Growing your future
When it comes to securing your financial future, growth assets and collaboration go hand in hand.
When it comes to securing your financial future, growth assets and collaboration go hand in hand.
Words Owen Cooney / Photos Jahl Marshall
In times of uncertainty and fear, it’s hard to know where your money should go. All this talk about inflation can be confusing but by taking a step back, and looking at the bigger picture, you can get a better understanding of where your money is best kept in hard times.
In times of rising inflation, commercial investment can be a wise move. Even when the yield on a commercial property remains the same, your dollar is still worth a dollar. The bank’s dollar, on the other hand, is worth less and less with inflation.
Growth assets, such as commercial investment, will protect the spending power of your dollar. Long leases hold through to the next cycle, and so being exposed to growth assets is a game you need to be playing if you hope to grow your wealth long term.
However, with all of today’s challenges, it becomes hard to even create a wealth plan and build a future in the first place. That’s where a collaborative approach can work. Joining a private collective means you join a group of like-minded individuals who jointly purchase, then lease, the building in question.
There are many advantages to owning a share of a building using this model, compared to owning the building outright.
Firstly, the collective admin team does the legwork in that they find high-quality properties worth investing in. Secondly, they ensure the numbers stack up and the right contractual arrangements are in place to generate a profit from the get-go. And, thirdly, they organise reliable tenants and take care of all bank financing, lease arrangements and financial reporting.
If you're keen to connect with our network of investors and potentially join a collective when the right opportunity arises, head over to the Classic Collectives website and schedule your own 15-minute discovery call. There are no obligations to join our syndicates; we’re simply here to answer your questions.
Being able to ask honest questions and get straight answers is perhaps the best investment of all. It only costs your time.
Canine couture
These high-quality pet accessories help our furry friends leave lighter pawprints on the planet.
These high-quality pet accessories help our furry
friends leave lighter pawprints on the planet.
Words Catherine Sylvester | Photos Salina Galvan
In this day of greater awareness around climate change and the flow-on effect our purchasing habits have on the environment, more people are turning to brands that not only stand the test of time but create the least negative impact in these areas. Until recently, local pet owners had very few options when it came to seeking accessories with these factors in mind for their beloved four-legged friends. This all changed at the start of last year when Scott and Nicole Brown brought their quality pet accessory business, Paw & Partners with them when they moved from Tāmaki Makaurau to Tauranga.
Birthed out of Nicole’s veterinary practice in Milford in 2015, the business stocks a wide range of high-end products catering to the needs of customer’s canine and feline family members.
Leashes and collars from the German company Hunter were the first pieces Scott imported for their collection. He explains, “The leashes and collars are handmade in Germany.”
These proved so popular that the couple found pet-lovers were travelling from all over Auckland to their North Shore practice, due to word-of-mouth. The Browns knew they were on to a winner. Their desire to ensure they could further provide for their customers’ needs saw them expand the range to include food bowls, beds, harnesses, and educational toys.
“Dogs can often get lonely and bored if left by themselves at home,” Scott says. “That’s usually when they’ll get themselves into mischief – digging up lawns, chewing.” He explains that the interactive dog toys are helpful in keeping them occupied and focused, as getting to the elusive treat stashed inside is a real challenge.
“It stimulates their brains,” he continues. “The dog must figure out how to get the goodies out using only their paws and mouth. They can’t just shake or chew the toy to get to what they want.”
Scott’s passion for his business is evident. He travels to Europe to hunt down the best quality pet supply products he can find. Meeting the manufacturers face-to-face or attending international expos is of utmost importance. “It’s the only way to guarantee we’re getting the best quality that can be found,” he says.
One product he’s particularly fallen in love with is beds. “Some people like buying beautiful watches or shoes,” Scott smiles. “I like buying and supplying beautiful dog beds.” Scott explains that the fabric quality
is similar to that which can be found on regular furniture, and all the covers are machine-washable, which is very handy for those puppies who can’t yet make it through the night dry!
Bay of Plenty French Bulldog breeder Nik Fasching (Mount Frenchie Club) swears by Paw & Partners products. “The average dog will live for around 14 years, so it makes sense to invest wisely,” Nik explains. “I used to go through so many cheap beds – the dogs would chew them, or they’d fall apart in the wash. These ones last. They’re so good and they make beautiful gifts.”
Nik steers customers towards these high-quality products. “The cheap stuff just ends up in landfill so quickly. Economically, these are a sound choice.”
Another recent addition is the harness, and Paw & Partners stock these in a range of sizes for both cats and dogs. “We’re using the Danish company Dog Copenhagen for the canine ones,” says Scott. “They make some of the best harnesses in the world – it’s all the company does.” One model is fitted with a D-ring on the chest, which Scott explains is particularly good to retrain the dog who pulls at the leash when out walking. “Many dog trainers recommend this harness,” he continues. “We’ve had lots of feedback that this is the best thing customers have purchased.”
With a retail store situated in Tauranga city centre, and an online store for those living a little further afield, Paw & Partners has made investing wisely into your pets easy. What started out as the notion of “we can do better for our customers” when it came to pet accessories, has turned into a reality for this couple. A reality that all pet owners – and their pets – can now benefit from.
Detail in the artistry
A love of Bali – partnered with an artist’s eye for whimsy and a businessman’s head for detail – weaves a fascinating story in this orchard and home.
A love of Bali – partnered with an artist’s eye for whimsy and a businessman’s head for detail – weaves a fascinating story in this orchard and home.
Words Jo Ferris
Bare land on a discreet Athenree ridge 24 years ago, this secluded haven now embraces a mature orchard with 62 Hass avocado and 1.2 canopy hectares of gold kiwifruit – fully managed and increasing the appeal to those seeking financial reward in their next move.
The house is centre stage and a tribute to this couple’s remarkable foresight. Solid as a rock, with underfloor heating throughout and an impressive display of American Oak flooring; its size and scale is deceptive, thanks to the grounds surrounding it. Designed to honour a breathtaking panorama across Tauranga Harbour,
this rare sweep takes in major headlands – Tanners, Tuapiro, Ongare and Kauri. Mauao winks on the horizon, Karewa peeks above Matakana Island and shipping can be seen on the ocean behind Bowentown.
Extraordinary dawn-to-dusk scenery is matched by an equally extraordinary garden. Bali influences are everywhere, from towering palm trees to exotic specimens. Manicured lawns beg barefoot freedom in this lush playground. A heated swimming pool, meditation bure, adventure playground for the kids – complete with a zip line! Paradise within a paradigm.
Paradise lost has no boundaries. From the orchards and gardens, this property includes a man-cave shed, ultimate big-boy garage for the boat and motorhome; plus a cabin office and ablution facilities in a quiet corner. Getting “lost” in the house is also an experience.
Bedroom and bathroom indulgence showcases artistry in their finish. The gourmet kitchen and scullery cater for those grand occasions and dinner-party crowds. Family relaxation and more formality in the fireside lounge interweave to connect with all the fun outside. That stunning view is always in sight.
Hidden gems set this home apart. An artist’s studio, a mud room that looks like the laundry – until doors open to the actual laundry, which is more like a laundrette with all its units. Quite simply, this home keeps on giving. Attention to detail is found in every facet, every closet.
With the kitchen and bathrooms all renewed four years ago and the house repainted, only touches like the tropical fountain, with its friendly goldfish, give a hint as to this home’s true age. That and the orchard, of course. This is income, lifestyle and freedom – perfection personified.
