Susan Partington catches us up on the local community theatre haps (UPDATED to inlcude her pre-opening night review). When I heard about Evolution Theatre Company’s upcoming play Picasso at the Lapin Agile , my first thought was “what the hell is a Lapin Agile?” Google tells me it means ‘nimble rabbit’ but I’m uncultured and not French, so I just picture a ‘jumpin’ bunny’. This ‘Jumpin’ Bunny’ is actually a famous bar in Paris that opened in the 1800s and is still open today (with four stars on TripAdvisor, if you’re ever in the neighbourhood). Picasso at the Lapin Agile  is a light-hearted look at creative brilliance, written by Steve Martin, a comedy powerhouse since the 1970s. I remember him fondly as the dad in Father of the Bride  and, more recently, in Only Murders in the Building .  This play, a comedy set in 1904 at this iconic bar, takes playgoers back to the dawn of the 20th century to see Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein on the brink of changing the world with their genius. Like every bar throughout time, it’s filled with colourful characters who add to the lively ambiance of the Jumpin’ Bunny and the humour of the play.  I spoke with Kevin Haggard who plays Freddy, the bartender. Audiences will remember Kevin as the rock-n-roll teacher in School of Rock  and the angriest juror in Evolution’s 12 Angry Jurors . Kevin brings humour and heart to the stage in every role, and I’m looking forward to seeing him as the whimsical bartender, Freddy. With a luxurious beard and a pet donkey, Freddy was a real-life character who would let artists pay their bar tabs with works of art. Picasso probably downed a drink (or several) at Freddy’s place, given his famous work, “ Au Lapin Agile .”  Kevin is enjoying bringing this character to life on stage and delivering his zingy one-liners. Although the play is about geniuses, the humour isn’t overly intellectual, and will appeal to everyone. Why not take a break from real life and immerse yourself in the absurd world of the Jumpin’ Bunny for an evening? The play runs from February 27 - March 9 at Evolution Theatre Company on Disraeli Street. Find their website or Facebook page for more info and buy tickets at Trybooking.com or the Gisborne iSite.  REVIEW by Susan Partington As soon as “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” opens, it is clear that Evolution Theatre Company is going to take the audience on a wild and crazy ride. The whole play is set in a Parisian pub, the Lapin Agile, with a colourful and eclectic mix of staff and regulars who fill the pub with their witty banter. The play was written by Steve Martin, and you can hear his voice in the dialogue which swings from dry, deadpan humour to over-the-top hilarity. The basic premise is Picasso and Einstein walk into a bar. The Spanish artist is played with lusty enthusiasm by Myles Ashworth, and the German scientist is brought to life by Brent Charles Forge with nerdy charm. Orbiting around these two larger-than-life geniuses are a bevy of hilarious barflies - the aging yet lusty Frenchman, the buffoonish businessman, the seductive vamp, the pretentious art lover and more. The supporting actors all add to the whimsy and absurdity of the world of the Lapin Agile. As always, I was blown away by the set. It sent me to outer space - literally! This play brought the lols and left me wanting more. When the lights went up, I wasn’t ready to say adieu to the Lapin Agile. I encourage you to buy a ticket and come see for yourself what happens when two famous geniuses collide. Who will win the duel between art and science? Who is the time-travelling visitor who pops into the Lapin Agile? The cast and crew of this show have created a hilarious journey through time and space that runs through March 9 at Evolution Theatre Company on Disraeli St. Grab your tickets from their website or the Gizzy iSite.

Kia ora koutou and bonjour à tous ! My name is Tui, and I recently returned from a year-long exchange in France! I’m keen to share my experience with the readers of Gizzy Local in hopes to inspire other teens to trust themselves, trust the adventure and explore options to study abroad.  Long story short, it was the best decision I have ever made, and I will forever be grateful for the people who made it happen. I can barely begin to describe how much I have changed as a person over a year. From my arrival to my departure, I was constantly learning new things, both about the world around me and myself. I travelled (a lot), I made new friends, I learnt a whole new language, and discovered who I am as an individual. The person who arrived in France is not the same person who left it, that’s for sure. People were not   lying when they said that travelling is AWESOME. In regards to the language, I’ll admit that it was rather   difficult to begin with. I understood next to nothing, and communication was a struggle. My host family spoke no English, so I was forced to improvise. After about three months, I began to understand when people spoke to me, but even then my comprehension was limited. After seven   months, I was able to speak my thoughts in more than just three word sentences. It was only after ten months, as I was about to leave, that I really felt like I had a grip on the French language. At the end, my comprehension was crazy, to the point where I was thinking in half-French half-English, and I was able to chat and joke around with my French classmates. In my opinion, the hardest part of my exchange was definitely the school. French school in particular is quite difficult, especially in comparison to New Zealand. For starters, the hours are from 8am - 5pm, and if you include the commute and the extraordinary amount of homework most students are given, it wasn’t easy! Luckily the homework was not compulsory for me; learning a new language was challenging enough! But regardless of the workload, everyone at my school was very kind to me, and while most of my friends tended to be other exchange students, I still made a few French friends that I cherish dearly. In all honesty, apart from school and the language, there was little else that I had difficulty with — I didn’t even get homesick! Exchange students stay with host families and I was very lucky. Unlike the stereotypical host family that consists of a mum, a dad, and siblings, my situation was slightly different. I spent a year with an older couple— around 80 years old— who were absolutely lovely. I was their thirteenth(!)   exchange student, believe it or not. They had been hosting students since before I was born, literally! Therefore they were very understanding, patient, generous, and kind to me. When I first arrived, the phrase ‘language barrier’ had never felt more literal. We communicated in one-word sentences or via a translator. But everyday it got easier and easier, and by the end, me and my host family had become great friends. Since my departure, I’ve already been back to visit them, and we now facetime every week! To conclude, this exchange has gifted me with the desire to learn, to travel, and to be alive, and I will never, ever forget it. In fact, I loved the language-learning process so much that I am now going to university to study Linguistics! If anyone reading this is thinking of doing an exchange, I would tell them that life is short! Take the risk! Live life while you’re young!! Passing up on an opportunity like this would be one of the biggest ‘what-ifs’ of your life, I assure you. My exchange forever will be the best decision I have ever made :) Gizzy Local: What made you choose France? It seems so far away and so different from our Gizzy life. Tui: I chose France almost entirely because of the language; French just sounds so beautiful and I wanted to be able to speak it and understand it. I also wanted to be in Europe, as it's very central, and travelling between countries is shockingly easy.  GL: How did you learn about your exchange programme?  Tui: I chose to do my exchange through AFS because it was the only association my family and I had heard of. We knew a few other people who had done student exchanges with them and had nothing but positive experiences. AFS has been helpful, understanding, and absolutely amazing. I have no regrets in doing my exchange through them. GL: When you got there, language aside, did small-town France feel wildly different from Gizzy, or did you see similarities? Tui: In France, I lived in quite a small town - smaller than Gisborne. It wasn't a big shock to the system, as I'm sure it would have been if I was placed in a larger city. I noticed that everyone was very kind (contrary to the very common French stereotype), and I received more kind greetings from strangers than I ever did in New Zealand. Despite it being a small town, the school I went to was an area school, so it had more students than any of the Tairāwhiti schools, which was a change.  GL: Cost must be a big barrier to overcome. How did you fundraise to make this happen?  Tui: In addition to building up savings with a part-time job, we organised a community fundraising event a few months before I left. A few local bands - including myself - played live music in our backyard. With the inclusion of bake sales and garage sales, the event was a raving success, and contributed greatly to the total cost. I was also lucky enough to receive a scholarship, so factoring that on top of the kindness of those around me, my exchange became much more affordable. If anyone reading this is wanting to do an exchange but finds the cost daunting, I will note that France was one of the most expensive options available, and there are plenty of other countries that are much cheaper! GL: I imagine to some young people, this may seem beyond them, requiring next-level independence or bravery. How did you begin to see the exchange as something you could actually do? Tui: To any high school students out there who may, in the abstract, want to do a student exchange, yet struggles to even visualise the mere concept, I can tell you right now that it will be worth it. It may seem far-fetched now, but once you're surrounded by a new culture, a new language, and a new way of life, that magical process of discovering the heart and soul of the world around you is life-changing.  Even if it sounds scary, do it scared. Life is short, money comes back, and the force of time is unstoppable, regardless of how you spend it. Besides, even if it goes awry, you'll still have a hell of a story to tell.

