My name is Molly, and I’m an artist. Like many, I still feel somewhat uncomfortable saying that, but the space Nathan created in his tiny home felt companionable and warm, enough for me to open up and talk candidly about my creative journey. We settled across the table from each other, the sun dipping behind the hills surrounding Tatapouri Bay as we cradled mugs of hot tea. It would be understandable to mistake this scene for two pals hanging out, and in a lot of ways it was. The key distinction being the two high tech mics bowing their heads together as we each snuggled a set of headphones over our ears. Nathan Foon is a Gizzy born-and-bred man of many hats. Some may know him as co-manager of Tatapouri Bay campground, or as co-founder of Studio4 Artspace, but there’s no ‘co-’ about Artists Anonymous Club. This is all Nathan. “When I was first thinking about the podcast, in a selfish way, I was thinking ‘this is going to be cool, I'm going to get to talk to people that I'm interested in, that I can connect and have meaningful conversations with… And can grow a community through.” Nathan’s strength lies in creating a safe space, of gently holding the conversation without twisting it out of shape. He talks passionately of the art of conversation, of the importance of listening, and of his desire to get to the nitty gritty of the creative experience. Whether a professional artist or hobbyist, we’re all trying to find ourselves, to express ourselves. How do you find the time and energy to dedicate to activities that maybe aren’t the most productive, but that calm the mind or bring joy? Or how might you make money from your work while maintaining creative freedom? “I wanted to connect through common creative struggles that we all had. That was really it. Being able to just openly talk about them and have different perspectives. Having the struggles being talked about as well as the most amazing successes and beautiful things that happen from creating art.” Bumping into a fellow interviewee recently, we joked about how our respective chats with Nathan had turned into what felt like therapy sessions. When I recounted this to Nathan, he laughed, admitting: “Part of it, for me, is about how do you dig deeper? How do you get the most out of the topic? …I try to have a really organic conversation. And listen. Because people don't listen enough, I think. If you’re already too prepared and predetermined, if I researched you, then I would have a preconceived idea of who you are in my head instead of just being open to actually hearing you talk about yourself and your journey.” Each episode unravels bit by bit, as the artist settles in and Nathan carefully allows the layers to unfold. Sometimes to the artist’s surprise. For some interviewees, casting their mind back to what was said, or even listening back, can be a little confronting. The interview hangover. And Nathan admits that he has had one or two artists getting cold feet: “I understand when people want to listen back or they want to pull the episode… there’s been people that have done that and I haven't published. When the recorder’s on, you want to give the best version of yourself. We've all heard great podcasts and we all know they have great anecdotes and quotes, they give advice and share wisdom. I think people are so locked into that part of it, so they worry about the end result.” Perhaps Nathan’s compassion on this subject comes from a deep understanding of this self-doubt, of the imposter syndrome so many of us experience, whether through our art practice, careers, or other aspects of life: “When I think about popular podcasts that I listen to, the host is always someone that's either successful in their field… and they start this journey with an audience already. “Having people listen or take interest in what I have to say feels a little bit weird, but that adds to rebuilding my identity just for me. That’s always been a battle for me." When there’s something missing, when there’s space to create something where once it didn’t exist, the need soon outweighs the imposter syndrome. A sentiment shared by Georgia Harrison, interviewee and powerhouse behind ‘Sexy Dance Class’: “I arrived in Gizzy and there’s no dance like what I want to do… and so I thought ‘I’m going to have to start my own thing’… You just have to do it. And for me, the motivation to dance outweighed the imposter syndrome.” – Georgia Harrison, AAC E08 When broaching this question to Nathan, he responded, “That's what Gizzy does. Gizzy feels like it's still full of so much opportunity.” Slowly working through his friend list and network, Nathan tells me his focus is really just thinking of who he’s interested in interviewing next; choosing guests based on those around him and who he’s inspired by, be that close friends or local artists. This intimacy and organic, artistic approach is something he’s keen to nurture: "I read something in a book recently. It was asking: how do you give yourself to the art form, rather than trying to think about the art giving you something? I’ll see ads for ‘how to grow your audience’ and how to do all that stuff. I think I’m trying to do the opposite, trying to think about it more as an art form, rather than a business.” And an art form it truly is. There is an art to holding space, to creating a safe space, and to listening. Both as an interviewee and a listener, I am struck by the cosy, confessional vibe of Artists Anonymous Club. It feels special and, although I’m a relative new-comer to Gizzy, like an authentic reflection of the beautifully open and supportive creative community here: “I feel like in Gizzy we’ve got such an awesome community here… I reckon encouraging all your friends and encouraging people with what they love is one of the best things we can do as humans.” – Nathan Seaver (Oceanspace), AAC E03 Sign me up. Join the club: listen to AAC on Spotify, or follow @artistsanonymousclub on Instagram, merch coming soon. Story by Molly Wilson Photo by Nadine Probst

Are you familiar with Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti? Their kaimahi work in town and in rural and East Coast communities, supporting community groups to meet their own community aspirations. You may have read here about their proactive and industry-leading wellness initiatives to support work-life balance among their staff. Their organisational vision is “Ka topa te manu ki te rangi - expanding horizons for an active, healthy, connected Te Tairāwhiti” and their work reflects our diverse community and the many ways we define “active, healthy and connected.” Sometimes communities want help to put on quality events or grow or re-establish their sports clubs. Sometimes schools and kura want to do more to connect their tamariki to the local awa in order to test water quality, eradicate pests, and learn how to be good kaitiaki/guardians of their taiao. Sometimes a group wants to learn about nutritious kai that is easy and accessible for their community. In those cases and many more, there’s a Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti kaimahi in the wings supporting that group with resources, admin support, or people power. Our community is brimming with people passionate about making our corner of the world better, happier, and healthier, and we like to think that our readers are more passionate than most. At the moment there are two opportunities to join Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti, an organisation committed to supporting the well-being of our communities and their own staff. We think there’s a great match out there just waiting to happen. Read below for brief descriptions of the roles and follow the links to apply. The first position is a senior leadership role, Kaiārahi Hapori / Community Lead – 40 hours The right person has a passion to lead teams and bring out the best in people as they work alongside communities to achieve great outcomes through the power of sport, active recreation, and health. This is an opportunity to have a true impact and to shape the direction of well-being initiatives across our region. This Kaiārahi Hapori / Community Lead needs to be an experienced leader with an inclusive leadership style, someone who can see the bigger picture and is flexible in their approach. An excellent communicator, with knowledge of the diverse communities in Te Tairāwhiti, and who can build and maintain strong relationships. POSITION PURPOSE: As a vital member of the Senior Leadership Team, this pivotal role will provide leadership for Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti through the implementation