265 Athenree Road, Athenree
Level up your property game
Residential landlords have it tougher than ever right now and while new policy may have pulled the plug on decent returns and capital gains, things are certainly looking up for property investment of a different kind.
Residential landlords have it tougher than ever right now and while new policy may have pulled the plug on decent returns and capital gains, things are certainly looking up for property investment of a different kind.
Words Owen Cooney | Photo Jahl Marshall
Buying a residential rental property has been the "go-to" investment for ordinary Kiwis for decades. Many of us have used the equity in our family home to leverage into a residential property portfolio and build our wealth over time. But today, skyrocketing house prices mean the days of buying a good quality rental for $400,000 are a long-forgotten dream.
Interest on loans is no longer tax deductible, and the healthy homes requirements mean landlords must pay (sometimes hefty sums) to upgrade the heating, insulation, ventilation and so on. Interest rates are rising and banks are not as forthcoming with mortgage approvals as they once were.
What most Kiwis don’t realise is that, with the right tactic, commercial property can be a more affordable alternative with even better returns on your investment. High-rise buildings, shopping malls, health hubs, childcare centres and commercial offices all may seem out of reach to the suburban home investor, but the good news is you do not have to be a multi-millionaire to own them.
Classic Collectives Limited establishes private collectives of individuals who are willing to collaborate to become joint owners of premium commercial and/or industrial property. From supermarkets in Pōkeno to community shopping centres in North Canterbury, they identify high-quality buildings and bring the right mix of investors together to purchase and lease them.
Some of these investors are retirees or nearing the end of their working careers – but there’s a rise in people in their 30s and 40s who see the opportunity to establish a sound investment that will not only provide income, but also have growth potential.
By collaborating with other like-minded individuals, it’s entirely possible to own a share of a substantial commercial building. The benefits of the collectives include receiving a positive yield from the get-go, and having independent professional management so there is no day-to-day workload or responsibilities involved.
So instead of driving past your rental property and noticing the grass is overgrown, you can level up your investment portfolio by just investing smarter and take pride in knowing you own a significant multi-million
dollar asset – however many stories high it might be!
invest@classiccollectives.co.nz
The main event
Beacall Hospitality is so much more than a hospitality recruiting company – their goal is to make your event simply magical, says director Michael Beacall.
Beacall Hospitality is so much more than a hospitality recruiting company – their goal is to make your event simply magical, says director Michael Beacall.
Words Catherine Sylvester | Photos Salina Galvan + supplied
As a young lad growing up on the Wirral, looking out across the murky waters to Liverpool, Michael Beacall spent his free time helping out in the pub his parents operated. A natural entrepreneur, Michael would collect the glasses patrons were finished with, and relieve them of their small change for his troubles.
“If you know what an English pub is like, you’ll know I made quite a tidy little profit for myself,” chuckles Michael, recalling his early business acumen.
Michael fondly recalls his early days in the bar. It was there that his love for the hospitality industry was born, with the local pub being a central factor in his community’s comings and goings.
“The classic British pub is so different to anything else,” Michael explains. “Everyone knows everyone. It’s like one big family. You’d have felt safe leaving your kids with the folks there. At that young age, it was a lot of fun being around everyone.”
It was these important threads of relationship, hospitality, and business that Michael packed for his journey when he made the decision at 18 to stretch his wings and emigrate to Aotearoa.
Feeling the need for a fresh start after a self-described lacklustre performance from his first official business – a hospitality recruitment agency – the beautiful shores and climate of Tauranga Moana seemed the ideal tonic. Having his childhood best mate already living here was the icing on the cake.
Throughout his first years calling the Bay home, Michael undertook the type of employment he knew best – bar work and security. It was during this time that he formed many of the relationships that supported and encouraged him when the time came to resurrect his former business concept.
“I decided to give the recruitment agency another go. I could see a real gap here to service the smaller corporate events, as well as bars and restaurants,” Michael explains. “At that time there weren’t any agencies catering specifically to the hospitality sector. I found my niche and went for it.”
Spurred on by the encouragement of festival promoter Glen Meikle, whom Michael had once worked for, he launched Beacall Hospitality with himself as the sole employee in 2018. The company experienced exponential growth in the first five months. So much so, that he knew he would need help to continue the smooth operation of the business.
“My first employee was a woman I’d worked previously with at a local bar,” Michael remembers. “Nynie Harvey became my 2IC. She basically took over the responsibilities of event hire and staff management, payroll, uniforms, contracts – she became the backbone of the operation.”
A no-holds-barred approach to generating work for his company, rather than waiting for it to come to him, is one of Michael’s greatest assets. With him securing contracts and contacts, and Nynie keeping the day-to-day office running, the business went from strength to strength. Within months the books were full of labourers, wait and bar staff ready to work. Kayla Hayes came on board to relieve the pressure of Nynie in December 2018 and is still there today.
Business was booming. Everything was going so beautifully that Michael, along with a new business partner, Pierre Te Wheoro, was able to expand by launching Platinum Security Solutions, to cater specifically to the bars and nightclubs around town.
And then, 2020 rolled around and everything came to a shuddering standstill.
The entire hospitality sector was hit hard by lockdowns, and Beacall Hospitality was no exception. Not being one to rest on his laurels, it was during this time of enforced hiatus that the inklings of a more comprehensive business model began to brew.
“I started to think about what it’d be like to offer clients a one-stop shop,” says Michael. “To be able to offer catering, tables and chairs, wait and bar staff – the works!”
Knowing no other company was currently providing this service, Michael used the enforced time at home to work on a plan to make his concept a reality. Once the country crept its way out of lockdown and people began to cautiously plan small events again, Michael was ready to go.
However, the expansion was not without its challenges.
“Being in Red in the Traffic Light System was almost harder than being in complete lockdown,” Michael explains. “People were scared to spend money and concerned about things changing unexpectedly. If they did book something, there was no guarantee that one link in the chain wouldn’t catch COVID-19 and have to pull out.”
This happened more than once but Michael and his team rose to the occasion. When a wedding that had been scheduled at a café in Waihi suddenly had to move venues with only 24 hours’ notice, Beacall Hospitality stepped in to save the day.
“We got a 3pm call the day before the wedding. The chef who’d been hired to cater it had caught COVID-19 and the couple needed to not only find new catering, but move venues,” says Michael. “By 10am the following morning, we had our gear and caterers there setting up. Everything ran smoothly from then.”
In order to keep the company’s doors open and staff employed during this time of financial uncertainty, Michael offered services to clients at cost, and personally covered wages – a decision he doesn’t regret, but one that will take some time to recover from.
“Doing this meant that not only my company could survive, but other businesses could too,” explains Michael. “Moving into Orange level was good as contracts picked up then. Going to Green was great as it just got busier.”
After the COVID-19 lockdowns, another friend, Renee McVarnock, joined the company to fill the role left when Nynie moved on to work in a different industry. “Both these women have made a huge difference to the success of the business,” Michael says.
When hit by these challenges, it’s the love for his family that keeps Michael going. “I do what I do so I can give them the life they want,” he says.
In the midst of colourful traffic light levels, Beacall Hospitality expanded operations into Matamata. They’ve since travelled as far afield as Hastings, Taupō, Napier, Rotorua, with Tāmaki Makaurau
– Auckland to be added next month.
