AFTER 16 REMARKABLE YEARS, LITTLE BIRD KITCHEN SEEKS ITS NEXT CUSTODIAN - P9
WWW.EUROPEANANTIQUES.CO.NZ
'ILLEGAL PARKING' OUTSIDE OUR HOMES
AT has in the course of handing out tickets for 'illegal parking' outside our homes, recently kindly pointed out that our driveways only start at the front boundary of our property.
Anything ‘roadside' of that boundary is either council or government property.
Brilliant!
That means that our excessive rates have always covered the mowing costs of all the berms that council have constructed between the footpaths and the roads.
I queried this years ago when council removed the lovely wide footpaths that used to work beautifully as access for both pedestrians and cyclists and was told by an hilarious council manager that the newly unwanted grass berms should be mown by the homeowner, as council was "relying on the goodwill of the ratepayers to mow their berms."
I laughed out loud and replied: “We are ratepayers and you guys are the council we pay our rates to. There is no goodwill left!"
Thank you AT. Now the ratepayers no longer have to mow the berms we never wanted in the first place. Auckland Transport has finally performed a public service just as they cease to exist and move back in under council control – the same council that they just 'threw under the bus.
Roger Hawkins, Herne Bay
PARKING MADNESS GOING FROM BAD TO HORRENDOUS AT is obviously determined to go out of business with a vindictive ‘bang'.
Not only is it wasting our money on an obscene explosion of crazy spending of the last of its budgeted funds, but AT seems determined to do as much ideological damage as possible on the way out!
Just one example of the wasteful spending is the unnecessary and useless ‘improvements' such as multiple mini traffic islands now installed on Garnet Road. (All that was needed, if at all, weresome painted ‘islands' in the centre of the road.)
Being pulled back under council control will invariably dent its bureaucratic pride and restrict ability to waste our money on unpopular and unnecessary ideologically driven ‘improvements', but does that justify AT deliberately undertaking projects just to get the money spent before it must justify the expense to elected councillors?
A classic example is AT’s determination to remove any practical, affordable and meaningful parking buildings and car parks (including those for the disabled) from anywhere in the immediate vicinity of the CBD and surrounds.
Parking in the CBD has been destroyed. Now, AT seems determined to charge for any and all on-street parking anywhere anyone might need to park.
'Residents Parking' is just a euphemism for 'AT want to raise more money' rather than allowing people to park outside their own homes.
AT will attempt to raise its revenue base by increasing the insidious spread of 'Residents Parking locations' throughout the suburbs.
This is in addition to councils who will invariably increase fees, levies, admin charges, etc, to cover their perceived losses now that Government has sensibly restricted their ability to increase rates beyond the rate of inflation.
Watch this space! Rather than council looking at the problem from the victims' perspective and trying to limit internal and external costs (and only deliver essential services), it will now take every single opportunity to 'raise revenue' by charging for parking on every possible square centimetre in Auckland, and will increase any internal and external cost and levy, fee or charge it can to offset its perceived loss of financial ‘freedom’.
The bureaucracy will attempt to retain all its revenue raising powers despite the Government's clear intention and will still not accept that the reason they it is being reined in was because it was absolutely incapable of restraining itself.
Its own ideologically driven madness and uncontrolled desire to spend our money on things no one needed, wanted or wanted to pay for is what forced the Government to move on the outrageous rates increases.
It's time to stop spending our money. Reducing council/AT staff by at least one third and putting restrictive approval processes in place are now needed urgently.
Mayor Brown, over to you.
Roger Hawkins, Herne Bay
WHY HAS THE LEY’S INSTITUTE LIBRARY NOT BEEN RENOVATED AND REOPENED?
Given the Government has relaxed the rules and restrictions relating to earthquake strengthening, I am keen to hear from the Local Board why the renovation of the Leys Institute Library has not even been started, let alone finished.
The ratepayers in our area pay a significant and disproportionate amount in rates, and guess what... we expect our money to be spent within our own community, especially on our beloved vital library and community centre.
Why has no work been started on our library?
When will the Leys Institute Library be reopened for our community and especially our children to expand their learning and for local adult users of the library to be able to return to our valued community asset?
We all know the wheels of such an obese bureaucracy as the council grind extraordinarily slowly, but this delay is beyond the pale and needs to be corrected by the local community board immediately.
Roger Hawkins, Herne Bay
Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Back in 2016, we were renovating our bathroom and we needed to rent a room locally while our facilities were out of action.
We stayed at the Great Ponsonby Hotel for six weeks and enjoyed their fabulous breakfasts. Around the same time, little bird, another favourite café of ours nearby, was trialing running dinner service for a while. This meant breakfast, lunch and dinner were available.
Founded by Megan May’s bold vision to show just how vibrant, indulgent and flavourful plants can be, little bird kitchen became a pioneer of the plant-based movement in Auckland. What began as a passionate mission grew into one of the country’s most celebrated cafés, helping redefine how Kiwis experience plant-based food.
Award winning little bird kitchen didn’t just serve food – it shaped conversation. With an established identity, loyal community, proven systems and a pioneering legacy in the plant-based space, little bird kitchen offers a rare opportunity to step into a business that has already shaped an industry and is ready to evolve again.
Little bird is now for sale. The question now is: Who will become its next custodian? And will they offer dinner?
Meanwhile, also nearby, Kelmarna Community Farm is just one of many small farms and producers across Auckland and Aotearoa who are working to grow food, knowledge and a better food future. At their Little Kai Festival, we get to celebrate that movement together – to meet these changemakers, hear their stories and see how growing kai can strengthen communities and inspire positive change.
Diary Date: Saturday 21 March is their Equinox Festival, a chance for the community to celebrate the tail end of summer surrounded by nature at their beautiful farm. This will be a relaxed afternoon of live music, great food, organic wines, cocktails and Behemoth beers.
Running from 2pm-6pm, they are have sliding-scale ticket prices. This means everyone can join in the fun while also contributing what they can to support Kelmarna’s mission. Simply choose the rate you feel you can afford.
We enjoyed last month’s Auckland Rainbow Parade on the Ponsonby strip – bringing with it a vibrant reminder of what is possible when communities come together. After last year’s parade was disrupted by protests, this year’s event stands as a powerful statement of resilience, love and belonging, wrapped in colour, creativity and joy.
(JAY PLATT & MARTIN LEACH)
Photography: Connor Crawford
Jay Platt & Martin Leach
- Gusto Italiano -
GUSTO MEANING ‘TASTE AND ENJOYMENT’
When you dine with us, the focus is on freshly prepared classic dishes, featuring an excellent range of pasta, seafood, meats and our pizza classics.
We also offer our pasta dishes to takeaway, phone for details or check our website for the menu.
263 PONSONBY RD, THREE LAMPS, 09 361 1556 www.gustoitaliano.co.nz
Editor/Publisher: MARTIN LEACH M: 021 771 147 martinleach@xtra.co.nz or martin@ponsonbynews.co.nz
Deputy Editor: JAY PLATT M: 021 771 146 jayplatt@xtra.co.nz or jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz
Designer: ARNA MARTIN M: 021 354 984 arna@cocodesign.co.nz
The entire content of this publication is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwisewithout the prior permission, in writing, of the copyright owner. Colour transparencies and manuscripts submitted are sent at the owner’s risk; neither the publisher nor its agents accept any responsibility for loss or damage. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher can accept no liability for any inaccuracies that may occur.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
SAY GOODBYE TO THE STABLE MURAL
The Ardmore Road Dairy, once famous for being open late when supermarkets and petrol stations were not, has been converted into a beauty salon at the corner of Jervois Road.
The takeaway next door was given three months notice after 40 years servicing the Herne Bay community. The plan is to remove the wall between it and the sushi place converting it into one larger retail premises. This heritage building with its curved corner canopy fringed with steel ‘lace’ is protected from demolition. The mural depicting the stable behind it is not protected as it is a more recent addition. It will be replaced by two shops in a new two storey structure.
Gael Baldock
AN OPINION WE DON’T WANT TO HEAR!
Why does Helen Clark think anyone is interested in her opinion on anything anymore? We are not!
We are still paying, and will pay for many years yet, for the many failed policies she was responsible for.
None of us is interested in listening to the thoughts of this failed Prime Minister. (In my case, specifically because of the selfish personal part she had in delaying allowing Eden Park to be permitted to earn its living by entertaining Aucklanders.)
Perhaps Ms Clark could think about a new home in Sydney too?
Roger Hawkins, Herne Bay
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE NZ POST CEO
My name is Phil O’Reilly, I’m a New Zealand born citizen, a long-term citizen of Auckland and 10-year resident of Auckland Central in Poynton Terrace, just off K' Road.
My background is in design and the performing arts through my creative partnership with spouse and choreographer Mary Jane O’Reilly (QSM) and father to actress Morgana O’Reilly. I am deeply invested in what makes vibrant and successful communities.
Now, I realise you’ve probably been deluged with opposition to the closing announcement of NZ Post shops. But I want you to FULLY understand what closing the K' Road NZ Post shop could do, because NZ Post has a stake in this beyond some tiny if any saving as Lambs Pharmacy pays all the service costs themselves.
K' Road Is a unique component of Auckland’s identity, but it’s a fragile economic, cultural and social ecosystem. Lambs Pharmacy is one of the vital nodes that keep this system working, one already under more stress than most places in the country.
By terminating Lamb’s NZ Post shop, you effectively kneecap their viability because their busy postal service is the anchor for the bigger, vital and, I might add, ‘famous’ service they provide to this iconic neighbourhood.
If Lambs goes, the key role they play here goes with them, then the retailers, then the street culture – you get the picture. Your organisation lives in a wider context than just a balance sheet. You’re citizens and stake holders in this city as much as anyone, but are you prepared to oversee the slow demise of one of Auckland’s most unique historic and character neighbourhoods?
Here’s a reasonable challenge: Surely you can come up with a creative formula to make this a win, win, win, win for NZ Post, for Lambs, for the K' Road community and for Auckland’s identity.
Phil O’Reilly Design
IT’S A TEAM EFFORT... WE COULDN’T
DO IT
WITHOUT OUR CONTRIBUTORS
CHLÖE SWARBRICK
Chlöe Swarbrick is the MP for and the biggest fan of Auckland Central - she is Co-Leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa NZ.
CONNOR CRAWFORD
I am a working artist and photographer with a colourful and rhythmic perspective. I enjoy shooting the front covers of Ponsonby News.
DAVID HARTNELL - MNZM
For the last 53 years I’ve been a freelance entertainment journalist and author. I’ve lived in the Grey Lynn area for over three decades; I have met and interviewed some amazing people.
DESLEY SIMPSON
I am a dedicated and approachable Deputy Mayor of Auckland, with a handson approach and genuine commitment to improving local communities and solving issues in Auckland.
GAEL BALDOCK
We each follow our moral compass shaped by training. Mine is sculpting, architecture, sociology, anthropology and betterment of our shared world by community advocacy… and saving trees.
HELENE RAVLICH
A freelance writer and copywriter for almost 20 years, I have written for publications all over the world and couldn’t imagine myself in any other job.
HELEN WHITE
Helen is the Member of Parliament for Mt Albert and has a long-standing commitment to social justice, community well-being and ethical leadership. She is also keen on yoga.
KEN RING
My yearly NZ Weather Almanacs began in 1999. During the tragic 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, my work created international interest. I currently live in Ponsonby.
LISA PRAGER
A life long advocate for community issues, I am passionate about protecting and enhancing our natural environment and built heritage.
MELISSA LEE
I have been a National List MP based in Mt Albert for the past 16 years. I am dedicated to listening and understanding the needs of our community, working hard to deliver outcomes and drive positive change.
MIKE LEE
I am the councillor for Waitematā & Gulf. A former seafarer, former chair of the ARC, conservationist, PT advocate, and author. I have represented the Ponsonby area since 1992.
PHIL PARKER
Journalist and published author, I have had a career involving both wine writing and hosting boutique wine tours in the Auckland region.
