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Fendalton - Ilam D EC E M B E R
20 16
Homestead Reopening Close To Councillor’s Heart BY
JA M IE
O
G O U G H
pening buildings, venues and facilities can be par-for-thecourse as a City Councillor, but no opening that I have done in my time as a City Councillor has meant more to me than the beautifully restored Mona Vale. What makes it of such special significance personally is that it is my family’s historic homestead, with my great-grandfather Tracy Thomas Gough being the last private individual owner of Mona Vale. Following his death it was sold to the Mormon Church and later purchased for public ownership by the Christchurch City Council. T.T. Gough, as he was nicknamed, was the founder of Gough, Gough & Hamer (now known as Gough Group), and although he was passionate about business and tractors - having acquired the Caterpillar heavy machinery dealership for New Zealand in the early 1930s, which we still hold - he also had a passion for horticulture. He shaped the grounds of Mona Vale into what we know today, with the commissioning of renowned landscaper Alfred Buxton to revamp the property, and employing 15 full-time gardeners to maintain it. He added the lily pond and covered the grounds with azaleas, rhododendrons and maples and also raised many rare and delicate plants in the hothouses. In addition to horticulture, he was an avid art collector, and built up one of the largest
private Charles F. Goldie collections in the world. He had around 35 Goldie paintings which lined the walls of the stairway in Mona Vale; making it almost impossible to even see the wallpaper underneath.
One of the properties he bought when expanding the grounds of Mona Vale was the Mill House by the Mona Vale Avenue entrance. He offered the Mill House to the Christchurch City Council, free-of-charge, as
a place of residence for visiting ambassadors and dignitaries to our city. The 2010 and 2011 earthquake sequence ripped the chimneys and outer masonry walls off Mona Vale. However, brick-by-brick, this grand old lady has been painstakingly reassembled and now within its walls is a steel and timber structure that will protect this building for many more years to come. The builders also made a number of fascinating discoveries along the way, including original mosaic tiles under floor coverings at the entry, an ornate pressed metal ceiling and original fireplace breastwork hidden behind wall linings. The restoration work involved deconstructing, photographing, labelling and then reconstructing all of the masonry walls. This has been a significant undertaking and I am delighted to see Mona Vale once again ready to receive visitors and host events, just as it did when my family lived here. Mona Vale means a lot to me, but I believe it holds a special place in the heart’s of many Christchurch citizens. Restoring Mona Vale to its former glory has been an enormous task, but I would urge you to visit it and appreciate the work that has gone into its restoration. Mona Vale is owned by all of us and I look forward to it being protected, loved and utilised for many more generations to come.
Award-Winning Percussionist Joins Uni
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xciting times are ahead for University of Canterbury’s School of Music as American percussionist and Grammy nominee, Dr Justin DeHart is appointed Senior Lecturer of Performance. A member of the internationally renowned Los Angeles Percussion Quartet, Dr DeHart performs a diverse range of musical genres, from classical to pop, world music to electronica. In 2013 his debut solo album, Strange Paths was singled out by percussion industry journal Percussion Notes for its “palette of sounds and intricate weaving of lines” and “mesmerising” quality. “Justin DeHart’s presence adds to the already palpable impact made by Professor Mark Menzies’ appointment as Head of Performance in June,” says Associate Professor Glenda Keam, Head of UC’s
School of Music. Relocating to Christchurch from his native California, Dr DeHart is looking forward to his new appointment at UC as well as joining our local community. “As a senior lecturer of music performance I plan to offer a hands-on experiential education that involves mentorship, collaboration, and innovative research. I want to foster a stimulating environment where individuals can thrive and realize their dreams. It’s a great opportunity for me to help develop the music program at UC at this point in time with the new music building opening in the Arts Centre. I want to make a noise… a beautiful noise, that really adds to the cultural vibrancy of Christchurch.” Dr DeHart joins the School of Music in February 2017.
Join us in donating to the Christchurch City Mission this Christmas Drop off non-perishable food items, blankets and toiletries to any of our offices or simply call 03 351 3002 and we will collect them.