of key programmes, initiatives, and services that support the wellbeing of communities in the region and reduce the inequities that stop people from being able to participate in healthy activities. The role will be responsible for the effective leadership of two teams – Active Communities and Ngā Manu Taupua - who between them support quality play, active recreation, sport and health initiatives through a community-led approach. The role also requires the development and maintenance of strong meaningful relationships with a range of key stakeholders and community organisations. You can find more info and apply here: Kaiārahi Hapori/Community Lead – Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti The other position is Intermediate/Senior Accountant & Client Manager – 30-40 hours with flexibility POSITION PURPOSE: This role is the over-arching support for our Taupua Tairāwhiti team. You will apply your top-notch accounting knowledge and client management and organisational skills, and ultimately strengthen the Not-For-Profit sector in the Tairāwhiti Region. Taupua Tairāwhiti exists within Sports Gisborne Tairāwhiti to strengthen Not for Profit operations in Tairāwhiti such as sporting and recreation codes and clubs, community organisations, and marae. There is widespread demand for a local support system for our sector and we are looking for a special someone with a heart for helping and the skills to deliver accounting support. Taupua Tairāwhiti is managed by a small team and works to provide the following key services: Financial Management and Accounting Support Administration assistance and compliance Communications and Marketing Support Funding Application advice and assistance Central Point of Contact for Not-For-Profit support in the region. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a team who deliver fit-for-purpose support services that can meet the needs of Not-For-Profit groups who wish to strengthen their systems, compliance and financial management for long term sustainability. It is a diverse role that will suit an ‘out of the box’ thinker, who is a strong and organised administrator with intermediate/senior level accounting knowledge and enjoys intellectually challenging work that will ultimately help hundreds of people. There will be regular task-based work such as Xero file management, GST return preparation and filing, and financial management work; you will be the lead Point of contact for clients and be the glue that binds the team together. Find more information and to apply, Intermediate/Senior Accountant & Client Manager – Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti

Daffodils and blossoms are blooming, birds are singing, and the trees are budding with fruit and new leaves. Thank goodness for Spring! Eastwoodhill puts on a show at this time of year. It might not be the busiest time at the arboretum, Autumn is the jewel in the crown with its colour, contrast and crunching of leaves beneath our feet, but every season has its beauty. Even in winter, the craggy lichen covered trees make me feel like I'm walking the pathways of a haunted forest. We have a special taonga right on our doorstep and we need to use it, to protect it, and enable it to be maintained. “Eastwoodhill belongs to all of us” says Jane Williams, Chair of the Eastwoodhill Board. It's been a tough time here in Tairāwhiti and on the back of the pandemic and extreme weather events the number of visitors to the park has decreased. To keep it viable and contemporary, changes have been made to the structure of the Eastwoodhill board, including paid staff now manning the cafe, which is open in the weekends. The volunteers are fantastic Jane tells me, and it would be nice to welcome some youth into the team. She encourages locals to join the Friends of Eastwoodhill, a group of volunteers who aim to increase general public awareness and knowledge of native and exotic flora, and to help raise funds for maintenance and development. "If you’re interested in helping to preserve and develop Eastwoodhill, becoming a volunteer is a rewarding experience as working to uphold New Zealand’s National Arboretum is a privilege and a legacy to be left for many generations to come.” Historically, the Eastwoodhill Board members have included a Williams family representative, and reps from DOC, GDC, Poverty Bay Horticultural Society and NZ Farm Forestry Association, but recently there is a move to partner with iwi, and discussions are taking place with representatives from Te Whānau a Kai to join the Eastwoodhill Board. Eastwoodhill Arboretum cloaks the lands of Ngati Hine, one of several hapū that make up Te Whānau a Kai iwi. Back in 1910, William Douglas Cook, better known as Douglas Cook, an eccentric forward thinker, won the land in the ballot for the Ngatapa subdivision, which he named “Eastwoodhill” after his family home in Scotland. Much like the story of Noah who foresaw the threat of ecological disaster and built an arc to save the animals, (William) Douglas Cook created an arboreal arc to save the trees. As the nuclear arms races escalated in the mid-20th century, Douglas Cook created a safe haven for northern hemisphere species threatened by the possibility of war. The arboretum’s remote location served as a place to propagate new plants that might restore species should they be lost in their native eco-system. Today, these threats remain, plus a few new ones, like climate change. Already, all over the world, forest ecosystems have been changed dramatically as keystone species are threatened or lost. Eastwoodhill is rare in its ability to host plants from the northern hemisphere in relative isolation. This unique characteristic combined with New Zealand’s stringent biosecurity regulations, makes the arboretum an ideal environment for the cultivation of threatened species.  25,000 of them! Tawera Tahuri (Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi, Whakatōhea, Ngāti Uenuku, Tūwharetoa) is a visual and performing artist, teacher, senior advisor for Indigenous Exchange at Creative NZ and organiser of the recent Houpapa Indigenous Sculpture Symposium, which was held at Eastwoodhill in July this year. The collaboration provided an opportunity for artists to work with various species of wood, which had either been felled by extreme weather or in an effort to improve resource sustainability. Local Te Whānau a Kai affiliated artists and carvers, and international indigenous guest artist, Shirod Younker (Coquille Nation in Port Oregon, USA) spent five days creating artworks. For Tawera Tahuri the sharing of indigenous knowledge and art forms that took place “gave space to the creative reindigenisation of Eastwoodhill” and Shirod Younker acknowledged the importance of collective guardianship of all tree species, as well as the important work being done by Eastwoodhill in the protection and conservation of these globally endangered species. Looking forward, Tawera is excited about creative projects such as the installation of a waharoa or gateway to the arboretum and pou aranga or directional posts from the Waipaoa River bridge roundabout to Eastwoodhill, indicating specific waahi tapu or sacred sites of significance for Te Whānau a Kai on the way to the arboretum. When we think about Eastwoodhill Arboretum, it pays to remember that it’s not just about getting to enjoy a bit of nature - by enjoying this taonga we are also helping to maintain a rare safe haven for trees. And there are a few different ways that we can support this important kaupapa… Head out for a stroll and a picnic. There is a mobility scooter available for use if you need it and most of the pathways are wide and relatively accessible for people with disabilities. Make a weekend of it! Check out Eastwoodhill’s clean and comfortable accommodation options. Purchase a Friends Membership to Eastwoodhill which entitles you to free entry all year, or sign up to become a volunteer. The Arboretum relies heavily on donations and bequests for the ongoing maintenance and development of the National Arboretum. Find their Give-a-Little page here: https://givealittle.co.nz/org/eastwoodhill You can be sure they they appreciate all and any support, big or little, everything makes a difference! Story by Aimee Vickers Symposium photograph by Hone Read Photography. * In partnership with Te Whānau a Kai, Indigenous Exchange Creative New Zealand, Toihoukura and Tairāwhiti Arts Festival. The symposium name, ‘Houpapa’, references the history of Te Whānau a Kai, and remembers the ancestress Hinepuakirangi and her leadership and power upon the land.

