What a fantastic summer it’s been on the Shore. After such a tough year it has been great to relax, do nothing, read a book, watch Netflix or Neon… ahhh bliss! We thought we would talk to some prominent North Shore people about their summer break and provide our readers with some tips for great books and what to watch as this summer drifts on through the challenges of Omicron etc…
Netflix and Michael Cullen’s book have kept Shanan occupied this summer.
Shanan Halbert is the local Member of Parliament for Northcote and has lived in the area for over a decade, buying his first home in Birkenhead. The Labour party member chats to Channel Mag about what he did over the summer break including reading Michael Cullen’s Labour Saving and watching the Aretha Franklin biopic on Netflix.
Channel Magazine: What have you been up to this summer?
Shanan Halbert: I’ve really appreciated spending time at home this summer, getting my garden back into shape, hosting my Mum and making some great food.
CM: What has been your favourite read over the last few months?
SH: Michael Cullen’s Labour Saving was hard to put down, it’s a great read from a man who contributed so much to New Zealand.
CM: Why did you choose Michael’s book?
SH: Policies Michael championed when he was the Finance Minister made a big impact on my life, such as KiwiSaver which enabled my partner and I to buy our first house in Birkenhead. All politicians want to make a difference, and Michael certainly did, so I was interested in how he went about translating his values into positive change.
CM: Have you read or watched anything else during the break that you could recommend to our readers?
SH: I loved the Respect biopic on Netflix. Aretha Franklin was an incredible singer and songwriter whose music I’ve always loved.
CM: What’s your favourite local bookstore or publication and why?
SH: I like to support local, and I find it hard to go past Paper Plus who have just moved into a new larger store in the Highbury Shopping Centre.
CM: I am looking forward to 2022 because…
SH: I signed up to going to Parliament to be part of positive change for our community and after a year spent combatting the virus, I’m keen to get on with delivering more local priorities like better transport, protecting our environment and new trades training opportunities.
Succession, American politics and Hugh Grant’s new film are all high on her list.
Erica Stanford is the National Party Member for East Coast Bays, an area she has lived in for over 40 years, having attended Rangitoto College. She is a proud mum of two and says she’s heavily invested in her local community. Erica talks to Channel Mag about her recent trip to Coromandel with her husband and kids, and what she’s been reading and watching over the break.
Channel Magazine: What have you been up to this summer?
Erica Stanford: I had a wonderful break spending time with my husband and two kids on the Coromandel. I managed to get sun, sand, swimming and a pile of reading all done!
CM: What has been your favourite watch or read over the last few months?
ES: During the last lock-down my husband and I started and finished watching Succession on Neon. It is a brilliant show with thoroughly dislikeable but incredible characters. I also started reading Nikki Haley's book, With All Due Respect. Nikki is a former US Governor and former Ambassador to the United Nations.
CM: Why did you choose that Nikki Haley’s book?
ES: Nikki Haley is quite likely to be the next Republican nominee for President and potentially the first (elected) woman President. I wanted to read her book to get a better understanding of a woman I greatly admire for her strength and fortitude during her time at the UN. It was fascinating to read accounts of how Nikki came up against men who thought they could push her around - including former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a media who treat women very differently, and foreign diplomats who had a great amount of respect for her – including the Russians.
CM: Have you read or watched anything else during the break that you could recommend to our readers?
ES: I can thoroughly recommend the movie, The Gentleman (Netflix). I was weary of a movie that had Hugh Grant with a Cockney accent, but he was absolutely brilliant, this is one of his best performances!
CM: What's your favourite local bookstore or publication and why?
ES: My 14-year-old daughter and I spend a lot of time at Whitcoulls in Albany Mall picking out books to keep her love of reading alive. They have a fantastic young adult section and a toy section to keep the little ones entertained.
CM: I am looking forward to 2022 because…
ES: I have recently been asked to take on the shadow education spokesperson role for National. I am looking forward to getting around the country to speak to parents, principals and educators to see how we can improve the numeracy, literacy and well-being of our children.
