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!

Creative Writing Workshop at Gizzy Local Here’s your chance to have your story published! All you need is an imagination and a love of storytelling.  At this Creative Writing workshop with published author, Aimee Milne, you will learn the basics of fiction writing and how to plot a story. By the end of your workshop you will have a story ready to be professionally edited and published for Gizzy Local readers to enjoy.  Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 July, 9am to 12pm. Caters to ages 11-14 Cost is $60. Limited spaces available  Email aimee_milne@hotmail.com  to book your spot. Events 4 All Two weeks of activities that will keep your kids safe and having fun. They're based at Awapuni School and schedule a variety of activities across the two weeks to keep the young’ens entertained and to make sure there’s something for everyone. You provide a bag lunch and they have breakfast, morning and afternoon teas sorted. Caters for ages 5-14. Cost is $60 per day. Enrol here: https://enrolmy.com/events-4-all/book-now/228-Events-4-All-July-2024-Holiday-Programme Tōnui Collab Tōnui Collab invite 7-13 year olds to create, construct, test and prototype at their four 1-day workshops, held 9am - 3pm each day, at Lawson Field Theatre (next to GDC on Fitzherbert Street). 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! Monday 15 July: Game Development  Tamariki will play some retro arcade style games with us 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. Tuesday 16 July: Robotics Tamariki will experiment with VEX IQ robotics. They will build and compete with their robotic creations, collaboratively problem solving to design and construct different robots. Wednesday 17 July: 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.   Thursday 18 July: Digital Art Tamariki will experiment with digital art app Procreate to create a contemporary digital art piece. Caters for 7-13 year-olds. Cost is $50 per day. For more info, contact admin@tonuicollab.com Gisborne Gymnastics Club 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). See timetable for offerings. Caters to ages: 5-14 (except Friday morning Preschool Open Gym which is preschool ages only). Cost is $20 for all sessions.  Book in or find more information here: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program 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, 8-19 July 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 Arty Farty School Holiday Programme Kidz Creation Stationz present the Arty Farty School Holiday Program where they nurture children’s self-expression through art, music, dance and drama. All activities are based at Te Hapara School Hall at 31 Mill Rd, Gisborne Monday through Friday, 8-19 July from 9am-4pm. They have options for half day or full day bookings.  Caters ages 5 - 10 year-olds.  Cost is $30 for a half day or $50 for full day bookings. Book via Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kidscreationstationz . For more information, email kidscreationstationz@gmail.com  or ring 021 045 8113. July 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. Sessions are held at Te Hapara School (31 Mill Road). Caregivers are welcome to stay or can drop/pick-up. Caters to ages 5+. Cost is $15 each for a class. Enroll by texting Mutsuko at 0220443717. Provide your name, your child's name and school year, and date(s) you would like to book in. Maximum capacity of 5 people per class. Year 1-3 | Wed 10 July & Thurs 11 July 9:30-11:00  Year 4-6 | Wed 10 July & Thurs 11 July 11:30-13:00 Year 7 + | Fri  12 July  9:30-11:00  Tairāwhiti Museum During the first week of the holidays, Tairāwhiti Museum offer daily activities for your young ones, inspired by the art of Dr Sandy Adsett’s current exhibition, Toi Koru. 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 ($10 per child for the clay workshops). Monday 8 July: Driftwood Art Create a bright and colourful organic driftwood wall artwork. 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm Tuesday 9 July: Clay workshop Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant. 