Local Flavours infuse Wellington’s Miramar Movie Magic
Wellington's suburb of Miramar is friendly, compact and a great place for a tourist to explore.
Mumbai, February 8, 2017:
Some
cities shed their old skins to become shiny and new versions of
themselves. New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington, has long flung
off its civil servant decorum, as the charms of its walkable inner
neighbourhood, harbour-side plazas that stretch from one end of the
city, via art gallery and museum to picturesque Oriental Parade, win
over visitors.
Then
there’s the food, from hole in the wall eateries on the inner lanes,
seafood places in converted harbour sheds and fine dining (all those
politicians have to eat somewhere), some very cool makers and crafters
of fine coffee, chocolate and beer. And, of course,
the movie makers have transformed their own corner of the city,
welcoming international stars, directors and technical people to work in
their friendly, compact neighbourhood, Miramar.
It’s
not all about the inner city. Just before you reach the airport (or
arrive directly from the airport), turn off to Miramar, a cool suburb
that has become the heart of New Zealand’s film industry. Just ask
Ray Letoa. The colourful guy (his outfits turn heads) who heads the bar at Coco at The Roxy.
Ray
grew up in the next door suburb, and when he arrived back from years in
London discovered that the village of his childhood, full of wide
streets of 1920s
and
30s bungalows, had transformed. At its heart was the 1928 deco movie
theatre, a one-time shopping centre but long since boarded over. A NZ$6
million facelift by creative owners, Oscar-winning editor Jamie Selkirk
and wife Ann, Weta Workshop founders Tania
Rodger and Sir Richard Taylor, local foodies Valentina and Daminda Dias
was bringing the old place back to life. Ray wanted to join them,
helping cement the ‘burb’s movie-town reputation when the Roxy reopened
in early 2011.
“Every
cinema needs an ice-cream roller, and that could be me, I thought,”
says Ray. “Five years on it’s ridiculous. We’ve really become a
lot of self-sustaining parts. And the community knows the tourists,
we’ll give you a big smile. It’s quite nostalgic to come back, but now
with gravity-defying architecture. It’s a beaut
story, and beaut to promote New Zealand produce.”
Ray’s
done a little more than roll ice creams (though do ask for his
grown-ups only Oamaru whiskey treat), scooping bartender of the year
awards in New Zealand, and competing overseas.
For
years dedicated The Lord of the Rings fans – and, more recently,
Thunderbirds
– flocked to tours of the Weta production workshops to learn how
special effects, post-production, props and costumes came together for
some of the world’s greatest movies. Now the film experience comes to
life in the new-old art deco Roxy, in its two state-of-the-art
cinemas and the glamorous Coco at the Roxy restaurant and cocktail bar
in the lobby. Not surprisingly Weta’s set designers turned out
authentic, opulent sculptures and finishes that recreate the golden age
of
cinema,
winning awards for design and theatre experience.
Valentina Dias
and her crew love to host walk-throughs of the building, engaging
visitors with stories about the design and culture. As well as movies,
there are kids’ shows, high teas, Peninsula platters that highlight
local food producers and the annual Miramarvelous celebration
of the local film, arts and café culture. And, during the Visa
Wellington on a Plate culinary festival, there are food walking tours.
Ray
and Valentina
love to point visitors to their neighbourhood favourites that include
cafés and bakeries. As well as Valentina’s old
stomping ground of Polo, try the Park Kitchen, Alamir for its fresh
Lebanese baking, fresh pasta and thin-based pizza from Merkato Fresh,
the Greek deli Elysian, authentic Mexican by way of California from La
Boca Loca and nose-to-tail eating at The Larder.
Even the fruit and vege shop is good, Valentina says.
Ray brings his huge personality, great clothes and a raft of cocktail awards
to make the Roxy Bar as one of New Zealand’s top five cocktail bars.
And, for non-food, non-filmies?
Valentina points to the burgeoning vintage and crafts scene, a
growing cluster of well-curated stores that give the city’s Cuba Street a
run for its money. She holds a couple of summer craft markets at Roxy,
and there is a self-drive Miramar Arts Trail
around 16 artists and five galleries. As well as the studio tours,
movie and architecture buffs can admire the striking
architecture
of Park Road Post.
Big
young ‘un Ray heads to the local playgrounds to entertain the kids
with old-school play equipment, or shows off the city from the hills of
Mapua, just above Miramar. He points drivers from the city the long way
around, through pretty seaside village of Seatoun (more good cafés and
shops) and around the bays of Karaka and
Scorching (with iconic Scorch-o-Rama café), past the old Army Base with
its Chocolate Fish café (more cute playthings and stunning views back
to the city from the beanbags on the lawn).
“The coastal scenery is fantastic – just watch out for the penguins,”
Ray laughs. “Nothing could have aligned better to come home to.”
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