Gisborne is the kind of place where if you need advice or resources, we largely rely on who we know…with any luck, you’ll know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone, who can help!  The Rau Tipu Rau Ora (RTRO) co-working space replicates that small community concept by providing a shared working space that enables small businesses and social enterprises to work together, synergistically.  Some of the benefits of sharing space were unexpected, says tenant Jared Johnstone, owner of Tahu , the high-end restaurant and bar at Midway Surf Club. During Tahu’s set-up period, he says, it was helpful to be in the same building as businesses like Coast Build, who were sub-contractors involved in the restaurant build. Jared also talks about how useful it is to have a diverse group of workmates to bounce ideas off. “Working from home can be an isolating experience and can lead to silo thinking. We are social beings”. Jared noted that working in this environment also creates organic opportunities. Whether he was choosing menus or figuring out the seating, chatting to others in the space gave him a cross section of preferences and enabled him to make decisions to suit a variety of tastes.  Sanne Effmann is a graphic designer who also works in the space creating corporate brand and packaging designs for companies internationally.  While Sanne could work from anywhere, including her own home, she says she prefers to separate work from home, and finds that sharing an office is great for networking. The office is available 24/7 which is perfect for Sanne when she has an overseas meeting in a different time zone. With the use of a key card, she can come and go whenever she wants, and there is always a car park, right outside the office.  As I am interviewing for this story Zane Goodwin enters the room and I now have a first-row seat to the organic networking situation we’ve been talking about. Zane is a surfer who recently moved to Gisborne from Piha. He’s just getting his web development business Rise Digital off the ground. Of course, like a lot of us, Zane loves the fact that here, you can surf before work and be back in the water just after 5. No more sitting in traffic, losing hours of your life each day!  Sanne and Zane meet for the first time and find that they each have businesses that could be beneficial to the other, they make the connection and agree to chat later.  I can see how uplifting that easy, organic connection and likelihood of support would be for a new resident, but of course, any business owner would appreciate this!  Matene Blandford has been using the office for 6 years now. Rata Forest Management started out with one desk and slowly expanded to seven. Matene likes the vibe of the office and being amongst people who are “giving it a go”.  He also mentions the benefit of 24/7 access and great parking. You can’t beat the lunchtime views either, down on the waterfront and if you’re into exercise, the entry to Titirangi is just down the road, easily accessible for a lunchtime hill walk. The RTRO co-working space manager Harley Dibble is a community projects manager focused on supporting positive social and environmental outcomes. He is the driving force behind Exchange Café , a platform for exchanging ideas and solutions around climate action in Tairawhiti, is the Tairawhiti Lead for Te Wero ia Wenerei , a project encouraging workers and students to get out of their car every Wednesday for positive environmental, climate and community wellbeing outcomes; and a project led by the Te Weu Trust to establish a citizens assembly in the region focused on climate adaptation.  For Harley, it’s sharing office space with like-minded, environmentally conscious people that he really appreciates.  It seems that a variety of businesses sharing space doesn’t just benefit the people in the office, the positive vibe seeps into the wider community too. It’s a win-win for everyone. On the day I visited the co-working space, the CoastBuild team were being given a send-off morning tea. After five years in the space, owner Tim Scrimshaw is moving his expanded workforce into new premises.  Tim spoke fondly of his time in the co-working space, the relaxed environment for his team, and the cost effectiveness of the space for his business. There were three individuals not in the office when I visited. Mark Burt is a Public Relations and communications consultant specialising in helping NZ brands tell their story in the US, and Jarred Christison is a talented product designer working for signage and design business George & Willy . Sam Rowland is the Programme Manager for the Sustainable Business Network , whose mission is to accelerate Aotearoa New Zealand’s transition to a regenerative, low emissions, circular economy. The RTRO Co-working space currently has some desks available. If your business could do with sharing the load on some of those operational expenses, as well as the kinds of benefits mentioned above, get in touch with Harley at RTRO on harley@rtrotairawhiti.nz to find out how. Story by Aimee Milne Photographs by Thomas Teutenberg

Has flipping the calendar over to a new year found you looking for a new professional direction? If you have science or lab experience in your background, dnature, a local business that leads the world in dna and molecular testing and diagnostics might be the perfect place for you. dnature is a leading business in DNA diagnostics, having developed world-leading diagnostic tools for the primary & healthcare sector. They test and help growers identify diseases or viruses plaguing their crops, or beehives. Their work supports primary industries, clinical pharmacogenetics, and was critical in our response to Covid-19.  You don’t need to be an experienced PCR specialist. If you love science and are proactive with an eye for detail, they would love to hear from you. As a business that has an excellent reputation in their field, they will take you under their wing and train you with the skills you need for the role. They’re a small team so if you’re looking to avoid corporate bureaucracy or hierarchy in your new chapter, dnature could be the perfect company for you. To reach out, send Belinda an email at belinda@dnature.co.nz  or ring her at 021 415 100.

Check out the offerings by these fine, local, activity providers who will have the young ones entertained and engaged during the long and free days of summer. Pinehollow Jacquie and the team offer the chance to get up close and personal with her gentle animals. Their holiday programme is open from 9 am - 3:30. They are located at 2424 Matawai Road but they have limited spaces in a van for pick-up and drop-off at the Tav Restaurant. (Pick-up is at 8:50am and drop-off is at 4pm.) Participants need to wear appropriate footwear (gumboots or closed-toed shoes). With the beautiful weather at the moment, they’re hoping to spend plenty of time down at the river with the ponies, so also bring change of clothes, togs and towel for swimming in the pool. You’ll need sunscreen, plenty of kai and water. Week 1: Monday - Friday, 16 - 20 December   Week 2: Monday - Friday, 8 - 12 January Week 3: Monday 15, Wednesday - Friday, 17 - 19 January Week 4: Monday 22 & Tuesday 23 January Caters to ages 5+. Cost is $65 for the day.  Email pinehollowridingschool@gmail.com to register. Payments are via bank transfer (acct: Pine Hollow 06-0637-0264724-00). For more info, including booking and cancellation policy, the list of dates for the holiday programme, lessons, team building days, etc., see their facebook page (link below). With questions, ring Jacquie on 0277491629, email (above) or message her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverviewtreks The Band School Keen young musicians, beginner or pro, join The Band School at their ever-popular Busking Holiday Programme, held twice this summer holiday. Team up with others to create and rehearse your own tunes. All ages and abilities are welcome. The programme is held in the Gisborne Intermediate music department (park under the sails) from 9 am - 3 pm. In December, learn Christmas tunes to prepare your band for the ultimate busking experience. Then take to the streets to make some Christmas money! Their top earners in previous years have raised up to $90 per kid—how much can you make? Week 1: Monday - Friday, 16 - 20 December Week 2: Monday - Friday, 20 - 24 January Caters to ages 5-14. Cost is $60 per day (discount for week booking). Bookings and more info at www.thebandschool.co.nz Gisborne Library Christmas Activities The HB Williams Memorial Library have a whole raft of activities this time of year. Check it out below and see their website for updates.  Kei te Haramai a Hanakoko Santa is coming to the library for a Kiwiana Christmas celebration.  Bring all the whanau down and take a photo with Santa or even bring your work crew over for a team photo to end the year!  Santa will be at the library on Wednesday, Thursday and Fri during the two weeks before Christmas so make sure you catch him before he heads off for a surf.  Ho! Ho! Ho! Meri Kirihimete! Week 1: Wed 11 Dec - Fri 13 Dec, 11:30 - 3:30 pm Week 2: Wed 18 Dec - Fri 20 Dec, 11:30 - 3 :30pm Suitable for everyone young and old! Cost is free. Free present wrapping at the library Shop local and get your presents wrapped for free at the library by Santa’s little helpers.  How it works: 1. Purchase your gift locally 2. Bring your presents and receipt 3. We’ll wrap your pressie for FREE! Week 1: Wed 11 Dec - Fri 13 Dec, 11:30am - 3:30pm Week 2: Wed 18 Dec - Fri 20 Dec, 11:30am - 3:30pm Christmas with Aroha This time of year can be a bit lonely for some, and we want to help with that by sharing the AROHA!  We want you to send your kind messages of aroha to someone in need of some Christmas cheer. Here’s how it works: Step one: Ask a librarian for a Christmas card. Step two: Decorate card and write message. Step three: Return finished card to librarian or pop into letter box on children librarians desk. It’s that easy! Week 1: Mon 9 Dec - Sat 14 Dec Week 2: Mon 16 Dec - Fri 20 Dec Kiwiana Christmas Events Calendar Santa’s elves have been hard at work getting the library ready for a Kiwiana Christmas Celebration.  So if you’re looking for some free fun things to do in the lead up to Christmas then the library is where you want to be.  Live music, workshops, kids crafts, Christmas story time and more.  