Moana Grant did not envision herself as the owner of a wine bar in little old Gizzy. Just a few months ago, she was on the verge of moving to Melbourne. She had sold everything she owned, and had planned a short stay back here to spend time with friends before she headed off. But life is full of surprises, and today she finds herself pouring new energy into Siduri, a beloved spot quickly evolving into the place to be for intimate music and arts events. Moana grew up between Gisborne and the coast, splitting time between her mum’s place here and her dad’s in Waihau Bay. But she was keen to explore, and vowed to leave as soon as she could, relocating to Wellington to go to university. “I had this feeling that if I didn’t go, I might get stuck.” She spent the next several years studying and diving into the music scene, both in Wellington and Auckland, earning a Bachelors in Māori and Political Studies, and later studying law in Dunedin. But she was always drawn to the arts, which led to a career as a tattoo artist. She also sought out work at music events and festivals where she looked after artists, and eventually put on some events of her own. That led to connections and friendships with several artists that she still treasures today. While in Auckland in her mid-20s, Moana created Ology, a program for art and creative development. Her vision was a bit like Tāiki ē here in Tūranganui-A-Kiwa, a creative hub where mentors could assist youth with their projects and empower them with the tools to make their dreams a reality. “I put it on the back burner, but I always wanted to do something with it.” It was Siduri that inspired her to re-focus. After frequent visits to the wine bar with friends, she couldn’t help thinking about its potential as a music venue and arts space. Sam Millton, Siduri’s original owner, welcomed her ideas but he was on the verge of moving to Wellington. One night after a chat, Sam encouraged her to buy the business and a big couple of months later, here she is…doing it! Siduri is wāhine owned and Moana is stoked to bring Te Ao Māori into the space. The walls are now ablaze with bright, bold pieces by artist Dayna Chaffey, and Moana finds new faces in the space all the time, coming by to check out the scene. “People tell me the range of people in here is more diverse now, and that makes me happy.” But fans of the original Siduri can rest assured: this is still an excellent wine bar that punches well above its small-city stature. Moana has a deep appreciation for what Sam created. “I came here all the time and loved that it felt like something out of New York or Melbourne.” Just as Sam was, Moana is very conscious of the importance of the lighting, music, and wine selection that sets Siduri apart. Sam curated a truly special wine list not readily available elsewhere in the area, and she has no plans to change that. “Sam has been absolutely key in the transition, introducing me to his suppliers, and they’ve been wonderful and so helpful with suggestions.” That’s not to say it’s been an easy adjustment, particularly as a Māori woman in an industry that has received its fair share of criticism for elitism and chauvinism. When attending wine tasting events with potential suppliers, she notices how easily she is dismissed. “Then they’re surprised to hear I own the bar, and realize they shouldn’t have ignored me.” She admits she has a lot to learn about wine, but she’s confident in her instincts and determined to maintain Siduri’s reputation as a superb wine bar. Moana’s guiding principle is “what I would want on the other side of the bar?” That includes an expanded menu and she’s testing more substantial offerings, like sliders, which are proving to be a hit, and adding to the drinks options with beer and mocktails. For the wine lovers, Moana is creating a wine club that will offer members special bottles and exclusive access to events. Live music will be a dominant feature overall, but she also plans to host Poetry Slam and open mic nights. The art exhibitions will change regularly, and with each new exhibit, there will be a Meet the Artist event. At the moment, every Friday there’s a DJ, and Saturday is usually an acoustics night. In line with her long-held Ology vision, Moana is also inviting visiting artists to a series of “Legend Sessions,” which are ticketed events that eventually will include a component of mentorship for young local artists and opportunities for local acts to perform alongside musicians of legendary status. The first of these kicks off this Saturday 23 September with R&B legend Chong Nee. He’ll be supported by Sienna Rose, who as well as being a solo performer in her own right, performed with him in the reggae band Foundation. Only 25 tickets will be sold, making this a rare and exclusive opportunity to hear these artists. As if she’s not busy enough, Moana is also developing a podcast called the “Wine Down,” which will feature interviews with artists after their performance (over a glass of wine, of course). “I want it to be as raw as possible, drinking and chatting and whatever comes out, comes out.” Acknowledging the scope of her ambitions, Moana notes she’s always been “a bit full on.” The enthusiasm is flowing freely, but she acknowledges the danger of burnout. Siduri is actively hiring more staff, especially going into summer, so sing out if you are interested in a Duty Manager or Bar Staff role. For someone who didn’t see herself living in Gizzy, Moana has already contributed massively to the community, leveling up our nightlife, and more importantly, sharing the power of possibility. In the absence of big city amenities, it’s easy to lament what we lack. But Moana shows us there’s another way: instead of complaining about what we’re missing, we can get busy creating it. Siduri is now open Wednesday to Sunday from 1 pm. To stay in the know about upcoming events and wine features, follow Siduri on social media: Facebook Siduri Wine Bar & Deli Instagram https://www.instagram.com/siduribar/ Story by Victoria Williams Photographs by Tom Teutenberg