As life settles back into some semblance of normal, Michael is able to breathe a bit more freely. Recently he attended his first ever music festival purely as a punter. “Friday Jams was the first concert I’ve been to where I wasn’t working,” he recalls. “And it was amazing!”
His publican parents have travelled out to visit him and are understandably impressed with what he’s achieved. “My folks have been out here twice and they love it,” Michael says. “They’re definitely proud of their boy.”
While Michael’s blood still runs extra red for his beloved Liverpool Football Club and he has not yet traded it all in for a black jersey, home is definitely New Zealand for the foreseeable future.
“Things are great. I play soccer with the Pāpāmoa Football Club, have time with my family, and enjoy my work,” smiles Michael. “I’m definitely living the dream.”
Work, store, play
Meeting the high demand from commercial tenants and investors in Tauranga, the developers of a new venture in Mount Maunganui expect strong response, equal to that of its sister complex, now underway at Pāpāmoa.
Meeting the high demand from commercial tenants and investors in Tauranga, the developers of a new venture in Mount Maunganui expect strong response, equal to that of its sister complex, now underway at Pāpāmoa.
Words Jo Ferris
The Hatch – The Mount embodies the concept of work, store and play – a slight variation on Tauranga’s wider approach to work, live and play. These units aren’t designed as live-in premises. However, their innovative concept embraces a workplace where people will enjoy the comforts of home in a vibrant village community.
Earmarked for a prominent location in MacDonald Street, The Hatch offers 38 units, from 60sqm to 106sqm. Most units will include two car parks and additional parking will be available to lease.
Sitting near a major flyover and arterial link at the junction between Hewletts and Maunganui roads, this is minutes from the airport, sporting venues, shopping centres in downtown Mount and Bayfair, and harbour bridge access to Tauranga and port. Surrounded by a myriad of recreational, educational and business amenities, The Hatch offers beneficial advantages for tenants as their businesses feed off one another and the surrounding precinct.
Like its Pāpāmoa sibling, the sympathetic design creates a mini community within an aesthetically pleasing complex. Matt Allen from Cube Architecture designed a complex in four blocks, with a large open car park at the rear. There will be two main carriages – both flanked by units along the boundary on each side – and both entries off MacDonald Street. These will be linked by a lane leading to the office-styled units at the rear. Retail units running along the street front will present a boutique showcase for the complex. Their vehicle access will be behind each unit, off the lane.
Enhancing this aesthetic approach, large roller doors will create a wide-open perspective for the eclectic appeal of the units facing the main carriageways. Office units will enjoy a calmer outlook to the lane.
Buoyed by the success of Pāpāmoa’s Hatch, Colliers Tauranga managing director, Simon Clark is excited to repeat the confidence shown in this type of development. Pāpāmoa is all but sold and interest in this development was sparked early on as a result.
“The Mount is extremely desirable. Vacancies are at record lows and tenants/owner-occupiers are starved of opportunities in this tightly held industrial precinct.”
Simon says The Hatch’s innovative design fuses commercial and light industrial in hybrid workspaces, making it perfect for forward-thinking businesses. The thought behind this kind of development combines adaptability with accessibility. Sophistication meets industrial aesthetics. And, while the emphasis is on a vibrant and eclectic work environment, The Hatch’s mantra highlights its other purpose for storage.
“Whether you’re setting up a new venture, looking for more versatile premises or simply need somewhere to store your toys, The Hatch – The Mount offers a unique solution at a competitive price point.”
Marketed exclusively by Simon and fellow Colliers broker Rob Schoeser, prices start at $754,000 plus GST (if any), with construction estimated to start mid-2023.
colliers.co.nz
Viewing pleasure
Tauranga’s connection with water and scenery feeds the inspiration behind countless homes lucky enough to command envious views. From this Otumoetai Ridge, views change with the days and seasons.
Tauranga’s connection with water and scenery feeds the inspiration behind countless homes lucky enough to command envious views. From this Otumoetai Ridge, views change with the days and seasons.
Words Jo Ferris
Change is constant, and for this spectacular home, it not only represents a transformation of the site, but the journey of a couple who enjoy the challenge of creating something new.
That challenge began by removing the original 50s’ house from a significant site in Maxwells Road. The vision centred on views from this elevated spot – sun-drenched, with a panorama overlooking Tauranga’s inner harbour, port, Mount, and the cruise ship entrance between Mauao and Matakana Island.
Views and sun define this home’s design. Greeting both each morning is serene – either from the privacy of the master retreat upstairs, or downstairs in the family hub. The home follows the sun and ensures natural light and solar warmth is harnessed everywhere possible.
Architecturally designed, clean lines and quality construction look to the future, while staying true to the importance of function and flow. Impressive by any standard, there’s a down-to-earth warmth here that’s instantly relatable. The front-door greeting might be formal, but it quickly sways to this home’s outlook and focus on entertainment. The heated swimming pool tucks within a central courtyard to one side, which draws it almost inside the house. Clever design also incorporates a pool house with separate access to what doubles as an ensuite studio and jet ski drive-in. Perfect for spill-over visitors and brilliant recreational space when vacant.
As eyes drift to the main view, the home unveils its intriguing outlook. The sights and sounds of city life moving across Chapel Street provide the foreground for constant shipping and recreational marine activity – Mauao always in sight. Ever-changing by day, at night it’s enchanting. No need to lower the blinds here. Floor-length glazing is like a cinema screening of an endless movie. Warmth is constant, thanks to the day’s sun, while underfloor heating runs throughout the ground floor.
Open-plan living is spacious yet intimate, thanks to each area’s purpose and a masterpiece kitchen with its drawcard bar-stool feature. Clean lines match the home’s understated style, while the detail defines the craftsmanship underscoring the bespoke finish. Unique elements, fascinating nooks and niches intertwine versatility within rooms, walkways and outdoor privacy.
Ready for a new challenge, these owners will soon leave behind a special quality of life – passing on this home’s intrinsic warmth and endless fascination with the views it commands.
80 Maxwells Road, Otumoetai
Amazing Grace
Packed with extra bonus features, this built-for-the-builder home combines exceptional design with quality construction.
Packed with extra bonus features, this built-for-the-builder home combines exceptional design with quality construction.
Words Jo Ferris
It’s often been said that a builder knows best what makes a home function and flow. It also helps if that builder owns their own company. Originally building this home for themselves, a change of plans means good fortune for the next owner. This is an exceptional example of design, quality and finish – combined with features and extras not normally offered in a home, let alone a brand new one.
Grace Road is one of Tauranga’s most sought-after areas within the Avenues’ precinct, and among the most tightly held. For good reason. Its proximity to the city, recreation and water cements its value. Sitting off the streetfront, this home nestles in relative seclusion, with scenery for company and the pleasure of being brand new.
Views gaze east over Waimapu Estuary – idyllic by day, but gorgeous at night. Two levels ensure the views from upstairs are picture-perfect, thanks to smart design, extensive glazing, wraparound balconies and seamless connection with the scenery stretching out in front. Punctuated only by trees, the leafy ambience ensures nature is preserved.
Construction blends strength with beauty – concrete, vertical Abodo weatherboard and Alpine stone schist. It’s an edgy, earthy look – this notion repeated inside with a décor that showcases an innate understanding of tone, texture and style.
Four bedrooms, three stunning bathrooms and a powder room spread over both levels – together with three separate living areas that change moods from one to the other. Each zone gives privacy for different occasions, while defining their purpose. Either snuggled around the gas fire watching a movie, entertaining with company in the family hub or toasting the city’s evening lights outside around the schist-clad fire, this home excels. The outdoor lounge is also an extension for the master suite – making it the perfect ending to a day as lights twinkle in front.
