Bay Harbour: February 26, 2026

Thursday, 26 February 2026
Connecting Your Local Community
starnews.co.nz
City council fights
to cut costs for
rail upgrades
Cooking school couple
make a splash on
luxury cruise ship
taking an overseas holiday and primary brain tumour.
working less hours.
› Continued on Page 6 Henri Kerr and his daughter Noa in hospital.
15 MARCH 2026
Pages xx
Page 5
Page xx
Page 10
‘It felt like being hit by a bus’
BY KEES CHALMERS
About 11.30pm, their world
was shattered: The CT scan had
Eighteen months ago Henri Kerr revealed a large tumour on his
went to the doctor. He had been left parietal lobe.
tired and was suffering from They sat in stunned silence.
ongoing headaches.
“We were just so shocked, a
He put it down to stress. The large tumour was the last thing I
doctor agreed.
thought, it felt like being hit by a
About a month later, he was in bus,” said Sheehan.
bed about 8.30pm when something
Kerr, 34, said it is hard to
triggered a reaction in his explain how it felt to receive the
brain, he went completely heavy diagnosis.
down his right side, began losing “They (doctors) said it’s awful
his ability to speak and was contorting
luck, there’s nothing Henri’s
slightly.
done that would’ve caused it,”
Very worried, wife Anna she said.
Sheehan drove him to Christchurch
They were not given an exact
Hospital where he was prognosis and were told Kerr
examined in the emergency would be monitored and see
department.
how he goes.
A doctor thought the episode
“We know through our own
was stress related – Kerr, a research that the prognosis for
builder, had been working long anyone with high grade brain
hours on top of renovating their cancer is not good,” Sheehan
own kitchen, and the couple had said.
a young child, Noa. But the doctor
“We're just hopeful that with
decided to order a CT scan to time, something will have like a
be certain.
really good effect.”
While they were waiting for Two days later, the tumour
the results, Kerr and Sheehan, was removed and further
who live in Heathcote, chatted
tests revealed it to be grade
about how they could ease four astrocytoma, a highly
the stress. They thought about aggressive and fast growing
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with brain tumour
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2 | Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 starnews.co.nz
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What’s on
Autumn maintenance in Barnett Park
Saturday, 1pm-3pm
Barnett Park
City council organised maintenance
of the trees planted last year. Go
along and bring your favourite
weeding tools.
See-Doo Social Ride
Saturday, 1.30pm
Naval Point Boat Ramp
Get your mates together and go
along for a social ride. An awesome
way to escape and ride with a fun
group of people, try out different
skis and grow your network. Explore
caves and see some awesome rock
formations & wildlife surrounding
Banks Peninsula.
Mt Pleasant Farmers Market
Saturdays, 9am-noon
Mt Pleasant Community Centre
Good local, fresh produce available,
including veges, fish, meat, deli,
bakery, flowers, eggs, olive oil, knife
sharpening and more. Easy parking
and an on site cafe make it a great
place to shop.
Strength and Balance Class
Tuesdays, 10.30-11.30am
Lyttelton Recreation Centre
Build your core strength and balance
and enjoy socialising at this ACC
accredited weekly class. $3 a session.
All inquiries to Lyttelton Community
House on 021 937 492.
Knit ‘n’ Yarn
Thursdays, 2-3pm
Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre
Go along with your knitting, crochet,
Beach Clean Up
Sunday,10am-1pm at Coastguard Sumner
As part of Seaweek, Coastguard Sumner is calling on the community to
help protect the coastline. Coastguard is hosting a beach clean up morning
and wants to see as many locals, families, friends, and ocean-lovers there
as possible. Every piece of rubbish removed from the beach helps protect
marine life, keeps the waters safer, and preserves the beauty of Sumner
for everyone to enjoy. Your help makes a real difference.
or other craft project and chat with
other crafters. Share skills and be
inspired in our friendly, relaxing
environment. All skills and skill
levels are welcome in this social
group.
Anita Desoto – She Does Not Fit the Frame
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 10am-4pm
Stoddart Cottage
Anita DeSoto was the artist in
residence for Stoddart Cottage
Gallery in 2025. Her exhibition,
She Does Not Fit the Frame, was
commenced during her residency.
Anita’s painting practice critically reexamines
women’s histories and their
marginalisation within art history.
JP Clinic
Saturday, 10am-noon
Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre
A Justice of the Peace will be available
to members of the community, to
witness signatures and documents,
certify document copies, hear oaths,
declarations, affidavits or affirmations
as well as sign citizenship, sponsorship
or rates rebates applications. There is
no charge for this service.
WANT YOUR COMMUNITY EVENT
FEATURED HERE?
Email all info to
kees.chalmers@alliedmedia.co.nz
by 5pm each Wednesday
Iluka by Cassie Stroud
The brilliant 2026 debut for readers of Emily Maguire, Charlotte Wood
and Anne Tyler. ‘Knife sharp perception ... fiction that is an absolute
pleasure to read,’ - Emily Maguire, author
This vivid, engrossing, beautifully crafted family drama from an exciting debut
author charts the hurtful messes, complicated relationships and profound
loves of three siblings. After their grandfather’s death, siblings Helen, Sylvie
and Brendan, and Helen’s daughter, film student Tig, are gathered together
at Iluka, a typical fibro beach house in a small town on the south coast.
Iluka is the house they grew up in when their troubled mother ran
away to the bright lights of the city, leaving their grandparents
to raise them. As they slowly clear the house for sale and relive
various memories, they find a bundle of letters addressed to
each of them from their missing mother, Marguerite, that were
sent long after they’d been told she died. Their world shifts on
its axis, as the siblings begin to question everything they have
been told. Why did their grandmother hide these letters? Was their
grandfather complicit? And could the mother they thought they had lost
still be alive? Viewed through the unsparing eye of Tig’s camera, we watch
a family first implode then reform around a new reality, a reality that brings
with it profound change in the way they view themselves and each other.
Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy
The highly anticipated, funny, sad, thrilling novel about sex, class, desire,
and power – and the (often misguided) lengths we’ll go to to get what we
want, from Jennette McCurdy, the three-million copy, Sunday Times
bestselling author of I’m Glad My Mom Died.
‘Shocking, Honest and Unsparing’ - Sunday Times Style
‘A Hilarious and Uncomfortable Triumph’ - Guardian
‘Thought-Provoking, Shocking and Darkly Comic’ Independent
Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry.
Hurting. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all? Mr. Korgy,
her creative writing teacher. Mr Korgy, with the wife and the kid and the
mortgage and the bills, with the dead dreams and the atrophied looks and
the growing paunch. She doesn’t know why she wants him. Is it his passion?
His life experience? The fact that he knows books and films that she doesn’t?
Or are they actually kindred spirits, sharing the same filter with which
they each take in the world around them? Or, perhaps, it’s just enough
that he sees her when no one else does. Startlingly perceptive, mordantly
funny, and keenly poignant, Half His Age is an incisive study of a yearning
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We have one copy of Iluka to give away, courtesy of Paper Plus Ferrymead. To be in the draw,
email giveaways@alliedmedia.co.nz with Iluka in the subject line or write to Paper Plus Book Giveaway,
Iluka, Star Media, PO Box 1467, Christchurch 8140. To be eligible for the draw, all entries must include
your name, address and contact number. Entries close Wed 11 March, 2026.
The book winner of Gaslit was Bruce Grimwood of Heathcote.
222 LINWOOD AVE
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Phone: (03) 380 5020
or mob: 027 364 1990
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starnews.co.nz