Josh is an articulate 26 year old who works part-time as admin at a logistics company. Like your average 26 year old he enjoys a workout at the gym, a few drinks with his mates in the weekend, and gets into a bit of gaming in his spare time. But Josh isn’t average, in fact, he’s pretty extraordinary. After falling ill two years ago Josh lost the use of his body from his chest down and now uses a wheelchair. It has been an intense process for Josh to accept how different his life is now, and like anyone would, he struggled at first with having to rely on other people to get through his day. It has been a big adjustment for his whole family who are incredibly supportive. However, his family can’t do it all, and that’s where the team from Your Way | Kia Roha come in. Previously called Life Unlimited, they support people with disabilities by helping to plan, and connect individuals to the relevant resources, support, information, and people that could help to live life more easefully. Your Way | Kia Roha’s friendly facilitators Jessie Clare and Christine Hills say that anyone can self-refer, or refer on behalf of someone else, “Self referral is a way to reduce barriers for people seeking support. You don’t need to go through a GP, although you do have to have a diagnosed disability.” Whether a person refers themselves or is referred by someone else it doesn’t matter, they will be given a needs assessment and if eligible, Your Way | Kia Roha coordinates the funding support and connects them to services for resources like equipment, home help, or respite care. As an able bodied person, Josh says he would set his alarm for 15 minutes before he started work. He’d jump up and have a shower, then drive to his job - something we tend to take for granted as able-bodied people. Nowadays Josh sets his alarm two hours before work. His carer helps him to the shower using a hoist and a sliding board. They provide personal cares and assist Josh to get dressed. Then they help him with his breakfast and Josh is driven to work as he doesn’t have a modified vehicle yet. This is one of his goals to becoming more independent. He wants the freedom to drive himself wherever and whenever he wants. Just getting to work is exhausting, and as a tetraplegic, Josh’s core muscles are weak to non-existent. Sitting in a wheelchair all day he has to work to hold himself upright, using his right hand balanced on his thigh to prevent himself falling forward. He gets pain and fatigue, particularly in his back and shoulder blades. After work he is driven home and needs the relief of a positional change, so his carer helps him to lie on his bed and they move his legs in various exercises to reduce fluid retention and get the circulation going. Then it’s lunch and back into the wheelchair. A couple of times a week, Steve, a health and wellbeing coach from Pinnacle Health takes Josh to the gym for an upper body workout, other days Josh just relaxes in front of the TV or a plays a game of Call of Duty. His carer comes again in the evening and helps with dinner, personal cares and gets Josh back into bed. “It’s not until you have a disability that you notice other people with disabilities” says Josh. “There’s a lot of people who are not able-bodied in our community, including those with ‘invisible’ disabilities.” Some of us have autoimmune, or long term conditions which limit our ability to get around. “And that can be isolating” Josh tells me. Since being in a wheelchair he’s noticed things most of us don’t. The accessibility in our CBD is far from ideal. Our roads and footpaths are uneven, tiles can be skew whiff, and it can be hard to manoeuvre wheelchairs. Parking spaces for people with disabilities could be better. Josh offloads/onloads from the back of his van which means he’s offloading into oncoming traffic. A lot of doorways are too narrow in the CBD so people in wheelchairs can’t actually enter many local businesses. Josh shops at accessible businesses like The Little Hair Shop, which has a wide, sliding door entry, where he can get his hair cut with ease. In talking to Josh I wondered what the barriers are to having a fully accessible CBD. While the width of shop doorways is up to individual business owners and landlords, I contacted the Gisborne District Council to find out how they support accessibility around here. Gisborne District Council say they adhere to universal design principles when building anything for our community. For example, all new community facility builds (like Kiwa Pools) or new crossings (like the Peel Street roundabout) have modern elevated platforms, universal access appropriate ramp gradients as well as blind/low vision aids. They do recognise that footpaths in our CBD are an issue however and say there will be a focus before Christmas to fix safety issues on our footpaths and tidy up the CBD before the summer season. Chief Executive Nadine Thatcher Swann says Council wants to hear from people having problems with any public areas, or accessing our community’s facilities. You can do this by calling 0800 653 800, emailing service@gdc.govt.nz or or via the eFix service on Council’s website. Council also has a disability strategy that is up for review, so if you or anyone you knows is having accessibility issues or perspectives on how people with disabilities may be better supported here in Te Tairāwhiti, please make sure you get in touch with Council to see how you can feed into this process. 'It's only paradise if everyone can afford (access) it'. Story by Aimee Milne Photograph Tom Teutenberg

Snooker, Mah-jong, Scrabble, Bowls. All common activities in a retirement villages right? Composting? Now that is different. At Beetham Village every Monday and Wednesday morning you will find a unique group of active relaxers. Ernie, Graeme, Grant, Stu, Basil, Peter and Tony, all over 75 years, are volunteering their combined energy and banter to make and donate high-quality compost back to the Beetham community. Ernie is the mastermind of the scheme, impressive in energy and agility at 87 years old. Besides a lifetime of practical skills and green fingers, seven years back he attended a short course in Commercial Composting run by EIT. Two years ago, that knowledge was put into action after a resident’s discussion about kitchen scraps going to waste. You see Beetham, like many others in Gisborne, was paying to dump all their food and green waste. Seven trailer loads per week to the tune of $2000+ per month. And then, like many others, they were paying again to buy compost for use in the residents’ and communal gardens. All the ingredients were there, Ernie’s firecracker attitude and training, space just next to the Village workshop, the obvious