Expand the lists below and keep an eye on their events calendar  for more activities to come! Week 1: Mon 9 Dec - Fri 13 Dec December 9, Monday Christmas masks and ornaments 10.00am – 11.30am   December 10, Tuesday Lego Corner For ages 7+ Due to small lego pieces and limited staff we ask that this workshop be for children 7 years or older. Parents with younger children are more than welcome to check out our Kiwiana Christmas set up in our Rangatahi Youth space. 10.00am – 11.30am Grace McVey Musician Join Grace McVey local Gisborne Girls High student and member of band "Eleventh Hour" for some music entertainment you'll love. Bring a drink and a snack and join Grace in the Kahui Whetu constellation courtyard, make sure to lock it in your calendar now.  1.00pm – 1.45pm   December 11, Wednesday Hanakoko Santa Get your photos taken with Santa and let him know if you’ve been naughty or nice. 11.30am – 3.30pm Free Present Wrapping Shop local and get your pressies wrapped for free by Santa’s helpers 11.30am – 3.30pm Christmas Story time with Santa’s helpers 12.30pm – 1.30pm December 12, Thursday Christmas Lanterns with Izzy 11.30am Hanakoko Santa Get your photos taken with Santa and let him know if you’ve been naughty or nice. 11.30am – 3.30pm Free Present Wrapping Shop local and get your pressies wrapped for free by Santa’s helpers 11.30am – 3.30pm Christmas Story time with Santa’s helpers 12.30pm – 1.30pm December 13, Friday Hanakoko Santa Get your photos taken with Santa and let him know if you’ve been naughty or nice. 11.30am – 3.30pm Free Present Wrapping Shop local and get your pressies wrapped for free by Santa’s helpers 11.30am – 3.30pm Christmas Story time with Santa’s helpers 12.30pm – 1.30pm Anahera – Live Music Come sing with Anahera as she performs some kids' favourites. Disney karaoke fun all the whanau are sure to enjoy!  2.30pm – 3.30pm   Week 2: Mon 16 Dec - Fri 20 Dec December 16, Monday Lego Corner For ages 7+ Due to small lego pieces and limited staff we ask that this workshop be for children 7 years or older.  Parents with younger children can check out the face painting next door at our Kiwiana Christmas set up in our Rangatahi Youth space. 10.00am – 11.30am Tu Meke Face Painting Children and adults come and get your face painted and check out our Kiwiana Christmas while you’re here. 11.30am – 3.30pm   December 17, Tuesday Raranga Bangle Workshop Learn how to weave a bangle using harakeke.  Younger children will need one on one help from a parent or caregiver. 11.30am Sam and Lui – Live Music Winner of the 5 minutes of Fame Wāhine section in 2022, also participating in Pacific Beats and Rock Quest in her earlier years. Sam now works for Te Tairāwhit Arts Festival and you can occasionally see her performing with Lui at different venues.  The incredible duo are bringing an arrange of music for an afternoon of entertainment in the Kahui Whetu Constellation Courtyard.  Don’t forget to bring your sun hat and water bottle.   December 18, Wednesday Hanakoko Santa Get your photos taken with Santa and let him know if you’ve been naughty or nice. 11.30am – 3.30pm Free Present Wrapping Shop local and get your pressies wrapped for free by Santa’s helpers 11.30am – 3.30pm Christmas Story time with Santa’s helpers 12.30pm – 1.30pm Anahera – Live Music Come sing with Anahera as she performs some kids' favourites. Disney karaoke fun all the whanau are sure to enjoy! 2.30pm – 3.30pm December 19, Thursday Raranga Bangle Workshop Learn how to weave a bangle using harakeke.  Younger children will need one on one help from a parent or caregiver. 11.30am Hanakoko Santa Get your photos taken with Santa and let him know if you’ve been naughty or nice. 11.30am – 3.30pm Free Present Wrapping Shop local and get your pressies wrapped for free by Santa’s helpers 11.30am – 3.30pm   December 20, Friday Blue Tutu Face Painting Children and adults come and get your face painted and check out our Kiwiana Christmas while you’re here. 11.30am – 3.30pm Hanakoko Santa Get your photos taken with Santa and let him know if you’ve been naughty or nice. 12.30pm – 3pm Free Present Wrapping Shop local and get your pressies wrapped for free by Santa’s helpers 12.30pm – 3pm TaaOro – Regan Balzer & Horomona Horo Relax, revitalise and reset with Taonga Puoro specialist Horomona and performance painter Regan Balzer, who will take you on a journey of collaboration and creativity. One of the most thrilling and relaxing toi & taonga puoro journey’s you will experience for 2024 12.30pm – 3.30pm Week 3: Mon 23 Dec December 23, Monday Christmas Card making Come and make Christmas cards for your loved ones with Santa’s helpers. 10.00am – 11.30am Surfing with Sarah | Surf Coaching and Equipment Hire Summer is the perfect time for the kids (and caregivers!) to learn how to surf. Sarah and her team provide surf coaching and equipment hire for all ages and abilities. They offer sessions every day, depending on conditions. Purchase one-off, 2-hour lessons at $75 or a 3-lesson package for $185 (all equipment included). It’s $35 if all you need is to hire a board/wetsuit.  Their venues change to get the best conditions, so contact Sarah at 0 22 073 9383 or by email at surfingwithsarah@gmail.com . Tōnui Collab STEMM Workshops:   Tōnui Collab offer 3 weeks of 1-day workshops, 9am to 3pm each day at Tōnui Collab, 466 Childers Road . Their workshops encourage children to explore the diversity of STEMM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics and mātauranga Māori through the experimentation and creation of animation, engineering, game development, robotics, coding, virtual reality and more! For a description of all the courses offered, follow the link to their website (below). Caters to ages 7-13 Cost is $50 per day. Book online here : https://www.tonuicollab.com/holiday-workshops Questions? Contact Moana at admin@tonuicollab.com  or 0800 8 TŌNUI Week 1: Tuesday 17 - Thursday 19 December Tuesday 17 Dec - Virtual Reality Wednesday 18 Dec - Game Development Thursday 19 Dec - Robotics Week 2: Tuesday 21 - Friday 24 January Tuesday 21 Jan - Digital Art Wednesday 22 Jan - Robotics Thursday 23 Jan - Animation Friday 24 Jan - Game Development Week 3: Tuesday 28 - Friday 31 January Tuesday 28 Jan - Virtual Reality Wednesday 29 Jan - Digital Art Thursday 30 Jan - Game Development Friday 31 Jan - Robotics Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programmes 30-min swimming lessons with an instructor held at Elgin School Pool. Cost is for all the daily lessons for the week. During the school holidays is the perfect time to boost your little one’s confidence in the water. Week 1: Mon 6 Jan - Fri 10 Jan Week 2: Mon 13 Jan - Fri 17 Jan Week 3: Mon 20 Jan - Fri 24 Jan Caters to 3+ years.  Cost is $60 per week. To book or find more information, go to their website https://comet-swimming-club.accounts.ud.io  or email Libby at comet.libbyd@gmail.com   The Y Oscar Summer Holiday Programme The Y Oscar programme offeres a variety of fun activities every day, from 16 December to 31 January , with bookings available from 6:45am to 5:45pm at YMCA Oscar House - 153 Disraeli Street (look for the green fence). From trips to the Kiwa Pools and the cinema to baking and arts and crafts, there’s sure to be something for everyone! Limited spaces available in December, so don’t delay. Caters to ages 5-13. Cost ranges from $10 (for breakfast-club and after-noon care) - $65 (full day). Ask them about their whanau discount – Ts & Cs apply. To enrol, fill out the form at the link below and email it to oscar@ymcagisborne.nz . For questions and to learn about their whanau discount, email (address above) or ring 867 9259, ext 3.  https://ymcagisborne.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Y-OSCAR-HP-DEC24JAN25-3.pdf?x86194 Events 4 All The team at Events 4 All have heaps of activities that will keep your tamariki safe and having fun throughout the summer. 18 Dec -  29 Jan, 7.30am till 5.30pm. They're based at Awapuni School and schedule a variety of activities across the summer to keep the young ones entertained and to make sure there’s something for everyone. You provide a bag lunch and a drink and they have breakfast, morning and afternoon teas sorted. Caters for ages 5-14.  Cost is $60 per day. Book at this link: https://enrolmy.com/events-4-all/book-now/237-Events-4-All-Christmas-20242025 For more information, reach out to Colleen at 027 531 5756. Ocean Rhythms Surf Camp Ocean Rhythms Surf Coaching are running 3 su rf camps this summer, from 9am-3:30pm each day  at Midway Beach, a safe beach for kids to learn the fundamentals of surfing, develop respect for the environment and make new friends. With a soft, sandy bottom, predictable conditions, a lack of hazards, and plenty of attentive, passionate and fully trained instructors, your child will safely play in the waves and develop confidence, ocean knowledge and safety. The primary goal of this camp is to teach kids to properly assess ocean risks, have fun in nature and introduce them to a healthy activity they can do for the rest of their life! Camp 1: Wed 18 - Fri 20 December Camp 2: Mon 6 - Fri 10 January Camp 3: Mon 13 - Fri 17 January Caters to ages 6-12. Cost is $270 for the December camp and $410 for each of the January camps (extra for equipment hire). Book via email, or email your questions, to oceanrhythmscoaching@gmail.com . Gisborne Library Summer Activities After the Christmas fun is over, there's still plenty of free activities to enjoy. The HB Williams Library have fun and enriching activities to keep the little ones busy during summer! Break up the long summer days with trips to the library for arts, crafts, story-time, a writing workshop, and many more and of course, fuel that love of reading! December 16, 2024 – January 26, 2025 Hineraumati Summer Reading Challenge Pick up a registration form from the children’s area in the library or see www.gpl.govt for downloadable registration form and full details.  Weekly spot prizes up for grabs! Read for two hours in 15 minute slots and go in the draw to one of four mystery prizes. For ages 0-18years Free   December 16, 2024 – January 26, 2025 Hineraumati Summer Hunt Search the library for all the clues to solve the hidden message.  Pick up a hunt form from the children’s area. For ages 0-18years Free   ALL ACTIVITIES RUN FROM 10.00am-11.30am WEEK ONE January 06, Monday Book Marks Make your own personalised book mark and one to gift to a friend. Suitable for all. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 07, Tuesday Origami Join resident origami guru Liam for some origami antics.  Requires patience and concentration. Suitable for primary aged and up. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 08, Wednesday Pompom Launchers & Paper Planes Launching fun for everyone.  Can you launch your pompom and hit the target?  Come and give it a go.  We’re making pompom launchers and paper planes. Suitable for all. 10.00am-11.30am, free January 09, Thursday Picture Frames Upcycle cardboard boxes and turn them into picture frames. If arts and crafts is your thing then make sure to join in for some picture frame fun. Younger children may need help from an adult. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 10, Friday Pirate Day Ah-hoy matey! Make all things piratey. If that sounds like fun to you then pop into the library for some DIY piratey shinanigans! 10.00am-11.30am, free   WEEK TWO January 13, Monday Shadow Puppets Make shadow puppets.  If you can think it, you can make it.  Bring your ideas and stories to life. Younger children will need help from an adult. 10.00am-11.30, free   January 14, Tuesday Marble Run Make a marble obstacle course.  Will require patience and a hand from an adult. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 15, Wednesday Super Hero Masks Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a super potatoe?  Create your own super hero mask and let your imagination run wild.  Suitable for all. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 16, Thursday DIY Water Bombs Summer is here. Have fun with water and making your own DIY water bombs.  Bring swim wear or a change of clothes cause it may get a little wet. Suitable for all. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 17, Friday DIY Bubble Wands Come and make your own bubble wand out of string, sticks and pipe cleaners. Suitable for all. 10.00am-11.30am, free   WEEK THREE January 20, Monday Games Day Get ready for some of your party fav’s and giant games in the courtyard. Suitable for primary school aged and up. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 21, Tuesday Rock Painting Paint your very own pet rock to pop in the garden. Young children must have one on one supervision. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 22, Wednesday Mini Garden Let’s get planting.  Decorate your planter pot, plant your seed and watch it grow.  Suitable for all. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 23, Thursday Paper Weaving Weave a colourful creation using paper.  Will require a little bit of patience and determination.  Under 5’s will need help from an adult. 10.00am-11.30am, free   January 24, Friday Story Writing Workshop Help us write a short story to create a mini story walk display in the library.  For ages 8 -17 years.  20 spots only, phone the library on 867 6709 to book your spot. 10.00am-12.00pm, free Youth Learn to Sail Age 11-14 and keen to sail? The Gisborne Yacht Club’s Youth Learn to Sail programme, running two times during the January school holidays will get you out on the water, easy as. Bring a wetsuit, towel, hat, sunscreen, change of clothes, and a water bottle (snack and sunglasses optional).  • Boats and life jackets provided  • Yachting NZ qualified coaches • Crewed safety boats alongside learners Week 1: Tuesday 7th - Thursday 10th January 2025, 10am - 1pm. Week 2: Tuesday 14th - Thursday 16th January 2025, 10am - 1pm. Caters to ages 11-14 Cost is $200/week, which includes GYC Membership for the 2024/25 sailing season (thru May 2025), access to the club house (including changing rooms & showers), a variety of sailboats, and sailing alongside crewed safety boats on club days. To register, contact Jake at okay.jake4062@gmail.com or 022 304 5330.

Are you hosting visitors? Do you have accommodation that gets visitors throughout the year? We know Gizzy locals like you love sharing the gems of the place we call home. In addition to your favourite walk or picnic spot, we've created an easy way to share with visitors the Gizzy Local event calendar so they can see details for music, art, and other events held in our charming and wonderful hospitality venues and third places. Just open the below image and print it out for the fridge for your guests or just put it up for yourself. The qr code takes to you the Gizzy Local calendar. Have fun out there!

UPDATED: We've filled this role. :) Gizzy Local is looking for a new staff member to join the team! This role is for an Events Coordinator, who will keep the Gizzy Local Events Calendar up to date, and use their creative communication skills to let our community know about what’s going on locally. We’re looking for someone who: - is confident navigating social media platforms;  - enjoys making new connections and helping people; - is a warm and effective communicator; - is organised and has great time management skills; - is passionate about the importance of a vibrant community  - enjoys both working in a team environment, as well as independently, and  - is excited by the prospect of contributing to Gizzy Local We can offer you: A warm, fun, and welcoming work environment  A team of creative and passionate humans Flexibility Potential for the role and responsibilities to evolve If this gets a fire burning in your belly, we’d love to hear from you!  Check out the full job description below and send us an email introduction with a bit about yourself, and any skills, experience or attributes you believe you could bring to this role and Gizzy Local (email to Sarah Pocock, community@gizzylocal.com ). :) Job Title: Gizzy Local Events Coordinator Reports to : Content Manager and Board Key Relationships Internal: Sarah Pocock, Tom Teutenberg, Gizzy Local board of trustees External:  Event organisers and the Gizzy Local online community  Hours: 15 hours per week Terms: Contractor / $28 per hour / Will need own phone.  What is Gizzy Local:  Gizzy Local consists of online platforms and a physical community hub, which serve as safe and inclusive spaces in which our community connect with each other and the positive things that happen in our community.  Online we share local event information and uplifting connective stories about our people and place. In our community hub we hold a diverse array of events that bring people together to create and connect, and support community members to hold their own events. Our Purpose: The purpose of Gizzy Local is to provide pathways for connection for our community in Te Tairāwhiti, Tūranganui-A-Kiwa, Gisborne. keeping our community informed and engaged in issues and decisions that affect them via our online platforms; and enabling access to information about local events, services and resources via our online events calendar, social media platforms and weekly newsletter; and  enabling connection and uplifting the good things that happen in Te Tairāwhiti; and providing an inclusive, accessible and financially sustainable arts and community facility.  The Role: Local Events Calendar: The Gizzy Local Events Calendar  is the only place to find all our local event information in one place.Gigs, whānau-friendly events, community fitness, art exhibitions, cinema, street festivals, talks, wānanga, planting bees, dance sessions, poetry nights, workshops, markets, protest action, community hui… the kinds of things that help us to live a good life; which enhance our wellbeing, both as individuals and as a community.Every Thursday we pull together all the events happening over the coming week and send them to our Weekly Roundabout email subscribers and put out a ‘What’s on this Weekend’ Reel on our social media pages. We are looking for someone to manage the Gizzy Local events calendar and promote local events to our wider community. The purpose of this role is to encourage our community to get out and about to enjoy and benefit from all the good stuff that’s on offer in Te Tairāwhiti; enabling this by providing timely, accurate and accessible information about local events.  This role will involve: Gathering, collating and uploading local event information to the Gizzy Local Events Calendar on our WIX platform communicating with event organisers & local venues providing additional paid promotions for event organisers; creating social media stories and posts. Uploading and describing upcoming events into our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Roundabout, in an interesting and conversational format. Creating a weekly reel that brings together all the events taking place over the weekend. Checking in on our Local Business Directory once a week and updating listings where appropriate. * This role has the potential to expand into organising Gizzy Local events and managing the Gizzy Local venue, with more paid hours attached. We invite applicants that: - are confident navigating social media platforms; - enjoy making new connections and helping people; - are warm and effective communicators; - have great time management skills; - are able to work independently as well as part of a team; - are passionate about the importance of a vibrant community and; - are excited by the prospect of being a part of the Gizzy Local team, and contributing to this next chapter of its evolution. - work in a way that supports our bicultural cultural community and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The Gizzy Local calendar is part of a Wix website, and over the course of your role with us, you will learn how to use Wix with on-site training.  Key Responsibilities Collating Events information from various online sources Uploading and managing event information to our website, social media and weekly newsletter Creating the weekly Gizzy Local Weekend Reel on Instagram Building and maintaining relationships with community members and businesses running local events  Promoting events using social media stories, posts and reels Sharing information about Gizzy Local’s sponsorship and promotional opportunities with event organisers Skills Confident and warm communicator via phone, email and messaging services, and in person Written skills that produce accessible and interesting content Comfortable using Social Media tools, Google Suite and Canva Minimum basic understanding of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, or a desire and motivation to learn. What we can offer you A warm, fun, and welcoming work environment, including desk space. A team of creative, passionate humans, who are working for our community, social justice and the whenua.  Flexible hours, and ability to work from home (case by case in agreement with Content Manager. Ongoing training and development on the job Potential for the role and responsibilities to evolve.

