The Millwater Mag May Issue 2023

Editor’s Note

Put away your Pimm’s (did you even take it out this year?) and pull out your robust reds. The mercury is plummeting and any hopes we had of a late summer revival were barely fulfilled by a few brighter days during the school holidays. Still, the windy weather can be just as beautiful here on the Coast when you’re watching the waves pounding the shore and seeing the kite surfers rising up so high they could just about korero with Ranginui.

May starts with some big weekends this year. We have King Charles’ coronation on the first one and Mother’s Day on the next. In celebration of mums we share some local motherly reflections, we have several gift ideas for your mum (or yourself) and a couple of ideas for where to head out to lunch on the special day. We even profile a spot you could take her for a late-night cup of bubble tea, if your mum is a bit of a night owl!

The Coast is such a creative community, and this month we have all the info on a local production of The Pirates of Penzance and an incredible array of classes and exhibitions at the arts centre. We also have books, cooks, fishing hooks and tips on everything from power tools to employees, IBS and eye care.

Extend your outdoor space with the INNOVATIVE LUX LOUVRE From From

Please pop your feet up and enjoy.

PUBLISHER Grayson & Sarah Furniss

EDITOR Claire Nevans

DESIGNER Michelle Thomas

PRINTER Treehouse Print

For more information & enquiries:

CONTRIBUTORS

Hayley Crawford

(Features) 3 M WIDE X 3 M HIGH $6,999 3 M WIDE X 4 M HIGH $7,999

Karen McMillan

Mark Lane

Madison Smith

Paula Southworth

5 Years Warranty on structural framework and discolouration of powder-coating

CONTACT US 021 771 140 or advertising@themillwatermag.co.nz TheMillwaterMag the_millwatermag

Rudi Hefer

Disclaimer: Use it as an extension to your home, or completely standing alone on your balcony!

Exceptional customer service is the backbone of every successful business and we are absolutely thrilled to be the Silverdale/Millwater Suburb Winners for the Rate My Agent annual Agent of the Year awards for the second year running.

These are the awards we strive for and are so proud to receive. Having happy clients is why we love what we do! Committed to being experts in our field, our focus is on the Millwater residential market This affords us an in-depth, specialised market knowledge, to better to serve our clients. Let our real estate experience improve yours

ACT NOW IF YOU WANT TO MOVE UP THE PROPERTY LADDER.

With the heat having come out of the property market, we are seeing more homes available at more realistic prices, and less buyers to compete with. While the number of new listings coming to market in Spring has been lower than “normal”, we have recently seen an uptick in the number of homes being advertised for sale. With offers being made subject to the sale of a property much more common than a couple of years ago, there is a fantastic opportunity for those wanting to trade upwards.

Let’s do the maths..

We’ll use easy numbers to keep things simple. Let’s say that prices have fallen by 10%. So your home that was worth $1m is now worth $900,000, a drop of $100,000 (on paper)

Your dream home was worth $1.5m, but has also dropped 10% so is now worth $1,350,000, a drop of $150,000. The gap becomes smaller and the trade-up benefits you by $50,000. Rather than focusing on your selling price, or the buying price, give some thought to the ‘change over price’, and decide if now is the time to consider your next move.

Tips for up-sizing your home.

Ready for more space? A second bathroom? Better weather? Or just a change of scenery? Now is the time to make that move and find the home you've been dreaming of. Here are 5 steps to work through if you are considering a move:

Step 1. Where do you want to live? What location makes the most sense for your family over the next 5-10 years? Spend time in your potential target areas and decide if you actually like them. Visit local cafes, go for bush walks, try the playgrounds, check out the schools and talk to some locals What is the morning commute traffic like? What transport options are available? Once you have settled on one or two target areas, start looking at properties for sale and find out what houses are actually selling for. What is the buyer competition like? Are the open homes busy, or quiet? How long are properties staying on the market? Does the style of housing in this area suit your ideal lifestyle? Key question: After spending time in your target areas, do you still want to move? Note: It's totally ok to change your mind at this point and decide you like your existing home too much to leave.

Step 2. Get an appraisal on your own home. Now you need to understand how much you could sell your own home for. That's where we can help. We can give you an up-to-date market appraisal (value estimate) on your home, while offering tips and suggestions to help you get the best possible price Call us today to book your free consultation We often meet with owners who are 6-12 months away from going on the market.

Step 3. Finance = sorted Now that you know what you might get for your property, speak to your mortgage adviser so you can get a feel for what you can afford to spend on your next home. Work out if any bridging finance options are available to you and discuss hypothetical scenarios with your financial adviser. For example, how much could you afford to spend if your own home sells for $100k more than you expect? What about $100k less? Key question: Can you afford to buy the type of home you want, in your target location?

Step 4. Understand supply and demand in your target area. Do you need to be a cash buyer? Or are subject to sale offers ok? This is a key point and will determine whether you need to sell your existing home first, or, whether you can offer on your new home subject to the sale of your existing property. It all comes down to buyer demand for the type of properties you are interested in. If the market is quiet, you should be able to make conditional offers. On the other hand, if the properties you want are in high demand, you might need to sell your existing home first or secure bridging finance to have any chance of getting your offer accepted

Step 5. Start making offers. Find a home you like and go for it! Make sure you do all your research before offering or have conditions in the contract to allow time for due diligence with your building inspector, lawyer, finance provider, local council and any other specialist advice you need. Always get expert advice on contract wording, especially around 'subject to sale' conditions, before you sign any offer document. Trust the process

Last but not least, it's important to understand that up-sizing your home is a journey. You might get the first house you offer on, or you might make 10 offers before you strike a deal. Be patient and ready for anything. And if one home doesn't work out, don't give up There are plenty more out there! Need help with your next move? Get in touch today. We love talking property!

COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS

There’s no doubt in our mind that Millwater, the Hibiscus Coast, Rodney and the greater North Shore, are truly special places to live and at Harcourts Cooper & Co, we pride ourselves on our community relationships. We are so committed to keeping it that way that we, both as individuals and from a branch/company perspective, work hard to support local community events wherever possible We happily support many events from local school fairs to running and swimming events, Santa Parades and all sorts in between!

The inaugural Orewa Bike Cruise

free, family cycle event that took place at the end of March. Bought to you by Harcourts Cooper & Co in collaboration with Destination Orewa and many more supporting companies, the event saw hundreds of participants make their way around the Te Ara Tahuna estuary cycleway, stopping at stations along the way for food, ice-creams, coffee and entertainment The event was a huge success and thoroughly enjoyed by the Harcourts Silverdale and Orewa offices and Cooper & Co Community Sponsorship teams and family supporting on the day We're proud to engage with our community in this way and look forward to getting involved in more local events around the Coast

UPCOMING EVENTS

Creative Matakana 1-5 May 2023, Creative workshops with talented tutors

Auckland Tuatara Basketball- Home Game, Thursday 4 May at 7pm, Eventfinda Stadium

Auckland Tuatara Basketball- Home Game, Saturday 13 May at 7pm, Eventfinda Stadium

World MS Day - Tuesday 30 May

See creativematakana nz Harcourts Cooper & Co Matakana is sponsoring the opening night SERVICE AWARD Community 1

REINZ Awards for Excel ence 2022

We will consider proposals for all events held on the greater North Shore, Hibiscus Coast, North West and Rodney, or assisting the wider community. Please reach out to the Community Relationship Team if you would like help.

Focus on Ukraine

From 8 June to 2 July Estuary Arts Centre will host an art exhibition and other special events focusing on Ukraine to explore the conditions of war Ukrainian people are living in and to raise funds in support of Ukraine.

Ukraine: a war diary of lives

The first floor of the Estuary Arts Centre will become home to a 140sqm exhibition entitled Ukraine: a war diary of lives. The Centre’s website describes the exhibition as ‘…a unique synthesis of a standalone exhibition from the Auckland War Museum and commemoration event in the Sydney Town Hall by respective local Ukrainian Communities, a special series of artworks by a Kiwi sculptor, and a series of war victims’ stories by a non-government organisation from Ukraine recently displayed on the streets of main cities of New Zealand’. Please note the exhibition does contain graphic and confronting content.

Included are extraordinary and sometimes harrowing images, captured by some of the most prominent Ukrainian photographers, showing the devastation and impact the war unleashed by the Russian Federation has had on the Ukrainian people.

From the Sydney exhibition a collection of emotional and telling works uncover the secrets of Ukrainian resilience ‘ …do you ever wonder why Ukraine is still standing?’ The main artwork ‘Revival’ by Olena Levkivska will be sold at an art auction on 1 July.

