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.

NOise VACANCY During the first week of the school holidays, our CBD and surrounds will be coming to life in all manner of ways with this year’s NOise VACANCY experience. So keep your eyes peeled for out-of-the-ordinary happenings, sights and sounds when you’re in town, and spread the word! To increase your chances of tracking down the mysterious happenings, and to keep up with any planned activations follow @noisevacancy on Instagram. Week 1: Friday 27 Sept - Friday Oct 3. Free for your enjoyment! The Band School Holiday Programme Join the Band School’s holiday programme for a fun-filled musical adventure! Start by exploring a variety of instruments like drums, guitars, keyboards, and ukuleles with hands-on instruction and practice. Join a band and work with others to create and perfect your music. Dive into playing your favorite tunes and discovering new ones. On the final day, show off your hard work in a performance for parents and whanau to enjoy! The holiday programme runs from 9am-3pm during the second week of the holidays and is held at Gisborne Intermediate’s music department. It’s aimed at beginner and intermediate musicians. Week 2: Monday 7 Oct - Friday 11 Oct Caters to ages 6-14.  Cost is $50 per day. Bookings and more info via their website: http://www.thebandschool.co.nz/holiday-programme Tōnui Collab STEMM Workshops: Tōnui Collab offer three, 1-day workshops, 9am to 3pm each day at Tōnui Collab, 466 Childers Road (access from the carpark) . 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!  Tuesday 8 October: Virtual Reality   Tamariki will explore a range of different Virtual Reality experiences and experiment with creating a VR experience of their own. The workshop will cover concepts of UX design, storytelling and 3D content creation.  Tamariki will be able to share their VR creations with whānau and friends after the workshop.  ​ Wednesday 9 October: Game Development   Tamariki will play some retro arcade style games and then start designing and building their own retro arcade-style game. The workshop will cover game narrative, block-based coding, character creation and UX design. Tamariki will be able to share their games with friends and whānau after the workshop.​ ​ Thursday 10 October: Animation Tamariki will experiment with creating animations. The workshop will cover storytelling and animation techniques. Tamariki will be able to share their animations with friends and whānau after the workshop.​ 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 Gisborne Tennis Club | Tennis Holiday Programme The Gisborne Tennis Club offer a 2-week tennis coaching camp with rates for single or multi-day bookings. The holiday programme is held at the Gisborne Tennis Club on Childers Road (opposite the YMCA). Racquets can be supplied if required. Week 1: Monday 30 September - Thursday 3 October (9am-12pm) Week 2: Monday 7 October - Thursday 10 October (9am-12pm) Caters to ages 8-12 (but this is flexible and can be discussed with coaches) Cost for members per week are $70 per child (3/4 days) $50 (2 days) $30 (1 day) Non-members pay additional $20 per child per week Enroll by emailing Lee Worthington: leetennispro@gmail.com Have questions? Contact Lee Worthington at 021 595 686 HB Williams Memorial Library The Gisborne Library have heaps to do during the school holidays. They’re holding their regular weekly activities like He Kākano and Te Pihinga that run throughout the year and the ever-popular Pūtaia | Reading Challenge. There’s something to enrich and entertain everyone during the kids’ time away from school! Their events are held at the Library, are open to all (note the ages that the activities cater to) and are free. Only the Te Whare Pūtaiao | House of Science require registration. September 28 – October 13 Pūtaia |  Reading Challenge Caters to ages 0-17 Read for two hours in 15 minute slots, and go into the draw to win one of four mystery prizes up for grabs. It’s that easy.  Pick up a challenge form from the children’s area or head to the library's website ( www.gpl.govt.nz ) to download a digital form from 23 September. All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm 13 October 2024. Monday 30 September 10am-11.30am Picture Frame Craft: Get creative and make an owl picture frame. Caters to ages 5+   Tuesday 1 October 10am-11.30am Creative Colouring: Get colouring and add a splash of colour to the children’s space as we display the final works. Caters to all ages.   Wednesday 2 October 10am-11am Te Whare Pūtaiao | House of Science: "Flexi Physics" learn about different forms of energy.   Junior Science caters to ages 5-7 Limited space, registration required.  Taking registrations from September 23 Phone 867 6709 to register your child.   Children must be accompanied by an adult.   Thursday 3 October 10am-11.30am Build the Eiffel Tower: Race against the clock to build the tallest Eiffel tower using only newspaper and cellotape.  Caters to ages 5+   Friday 4 October 10am-11am Te Whare Pūtaiao | House of Science: "Flexi Physics" learn about different forms of energy. Senior Science caters to ages 8-11, caregiver must be onsite. Limited spaces, registration required.  Taking registrations from September 23. Phone 867 6709 to register your child.   Monday 7 October 10am-11.30am Halloween Craft: Create your own trick or treat bag. Caters to all ages Tuesday 8 October 10am-11.30am Paper Mosaic: Get arty with paper and create a paper mosaic masterpiece. Caters to ages 4+   Wednesday 9 October 10am-11.30am Olympic Home Games Let the games begin: Make some Olympic rings out of cardboard and challenge the whole family to compete in your very own Olympic Home Games. Caters to ages 4+   Thursday 10 October 10am-11.30am DIY Book Marks: making book marks!  