Musician Aaron Saxon and dance tutor Caterina Laschke are the couple behind Mauao Performing Arts Centre. They live in a three-storey apartment in Mt Maunganui. Aaron shows us around.
Our apartment is one of seven. Our neighbours all know what I do. They're all pretty cool and supportive.
We've had some
pretty good jam sessions in this place. My studio used to be on the bottom level. During New Zealand music month last year we brought a small truckload of gear in and spent three days recording an album down there. It was great fun.
There's usually a few musicians or other transients drifting in and out. Since we've had the performing arts centre we don't spend as much time here as we used to, but it's a nice little sanctuary.
Upstairs is the living area. It's great up there on sunny afternoons and at night time to just look at the view and let the day go. We like to have space around us, and we like earthy, grounding colours. I've done a bit of shopping at Trade Aid - I've got a Tibetan singing bowl, some Indian tablas and some little buddhas; it's those Eastern things we gravitate to.
