Looking for a restaurant that has great food and even a better bar? Try the newly-opened CAYA. Since its launch in November 2023, CAYA has swiftly positioned itself as one of South Delhi’s premier hotspots for both great dining and lively entertainment. Situated in the bustling lanes of South Extension 2, this unique venue offers much more than just a meal – it is a full-sensory experience that effortlessly blends global cuisine with an exciting array of events.
Upon entering CAYA, I was immediately struck by the spacious, thoughtfully designed interiors. The venue spans two levels: the upper level features a sleek bar area for those seeking a more relaxed vibe, while the lower level is closer to the stage and offers a front-row view for performances, The seating options are varied, from conventional table and chair setups to intimate lounge areas, ensuring there is something for everyone. The decor is a tasteful fusion of contemporary and traditional elements, creating a stylish and welcoming atmosphere.
Coming to the food, their menu is a mix of Continental, European, Asian, Modern Indian, and Mediterranean flavours. I loved almost everything on the menu. My favourite was Red Rooster – peri peri chicken pizza – and it was perfect. I am done with almost the same pizzas everywhere – this was something unique, with a soft base and full of flavourful toppings and lots of cherry tomatoes. Both Tangra Chilli Chicken and Amritsari Paneer Tikka whet the tikka craving of vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The tikkas were succulent, smoky and oh-so tasty.
No dining experience at CAYA would be complete without exploring their cocktail menu. They have a large bar with a variety of spirits and some really tempting cocktails. If you like gin, don’t miss their ‘Kaya Hill’ cocktail concocted with Bombay Sapphire. And if you are a vodka person, my recommendation is ‘Coco Berry’ – a delightful drink flavoured with passion fruit, vanilla and fresh berries.
What truly sets CAYA apart is its seamless integration of food and entertainment. The venue regularly hosts stand-up comedy nights, soothing Sufi performances, and high-energy DJ sessions, ensuring there is never a dull moment.
You can safely call CAYA a cultural hub that has redefined the modern dining and entertainment scene in Delhi. With its diverse menu, impeccable service, and dynamic events, it’s the perfect place to indulge in a gourmet meal, unwind with friends, or revel in the city’s electrifying nightlife.
What: CAYA Where: South Extension 2, New Delhi Cost: INR 2,500 for two people (approx.)
(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers team president Kristi Coleman has been promoted to chief executive officer of Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE), owner David Tepper announced Tuesday, making her one of the highest-ranking females in the professional sports industry.
Coleman will continue to serve as the Panthers president.
Tepper said the leadership transition is part of a broader strategic initiative to enhance organizational effectiveness and collaboration by streamlining operations.
“Drawing on more than a decade of experience at this organization, Kristi is a proven leader with the insight and expertise to guide us through this pivotal moment in our evolution,” Tepper said in a statement.
Coleman said her strategy is to bring people together, embrace modern solutions, and drive innovation at every level of the organization.
“By streamlining how we operate, we are not only meeting the demands of today but also setting the stage for future growth and success as we continue to deliver exceptional experiences for our staff, fans and partners,” Coleman said.
TSE also announced some other organizational restructurings, which will take place immediately, including:
—The organization will align all revenue-producing departments under the newly established role of chief revenue officer — a position that has not yet been filled — reporting directly to the CEO. Coleman is currently leading the search for this new position.
—The organization will also establish a newly created chief business officer role for Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC to lead all business operations, replacing the club president title. Joe LaBue will transition into a consultant role and the CBO will report directly to Coleman. Natalee Jarrett, current vice president of business operations at Charlotte FC, will act as interim business lead for the club during the CBO search.
—David Nelson is being promoted into a new role of vice President, premium sales & services. Nelson will lead the strategy and development related to premium hospitality and business solutions across the Panthers, Charlotte FC and Bank of America Stadium. His team will be responsible for delivering high-end experiences for Bank of America Stadium customers.
—Bonnie Almond is being promoted to vice president of venue operations, reporting to chief venues officer Caroline Wright. Almond brings more than a decade of experience with the organization. In her role, Almond will oversee events and operations across TSE venues, as well as safety and security related to venues and events.
Port City Colombo, a visionary multi-service Special Economic Zone and master-planned city, invites the local community to partake in an assortment of engaging excursions that range from luxury shopping to serene strolls by the waterfront. With a series of experiences that provide something for everyone, Port City Colombo further encourages local guests to spend more time within the vibrant, thriving city of Colombo, especially during this holiday season.
Embodying the dynamic lifestyle ambiance of Port City Colombo set to emerge once the project is fully operational, the Mall at Port City Colombo caters to discerning shoppers who seek world-class convenience, luxury travel retail, and diverse culinary offerings. The Mall at Port City Colombo, being South Asia’s first downtown duty-free retail concept, features China Duty Free — the world’s No.1 travel retail operator, with additional travel retail brands set to commence operations shortly. The Mall is open to all eligible visitors, including returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents, general tourists, diplomats and diplomatic organisations, and departing travelers. Returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents will be able to avail an annual allowance limit of USD 2,000, with specified quantity limits as per Schedule 1 of the published Extraordinary Gazette, and purchases to be made on a single visit within four days from the First Date of Arrival (FDOA). For returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents, only the permitted customer and one family member are allowed.
Guests visiting the Mall could also explore the curated assortment of other dining, cultural retail, and lifestyle offerings, which include the renowned Nihonbashi by Dharshan, Café Chill, Spa Ceylon, Department of Coffee, and so forth.
Port City Colombo further encompasses Sri Lanka’s only artificial beach, increasingly popular with local guests since its opening in 2023, which provides the perfect tropical sanctuary in the urban heart of Colombo. This includes a swimmable beach within the vicinity of Port City Colombo’s breakwater lagoon, vivid, awe-inspiring sunsets, and a lively beachside restaurant culture that is ideal for any guest who desires a tranquil day by the ocean. The exquisite Marina Promenade, which is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, enables guests to enjoy panoramic views of the Colombo city skyline and the sea as they take a saunter down this distinct pathway up to the arched footbridge, which is slowly becoming an icon of the city’s landscape. The newly opened Central Park also presents an urban oasis of relaxation, recreation, and physical activity, enhancing Colombo’s appeal as a city that harmonizes modernity with nature.