Make one to gift and one for yourself! Join in for some creative fun. Caters to ages 5+ Eastwoodhill Arboretum The folks at Eastwoodhill Arboretum have a few options for you this school holidays to entertain and inspire the kiddies.  Creative Kid Days | These drop-in style workshops are free to partake in but please book in advance, as spaces are limited. All art supplies are provided. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Drop in anytime between 10am and 3pm to take part. The Cafe is open 10am - 3pm so grab yourself a coffee and a scone. Thursday 3 October : join in some nature crafting Thursday 10 October : paint wooden mushrooms   Caters for ages 5-12.  Cost of the normal arboretum entry fees apply: Adults $18, Seniors $15, Under 16 $5, Under 5’s free . Please Book IN ADVANCE as some supplies are limited. Book by emailing enquiries@eastwoodhill.org.nz Kids Natural Pigment Making Workshop with Jo Cringle | Join Artist Jo Cringle for a fun day learning how to make natural pigments and paint from scratch! Create a painting with your own colours and also take home your own pigment palette! All materials provided. Friday 11 October , 10am – 1pm Caters to ages 5+.  Cost is $50 per child (includes child’s arboretum entry). Parent supervision required (normal arboretum entry applies). Must be booked in advance, so secure your space by emailing jocringle@gmail.com   Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programme 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: Monday 30 Sept - Friday 4 Oct Week 2: Monday 7 Oct - Friday 11 Oct Caters to 3+ years.  Cost is $60 per week. To book or find more information, email Libby at comet.libbyd@gmail.com   Mana Music Holiday Programme Major Trap Studios offer a Music Holiday Programme for rangatahi that will take your talent to the next level! Learn how beats are made, explore songwriting and vocals, experience recording sessions, collaborate with other young musicians and get hands-on experience shooting a music video. Held at Major Trap Studio in Gisborne, work alongside Strobe, East Coast legend of hip hop. The programme runs from 10:30 - 2:30, 30 Sept - 6 Oct (meals included), with an option for pick-up and drop-off. Caters to ages 12-18. Cost is $200. Ring 0210 909 9509 to reserve your spot or pm them for more info: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552731565693 Pinehollow Jacquie and the team offer the chance to get up close and personal with her gentle animals. Their holiday programme is open Monday - Friday, 30 Sept-11 Oct 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), warm clothes and a jacket, and bring a spare change of clothes, lunch, 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 October School Holiday Origami Workshops for Children School Holiday Origami Workshops are happening again during the 1st week of the school holidays! Each class will attempt 2 - 3 different origami creations. (Creations on the photos are examples.) 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. Sessions are held at Te Hapara School (31 Mill Road). Caregivers are welcome to stay or can drop/pick-up. Enroll by emailing noboundaryhandmadecrafts@gmail.com  or message their facebook page  with your name, your child's name and school year, and date(s) you would like to book in. Mutsuko will reply to you with details.  Maximum capacity of 5 people per class. Year 1-3 | Wed 2 Oct & Thurs 3 Oct 9:30-11:00  Year 4-6 | Wed 2 Oct & Thurs 3 Oct 11:30-13:00 Year 7 + | Fri 4 Oct  9:30-11:00  Caters to ages 5+. Cost is $15 each for a class. Gisborne Gymnastics Club Holiday Open Gym During the school holidays, the Gymnastics Club offer unstructured play and activity sessions, and Preschool Open Gym (Fridays only). The location is the Stihl Shop Sports Centre (537 Aberdeen Road). Caters to ages 5-14 (except Friday morning Preschool Open Gym which is preschool ages only).  Cost is $20 for Open Gym sessions and $10 for Preschool sessions Book in or find more information about the timetable or what to bring here: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program The Y Oscar Summer Holiday Programme The Y Oscar Holiday Programme offer a variety of fun activities every day, from Sept 30 to October 11, with bookings available from 6:45am to 5:45pm. They are located  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!  Caters to ages 5-13. Cost ranges from $10 - $65. To enrol, fill out the form at the below link 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/2024/09/OSCAR-HP-SEPT-30-TO-OCT-11TH-1.pdf Tairāwhiti Museum During the first week of the holidays, Tairāwhiti Museum offer daily 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.  Caters to ages 5-12. Cost is $5 per child or $10 per child for the clay workshops. Monday 30 September: Stingray 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm Create artwork inspired by Kate Flyger’s ceramic stingrays exhibiting in the ‘Photographers, Potters & Artists’ Society exhibition. Tuesday 1 October: Clay Workshop 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm ($10 per child) Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant. Wednesday 2 October: Mixed Media 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm Create a fun mixed media artwork inspired by the ‘Photographers, Potters & Artists’ Society exhibition. Thursday, 3 October: Clay Workshop 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm ($10 per child) Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant. Friday 4 October: Say Cheese 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm Create artworks inspired by the ‘Hand Coloured: Photography’s parallel universe’ exhibition.

