of Otago and am currently working on creating online courses about mental fitness and motivation, starting with the How To’s of competing in natural bodybuilding. The psychology of mental fitness and motivation is something I’m passionate about and I aim to share this with those who are interested in taking their physique and mindset to the next level. WHAT ABOUT YOUR FREE TIME? Oh, I’m a total bookworm! I read 1-2 books per month, currently mostly about pregnancy and babies, as we’re expecting our first child. I also always listen to Tony Robbins’ podcast for a couple of hours in the morning. You can often spot me on The Mount base track or having a cosy breakfast at Ours Café. Most of the time though, you would see me at Mount Flex Fitness Gym as a sponsored athlete/Ambassador. I even occasionally hold psychology workshops there. Once I’ve settled with the baby I will be back at Flex gym in full swing so definitely pop by to say hello! DO YOU THINK YOU’LL GO BACK TO COMPETING AFTER GIVING BIRTH OR WILL YOU SWITCH ENTIRELY TO THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THIS SPORT? I plan on doing both. I aim to have an online course up and running by August 2021. After I’ve ticked that off, I’ll start preparing for the 2022 competitions, aiming for the Worlds. I do have a lot of work to do, considering the postpartum weight gain and lifestyle change, but once again, it's a challenge I’m keen to take on. Having my husband and my little boy alongside me on stage when I’ll be holding another gold trophy is worth it! I’m used to this lifestyle and I enjoy it. It keeps me on my toes. For now and in the next 6-9 months, the journey of becoming a brand new mum is something I really look forward to, as it’s a new and unique experience.  focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | LIFE

Retire into a new lifestyle

at Althorp Lifestyle Village

RETIREMENT IS ALL ABOUT RELAXING, TAKING LIFE EASY AND MAKING THE MOST OF THINGS YOU WERE PROBABLY TOO BUSY TO ENJOY WHEN YOU WERE WORKING AND RAISING A FAMILY. WHEN THERE’S A HOME TO MAINTAIN, LAWNS TO MOW AND GARDENS DEVOURING OUR SPARE TIME, WE OFTEN JUST DON’T FIND THE TIME TO RELAX. An increasing number of retirees find the best solution is to live in a retirement village where all these things are taken care of, however choosing the right lifestyle for your retirement can often be a long and difficult process. It’s a move that can involve some difficult decisions. When you’re thinking about making the move you need to take into account the location of your retirement, what continuum of care a village has to offer and, of course, what amenities are available. Althorp Lifestyle Village, situated in Pyes Pa, Tauranga, is far from just another retirement village. The Village comprises 157 one-, two- and threebedroomed villas surrounded by beautiful gardens and lawns, all maintained by our grounds team, unless of course you like to spend a little time in the garden yourself! Our 16 large, north-facing garden apartments have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, open-plan living and dining, and a deck, as well as under-floor heating and secure undercover parking. There are also 23 independent-living apartments in our

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main building, The Lodge, which is the heart of the Village where all the facilities are located and where many of the activities take place.

EXPANSIVE PARK-LIKE SETTING Nestled on 30 acres of park-like surroundings, residents can wander around the beautifully appointed gardens, sit in the sun and chat to a friend or take a walk through native bush along the track which continues around the Village perimeter. Althorp also offers a huge range of activities. Residents enjoy a full-sized bowling green and tennis court, golf, croquet, and petanque, as well as the popular walking group and garden club. Indoors, there’s a heated pool, spa pools, gym, a hairdresser, indoor bowls, table tennis, darts, line dancing, snooker and pool, a variety of card and board games, a fully equipped movie theatre, a library with a wide selection of books, newspapers, and magazines, a dedicated

LIFE | focus

arts and crafts room, hobbies shed, and a lot more. Residents are also involved in other activities, such as a choir, music club and personal gardening.

IN THE HEART OF PYES PA The Pyes Pa shopping center is right next door and is home to a variety of shops, including a gym, dentist, chemist, doctors, hearing-aid clinic, restaurants and takeaways, and a supermarket. A short walk through our gardens gives residents direct access into the shopping center. Althorp Village offers residents the unique style and comfort of a resort, a number of dedicated facilities, the highest level of personalised care, as well as the ability to transfer to our serviced apartments for a higher level of care if and when required. Radius Althorp Hospital is also on site and residents have priority entry if the need for hospital-level care arises. Most importantly, the owners, management and staff who run Althorp Village love what they do. They care about and respect every resident, and ensure your independence and privacy. Whether you enjoy an active lifestyle or prefer to lead a quieter life, Althorp Village offers services and facilities designed with you in mind.  althorpvillage.co.nz

Open for viewing 7days 10am-4pm If you’re thinking of a change in lifestyle – Althorp Village has it all! We offer you:

ü Independent Lifestyle Living ü Fun, Friendship, Security

A Social and Friendly Environment ü Resort Style Facilities A wide Range of Social Activities

If you want the most out of life and to live in a social and friendly environment, come visit us at Althorp Lifestyle Village in sunny Tauranga! For more info contact Claire Keen on 07 543 4008 or 021 061 7247. 9 Grantston Drive, Pyes Pa, Tauranga. www.althorpvillage.co.nz

focus | HEALTH

SAFEGUARDING FAMILIES' FUTURE THE ‘HOLY GRAIL’ OF STEM CELL THERAPY – UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD AND TISSUE STORAGE – LAUNCHED IN OUR COUNTRY IN JULY. NEW ZEALAND MANAGER OF CELL CARE , KELLIE ROGERS, EXPLAINS THE BASICS OF WHAT’S KNOWN AS ‘THE NEXT CHAPTER IN ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION’.

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HEALTH | focus

UMBILICAL STEM CELLS ARE NOW USED IN TREATING OVER 80 DISEASES. WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL? Cord blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of a baby is rich in pristine, powerful stem cells that have been used in therapy for more than 30 years. They contain regenerative, immunomodulatory properties and secrete neurotrophic, angiogenic, antiinflammatory and other growth factors and cytokines.