Port City Colombo, a visionary multi-service Special Economic Zone and master-planned city, invites the local community to partake in an assortment of engaging excursions that range from luxury shopping to serene strolls by the waterfront. With a series of experiences that provide something for everyone, Port City Colombo further encourages local guests to spend more time within the vibrant, thriving city of Colombo, especially during this holiday season.
Embodying the dynamic lifestyle ambiance of Port City Colombo set to emerge once the project is fully operational, the Mall at Port City Colombo caters to discerning shoppers who seek world-class convenience, luxury travel retail, and diverse culinary offerings. The Mall at Port City Colombo, being South Asia’s first downtown duty-free retail concept, features China Duty Free — the world’s No.1 travel retail operator, with additional travel retail brands set to commence operations shortly. The Mall is open to all eligible visitors, including returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents, general tourists, diplomats and diplomatic organisations, and departing travelers. Returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents will be able to avail an annual allowance limit of USD 2,000, with specified quantity limits as per Schedule 1 of the published Extraordinary Gazette, and purchases to be made on a single visit within four days from the First Date of Arrival (FDOA). For returning Sri Lankans and foreign residents, only the permitted customer and one family member are allowed.
Guests visiting the Mall could also explore the curated assortment of other dining, cultural retail, and lifestyle offerings, which include the renowned Nihonbashi by Dharshan, Café Chill, Spa Ceylon, Department of Coffee, and so forth.
Port City Colombo further encompasses Sri Lanka’s only artificial beach, increasingly popular with local guests since its opening in 2023, which provides the perfect tropical sanctuary in the urban heart of Colombo. This includes a swimmable beach within the vicinity of Port City Colombo’s breakwater lagoon, vivid, awe-inspiring sunsets, and a lively beachside restaurant culture that is ideal for any guest who desires a tranquil day by the ocean. The exquisite Marina Promenade, which is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, enables guests to enjoy panoramic views of the Colombo city skyline and the sea as they take a saunter down this distinct pathway up to the arched footbridge, which is slowly becoming an icon of the city’s landscape. The newly opened Central Park also presents an urban oasis of relaxation, recreation, and physical activity, enhancing Colombo’s appeal as a city that harmonizes modernity with nature.
Are Media’s 2025 plans include new products, events, awards and competitions, coupled a stable of magazine brands and a rapidly growing content commerce business.
Revealing its plans for next year at the Ignite event in Sydney today, the omnichannel content company for women outlined a roadmap that focused on its portfolio of luxury, homes and lifestyle and entertainment brands.
In the luxury vertical, ELLE will grow from two to four issues in 2025 and supercharge its video, social and TikTok offerings – ELLE’s TikTok followers have grown 1,000% this year. ELLE will also launch its first marquee event, the ELLE Next Gen Awards, which will celebrate the rising stars in fashion, film, beauty and art.
For the first time, the marie claire International Women’s Day event will be turned into a consumer event, building the brand’s connection with its readers. The marie claire Sustainability Awards, which launched this year, will be expanded to include more categories and reach more consumers.
The marie claire and ELLE Australia in-store Masterclass Styling Sessions, in partnership with Max Mara, Calvin Klein, Pandora and other brands, will expand in 2025 to include more shoppable experiences and online extensions.
The marie claire Success Summit will also be a new networking event to inspire women to accelerate their careers.
In the beauty space, Are Media’s online beauty sites Beauty Crew and Beauty Heaven – along with marie claire and ELLE – will launch a Beauty Influencer Collective, giving clients the opportunity to tap into micro and macro influencers, both on staff and beyond, to spread brand message.
Next year will see the launch of the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards, with winners to be announced in Gourmet Traveller’s June 2025 issue, celebrating the Best of Australia, and the top-rated hotels will feature online in Gourmet Traveller’s national guide to Australia’s Best Hotels.
The Gourmet Traveller reader dinner series will be expanded.
In the lifestyle vertical, spearheaded by the The Australian Women’s Weekly, the Children’s Birthday Cake Book turns 45 and will be celebrated in a very special way to be announced in the coming months.
This year’s The Australian Women’s Weekly Health Summit, which was Are Media’s fastest-selling event ever, returns in 2025 and is going on the road so The Weekly’s regional and interstate consumers can get access to its advice. The Health Summit will also spawn standalone activations around menopause, including events and a special menopause issue.
Money With The Weekly is a breakfast hosted by Effie Zahos to help audiences combat the cost-of-living crisis and safeguard their superannuation, while a new omnichannel weekly book club, Read With The Weekly, has also been announced.
The Weekly is going travelling with special partners for its new tentpole, Travel With The Weekly: on board, on tour, on the road, with the magazine’s expert editors and partners.
Women’s Weekly Food is expanding in 2025 with a focus on aligning content across all platforms with the trusted Test Kitchen expanding to include product reviews, specially curated EDMs and a new video series.
The homes vertical will see the launch of Home Beautiful 100. A major cross platform campaign to celebrate 100 years of Home Beautiful, the campaign will begin with a major competition in collaboration with the Homes Show that will give consumers the chance to win a $100,000 makeover.
Better Homes and Gardens will be searching for Australia’s most dedicated and passionate tradespeople with the new tentpole Tradie of the Year, a six-month campaign that offers many opportunities for sponsors to get involved.
Better Homes and Gardens will be also starting a new series, Better Conversations, connecting audiences with the people behind their most loved food, gardening and interiors projects.
Belle Passport will also arrive in 2025, a new and exclusive travel section running across Belle from May to November 2025.
The entertainment vertical will see the Now To Love website be transformed into a more focused digital extension of the Woman’s Day magazine. The new womansday.com.au will leverage the magazine’s highly engaged and loyal audience by offering content that resonates emotionally with its readers.
Next year will also bring an enhanced TV WEEK website, featuring exclusive entertainment insights and celebrity news to the latest streaming updates and travel reviews.
Woman’s Day Out will arrive in 2025. A ticketed event to be held in regional centres, it will feature speakers, sponsors, celebrities and entertainment across the beauty, health, fashion and wellness spaces.