This is one of those interviews that I wish I could share with sound effects. At various times in our conversation, vocal coach Letitia Lindeque wowed me with the capabilities of the human voice, pausing to explain a point with an impressively projected note or a climbing scale of “ahhhs.” When you work with Letitia, it’s clear you learn a lot more than how to improve your singing. She wants to help you find and understand your voice, and that has a far greater impact than just the way you sing a song. Letitia has lived in Gizzy for two years, but she just recently returned to vocal coaching full-time, after working at the hospital in business administration. Music has always been a strong calling, and “once you’ve done something you love, you don’t get the same satisfaction from anything else.” She recently opened a cosy studio on Russell Street and is now taking clients at all stages on their musical journey, from professional singers to children just starting out. “I tell people I teach from ages 7-70!” Hailing from South Africa, Letitia emigrated to New Zealand in 2011, and has lived in many places, including Auckland, Taranaki, and Dunedin. Growing up in a musical family, with a father who played guitar in a band and a mother who played the organ, she developed a musical ear early. She was choir leader and sang choir in high school and later performed with cover bands playing at restaurants and weddings. Letitia describes her voice as a naturally high soprano, but her dream was always to be able to belt like Whitney Houston. When she met her husband in her late 30s, he encouraged her to record an album she had written, and in that process, she worked with a lot of different vocal coaches and singing teachers. Her experiences were wildly varied, and often downright bad, including a teacher who taught a technique that made her hoarse, and one who insisted on stepping on her stomach. “Nobody could teach me what I wanted - to sing the powerful belts like Whitney - but from them I at least learned how not to teach.” Then about 13 years ago, she found a Bel Canto Opera teacher in South Africa who finally helped her to understand her voice, and inspired and encouraged her to become a vocal teacher. She gave Letitia the opportunity to study all her old singing books, some dating back to the 1960s, and Letitia was an eager student. “I continued studying the voice and will do so until I die as there is always more to learn. I am a perfectionist.” She keeps up to date with vocal pedagogy from teachers such as David Jones (Italian/Swedish Opera school of singing) and Karyn O’Connor (Contemporary Vocal Technique Instructor) and has adapted her studies into a contemporary vocal programme suitable for all voices. Letitia describes herself as both a vocal coach and a vocal technique instructor. A vocal coach typically helps singers master their song-work for a short-term goal like an audition or performance. A vocal technique instructor focuses on vocal pedagogy, helping singers work through vocal problems to develop and improve the voice. Often singers that come to vocal coaching to master a song or singing style experience other issues which manifest in their singing and take time to be addressed. New techniques require repetition until they become "the normal way you sing." She also teaches healthy techniques to help strengthen and protect your vocals, much like a personal trainer for your voice. Letitia emphasizes that singing is something anyone can learn, but it becomes easier once you understand how the voice works. “It’s like learning how to talk, you’re not born knowing how. Singing is something you can learn.” And it involves a lot more than just the sound of your voice. A lesson with Letitia could also include breathing, posture, and muscle memory instruction, which all have a huge impact on how a person sounds. You may be as shocked as I was to learn that everyone can sing like Whitney Houston. Letitia laughs, “you may not sound the same, and it may take years, but with proper training absolutely everyone can sing with the same skill level as her.” She likens singing to baking a chocolate cake. There are numerous ingredients, and if there is too much of any one thing, or it’s not blended well, then that flavor will dominate and the cake won’t taste right. “9 times out of 10, if you’re unhappy with your voice, there’s just something out of balance, and that’s an easy fix.” Letitia describes her approach as logical and analytical, but she also recognizes that the work involves emotional and psychological aspects too. Often her students are overcoming past trauma or struggling with a lack of confidence. It can be more difficult when students have been traumatized by past criticism. As many times as Letitia has heard such stories, they still make her emotional. Her eyes tear up as she thinks about it. “People just stop singing because they think they can’t. But that is absolutely not true. I will teach you how to sing. ” Indeed, her favorite part of coaching is surprising a student who comes in proclaiming ‘I can’t sing.’ “We’ll work together and then I’ll play a recording of their voice and say, ‘do you realize you just sang that?’ Seeing their surprise and showing them what they’re capable of, that’s what I really enjoy.” Letitia reckons that what really sets her apart as a vocal coach is her ability to hear the potential in each voice. “It doesn’t happen in the first lesson, but once I work with someone, and hear their qualities, I can hear what their voice is capable of. Then the challenge is convincing them of it!” Whether you just want to sing around the campfire or belt a ballad, centre stage, Letitia is eager to support you on your singing journey. She offers all new clients a free introductory 30-min session to meet her and discuss goals. To find more information and book your session, go to Letitia’s website: https://www.letitialindequevocalcoach.com/ Story by Victoria Williams Photographs by Tom Teutenberg

Anyone who’s ever visited our gem of a city or the townships that form our unique constellation of a region, will notice that what we have here is a special combination of a slowed-down, de-stressed pace of life combined with welcoming people and a stunning landscape. It’s this combination, along with some surprising similarities, that have seen the Japanese community grow in numbers over the last 40 years. Later this month, the Japanese community will be sharing with us parts of their culture and heritage at Japan Day. I sat down with 8 women who are organising Japan Day to learn how they found themselves in Gisborne, what helped them make this place their home, and the special reasons that they’re putting on this event. All of our lives could be unique paintings in a gallery of landscapes, revealing the love of the place we call home. When you’re an expat, choosing a new culture to go with your new address, complicated shadows extend across the horizon of that landscape. And just like looking at paintings, it’s wonderful to get up close and look at the brushwork, to see the elaborate texture of their picture of “home”, particularly when “home” means both “there” and “here”. Newcomers are always asked “What brought you to Gisborne?” One woman was a teacher in Japan and with her husband, found themselves in Gisborne seeking knowledge about different teaching styles. Another was here on a working holiday visa and fell in love with the tramping. When she went back to Japan after her year was up, she realised how much she longed