Yokosushi has been satisfying Gizzy’s appetite for sushi and Japanese cuisine for almost 20 years, becoming a friendly and bustling institution along the way. Yoko, who has a taste for learning and evolving, recently took her staff to Japan. This unforgettable experience left a lasting impression on them all. But you’ll likely notice the ripples from this trip too, if you know what you’re looking for. Maria Elisa recently sat down with Yoko and her daughter Jessica, and two staff members Kyall and Anushka, to learn more about the trip and how it has changed them and their roles at one of Gizzy’s most popular restaurants. Yoko's journey in New Zealand began when she was twenty-six years old, on a working holiday visa. She started in Christchurch and eventually met her husband and had their first daughter, Jessica. At that time, she was working in a souvenir shop, while her husband worked in forestry with dreams of running his own business. In 2000, Yoko’s husband proposed relocating to Gisborne in 2000, while she was pregnant with their second daughter. Lucky for us and our taste buds! After several years helping with her husband’s business, her youngest daughter started school, and Yoko found herself working with food for the first time. After a year, they decided it was time to open their own place. In 2006, Yoko started a takeaway sushi shop.  Recognizing the lack of a Japanese restaurant in town, they expanded to a full-fledged Japanese restaurant in 2007. But tough economic times drove a move back to takeaway 2008 and the shop's current format. When asked if she loves what she does, Yoko quickly responds with a "Yes! This shop is my baby." Her daughter Jessica acknowledges her passion and energy for the business, jokingly referring to the shop as her mother's “third and spoiled baby." Yoko's warmth and hospitality skills have contributed to the success of her business. And the staff would come to see the origins of these traits throughout their travels in Japan. Despite Yoko’s lack of a formal hospitality background, she attributes some of her success to a stroke of luck when students attending the R&V concert in town in 2006 requested a dish, inspiring her to create a new item for her menu: Teriyaki chicken avocado. It became a hit. Yoko's ability to listen to her customers' feedback and adapt her offerings has been a key factor in the restaurant's success. Despite facing challenging times, like 2007’s earthquake and the more recent closures due to the pandemic and Cyclone Gabrielle, she feels it was all worth it, and she is pleased - almost overwhelmed - to be where they are now. She believes she has the strongest team in eighteen years. Their staff trip to Japan in May, to experience cuisine and culture, has been years in the making. Beginning in 2019, the trip was initially canceled due to the pandemic. After the lockdown, they started planning their visit to Japan again. However, Cyclone Gabrielle struck, causing another closure for a couple of weeks. Despite these setbacks, they persevered, and Yoko eventually made her dream of taking the entire staff to Japan a reality. The itinerary in Japan for the ten staff and Yoko included cooking lessons, visits to observe Japanese hospitality, and sightseeing. After the trip, she asked the staff to convey what they learned about their time in Japan. The majority mentioned feeling the care and kindness with which they were treated everywhere.  For Kyall Parsons, supervisor, the trip was everything he hoped for and more. “The food was completely different but very good, and everywhere we went, the service was perfect. As a foreigner, I felt welcomed everywhere.” This is part of what he and his co-workers have mindfully adopted at Yokosushi, a kind and friendly greeting that is tradition in Japan when you walk into a restaurant. The customer service was top notch everywhere they went, from big to small restaurants. And Kyall noticed the careful attention to detail; what they saw in the menu’s picture was exactly what was made for them.  Anushka, who last October joined Yokosushi as a sushi maker, was not much into fish before this trip, so traveling in Japan was an opportunity for her to try authentic Japanese fish. To her surprise, she discovered that she liked the traditional way the Japanese prepared fish. Another new customer experience for Anushka was the care and attention that made their purchases and meals feel more than mere transactions. After buying something in a store, the salesperson would hold their bags and walk them to the door to send them off with a friendly goodbye, thanking them for visiting their store. Anushka loved her experience so much that she’s already planned to go back with a friend next year. Although food was an important part of their trip, the Yokosushi staff enjoyed Japan in other ways. In addition to getting to know the food and the customs of Japan, getting to know more about the anime world and shopping were probably Kyall’s favourite parts. Anushka was surprised by the natural beauty of Japan's countryside. "There was just so much to see, do and take