Featured children’s stories commemorate the memories of the victims of war and a series of laser cut sketchings created by Kiwi sculptor Jan Ubels depict ‘the devastating impact upon millions of people who have been displaced by the Moscovian aggression’.

Katia, the curator of Creative Ukranians, says that as well as the art exhibition, visitors can discover Ukraine through information boards and videos displayed in the main foyer, see traditional Ukrainian clothes, learn and make traditional Ukrainian flower wreaths at a workshop and support Ukraine via donations and purchases.

Ukraine: a war diary of lives runs from Thursday, 8 June to Sunday, 2 July at Estuary Arts Centre.

Special events

Saturday, 17 June

10am to 12pm – Workshop ‘Making of traditional Ukrainian flower wreath’

Saturday, 1 July (events by Ukrainian volunteer group Chervona Kalyna)

10am to 1pm – Bake sale

1.30pm to 3pm – Art auction and fundraising dinner

A failing health system makes private medical insurance virtually essential

It’s been obvious for some time that our public health system is falling apart before our very eyes. There are many reasons for this, but it is very clear that many health professionals have left, and are continuing to leave New Zealand in droves, for better working conditions and pay overseas. The health sector has been decimated by burnout. Doctors, radiographers, nurses and laboratory staff carried a brutal workload during the COVID-19 episode, made worse by the, in my opinion, ill-advised imposition of the vaccine mandates, which ironically are still in place. People were forced to leave their careers of choice after years of training and experience – and a serious amount of invaluable experience has been lost.

I recently read a news article that had me seething: a cancer patient given six to eight weeks to live was told he faced a 12-week wait to see a specialist. Sadly this sort of headline is far from unusual. The sustained lockdowns meant that there was, and continues to be, a major backlog in the required diagnostic testing and specialist appointments nationwide through the public health system.

Taking all this into account, it is apparent that placing total reliance on the public health system, at this time and for the foreseeable future, is virtually akin to playing Russian roulette with your health and life.

Private medical insurance cover provides the opportunity, when you need it, for prompt diagnosis and treatment of serious medical conditions, particularly cancer, including access to expensive chemotherapy drugs which have been

approved by Medsafe – irrespective of whether these are subsidised by PHARMAC or not.

During current difficult financial times, taking up medical insurance may not be an option available to everyone. However, the choice is stark: leave your trust in a failing health system or take responsibility for managing your own health by having the ability to have major diagnostic tests when you require them and have any required surgical and/or medical treatments undertaken quickly.

There are a number of medical insurance providers in the market. An experienced insurance specialist

is able to give you quality advice on the best plan to suit your needs, at a cost that is manageable for you.

It’s what we do!

Theo Simeonidis | UProtectNZ Insurance Services

Theo Simeonidis is a Financial Adviser, living and working in Millwater on the Hibiscus Coast, and specialising in personal and business insurances. Theo can be contacted on 027 248 9320 or email theo@uprotectnz. com. Any assistance is provided on a free, no-obligation basis. A public disclosure statement is available on the www. uprotectnz.com web site.

Bucket List Travel

Have yourself a merry overseas Christmas

Thinking ahead and want to get away for Christmas this year? Here are a few Bucket List Travel ideas to ponder if you are looking to ditch the traditional family Christmas Day celebrations and make some overseas Christmas memories instead.

Forget the crazy shopping and cooking build-up to Christmas. Tell everyone you’re off to tick a few things off your bucket list. Each one of our suggestions offers a unique and unforgettable experience for anyone looking to escape the traditional Christmas celebrations.

Vietnam's Halong Bay is a stunning UNESCO world heritage site, and cruising on a traditional luxury junk would be an excellent way to experience its natural beauty. The peaceful waters of the bay and the fresh seafood cuisine would make for a relaxing, enjoyable and memorable Christmas celebration.

Walking a section of the Great Wall in China on Christmas Day would be an awe-inspiring experience. The Great Wall is one of the world's most iconic landmarks, and being able to witness it on such a special day would make it even more memorable.

Attending midnight mass in Agra and waking up to the Taj Mahal would be a once-in-a-lifetime Christmas experience.

The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful and iconic structures in the world, and spending Christmas in its presence would be truly magical.

What about exploring Kyoto's temples and then taking a bullet train to Hiroshima for a Christmas dinner cruise? What an exciting and unique way to celebrate the holiday. Japan's culture is rich and fascinating, and experiencing it during the holiday season would be an incredible way to make lasting memories.

Finally, spending Christmas Day in Sri Lanka's tea country and taking part in an exclusive tea plantation experience while wearing a traditional silk saree dress would be a beautiful cultural experience you will never forget. The high tea at the colonial-era Grand Hotel would also be a lovely way to end the day.

Give yourself the best Christmas present this year. Pick one of these travel ideas or one of your own and have an experience of a lifetime. If your family complain too much you could even take them with you!

Email us at info@bucketlisttravel.co.nz

City of Tea

Much more than just bubbles

New Zealand is a culturally diverse country where a wide range of cuisine options are available. One of the options gaining popularity here is ‘bubble tea’, or boba tea for short, which is a Taiwanese drink that combines traditional tea with a twist of unique flavour.

City of Tea is a new bubble tea shop with a western fusion located just across from Silverdale Mall. They officially opened on 8 April of this year. Their menu boasts a variety of boba tea flavours including the classic milk tea, fruity and floral options, and toppings such as tapioca pearls, fruit jellies and cheese foam. Despite only being open for a few weeks the friendly and welcoming environment of Silverdale has left a positive impression on the City of Tea staff.

Their diverse menu caters to a broad range of customers, from tea lovers to those who enjoy yogurt and refreshing cold drinks.

With different sweetness levels, topping options, and temperature preferences, boba tea is an inclusive taste for both new and experienced drinkers, and City of Tea's professional and friendly team are always ready to provide recommendations and flavour explanations. For those who haven’t tried boba tea before, they’re also very talented at making recommendations based on a customer’s other drink preferences, to help you find something to suit your taste.

The team at City of Tea are already innovating, with smoothie flavours, yakult options and waffle snow cones soon to be added to their menu. Their vast selection of drinks and upcoming additions offer something for everyone, making it an excellent place to go on a little local adventure, exploring and trying something new. Their most popular drink is the 'Signature Milk Tea,' which has a similar taste to an English breakfast tea with milk, but with a secret recipe twist. The staff recommend trying the tapioca pearls at least once – they add a unique and delicious taste.

More than just a place to get a tasty drink, City of Tea is a new local destination. It is a welcoming and inclusive space where people can come together to enjoy boba tea and relax in a cosy environment. With their extended opening hours – they don’t close until 10pm – they are one of the few establishments in our area available to

satisfy your late-night cravings.

City of Tea sets itself apart with fresh, high quality ingredients, an extensive menu and friendly staff, making it the perfect choice for the next time you’re feeling a bit adventurous and looking for a new drink style to try.

Mortgage Matters

Dressing your address for success

If you’re looking to list your home on the market this autumn, here are a few things to consider to help maximise your property’s potential.

Enhance your street appeal

Making a great first impression is important to help your home stand out to potential buyers. In autumn, consider raking up fallen leaves, trimming hedges and planting seasonal flowers. Make sure your lawn is mowed and the exterior of your home is clean and well-maintained.

Inject warmth and cosiness

Autumn is the perfect time to showcase the warmth and cosiness of your home by bringing the season indoors. Consider adding seasonal decor such as cushions, throws and candles to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Ensure your heating is working properly and your home is wellinsulated. These small touches can make a big difference to how potential buyers perceive your home.

Showcase outdoor spaces

While the weather is cooler in autumn, outdoor living is still a significant part of the Kiwi lifestyle. Consider showcasing outdoor seating or a fire pit to create an outdoor living area that buyers will love.

Use professional marketing

Real estate advertising can make a significant impact to how quickly and effectively your home sells.

Seek trusted mortgage advice before listing

It’s important that you develop a selling and buying budget before you place your biggest asset on the market. Getting a loan pre-approval can take time and, with new Government rules, requires more information. The cornerstone to any sell and buy process is having a pre-approval in place before listing.

For further details or feedback feel free to contact Ivan 027 577 5995 or email ivan.urlich@mikepero.co.nz.

Ivan

Ivan Urlich is a registered Financial Advisor specialising in mortgages. His disclosure statement is available free of charge on request.

Book Reviews

Two sensational historical novels by local authors!

Howling in the Wilderness by

This historical novel follows the story of Henry and Marianne Williams, early settlers, who first arrived in Aotearoa in 1823. They were incredibly brave in choosing to come to New Zealand at that time, a place undeniably hostile and dangerous, especially as they had a young family. Hongi Hika and other Māori were in no mood for these new concepts about peace and forgiveness, and even the white settlers aren’t keen on having missionaries in their midst.