to return, but for good. Another was drawn to New Zealand and Gisborne when she was looking for connection to her late husband, a keen surfer in Hawaii. Learning about Polynesian navigation and waka hauora led her to the shores of Gisborne. Life the world over can be ruled by a frantic pace and the big cities of Japan might do that better than most. That pressure and intensity is what drove some of the women I spoke to seek a new life in New Zealand, renowned for its reputation of a healthy balance. Some of the families that call Gisborne home started their new life in Auckland. But moving from one busy-paced Japanese city to the hustle and bustle of Auckland forced them to re-think their priorities. “I was in my late 20s, busy busy busy. I had to ask myself, ‘Is this the life that I want?’” The move to Gisborne, to connect to nature and the beaches similar to her childhood in Japan was the best and easiest decision for one woman. Some of the women faced the cruel realities of racism in Auckland. But when they came to Gisborne, they were met with a warm and hospitable community. The people they met in Gisborne looked after them like guests. “The people in Gisborne are so nice!” “It all comes down to the people. Come, you’re welcome, they’d say. They wanted to hear about my culture. I felt respected!” “The people I’ve met and worked with are so lovely. And they’re patient, helping me with my English.” With our beautiful landscapes, friendly nature, and relaxed pace of life, Gizzy said “Nau Mai, Haere Mai.” Here’s where the story takes us to a surprising place – the similarities between their new home and their old. Says Haruru, “Manaakitanga and Omotenashi are very similar - looking after guests and treating others as best as you can.” She pointed out some linguistic similarities with te reo Māori, like awa and the Japanese kawa for “river”, katakata and ketaketa for “laughter.” Once the women started naming similarities, it was hard to stop. Both cultures respect their elders. Japanese temples and Māori marae both have protocol to uphold the mana of the place. Visitors to Japan will know that many modern people sleep in the traditional way, on special floor mattresses, not unlike sleeping in a marae. And similar to Māori Atua who before time and also every day create the world around us, so do the Japanese have gods of creation, gods of elements, spirits that protect and spirits that destroy. The women I spoke to noted that the vowel sounds between Japanese and Te Reo are familiar and comforting. Said one woman, “Even though I’m a beginner learning te reo, I find it almost soothing to sit and listen to te reo speakers.” Tones of home. That’s not to say that they don’t seek out the authentic comforts of Japan, the things that will forever be in their DNA. When the supermarket began carrying a particular kind of dumpling pastry, the Facebook chat lit up. “When they got lotus root? That was exciting!” laughed one of the women. And when someone is traveling up to Auckland, the call goes out: “Anyone need anything from Daiso or JapanMart?” While Japan Day is a great opportunity for our Japanese community to share their culture with us non-Japanese – it’s also a great way for them to connect with each other and they hope this might encourage more regular gatherings. For some, Japan Day is a step closer to themselves. “This will be only the 3rd time in my life that I’ve worn a kimono,” said one woman. Another, “I’m slowly forgetting my Japanese heritage. I’m surprised by what my kids don’t know.” Another woman has been rediscovering her Japanese heritage through her art. In her words, “Through my art, I’m not only connecting to my culture and my mother, I’m connecting my son to his culture too. I’m looking forward to my boy getting to celebrate his heritage, getting to be proud of being Japanese.” Some of the women I spoke to have native New Zealanders as partners and fathers to their kids. For these families, Japan Day is a way to reconnect their own children to the things that matter, their Japanese whakapapa. It means looking back to where their stories began. These expat feelings can be thorny, a landscape painting with lots of shadows. But Japan Day also brings much joy and excitement, as one woman put it plainly: “I love when people want to talk to me about my home. It’s fun!” Mutsuko, who sells her origami creations locally, said “My teaching Origami journey started as a volunteer at Te Hapara school 4 years ago. From that experience, I found how precious our piece of culture is, and how much people were interested in it.” (Mutsuko will be at Japan Day, selling her origami, and her son will be leading an origami workshop.) In the words of another woman, “I was just so surprised when my co-workers were asking me about Japan Day. I’m already so proud.” Don’t miss Japan Day, in Treble Court on Saturday, 28 October from 10am - 1:30pm. There will be demonstrations, performances, food, and workshops all shared by members of the local Japanese community. See the full list and schedule of events here. You can behold and take part in activities like Anime, Yukata costume experience, calligraphy, Tanabata (Japanese star festival) and its wishing tree tradition. The women I spoke to, and many more, will be on hand, joyfully connecting themselves and us to the ancient and modern culture that is Japan, alive and well in Tairāwhiti. Arigatou gozaimasu / ありがとうございます / thank you to the women who told me parts of their beautiful stories: Mutsuko, Reiko, Mina, Haruru, Maiko, Miyuki, Yuko, and lastly Akiko, who brought all of these women together and whose energy is the driving force behind Japan Day. Don’t forget to ask them about themselves and about Japan. As Akiko says, “This is about people. Come and meet us. You may find lots of things or feelings that we mutually share.” I promise you, when you start looking for similarities, it’s hard to stop seeing them. Story by Sarah Pocock

It’s time to pop into our treasured Tairawhiti Museum to get your contemporary art fix and take a look at the latest exhibition 'BREATHE'. This breathtaking and breath-inspired collection by Maiko Lewis-Whaanga will be up until December 3. Maiko opened her exhibition on Friday to a room of art lovers, friends and family. The packed room was welcomed by Maiko in traditional dress; a Japanese kimono and dragon headdress. With son Kiyoji at her side she told us about her art, that has become for her almost synonymous with her journey into embracing her Japanese culture, and began with her studies at Toihoukura. If Maiko's Japanese heritage is the vessel for this exhibition, her discovery of the importance and power of our breath is the content. A multi-media experience, Maiko has collaborated with a number of artists to bring this collection to life. A short film features videography and music by Gana Goldsmith, photography by Tink Lockett captures the artist wearing intricate headdresses created by Sheryl Edwards, also featured in the exhibition. To complete the five sensory experiences on offer, delicious Japanese inspired tasters were created by Maiko's sister and mother. The loving support and involvement of her friends and family is clear throughout Maiko’s work, as they were in her words on the night. The art of the Japanese Enso circle was demonstrated beautifully by Maiko on the opening night. Executed on the exhale, one simple stroke completes a circle and captures a perfectly imperfect moment in time. Viewing Breathe in person you’ll be drawn in by the delicately folded papers, amazed by the hours of discipline, captivated by the teachings and you’ll leave a calmer version of yourself. With this exhibition Maiko has created a space for calm, where we can all reconnect to our breath and also learn about the mindful sigh. Don’t miss this stunning exhibition. You may also be interested in heading along for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony on November 4, or one of the mindful sessions for tamariki and parents (dates and times still to be confirmed). The Tairāwhiti Museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am - 4pm, and 1:30 - 4pm on Sundays and Public Holidays. Entry is free for Tairawhiti residents. For the full experience keep an eye out for the opening nights - take the family and make an evening of it! Find the exhibition listing for Breathe here: https://tairawhitimuseum.org.nz/.../breathe-maiko-lewis.../ Stay up to date with Museum happenings on https://tairawhitimuseum.org.nz or the Gizzy Local Events Calendar gizzylocal.com/events