64 Lowe Street has been home to Gizzy Local for around three years now and what a transformation has taken place during that time - for both our organisation and the space itself.  And the evolution continues - perhaps you’ll be a part of this next chapter?! Please read on. Members of the Gizzy Local whānau first connected with the owners of these buildings in 2020 when we were looking for vacant spaces for a couple of arts experiences, one of those being NOise VACANCY.  Looking back now, a powerful intention was set with that kaupapa, showing ourselves, our wider community and the building owners just how powerful creatives can be in bringing vacant spaces and their surroundings back to life! These days our 64 Lowe Street home is warm and friendly, alive with a safe, enabling and creative wairua. The Gizzy Local office and venue is complemented by eight studios occupied by a creatives working in a wide variety of spheres, so there’s always something interesting going on in our midst! And things are about to get even more interesting…  Our building is set to have earthquake strengthening work done early next year, after which, the beautiful upstairs space will also be able to be occupied. This is where our wider community comes in! We are interested in hearing from other organisations as well as individuals who are working in the arts as well as complementary spheres to the arts, whether it’s in mental health, environmental mahi, indigenous kaupapa or otherwise, who might be interested in joining this thriving wee hub of goodness!   The upstairs could take on a number of different configurations, which might look like a central open place space occupied by a small to medium sized organisation, with office / studio spaces rented out to individuals, or a larger organisation taking the entire space.  If this piques your interest, please get in touch! Email community@gizzylocal.com .

Many of us are very familiar with how important it is to have high-quality and specialty services in our region. Seeking technical and specialised support out of town or internationally often equates to high costs and long delays. So it might come as a pleasure to learn that just over on Banks Street near Midway Beach, Linnaeus Laboratory is staffed by local experts who meet all sorts of local scientific and testing needs. And you might be surprised by how many ways they keep us, local products, local customers and our community safe and help us “love local.”  Linnaeus Laboratory (pronounced “lin-NAY-us") is named after Carolus Linnaeus (1707 – 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist who is known as the father of modern taxonomy and ecology. Linnaeus Laboratory in Gisborne had its beginnings in the viticultural industry. The laboratory is owned by local wine industry identity, Geoff Thorpe. The research and development arm of Linnaeus has been involved with a number of projects including large scale, industry-funded grapevine health research, collaborating with teams both in NZ and overseas.  Linnaeus, an IANZ accredited lab, provides clients with a broad range of diagnostic testing and research & development services in the areas of plant and soil health, water and food quality, and more. Linnaeus is home to a team of highly trained and very caring professionals. I sat down with three members of this team, Charlotta Muir (Laboratory Manager), Dion Williams (Water Sampling Technician), as well as Phoebe Riddell, from Riversun, to learn more about the Linnaeus story.  Being IANZ (International Accreditation NZ) accredited is an achievement that the Linnaeus team is very proud of. This means Linnaeus meets standards of competence set by the International Organization for Standards (ISO). Clients can trust Linnaeus’s results and know that they hold up to world class standards. And as compliance standards are raised across all kinds of industries (think agriculture, farming, food and skin-care products, and even the waste that industries discard), it’s important that local organisations can trust the testing results.   In order to carry on with work, some businesses must get IANZ-approved testing. Says Charlotta Muir, Laboratory Manager (who describes herself as nerdy), “It is a huge value to our district to have this facility available. It's becoming harder for business as compliance requirements increase over time so it's really good to have something that stands up in Gisborne.”  Elevating local business through relationships, valuing community and being here to talk through results and solutions, are core beliefs at Linnaeus. I am already impressed by a sense of duty of care, loyalty, service and passion about what they stand for. “If we can't help you or provide what you need, we will go to external labs that we have a relationship with,” says Muir. “We'll find out if they offer the testing, how much it will cost and what we need to do in order to send a sample. This takes all the hassle away from the customer. Basically, if we can't do it, we will find someone who can.” The team have a passion for doing right by our community, connecting people and building relationships. “It's very important to us to help business and industry where we can and to help them be good at what they do,” says Charlotta.  Water testing is one of the many services provided by Linnaeus. Addressing water quality issues is often required for consent for various projects to go ahead. But also, it’s a key concern for public health. Private and commercial water users, schools, marae and other public institutions require regular water monitoring which is crucial to protect public safety.   Dion explains to me the rigorous process behind integrity of sampling, which he adds, “using the correct procedure cannot be understated and truth comes from the integrity of samples. When it comes to environmental issues, you don't know the truth until something is (scientifically) tested.” Dion attended GBHS “back in the day” and after leaving school, worked at the Olympic pools. There he developed a passion for science and water quality and has never looked back.  Being independent offers client confidentiality and professional checks and balances with no affiliations to other companies. The team at Linnaeus are a local face with whom clients can discuss samples and results, achievements and plans, and where help is offered along the way. They can bridge gaps between Taumata Arowai (the water services regulator for Aotearoa) and Iwi, schools, individuals, business, industry and local authorities.   Says Charlotta, “We try to make our services available to everyone, particularly rural schools, which are often faced with urgency in getting samples tested in emergencies. This is where our emphasis on relationships comes into play. We are problem solvers, and we help people.”  In addition to testing samples for a wide variety of industries, Linnaeus Laboratory also provides Research & Development services. Says Charlotta, “We have a research and development team with the ability to take on contract work. A lot of businesses can't afford an R&D team of their own, so having the ability to contract Linnaeus to do it can be very beneficial. A business might need full-scale R&D support or just the use of a cabinet and other facilities. Recently a client who is developing skin care products, used work carried out by Linnaeus to go toward certification for her business. Another client needed to use accredited storage for a food item.” Linnaeus can be a safe link in the chain of scientific testing.  They all rave about their co-worker, Dr Eline van Zijll de Jong. Eline joined the team in 2016 with more than 15 years of research experience in applied microbiology and molecular biology. Since joining the team, she has been actively involved in four New Zealand Winegrower projects investigating trunk disease and its management. In her current role as Lead Scientist at Linnaeus, Eline works closely with Riversun Nursery to improve production and quality of grafted grapevines for the wine industry. Eline has valued the opportunity to not only advance but also apply scientific knowledge to benefit growers directly.  Some of their core business is evaluating the maturity and quality of kiwifruit for export readiness. For the last 3 years, this seasonal work with the Zespri maturity contract sees their team grow from 7 to 50-60. They see themselves as a key piece to a strong, resilient community where local industry, like kiwi, citrus, and wine growers, use local expertise at Linnaeus, who in turn, employ local people. It’s a win-win-win!  They also give students the chance to get on a pathway of a career in science. Linnaeus hosts school group tours through the laboratory where the team share their passions for science with young people. And there are career pathways and opportunities for young people, like work experience during the holidays with the kiwifruit programme and the Elisa virus testing programme.   There are also opportunities for second- or third-year uni or post-grad students to find placement at Linnaeus, through Callaghan Innovation, an organisation that provide funding and other support to innovators, scientists, and entrepreneurs. A business alongside a student can apply for project funding.   Charlotta, Dion, and the team at Linnaeus are excited and positive about the future.  This small laboratory is led by local needs and in return enables opportunities for others in areas of research and development, career glimmers, or simply in the core business of scientific testing to support local business and industry to have world-class, quality products. The talented team truly care about their community and have an outlook of professional truth-seeking through science.  We want diverse and world-leading industries here, like what we grow from the land and the innovations we create. We hope that you’ll “love local” not just when you buy but when you need scientific testing. The work of Linnaeus is world-class and something that Gizzy locals can be proud of.

