Photo Credit: K.Wallace As Gen X kids, the possibility of nuclear war was our 80s mileu. Tairāwhiti seemed too far away to be affected, but that sense of safety was a luxury; one that is increasingly difficult for this, and future generations, to feel. We’re still geographically isolated, but we’re more globally connected now than ever. Our planet is teetering on a see-saw. Climate change, global conflict, the consequences of unsustainable land use, and general scarcity. These forces do, or will, affect us locally. We all have a say in which way the see-saw tilts. What comes next depends, in part, on what we add weight to: what we tolerate, amplify, or normalise. Our community has important collective decisions to make. When we vote in the upcoming local elections, we will also be voting in a referendum to decide whether to keep or remove the Tairāwhiti Māori Ward for Gisborne District Council. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the Māori or General roll. If you’re enrolled, you can vote. If you haven’t enrolled yet, you can do so here. https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online/  I’m not here to tell you how to vote. I’m just providing information, and hopefully dispelling any myths.  So, what are Māori wards?  I can’t give you a definition without the historical context, so I’ll start at the (formal) beginning, in 1840, when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Due to the misinterpretation of certain words, there is ongoing debate about what was promised. But Māori signed the treaty with the understanding that the Crown would have the right to govern settlers while Māori retained tino rangatiratanga (autonomy/authority) over their own lands, resources, and way of being.  That did not happen.  Māori wards are the local government equivalent of the Māori electorates in Parliament. They ensure that Māori communities can elect councillors to represent their interests, perspectives, and priorities.   Māori wards are upholding the Treaty principle of partnership.  Until recently, voters could block the creation of Māori wards by forcing a binding referendum, a barrier that did not exist for any other kind of ward. This was widely criticised as discriminatory, so parliament removed that requirement in 2021, allowing councils to establish Māori wards in the same way they would any other ward. However, some communities, including ours, are still facing referendums.  What are we feeling today? Last July the Government announced any council that had started a Māori ward since 2020, must hold a referendum or remove those wards. This is where we are at now.  At that time our Council had a majority vote to keep the Māori wards. Mayor Rehette Stoltz said “I see Māori Wards as a positive, it’s a plus plus and I am proud of how we’ve all come together. It’s up to us to make sure the Council voices around the table are all of us, we need to hear the voices of our people and more than half of our people are Māori.” I asked a couple of Tauiwi/Tangata Tiriti (non-Māori/people of the treaty) what message they think supporting Māori wards sends about who we are as a region and as a country. Jane Luiten is a local who believes that “in a time of increasing divisiveness and backtracking on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Tairāwhiti support for Māori wards is a beacon of hope.  For Pākehā like me, it speaks to commitment to address the harm of our colonial past and to acknowledge the value Māori bring to our present. He maungarongo ki te whenua, he whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa, (peace on earth, good will towards all people).” Tim Marshall agreed. “I think it’s sends a message that we are mature enough to understand our opportunity as a region with 50+% Maori to truly demonstrate partnership in a genuine way, as a model for the rest of the country.” This was a common theme amongst the locals I spoke with. Here in Tairāwhiti we have a chance to be exemplary. We have an opportunity to unite in a time of crisis and division. To be world leaders. We are the first city in the world to see the sun, after all.  Most Tauiwi I interviewed said it was less about politics and more about values. Our values should guide how we structure local government representation. “He waka eke noa, Jane continues. It’s about shared purpose and collective responsibility. Local government represents the community it serves, and should acknowledge the diverse world views of its community to enrich decision-making. Let’s break down the ‘us and them’ barriers. Councillors can work together and be informed by multiple perspectives, giving the council confidence in its mandate to make decisions for the community at large. And having representation on council helps future generations feel more connected to local democracy. My son is in Tāmaki Makaurau and reckons there is no one to vote for! The line-up for Auckland has almost zero Māori representation. Why would you bother? My future Tairāwhiti is one that works together: where mana whenua are an integral and valued given in a collective local government entity. Not just an ‘add-on’ to the existing system, but part of rethinking how local government best works in Aotearoa 2025.” Says Jane. Supporting Māori wards is not an act of division. It is an act of inclusion and recognition that our community is stronger when all voices are heard.

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. Tōnui Collab  STEMM Workshops:  Across the first week of school holidays, Tōnui Collab offer 4, 1-day workshops, 9am to 3pm each day at their location at 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! Bring a lunch, morning tea and drink bottle and they have the rest covered for a creative and inspiring day! For a description of all the courses offered, follow the link to their website (below). Caters to ages 7-13 Cost is $60 per day. Information and to book online, https://www.tonuicollab.com/holiday-workshops Questions? Contact Moana at admin@tonuicollab.com  or 0800 8 TŌNUI Week 1: Tuesday 23 September - Friday 26 September Tuesday 23 September - Virtual Reality Wednesday 24 September - Animation Thursday 25 September - Game Development Friday 26 September - Robotics BubbleWrap Fun Fun Days This 25 & 26 Sept, BubbleWrap Fun are putting on two indoor Fun Days at the Gisborne Event Centre. Enjoy bouncy castles and fun play for all ages, with an under 5’s and soft play areas, as well as ponies. Book your tickets in advance online for your 2.5 hour window of fun (there are no door sales). Cost are free for under 6 months, $15 for 6 months - 12 years, $10 for 13+ and adults Book your tickets and find more info here . The Y Oscar Spring Holiday Programme   The YMCA OSCAR Spring Holiday Programme is the place to be for the Holidays. Offering a variety of fun activities every day including Kiwa Pools, Odeon Theatre, Skate Park, Sports days and Amazing Race.  22 Sept - 3 Oct. Monday through Friday.  For ages 5-13 (three age groups) Bookings are available from 7:30am to 5:45pm at YMCA Oscar House, 155 Disraeli Street.  Cost is $60 for a full day (7:30 am - 3:45pm and includes breakfast till 8:30am).  You can add on afternoon care for $20 per day (3:45pm - 5:45pm).  To enrol, register at  YMCA Gisborne - Holiday Program   Contact them with questions by emailing oscar@ymcagisborne.nz or ringing 867 9259 EXT 3 www.ymcagisborne.org.nz Pinehollow Equestrian Jacquie and the team offer the chance to get up close and personal with her gentle animals. Their holiday programme is open Monday - Friday, 22 Sept - 3 Oct from 9:15 am - 3:30. They are located at 2424 Matawai Road. If you require transport, they have limited spaces in a van for pick-up and drop-off at the Tudor Park Motel. Pick-up is at 8:50 am and drop-off is at 4 pm. If you require the minivan please note that at the time of booking. Participants need to wear appropriate footwear (gumboots or closed-toed shoes) and dress to the conditions. Caters to ages 5-18. 