As we bid adieu to the lazy, hazy, ice cream days of summer and warmly embrace the cooler nights, roast veges and colourful arrival of autumn, it is great to reflect on the season just gone by. The past few months have been a whirlwind of sunshine, rain showers and everything in between, creating a tapestry of memories that have truly captured the essence of our region’s unique climate.
Yet amidst the sun-drenched days, we experienced the unpredictable nature of our weather, a characteristic that has become synonymous with our region. The balance of rain to sunshine hours was a delicate dance, keeping us on our toes as we navigated through days of torrential downpours and others of clear blue skies. However, it is this very unpredictability that adds to the charm of our surroundings, reminding us to embrace the beauty in every moment, no matter the weather.
Our Autumn Edition will keep you pleasantly distracted with a wonderful mix of articles including nostalgia, creativity and exciting unsung segments of our community, all wrapped in beautiful photography. We feature two highly creative individuals. Nephi Tupaea is a contemporary Māori artist who expresses her stories through canvas and paint. Then we visit Olivia, who uses her creative genius and international experience with some of the world’s leading fashion designers to make incredible wedding dresses.
A stroll through Birdwoods will give you insights into behind the scenes and is a great read to give perspective to this amazing multifaceted place.
Our feature on Pōrangahau explores the rich history of the area and how life has progressed and preserved that richness over time. Much of the story can still be found throughout Pōrangahau, making it more than just a beach to visit, for the inquisitive.
In our community we jump into the popularity of playing American flag rugby, and we celebrate with our young entrepreneurs as they propel their business concepts into reality, benchmarked against schools throughout New Zealand.
We raise a glass with the Bridge Pā Wine Festival, who celebrate their tenth anniversary. This annual celebration recognises one of the world-renowned wine growing areas of Hawke’s Bay. While we toast the wine makers, we linger in Bridge Pā in order to glean the tasting notes from Ash Ridge Winery, a boutique organic winery based in the heart of the Bridge Pā Triangle. Plenty to do on the farm with our favourite rural family in this edition’s Kiwi Country Kids and there’s inspiration for your cooking pleasure with recipes from our featured foodies. And don’t forget three new reads from our local reviewers. So here’s to the summer just gone, with its unpredictable weather and semi-tropical allure, and to the autumn ahead, with its crisp air and vibrant colours.
