This month we're back with our quickfire Q+A-style interview featuring Fhys Fitt - qualified builder, surfer, dad, and Red Beach local frother.

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Josiah Atkinson has spent considerable time searching for the rare tiger trout, and not without success. He shares some of his hard-earned lessons on how to tame the tiger…

Brewing beer is one of the oldest and most noble of trades. From the deeply spiritual processes mastered in European monasteries, through to the bloke in his garage just desperate to make something drinkable, the desire to create beer is a not so secret passion of most males on this planet. Hamish Ward is another on the list of legends who take brewing seriously, and it didn’t take long for him to become one of NZ’s best.

Teams from Kiwis for kiwi and Rheem have been “on the tools” recently, partnering with Kaipara Kiwi to plant 1900 trees. Their efforts were part of the Mataia Restoration project, which is seeking to create a 1300-hectare kiwi safe-haven in the Kaipara region.

When Rheem heard families were going without hot water this winter as a result of COVID-19’s economic impact, they acted quickly. Their idea was to donate water heaters to Kiwis in need, but the first hurdle they faced was installation – something which can only be done by registered plumbers and gasfitters.

Architect, freediver and tiny house builder, Gemma O’Brien is what you might call a super-achiever, writes Helen Horrocks. In between her architectural work, various home projects and daily breath-hold exercises, Gemma took the time to chat to Helen over the phone during lockdown.

Here is a checklist of common potential issues that should be checked before buying a second-hand boat

Apart from active ‘fishing’ rod holders, there are others that are designed mostly to store and carry rods, to keep them out of the way, and to protect them from getting knocked around. Variations include rod holders inside the boat (which help keep the spray away from your reels), holders built around a bait station (which may also be fishing positions) and multiple position overhead units called ‘rocket launchers’ for obvious reasons. When looking at a boat, reach up to see if you can comfortably access the top rod holders – there is little point in having extra storage if you can’t reach it!

It is a standing joke that sometimes ‘Roddy’ (the rod holder) is the best fisherman on the boat, as rods left unattended in rod holders sometimes catch the most fish. They are certainly important fishing accessories, particularly when correctly positioned and aligned.

Anchoring is an important aspect of fishing and boating in general. Good ground tackle is also important safety equipment. For example, if you are being blown down onto a rocky coast with your engine out of commission, you really want your anchor to hold!

Moving past hull type, there are a range of topside configurations that may be considered. Hard tops (open-back or enclosed), cuddy cabins, centre consoles, centre cabins, side consoles and dories (open boats) are some of them. The choice is usually governed by the size of the boat and its intended use.