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, ring Jacquie on 0277491629, email (above) or message the team on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverviewtreks H.B. Williams Library  The Gisborne Library have all sorts of activities to keep your little ones learning and happy this school holiday break. All the events are located at their beautiful space at 34 Bright St, are FREE, and are open to all – just turn up. All activities run from 10.00am – 11.30am except the first one that is open during library hours. Starts Saturday September 20  | Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori Scavenger Hunt Open during Library Hours, Saturday 20 Sept - Saturday 4 Oct Search for the taniwha hidden around the library to find the clues to crack their secret message.  Once you have cracked the code, fill in your details and submit your entry to a librarian. Suitable for ages 5+ Week 1 Monday 22 Sept | Crafts We’re making wheku masks, paper kākahu and more. For ages 5+ Tuesday 23 Sept | Pasta Art We’re making art with pasta.  Get creative and have fun turning pasta into art! Suitable for ages 5+   Wednesday 24 Sept | Crafts Make a potaka (spinning top), porotiti (spinning instrument), whai (string game) and more. Suitable for ages 5+   Thursday 25 Sept | Tukutuku Get creative with māori patterns on our DIY tukutuku boards and make a set of tītītōrea to take home. Suitable for ages 5+ Friday 26 Sept | Storytime Following on from Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori we’ll be having storytime, learning waiata. Suitable for all ages. Week 2 Monday 29 Sept | Totem Sculpture We’re upcycling and turning things around the house into fun totem sculptures. Suitable for ages 6+ Tuesday 30 Sept | Book holder With string and jenga pieces we’re making book holders.  Easy craft for kids. Suitable for ages 5+ Wednesday 1 Oct | Spring Crafts Spring is in the air, decorate a mini seed planter & make a little spring basket to take home. Suitable for ages 5+ Thursday 2 Oct | Tākaro Māori Come and learn some fun māori games for all the whānau to play. Suitable for ages 8+   Friday 3 Oct | Felt Crafts We’ve got a stack of felt ready to create some cute little felt plushies. Suitable for ages 5+ Events 4 All The team at Events 4 All have heaps of activities that will keep your tamariki safe and having fun throughout both weeks of the school holidays. They operate Monday through Friday, 22 Sept - 3 Oct,   from 7.30am till 5.30pm. They're based at Awapuni School and schedule a variety of activities 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. Weather-appropriate clothing is a must on outing days.   Caters for ages 5+.  Cost is $60 per day. Book at this link: https://enrolmy.com/events-4-all/book-now/258-Events-4-All-September-2025-Holiday-Programme- For more information, reach out to Colleen at 027 531 5756. Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programmes   Whether just starting out or improving technique, Comet has just the thing for you. You can book in for Week 1 and/or 2 . They have two locations, at Elgin School Pool and Kiwa Pools. Cost is for all 5 daily 30min lessons for the week. During the school holidays is the perfect time to boost your little one’s confidence in the water.   Caters to 3+ years. Cost is $60 per week. To book, login to the portal at https://www.cometswimmingclub.co.nz . Email questions to Libby at comet.libbyd@gmail.com Eastwoodhill Arboretum The folks at Eastwoodhill Arboretum (2392 Wharekopae Rd, Ngatapa) have two options to entertain and inspire the kiddies this school holidays.  Pot Planting Activity with Tairawhiti Museum Tuesday 23 rd  September  10am - 2pm (3 Sessions) Tairāwhiti Museum will be hosting a hands-on potted plant session from 10am to 1pm! Create your own leafy masterpiece and explore nature-themed interactive worksheets — perfect for curious kids and creative grown-ups! It’s a fun, relaxing way to connect with nature — and take a little green friend home with you! Caters to ages 5-13 years. Cost: Normal entry fees apply but the activity is free of charge Fun Filled Family Day Tuesday 30th September 10am - 3pm Get crafty with arts & crafts, go exploring with the Find & Go Seek family packs, and don’t miss a fascinating talk from GDC’s Glenn Brown on water and pest control at 10am. Chill out with a picnic lunch or grab a café combo or sausage sizzle — then settle in for interactive storytelling with Chris Sommerton in costume!  And we have also have a big kids ‘Rogaine’ – find the secret spots around the park’. Caters to the whole family. Cost: Normal entry fees apply but the activity is free of charge For both of these events, enrol via their website: https://www.eastwoodhill.org.nz/events/ Contact Rose at rosie@eastwoodhill.org.nz or 06 863 9003 with any questions. Gisborne Gymnastics Club Open Gym During Week 1 of the school holidays, the Gisborne Gymnastics Club offer unstructured play sessions and more. The location is the Stihl Shop Sports Centre (537 Aberdeen Road).  Week 1:   Open Gym Monday - Thursday 9am - 12pm and 12pm - 3pm OPEN gym, $25 Preschool Gym Friday (only) 9.30am - 11am, $10 Classes Monday - Friday see timetable for Silks, Parkour, Tumbling and Cheer, $15 Caters to ages: 5-14  Book in or find more information here: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program

Our green spaces, parks, and reserves are not just nice-to-haves. They’re instrumental to our wellbeing, literally our “grass roots,” the places where we connect to one another and nature. As the Livable Spaces name at Gisborne District Council suggests, these spaces improve the live-ability of our communities. (Just for a second, to imagine our city and townships without these spaces is to glimpse something grim.)  Gizzy Local are excited to share this new Mean Mahi listing. Council are recruiting for the full-time role of Senior Parks Officer . Do you have the right passions and skills to oversee this vital part of our lives and ensure that these spaces are the best they can be and accessible for all of us?  The Senior Parks Officer leads the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and improvement of these Liveable Spaces across the Gisborne operational area. You’ll oversee contractors, deliver minor capital projects, and provide expert advice to ensure our parks and community facilities are safe, vibrant, and accessible for everyone. This role is a frontline link between Council, contractors, and the community, problem-solving operational issues while building strong relationships with whānau, hapū, iwi, and other stakeholders. Senior Parks Officer Lead, protect, and enhance the spaces that make our community thrive. Ngā Pūkenga me Ngā Wheako e Hiahia ana | Skills and experience required: GDC are looking for someone who is: Experienced in asset maintenance, parks, recreation, or community facilities (minimum 7 years) Skilled in managing contractors, projects, budgets, and service delivery Confident in fostering strong relationships with the community, iwi, hapū, and stakeholders Strategic and solution-focused, with excellent communication, leadership, and organisational skills Physically fit to access diverse terrains and outdoor worksites Qualifications & Desirable Experience: Bachelor-level qualification in horticulture, parks management, business administration or related field Valid