Kāore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka. The kumara does not speak of its own sweetness. So, when I asked for the volunteers at Gizzy Kai Rescue (GKR) to talk about themselves, they weren’t very forthcoming, at first. I tried to squeeze some sweetness out of the manager, Lauren Beattie, but she would not have it, and redirected any praise toward the volunteers and founders of GKR instead. Vital too, she says, are the businesses and people who donate food and the recipients who distribute it. GKR’s purpose isn’t only to feed people, (although that is arguably the most important part of what they do), they also aim to reduce food waste.  Food rescue is a hot topic right now. Recently, the Government’s chief science advisor released a series of five reports written over two years which identified that almost half of all food is wasted globally. That’s a whopping 40%. On a local level, GKR has been operating for five years, and in that time they have redistributed 330 tons of food. (If you prefer a visual idea of how much food that is, it’s the weight of 33 elephants). In 2023 alone, GKR provided over 70,000 kgs of food and other goods to 15 community recipient groups. Perfectly good bread, bakery items, produce, meat, frozen goods, dairy, cereal, toiletries, cleaning products and even pet food were spared from being unnecessarily dumped.  GKR is an organisation built on two solid pillars: environmental and social impact. Redistributing the equivalent of 83033 meals locally in a year, $242,303 of retail value, means that 113,226 kgs of carbon emissions are simultaneously avoided. An average of 5500 kgs of goods per month is diverted from landfill. Efficiency of process means there is no waste and no hunger. GKR have a diverse and sustainable funding model. Steadfast to their values, they source food locally and nationally through the NZ food network in a shared, non partisan way. It’s about the need, says Lauren. We are not at the mercy of political trends or populous politics. This is a low input organisation that produces solid measurable impacts. Their ecological footprint is light. Volunteers work out of a fitted out garage with a couple of industrial fridges and a van. Food safety is paramount, and food is carefully checked and weighed before it’s packed. GKR is a stellar example of what an interconnected, collaborative and circular local economy looks like. Historically, it was not uncommon to see gatekeeping among community organisations as there was often a scramble for funding. GKR has modelled change for how we work.  By distributing to recipient community groups, the kai covers the whole rohe, from Hicks Bay to Wairoa, and continued to provide food all through Covid and severe weather disasters when they were undoubtedly most needed.  There are over 30 volunteers at GKR, and in the end I was able to coax a few into speaking to me. They range in age from 17 to 70+.  All chose to offer their service to GKR as it resonated with two strong beliefs they had.  “One, that we should not be overloading Papatūānuku with manmade rubbish,” says an unnamed volunteer. “Rubbish has become such a huge problem in many parts of the world. Therefore, the rationale which started GKR represented a way I could contribute to solving a problem I was concerned about. I could do something practical. The other concern was why we were allowing people in our community to go hungry when there was food available. In this region we grow so much food and excess was often wasted. Now, many firms and growers contribute excess to GKR to be distributed. At the present time is so important that surplus is shared. It is not only beneficiaries who are stressed by trying to feed their families, but even working families, who are struggling with high rent and electricity costs.” Roy and Betsy enjoy helping those who benefit from the redistribution of food and products. “It helps enormously to supplement their incomes and provide for their families. During times of hardship such as cyclones etc, it gives many hope and courage in a desperate situation that might otherwise have seemed hopeless. This support in the community would otherwise have to be provided for by other avenues, creating a financial burden on another sector/group.” Anna Worsey is one of the younger volunteers who had just moved to Gisborne from the South Island and wanted to donate some of her free time to contributing to her community. She aligns strongly with GKR’s values and the wider mission to reduce food waste and respond to food insecurity.  “My day job is working with community led, environmentally focused, not-for-profit organisations similar to GKR, so I felt I may be able to contribute in a variety of ways – small, but important to those who need it in my community first and foremost, all while reducing food waste and its environmental impact. The order of these is important as I always felt a strong pull towards environmental protection but volunteering at GKR (among other things) has shifted my focus to a more ‘people first’ approach. I feel this is super important because caring for the environment is a luxury when people’s basic needs (like access to good food) are not supported.” Volunteers all share a common concern that in an ideal world GKR would not need to exist. However, this is our reality, and in the meantime it is providing a crucial service to our community. They have seen the organisation grow and become more efficient. “We are also giving out food to more organisations than when it started. This growth of inward and outward has been a great evolution to watch.” They are not there for the pay or praise but they are committed to doing what is needed, even extra, if required. “The teams have settled on how each group does their tasks and many of us are now firm friends. Manaakitanga is threaded through the groups. Care and concern for each other is part of the culture.” Reka. They may not speak of their own sweetness, but this writer knows for sure how sweet GKR are, and how much our community appreciates and values their service. To raise awareness, 29th September has been designated as International Food Loss and Waste Day. You can find out more on GKR website: https://www.gizzykairescue.org/  , Facebook  and Insta .

We're honoured to publish the following collection of writing by local, young authors and illustrators. These works were the products of a 2-day writing workshop, delivered by published author and local, Aimee Milne at our Gizzy Local space over the winter school holidays. As advocates and celebrators of local artists, we feel the special priviledge of trust that these artists have placed in us to publish their work. There are few things quite as brave as making art that has no reason to be except for the calling one feels to create it. It's with that desire to respect artistic bravery that we welcome this and more art into our world, we mark this a safe space for these writers and illustrators. Artists, and especially the young, very brave ones, continue making our world more beautiful and thoughtful with your work. A very special thank you to Aimee for helping these authors with their craft. "The Big Idea" Written and Illustrated by Zoё Kluiters, age 11 Wainui Beach School My eyes flicker open. Cream walls, a broken lamp, a crack in the ceiling … and the burnt smell of breakfast. I groan and get up. My straw pile deflated during the night. I drag my feet to the kitchen. A small fire is burning in the centre of the room. A lumpy rock plate sits crooked on the edge. Dad’s house is a dump. Mum and Dad split up a year ago and I’m still sad. Mum got married to a rich man and lives in a mansion. I haven’t seen her since. “Can you go and forage for some food in the forest?” Dad asks. He has never gone to school and he doesn’t have a good paying job, but I never let him know it worries me. “Ok!” I try to be cheerful, and I am happy I’m back home. I go to a fancy boarding school that mum pays for, but I miss my Dad. I skip down the path with my basket where some mushrooms are growing. “Help!” I freeze. “Help!” I must be going crazy! “Help!” There it goes again. It sounds just like a child! I grip the handle of the basket and dash towards the cry. All of a sudden I stop; my heart skips a beat … it’s not a child, it’s a fox in a trap. “Help … help.” I rush over. Blood is oozing out of it’s paw. I push on the lever … it doesn’t move. I take a deep breath and push with all my might. ‘POP!’ The trap let’s go. I realise I have been holding my breath. “You’re a fox,” I say. “Yes, “ the Fox answers. “And you can talk!” “No,” the Fox says. “You can just understand me.” I smile. “How is your paw?” “Well … it’s throbbing?“ he says. “How can I help?” “Some flowers from that tea tree. It will calm the pain.” I do as I’m told. As we talk an idea pops into my head. I could use my newly discovered power to help hurt animals, I could study to be a wild vet. People could come and watch the animals recover in an environment identical to their real habitat. Dad and I could make lots of money! I talk about the big idea to Fox. But I know my Dad needs to get an education. Also how were they going to pay for it? The fox says he has a bunny friend who found an old coin that might be valuable. “Ho!” the Rabbit says when she sees us. “Yes,” she says, “please, take the coin. It just sits there rusting away. Take it! Take it!” she urges. It is heavy, with rusty edges and funny numerals. I cradle it in my hands protectively. When I get home I show it to Dad. He thinks it’s a joke, so I decide to take it to the museum myself. I slip off towards town and talk to the manager who tells me it’s worth 100,000 pounds! I sell it immediately. On the way back I see a big piece of land for sale, only 100 pounds! Now I only have 99,900 left. Without Dad knowing, I build a shop, a parking lot, plant 1,100 trees, a vet room and enclosures. I have just enough left for food. I go and tell Fox the good news. “Well,“ says Fox. “All you need now are the animals.” I gasp. “I don’t have the money to buy animals!” “Calm down!” laughs Fox. “It’s for the injured animals, they will come freely when they are hurt!” I laugh. Why am I so worried? Then I remember my homework! I say goodbye to Fox and rush home to finish my study. Dad is surprised and proud when I tell him what I’ve been doing every day. We have a wild animal vets up and running! After a while my certificate arrives. I am officially a qualified Veterinarian, and I don’t have to sleep on