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REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE What a great time to be in Christchurch, Summers arrived, the first of the city’s new shopping complexes are beginning to open, a massive farmers market has just been announced. On the residential property scene the news remains positive - the Canterbury Bluebook is full of plenty of listings and buyer demand remains high. Vendors, however, need to be aware that there is plenty of competition with the number of properties on the market at this time of year. The median sale price over the last two months continues to remain strong at approximately $450,000. Harcourts Holmwood are achieving a massive interest in selling by auction with record numbers choosing this method of marketing and selling their home. If you are contemplating a real estate decision contact one of our sales consultants today. For further information contact:
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CONTACT EDITOR Majka Kaiser info@mintstylestudio.com DESIGN & COPY Majka Kaiser info@mintstylestudio.com FEATURE & SUPPLEMENTS MANAGER Jenny Wright - 03 364 7446 jenny.wright@starmedia.kiwi
PUBLISHER Star Media The Christchurch Star Company Ltd 12 Venture Place, Middleton, Christchurch 8024 P O Box 1467, Christchurch 8140
Tony Jenkins 027 432 2896 tony.jenkins@ harcourts.co.nz
Tony Jenkins is the CEO of Harcourts Holmwood. He has been in real estate for 27 successful years, winning the Best Practice Award in 2009 for his contribution to the real estate industry.
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For all enquires regarding advertising please contact Jenny Wright for the next issue due out March 2017.
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Summer Shakespeare
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very summer Mona Vale hosts the Summer Shakespeare. This coming summer Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona will be performed by Top Dog Theatre. The comedic tale, considered by some to be the bard’s first ever play, will be set in the swinging sixties. The first of Shakespeare’s plays to feature a woman dressing as a boy, this play introduces some of the main themes that are explored in greater depth in his future plays, like love, friendship and infidelity, the conflict between friendship and love, and the foolish behaviour of people in love. The leading men will be played by Noam Wegner (Proteus) and Crisstian Grueber (Valentine) and the leading ladies will be played by Kate Steadman (Julia) and Sammy Raines (Silvia), and will be directed by Anna Willows.
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Providing a fantastic opportunity for Christchurch residents to see a rare performance of Shakespeare, the newly reopened Mona Vale homestead and grounds play host to groups of friends and families who are encouraged to bring picnics, blankets and cushions for matinees and evening performances. Organisers advise outdoor theatre goers to bring warm clothing to beat the chill once the sun goes down. Running from 8-18 February 2017, with matinees at 2pm on Saturday, the show runs for two hours with an interval and has plenty of on site toilets as well as a bar and food stalls. Just $15 for adults and $10 for kids under 18, performances start at 6pm in the evenings and at 2pm on Saturday afternoons. For more information visit www.topdogtheatre.com.
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The team wishes you all a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 99a GLANDOVEY RD (Entrance via Idris Rd), FENDALTON, CHRISTCHURCH 8052 PHONE: 03 351 1188 FAX: 03 351 1138
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Homeware, Fashion & Gifts Abound
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endalton Mall has a new tenant just in time for Christmas shopping. Offering a beautiful selection of hand-picked homewares, clothing and gifts, you are sure to find an array of choices to satisfy your nearest and dearest this Christmas. Deck your halls, living and dining rooms with oodles of festive cheer with Little Freds’ magical array of Christmas decorations and ambient lighting. Handmade porcelain decorations all the way from Germany include snowy white ceramic tea light houses to illuminate the mantel or window sill and hanging ornaments to decorate the tree. If you’re looking for something a little more whimsical, then handcrafted felted wool animal decorations are the answer and can also be used to adorn gifts. Gifts for home-proud friends and family are in abundance with a wide range vases, woven storage baskets, monochrome Aztec rugs, metallic cowhide cushions, occasional indoor and outdoor furniture, plush woollen throws, hurricane lanterns, and designer Danish lighting. At Little Freds they have all the essential elements to create an oasis of calm awat from the hectic world beyond your front door. Their vast range of delicious scented soy candles all have gorgeous packaging from the likes of Australian hand poured candle company, Lanterncove; their pastel hued ceramic vessels and wooden tops can be upcycled into beautiful containers for your jewellery or other bits and bobs afterwards. With an array of mood-enhancing scents like olive leaf and lavender, rustic fig, creamy coconut and jasmine, and marine salt, they make the ideal treat for yourself and others. Kobo Candles are the brainchild of a Japanese woman who now lives in New York. Pure soy candle wax is infused with heavenly scents created by America’s finest boutique fragrance houses, which provide divine aromas that fill the home without overpowering it. Kids are well catered for with a delightful range of adorable party decorations, table toppers, confetti-filled balloons, and fun
