KEY POINTS:
She loves her country but to prove it Heather Gerbic isn't about raising the New Zealand flag every day. Instead her tributes include wandering in the bush, appreciating the wildlife, reminiscing about her mother's pavlova baking and doing what she describes as "selling with integrity". Because Gerbic is the proud owner of High St store Pauanesia, where she sells decor and gifts with a Pasifika or New Zealand flavour.
Part of the reason that Pauanesia, which opened in 1995, came to exist was because for 12 years Gerbic worked for a textile company where, she explains, "people were more interested in putting mock Italian or Scandinavian textiles, or whatever else was happening in overseas interiors magazines, into their homes. But my question was always: how does this align with who you are? Because for me the best decorating is what suits and reflects you. Which is why my best customers are passionate locals and tourists who want to decorate with, or give things, that tell a local story."
10 favourite things
1 Pohutukawa wool blanket. I love to walk on wool, wear it, sit on it and wrap it around me. One of my woolly favourites is my Dianne Dudfield hand-dyed and woven pohutukawa blanket. The scarlet red of the pohutukawa flower recreated in the blanket lifts my spirits on cold winter nights and gloomy afternoons, when I am curled up with a pile of magazines.
2 Our native bush. I enjoy walking in our National Parks, viewing the patterns, colours and the natural order of the native bush. It is a source of constant inspiration for Pauanesia's textile designs, ceramic commissions and wool blanket palettes. Compared with many overseas native forests, New Zealand bush diversity is spectacularly rich. As a Pakeha, I have adapted the Maori concept of Turangawaewae (literally translated as `A place to stand') to Whangamata on the Coromandel peninsula and this is the place where I have a third generation connection. I love the coastline, the estuaries and the native bush vistas that surround it.
3 The Auckland Museum. Our big treasure box up on the hill contains so many curious and interesting stories about, and artefacts from, this country, its people and our landscape.
4 Kiwi musicians. Hard to single out my favourite local musos, but if I had to for a private party then Tama Waipara, Whirimako Black, Donald Reid and the Phoenix Foundation would make a great, memorable concert for me.
5 "Milford", a painting by Liam Davidson. I don't get to experience the beach, the sea and our coast as much as I'd like to so a special painting in my lounge recreates the evocative sense of the sea, light and shoreline that I love. Davidson creates lustrous, translucent and atmospheric images by repeatedly working back the surface of the painting between the layers of the paint.
6 Tivaevae. I adore the exuberant colour, the floral themes and the over-stitched embellishment of Cook Island tivaevae cushions and covers. They have re-interpreted missionary women's applique, embroidery and crochet crafts into their own culture. I greatly admire the talents and fellowship of the mamas who create these amazing things and I constantly feel privileged to feature their work in-store.
7 Matariki, the Maori New Year. Matariki is a wonderful Maori event on the calendar. It's when the new planting and harvesting calendar starts and it's based around the stars. A great local reason to have a party and for me it supersedes imported festivities like mid-winter Christmas and Halloween.
8 Dahlias. I love to have cut flowers from my garden to dress my house with. I struggle to call myself a gardener these days but there is a joy to this that I suspect I've inherited from my mother and grandmothers. And dahlias are such loyal perennials provided they are well-watered and fed.
9 Vulcan Lane. This wonderful city alleyway has retained its vibe and soul. The heritage buildings, the intimacy of the space, the lively activity of traders, the eateries and the pubs make it a wonderful space. Yes, even the new nikau palms installed by the council are a wonderful touch. You never know, a kereru may visit Vulcan Lane sometime for a few nikau berries!
10 Kereru. I love our native wood pigeons - for their magnificent plumage, powerful flying style but most of all because they live life with attitude. They soar and swoop and dive across the city valley where I live. Over winter they can be heard and then seen in the peppermint gum trees on our street verge, eating the fruit. One particularly cheeky kereru takes short cuts through the neighbour's carport to get to the berries in their backyard. We must ensure we retain enough big safe trees in our suburbs to ensure the kereru's survival.