financial benefits to the organisation and a willing group of regular volunteers. Local businesses contributed with key materials such as bins, buckets, wood chip and liners. They bought a chipper, paper shredder, a hammermill or grinder to offer a fine compost option to residents, and get occasional help from a mechanical ‘mulcher’. The rest is easily accessible and simple technology, supported by just two hours of group energy each week before leaving nature to do the rest. The system and the group are well-oiled after two years of trial and problem solving and it’s a slick operation to witness…a masterclass in coordination! The ‘compost lasagne’ includes lawn clippings, wood chip, coffee grinds, lime, shredded paper, food scraps and moisture, which after one year at optimal temperatures produces rich, fluffy and nutritious soil. I’m pretty sure the brassicas winked at me. Beetham Village gardening team rave about the quality of the compost and the high number of worms. They use most of it in the village flower and raised-vegetable gardens. Residents can order buckets for a small donation (or a packet of biscuits for the long and joyful smoko sessions of the composting team). These recent hints of spring weather and the upcoming Spud in a Bucket campaign for Alzheimer’s have seen an increase in orders. Everything is intentionally designed to be easy on aged bodies and minds, so the worm and seaweed tea are distributed to residents in 2 litre milk bottles with handles that residents have saved and passed on to the team. The light and fluffy compost is divided into 20L buckets with handles and holes in the bottom to allow for draining. Sacks are used instead of fadges. The trailers are low and the compost is made in pallet frames without bottoms. Quite simply, this system is easily replicable for young and old. Ernie and his team (special mention to Sue and Helen who collect the full buckets each week) have pretty much closed the loop for the Village organic waste, 95% of which is now managed onsite through the composting and worm farms. He calculated 1700 kgs of food waste through their system last year and they have plans to grow. Did you see the recent waste figures released by Gisborne District Council? In town, we send an estimated 37 tonnes of food waste (all the way to Tirohia in the Waikato) to landfill each week. An average of 50% of what we dispose of in household black bags is organic. There are plans for a wheelie bin collection system that will include food waste. Councils across the country are mandated to divert food waste in order to reduce methane emissions from landfills. Auckland’s food waste now travels 260kms to Ego-Gas in Reporoa. Tauranga City send theirs to commercial composting in Hampton Downs . The trend is large volumes travelling to large and costly infrastructure. Here's where Ernie and his team have a lot to teach us. Food waste is a valuable resource, a treasure that with a little investment, motivated caretakers, and the right ingredients, is a key component in growing soil, healthy food and, equally important, creating connection within communities. Imagine if every city neighbourhood and rural area had a community compost? Check out the Aotearoa Composters Network for examples of diverse projects already happening in other regions. Some even have e-bike with trailer collections. The benefits of the Beetham model are so clear that it feels positively infectious, like I drank the compost tea myself. The whole group are active and upbeat. The organisation has not only reduced costs but has a fabulous on-site resource. The residents’ produce and gardens are healthy and life-giving. It is win-win and can easily be replicated. Imagine a variety of organic waste, organic resource, solutions in our region, supporting home, community and commercial options. Let’s keep that resource as local as possible, so that the community receives maximum benefits. The day after the Cyclone Gabrielle, Ernie and his team were out building composts again. Now that is resilience. Story by Jo McKay Photographs by Tom Teutenberg

A dawn light spills through the window. Someone dances in that spotlight sunbeam. The collective groove builds until the DJ drops the beat and all the bare feet in the room bounce on the surging bass, suddenly urgent. No, this isn’t a wee-hours after-party. It’s a Wednesday and these people are at a full-moon, morning rave before work. Wait, what? I know. Raving in the morning, sober, sounds foreign, maybe counter-intuitive, possibly unnecessary. But let me tell you, it happens and it’s necessary. People love it. I’m one of those people. I spoke to some other morning ravers like myself to pinpoint what it is about this unique, and uniquely Gizzy, event that has us coming back. Firstly, it’s welcoming! Gizzy Local’s Sarah and the other early-arrivers are happy to see us, however and why-ever we turn up. Some people are still sleepy, while some dress up, like myself and friend Isaac who once donned a sequined top that was like wardrobe caffeine. Some wear flowy clothes that could be work-ready, while others use the session as self-directed, musical yoga, and are in stretchy leggings and a singlet. The how and why couldn’t matter less. The magic is that we’re here together. When the music starts, the ways in which people approach the music is as unique as the fashion. Most of the time, my eyes are closed, because I’ve dialled into my own dance frequency. But sometimes my eyes open and I’m greeted by a party mix of dance styles. Somebody’s bouncing, another person is deep into a robot, someone has found their way to the floor and is using this groove to stretch things out, and another person is on the couch, subtly dancing from the waist up, drinking a coffee and tapping their toes. As my friend Isaac says, “I like how inclusive it is. It’s welcoming, especially to people who don’t think they can dance. At a regular party, there’s pressure to dance. So in order to do that, you need to drink more. But with this, you just turn up and do what you want.” And that’s how I feel too. There’s a level of performance at a regular dance party: get out there and be a sexy cocktail of hipness and grace. But don’t look like you’re trying. At a regular dance party, I question myself. Do I look cool enough? Am I too sweaty? Are these moves outdated, lame? The inner critic is loud. However, at Gizzy