It’s the midwife's or obstetrician’s job to collect cord blood and tissue after the birth of the baby. It’s a quick and painless procedure and involves zero risks for both Historically, the uses have been for life-saving treatments for conditions such as leukaemia and blood cancers, solid tumours, immune disorders and metabolic diseases. In 2008, the number of approved indications was 33. By 2018, this has risen to 84. It is clear that the potential use of stem cells from cord blood are increasing rapidly. Now, New Zealand families with a medical history of genetic, blood, metabolic or immune disorders, some forms of cancer, or who are simply looking to safeguard their family's future, have access to Cell Care's leading technology and services in this area. WHAT DOES THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING AND STORING STEM CELLS LOOK LIKE? People who are expecting a child can enroll online or chat to our client services team over the phone. Once enrolled, a collection kit is then sent to their home. A mum-to-be will then need to bring the kit to the hospital when she is ready to give birth.

mother and child. Once the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, blood is taken from the cord in a sterile collection bag. Cord tissue is collected after the delivery of the placenta. Finally, our courier team will expedite the kit to our laboratory where the cord blood and tissue is processed and cryogenically stored for future use, if and when required. Parents receive an SMS once the collection kit has arrived at the lab and then a certificate once the cord blood and tissue have been processed. Stem cells can then be couriered to any hospital in the world, should the need arise. It’s a free service we offer to all our clients. IS IT SOMETHING KIWIS ARE SHOWING INTEREST IN SO FAR? Definitely! Expectant parents here are really excited to have an affordable and reliable option when it comes to stem cell storage. The Cell Care group is one of the most accredited cord blood banks in the world. We have stored cord blood and tissue stem cells for

more than 150,000 families. We continue to raise awareness and are going to have a presence at all of New Zealand’s Baby Expos for parents to come and talk to our midwives and customer service team. We have also partnered with some antenatal classes to provide information and the opportunity to ask questions. STEM CELL THERAPY IS STILL QUITE A NEW AND UNKNOWN AREA. ARE YOU TAKING ANY STEPS IN DISCOVERING NEW OPPORTUNITIES CORD BLOOD AND TISSUE PROVIDE IN MEDICINE? We invest in umbilical cord stem cell research and clinical trials. Cell Care sponsors world-leading trials in cerebral palsy and type-1 diabetes, invests in cord blood expansion technology, and finances research in the use of cord tissue-derived cells. AND WHAT IS YOUR PARTICULAR ROLE IN CELL CARE? It’s providing educational support to healthcare professionals, as well as updates on the latest international research and clinical trials. I make sure that healthcare professionals have a well-balanced conversation with expectant parents about their options and help them make an informed decision. I thoroughly enjoy working with the team at Cell Care who are all so enthusiastic about this cutting-edge technology and are great people. Working in this company is honestly so rewarding!  focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | HEALTH

ACCESSING your

Flow

PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME, “WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU MEAN BY FLOW, ANGE?” WELL, LET’S JUST SAY IT DOESN’T INVOLVE ANYTHING ‘MONTHLY’ OR LEG-CROSSING ON TRAMPOLINES. Words ANGELENA DAVIES

Purchase Ange’s book from her website angelenadavies.com @flowwithangelenadavies

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HEALTH | focus

I like to think of Flow as an energy. And before you start eye rolling like this is some fluffy purple woo woo stuff (it’s most definitely not; I was an academic, just saying) remember that it was the scientist Einstein who said, “Everything is just energy”. Scientists measure energy in frequencies of Hertz (Hz) or waves per second. The chair you’re sitting on vibrates at a frequency that is different from the (pretty cool) mag you’re holding, which vibrates differently to the brownie you’re about to inhale (yes, I know). According to Dr David Hawkins, our emotions also vibrate at different frequencies too. His scale clearly shows how emotions range from as high as 600Hz when experiencing peace and 540Hz for joy (which are very expansive) to 150Hz for anger and 100Hz for fear. Eeek. The lowest being guilt at 30Hz and shame at 20Hz (which are very contracting). It’s also known in sciencey realms that vibrations attract ‘like’ vibrations. Therefore, if you’re angry at losing your phone, you’re more likely to have other things happen to create anger, like being put on hold for 40mins when calling the phone company or missing Bitchin Bingo on a Monday night. Additionally, according to the organisation Access Consciousness there is also a personal vibration, the frequency of YOU, which naturally is your highest vibration. When I talk about accessing your flow, I mean tapping into a high frequency, which is the vibration of you. The authentic you. Can you feel that? It’s when you’re not trying to live up to other people’s expectations, not living in judgment of you, not carrying the past (yours or your family’s) into your being. Not vibrating at those low frequency emotions. When you’re in this space it feels expansive, as if anything is possible. It feels easy and effortless, as if things just ‘are’. There’s no element of needing to force or control things (we actually can’t force or control energy anyway).

I like to use the analogy of a flower. It grows according to how it is supposed to grow. It doesn’t judge itself to the flower next to it (“Oh man, you’re so much taller than me, I’m not good enough”), nor does it put any barriers up to receiving exactly what it needs (“Gee, the soil looks a bit depleted today, maybe I won’t take as many nutrients. Maybe I won’t grow into my potential because it’s mean to the soil.”) No. The flower inherently understands its place in nature. It accesses what it needs to be what it was designed to be. The flower is in the flow of life, shall we say. I’ve spent the past six years learning and teaching what kind of elements are required for us to access our flow. I’ll share these few things:

1 2

Being mindful is 101. When you live in your head (always thinking of stuff) then you’re not in the present moment, and your flow is in the present. Kinda important. Learning to trust your intuition, your inner beacon, your knowing, accesses your flow. We don’t follow it enough these days. There’s too much noise and information overload – a major hindrance. Tuning in with your own Yes/No (a Yes will feel light and easy and a No will feel heavy or hard) is key.

Voicing what you know. Your voice is your personal power, so using it means choosing for you. If it feels heavy to clean up after quite capable teenagers, then voicing this is critically important. When your intuition knows and you DON’T voice it, you’ll get throat issues (tonsillitis, strep, thyroid etc). I always get a scratchy throat when mad about something but too fearful to speak up. And remember, fear and anger are low Hz, which take you further away from your flow.