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm (*$10 per child) Wednesday 10 July: Abstract Art Make a funky mixed media abstract artwork 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm Thursday 11 July: Clay workshop Make your own clay artwork with ceramic artist Fiona Bryant 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm (*$10 per child) Friday 12 July: Circle Art Paint a beautiful circle painting containing Kōwhaiwhai patterns 10am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm The Y Oscar Winter Holiday Programme A variety of fun activities every day, from 8-19 July at YMCA Oscar House - 153 Disraeli Street. From trips to the Kiwa Pools and the cinema to baking and arts and crafts, there’s sure to be something for everyone! See what’s on each day on their calendar of activities here: https://ymcagisborne.org.nz/oscar/#holiday-programme Caters to ages 5-13. Costs are from $45 per day with options to add on Breakfast Club and Aftercare Programmes ($10 each). For more info, contact Max at maxharaki@ymcagisborne.nz  or ring 06 867 9259 Find registration form here . Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programmes 30-min swimming lessons with an instructor held at Elgin School Pool.  During the school holidays is the perfect time to boost your little one’s confidence in the water. Week 1 (Monday 8 - Friday 12 July) -- $60 Caters to 3+ years. Cost is $60 for all the daily lessons for the week. Book or find more information by email: comet.libbyd@gmail.com or by phone: 0274 156 728 BubbleWrap Fun Fun Days This school holidays, BubbleWrap Fun are putting on 2 indoor Fun Days at the Gisborne Showgrounds 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 is free for little ones under 6 months, $15 for ages 6 months - 12 years and $8.50 for 13+ and adults (and less if you get the presale tickets). Book your tickets and find more info here . HB Williams Memorial Library (all events are free) 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, alongside the holiday reading challenge and Matariki activities that you can do anytime you’re in the library, as well as other special events, there’s something to enrich and entertain everyone during the break! Tuesdays, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30: He Kākano Fun sing-along and read for under twos. Every Tuesday @ 10.30am.   Thursdays, July 4, 11, 18, 25: Te Pihinga Fun sing-along and read for 2-5 year olds. Every Thursday @ 10.30am.   Monday July 8: Dominoes fall down Help the children’s team build a track of dominoes.  See how many we can line up before they all fall down.  Suitable for all the family.   Wednesday July 10: Paper Flower Bouquet Crafting for the kids.  Come and make a paper flower bouquet to keep as a center piece for the dinner table or to give away to someone special.  Suitable for all the family.   Friday July 12: Balloon Character Come and make a balloon character with the children’s team.  Whatever you can imagine you can create.  Suitable for all the family. Monday July 15: Build a bridge Kids how good are your engineering skills?  Work as a team or as an individual to build a bridge using cardboard, newspaper and cellotape.  See how much weight your bridge can hold.  Spot prizes up for grabs.  Suitable for all the family.   Wednesday July 17: All about the books Today we’re making books!  Zines, mini books, concertina books, comic strips the choice is yours.  Suitable for all the family.   Friday July 19: Tōnui Collab STEMM Workshop Join the team from Tōnui Collab for a fun STEMM workshop.  Suitable for ages 7+.  20 spots only, register on the morning by phoning 867 6709 from 9am to secure your spot.   School Holidays July 6 – 21: Matariki Star Hunt Find the clues and solve the Matariki proverb to go in the draw to win a Matariki prize pack.  Pick up a star hunt sheet from the children’s area.  Suitable for all the family. School Holidays July 6 – 21: Winter Reading Challenge Read for two hours, tell us about the book you read and go into the draw to win a prize it’s that easy.  Pick up a challenge form from the children’s area from July 6.  For ages 0 – 17 years. Eastwoodhill Arboretum The folks at Eastwoodhill Arboretum have two Creative Kids Days to entertain and inspire the kiddies. These drop-in style workshops are free to partake in but please book in advance with Rosie, as spaces are limited. Contact Rosie on 06 863 9003 or rosie@eastwoodhill.org.nz . Children must be accompanied by an adult. Caters for ages 5-12. Cost of the normal arboretum entry fees apply: Adults $15, Seniors $12, under 16’s $2. Wed 10 July - Build your own bird feeders Drop in between 10am - 1pm to build your own bird feeder. Wed 17 July - Decorate your own Wood Pixie house doors Drop in between 10am - 1pm to decorate your own Wood Pixie house door.

