Lyttelton Favourite Finds Its Feet Again

The Lyttelton Coffee Company is once again giving locals their daily fix of caffeine, as it returns to business after the 2011 earthquakes forced its doors to close.

The London Street hotspot was a favourite for locals before the deadly quakes forced it to close.

Even with the café out of action, they continued to provide for locals.

Manager Tessa Brodie said in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, they rescued the coffee machine from downstairs and provided free coffees for a couple of weeks.

“It was awesome to be able to do that for our community,” she said.

“Then when we set up a make-shift café in a garage, it became a meeting spot for everyone.”

The reopening was a long time coming, and the café relies on word of mouth to bring people back in.

That word seems to be paying off.

Lyttelton locals Melanie Betts and Brita Corbett say they had their noses pressed against the windows for about a year waiting for the time to come.

“There’s always been a café that people go to, but as the population grew this just became ‘the’ place,” Betts said.

The café isn’t a franchise, and that sees it serves a greater diversity of people, something that’s a big draw card according to Corbett.

“It’s a casual space, some big tables and some small. When you look around you don’t see anyone in suits, and that’s what Lyttelton is,” Corbett said.

Café owner Stephen Mateer is all about roasting good quality coffee. Blended with the quality service Lyttelton Coffee Company provides, and this local hotspot is well and truly back on its feet.

Community Spirit High In The East

Paul Zaanen’s vision is to build a vibrant, exciting culture amongst the New Brighton community.

So back in 2013 he initiated the New Brighton Business and Landowners Association.

When Zaanen moved to the seaside suburb after the earthquakes, he began managing a café and immediately noticed something needed to be done.

That’s when he started speaking with local councillor Peter Beck. They both decided more needed to be done in the New Brighton area.

From there Zaanen began putting a plan into action, sitting down in a local pub with other business people from the area and sketching out exactly what needed to happen.

“If it wasn’t for the buy in of all the groups of people, and the personalities and the community over the last two and a half years, we wouldn’t still be going,” he said.

But Zaanen still had to juggle his full time job managing a cafe, while trying to manage the Business and Landowners Association at the same time.

“I was going to all these council meetings, and pretty much trying to work while doing it,” he said.

“I kept having to leave work and answer phone calls, and leave work to go to these meetings about New Brighton and that’s when we knew we needed a permanent employee in place.”

It was started with the intention of rebuilding a commercial centre in New Brighton that everyone can be proud of, and that has full resident participation.

And the progress being made in New Brighton is becoming clearer.

It started with the markets. These used to happen every second weekend with anywhere from 15-30 stalls, although there was minimal interest.

So they decided to develop some strategies around the markets, and how they could expand them to bring back community interest. Now they happen every week.

“There’s now 35 stalls, it’s booked out for four months in advance and there’s guaranteed foot traffic of 500-1000 people every Saturday,” he said.

Zaanen wants to build on the fact that “New Brighton has a very proud history”.

This history goes back to when New Brighton was the only place in New Zealand that allowed Saturday trading. The area was swarming with people.

And that is what Zaanen’s main focus is- the people. For him, this is all about the residents.

“We work really strongly in the community sector here,” he said.

“I’m a big believer in trust. I trust the community [that they have the right intent] and in turn we’ve built up trust with the community.”

Zaanen ultimately took up the role to create a village centre where commerce and community meet in the middle. “It needs to benefit everyone”.

“We get to create something truly unique that the rest of the city is going to want to embrace,” he said.

But that is just another step.

Zaanen insists the vision for New Brighton must be shared across both the landowners and property developers, and the community.

It’s no secret the people of New Brighton like to be heard. When the Christchurch City Council asked for submissions on their Long Term Plan, over 40% of them came from one suburb- New Brighton.

But Zaanen insists that he does not want to create a Ferrymead type suburb.

“We don’t want boxes and car parks. We aren’t a retail centre and we don’t have an ambition to be a retail centre,” he said.

“Most of the Christchurch villages are dead… so for us we want to use what we have. We have 30km of beaches; we have estuaries, [and we have] forests. People want to live here.”

Zaanen says it is important for him to take his investment plans public, to gauge the communities opinion.

“If the community doesn’t like something, then they aren’t going to do it.”

“If you’re doing something [the community] don’t like, well then you’re not doing your job well, because it should be something that they like,” he said.

New Brighton’s future is in quality shape. Now it’s about taking it one step at a time to ensure the seaside suburb is back at its best, just as it should be.

“Brighton now has more of a voice, it has more participation, more people connecting and events and all of these good things happening and that really keeps you going.”