in... I loved going to the temples and seeing their old architecture." When I asked Kyall if he had been inspired to create a new dish after his Japan experience, he said that he did, as did the whole staff. Their ideas were similar. We can expect new burgers and sandwiches to enter their menu soon. They are embracing the Japanese cuisine they experienced and adapting them to Gizzy's tastes. Keep an eye on their Instagram (@yokos_ushi) and Facebook (@YokoSushiGisborne) for new menu items and updates. When I asked what they would remember most from their trip to Japan, both answered that it was the people and their super friendly culture. "They looked like they were happy at their jobs," Anushka said, and we all laughed. And now that we think about it, that’s the vibe at Yokosushi, where you’ll get a taste of authentic Japanese cuisine and genuine hospitality. Yokosushi is located at 87 Grey St, and open Mon – Fri  8am – 4pm, Sat 9am – 3pm Words by Maria Elisa Frozino Del Gaudio Geronazzo Photos supplied by Yokosushi

Forest bathing. Earthing. These are trendy buzzwords for something we all know deep down - connecting with nature is good for us. Most of us spend a lot of time indoors looking at screens, and connecting with the earth and the forest would do us good. However in Gisborne, we tend to look out to sea, turning our backs on one of the real treasures in our region - NZ’s national arboretum, Eastwoodhill.  When I visited recently in the dark depths of winter, it was a chilly, damp day, but only a few steps from the cafe, I noticed the lovely chatter of birdsong and the sweet scent of honeysuckle in the air. I walked towards the towering California Redwood, an American import I’ve always felt a kinship with. A fantail joined me on the trail, and soon I felt all the stress and rush of life fall away and realised that this is why it’s called forest bathing. Something about standing under that massive tree washed all my cares away. If you are looking for a connection with nature, Eastwoodhill Arboretum is the perfect place for this, and there is no better way to connect with this treasured place than by volunteering there. The arboretum’s vital group of volunteers has been slowly dwindling post-Covid and post-cyclone so they are holding a volunteer drive to attract a new crop of volunteers. There is a wide range of opportunities for volunteers at Eastwoodhill - whether it’s manning the shop or giving tours or helping serve hot drinks at the cafe. (No fancy barista skills are necessary, it’s plunger coffee.)  Volunteers are needed to give guided tours to the visitors that come off the cruise ships. This is a great opportunity for those who love to meet folks from overseas and have a good yarn. Volunteers are trained and carry scripts so by their first tour, they will feel confident and no prior knowledge is needed.  Maybe you’re a crafty type who would like to hold a kids' creative day during the school holidays. Maybe you love a little dress-up and would be keen to don a costume for a Halloween-themed event? The Arboretum hold all sorts of events throughout the year. From daffodil picking in winter to the Christmas event to the annual Teddy Bear’s picnic, there are a number of events that need volunteers.   If you’re thinking that you’d like to help but don’t know where you’d fit in, just call up and speak to the lovely volunteer coordinator, Bobbi, and she will point you in the right direction. There are so many different ways to help out, and even committing to helping out once or twice a month would help the arboretum greatly.  There are so many perks to volunteering too. There is the opportunity to stay overnight in the accommodation or in your own self-contained caravan. What a unique opportunity to see the sunrise and hear the dawn chorus before the park is open.  Eastwoodhill shows appreciation to their volunteers in lots of ways, like a free cuppa and treat from the cafe, a discount in the shop, free entry and an annual volunteer dinner. But the real benefits of volunteering at Eastwoodhill are the connection with nature and the community and knowing that you are playing a small part in maintaining our national arboretum and all the unique species there.  Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, and everyone is welcome. Perhaps you could rally a group of friends or some work-mates, maybe a group of students looking for volunteer hours, or a family looking for a way to spend time together - whatever your situation is, the arboretum has a volunteer opportunity for you.  The arboretum is beautiful year round, and even on a grey, wintery day, I could see the first few daffodils pushing their way up through the mud. I stopped to imagine what it will look like in a few weeks when thousands of daffodils will paint those fields yellow and all the lucky volunteers who get to pick them for the Cancer Society’s annual fundraiser.  Please help spread the news if you know someone who might be interested or if you’re keen to get amongst it, email bobbi@eastwoodhill.org.nz  and find the perfect volunteer opportunity at Eastwoodhill.