This past winter, if you drove the bend in the road as Oneroa turns into Wairere at the right time, you might’ve seen tog-clad people jogging between Stockroute beach access and the Zephyr Cafe parking lot, looking simultaneously hot and flushed but also definitely cold from the bracing temperatures of the sea and air. You wouldn’t be wrong to wonder “what on earth?” I’m here to pull back the curtain on the exhilarating experience that is The Sauna Project Tairāwhiti, and to beckon you over. Simon White, a Gizzy lad from Tiniroto way, is the entrepreneur who about 18 months ago found himself with a little seed of an idea surprisingly taking root. A couple years ago, he was on a hike with friends. These friends, who were builders by trade, had taken the leap and built a sauna on a trailer. They’d seen a market for a mobile sauna that offered people the sauna wellness experience at the edge of the sea. (The sauna was built with a fog-proof window that gives the sauna-goers something beautiful to look at.) They asked Simon if he’d be keen on getting into this enterprise with them; they could build a second one that he could lease to own. He was just about to head off on an OE to Hawaii. Little did he know that this ember of an idea would stoke while he was away. By the time he returned, he had a fire going, not unlike the roaring little woodburner that would heat his own Gizzy-based mobile sauna. Let’s back up a sec, because this was one of Simon’s biggest learnings. A lot of people conflate the ideas of “sauna” and “spa” and “spa pool”. They’re surprised by what they find at The Sauna Project. So let’s do a little explainer. A sauna is a little room that’s heated to a piping-hot, bracing, but tolerable temperature that when you expose your body to it, produces wellness magic. You might’ve seen these little rooms with bleacher-style bench seating in a hotel or a gym. That’s a sauna you saw. Saunas and “heat bathing” are found the world over and from ancient cultures into the present. They can be made from a variety of materials and attain their high temps in a variety of ways. But The Sauna Project, currently parked up in the carpark of Zephyr Cafe out at Wainui Beach, is a wood-fired sauna. That means that it contains a small woodburner inside. The fire gets the sauna to around 75-90’C. There are lemon-sized rocks that sit on top of the wood burner within a bespoke cage that keeps them in place. Water, infused with essential oils, is poured onto the hot rocks, which causes a temporary intense but again, tolerable, spike in the perceived temperature inside the sauna. So what’s a Sauna Project experience like? You book your slot on the website and then arrive in your togs, with a towel and drink bottle, ready to sweat. You find a spot inside the sauna (the upper bench seats are hotter than the lower ones) and you brace yourself for the next 15 minutes of a wild and yet motionless journey. Simon welcomes everyone and starts the first of three sessions with essential oil-infused water poured on the rocks. This creates a wonderful, aromatic, and yet audaciously hot, steam. Then with a small towel, Simon wafts the air around the interior of the sauna, creating a current of hot air. By now, after just a minute or two of being in the sauna, beads of sweat will be blooming all over you, as your body reacts to the heat. Why does something so, well, hot result in better sleep, a sense of euphoria, a sense of connection to the earth, to the cosmic web of people, both those sitting in the sauna and humanity in general and other wellbeing benefits? Well there are several reasons, say the founders of The Sauna Project and regular users. Firstly, the exposure to heat closes the loop on our stress cycle. In our modern lives, things stress us out. But rarely (and maybe, thankfully) our modern existence doesn’t give us the events that expel the stress symptoms from our bodies. (Imagine: our hunter-gatherer ancestors and their stress about the next meal, but the act of the hunt would expel the stress hormones from their bodies.) Sauna-goers find that sitting in a sauna for 15-minutes pushes our bodies and our minds to the brink of what we think we can cope with. We pant. Our heart rate increases. Our body pumps out sweat at a surprising rate. And The Sauna Project peeps believe that our daily stress symptoms leave the body with all that sweat. While visitors to the Sauna Project are welcome to do what they want and need to do, a common practice is to sit in the sauna for 15 minutes before emerging for the first time. The air is cool – even a 25’ summer’s day will feel invigorating after the 80-ish degrees of the sauna. The fresh air shakes you from the heat-weariness in the most welcome way. You slip on your jandals and dash down to the beach. Even if you’re not a regular cold-water plunger, you’ll find yourself joyfully running into the sea. And this is another way the experience improves our wellness: the duality of the hot and the cold, the fire and the water, works its magic on us. Regular sauna-goer, and doctor, Amanda Roe, says “the average sauna user will lose about one pint of sweat during a 30-minute session. Once your body heats up, your cells get to work. Your blood vessels dilate and this allows your muscles to relax. When you hit the cool air and water, the blood vessels constrict, pushing the blood back toward your internal organs. This pumping effect promotes our detox pathways (good thing for all that sweat coming out!) Sauna provides health benefits across the board: increased mood, decreased stress, better injury healing, improved glucose regulation, lowered blood pressure to name a few.” But if you pull the camera up to a birds-eye view, you can see more than this powerful duality. The sauna + sea exercise gets microscopic and cosmic all at once. The Sauna Project bundles for you all the elements that make up every organism in our infinite universe: fire, water, sky, air, and earth. Your heart is happily thumping, this time from the shock of the cold water and after a second, you’ll be surprised how you’re craving the heat of the sauna again! So, off you go, back up to the sauna. You step on to the timber floor of the sauna and the cosmic element connection continues. Simon gives the crew another essential oil treatment to the air you breathe and you sit with your thoughts for another 15 minutes before another cool sea dip, or just a little cooling shower from a watering can. The light, meditative music will take your mind places. And