NEWS Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 | 3
​Foundation to close after 32 years
BY KEES CHALMERS
The Sumner Ferrymead
Foundation will close after 32
years of supporting community
organisations.
Foundation chair Martin
Hawes said the decision was
driven by the current economic
climate and growing competition
among charities for donors.
The extra competition has
made donors increasingly difficult
to secure, forcing the
foundation to dip into its capital
to maintain annual grants over
the past four years.
As a result, its
reserves have
declined rapidly.
Hawes said the
foundation would
need a $500,000
injection of funding
to survive.
The charitable
trust supports
local clubs, Martin Hawes
schools, projects
and emergency services from
Heathcote to Taylors Mistake,
offering annual scholarships
and grants to individuals and
groups.
The decline in donations
coincided with an expansion
of the foundation’s work about
four years ago, when it introduced
tertiary scholarships
alongside its existing grants to
organisations.
“We see both of those as very
good things to do and we would
rather do them for a shorter
time and do them properly than
cut grants to a level where they
The Sumner Ferrymead Foundation is closing down after 32 years of assisting local organisations.
become insignificant,” Hawes
said.
“Although we’ve done a lot of
good in the community, we think
it’s time to wind it up.”
The board has discussed closing
the foundation for the past
three years. Late last year, members
unanimously voted to wind
it up.
Despite the writing being on
the wall for some time, Hawes
said it was still difficult to make
the final call.
“Organisations like this give
you a really good look into what
is going on in the community and
the amount of work some people
are doing to keep clubs and
groups going,” he said.
“I think the foundation over
the years has had a big role in
helping organisations and families
do stuff they maybe wouldn’t
have been able to without us.”
Before closing, the foundation
will distribute the remainder of
its capital – about $200,000 – to
local organisations.
“We’ve got enough money to
do that at the moment, but if we
waited another couple of years,
we wouldn’t have that money,”
Hawes said.
“We’re going to go out on a
major granting round.”
Hawes said the foundation’s
absence may have an impact on
local organisations which had
previously received grants.
“I hope we can make
significant donations in this
final round that will leave them
on strong footing,” he said.
After the final round of
grants, the foundation will
begin the formal closure
process with the Charities
Commission.
• Community awards programme,
page 9
Lyttelton Club
votes to retain
membership
of Clubs NZ
BY KEES CHALMERS
The Lyttelton Club will retain its
membership with Clubs NZ after
a vote by members.
A special general meeting was
held on Sunday to decide whether
the club should remain a member
of Clubs NZ now that it no longer
has a premises.
Membership of Clubs NZ costs
$4.50 plus GST per financial member.
As of the 2025 financial year,
Lyttelton Club had about 650
members.
The association provides advocacy
for its members at both local
and central government levels,
connects clubs across the country,
and allows members to visit other
member clubs while travelling.
The club leased its Dublin St
building to the Armadillos restaurant
chain in August due to
financial troubles. Sunday’s meeting
was held at the restaurant.
Governance group member
Steve Gallop said at the time, a
“declining and ageing membership”
meant leasing the building
to the hospitality chain was the
best financial option.
Members also adopted the
club’s new draft constitution and
agreed to minor changes.
The governance group, made
up of Gallop, Dwayne Pool and
Mark Hughes, was also voted in
as the new official committee.
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4 | Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 starnews.co.nz
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starnews.co.nz
NEWS Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 | 5
BY DYLAN SMITS
Ratepayers remain on the hook
for an “eye-watering” bill of up
to $50 million for railway safety
upgrades, as the city council
negotiates with KiwiRail to bring
down the cost.
The issue has been contentious
between the rail operator and the
city council.
In November 2024, KiwiRail
threatened to close a 1.5km
stretch of the Heathcote
Expressway, saying it was unsafe,
unless the council spent $7.2m
upgrading the Scruttons Rd level
crossing.
Public
backlash and
pressure from
local and central
government
politicians
eventually led
KiwiRail to back
down on the
closure.
Sam MacDonald
Council staff
and KiwiRail began discussions
in January last year to find a way
forward and avoid the significant
upgrade costs.
A city council spokesperson
said staff are also working on
options to reduce the need for
some level crossing upgrades.
These will be presented to
councillors in the coming months.
At the Draft Annual Plan
meeting two weeks ago, Linwood
Ward councillor Yani Johanson
proposed removing the $6.3m
budgeted for safety upgrades
near the Scruttons Rd crossing.
However, the proposed
Council fights to cut rail upgrade costs
Proposed upgrades to the Scruttons Rd level crossing have been at the centre of
an ongoing funding dispute between the city council and KiwiRail.
amendment was not legally
allowed to proceed.
City council finance committee
chair Sam MacDonald said
although the city council
should not pay high costs for
the upgrades, for legal liability
reasons Scruttons Rd and other
railway safety upgrades have to
stay scheduled in the budget.
“The amount of money is just
eye-watering and way over the
top for what is needed. We just
can’t afford it as a city,” he said.
“We’ve got the money
budgeted, but it’s more in the
later years.”
MacDonald said the city council
was trying to avoid subsidising
upgrades to KiwiRail’s rail lines.
KiwiRail project delivery
general manager Daniel
Headifen said there have been
regular discussions with city
council staff about how to
safely manage level crossings
affected by new cycleways and
development.
“We are currently working
with the council to develop
minimum safe viable solutions
for the crossings, to help manage
scope and overall cost.”
Headifen said the city council
and KiwiRail are developing a
priority list so the highest-risk
crossings are addressed first.
Scruttons Rd became the focal
point of the dispute because
of the threatened expressway
closure and its high projected
upgrade cost.
Although a cycleway runs
alongside the Scruttons Rd level
crossing, it does not cross it.
KiwiRail’s safety assessment
states the crossing poses a risk
of serious injury or death once
every 1003 years.
MacDonald said keeping the
funding in the budget was crucial
to limit legal exposure if a serious
incident occurred.
“If something goes wrong and
someone is killed at that crossing,
and the council has looked like it
has somehow contributed to that,
it’s our chief executive who effectively
gets charged,” he said.
“If you keep the money on
budget for the later years, there’s
an intent to do things while we
come up with a compromise
position.”
The Scruttons Rd upgrade
remains the top priority. The city
council is awaiting final costings,
which are expected to be “significantly
lower” than the earlier
$6.3m to $7.2m estimate, a city
council spokesperson said.
Next on the list are level crossing
safety upgrades at Radcliffe
Rd and Parker St.
In total, about $50m is
budgeted for projects involving
level crossings, although this
figure also includes wider works
in areas surrounding some
crossings.
Access ramp proposed
An improved ramp has been
proposed to provide access to
Sumner Beach for people of all
abilities. The existing ramp is
on the Marriner St backshore.
The project is funded by the city
council parks unit. The next step
is lodging building and resource
consents, with construction set to
start in May.
Sewage spill concerns
Te Hapu o Ngāti Wheke leaders
have raised concerns over three
recent sewage discharges into
Lyttelton Harbour and the council’s
failure to notify mana whenua. In
a joint statement, chairs Joseph
Tyro and Tutehounuku Korako said
they are seeking a meeting with the
chief executives of the city council
and Environment Canterbury and