driver’s licence Experience with asset management systems, spreadsheets, databases, and project management tools Understanding of local government, auditing processes, or Te Tiriti o Waitangi application is an advantage   As Senior Parks Officer, your leadership and expertise will directly shape these spaces, ensuring safe, high-quality, and well-loved parks and community facilities across Gisborne. Ngā Huanga | Benefits Work-life balance: Flexible hours to help you manage personal commitments and maintain wellbeing Wellbeing first: Ora Day, Piritahi Day, EAP, flu jabs, health checks & optional access to our Fitness Passport package Whanaungatanga: Waiata group, Te Reo kawhe kōrero, staff events Perks: Modern offices, eye exams, Southern Cross discounts, retail perks Growth: A values-led environment where your development is supported Relocation support: Assistance available to help you make the move to Gisborne Location: Live and work in stunning Gisborne – close to the beach, rivers and bush He aha ngā painga o te kaunihera | Why work for Gisborne District Council Gisborne District Council is one of only six unitary authorities in Aotearoa, meaning they deliver both district and regional council mahi. They're committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, weaving te ao Māori into everything they do, and making a real difference for the people and places of Tairāwhiti. Their mahi is diverse — from looking after roads, water, rubbish and recycling, to protecting our environment, supporting community facilities like pools, parks and libraries, and shaping the region’s future through planning and governance. With over 500 staff, they’re a team that’s passionate about making Tairāwhiti a thriving place to live, work and play. Me pēhea te tono mai | How to Apply Help care for Tairāwhiti’s liveable spaces – apply today. For more information, email recruitment@gdc.govt.nz Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and the position will be filled once the right candidate is identified. To view the full job description, visit their careers page: www.gdc.govt.nz/council/careers and check the job attachments section.

This street installation makes it easy to see how many bikes can be parked in the space of single car park. Cycling in Gisborne I’ve lived in New Zealand for 22 years, most of them in Auckland, and before that in the Netherlands and France. Now, you might wonder why that matters. Hang in there, we’ll get to that. After visiting Gisborne regularly over a seven year period, my partner and I finally made the move last year. We knew we wanted to leave Auckland… it just took us 21 years to do it. Our main requirement? A coastal town on the North Island where you could get around by bike. In Auckland, I cycled. But to call it cycling is rather generous. It was more of a sport involving hills, honking, and lots of deodorant. With the slow progress of cycling infrastructure and the increase of cars on the road, it was starting to feel less like transport and more like combat training. Gisborne, in contrast, is flat. It’s compact. The roads are wide. Some even have cycle lanes, though let’s be honest, they’re the kind where you develop a sixth sense for opening car doors. You’re never fully relaxed. A cycle-friendly (left to right) roundabout, footpath kerb, and bus station. The Missing Crossings But for someone starting out, especially families or anyone walking, scooting, or using a mobility device, Gisborne isn’t exactly welcoming. The big road corridors, free of pedestrian crossings, carve up our city and result in a disconnect between our homes and our destinations: the city centre, services, beaches, parks, friends, workplaces and schools. Take Rutene Road. Two kilometres long and not a single pedestrian crossing. Te Wharau School, Ilminster Intermediate, Dunblane Village and Kaiti Mall are all nearby. Good luck trying to cross safely. Same with Awapuni Road... great beach, no safe way to walk there. Or Ormond Road, where you're expected to detour 20 minutes to the Ballance Street crossing just to get to the other side in one piece. Busy Wainui Road—near the popular shops level with Harris street—has no zebra crossing. And Wi Pere, Lytton etc etc… The Cost of Convenience We live in a city where most families need two cars, not because they want to, but because it’s the only safe option. But imagine ditching one car because walking or cycling became safe, normal, and convenient. That's money saved on fuel, maintenance, and insurance, plus a little more sanity during school runs. And here's a bonus: zebra crossings and safe infrastructure make drivers more considerate too. They remind us that other humans exist, small ones on scooters, older ones with walkers, tired ones just trying to get home. Not All Projects Are Created Equal... and that’s OK Now, if you’ve been following the Grey Street saga, you might be thinking: “Cycling infrastructure? We tried that. Look how that went.” Fair enough. Even as someone who cycles, I’ll admit: that project wasn’t ideal. The intention might have been good, but the execution left too many scratching their heads, including cyclists. Here’s the thing though: one bumpy rollout doesn’t mean we abandon the whole idea of improving how we move around our city. It just means we need to do better. We involve more locals early on, including those who cycle, those who drive, and those who do both. We think carefully about how designs work in practice, not just on paper. And we learn from places that have done this well, including other NZ towns. We all want the same things: safe roads, less congestion, healthier communities, and a town where our kids can walk or ride to school without us worrying. If we get that right, the benefits aren’t just for the cyclists, they’re for everyone.   From Amsterdam to Paris… to Christchurch The Netherlands didn’t become a cycling paradise overnight. In the 1970s, after decades of prioritising cars, protests erupted following tragic road deaths, many involving children. Combine that with the oil crisis, and the Dutch began rethinking the car-first model. Fast forward to Paris, 1995. I moved to Paris just before the start of a national rail and local metro strike which brought the city to a standstill.  It was mayhem. Cars were parked and left for weeks in places you can’t imagine you could park a car. People walked, dusted off old bicyclettes, or resigned like only the French can... "Laissez faire". For 22 days, in the lead up to Christmas, Parisians found out what life without public transport (and with way too many cars) looked like. And surprise: many realised that cycling was faster, more reliable, and oddly liberating. Investment followed. And continues to this day.   purpose-built cycle-way rubbish bins And right here in Aotearoa, we have Christchurch, now considered the leading city in New Zealand for active transport. Following the 2011 earthquake, the city was given a rare opportunity: a clean slate to redesign its transport network. And they used it. Instead of rebuilding around cars, Christchurch invested in public transport, separated cycle-ways, pedestrian-friendly design, and smarter urban connections. It has paid off. Not just in bike use, but in liveability, health, and city resilience. What Can We Do Right Now? Local elections are coming up. That means we’ll have the chance to shape the kind of city we live in, not just through our votes, but by asking candidates the right questions. If the idea of a safer, healthier, more connected Gisborne inspires you, here are some questions you could ask at Meet the Candidates events (or email them directly to candidates if you are not able to make