Remember the time that the family fridge or washing machine would last decades rather than a few years. Each breakdown was fixed by a local repair person. Unfortunately, today it is usually faster, easier and cheaper to replace household items, even when they are meant to be repairable. Most items aren't built to last, and in some cases you can't access parts for repair after a few years. If this feels frustratingly familiar, you'll be glad to know that we have the opportunity to re-design our future to allow us the right and opportunity to fix the (expensive) things we buy! Because it's beyond gross to send it all to landfill and hard to fathom how to afford to buy and re-buy these items. All we have to do at this stage is show our support with our MPs (easy links and suggestions below). Let's have our voices heard loud and clear. Our friends at Repair Network Aotearoa break it down for us. A new Bill (a proposed law) was introduced to Parliament in April 2024: the Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill. "This Bill seeks to take us one step closer to creating a Right to Repair in New Zealand. It would do this by changing the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) to require manufacturers to make spare parts and repair information available to consumers and to independent repairers so that we can get our belongings fixed if they break down. A Right to Repair gives us the power to fix the things we own - we paid for them and so we should be allowed to get them fixed if we want! When businesses know everyday people have this right, they are more likely to design products to be long-lasting and fixable in the first place. When stuff does break, a strong and well-protected right to repair means it is cheaper and easier to get stuff fixed. The Right to Repair upholds property and consumer rights, while protecting the planet and resonating with New Zealand’s resourceful, do-it-yourself, ‘No 8 wire’ cultural values. When products are easy to repair, the benefits are obvious: products last longer, saving us money and time more job opportunities in a growing repair industry more autonomy for consumers to choose to fix the products they own less harm to the planet because we reduce broken stuff going to landfill, keeping precious natural resources in use for as long as possible. If you want repairable products that go the distance, add your voice to the call for the right to repair. There's power in numbers." So, how can you add your voice to this call? 1. If you saw our post over on the socials, please leave a comment of support on those posts. 2. E-mail our local MP's with this easy template: Dana.Kirkpatrick@parliament.govt.nz Cushla.Tangaere-Manuel@parliament.govt.nz 3. Visit these links to find out more: Consumer NZ Repair Network Aotearoa

We are as far away from Hollywood as you can get, but Kaj Tata is developing a viable career for himself through Rāngai, a film production company and university level education facility here in Turanga-nui-a-kiwa, Gisborne. Kaj is a young man with a bright future. Not only is he creative and conscientious, he is wise enough to seize every opportunity offered to him. Kaj was working in a packhouse in Tauranga when he made the decision to move to Gisborne to study Māori arts. But, before he had the chance to sign up, his cousin offered him a role as an extra on the film, The Convert. “It was an awesome experience being on a set and I got paid really well. Way more than I was earning at the packhouse. So, I started asking around, all the different jobs, like camera operators, to see how much money they made, and that’s when I changed my mind about what I wanted to do. Mum pointed out this film school in Gisborne, and that was it for me.” Kaj is in his second year of a bachelor's degree in screen arts with a film major, and not only is he learning the theory, he gets real world experience, on par with a paid apprenticeship. Rāngai work in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and tertiary providers, like EIT. The company was founded by Shannon Dowsing on the belief that he could focus revenue from commercial work to create better outcomes for students, or ‘Elevate Your Success,’ as the company’s tagline states. It also gives the rohe an alternative industry and economy to the primary industries that we rely on so heavily in the regions. Rāngai produce news, commercials, documentary work, and film local sports, which, last year, was mostly funded by Rāngai as a service to the community to connect people who couldn’t access weekend sports after being cut off by the cyclone. It’s all paid work, and the wages go into the pockets of the students, even if the company are sponsoring it. Last year the students earned an average $8500 each to support their cost of living. Kaj proudly had his first lead story with Te Ao Marama recently, as camera operator working solo capturing the story for the news show. He filmed an interview and establishing shots, prompting the interviewees and making sure they were comfortable as he worked with the control room and crossed over with the main studio in Auckland. His work continues to evolve weekly, being flown to Auckland after previous successful jobs. He filmed the Kī-o-Rahi National tournament, Rāngai providing the opportunity to work with Rotorua based production company Local Geecko, “I was pulled aside and offered more work opportunities. Next minute I got a phone call from Auckland, and they flew me up there to film the Indian hockey tournament. I was the camera operator and I also got the chance to work as a technician in the control room. I was thrown in the deep end but they taught me a lot.” Kaj clearly enjoys his studies and being from out of town means he’s had to make new friends, which is easy at Rāngai. They’re an inclusive bunch, and a good representation of a cross section of the Gisborne community. Students span across the age range, with a mix of cultures, genders and neurodiversity. It feels good to walk into a room full of curious