are considering further regulatory
and legal options. City council three
waters head Gavin Hutchinson
said the concerns are being taken
seriously, with a review of the
delay and a meeting with the hapu
planned.
$50k for pool repairs
Diamond Harbour School needs
$50,000 to repair its pool in time
for term 4. The facility was drained
ahead of a planned paint job before
Christmas, revealing a new liner
was needed to secure its long-term
future. The board of trustees has
launched a fundraising campaign,
‘Save Our School Pool’. Its first
event, a sausage sizzle outside
Four Square Diamond Harbour,
raised $2000.
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6 | Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 NEWS
starnews.co.nz
Givealittle set up to help pay for treatment
› From Page 1
He was kept in hospital for
three more days, which the
couple spent informing friends
and family of Kerr’s illness.
He then had six weeks of
radiation and 10 weeks on
chemotherapy pills called
temozolomide.
He required surgery in
November last year after an MRI
scan showed another tumour
and radionecrosis from the radiation
therapy.
They removed a large amount
of treatment effect and a small
tumour.
He has developed aphasia
since the surgery as well, he said
the severity comes in waves.
After the surgery the doctors
then recommended a new type
of chemotherapy.
One is called lomustine and
the other is bevacizimab, which
is currently unfunded in New
Zealand for brain cancer.
The drug is funded for other
forms of cancer and is available
for free in Australia, but costs
the couple $2682 every three
weeks.
Kerr started on it at the beginning
of the year and couple has
paid for the first three rounds of
treatment themselves. The treatment
has already improved his
quality of life.
Their family and friends set
up a Givealittle page last week
to fundraise towards Henri continuing
on the drug, which can
help slow down tumour progression
and allows him to come off
a steroid called dexamethasone.
The campaign has already
Anna Sheehan, Henri Kerr and their daughter Noa about two years ago.
raised $25,440, more than halfway
towards the final goal,
enough to cover the next six
months.
“I think it shows how many
people Henri’s impacted and
how much people want to support,”
said Sheehan.
“People are so kind and generous
and just want to help.”
Kerr was born and raised in
Heathcote Valley and has lived
there most of his life.
He has a love for the outdoors,
walking and biking up the Port
To donate towards Henri’s
treatment go to:
givealittle.co.nz/cause/
brain-storm-for-henri
Hills and spear fishing around
Banks Peninsula. They are
things which he is no longer able
to do due to a lack of strength on
his right side.
“It’s quite tough because I’m
normally pretty active,” he said.
Kerr and Sheehan met briefly
through mutual friends in
Wellington in 2012 and reconnected
eight years later. They got
engaged one month before Kerr’s
diagnosis.
“I remember in hospital, you
(Kerr) were like ‘I wanna get
married,” said Sheehan.
“We just did it, organised
quickly and it was so awesome, I
loved it, but it was not your usual
wedding, it was pretty casual and
fun.”
Their daughter Noa is three
​"I think it shows how
many people Henri’s
impacted and how much
people want to support.”
Anna Sheehan
and has a vague understanding
of her father’s health.
“I have explained to her that
dad has something called cancer
and he’s got a really amazing
team of specialists who are doing
everything they can to make him
feel better and to make him feel
healthier,” she said.
Noa wants to be a doctor and
uses bandages from their first
aid kit to wrap around her toys.
Sheehan continues to work
full time as a mortgage broker
and will put part of her income
towards the treatment so the
Givealittle money lasts for longer.
Along with a mortgage and
regular expenses, Sheehan estimated
they have spent $10,000 to
$15,000 on medical bills.
Their friends have also organised
a pub quiz and a concert at
The Loons at the end of March,
fundraising for Kerr’s treatment.
His mother Bjork holds a stall
outside her house on Bridle Path
Rd every Saturday, supported
by friends’ baking and sewing to
raise money for her son.
“I didn’t think it was going
to be gaining as much momentum
or been as amazing as it has
been, it’s been pretty incredible
for us,” Sheehan said.
Businesses hit hard
by flooding damage
BY KEES CHALMERS
Lisa Ashfield has been forced to
close Deja New after 600mm of
water entered her Little River
store during last week’s flood.
“Clothing, toys, books, household
items, the carpet, the fridge
was floating, all the boxes and
things just tipped out and floating
around,” she said.
“Thousands of dollars worth of
stuff had to be dumped.”
Ashfield has owned the store
for three years, taking in donated
pre-loved goods and selling them
on. She takes a 60% commission
from sales with the remainder
going to the donor.
“My ethos is recycle, reuse,
repurpose and then to actually
just have to see it all ruined and
going in the skip was a bit too
hard for me,” she said.
In addition to closing her business,
Ashfield’s home, which she
has rented for 13 years, is going
on the market in two weeks.
“I’m high and dry, not knowing
where to go,” she said.
The building, behind the Challenge
Little River Service Station,
made foot traffic difficult but
over time, her venture had grown
through word of mouth and was
Lisa Ashfield has
closed her business
Deja New after last
week’s flooding
ruined hundreds of
pre-loved goods.
PHOTO: RNZ/NATHAN
MCKINNON
on track to turn a profit before
the flood.
“I had big dreams for it,”
Ashfield said.
Severe damage to Little River
Cafe has led to owner Cameron
Gordon relocating to his restaurant
The One Next Door while
repairs are done.
Water inside the cafe reached
30cm at the peak of the flooding
– the worst he has seen in 20
years. He estimates repairs will
take at least two months.
"We’re going to be stripping
the place bare and starting
again, which could take a
while.”
Gordon initially thought the
cafe could reopen after cleaning,
but insurers advised everything
would need to be replaced.
The restaurant will now operate
as a cafe from 7.30am, seven
days a week and as a restaurant
on weekend nights.
“It’s quite an essential service
for the locals out here, having
that cafe in the store. We really
had to push hard just to get it
open,” Gordon said.
World Cup Fever A Footballing Journey in Nine Tournaments
By Simon Kuper
The football World Cup is the biggest sporting competition on Earth - a chance every four
years for the greatest players to win international glory, and a month-long media spectacle
that’s watched by an audience of billions. But the tournament has changed beyond
recognition since the inaugural event in Montevideo, Uruguay, in July 1930. What was once
a semi-professional meeting beset by haphazard play has evolved to become a game of
multinational buyouts, dubious ethics and questionable aims. Simon Kuper is among the
vanishingly small number of writers who have attended every World Cup since 1990. Told
on the pitch and in the stands, and in the pubs, front rooms and on the streets, this is the
story of how football has changed the world.
The Watchmaker’s War By Danny Ben-Moshe
A compelling historical novel of revenge and justice, based on the true story of Nazi hunters
in Australia. A new beginning. An old enemy. A perilous choice. When Yakov Holtzman
arrives in Melbourne - about as far away as he can possibly get from the graveyard that is
Europe - he puts behind him the years he spent in the forests of Lithuania as a leader of
the resistance, fighting the Nazis. He has come to join his brother - his only surviving family
member - and start a new life as the watchmaker he once was. But when swastikas, threats
and, most frightening of all, the faces of old enemies appear on the streets of suburban St
Kilda, his new-found peace is shattered. It offers profound insights into the lingering trauma
of genocide, posing difficult questions about competing desires for peace and vengeance,
and how far a victim should go in the pursuit of justice when the authorities fail to act.
Ferrymead
1005 Ferry Road, Ferrymead
Ph: 384 2063 CLOSED SUNDAY
While stocks last (see instore for terms and conditions)
FEBRUARY
Earn points when you shop
In-store OR Online
Turn points into $5 Rewards