Linwood and Belfast See Out Rather Boring Draw..In The Rain

Linwood 12 (Pita Anae-Ah Sue, Johnny Mohu tries; Keneti Alatimu con) drew with Belfast 12 (Frank Havea, Noddy Vuidriketi tries; Varany Komaisavai con)

HT: 7-5 (Linwood)

Referee: N Ewins 

Sitting in the middle and bottom of the section two table respectively, this battle between Linwood and Belfast on a miserable Christchurch afternoon was more about pride than anything else.

The rain arrived just as play got underway, not that it dampened the attacking style of play both teams set out to emphasise.  Referee Ewins' whistle dominated the early plays of this game, as both sides shared equal possession but couldn't make the most of attacking opportunities.

Both teams set piece was poor as turnovers and injury substitutions became the norm throughout the first half, Linwood losing halfback Maia Gibbs for the game inside the opening 5mins.

Linwood had a handful of opportunities to score early, the wet ball clearly providing conundrums for the home side when it came to finishing off some nice attacking play. The continuous handling errors and lacklustre attack hardly gave the handful of spectators braving the rain anything to get excited about. 

Both sides weren't interested in taking three points in the first half, continuously opting to put the ball in touch and back their lineout. A tactic that proved useless until the 30th minute when Belfast open side Frank Havea bustled his way over the line for the game's first try. 

That was the spark that Linwood needed as they hit back almost immediately through hooker Pita Anae-Ah Sue, after some solid pick-and-go's from the forward pack to give the hosts a narrow 7-5 lead at the break. 

Both teams came out for the second half with more energy, but looking no warmer as the rain continued to fall. The kicking game was out for both sides, Varany Komaisavai camping Linwood back inside their own half with some precise tactical kicking. 

Linwood were managing to string phases together in the second half, but it would again be the wet ball that would put an end to any running rugby they tried to put together.

Belfast also managed to hold onto the ball for consecutive phases, and when they did they looked dangerous. Their forward packs’ work around the breakdown constantly allowed them to stay in strong attacking positions, but the wet ball was again too much to handle.

This game will hardly be remembered as being a grandiose advertisement for the game of rugby, but both sides did what they could in difficult conditions and the score line reflected just that. It was a game based around constant effort, with little reward to show for either side.

A try to Noddy Vuidriketi off a classy short ball from Vula Tufau with 10mins to go put Belfast in a strong position to finish this one off, strong defence all that would be required to hold Linwood out. But they couldn't, as an all in team maul from Linwood helped Johnny Mohu power over the line to level it up at 12 a piece. 

This meant an extra 10min of play, after constant Belfast attack couldn't break the deadlock. Extra time didn't help that either, and this one would end at 12-12.

Keneti Alatimu was a standout for Linwood as he directed play nicely and used his strong right boot to great effect, and Frank Havea caused problems all day for Linwood at the breakdown, while showing off his strong running game.  

Slow Start in 2014 For New Zealand Teams

In New Zealand, we are an odd bunch. More people can name the captain of the All Blacks than the leader of the Labour party. It’s David Cunliffe by the way. We are very unforgiving when our rugby teams lose. International, Super 15, ITM Cup, it doesn’t matter the level. So I can’t imagine we’re all too happy with the way our Super Rugby teams have started this year. I know I’m personally a touch worried about my beloved Crusaders- we’ll be sweet though! However for the talent we have in this country, we should be winning more.

The defending champion Chiefs, have drawn their last two matches in South Africa and lost to the Force in Perth. The Blues, they must be one of the more frustrating teams to support. A couple of really encouraging home wins, yet as soon as they hit the road, they get swept off the park. The Highlanders and Hurricanes though have always been very hot and cold- admittedly the ‘Canes have had two big wins in their last two matches against the Crusaders and Bulls, but the Hurricanes have undeniable talent in their squad. Beauden Barrett has to be the best first five in the country at the moment (remember Dan’s on a sabbatical). Julian Savea can make plays out of nothing. Yet they can’t put consistent performances on the park. The Crusaders are expected to win every weekend. That’s what comes with seven titles. But lately their attack has seemed out of sorts. Is it because there’s no Dan? Potentially, but with the amount of talent in their squad they should be producing more complete performances.

So with all these poor performances, what can we put it down to? Coaches? Individual players? On field effort? Surely on field effort can’t be questioned but I’m sure that if these performances don’t pick up then there will be some very concerned coaches around New Zealand. Lets start with Todd Blackadder at the Crusaders. Every year when the new Super Rugby season commences, the Crusaders go in as one of the favourites. Do not mistake that they have fully earned that right. However since Blackadder took over in 2009, their best finish has been 2^nd. Yes, they have made the semi finals every year since he took over, but the people of Christchurch and the Crusaders region are demanding a title, and if Blackadder can’t give them that then it may be time to look elsewhere. Likewise at the Hurricanes and the Highlanders. Neither team has really threatened to even contest a playoff spot in recent years, and it doesn’t look like that’s about to change so maybe it’s time for some restructuring there as well.