In a new series we’re calling “Doing a Gizzy Winter Well,” we’re sharing “staff picks” of our local favourite treats or activities that brighten our days through winter. We know Gizzy holds majesty and warmth, but the grey days of winter can feel relentless. So when our island holiday fund hasn’t been topped up by Lotto, we maximise the goodness that’s around us. We appreciate the sweetness in these days, so that Gizzy feels our love all year round, not just when she’s sunkissed and carefree.  Louis Murphy-Harris, Gizzy Local's venue manager, is relatively new to a Gizzy winter, but he's been quick to find the things that bring him wintertime joy! During winter, I like to keep busy and have a few things to do during the week in-between surfs and events!   The Sauna Project - Heading out to Northern Makorori is probably the best thing to do to embrace winters. It begins with the golden hour drive along Moana Road. After an hour of sitting in that sauna with a few cold plunges in the moana, you feel completely relaxed! I normally go straight to sleep after it and sleep like a baby!  Book a sauna appointment here: https://www.thesaunaproject.co.nz/tairawhiti Gisborne Boardriders Yoga - Every Tuesday the Wainui Beach School Hall fills up for a yoga session. This is an amazing initiative put on by Gizzy Boardriders where they offer 12 weekly sessions with different yoga instructors each week offering a range of different styles of yoga! This is a free offering for members of Gisborne Boardriders, not bad! To sign up to Gisborne Boardriders:  https://www.gisborneboardriders.com/   Dome Cinema & Bar - Anything that happens, whether it's Blues night, a film or a gig, I'll try and be there! The Dome has been a staple in Gizzy's social scene for years and winter is when the Dome is in it's prime. Check out what's happening at the Dome -  https://www.domecinema.co.nz/dome-calendar/ Bin Inn - This might come across as a funny one but stick with me. Winter is a great time to get creative in the kitchen and cook up some awesome meals for you, the family and your mates. Bin Inn is such a great cost-effective option that saves you a lot of money and saves on all the plastic waste associated with supermarket shopping. The range of a lot of stuff at Bin Inn is really great with lots of specialty goods. If you bring your own containers you also get 5% off! Not bad!  Bin Inn is located at 90 Grey Street. Below, Sarah Pocock shares her, mostly food-related, faves. I am a regular patron of The Village Berry in Ballance Street Village. They stock all sorts of yummy pantry and fresh food to basically meet any demands put on you by your taste buds. For example, on this day I was so happy to discover these spicy, dilly pickles that my taste buds compelled me to open in the shop while I was waiting for my food. The Village Berry staff are so kind, they didn't even act like that was a weird thing to do. In the winter time (and really all year round) I enjoy their changing Soup and Toastie option. On this day it was a kimchi and pickled onion toastie and a broccoli cheese soup. Man, did it hit the spot. They're currently testing out new toastie combinations to replace the much-loved (by me) Reuben toastie, so I advise you pop in repeatedly to make sure you try as many of their creations as possible. The Village Berry is at 126 Ormond Rd and on the socials here: https://www.instagram.com/thevillageberry Always prisoner to my taste buds, this past weekend I was giddy to find these little Portugeuse tarts, made at the Nata Bakery up in AKL but sold at our local Vetro. As I stood at my kitchen bench, impatiently burning my mouth on these custard delights, I was transported to faraway Belém, Portugal, where I fell in love with these beauties way back in my early 20s. Our mates over at Vetro have lovely ingredients and ready to eat or heat items to turn the greyest of days into a warm, and wholesome food experience. Vetro are located at 48 Reads Quay and on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/vetrogisborne/ Another winter fave involves fireside chats and live music at our very own, Smash Palace Bar. How good is it to be listening to some bangers with your back to a roaring fire! On a winter's night, it doesn't matter what the weather is doing outside. The music and the open fire will make for the coziest, possibly hottest, night of your winter. For a few more weeks, they have Yanky (American-style burgers) and the Mexican (yep, you guessed it, Mexican cuisine). But even when they're not catering the food, Smash's regular menu of pub food is yummy and nourishing. Smash Palace Bar are located at 24 Banks St and you can find them on their socials here: https://www.facebook.com/smashpalacebargisborne Lastly, and because I'm contractually obligated to talk about my slow (but fun!) running, there's nothing quite like a winter sunrise on a Friday morning as I run down Titirangi Kaiti Hill after doing the stairs workout with the Friday Stairs crew. That there is a photo I snapped of the city lights as the sun was coming up. Stunning. If I can get myself up and out of bed, I can't beat starting my Friday this way. Similarly, the Harriers put on welcoming trailruns/walks that get us all over the area, across tracks on private land that are normally closed to the public. On a sunny Sunday winter's morning, I feel very accomplished and brimming with happiness after running, jogging, and walking around those tracks. Friday Stairs happens at 5:55 am at the lower carpark by the playground. All walkers and runners are welcome. There's no expectation to keep up with anyone. Same with the Harriers. You can find their next trailrun info here: https://www.facebook.com/GisborneHarriers What's your tips for Doing a Gizzy Winter Well?