one of the events): Safe Crossings: What is your plan to make it safer for people to walk, cycle, or use mobility scooters, especially on roads connecting neighbourhoods with schools and shops but no pedestrian crossings? Active Transport: Do you support investment in cycling and walking infrastructure, so families have a genuine alternative to needing two cars? Learning from Others: Christchurch rebuilt with cycling at its heart after the earthquake, and is now NZ’s leading cycle city. What lessons from Christchurch (or other towns) would you apply here in Gisborne? Grey Street: How will you ensure that future projects involve locals from the start so designs work for both cyclists and drivers? Long-Term Vision: Where do you see Gisborne in 10 years’ time? A city locked into car dependence, or one where people of all ages can safely and confidently walk or cycle to school, shops, work and the beach? These conversations matter. They signal to candidates that this isn’t a “cyclists versus drivers” issue. It’s about building a city where everyone can move safely, affordably, and connect with the city in a way you can’t from behind a windscreen. Gisborne’s Potential Gisborne already has the ingredients: flat terrain, manageable size, mild weather. With a little investment and vision, we could become New Zealand’s most cycle-friendly city, and the healthiest, happiest, and most connected, too.   Let’s Not Let This Slip Past Whether you ride a bike, drive a car, or walk your dog, we all benefit from safer, better-designed streets. The question is: do we wait for a crisis to force our hand, or do we start building a city we can all enjoy now? It’s our move. Words and photos by Silvia Spieksma

This is another one of those stories (we never get sick of them) that proves you can work in a small, isolated town at the bottom of the world and still be recognised on the international stage. Jacopo Orazi might have chosen to start his business, Radice (Ra- dee-che) Soil Solutions in the stunning town of Sirolo, Italy, but for him, there was one thing missing from his hometown. Surf. It was the surf that brought him to Gisborne twelve years ago, and we are all the better for it. Radice, which means ‘root’ in Italian, was recently shortlisted for the Falling Walls science breakthrough awards in Berlin, Germany. Jacopo’s application was selected from over 250 other international applications. The global recognition is impressive, but it also speaks to the importance of the kaupapa. Soil health. We don’t talk about it enough. Not on a large agricultural scale anyway. I’ve written about soil health and backyard food forests before. At an individual and whānau level, I found no down sides to improving the soil and biodiversity on my own little patch. I get excited when I imagine those positive outcomes at a community level. Imagining forest and soil restoration on a global scale can feel like wishful thinking. It brings to mind the film Don’t Look Up, a satire on the absurdity of science denial. No doubt, there will be those who say, “Don’t Look Down” when faced with the idea of soil restoration as a solution. But it could literally save the world. Soil health is the key to healthy and abundant food, clean water, climate resilience and sustainable food production. Again, there are no down sides! Politicians often cite economic concerns as a reason to delay environmental progress. But Radice’s soil improvement service proves that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. Large agricultural businesses don’t have to choose between the two. Why would anyone continue to use chemicals and costly fertilisers if they didn’t have to? Jacopo says his clientele varies and he adapts his approach with each organisation according to their needs. Plans have been customised with iwi, farmers and orchardists and he recognises that each have a special relationship with the land. The science of soil health is complex and involves sampling, microscopes and years of acquired knowledge. But the concept is actually very simple. If you’ve ever made sour dough or rewena bread, you’ll know that you need a starter. To make a starter you feed it, and after a few days a diverse community of microorganisms spring to life. Now you have a starter to make as much bread as you like, for as long as you like. The same principle applies to soil. With permission, Jacopo transplants a small sample of soil from undisturbed areas like native forests and adds it to a compost. Microorganisms from the sample flourish in the compost and that becomes the soil starter. Damian (Day Whaanga) from Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust, wanted to gain a scientific understanding of soil health to support their restoration efforts. Rongowhakaata have aspirations to transition agricultural land back to native forest. Before seeking Jacopo’s service, Day says they didn’t have a baseline measurement for soil health. Their knowledge was all based on observation, like checking for worms and visual signs like colour and structure. But there is a whole universe underneath us that can’t be seen with the naked eye. Radice Soil Solutions enables people to see inside that fascinating world. For Day, there’s also a cultural significance to soil health. ‘Before colonisation, much of this area was remnant forest, and you can clearly see the decline in the land’s health.’ They are now looking for ways to remediate that. To decolonise the land. There is already a lot of evidence about the negative impacts of current land use practices. A growing number of people are trying to do things differently. Jacopo is there to support their drive for change. One example of how small, simple changes can yield big results in forest restoration is to shift away from using herbicides. Instead, mulching with cardboard and bark and sowing clover seeds as a cover crop. While mulch just suppresses weeds, a living mulch like clover brings in nutrients from the sun, encourages bacteria and fungi, and helps feed the soil. Day says he really valued the collaborative aspect of soil restoration. His relationship with Jacopo wasn’t transactional, it was an exchange of knowledge. And that’s exactly what Radice Soil Solutions is shortlisted for at the science awards: outstanding community engagement. Days group started with a four-day tailored workshop, which he says was hugely beneficial for the whole team. Keep an eye on Radice soil solution socials as Jacopo runs free Healthy Soil introductory workshop at EIT a few times a year. Find out more at https://radicesoil.com Photos by Jordan Perry

Hey Creatives! Do you want to be a part of our network of creators and makers at Gizzy Local? We have two studio rooms available for lease from the 1st of July. The benefits of renting a space at Gizzy Local go well beyond your own four walls: you get to work alongside a diverse range of thinkers and doers, there’s a breakout meeting space, wifi, coffee, Gizzy Local perks, and the warm glow of being under the roof of your favourite community Arts champion. Gizzy Local are committed to creating a space where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued. The rooms are $92 each, which includes wifi and power. One room, pictured at left, looks onto Lowe Street while the room pictured below looks onto the inner courtyard. If $92 per week is a little steep for your budget maybe you want to share with a mate? We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in having a look. We will be showing people around from the week of the 16th June. Don't wait, because these rooms will get snapped up! Sing out to Sarah P at community@gizzylocal.com to arrange a time to see the room.