Later in the book, Henry is called on to translate The Treaty of Waitangi at short notice from English to Māori, and the novel writes about this historical time from the missionaries’ point of view, bringing a new dimension to the signing of the Treaty.

Howling in the Wilderness is a superb read, bringing to life Henry and Marianne’s lives, as well as many other historical figures of the time. The author spent almost a decade researching and writing, and she’s created a novel that is an engaging and thought-provoking read.

Mary Egan Publishing, RRP $33.00

To Distant Shores

In August 1843, Captain Richard Cutler is asked to command the newly minted United States steam frigate Suwanee on a mission to the South Seas and the distant shores of New Zealand. Accompanying him on this journey is Anne, his beautiful and resourceful wife of one year, who he finds even more beguiling than the first time he met her at the British embassy. Hailing from a Royal Navy family, she has little hesitation in joining him on this journey.

But neither of them is to know how perilous this voyage will become, if they will even make the far shores of Aotearoa, and if they do, how the local Māori people will react to making their acquaintance.

A seamless blend of history, a page-turning plot and unforgettable characters. To Distant Shores is an unputdownable, entertaining read that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a well-written novel that engages the heart and mind.

McBooks Press, RRP $69.99

North Shore Centre of Mutual Aid (CMA) is a charity that aims to provide inclusiveness and companionship for isolated older people on the North Shore and Hibiscus Coast of Auckland, with local centres on the Hibiscus Coast running on a Wednesday at Red Beach and a Thursday in Stanmore Bay.

During May, North Shore CMA is aiming to raise $5,000 through their Generosity Campaign, to enable them to continue to provide support to their members.

Many of our vulnerable seniors do not have access to their community, increasing the risk of isolation. Loneliness and social isolation in seniors are major risk factors for depression and are also linked to long-term illness, cognitive decline and dementia. Transportation challenges are also a significant barrier to inclusiveness and attendance at events and appointments for those no longer able to drive.

CMA provides a warm and welcoming environment to members by providing friendship centres in their local community. They provide transport to and from their centres and their members enjoy a morning of companionship, gentle mind and

body exercises, games, and most importantly connection and friendship.

They also provide support for families and caregivers and accommodate people in the mild and moderate stages of dementia and other age-related illnesses. This enables them to live with a better quality of life and in their own homes for longer.

Donations made during the Generosity Campaign will go directly towards providing support to local CMA members. Options include $20 supports two – a $20 donation helping to reduce loneliness and isolation for two lovely seniors in our community, and $50

supports five – a $50 donation helping to reduce loneliness and isolation for five lovely seniors in our community. Donation can be made via this link: www.givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/helpus-raise-dollar5k-so-we-can-reduceloneliness.

Kiri Beven, supervisor of the Red Beach centre of CMA, is also looking for any local businesses that might want to support to the Generosity Campaign in May. In return, your company logo will be included in all print media, social media and on the organisation’s webpage. Please contact her at kiri@ cmans.org.nz if this is something your company would like to support.

Cooking Questions with Mark Lane

Your own personal chef

I have been cooking professionally for 38 years, both in New Zealand and internationally. I have my own business, Culinary Lane Catering, based right in Millwater providing three and five course dinners in my clients’ homes, out-catering and grazing tables.

Now you can gain the benefit of my experience by emailing me your cooking questions.

Katie: What are your key tips for making food look better on the plate?

This is really a complex question but here are a couple of ideas. Have a good selection of crockery. Different food colours look better on different coloured and shaped plates. Separate foods on the plate to add dimension, depth, height and colour to your plate. Use large spoons to shape items like mash potato, bowls to mould rice and I like to place sauces in small sauce jugs so the guests can add as much as they want and it makes the plate look cleaner. Look at modern cook books to follow food trends in plating different dishes.

Frances: If you were cooking for a group of 6-8 and you didn’t know their food preferences, what type of menu would you choose?

Nowadays it’s best to find out your guest’s main food preferences such as whether they eat seafood, are vegetarian/vegan or if they have any food allergies or

Firstly, in preparing and cooking crispy filo pastry, make sure the mix you are adding to the filo parcel is quite dry, with no excess moisture as this will affect the base of your filo parcel. Secondly, use plenty of melted butter brushed evenly over each layer of pastry, including the top (I use 3 pieces of filo per parcel). The butter waterproofs the pastry, which makes it crispy. The butter also makes steam while cooking to separate the filo layers from each other. The last one is to use a high oven heat to cook (fan bake at 200-220°C) them and make sure the metal tray has no edges so the heat is evenly distributed around the parcel. Serve straight away to stop them steaming inside and making the pastry soggy.

Mark Lane | Culinary Lane Catering www.culinarylane.co.nz email culinarylane@gmail.com

The pirates are coming

Ah yo-ho-ho, the comedy opera that has been entertaining audiences since 1879 is here. Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance will be sailing into Centrestage this May, chock full of memorable melodies and enough laughs to fill Davey Jones’ locker.

‘I chose Pirates because it’s not often there is an operatic show on the Coast’, says the director, Linda Marais of Ardent Productions. ‘There is so much talent in our community, why not showcase it with one of the most popular operettas ever written?’

This swashbuckling adventure follows the fortunes of Frederic, a young lad who is mistakenly apprenticed to the Pirate King. When Frederic falls for the lovely Mabel, whose father is the very model of a modern Major General, a tempest brews on the sea of love. Will he escape the pirate life or be tied to it forever by an accident of birth?

Full of roving rogues and dazzling damsels in distress, hapless Bobbies and toe-tapping tunes, Pirates is a treasure chest full of mischievous musical mayhem, a topsy-turvy tale of love and duty highlighted by the famous strains of ‘Poor wandering one,’ ‘I am the very model of a modern major-general,’ ‘Oh, is there not one maiden breast’ and more.

The infamous story was inspired by the widespread piracy that affected the whole of the British coastline in the nineteenth century. Many of those pirates were formerly from Her Majesty’s Navy and found themselves out of a job when widespread peace broke out.

The play has been shown for over 140 years, which posed a challenge for Costume Director Miranda Likeman, who dressed the entire company in garments and fabrics sourced entirely from secondhand shops in the area. ‘In most versions the sisters all wear similar looking and pastel colored clothing that can be hard to find,’ she says. ‘So, expect to see a more vibrant and patterned take on Victoriana.’

Musical Director Dragan Atanasov leads a live orchestra in one of Sullivan‘s most boisterous, tuneful scores.

Pirates of Penzance runs from 13 to 20 May at Centrestage.

Book now at https://nz.patronbase. com/_CentreStage/Productions/PP23/ Performances

Please feel free to call Chris on 0223173236.

Do you have any small or big job?. We can provide a quote within 24 hours of inspecting your job. We do renovations, extensions, maintenance, decks, fences and insurance work. We have 20 years plus experience and full liability insurance cover. appealconstructionltd@gmail.com

As the weather gets chillier most of us would prefer to spend our weekends cosied up by the fire (see page 30) instead of working outside, but our gardens still need prep and maintenance during the autumn and winter months. Power products are your best friend for getting those outside chores done faster and easier and getting you back in the warm, cheering on your favourite sports team, bingewatching or spending time with the kids.

An important consideration with power tools is whether to go with a battery/electric option or petrol. Gatman’s have both options across most of their range, so you can choose what suits you best. Petrol options tend to last longer and have more power, while battery and electric options are quieter and more environmentally friendly but may not be quite as powerful or last as long.

Here’s a rundown on power tools you may want to add to your tool shed.

Pole saws: great for trimming tall hedges, climbers and small tree branches.

Hedge trimmers: for trimming and shaping bushes, hedges and cutting back overgrowth.

Chain saws: cut down dead trees, wayward branches or use to cut larger limbs into smaller rounds for firewood.

Mini pruner saw: these are compact and light for more precision power cutting than a chain saw when pruning trees and shrubs – they cut branches up to 100mm.

for clearing autumn leaves and debris – there are lots of different sizes and prices.

Lawn and litter vacuum: rid your patios, driveways, pool areas, decks and fence lines of leaves, litter and debris in no time.

Edgers and trimmers: for keeping all your nooks and crannies tidy.

Brush cutters and wheel trimmer mower: for clearing high grass and weeds on hills and lawns that have gotten out of hand – for commercial and domestic use.

Chippers and shredders: turn your winter pruning and garden waste into mulch and save on waste removal at the same time – lots of sizes and prices are available, with one perfect for domestic use.

be prepared for the next power outage –models available to suit residential and rural requirements.