New Idea, New Health, a virtual health conference, will launch next year, covering everything from migraines to menopause, while WHO TikTok will unveil an exciting new celebrity beauty content series to capture the attention of a younger, beauty-obsessed audience.
Are Media CEO Jane Huxley, said Are Media’s strategy is predicated by two core beliefs.
“First, that in today’s media landscape, trusted content brands matter more than ever, and secondly that quality content legitimises transactions,” she said.
“Our strength in these key areas is what makes Are Media unique and positioned to lead in 2025. Are Media reaches nine in 10 women each year. Our social platforms have 21 million connection points and 4.5 million Unique Website users each month.
“But Are Media doesn’t just reach women; it informs, inspires, entertains and most importantly for our partners, it converts that attention into action. Are Media ignites intention in women across Australia, women who control 85% of all consumer spending. That’s a powerful asset to have in your media mix.”
Are Media director of sales, Andrew Cook, said the company’s brands are synonymous with Australian women.
“The new research we announced today clearly shows that clout, curation, and confidence are the key drivers behind why audiences trust our brands – and why they act on that trust,” he said.
“Our editors are the original influencers. They know what resonates, they know how to curate authentically and, most importantly, they know how to lead consumers to the final click.
“Today, our editorial leaders shared powerful new tentpoles for 2025, each presenting unique ways to engage audiences with our partners’ products. We’re doubling down in the luxury space, expanding ELLE Australia from two to four issues and supercharging our social presence. The new marie claire Skincare Awards and the Gourmet Traveller Hotel and Travel Awards offer additional touchpoints, attracting an audience primed for high-end brands.
“Our entertainment vertical is growing strongly, with extraordinary reach across print, digital and social. This success is driving the rebranding of Now To Love to womansday.com.au, expanding our digital capabilities and creating more opportunities to engage Australia’s entertainment-driven audiences. Meanwhile, Better Homes and Gardens, with a new Editor and its new upcoming Tradie of the Year competition, continues to expand its influence as a beloved household name.
“We are magazines and more. Our expertise in connecting with and understanding Australian women across the marketing funnel will add reach and influence to every marketing campaign targeting women that we work on. The team behind our brands are passionate about what they do, and that’s because our audience is passionate about what they want.”
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The Epson Epiqvision Mini combines sleek design with advanced technology for an unparalleled and portable home theater experience.
Philippines, 4 November 2024 – Epson, the world’s leading projector manufacturer, is expanding the EpiqVision Mini Projector series, featuring three vibrant models: Ice Green (EF-21G), Beige Rose (EF-21R), and Metallic Navy (EF-22N). These projectors are designed to enhance your lifestyle by delivering an immersive viewing experience anywhere, anytime. With more consumers in Asia Pacific investing in home entertainment systems, the demand for smart home projectors is rapidly growing, making the region one of the fastest-growing markets for these devices globally.
This growing demand makes this the perfect time to unveil the EpiqVision Mini Projector series. Its compact design, full HD resolution, robust built-in speakers (that support Dolby Audio™), built-in Google TV™ and Google Cast, laser light source technology, and automatic screen calibration make it perfect for delivering high-quality visuals and full-bodied sound. This makes the new EpiqVision Mini Projectors more than just another home theater device; it is a versatile entertainment companion that facilitates movie nights in your bedroom, parties, gaming sessions, and even work presentations.
The key features and benefits of the new EpiqVision Miniseries of projectors include:
Exceptional Audio-Visual Experience
The EpiqVision Mini Projector offers unparalleled audio-visual quality, ensuring an immersive entertainment experience.
Boasting full HD resolution and advanced 3LCD technology, these projectors eliminate color break-up and the rainbow effect, providing vivid and accurate colors. With a white and color brightness rating of 1,000 lumens – measured according to the global ISO and IDMS standards – our new EpiqVision Mini series boasts vibrant projection brightness.
Featuring HDR10 technology, HLG capabilities, and over 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio, the EpiqVision Miniseries enhances both dark and bright scenes for a lifelike viewing experience. Its advanced laser light source technology3 not only ensures consistent image quality but also offers up to 20,000 hours of use, providing long-lasting and superior performance.
The projector’s built-in 5W x 2 speakers, supporting Dolby Audio™, deliver powerful bass and surround sound, eliminating the need for external speakers. Their optimized positioning ensures consistent audio quality regardless of the projector’s placement. The enhanced sound processing, featuring a DSP chip and various sound modes, enriches the audio experience. Meanwhile, the improved cooling efficiency reduces fan noise, ensuring uninterrupted sound quality.
Entertainment Experiences Anywhere
The EpiqVision Mini Projector series combines convenience and portability, offering an effortless user experience with its automatic adjustment functions. Compact and lightweight, these projectors are easy to install and move, making them ideal for any setting.
The ToF sensor technology enables real-time auto keystone adjustment, auto obstacle avoidance, and auto screen fit features. The screen is scaled to avoid nearby objects and adjusted to fit the frame perfectly in just one second.
EF-22N’s stand design also allows for 360-degree horizontal and vertical rotation, providing optimal viewing angles.
With Google TV™3 OS, the initial setup is seamless and compatible with Google accounts, offering an improved user interface compared to previous Android OS versions. This integration simplifies setup and login processes, enhancing the overall user experience.
An Aesthetic for Every Home
Inspired by modern tech aesthetics, including smartwatches and VR devices, the EpiqVision Mini Projector series combines style and functionality.
Available in metallic finishes and stylish colors – Ice Green (EF-21G), Metallic Navy (EF-22N), Beige Rose (EF-21R) – these projectors harmonize seamlessly with any interior.
“The EpiqVision Mini Projector series embodies our commitment to innovation and user-centric design. These projectors provide superior image and sound quality while offering flexibility and ease of use to suit any lifestyle,” said Noelle Gonzalez, Head of Marketing Division at Epson Philippines. “Whether you’re setting up a home theater, hosting an outdoor movie night, or need a portable solution for travel or presentations, we are excited to deliver this versatile entertainment experience to our customers.”
