Bella Katz
Trade Commissioner and New Zealand Consul-General in Melbourne, Bella Katz, has lived in Melbourne for more than 20 years – her second stint there.
“The first time I was between countries – after Tokyo and before London,” Bella tells Verve. “I did like it, but I didn’t feel ready to settle down. Melbourne is very much a settle-down-for-the-long-haul kind of city, and I wasn’t ready for that commitment.”
Upon returning, married, and with a new baby, Bella says it felt the right time to put down roots: “My sister was here with her family and my parents ended up relocating too, so I had immediate family connections.”
Was there anything that you particularly struggled to adjust to?
“Melbourne is a place that has so much to offer, Melburnians – and I’m generalising here! – often seem to come back or only leave for short stints so it can feel hard to break into the city’s tight networks, especially if you arrive as a single adult. People have grown up together, they’ve known one another a long time, they have friendships formed over many years. It takes time to create these connections, that’s why Melbourne can have that reputation of being a bit old school.”
Good things, she goes on, take time in Melbourne, a city whose residents “appreciate fine things”. “Once people know you, once your networks develop, Melbourne is a city of connection and doors start to open more readily, especially in a professional capacity.
Melburnians like that reassurance of being certain about you as a business colleague, a trading partner, a friend.”
I ask how the landscape has changed during her time there, both in terms of Australia’s business relationship with New Zealand, and its opinion of its neighbours’ residents.
“The relationship between NZ and Australia is unique, our understanding of one another runs far deeper than geographical closeness,” says Bella. “In the last six years or so, we’ve gone from being a little cousin across the ditch to an impressive nation in the eyes of Australians.”
Bella puts much of this down to the ‘Jacinda affect’. “The former prime minister represented a leader who was fresh, empathetic, and welcoming. She personified New Zealand and New Zealanders. Australians see Kiwis in that context, and it was a tangible reputational shift, or rather a ‘cementing’ of a long-held reputation.”
This year also marks the 40th year of the Closer Economic Relations between Australia and Aotearoa, the acclaimed free trade agreement between our two nations.
“Australia represents so many great opportunities for New Zealand businesses to expand and develop capability,” Bella continues. “That’s not to say it’s easy doing business here, it’s not – Australia is a relatively wealthy country, and the choice of international brands is immense. However, for those Kiwi companies that invest time and energy into this larger market and economy, the rewards are also great.”
Do you see similarities between Melbourne and Auckland, and anything that the two cities can learn from each other?
“Having grown up in Auckland and lived in Sydney for several years, I see the personalities of those cities more aligned. Melbourne and Wellington share a more similar vibe. As a generalisation, Melbourne still has an edgier, artier, and cooler vibe to Sydney’s bolder, confident, and more energetic personality. I’m sure the weather has something to do with it too. There’s something about hanging out on Bondi in that 30-degree sunshine that can crack the worst mood and bring joy. Ditto Melbourne, stroll through the city lanes on a summer day, surrounded by people wining and dining, speaking Greek, Italian, living their best lives – you feel like you’re in Europe. It’s wonderful.”
What’s your favourite thing to do in the city?
“I really love the National Gallery of Victoria. It’s a world-class gallery with major activations and ehibitions and they never do things by half – it’s an incredible place. If anyone’s ever in Melbourne, I always recommend it.”
Bella recommends that shopaholics head straight for a stroll through Fitzroy Street “where the most interesting standalone boutiques and brands live”: “Then there’s Chadstone Shopping Centre, the biggest mall in the Southern Hemisphere. For those coming to Melbourne to shop, that place is next level.”
One of the things that Bella most loves about living in the city is its array of events and festivals. “You can turn up at a festival you’ve never heard and be in the midst of some fiesta with 20,000 people,” she says. “Or you could stay home on the sofa and never even know it’s on. There’s always something surprising here in Melbourne to tap into.”
And as for what you most miss about Aotearoa?
“Its wild, beautiful beaches. I grew up in Auckland, so Piha, Muriwai, Bethells Beach are magical places to me.”
Dane Mitchell
Earlier this year, acclaimed Kiwi contemporary artist Dane Mitchell, Aotearoa New Zealand’s representative at the 2019 Venice Biennale, made the move across the ditch to lecture in fine art at University of Melbourne. He talks to Verve about the move, and we begin by asking how it’s going so far.
“It’s been a seamless move! Melbourne has been really kind to me.”
Dane says that although he has been back to Melbourne intermittently since briefly living there in 2000, he hadn’t really ever considered living there again. But then the lockdowns happened and he yearned for change: “Being fortunate enough that the work I do might allow such a thing, Melbourne became appealing as a large city, familiar yet new.”
How do you think it compares to Auckland?
“The population density of Melbourne makes for a more condensed experience of place. Auckland’s reticence towards density beyond the inner-city diffuses the possibility of a busy urban centre. The reliance on the car in Auckland certainly atomises people – the fact Auckland can’t even turn Queen Street into a pedestrian street speaks volumes. People make a city and Auckland has us separated in our cars which affects the city experience massively. Auckland could learn from Melbourne in this respect.”
Does Melbourne inspire you creatively?
“It’s such a vibrant city – there’s something for every kind of creative imagining.”
Can you tell us a little about the suburbs where you live and work?
“I live in Brunswick, close to Princes Park. It’s green yet built up, with many great eateries within walking distance. It’s a short bike ride on allocated bike paths, a short tram ride and a short train ride into the city, or further north, to Preston, where I have a studio at Gertrude Contemporary – an important arts organisation with a long history in Melbourne. I work at the University of Melbourne in the Faculty of Art and Music in Southbank, which is in the Arts Precinct just over the Yarra River from Flinders Station, the main city train station.”