PUNEET DHALL
I am an Aucklander of Indian origin, Punjabi and Sikh. I have a keen interest in food, wine and politics.
ROSS THORBY - QSM
I have had a wanderlust for travel ever since I was old enough to own a passport. Since I discovered cruising, I have become unstoppable.
SARITA SOLVIG BLANKENBURG
I am a passionate Ayurveda practitioner based in Ponsonby for the last 15 years. Inspiring others to live a healthy and fulfilled life is my higher purpose.
SARAH TROTMAN, ONZM
She has been rated the most effective Governor on the Waitematā Local Board. However, we rate her as the most effective community advocate, who led the C&R team from her sole voice on the Board to the majority at the last election, until...
AFTER 16 REMARKABLE YEARS, LITTLE BIRD KITCHEN SEEKS ITS NEXT CUSTODIAN
Sixteen years ago, plant-based food in New Zealand was often dismissed as niche, bland or ‘hippie’. little bird kitchen helped change that story.
Founded with a bold vision to show just how vibrant, indulgent and flavourful plants can be, little bird kitchen became a pioneer of the plant-based movement in Auckland and across New Zealand. What began as a passionate mission grew into one of the country’s most celebrated cafés, helping redefine how Kiwis experience plant-based food.
A Legacy of Influence little bird kitchen didn’t just serve food – it shaped conversation.
Founder Megan May’s best-selling cookbook 'The Unbakery: Raw Organic Goodness' was translated into multiple languages around the world, bringing little bird’s philosophy to global kitchens. Her second cookbook, Little Bird Goodness, further cemented the brand’s influence.
The café has been featured numerous times in Metro’s Top 50 Cafés, Lonely Planet’s top plant-based cafés in the world and consistently ranked among Tripadvisor’s Top 10 Auckland Cafés for travellers, earning multiple Certificates of Excellence.
Collaborations That Defined a Movement
Through its renowned Plant-Based Challenge Chef Series, little bird collaborated with some of New Zealand’s most celebrated culinary names, including Nadia Lim, Al Brown, Jordan Rondel and Michael Meredith – proving that plantbased cuisine belongs at every table.
The kitchen has hosted workshops and events alongside international brands and wellness leaders, strengthening its reputation as a hub for innovation and inspiration.
Over the years, celebrities have quietly made it their favourite Auckland spot. Actors like Austin Bulter, Jason Stratham and Benedict Cumberbatch made it a home away from home, as well as directors and some of the words most famous musicians making little bird a must whenever they are in town.
little bird kitchen has even travelled beyond Auckland, appearing at Wellington On A Plate and bringing its signature plant-forward philosophy to Tokyo, Japan.
The Heart of It All: Community
Perhaps the proudest achievement isn’t awards or accolades – it’s impact.
It’s the fathers, friends and sceptics who were brought in by loved ones “just to try it,” and left surprised, delighted and converted.
It’s the customers who have been coming through the doors since the beginning, 16 years ago.
It’s the belief that food can gently shift perception – not by preaching, but by delighting.
little bird kitchen has always stood for adding more plants to the plate – more colour, more nourishment, more flavour, more joy.
Showing that eating real wholefoods is timeless.
The Next Chapter
After 16 extraordinary years, little bird kitchen is ready for its next chapter.
This is not simply a business for sale. It is an opportunity to become the next custodian of a beloved brand with deep roots, strong goodwill, national recognition and untapped future potential.
With an established identity, loyal community, proven systems and a pioneering legacy in the plant-based space, little bird kitchen offers a rare opportunity to step into a business that has already shaped an industry and is ready to evolve again.
The question now is: Who will become its next custodian?
Business Sale Listings: www.abcbusiness.co.nz/property/36393/-auckland/ www.abcbusiness.co.nz/property/36099/-auckland/
DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH SARITA SOLVIG BLANKENBURG
Sarita Solvig Blankenburg is an Ayurvedic medical practitioner and yoga therapist, she’s a woman who is always upbeat and smiling.
What is Ayurvedic medicine and yoga therapy?
Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic medical systems, originating in India over 5000 years ago. It focuses on understanding a person’s unique constitution (dosha) and restoring balance through nutrition, lifestyle, herbal medicine, body therapies and cleansing practices. Yoga therapy complements this beautifully by using movement, breath and mindfulness to support physical health, emotional wellbeing and nervous system balance. Together they offer a deeply personalised and preventative approach to health.
Are people more open to this these days?
Most definitely. More and more people are discovering Ayurveda and becoming curious about their doshas and lifestyle patterns. Word of mouth and the educational events I host throughout the year such as cooking classes, day retreats and workshops, often spark that interest. New Zealand’s large Indian population has also contributed to my growing clientele, as many people grew up with Ayurveda and already understand its healing benefits.
What nationality are you?
My passport name is actually Solvig Blankenburg. Solvig is Norwegian and means 'on the way to the sun'. Sarita is my spiritual name, given to me by my yoga guru in India when I completed my yoga teacher training. Sarita means 'flowing river' in Sanskrit. It gets a little confusing when I travel back to Germany where everyone knows me as Solvig, while in New Zealand I’m known as Sarita – but I love both names.
The best thing about where you live?
I live in Freemans Bay with my husband, two kids and our twoyear-old border collie. Being so close to Ponsonby Road, I love walking locally, eating and shopping nearby and bumping into people for spontaneous chats. It gives me a real sense of belonging. The variety of yoga studios and health cafés is a bonus.
Have you ever met a celebrity?
Martin Henderson – talented, grounded and genuinely kind. We once bumped into him at Baduzzi, and when my daughter asked for a photo he ended up having a long chat with us. The photo is adorable and the experience unforgettable.
See yourself in 10 years where?
Running my Ayurvedic clinic in Ponsonby, with regular trips to Europe and India to stay connected with family and continue deepening my Ayurvedic training.
If they made a movie about your life, who would play you?
Julia Roberts. Eat, Pray, Love came surprisingly close to my own journey and she played it beautifully.
What project are you most looking forward to?
Writing a book about my life. Growing up in East Germany was unique, and my journey from corporate life into Ayurveda has been deeply transformative. I hope it might inspire others.
How would you like to be remembered?
As an adventurous nature lover, passionate about Ayurveda and helping people live healthier, happier lives.
What do you love most about your age?
The wisdom, confidence and perspective.
Which item do you wish would come back into fashion?
Neon colours from the 80s – uplifting, bold and unapologetic.
What motivates you?
Seeing clients experience real, life-changing improvements after embracing Ayurvedic principles. Those moments remind us why we do this work.
What’s inspired you recently?
Three weeks of professional training at an Ayurvedic hospital in Bangalore, where I deepened my understanding of Panchakarma. It inspired me to offer it in an authentic way at my clinic.
Your all time favourite movie?
The Lives of Others – a powerful and authentic portrayal of East German history that deeply resonated with my upbringing.
Advice for your teenage self?
Reach for the stars, try everything and don’t fear failure – it’s the best teacher.
How do you chill out?
Paddleboarding on glassy water or walking my dog through Western Park.
One item of clothing you can’t live without?
Birkenstocks. Comfort always wins.
Most treasured possession?
My border collie, Tui. Gentle, loyal and always thrilled to see me.
Something very few people know about you?
I’m fluent in Russian, studied Mandarin in Hong Kong and Sanskrit during my Ayurvedic training.
Favourite hero of fiction?
Millie Bobby Brown – fearless, talented and a great role model for young women.
Best thing your parents taught you?
To love nature, value community and help others.
(DAVID HARTNELL, MNZM) PN
TYLER-NILAND CONSTRUCTION AND MANUKA TILING ARE LAUNCHING A NEW DESIGN-LED APPROACH TO INTERIORS AND CONSTRUCTION
In Ponsonby, design is more than a trend, it’s a way of living. Tyler-Niland Construction and Manuka Tiling are launching a new designled approach, that brings thoughtful interiors and precise construction together, under a calm and cohesive vision. Led by designer Leslie Tyler, the studio focuses on creating spaces that feel refined, personal and built to last.
Rather than separating design from delivery, our team works as a unified partnership, blending interior direction, construction knowledge, and hands-on craftsmanship. From boutique bathroom transformations to carefully considered outdoor spaces, each project begins with design clarity and finishes with meticulous execution. The goal is simple, to remove stress from renovation projects while elevating the everyday experience in the home.
Ponsonby has always valued authenticity and quality, TylerNiland and Manuka Tiling reflect that spirit by combining editorial style design thinking with practical building expertise.
The result is a process that feels calm and collaborative as clients are guided through material choices, spatial flow, and construction decisions with confidence and transparency.
As the studio launches its design-led presence in the neighbourhood, the focus remains on understated luxury rather than loud promotion. Clean lines, balanced textures and thoughtful detailing define our work, allowing each space to speak for itself.
For homeowners seeking a more considered renovation experience, one that respects both design vision & construction integrity, Tyler-Niland Construction and Manuka Tiling invite Ponsonby to discover a new way of building beautifully.
manukatilingltd.com
tylernilandlandscapes.com
tylernilandlandscapes.com/construction
RAINBOW PRIDE PARADE, PONSONBY - 21 FEBRUARY 26
photography
: Deane Cohen Photography
photography : Deane Cohen Photography
SMART & SAFE
From child safety to energy bills, there’s more driving the automation conversation than convenience alone.
With over 30 years in the industry, Clayton Sceats, Director at Lahood® Window Furnishings has a simple way of putting the shift to automation into perspective. “I tell clients: you’d never buy a TV without a remote now. Window furnishings are going the same way.” While the convenience of opening your blinds to the morning sun without leaving your bed is undeniable, Clayton says the real reasons people are choosing automated blinds and curtains extend far beyond that.
SMART HOMES NOW MAINSTREAM
Many New Zealanders already live with some form of home automation, such as voice-controlled speakers, appcontrolled lighting, a connected thermostat. The infrastructure is there. Adding electric blinds or curtains to platforms like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or Apple HomeKit is a natural next step, and for anyone already running their home from their phone, it feels completely intuitive.
A SAFER HOME FOR FAMILIES
“This is one I feel very strongly about,” says Clayton. Traditional corded and looped-chain blinds present a genuine strangulation risk for young children and pets. It is entirely preventable. “Motorised window furnishings eliminate dangling cords and chains completely, and Lahood regularly works with parents who choose automation for this reason alone.”
Additional peace-of-mind is also provided by scheduling your blinds to open and close when you are away, giving the appearance of occupancy.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY YOU CAN MEASURE
Your windows are responsible for more heat gain and heat loss than most people realise. Automated window furnishings that respond to the sun, time of day or a set schedule make a real difference, with testing in the USA showing an annual savings of 10-15% on energy bills when used consistently. “Honeycomb blinds such as Lahood’s Duette® Shades from Luxaflex® provide up to 33% more thermal insulation than double glazing and can reduce solar heat entering a room
by 60%. That kind of performance, running quietly in the background every day, can make a real difference to energy bills,” says Clayton.
WHAT AND HOW TO MOTORISE
Motorisation is available across almost the entire Lahood range – roller blinds, curtains, Luxaflex® Duette shades, Venetian and Roman blinds, shutters and exterior screens and awnings. There are varying levels of automation to consider depending on your needs:
Motorised (wall switch or remote control with one or multiple channels depending on the number of windows).
Automated (programmable timers from simple apps and sensors for wind, sunlight, rain, temperature, etc).
· Smart automation (integrated with your home ecosystem, with programmes linked with lighting, heating, security, etc and controlled via apps, voice or remote controls).
Lahood uses Somfy®, one of the world’s leading automation technology companies, across the majority of its installations, and the Luxaflex PowerView® Gen 3 system for premium soft shading products such as Luxflex Duettes.
IS RETROFITTING POSSIBLE?
If you are refreshing your current space and want to upgrade your existing blinds, battery-powered motors provide a highperformance retrofit option that requires no complex wiring and are easily recharged via USB.