sometimes, by the second or third session of the hour, you’re getting to know your sauna mates, laughing and watching as the last minutes just fly by. When the hour is up, you might feel reluctant to leave, a surprising turn of events compared to the first part of the session. When Simon isn’t surfing, playing bass in his band Oceanspace, or studying mahinga kai (Māori food production and gardening) at EIT, he enjoys catering each sauna session to the cosmic and human energy levels to determine the temperature of the sauna and the essential oils that he uses. And he prides himself on the safe space that his sauna creates and the substance-free euphoria that the saunees experiences. He watches people connect to one-another (he’s seen a few people find employment), he enjoys the meditative and cleansing experience he provides, and adding a business that perpetuates more wellness for people in our community. Interested in what a cleansing sauna can do for you? Book your session with the Sauna Project Tairāwhiti on their website. They’ll be shifting out of their current pozzy at Zephyr cafe for the summer months, so stay tuned for the next location for our wonderful, local, mobile sauna. Or even better, if you know of a great, water-adjacent location, sing out to Simon at on Instagram @thesaunaproject_tairawhiti or 022 326 5885. Story by Sarah Holliday-Pocock Photographs by Ellen Mary Taylor

Who, What and Why? Conversations about our people, our environment and our livelihoods in the context of climate change take place all around our region every day. Ideas, solutions, place-specific scenarios are given voice to and debated, and then what? The Exchange Cafe understands that important conversations don’t just happen around the tables where decisions get made; that local knowledge and experiences, and a weaving together of all of the different threads of knowledge is crucial in finding solutions to the unique challenges our region faces as the climate changes. Renee Raroa (East Coast Exchange), Harley Dibble (Rau Tipu Rau Ora) and Shannon Dowsing (Rāngai Studios) also realise that a lot of these conversations DO happen around decision making tables, and they are keen to make these exchanges more transparent. The Exchange Cafe recognises that all of these conversations are a resource and they have created an online library to bring them together in one place, making them both visible and accessible. If you are holding an event or a conversation about climate change that our wider community could benefit from, get in touch with the Exchange Cafe. They can arrange for the event to be livestreamed, recorded and edited, and held in their resource bank for others to watch. We urgently need solutions for whenua and whānau that represent the vision and values of our communities. The Exchange Cafe is all about enabling the sharing of information so that we can explore solutions and take action towards a sustainable and resilient future, together. Now is a great time to check out The Exchange Cafe and its resource bank, there are Meet the candidate interviews focused on Climate Change and the wider environment and other recent uploads such as an interview with transport expert, James Llewellyn about delivering healthier, cheaper and less polluting travel options in Te Tairawhiti. Find it here: https://www.exchangecafe.co.nz/

You may have seen it popping up on your social media feed, or perhaps you’ve heard about it through your child’s school.. Te Wero ia Wenerei - The Wednesday Challenge is about replacing your normal school drop off and pick up routine with an alternative like biking, walking, skating, scootering, traveling by bus or carpooling with others in your neighbourhood on Wednesdays throughout September, October and November 2023. The idea is to help reduce road congestion, make our roads safer, our environment cleaner and your health and wellbeing better. Jess Buske decided to sign up to the Challenge with her daughter Kohe after seeing information about it on a friend’s Facebook page. She says she’s always looking for motivating ways to keep fit within the daily grind, and is all too familiar with battling the traffic along with all the other parents and caregivers when she drops Kohe off at Central School each morning. “My daughter Kohe is at Gisborne Central School, and we battle the traffic every morning, along with all the parents and caregivers. They had a cool bike ride to school through Whataupoko on the first day of their challenge, "Kohe spotted more than ten Tui having their breakfast in a tree, and then got to cuddle a newborn lamb who was hanging out with people who were gardening near the roadside. Epic start to the challenge! Biking together means we get to start our day connecting through exercise and discovery, without the distraction of calls or messages, and without the stress that comes with finding a car park”. There are heaps of prizes to be won, including $$ for schools. Parents, friends and whānau of students at a participating Tairāwhiti school, can also sign up to join their School’s team, and when you travel differently on a Wednesday your points will also go to your nominated school. You can find all the details here: https://www.wednesdaychallenge.co.nz/location/tairawhiti

As you may have heard, the Government has offered a $204m support package to Te Tairāwhiti for cyclone recovery. This offer includes: - $125m for roading and bridge repairs - $64m for flood protection - $15m for the 50/50 cost sharing for the purchase of properties that have been deemed too dangerous to live in, due to flood or land instability risk caused by the severe weather earlier this year. The Gisborne District Council has also negotiated a $30m interest free loan for 10 years. When these negotiations began, Council was facing a total repair cost of $1.1 billion, which was mainly made up of roading costs. The negotiations aimed to secure the best support package from the Government to help repair our infrastructure and to enable communities to be safe and connected, while keeping the impacts on rates as low as possible. This is an important decision for the community as it impacts us all. It’s an all or nothing offer, and the Council are putting it to the community to have our say. If we accept the Government’s support package of $204m and an interest-free loan of $30m over 10 years this will provide those most affected by the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle with some certainty to move forward, and provide financial certainty for recovery priorities like roading and stopbanks. It will enable us to move forward as quickly as possible. If we don’t accept this Government funding we will still need to fix our roads and bridges. Funding will be less certain and timeframes would likely be extended. More properties will move into Category 3 because we can't afford the millions of dollars needed to reduce flood risks. And, we'd need to decide what recovery activities we can afford to fund using Rates and roading subsidies. It’s unlikely we could afford to undertake the same scale or range of recovery and resilience work, or purchase Category 3 properties if the offer is not accepted. Next week there are a bunch of opportunities to speak to Councillors about this topic, so get along and be a part of the decision-making process! You can also give your feedback online. Head here for all the details: https://participate.gdc.govt.nz/cyclone-support-package-offer Feedback opens Monday 9 and closes 5pm Monday 16 October.