Whatever way you look at it, it has been a very slow start to the season for the New Zealand Super Rugby teams. Looking ahead to the international season, I’m not worried. But for now, teams need to step up or that silverware may end up in Australia or South Africa.

Watch This Space

More To Come..

2013 Super 15 Preview

As we approach the start of another season of super rugby, it's time to take a look at the leading contenders for the title, the men under pressure, the new All Black potentials and those men within the franchises who are most under pressure.

Blues:

Who To Watch- Charles Piutau, explosive power from the back, will add a lot to the Blues backline this year.
Key Men- Ali Williams, new captain looking to prove himself, Coaching Staff need to also show they are the ones to get the Blues out of their current turmoil.
Under The Most Pressure- Whole team, all coaches. Need to turn it around from an awful 2012.
New All Blacks- Probably none, Piutau MAYBE if he has an absolute blinder but unlikely.
Placing- Middle of the table most likely, not likely to contend strongly for the title.

Chiefs:

Who To Watch- Sam Cane, no Richie this year. Enough said, needs a massive season. Also the comeback of Richard Kahui.
Key Men- Cruden and Kahui. Direction from No.10 and power in the midfield from Kahui, also key on D.
Under The Most Pressure- Anscombe, dropped from Blues so needs to prove himself again. Whole team needs to back up for title defence, again Sam Cane needs to prove himself as the right man to take over McCaws No.7 jersey.
New All Blacks- Nanai Williams potentially, has to have a blinder. Spot open on the wing now due to Cory Janes ACL. Tawera Kerr-Barlow likely to be dropped unless he does something freakishly good.
Placing- Probably top 3

Hurricanes: 

Who To Watch- TJ Perenara- look for him to stake his claim for an All Black call up in June, also expect another big season from Andre Taylor and Victor Vito.
Key Men- Midfield, experience of Conrad Smith and Tim Bateman will be vital to the Hurricanes attack, look for a big year from all the backs, back three will need to step up in the absence of Cory Jane.
Under The Most Pressure- Mark Hammett. Needs a really strong season from his men, showed potential last year but fell away towards the end of the season. Need the consistency all year. Also TJ Perenara, been talked up a lot over the off season so needs to repay the faith showed in him.
New All Blacks- TJ Perenara a likely contender, also Tim Bateman if he has a blinder, injury to Benson Stanley opens the door for a new midfielder.
Placing- Top end of the table, could push into top 5.

Crusaders:

Who To Watch- Andy Ellis- wants his black jersey back, expect him to go up another gear from 2012. Matt Todd- same as Sam Cane, no Richie so expect a big season from Todd, will look to challenge Cane for the All Blacks No.7 jersey.
Key Men- Kieran Read and Dan Carter. Crusaders will rely on their experience and expertise. With no McCaw the Crusaders need another big season from these two.
Under The Most Pressure- Todd Blackadder. Needs to win a title. Enough said.
New All Blacks- Matt Todd if he outplays Cane, reserve spot in AB's up for grabs also. Recall for Andy Ellis, he deserves it. Tom Taylor, big maybe! Needs a huge season!
Placing- 1 or 2

Highlanders:

Who To Watch- Colin Slade- wants to be back in black after several injuries. Interested to see how he goes with consistant game time all year.
Key Men- Tight five, need to make the most of the experience they have there, especially with Brad Thorn. 9,10,12 combo of Smith, Slade and Nonu will be crucial to their attack game.
Under The Most Pressure- Colin Slade under pressure to perform, Nonu under pressure to actually play well at super rugby level as well as test level. Also Jamie Joseph to get them higher up on the table and actually consistently win games.
New All Blacks- Possible recall for Colin Slade.
Placing- Somewhere in top 6


Battle To Back Up Dan:

There will be several contenders who will want that second first five spot in the All Blacks. Slade from the Highlanders, Taylor from the Crusaders, Barret from the Hurricanes, Cruden from the Chiefs. Steve Hansen is certainly spoilt for choice here;
My Pick:

Dan Carter
Aaron Cruden

New Era For Read:

Kieran Read will be having a busy old time in 2013. Not only is he taking over the captaincy of the Crusaders but he will most likely take over for All Blacks in their June tests against France. He'll have to make sure he keeps his standards high with his own performance now that he has the added responsibility of the captain's armband. Surely no issue for Read though, he's an experienced campaigner who has captained the Crusaders on many occasions before. Expect him to slip into the Captains role with ease.

Eventual Winner:

I'm picking it'll be number 8 for the red n blacks.

Crusaders to take it out in 2013.