creatives, and the students are only too happy to show me the film props they made in their art department. One of the students jokes that Shannon gives them a hard time, but I can see he has a great rapport with them. Shannon is originally from here, with whakapapa to Ngāti Porou. He didn’t engage well with traditional schooling. “It just wasn’t for me. So I left school and took on an apprenticeship in telecommunications, which meant I was learning on the job, alongside mentors. I learned better that way and it shaped my character.” He strongly believes education should be linked to employment. With that experience he moved to London and found work with a rapidly growing technology company. “We used to say that we were on the bleeding edge of technology. That’s the point you reach when you’re past the cutting edge,” and that’s where Shannon seems to be more comfortable than most. He was in London for 12 years and ended up a shareholder of the tech business he worked for. The work was exciting and varied and he had full creative autonomy. From augmented and virtual reality for the military, building visualisations systems in the Robotic Surgery Center in Qatar, live broadcast of rugby in 3D to UK cinemas, and building holograms in India, Shannon travelled the world... and all of it was through training on the job. Eventually his experience and knowledge led him to being a 3D tech consultant for Frame Store during their post production of the first Avatar movie, alongside Weta. When they completed the successful sale of the company, Shannon moved back to Gisborne, serving on the Gisborne District Council for six years, which was a learning curve he enjoyed. Now he’s focused on other big picture stuff.  Rāngai is unique as a privately owned tertiary education facility in Gisborne, and he doesn’t just offer film making courses. There is game development, animation and character design, too. Next he is also looking at building student accommodation in Gisborne to make it more affordable for students to participate. There is a need in the region for 20+ rooms with a much lower cost than the current housing market. “A student from the coast can't be expected to put 3 years of accommodation on their student loan or they just won’t take the opportunity.” He is also developing another film studio and school in Queenstown at the newly-built Research and Innovation Centre. Not only is Shannon brave enough to dream big, he has the skills, experience and energy to follow through and make dreams a reality for aspiring rangatahi who want to work in a creative field. Rāngai is open for enrolments for the Level 4 Certificate in Communication Media. This is the course for anyone who wants to give it a go and get a taste of what film production involves.  Rāngai courses are fees free. There is no set criteria for entry. If you enjoy the lower level courses then there are pathways to continue into a degree in screen arts where you could major in film, animation, game design or character creation. Get in fast. Enrolments for the certificate are open until 24th June. https://www.eit.ac.nz/programmes/new-zealand-certificate-in-communication-media-level-4/

We’re going to get real about something that is rarely talked about in open company but affects men, women and children across all sectors of our community: poor pelvic health. When we’re suffering the symptoms of poor pelvic health, it can be confronting and embarrassing. But thankfully there are a diverse and growing group of physiotherapists in the Tairāwhiti region who have advanced training in the many different areas of pelvic health. This week is Continence Week, when health professionals shine a light on getting us all to that goal of “continence” and being in control and pain-free. They’re keen to make sure we all know about the available services so we can get on the path to a better quality of life. Pelvic Health Physiotherapists can support people who experience a wide range of symptoms, like bladder leakage when you sneeze or do something physical like pick up your toddler or moko. It can feel like lower back pain, bowel incontinence, and pain during sex… The list of physical ailments that can make day-to-day life challenging, awkward, and painful  is long and applies to men, women and children. But thankfully you don’t have to suffer in silence. You can access this physiotherapy by seeking a referral from your doctor, nurse or midwife or you can self-refer to our community-based physiotherapy practices. (Services and cost structures may vary between clinics and care pathways.) Services include: • ACC MBI (maternal birth injury) recovery • Pregnancy-related pain management • Treatment for pelvic organ prolapse • Incontinence – bladder and bowel • Pre and post-operative care for pelvic and prostate surgeries • Pelvic pain including: endometriosis, painful sex, sexual dysfunction, vaginismus • Pelvic health for children – constipation, painful periods, pelvic injuries Here are your PHiT team contacts: Tairawhiti District Hospital Pelvic Physiotherapy – services include: men / women / children, ACC MBI, pre/post prostate and pelvic surgery, pregnancy related pain, post-partum care, pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence (bladder and bowel), pelvic pain, complex pelvic health. 06 869 0500 Dynamic Rehab Danielle Lapointe – men/women/children, ACC MBI, pregnancy related pain, post-partum check up, pelvic and lower back pain, pre/post hysterectomy, incontinence. 06 863 0960 Ruth Fletcher Physiotherapist + Pre & Post Natal Certified Trainer - Passionate about supporting women to stay fit and active in a safe way during pregnancy and supporting women to return to training/exercise/sport post baby. Also experienced with return to work planning after injuries. She can see you in clinic, at your home, or in a gym. 022 487 4044 ContinenceNZ are bringing awareness to pelvic health with the Pelvic Floor Challenge. Click here to find out more about the challenge and how you can be in to win a $500 prezzy card.