Water blaster (pressure washer): different sizes for everything from cleaning furniture, patios and garden equipment to vehicles, driveways and stone walls.

We do have a small warning for you though: using power tools will make your outdoor chores so much more fun you may want to stay outside a little bit longer! Check out the range at www.gatmans.co.nz.

Big term one for three local primary schools

Last term may have been a bit shorter than usual, but it was a significant term for three of our local primary schools. At Ahutoetoe School and Nukumea Primary School, they opened their doors for the first time.

Ahutoetoe School principal, Wendy Sandifer, says they had a great start to 2023. The school currently has 67 ‘enthusiastic learners’ and 11 ‘awesome staff’ with a further 35 learners enrolled to join throughout the year. The school also collaborates with six learners and staff from their Wairau Valley Special School hosted unit.

‘Collaboration and connection is the focus for this year. We are proud of the culture we are developing at Ahutoetoe School and we look forward to continuing to Grow the Future together in our purpose-built school.’

Nukumea Primary School also had an exciting first term of existence. ‘We started in February with 11 students and have grown to 15 over this term’ says principal Steve Mouldey. ‘This has resulted in wonderful teacher to student ratios, which means both the learning progress of our students and our relationships with students and their families are flourishing. We are developing an amazing tight-knit community and look forward to seeing our long term buildings finished off and ready for us to move in later this year.’

For Orewa Primary School term one marked the end of an era, with long-serving and much loved principal Diane Lambert retiring at the end of the term. ‘Diane has been our principal for 17 years and a member of Orewa Primary staff for many more,’ says Kerry Gower, presiding member of the Board of Orewa Primary School. ‘She is a greatly respected principal in the wider community and will be sorely missed.’

‘We’ve had a number of celebrations to mark this momentous occasion and one message has been repeated by many – Diane is a person who really cares. She got to know the children and would see the potential in them. She is still as passionate now about children's education as she was when she first started to teach in the 70s. The board would like to acknowledge Diane’s enormous contribution to Orewa Primary School and wish her all the very best for her retirement.’

The temptation of cotton tips

Is it safe to use cotton tips to clean ear wax from your ears? This is a question we get asked frequently at our studio, so we thought it was time to put the record straight.

Ear wax is a natural product that develops in the ear canal and has an important part to play in ear and hearing health. It helps keep the ear hydrated and free from bacteria. However, sometimes our ears produce too much ear wax, or the ear wax gets stuck in the ear canal.

While it may be tempting to use a cotton tip or cotton bud to try to remove wax, there’s good reason not to as it can actually push wax deeper into the ear where it gets stuck. Instead, it’s best to remove excess wax by getting your ears professionally cleaned.

There are two common methods professionals use to clean your ears: microsuctioning and irrigation. Microsuctioning uses a small vacuum to draw wax out of the ear canal, and irrigation uses water to flush wax out of the ear canal.

At Resonate Health, we use an OtoSet™ is an FDA-approved system, to gently flush wax out of the ears using warm water. It is a safe and effective way to remove ear wax and our clinical team are the only people in New Zealand who can provide OtoSet services.

After an in-studio wax-softening treatment, the OtoSet is gently placed over your ears like a pair of headphones. Warm water is then flushed into your ear canals. As the water is drawn out it carries the wax away with it. Each cycle only takes 30 seconds and the cycle can be repeated several times.

If you need to have your ears cleaned, or have any other questions about your ear and hearing health, feel free to drop in to our Resonate Silverdale Studio or visit our website.

The OtoSet system is FDA-approved to safely clean your ears.

www.resonatehealth.co.nz

Downsize your home and upsize your lifestyle

Downsizing from a house to a retirement village can create space for a larger, fuller life.

The often-mammoth task of sorting through possessions and the emotions that come with throwing out or giving away nostalgic items can prompt people to put off the move or delay it for a rainy day. However, some people jump at the chance and view it as a fresh opportunity to flourish within a new lifestyle, and to ‘spring clean’ their life.

Jan Fisher, a sales agent at The Botanic, shared some tips on making the process of downsizing your belongings a lot more manageable.

‘Break it down into realistic chunks instead of aiming to do it all in one weekend. Maybe consider giving some of your less sentimental items to a charity.’

The Botanic is a modern resort-style retirement village which has been designed to offer its residents a rich lifestyle within a vibrant community, surrounded by nature.

The villas and apartments are perfect for ‘right-sizing’ and when complete, the village will provide a full continuum of care including a rest home, hospital level care, and a specialised memory care centre. Moving from one’s home into such an inviting and feature-rich environment makes the decision to move a lot easier.

Construction began on The Botanic Silverdale in 2020 and

it’s been full steam ahead ever since. The village is designed for young-at-heart retirees who want to get the most out of their golden years.

A fantastic range of amenities will open later this year. Highlights include a light-filled clubhouse, bar, cafe, and a wellness centre equipped with a 20m swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

Phase One sold out quickly and Phase Two two-bedroom villas will be ready to move into later this month. They include two bathrooms, a single garage, a walk-in wardrobe and generous outdoor living areas with patios and gardens, or a balcony. The brand-new villas are priced from $1.125m, and there is a onebedroom villa available for $820k.

Sales Agent Michelle Pipping, who is also a Millwater resident, says the apartments have seen a lot of interest from younger retirees.

‘Resort-style retirement living is less about age and more about lifestyle. Downsizing to an apartment means people don’t have to worry about maintenance, and they can enjoy a ‘lock up and leave’ lifestyle, and head off on that holiday they’ve always dreamed of.’

Find out more by popping along to The Botanic Silverdale (open Mon to Sat 11am to 3pm), visit thebotanic.co.nz or call 0508 268 264.

COME SEE WHY THOUSANDS TRUST US! HEARING PROBLEMS?

When it comes to problems with your ears, it’s great to know you are in safe hands. Hear Again have been delighting Hibiscus Coast residents for over 7 years at their inviting Whangaparaoa Coast Plaza clinic.

With a dedicated ear wax removal suite, FREE initial hearing tests, and access to the world’s leading hearing aid manufacturers, Give your ears a treat today!

Self-care and handling of contact lenses

Have you been considering alternative vision correction options?

Contact lenses are an increasingly popular choice for people of all ages. They offer freedom from the constraints of wearing glasses every day, often making sports or hobbies easier.

Modern advancements in contact lens materials and designs allow those who may have struggled previously in wearing contact lenses to try new options. They can help with your close (reading) vision if necessary, too.

Contact lenses can be a realistic alternative to refractive surgery. Here at Orewa Optics, we proudly supply a wide range of contact lenses from the popular daily disposable to fortnightly, monthly, extended wear, permanent or gas-permeable (RGP) and Ortho-K contact lens for myopia control.

Here are a few tips and tricks for handling your contact lenses.

• Your hands should be washed and thoroughly rinsed before handling contact lenses.

• A soap that is free of oils, lotions or perfumes is recommended.

• Your hands should be dried with a lint-free towel.

• Use your finger tips to handle lenses (avoid finger nails and sharp objects).

• Always check to ensure your lens is clean and damage-free.

• Never wear contact lenses longer than the recommended time to prevent infection and harm to your eyes.

• Never share your contact lenses with anyone else as this hugely increases eye-infections.

If contact lenses are right for you and your lifestyle, our highly trained and friendly staff at Orewa Optics are always on hand to help.

Our team can answer any eye care and eye wear questions you have and provide knowledgeable advice around the best type of contact lenses or optical lenses that will best suit your lifestyle.

If you love wearing glasses as much as we do or want to swap between glasses and contact lenses, we have a stunning range of new season frames in store, perfect for complementing your summer wardrobe.

We can’t wait to see you! Visit us at 10 Bakehouse Lane, Orewa.

Orewa Optics

The Green Spot

A blooming waste

Most of us will, at some stage, have brought joy to a loved one with a beautiful bunch of cut flowers, and may even have them planned as a gift this Mother’s Day. Being sourced from nature it can be hard to reconcile this gift as harmful to the environment, but unfortunately there are issues we need to consider.

A major problem in the floristry industry is the use of chemicals in the stages of growing, storing and transporting. These pesticides can contaminate soil and water sources, harming ecosystems and wildlife, including our precious bees. They can also be dangerous for humans, especially those working in agricultural settings.

Another, more obvious concern is the excess packaging and accessories. Many are wrapped in plastic and even those wrapped in paper at their retail outlet may have had individual components wrapped in plastic at the warehouse. The floral foam, used as a base and water source in many floral arrangements, is a single-use plastic bound for landfill. Worse than that, they are often improperly disposed of, causing tiny particles of plastic to enter our waterways. Add to this the waste of multiple ribbons and trims, and even foil balloons and soft toys.