The EpiqVision Mini Projectors will be available in November this year. Online pre-orders will be available from 2 – 15 November, with an exclusive early-bird discount and free 1-year Epson CoverPlus warranty. For more information, visit Epson’s website or contact your local Epson sales representative.
The Epson Epiqvision Mini combines sleek design with advanced technology for an unparalleled and portable home theater experience.
Philippines, 4 November 2024 – Epson, the world’s leading projector manufacturer, is expanding the EpiqVision Mini Projector series, featuring three vibrant models: Ice Green (EF-21G), Beige Rose (EF-21R), and Metallic Navy (EF-22N). These projectors are designed to enhance your lifestyle by delivering an immersive viewing experience anywhere, anytime. With more consumers in Asia Pacific investing in home entertainment systems, the demand for smart home projectors is rapidly growing, making the region one of the fastest-growing markets for these devices globally.
This growing demand makes this the perfect time to unveil the EpiqVision Mini Projector series. Its compact design, full HD resolution, robust built-in speakers (that support Dolby Audio™), built-in Google TV™ and Google Cast, laser light source technology, and automatic screen calibration make it perfect for delivering high-quality visuals and full-bodied sound. This makes the new EpiqVision Mini Projectors more than just another home theater device; it is a versatile entertainment companion that facilitates movie nights in your bedroom, parties, gaming sessions, and even work presentations.
The key features and benefits of the new EpiqVision Miniseries of projectors include:
Exceptional Audio-Visual Experience
The EpiqVision Mini Projector offers unparalleled audio-visual quality, ensuring an immersive entertainment experience.
Boasting full HD resolution and advanced 3LCD technology, these projectors eliminate color break-up and the rainbow effect, providing vivid and accurate colors. With a white and color brightness rating of 1,000 lumens – measured according to the global ISO and IDMS standards – our new EpiqVision Mini series boasts vibrant projection brightness.
Featuring HDR10 technology, HLG capabilities, and over 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio, the EpiqVision Miniseries enhances both dark and bright scenes for a lifelike viewing experience. Its advanced laser light source technology3 not only ensures consistent image quality but also offers up to 20,000 hours of use, providing long-lasting and superior performance.
The projector’s built-in 5W x 2 speakers, supporting Dolby Audio™, deliver powerful bass and surround sound, eliminating the need for external speakers. Their optimized positioning ensures consistent audio quality regardless of the projector’s placement. The enhanced sound processing, featuring a DSP chip and various sound modes, enriches the audio experience. Meanwhile, the improved cooling efficiency reduces fan noise, ensuring uninterrupted sound quality.
Entertainment Experiences Anywhere
The EpiqVision Mini Projector series combines convenience and portability, offering an effortless user experience with its automatic adjustment functions. Compact and lightweight, these projectors are easy to install and move, making them ideal for any setting.
The ToF sensor technology enables real-time auto keystone adjustment, auto obstacle avoidance, and auto screen fit features. The screen is scaled to avoid nearby objects and adjusted to fit the frame perfectly in just one second.
EF-22N’s stand design also allows for 360-degree horizontal and vertical rotation, providing optimal viewing angles.
With Google TV™3 OS, the initial setup is seamless and compatible with Google accounts, offering an improved user interface compared to previous Android OS versions. This integration simplifies setup and login processes, enhancing the overall user experience.
An Aesthetic for Every Home
Inspired by modern tech aesthetics, including smartwatches and VR devices, the EpiqVision Mini Projector series combines style and functionality.
Available in metallic finishes and stylish colors – Ice Green (EF-21G), Metallic Navy (EF-22N), Beige Rose (EF-21R) – these projectors harmonize seamlessly with any interior.
“The EpiqVision Mini Projector series embodies our commitment to innovation and user-centric design. These projectors provide superior image and sound quality while offering flexibility and ease of use to suit any lifestyle,” said Noelle Gonzalez, Head of Marketing Division at Epson Philippines. “Whether you’re setting up a home theater, hosting an outdoor movie night, or need a portable solution for travel or presentations, we are excited to deliver this versatile entertainment experience to our customers.”
The EpiqVision Mini Projectors will be available in November this year. Online pre-orders will be available from 2 – 15 November, with an exclusive early-bird discount and free 1-year Epson CoverPlus warranty. For more information, visit Epson’s website or contact your local Epson sales representative.
The Malaysian health ministry has clarified that a social media post slamming the new song Apt by Blackpink’s Rose and Bruno Mars was not made by them, contrary to recent reports.
The claim was made by South Korea media Kyunghyang on Oct 28, sharing a photo that reads: “Dissecting the song lyrics of Apt: These lyrics are clearly advocating a lifestyle that isn’t healthy and normalises Western culture.”
Kyunghyang also claimed that the ministry had said the song was “frequently used in social media videos, integrating into daily life” and that there was a risk of children singing along to it without knowing its meaning.
Apt was released by Rose and Bruno on Oct 18 with the title based on a Korean drinking game apateu (apartment) and lyrics including “Don’t you want me like I want you, baby? / Don’t you need me like I need you now? / Sleep tomorrow, but tonight, go crazy / All you gotta do is just meet me at the / Apateu“.
Other Korean media outlets including MBC and Hankook Ilbo also reported on it, before it was picked up by English-language websites like Allkpop and Koreaboo.
The ministry responded to Koreaboo on X yesterday (Oct 29), saying that “the statements regarding this article attributed to MOH have not been issued or authorised by the Government of Malaysia”.
They added that the social media post being quoted by publications was made by “an entity which is not linked to the Ministry in any form whatsoever” and asked their audience to only rely on official channels for verified information on public health matters.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia wishes to clarify that any statements regarding this article attributed to MOH have not been issued or authorized by the Government of Malaysia.
In this regard, we would like to highlight that the posting was made by an entity which is not… https://t.co/dQ6asSLC8j
A search by AsiaOne showed that the original post was made by a Facebook page called Public Health Malaysia, unrelated to the Malaysian government.
Apt currently sits at over 202 million views on YouTube and made its debut at number one on the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excluding US charts. It dethroned another Bruno Mars song on the former, his collaboration with Lady Gaga on Die With A Smile.