Becoming a new parent comes with lots of surprises - the reality of sleepless nights, the isolation of spending a whole day stuck at home with a baby - but one of the more unwelcome surprises is how quickly your house becomes filled with these garishly coloured, noisy pieces of plastic we call toys. Toys come from well-meaning visitors, hand-me-downs from the cousins, they even come in Happy Meals! A huge amount of energy and organization is needed to stop the toys from taking over every room in the house. After tidying up the toys for the millionth time, parents are desperate for an alternative. Luckily there is the Gisborne Toy Library to the rescue! As part of a national organization with over 200 toy libraries across Aotearoa, the Gisborne Toy Library has been running since 2001. It’s a registered charity whose mission is to provide a wide-range of high quality toys to local families for a low price. Families pay for a yearly membership and then have unlimited access to borrowing toys from the Toy Library. Each toy has a small fortnightly fee, but it’s still a very affordable option compared to buying toys at a big red store or online. Functioning a lot like the book library, a family borrows a toy for two weeks, plays with it, then brings it back and chooses something new. This model is perfect for toddlers who have the attention span of a flea and the constant desire to explore and try new things. Kids’ interests and abilities are always changing so borrowing toys is a perfect solution. For families who are looking for a more environmental approach to play, the Gisborne Toy Library is a great choice. Rather than every family buying the same slide and then letting it sit in the back garden and watching it slowly disintegrate in the sun and rain, the Toy Library gives kids a chance to borrow it, go hard and slide down it a thousand times and then return it so another family can have fun with it. Many of the toys at the Toy Library have been in circulation for over a decade, and some have even been a part of the collection so long that members come to hire it for their grandkids and say “I remember hiring this for my kids!” The Gisborne Toy Library makes it a priority to buy high-quality toys that can be shared for as long as possible before heading to landfill. When you join the Gisborne Toy Library, you’re also becoming a part of a community. The Gisborne Toy Library is a place where parents, grandparents and caregivers can meet while the kids play, and the librarian is always there for a chat or to show off the new toys. While the kids are busy enjoying new toys, a tired adult can sit with a cuppa and have a moment’s peace. The Gisborne Toy Library is run by a small group of parent volunteers who do the mahi to keep the place going and have a lot of fun while doing it. One of the quiet joys of joining our local Toy Library is that we are teaching our children to be part of a community and be a part of a circular economy. When they borrow a toy from the toy library, they are taught to respect it because it’s not just their individual possession, but a treasure to be shared across our community. On toy library day, kids learn to find all the pieces, wipe them down, get them back in the correct box and return it on time, which teaches them those invaluable skills of sharing, caring and responsibility. So why not head down to Innes Street to see the amazing treasure trove of toys waiting to be hired at the Gisborne Toy Library? The Toy Library is open 10 am to 1 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 91 Innes St. For more info, head to the Facebook page or email gisbornetoylibrary@gmail.com.