Being aware of the power of our thoughts. Thoughts are also an energy and frequency. If you’ve ever seen the Apple Experiment I do with my clients and in my classes (you can find this on my Instagram account), then you’ll understand how thoughts do indeed affect matter. I also did a Masters Thesis on Appreciative Inquiry, which is worth a google to demonstrate the power of focusing on what you want and not on what you don’t want.

Receiving more. Receiving is one of the most important things we do yet it’s often the hardest. We are pretty crap at accepting compliments, or letting our friend pay for our drink. Yet when we look at babies or animals or flowers, we see how natural it is to get the love and attention and support and nutrients we need to be in our natural Flow. I’ve found that one of the easiest ways to access Flow is learning it with others, in a group. There’s a collective energy of change and it’s pretty powerful in itself. For me, accessing Flow is a daily priority. I’ve found that the more I choose to access it the quicker I can get back to it after times of challenge; back to that flow of ease, calm, and joy and fun.  focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | TEST-DRIVE

BMW 218i Gran Coupé M Sport

BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport

BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport

SPOILT FOR CHOICE HOW DO YOU PICK A NEW CAR? WELL, FIRST YOU DISCREETLY GLANCE AT THE PRICE TAG, TRYING AND FAILING TO CONCEAL THE SHOCK. BUT THEN YOU TAKE IT FOR A TEST-DRIVE. AND SUDDENLY THE PRICE IS NOT SO SHOCKING ANYMORE. AT LEAST, THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT’S ‘THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE’. Words KSENIIA SPODYNEIKO Images ALEX SPODYNEIKO 40 | focusmagazine.co.nz

TEST-DRIVE | focus

BMW cars had long been known as the best choice for those who enjoy driving, love the high speed and the insane power you’re controlling with only a few light touches. These cars are beasts, filled to the brim with the most innovative technologies that make your time on the road almost as comfortable as a rugby weekend on the couch (sans the beer).

SEDAN WITH A COUPÉ FEEL We started small. No, that’s not quite right. BMW 218i Gran Coupé M Sport might appear on the smaller side but this one is definitely not intimidated by its compact size. With the famous oversized Kidney Grill and 18-inch alloy wheels, 218i is as far from a ‘cute little car’ as it gets. If anything, it’s fierce, a touch aggressive and endlessly stylish. It’s a pleasure to drive – while being the least powerful of the three, it’s very responsive and obedient, basically reading your mind before you even realise that’s exactly what you were about to do. Driving Assistant with lane departure, front collision and rear crossing traffic warnings, break intervention and rear collision prevention helps a lot. Just like the cruise control and parking assistant. 218i is the most fuel efficient with only 5.9l/100km combined fuel consumption. Compare it with 6.5l of X1 and 7.2l of X5! The only downside of this compact sedan is the back doors that are slightly narrower than you would expect. Oh, and the fact that Dee’s head unexpectedly met the roof on a road bump. But it was a gorgeous panorama glass roof, which was a nice consolation. The panorama glass roof is part of the $8,000 worth of optional equipment our car sports, along with seat heating (triple ‘yes’ in winter), keyless Comfort Access, electric seats with memory and more. The prices for 218i in New Zealand start from $62,900.

more relaxed. Especially when the seats are equipped with an optional lumbar support that is an absolute blessing for anyone spending more than five minutes a day in a car. This X1 has a wireless charging station which is the next best invention of the century after sliced bread. Throw your phone in a special compartment and watch it charge. The boot capacity expands from 550l to a massive 1,550l with a push of a button. Of course, you can open the boot with the kick of a foot – Ok, THAT must be the second-best invention after sliced bread! Nothing like a quick kick instead of fumbling with the keys when your hands are full of groceries. Basically, everything about this car screams ‘spacious’. No head bumps whatsoever, comfy for a party of three at the back and there’s even an option of the sliding back seats that allow extra legroom. Not to mention generous storage space under the armrest at the front and an impressive glovebox. Unlike 218i and X5, this car doesn’t have gesture control that allows you to turn the volume up or down, accept or decline a phone call, change the rear-view camera angle and perform a couple of other actions using specific hand gestures without touching any buttons or giving out voice commands. This is a very handy feature, causing no distractions from the road and no screaming babies disturbed during their peaceful sleep. And though it’s a fairly new one, not having it already feels like the car is missing something.

MORE IS MORE

female population of the Bay. Apparently, small and quirky is not what we’re after in cars any longer. Instead, we choose solid and safe. With cooling and heating cup holders, of course. This is crucial. The outstanding safety is something you feel as soon as you start the engine, with the seatbelts tightening around you automatically, as if they’re living, breathing creatures. To be honest, that’s what BMW cars often feel like in general, what with all their voice and gesture controls and Intelligent Personal Assistant, who is now so evolved she doesn’t expect specific orders from you and literally chats like a bestie. Only she would never make fun of you for not knowing where the nearest flower shop is. After all, it’s her job to know it and list the options on a giant 12.3-inch display. X5 is the smoothest car of all three. It sails rather than drives, lulling and cocooning its passengers. It also takes the least time to accelerate to 100km/h – only 6.5sec. Comes in handy every Monday morning! But just like with smaller cars, big cars have their own disadvantages. For example, I’m 160cm and had to jump out of the backseat – there’s no way my legs could reach the ground without that wee leap. There goes my plan to gracefully exit the car in front of a fancy restaurant! Overall, while 218i is a sporty show-off and X1 is perfect for families without being boring, X5 feels more like a confirmation of your own success and social status. You don’t buy this car because of something. You buy it just because. Just because you worked hard and won’t even bat an eye at prices starting from $137,800. 