It also debuted at number eight on the Billboard Top 100.
Tim Minchin changed my life: An unfunny interview with a comedic genius
Who is the real comedic genius? Greg Bruce makes friends with a very famous performer and turns the celebrity interview on its head. Tim Minchin as you’ve definitely never read him before.
Wellington’s fashion darlings Kowtow on finding their dream team, going plastic-free and their blueprint for the future
“Their goal is eye-wateringly ambitious: to infiltrate a million people’s wardrobes with just one item, replacing something plastic with Kowtow’s Fairtrade organic cotton.” If you’ve ever been guilty of thinking fashion is frivolous, you haven’t read Julia Gesler’s deep dive into the Wellington label that’s changing the world, one zip-free, nut-buttoned garment at a time.
Black Ferns Chelsea and Alana Bremner on New Zealand rugby’s biggest moment
Eden Park and the opening game of the women’s Rugby World Cup: “For those at the ground, or even those watching on television, it was clear that something big was happening,” writes Greg Bruce in this interview with Black Ferns siblings Chelsea and Alana Bremner. “The feeling around the ground was love, pure and simple … To feel that love from the grandstand was deeply moving. To have felt it as part of the team must have been something else again. To have been able to share that feeling with your sister? Only two people in the country have any idea what that was like.”
What is bouldering? Inside NZ’s cool, cultish climbing sport with actor Celine Dam
As Celine Dam casually hoists herself upwards, writer Madeleine Crutchley imagines gravity defeatedly shrugging its shoulders. In March, Viva launched a new series “How I Move” exploring sports in a league of their own and hobbies that do more than keep us moving – beginning with bouldering.
Celine Dam, Auckland-based actor and boulderer, who was interviewed for Viva’s How I Move series.
William Fitzgerald’s circular design is ‘shoddy’. The Mindful Fashion award-winner on why that’s a good thing
“In Ōnehunga, there is a factory where fashion goes to die.” So begins Madeleine Crutchley’s profile on design student (and former Royal New Zealand Ballet dancer) William Keane Jung-Ying Fitzgerald, winner of the Viva editorial prize at last year’s Mindful Fashion Circular Design Awards. His textile of choice? Removal company blankets, made from cotton and wool – also known as wool shod or “shoddy”.
The Beauty Chef’s Carla Oates wants you to unlearn everything you know about wellness
Not every chef is serving burrata and raw fish. Viva’s beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti meets Carla Oates, the refreshingly frank founder of The Beauty Chef. Sample quote: “There’s a lot of pressure for people to tick all the boxes. You have to eat this way. You have to do yoga, Pilates, infrared saunas, the list goes on. Wellness means different things to different people, and it would be good if it was a little bit more individualised. For me, I love doing crosswords. People ask me: ‘How does that have anything to do with wellness?’ Because it takes me away from my work and any daily stresses. It’s my kind of meditation.”
How to end power struggles at the family dinner table, according to a parenting coach
Weight gain, weight loss and body confidence. It’s the trickiest of topics to navigate with adults, let alone children. But what if there was an expert with 10 top tips for raising competent eaters? Joanna Wane meets an Arrowtown parenting coach and takes a look at how our obsession with “healthy food” can cause more problems than it solves.
Bubbah: Tina From Turners and Taskmaster tattoos are just the beginning
Greg Bruce sets out to interview an icon of car sales, a chilled-out comedian and a walking Taskmaster television show billboard – and discovers a true crime podcast. Or does he?
Comedian and actor Sieni Leo’o Olo, known as Bubbah, and Tina from Turners. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
My Style: Toni Street’s journey through fashion, from Canterbury jerseys to frothy frocks
She grew up wearing home-sewn tracksuits. Today, her favourite piece of clothing is the bright pink dress she wore to MC the New Zealander of the Year awards. Viva’s Dan Ahwa takes a look in Toni Street’s wardrobe and asks what she’s learned about herself through fashion. (Hint: Not everyone can wear mustard).
Architects on the New Zealand houses that changed their lives
Is there a house that changed you? That got under your skin and into your heart? Viva’s Johanna Thornton asked eight local architects and received responses that went well beyond the front door of some of the country’s most thoughtful and beautifully designed homes. “How a house can capture the sun, circulate the air, frame the view and encourage people to gather; these seemingly simple propositions require skill to execute, and the houses in this story, and the architects who chose them, do all those things and so much more,” writes Thornton.
After James Wallace’s sex convictions: What next for Pah Homestead and $50m art collection?
Anita Tótha is the recently appointed director of The Arts House Trust, the new owners of a 10,000-piece art collection started by convicted sex offender James Wallace. In her first interview, she talked to Kim Knight about moving forward from a tainted past.
Will the real Karen Walker please stand up? What’s next for the leading fashion doyenne
The Karen Walker empire started with a floral shirt and an illustration of the world-famous fashion designer as a kind of alternate Colonel Sanders. Jessica Beresford takes afternoon tea with Walker and delivers a considered and highly visual look at the evolution of her business — from attention-grabbing campaigns and New York Fashion Week shows to today.
Skincare founder Katey Mandy takes on the NZ Government
“Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither should access to protection,” skincare founder Katey Mandy told Viva beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti in this interview that heralded the launch of a nationwide petition to bring New Zealand into line with Australian practice – and potentially save lives in the process.
3000 oysters and 4800 eggs: Behind the scenes at an epic Auckland hotel buffet
In which Kim Knight spend 24-hours at a luxury hotel buffet and discovers the secret to feeding 700 diners a day (may or may not contain gluten; definitely contains eggs).
NZ surgeon Ineke Meredith’s memoir On Call reveals her bold and bizarre operations
“Elbow-deep in her abdomen.” “She performs her first amputation, with a consultant explaining the procedure to her over the phone.” “A man in his 30s is admitted after swallowing 35 fish hooks.” It’s hard to pick the best sentence from Joanna Wane’s profile on Samoan-born and Paris-based surgeon Ineke Meredith but perhaps save this one for after breakfast.
Fashion designer Kate Sylvester announces the closure of her business after 31 years
When Kate Sylvester announced she was shutting shop after more than three decades, it was Viva’s Dan Ahwa she shared the news with first. The pair talk about the hard work, famous frocks – and why it’s someone else’s time to shine.