For those building a new home, hard-wired systems are the preferred option and can be integrated seamlessly. “If you are hard-wiring, conduits need to be included in the plans before construction begins,” Clayton advises. “Early planning gives you the best outcome.”
WORTH THE INVESTMENT
When you consider the energy savings, UV protection for flooring and furniture and the peace of mind that comes from a cord-free, child-safe and secure solution, automation quickly proves its value as a considered long-term addition to your home.
15% OFF
AUTOMATION
ON LUXAFLEX BLINDS & SHUTTERS DURING MARCH
If you are thinking of automated blinds, now is a great time to act. Throughout March, Lahood is offering 15% off Somfy and PowerView Gen 3 motorisation on Luxaflex blinds and shutters.*
Book a complementary in-home consultation at lahood.co.nz, call T: 0800 444331 or visit the showroom at 104 Mount Eden Road, Auckland. Lahood | Elegance Materialised. *15% discount applies to motorisation only, not blinds or shutters themselves.
SHORT-STAY RETURNS, PROFESSIONALLY DELIVERED
For investment apartments and holiday homes.
For owners of inner-city Auckland investment apartments and holiday homes in the North Island’s most loved holiday destinations, the goal of short-stay is straightforward: generate strong income from guest stays, while keeping the property beautifully presented, protected and ready to enjoy. Success can look slightly different by property type, but the expectation is the same – a professional operator who treats your asset with care and runs performance like a business.
MyStays is a New Zealand-owned, short-stay rental management business with an owner first, guest always approach – combining revenue performance, exceptional care and a guest experience designed to earn positive
reviews. As one Auckland CBD owner puts it: “Professional, proactive management – beautifully presented homes and occupancy above expectations.”
We manage the short-stay model end-to-end with a professional, hotel-standard approach and local, on-theground care. That includes high-quality listing presentation, dynamic pricing aligned to demand, guest screening, professional communication, linen and cleaning and maintenance coordination – all designed to protect your asset, your reviews and the way the property performs.
Just as importantly, we operate with the transparency investment owners expect. You’ll have access to a dynamic owner portal with live visibility of bookings and income, plus clear reporting that makes it easy to track performance over time. “Owners want clarity and confidence. Our systems, reporting and local care are designed to make that partnership easy.” – Elle Knight, MyStays
If you’d like a clear, realistic view of what your property could deliver, book an obligation-free owner appraisal with MyStays.
mystays.co.nz/holiday-home-owners
Owner-first. Guest-always. Professional short-stay management - Taken Care Of
Make your investment property perform with the right partnership.
MyStays delivers professional short-stay management for Auckland apartments and premium holiday homes across the North Island. We use leading technology to optimise demand, occupancy and returns, while keeping every detail taken care of — presented at a premium standard, performing consistently, and earning reviews that support more reliable income.
Request an obligation-free performance appraisal mystays.co.nz/holiday-home-owners
“Professional, guest-focused management that keeps our CBD rentals beautifully presented and delivering occupancy above expectations.”
D Roigard - Auckland CBD Apartment Owner
Find your perfect escape with 170+ North Island holiday homes.
All-inclusive rates, hotel-quality comfort, professional cleaning & 24/7 support — so you can switch off and enjoy your downtime.
BOOK DIRECT FOR OUR BEST PRICE GUARANTEE
DISCOVER A LITTLE PIECE OF FRANCE IN AUCKLAND
There’s a special kind of magic that awaits at Alliance Française Auckland – a place where the French way of life is not just taught, but truly lived.
For more than 130 years, this iconic institution has opened the door to the language, tastes and joie de vivre of France, right here in Auckland.
At the heart of this vibrant community is the chance to learn French with passionate, qualified teachers. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refine your fluency, classes for adults, teens and children are engaging, supportive and inspiring. Learning French here isn’t just about words – it’s about discovering a different way of seeing the world.
Alliance Française is so much more than an institution. It’s a cultural hub where the traditions of France are celebrated through experiences that delight the senses. Imagine a sunny morning at a French Market, tasting freshly baked croissants, delicate pastries and artisanal cheeses that whisk you straight to Provence. Live music, handcrafted goods and good conversation complete this vibrant expression of la vie française.
This March, the Mois de la Francophonie brings a host of special events to celebrate French language and culture. The highlight will be the French Market on Saturday, 28 March 2026, from 9am to 2pm in the gardens of the Highwick Heritage Building in the heart of Newmarket. A perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and flavours of France.
The year-long calendar is packed with cultural experiences, from classic cinema evenings and spirited pétanque tournaments to French-themed talks, workshops and petit déjeuners.
This year, the 130th anniversary celebrations mark a remarkable legacy of connection, creativity and cultural exchange. Alliance Française Auckland invites you to learn with us, experience French life and immerse yourself in a culture that has enchanted generations.
The Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 came into force on 21 February 2026, introducing significant reforms to New Zealand employment law, including, among other things, clarification on contractor status and changes to personal grievance eligibility and remedies.
Employee or Contractor?
Section 6 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 (“the Act”) now excludes a “specified contractor” from being an employee and therefore being subject to the provisions of the Act. This provides greater certainty for business owners and reduces exposure to leave entitlements and personal grievance claims.
A person (“Party A”) will be a specified contractor where Party A has an arrangement to perform work for another (“Party B”), or a third party facilitated by Party B, and all of the following are satisfied:
(a) The parties entered into an independent contractor agreement (or an agreement stating Party A is not an employee).
(b) Party A is not restricted from performing work for others, except while working for Party B (or as facilitated by Party B).
(c) Either (i) Party A has subcontracting rights, or (ii) Party A is not required to perform, or be available to perform, work at a specified time, on a specified day, or for a minimum period.
(d) The arrangement cannot be terminated because Party A declines additional work.
(e) Party A had a reasonable opportunity to seek independent legal advice.
Party A is not treated as being restricted from working for others merely because the hours worked for Party B make additional work impracticable.
If any factor above is not met, the status of the relationship reverts to the previous “real nature of the relationship” test.
Personal grievance salary threshold
Employees who meet or exceed the “specified remuneration threshold” cannot raise:
A. An unjustified dismissal claim; or
B. An unjustified disadvantage claim which relates to the dismissal.
The current threshold is $200,000.00 per annum, with annual increases from 1 July 2027.
Remuneration includes PAYE income payments and employee share scheme benefits.
The Act prescribes a calculation method based on income received in the 364 days prior, preventing potential artificial inflation to meet the threshold for the purposes of dismissal.
Parties may contract out of this threshold by agreement.
Contributory conduct and remedies
Remedies available to an employee may be reduced or eliminated all together for contributory conduct that amounts to “serious misconduct” (section 123C). Serious misconduct is undefined.
Reinstatement and compensation are unavailable if the employee “contributed to the situation that gave rise to the personal grievance” (section 123B). There is no serious misconduct threshold in respect of this provision.
Where to from here?
We expect to see an increase in litigation as courts interpret the provisions of the amended Act. In particular:
1. Under the new specified contractor test, can a business place restraints on a contractor’s ability to work elsewhere for the duration of the contract, or only while the contractor is actually performing work (i.e., no restraints after hours/weekends)?
2. How close must an employee’s contributory conduct be to the grievance to bar reinstatement or compensation?
3. How will the courts determine the definition of “serious misconduct”?
Businesses with employees should review and update their individual employment agreements to align with the amended Act before entering new arrangements. This may include expressly defining key terms (for example “serious misconduct”) to mitigate interpretive issues.
Businesses engaging contractors should review and update their independent contractor agreements to ensure all specified contractor criteria are met.
STEINDLE WILLIAMS LEGAL, Level 2, Suite 2.1, 18 Sale Street, T: 09 361 5563, www.swlegal.co.nz
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KIDS, KAI, CONVERSATION AND MUSIC AT KELMARNA FARM
Our summer of events at Kelmarna keeps on rolling throughout March.
Next up is Kelmarna’s Little Kai Festival – an alcohol-free, family fun afternoon on Sunday 8 March, 11am to 4pm.
With a focus on kids, kai and conversation we have a line up of inspiring speakers, delicious food, loads of kids’ activities and a chance to have a say in the farm’s future.
The festival’s Talk Tent will host inspirational speakers from projects focused on how food can create positive change. Participants include organics consultant Brendan Hoare; Rob Small, designer and curator of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei’s Pourewa gardens; Amy Tew, general manager of Everybody Eats and its Onehunga restaurant head chef Archana Kurup.
They will be joined by Levi Brinsdon-Hall, founder of Delicious Revolution and head farmer at Te Maara Kai o Wirihana, an urban farm led by Manurewa High School. Together, the speakers will share how growing and sharing kai sustainably can benefit individuals, communities and countries.
Brendan Hoare, who has just returned from a trip to India’s Sikkim, the world’s first organic state, says, "There are people and communities undertaking bold actions all over the world. We have nothing to fear in making Aotearoa New Zealand organic because others are well ahead of us on that journey."
Rob Small will share his kōrero on growing kūmara with tikanga, while Amy Tew will talk about how Everybody Eats is more than a shared dining experience. A special kids' t-shirt has been designed for the festival by local artist, Ezra Whittaker.
From learning about regenerative food practices to a place for peaceful relaxation, the Little Kai Festival is a manifestation of Kelmarna’s shared love of food, the land and community, Sarah McFadden, the farm’s General Manager says.
"Kelmarna is just one of many small farms and producers across Auckland and Aotearoa that are working to grow food, knowledge and a better food future. At the Little Kai Festival, we get to celebrate that movement together – to meet these changemakers, hear their stories and see how growing kai can strengthen communities and inspire positive change.
“It’s also a wonderful opportunity to be reminded that we’re part of something much bigger, and that by planting seeds, in the ground and in our communities, we’re also growing hope."
Kelmarna is also inviting attendees to share their thoughts on the farm’s future – “This is a community and we’re keen to hear what people are looking for from us,” Sarah said.
Two weeks later on Saturday 21 March is our Equinox Festival, a chance for the community to celebrate the tail end of summer surrounded by nature at our beautiful farm. This will be a relaxed afternoon of live music, great food, organic wines, cocktails and Behemoth beers.
Musical highlights include rising star Geneva AM, whose bilingual debut album of electronic synth-pop 'Pikipiki 'was released last year, along with The Wellington Silva Trio performing Brazilian jazz; drummer Finn McNeil and band playing Latin-tinged jazz; and Indie folk trio, Chance of Sun.
Running from 2-6pm, we have sliding scale ticket prices. This means everyone can join in the fun while also contributing what they can to support Kelmarna’s mission. Simply choose the rate you feel you can afford.
After three years of offering 300-plus events focused on people and planet, EcoFest has well and truly become the time and place to sample sustainability.
The fourth month-long festival starts on 22 March and will send a clearer message than ever to Aucklanders and her visitors: this gathering of events across the region is your best chance ever to try your hand at things you’ve only wondered about.
Ever thought you’d like to dress up your bike with lights and take a nighttime ride with like-minded riders? How about a sunset track walk in Piha to learn about coastal birds or an after-dark adventure looking for ruru? Roll your sleeves up to save food that supermarkets throw away, help with a stream clean-up, learn to trap pests and protect native taonga, or take a mini-tour round a suburban food forest. For those who want to learn from home, join a webinar and understand climate change anxiety, or watch a fun, koha-accessed video on harvesting your own rainwater.
Organisers say these workshops are just a small sample of events that are often free or low cost and usually only require a couple of hours to experience. Growing, cooking and preserving food workshops are always a firm favourite and a great way to meet new people or spend time learning with
friends and family. Classes such as printmaking, drawing or woodworking are popular with all ages and a great way to reconnect with your own creativity.
The origins of the festival were formed 13 years ago in West Auckland, as a way to help people foster environmental behaviour together. EcoMatters Environment Trust founded it and were joined two years later by Kaipātiki Project; the festival went regional when Beautification Trust and Waiheke Resources Trust joined the team in 2023.