Local, for this short hour, there’s no expectation to be or do anything else. What you’re bringing to the party is the exact right thing. Leave your inner critic at the door. A morning rave isn’t that different from things that already exist in my life. I sometimes exercise in the mornings in various ways, and a morning rave ticks a lot of those same boxes for heart rate, calories burned, and steps. I know, because once, out of curiosity, I tracked my stats on my fitness watch. But as my friend, Amanda (and fellow morning raver) points out, “dancing in the morning lacks any type of suffering that often comes with fitness classes. Don’t get me wrong,” she says. “There are times when that suffering is a metaphor for things I want to build in myself, like resilience or the power to push through when things are hard.” She’s nailed it; for all the little beads of sweat that I make during a dance party, I suffer for none of them. And it’s not just about what it lacks. There’s what it’s got, like happy energy in spades. Amanda puts it like this: “It’s so rare that we join an environment where people are so unified in a common happiness.” She’s exactly right. It’s not complicated here. During this hour, we arrive ready to be happy, in the same way that you might arrive at the yoga class ready to decompress or at the gym ready to sweat. It’s the same kind of intention, but one focussed on bliss. Amanda adds, “And when we leave, we take our individual orbits of bliss out into the world, making the world a little bit happier with each person we interact with.” Another thing it’s got: great music! The dancers don’t get to this happy place on their own. The highly-skilled, local DJs take us on a 60 minute vibe journey. The DJs are key to what make this event uniquely Gizzy. Raves seem to be having a little moment here in Gizzy, thanks to a growing community of DJs with party-ready sound systems and eclectic libraries of tunes. Isaac again, “I like supporting these local artists. They’re really good! And they’re tuned-in to us. They don’t expect us to get right into it. There are warm-up tunes that match the energy. ” But soon, the DJ shifts through the gears, layering samples on top of electrifying beats, jet-setting us via world music that at once sounds exotic but perfectly at home in this moment, tightening the tension and then blissfully dropping the beat. There’s a box that the dance party ticks that regular things don’t: I like to be a little crazy at times. I’m not a stranger to a winter ocean dip or a run under a bright, full moon. Life’s too short not to sprinkle in thrill and the delight of what feels like a little rule-breaking. And as Amanda notes, “Getting up at 6 am to rave with happy people before work breaks all the rules.” In my younger days, (and currently, if I’m being honest), the easy way to generate thrill is with alcohol. I could (and do) lose all my inhibitions and become the life of the party by the second beer. I’ve spent a stupid amount of time and energy on this planet reaching for a sense of cool that feels always out of my grasp. Second-Beer Sarah always feels cool. So I let her take the lead. But in recent years, I’ve reckoned with a tough question: is Second-Beer Sarah the one that everyone likes? Can I be that jubilant version without 2 beers? Can I make thrilling moments by arriving in the moment with the intent to be thrilled? Can I find euphoria on a Wednesday before work? I recently heard a podcaster talking about an ultra-cool 90s rock star as having “zero ambition to be anything other than what she was, and people couldn’t get enough of her.” And that’s what the morning raves do for me. I turn up with zero ambition to be anything but thrilled by this hour of infectious, dynamic music. I add dancing in the morning before work as another set of rules I get to break. As Amanda says, a smile in her voice, “I’m not gonna lie. The coffee is a nice draw, too.” By Sarah Holliday Pocock Gizzy Local's next morning rave, "I Woke Up Like This" is on Thursday August 31, at 6:30am. $10 on the door, Far East coffee flowing & beats by A.M. Graham. See you there!

Nobody knows who I am or why I'm here but when I walk into the warmth of Tauawhi Men's Centre I'm greeted with smiles and offered a cup of tea and a biscuit. There are a variety of people in the spacious lounge-like space and I can tell it's the kind of place that invites you to tell your story, to people who are ready to hear it, with no judgment. I'm here to speak with Dee Kahukoti about the new safe house for men. Te Whare Ahuru at 78 Huxley Rd has been refurbished after fire damage and is now a safe house for men to take themselves if they feel like they're going to be violent, or, after a family harm incident for support. Rather than removing the women and children from the home, which inevitably causes more trauma, Te Whare Ahuru flips the script and allows the perpetrator to take himself to a safe space to cool down and take time out with support. It is respite care for the perpetrator rather than the victim. There are only a few other houses of its kind in Aotearoa so it's a reasonably new concept, and it makes absolute sense. There is stigma attached to perpetrators of violence against women, so the men's safe house and Tauawhi Men's Centre are there to reduce barriers for men seeking help. "Men from all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds have popped into Tauawhi when they're going through stuff." Dee tells me. "There are mainly male staff, so it's men helping men." She says success is different for everyone. For men with unspoken trauma, sometimes just engagement is success. The concept of a safe house for men in Tairawhiti has existed for many years but with limited funding and constrained contracts, it wasn’t possible to act on the idea. Project manager Kim Torres was integral in working with Kainga Ora and other agencies to get it over the line. And it works. I'm given an example of a man who had been arrested for at least 10 family harm incidents the previous year. When provided with a safe house he got through his first year without being arrested, increasing his mana and ability to cope, with flow on effects to his family to reduce their overall trauma. The OG and heart of Tauawhi, Tim Marshall, says staff numbers have doubled in the last couple of years. He remembers being the one and only staff member 13 