BMW X5 xDrive30d M Sport is big, bold and brilliant. It’s also, according to Combes Johnston BMW Tauranga experts, extremely popular among the

GOLDEN MIDDLE Jumping into a shiny new X1 sDrive20i M Sport is like coming home after a long and exhausting day. Everything about this car just feels right: the size, the position of all the displays and buttons inside, the confident crossover elevation above the road. Immediately, you feel focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | TRAVEL

DUNEDIN CHARM

ECCENTRIC AND AVANT-GARDE BUT ALSO WELCOMING AND VIBRANT – IT’S ALL DUNEDIN, THE OLDEST CITY IN NEW ZEALAND. Words KSENIIA SPODYNEIKO Images ALEX SPODYNEIKO

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TRAVEL | focus

We’re driving to Dunedin from Wanaka and the scenery so far is more suited to Lapland, not New Zealand as we, Tauranga-based people, know it. After half an hour of navigating frost-covered roads surrounded by trees wrapped in snow blankets, I’m almost ready to admit visiting Dunedin wasn’t my brightest idea. Almost. Because as soon as we finally emerge from a frozen hell, we find the city basking in sunshine. We must’ve hit some kind of weather jackpot as it remains like that for the next five days.

A PIECE OF EUROPE You haven’t truly been to Dunedin without joking about it being Edinburgh’s twin city at least once. And not only because ‘Dunedin’ literally means ‘Edinburgh’ in Scottish Gaelic. It’s hard to resist the cliché, when you see the legendary railway station in all its Edwardian baroque glory, the Hogwartsstyle Otago University or all the historic churches generously scattered around. And don’t even let me begin on the Otago Times Building – home to New Zealand’s oldest newspaper – I was five seconds from packing my bags and moving in. Another must-see heritage building is the First Church of Otago, opened in September 1848, only six months after the Scottish settlers arrived in the country. Of course, it wasn’t quite as big and impressive back then. But these days it’s the fourth tallest building in the South Island and a pure piece of art.

Dunedin is basically an open-air museum and the best place to start exploring it is the eight-sided plaza in the heart of the city, also known as The Octagon. Massive St. Paul’s Cathedral might be dominating the landscape here but it’s the buzzing crowd, relaxing in hip burger restaurants, bursting out of the modern art galleries and chatting on the plaza steps, that attracts the most attention. Ok, you’ll definitely need to peel your eyes off the 150-year old beauty first, but once you do it you’ll see what Dunedin really is all about. And that’s the unbelievably lively, upbeat urban atmosphere, created by energetic students from all over the country and locals who know how to really enjoy themselves. There is something in the air of Dunedin. Something that makes you smile, makes you want to jump and sing your heart out. This childish, unforgettable and unforgivable joy of life you experience here is what sets Dunedin apart from any other destination.

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | TRAVEL

WELCOME INSIDE Drooling over the insane architecture was fulfilling but after a few days we decided to explore the inside of the historic buildings as well and discovered a couple of unique gems. Otago Museum, perched at the edge of the University campus, for example, hides one of the largest museum collections in the country and one of the world’s best collections of all things moa, including two of the only three intact moa eggs in the world. But it’s the museum’s three-storey Tropical Forest Butterfly House that struck us dumb. Colourful exotic creatures flying everywhere, impressive indoor waterfall, swing bridge and the cutest little quails minding their own business… If you hear someone clapping hands and squeaking like a little happy child, it wasn’t me, nope! It’s one thing to see historic tools, weapons and costumes in the museum but for the truly immersive experience we drive outside the town to visit Larnach Castle. Built by merchant baron William Larnach in 1871, New Zealand’s only castle is nestled at the top of the hill on Otago Peninsula and boasts breathtaking views and authentic Victorian atmosphere. Of course, you can confine yourself to walking around the gardens but skipping a peek inside the castle would be a glaring omission. The interior of the castle, restored by the Barker family, who bought it in 1967 and gradually returned it to its original splendour, is absolutely worth the extra $17 per person. Before leaving, we check out the Ballroom Café. On a warm summer’s day, you can enjoy a lovely high tea overlooking the gardens. Since we’re here in winter, we opt for hot soup by the fireplace instead. The historic ballroom is not as pompous as one might expect from a castle but it’s cosy, beautiful and the food is great. For art lovers, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, with its mixture of historic and contemporary works, is a place not to be missed. Modest from the outside, this space is utterly breathtaking inside. From The Octagon entrance, you step into a gigantic foyer drenched in natural light, with warm wooden floors and art pieces all around. Colourful halls of the ground floor provide an insight into an extensive collection of local and European paintings the gallery has accumulated throughout its almost 150-year history, while the first floor is filled with temporary modern art exhibitions.

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TRAVEL | focus

MORE PHOTO-OPS:

Signal Hill Lookout. The place to be during sunset for the best views of Dunedin.

WILDLIFE EXPLORATION Otago Peninsula is home to sea lions, seals, several types of penguins and the world’s only mainland albatross colony. We join Elm Wildlife Tour to meet Dunedin’s cutest citizens. There are heaps of tours to choose from but this particular one picks you up from the i-Site, drives you around, takes you to the private beaches with colonies that no-one else is allowed to visit and was even voted ‘New Zealand’s best leisure activity’, which, after several days of climbing Guinness Record-worthy steep streets, is exactly what we need. We opt for the Standard Encounters Tour ($115) but you can also add a one-hour boat cruise and/or albatross viewing. Surprise-surprise, our first stop is the Royal Albatross Centre! While two other girls on our tour go for their 30-minute viewing, we admire the Peninsula from the carpark and even manage to spot two albatrosses fishing not too far away. Not a bad start for what turns out to be the most amazing experience ever! The next thing we know, we’re at the special platform on a private beach with no other soul in sight, admiring the cutest little fur seal pups and their mothers. Driving all around the Peninsula, we then meet giant sea lions, who, apparently, are not afraid of humans – which doesn’t mean WE are not afraid of them; these beasts are terrifying up close! And finally, reach one more secluded beach with the endemic yellow-eyed penguins. All in one tour! On our way back to the car, the guide explains that the little holes in the

ground are man-made and are meant for the little blue penguins. Leave it to me to crawl on the wet ground in search of the penguin coach potatoes who might’ve stayed at home while the others are out in the water, and find not one but two lil lazy dudes! After forty minutes of oohing and aahing, we decide to book a Little Blue Penguin viewing tour at the Royal Albatross Centre, ‘cause two penguins are never enough! Night is a much better time to spot the world’s tiniest penguins as they return to the shore from their daily duties in the water, and here you’ll be standing on a special viewing platform with soft lights that do not irritate or scare the penguins but allow the best possible view. The platform can easily accommodate up to 90 people, so booking in advance is not necessary – just check the tour starting time online, as it depends on the time of the year, and be there in time. The first couple appears almost as soon as we arrive on the platform. They surf the waves for a short while and then scurry awkwardly to their holes. After another few penguins arrive, the real fun begins – apparently, they don’t just disappear into their holes to catch up on sleep. Instead, they wander around, diving from one hole to another, which definitely looks like visiting friends. Who knew penguins are so sociable? The tour lasts 75 minutes and we spot around 20 little blue penguins. Winter is not the best time of the year for that but if you’re lucky to be in Dunedin in spring or summer, you can spot up to 100 of them in one night. 