“What delivering this festival has taught us, is that even just attending one event can create a positive, impactful connection between each other and the environment,” says EcoMatters CEO, Carla Gee. “Given the challenges happening in Aotearoa and in the rest of the world right now, we know that it’s more important than ever to provide fun, light-hearted ways to sample sustainability together. We can’t wait to kick off the festival once more.”
www.ecofest.org.nz
DEPUTY MAYOR:
DESLEY SIMPSON
Auckland feels different right now – in the best way.
There’s a sense of lift in the air, a feeling that the city is stepping into the version of itself we’ve been talking about for years. I was part of the opening of the long-awaited New Zealand International Convention Centre, and I really felt it there. The place hums with possibility and represents confidence in our city and a strong belief in Auckland’s future.
And it’s about time! We’re the country’s economic engine –home to a third of New Zealand’s people and, despite the recent recession, generating more than a third of its GDP, and increasingly the place where ideas and innovation collide. We’re the commercial centre, the manufacturing hub, and if the tech sector keeps growing the way it has been, we’ll soon be the region’s tech capital too. A world-class convention centre belongs here! And already it has more than 120 events booked for this year, is set to attract over 33,000 international visitors annually and surpass the $90m economic benefit initially predicted.
The opening of the NZICC couldn’t be timelier. It’s part of a bigger story of regeneration – the City Rail Link is about to open, the Central Interceptor will make our waterways cleaner and our infrastructure more resilient, and the airport redevelopment is strengthening our role as the country’s international gateway. Yes, we are still seeing a high number of business insolvencies, but I think it’s important to look at the whole picture: business confidence is the highest it’s been in decades and investor visas are up. These are all signals that people are feeling optimistic again. You can sense the city stretching and getting ready.
February also saw a huge moment for Eden Park and for us Aucklanders in turn. The Government has updated planning
rules meaning it can host more concerts and major events and operate with the flexibility you’d expect from our country’s largest stadium. It’s a shift that brings us in line with global best practice and cements Eden Park as a worldclass venue.
The numbers tell the story. Eden Park currently delivers more than $37 million in annual GDP benefits to Auckland and, with these changes, that could climb to around $107 million. Even better, 97% of locals support hosting more events.
And then came the cherry on top – Eden Park will host New Zealand’s first ever State of Origin match in 2027. The first time this event has been held somewhere other than Australia in over 40 years. That’s a massive win economically, culturally and symbolically. It signals that international event owners see Auckland as a serious player.
Put all of this together and you start to see a pattern. Auckland is shaking off the narrative of struggle and stepping into a new phase – one defined by resilience, confidence and long-term thinking. Yes, we’ve had challenges but our city has always bounced back stronger and 2026 is shaping up to be a turning point.
Our population will keep growing and our role as the country’s commercial heart will deepen. And as we invest in infrastructure, events and the visitor economy, we create a virtuous cycle: more opportunity, more productivity, more liveability. I like the sound of that. PN
DESLEY SIMPSON, Deputy Mayor of Auckland www.desleysimpson.co.nz
WAYNE BROWN: MAYOR
OF AUCKLAND
It has been another month of wins for Auckland.
On the sporting front, we hosted Sail GP on the beautiful Waitematā Harbour, Super Rugby kicked off (yes, I’m still a Blues man) and the Prime Minister joined me to announce the State of Origin was finally coming to Auckland in 2027.
Sail GP and State of Origin would not have happened without the hard work by the council’s Tātaki Auckland Unlimited team, working with Government, so kudos to those involved in bringing these great events to Auckland. Now all that’s missing is a bed night visitor levy to help bring more major events to the city!
There’s no doubt that State of Origin will be massive for Auckland – not just because of the benefits to the city it will bring, but because it will be such a fantastic opportunity for Aucklanders to get a close up look at one of the greatest sporting events in the world. In case you’re wondering, I'll be cheering on Queensland.
On the agenda front, agreement on a city deal is not far away. There are more signs the CRL is coming with the opening of the Karanga-a-hape precinct in Ponsonby this month and we’re getting some wins in the infrastructure and RMA reforms space.
Some of you will have heard about the release of the National Infrastructure Plan this month, which sets out how planning, funding and delivery of infrastructure can be improved over the next 30 years.
As I said the other day, I wouldn’t be surprised if they took some of the ideas out of my Manifesto. The plan highlights what I’ve been pushing for to fix Auckland’s infrastructure woes, and I feel vindicated the policy programme I’m driving is focused and can deliver tangible results.
It’s a reality check for our infrastructure sector and Government for that matter.
There’s a lot to unpick from the plan but I honed in on transport. It’s an area I’m working to finish the fix on through the transport reforms returning control of strategic planning back to elected representatives.
The concerns the report raises in the approach to transport infrastructure and, in particular, mega projects, is right on the button.
Auckland’s in a transport funding crisis. The cost of transport projects the Government has promised exceeds available funding by tens of billions. Inflation’s too high, design standards are too high, we have over zealous future-proofing, consent requirements add ridiculous restrictions, and there’s far too much costly bespoke design. We need to focus more on cost and less on world class. We just want good usable standards.
The plan calls out the Government’s own agency, NZTA, on the ridiculous Harbour Crossing proposal, warning that, despite investigations, it hasn’t found an affordable solution – yet. It even highlighted that a $9 toll for every vehicle trip across the new and old crossings would still not raise enough money to fund the project. A $9 toll, charged 24 hours a day, would not be acceptable to Aucklanders. We need a much cheaper option for a new harbour crossing.
In saying that, big decisions about a second harbour crossing or tolling should be made together with Auckland, and not by government agencies working in secret. I’m staying focused on delivering cheaper, better and faster for Auckland ratepayers.
Transport infrastructure is critical to the success of our city and the future of all Aucklanders, and we must make sure investment decisions are the right ones. I expect the new 30year integrated transport plan the council and Government will be working on together, is the right forum for tackling these challenges for Auckland.
The Government’s announcement last week on changes to PC120 aligns clearly with my agenda. I've always said we need to intensify in the right places: along transport routes, where we've invested in infrastructure, not on flood plains.
I've also said the capacity would change – it is just a theoretical number that was widely misunderstood to begin with. Getting planning right is one of the biggest opportunities we have to improve productivity.
It’s now up to Auckland to determine where and how our city grows, not to be decided by a cabinet of people who don't live here. (WAYNE BROWN) PN
mayorofaucklandmedia@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
TWO DECADES OF TRUSTED PROJECT LEADERSHIP ACROSS AUCKLAND
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U3A PONSONBY FEBRUARY
Borneo Bags – a well-woven story of dedication in a rainforest setting.
The February presentation to U3A was a fascinating lecture from Jacky McLaren, the founder of Borneo Bags.
Jacky began her working life as an agricultural scientist in the UK but moved to New Zealand to undertake agricultural research in the Hawkes Bay. She subsequently accepted a teaching role in Brunei where she taught for two decades. During trekking expeditions across Borneo, she came into direct contact with one of the last remaining semi-nomadic tribes in Asia — the Penan. Located deep in the rainforests of Borneo, the Penan are amongst the last of the hunter gatherers, noted for their practice of ‘molong’ which means never taking more than necessary. The current Penan population is estimated to be around 15,000 to 20,000 persons but is sadly in decline. These originally minimalistic hunters were Christianised by missionaries of the Borneo Evangelical Mission and although they were baptised, they still remained living in their rainforest homeland. They traditionally ate local plants, which were also used for medicine, while they hunted the indigenous animals whose hides were used for clothing and shelter.
In the 1960s, the Indonesian and Malaysian governments embarked on extensive logging programmes throughout Borneo. This was followed by several hydroelectric development projects and, more recently, by the widespread development of the palm oil industry. The Penan lands are now under severe threat or already lost, due to the wholesale devastation of the rainforests . This loss of habitat and of so many of Borneo’s indigenous flora and fauna has had a disastrous effect on the tribal peoples. The Penan tribes have lost their food sources, their shelter and many highly significant local medicines. The Penan people have had no option but to leave the forests, live adjacent to the logging camps and for the men to work for the logging companies that are destroying their traditional way of life.
Jacky has helped to establish the Penan Women Project and
Helping Hands Penan charities whose aim is to educate and empower the Penan women to keep alive their traditional skills in weaving. The weaving was traditionally based on the indigenous resources of bamboo, but the loss of habitat has forced them to switch to synthetic but more durable materials. The Penan’s weaving skills have now been channelled into the production of attractive and useful baskets and related products. All funds raised through the weaving products are channelled back to support the tribal people who now live on the margins of the logging camps in the area. Jacky is currently marketing and selling these products through her website: Borneobags.com and several retail outlets throughout New Zealand.
There was some discussion among U3A members after the presentation about the ever-expanding use of the environmentally disastrous palm oil kernels by the New Zealand Dairy industry. Greenpeace has reported that New Zealand has become the World’s largest importer of palm oil kernel extracts/expellers (PKE) and it is questionable whether or not New Zealand’s current clean-green image for dairy products can be sustained by our growing use of this PKE which is blended with maize as a high protein feed substitute for our dairy industry.
Pictured: Jacky McLaren with the Headman of the Penan Tribe.
NEXT MEETING: Friday, 13 March 2026
SPEAKER: Professor Rod Jackson of the Faculty of Medicine, Epidemiologist. His talk is entitled, “You are What you Eat and It’s Never Too Late To Change.”
I joined the Labour Party because I believe in an active progressive state and the power of collective action.
Serving as an MP has only strengthened that conviction, but it has also made me wary of a familiar political reflex. The compulsion, when problems become complex, or the pressure to be efficient increases, is to pull control into the centre, to centralise power.
In my portfolio work on the prevention of family and sexual violence where the stakes are devastatingly high, I have felt that pull myself. The urgency to prevent harm to survivors makes the promise of a single, standardised, centrally directed solution deeply tempting. Yet, experience has shown me that when solutions are detached from the communities in which the problems are lived, they often fail. Centralisation may appear efficient in the short term. Over time, however, it carries real risks, not only of inefficiency, but also of poor decision making and subtle forms of political corruption.
Legal scholar, Zephyr Teachout, whose work on democracy and corruption I have previously recommended on my socials, argues that when local communities are excluded from decision making, democratic legitimacy weakens and public faith in the process erodes. In Slow Democracy, Teachout makes the case that local decision making is not a procedural nicety, it is the foundation of social cohesion. When people come together, face-to-face, to deliberate on land use, affordable housing, efficient transport or public safety, they commit to listening, compromise and shared responsibility. That was always the original promise of participatory democracy. It builds trust between neighbours who might otherwise remain strangers and it allows people to see one another as co-authors of solutions rather than bitterly opposed adversaries.
At a time when the current Government's increasingly evident enthusiasm for consolidation is driving citizens towards disengagement, suspicion and antagonism, empowering people to shape change is more important than ever. When communities step back, a vacuum forms and it is quickly filled by concentrated interests, partisan corporations and political insiders. With fewer eyes on increasingly complex decisions, private power more easily bends public institutions away from their collective purpose.
A stark example is the Government's approach to Auckland's housing shortage. With the problem at crisis levels, I understand the impatience that drives calls to override local resistance and push development through. But bypassing process does not guarantee better outcomes. It often produces worse ones by ignoring local realities and silencing community voices. Plan Change 120 makes the risk clear. A proposal meant to proceed through public consultation may instead face a cabinet level veto claimed by David Seymour, allowing him to determine where development is allowed to proceed. On what local knowledge will he rely? To whose advice will he be listening? Will there be interest beyond each local community's being taken into account? Allowing a small, distant and hardly disinterested group to overrule what should be a community driven process is not decisive leadership, it is exclusion dressed up as efficiency and pragmatism.
In such a situation, political calculation seeps into decisions that should rest on evidence and community need. The further decision makers are from the people affected, the easier it becomes for public purpose to blur into political convenience.
Politics becomes something done to people, not by people. A commitment to local democracy is our insurance policy against the sort of corruption, influence, peddling and poor judgement Teachout warns of. It also produces decisions that endure because they are rooted in the communities they shape. It is the mechanism through which local issues are debated, managed and delivered by the people who live with their consequences.