years ago when Tauawhi first opened, and now there are seventeen. The dedicated team at Tauawhi's main offices 71-73 Peel St are there for anyone to pop in during working hours, and Te Whare Ahuru at 78 Huxley Rd will have a full time kaitiaki tāne (caretaker) living at the premises, but they won't be accepting referrals until August. To start with they are only taking referrals from existing clients, with the intention to open it up to everyone in future. In the meantime, men who want to connect with other men can drop in to the Mana Tāne support group at 73 Peel St, every Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm. Dee says the group numbers grow and decline depending on how things are in the community. With extra pressures during tough times it's easy to feel alone, so it's important for men to know there are other men feeling the same, whether it's addictions, trauma or general life stresses. Tauawhi isn’t the only place to access mental health support for men in Tairawhiti, says Tim, but if we haven’t got what you’re looking for, we can at least point you in the right direction. "We might not be everyone's cup of tea, but we've got a cup of tea for everyone." Story by Aimee Milne Photograph by Tom Teutenberg

Standing in front of a charming house on Clifford Street, you might not guess at the treasure trove within: an expert dressmaker, fabric shop, and legendary sewing pattern collection. Helen May, who is quite likely Gisborne’s most experienced Creative behind a sewing machine, was born and raised in this very house. Now in her 80’s, she’s been sewing since she was 16 years old. Her sewing room was formerly the drawing room, a formal space with beautiful carpet and a china cabinet where “you weren’t allowed unless there were visitors.” Looking around, she laughs, “Now look at it!” It’s a room buzzing with industriousness, with long work tables, multiple sewing machines, and numerous works in progress. Weaving among it all are boxes and boxes of sewing patterns, a very special collection developed over a lifetime. On one wall hangs a “Paulette” pattern of an elegant dress, and this is where it all started for Helen. Certain from an early age that school was not for her, she told her mother on her 15th birthday that she planned to leave school and be a hairdresser. Her mum was not happy with that plan, and instead got her a job at Paulette Patterns, a factory at the bottom of Gladstone Road. Paulette made sewing patterns, which as Helen explains, “is like a recipe for a dress.” At the age of 16 she made her first dress for a friend, and a life-long passion was born, although it was some time before it became her full-time occupation. As a young woman she had various jobs in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, working in the cosmetics department at chemist shops, and running a labeling machine for Wattie’s. She met Seymour, her husband of over 50 years, at Club 44, where she was selling coffees and he was on the door taking money. In those days there was dancing at the Club, which she loved. Helen still loves to dance and emphatically credits it with keeping her young. Seymour was a dairy farmer and they spent the next several decades in the country, raising four daughters. And she kept on sewing, making garments for friends, which led to a steadily growing business. The teaching side started with her daughters, whom she taught to sew. “They went to school in the dresses they made and all their mates wanted to learn how to sew too.” A children’s sewing class soon started around her kitchen table, and eventually she taught all ages, including adults at the Bernina shop. When the couple were ready to transition from the farm back to town, Helen didn’t expect to return to the family home, but no other options appealed and her mum was ready to downsize. “So we bought this and moved back!” It’s also home to Seymour’s pottery shop featuring his Mayfire pottery, a kiln, and a space where he teaches as well. “It’s never dull here! We call it ‘Mays Mad House.’” For our local sewing community, Helen’s pattern collection, or “library” as she calls it, is a considerable resource. The total number of patterns is unknown, but it has to be in the thousands. The collection is “organised loosely” in that she has a vague idea of what she has. There are groupings of particular garments, and she has her favorites at the ready. Often at night if she’s not sewing, she’ll take a box and look through them, just for the pleasure and curiosity of reviewing what’s there. For those who want to hire patterns, she charges the hefty sum of a dollar a week, and encourages people to take 2-3 boxes at a time to go through at home. Helen recognizes the collection as the treasure it is. “I just love patterns. It’s such fun, you never get bored.” She points at a skirt pattern, remembering fondly, “you won’t believe it but I made this in blue silk chiffon, and with a top I used it as a ball gown!” That’s the beauty of patterns, the potential for endless adaptation. She is still working 8-12 hours a day, 6 days a week, including a lot of hand sewing and altering done in front of the TV at night. She continues to make a bit of everything, but she stopped making wedding dresses and ball gowns. “There are not enough hours in the day for that! I’m a one man band.” Helen also cleans, oils, and maintains all her own machines, which she learned to do at Bernina. For a time she went up the Coast to help fix machines, but now she’s simply too busy. “I’ve got more work than I can handle. But I’d far rather be in here than anywhere else.” She adds confidently, “I’ll keep going another 25 years at least.” Every Tuesday a “wonderful neighbour” comes over and helps Helen with “computer work.” They post a photo to Facebook of a recent creation dubbed “dress of the week,” which often leads to more orders. A couple years ago, Helen realized she had an abundance of fabric left over from her made-to-order work. Once she gathered it all together, there was enough to sell, and the fabric shop was born in a room at the front of the house. She’s ordered from many sources and countries over the years, building up a highly varied stock including woollens, cord velvets, linens, cottons and stretch knits. “It’s of a quality you don’t get today.” Brought up in the days “when you didn’t waste,” she hates the idea of discarding what could be