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Why choose us: • • • • • • • •
38 years trade experience Honest, approachable, free appraisals Knowledge • Skills • Advice Quality work • Affordable prices All work carried out on premises Make/create your designs Repairs, re-makes, re-models Unique, one off pieces in stock
Immediate in-store quotes Mon-FRi 10-6PM SatuRday 10-2PM
2a Straven Rd
(Cnr Riccarton & Straven Rds)
Ph 03 348 1135
animal masks. A gorgeous selection of colourful baby bibs and dresses, handmade right here in Christchurch from 100 percent organic cotton, make a welcome addition to any tiny tot’s wardrobe, and exquisite hand crafted children’s dolls from Australia’s Alimrose are sure to be treasured by little ones everywhere. Teenage girls will love Little Freds’ contemporary stationery collection that includes beautiful notebooks and diaries, jewellery, pretty packaged soaps, makeup bags and shopping totes that sport hip phrases like “Fashion is cheaper than therapy” and “This bag contains my face.” Keen canine lovers will swoon over the cute doggie loungewear, and gifts for men come in the form of wacky undies and bold patterned socks, organic soda syrups for summer cocktails beside the barbie and artfully wrapped handmade chocolates that make great stocking stuffers or make a great little token to tuck in with a greeting card. With a cherry-picked selection of women’s fashion you’ll find the perfect outfit for your summer holiday and everyday wear. The colour palette ranges from stylish monochrome black and white to inky blues and casual denim basics, to bright sherbet pinks and restful shades of grey. Summer dresses and long tops that can be layered to change with the weather and dressed up or down depending on your mood and occasion, as well as tailored pants and a great range of tops to mix and match. An edited selection of footwear from Nude and Minx has leather sandals to complete any summer outfit, while their comprehensive jewellery range from brands such as Stella + Gemma, Stilen, Urban & French, and Rainey Designs, give that personal finishing touch or make great gifts for any occasion. With new stock arriving weekly Little Freds has something for everyone. Open seven days from 9am on weekdays and from 10am on weekends, pop in or call 03 351 7788 or 027 203 8077.
One stop shop for all your dental needs
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Curated Collection: (CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT) Christmas is coming! Prepare for the festive season of gift-giving at Little Freds while preparing your home for the onslaught of house guests with delightful decorations and home decor solutions, alongside a handpicked selection of gifts for the whole family.
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Children’s Author & Illustrator Honoured
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ith more than 45 national and international awards under his belt, Invercargill born, Christchurch based children’s author, illustrator and educator, Gavin Bishop, ONZM, will receive an honorary doctorate from his alma mater at the University of Canterbury’s Education, Health and Human Development this month. “It has taken a long time for the enormity of this honour to sink in,” Bishop humbly accepts. “Not only is it a recognition of my work as a writer and illustrator of children’s books, but it is the acknowledgement that New Zealand children’s literature is a vibrant, important and exciting art form that speaks to all ages.” Over the past 30 years Bishop has published 70 books, 40 non-fiction stories and 30 educational readers, many of which have been translated into twelve languages, including Māori, and has penned the libretti for two children’s ballets for the Royal New Zealand Ballet and scripts for two television series. His works have been adapted for stage and screen including innovative 3D animated picture books. Bishop’s distinctive ink and watercolour illustrations are a feature of his stories that cover a wide range of topics, including Māori myths and legends, traditional English language tales, children’s readers and stories for older readers that focus on New Zealand’s history. This honourary doctorate comes just three years after being awarded the prestigious New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to children’s literature. Back in the 1960s when Bishop attended UC’s School of Fine Arts where he spent four years earning a diploma with honours (in painting), that was as high in the university degree structure as one could go, so to be given this “lofty degree”, he says, is something he “never dared dreamed of.”