Baldwin Street. Recognised by Guinness World Records as the steepest street in the world.

Dunedin Chinese Garden. Unexpected oasis of calmness and relaxation in the city centre.

Dunedin Botanic Garden. Heated Edwardian glass house, huge rose garden, aviary, bush walks and duck pond.

focusmagazine.co.nz

focus | FOOD

y t t e r Ppink desserts THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT DURING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: SPORTING A PINK RIBBON, DONATING, VOLUNTEERING OR TREATING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DELICIOUS AND HEALTHY PINK DESSERTS.

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GOURMET STRAWBERRY CAKE INGREDIENTS: • 300g Hunter Gatherer Gourmet velvety baking mix • 3 eggs • 1 cup water • 2 Tbsp oil • 1 tsp vanilla essence • 1 tsp baking powder • 500g frozen strawberries • Freeze-dried strawberries for icing and decoration

METHOD: 1. Heat oven to 180°. 2. Pick out the smallest strawberries; the rest you will use for the filling. 3. Mix water, oil, vanilla and eggs together. Add velvety baking mix and baking powder. Mix till well combined.

4. Grease two 20cm cake tins or line with baking paper. Divide batter between the two tins. Add the small strawberries to each baking tin, dotted over the batter. 5. Bake for 15-20 mins until cakes are set and a skewer comes out clean. 6. While the cakes are baking, make the strawberry filling by putting remaining strawberries in a pan with a little water and simmering until they have reduced by half. Stir occasionally. Let cool. 7. Make your favourite white icing, using either butter or mascarpone. Crush some of the freeze-dried strawberries up and fold them into the icing. Keep the rest to scatter over the top as decoration. 8. Once cakes are cooked, spread the filling between the two cakes. Spread the icing over the top and decorate with the left-over freeze-dried strawberries.

RASPBERRY LAMINGTON RAD BALLS INGREDIENTS: • 1½ cups almond meal • ¼ cup coconut • ½ cup freeze-dried raspberries • 1 tsp vanilla bean • ¼ cup coconut sugar • Pinch of salt • ¼ cup coconut cream • 1Tbsp coconut oil

METHOD: 1. Crush the freeze-dried raspberries in your hands to break them up a bit then place into a bowl with all the dry ingredients and stir. 2. Add coconut cream and oil. 3. Mix with a spoon and your hands until combined. 4. Roll into balls. These balls last a week in the fridge or six months frozen.

Tauranga-based Real Rad Food creates plant-based treats and products that not only look and taste amazing but make you feel amazing too. Their new Rad Ball Mixes are the easiest and tastiest way to recreate a healthy treat at home. @realradfood

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Image by cookie_studio / Freepik

BUSINESS 48

SHARON MANSSEN

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AND FANTASY FICTION WRITER

AN INTERSECTIONAL CONVERSATION AT MULTICULTURAL TAURANGA

RACHEL WESTON CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER

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Engineering design and fantasy fiction balancing a life of contrasts

SHARON MANSSEN WAS GOOD AT MATHS IN SCHOOL, AS WELL AS DOING OK IN ART. SHE SAYS, “WHEN THE CAREER GUIDANCE COUNSELLOR SUGGESTED ARCHITECTURE, I THOUGHT, CRIKEY! WHAT IF I DESIGN SOMETHING AND IT FALLS DOWN? SO I DECIDED INSTEAD TO BECOME AN ENGINEER.” Words JENNY ARGANTE

he laughs. “Obviously, I had no idea what engineering was about, as it's the engineering that fails! Then I was told girls don’t do engineering, and that was a red flag to a bull. Don’t ever tell me I can’t do something!” Here you begin to sense the steel in a woman who opted to enter what was then a predominantly male profession. “I’m a Kiwi but most of my education was in Belgium, and I worked hard at school and took exams in Flemish. I’d done the pre-requisite subjects at high school: maths, chemistry and physics. I wanted a career that took me outdoors, and work that would improve our planet. I decided on environmental engineering.” Her university course and external training has taught her what engineering is, and the power it has to deliver solutions. “Engineering is making something work; it’s problem-solving. For example, an architect 'designs' what a building will look like. The engineer 'designs' the building to fulfil what the architect envisaged, to make sure the building, when finished, won’t collapse.” Sharon pauses to reflect. “If you think about it, there are many forces at work on what we humans build: wind and rain, earthquakes, the strength of the soil and the weight of the structure itself. An engineer must take them all into account, along with the properties of the materials used to ensure they're strong enough to meet pre-set requirements. “This could be, ‘Let’s put something together that will last for a century,’

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or ‘We’ll make it strong to the extent that people inside have time to get out before it collapses.’ Hardly anything can be designed never to fail. Often we’re limited by cost.” Structural engineering is a 4-year degree course. The first – or intermediate year – you can do at any university; Sharon did hers at Victoria University. “Then you decide what kind of engineer you want to be,” she explains.

“Back in 1990 when there were only two engineering schools in New Zealand, your options were limited. I did a mix of civil and mechanical engineering at Canterbury in my second year. “Then I added extra papers in my third and fourth year, including some agricultural engineering at Lincoln University.” Her choice wasn’t exactly popular: there were only three students in that

Sharon at Huka Falls

BUSINESS | focus

Sharon with Tyrelia, Book 2 in the Realm Trilogy

final year. Sharon also had to make practical experience a priority for vacation work. “You can't graduate without those hours. Over three summers I worked as a builder's labourer, on a dairy farm, then at Wellington Regional Council doing flood modelling. And after graduating, you must gain professional experience before you’re chartered, like a lawyer going for the bar. I became a chartered engineer after I’d been working for six years.”