M100578 Discount Day Poster A0.indd 1
starnews.co.nz
Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 | 7
Your weekend projects start here!
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Assorted SKUs. Offer valid 5 February - 4 March 2026. Offer
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stocks last. Accessories not included.
Mitre 10 MEGA Ferrymead
1005 Ferry Road. Christchurch
Phone: 366 6306
Find us at: /MEGAFerrymead
Opening Hours:
Monday – Friday:
7am – 7pm
Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays:
7am – 7pm
www.mitre10.co.nz/local/MegaFerrymead
Ferrymead

8 | Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 NEWS
starnews.co.nz
SPONSORED CONTENT
Classic car show returns to Wigram
From Alfa Romeos to Austin Sevens,
Lamborghinis to Leylands, and
Maseratis to Morris Minors – plus
plenty of unique and quirky machines
– the South Island’s biggest classic car
gathering returns on Saturday, March
7, with the Avid Classic Brit & Euro
Canterbury Car Show.
Held in the grounds of the Air Force
Museum of New Zealand in Wigram,
the event draws on the suburb’s long
and distinguished motor racing history,
adding to the atmosphere as the best of
British and European marques go on
display.
This year marks 70 years since Jaguar
achieved its remarkable 1956 double,
winning both the Le Mans 24 Hour
race and the Monte Carlo Rally in the
same year – a feat no other marque has
matched since.
To celebrate, the Jaguar club will
present a special display featuring a
replica Jaguar D-Type racing car and a
Jaguar Mark VIIM, representing the two
victorious models from that historic
year.
Canterbury’s premier family-friendly
classic car show will showcase more
than a century of motoring, with
vehicles built for discerning owners,
speed enthusiasts and families alike.
Many of the meticulously maintained
vehicles will come from nearly 100
manufacturer clubs and brand
collections — including Jaguar, VW, MG,
Austin-Healey, Citroën and Ferrari —
while others will be exhibited courtesy
of private collectors. All have been
lovingly restored and presented to a
high concours d’elegance standard.
Another highlight will be the St John
Ambulance Historic Preservation Team,
which plans to display five British and
European ambulances from years past,
Celebrating 70 years since Jaguar’s remarkable
1956 double at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and
the Monte Carlo Rally - a feat no other marque
has matched - the Jaguar club will showcase a
replica D-Type and a Mark VIIM, representing
the two victorious cars from that historic year.
including a 1950s Austin Sheerline
ambulance currently part-way through
restoration.
Admission is free. That’s right – public
entry to the Avid Classic Brit & Euro
Canterbury Car Show is completely free.
The only optional cost is $10 per
car for off-street parking on the grass
near the exhibition area, with mobility
parking available closest to the display
zone. Payment can be made by cash or
eftpos to volunteer marshals from local
Rotary clubs.
There is also no charge for exhibitor
vehicles.
Organisers warmly invite all British
and European car owners to bring along
their pride and joy for display.
With more than 600 British and
European vehicles expected from over
70 car clubs, alongside entries from
private owners, the show promises
to be the largest classic car gathering
assembled in the South Island.
City2Surf a great
chance to become
a healthier you
It’s not too late to sign up for the
FreshChoice City2Surf on March 15 – and
it could be the goal that springboards you
into a healthier lifestyle.
With just over two weeks until the
first runners and walkers leave Latimer
Square, City2Surf event manager Steve
McCaughan said now is the time to put
your best foot forward.
“The beauty of the C2S fun run is that
participants can choose from two distances
that suit them best.
“This year we have more
entertainment along our
course to keep our participants
energised and moving
and I know many people
will be pleasantly surprised
when they see the exciting
innovations FreshChoice
are planning for all,” he
said.
The City2Surf offers a
12km course starting at
Latimer Square and a 6km
option beginning at Porritt Park. Both
Steve
McCaughan
routes follow the City to Sea Pathway along
the Avon River.
The event finishes at New Brighton’s
Rawhiti Domain, where – for the first time
– every participant will receive a finisher’s
medal.
City2Surf
• There are just 17 days until the City2Surf takes
place, and entries are now open at city2surf.co.nz
• Entries are free for children under five, while
youth entries are $20 and adults $50
• Team entries can be purchased and invoiced to
your organisation at city2surf.co.nz/team-entry
• The 12km event starts at 9am on the day, while
the 6km start time is 9.45am
All entrants will also receive a free
Celsius drink at the finish line. Live entertainment
will run throughout the morning,
followed by a prizegiving at noon.
Although the event is not timed,
McCaughan encouraged participants to set
a personal goal, whether they plan to run
or walk.
“Our fun run is all about encouraging
people to get moving and for some it can be
a step to a healthier and more active lifestyle
going forward,” he said.
“If you’re feeling a bit bloated after eating
too much over the Christmas break,
then enter the C2S and let it be a start
towards healthier choices.”
This year, City2Surf is partnering with
Hato Hone St John as its official charity,
raising funds to support frontline crews
responding to medical emergencies.

starnews.co.nz
Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 | 9
SPONSORED CONTENT
Applications open for 2026 Community Awards
Applications for the 2026 round
of the Sumner Ferrymead
Foundation Community Awards
Programme are now being
sought.
The community awards
are for groups, clubs, and
organisations within the
foundation’s catchment
area – from Taylors Mistake
through to Mt Pleasant, around
to Heathcote and across to
Brookhaven – and are for sport,
arts & culture, the environment,
and education. They range in
value up to $20,000.
“We have
heard from
several sources
that it’s getting
harder for
community
groups
to access
community
grants and
awards,
Martin Hawes
particularly
in communities that are not
considered to be an area of
need,” said foundation chair
Martin Hawes.
“This contributed to the idea
that this year a number of
awards should be offered in
each category.”
Another contributing factor
was the ongoing debate about
the future of the foundation.
“Without a significant
injection of capital, around
half a million dollars, we lack
the scale to make a significant
long-term difference within our
community," Hawes said.
Recipients of the 2025 Community Awards Programme, from left Sumner Silver Band, Sumner Community Residents Association and Hub, Heathcote Cricket Club,
Sumner Community Pool, Heathcote Valley Riding School.
“We explored several options
for the foundation’s future but
after some robust debate the
trustees have made the very
hard decision not to offer the
academic scholarships and the
apprentice award this year, and
to make 2026 the final round of
community awards.”
The Sumner Ferrymead
Foundation was established
more than 30 years ago with
a grant from former Sumner
resident Dora Grut.
Over the years it has evolved
from providing grants to
COMMUNITY AWARDS PROGRAMME
Environment Awards
Awards ranging from $5k-$20k are available to create a cleaner greener
community
Arts & Culture Awards
Awards ranging from $5k-$20k are available to help arts & culture flourish in our
community
Sports Awards
Awards ranging from $5k-$20k are available to improve sporting facilities or the
health and physical wellbeing of the community
Education Awards
Awards ranging from $5k-$10k to encourage learning and development at all ages
individuals living within the
catchment area, to the launch
of the primary school Puawai
Awards for year 8 students, to
the Scholarships and Awards
Programme for individuals and
finally the Community Awards
Programme.
The latter was launched to
recognise 30 years of service to
the community and has been a
great success.
“The real value of the
Community Awards lies in the
benefit to the community rather
than the individual” Hawes said.
“The establishment of the
academic scholarships and
apprentice award enabled us to
attract some loyal and generous
sponsors, but we never
managed to find that significant
capital injection that would
have ensured the foundation’s
future.
“I would like to recognise
the work of current and
former trustees, as well as
the generosity of current and
former sponsors and donors.
They have enabled us to leave a
legacy.”
​
• Application forms for the 2026
Community Awards Programme
can be found on the Sumner
Ferrymead Foundation website
sumnerferrymeadfoundation.co.nz
Applications close on March 31,
2026
NEW LISTING
Barrys Bay 5849 Christchurch Akaroa Road
Halfmoon Cottage
We are privileged to market this iconic property, long admired for its boutique accommodation. Lovingly
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The main Villa offers five double bedrooms, a renovated kitchen (2022) with timber flooring and working coal range,
a dining room for 12, lounge with ornamental fireplace, and a sunlit veranda with sweeping estuary views. A separate
owners’ home at the rear provides privacy, while a charming sleepout offers extra guest space. Established orchards
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a family home, multigenerational living, or high-quality workers’ accommodation. Lifestyle, income potential, and
timeless character make this a truly distinctive offering.
bayleys.co.nz/5529616
3,829 sqm 5 2
For Sale by Deadline Private Treaty
(unless sold prior)
12pm, Thu 19 Mar 2026
3 Deans Avenue, Chch
View 1-1.30pm Sun 1 Mar or by appointment
Peter Foley 021 754 737
peter.foley@bayleys.co.nz
WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

