Just down the road from us, right on the bustling Main Street in Greytown, is a glorious haven for any artist: the Village Art Shop. It's a wonderland of paints and pastels, pencils and paper, brushes and bristles, frames and more!

The new owners, jewellery artist Richard Hassell and painter Janie Nott, have expanded on the fantastic range to include inspirational books and art products aimed at kids, which make for adorable gifts.

We headed down to help celebrate their success as they took on the business from long-time owner and art community supporter Vanessa, and then ran around taking pictures of both the fabulous, friendly staff and the glorious delights that abound within. What fun!

If you noodle over to the website, we're sure you'll find something to get your artistic juices flowing...

Gareth Farr is one of New Zealand's most prolific and respected composers. His recent works include the Rugby World Cup 2011 theme,  the soundtrack to Vula, the NZ Ballet's "The Wedding", the music for the opening of Te Papa, composition for the 2000 Olympic games, and many more.

Farr’s music is particularly influenced by his extensive study of percussion, both Western and non-Western. Rhythmic elements of his compositions can be linked to the complex and exciting rhythms of Rarotongan log drum ensembles, Balinese gamelan and other percussion music of the Pacific Rim.

Gareth is a NZ Arts Laureate (2010), an Officer of the Order of New Zealand Merit (2006), and three-time Chapman Tripp Theatre Award winner.