Actor Sophie Hambleton returns as Dame Jacinda Ardern in new Covid play
“Ardern is cancer.” The ferocity of the Dame Jacinda Ardern backlash is explored in this interview with actor Sophie Hambleton, who channelled the Prime Minister in a verbatim stage script two years into the Covid-19 pandemic – and again, in this year’s follow-up. “This time, it’s going to get ugly,” writes Joanna Wane.
Tom Hardy on his love letter to London, his dog Blue and the cologne he’s always asked about
An interview with an actor about a movie about a perfume inspired by his father and a love of London. Viva beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti covers plenty of territory in this Q&A with Tom Hardy (Inception, Peaky Blinders, etcetera), a companion piece to an earlier interview with fragrance queen Jo Malone. Could you list your own personal palette of memories evoked by smell? Hardy’s includes a dusty pillow, a dry barn in the sunshine – and the forearms of his mother and father.
Matt Heath on self-help, self-awareness and self-abuse
Recently, Matt Heath asked Prime Minister Christopher Luxon if he sleeps in the nude. He also asked him if he had pre-ordered a copy of his book – a 13-step self-help guide to loving the life you’ve got. Greg Bruce was there, recording a day in the life of the man who went on to advise the PM that “if you feel like you’re stressed, go and make some people some coffee … ”
US writer Ann Patchett’s long-awaited Auckland Writers Festival debut
This year’s Auckland Writers Festival was one for the record books. An 85,000-plus attendance, across 167 events, showcasing 240 participants – including author, Ann Patchett. Joanna Wane zoomed her for a conversation on luminosity and love, noting: “At the core of Ann Patchett’s novel Tom Lake is the difference between the wild, heady love you experience in your 20s and the deeply satisfying love you can have, if you’re lucky, in your 50s.”
Can New Zealanders walk in six-inch stilettos? Christian Louboutin, the most famous shoe designer in the world, thinks so
In a never-ending parade of activations, openings and parties, how does a designer stay true to themselves? Christian Louboutin shares the surprising insight he learned from his woodworking father with Viva’s Dan Ahwa. (Plus shoes. Really great shoes).
Dai Henwood’s cancer battle: New book The Life of Dai on living (and loving) with a stage-four diagnosis
“I was so scared of cancer,” Dai Henwood tells the crowd. “Then I had to do this crash course … cancer has been an amazing teacher. I feel I am a better man, better husband, father, comedian and member of society because I’ve had to deal with cancer.” The comedian, television personality and ice bath owner talks candidly to Kim Knight about the worst possible news.
NZ musician Hollie Smith on infertility, her new tour and art exhibition
Last year, Hollie Smith made an estimated $180 in global music streaming sales. And if that’s not shocking enough, wait until you see her newest project. Kim Knight sat down with the musician who bared all (literally) ahead of a new music tour and an unexpected art exhibition.
Singer and painter Hollie Smith with her artwork, which she exhibited in June at a Grey Lynn gallery. Photo / Jason Oxenham
NZ actor Jodie Rimmer talks ageing and new solo play Nicola Cheeseman is Back
Is it time women started acting their age? Joanna Wane put the question to actor Jodie Rimmer (aged 50) as she prepared for a new solo stage show that skewers the idea that women tumbling towards menopause are obsolete.
Juliette Hogan has dressed politicians, Grammy winners and everyday New Zealand women. What next?
For two decades, Juliette Hogan has been one of our more consistent fashion designers, shaping the way New Zealand women dress. But how much do we know about her? The designer, mother and industry leader talked to Dan Ahwa about navigating the business of fashion, dressing everyone from Taylor Swift to Jacinda Ardern, and the type of future she envisages for our local fashion industry.
“Juliette has what many fashion designers don’t — business savvy,” Dan wrote. “She’s built a brand that plays to her strengths of adapting quickly to the market, while delivering clothes New Zealand women rely upon for every facet of their lives.”
Thinking of getting a vasectomy in NZ? Kiwi men share what it’s really like
When the head of the Alternative Commentary Collective, Mike Lane, decided to have a vasectomy, he knew it could make for a landmark moment in both broadcasting and vasectomies. After discussing it with fellow ACC commentator Jeremy Wells, he scheduled it to take place during that summer’s one-day international between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park.
The broadcast, which made global news, was billed as the first live sporting commentary to be delivered during a vasectomy, but for Lane it was far more important than that.
Sonia Gray and her daughter, Inez, with the family’s corgi, Baxter. Photo / Michael Craig
‘I love it now’: Sonia Gray on why ADHD is the best part of her
Sonia Gray has battled anxiety and depression, and was diagnosed with ADHD after a psychologist working with her daughter Inez suggested she and her husband, Simon, get tested. Her mother told her it explained Gray’s entire childhood.
“My big thing was that I couldn’t trust my brain, so I had to be hypervigilant and would get into absolute panics if things weren’t exactly right,” says Gray, Lotto presenter and host of the podcast No Such Thing as Normal. She knew from an early age that there was something different about her.
Medication has helped calm the chaos in her mind – “not completely, but just enough so it’s not 15 voices all speaking at the time and at the same volume”.
All seasons of Beverly Hills 90210 are available to watch on Prime Video. But should you devote your long weekend to a rewatch?
Beverly Hills 90210: Is the TV show that defined the 90s worth a rewatch?
The clothes! The cars! The side burns! The most famous zipcode in modern television is back, with all episodes available to stream on Prime Video, and we have thoughts. Beverly Hills 90210 screened from 1990 to 2000 and made household names out of actors Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling, Ian Ziering, Brian Austin Green, and Luke Perry (RIP). Writer Sarah Pollok wasn’t even born when the show started. Kim Knight was in her first journalism job. Dan Ahwa just wanted to live in Casa Walsh. In this story, the Gen X, Y and Z trio went back to where it all began to ask: Does 90210 stand the test of time?
Is it really possible to reverse your biological age?
Can science unlock the secret to eternal youth? Joanna Wane took on a 12-month challenge to dial back her biological age and in this story, she revealed the final results.