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 Equestrian Jacquie and the team offer the chance to get up close and personal with her gentle animals. Enjoy a fun full day with horses. Learn how to ride, play games and most of all have fun! They have all different size ponies, so there's one to suit everyone.  Their holiday programme is open Mon 30 June - Fri 4 July and Mon 7 - Fri 11 July from 9:15 am - 3:30. They are located at 2424 Matawai Road. If you require transport, they have limited spaces in a van for pick-up and drop-off at the Tudor Park Motel. (Pick-up is at 8:50am and drop-off is at 4:00pm.) Participants need to wear appropriate footwear (gumboots or closed-toed shoes) and dress to the conditions. Caters to ages 5-18. 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, ring Jacquie on 0277491629, email (above) or message the team on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverviewtreks Gisborne Gymnastics Club Open Gym During the school holidays, the Gisborne Gymnastics Club offer unstructured play sessions. Book your primary or intermediate tamariki into any of the two sessions per day Mon - Thurs or the special Preschool-only session on Friday. The location is the Stihl Shop Sports Centre (537 Aberdeen Road).  Week 1:  Mon 30 June - Friday 4 July Mon - Thurs | Primary and Intermediate 9 am - 12 pm or 12 pm - 3 pm Friday | Preschool Only 9:30 am - 11 am Week 2: Monday 7 July - Friday 11 July  Mon - Thurs | Primary and Intermediate 9 am - 12 pm or 12 pm - 3 pm Friday | Preschool Only 9:30 am - 11 am Caters to ages: 5-14  Cost is $20 for primary and intermediate sessions and $10 for preschool sessions. Book in or find more information here: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program The Y Oscar Winter Holiday Programme  The Y Oscar programme offer a variety of fun activities every day, from Monday through Friday, 30 June - 11 July . Bookings are available from 7:30am to 5:45pm at Y Oscar House - 155 Disraeli Street. From trips to the Kiwa Pools and the cinema to crafts, there’s sure to be something for everyone!  Caters to ages 5-13 (two groups) Cost is $60 for a full day (7:30 am - 3:45pm and includes Breakfast Club till 8:30am). You can add on aftercare for $20 per day (3:45pm - 5:45pm). To enrol, fill out the form at the link below and email it to oscar@ymcagisborne.nz . You can email that address or ring 06 867 9259 Ext 3 with questions. https://www.ymcagisborne.org.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=e23f039b-7a56-4feb-be72-e8bc9d423a56 H.B. Williams Library  The Gisborne Library have all sorts of activities to keep your little ones learning and happy this school holiday break. All the events are located at their beautiful space at 34 Bright St and are FREE. Most of the events are open to all – just turn up. Note that the Tākaro Māori / Māori Games session in the second week has limited capacity. Make sure you reserve your free spot in that one (details below). All activities run from 10.00am – 11.30am   June 30 Monday – Cup Crafts We’re getting crafty with paper cups!  Make a windmill, money tin and more. Suitable for all ages, under 8’s will need help from an adult.   July 01 Tuesday – Lego Build and repeat.  We’re pulling out the lego and going wild!  Come and join us for some lego fun! Suitable for ages 5+, under 5’s must be supervised by an adult at all times around the lego.   July 02 Wednesday – Loom Weaving We’re making our own loom boards and weaving a coaster out of wool.  Come and join us for some winter weaving fun. Suitable for ages 7+ This activity requires patience. Under 7’s will need help from an adult   July 03 Thursday – Paper Crafts We’re turning paper into fun and making fortune tellers, infinite cubes, spinning tops and more.  Come and see what you can create. Suitable for all ages.   July 04 Friday – Space Crafts Todays theme is space!  Come and make a space mobile and other space crafts. Suitable for all ages.   July 07 Monday – Zines If you like story telling then this one’s for you.  Make your very own zine and fill it with a story, a poem or whatever you like, let your imagination run wild. Suitable for ages 7+   July 08 Tuesday – Lego Build and repeat.  We’re pulling out the lego and going wild!  Come and join us for some lego fun! Suitable for ages 5+, under 5’s must be supervised by an adult at all times around the lego.   July 09 Wednesday – Crafts We’re making DIY stickers, bookmarks, marble ladybirds and more.  Come and see what you can create.Suitable for all ages.     July 10 Thursday – Tākaro Māori Nin from Whitiora will be popping in to teach us some fun Māori games for all the whānau to play.  Phone 867 6709 to register now for one of two sessions available.  10.30am or 11.05am. Suitable for ages 9+   July 11 Friday – Board Games We’re putting the devices down and pulling out the board games.  Bring the whānau down and choose between Jenga, connect 4, chess and more. Suitable for all ages.   June 30 Monday – July 12 Saturday – Caterpillar Hunt Look for the caterpillars, chrysalides and butterflies around the library to solve the riddle. Events 4 All The team at Events 4 All have heaps of activities that will keep your tamariki safe and having fun throughout both weeks of the school holidays. They operate Monday through Friday, 30 June - 11 July,  from 7.30am till 5.30pm. They're based at Awapuni School and schedule a variety of activities 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. Weather-appropriate clothing is a must on outing days. Caters for ages 5+.  