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 Parkwalk 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 been 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.