Are you passionate about more planet- and people-friendly transportation in our townships and city? If you close your eyes, can you envision all the ways our communities would be better if we could make better use of our cycle and walkways? Do you believe that what’s good for our aged mobility and Whaikaha communities are good for everyone? If you can see why it’s so important to remove barriers to active travel so that all Tairāwhiti whānau are able to enjoy walking and cycling opportunities then the full time role of Kaiarataki Arawhenua | Walking and Cycling Programme Lead at Gisborne District Council might be just the mahi you’re looking for! Reach out to Tyler Kirk, the Liveable Spaces Planning Team Leader. Or apply online. Kaiarataki Arawhenua | Walking and Cycling Programme Lead Job Description Walking and cycling are an essential part of our regional transport options, and recreational opportunities. This role is key to ensuring that Council can increase its pace of delivery of projects that improve walking and cycling opportunities. This is an important leadership role for active travel at GDC. The purpose of this role is to drive and oversee the delivery of active travel, and recreational walking and cycling projects, ensure appropriate resource and partnerships, and advocate for the importance of walking and cycling in Te Tairāwhiti. Beyond walking and cycling, this role will improve outcomes for all active travel, including aged mobility and the Whaikaha community. Better, safer active travel networks are critical to a more accessible city and townships. This role will play a key role in implementing our regional strategic direction. Council has commenced an Active Travel Strategy which will be completed in 2024. This role will be responsible for ensuring the funding, capacity, partnerships and planning to deliver the strategy. This role will also drive the partnerships required to ensure efficient planning and delivery between council- and community-led projects. You’ll recognise the importance of the role as a Treaty partner and understand how that underpins Gisborne District Council’s work. Success in this role will be in using the multiple levers to remove barriers to active travel so that all Tairāwhiti whānau are able to enjoy walking and cycling opportunities. Reporting to the Liveable Spaces Planning Team Leader, working in the greater team of 20 people. Duties include Establishing and overseeing the programme of Council walking and cycling projects. Developing and maintaining the partnerships necessary to accelerate and unify Council’s walking and cycling work programme. Fostering meaningful relationships with Iwi, Hapū and Whānau that ensure the council’s commitment to Māori is put into practice in this work. Advocating for walking and cycling outcomes on behalf of, and within Gisborne District Council. Skills and experience required Good understanding and working knowledge of Te Reo me ōna Tikanga o Te Tairāwhiti. Ability to think strategically, understand complex relationships and systems thinking. Demonstrated experience of complex partnership and teamwork across a range of internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated experience of establishing and leading networks of positive and productive partnerships. Demonstrated experience of community engagement and project activation Ability to work cross-functionally across a department and wider division. Ability to deal with ambiguity and make quality decisions in a dynamic and challenging setting. Experience in project management disciplines (e.g., planning, resource allocation, budgeting, and legal compliance). Strong customer service ethic and a sense of personal ownership and responsibility. Highly organised – plans and prioritises well and manages time to focus self and others on the most important activities. Proven experience of delivering results and innovation in a high public profile environment. Demonstrated experience in turning strategy into project delivery. Positive, established working relationships with Tairāwhiti hapū and Iwi. Benefits Flexible on start and finish times Hybrid working (home and work) Allocated training budget for career development and to support professional affiliation membership (where relevant to the role) Work with a great team and enjoy regular, lively social events Walking distance to the CBD Modern office space Access to free independent counselling and support services for you and your family Annual flu vaccinations and health checks 1 of 6 Unitary Authorities in NZ About the company Here at Gisborne District Council, we pull our values from the community we serve. It makes sense then that we are enthusiastic about culture in our workplace. Family and inclusivity are deep seated in our ethos. With Treaty partnership front of mind, we’re serious about building a workforce that enhances our commitment to deliver. We work hard together to make our people proud, and our whanau are why we are so passionate about what we do for the community. How to apply Click here to apply or call Tyler Kirk (Liveable Spaces Planning Team Leader) on 06 8672049 for a confidential discussion.