If central government constrains Auckland's planning autonomy while reshuffling responsibilities without granting fiscal authority and meaningful control, the council risks becoming little more than a delivery arm for poorly defined and locally irrelevant priorities, rather than a genuine steward of self-government.
New Zealand's democracy will not be secured simply by who occupies the Beehive. Its long-term health depends on leaders willing to share power, trust the many and varied communities that make up this wonderful country and invest in the often unglamorous but essential craft of local government. If we are serious about democratic decline, we must renew our commitment to the integrity of local decision-making into the act of involvement of the people it serves.
It seems we are beginning this year, by pining for life 10 years ago. 2016 has been called the ‘last normal year’, a time before the pandemic and global instability.
This nostalgic trend is reflected in social media. People post images from 2016 or use a ‘2016 filter’ to make pictures look faded and comforting in warm colours.
Whatever your recollections of 2016, we thought it was time to look back to the most popular books of that year. Maybe you have read some of them and the titles spark memories of your life back then. Or, maybe, these books provide suggestions for your next read.
Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us, was a massive hit and by 2019 had sold one million copies globally, thanks in part to featuring on BookTok. The book also spurred a sequel and movie. If you do like romance novels with some grit, then this is the book for you. There is a dark undercurrent of domestic violence that runs through the novel, that ultimately questions the nature of love.
Another blockbuster turned into a movie was Paula Hawkins’ debut novel The Girl on the Train. A psychological thriller about an alcoholic’s daily train commute and her fixation on a couple, Megan and Scott, who also travel on the train. Things get tense when Megan vanishes.
From commercially successful books to critical hits. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, received a huge amount of praise and awards. It was one of the top books voted by Goodread Readers, won a Pulitzer and was praised by then US president Barak Obama. This is the story of a young slave on the run from a Georgia plantation, heading along the Underground Railway (which in this novel becomes an actual railway) towards freedom.
The last book is nonfiction, Olivia Laing’s The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone. It is a memoir of the author’s lonely time in New York combined with an analysis of artists who also lived in the Big Apple. It is a very personal and inventive way of looking at the topic of isolation. If you have not read anything by this author this is a great starting point.
LEYS INSTITUTE LITTLE LIBRARY, 14 Jervois Road, T: 09 377 0209, www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz leysinstitutelibraryponsonby@aklc.govt.nz ANY PAGE OF
LEE:
AUCKLAND’S COUNCIL’S RECORD 7.9% RATES INCREASE
Further proof council doesn’t have a revenue problem – it has a spending problem.
The following is a transcript of my comments during the debate at the 3 February meeting of the Governing Body, regarding council’s response to the Government’s rate capping legislation. Link: youtu.be/3ZGWIDLChxg?t=8135 (approximately 2:15 to 2:22)
“I think we have to be very careful about getting into a parallel universe situation here, where we, Auckland Council, the ‘Super City’, become very defensive when the Government – even by implication – questions our financial management. I think that would be unwise. The wording of this submission is unwise in my view, in the way it is dismissive of the Government’s attempt to respond to growing public concerns about out-of-control council rates – not just in Auckland but across New Zealand.
"We could be well be out of step and out of touch with the public. The Government is facing an election and so it is obviously very aware and understandably sensitive about how people feel about council rates. And well they might be. People are fed up with the ever increasing cost of rates and the diminishing return the people of Auckland in particular, are getting from those rates. This very much suggests we have a systemic problem in this council which we appear to be in denial about.
"This council over the last 10 years has taken about $15 billion dollars in rates. We intend to take another $3.2 billion in the coming year. People are being squeezed. Of course there are all sorts of other charges as well. Watercare charges for one which, like rates, always go up. This is the real cost of living challenge that our people are facing, including the cost of groceries and of power. Mortgage interest rates can be a real concern when they go up but interest rates also go down. Council rates never go down. They always go up and up. And what the public get back seems to be less and less.
"Throughout the council’s submission document there are many references to the strategic challenges we are facing –infrastructure, transport, rail and so on. These are big ticket
items, no doubt about that. But our financial management record here is troubling. A councillor has talked about the costs the Government directly or indirectly imposes on us. That’s a fair point, but we never push back.
"A good example is KiwiRail’s rail network access charges. This situation does not reflect on KiwiRail as much as on us and our commercial competence. Since 2021, we have had 595 days of network shutdowns, 180 full days with no train services at all. And, at the same time, at the beginning of those five years, this council was paying KiwiRail $35 million a year in network access charges, essentially rent to the landlord. Now we are paying $92 million a year to this landlord and we have agreed to increase that by another $10m. And if you take that analogy further, it’s like the house we are renting has rooms that are not serviceable, but we still happily, without question, without pushback, without challenge, continue to pay rent increases. In fact, people in here have stood up and tried to justify this. [Not to forget that over the same period, as a consequence, our rail patronage has collapsed from 21 million trips in early 2020 to 13.07 million trips in 2025. But it’s the long suffering ratepayers who bear the costs for this incompetence.]
"I think we need to own that we have a fundamental problem here, rather than the Mayor talking about the cost of baked beans and other nonsense. In this submission we should be saying, yes, we recognise there is a problem with respect to our costs, and we are serious about working with you on solving it. But no, we will not say that. We are in denial.
"The fact is, given the enormous amount of money we have been collecting from householders and the enormous amount of money we have been spending, Auckland Council doesn’t have a revenue problem – it has a spending problem. And the people of Auckland, I understand about 75% in public opinion polls, have had enough. It would be wise for us to listen a little more carefully, rather than getting into denial and living in a parallel universe – a state of affairs that cannot last for much longer.” (MIKE LEE) PN www.mikelee.co.nz
MIKE
Mike Lee ’The people of Auckland have had enough'
KEN RING: WEATHER BY THE MOON AUCKLAND WEATHER DIARY, MARCH 2026
March is drier than the rain average, with above average sunshine and cooler temperatures.
The first half of the month may be wet but this clears for a mainly fine second half. The first week has the lowest pressures. The heaviest falls of the month, which may bring flash flooding may be around the end of the second week.
The last week may be the sunniest with the highest pressures. The barometer may average 1018. The best days for weekend activities are 21st/22nd and 28/29th
For fishermen, the kingtide is on the 4th with a lesser king tide on the 20th. The best fishing bite times in the east may be
around dusk times of 3rd-5th and 18th-20th. Bite chances are also good around lunchtimes of 11th-13th and 25th-27th.
For gardeners, planting is best on 1st-2nd, and 27-31st (waxing moon ascending); and pruning is best 13th-18th, (waning moon descending). For preserving and longer shelflife, harvest crops or flowers around the neap tides of the 13th and 28th. (KEN RING) PN
Allow 24-hour error for all forecasting. For future weather for any date, and the 2026 NZ Weather Almanacs, see www.predictweather.com
Opinions expressed in Ponsonby News are not always the opinion of Alchemy Media Limited & Ponsonby News.
PONSONBY NEWS ONLINE...
In case you missed the news you will be aware that we are now going fully online. I love print and have been in the magazine business since 1990, I will miss those days. Thank you to all the locals who supported our Give a Little campaign. Sadly, we didn’t quite reach our target. It’s been a tough old year and going fully online will bring us more readers, which in turn gives our loyal advertisers more bang for their buck. You can also comment on the newsfeed stories. And remember we love letters to the editor. (MARTIN LEACH)
URGENT PROCESS SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A POLITICAL TOOL
I was disappointed to see City Vision members of the Waitematā Local Board use the urgency provisions in Standing Orders to adopt a formal board position opposing the Government’s proposed Move-On Orders.
Whatever one’s personal view on the policy, it is not an urgent matter requiring procedural shortcuts.
Any amendment to the Summary Offences Act will go through a full parliamentary process. There will be public submissions, select committee scrutiny, expert advice and debate in the House. This will take months. There was no immediate deadline, no emergency and no event that required the board to suspend normal process to declare its position.
Standing Orders exist to ensure good governance. Urgency provisions are there for genuinely time-critical matters – natural disasters, funding deadlines, unforeseen events requiring immediate decisions. They are not intended as a mechanism for political positioning on national policy debates. Using them this way risks undermining confidence in local democratic processes and diminishes the board’s credibility.
Local Board Member Caitlin Wilson initially instigated the board’s statement opposing Move-On Orders. After questions were raised about the potential for a conflict of interest, given her employment with the Auckland City Mission, the matter was subsequently passed to another City Vision board member to progress.
Turning to the substance of the issue, the Government’s proposed Move-On Orders represent a shift in how we manage disorderly behaviour in public spaces. The changes would give Police the power to direct individuals to leave a specified area for up to 24 hours where their behaviour is disruptive, intimidating or obstructive. The proposal is designed to give frontline officers a practical tool to intervene earlier, before situations escalate.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell has been clear about the intent:“This is about public safety and providing our frontline with additional enforcement powers to ensure the public can feel and are safe.” That focus on public confidence is important. Auckland Central is vibrant, busy and increasingly dense, people need to feel comfortable using our streets and town centres. Retailers, hospitality operators, residents and visitors all rely on that sense of safety.
The proposed powers would apply to individuals aged 14 and over. A written notice could require someone to move a reasonable distance away from a location for up to 24 hours, with penalties for non-compliance. This is about behaviour and providing Police with practical discretion.
The behaviour in question can include aggressive begging, intimidation, obstruction of footpaths or shop entrances, repeated harassment of passers-by, or conduct that makes people feel unsafe. These are real concerns raised regularly by residents and business owners.
For retailers, this is an increasing issue. When someone is sleeping in a shop doorway, aggressively approaching customers for money, or creating an atmosphere of disorder immediately outside a premises, it directly affects foot traffic and trade. Small businesses already face rising costs and economic pressure. Expecting them to manage persistent street disorder themselves is neither fair nor realistic.
None of this dismisses the complex social issues that can sit behind street disorder. Enforcement alone will never solve those problems. Move-On Orders are not a substitute for investment in mental health services, addiction treatment or long-term housing supply. The Auckland City Mission should be legally recognised as a place of refuge within any MoveOn framework. There must always be somewhere safe and appropriate for vulnerable people to go.
But we should also acknowledge the lived experience of residents and businesses seeking practical solutions. Supporting Police with proportionate powers to address genuinely disruptive behaviour is, in my view, part of maintaining Auckland Central as a welcoming, vibrant and safe community.
Process matters in democracy; Elected Members should take it seriously.
To contact Sarah Trotman, in her capacity as a C&R Member, email her at sarahtrotman@outlook.com
To contact her, in her capacity as an Elected Member of Auckland Council’s Waitematā Local Board, email her at sarah.trotman@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or you can give her a call on M: 021 487 583. (SARAH TROTMAN, ONZM)
TE RIMUTAHI UPDATE MARCH
The cultural components of the design.
The name Te Rimutahi translates to the lone rimu tree, referring to a sacred tree that once stood where Ponsonby and Karangahape Roads intersect today. For mana whenua, Te Rimutahi also refers to the whole of the Ponsonby ridgeline, a traditional walking track that linked Maungawhau and Te Oka pā. This track was an important trading route, enabling interactions and connections between people and resources. The very same types of activities that still take place along the ridge line today!
An understanding of the cultural context, history and narratives was developed for Te Rimutahi, with support from Mervyn Kerehoma and Graham Tipene from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and Paora Puru from Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua. We are hugely grateful that they also collaborated on the development of the design for the civic space. We are very conscious of the greater result their involvement created.
The name Te Rimutahi was gifted to this project by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Sited above the canopy roof line on Ponsonby Road, their beautifully designed font, which holds significant mana and identity, showcases the name.
Graham Tipene (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Haua, Ngāti Manu), worked closely with the designers at LandLAB to develop the narratives and cultural expression elements within the project.
The overarching narrative is the rimu tree, which provided inspiration through its leaves, form, colours, textures and associated ecologies. Adding to the kōrero, the rimu tree is a taonga species, as the bark, leaves and gum may be used as a rongoā (medicine).