Cost is $60 per day. Book at this link: https://enrolmy.com/events-4-all/book-now/251-Events-4-All-July-2025-Holiday-Programme- For more information, reach out to Colleen at 027 531 5756. Eastwoodhill Arboretum The folks at Eastwoodhill Arboretum (2392 Wharekopae Rd, Ngatapa) have two options to entertain and inspire the kiddies this school holidays.  Kids Holiday Craft Workshops - Matariki Tuesday 1st July and Tuesday 8th July  10am - 1pm Drop in anytime between 10am - 1pm to take part in fun, Matariki-themed craft activities. Spaces are limited and all materials are provided. Please book in advance here: trybooking.com . Parent supervision is required.  Caters to ages 4-13 years. Cost is $10 and includes entry.  Regular arboretum visitor entry fees apply: Adults $18, age 5-14 $5 (free with workshop booking), under 5s are free. Contact Rose at rosie@eastwoodhill.org.nz or 06 863 9003 with any questions. Tairāwhiti Museum During the school holidays, Tairāwhiti Museum offer morning and afternoon activities for your young ones, inspired by the Museum’s current exhibitions. Spaces are limited, so pre-booking and payment at the museum is essential. All children must be accompanied by an adult during the duration of the workshop. More info coming soon, so either check back here or pop into the museum for the details. Caters to ages 5-12. Cost is $5 per child or $10 per child for the clay workshops. Tōnui Collab  STEMM Workshops:  Across the second week of school holidays, Tōnui Collab offer 4, 1-day workshops, 9am to 3pm each day at their location at 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! Bring a lunch, morning tea and drink bottle and they have the rest covered for a creative and inspiring day! For a description of all the courses offered, follow the link to their website (below). Caters to ages 7-13 Cost is $60 per day. Information and to book online, https://www.tonuicollab.com/holiday-workshops Questions? Contact Moana at admin@tonuicollab.com or 0800 8 TŌNUI Week 2: Tuesday 8 July - Friday 11 July Tuesday 8 July - Game Development Wednesday 9 July - Virtual Reality Thursday 10 July - 3D Modelling Friday 11 July - Digital Art Tairāwhiti Water Polo  This school holidays, Tairāwhiti Water Polo is excited to offer a Flippa Ball Holiday Camp at Kiwa Pools, featuring guest coaches from Hungary, home to some of the best water polo players in the world! This is a unique opportunity for tamariki aged 7–12 to develop their water skills, learn new techniques, and have fun in the pool while being coached by international professionals. All equipment is provided… just bring togs, towel, water bottle and lunch. Tuesday 1 July, 10 am - 2 pm Caters to ages 7 -12 Cost is $15 (plus $2 pool entry) RSVP via this form: https://forms.gle/E78GNURGCoqEuG8J9 For more information, email Aggie at aggieweston@icloud.com Earth Arts and Crafts Get the kids into nature these school holidays with 2 days of outdoor fun at our Earth Art and Crafts Workshops. Facilitators Bridget Scully and Jo Cringle will teach your kids how to craft simple tools with wood, traditional fire lighting, camp fire cooking, foraging and creating art supplies using natural materials. Book in for one or both days.  Thursday 3 July and Friday 4 July, 9 am - 3 pm Caters to ages 7+ Cost is $60 per day Bookings are essential. Register by emailing Bridget at  bridgetscully@gmail.com .

There’s exciting news bubbling at the edges of Gizzy’s hospitality sector: Neighbourhood Cantina, the Wainui restaurant that Marcel Campbell opened last year is looking for a new owner. It’s surprising timing, true. But opportunities can’t be scheduled. There’s a project Marcel is keen to take on and it will need all his attention. His team put tons of love and elbow grease bringing the Cantina to life. Now they’re looking for the next person to keep the good vibes and great food flowing. The new owners of the Cantina will inherit an establishment with a solid foundation, built on the success of Neighbourhood Pizzeria, a bustling Ballance St venue that’s become a Gizzy institution over the last 10 years. Just like the Pizzeria, the Cantina is a place with good bones that suits both dining in and take-aways, catching up with friends and family, sharing life over a bevvie and food made with the best possible ingredients, local whenever possible.  The Cantina is a Gizzy model that works for Gizzy. Marcel had a vision to give Wainui what it's been missing, a local hangout. Since nowhere is that far in Gizzy, Neighbourhood Cantina pretty quickly became Wainui’s “local” and Gizzy’s “local”. In fact, meeting demand since their summertime opening was a challenge, but one the team were happy to face head-on. Marcel wants to find that person who has a similar community spirit and desire to make a world-class establishment for Gizzy. It’s priced with an eye on local business owners, attracting the restauranteur as well as “someone who fancies a punt.” If this is your first time and you need some hand-over support, that can be included. In fact it’s all up for discussion: keep the name, menu, vibe or change all of it. Marcel welcomes the next owner to take the reins and make it better! Afterall, as a Wainui resident, he wants a place to call his local, too. Whether you’ve previously owned a restaurant or currently operate a food truck and are looking to expand, if you’re keen to build on the foundation laid by Marcel and the team, please don’t hesitate to contact Bayleys agent Mike Florance for a confidential discussion at mike.florance@bayleys.co.nz or on 021 222 8053.

