Off The Grid
Metro, March 2010
In which I disengage from the industrial food economy for a few weeks and encounter hardened foragers, greenies and con some eggs out of Wendyl Nissen, home economist. This was one of my favourite stories in a long time.
Climbing Mt Visy
Metro, March 2010
If you live in Auckland, this story will probably make you a bit angry: after a change in the way recyclables are collected, something like half the glass you put in your recycling bin go under footpaths. Two years ago, almost every bottle was. A glass mountain in Onehunga is testament to the failure of the system.
Irish Auckland
Metro, March 2010
The Irish in Auckland are a peculiar bunch: they have a very strong identity and they stick together. Yet they're an invisible lot – part of it comes from a history that privileges Britishness. I chatted to some Irish Aucklanders for St Patrick's Day.
Fashion Victim
Metro, March 2007
A story about the closure of Pavement, a controversial fashion magazine, and its founder, Bernard D McDonald. McDonald and Pavement made their names by publishing photos of ever younger girls – but most of the time it was just crashingly pretentious. This was one of the most challenging stories I'd ever written: the fashion world, true to its reputation, is an entirely flaky one.
Coolangatta Gold
Metro, 2007
In late 2006, a fine old arts and crafts house in Remuera was demolished in less than half an hour amid murky circumstances – the house was in the process of being heritage listed and was testament to the failure of the Auckland City Council's ability to protect old houses. I found the true story was even more outrageous than it appeared.