useful. She no longer orders new fabric given how much she already has. And that’s why the pattern library is so valuable. Style is cyclical, and Helen reckons each pattern will have its moment again at some point. Helen’s unbridled enthusiasm for working with patterns is contagious. In an age where we tend toward YouTube, it’s refreshing to turn back to paper and the art of teaching oneself. “Spread out a pattern and it’s so detailed and good, you can teach yourself. You learn to follow a process and it shows you just what to do, step by step. And then you’ll think ‘ooh I made this!’ and it just makes you want to do more.” And if you get stuck, Helen is here to help. She is happy to consult when makers who are struggling with a project come to her for advice. Indeed, she considers it her “community service.” Whether she’s sewing, advising, or helping a customer find the perfect fabric, she’s grateful to have found her element and still be enjoying it so thoroughly. “When I get out of bed I can’t wait to start work, even after 60+ years of doing the same thing. What more can you want?” To hire a pattern, shop fabric, or consult with Helen, check the hours in the Individual Dressmaker's listing on the Gizzy Local Business Directory. Story by Victoria Williams Photos Tom Teutenberg

Mean Mahi is on fire with roles for community-minded people this week! Have you heard of Taupua Tairāwhiti? It sits within Sports Gisborne Tairāwhiti and was set up to support local Not for Profit and Marae operations that wish to strengthen their systems for long term sustainability.. They provide accounting, administrative, communications and marketing support as well as funding advice to their clients. Taupua Tairāwhiti are looking for a Coordinator and Accounts person - someone with a heart for helping and the skills to deliver accounting support to their clients. In this full time role you’d be the glue that binds the Taupua Tairāwhiti team together, and lead point of contact for clients. You’d be applying your financial and organisational skills, administration and book-keeping knowledge and managing client relationships for the organisation. This diverse role will suit a strong and organised administrator with intermediate level accounting knowledge who enjoys intellectually challenging work - work that will ultimately help hundreds of local people and strengthen the Not-For-Profit and Marae sectors in the Tairāwhiti Region. Sports Gisborne Tairāwhiti is well-known for being a great workplace for people with families - they take the wellbeing of their staff seriously, and have some great initiatives to make the work-juggle easier for parents. Applications close August 20, 5pm. Find the full job description below: Taupua Tairāwhiti Position Description Ingoa Tūranga - Position Title: Taupua Co-ordinator and Accounts Haora Mahi - Working Hours: 40 hours p.w. Menetia - Reports to: Chief Executive Officer Kaupapa Tuunga - Position Purpose: To be the over-arching support for our Taupua Tairāwhiti team and apply your top-notch financial and organisational skills, administration and book-keeping knowledge, and client relationship management and ultimately strengthen the Not-For-Profit and Marae sectors in the Tairāwhiti Region. Hononga Mahi - Functional Relationships: Internal Chief Executive Officer Taupua Tairāwhiti Senior Accountant Taupua Tairāwhiti Communications Advisor External SGT Board Client groups and other stakeholders Ko wai mātou? – Who are we? Taupua Tairāwhiti exists within Sports Gisborne Tairāwhiti to strengthen Not for Profit and Marae operations in Tairāwhiti. 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 basic 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. Te āhua o Te Tūrunga – The nature of the position 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 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, membership database management and troubleshooting financial management work; you will be the lead Point of contact for clients and be the glue that binds the team together. The position has three primary focus areas: Client relationship management for Taupua Tairāwhiti Financial & accounting support for our clients. Identifying and engaging with local groups who will benefit from Taupua Tairawhiti’ shared services support. Tohu Mātauranga, Pūkenga, Mātauranga, Wheako - Skills, Knowledge and Experience Qualifications: Relevant tertiary qualifications (Accounting, Business administration or financial management) or senior experience in similar roles. Xero Certification would be ideal but not imperative. Experience & Skills Exceptionally organised, reliable and systematic by nature Highly competent in Xero processing as well as across Microsoft systems (in particular Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and agile with new cloud-based technologies Experience in managing multiple clients, senior administration or accounts management position and/or operational role Ability to mentor and train others as they learn new systems Strong relationship management experience and inter-personal skills. Ability to build and maintain rapport, work collaboratively, with people of different ages, cultures and abilities Knowledge of, and commitment to, the Treaty of Waitangi Strong numeracy & data entry skills and previous exposure to financial or management accounting and administration Whāinga Matua – Key Objectives Your accounts management role and responsibilities may include: Creating financial reporting based on client needs Reviewing clients’ financial management and accounting systems, streamlining systems, converting to/setting clients up on Xero if required Contribute to the preparation of Taupua Annual Business Plans Contribute to the preparation of Taupua funding reports Facilitating regular weekly team meetings Organising, facilitating or presenting at workshops Supporting organisations to optimise structural and operational systems Completing accounting tasks such as Payroll, GST, Debtors & Creditors, assist coordinator with annual accounts preparation Assisting clients with compliance and other statutory requirements Te Tono – How to apply To apply, or to enquire further in confidence, contact Tamera Nelson for a confidential conversation now on 021711303 or email your up-dated CV and covering letter through to tameran@sportgisborne.org.nz. Applications close on 20 August at 5.00pm.