MORE WOMEN NEEDED Sharon admits it’s still a predominantly male profession. “My entire working life there’s only been about one female engineer to ten male.” Currently she works for a global, multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy that wants to recruit 50/50. “Too many women drop out of the workforce when they start a family. It's a challenge the industry is working on. Hopefully, flexible work practices will help women stay in the profession.” Sharon first met her husband Craig at university. Somehow they’ve always managed as working parents. “Our son Lucas was born when we were both working in Bangkok. We returned to New Zealand and found work in Auckland. We had no family support, so Lucas was in full-time day care. Two months later I found out I was pregnant again.” Sharon wasn’t entitled to maternity leave because she’d been with the company for less than a year (as was then the law.) “So when Craig was asked to transfer back to Bangkok, earning

double our joint salaries, meaning I could stay home with the kids, we jumped at the chance. I worked part-time and we had a nanny and a fantastic work-life balance. We stayed for six years.” When the couple returned home, both worked fulltime with the same company, though eventually in different roles. “And yes, we split the household chores down the middle. It's an equal partnership.” Sharon has completed a variety of projects over the years, and probably most enjoyed river floodplain modelling. “My team had to research all the factors before producing the final hydrodynamic model. We incorporated the river flow based on rainfall and river flow data to predict for different outcomes. When a flood occurred, out we’d go to examine 'flood marks,' the line of debris left at its maximum level – flattened grass, deposited sticks and plastic bags. We’d also take aerial photographs through a hole in the floor of a tiny plane! Once I got to fly in a helicopter to check out the damage to the headwaters in a gully up the Otaki River. “Then we started playing with ‘what if’ scenarios. What if we raise the stopbanks? What if we widen the river? What if we lower the river bed? This lets you figure out what each would cost to build what’s most feasible.” It’s clearly evident Sharon has never regretted her career decision, though engineering design is hugely complex and clients often don't understand or appreciate that complexity. Often they only want the cheapest solution, and engineers like Sharon must step in and, hopefully, guide them towards what will work best.

FIND YOUR PASSION AND BACK YOURSELF What’s her advice to young men, and particularly young women, wanting to

enter the engineering profession today? “Back yourself. Don't let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. Yes, it's hard, and it’s a truly rewarding career and you can work anywhere in the world. Every project is different and always challenging, with new problems to be solved. But as society and our planet change and adapt, so too do our solutions. That’s the pure thrill of it.” Sharon is engineer, wife and mother – she’s also a writer (and President of Tauranga Writers.) What drew her into something that seems so markedly different from what she’s based her primary career on? She’s smiling as she answers. “Stories also begin with an idea, a concept, and plots give you so many problems to work out. I’ve always been an avid reader of fantasy fiction, and one day about fifteen years ago, I realised I had a story inside me that needed telling. So I set about writing it.” Sharon has completed two books in her Realm Trilogy. In Medar, the landlocked country ruled by a despot, Freya, poor and half-blind, finds a mysterious tablet of stone and begins a dangerous quest. In Tyrelia, she travels on further, finding companions to help. The sequel, The Golden City, delayed by Covid-19, is due out later this year. Like all projects that Sharon Manssen undertakes, actual and fictional, the series Realm Trilogy promises challenges and change. 

Jenny Argante is a writer and editor with over 30 years of experience, and a life member of Tauranga Writers, New Zealand's longest-running self-help group for writers. taurangawriters.org.nz

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focus | BUSINESS

Jungeun Lee, Shirely Huber, Yolanda Bennett, Premila D'Mello, Prathima Rao and Ingrid Booysen

AN INTERSECTIONAL CONVERSATION ON A TUESDAY EVENING AT MULTICULTURAL TAURANGA, A DIVERSE GROUP OF SIX WOMEN ANSWERED MY CALL FROM THE LAST ARTICLE TO SHARE THEIR INTERSECTIONALITY. WHAT BEGAN AS A PLAN TO FACILITATE A CONVERSATION AROUND DIVERSITY AND INTERSECTIONALITY, NATURALLY MORPHED INTO AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AND A VIBRANT INTERSECTIONAL CONVERSATION BETWEEN SEVEN WOMEN. Words RHEMA NANTHAM

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he diverse group comprised two Indians (Prathima and Premila), a German-South African (Ingrid), a Korean (Jungeun), two Filipinas (Shirely and Yolanda) and an Indian/Chinese/Sri Lankan (me). The conversation weaved its way from discussing the evolution of personal values in our current reality, co-existing harmoniously in diverse relationships, raising children in a new country, and navigating differences when living in a new country. Whilst some of the women were from the same countries – some even from the same regions – their lived experiences and worldviews were starkly different. Some of the women shared similar values and worldviews, despite being from different continents, as was seen when Ingrid said, “If we had not had this conversation, I wouldn’t have known that [Prathima and I] shared the same values. If I needed to move, I would move to her neighbourhood.” As we all know, our values and perspectives are influenced by our upbringing and lived experiences. It was enlightening to hear the generational differences in perspectives these women had with their parents and now, with their children. As society evolves, some of the women have rejected their past exposure in their youth to construct a different reality for themselves in their marriages, their children’s upbringing, their relationships, and worldviews. Some were negotiating their secondgeneration bias and implicit guilt of moving with societal evolution and maintaining the values rooted in their predispositions, whilst some continued to balance their upbringing with the changes around them. All the women shared of their responsibilities and their privileges in shaping their children’s identities, and the similarities and differences in their experiences. They were all in different phases of parenting with children of different ages and genders, making it a safe setting to ask irking questions, learn from each other’s experiences, discover each other’s views, and