10 | Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 NEWS
starnews.co.nz
Cooking school couple make a culinary
splash aboard luxurious cruise ship
Lou and Ant Bentley’s Akaroa
Cooking School is a popular
destination for luxury cruise ship
passengers. They spent eight
days on board a luxury cruise
ship, teaching passengers how to
cook and promoting Kiwi cuisine.
Kees Chalmers reports
Lou and Ant Bentley never
expected their dishes to feature
on the menu of one of the world’s
most luxurious cruise ships
when they opened a cooking
school in Akaroa 17 years ago.
“It has far exceeded any of our
expectations and what we ever
thought was possible in opening
a little cooking school in the middle
of an extinct volcano,” said
Lou.
For eight days this month, the
couple worked as guest chefs on
the Seabourn Sojourn, a 450-
guest ultra-luxury cruise ship
with a crew of 338, during the
New Zealand leg of its five-month
trip around the world.
The Seabourn Sojourn is a sixstar
cruise liner. Passengers pay
$420 to $2268 a night to stay on
the ship.
It has been stopping in Akaroa
for the past 12 years. The couple
have taught passengers to cook
on excursions to the Akaroa
Cooking School and formed a
relationship with the crew.
“We have had some really good
feedback from them. I think they
love the whole paddock-to-plate
offering that we have at the cooking
school,” Lou said.
Then Seabourn enrichment
programme manager, Marc
Thompson, got in touch with Lou
and Ant in February last year to
ask if they would join the crew as
guest chefs.
“We jumped at the chance and
said ‘yes we would love to’.”
The couple were the only guest
chefs on board from February
8-11.
Lou, 50, and Ant, 55, worked in
investment banking in London
for a decade before returning to
New Zealand about 20 years ago
to pursue cooking careers.
“We were wanting a complete
change of lifestyle and to do
something we were passionate
about,” Lou said.
She trained at the New Zealand
School of Food and Wine in Auckland
and worked at restaurants
and catering companies for two
years before opening the school.
They were raising two children
– Oscar and Chloe, now 17 and 19
– when they considered starting
the school. Lou decided working
long hours as a restaurant chef
did not give her time with the
family.
The couple had previously
visited the Chiang Mai Cookery
School in Thailand, which
became the inspiration for their
own venture.
“We thought ‘let’s do it in
Akaroa’, somewhere beautiful
where our children can have an
amazing lifestyle, close enough to
Christchurch so guests can get to
us, but somewhere a little bit off
the beaten track,” Lou said.
“People could come for a
weekend, go to a cooking class
and be reinvigorated with food,
wine, the seaside and everything
Akaroa has to offer.”
Lou said their cooking class
experience starts with tea and
pastries in the morning before
the guests help create a fivecourse
meal, simple enough to
make at home.
They encourage their guests
to grow their own veges or buy
Passengers pay $420 to $2268 a night to stay on the 450-guest Seabourn Sojourn, a
six-star luxury cruise ship.
Ant and Lou Bentley host a live cooking workshop on the Seabourn Sojourn. The couple’s Akaroa Salmon tartare with wasabi
mayonaise (below left) and their crab cakes with a lime and caper aioli proved popular with cruise passengers.
“Stepping on board
was like walking into a
different world, you felt
like you left reality and
you were in this bubble.”
Lou Bentley
food from local farmers’ markets,
butchers and fishmongers to
make restaurant-quality meals.
Lou loved food from an early
age, growing up on a farm in
Oxford, her family would always
eat home-killed meat and fruit
and vegetables from her father’s
garden.
“Fresh food was just an everyday
part of life for me,” she said.
Ant grew up in Auckland and
spent his childhood summers on
Waiheke Island. He spent winters
on his relatives' farms in the Wairarapa,
where he developed an
understanding of where his food
came from and a love for seafood.
Ant and Lou initially bonded
over their shared passion for food
when they met in London in 1996.
They would spend weekends
buying fresh produce from local
markets and turn it into dishes to
serve at dinner parties.
Even when Lou was working in
investment banking, cooking was
always her dream job. She would
attend cooking classes in the
evening to learn as much as she
could about food.
“It was always the idea that
when we came home we would
follow our passion,” she said.
Their cooking school business
has taken them around the world,
from being invited to demonstrations
at food and wine festivals
in Niue to taking annual culinary
tours to Italy.
They have published two cookbooks
– Fresh from Akaroa and
Akaroa Cooking School.
Travel guide Lonely Planet even
named the school the fourth best
place in the world to learn how to
cook local cuisine.
“I think the best thing about it
is the people that we’ve met. We
have just made the most incredible
connection with so many
people from all over the world,”
said Lou.
The couple share the cooking at
home and an Asian stir-fry dish is
their go-to meal.
Their knowledge and skills in
the kitchen have been passed
down to their two children who
also love to cook.
The Seabourn’s guest enrichment
programme features
lectures and workshops from
experts in their field. The couple
hosted live cooking demonstrations,
showcased New Zealand
food and served dishes to the
audience directly.
At night, they would socialise
with passengers in the restaurant
and offer insights into how their
dishes were made.
Lou said it was fascinating to
see what life on board the ship
was like, such as how the kitchen
operates and the preparation that
goes into serving more than 400
people a day.
“Stepping on board was like
walking into a different world,
you felt like you left reality and
you were in this bubble,” she said.
There were about 30 chefs on
board who met with the executive
chef at 7.30am every day for
a briefing on the menu, which
included 12-15 dishes.
They would then go to the
storerooms and grab all the ingredients
they needed and prepare
dishes for the following day,
ensuring they are always a day
ahead of themselves.
The chefs got a break from
2-4pm and worked again until
10pm. This was their routine over
four months without a day off.
“It was an environment we’ve
never ever seen before and probably
would never see again other
than on a cruise ship,” she said.
Life as a guest chef was more
laid back. Lou and Ant would join
the rest of the team for the briefing
and explain to them how they
want their curated dishes to be
produced.
“We would usually be in the
kitchen for the morning and then
if we were doing a lunch service,
we would be in the dining room
at lunch, we were making sure
each dish looked beautiful and we
would go out and introduce it to
the guests,” she said.
“But otherwise we were able to
have some free time on board.”
She said it was incredible to rub
shoulders with the other chefs
and learn how they operate.
“The calibre of the chefs on
board was phenomenal, seeing
how much they did in advance,
how they prepared the food, it
was a really eye-opening experience,”
she said.
One of the highlights was
learning the executive chef’s
grandmother’s pâté en croûte
recipe – a traditional French dish
consisting of a mixture of veal,
mushrooms and pistachios baked
inside a crisp pastry shell.
The couple’s dishes were on the
menu for five of the eight nights
to highlight local produce, namely
Akaroa Salmon.
They did a salmon tartare,
lamb rack with a kumara puree
and beetroot relish, a heirloom
tomato salad using mozzarella
cheese from the Nelson market
and a spiced Asian beef cheek.
Their most popular dish was
the crispy crab cakes with a lime
caper aioli, which was kept on the
menu for four nights. The head
chef even asked for the recipe.
“We were just beaming with
pride that our dishes were of that
quality and the feedback we were
getting from the guests on board
was phenomenal,” she said.
Since returning to Akaroa, Lou’s
inbox has been full of requests
from guests who want the recipes
they ate on board.
“There are a few adventures
you do in life and you just go
‘that’s gonna take a lot of topping’.
I think it's definitely one of those,”
she said.
Lou hopes she and Ant are
invited back onto the ship next
year and would love to work the
European leg of the tour as well.