“The answer is… it’s complicated,” Wane wrote. “That’ll teach me to be smug after the results of my initial DNAage test looked pretty damned good. So did a follow-up six months later.
“The final 12-month report, on my ‘significant birthday’, produced far more mixed results… maybe turning 60 really does take it out of you.”
In this entirely subjective story, Bruce ranks 15 of Tāmaki Makaurau’s malls, from best to worst. Useful reading if you’re heading out for Labour Weekend sale shopping this weekend.
Webb’s to refund art photography auction purchases after ‘misunderstanding’
It’s one of the most sought-after pool views in the country – but are all Slim Aarons prints created equal? And why is Webb’s auction house offering refunds for reproductions of the society photographer’s work? Kim Knight reported on this curious art story – and her investigation brought about real change.
Just broken up? Here’s how to handle the rough first days
No matter your age, life stage or general level of robustness – the early days of a breakup can knock you off your axis. Outside perspective can be invaluable. Enter Wellington-based journalist and mother of three Sarah Catherall who has literally written the book on breakups. Her manual How To Break Up Well: Surviving and Thriving After Separation details lessons learnt the hard way following the dissolution of her own marriage in 2009. She talked to Tyson Beckett and shared big-sister-style tips on how to practically and philosophically navigate your own breakup, from day one.
Richard Osman’s new book We Solve Murders is out now. Photo / Connor O’Leary
Jonah Lomu’s Thursday Murder Club cameo – author Richard Osman explains
There is a theory that New Zealanders subconsciously seek out the letter “Z”. When it appears on the printed page our eyes, apparently, leap to the familiar. Are we there yet? Can the world see us now? In the fourth book of the wildly popular Thursday Murder Club series, we are definitely there.
Page 342: “There was a rugby union player, Jonah Lomu, a New Zealand Tongan, who rewrote the rules of the game, because of his size and speed. No one had seen anything like him before. This hulk, this oversized tank, who moved with such grace and pace.”
How did a Jonah Lomu cameo end up in a book about four senior citizens who solve murders? Kim Knight asked television funnyman turned Thursday Murder Club novelist Richard Osman to explain.
The rise of male sex toys: How technology is removing the stigma and increasing the pleasure
This story begins with a warning: “contains sexual content and is suitable for adults only”. Where it goes from there, is surprising, sometimes shocking and very funny.
Greg Bruce takes a deep dive into the world of male sex toys to find out what’s available and how technology – especially AI – is helping men to work out what they want. Prepare to have your mind blown.
Emerging designers on their favourite moments of Te Wiki Āhua O Aotearoa
Youth-focused community fashion week called Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa took over the moody studio of Raynham Park on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd in September. The event brought together young creatives from across the country.
Each evening of the five-day schedule saw the space booming with DJ sets and a crowd spilling on to the streets, for a fashion-focused celebration in a year where New Zealand Fashion Week had announced a postponement. The attendees ranged from local industry to established academics and fashionably focused peers.
After taking a weekend of rest, creatives from behind the scenes of Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa shared with Madeleine Crutchley their favourite moments and reflected on what the week-long celebration meant for them.
In his darkest hour, Shihad’s Jon Toogood doubted he’d get through. Here’s what saved him
As he prepared for the launch of his first solo album, Jon Toogood took Greg Bruce through the bad times. And there were many.
The death of his mother, while he was stuck in Melbourne during Covid lockdowns. Being stuck in New Zealand the following year, away from his wife and children, again, due to Covid lockdowns. His brother-in-law being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Debilitating symptoms caused by, you guessed it, Covid.
How did he get through? And how did making his album act as medication?
Richard O’Brien talked to Joanna Wane ahead of touring his new musical The Kingdom of Bling.
An audience with the queen: Rocky Horror’s Richard O’Brien on the monster behind his new show
It’s been 50 years since The Rocky Horror Show became a global phenomenon. Now, creator Richard O’Brien is heading back out on the road and he says the world has a lot more to worry about than some sex-crazed, cross-dressing aliens.
O’Brien told Joanna Wane about the inspiration behind his new show – Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch and the state of the world, which distresses him intensely. “If all you’re going for is greed and a celebration of wealth and isn’t it great that I’ve got so far and f*** you, it’s not good enough,” he says. “You’d think character would count for something. But that’s where we are at the present. It’s a very scary time.”
Can I fix my menopausal face without needles? A $2250 skincare experiment
In this revealing, funny and in-depth story, Kim Knight writes about how, aged 54, she realised that her low maintenance skincare routine was suddenly no longer enough.
“Marilyn Monroe is said to have glowed in photographs because of the way the camera flash caught her facial fuzz,” Knight wrote. “As a woman on her way to developing a full menopausal beard, even candlelight is dangerous. Like, literally, a fire risk.
Waterview’s Te Whitinga bridge follows a curved line linking Mt Roskill/Puketāpapa with Mt Albert/Ōwairaka. Photo / Supplied
18 great Auckland walks because the city isn’t just bars, restaurants and shopping
Auckland is a treasure trove of walks. With its 53 volcanic cones, beaches, parks and sprawling suburbia there are endless pockets of the city to explore. While classic walks like Tamaki Drive to Mission Bay will always be a joy on a sunny day, this roundup highlights some of the lesser-appreciated corners of Auckland, some of which have been slowly regenerated to create more urbane environments, with shared paths for walkers and cyclists, native planting and signposting.
Some walks take you through swathes of towering trees and urban waterfalls, mere metres from dense housing, others weave under motorways and on to overpasses and emerge into a city park. It’s this sense of contrast that makes an exciting walk, whether you’re in it for fitness or pleasure.
From Charles Leclerc to Liam Lawson, why Formula One drivers are the new fashion influencers
While the concept of sport and fashion has been well documented, the glamour factor is hard to ignore in the world of Formula One, writes Dan Ahwa, in this deep dive into the new breed of F1 stars who are accelerating their earning potential outside of racing.
“The circuits alone take place in some of the most moneyed towns on the planet – including the glitz of Miami and Las Vegas to the sport’s blue ribbon showcase of the Circuit de Monaco,” Dan wrote. “Despite the impracticality of the course, the tiny principality on the French Riviera offers the perfect backdrop for luxury: superyachts, good-looking people watching and some of the world’s best F1 cars in all their glory.”