understand subsequent consequences from decisions. As we unpacked some of their children’s choices and other young people’s decisions, the discussion meandered into our versions of womanhood. We ventured into appreciating many women having greater freedom and independence now than during their youth. Many are now able to make financial and lifelong choices that help them to pursue their own careers and dreams. This has influenced some of the choices their daughters and sons are making with their respective partners, which might not be similarly aligned with the women’s personal choices but is evidence of the continuous differences the women are always navigating. With any discussion of womanhood, personal relationships are divulged, as they shape and influence our womanhood and, in turn, influence the way we engage in a relationship. Some of the women were in interracial marriages and some were married to men of the same ethnicities, yet there were similarities and differences across the board. The ultimate consensus is that we bring our own intersectionality into our relationships. Being in a relationship with another human and raising a human conjointly requires us to not only explore and understand our intersectionality – all the parts of us and experiences

that make us who we are – but also share our intersectionality with our partners and understand theirs. As Jungeun questions in the context of raising a child in a diverse home and living in a new country, “How much of my identity do I share with my son?” Our intersectionality imprints on all our different relationships – work, intimate, friends, children etc – hence, it is not only important to understand the concept but to do identity work ourselves to understand who we are, and to have these conversations to progress diversity and inclusion. It was a privilege to sit with these women and experience an inspiring intersectional conversation. Each of them moved to Aotearoa for varied reasons, from escaping danger to wanting a new adventure for their family. Ultimately, they decided to give their family some form of change and, inadvertently, enriched New Zealand society with their diversity. Whilst this article summarises the evening we had and highlights only some of the topics discussed, the conversation was at times controversial but the bravery and the challenge to learn overcame any discomfort. Some views were shifted, and being confronted by different perspectives brought us all closer, epitomising the importance of being surrounded by diversity and of course, amplifying women’s voices. 

Rhema Nantham is a PhD candidate with Massey University. She is learning from women’s international adolescent experiences to advance leadership development globally. Amplifying the voices of third culture kids for diversity and inclusion and helping women better understand their identities for leadership are her passions.

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RACHEL WESTON CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITER

IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, I INDEPENDENTLY PUBLISHED MY FIRST CHILDREN’S BOOK, BUMBLEBEES HAVE SMELLY FEET . I PUBLISHED HELLO! KIA ORA! WELCOME NEW FRIEND! IN FEBRUARY, AND A THIRD BOOK, BOO GOES TUTTI FRUTTI , WILL BE OUT IN SHOPS ON 1 OCTOBER. IT’S BEEN A MAMMOTH 12 MONTHS OF GROWTH, RIDING HIGHS AND LOWS, AND DOING THE HARD YARDS OF INDEPENDENT BOOK PUBLISHING. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO PRINT YOUR BOOKS? There is something special about the feel of a picture book in your hands. The cover beckons you to read it and little fingers want to explore it. With a child on your lap and maybe one or more cuddled up beside you, touching, turning, talking, you’re all wonderfully caught up in the story together. You can’t be busy with something else when you’re reading a print book. Those moments of undivided attention with children, the closeness and togetherness, can’t be beat! YOU’VE FOCUSED ON WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS – WHY THIS PARTICULAR GENRE? Writing for children evolved from writing keepsake stories for my own children, when they were young. I jotted things down – funny things they did and said, and wrote madcap family vignettes – before I even knew what a vignette was! Writing is really enjoyable for me and the words come easily. It wasn’t until much later, when our oldest two children were at high school, that I allocated time to develop my writing skills for children’s stories. WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS FROM? Children offer a rich source of material. They have unencumbered imaginations and are inquisitive. Plus, they love humour! Animals also have great energy and children have a natural connection to them. I get ideas from personal

54 | focusmagazine.co.nz

experience and other times a single word or phrase will catch my attention. I write it down and let the mulling process begin. Story ideas float around everywhere … you have to be ready to catch them! They swell in on the waves, which bubble and froth with whispered words. But, if you’re not paying attention … they’ll wash back out again. WHAT BOOKS ARE ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE? I have books on the go all over the house, kind of like a buffet selection to snack on whenever, and wherever, I find myself with 10 minutes spare. Bedside table: Into the Mist by Lee Murray. Dining room nook: A Madness of Sunshine by Nalini Singh. Lounge: Tiny Pieces of Us by Nicky Pellegrino. Writing desk: The Cat from Muzzle by Sally Sutton. WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE, FAIL-SAFE RELAXATION ACTIVITY? Walking on the beach and walking my dogs. Thankfully, my dogs get me out of the office. Breathe in. Breathe out. Look up. It’s also a good start to the day, in my jim-jams and flip-flops, walking around our rural property. Endorphins pop and bop as I watch my four-legged friends sniff and bound under kiwifruit vines. Dogs are always happy – what a quality! Their language is loyalty and love – plus, they think I’m the bees knees! 

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HOMES OF HOPE TAURANGA CEO

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focus focus focus focus PERFECTING THE ART OF COSMETIC MEDICINE

MAKE A BIG IMPACT

NATURAL BODYBUILDING WORLD CHAMPION

PRETTY PINK DESSERTS

EARTH ENERGIES SANCTUARY

QUINTESSENTIAL

QUEENSTOWN

Estée

A life of purpose, perseverance and self-discovery

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PRINCIPAL OF TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

MAGICAL

MATAKANA

PRIZES

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

TAEKWON-DO WORLD CHAMPION

An activist with patience

TARA KANJI

JO BOND, LEE MURRAY & KAREN MCMILLAN

KIRI RANDALL & RAIMARIE POINTON

WIN

Could you be at risk?

Christine

YOUNG

MAYOR OF ROTORUA

ISSUE 20

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019

LYNDA JOHNSTON

Take me home I’M FREE

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER. MOTIVATE.

ISSUE 19

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

CAITRIONA FALLON

PETITE POWERHOUSE WITH THE MASSIVE VOICE

DR ANUYA DESHPANDE WIN

Fastest woman in drag racing

STREET KAI AUNTYS

PAUSE RESET

FrenCh Country house, Warm earth Cottage & the Cob house

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

LEADING A LEGACY

KAREN HAY

F.E.A.R.