Good design is accompanied by exquisite taste in fittings throughout this home. The kitchen and scullery showcase detailed styling. Bathrooms are all personalised to reflect their individual purpose, and careful selection of lighting also reflects a clear understanding of how lighting can truly enhance a space.
Recessed ceilings in key places become light features at night that complement the mood. Upstairs or down, this home connects with its setting – function and flow sit at its heart. Underpinning all that is the quality construction and assurance that this builder didn’t cut any corners. It was built for themselves after all.
154A Grace Road, Avenues
Paws for thought
With four thriving clinics in the Bay (and a fifth opening soon), the professionals at Tauranga Veterinary Services treat all four-legged friends with compassion and care.
With four thriving clinics in the Bay (and a fifth opening soon), the professionals at Tauranga Veterinary Services treat all four-legged friends with compassion and care.
Words Catherine Sylvester | Photos Salina Galvan
Listening to David McDonnell describe retired farmers bringing their trusty work dogs into clinic for their final goodbyes, you get the sense that it’s more than just “business as usual” for this veterinarian. As managing director and owner of Tauranga Veterinary Services, David cares deeply for not only the animals
that pass through the doors of his five clinics, but also the people accompanying them.
A sincere desire to provide animals and their owners with excellent care, delivered by a veterinary team who are empathetic, knowledgeable, and professional is what led David and his wife Michelle to purchase the business in 2010. Launching with the three already established clinics – in Tauranga, Katikati and Te Puna – the McDonnells expanded in 2015 by opening a clinic in Pāpāmoa. Next February will see the doors open to their fifth clinic, situated in Mount Maunganui.
“The beauty is that we’re a large organisation with a range of veterinarians who have a variety of specialty interests,” David explains. “We know clients are busy, so having locations throughout the Bay ensures no one has to travel too far for their animals to be seen.”
David McDonnell
The team understands the importance of providing timely and accurate diagnosis to those they care for, as well as manageable and detailed treatment plans. Each clinic is therefore equipped to undertake ancillary tests, such as ultrasounds, x-rays, digital imaging, and in-house laboratory tests. Always looking for new ways to provide excellent service, the team has recently been able to offer a new and significant treatment to their feline friends.
“The radioactive iodine treatment for geriatric cats suffering hyperthyroidism and tumours is a game-changer,” David says. “We’re excited to be able to provide this, as it was previously only available in Auckland.”
Although companion animals constitute a large part of their clientele, the practices also cater to lifestyle animals such as alpacas, horses and goats, as well as commercial livestock. David’s even been called upon to treat a wallaby or two!
As a privately family-owned business, David and the team are invested in the community and sponsor schools, community groups and individuals in various undertakings. Supporting events like the annual Mud Dog Run and offering free dental checks and nail clippings at Pāpāmoa’s Dinner in the Domain over summer enables them to connect with local pets and their people.
For David, one of the best parts of the job is journeying throughout life’s stages with families and their four-legged loved ones. “Seeing them come in for the first time with their new addition, helping them learn to discipline them, administering vaccinations, and seeing them through to old age – it’s very special,” he explains.
Committed to offering the best care available, Tauranga Veterinary Services voluntarily undertake the Best Practice Accreditation auditing process. Being awarded this, however, is only one side of the equation. David says, “The other side is the attitude and effort, caring and empathy we offer daily.”
A philosophy that will no doubt mean the world to those whose furry friends are their world.
Chef’s sanctuary
Celebrity chefs bring a familiarity into our kitchens that makes them feel like a personal friend. Followers of MasterChef winner and author Chelsea Winter will not only recognise the face, but probably this kitchen – one she considers an old friend yet is ready to leave, with her home up for sale.
Celebrity chefs bring a familiarity into our kitchens that makes them feel like a personal friend. Followers of MasterChef winner and author Chelsea Winter will not only recognise the face, but probably this kitchen – one she considers an old friend yet is ready to leave, with her home up for sale.
Words Jo Ferris
Chelsea Winter’s kitchen features in her book Supergood. Created and photographed in this idyllic country home, the book was a bestseller in 2020. If that’s not inspiration enough, spending time here certainly will.
Designed for a professional gourmet, the kitchen attracted Chelsea from the outset. Adapting it further to suit her style, the kitchen is certainly one of this home’s key features. Like any winning recipe, however, it’s but one ingredient in a home and garden layered with enchanting tastes.
Nestled in a hidden lifestyle ribbon within Western Bay of Plenty, the property is on the fringe of Tauranga city. Exquisite scenery embraces picturesque countryside down to Mount Maunganui, where Mauao stands majestically as the main star. It’s a view Chelsea marvels at every day – inspiration enough for any banquet.
The kitchen is the heart of this home. Its striking island is a drawcard – edgy corner shelving, barstool seating and a clean, solid oak surface.
Either preparing meals or catching up over coffee or drinks, it’s the centrepiece of a spacious kitchen that revolves around entertaining. Dual sink and work units either side with window views, a cook’s stove and farmhouse appeal that caters for crowds.
“There’s literally a place for everything,” says Chelsea. “The sky’s the limit, yet it’s still somehow cosy and inviting.”
That cosy invitation sums up the entire home. It exudes that country allure of graceful simplicity with a subtle nod to black-barn earthiness. Battened vaulted ceilings enhance the sense of space throughout. The white backdrop instils an ambience of fresh linen, while contrasting accents of aged wood grain, textured carpet and furnishings all nod to the heritage of country character. The timber effect of floor-to-ceiling tiling in both bathrooms is also outstanding. The rustic simplicity is punctuated beautifully by the chic finish of brass hardware and timber vanities. It’s a marriage of the old and new. Bespoke lighting also cleverly blends contemporary design with the natural charm of wicker.
Soft, floor-length drapes mix with plantation shutters to personalise rooms and add intimacy come nightfall. After dinner, there’s nothing like snuggling around the fire in the family setting. This focal point is yet
another nod to aged tradition, while polished concrete is a practical finish on the floating hearth.
Outdoor flow embraces scenery, gardens for the birds and animals. Fresh food and herbs to harvest, magical corners and friendly sheep that maintain the pasture behind and below. With four tank-fed water troughs, horses will also thrive here. Wandering up a gentle track on the conical hill, amid olive trees, views are elevated to embrace a 270-degree panorama of Western Bay’s coastline – breathtaking by day and glittering at night. To further complement this country lifestyle, a 130sqm shed offers brilliant workshop storage, with room for a gym and that ultimate barn bar.
After three years here with her partner and young children, adventure calls. While this home has been a haven in one of Tauranga’s secret places, Chelsea is excited, if not a little sad to be leaving her kitchen.
“It has been an utter dream. That beautiful solid oak island bench has been my home for the past few years. It’s like an old friend now. I’ll miss it a lot.”
177C Crawford Road, Te Puna
Baby on board
Columnist Will Johnston is in awe of the mysteries of pregnancy – but glad he’s not the one gestating.
Columnist Will Johnston is in awe of the mysteries of pregnancy
– but glad he’s not the one gestating.
You know what it’s taken me almost 40 years to realise? Men would be terrible at
being pregnant.