The red colour of the wood, berries, sap and gum is referenced throughout the site. There is also another older narrative, that the red colour comes from the rimu tree absorbing the blood of Tuna-roa, a taniwha killed by Maui in battle*. Rimu is a hardwood that provided Māori with one of their most effective war weapons – the long spears used to defend forts and barricades.
In our opinion, the hero of these cultural expression elements is the vertical marker located at the top of the site, which references the lone rimu tree. This marker welcomes people
2026
to the site, is a grounding element that embeds the original kōrero of this place, creating a strong presence and cultural connection within the street frontage. We think this is a significant first for the area. The scale and representation of mana whenua kōrero (stories) connect Māori identity into our built environment.
The marker’s perforations are stylised rimu leaves and a pūrerehua (moth), Isonomeutis amauropa, which is found in rimu-dominated forests. The larvae of the moth cocoon themselves under the bark of the tree before transforming into a beautiful pūrerehua. The kōrero of the moth symbolises the connection to marama (the moon), rimu ecologies and the wider context of the site.
Through the site, multiple engraved circular steel inlays reference the original landscape, such as fallen rimu leaves and the nearby Waikuta and Tunamau streams, which flowed from this ridgeline into Te Waitematā. These are referenced through the identifiable Graham Tipene-style designs etched upon the inlays.
The retained canopy structure provides a wānanga (learning) space with ceiling lights representing whetū (stars/ constellations) and Ranginui (the sky father), with the ground plane lighting reflecting the relationship and connection to Papatūānuku (the earth mother).
So, come, immerse yourself in the culture, beauty and history of Te Rimutahi. Bravo!
For more information or to contact the Friends of Te Rimutahi (formerly the CLDG), see our website 254ponsonbyrd.org.nz Instagram te_rimutahi_ Facebook Te Rimutahi or 254 Ponsonby Road.
With special thanks to Bela Hinemoa Grimsdale, Kaihoahoa Whenua (Landscape Architect) & Kaiwhakahāere, (Studio Manager) at LandLAB, from her Raumati Kōrero for NZILA at Te Rimutahi on 29 January, 2026**. (JENNIFER WARD)
*sacred-texts.com
** Full text link www.254ponsonbyrd.org.nz/ uncategorized/raumati-korero-nzila/
photography: Sam Gould
ARE YOUR OVERSEAS ASSETS ON IRD’S RADAR?
In a suburb as vibrant and globally connected as Ponsonby, it’s common for residents to have financial ties that stretch far beyond New Zealand.
Whether you’re a Kiwi who has long since returned from their OE, a new arrival drawn to our shores, or a long-term local with international investments, your financial world is likely bigger than you think. And, in this interconnected world, IRD is paying closer attention.
The Tax World is Getting Smaller
Gone are the days when overseas assets were 'out of sight, out of mind'. New international agreements and data-sharing technology means IRD now have a much greater visibility of taxpayers' overseas investments coupled with a much larger budget for audits and investigations. It’s crucial to understand your obligations rather than hoping for the best.
Decoding Your Digital Dollars: Cryptocurrency
If you've ventured into the world of cryptocurrency, it’s important to know that profits are generally taxable in New Zealand. The IRD considers cryptoassets to be a form of property, and any gains from selling or exchanging them are typically treated as income. IRD now has unprecedented access to cryptotransaction data from exchanges both here and overseas. We are increasingly seeing taxpayers being issued with information request letters in relation to crypto activity.
Overseas Pensions and Investments
That pension you built up in the UK on your OE, or the shares you own in a US tech company are also on the IRD’s radar. The rules for taxing foreign superannuation and pensions can be complex, and how lump sums or regular payments are treated often depends on when you became a New Zealand tax resident and when you access the funds. Similarly, most interests in foreign investment funds, overseas companies or managed funds are subject to New Zealand's Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) rules once your investment cost exceeds NZ$50,000.
Don’t forget the basics
Beyond complex investment structures, many simpler forms of overseas income are also taxable to New Zealand residents.
This includes:
Rental income from a property you own abroad. Interest earned from an overseas bank account (and potentially foreign exchange gains/losses).
Income from an overseas trust where you are a beneficiary.
A Tax Welcome for New Residents
For those newly arrived in New Zealand, there is a significant, but temporary, tax advantage. If you have not been a tax resident here for the last 10 years, you may qualify as a ‘transitional resident’. This provides a four-year exemption from New Zealand tax on most types of foreign-sourced income such as interest, dividends, and rent from overseas properties. This one-off grace period is designed to give you time to structure your financial affairs.
Burying your head in the sand is no longer a viable option. Taking a proactive approach to understanding your tax obligations is the best way to avoid a future issue. If you wish to discuss any of your tax obligations, get in touch with the team at Johnston Associates for an initial chat. PN
Disclaimer – While all care has been taken, Johnston Associates Chartered Accountants Ltd and its staff accept no liability for the content of this article; always see your professional advisor before taking any action that you are unsure about.
ARE YOU A SENIOR LEADER IN YOUR ORGANISATION, OR ASPIRING TO BE ONE?
Management magazine strives to inspire New Zealand leaders with insights and critical future-based thinking that helps you define who you are as a leader, how you want to lead and learn how others want to be led.
If you want to hone your leadership skills and tap into your aspirations, join our nationwide readers who turn to our digital publications for ideas and global perspectives that may change the way you think and the way you lead.
Visit www.management.co.nz to discover more, or scan the QR code to subscribe to our digital issue for free.
PHIL
PARKER: FAB FIVE FOR MARCH
Welcome back! Here’s a selection of fantastic NZ wines for the start of 2026, including two wines from Raglan’s sole winery.
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon
Blanc 2025 - $35 approx
Lovely wine and a definite move away from the conventional Marlborough ‘smack in the mouth with a grassy lemon’ style. Intense flavours of gooseberry, fresh-picked black currant and passionfruit. Medium bodied, backed by soft citrus acids. 13%ABV and a tangy lengthy finish.
Food match: Whole barbecued fish or freshly steamed mussels.
Available: thegoodwine.co.nz and saintclair.co.nz
Loveblock Tee Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2023
(Vegan, Organic, Sulphur free)
Ranked #33 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year for 2025, this wine was made using zero sulphur by substituting tannin from green tea leaves as a natural antioxidant. Loveblock is Kim and Erica Crawford’s totally organic label, based in Marlborough. Again, an atypical Marlborough sav. Complex and multilayered, with gooseberry, orange marmalade, sweet basil, pineapple, Earl Grey tea and a hint of mandarin citrus.
Food Match: Aperitif with cheese board or with Vietnamese cuisine.
Available: Sadly, but deservedly, largely sold out. Sad face.
19 Crimes ‘Hard Chard’ Southeastern Australia
Chardonnay 2024 - $15
A total bargain. Full-bodied, buttery Aussie style with loads of flavour. Toasty vanilla oak, canned peach, crème brûlée, grapefruit marmalade, clover honey, fresh cut pineapple and
From a tiny winery overlooking the rugged Raglan West Coast. A lifestyle project for David and Haylee Jaques and their two daughters, Zoe and Elyse. Barrelled Wines offers boutique accommodation and a small selection of estategrown wines. David is a surfie and self-taught winemaker and hosts tastings in his modern home/cellar door venue, with spectacular views over the coastline.
The wine: just a tad of sweetness in an off-dry style. Hints of raspberry and black berry summer fruits. Soft acids in an easy drinking style. Ideal for summer evenings near the beach.
From a cool, low-yielding vintage. Bright red fruit flavours, with boysenberry, cassis, dark chocolate and a hint of black pepper. Medium acids and fine tannins.
Food match: Barbecue steak or a rich tomato-based pasta.
Available: from Cellar Door 1638 Whaanga Road Raglan barrelledwinesraglan.co.nz (PHIL PARKER) PN
www.finewinetours.co.nz, phil.parker@xtra.co.nz
FOOD TOURS
Your host, Phil Parker, wine writer
· Boutique tours to Waiheke Island & Kumeu
· Bespoke Fun Wine quizzes by arrangement
DIAMOND WOK
Where tradition meets modern flavour.
Diamond Wok has recently opened in Grey Lynn, bringing a modern take on traditional Chinese wok cooking to the neighbourhood. It is focused on bold flavour, quality ingredients and fast, reliable takeaway services. Diamond Wok aims to become a favourite spot for the local community.
Tell us about Diamond Wok – how did it come about?
Diamond Wok was created as a new chapter inspired by the long-standing success of Diamond Takeaways. Building on many years of experience serving Auckland communities, Diamond Wok brings authentic Chinese wok cooking into a modern takeaway setting in Grey Lynn. The focus is on quality ingredients, strong wok flavour and consistent execution.
Are you dine in or takeaway only?
Diamond Wok is currently takeaway focused. Customers can order in store, by phone, online via our website, or through delivery platforms including Uber Eats.
What are the most popular dishes on the menu?
Most popular dishes are Diamond Special Fried Rice, Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Chicken and Cashew, Chicken Pad Thai and BBQ pork and Prawns Singapore fried noodles.
Your dishes incorporate tradition and modern flavour, can you share with us any methods that bring this fusion together?
We use traditional high-heat wok cooking techniques to achieve depth and aroma, while refining recipes to be lighter and well-balanced to suit modern tastes.
Do you offer catering services for special events? Or have plans for this in the future?
Yes, we do offer catering services for special events.
Anything else you would like to tell us?
Diamond Wok aims to become a trusted neighbourhood favourite, combining experience, authenticity and modern energy in every dish.
You will find Brad Flutey at the Terra & Sprout stall with a broad smile and amazing mushroom products.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Taranaki. I was born in Whanganui and spent my early childhood in a small farming township before moving to Auckland for my teenage years. Later, I followed my mum to the Bay of Plenty when she took on care of my eldest niece.
Tell us about your early career.
I started studying psychology, philosophy, classics and Italian at university, with the idea of becoming a criminal profiler. But sitting in a fish and chip shop one day, questioning my direction, a paving contractor walked in and offered me a job in landscape construction – paving, decks, gazebos, pools. It was very hands-on and deeply creative work. I loved building things that made people’s lives better, and I kept learning my intellectual passions online.
How did Terra & Sprout begin?
When Jess and I were living in Whangārei, to be close to her family, Jess had the idea of farming mushrooms.
Why mushrooms?
Mushrooms can be one of the few truly zero-waste production systems. The byproducts – CO₂ and spent mushroom substrate – are incredibly valuable. We’ve used those byproducts to boost other plants. The spent substrate produces beautiful compost and worm castings with exceptional mineral content, and CO2 can be sent into greenhouses to boost yield. It’s about creating abundance through efficiency and thoughtful design – nothing needs to be treated as waste. That philosophy really resonates with me.
What brought you back to the Bay of Plenty?
As the name suggests, it is a region with plenty to offer. There’s so much happening here economically, socially and for growing food. We love the strong base of spray-free and organic producers. And of course, it’s wonderful being close to my family.
Tell us more about your family.
I met Jess over a decade ago at my sister’s birthday. A decade later, we’re still strong partners in life and in business, with four girls who keep us very focussed. Jess is incredibly good at creating systems and building businesses. She’s my rock.
Tell us about your mushroom products.
We make marinated, dried mushrooms (shroom jerky) –oyster, shiitake and king oyster mushrooms. They’ve got a chewy, earthy texture that a lot of people compare to jerky or biltong. Some of our best customers are biltong fans who can’t believe it’s not meat.
Our dried mushrooms are shelf-stable, simple and nutrient dense. We keep the ingredients list short and honest. People like knowing exactly what they’re eating.
How are customers using your shroom jerky?
People use them in all sorts of ways – chopped through risottos and pasta, sprinkled over salads, as a garnish for avocado toast, folded into omelettes, or just eaten as a snack with hummus.
What are your plans for your business?
We’re exploring better systems for growing some new types of mushrooms – it’s challenging but incredibly exciting. We’re continuing to build a broader food ecosystem – supporting neighbours, helping other growers to develop their own businesses.