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UC Chancellor Dr John Wood praises Bishop’s contribution to children’s literature, that is commonplace in many educational settings throughtout New Zealand’s mainstream pre-schools and schools, Kohanga Reo and Kura kaupapa Māori. “Overall, Gavin Bishop has made a significant, long-term and outstanding contribution to his own field of endeavour and to New Zealand’s cultural development and understanding and in doing so, has made a major contribution to the wider national and international community. His achievements in children’s literature are highly relevant to the University of Canterbury’s teaching and research in the fields of teacher education, educational studies and leadership. His endeavours have brought credit to himself, his family, and to our university.” With a strong international presence, Bishop has travelled widely as a guest author and speaker, through UNESCO, in Japan, China, Indonesia and the USA, and was a guest lecturer at the Rhode Island School of Design in 1996. Bishop’s significant contribution to children’s literature will be acknowledged in a graduation ceremony on Wednesday 14 December. Bishop is currently emersed in the creation of a new book that is due to be released for Christmas 2017. “I can’t yet divulge the subject matter,” Bishops says, but can say that it’s a “big picture book.”
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With number ones,
high fives and three cheers... Meet the Team
Lynne Macdonald Branch Manager 021 900 774
Darren Williams
Licensed Sales Consultant 0275 740 002
Sue Jenkinson
Licensed Sales Consultant 0274 128 001
Candice Toughey
Licensed Sales Consultant 021 155 2609
Grant Milligan
Licensed Sales Consultant 0274 325 244
Cathy Carter
Licensed Sales Consultant 021 790 168
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Licensed Sales Consultant 0274 347 086
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Licensed Sales Consultant 0272 714 906
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Licensed Sales Consultant 0274 050 287
Steven Marshall
Licensed Sales Consultant 0274 330 401
Getting the good numbers is important in our industry – and why shouldn’t they be?
Selling your property is a significant step with great potential for success or failure. Your real estate consultant can make a huge difference in delivering the success. You need to know your decision is the right one. Holmwood Fendalton leads the way at an individual, team and office level. Within a highly competitive field we regularly feature at the peak, leading our peers in important listing, sales and revenue categories. Get the numbers you want by working with our award-winning team!
51 Holmwood Road, Fendalton 8014 Phone: 03 355 6116 Fax: 03 355 6132 Email: fendalton@harcourts.co.nz holmwood.co.nz
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...you can count on Fendalton!
Join us in donating to the Christchurch City Mission this Christmas
THE GIFT OF
GIVING
Leave us your donations of non-perishable food items, blankets and toiletries, and we’ll deliver them to those most in need.
DONATE TO THE
CHRISTCHURCH CITY MISSION THIS CHRISTMAS
We’re also happy to collect your donations from you, simply call us on 03 355 6116.
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17 Glandovey Road, Fendalton Auction
36 Garreg Road, Fendalton Auction
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30b Jeffreys Road, Fendalton Auction
15 Fendalton Road, Fendalton Priced
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Don’t Worry Be Happy: Buddhism has many rituals, but at its core it offers a reliable method to solve all our daily problems and be happy no matter what. Meditation practitioner and teacher, Martin Luff, says he has learnt to transform life’s every day difficulties, improve his relationships and fulfill his true potential. Kick start your New Year with meditation classes around Christchurch or take respite from everyday life on a meditation retreat at www. meditateinchristchurch.org.