There is also the mileage to contemplate on flowers that aren’t locally grown and are transported around the country.

If you want to buy flowers this Mother’s Day, or for any other celebration, you can use your purchase power by insisting on locally grown flowers and promote biodiversity by requesting a variety of flora and foliage rather than relying on a few popular varieties. Choose bouquets without plastic or single use accessories and support florists who maintain sustainable practices, the number of which is thankfully growing.

Recycle packaging where possible and compost organic matter or consider drying your flowers for long term appreciation. Unfortunately, purchasing dried flowers may not be a moreeco-friendly option as the chemical processes commercially dried flowers go through can be just as harmful. However, buying your mama a potted plant or planting some bee friendly blooms in her garden may earn you golden child status whilst also caring

Our success is built on providing the best quality vision care in the Hibiscus Coast.

We stand by our products and services with integrity and proudly care for our community.

Our friendly team is ready to provide you with professional advice and the best eyewear to suit your needs. Come and see us today!

Nutrition Sense

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Abdominal cramps, lower abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, heartburn, a noisy abdomen (fun fact: these noises are called borborygmi), constipation and/ or diarrhoea, incomplete evacuation of the stool, mucus and tiredness can be symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

For a proper diagnosis, these symptoms must have been present for at least six months and any other medical conditions ruled out. While the symptoms are uncomfortable and unpleasant, it is not a disease and it does not cause any long term damage.

It has been estimated that IBS affects 15-20% of the New Zealand population. It tends to start before the age of 45 and occurs twice as often in women than it does in men, which indicates it may have a hormone component. It is also known as spastic colon, functional bowel syndrome and irritable colon.

No definite cause has been determined yet, however, stress and certain foods do make symptoms worse. Many of the associated complaints can be addressed with diet and lifestyle changes. Research by the Monash University in Australia has

shown that a low FODMAP diet has been found to reduce symptoms in 70% of IBS cases. FODMAPs are fermentable carbohydrates found in certain foods. They provide food for bacteria in the gut, which causes gas and also causes more fluid to be drawn into the bowels causing distention, pain and discomfort.

If you are struggling with these symptoms and have had other medical conditions ruled out, a low FODMAP diet may work for you and reduce the need for drugs to control symptoms. If you would like help with following the low FODMAP diet and other lifestyle strategies that may help improve or eliminate your symptoms, e-mail me at paula@nutritionsense.co.nz for an appointment.

I can also help with creating a more nutritious way of eating, guidance for healthy weight loss and food allergy specific diets.

Paula Southworth | Registered Nutritionist at NutritionSense www.nutritionsense.co.nz

(BSc Human Nutrition and Sports Science, Massey University) Member of the Nutrition Society of New Zealand

Fire safety this winter

Recently, members of the Silverdale and Puhoi brigades spent an evening in Johnstone’s Tunnel helping to check the outlets and various sectors for fire safety. It was interesting seeing how prepared Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency are in case of an accident and/or vehicle fire inside the tunnel.

As the temperature drops every winter, Emergency New Zealand responds to more and more house fires. The majority of these are caused by, or related to, the increased heat sources in winter, such as heaters, chimneys, ash disposal, electric blankets and dryers. Here are a few key messages for everyone to remember.

1. Close before you doze: There is a dramatic reduction in the spreading of a fire in a dwelling where the doors are closed. Check out this video to see the eye-opening difference it makes if you close doors to restrict the spread of fire in a home: https://fsri.org/programs/ close-before-you-doze.

2. Check the heat before you sleep: Check your heaters, fires and electric blankets for hot spots. Switch them to high for 15 minutes before turning them off. Run your hands carefully all over, checking for areas that are still particularly hot. It is also really important that you turn all blankets off before going to sleep. Another thing to be mindful of is that all heaters and electric blankets are plugged directly into a wall socket, not through multi plugs.

3. Chimney alright before first light? Get your chimney cleaned before lighting the first fire of the winter season. Unseen debris in your chimney is a fire waiting to happen –the fire service is called out to chimney fires every winter. Make sure it is well cleaned and clear of anything that could catch alight and cause a larger house fire.

4. A metre from the heater: It’s tempting to hang winter laundry near a heater, but unless it’s a metre away, your clothes are a fire waiting to happen. This includes any clothes drying, bedding, or furniture.

5. See a fire before it starts: Have you considered installing a heat alarm in your laundry, as well as a smoke alarm? We get a number of calls to clothes dryers where a build-up of lint has overheated, dryers that have been overloaded and dryers that do not have enough ventilation around them.

6. Smoke alarms: Did you know that you lose your sense of smell when you’re asleep? Don’t assume your smoke alarm is working, press the button to check.

SILVERDALE FIRE STATION STATISTICS THIS YEAR TO DATE INCLUDE:

• 469 callouts

• 98 fires (including structures and small fires)

• 43 motor vehicle accidents

• 89 medicals

• 239 false alarms and all other calls

Now that cooler weather is upon us there are some key fire safety messages to remember.

The world has opened up again and many people are taking advantage by travelling overseas, some for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Did you know that if you get injured while you are overseas you can make an ACC claim for support? Your GP or medical practitioner can help you claim the support. Depending on the nature of your accident or injury, you may be entitled to receive treatment, ongoing assistance and financial help under ACC. ACC may cover x-rays, surgery, counselling, home help, compensation for loss of income if you are unable to work and a range of other supports.

For more information and relevant links, visit https://www.cab.org.nz/article/KB00040377

The Citizens Advice Bureau is here to help with free, independent information and advice, in person or over the phone.

Feel free to contact us for more info. Our volunteerswill be happy to help you find what you need. Please check the CAB website for our current operating hours. If you could also take a moment to help stop our funding being cut so we can keep providing our much-needed services, please sign our petition. #SaveAucklandCABs #CitizensAdvice #SignNow #CitizensAdviceBureau

The Fishing Spot

Autumn fishing is in full swing now and the fish are feeding hard, putting on weight before the winter months. We’ve also been lucky enough to see some great weather windows allowing us to get out both midweek and on weekends.

I’ve been fishing up in the Bay of Islands and back here at home over the last few weeks. Interestingly the fish have behaved the same way in each area. Fishing the deeper water with sliders and slow jigs has produced fish with a smaller average size while fishing the shallows has been more productive. The fish are in the bays and estuaries feeding on anchovies and shellfish. This theory is easily verified by checking the contents of the big fish I’ve been catching lately.

The water is still around 20 degrees, which is still quite warm, and the fish are biting best when the light changes. I was once told that fish are like us, they eat at certain times of the day when they’re hungry, so breakfast and dinner time are sure bets for landing fish.

This month I was fortunate enough to catch my third 20+ pound snapper (along with an 11 pounder) fishing locally around Kawau in 20m of water. This is my second 20 pounder in the same spot and a mate has caught one with me at the same location too. They’re still out there!

There’s no secret to my formula. I was using fresh kahawai for bait, it was the last of the outgoing tide and the sun had just gone down. This is when the magic happens. Fresh solid baits last longer on your hook and the trick is to be patient and let the fish swallow the bait. Don’t strike too early. Use big hooks. I was using 7/0 and 8/0 ‘J’ hooks as I find the circle hooks too hard to set in the fish’s mouth.

We still have another two months of good fishing before winter sets in. Get out of bed early and chase the rising sun or leave work early and catch the sunset! Tight lines.

Need help finding good employees?

Have you considered running an employment advert for your ideal employee that talks about how good your brand and purpose are, how you employ the best people and how much you value them?

Here’s an example of how to sell driving for a scrap metal yard as a great job: ‘Are you a great HT Class 2 driver and want to work locally and be rewarded well for the job you do? Saving metal is important and so are our staff to us…’. This will build your brand while standing out to some of the best likely candidates. That’s ticking two boxes at once.

Consider local radio for your advert. You might be surprised how affordable this can be. And if you alternate between 15 and 30 second spots you can also add an offer to half your adverts for even greater success. Something like, ‘We’ll give you cash for your written off flood damaged fridge’, for example. You could also run this in a local magazine or paper with the headline ‘Saving heavy metal’, for a bit of fun. It’s going to make people look.

When business gets tight it is time to look at the way you are spending. Cutting back on your advertising will only leave you sitting on your hands when people are ready to spend. Running dual purpose adverts is not only a creative way to promote your business, it means you’ll still have exposure and likely be in the right place at the right time when someone is looking for you.

Local employment related resources

businesswhangaparaoa.co.nz You can contact as a member and they’ll run your advert for you across their social channels.

silverdalebusiness.co.nz Have a free local jobs section in their website.

orewabeach.co.nz

Inwork.co.nz

Connect employees with employers when the need arises.