Favourite places to hang out?
“Hard to say as it’s all so new, but CIBI; Old Palm Liquor; Embla; Union Hotel have all been great.”
Any insider tips yet, somewhere cool to shop or socialise or sightsee away from the crowds?
“It’s hard to know being so new! But certainly, in the northern suburbs, small neighbourhood food and drink establishments would be the way to go, I think. Hardly off the beaten track, but much of Melbourne’s vibrancy comes from its inner-city suburbs.”
And what do you most miss about home?
“Immediate family. My studio, and the fabricators I work with.”
Justine & Michelle
Like most passions, Michelle Blyth and Justine Curtis’s love for baking began in childhood and eventually blossomed into successful careers.
Michelle pursued her passion after finishing university and established Rocket Kitchen, a wholesale cake business. In 2000, she relocated from New Zealand to Australia, and her sister Justine joined her shortly after. The entrepreneurial sisters decided to open Replete Providore, a deli/cafe in Melbourne’s Hawthorn neighborhood, which quickly gained popularity and garnered several prestigious awards, including Best Breakfast in the Restaurant and Catering Awards for three consecutive years.
After eight successful years, the sisters sold Replete and took a brief break from the hospitality scene. However, they soon returned with The Counter, a bakery and cafe in Hawthorn that captivated locals with its nostalgic charm and mouth-watering cakes, slices, and biscuits.
The sisters recognised the need for expansion as their popularity grew. They wanted to stand out in a market saturated with cafes, where the quality of businesses was being compromised.
Thus, they conceived the idea of Cremorne Street Bakers. Seizing an opportunity for a commercial space, Michelle and Justine brought their home-baked magic to cafes, restaurants, and stores across Melbourne and beyond.
At Cremorne Street Bakers, kindness and delivering the best quality products are integral to their ethos. They pride themselves on employing professional pastry chefs and constantly strive to create new and delightful treats for their customers. Their offerings range from regular favourites like the lemon passionfruit and coconut slice and signature raspberry chocolate mud cake.
Michelle and Justine’s talent for transforming humble baked goods into objects of beauty and deliciousness is evident. Their window displays at The Counter in Hawthorn were a sight to behold, with artfully arranged cakes, slices, and biscuits that gleamed like precious gems alongside ethereal meringues.
Cremorne Street Bakers takes pride in its homemade, small-batch approach. The bakery’s treats are made with care, delivering a personal touch that stands out in a world dominated by mass production. The team behind Cremorne Street Bakers comprises passionate bakers dedicated to creating irresistible treats that leave customers longing for more.
From their early ventures at Replete and The Counter to the establishment of Cremorne Street Bakers, Michelle and Justine have consistently demonstrated their commitment to quality,taste, and aesthetics. Their creations not only tantalise taste buds but also serve as edible masterpieces and symbols of culinary excellence.
If you find yourself in Melbourne, make sure to visit Cremorne Street Bakers and indulge in a little slice of baked heaven. Whether it’s a moist slice, a fluffy meringue, or a heavenly cake, their creations will not only satisfy your cravings but also enchant you with their artistic beauty. Michelle and Justine’s dedication and talent have elevated baked goods to a whole new level, reminding us that they can be both a feast for the eyes and a source of pure joy.
Karen Bunting
A quick chat with Kiwi line producer, Karen Bunting, who made the move across the ditch in 2008, and has worked on shows such as MasterChef Australia, Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars & Wild Food and The Real Housewives of Melbourne.
What initially lured you to make the move?
I moved to Melbourne in May 2008 when I was 32. I’d initially intended to move in 1996 but changed course and studied film and literature instead. I then worked in TV in Auckland for eight years and once I’d established myself as a production manager, felt I was in a better professional position to move to another country.
Anything that you struggled to adjust to?
I moved here during the GFC and a significant amount of the TV production that had come out of Melbourne was being moved to Sydney. I struggled to find work and that was very difficult. It took about 18 months to find my place in Melbourne’s production industry.
Apart from that, everything else was very straightforward and I’ve always found Melbourne a very easy place to be.
How has the reputation of Kiwis and NZ evolved during your time there?
I haven’t ever encountered anything but friendliness and support as a Kiwi. That’s never changed.
How does life in Melbourne compare with Auckland?
Personally, I find the two places very different. However, it’s easy to slot into Melbourne life from Auckland. Lifestyle-wise, they seem very similar. The work cultures are similar and the nightlife in both places are energetic and fun . I do remember finding Melbourne’s retail and hospitality staff super friendly when I first got here which was quite a contrast to the more laid back style of Auckland.
And how does the TV industry compare between the two countries?
The TV industry in NZ is exceptionally creative, especially in the scripted, comedy and documentary realms. Australia’s industry is more commercial and there’s a lot of work in sport and reality TV. The scale of the productions is larger with higher budgets, larger crew numbers, and longer-running formats.
Where would you recommend visitors head to shop or socialise or sightsee away from the crowds?
Anyone visiting for a few days should try to get to the Great Ocean Road. It’s a beautiful drive. Although not away from the crowds, I recommend attending a game of footy as the most Melbourne experience you could ever hope for!
What do you most miss about NZ?
Tikanga Māori.
What do you most love about Melbourne?
The friendly people.
Best place for cocktail?
Trouble in Dreams, in Fitzroy.
Would you ever move back to NZ?
It seems unlikely!