My wife, Tiffany, is due to give birth to our first baby in the next few weeks. Literally at every point of the pregnancy my mind has wandered to how I would handle the situation she is currently in. As Tiff would say, “Oh, so, we’re making me growing a human about you again, are we?!”
Yes. Yes, we are. Sort of. Let’s go through it from the start, shall we?
At six weeks pregnant, she was full noise, suffering from what I have come to learn is an inaccurately named ailment called ‘morning sickness’. They should just call it ‘day sickness’, because that’s how long it lasts. All freak’n day! There were voms from 3am to 11pm.
You know what’s less fun than morning sickness? Morning sickness when you’ve got COVID-19!
Yup, Tiffany caught COVID-19 at seven weeks pregnant. That developed into a bit of long Covid mixed with a foetus draining all the remaining nutrients from her body (pregnancy, it’s sooo glamourous). We ended up in hospital after she spent 48 hours hugging a toilet. Pay the nurses more! They were amazing at Tauranga Hospital. It wasn’t until week 23 or 24 when she finally stopped heaving at least two times a day feeling like you’re hungover with a tummy bug.
Now, can you imagine the cries of despair and notions of travesty that would spout from the mouth of a man if he had to handle even a week of this torture?! Remember the last time a male in your life got man-flu?! We are really not set up for it.
We all know a guy with a beer gut, right? Let’s talk about growth of stomach area. When one is working on a "keg" rather than a "six-pack" in the abdominal department it is usually years of relentless hand-to-mouth work, walking a meticulous line of over-indulging and exercise avoidance. Sometimes decades worth.
Can you imagine going from six pack to phenomenal mid-section bloom and increasing in weight by about 12kg in five months? And alongside that all of your organs are getting pushed around and your stomach is shrinking at an alarming rate as said organs mush it towards your oesophagus. What’s more, you can’t even drink anything fun to get the beer gut fully formed! Just imagine a male tradie on the building site at the end of a hard week on the tools. But imagine him eight months pregnant and not able to enjoy a beer with the boys. And do you trust him not to have that beer?!
Don’t even get me started with will power. Tiff’s had what I like to call "snout cravings". Not so much in the
eating department, more in the smell craving department. She has sniffed a lot of red wine and coffee during this pregnancy – two things pre-preggers Tiff never touched.
Speaking of K9 nostrils, as she walked in the front door the other day, she declared: “Something is off in the
fridge, get rid of it now!” Then exited the premises. Can you imagine a man off his food? The hardship!
I think all men know a guy in their group who has a weak bladder; on a road trip they have to stop five times between Tauranga and Auckland (the beer gut isn’t helping). But at least they don’t have a tiny human who sporadically throughout the day kicks them swiftly in their already slightly baby-crushed bladder – usually at the most inappropriate time.
Finally, tie all of the above together, chuck in reflux, increasing water weight throughout the day, pain in multiple different joints and muscles due to the rapid change in weight and size, significant hormone changes, shortness of breath because your lungs/diaphragm are literally getting pushed up by your organs, rubbish sleep and low iron/energy levels… Then go to work and not complain 24/7 about it all.
I kicked the foot of the bed the other day. It took me two days to stop limping and telling people about how sore my toe was. Men are 100 percent the fairer sex.
The trick is knowing this. I am happy in my current wheelhouse containing phrases such as: “What can I make you for dinner?” “Would you like a back/foot rub?” “Can I help you up/down/sideways?” “Can I run you a warm bath and roll you in the shallows as you make faint whale noises?”
Ok, well maybe not that last one!
I’m a lucky man. Lucky to have a baby on the way with the woman I love. And, lucky I’m not the pregnant one!
@radiowill
Dollars and sense
Glen Strang likes to help people, and building strong personal relationships is the cornerstone of his successful finance business.
Glen Strang likes to help people, and building strong personal relationships is the cornerstone of his successful finance business.
Words Jo Ferris | Photos Salina Galvan
Mention Glen Strang’s name around the traps and hands invariably shoot up. Born and bred in Tauranga, Glen is well known in business and sporting circles. Gregarious by nature, he’s a “first-name” man. Meet him and it feels like you’ve known him for years – an innate attribute that helps draw customers to MTF Finance
Mount Maunganui.
From school to 19 years in banking – including stints in Auckland and playing rugby overseas – Glen has been in business for himself for the past six years. One of 52 individually-owned franchises in New Zealand, the familiar MTF "Finance Yellow” is a prominent feature in New Zealand cities. If you’ve seen Kiwi comedian Josh Thomson’s light-hearted humour on their TV commercials, you connect with their approachable style.
Borrowing money is personal and can be challenging, yet making these conversations comfortable is what Glen and his team are all about. The Mount Maunganui team wants to help. Really help. They invest time into clients – knowing that, in terms of trust, relationships are everything.
Customers trust Glen’s judgment. A recent client was looking to purchase a vehicle that wasn’t fit for purpose, or a good choice considering his ambitions. He is a young tradie and needed help with his apprenticeship.
Glen spent time helping with what best suited his client’s needs. In the end, the young man realised a ute was an ideal solution and would serve him better in his work – and leisure – activities.
Another regular client needed a piece of machinery to grow his business. Thanks to Glen’s contacts (he often deals with suppliers as well, which enhances his ability to help clients), the two worked through the most cost-effective solutions.
To Glen, every interaction is about ensuring that what his client is looking for not only meets their needs, but does so in the best way possible.
“I’m interested in helping clients make good decisions and get the right loan for the right reason. I want the exercise to become a success story for them.”
While MTF Finance Mount Maunganui’s core business is asset lending for vehicles and machinery – business
and personal – Glen and his team also handle unsecured applications: Finance for things like home improvement, holidays and debt consolidation.
“Ours is a bespoke approach. We put ourselves in our clients’ boots, work through their requirements and where they’re headed, then recommend appropriate options.”
It’s a shared philosophy. Vicky Gorman has been an integral part of the team for almost three years. Dan Jones brings his experience from the motor vehicle industry. Both have the same personable approach, which puts their customers at ease.
This ability to offer flexible rates and provide a loan has positioned MTF Finance Mount Maunganui with being a go-to for finance. Loans can be created on the same day as the enquiry, whether personally, over the phone, or entirely online. For Glen, it’s all about the personal approach and fulfilling customers’ needs.
“People know the person they are talking with is the lender – the one who makes every decision locally.”
Blossoming with care
A newly opened childcare centre in the Mount holds true to its philosophy of creating authentic, inspiring early childhood experiences.
A newly opened childcare centre in the Mount
holds true to its philosophy of creating authentic, inspiring early childhood experiences.
Words Catherine Sylvester
Alisha Merriman had a clear vision of exactly what gap she wanted to fill when creating an early childhood education centre. She knew, not only because of her many years as a teacher in this sector, but also firsthand, as a mother of two young children. What she envisioned was a unique learning environment for children and their whānau, where they could thrive, grow and learn.
Bloesem (“Blossom”) – a nod to Alisha’s Dutch heritage – is precisely what the centre believes its tāmariki will do. Backed by research highlighting the importance of environment being pivotal to learning, the centre has a calming feel to it. Walls are painted in neutral colours, with spaces left uncluttered. “Aesthically pleasing environments enhance the children’s learning journey,” Alisha explains.
By creating physical spaces that are enriching for children to learn and grow in, Alisha and her team share their passion for creating inspiring new experiences daily. The team carefully create a teaching plan together, incorporating invitations to play based on suggestions from the children. Their aim is to instil a love of learning in their community.