straw anymore. The Kind Soldier Written by Millie Snodgrass, age 11 Illustrated by Violet Partington, age 12 Zoe used to be brave, until the incident, which left her parents wanting a regular kid. Zoe’s parents could fly, but Zoe didn’t have any superpower. As a result, her parents took her nowhere. It was a sunny day in 4774, when Zoe heard the news over her mini radio. “Ten fighters are lost in the Nevermore caves; two of the names are Matt and Matilda Wilson.” Zoe halted in her tracks. Matt and Matilda were her parents. Zoe met her friend Ellie at school and made a plan to go to the caves to rescue her parents, that would prove she wasn’t such a disappointment. Right? Ellie and Zoe snuck out and jogged through the Riverside mountains until their lungs couldn’t fill with any more air. They were determined to reach the caves before dark. Zoe wished she lived back in the day with phones, TV’s and cars. Nowadays, these luxurious items are no longer in production to slow down climate change. Right then, Zoe felt Ellie’s hand across her chest, telling her to stop moving and look up. Right in front of them, was a fallen wooden bridge. “What the heck? Sorry Zoe, I’m turning back.” Without Ellie, Zoe would never find her parents, but she didn’t have time to think about this, because suddenly a gust of wind blew the two girls off the edge. Zoe braced for death as she fell but, it didn’t happen. Someone caught her… “Who are you?” Zoe’s voice was so raspy barely any sound came out. “I’m soldier B23. I was stuck in a cave, but I'm the only survivor.” This man had a shaggy beard and wore ripped clothes. “My parents were in those caves.” She cried. Then she saw Ellie’s motionless body and realised she was dead too. “No.” Zoe tried to run, but she felt a stabbing pain in her leg. “Your leg is broken, so we have to get you back.” Zoe didn’t have anyone left, maybe she was a disappointment after all. She didn’t remember anything else until she woke up with a pounding head and a stiff leg. The soldier was sitting behind her. “Are you ready to go home?”   These were the most confusing words, because Zoe didn’t have a home, her parents were dead. “You can live with me,” he said. Zoe had no doubt that this was the kindest man she had ever met. Zoe sat at the dinner table with Martha and David (her new guardians.) She learned that this couple could teleport to different places and she was nervous she would disappoint them too. But, unlike her parents, David teleported with Zoe, taking her on fun trips. Looking back, Zoe realized she missed her parents a lot, but her new life did suit her, and she finally felt like she belonged. Wild eye Written and illustrated by Lowenna Haskell, age 11 The sound of a gunshot filled the air. I squeezed my eyes shut, a pained scream attacked my ears. I almost fell out of bed. “Breakfast,” Mum called. I tried to tell her yesterday about the screams but she didn’t hear anything. I dragged my heavy feet down the stairs. I didn’t want to eat, not after I had just heard someone die. “Did you hear it this time?” It took her a moment before she realised what I was talking about. “Are you feeling alright?” she asked. It hurt that she would doubt me. I was tired of everyone thinking there was something wrong with me. “Eat.” “I’m not hungry.” “Bianca, you come in making up stories about death and then you tell me you’re not going to eat the food I spent ages on?!” I wanted to feel guilty, but it was hard to believe she spent ages on some burnt toast with a bit of butter. I sighed. “Do you seriously believe I would make it up just to get attention?” I HATED being different. I was called ‘unique,’ in the worst way. You see, I have one blue eye, and one green: but that’s not the strangest thing. Out of the blue eye I see life as any other person would. Out of my green eye, I see life how animals see it. My vision is great at night and I can spot really small things that other people can’t. Humans might just see an ordinary road but I see all the tiny cracks and small stones on and in it. Like a Pigeon! There are loads of different animals that I see like, all mashed together into one. But seeing like an animal is a blessing and a curse. I was angry at my mum so I stormed out the door. Little did I know I would end up far from home… I was only halfway to school when I heard another pained scream. A shiver crawled down my spine. It was louder, like it was close. I felt a sharp pain in my animal eye. I fell to my knees, my bag scattered on the ground. My vision turned black for a moment... * * * Suddenly, I was in a dark room with eerie black walls. A scratchy red carpet on an ancient floor. Two men came running in holding a small baby....that was me! I had no doubt – except for one thing: the baby’s eyes were both blue. A vision...or maybe even a memory. “Come on!” one of the men said. His hair was black and his eyes were red. The other man had brown hair. “We don’t have much time.” “I know Aamon, hurry!” said the brown haired man. “Balor!” Aamon shouted. “NOW!” Balor wrenched out a bottle of bright green liquid and to my horror, poured it directly into my eye. The baby me cried and blinked rapidly as her blue eye turned green. * * * The vision melted away. Was it real? I had millions of questions and NOONE could answer. I snatched my bag up from the ground, panting hard. I made it to the zebra crossing. On the other side of the road, there was a man in black. I crossed the road but the man didn’t move, he just watched me. “It’s you.” “I’m sorry?” I said. “You’re Bianca?” Maybe I should lie and tell him my name was something else. “A… are you Aamon?” The man gritted his teeth. “No... Do you already know him?” “All I’ve had are some dreams.” “I’m not Aamon. My name is Poneros.” I don’t know why, but the name sent a shiver all the way to the bottom of my spine. “Sorry, I need to go to school...” “Is finding out why you struggle with your eyes not more important?” The question threw me off guard. No one had ever believed me about my animal vision before, and Poneros did. Who was he? I wouldn’t normally go with a stranger but I needed to know. We walked to his car and I hesitated. “No need to worry , you’ll be fine,” His tone of voice made me feel better. He opened the car door and I climbed in. Suddenly, the dreaded scream tore at my ears and swallowed any other thoughts that were in my mind... but this time was different, it was calling me, begging for help. “Ow!” I shouted. “What’s wrong?” “The screams.” “It’s best for you if you get some rest,” he said. I didn’t think I would fall asleep that easily but almost as soon as I closed my eyes I was out like a light. * * * I was back in that dark room. Aamon was running, Balor hobbling along behind shouting out random fearsome noises to try and throw whoever was chasing them off guard and just for a moment I felt their fear... * * * “We’re here!” We got out of the car and there were some more men waiting just outside a house. “Hello Bianca. I’m Phobos. Nice to finally meet you.” He seemed friendly but the only thing I could focus on was how he knew my name. “Here, follow me to your room.” “My room?” I followed Poneros into a grey room. “There you go,” he said in an unsettling tone. “I’ll let you settle in then you can tell me about the screams.” Something didn’t feel right. As soon as he left I facetimed my mum. The colour drained from her face. ”Mum?” She looked like she’d just seen a ghost. “Honey, listen to me. They’re not who you think they are.” “W…what do you mean?” I asked in a shaky voice. “Just hide, and when you get a chance, run!” I launched off the bed and hid underneath just before two men came in. “WHERE DID SHE GO!?” “I…I don’t know,” Poneros stammered. “Find her!” Phobos ran out of the room screaming my name. In ancient Greek Phobos meant...fear. My thoughts raced. What was Poneros’ name in Ancient Greek? Aamon and Balor too? I was surprised to find a trapdoor under the bed. I slid through it into an endless cave. The further I got, the darker the cave grew but my animal vision sorted that out. I heard the voices behind me. I saw a sliver of light coming from the very end of the cave. It was my last hope. There was NO other way out. As I reached the end I found the room from my vision – just as it was when I was a baby. And there, lay Balor’s body. It was the most horrifying thing I’d ever seen. There was a bullet hole in his head. “You should have left your phone at home,” Poneros’s voice came from behind me. My animal instincts knew where I should target. But before I had the chance, he pointed his gun at me....and then I got thrown aside. “I knew you were still alive,” Poneros said. I was confused, but he wasn’t talking to me. He was talking to Aamon! He was exactly how I saw him in my vision, only older. Poneros had used my connection with Aamon to find him. The scream echoed in my ear... this time I knew who the scream belonged to: it was Balor. “You murdered my brother on the same night as this girl was given power. Now on the same day, the 4th of April, you’ll feel the consequences,” said Aamon. Suddenly Poneros pulled a knife and held it at Aamon’s throat. One move and he was dead. I had to distract Poneros a little longer. “Wait!” Poneros sneered. “What?” “Fight me.” “You’re lucky you’re still alive. I could kill you with the flick of my wrist.” “Well, why aren’t I dead?” He charged at me. I used my animal vision. Aamon shouted, “BIANCA DON’T DO IT, RUN!” but I ignored him and wrestled Poneros to the floor. He was strong. I felt all my hope draining away. But then he fell to the floor, coughing and murmuring....and Aamon stood over him with a bloodied knife. “Bianca. We have to go!” We ran back through the tunnel and burst through the doors... * * * I woke up in my own bed. I didn’t know if it was real. I searched up what everyone’s name meant, trying to solve the puzzle. Balor’s name means, ‘the deadly one’ in Irish and Poneros’ name means ‘evil’ in Greek. Aamon...the hidden one. I can’t hear the screams anymore, and I wonder if Aamon is hiding somewhere, watching over me, protectively, like he would... a sister? Boy, has my mother got some explaining to do. The Kidnapping Written by Molly Muir, age 11 Illustrated by Kelsey Coote, age 15 Stella waltzed through the hallways of her fancy private school with her two best friends, Delphina and Kimmie. “Did you guys see the new Chanel lip-gloss?” asked Stella. “Mum bought it for me. It was like fifty dollars. I REALLY wanted the 100 dollar one, but she said no. Is she