Job Title: Gizzy Local Events Coordinator Reports to: Sarah Cleave Key Relationships Internal: Sarah Cleave, Tom Tutenberg, Mel Donhauser External: Event organisers via email and Gizzy Local online community Hours: 10-12 hours per week Terms: Contractor / $25 - 28 per hour / Will need own laptop and phone. What is Gizzy Local: Walking into Gizzy Local on any given day you will find an assortment of passionate community advocates and creatives at work; creating, writing, dreaming and scheming. Our homebase is charming, old and a bit worse for wear, but the people that occupy it appreciate her character - the walls are pink, the floors covered in an array of second hand carpets, and mismatched furniture abounds. This space serves as a pretty good reflection of the Gizzy Local operation as a whole - resourceful, responsive, inclusive and creative. Our homebase serves as our office as well as a community space. We hold a diverse array of events that bring people together to create and connect, and also hire the space to community for their events. A lot of Gizzy Local exists online, on our social media platforms and website, where we share local stories as well as local event information. Our Purpose: To be an enabler of greater connection and understanding amongst our community through the sharing of uplifting and honest stories and local event information here in Te Tairāwhiti. We hope that in shining a light on ourselves we’ll all be able to see each other and hear each other a little more easily, and get a sense of the wealth and wisdom, creativity, knowledge and diversity that exists among us. The Role: We are looking for someone to coordinate our community events calendar and promote local events to our wider community. The purpose of this role is to encourage our community to get out and about to enjoy and benefit from all the good stuff that’s on offer in Te Tairāwhiti. Key Responsibilities Collating Events information from various online sources Uploading and managing event information to our website, social media and weekly newsletter Building and maintaining relationships with community members and businesses running local events Promoting events using social media stories, posts and reels Liaison with our accounts staff regarding invoicing and payments Skills Confident and warm communicator via phone, email and messaging services Comfortable using Social Media tools, Google Suite and Canva Minimum basic understanding of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori, or a desire to learn. We invite applicants that are confident navigating social media platforms; enjoy making new connections and helping people; are warm and effective communicators; have great time management skills; are passionate about the importance of a vibrant community and; enjoy both working in a team environment, as well as independently. What we can offer you A warm, fun, and welcoming work environment A team of creative, passionate humans, who are working for our community, social justice and the whenua. Flexible hours. Ongoing training and development on the job Potential for the role and responsibilities to evolve. The Gizzy Local calendar is part of a Wix website, and over the course of your role with us, you will learn how to use Wix with on-site training. If you are interested please send an email introduction with a bit about yourself, and any skills, experience or attributes you believe you could bring to this role and Gizzy Local, to Sarah at hello@gizzylocal.com.

What better way to celebrate Spring than coming together to dance! At the end of September, folk dancers throughout Aotearoa will be gathering in Gisborne to do just that. Run by Folk Dance New Zealand and hosted by Gisborne’s recreational folk dance group, Good Folk, the weekend of dance workshops features both visiting and local tutors and is open to everyone. Good Folk director and former president of Folk Dance New Zealand, Gisborne resident Jane Luiten is hoping the weekend will whet local appetites for community dance, both from dancers and local musicians. ‘Dance is the shortcut to connection and joy, regardless of age or background or skill’, says Luiten, ‘There is no quicker way of bringing people together.’ Such occasions, she adds, spring fully into life with live musicians on board, who equally enjoy playing for live dancers. With so much musical talent in Gisborne, the hope is that the event will be the springboard for future community dancing. ‘Dancing together is in our DNA – just look at the district dance halls throughout Te Tairāwhiti and beyond. We just need reminding how.’ The feature act of the weekend, from which the event takes its name, are the Balfolk dance and musician workshops held on Saturday, to be followed by an evening Bal, or Folk Ball. Balfolk is a lively and participatory dance genre originating from European folk traditions. It encompasses various partner dances, group dances, line dances and circle dances, with each dance having plenty of room for individual expression and improvisation. The dances range from fast-paced and dynamic to slow and graceful, catering to dancers of all skill levels. Balfolk gatherings feature live music, creating a communal atmosphere and a vibrant dance experience. The musician workshop run concurrently on Saturday is aimed at local amateur musicians who want to be part of the fun. Sheet music for the tunes can be obtained prior to the event, the idea being that after a day of directed workshopping, dancers and musicians can come together in the evening, when the magic begins. The inspiration for the Tūranga Bal is largely the collaboration of two seasoned dancers on a mission to grow the Balfolk community in Aotearoa. Renowned dancer, teacher and choreographer Michael Parmenter, of Auckland, brings to the floor a lifetime of knowledge and experience in dance. Michael recently completed a fellowship in community dance at the University of Otago. Kate Grace of Dunedin, also a community dance teacher, brings a cultural perspective. Kate grew up in France immersed in the rich tradition of Balfolk and has an innate understanding of its significance within the community. Like Jane Luiten, their efforts to create a ripple effect that touches enthusiasts across the country stems from a deep belief in the transformative power of dance in bringing people together and enriching lives. On Sunday, the Appalachian clogging workshop draws on local dance enthusiast Elizabeth Raines, whose