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 the holidays. BubbleWrap Fun Fun Days On 12 & 13 April, BubbleWrap Fun are putting on 2 indoor Fun Days at the Gisborne Event Centre. Enjoy bouncy castles and fun play for all ages, with an under 5’s and soft play areas, as well as ponies. Book your tickets in advance online for your 2.5 hour window of fun (they won’t be offering door sales). Cost are free for under 6 months, $15.00 for 6 months-12 years, $8.50 for 13+ and adults Book your tickets and find more info here . Tōnui Collab  STEMM Workshops:  Across the two weeks of school holidays, Tōnui Collab offer six, 1-day workshops, 9am to 3pm each day at their location at 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 $60 per day. Information and to book online, https://www.tonuicollab.com/holiday-workshops Questions? Contact Moana at admin@tonuicollab.com or 0800 8 TŌNUI Week 1: Tuesday 15 - Thursday 17 April Tuesday 15 April - Digital Art Wednesday 16 April - Virtual Reality Thursday 17 April - Robotics Week 2: Tuesday 22 - 24 April Tuesday 22 April - Animation Wednesday 23 April - Game Development Thursday 24 April - Coding & Electronics Pinehollow Riding School and Riverview Horse Trek Jacquie and the team offer the chance to get up close and personal with her gentle animals. Their holiday programme is open Mon - Thurs, 14 - 17 April and Tues - Thurs, 22 - 24 April  from 9:15 am - 3:30. They are located at 2424 Matawai Road. If you require transport, 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. 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, ring Jacquie on 0277491629, email (above) or message her on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverviewtreks Ocean Rhythms Surf Camp Join Ocean Rhythms Surf Coaching for their Autumn Surf Camp, Mon - Thurs, 14 -17 April . The camp runs daily 9am-3:30pm 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! Your child will get surf instruction suited to their ability, grouped with kids at their level, with the ability to advance their skills throughout the week and advance to the next group. The coaches are there to provide water safety and to maximise fun! There will be tandem rides, party waves and plenty of beach games. The day includes warm-up games, health & safety discussions, 2 hour blocks of surf time before and after lunch, and an ocean knowledge and beach safety chat. If required, the location could shift to Northern Makorori, with notification.  Caters to ages 6-13. Cost is $340 for all 4 days and $380 if you need to hire a board To book, or with questions, email oceanrhythmscoaching@gmail.com . H.B. Williams Library  The Gisborne Library have all sorts of activities to keep your little ones learning and happy this school holiday break. All the events are located at their beautiful space at 34 Bright St and are free. Just turn up –  there’s no need to book in advance.  They have two activities that take place over the course of the holiday break for you to enjoy at your pace. The first is Te Hauhake o Ngahuru Reading Challenge. Read, review and repeat. Pick up a reading challenge form from the Children's Area.  Read a book and give them a review to go in the draw to win one of four mystery prizes up for grabs.  The more you read the more chances of winning. The second is Dogman Hunt. Help find the lost Dogman characters in the library to go in the draw to win a prize. In addition to these ongoing challenges, they offer activities that encourage creativity and fun. Check them out below. April 14, Monday – 10.00am - 11.30am Paper Crafts Get creative with paper and make a bunch of different things from fortune cookies to gnome homes and more. April 15, Tuesday – 10.00am - 11.30am Playing Card Crafts Make a bunch of different crafts using playing cards.  Bring your own pack of cards and we will provide the rest. April 16, Wednesday – 10.00am - 11.30am DIY Boardgame Make your very own boardgame to play at home with the family. April 17, Thursday – 10.00am - 11.30am LEGO Build and repeat.  Get creative and let your imagination run wild, the sky is the limit.  Suitable for ages 5+   April 22, Tuesday – 10.00am-11.30am Shoebox Theatre Show We’re turning shoeboxes into theatre shows.  Create your characters, decorate your shoebox and let the show begin. April 23, Wednesday – 10.00am-11.30am Autumn Crafts We’re celebrating autumn by getting crafty with nature.  We’ve got leaves, twigs and all sorts from out of the garden.   April 24, Thursday – 10.00am-11.30am Mothers Day Cards Mothers Day is just around the corner so come and make mum a Mothers Day card she will surely love. April School Holiday Origami Workshops for Children School Holiday Origami Workshops are happening again on Tues 22 April. Classes are offered based on age.   See the class schedule below to find the right class for your child. All materials are supplied but you’re welcome to bring supplies if you wish. Each class will attempt 2 - 3 different origami creations. (Creations on the photos are examples.) Sessions are held at Te Hapara School (31 Mill Road). Caregivers are welcome to stay or can drop/pick-up.  Enroll by text to 0220443717, by email to noboundaryhandmadecrafts@gmail.com , or message their facebook page  with your name, your child's name and school year, and times you would like to book in. Mutsuko will reply to you with details.  Year 1-3 | 9:30-11:00  Year 4-6 | 11:30-13:00 Year 7 + | 13:30-15:00  Caters to ages 5+. Cost is $15 each for a class. The Y Oscar April Holiday Programme  The Y Oscar programme offer a variety of fun activities every day, from 14 - 24 April (not including Good Friday, Easter Monday, and ANZAC Day). Bookings are 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 Easter Egg Hunts and crafts, there’s sure to be something for everyone!  Caters to ages 5-13. Cost is $60 for a full day (7:30 am - 3:45pm and includes Breakfast Club till 8:30am). You can add on aftercare for $20 per day (3:45pm - 5:45pm). To enrol, fill out the form at the link below and email it to oscar@ymcagisborne.nz . For questions, email or ring 867 9259, ext 3.  https://ymcagisborne.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Y-OSCAR-HP-Rego-April-2025-Easter-2.pdf?x86194   Bush Kura – Pūkeko Camp   Te Kura-a-Wao Charitable trust was established in 2019 to provide opportunities for rangatahi to learn practical life skills, co-operation, resilience, leadership attributes, bush craft and safe hunting practices around the Tai Rāwhiti region. From 12 - 14 April, Pūkeko Camp offers a basic, beginner’s course that promotes the outdoors. This digital-free camp builds positive and meaningful connections.  Located in Ruatorea Caters to ages 8-11. Cost is $30 per child.  Book via their facebook page here  or their website https://thebushkura.co.nz/course-details/ Sing out with any questions via email admin@thebushkura.co.nz  or pm their facebook page. Tairāwhiti Museum During the holidays, Tairāwhiti Museum offer activities for your young ones, inspired by the Museum’s current exhibitions. Spaces are limited, so pre-booking and payment at the museum is essential. All children must be accompanied by an adult during the duration of the workshop.  PLEASE NOTE NEW SCHEDULE Important Art Workshops Update!   Due to unforeseen circumstances, some adjustments have been made to the upcoming  School Holiday Art Workshops  schedule.   Monday & Wednesday classes remain the same - no changes.   