Meditative Equipoise Searching for the meaning of life? Meditation practitioner and teacher, Martin Luff, talks about his revelations, miracles experienced, and advise for others seeking inner peace and happiness. What was your initial introduction to meditation Buddhism? From quite early in life I had burning questions about what makes us tick, what makes life meaningful. I’d grown up in a Christian family, but the particular presentation I grew up with seemed to leave too many questions unanswered, so I’d become something of a seeker. It wasn’t until I was traveling in my early thirties that I got my first taste of inner peace through meditation and Buddhist teachings in Kathmandu. It was interesting to discover that not only were many of the things I thought I understood about Buddhism were wrong, but the philosophy was even more intriguing than I had imagined. On my return home to the UK I discovered that there was a Buddhist centre not that far from where I lived and there I found a kind Buddhist nun who patiently answered all my questions. Each week I’d go away and think about all the reasons why her answers had holes in them, and each week she’d patiently answer all my objections. After some time, she actually refused to answer one question so I had to work it out for myself. That one took me about ten years to answer! Sometimes I thought she was just plain mad since some of the answers she provided seemed so outrageous, but I’ve since discovered I was the one who was mad and those apparently outrageous ideas were flawless. What’s more, I didn’t have to take her word for it - I could prove them to be true for myself. Modern day relationships seem to be more challenging than ever before. Can you describe how meditation has made a positive impact on your own personal and professional relationships? My meditation practice has helped in so many ways. I am now more patient, forgiving, compassionate and humble. A lot of the progress for me has been around steadily refusing to abdicate responsibility to anyone else, understanding my responsibility to solve other’s problems, and steadily becoming more selfless and outward looking. It means that there are fewer and fewer things that feel impossible to resolve. It’s also about turning conventional thinking on its head. Instead of thinking it’s our partner’s job is to make us happy; we focus our thoughts on their happiness, which in turn this is the best job we can have since it ensures we get all the happiness we’ve ever wanted.
The teachings also help to eradicate our clingy attachment and instead develop a much more authentic unconditional expression of love and affection. What is the greatest lesson you’ve learnt on your spiritual journey? That all of us (without exception) have an unlimited potential. The idea that I have the capacity to change things more than I ever could ever have imagined, and an understanding that we’re all victims of our negative states of mind, which is the only enemy that any of us has, and that it is not due to anything outside ourselves as we often mistakenly believe. What is the greatest gift you have received through meditation? It’s hard to pick just one, but perhaps the greatest gift is having a practical method to realise my full potential, which has proven to be a reliable route to solving my own and others’ problems and to be happy all the time, no matter what is going on around me. Explain the nature of your meditation practice. My wife and I make offerings for our shrine at home, which is something that seemed pretty alien to me in the past, but over time I’ve begun to appreciate the benefits of this daily practice. Every Friday evening there is a formal chanted/sung practice at the Kalpa Bhadra Buddhist centre and I also attend a study programme at the centre every Sunday, and during term-time I teach evening classes at the university, which requires preparation. Aside from my daily formal meditation practice I engage in a lot of contemplative meditation during my day and try to apply the lessons learnt from my formal meditation practice throughout the day. It helps a lot that my partner is also on the same path so we can look outward in the same direction and discuss things from a shared perspective. What path has your spiritual journey has taken? From early on I’d been captivated by the teachings that explain how things really exist rather than how they appear to exist and how that began to explain our full potential, how we can change our world for the better, and how to solve our problems; not just temporarily, but once and for all. There was one particular teaching, which occupied my attention for about ten years
before I finally had a huge breakthrough that significantly altered the course of my life. This was to be the turning point from something that was still largely intellectual and conceptual to something of the heart and beyond conception. What was also interesting to me was that my meditation practice started to better explain my Christian faith - which at its heart, and for me, is not contradictory but an expression of the same fundamental truths. Most importantly I have been fortunate to connect with a fully realized meditation master (Venerable Geshe-la, founder of the New Kadampa Buddhist tradition), who remains a constant inspiration and guiding force that has proved invaluable. What are some of the miracles you’ve witnessed through meditation? I’ve seen practitioners who are severely crippled and ought be in constant severe pain, but when you ask them how things are going they can honestly say that things are good and getting better and better. I have known people with what the established medical and scientific community considered terminal conditions who have fully recovered, and I have met people who are now in a position to actually enjoy their own death. What’s the biggest misconception people tend to have about meditation? That the sole purpose of meditation is to completely empty the mind of all thought. For some meditations this is a crucial preparatory stage, but it’s not actual meditation. All meditations have an object either a positive, or virtuous state of mind, or some other helpful object, which is useful in training our mind; just completely emptying the mind might be temporarily relaxing but has no lasting benefit. What do you say to those who say, “I tried meditating once, but I can’t do it”? Generally, the process of learning to control our mind (rather than it controlling us) is a long-term process. As is often said, it’s simple, but not always easy. We lead such busy lives these days that it’s only natural for us to have a very distracted mind, but if we think about all the other things we’ve had to learn, like driving a car or using a computer, in the beginning it can feel almost impossible - but if we persist then simply through familiarity it will become easier and easier. At some point, if we keep applying
effort, we’ll reach the point where it’s second nature. The main thing is to persist, give yourself time, and just relax and enjoy it. What’s the best recipe for a long-lasting, successful meditation practice? Understanding the benefits and then experiencing them first hand by putting the instructions into practice. When we start to really understand the benefits through personal experience we develop a strong motivation to practice more and then one naturally begins to exert a sort of ‘effortless effort’ - like a child at play. What kinds of people attend meditation classes and what keeps them coming back? The class I take at UC is mostly made up of students, but it’s open to everyone from all walks of life with varying levels of meditation experience. People come for different reasons and take away whatever they find personally useful. Sometimes it’s about wanting to be less fearful and more confident, it could be about reducing stress and anxiety or anger, or wanting to know how to find a reliable way to get a more stable and happy life. Sometimes it’s simply curiosity and an intellectual improvement in knowledge. I think the people who keep coming back term after term probably come back because they recognize the benefits which they can feel from engaging in the practices.