clogging team in her USA homeland has toured extensively internationally. Clogging is distinctly American as it blends dancing elements from the British Isles, Africa and pre-Columbian America. The workshop will focus on beginning/intermediate clogging steps and then integrate them into mountain-style square dance figures. In the afternoon, international folk dance favourites are revised by Jane. The dance party on Sunday evening features simple folk dances accessible for all. Over the weekend, Folk Dance New Zealand members will also be learning a song specifically composed for them, in waiata-a-ringa workshops led by Paraone Luiten-Apirana. Folk Dance New Zealand is a national organisation that seeks to support all forms of folk dance. The Tūranga Bal is the annual gathering for members but, Jane stresses, the weekend is for everyone. The musician aspect of the event is supported by funding from the Creative Communities Scheme. From complete beginners to seasoned enthusiasts, everyone is warmly encouraged to join. ‘Folk Dance, by definition, is inclusive: ‘People Dance’, which doesn’t require partners, experience, or skill particularly. Bring your smile! The Tūranga Bal runs from 30 September – 1 October 2023. For further details and registration visit www.folkdance.nz

A couple of generous locals are putting on a Benefit Art Sale at St Andrews Hall next month and are putting the call out for donations of artworks from other artists, students and collectors to add to the pieces already up for sale. With a weekend of rain ahead, we’re thinking it’s as good a time as ever for a little declutter?! Diana is herself an artist who has been making art since her university days at UCLA. She and husband Norm have also collected works from local artists over the years. Their Art Sale project was originally conceived as a way for them to sell some of the art they had collected over the years, which after moving into a tiny home, they no longer had room to store. Since then, the idea has morphed from the humble garage sale they’d originally conceived of, to a fundraiser for the local charities, Gizzy Kai Rescue, SuperGrans and the Mayoral Relief Fund to help flood victims and other locals in need. As interest has grown, Diana and Norman are now inviting others to donate works of art to the cause. Details: Community ART SALE to be held 19 August 2 - 5pm at St. Andrews Hall. If you have Art to donate, please drop it off at the Tairawhiti Environment Centre on Palmerston Rd. or phone 867 2790 for a pick up. *Accepting Paintings, Prints, Pottery, Drawings, Weaving, Glass, Crafts, and other lovely items.

GDC are looking for a Gardener to join their team! If you are keen on working outdoors, care about the way our city looks and feels, and enjoy working in a team, this might just be you! You’ll be carrying out a variety of general maintenance planting, gardening, improvement and cleaning activities of a manual labouring nature. Reporting to the Open Space and Amenity Leader your role will be field based, across various garden sites, working in the greater team of five people. You’ll recognise the importance of the role as a Treaty partner and understand how that underpins Gisborne District Council’s work. Duties Include garden maintenance including weeding, and weed control; planting and plant husbandry tasks including trimming, pruning, and plant health measures and traffic management. You need a full NZ Drivers Licence and need to be able to drive manual vehicles. You need to have an understanding of Health and Safety responsibilities and practices and ideally you’ll be physically fit and able, and be willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions, including working on the road corridor. To apply and find out more information head to https://www.gdc.govt.nz/council/careers Click APPLY or contact Oriana Rojas - Open Space and Amenity Leader (06 867 2049) for a confidential discussion.

Mānawatia a Matariki. As we head into our second year of marking Matariki with a public holiday, it’s great to see and hear about the different ways we are celebrating te Mātahi o te Tau, the Māori New Year. Some of us have grown up with Matariki purakau and traditions that call us to pause, to remember our ancestors, celebrate the present, and make plans for the future. For some of us, Matariki is quite new. As someone who’s in that latter camp, Matariki feels like such a gift in these dark depths of winter, and especially this year it’s got to be said! I love it that the kōrero around Matariki says absolutely nothing about shopping (except perhaps for some ingredients for our Matariki feast), instead we are encouraged to bundle up and attune our eyes to the early morning skies to search out the constellation for ourselves… We’re learning that this is a time to pause, to reflect, to celebrate the here and now, and who we’re with, and cast our own intentions for the next year… all practices that feel not only appropriate, but especially potent in these months of hibernation. Thanks to all of you who have been asking, we’ve had our feelers out and have gathered together some of the things going on around the rohe celebrating Matariki here in Te Tairāwhiti this year. On Friday 14 you can head out to Eastwoodhill Arboretum for ‘Houpapa, an Indigenous Sculpture Symposium’. This is a kaupapa driven by Te Whānau a Kai, Eastwoodhill and Toihoukura. Nine local artists and one international artist are carving pou from trees that have fallen on the land. The Arboretum is open 8:30am - 4:30pm. Entry is free and from 1.30 - 3.30pm there are also Artist Talks, Matariki Presentation and a Botanical Mono-printing Workshop. A sausage sizzle is also available. ‘Tātaitia Rā - Matariki Festival’ is going on in Uawa, from 11am-2pm. A celebration where good music, good kai and good company come together as a family-friendly event for all ages. Pack up the van and head to Uawa! Get ready for some great music including Chad Chambers, The Tuari Brothers and Three Houses Down. Te Runanga o Turanganui A Kiwa and E Tu Whānau are holding ‘Mānawaitia Matariki - Matariki for our Rangatahi’ at Marina Park tomorrow, Friday 14 July, 1-5pm with a silent disco, food vendors and games. And for something a little bit different, 98 Cents are holding dance workshops at Musical Theatre Gisborne,101 Innes St, tomorrow, Friday July 14. Check out the timetable for different age groups. For all local event information head to the Gizzy Local Events Calendar here.