For those of us who grind away at work Monday to Friday, Saturday mornings are our first moments of sweet freedom, our time to do something just for ourselves. Whether it’s checking the surf, staying in bed, or getting a nice coffee and heading out to Saturday sport, Saturday morning is a time to do something for yourself. If you wander down to Waikanae on any Saturday morning at 8 am, you’ll see a happy group of people who think that Parkrun is the perfect way to start a Saturday.  Parkrun is a world-wide organization that holds weekly, free community 5 km run/walks. Gisborne has had its very own Parkrun since 2018, and every week people from all over our community meet up at 8 am and either run, jog or walk a lovely 5 km trail that showcases the natural beauty of Gisborne, winding past our beaches and rivers.  Parkrun attracts a wide variety of people - from serious runners training for their next marathon, to families with pushchairs and scooters, to the folks just out for a Saturday morning stroll. Literally everyone is welcome - even dogs (although it’s called “Barkrun” for them). Participants can register online and are given a barcode which is scanned at the end of the run. Later in the day, an email comes with your time, your ranking, etc., if you’re interested in tracking your progress. As Saturday morning Parkruns go, I’m in the Park walk  camp. You’ll usually find me at the back of the pack with my dog. There are plenty of people like me, who are just happy to finish, who probably don’t even check their time afterwards, and who just like starting their Saturdays with a few thousand steps under their belt and a meet-up with their mates. I know I could just start at my front door and walk 5 km, but there is some special magic in being a part of this community of Parkwalkers that I can’t quite put my finger on.  Parkrun finishes its 5 km loop right back at the Waikanae playground, where several volunteers are there to cheer you to the finish line and scan your barcode. Volunteers are the backbone of our community, and Parkrun only happens thanks to a small handful of heroes in high-vis who keep this weekly event running smoothly, rain or shine.  At the finish line, most people linger for a few minutes, feeling that post-workout high and having a quick chat or even a beach dip, before they head off to the farmers market or the sports field or to their favourite cafe. If you’re looking to switch up your Saturday morning routine, come and give Parkrun a go.  Gisborne parkrun happens each Saturday at 8am from Waikanae Playground. It is free to join. Find all the info you need about free registration, printing and bringing your barcode, and all the course info here: https://www.parkrun.co.nz/gisborne/ . Words by Susan Partington Photos by Gisborne parkrun volunteers Brent Houthuijzen and Paul White

At Gizzy Local we're pretty good at doing the Do. The thing we haven’t been so good at over the past five years, is talking about who we are, why we do what we do and how we do it. While we’d like to think that the essence of our why, our how and what shines through loud and clear in everything we do, we realise that you, our community have all come to this kaupapa, these platforms, at various stages, and on different days. Some of you have been awesome at giving us feedback and so we’re going to take some of that advice now, and take some time to introduce ourselves properly. Today, we'll start with our WHY, that's easy…! A connected community is a strong community. We want to enable a community of people who get out and about and access the things that help them to live a good life. We want to play our part in enabling greater understanding amongst our people; we want to shine a light on groups and individuals doing positive things; we want for us all to have a sense of the wisdom, skills and passion that we as a community possess, and to have an understanding of the diversity of lived experiences amongst us. We want to provide safe spaces in which we can connect, both online and in person. Our HOW? That’s another easy one. The arts and creativity - this is our communities’ superpower! Te Tairāwhiti is rich with artists, creatives - they are one of our greatest resources, and they form the foundation of Gizzy Local. The arts provide a fertile soil for us to make connections, with each other, with ideas and concepts, with joy, and in which to heal, problem solve and innovate. We love playing a part in growing our local arts community - people who engage with the arts as participants, and as audiences. The arts make things fun, they help us to feel! WHAT is Gizzy Local, WHO is Gizzy Local? Those will take a few more paragraphs, we'll leave them for another day. For now, a few pics from the archives:)

Kia ora whānau, hope you’re having a good week! We’re going to continue right along with the gizzy local starter pack that we started laying down last week. We’ve talked about our WHY (community connection) and our HOW (the arts), what about our WHAT? - What is it that Gizzy Local does to enable connection here in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, Gisborne? One of the things we've been doing since day dot, is promote local events - What’s going on in Gizzy - today, this weekend - what’s locked in so far next month? What cool things are happening, to entice us out of our homes and into our community? We make it our job to tell you guys about the gigs, whānau-friendly events, community fitness, art exhibitions, street festivals, talks, planting bees, dance sessions, poetry nights, fundraiser garage sales, 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. Hopefully you know about the Gizzy Local Event Calendar by now - you can find it at gizzylocal.com . In it you'll see Gizzy Local events