Solving quick turn-around, cost-effective short-run printing needs … solutions from business cards, brochures and flyers to small and large booklets. FEEDING TAURANGA’S HOMELESS

ISSUE 17 JUNE - JULY 2019

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

Helping people to heal herself

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

THE FUTURE OF FASHION

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

NEISHA CONNOR

FORGOTTEN WORLD HIGHWAY

Co-founder of the Good Neighbour Food Rescue

NORTHLAND’S BIG TRIO focus focus focus Take me home I’M FREE

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Producing top quality printing to suit any large run print job … efficiently and cost effectively. Ideal for catalogues, newsletters, manuals, invoice/statements, quote books and other higher quality orders.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

growing the Bay with compassion

CHANGING WOMEN’S LIVES LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

DIGITAL PRINTING

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LAURA WRAGG, ANNE CUMBERWORTH & REBECCA RYDER

RESOLUTION RETREATS

ISSUE 24

ISSUE 15 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

ENVIRO WOMEN

CEO TOURISM BAY OF PLENTY

OFFSET PRINTING

OCTOBER NOVEMBER 2020

INNOVATIVE VOICE IN ACCOUNTING Lavina

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LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2018 JANUARY 2019

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

FANTASTIC

Kristin Dunne

Dr NICOLA DAVIS Destined

for medicine

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FANTASTIC

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FANTASTIC

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Dr NICOLA DAVIS D

estined for medicine WIN

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Hilary

PRICE

HOMES OF HOPE TAURANGA CEO

4th Birthday Issue

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BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAYS

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER. MOTIVATE.

AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2020

DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS

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FANTASTIC

TAKING CHARGE OF HER OWN WELLBEING

3rd Birthday issue

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

CLAIRE KEEN

BRINGING FAIRER

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PRIZES

POSTERS LABELS SIGNAGE

REAL ES TA TE

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Lavina

GOOD

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

ISSUE 19

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

CAITRIONA FALLON

WIN

Beautiful inside and out

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PETITE POWERHOUSE WITH THE MASSIVE VOICE

BEST BREKKIE DISHES IN TAURANGA

FANTASTIC

LIN KEO

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LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

ISSUE 18 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2019

EARLY MORNING INSPIRATION

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RANSFIELD

Māori role model

Climbing Mount Taranaki

growing the Bay with compassion

focus Bay of Plenty and Waikato

STARS

Time to work with influencers

A TRAMPER'S

MUST DO

CEO TOURISM BAY OF PLENTY

DETOXES FOR SUMMER

CLARKE

ROTORUA

Girls' day out

ERICA

SOCIAL

PRIZES

Kristin Dunne

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER. MOTIVATE.

APRIL - MAY 2020

WITH OUR WIDE FORMAT SOLUTIONS ROLL MEDIA AND SOLID SUBSTRATE

HEART DISEASE

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ISSUE 22

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

FANTASTIC

An activist with patience

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER. MOTIVATE.

ISSUE 21

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

LAURA WRAGG, ANNE CUMBERWORTH & REBECCA RYDER

FANTASTIC

ISSUE 15 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

ENVIRO WOMEN

WIN

Debbie

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

ISSUE 14 DECEMBER 2018 JANUARY 2019

LEADING A LEGACY

WIN

PRIZES

Steve Chadwick

PAUSE RESET

FrenCh Country house, Warm earth Cottage & the Cob house

Helping people to heal herself

FANTASTIC

focus MAKE A BIG IMPACT

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER. MOTIVATE.

SWAPPING STEELCAPS FOR GUMBOOTS

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LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

PASSIONATE DENTIST, Debbie Christine BUSINESS TRAILBLAZER Estée CLARKE

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Fastest woman in drag racing

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

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ISSUE 17 JUNE - JULY 2019

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

NEISHA CONNOR

FORGOTTEN WORLD HIGHWAY

Scenic journey through the past

KAREN HAY

F.E.A.R.

MAYOR OF ROTORUA

focus LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

ISSUE 16 APRIL - MAY 2019

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

A life of purpose, perseverance and self-discovery

focus

KRIEK

focus LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

TAEKWON-DO WORLD CHAMPION

An activist with patience

EARTH ENERGIES SANCTUARY

QUINTESSENTIAL

Estée

YOUNG

Steve Chadwick

PRINCIPAL OF TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

MAGICAL

MATAKANA

QUEENSTOWN

Christine

MAYOR OF ROTORUA

TARA KANJI

JO BOND, LEE MURRAY & KAREN MCMILLAN

PRIZES

Could you be at risk?

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

nting the optimal finish … options from binding and ming to numbering and perforating, foiling and embossing asing, padding, folding and/or die-cutting and laminating rom business cards to A2.

WORLD-RENOWNED SOCIAL SCIENTIST

KIRI RANDALL & RAIMARIE POINTON

WIN

HEART DISEASE

PRIZES

F.E.A.R.

TAL PRINTING

TAURANGA ARTS FESTIVAL

LEADING A LEGACY

KAREN HAY

ucing top quality printing to suit any large run print job … ently and cost effectively. Ideal for catalogues, newsletters, als, invoice/statements, quote books and other higher y orders.

LYNDA JOHNSTON

ISSUE 20

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2019

CAITRIONA FALLON

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. INSPIRE. EMPOWER. MOTIVATE.

ISSUE 19

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

Take me hom I’M FREE

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LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

3 YEARS OF

PAUSE RESET

Helping people to heal herself

Scenic journey through the past

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

ISSUE 17 JUNE - JULY 2019

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

Co-founder of the Good Neighbour Food Rescue

focus focus focus

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

Lavina

GOOD

CEO TOURISM BAY OF PLENTY

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PRIZES

LIN KEO

Climbing Mount Taranaki

Kristin Dunne

FANTASTIC

Māori role model

MUST DO

LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

WIN

ERICA

SOCIAL

PRIZES

ISSUE 15 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019

Bay of Plenty and Waikato

ENVIRO WOMEN

SET PRINTING

enth Ave, Tauranga, 3110 e: 07 578 6838

focus LIFESTYLE AND BUSINESS MAGAZINE. ABOUT WOMEN. FOR WOMEN.

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I S S U E 2 4 | OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2020

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