Tuesday and Thursday classes that were in week 1 have now been moved to week 2. Week 1: Monday 14th April, 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm *$5 per child Create fun sculptural artworks inspired from the Gisborne Pottery Group exhibition: A Piece of Me. Wednesday 16th April, 10am-12pm & 1pm - 3pm *$5 per child Transform fabric textiles into a unique artwork inspired by two textile exhibitions: Add Subtract, Transform - TARTS & Blooming by Kathy Grimson.   Week 2: Tuesday 22nd April, 10am-12pm & 1pm - 3pm *$10 per child Clay workshop: Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant. Thursday 24th April: 10am-12pm & 1pm - 3pm *$10 per child Clay workshop: Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant.   If you haven't registered yet, there's still room! Just stop by the museum to book in. They look forward to seeing you soon!  Caters to ages 5-12. Cost is $5 per child or $10 per child for the clay workshops. Gisborne Gymnastics Club Open Gym During the school holidays, the Gisborne Gymnastics Club offer unstructured play sessions. Book your little ones into any of the two sessions per day during Mon - Thurs, 14 - 17 April , and again in the second week, on Tues - Wed, 22 - 23 April . The location is the Stihl Shop Sports Centre (537 Aberdeen Road).  Caters to ages: 5-14  Cost is $20. Book in or find more information here: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program Eastwoodhill Arboretum The folks at Eastwoodhill Arboretum have a few options for you this school holidays to entertain and inspire the kiddies.  Tuesday 15 April: Kids Creative Days Drop in anytime between 10am - 1pm to take part in a fun, nature crafting day. Spaces are limited and all materials are provided, so please book in advance by emailing enquiries@eastwoodhill.org.nz . Parent supervision is required.  Cost is visitor entry fees: Adults $18, age 5-14 $5, Under 5s are free. Easter Weekend, 18 - 20 April: Eastwoodhill Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt Find the clues around the arboretum and when you get all the answers right, the staff at the Visitor Centre will reward you with a yummy chocolate Easter egg.  Cost is visitor entry fees: Adults $18, age 5-14 $5, Under 5s are free. ANZAC Day, 25 April 10am - 12pm: Aya and the Butterfly This new puppet and music show for the whole family features magical puppetry, music, songs, and lots of giant caterpillar fun. Parent supervision required. Caters to ages 5-12 Tickets cost for adults are $25, ages 5-14 are $15, and under 5s are free. Entry to the arboretum is included with your ticket, so bring a picnic and make a day of it. Tickets are available at their website here . Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programmes Do you have a “water baby”? If so, Comet has just the thing for you: School Holidays Booster 30-min swimming lessons with an instructor held at Elgin School Pool. Cost is for all the daily lessons for the week, 14 - 17 April. During the school holidays is the perfect time to boost your little one’s confidence in the water. Caters to 3+ years.  Cost is $48 per week. To book or find more information, go to their website https://www.cometswimmingclub.com/book-now1  or email Libby at comet.libbyd@gmail.com

“Find a comfortable position, close your eyes if you want to, and thank your body for letting you work out today.” I lie back and look up at the sky, pinking at the edges. These are the best words to hear, not only because we’re about to luxuriate in 90 seconds of peaceful meditation (possibly the only 90 seconds I might give myself today), but the hard part of the Sol Fitness class is done and the post-exercise endorphins have kicked in, lifting my mood and energy. Body and soul, I feel great. Sol Fitness is a group fitness community, unique for making the most of Gizzy’s surroundings. Not married to a typical brick and mortar gym, the mobile classes are held in the great outdoors. Regular classes are held outside at St Mary’s and Wainui Beach schools, and pop-ups are held in local parks and reserves. Along with increased strength and cardio health, with Sol Fitness you get a bonus of vitamin D and birdsong in the summer, and moonlight and constellations in the winter. (The regular classes have indoor and covered spaces to keep people cool, sun-safe and dry when needed.) Some from the Wainui class occasionally whip across the road for a post-workout ocean dip, a unique option for this mobile fitness class. You might have come across the friendly Sol Fitness founder and trainer, Jorge Buelna. Engineering brought him to Gisborne from his home in Mexico back in 2017. In the intervening years, he followed his personal fitness passions which often involved rallying friends to do fun and challenging workouts together, like a group run or cycle that ended at a coffee shop. He started bringing a small speaker for musical motivation to the free, weekly Friday Stairs and over time became the cheerful face of this year-round activity. Each summer and winter solstice for the last few years, he’s organised celebratory sunrise ocean dips, which have grown to over 100 attendees.  His welcoming and likeable personality alongside his passion for motivating others in their fitness goals led him to start his own fitness business, now fully established and pumping. A certified personal trainer, Jorge makes sure all feel welcome and that there’s something for everyone. Sol Fitness workouts vary each session but always include scaled options for all the exercises so that people of different fitness levels and ages have their best workout. People from 13 - 70+ work out with Sol Fitness and everyone is encouraged to choose the intensity that is best for them.  Four times a week, you can join a regular Sol Fitness group class. On Monday & Wednesday evenings, from 5:30pm at St Mary’s School and on Tuesday & Thursday mornings, from 6:00am at Wainui Beach School, Sol Fitness classes are 50-minute full-body workouts – a mix of cardio and body weight or weighted exercises. On Saturdays through to the end of March, get in quick for his small-group kettlebell sessions, held beachfront opposite Watson Park. Keep your eye out for the next of these seasonal pop-up classes. Now that he’s established the regular classes and found a recipe for seasonal pop-up classes, next for Sol Fitness is branching out to workplace classes. He can pull his trailer of weights and fitness gear to a workplace for group classes of almost any size and for all fitness abilities. He structures his classes so up to 40 people can workout together. Sol Fitness workouts would be a meaningful and fun option for workplaces looking for team bonding or as part of a workplace wellness program.  The workout is done, the high-fives have gone around, and we’ve done our cool-down stretching. Now it’s time to get into that comfortable position, which for me is on my back, hands laced under my head. Jorge switches the music to a soothing, groovy ambient guitar tune. “Here’s 90 seconds just for you, in complete silence.” In the early autumn evening, I watch a few clouds float past in the colouring sky. The cicadas’ steady chirp from the trees around us harmonise with the happy sighs of the other people around me. It’s pretty special what Sol Fitness offers: a friendly community that motivates us to be fit and strong. And as we know, being connected to a community is something that keeps us well for the long haul of life.  Newcomers are always welcome at Sol Fitness. You can find everything you need to know at their website solfitness.co.nz  and on instagram at @solfitnesss. If you’re a workplace, sing out to Jorge to learn about how to increase your staff’s wellness. Photography by Jorge Buelna, Jordan Perry, and Matt Lang.

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.