Tōnui Collab For 7 - 13 year olds At Lawson Field Theatre Cost $50 per child per workshop Monday October 2 - Virtual Reality Tuesday October 3 - Game Development Wednesday October 4 - Animation More information and to book head to https://www.tonuicollab.com/holiday-workshops Bit-of-Fun School Holiday Drama Classes Develop your drama skills these school holiday classes with director / actor / writer Bel Campbell. Sessions include improvisations, games and creating story. Great for those new to drama, as well as those that already love it! For ages 5 through to teens At Musical Theatre Gisborne Clubrooms, 101 Innes Street $12 per session ($10 for MTG Members) Ages 5 -8 at 10am, Monday 25 September & Wednesday 27 September Ages 9 - 12 at 11.00 Monday 25 September & Wednesday 27 September Teens at 11am - 12pm, Monday 25 September & Wednesday 27 September More advanced and personalised drama tutoring is also available. All bookings can be made here: www.belcampbell.com/workshops Tairāwhiti Museum School Holiday Art Workshops Awesome art workshops in the first week of the school holidays! For ages 5 - 12 year olds Daily Monday September 25 - Friday September 29, 10am - 12pm, 1 - 3pm. $10 for Clay Workshop, other workshops $5 per child. Monday September 25 - Sculpture Tuesday September 26 - Clay Wednesday September 27 - Mixed Media Thursday September 28 - Clay Friday September 29 - Printmaking Spaces are limited. To register pop in to the museum and pay for your class in advance. All children need to be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Fancy Draws at Gizzy Local Fancy Draws brings together dress ups and drawing. A relaxedly structured life drawing session for 7 - 11 year olds where kids can take turns dressing up and modelling and drawing. For 7 - 12 year olds At Gizzy Local, 64 Lowe St $15 per person Tuesday October 3, 1 - 2:30pm Book here: https://www.gizzylocal.com/event-details/fancy-draws-school-holiday-edition Gisborne Gymnastics Club Holiday Programme A holiday programme with structured gymnastics lessons in the morning and free play in the afternoons. For ages 5 - 14 years At Gisborne Gymnastics Club, Electrinet Sports Centre, 537 Aberdeen Road Monday September 25 - Friday October 6 $30 per session (9am -12pm or 12pm - 3pm) or $55 for the day For daily break down of activities and booking details: https://gisbornegymnastics.com/holiday-program Comet Swimming Club Holiday Programme Comet Swimming Club Holiday Boost Programme - boost your child’s swimming before summer For 3.5 year olds + Learn to Swim At Elgin School Pool At Kiwa Pools (Monday to Thursday both weeks) Age and ability dependant Cost: $60 for 5 x 30 minute lessons Monday September 25 to Friday September 29 Monday October 2 to Friday October 6. AND Comet Swimming Club Open Week Free sessions for people who have not tried Comet Learn to Swim lessons before. Spaces are limited, bookings essential. Monday September 25 - Friday September 29 afternoons To book email cometswimming@gmail.com More information www.cometswimmingclub.com or find Comet on Facebook or Instagram Arty Farty School Holiday Programme Nurture children’s self-expression through art, music, dance and drama. For primary aged children, 5 to 10 year-olds. At Te Hapara School Hall, 31 Mill Rd. $30 half day or $50 full day bookings. Book via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kidscreationstationz More more information email kidscreationstationz@gmail.com or 021 045 8113 East Coast Museum of Technology A nostalgic diamond in disguise, the East Coast Museum of Technology is the perfectly, imperfect museum run by volunteers, here in Gisborne. ECMOT brings stories from past to present to life and provides a really great experience for kids and adults alike! For All Ages At 67 Main Road, Makaraka Saturday and Sundays, 10am – 4pm Costs $2 - $10 Events 4 All For 5 to 14 year olds At Awapuni School Monday September 28 to Friday October 6, 7.30am - 5.30pm Cost: $60 To book: https://enrolmy.com/events-4-all/book-now/199-Events-4-All-September-October-2023-Holiday-progamme- H.B. Williams Memorial Library At HB Williams Memorial Library, 34 Bright Street All activities are free! Tuesday September 26, 10.30am He Kākano | Little Seeds Fun sing-along and read for under twos. Thursday September 28, 10:30am Te Pihinga | Little Sprouts Fun sing-along and read for 2-5 year olds September 29 Friday, 3.30pm Te Aka Rangatahi | The Teen Vine - King of the Board For 14-18 year olds. Teen games club. Test your skills and challenge others to see who will become “King of the Board” Light refreshments supplied. Saturday September 23 to Sunday October 8 Ready, Set, Read Reading Challenge Read for two hours in ten minute time slots and go in the draw to win one of four mystery prizes. Monday September 25 – Friday October 6 Daily Quiz Checkout the daily quiz in the children’s area, pop your answer in the box and go in the draw to win a prize. Monday September 25 – October 6 Courtyard games This holidays the library courtyard will be set up with giant classic games for families to enjoy. Weather permitting. Monday September 25, 9.30 – 11.30am Spring Carnival Heaps of games and prizes to be won. Bring the whanau down for a morning of fun. Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27, Thursday 28 and Friday 29 September Ed Hillary’s Antarctic Hut Virtual Reality Experience lets you explore Sir Edmund Hillary’s Antarctic hut. Drop in for one of the 15 minute sessions that will be running throughout the day. 10am – 4pm Thursday September 28, 10.30am Dress up storytime Come dressed as your favourite book character and join the CYA team for story time Friday September 29 & Friday October 6, 10.30 - 11.30am Tōnui Collab Workshop Fun STEMM workshop with the awesome team from Tōnui Collab. For ages 7+, adult supervision required. 