starnews.co.nz
Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 | 11

12 | Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 starnews.co.nz
NEWS
Decades of camaraderie, rescue
callouts with the coastguard
John Atkins has been a volunteer
at Coastguard Sumner for
the past 30 years and has no
plans of stopping. The 77-yearold
Mt Pleasant resident tells
Kees Chalmers about his most
memorable rescue, how to stay
safe on the water and what has
kept him going
​What is it about being part of the
coastguard that has kept you there for
so many years?
I think probably the
camaraderie and the
friendships you make along
the way, we’re a great group
and always looking after each
other’s backs. I’m also a keen
boatie so it’s always nice to get
out on the water.
How did you get involved with
Coastguard Sumner?
I had a friend whose
father was in it for many
years, Peter Bradley, and he said
to me 30-odd years ago ‘you’re
a boatie, why don’t you come
down and try joining?’ It was
the Sumner Lifeboat back then,
so I went down and of course in
those days there was not much
training, they just throw you on
a boat and away you went. You
gradually pick up everything.
What is it about being on the water that
you love?
I don’t know really. I just
love being out on the water,
fishing or cruising around. I did
sail competitively many years
ago. I was just crew on trailer
sailers (keelboats designed for
easy towing) on a Saturday in
Lyttelton.
When did you start sailing?
I was in the sixth form
(Linwood High School). I
remember going out with a
mate when we were supposed
to be studying for a university
entrance exam. We didn’t pass
but we still turned out alright.
In my mid 30s I had a sailing
boat which I actually built, an
18 foot trailer sailer. The first
time I took it out I forgot to
seal the keel and it half sunk in
Lyttelton Harbour which was
a bit of a joke. I sold it not long
after that. I had a young family
who didn’t take much to sailing
so I decided I would rather have
a boat with a motor on it. You
push a button and away you
go. I've had jet boats, I've had
everything. You name it, I've
done it.
Tell me about your family life?
Me and my first wife, we were
together for 27 years and split
up 16 years ago. I had a couple
of step daughters and one of my
own. I have a partner now, Terri
Somerville, and we’ve been
together for 15 years and live
in Mt Pleasant. We met through
work, she was a flower grower
and I ran the auctions. She’s
got two girls as well so it’s quite
an extended family. They’re all
great kids and we still keep in
touch.
John Atkins next to Coastguard Sumner’s Hamilton Jet rescue boat. The jet can be used in breaking surf, river mouth bars,
and along rocky shorelines.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN
What different roles have you had with
coastguard?
I started out as a crew
member, then I got my
coastguard skipper’s ticket
which I did for 10 years, that
expired about four years ago.
Then I became qualified crew.
That means I can go on our boats
and do things I used to do as
skipper, but I’m not in charge of
the boat anymore.
There was a celebration in October,
recognising your 30 years in Coastguard
Sumner. What was that like?
I don’t know where the years
have gone to be honest. I still
love it, I still enjoy teaching
people the skills I’ve learnt
over the years. But it was great,
there’s not too many of us that
get to 30 years, so it was good.
But it’s done now, so I’ll just
carry on. Maybe I might get
another five years if I’m lucky; if
I’m still fit I’ll keep going.
Do you plan to retire anytime soon?
No, not really, there’s always
something for me to do. I’ve
been spending a lot of time
on the radios in the comms
room, also launching boats and
retrieving them, there’s always a
lot of work there.
What rescue stands out the most over
the years?
There was one incident when
they were doing the pipeline
for the sewage ponds. I’m going
Coastguard Sumner teams up with the Taylors Mistake and Sumner surf life
saving clubs for rescue drills.
back maybe 20 years when
they did that. Their boat, a big
aluminium boat capsized coming
into the slipway at Sumner in
the late morning. The crew were
tipped out and they managed to
make it to shore. The alarm went
and I was skippering Caroline
Nicholson (a rigid inflatable
boat). There was a little bit of
breaking from the shore that I
seem to remember, but it wasn’t
too bad. We threw a tow rope
on it as it was getting washed on
to the rocks, it was almost right
up against them. We managed
to hold it off before a crane
managed to drag it off. If they
hadn’t before the next tide it
would’ve gotten smashed on to
the rocks, but it worked out.
What tips do you have for beach-goers
and boaties looking to stay safe on the
water?
If you’re on a boat, you must
wear a life jacket – that could save
your life. Obviously learn to swim,
make sure you’re a good strong
swimmer if you’re going out on
the water and swim between the
flags. If you’re surfing just watch
that rip at Scarborough when
there’s an outgoing tide.
​Do you feel rewarded by the work you do?
Does it feel good to be appreciated by the
people you are helping?
It does I suppose in some ways,
but you get used to it. You do your
job and that’s about it. But it is a
good feeling, especially if we’ve
rescued or saved somebody.
What did you do for work? How did
you juggle it with volunteering at the
coastguard?
All my life I’ve been in sales
and marketing, my last position
was South Island manager of
FloMax, where I was for 20-odd
years. If we got a call out and
the pager went off, I used to
drop everything and rush down
to Sumner and the company
understood that. I retired nine
years ago when I was 68.
How do you spend your time when you are
not on duty now you are retired?
I’m busy doing renovations
to the house. I do a bit of walking,
we have a group called the
Sumner Youth Group. (Naming)
it was a bit of a joke to be honest,
the average age of the group
would be in the 70s. There’s about
20 of us and we walk every day of
the week, so that keeps me fit.
What skills do you need to possess and
learn to be an effective member of the
coastguard team?
Obviously you need to
be serious about it, be a people’s
person, be willing to learn and
follow instructions. I would
encourage any young person
that’s interested in boating to
do a boating course and decide
whether they want to join
coastguard.

starnews.co.nz
PUZZLES Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 | 13
All Over Residential | All Over the Bays
WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
CROSSWORD
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8
9 10
11 12
13 14 15
16 17 18 19
20
439
SUDOKU
Every row, column and box should
contain the digits 1 to 9.
WordBuilder
WORDBUILDER
D A D
N R E
6
339 339
N R E
words of three or more letters,
How
including
many
plurals,
words
can you
of
make
three
from
or
the
more
six
letters, using each letter only once? No foreign
How words or beginning with a capital are
from many the words six letters, of three using or more each letters, only
allowed. There's at least one six-letter word.
including once? plurals, can you make from the six
TODAY
letters,
No Good words
using 18 each
beginning Very letter Good only 22 with
once? Excellent a capital
No 26 foreign
are
words or words beginning with a capital are
allowed. Solution 338: There’s are, arm, awe, at least ear, era, one err, mar, six-letter mare,
allowed. maw, mew, There's ram, rare, at least raw, rawer, one six-letter ream, rear, rearm, word.
word. REWARM, war, ware, TODAY warm, WARMER, wear.
Good 18 Very Good 22 Excellent 26
letters, including plurals, can you make
Solution 338: are, arm, awe, ear, era, err, mar, mare,
maw, mew, ram, rare, raw, rawer, ream, rear, rearm,
REWARM, war, ware, warm, WARMER, wear.
21 22 23
24 25
26 27
Across
1. Cut in half (6)
4. Lucky charm, talisman (6)
9. Delight (4)
10. Improve, make better (10)
11. Person owing money (6)
12. Follower (8)
13. Soldier of fortune (9)
15. Sacred (4)
16. Pole (4)
17. Debauchery (9)
21. Figure of speech (8)
22. Help (6)
24. Certainly (10)
25. Spoken (4)
26. Bulk liquid carrier (6)
27. Middle (6)
Decoder
Down
1. Accept as true (7)
2. Fragrance (5)
3. Humiliation (7)
5. Among (6)
6. Meat eater (9)
7. Completely (7)
8. Compassionate (6-7)
14. Halt (9)
16. Stop from happening (7)
18. Examine in detail (7)
19. Waterfall (7)
20. Prosper (6)
23. Portly (5)
Crossword
Across: 1. Bisect, 4. Mascot, 9. Glee, 10. Ameliorate, 11. Debtor, 12.
Disciple, 13. Mercenary, 15. Holy, 16. Post, 17. Decadence, 21. Metaphor,
22. Assist, 24. Definitely, 25. Oral, 26. Tanker, 27. Centre.
Down: 1. Believe, 2. Scent, 3. Chagrin, 5. Amidst, 6. Carnivore, 7. Totally,
8. Tender-hearted, 14. Cessation, 16. Prevent, 18. Analyse, 19. Cascade,
20. Thrive, 23. Stout.
WordBuilder
Add, adder, and, are, dad, dan, DANDER, dare, dared, darn, DARNED,
dead, dean, dear, den, dread, ear, earn, end, era, nard, near, nerd, rad, ran,
rand, read, red, rend.
DECODER
Each number represents a different letter of the alphabet. Write the
given letters into all squares with matching numbers. Now work out
which letters are represented by the other numbers.
All puzzles copyright
T H E P U Z Z L E C O M P A N Y
www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz
Sudoku
To go in the draw, contact Bayleys Canterbury for a complimentary
appraisal of your property before Friday 17 April 2026. Each prize
pack includes one of three family passes (2 adult tickets and 2 child
tickets) to the ANZAC weekend of rugby (Fri 24 to Sun 26 Apr 2026).*
WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 | *TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