Everyone wants to be happy and free from suffering, but they don’t know how - meditation practice is the ‘how’
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BUSINESS
Get Cycle Savvy This Summer
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ringing with her an exuberant love of cycle culture from her homeland Denmark, Connie Christensen (a Christchurch resident for the last 11 years) is at the forefront of a new bicycle initiative that aims to support people who are out of practice or nervous about riding a bike for the first time. Go Cycle Christchurch began in June last year, and starting out with just Connie and one other volunteer, the project has grown to include a team of 20 volunteers across Christchurch who provide great advise on suitable cycle routes and can even team you up with a cycling buddy for newbies. Christensen says the project is designed to
CYCL E WAYS
support and give people the confidence to cycle in and around urban cycleways. Currently dedicating every waking moment to this full-time endeavour, Christensen is a passionate urban cyclist who wholeheartedly believes that cycling not only benefits those opting to take two wheels instead of four, but for motorists too. Connie’s love of urban cycling is clear from the many Facebook followers she has joining her on cycle events around Christchurch, and stands behind one of her Facebook posts that boldly states, “U can’t buy happiness but u can buy a bike and that’s pretty close (sic).” She says that the recent 30km speed zones popping up around Christchurch are actually
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a blessing in disguise as the main barrier to people cycling to work is concern over cars travelling too fast or too close. With the pockets of reduced speed zones around the city, it provides cyclists with the ideal window of opportunity, together with the onset of summer it’s the perfect time to take to two wheels instead of four. “Christchurch is a fantastic place and Go Cycle Christchurch provides a huge opportunity for people of all ages to get the best out of it,” says Christensen. “We see all kinds of people joining us on rides like a 21-year-old international student who had never ridden a bike before or a 60 year old woman who had been out of the saddle for 40 years, but wanted to get back into it for health reasons. “The ultimate success for Go Cycle Christchurch would be if everyone felt confident to cycle on the streets,” says Connie. “If we reach a point where we have a well designed cycle infrastructure and most adults cycle sometimes, then logically, most car users will also be cyclists, and therefore are more inclined to have greater awareness of cyclists and pedestrians sharing the streets, leading to a much safer and more relaxed city in which to live and work.” While the majority of the organised rides have been within the Four Aves, Connie says they are happy to help anyone no matter where they live and suggests that if you and a couple of friends or work colleagues would like to get riding, simply email GoCycleChristchurch@ gmail.com with your location and a few dates and times that suit and they will organise and advertise a ride in your area. Keep up to the date with all the latest tips and recreational cycling events at www.facebook.com/ CycleForTransport/.