Connecting skilled labour returning to the workforce. If you have a business and you’re looking for staff, reach out to them. They’ll help you find someone – and it’s free.

Other employment related resources

Over 16,000 jobs inWhangaparaoa. trademe.co.nz

nzjora.com

20,000 jobs in NZ, 30,000 job hunters per month seek.co.nz

Helpful job ad creator employment.govt.nz

They go into detail about HR related matters, including sample letters and templates you can download for free.

| Cert

Typography

Chris is Chairman of Business Whangaparaoa and is a mentor with Business Mentors. Design, Print, Sign, Web – tools and advice to help you grow your business bigger or better. Chris@allbrand.co.nz

Key questions to ask before signing a commercial lease

Signing a commercial lease is a significant investment in your business, which is why it is so important to understand what you are signing up to. Here are a few key questions to consider before entering a commercial lease.

1. Who will be your landlord/property manager?

It is important to know who your landlord and property manager are as this will have an impact on your experience as a tenant. Will your landlord be an independent person or a company? What is their reputation in the market like? Are they experienced? Did the previous tenants have a good relationship with them? Is there a property manager? Who are they? What is their reputation like?

2. Are you able to modify the space?

Think about what you want to use the space for and whether you are able to adequately modify it to fulfil those needs. Some buildings may not be able to be modified and/or you may need to renegotiate your lease terms to allow particular modifications. It is important to discuss this with your landlord so you are on the same page. Who will cover the costs of modification? Will you have to reinstate when you leave?

3. What are the operational costs and other outgoings? Operating costs and outgoings are particularly important to think about for a commercial lease. You will likely have to pay rent, GST and outgoings. You may also need to pay other costs, such as maintaining common areas, council rates and/or body corporate fees. You should make sure you are not made responsible for any fees that the landlord should incur.

4. Do you understand the terms in the lease?

It is crucial that you fully understand the terms in the lease before signing it. The best way to ensure you understand and are satisfied with your lease is to seek professional advice. Our team are happy to help you through the commercial leasing process. You can contact us at office@simpsonwesternnorth. co.nz or call us on 09 421 0559.

Finally, be wary of Agreements to Lease. These are leases like any other and could commit you without you realising.

Morgan Sharp | Solicitor, Simpson Western North

Note: This article is published for general information purposes and should not be relied upon as legal advice. For advice specific to your legal issues, please engage a lawyer directly.

Silverdale & Districts Historical Society (Inc) & Silverdale Pioneer Village

The Pioneer Village remains open every weekend from 10am to 3pm, although two of our houses, The Old Parsonage and the Neville Homestead, will be closed for repiling, which starts this month.

The good news is that the Treats and Treasures Craft Shop will continue to operate and has been moved from the Old Parsonage to the Frith Cottage, which is adjacent to our Wainui Road carpark.

We can still offer visitors hand crafted and upcycled items, homemade jams, chutneys and relishes as well as gift items, and toys and books for children.

Our gardens and grounds and other buildings will be open as normal every weekend and we can still take your bookings for special occasions and group visits during the week.

CONTACT US

email: pioneervillage1968@gmail.com | www.silverdalepioneervillage.com

P.O. Box 27 Orewa 0946 | Ph: (09) 426 8272 . 12 Wainui Road, Silverdale

3 Brian Smith Drive, Silverdale | 09 688 2068

OPENING HOURS

Monday to Friday 7:30 AM - 4 PM

Saturday to Sunday 8 AM - 3 PM

silverdale@claragroup.co.nz www.claragroup.co.nz

@ClaraCafeSilverdale

@ClaraCafeSilverdale

Central’s Tips

May 2023

The fruit and vegetable garden

• Worms don’t tolerate cold in winter –place an old rug or piece of carpet over the top of the worm farm to insulate them

• As the weather cools planting seedlings rather than trying to germinate seed is more successful. Plant brightly coloured chard, cabbages, sprouting broccoli and cauliflower. Successive plantings (a month apart) allow a good supply of the vegetable crops that have become so expensive of late

• Strawberry plants are coming: prepare strawberry beds in the garden or pots with plenty of Garden Mix, sheep pellets and keep pea straw handy. If the garden soil has a lot of clay, gypsum will help break it down

• Calendulas (winter marigolds) flower in the cool weather and add colour to the vegetable garden. The edible flowers look yummy in winter salads

• Winter stocks, casseroles and soups can be flavoured with herbs that take you through the cold season – hardy bay leaves, rosemary, thyme and sage are great to harvest in winter

• Olive trees that have been stripped of olives (by the keen gardener or the wily birds) should be given a dressing of garden lime before winter

Steering your life in the direction you want to go

I recently discovered my car required a wheel alignment. Unknowingly I had been holding the steering wheel with escalating force to compensate for the car pulling to the left whilst driving. Thankfully, when a friend was in the driver’s seat I was alerted to the problem.

Sometimes we are aware that our life is not running smoothly and will attempt a quick solution. We may need help to identify the misalignment that is making it more difficult for us to steer our life with ease.

Alignment is defined as the proper positioning or state of adjustment of parts in relation to each other.

My mechanical knowledge is limited, but with the help of my friend, Google, I learned that to achieve optimal wheel alignment the mechanic must consider the material fatigue points. Any adjustment required is to the vehicle's suspension – the internal system that connects a vehicle to its wheels. There is no adjustment of the tyres or wheels themselves.

When a client talks to me about an issue they want resolved I will ask questions to identify if there is a misalignment in the

The rest of the garden

• Houseplants – time to reduce the amount of water that you give indoor plants. Most won’t need fertilising until September. Keep the leaves free of dust to maintain health

• Tidy up dying foliage and flowers from dahlias, geraniums, hostas and other summer flowering perennials. Place small white marker sticks with the plant name in weatherproof ink beside the crowns of plants that die down completely, so they are not disturbed over winter

• Get hardy annuals in for colourful winter flowers. Polyanthus, poppies, primulas and cyclamen are all good to plant now

• Loving the autumn colour on deciduous trees? Be sure to rake dead leaves off the lawn to allow light to penetrate, otherwise the lawn will die off

• Housework for NZ plants – remove spent leaves and old flower stalks from flaxes; rake dead grass out of native grasses to rejuvenate them, apply snail bait to renga renga lilies

• Remove the coarse, older leaves of winter flowering hellebores (winter roses). This helps bring light to the crowns where the buds are forming and gives a better display during their peak winter flowering period

‘proper positioning of parts of their lives in relation to other parts’.

What are your fatigue points? Where can you be more internally aligned so you can steer yourself in the direction you want to go more comfortably?

Are you in need of a realignment to achieve a well-balanced life?

Art Speak

Art to do and to view

With May comes the start of term two and we have a whole lot of classes and exhibitions for you to experience. There are plenty of new creative art classes for you to try. We have some very exciting oneoff workshops; try out the two-day pastel workshop with acclaimed pastel artists duo Michael and Julie Freeman. In this workshop, called ‘Birds of a Feather’, you will learn how to tackle feathers. The workshop runs on Saturday, 10 June and Sunday, 11 June.

Our newest tutor is Rachel Murphy, who will be running a one-day workshop in May. Create a beautiful and striking 24 carat gold Ginkgo leaf, framed with your choice of green or black background. For aspiring weavers out there Bernadette Ross will be running two one-day workshops teaching the art of flax weaving on Saturday 15 and Sun 16 July. In June the Ukranian volunteer community will be running a ‘Vinok’ workshop, which is a traditional flower wreath worn on the head. All of our weekly term classes can be viewed online at www.estuaryarts.org or you can pop into the centre and pick up a copy of our programme.

In the galleries we have a range of exciting new shows to view. Xabilities is back in Gallery One and Two to showcase their second ‘Autistic Expression’ exhibition of artwork created by neurodiverse people. Neurodiversity is a term used to describe neurological differences in the human brain. In other words, we are all wired differently, and our natural differences can have a direct impact on how we think and learn. This exhibition celebrates these differences and helps neurotypical people understand the working of a neurodiverse brain.

In Gallery Three view the work of Andrea Hammond and in the Foyer, Valerie Cuthbert explores the plight of our native birds in her exhibition ‘Song of Islands’. This exhibition looks back, to the birds we have lost, forward to those we could loose and celebrates those we still have. It is all thanks to islands like Tiritiri Matangi, Codfish, Red Mercury and Little Mangere, and the conservationists whose ideas started it all. The upstairs members gallery will change over to showcase a whole new set of members work.