like, trying to RUIN my life?!” “Totes,” Delphina replied, glancing at her Rolex. “The bell’s gonna ring soon so we better get to class.” “See yas!” Stella called as she headed to class. “BTW, I absolutely LOVE the way you guys did your hair this morning! It is like, to DIE for! See you guys at lunch!” Stella looked down at her timetable as someone turned the corner and ran straight into her. Stella scowled. It was Destiny, her arch-nemesis. “Get out of my way!” Destiny screeched in her face. Stella fired back, “Please don't talk to me. Being a nerd might be contagious!” Destiny scoffed and strode away. Stella rolled her eyes and walked to her chemistry class. The time was 9:10, and her chemistry class started at nine! She picked up the pace and ran into Benji, who was in the same class. “Come on, Stella! If I get a bad chemistry grade again, Dad said that I can't use his credit card for video games anymore!” Just as they were turning a corner, three people wearing long black cloaks cornered them. Stella and Benji stopped dead in their tracks. “Umm… who are you dudes?” Benji asked. “Come on Benji,” Stella urged. “You're not going anywhere,” one of the figures said, his voice muffled from the cloak. “RUN BENJI!” she yelled. “Get ‘em,” the hooded figure at the front growled. The Arrow and the Blade Written by Ianthe Cundall-Curry 12 Illustrated by Amelia Stewart, age 14 I couldn’t see anything but black. I couldn’t feel anything but the burn. Where was I? The darkness faded into light, then I realized I was in a cold, dark cell. I sat up and groaned clutching my leg. My hair stuck to the sweat on my face. I looked around and saw a thick black lock connected to the bars that held me prisoner. I winced and limped over to a large stone. It was heavy. I grimaced as I hauled the stone over and smashed the lock. Then I ran. I heard an alarm go off and a shout and realized guards were chasing me. I was about to turn a corner when a group of men holding rifles blocked my way. I turned to run the other way only to meet the end of more guns. I bared my teeth as one of them stepped forward holding chains. There was a thud and one of the guards fell to the ground. Then another. Then another. A boy stood holding a bow and arrow. It creaked as he drew it back to take down the group behind me, then he ran over and hugged me. “Conny, I knew you’d get out!” I was confused. How did this boy know my name? “Let’s get out of here” he said. I pushed him off me and stepped back. “How do you know me?!” The boy cursed. “I’m too late...but I still need to get you out! Come on!” He grabbed my arm and dragged me to the exit. Once outside, we headed for the forest. We ran for what seemed like hours until we were certain we weren’t being tailed. I fell to the ground clutching my leg as it burned. The boy walked over and took a small vial of green goo. “What’s that?” I asked. “This will help” he replied tipping the goo onto my leg. The pain soon faded. “Who are you?” I asked again. “My name is Zanther. We met on a mission in the South. I grew up there and your mission was to kill me.” I looked down, ashamed. I couldn’t remember. “But I cornered you and helped you escape the people you worked for. A week ago they found where we were and captured you. Those scoundrels even made you forget. Oh, also this is yours.” I looked up and Zanther handed me a blade with runes carved into the silver. I turned it around in my hand until I noticed him watching me. "What was I to you?” He looked down blushing and smiled. “More than a friend.” He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I leaned toward him and closed my eyes, his soft breath on my face... but then there was a loud bang in the distance and we both froze. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into a bush. “Your sister,” he said between breaths. “We need to find her.” “What are you talking about?!” I whispered. “You have a sister; they’ll go for her next.” “I think it’s safe,” he said as he helped me out of the bushes. “Where is she?” I asked. “East.” “But those people are heading East?” Zanther pulled me forward. “We’ll get there first.” “No, you won’t,” a voice said dangerously. We spun around, our weapons at the ready to fight. Guards surrounded us. A man wearing a red suit stood at the front of them. “Come to me,” the man said sternly but no one moved. “You’re too late,” Zanther said. “I gave it to her.” The man glared at Zanther. “Leave us alone!” I demand, but the man just chuckled. “Kill the boy, bring the girl.” The guards lunged at Zanther, but he was ready. I went for the man. He drew a blade and started swinging it expertly. I aimed for his head, then back, neck, stomach, but I couldn’t get him. Then I seized my chance. I lunged for his chest as he looked away just for a second. I heard a strangled grunt and turned to see Zanther with a hole in his chest. I ran to him, slicing anyone in my way. I fell to my knees holding Zanther’s fallen body in my arms. An image came to my head of a girl, then of Zanther, then more. “I remember you Zanther! Wake up! Please! I remember you!” unable to control my tears. Zanther smiled. “Good,” he said as his eyes closed. “Nonononono!!!” I cried into his chest. Then I feel a different type of burn. I was going to find out who the man in the red suit was, and kill him.

The story of Longbush Wines is a story of family.  A family with a passion for working together,  crafting, restoration, entrepreneurship and nature. John Thorpe has been a local Gisborne winemaker for over 35 years.  He started Longbush Wines in 1990 with his oldest brother Bill, at the fruit packing sheds that are now Waimata Cheese on Riverside Road, but his winemaking journey actually began with bees.  He started keeping bees as he wanted to learn the art of crafting honey mead.  He embarked on a winemaking course to learn how to make the honey mead and during the course he fell in love with the winemaking process and realised that he might as well be making wine!    When John was young, he and his siblings would go for long bike rides down Riverside Road.  They would take picnics and swim in the swimming hole in the Waimata River.  They all loved the area and felt a real connection to it.  In the year 2000, John’s sister Dame Anne Salmond and her husband Jeremy purchased land down Riverside Road that included the small remaining strip of native bush known as Longbush.  Much of the land was in dire need of restoration, so that is what they started doing.  They fenced, trapped, planted and controlled weeds.  Longbush Reserve is now a magnificent slice of paradise, as much for the birds and native plant species as for the public who are welcome to walk the track and soak in the nature.  The gorgeous labels on Longbush Wines are from the historic Buller’s Birds of New Zealand and symbolise the growing native bird life at the reserve.   The Waimata Cheese Company is the creation of John’s twin brother Rick and his wife Carol.  That business is also a family affair, with Rick and Carol’s children now involved.  Such is the connection to Longbush that cheesemaker Rick named a cheese after it for a time, offering a link to the family affiliation with the bush reserve. John’s son Ash has been involved with the winery for years, doing vintages with his Dad and managing bottling runs.  Ash has now moved into the business side of things, working in marketing, accounting and sales.  Covid and inflation made things difficult for a time, but they have managed to maintain competitive pricing, and sales are now on the rise.  A new winemaker, Claudia Hintz , has also come on board, successfully working alongside John for the past Vintage.   Gisborne is well known for its chardonnay and Longbush Wines place a focus on this with their ‘Bird Series Chardonnay’ and their barrel fermented reserve.  They also make a traditional method blanc de blanc called Cosmos.  Not many wineries make this as it’s a lot more hands-on, but working with his hands is John’s passion.  Cosmos is Ash’s favourite.  It is something a bit special and it’s the perfect bottle of bubbles for an occasion.  If chardonnay is not your tipple, they also produce a delicious rosé, pinot gris, gewürtztraminer and merlot.  All wines in the Longbush range have been rated very highly by Wine Orbit and can be purchased at supermarkets and liquor outlets locally, as well as through their website longbushwines.nz where you can purchase boxes of wine such as the ‘Box of Birds’ which has an assortment of 6 Longbush Wines, or the ‘Three shades of Chardonnay’ box. The 2024 vintage was the best they have had for nearly 10 years, which Ash says is pretty exciting!  They don’t have their own vineyard. Instead they source grapes from other local vineyards such as TW Wines and Bond Block and bring them to their winery at Solander Street in the subdivision.  “John comes alive when the vintage comes through and the grapes are coming in,” says Ash. Aside from winemaking, John Thorpe is a force to be reckoned with.  Ash says “he and Rick are real go-getters.”  John has worked incredibly hard over the past few decades to help ensure that Gisborne remains a fantastic place to live and call home.  He was instrumental in the restoration and refurbishment of the sheds at the wharf which became The Wharf Bar and Restaurant and the building which has become Lone Star.  He was also involved in the restoration of the historic Works building into the restaurant it is now and he had his winery based out the back of it for a time.  These buildings are a major part of Gisborne history and without John's foresight and hard work they may have been lost altogether.  John has also been involved in bringing events to life for our region, such as Tuia 2000 and the iconic Wine and Food Festival. Ash is really interested in promoting Longbush Wines, and other Gisborne wines, to have more of a presence in our region.  There is less choice for local wine these days, which is a big reason to support it.  The winemaking course which used to be offered in Gisborne is now only offered in Hawkes Bay and this has led to less locally-trained wine makers.  Supporting local is an important philosophy to Ash and one of his recent ideas was to utilise the label making facilities they have to produce ‘Gizzy Local’ product stickers.  He has already added them to Longbush Wines locally and he envisages them being used on all sorts of incredible locally made products.  Keep an eye out for a bottle of this amazing local wine - you won’t be disappointed.