CONNIE’S CYCLE SAFET Y TIPS
* USE QUIETER SIDE STREETS WHERE POSSIBLE AND ROUTES THROUGH PARKS * STAY ABOUT AN ARM’S WIDTH AWAY FROM PARKED CARS & USE A BELL TO ALERT PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER CYCLISTS * PLAN A ROUTE THAT USES LEFT TURNS INSTEAD OF RIGHT TURNS ACROSS BUSY INTERSECTIONS * IF YOU HAVEN’T USED YOUR BIKE FOR SOMETIME GET IT SERVICED BEFORE RIDING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME * LINK IN WITH ESTABLISHED CYCLE PATHS AND ROUTES WHERE POSSIBLE * IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE IDEA OF WEARING A FLUORESCENT VEST, TRY A COVER THAT FITS OVER YOUR BAG OR REFLECTIVE ANKLE CLIP
YOU
UNI-CYCLE UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY TO THE CENTRAL CITY This route connects with the Nor’West Arc at Ilam Road and the Northern Line Cycleway at Mona Vale. A large part of the route is already completed, with construction beginning this month on the section from Riccarton Bush through the University of Canterbury to Solway Avenue. “For years people have been calling on the Council to build safer facilities for cyclists so it is exciting to see this work getting under way,” says Phil Clearwater, Chairman of the Infrastructure, Transport and Environment Committee.
THE GIFT OF
GIVING DONATE TO THE
CHRISTCHURCH CITY MISSION THIS CHRISTMAS
“It signals the start of some significant momentum for the Major Cycle Routes, which, along with other major changes in the Central City and beyond, will transform the city’s transport network.” The complete Uni0Cycle line is expected to cost $1.6 million, which is shared between the Government’s Urban Cycleways Fund ($500,000), National Land Transport Fund ($550,000) and the Council ($550,000).
NORTHERN LINE
Join us in donating to the Christchurch City Mission this Christmas Leave us your donations of non-perishable food items, blankets and toiletries, and we’ll deliver them to those most in need. We’re also happy to collect your donations from you, simply call us on 03 351 3002.
BELFAST TO SOUTH HAGLEY PARK AND THE CENTRAL CITY The existing rail path between Kilmarnock Street and Tuckers Road is a popular route for pedestrians and cyclists. The Northern Line project proposes to extend this facility at both the southern and northern ends to provide a full shared path from Belfast to South Hagley Park.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CCC.GOVT.NZ.
Fendalton 51 Holmwood Road Fendalton, Christchurch
Ilam 407 Ilam Road Ilam, Christchurch
Merivale 175 Papanui Road Merivale, Christchurch
Ilam 2 142 Sherborne Street St Albans, Christchurch
St Albans 74 Edgeware Road Edgeware, Christchurch
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The Art Of Letting Go With a long list of health benefits and its symbiotic relationship with spirituality, yoga is a simple, yet effective practice to incorporate into your daily routine that pays dividends, says Fendalton yoga teacher, Justine Wheelans.
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eaching for 12 of the 14 years Justine Wheelans has been practicing yoga, she is a guiding influence with her many loyal students in the art of letting go. “Practising yoga is not just about the physical postures,” Justine explains. “If I am fully present in my day-to-day routines, then that to me is practising yoga. Practising on the mat enables me to stay present in every day life. It provides an anchor when life gets a little crazy.” Prior to becoming a yoga teacher Justine taught English on her travels throughout Japan and Ireland, where she also worked as a part-time personal trainer and aerobics instructor. “I always felt my path was to educate in some way or form,” Justine recalls. With a goal of opening her own yoga studio when her youngest child turned 5, Justine has never looked back. Working out of her purpose-built yoga studio in Fendalton, Yoga Sanctuary attracts a steady clientele and is so popular that booking well in advance to secure term-by-term weekly classes is highly recommended. In addition to teaching and practicing yoga Justine
loves the outdoors and getting amongst nature by walking her 5 month old boxer puppy Bodhi and 7 year old poodle Manu in nearby Hagley Park, and is a huge fan of polo. She says yoga enables her body to stay strong and supple, and stresses that exercise, no matter what form it takes is “truly about balance”. She explains how yoga can even offer all the benefits of cardio exercise depending on how it’s practiced. On a physical level, yoga lengthens the muscles and helps them recuperate, prevents injury, improves respiration, increases energy levels and improves bone density. On a physiological level, yoga offers countless benefits such as decreasing blood pressure, reducing stress, improving sleep quality and concentration, and balancing moods. Although students’ motivations for learning yoga can include increasing flexibility or rebuilding strength following surgery, the main reason her students keep coming back week after week is simply for the overwhelming sense of wellbeing yoga brings. With many different traditions of yoga offering varying degrees of spirituality, Wheelans personally
believes in the deep connection yoga enables her to have with herself and others. “It gives me a sense of peace and equanimity so that in my everyday life I can respond to situations rather than react to them. The practice of yoga helps me to act and be attentive to my actions so I stay true to myself.” When asked whether she follows a particular school of thought she says, “While there are many fantastic teachers out there, it is important to not put any one person on a pedestal as we are all human.” Within her small Fendalton studio Justine works with people on a one-to-one basis in order to tailor a practice for their individual needs, which can include many different forms of yoga she has assimilated over the years, from pranayama (breath work) to yoga that uses a yoga wall which suspends the client to provide traction without any weight bearing. “Being a small studio with a core group of regular students, the connection I build with my clients is the most rewarding element, of my work,” Justine shares. However, the most challenging aspect of being a trusted servant of the yoga practice she finds is encouraging students to practice at home.