Estuary Arts can cater for corporate team building events too. What a great way to bond over a spinning potter’s wheel or getting messy with paint and a palette knife. We also welcome school groups who would like to come and experience a clay day or a printing day.

open Monday to Thursday 9am to 4pm, Fridays 9am to 3pm and weekends 10am to 2pm.

To contact a staff member phone 09 4265570 or email admin@ estuaryarts.org.

A moment for mums Family Corner

My sister and I often reminisce about a particular wet Sunday afternoon when we were growing up and our mum was bustling around the house desperately looking for something of extreme importance. She’d made her way into the dining room and was rummaging through the back of a drawer in the buffet cabinet when she looked up at us, hair awry, eyes wide open and a massive smile on her face. ‘I found it, I FOUND IT!,’ she exclaimed, proudly holding up the item she had been searching for – a single bent knitting needle.

My sister and I burst into laughter and teased our poor mum by assuring each other that such behaviour probably wasn’t hereditary. We’ve just hit 30 years without her so memories like these are very precious to us. She was hard working, intelligent and kind, and always tried to be the best Mum she could be.

With Mother’s Day coming up this month, we’ll be thinking of her even more than usual, and in celebration of mums everywhere, those being mums and those who have been mums, I asked a few other Coasties to share some words about their own ‘Mum’ and what she means to them.

‘Even though my mum is on the other side of the world we speak pretty much every day via FaceTime or WhatsApp and I think I’m actually closer to her because of this. She’s one in a million.’

‘My mum is the best. She lives just across the road and she shows up to the kids’ events all the time and helps us out with minding the kids when we need it. She is my rock.’

‘My mum is kind and caring and lots of fun.’

‘Mum had me and my brother super young and she made some choices that weren’t that great along the way but now I’m older we are closer and she never gave up. She’ll always be my mum.’

‘I had a mum and a birth mum who I found. They’ve both passed now but they both played a part in who I am in different ways and I am grateful to both of them for the hard choices they made and that they both loved me in their own way.’

‘Our mum does her job and looks after us and gives us hugs and veges because she loves us.’

Beauty Aspects

Here are some of the benefits of pregnancy massage.

Reduction of stress hormone: Massage reduces the release and levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. It increases the blood serum levels of dopamine and serotonin which relieves the feeling of low mood and depression.

Reduction of swelling: Massage strengthens your circulation and lymphatic system, enhancing the removal of tissue waste such as fluid collection around swollen joints.

Improvement of nerve pain: Sciatic nerve pain can be caused when the uterus gets heavier during pregnancy, putting pressure on the muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. This causes sciatica pain to spread to the muscles of the upper and lower legs. Massage will help address the inflamed nerves by releasing the tight muscles.

Reducing back pain: Lower back pain can be present during pregnancy due to natural weight gain and the postural changes shifting the centre of gravity. Combined with regular exercise such as yoga, massage can release the pain by relaxing tight muscles.

Enhanced breathing: Massage increases relaxation and therefore deepens your breathing naturally. This boosts the f low of oxygen supply to mum and bubs.

The benefits of pregnancy massage

Massage can play an important role in a woman’s transition to motherhood. Long before the medicalisation of the birthing process in the 1700s, ancient civilisations around the world used massage as a tool to enhance the prenatal and labour experience.

Birthing was a domestic event that usually took place with the help of experienced birthing women who would use massage to address issues with positioning of the babies, stress and to speed labour up.

Today there is a wealth of evidence-based research on the amazing benefits of prenatal massage. Studies show that relaxation massage goes beyond being a treat – it improves pregnancy and labour outcomes.

Note that there are certain times during pregnancy when massage should be avoided, and these include:

• during bouts of extreme nausea, vomiting or morning sickness

• if you have had multiple miscarriages happen in the first trimester

• during high risk pregnancies such as placenta abruptions or preterm labour

• when gestational diabetes is present

• any warning signs of pre-eclampsia

• thrombosis

Having a pregnancy massage allows a mum-to-be to enjoy a beneficial treatment in a peaceful space where worries can be reduced by simply enjoying a relaxing mind and body session with amazing benefits for both mum and bub.

This space is available for Advertising

Home automation was once considered complicated and expensive, but nowadays it is becoming more and more popular. The technology has advanced, the terminology has evolved into ‘smart home’ and now, in modern builds, all that affordable convenience is just a touch away. Maddren Homes spoke with Robert Knight, from Schneider Electric, to learn more.

M: Can you explain what a smart home is? I’m sure it’s far more than just switching the lights on and off?

R: In a nutshell, it is the ability to control different elements of your home from a smartphone. The level of control depends on a number of factors, such as the house size, the budget, and the client’s requirements and expectations. There are three main reasons why homeowners want to have a smart system: safety, security and convenience.

M: Does that mean it’s possible to customise a smart home to suit the lifestyle of the homeowner?

R: Absolutely. The days of having cables with limited options are long gone. The PDL Wiser Smart Home system provides solutions that can cover many different aspects of the house. Basically, Wiser can be installed on almost everything in the home and controlled by an app. Besides lights it can control things such as your heat pump, alarm and sound system –and those are just a few examples. The options and combinations are endless. This is a cost-effective system that’s easy to install and can be adjusted as needs change.

M: How does the homeowner make the right choices, to suit their requirements and expectations?

R: We have a Vision Studio in Auckland (and one in Christchurch) set up as onebedroom apartments running a smart home system. Customers can come

in and experience all sorts of features and decide which ones will work best for them. Consultants such as myself are there to guide them through and make them aware of options. We also offer digital consultation, which is very handy. There is no need to set up the whole house initially. Most things can be retrofitted by the homeowner. Some may like to start by automating the main living area during the build process and extend the system to the rest of the house at a later stage.

For more information, including details of the most popular smart home features, check out www.maddrenhomes.co.nz/ maddren-blog and www.pdl.co.nz/ wiser.

Everything is a touch away

What's on

at Orewa Library

SPECIAL EVENTS

Monthly

Seed Savers: Wednesday, 17 May from 10.30 to 11.30am

Ōrewa Writers: Saturday, 20 May from 1.15pm to 3pm

Book Chat: Wednesday, 3rd May, 10:30am

Fortnightly

Cross Stitch: Restarting Tuesday, 23 May from 1pm to 2pm

Hibiscus Coast Embroiderers Guild: Sunday, 7 and 21 May from 1pm to 3pm

Weekly children’s programmes

Rhyme time: Tuesdays at 11am (for 18 months to 3-year-olds)

Wriggle & Rhyme: Wednesdays (term time only) at 11am (for 0 to 2-year-olds)

Author talk: Lesley Dixon – Albany Memorial Library Tuesday 2 May at 1.30pm

Lesley will share information about the creation of her book and the journey it took her on. The history of the Memorial Library – which turned 100 in 2022 – and her discovery of the stories of the men who went to war, from the Albany/ DairyFlat area, who are memorialised in the book.

Stepping up: Learn how to set up and use an email account.

Wednesday, 17 May from 1pm to 3pm

Register on the Stepping up site https:// steppingup.nz.

Select ‘Join a Class’ then open ‘Class locations’ and look for Orewa Library under ‘All locations’. Register for this class by clicking on the ‘View upcoming’ tab to book.

Storytime: Thursdays at 11am (for 3 to 5-year-olds)

Weekly adult programmes

BrainFit: Thursdays from 11.30am to 12.30pm

Craft group: Knitting, Thursdays at 9:30am

Te Reo Māori conversation: Sundays from 10am to 11am

What's On Hibiscus Coast

Hibiscus Coast Scottish Country Dance Club • Every Weds Silverdale Hall • 7:00pm

St Chad Market • 1st Sat of every month 8am to noon • 117 Centreway Rd, Orewa Stalls $15 & tables if required ($5) • For bookings call Grant 021 0830 7743 or email chadorewa@gmail.com. • Held inside if raining

Millwater parkrun • Every Sat 8am • See www.parkrun.co.nz/millwater for more details

Rotary Club of Orewa-Millwater • 1st & 3rd Tues of every month 7pm at The Wade Tavern, 2 Tavern Rd, Silverdale • Contact Secretary orc.secretary@outlook.com

Hibiscus Coast Mid-Week Badminton Club • Every Weds 9am-noon

• All welcome Orewa Badminton Hall, Victor Eaves Park • 021 0870 8118

Hibiscus Coast Artists Group • Meet on Mondays 9.30 - 1, at Stanmore Bay Community Hall, Whangaparoa • All Welcome

• ContactShana 021 650 184

Ukelele Classes • Every Thurs • St Andrew’s Church Hall at 107 Centreway Dr • 1pm - 2:15pm • Beginners to Intermediates • $15 includes music Call Avon Hansen-Beadle 021 421 109 or 09 4766361.