With the first Bloesem opening in Te Puke in April 2019, the team have taken the time to firmly establish their vision and strong relationships with the children, whānau and staff. A high priority for Alisha is that they stay true to the “why” of Bloesem, and that means ensuring the right team of people working together to uphold the vision, philosophy and consistency of the centre. “Keeping it authentic is so important,” says Alisha.
“At Bloesem, children and whānau are part of a nurturing, caring, joyful, tranquil environment.”
The Te Puke centre has thrived, despite the unexpected arrival of a global pandemic less than a year after opening. So when a spacious site opened up in Alisha’s own neighbourhood, the Mount, she knew it was the perfect time to expand the vision and provide another community with the inspiring Bloesem way of early childhood learning.
Opened in August, Bloesem Mount Maunganui also carries the vision statement: “Value and honour whanaungatanga, taiao, rangatiratanga which reflects the good of reciprocal relationships, for the good of the environment and for the good of growing self-confidence.”
With a strong philosophy and a growing need for more quality early childhood education centres, Bloesem is sure of its identity and what it offers the communities it is part of.
The big squeeze
Are rising interest rates and low capitalisation rates making you nervous? Owen Cooney from OC Consulting advises investors on how to withstand “yield squeeze”.
Are rising interest rates and low capitalisation rates making you nervous?
Owen Cooney from OC Consulting advises investors on how to withstand “yield squeeze”.
Photo Jahl Marshall
Commercial property has been a passion of mine for decades, but the economic environment we are all accustomed to operating in is changing.
For as long as I can remember, there has been a differential between the interest rate paid on mortgage debt and the yield (or capitalisation rate) received from a property. However, with interest rates now rising, the cost of debt will soon be similar to, if not greater, than the capitalisation rates a commercial property can reasonably generate.
In recent years it has been common to use debt to increase yield to an investor because that debt was so cheap. But thanks to inflationary pressures and rising interest rates, investor yields are being squeezed – and will continue to be squeezed until the market adjusts.
These comments are, of course, a generalisation. There are always markets where some purchasers will happily accept a very low capitalisation rate for a particular property. It’s also worth pointing out that investors who don’t need to take on debt to purchase a commercial property will not feel that same squeeze!
But the investor collectives we help set up at OC Consultancy Ltd do use non-recourse debt and will continue to do so. Instead of leveraging a property at 45 percent to 50 percent of LVR, we now intend to leverage at around 30 percent to ensure the smoothest path forward as New Zealand’s Reserve Bank battles to bring inflation back under control.
In our post-pandemic climate, there’s no escaping yield squeeze for the foreseeable future. But our message to investors is this – yields are only one factor that should be considered when making an investment decision.
You may be familiar with the advice of Warren Buffett regarding investment as a long-term game. Buffett famously said, “If you aren’t willing to own a stock for 10 years, don’t even think about owning it for 10 minutes.” Unfortunately, in our recent bull market, this message has been forgotten by many.
In the commercial property context, our focus is on securing long-term leases with good quality tenants and covenants. This, coupled with robust rent review mechanisms, is the best way to protect your investment from the effects of inflation and yield squeeze.
To be a successful property investor, you must look beyond what’s happening right now and see what is most likely to occur in the future.
We are confident that good commercial property will stand the test of time and be resilient. Just like any other investment, you must be prepared to weather the ups and downs of each economic cycle and keep your eyes firmly on the horizon of what’s to come.
The right building, with the right tenant and the right lease arrangements in place, will always be profitable in the long run.
Bella Italia
Impressive and imposing, this Italian-styled home brings a taste of the Mediterranean to Tauranga.
Impressive and imposing, this Italian-styled home brings a taste of the Mediterranean to Tauranga.
Words Jo Ferris
Sharing more in common with some of the finest estates on Waiheke Island or Auckland’s blue-chip suburbs of Herne Bay and Remuera, the fact this prestigious property even exists here in Tauranga is testament to its owners’ foresight and belief in the district’s future. This home will defy time
– and remain as rock solid as it stands today – long into the future.
This home’s design, construction and innate essence are born from the Italian aristocratic palazzos it pays homage to. Solid concrete – including internal walls – construction and quality finish throughout totally belies any initial perception some buyers could be forgiven for thinking, according to Oliver Road’s Cam Winter.
Viewing is essential – if only to confirm the extent of this home’s magnitude. On the surface, the epic design and unique finish extols the Italian penchant for grandeur. Beneath all this however, the home hides well-considered attention to the fundamentals of a warm, healthy environment.
It epitomises the Mediterranean appreciation of family and nourishment. Togetherness feeds the soul - and this home instils that village philosophy in every conceivable way. Layered – like family – it revolves around the main household. This is magnanimous, and caters for crowds as effortlessly as it does for intimate dinners for a few. From here, the house embraces inter-generational unity with two individual, self-contained suites. The largest provides a two-bedroom apartment on the upper level. The second is a New York style one-bedroom apartment cleverly built into the basement level. Separate living for elders or extended members with children – together, yet independent.
Being multi-faceted, this home’s capacity for accommodating staff is also brilliant – from groundspeople to nannies or private tutors. A property of stature that also lends to boutique accommodation or an intimate function venue. Entertaining inside or out, the focus revolves around nurture and nourishment. It’s easy to envision long, lazy lunches outside, or lingering dinner parties in the soaring luxury of the banquet hall inside.
Such status personifies the luxury of international grand homes and estates often featured on TV programmes and in exclusive magazines. And deservedly so. Seen firsthand, the quality here is clearly apparent – from the concrete construction to the interior finish that mixes genuine Italian materials with exquisite New Zealand and accents. It is an intricate fusion of ancient Mediterranean heritage with hi-tech innovation and engineering ingenuity. Safely guarded behind gated security, within nearly an acre, this haven ensures seclusion and solace, protection, and privacy. Manicured gardens and courtyard corners, topiary pathways and sloping lawns,
a heated pool for year-round leisure, a spa for added bliss – it is the quintessential lifestyle.
Cam Winter notes that its relative length of time-on-market can be almost entirely attributed to perception, both with respect to its construction (given Tauranga’s and New Zealand’s unfortunate “leaky home era”), which this property sits so far beyond – not only in age (built 2008) but also in the reality of its solid-concrete construction. Possibly also some concern about the future Takitimu North Link.
Now under construction and, with clear evidence of what will eventuate on Waka Kotahi, NZTA’s website, far away from producing any audible impact on this property, the highway will actually improve surrounding traffic and shorten distances to key arterial connections including shortening the distances both into Tauranga’s CBD and north towards Auckland. The scenic beauty of Wairoa Valley will remain, and its uninterrupted west-facing aspect will continue to produce magnificent afternoon sunshine which become romantic late-evening sunsets. With only 14 neighbours spaced in their own settings, life in this elite enclave can only improve.
5 Sunny Downs Drive, Tauriko
Back to the future
A lifetime of adventure and careers abroad has seen Jason Eves return to a family-focused BOP lifestyle and a professional role that offers challenge, reward and an outlet for excellence.
A lifetime of adventure and careers abroad has seen Jason Eves return to a family-focused BOP lifestyle and a professional role that offers challenge, reward and an outlet for excellence.
Words Jo Ferris
When it comes to Tauranga, I can’t help but connect with the idiom “born and bred”. Born in Tauranga Hospital and a pupil of Tauranga Primary School, Tauranga Intermediate and finally Tauranga Boys’ College, the main homes of my childhood were on Grace Road and Eleventh Avenue. I still very much connect
with these areas, having recently moved back to Grace Road late last year.