sprinkled amongst the others - we hold community events too, at our space at 64 Lowe Street and we can happily affirm that having a local platform in which to tell our community about what we’ve got going on, is pretty awesome. With over 11,000 of us following Gizzy Local, it’s a pretty effective reach to a beautiful cross section of our community, across age, gender and race. If you’re like a lot of people, you might not use websites much. Not to worry - every Thursday we pull together all the events happening over the coming week and send them to our Weekly Roundabout email subscribers. It’s such an easy way to keep up to date with what’s going on, and plan your week ahead. You’ve probably also seen our Weekend Reels here.. We also post these every Thursday, complete with a different local tune each week. Keep your ears and eyes out. If you organise local events, we’re here to let our community know about it! Here’s how: Upload the details here: https://www.gizzylocal.com/submit-event  OR Hit the ‘Submit’ button on the Gizzy Local Events Calendar page OR Email the details to our events coordinator on events@gizzylocal.com . It’s free to have your events listed as above and we also have a couple of paid options if you’re after some extra promotion via our social media and Weekly Roundabout email out. If you’d like subscribe to our weekly email, head here! https://forms.wix.com/f/7066609599037571908 Aand, that’s all for now! We’ll be back again soon with our next Gizzy Local explainer:) Event photos by Taranga Kent 📸✨

Perhaps one of the most exciting developments for Gizzy Local has been our 2021 move into an old character-filled building at 64 Lowe Street. We gave the walls a lick of paint, the ceiling a little patch up, and moved ourselves into the back room.  As the Gizzy Local office, it was very roomy and rather cold.  As a community space catering to small to medium sized events, we realised we’d struck gold. Since then we’ve added comfy old furniture, stocked up on heaters and lamps, and in the past two years have held over 90 different community events! From live music events, art workshops, rangatahi expression sessions and markets, to clothes swaps, poetry nights, film nights, vinyl appreciation evenings, community hui, all ages gigs, music recordings and band practices. Earlier this year we put on a group art exhibition, attended by 200 people on the opening night. These days we have a great little lounge area and an office street-side. When we’re in, you’ll see our sign out front and an open door.  One of the things we love most about this space is sharing it with a bunch of local creatives who work out of the studios. When we hold an event down here, you can be sure it’s been contributed to by the wider collective of Lowe Street creatives in some shape or form. We also love our manuhiri. Some of our most special stories and collaborations have come from the curious people who’ve walked through our doors and made the time to sit down for a cuppa and a kōrero. What you may not know is that our spaces are also available for hire..  We’re stoked to be able to offer an affordable, welcoming and fun venue for our community to use to host their own events. The spaces are versatile, relaxed, well-equipped, and quickly feel like a home away from home.   So if you’re sick of hosting that weekly catch up at your flat or you need a new location for your singing club or knitting group, or you just want to hold a casual movie night, Gizzy Local might just be the answer to your next event:) We have two main room offerings at Gizzy Local: The Backroom is a 5x12m hall (Capacity: 65 seated, 100 standing) The Lounge (Capacity: 50 standing) With different rates for each space, we try to keep the price as affordable as possible and offer discounted community rates on hireage as well as a discount for multi-day hires. Whether you are just popping in to say Kia ora, attending an event here, or thinking about hosting one yourself, please know that this is a safe space for all. We ask that everyone who comes into Gizzy Local takes an active role in fostering an inclusive atmosphere that promotes everyone's safety and well-being, regardless of age, gender, or race. If you'd like more information about hiring our community spaces please contact us on gizzylocal@gmail.com

We’re taking some time to talk about what exactly it is we get up to at Gizzy Local.. The line of work you’re probably most familiar with, is our telling of connective and uplifting local stories, and sharing of useful local information and resources.  Our stories shine a light on groups and individuals doing positive things here in Te Tairāwhiti. Our ever evolving collective of local contributors write about local people, local issues, local dreams, stories that relate to the arts, our whenua, community, and local businesses. . By sharing a diversity of voices, we hope that these stories grow our collective understanding of the wisdom, skills and passions that reside amongst us, as well our diversity of lived experiences.  We also do our best to keep our finger on the pulse when it comes to the issues of the day. So we try to make sure you all know when there’s an opportunity for you to have your say, or learn more about hot local topics. Through Mean Mahi we connect local employers with local talent and our online Business Directory is a good first stop for finding out what local businesses exist in Gizzy, and how to get hold of them!  Last but not least, we also spend a lot of our days responding to queries from our community - "Who can I talk to about this?" "Where do I go for this?"  We don’t always have the answers, but we tap into the kumara vine and keep on going until we find a lead…That’s what you get for calling your kaupapa ‘Gizzy Local’ I guess!