What do you enjoy about selling at the market?
The relationships. Food has always been about connections between people, land and the systems that support both.
We get a lot of repeat customers and genuine conversations. The market feels like a family. Stallholders help each other set up, keep an eye out for each other and look after the space together. That sense of shared responsibility makes the market feel safe and alive.
What do you do for fun?
We love to take advantage of all the adventure options close by – paintball, the luge and the adventure park in Rotorua. It's exciting family fun. PN
Born from the rugged beauty of Aotea Great Barrier Island, The Aotea Company is built on a simple idea: creating premium, nature-led products that carry the island’s spirit into everyday life. Founded by Bayard Sinnema, the business blends sustainability, provenance and community into brands that celebrate connection, flavour and the joy of summer.
Leading the portfolio is Barrier Buzz, a naturally bold range of non-alcoholic beverages made with real ingredients and authentic Aotea mānuka honey. Available in Cola, Lemonade and Ginger Beer, each bottle delivers clean, honest refreshment with genuine character — perfect for beach days, boat trips, backyard BBQs or long evenings shared with friends. It’s soda, but with a sense of place.
Complementing this is Stumpy & Chop, a premium selection of sustainably sourced mānuka and kānuka wood splits and chunks designed for BBQ cooks and outdoor fire enthusiasts. With rich aromas and distinctive smoke profiles, Stumpy & Chop elevates everything from low-and-slow brisket to a simple weekend grill. It’s about the ritual of lighting the fire, slowing down and bringing people together around good food and natural flavour.
Together, Barrier Buzz and Stumpy & Chop embody The Aotea Company’s belief in better by nature — products that respect the land, honour local sourcing, and create memorable shared experiences.
Available now and perfectly timed for the warmer months, The Aotea Company invites you to bring a true taste of Aotea into your summer — whether it’s a chilled bottle in hand or the glow of a well-stoked BBQ at dusk.
theaoteacompany.co.nz
BARRIER BUZZ
A range of naturally sweetened sodas with Aotea mānuka honey. @drinkbarrierbuzz
STUMPY & CHOP
Premium mānuka and kānuka splits and chunks for superior BBQ smoking.
www.theaoteacompany.co.nz
DINNER :
Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30pm
LUNCH : Saturday from 12 noon
OPEN 7 DAYS!
NEW tasting menus and À la carte available
$75 Prix Fixe menu on Sunday & Monday
Tuesday : Test Kitchen - $80pp
Champagne Lunch bookings are now open - $120pp
Wednesday/Thursday : BYO & Duck Dinner for two - $95 + $25 corkage
4-Course lunch with a glass of champagne on arrival
Friday & Saturday from 12:00pm
Friday : Steak Frites w Unlimited Truffle Fries - $49.50pp
SUMMER OPENING HOURS
Sunday : Prix Fixe Menu - $75pp
Monday - Sunday 5:30pm - Late
Friday & Saturday lunch 12:00pm - 3:00pm
210 SYMONDS STREET T: 09 377 1911
www.thefrenchcafe.co.nz thefrenchcafe
Photography: Josh Griggs
Photography: Babiche Martens
AGAINST THE BACKGROUND SOUND OF THE CIRCLING PTERANODONS
After several months of cruising from ‘here' to ‘there' and then another few weeks of playing tourist in Europe, it was time to turn south and start the long laborious trek home.
They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step and, in my case, the end of the first step would bring me back ‘down' to Singapore for a few days before finally the welcoming embrace of the 'The land of the long White Cloud’ and a decent cup of coffee on the Strip.
Singapore is always a great choice for a stopover – halfway between here and there, it’s green, it's tropical and always warm. What better way to enjoy a city for a couple of days than to spend your time immersed in a garden?
Now, I have to say that I am not a natural gardener, not by any stretch of the imagination. My neighbours and friends will attest to this and point out my sad example of a city plot. However, even I have to be impressed by the 'Gardens by the Bay' that are unlike any other gardens in the world and that includes our very own Hamilton Gardens.
In one of the World's most sustainable and yet ironically most densely populated countries, Singapore continually strives to remain relevant in the tourist world and keep itself on the list of top places to visit. Gardens by the Bay was originally conceptualised in 2005 by the government to help evolve Singapore into the 'City in a Garden'. Covering the size of 177 football fields on reclaimed land and costing more than $800 million US dollars to develop, it is one of the few countries in the world that is increasing the size of its land and what they are doing with that land is not the least impressive.
Ironically, for an island already covered 50% in plants, they began the project by importing millions of dollars worth of exotic trees and plants from all around the world, including four 500-year-old olive trees from Spain, to create a garden blessed with over one and a half million plants. Housed in specially created nurseries, they were left to acclimatise before being moved to the site once the buildings were completed.
The park's innovative architecture sports 18 tall steel and concrete trees soaring high out of the ground. The Super Tree Grove towers over a number of huge air conditioned conservatories covering over 20,000sqm, full of planting from lands far and wide.
The trees are choreographed in the evening in an ever popular lighting display that can be seen from all over the CBD.
Amongst the skyways and orchid displays, formal gardens and sculptures, I, always on the hunt for a good dinosaur, was immediately drawn to 'Jurassic World - the Experience'.
The 'Cloud Forest', contained within a 58m high conservatory and covering two acres, hosts over 72,000 plants and is also the habitat of a large number of prehistoric dinosaurs and plants, creating an atmospheric and realistic Jurassic experience. Licensed by Universal Studios, it brings the Jurassic Park movie to life and features, amongst others, a
Tyrannosaurus Rex and the more friendly Brachiosaurus which greet you from amongst the ancient cycads and misty ferns. Against the background sound of the circling Pteranodons and a raging 35-foot waterfall, hides a nest of undefined hatchlings ready to hatch. What species they are we know not – yet. Here, Sam Neil would feel right at home.
Climbing the mountain through the fog and mist and avoiding the rampaging T-Rex, the expansive gardens outside are laid before you through soundproof windows where no one can hear your screams. The experience culminates in an interaction with a handler, trying to control some Velociraptors attempting to escape their cages.
But the impossible challenge is to see all of the park in one visit – the Sculpture Garden, Bird Garden, the Wetland lakes and meadows, the orchid houses and flowers – it’s all a sensory overload and between the exoticness, colours, plants and reptiles, it’s all you can do to keep your sanity and not overburden your brain in one day.
I’m almost looking forward to my barren plot and the sanctity of the marauding tuis and pesky wax eyes and, of course, the odd feral cat. The next sector, home in a steel tube, will seem relaxing in comparison, although I will be checking under the seat for any errant raptors. (ROSS THORBY) PN
SARITA SOLVIG BLANKENBURG: AYURVEDA – THE ART OF LIVING WELL
The Wisdom Years: Navigating Peri-menopause and Menopause with Ayurveda.
Menopause marks a transformative stage in a woman’s life. It is often described as a time of wisdom, confidence and self-assurance. Yet for many women in Aotearoa, this transition feels anything but empowering.
Research shows that around 70 percent of New Zealand women experience significant peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms. Hot flushes, night sweats, interrupted sleep, anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, weight changes, low libido, dry skin and brittle hair are common. These symptoms are not minor inconveniences. They can affect wellbeing, relationships and everyday life.
Hormone Replacement Therapy remains a conventional option. While prescriptions in New Zealand have increased in recent years, many women are also seeking complementary approaches that support the whole person rather than focusing solely on hormone levels.
Life does not have to feel like a struggle. Imagine moving through perimenopause and menopause with stable energy, balanced temperature regulation, restorative sleep, emotional steadiness and mental clarity. Ayurveda offers a holistic pathway to support this natural balance.
The Ayurvedic View on Menopause
Ayurveda, the ancient medical science of India, sees menopause not as a disease but as a natural life transition. From an Ayurvedic perspective, menopause reflects an imbalance of the three doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha with Vata playing the central role.
Midlife marks the beginning of the Vata stage of life. Vata is governed by the elements air and ether and carries qualities of dryness, lightness and movement. When aggravated, it can manifest as insomnia, anxiety, dryness, irregular cycles and fluctuating emotions, symptoms that closely resemble many peri-menopausal and menopausal experiences.
Daily Ayurvedic Practices That Restore Balance
Ayurveda emphasises simple but powerful daily habits that help restore equilibrium.
Diet
Choose warming, nourishing and grounding foods such as cooked grains, soups, stews, seasonal vegetables and healthy fats. Warming spices like ginger and cinnamon support digestion, while regular meal times calm the nervous system and stabilise Vata.
Routine
Consistent sleep and wake times are essential. A predictable rhythm for meals, rest and activity supports hormonal balance and emotional resilience.
Morning rituals
Tongue scraping and oil pulling help remove Ama, described in Ayurveda as metabolic toxins while supporting digestive and oral health.
Self-massage
Daily Abhyanga using warm medicated oil nourishes tissues, supports detoxification and calms the nervous system. It is particularly beneficial for dryness and anxiety.
Movement and breath
A balanced combination of cardiovascular exercise, strengthening practices such as yoga or Pilates, meditation and pranayama supports vitality and mental clarity.
Reducing alcohol is also helpful, as it can trigger hot flushes and disrupt sleep during perimenopause.
Herbal Support for Hormonal Harmony
In my clinic, many clients navigating peri-menopause inspired the creation of the Sattva Botanicals Women’s Health Formula, combining four traditional Ayurvedic herbs selected to support this transition.
This formula can be used alongside HRT without known interactions and may offer gentle support for women who wish to gradually reduce hormone therapy under professional guidance.
Embrace This Precious Phase
Peri-menopause and menopause do not have to diminish your quality of life. With nourishing food, supportive routines, mindful movement and targeted herbal support, this stage can become one of clarity, confidence and renewed vitality.
If you are experiencing symptoms, consider booking an Ayurvedic consultation for a personalised treatment plan. If you would like to learn how to use food as medicine and cook according to your dosha and the season, join our Ayurvedic Cooking Demonstration and Dinner on March 18 at 6 pm at the Life Centre on Jervois Road in Auckland..
Angela loves the whole process of creating a piece of photographic work.
Everything from the experience of the professionally crafted shoot itself to the anticipation of showcasing the images at the personalised viewing sessions and presenting the final results. This art is delicately retouched and handcrafted, digital files or finished printed framed art pieces.
"Great photographs capture a decisive moment, a single instant where elements align to tell a rich, complex story. Iconic images document a scene, they evoke deep emotional responses and invite the viewer's imagination to fill in the narrative." Over two decades producing these decisive moments for Auckland customers, Angela is still celebrating their personal lives and creating marketing images for their business usage.
Enjoying people and their uniqueness, Angela is often amazed at how incredible people are – individually unique, talented real-life characters. How they are managing their time, balancing earning incomes with their partners, spending quality time with their children, growing them into communityimpacting adults.
Angela loves creating gorgeous artistic images of children, bringing their uniqueness out into that single image that you will hang on your wall. Managing a connective family image that talks about the relationships of that day in time for years to enjoy.
Enjoying art, in every area of life, is who Angela is. It's the top reward, after all the hard work and effort, buying professional images that say 'we made it' is a real treat. She is always buying art herself, paintings, pieces of pottery and employing photographers herself. She loves a trendy, arty home, indooroutdoor garden space that encourages her creativity and
allows customers to visit her home studio based in Grey Lynn, enjoying this ever-developing space.
With business imagery, for all marketing images, she considers styling, your occupation, what you are trying to really project and choosing clothing that reflects your industry with suitable scenes using props that are modern and influential, adding great lighting. Key shots are a real craft to obtain.
"The experience of being photographed is always entertaining and colourful. I really love seeing people enjoying the process and foster an environment where people are comfortable to be themselves."
If you are self-employed, then consider getting around to those images that represent you and your product. Those top shots suitable for billboards, websites, digital and printed. Angela keeps innovating, evolving, navigating marketplace trends.
WEST END LAWN TENNIS CLUB'S COMEBACK STORY
Nestled in the heart of Auckland, West End Lawn Tennis Club has been a community favourite since 1932.