14 | Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 starnews.co.nz
MOTORING
Honda finally
takes the EV
plunge with
launch of e:N1
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
Rating out of 10: Performance 8, Handling 7, Build Quality 7, Ride Comfort 6, Passenger and load space 7, Value
for money 7, Fuel Economy – On road test average consumption 5.9L/100km, ANCAP crash rating, Not available
Price: $52,000
Overall points out of 10: 7
Honda, along with Toyota, were
early adopters of hybrid petrolelectric
technology over two
decades ago, yet surprisingly,
Honda has been slow to roll out
mainstream EVs in its model
range.
Over the years, the company
has dabbled on the EV fringes
with quirky, niche offerings,
but nothing targeting the
mainstream EV market – until
now. The e:N1 is a compact
urban SUV with an uncanny
resemblance to the Honda HR-V
hybrid.
Outwardly they may look like
twins, but underneath they are
very different. The e:N1 rides
on a dedicated electric vehicle
platform, a first for Honda,
which will underpin the next
generation of its EVs, with
plenty more expected over the
coming years.
Although the powertrain
is fresh and groundbreaking
for Honda, the vehicle retains
the DNA that has made the
brand successful. Its styling is
sleek, if rather generic, with
an understated appeal. It
attempts to look snappy with
LED headlights, black-cut alloy
wheels, and a full-width LED
taillight strip.
Alongside smooth, whisperquiet
electric operation, the
e:N1 holds appeal in a crowded
EV market, brimming with
well-equipped and competitively
priced Chinese models.
This vehicle isn’t about
market domination – its single
model line-up makes that clear.
Instead, it gives existing Honda
customers contemplating an
EV switch the option to stay
with the brand rather than look
elsewhere.
Priced at $52,000, the e:N1 I
test-drove is sharply positioned
against its main rivals, carrying
a $6,500 premium over the HR-V
hybrid. Peace of mind comes
with a five-year unlimited
kilometre warranty and
160,000km on the battery.
Owners get cleaner, greener,
lower-emission motoring, and
punchier performance than
the HR-V hybrid, thanks to a
substantial 68.8kWh battery.
When connected to a DC fast
charger, it can recharge from
30% to 80% in about 40 minutes.
The single electric motor and
battery deliver 150kW of power
and 310Nm of torque, enough to
sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 7.8
seconds – sure to put a smile on
most drivers’ faces.
Three drive modes – ECON
for efficiency, NORMAL for
daily driving, and SPORT for
performance – add versatility.
A single-speed transmission
performs well, with no
complaints during my test.
In terms of performance, this
is one of the more satisfying EVs
I’ve driven in this price range
recently, impressing with its allround
competence.
The e:N1’s hefty battery
makes it a bit of a porker at
1660kg, about 300kg heavier
than the HR-V hybrid (1380kg).
Honda claims an optimistic
all-electric range of up to
500km. In real-world testing,
with two people aboard most
of the time and light loads, I
achieved closer to 350km.
The cabin is roomy, with good
load space accessible via a wide
rear hatch, and ample head, leg,
and shoulder room for front
and rear passengers.
Unlike the HR-V hybrid, which
has only two rear seat belts,
the e:N1 accommodates three,
making it a true five-seater. The
interior combines functionality,
comfort, and convenience,
featuring an 8-way poweradjustable
driver’s seat and
dual-zone digital climate control
with dust and pollen filters.
A 15.1” touchscreen serves as
the central hub for connectivity.
The screen is split into three
zones: the top for infotainment
and cameras, the middle for
vehicle settings, and the lower
for climate controls. It also
supports wireless Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto.
Honda Sensing Suite packs
a range of smart safety tech,
including lane departure
warning, collision mitigation
braking system, blind spot
monitoring, adaptive cruise
control, and low-speed
autonomous emergency
braking.
The system provides audio
and visual warnings before
automatically applying brakes
if a collision is imminent. A tyre
deflation warning system adds
further reassurance.
The firmer suspension took
some adjusting to and wasn’t
always smooth over rough
surfaces. Steering is adequate
but could benefit from more
road feel, particularly during
spirited driving on undulating
terrain. Body roll is noticeable
compared with its larger sibling,
the ZR-V.
Overall, ride and handling
are competent for a compact
EV. Being early in its model life,
there is ample scope for Honda
to refine these areas.
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New ZealaNd’s
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for lovers of
yesterday’s cars
classicdriver.co.nz
0800 624 295

starnews.co.nz
REAL ESTATE
Panoramic perfection in
every direction
44 Panorama Road, Sumner
Auction: Thursday 12 March from 4pm,
Sumner Surf Life Saving Club (unless sold prior)
4 bedrooms, 3 living, 3 bathrooms, 1 study,
3 car garaging, www.rwferrymead.co.nz/OPA24262
Open Homes: Wed 11-11.30am Sat & Sun 3-3.30pm
REALTY/CLASSIFIEDS Bay Harbour News, February 26, 2026 | 15
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Offering a cinematic sweep of spectacular
views from the sought after slopes of Clifton
Hill, this property leads with lifestyle and
exceeds every expectation with its architectural
edge and entertainment x-factor.
Designed and completed in 2014 by Wilson &
Hill Architects with meticulous planning and
engineering. Every detail has been considered
to achieve perfect form and function in perfect
harmony. Its 444sqm approx floor plan
captures an extraordinary panorama, stunning
by day and spectacular at night from the
Sumner surf line to the distant Kaikoura
ranges, a view that stays in play from room
to room alongside all day sun.
Highly specified throughout, the grand copper
entrance door gives a direct line to the breathtaking
ocean views, while a solid American
Oak staircase, in-built cabinetry, over height
ceilings and expansive glazing deliver an
immediate architectural impact.
Arranged across two levels, the top floor
presents an elevated accommodation lineup,
with four bedrooms and three bathrooms,
including two ensuites and a Jack-and-Jill
layout, ensuring a sense of space and privacy
for extended family and guests. The primary suite
enjoys direct access to a private rooftop deck.
The lower-level shifts into full entertaining
mode, opening with a lobby-style gallery
before expanding into multiple north-facing
living zones. With three distinct social settings,
there is a space and place for every occasion.
The high-performance kitchen sets the standard,
featuring stone surfaces, a premium suite of
appliances and a substantial butler's pantry with
additional dishwasher, suited to hosting at any level.
Outdoors, the home extends into an all-season
environment, bringing together a heated, salt
water infinity lap pool, a spa pool, outdoor
shower, timber and tiled terraces, an inbuilt
bbq and a louvred terrace featuring a gas fire
that keeps the alfresco domain functioning
across every season and well into the evening.
Climate control through ducted heating, a gas
fire, underfloor heating on the lower level and
the bathrooms, while an integrated sound system
heightens the atmosphere indoors and
carries the sound through speaker to the outdoor
alfresco area. A separate laundry, guest
toilet, a purpose-built office and a lined triple-
car garage and generous off-street parking add
definition and depth to the 1068sqm section.
Minutes from popular Sumner village life yet
elevated for escape, the sale is driven by a
decision to move closer to family, presenting a
coastal home defined by scale, sophistication
and an uninterrupted seascape.
The Standevens
M. 0274 304 691
Office: (03) 384 4179
Ray White Ferrymead
Prier Manson Ltd.
(Licenced REAA 2008)
TRADES & SERVICES
TRADES & SERVICES
Classifieds
WANTED
SITUATIONS VACANT
Your local professional
FOR ALL YOUR
PLUMBING, GAS
& DRAINAGE
• Bathroom repairs • Renovation • Leaks
• Blocked drains • Gas and drainage
WINDOW TINTING
tintawindow
advanced film solutions
99% uv block
fade protection
heat control
reduce glare
25 Years Experience
privacy films
frosting designs
non-darkening films
Workmanship Guaranteed
Lifetime Warranties on Most Films
UV
block
Free Quotes Canterbury and Districts
03 365 3653 0800 368 468
GIG POSTERS wanted
by local and overseas
bands. Excellent prices
paid especially for hand
pulled or silk screen
posters. Will pay $1000
for Suburban Reptiles
Sat Night. Any amount.
Dave 021 222 6144,
Pennylane Records,
Sydenham, Christchurch,
7 days
PENNYLANE RECORDS
always buying records.
Excellent prices paid.
430 Colombo Street,
Sydenham, 366 3278,
open 7 days
TOOLS, Garden, garage,
saw benches, lathes.
Cash buyer. Phone 355-
2045.
TOOLS, Garden, garage,
saw benches, lathes.
Cash buyer. Phone 355-
2045.
DRIVER
We Deliver To Every Letterbox in the South Island
We are seeking a driver to add additional
support to our existing distribution team.
This is up to approx 10 hours per week
Thursday/Friday with the possibility of
additional hours. You will need a clean NZ
drivers licence class 1, be physically fit, and
able to work from a detailed run sheet.
To apply email:
mark.kelly@mainlanddistribution.co.nz
Phone: 376 5322 or email
chcheast@laserplumbing.co.nz
ARBOR-TEK Complete BRICKLAYER George
Tree Care, Tree Lockyer, Governors Bay.
maintenance, felling, UK trained with over 40
hedges, shelterbelts, years exp. Smaller jobs
stump grinding, & brick repairs preferred.
powerline clearing. No No job too small. 027
job too big or small. Call 684 4046 E:
03 349 7143
georgelockyer@xtra.co.
nz
BATHROOM TILER wet
area waterproofing,
underfloor heating, soap BUILDER New builds,
boxes, old to new, for alterations, decks,
best results, call Devon fencing. 30 years in the
on 021 375-888 or 03 trade has given me
329 5511
ability to build to a high
standard. Free quotes.
BRICK & BLOCK LAYER
Ph Brent 027 241 7471.
LICENSED, 30 years plus
experience. Specialising CARPET LAYING Exp.
in ALL jobs - no job too Repairs, uplifting,
small. Based in Mt relaying, restretching.
Pleasant. Ph Jason 027 Phone John on 0800
287 8960 or 03 384 003 181, 027 240 7416
1983.
jflattery@xtra.co.nz
TRADES & SERVICES
CHIM Chim Chimney
Sweeps - We'll sweep
your logburner's flue,
check firebricks, baffles,
airtubes and controls.
We sweep coal-ranges
and any sized open fire.
We quote and undertake
repairs, flue extensions
and install cowls and
bird netting. 0800 224
464 www.chimchim.nz
ELECTRICIAN - Fast,
Great service, everything
electrical. M.E Electrical
Mika 022 511 4250.
PLUMBER Do you need
a reliable plumber?
Quality and timely
services. No job too big
or small. Phone V
Plumbing Ltd. 022 351
4125
WANTED
7”, 45’s, singles, eps
records wanted, any
amount top prices paid.
Pennylane Records, 430
Colombo Street,
Sydenham, ring Dave
021 222 6144, 7 days
ANY VIDEO GAMES
wanted play station,
xbox, nintendo, sega,
atari, vintage etc
Pennylane, Sydenham,
Christchurch, 7 days,
021 222 6144
MUSIC TAPES wanted
by local and overseas
bands, especially Flying
Nun, Xpressway, Onset
Offset Failsafe, Private
press, etc any amount,
excellent prices paid.
Pennylane Records, 021
222 6144, Sydenham,
Christchurch, 7 days.
Join the Ambulance Membership
Start your year of care today
Membership benefits include:
A FREE 111 emergency triage with
over-the-phone medical assessments
and assistance and/or
A FREE emergency medical
attendence if required and/or
A FREE emergency transport to
hospital or medical clinic if required
A FREE attendance and/or transport
for accident-related injuries more
than 24 hours old if required.
Joining is easy
Simply visit stjohn.org.nz/membership
or call 0800 ST JOHN (0800 785 646).
Individual Membership
1 person
Joint Membership
2 people
Household Membership
3–10 people
Emergency ambulance
fee for non Ambulance
Membership members
Price
$70
p.a.
$96
p.a.
$115
p.a.
$125
per call out
Prices include GST. Membership benefits do
not apply retrospectively. Prices effective at
November 2025 and are subject to change.
Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.
Please refer to stjohn.org.nz/membership-terms.