Over the past month we’ve been taking some time to introduce Gizzy Local, the kaupapa, the why, the how and the what.  When we’re asked WHO is behind Gizzy Local, the real answer is - too many people to count. While there’s a small core of us that have kept and continue to keep the wheels turning day to day, the reality is that Gizzy Local is a large and ever-growing community of people who give a damn about this place we’re lucky enough to call home. Gizzy Local was founded in 2019 by two friends, Tom Teutenberg and Sarah Cleave. Sarah had this idealistic vision, and Tom had the ‘can do or I’ll figure it out’ attitude and skills to make it happen - and keep happening. Sarah Cleave, that’s me. Gizzy Local is the latest and ultimate progression of what has been my life’s path since first traversing State Highway 35 through to the place that called me to make it my home in 2006.  With its art focus, the community development job at the GDC that I was overjoyed to get upon moving here, was quite different from any of the community work I’d done before.  Never mind that I’d been documenting my life and writing poetry since I was a kid, or that I lived for music and dancing - I didn’t see myself as a particularly creative person. This new job felt like a whole new territory, and an intimidating one at that.  But as it turned out, the local arts scene here flipped on its head everything I had ever believed or understood of ‘The Arts’.My parents are craftspeople, but growing up in Whangārei, every piece of creative output had a practical purpose whether it was the clothes we wore or the houses my parents brought to life for us to live in.  As I understood it, ‘The Arts’ were something that people of a certain demographic participated in, a high brow activity for the moneyed and cultured. It was not a world I’d ever felt I belonged in.  I remember the first art exhibition I attended in Gisborne blowing my mind. There were kids running around everywhere, and posh accents were in the distinct minority. Contrary to all of my assumptions, the arts community I found in Gizzy was inclusive and diverse, fun and edgy; keen to give things a go; and mostly just in need of some extra support to keep our sometimes sleepy inhabitants informed of all the things going on - encouragement to get off their couches and into the good stuff.  So a little monthly publication called Wasab! was born with the help of some very talented collaborators, Martin D. Page and Aaron Innes. Wasab! brought all of Gizzy’s happenings into one place along with a dash of uplifting storytelling (sound familiar?) and lived on until 2013. On a personal level, finding this open armed community and discovering the true nature of ‘The Arts’ as something that anyone can partake in, was nothing short of life changing.  Much of my days since have been spent trying to get in as many of these connective, transformative, uplifting and fun experiences as I can, whilst also trying to make sure that anyone else who might benefit from such things, knows they are happening and how they can get involved! We’re five years into Gizzy Local now, and it is time for this kaupapa to spread its wings and meet its destiny.  What is the destiny of Gizzy Local? I believe it is a safe and inclusive, fun and aroha-driven space in which our community get to know each other, be connected with each other, and the good things that go on here. When it comes to Gizzy Local’s WHO in July 2024, I’m so rapt to be able to introduce a very choice, energetic and talented team who are making sure that Gizzy Local uses the wings it has grown to fly!  Sarah Holliday Pocock has moved over from coordinating local events to take the reins on the content front. Having b een a natural and enthusiastic storyteller since she first learnt to talk, I know she will do an incredible job of ensuring that the powerful and unique voices and stories of Te Tairāwhiti get told and are heard. Louis Harris-Murphy is Gizzy Local’s most recent recruit. As our new Venue Manager he is getting to channel his love for putting on events into getting our community space cranking!  Tom Teutenberg continues to take essence-capturing photographs to accompany our stories and keep our technology evolving and running tickety-boo. Last but definitely not least, we’re very lucky to have Thora Pocock doing a three-month internship with us as our local events coordinator. As I said many words ago now in this long winded introduction, there are many more people behind Gizzy Local than I can mention here by name: from our contributors, collaborators, the creatives that share our community space in Lowe Street and really, all of you that support this kaupapa of connection, of uplifting, of Gizzy and of its people. Kia ora!