For decades, it's been the go-to spot for locals to enjoy a hit, connect with mates and share a laugh over a drink at the bar. But in January 2023, heavy rains hit hard, flooding the clubhouse downstairs under two feet of water and damaging the six courts badly.
Faced with the challenge of rebuilding, the community spirit kicked in. After successfully negotiating with loss adjusters and insurers, members, volunteers and tradespeople got to work stripping back the lower level to its original timber. For 18 months, coaches and personnel had to be based out of a portacabin, while the upstairs stayed open for events and bar sales – keeping revenue flowing and the club alive.
Phase two was the real game-changer: the biggest court upgrade since the club's early days. Experts in civil engineering, surveying, drainage, concrete and turf came together to install top-notch drainage, raise all six courts by 15-20cm with a solid concrete base and finish with fresh turf, new nets and posts. The goal? Future-proof the surfaces against heavy weather. Auckland Council stepped up with a funding grant from its Sport, Recreation and Facilities Investment Fund, helping to make it possible.
After two months closed for the works, the club reopened fully operational. On Sunday, 15 February, they celebrated with a fantastic official opening ceremony. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Tom Irvine from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei joined the
FROM FLOODING TO FLOURISHING:
day, adding real mana to the occasion. Now, those six worldclass courts are ready for action.
The energy is back in full swing. Every Friday at 6pm, the free Community Open Night draws people in for casual mixed rotating doubles, followed by a cold drink and good chat at the bar. It's open to everyone – no membership required. With the centenary just six years away, West End is heading into the future full of confidence.
If you're looking to join the rally, West End Lawn Tennis Club warmly welcomes new members of all ages and skill levels. Whether you're keen to swing a racket or support as a sponsor – gaining visibility in this high-traffic spot (over 10,000 daily foot and vehicle movements past the club) while backing a true community asset – now's the time to get involved. Head down, say hello and be part of the future. Let's make the next chapter even brighter together! For more details, visit the club or check out the website.
WEST END LAWN TENNIS CLUB, 2 Fife Street, T: 09 376 4433, www.westendtennisclub.co.nz
ST MATTHEW’S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA:
'Young & Brilliant' – Sunday 22 March @2.30pm
Making its festival debut with a young and brilliant showcase of classical musicianship, the city’s oldest chamber orchestra presents not one but three concertos and the world premiere of a specially commissioned work by 20-year-old Tāmaki Makaurau composer and pianist Henry Meng.
This is a perfect opportunity to encounter the next generation of classical stars within the timeless and welcoming setting of a St Matthew’s concert.
Junyang (David) Zhu on the oboe is a Year 11 student who began playing the oboe at the age of 10 and made his first concerto debut at 12 with the Auckland Philharmonia. After achievements in New Zealand and Australia, where he has played with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) plus our regional orchestras, he visited the United States studying with some of the prominent oboists. In addition to oboe, he studies piano with Stephen de Pledge and is working toward undergraduate studies in the US in the coming year.
Hayden Chiu aged 15, is a violinist from Auckland. Performing at Carnegie Hall aged eight, he went on to join the NZSO National Youth Orchestra by 11. In an Italian violin competition shortly after, Hayden was named a 2024 NZSO Emerging Artist and subsequently won the Michael Hill National String Competition and received the award for Best Interpretation of a New Zealand Work. Hayden was a 2025 Ysaÿe International Music Competition semi-finalist and performed as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia.
Shan Liu, a 16-year-old pianist at Westlake Boys High School, is achieving remarkable success here and away, with accolades including top prizes at major international competitions such as the Macao International Piano Competition, winning first place at the César Franck International Piano Competition (Belgium) and many more. In New Zealand he has collaborated with the NZSO (and will
return to the stage with the NZSO as a Featured Soloist in their 2026 season) and claimed First Place at the 2025 National Concerto Competition, becoming the youngest winner in the event’s 57-year history.
Henry Meng is a New Zealand pianist and composer who studied at the University of Auckland before moving to the US, to the Eastman School of Music. As a pianist, he has performed with the APO and the CSO. He was the 2023 winner of his university’s Concerto Competition and came second place in New Zealand’s national piano competition of 2024, winning in 2023 and 2025 National Concerto Competitions.
Touring with clarinetist Julian Bliss in 2024, he has appeared at the Gijón International, the World’s Edge and Adam Summer School festivals. As a composer, he was the recipient of the NZSO’s TODD Young Composer’s Award. One of his orchestral pieces, Fanfare, was part of the NZSO’s 2024 concert season.
ST MATTHEW’S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, 187 Federal Street, www.smco.org.nz
Sun 22 March at 2.30pm
Lebrun Oboe Concerto No 1 in D minor Wieniawski Violin Concerto No 2 Op 22 in D minor Meng Commissioned Work
Prokofiev Piano Concerto No 3 Op 26 in C
Cnr of Wellesley & Hobson Street, Auckland City programme
soloists David Zhu, Hayden Chiu, Shan Liu & Henry Meng conductor Michael Joel
THINK GLOBAL. SUPPORT LOCAL. ACT LOCAL. LOVE LOCAL.
We are humans working hard… and we all need help right now…
THE ST PAUL'S MOTTO IS CONFORTARE ESTO VIR – “TAKE COURAGE, BE A MAN."
Ponsonby locals are very familiar with the sight of St Paul’s College students, resplendent in their smart navy uniforms, as they make their way to and from the school half-way down Richmond Road.
St Paul’s is not a large school, but it achieves well beyond its size in every area: sporting, cultural and academic.
The college recently held its annual Achievers Assembly to celebrate the academic results from 2025, which were remarkable. In NCEA Level 2, the college’s pass rate was 90 percent, compared with the national average of 73 percent. At Level 3 the pass rate was even higher at 95 percent, a long way above the national average of 70 percent. Speaking at the Assembly were two St Paul’s old boys who recently qualified as doctors, Dr Joseph Johnston (class of 2019) and Dr Jodeci Namulau’ulu Sio (class of 2013). They spoke passionately about the importance of dreaming big and putting in the work required to meet one’s goals.
On top of these successes in NCEA, came the achievements of St Paul’s young men in the New Zealand Scholarship exam, the highest academic honour that can be gained by secondary school students in Aotearoa New Zealand. Only a tiny number of students pass the Scholarship exam, most of them from schools at the top of the economic ladder. For a school like St Paul’s, whose students mainly come from families with limited resources, to have achieved three Scholarship passes is amazing, and a reflection of years of work from staff and students alike.
Headmaster Keith Simento has led the St Paul’s Scholarship programme for a number of years now, with selected students being encouraged to put in the hours required to be able to attempt the examination. Success in Scholarship requires a special effort both from the young men who have to study for
the exam, and from teachers willing to put in the extra hours to ensure that the students are fully prepared.
The college is now seeing the results from the Scholarship programme, with Finn Lloyd passing in Religious Education, Zephan Pita-Lafaele in Health and Physical Education, and Matthew Blanch in English. They are all multi-talented students, with achievements in many different areas.
Finn was a prefect in 2025, wrote articles and took photographs for the college yearbook, and was awarded the trophy for senior debating. He says that, “St Paul’s is like the New Zealand of New Zealand schools: constantly punching well above our weight, driven by intense pride in our college, and an unwavering desire to achieve whatever we set out to do!” Finn has recently embarked on a law degree at the University of Auckland. His proud mother Jo says of her choice to send her sons to St Paul’s, “A long-term Grey Lynn resident, I’ve watched St Paul’s College with great interest. When the important decision around secondary schooling for my two sons arose, the obvious choice lay just beyond the gates of Marist primary school in Herne Bay. St Paul’s offers an intimate educational environment, one where academic and sporting excellence is expected and a well-rounded graduate, grounded in the Marist Christian tradition is guaranteed. We attended multiple open days at other colleges, but as my son embarks on a legal degree at the University of Auckland with a Scholarship exam and funding under his wings, I know we made the right decision. I encourage anyone local to experience our rich St Paul’s environment.”
Zephan, who served as Deputy Head Prefect in 2025, also captained the 1st XV in the elite Auckland 1A competition. He was a part of the Rugby League 1st XIII team who came runner-up in the National Championship, as well as a member of the College choir ‘Confortare' that won a gold award the 2025 Big Sing Upper North Island Cadenza Final. Zephan was granted a full scholarship worth $75,000 to Lincoln University, where he is studying property management.
Matthew is still at the college, having gained his Scholarship in English at year 12, a truly outstanding achievement. He is enjoying being a college prefect with academic portfolio in
2026, and will be captain of the St Paul’s senior debating team. Matthew takes a coaching role with junior students who are preparing for the challenge of Scholarship exams.
The St Paul’s motto is confortare esto vir – “take courage, be a man” – an ideal embodied by the young men of the college, and one which inspires the students to pursue the highest goals.
For enrolment enquiries please contact enrol@stpaulscollege.co.nz. Ms Brenda Haybittle HOD English, St Paul’s College
Gilbert & George were interviewed by Evan Woodruffe for our August 2022 Issue
Check our Ponsonby News website, and social media pages for the latest information to find out about local businesses and issues. Scan the QR code and sign up via our website to get a reminder when the new issue is published online.
Aquarius (the Water Carrier)
21 January - 19 February
You are such a positive person regardless of what’s bubbling underneath. Do something that makes you happy as often as you can. You know how that accomplished feeling makes you feel. Arrange your life around you rather than anyone else.
Pisces (the Fishes)
20 February - 20 March
You’ve never been one to broadcast your talents. To move forward you may have too. Treat this as a challenge rather than a hurdle and the experience will be much more enjoyable. Keep your emotions in check if you’re able this month.
Aries (the Ram) 21 March - 20 April
Being bold is your speciality and this month is no exception. You can be an extravagant soul and you may have an opportunity to express your creativity. Take it and run with it. You are able to multitask and, with your energy, you can accomplish almost anything.
Taurus (the Bull)
21 April - 21 May
It’s about time you did something new with your life. There may be some sort of conflict with someone close. Whatever path you’re on, you’ll discover that it’s ok to deviate occasionally. You may even find it exciting.
Gemini (the Twins)
22 May - 21 June
Being there for someone as you have been can be so rewarding. And the skills you have allow you to communicate your needs and speed through any chores. Recently, you have been coming up with a few money-making schemes but are sometimes reluctant to act on them. You should follow your gut occasionally.
Cancer (the Crab)
22 June - 22 July
You appear to cloak your feelings in public and go onstage as being a strong don’t let much affect me type but that mask may be slipping. The high level of stress that you operate on ultimately won’t be good for you. But you already know that. Whatever outlet you have that brings you joy, then get on and do it.
Leo (the Lion)
23 July - 21 August
You’re very proud of your history and so you should be. Don’t let anyone be difficult regarding your achievements. Dwelling too much on what you’ve accomplished can be draining. Instead, keep fixed on your current path and do the things that make you happy.
Virgo (the Virgin)
22 August - 23 September
Try and find a place that makes you happy. Being surrounded by people who can be critical about life can have a negative effect on you. You’re about to discover something about yourself that is going to make you happy. Spread it about while you can.
Libra (the Scales)
24 September - 23 October
You have always known that to move forward you sometimes have to let go of the past. Something or someone still has a hold on you and that’s the problem. Address it if you can. Moving forward without baggage is a place you’d like to be.
Scorpio (the Scorpion)
24 October - 22 November
Generally, you have always had a magnetic personality and this month is no exception. People are consistently drawn to you. Even if you don’t need to, make friends and family feel important by sharing your interests and concerns with them.
Sagittarius (the Archer)
23 November - 22 December
Trying something different from what you’re used to can have such benefits. You have to move on from the last few months if you can. There's nothing wrong with looking back, but learn from it.
Capricorn (the Goat)
23 December - 20 January
Your reliability can be a good thing but lately your kindness may have felt stretched. It’s not that you don’t want to be there for anyone, it's just that you have other priorities that need your attention now. Empower your coworkers by giving them the freedom to express themselves.
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