I met my wife Abigail at a conference while living in Auckland and working as national sales manager for the Animal Health division of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Abigail at the time was a key accounts manager based in Wellington. About eight months into a long-distance relationship, she joined me in Auckland and moved into a licensing executive role at TVNZ.
In our mid-thirties I had already lived five years overseas in Australia and the UK, but Abigail was keen to travel, so we picked up sticks and sailed off on an adventure. After varying directorship and management roles centred around high value assets and property in North America, we returned to New Zealand 12 years and one three-year-old daughter later.
Our decision to return to New Zealand was largely centred around our daughter, Harper, who is now seven years old and enjoying the same school playground that I did back in the 70s. We also wanted the lifestyle that Tauranga could provide for our family, and were excited by the opportunity to properly reconnect with family and friends who had remained in, or had also returned to, the Bay of Plenty.
Oliver Road is very much a family business. While it doesn’t bear the surnames of my business partner Cam Winter, nor mine (as was the case with my father Max Eves, who established EVES Real Estate in the late 60s,) we are personally connected to everything it stands for: The company’s values, reputation, level of service and outcomes delivered for clients are all reflective and representative of who we are. For us, Oliver Road was about rethinking and rebuilding the entire approach to selling real estate from the ground up, starting with a clear understanding of just how significantly technology and lifestyles have changed since the standard industry platform was established. Every field has had to deal with faster delivery of larger volumes of information, and we’ve all needed to specialise in order to contend with this ever-evolving landscape.
Narrowing our focus, increasing our level of understanding, and deepening our knowledge grows our capacity to deliver improved outcomes.
By looking inward and taking the time and space to explore our insights, we can question what we’ve previously done or held true – and then we can develop hypotheses, apply changes, and pave our own way forward. I think this best sums up Oliver Road’s journey so far.
At Oliver Road, we don’t have a phalanx of salespeople or subscribe to the “bigger is better” philosophy. Rather, we instead support our clients, customers, and outcomes by adding roles that enhance the single service we offer. Every decision we make about how to structure our business, including those people we select to join the Oliver Road family, is born out of our desire to constantly evolve and improve our specialist endeavour. We are dedicated to offering our clients an alternative, and are excited about what the future of real estate will bring.
Days to treasure
Days to treasure
When someone’s life is to be tragically cut short by illness, it takes a special kind of person to reach out and gift a day full of magic for them and their family. This is precisely what Melanie Quin was inspired to do and now she has a vision to make this a choice for as many people as possible - so that life’s magical moments can be celebrated to the very end.
When someone’s life is to be tragically cut short by illness, it takes a special kind of person to reach out and gift a day full of magic for them and their family. This is precisely what Melanie Quin was inspired to do and now she has a vision to make this a choice for as many people as possible - so that life’s magical moments can be celebrated to the very end.
Words Nicky Adams / Photos Jahl Marshall + supplied
The idea of a bucket list is born of the belief that there will be the opportunity at some point to complete it. However, for some, blindsided by terminal illness, time is a luxury that is tragically snatched away. Melanie Quin believes in celebrating life, and for those who have had their timeframe shortened, she has created the concept of A Day Of Magic, where dreams come true.
For founder Melanie, the idea of starting a charity happened unexpectedly. In August 2019 she was touched to the core when she heard some devastating news about a local woman she remembered from college. “Out of the blue, I caught wind of the news of Kristie. When I heard she had four weeks left to live, I couldn’t even comprehend it. I called her and I asked if there was something she wished she could have done if she had more time. She said she would love to fly in a helicopter.”
This felt achievable, so Melanie set about making it happen. Except that she didn’t just stop at a helicopter ride. Working for three days and nights straight, she organised an experience for Kristie’s husband and children that also included a limousine, launch, lunch, a room at Twin Towers, an afternoon at Eagle Ridge with family and friends and an intimate gig with Tiki Taane. Oh, and a photographer and videographer to boot. The joy that this experience brought to Kristie, her family and indeed Melanie was something that left Melanie with the unshakable feeling that this was something that everyone in similar situations deserved to experience.
Since registering as a charity in August 2020, growth has been organic. Melanie has had five applicants and rolled out five equally thoughtful, beautiful events – among them a fishing charter, yachting experience, and time at Waihi Beach. She is now entering what she considers ‘Stage Two’ where she plans to take the concept to a whole new level, with a national reach. Melanie combines thoroughness with compassion, vision and a ‘make it happen’ attitude. Her business background enables her to operate effectively entirely on her own, and with no charge for her time, she relies on the backing of sponsors to roll out her plans. She has recently taken on a premises which will serve as both a base and an income stream for A Day Of Magic. Her plan is to find backers who share her vision.
When it comes to the wishes that she has so far granted, the experiences have been heartwarming. “People’s requests are incredibly modest. When I get the enquiry, I have a call with the person and tell them to go and talk to loved ones and think about what in their life has made them sparkle. So far no one has asked for anything extreme. If they do, I’m open to it – anything is possible I believe.”
The modest requests, Melanie reiterates, are a common thread: people don’t ask for the moon, just for things that resonate with them and their loved ones. Melanie has been blown away by the generosity of the companies she has reached out to along the way – and she is heartened by the knowledge that although she is the one physically making it happen, there’s a whole raft of people out there that believe in what she’s doing and want to help her do it.
It is this that spurs Melanie on and fuels her belief that with the right help she will be able to keep that magic happening.
Honouring memories
Jono Gibson of Cambridge Funerals believes funerals are for the living, and the industry is becoming more innovative every day.
Jono Gibson of Cambridge Funerals believes funerals are for the living, and the industry is becoming more innovative every day.
Sharing a person’s life story and keeping their memory alive is what funeral director, Jono Gibson, likes best about his job. “It’s an honour to tell someone’s story. You don’t get a second chance, so it’s important it’s done right.”
Jono’s interest in the funeral industry was first piqued in his early 20s, when he lost a good friend to a car accident. “The funeral process was new to me. It was very sad, but also fascinating. I spent time wondering about the journey my friend had taken from being in the car, to lying in a casket in front of me. I filed that in the back of my mind as something I’d like to investigate one day.”
After spending the first decade of his career in the radio business and sales, Jono eventually took some annual leave and spent a week doing work experience at a funeral home.
“When I joined the funeral industry in 2013, TV shows like Six Feet Under had glorifed it. A lot of people were entering the industry, but it’s a job you really need to be passionate about. You soon learn if you’re cut out for it. Thankfully, I was.”
Today, Jono is the funeral director at Cambridge Funerals in Cambridge, Waikato. Owned by Tauranga’s Legacy Trust, the Cambridge branch has recently been modernised, refurbished and will soon be renamed in keeping with the Legacy brand. Legacy Funerals has plans to expand further into the Waikato this year too, with a new office in Hamilton.
Jono offers the Cambridge community the same compassionate care that Legacy Funerals is known for. And like its sister company in Tauranga, profits from the business are gifted back to the local Cambridge community.
For Jono it’s the people, the families of those who have passed on, that make the job rewarding. “I believe the funeral service is for the living; the people who are left behind. Making funeral services really special and memorable for them is my aim.”
Thankfully, Jono says, the industry is becoming more innovative, so a service and the venue can feel more personalised. Alongside the newly renovated Cambridge funeral home, the world is your oyster when it comes to places to hold a funeral with Legacy Funerals.