This week, if you traveled the block of Grey Street between Childers and Gladstone Roads, you’d be forgiven for having a strange little moment of deja vu. Don’t worry, you’re probably not losing the plot. You would’ve seen the familiar face of Mr Clifton’s lovely coffee shop in a new location a few blocks down the road. On Tuesday morning, at the new, slightly earlier opening time of 6:30 am, the Mr Clifton’s team of Scott (co-owner and manager) and Jet opened the doors for business in their new, purpose-built location. For the last two months, the team of Scott, Jet, Far East Coffee founders Steve and Jo, along with long-time collaborator, fellow builder and creative, Paulus McKinnon, have been turning the white, rectangular box into the warmest little spot to get your coffee and coffee accessories. If you’re familiar with Mr Clifton’s former location, or the much-loved former Far East Coffee cafe at their Awapuni roastery, the inside of Mr Clifton’s 126 Grey St location will feel like turning up at an old friend’s place. You’ll recognise the Parihaka Pink Dulux paint on the wall, the winning combination of clean, industrial lines with natural, leafy tendrils of climbing plants, the “bus stop” seating, and imported Belgian Beer Festival communal tables and benches. But you’ll look around and say, “I love what you’ve done with the place!” The bones of their new space feel as warm and welcoming as the wairua that embodies it. They achieved that through their careful attention to detail and sustainable building materials. Internal walls are lined with saveBOARD, a product created in Hamilton from recycled tetra paks and soft plastics. This adds a satisfying, closed-loop feel to their sustainability efforts, as Mr Clifton’s recycles their tetra paks with Tairāwhiti Environment Centre, who then send those on to saveBoard, who then make building materials that came back to Mr Clifton’s as their new walls. They did the maths and worked out that their new walls repurposed a year and a half of Mr Clifton’s oat flatties (and other alt-milk coffees). Overhead are 5 foam pad acoustic tiles that help reduce the noise, making the bigger space less cacophonous and more soothing for patrons and staff alike. And while creating welcoming, inclusive and gorgeous spaces for customers is a goal, they didn’t overlook staff wellbeing. They’ve given themselves little luxuries like extra space between the front counter and the kitchen bench and fridge behind them. And phase two is a spruce-up of the back space so that they have a restorative and satisfying place to take the infrequent but much-deserved breather. At the end of the day, Mr Clifton’s continues their ambition of making a bright spot in our CBD. And as lucky as we are to have a welcoming and elegant place to connect over a hot drink, or a fortifying moment with just you and your favourite life-giving beverage, the feeling is mutual. “Our clientele are the best,” Scott says on Tuesday afternoon, sharing with me a “housewarming” chocolate slice a customer had made and brought in. While gesturing to the flowers brought in by another loyal patron, he says, “They give back to us as much as we give to them. We are so lucky to have this community. Their support and generosity is not lost on us.” Jo recollects how great relationships with fellow business neighbours are integral to a successful and satisfying business model. They loved the “little loop that we made with Yoko Sushi and Gear Meat” at their old location. As Scott notes, “Our new neighbours have been really welcoming. We feel like we have a home to grow into.” Be welcomed in at Mr Clifton’s new location at 126 Grey St. They have longer hours now (6:30 am - 2:00 pm) and rumour has it that there may be Saturday hours in our future.

This Saturday Smash Palace book-ends NZ Music Month with Gizzyborn 2024 pt.2. In the 80’s Smash’s owner, Darryl Monteith & other musicians protested for a 20% quota of NZ music on our radio waves. In a time when this has become a reality, Gizzyborn 2 could feel like a throwback to a time, when “our own music couldn’t reach us.” But this Saturday night will be anything but nostalgic. The acts are made up of local heavy hitters across a range of genres & encapsulate new and developing sounds. Here’s a breakdown: ATRAX came out of Build-a-Band, the weekly institution that builds bands each Thursday night at Smash. Direct descendants of Ethnic Roots, they play Pacific Reggae. Eastborne 4010 is a 13-piece posse of rap & hip-hop artists who sold-out their first gig at Smash Palace. Each member brings their unique persona to the stage translating into a powerful collective performance. Eastborne 4010 is made up of positive role models & is a band to keep your eye on. Ben Aperahama has played brass in Soul Society & bass in Supafly Killa. Doing his own thing, his performances are explorative journeys of cool, dance-y electronic music, overlaid with live rap. Ash Sales transports audiences to unexpected places with his epic soundscapes, composed on stage with just a guitar, looper, effects pedal & his voice. Pera Wilson is a new artist on the local hip hop scene. Get in on the ground floor of his emerging talent. Nathan Seaver, lead singer of Oceanspace, plays groovy, dreamy dance music as a solo artist. Last Moon Ticket (formerly Model Citizen) play original rock that harks back to an alternative 90s & UK sound. They're led by Darren Byrne, who you might know as the owner of the Wave Room recording studio. Mr Redpath is the newest band on the scene, composed of Ben Aperahama, Hilton Goldsmith & Fergus Taylor playing atmospheric groove rock. The hard-fought battle to expose our airways and earways to home-grown music might feel like an issue of the past. But we can do that fight justice by valuing our own in the here & now. This Saturday, let’s pack out Smash Palace and take in the very current music by some of our best home-grown talent. Photos by John Flatt Words by Sarah Holliday Pocock