HBC Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren support group 1st Weds of each month • 11am - 2:00pm • Red Beach Methodist Church

• Free group offering support, friendship, guest speakers and lunch Contact Donna 021 024 30064

Ladies Crafts Group • Every school term Tuesday • Orewa Community Church • 235 Hibiscus Coast H’way, Orewa 9am - 12pm $2 for morning tea & craft • creche provided

Arts Group • Every school term Friday • Orewa Community Church 235

Hibiscus Coast H’way, Orewa 9am - 1pm • $2 includes morning tea suitable for beginners • contact Alan 021 039 7155

Hibiscus Coast Rock & Roll • Every Tues • Whangaparaoa Hall 7pm lessons • 8pm general dancing • Wear soft sole flat shoes

Further info on our website & Facebook.

Join Hibiscus Coast Concert Band • Every 2nd Thurs • All ages & abilities welcome • See our website hccb.org.nz • Call 021 186 4599

HBC Senior Citizens Assn. Inc. meet for Indoor Bowls & cards

Every Tues & Thurs • (500) in the Orewa Community Hall from 12-4pm. Membership $5 a year • Entry $2, includes afternoon tea • Contact Val Lincoln 09 9638242

Silverdale Village Market • Every Sat 8am -1pm, Silverdale St

Silverdale & District Historical Society Coffee Morning • 3rd Tues of each month • 10:30am The Old Parsonage Silverdale Pioneer Village

Bring your items of historic interest to discuss over coffee • Free entry pioneervillage1968@gmail.com

Dance Fitness Class • Every Tues/Thurs evening 7-8pm Kingsway Jnr Campus • First class FREE, then $10 per session concession cards available Contact Richard 021 504084

Whangaparaoa Indoor Bowls Club • Whangaparaoa School Hall Mon 7pm • all ages, beginners welcome and coaching provided • Maurice 027 392 0541 and Owen 021 264 9192

Silverdale Ballroom Studio • Every Thurs evening • Silverdale Hall at 7pm • Adult & Improvers classes for beginners & social dancers

Contact 09 427 5542 for further information

Kiwi Club • 4th Sun of each month • Social Dance 5-8pm All welcome Silverdale Hall

Lunchtime Toastmasters • Every Fri • 1:00 - 2:00pm • Orewa Library Evening Toastmasters • Meets fortnightly Thurs http://orewa.toastmastersclubs.org/

Hibiscus Coast Embroidery Guild • 2nd Weds 7-9pm & 4th Thurs

10am - Noon • Hibiscus Coast Community House • Josie Slack Contact Hibiscus Embroidery2022@gmail.com

Puhoi Celtic Sessions • Every 2nd Thursday • Orewa North Primary School • A sing-around/play-around event where everyone can join in. Contact Alan alanthewag@outlook.com

Hibiscus Coast Stamp Club • Meets 2pm on 3rd Saturday every month at 22 Settlers Grove, Orewa. Interesting Speakers. A great hobby of endless interest and variety. Don’t know where to start –come along. ALL WELCOME. • Ph Derek 09 427 8911

Hibiscus Petanque Club • Every Tues & Weds 9am - 12 & Sun from 1pm • 214 Hibiscus Coast Highway • New players always welcome, free coaching available . Ph Colleen on 021 1774820

Heartbeats Cardiac Survivors Support Group • 1st Tues of every month 10am at HBC Community House • Open to all heart event survivors & their families & all cultures • Information, education & support with guest speakers • Contact Trent Lash on 0220 606 199

Suicide Bereavement Support – Empathy Group • Last Mon of every month except Dec • 7pm to 9pm, HBC Community House • Support & understanding for anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide, all welcome at any meeting • Contact Susan 021 884 162 or PM us on Facebook (Empathy support group)

Red Beach Combined Club • Meets 3rd Wed of every month

•Orewa Presbyterian Church, 107 Centreway Rd, Orewa, 10am-12pm. •Friendship Club is a club for seniors, both men and women.

• Morning tea, conviviality, guest speakers and outings. •Phone Colleen 021 112 3409

Line Dancing • Traditional & modern music • Silverdale Hall • Friday 2 - 3.30 pm. No partners needed. Very friendly group. Ruby 0274999209

Line Dance Classes • beginners class Weds 10am - midday at Silverdale Hall • great way to exercise to music and make friends

• Sue 021 99 1717

10 pin Bowling for Seniors at Whangaparaoa Bowling Centre, Arkles Bay.We are looking for senior players to join our club for league games on Mon and Fri at 10 am • Lots of fun and advice • Brett 0210530905

Orewa Garden Club • Meet 2nd Thursday of month • February

– November 12.30 – 3.00 pm

• Meeting venue: St John’s Catholic Church Hall 180 Centreway Road, Orewa • Visitors welcome orewagardenclub@outlook.co.nz • Valma (Sec.) 021 0634852

Hibiscus Coast Country Music Club • 1st Sunday each month Orewa Community Centre 1 to 4pm • Entry $5.00 • Everyone welcome Contact Janet 0212367094

Hibiscus Coast Quilters • . 1st Tues of the month at 9.30am & 3rd Weds at 7.30pm • Whangaparaoa Community Hall • Beginners, experienced quilters & visitors welcome • Jill 0211890866

Local Recipes

Prawn, calamari and tomato Thai laksa with soba noodles (4 portions)

Ingredients

10ml sesame oil and 45ml canola oil

2 red onions, finely diced

1 stick of lemon grass

3 kaffir lime leaves

50g fresh peeled ginger bulb

30g fresh garlic, finely chopped

20g coriander stalk, chopped

10g mint and basil leaves

500g tomatoes, peeled and chopped

50g red Thai curry paste

50g palm sugar

2ltr fresh chicken stock or powdered vegetable stock (Vegeta)

Fish sauce to flavour

400ml coconut cream

12 prawn cutlets (26/30)

tail removed and thawed

2-3 whole squid tubes

200g soba noodles

5ml sesame oil (extra)

Salt

Method

Laska: In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan on medium heat, add sesame oil and 30ml canola oil. When hot add garlic, red onions and sweat till soft. Add ginger, mint leaves, basil and coriander stalks, and kaffir lime leaves. Sauté until soft (5 minutes). Add red Thai curry paste and sweat for another 2-3 minutes. Add tomatoes, palm sugar and stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer slowly for around an hour. Blend with a stick blender. Add coconut cream and fish sauce to taste. Pass through a fine strainer into a large saucepan.

Prawns and squid: Cut squid tubes down one side and open flat, clean and wash well. Gently crisscross the inside of the squid tube, only cutting half way through the squid with a sharp knife. Cut the squid into 5x3cm squares.

Soba noodles: Boil a pot of salted water. Add noodles, gently stirring as they enter the water. Blanch for 5 minutes or until just cooked. Remove from water, run under cold water until noodles are cold. Drain well and gently mix the sesame oil through.

To finish: Bring laksa to the boil. In a heavy-bottomed, preheated fry pan, add 15ml canola oil. On a medium to high heat add prawns for 1 minute, turn prawns over and add the calamari for 30 seconds. Remove from the pan.

Divide the soba noodles up into 4 warm serving bowls. Add 3 prawns to each bowl and share out the calamari. Pour on the boiling soup and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Mark Lane | Culinary Lane Catering www.culinarylane.co.nz

For 3 & 5 course in-house lunches and dinners, out-catering, grazing tables and corporate cateringg.

Chocolate chia crunch granola

Vegan and dairy free (4 servings)

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup coconut flakes (large)

¼ cup pumpkin seeds

¼ cup sunflower seeds

½ cup whole almonds

2 Tbsp chia seeds

3 Tbsp coconut oil, melted

1 heaped Tbsp raw cacao powder

3 Tbsp maple syrup

¼ tsp vanilla essence

¼ tsp cinnamon

¼ cup goji berries or dried cranberries

Method

Preheat oven to 160°C.

In a large bowl combine oats, coconut, nuts, seeds and cinnamon, then mix well.

In a small bowl melt coconut oil, then add maple syrup, vanilla and cacao powder and mix through.

Stir wet ingredients through the dry ingredients ensuring the oats are evenly coated.

Spread granola mixture on a baking tray and bake for 10 minutes. Stir then bake for a further 4-5 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning.

Remove and let cool before stirring in the goji berries. Store in a large glass jar.

Try serving a portion with coconut yoghurt and fresh strawberries – delicious!

Have a bowl for breakfast or an after-dinner treat, or grab a handful as an afternoon pick-me-up. Enjoy!

Nicky Skinner | Nourished and Vibrant

www.nourishedandvibrant.co.nz @nourished_and_vibrant