NEW
FINISHER
MEDAL
FOR EVERYONE!
15 MARCH 2026
ENTER
A TEAM
BOOK A
HOSPITALITY
SITE
12KM OR 6KM
CHOOSE YOUR
DISTANCE
TOGETHER
ADULT ENTRIES AVAILABLE AT
CANTERBURY FRESHCHOICE STORES
While stocks last.
OR ENTER ONLINE AT WWW.CITY2SURF.CO.NZ
WIN!
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GREAT PRIZES
SUPPORTING CHARITY

Thursday, 26 February 2026
Connecting Your Local Community
starnews.co.nz
WATERS EDGE
WHERE WATERFRONT PRESTIGE
MEETS PROVEN SUCCESS
Waters Edge in Ferrymead is quickly establishing itself as one of
Christchurch’s most desirable waterfront developments.
With 50% of residences already sold and homeowners now settling
in, this exclusive address is gaining strong momentum.
Prime Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 Lab Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

A LIFESTYLE DEFINED BY LOCATION
Wake each morning to uninterrupted water views, watch the tides shift in changing light, and enjoy a lifestyle that feels a
world away — yet remains only minutes from central Christchurch.
Set alongside the Te Ara Ihutai Coastal Pathway, Waters Edge provides direct access to walking and cycling trails that trace the
Avon Heathcote Estuary through to Sumner Beach, framed by the Port Hills.
For those drawn to the water, paddleboarding, sailing and windsurfing are right on your doorstep. Nearby wetlands offer peaceful
birdlife encounters, while Ferrymead Golf, local cafés and waterfront dining provide relaxed leisure options.
Everyday convenience is easy, with Ferrymead’s shopping, supermarket and services just a short stroll. Sumner village and The
Tannery’s boutique retail, hospitality and movie theatres are just minutes away.
CONTEMPORARY COASTAL
ARCHITECTURE ON FREEHOLD TITLES
Premium Tidal View residences have achieved sales exceeding $1.7 million, demonstrating the demand for absolute
waterfront living. The elevated Port Hills collection offers exceptional value, with homes priced from $850,000.
Designed by MAP Architecture, Waters Edge showcases refined contemporary coastal design. Each townhouse sits on its own
generous freehold title — a rare offering that provides genuine ownership, privacy and space.
Expansive glazing, oversized balconies and carefully planned living zones maximise natural light and outlooks, capturing
sweeping views of the estuary, Port Hills and distant Southern Alps.
Prime Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 Lab Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

FUTURE-PROOF IN DESIGN, QUALITY,
COMFORT AND FLEXIBLE LIVING
BUYERS CAN CHOOSE
FROM A RANGE OF
INTELLIGENTLY
DESIGNED LAYOUTS:
Tidal View Townhouses (5 x Residences – 192m²)
• Double internal garaging
• Expansive sun-filled living areas
• Large balcony
• Three bedrooms (master with ensuite)
• Two bathrooms, three toilets
• Townhouses No. 2 & 7 have Lifts installed
• Priced from $1,625,000
Port Hills Townhouses (3 x Residences – 161m²)
• Tandem garaging with utility space
• Light-filled open-plan living
• Exterior balcony
• Flexible, two or three-bedroom configurations
• Two bathrooms, three toilets
• Priced from $895,000 (for a 2 Bdrm townhouse)
Port Hills Townhouses (1 x Residence – 141m²)
• Single garage with utility area
• Bright living and dining zones
• Balcony
• Two generous bedrooms
• Two bathrooms, three toilets
• Priced at $850,000
Every home reflects high standards of craftsmanship, including
oak timber flooring, engineered stone benchtops, designer tiled
bathrooms and durable concrete block lower levels. Standing
Seam cladding with Colorsteel Maxx ensures architectural
integrity and longevity.
Landscaping has been thoughtfully designed with native planting
and natural stone to complement the shoreline setting.
Prime Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 Lab Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008

SECURE YOUR
WATERFRONT
FUTURE
Waters Edge presents a rare opportunity to secure a
luxury freehold home in one of Christchurch’s most
desirable coastal settings.
Whether as a permanent residence, lock-and-leave
retreat or investment, Waters Edge delivers location,
design excellence and enduring value.
Now is the time to secure
your place in Christchurch’s
benchmark for modern
waterfront living.
Contact Greg for more information.
Greg Powell
Director and Licensed Agent REAA 2008
AREINZ, Dip Bus (RM)
M: 027 274 6157
E: greg@primerealty.co.nz
DISPLAY: 5 Tidal View, Ferrymead
OPEN: Sat, Sun & Wed 1.00pm-3.00pm
INFO: www.labrealty.co.nz/watersedge
PRICED FROM: $850,000 to $1,695,000
WATERS
EDGE
Prime Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008 Lab Realty Ltd Licensed REAA 2008