20 spots only. Phone 8676709 to book your spot from September 18. Friday September 29 & Friday October 6, 10am – 12pm Flawless Photography Club for teens Join Liam for sneak preview of the new photography club for teens that will be starting up soon. Bring along your phone or device and learn some new tricks to take your photos to the next level. Monday October 2, 9.30 - 11.30am Mask making cardboard fun We’ve got a stack of cardboard for you to create your favourite character mask. The cardboard creation stations will be set up all morning. Wednesday October 4, 10 – 11.30am and 1.30 – 3pm Grab Life By The Bricks Jonathan is back and bringing lego fun to the library. Registration required. We will be taking registrations from September 18, phone 8676709 Thursday October 5, 10am – 3pm Click Happy Visual Poetry Jam For ages 13+ Want to learn how to become a better photographer? To create images that stop people scrolling past? We have 30 spaces available to help you learn to up your photography game. Learn from master photographer Mandi Lynn how to use a cell phone like a DSLR camera. Phone 8676709 to register Pinehollow Riding School School holiday programme, treks, pony rides and lessons. We are excited to see you all! Lessons in holidays by arrangement $65 for the day. Monday 25 - Friday 29 September - Holiday program, treks and rides Wednesday 27th - Fully booked Sunday October 1 - Treks/pony rides/ lessons depending on numbers. Monday 2 - Friday 6 October - Holiday program, treks and rides Saturday 7 October - Treks/ pony rides depending on numbers. Sunday 8 October - Treks/ pony rides/lessons depending on numbers. Minivan transport is available. For the minivan morning pick up will be 9am and drop off 4pm, by the Tav. If you bring your children out Drop off is at Pine Hollow 9am pick up 3.30pm Please make sure your child has spare clothes, covered shoes, lunch and water bottle. Bank details: ANZ Pine Hollow - 06 0637 0264724 00 Cancellations must be made 24 hours beforehand or payment must be paid in full if late. Contact Jacquie 0277491629 or Facebook or email pinehollowridingschool@gmail.com YMCA OSCAR Holiday Programme OSCAR House, 153 Disraeli Street September 25th to October 4th 5-13 years For more info send an email to oscar@ymcagisborne.nz or call us on 06 867 9259

Stories are how we learn about the world, how we keep our history alive, how we entertain our people, how we connect to things that are important. We say "tell me a story" when we're young. But we don't outgrow a need for stories. We say, "Tell me about that time when..." We say, "You've gotta hear this." And in our content-saturated now, we say, "Have you seen that show?" We need stories like we need fresh air. Lucky for us that as part of Te Tairāwhiti Arts Festival, the much anticipated UPU, arrives on the shores of Turanga to breathe life into us with some of Oceania's most moving stories. UPU, which means "word," is a theatrical production that weaves together almost 40 Oceanic texts from 29 poets, curated by award-winning poet Grace Iwashita-Taylor and directed by Fasitua Amosa. For two nights, the War Memorial Theatre will become the waters and islands of the Pacific, interconnecting stories about colonisation, family, love, religion, and the impact of climate change on the people of the moana. As Tama Waipara, TTAF's chief executive and artistic director says, "UPU is a synthesis of some of our age’s greatest thinkers, provocateurs and navigators of word. It is sophisticated, ancient, cutting and dripping with sass. It’s like bathing in all the splendour of Te Moana-Nui-ā-Kiwa without having to go anywhere. UPU reminds us of the vastness of our ocean and the richness of our shared cultural contexts.” Ana Corbett, one of the original cast members, has been involved with UPU from the very beginning and since 2020 has been producing with Amosa and Iwashita-Taylor. “UPU is a unique offering,” says Corbett. “There is no other show that places the vastness and depth of Pacific poetry and writers on a stage in this way. It is an absolute joy to be able to do work like this.” Corbett has a connection to Te Tairāwhiti and looks forward to bringing this powerful performance to our region. She first came as a student of Toi Whakaari with tutor Teina Moetara of Rongowhakaata. “Part of building our Toi Whakaari community was an annual bus trip from Te Whanganui-a-Tara to spend a week at Manutuke Marae." Says Corbett, “The ocean and coastline here create something beautifully magical. There is a special energy about this place. Perhaps the remoteness of it adds to its wonder - it's hard to put into words but I know I always love coming back.” UPU gives voice to many of Oceania’s most powerful poets, writers like Maualaivao Albert Wendt, Selina Tusitala Marsh, Briar Grace-Smith, Karlo Mila, Hone Tuwhare, Sia Figiel, and Ben Brown. In addition to Ana Corbett, the cast of accomplished Tagata Moana actors include Maiava Nathaniel Lees, Mia Blake, Shadon Meredith, James Maeva, Nicola Kāwana and Nora Aati. Corbett reflects on her experience as a performer of UPU. “As an actor you always want to work with great text that explores interesting and challenging ideas. The special thing about poetry is that it has a way of weaving these ideas into your soul. Audiences are constantly surprised at how they were moved and affected by it.” Don't miss the chance to breathe in the fresh air of these masterfully told stories. UPU will be performed at the War Memorial Theatre, 6 & 7 October at 7pm. Find more information on TTAF website. Purchase tickets here.