“Instead of a traditional church service, people now are choosing to farewell their loved ones in different ways. I’ve organised several funerals on the beach, services held at wedding venues, a hearse driving a lap of a horse racetrack, and arranged for an opera singer to sing hymns at one funeral so attendees didn’t feel pressured to. Making the whole process unique and relevant to the person concerned and their family is what matters most.”
Will Johnston
Will Johnston
Will Johnston vows to keep it cool. It took some matrimonial mayhem to inspire Will to become a celebrant himself. Cringeworthy, cookie cutter nuptials? Awkward side eyes in the aisles? Not on his watch!
I pride myself on not being a boring old lady dressed in a curtain, adorned with some form of floral headdress, spouting love metaphors like I’m channelling Mr Darcy.
Allow me to give you some context on this. I have three celebrants to thank (or blame, depending on how you look at it) for becoming a celebrant myself. They are the three who ran the weddings of mates of mine all over one memorable summer a few years back.
Culprit one, mid-ceremony, broke into prayer, followed sharply with a hymn – high-pitched and solo – at a wedding that the couple specifically requested be free of religion.
The second spent the entire ceremony calling the groom Max. His name is Matt.
And the third opened the ceremony with the words, “Love is like a river…”. That’s where I tuned out. I couldn’t tell you a word of the rest of it. She also got in the car with the bride when she arrived and asked “if she was sure she wanted to go through with it.” Then said, “It’s not too late to back out”. Read the room, lady!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that there are many who haven’t been taken with the untraditional diatribe I spout as a celebrant. But I’ve never sung a hymn at an atheist wedding.
On the contrary, we are living in the Bay of Plenty of exceptional celebrants. I’m constantly blown away by the great people who get into the wedding industry full stop, actually. And the vastly experienced vendors that have constantly evolved with ever-moving wedding trends.
There is one concept that I have held as gospel over the years I’ve been a celebrant: It’s such an honour to be invited to marry a couple, you owe it to them to not make it like every other ceremony they’ve been to. You must do something different every ceremony.
I remember doing a ceremony in Rarotonga a few years ago for some friends and there was a celebrant there who had three ceremonies to choose from. As in you pick one, write your names at the top and the bottom and it was done. Literally the definition of ‘insert your name here’. Seems a shame for such an idyllic setting.
Speaking of idyllic settings, the BOP has had a hell of a time over the last few years when it comes to weddings. Imagine buying a wedding venue, getting it all up to scratch ready for the summer ahead and then all of a sudden, it’s a global pandemic, the borders are shut, no one is allowed to leave their regions and there’s a 10-person limit at weddings. I’d cancel it too!
I have a couple I’m going to be celebrant for at the end of 2023. They were supposed to get married on the first day of the first lockdown a few years ago. They rebooked right as we all got locked down again. And then again when the regional palaver kicked in. So they’ve just rebooked for two years’ time… Surely?!
At the end of every season, I look back on the weddings I’ve been part of and the people I’ve met over that time. There’s always a sentiment I feel at that point. It’s different at the end of every season, much like every wedding is different. But this last season was really one of thankfulness. If nothing else, the weird Covid world we’ve inhabited the last few years has given us perspective on when to be thankful.
If you’re going to have literally the most expensive party of your lives, you may as well start it with a few laughs. If you’re getting married sometime soon, make sure you tell the person you’re using as a celebrant that. Otherwise, you might get a hymn-signing, curtain-clad lady. Ain’t no one got time for that, especially when there’s an open bar waiting!
@radiowill
A will to give
A will to give
The Acorn Foundation hands over millions every year to deserving community projects. But, what sets them apart from many other charities, is that they’ve succeeded in creating an innovative way to ensure their precious donors’ money is a gift that keeps on giving.
The Acorn Foundation hands over millions every year to deserving community projects. But, what sets them apart from many other charities, is that they’ve succeeded in creating an innovative way to ensure their precious donors’ money is a gift that keeps on giving.
Words Nicky Adams / Photos supplied
Established 19 years ago, the Acorn Foundation may have started as a seed of an idea, but fast forward to now, and it’s grown into a whopping, solid oak. As with anything, it’s important to be innovative to succeed, and whilst Acorn is often known as the charity that many people donate to via their will, corporate giving is a vital part of the donation system. It is through this avenue that Farmer Autovillage, to celebrate its 30th anniversary, has chosen to support the Acorn Foundation. The Farmer Autovillage programme is a scholarship aimed at helping school leavers put funds towards tertiary education to be run at Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke colleges, and implemented for the first time this year.
As a community organisation, Acorn Foundation is based upon the concept of place-based giving. CEO Lori Luke explains: “The way Acorn is different is the whole idea of the perpetuity model – our capital is invested – Craigs is our partner, and what we distribute is a percentage of the returns. That makes us different from a standard charity that’s raising money on an annual basis. The perpetuity model is a powerful one.” Essentially this is a way of donating to your community via a charity that invests the funds on your behalf. The dividends are then passed on to the charities of your choice, meaning that it’s not just donors that have grown over the years, but also the funds – unbelievably, there is currently almost $60 million under management.
Lori Luke continues: “We’ve grown really rapidly. Historically, we were always known as the organisation that gifts in a will – that’s still our primary business – but there’s a lot more living giving now, and all sorts of other ways to do it, such as small groups and corporate giving, which is how Farmer Autovillage came to us.”
While primarily centred on Western Bay of Plenty, Acorn does help donors nationally. Indeed, as well as other scholarships and awards, it distributes the prestigious Jann Medlicott prize for fiction. However, it’s the local stories that resonate the most, such as that of The Eva Trowbridge Scholarship, says Lori. “Eva left money locally to support adult learners – that’s been going for 15 years – Eva was a cleaner at the hospital and saved her coins and those coins have helped 15 women finish school. The one thing that a lot of people think is that you must be very wealthy to give back to a community. To be honest most of our donors are very humble people who just want to make a difference.”
With Acorn, everyone chooses what they want to support – some will leave their money unrestricted, but about 60 % of the money is tagged which means either specific charities or a field of interest like animals or the environment can be supported. “We have an anonymous donor who donates swimming lessons because he lost a child at age four to a drowning accident, so he now pays for two or three entire schools to get swimming lessons.” Another inspirational donation comes via a gift from the Roy and Mary McGowan estate, which has enabled the launch of a Vital Signs Youth Report. “They didn’t have children of their own but had a huge interest in the wellbeing of young people. We have a big initiative in the youth space at the moment. That will be a strong focus – the idea of helping young people in this region to live lives that they value and smoothing the path to adulthood.”
However, Lori points out that over the last six or seven years, the focus has moved to living giving, so that donors can give money while they’re alive “that way they can see where it’s going and who its helping – and they get a tax credit!” With 99% of the money remaining within the charity, the amount of work from volunteers and the team is incredible. Lori is herself from a business background, and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it all. “I’m at a point in my life where giving something back is tremendously personally beneficial so it’s a fantastic job. All of us involved are very privileged because we really feel like we can make a difference. Over the years heaps of community people have put their hands up to help Acorn succeed.”
And succeed it certainly has – with Acorn seeing some important milestones over the last couple of years – it has given to more than 200 causes, passed the $50million mark in funds under management, this year distributed $2million for the first time, and given $10million in total over the life of the foundation. That’s one mighty Acorn all right.