Why Kevin recommends Bloodlands and Elton John to readers
General Manager of Business North Harbour, Kevin O’Leary, spent the summer break in Auckland where he says he enjoyed some great family time after a busy 2021 supporting his local business community. Kevin recommends Bloodlands and a music autobiography to Channel readers and explains why he enjoyed them.
Channel Magazine: What have you been up to this summer?
Kevin O’Leary: I stayed in Auckland enjoying the weather, visiting some attractions and spending lots of time with my family.
CM: What has been your favourite watch over the last few months?
KO: My favourite watch was Bloodlands.
CM: Why did you choose Bloodlands?
KO: It’s a drama from the producers of Bodyguard and Line of Duty which are other excellent short series. The plot has never-ending twists and turns which continually prove you wrong just when you think you’ve cracked the case, or the bad guy is going to get caught.
CM: Have you read or watched anything else during the break that you could recommend to our readers?
KO: I read ‘Me’ which is Elton John’s autobiography, which as a fan of his music for many years I found very insightful and interesting.
CM: What’s your favourite local bookstore or publication and why?
KO: Channel magazine of course as it contains lots of useful local information.
CM: I am looking forward to 2022 because…
KO: It has to be better than 2021!!
What this local Devonport resident watched and read over the break.
Retired pharmacist and Stanley Point (Devonport) local, Don Barker, is a keen consumer of books, films and television. He spent the summer break at home with his wife Heather and enjoys regular swimming and golf. Don details why he’d recommend Succession (Neon) and The Nautical Chart book to Channel readers. Don also talks about his love of the local library and Paradox Books.
Channel Magazine: What have you been up to this summer?
Don Barker: We had a very quiet Christmas. I’ve been enjoying swims most days and some golf too, of course.
CM: What has been your favourite watch over the last few months?
DB: A watch has been Succession on Netflix. Horrible rich people who seemed to feel they deserved their private jets and excesses. A read has been The Nautical Chart. A novel of adventure translated from Spanish. A very good read from the Devonport Library.
CM: Have you read or watched anything else during the break that you could recommend to our readers?
DB: Watched Power of the Dog (Netflix and filmed in NZ). Beautiful scenery but a very slow-moving story.
CM: What’s your favourite local bookstore or publication and why?
DB: Paradox Books in Devonport has a great selection, but hard to beat the local Library too.
CM: I am looking forward to 2022 because…
DB: I am looking forward to this year with the hope that Covid can be sorted as we learn to live with it.
Day trips, Netflix and Metro Magazine have been on the agenda.
Ben Panettiere is the General Manager of Peugeot Citroen North Shore and an avid consumer of media. The self-confessed foodie has been day tripping over summer and tells Channel Mag about some of his trips away and why he recommends Maid on Netflix and Metro Magazine.
Channel Magazine: What have you been up to over the summer break?
Ben Panettiere: How good has this weather been right?! I took the opportunity to stay in Auckland while the rest of the population headed to the beaches, I did a couple of day trips to Waiheke and Matakana and it was so nice and quiet, lots of really good food and wine!
CM: What has been your favourite watch over the last few months?
BP: I was a bit late to the party on this one but ‘Succession’ on Neon was a standout for me, I managed to catch up on all three seasons in just a few weeks.
CM: Why did you choose Succession?
BP: It had been recommended several times and then I read a controversial article on one of the main characters, so I had to see it for myself. The dynamic of growing up in the family business all vying for the top job and then throw copious amounts of money and luxury like private planes and super yachts into the mix it made for lots of drama and mind games.
CM: Have you read or watched anything else during the break that you could recommend to our readers?
BP: ‘Maid’ (Netflix) was another great watch; it really delves into the short comings of the child welfare system and can be anxiety inducing at times.
CM: What’s your favourite local bookstore or publication and why?
BP: I very rarely make it into a bookstore these days, but I have been an avid reader of Metro Magazine since it was relaunched by an independent local owner – if you are a foodie like me, it’s a must read (just like Channel Mag haha!) with all the latest openings and reviews.
CM: I am looking forward to 2022 because…
BP: it is going to be a huge year for Peugeot Citroen North Shore that was established in 2019. We have experienced substantial growth in the past 12 months and with the launch of award winning electric and plug-in hybrid cars we are predicting another massive year ahead!