Advocating the “little, but often” principle, Wheelans says this approach is more beneficial than doing one hour just once a week. “While attending a class provides a collective energy and community connection, home practice gives us that pause in life to reconnect to self and with an internal stillness.” Justine emphasises the subtle shift in perceptions and mindfulness in our everyday life that yoga offers. “When you take a walk, if you are noticing your surroundings and your breath, rather than the constant flow of thoughts, you are staying present and practising yoga. It really is that simple.” Committed to ongoing education and believing wholeheartedly that “yoga invites complete participation in our everyday lives and is a constant practice”, Justine takes time out of her busy teaching schedule to travel every year to either Australia, Bali, or the States, where she seeks out reputable teachers to learn more skills to bring back to her own students here in Christchurch. As her studio’s mantra says if you’re keen to take some “time out to tune in”, book for the year ahead at www.yogasanctuarynz.co.nz.
CHRISTMAS
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New Christchurch Homes Recognised
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fter many rounds throughout the year the judges finally announced the overall winners of the prestigious 26th Registered Master Builders House of the Year at a black-tie gala ceremony on Saturday 26 November. Four Christchurch homes were recognised amongst the creme de la creme around the country with national accolades awarded to new homes in Fendalton, St Albans, Redwood and Hillsborough. Winning the Nulook New Home Award ($650,000-$1 million) for a two bedroom, two bathroom, two living room family home in Fendalton, Form Builders Limited was praised by the judges for its attention to detail. “This is a residence of charm, warmth and subtlety. It takes note of the human scale and provides an interior journey through spaces of varying heights, textures, light and shade. A superb modern residence designed by an elder statesman of Christchurch architecture
and beautifully crafted by the master builder.” The competition’s most coveted award, the Supreme House of the Year, went to a stunning Cape Cod-style family home in Campbell’s Bay by Richard Davidson Builders. Epitomizing “supreme sophistication”, the judges remarked that this “exceptionally crafted project combined the architect’s vision and detailing with outstanding skills and craftsmanship,” and that the home’s “adaptation of an American classic is bound to become a trend setter, (and) clearly displays the builder’s desire to create an experience that changes perceptions and the quality of lives.” The Supreme Renovation Award went to John S Macdonald Builders Limited for their sensitive restoration of a family home in Tamahere, Hamilton. “With no loss to the historical character, this magnificent family residence is a combination of renovation and restoration, to incorporate 21st century technology,” the judges said.
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Supreme House of the Year: a contemporary beachside home in Campbells Bay by Richard Davidson Builders.
Creme de la creme of Christchurch: National Award Winners across Christchurch include (BELOW CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) Builder’s Own Home (St Albans) by Casa Construction, Nulook New Home (Fendalton) by Form Builders, Placemakers New Home (Redwood) by Milestone Homes Canterbury, and Resene New Home Hillsborough by Sinclair Builders.
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The
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OPEN 7 DAYS Bush Inn Centre, Upper Riccarton Phone: (03) 348 6899 Email: themainskein@hotmail.co.nz www.themainskein.co.nz
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FULL MECHANICAL SERVICE & REPAIR AVAILABLE
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loan cars available
WOF SIZZLING
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SAT WOF SPECIAL Excludes 4WDs, $35 for these SATURDAY OPENING HOURS: 8.00am - 1.00pm Cnr Fitzgerald Ave & Hereford St. Phone: 365-5220 www.a1auto4service.co.nz