Ben Ng-Wai Shing works as a GP at Wakefield Health Centre and is an all-round creative with a deep appreciation for community, good food and the outdoors. When he’s not helping train future doctors, you’ll likely find him throwing discs through the trees, making something with his hands, or escaping into the mountains with a tent and a strong coffee waiting on the other side.
After work, you’ll find me… At the Rotary Club of Nelson West (soon to become the Rotary Club of Nelson) supporting communities both locally and abroad, locking into West African polyrhythms on my djembe under the kind and safe guidance of Kimberly Anderson (InRhythm Drumming) at Victory Community Centre, and after catching up on paperwork on the weekend, coaxing clay at Kiln Studio with co-owner/teacher extraordinaire Jamie Smith and the Sunday regulars.
I’m a real nerd about… Disc golf. I discovered the sport when my ‘indoor friends’ started to show an interest in spending time outside throwing plastic discs at what looked like contemporary European rubbish bins on sticks. The flight of a disc carving through the air, just missing the trees, and landing softly near the basket exactly how you planned is exhilarating. I also love how inclusive disc golf is: there are no green fees, shoes are optional, and most circular plastic objects will work (even an old plastic paint lid, trust me I’ve tried!). A massive kudos to the local Nelson Tasman Disc Golf Club who with the support of the local councils have spent countless volunteer hours designing, fundraising and installing the courses around the region for everyone to enjoy!
As a child, I was really into… Being creative and making things. In adulthood this has led to exploring a range of different mediums including lost-wax jewellery, greenwood spoon carving, pottery, and creating entries for the World of WearableArt competition. There is something special about coming up with a design in your mind then translating that into a tangible piece that can be held and shared.
My most useless skill is… Being able to bark like a small dog. Growing up, the neighbour’s feisty poodle would come to our house through the hedge and bark loudly at us for no reason. Naturally, I figured out how to bark and then practiced until I could rival its bark. From that day on I would get the first word/bark in and send it home defeated with its tail between its legs.
I get my coffee fix from… Sublime Haven road! Consistently served with a smile and genuine care for the coffee and their customers, you’ll find me parked on the front deck with a triple shot flat white or iced latte – depending on the weather. It is here that I unwind drawing in my gratitude diary, reading a book, replying to messages from friends overseas, editing photos from a recent tramp, and occasionally carving a piece of jewellery.
I get myself out of a funk by… Setting off into the mountains with a tent, book, camera, cell phone on flight mode, and plenty of food (three courses with paired beverages are mandatory for dinner). Nothing compares to the slow simplicity, challenge, physical meditation, and petrichor of a multi-day tramp. Coming from Auckland eight years ago, I was blown away by the smorgasbord of backcountry options we have here and it is one of the reasons I have stayed and now call Nelson home.
A random fact I love… Is that ‘petrichor’ is the pleasant earthy smell when rain hits dry land or soil is disturbed. It is primarily caused by the release of a compound called geosmin that is produced by soil-dwelling bacteria and algae.
A family tradition I’ll never give up is… Bai San which translates from Cantonese to “visiting the mountain”. It refers to the traditional Chinese practice of visiting ancestral graves to clean them, pay respects, and offer food and incense. For me the ritual is a time to be intentional and reflect on the sacrifices of my forebears. In the 1940s, my great-grandparents arrived in New Zealand as refugees from China. Their first home was a chicken coop – dirt floor, open fire, no running water or electricity. Through grit, hard work and the safety of New Zealand they forged a life and created opportunities for the generations to come.