Tim Minchin changed my life: An unfunny interview with a comedic genius
Who is the real comedic genius? Greg Bruce makes friends with a very famous performer and turns the celebrity interview on its head. Tim Minchin as you’ve definitely never read him before.
Wellington’s fashion darlings Kowtow on finding their dream team, going plastic-free and their blueprint for the future
“Their goal is eye-wateringly ambitious: to infiltrate a million people’s wardrobes with just one item, replacing something plastic with Kowtow’s Fairtrade organic cotton.” If you’ve ever been guilty of thinking fashion is frivolous, you haven’t read Julia Gesler’s deep dive into the Wellington label that’s changing the world, one zip-free, nut-buttoned garment at a time.
Black Ferns Chelsea and Alana Bremner on New Zealand rugby’s biggest moment
Eden Park and the opening game of the women’s Rugby World Cup: “For those at the ground, or even those watching on television, it was clear that something big was happening,” writes Greg Bruce in this interview with Black Ferns siblings Chelsea and Alana Bremner. “The feeling around the ground was love, pure and simple … To feel that love from the grandstand was deeply moving. To have felt it as part of the team must have been something else again. To have been able to share that feeling with your sister? Only two people in the country have any idea what that was like.”
What is bouldering? Inside NZ’s cool, cultish climbing sport with actor Celine Dam
As Celine Dam casually hoists herself upwards, writer Madeleine Crutchley imagines gravity defeatedly shrugging its shoulders. In March, Viva launched a new series “How I Move” exploring sports in a league of their own and hobbies that do more than keep us moving – beginning with bouldering.
Celine Dam, Auckland-based actor and boulderer, who was interviewed for Viva’s How I Move series.
William Fitzgerald’s circular design is ‘shoddy’. The Mindful Fashion award-winner on why that’s a good thing
“In Ōnehunga, there is a factory where fashion goes to die.” So begins Madeleine Crutchley’s profile on design student (and former Royal New Zealand Ballet dancer) William Keane Jung-Ying Fitzgerald, winner of the Viva editorial prize at last year’s Mindful Fashion Circular Design Awards. His textile of choice? Removal company blankets, made from cotton and wool – also known as wool shod or “shoddy”.
The Beauty Chef’s Carla Oates wants you to unlearn everything you know about wellness
Not every chef is serving burrata and raw fish. Viva’s beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti meets Carla Oates, the refreshingly frank founder of The Beauty Chef. Sample quote: “There’s a lot of pressure for people to tick all the boxes. You have to eat this way. You have to do yoga, Pilates, infrared saunas, the list goes on. Wellness means different things to different people, and it would be good if it was a little bit more individualised. For me, I love doing crosswords. People ask me: ‘How does that have anything to do with wellness?’ Because it takes me away from my work and any daily stresses. It’s my kind of meditation.”
How to end power struggles at the family dinner table, according to a parenting coach
Weight gain, weight loss and body confidence. It’s the trickiest of topics to navigate with adults, let alone children. But what if there was an expert with 10 top tips for raising competent eaters? Joanna Wane meets an Arrowtown parenting coach and takes a look at how our obsession with “healthy food” can cause more problems than it solves.
Bubbah: Tina From Turners and Taskmaster tattoos are just the beginning
Greg Bruce sets out to interview an icon of car sales, a chilled-out comedian and a walking Taskmaster television show billboard – and discovers a true crime podcast. Or does he?
Comedian and actor Sieni Leo’o Olo, known as Bubbah, and Tina from Turners. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
My Style: Toni Street’s journey through fashion, from Canterbury jerseys to frothy frocks
She grew up wearing home-sewn tracksuits. Today, her favourite piece of clothing is the bright pink dress she wore to MC the New Zealander of the Year awards. Viva’s Dan Ahwa takes a look in Toni Street’s wardrobe and asks what she’s learned about herself through fashion. (Hint: Not everyone can wear mustard).
Architects on the New Zealand houses that changed their lives
Is there a house that changed you? That got under your skin and into your heart? Viva’s Johanna Thornton asked eight local architects and received responses that went well beyond the front door of some of the country’s most thoughtful and beautifully designed homes. “How a house can capture the sun, circulate the air, frame the view and encourage people to gather; these seemingly simple propositions require skill to execute, and the houses in this story, and the architects who chose them, do all those things and so much more,” writes Thornton.
After James Wallace’s sex convictions: What next for Pah Homestead and $50m art collection?
Anita Tótha is the recently appointed director of The Arts House Trust, the new owners of a 10,000-piece art collection started by convicted sex offender James Wallace. In her first interview, she talked to Kim Knight about moving forward from a tainted past.
Will the real Karen Walker please stand up? What’s next for the leading fashion doyenne
The Karen Walker empire started with a floral shirt and an illustration of the world-famous fashion designer as a kind of alternate Colonel Sanders. Jessica Beresford takes afternoon tea with Walker and delivers a considered and highly visual look at the evolution of her business — from attention-grabbing campaigns and New York Fashion Week shows to today.
Skincare founder Katey Mandy takes on the NZ Government
“Skin cancer doesn’t discriminate, and neither should access to protection,” skincare founder Katey Mandy told Viva beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti in this interview that heralded the launch of a nationwide petition to bring New Zealand into line with Australian practice – and potentially save lives in the process.
3000 oysters and 4800 eggs: Behind the scenes at an epic Auckland hotel buffet
In which Kim Knight spend 24-hours at a luxury hotel buffet and discovers the secret to feeding 700 diners a day (may or may not contain gluten; definitely contains eggs).
NZ surgeon Ineke Meredith’s memoir On Call reveals her bold and bizarre operations
“Elbow-deep in her abdomen.” “She performs her first amputation, with a consultant explaining the procedure to her over the phone.” “A man in his 30s is admitted after swallowing 35 fish hooks.” It’s hard to pick the best sentence from Joanna Wane’s profile on Samoan-born and Paris-based surgeon Ineke Meredith but perhaps save this one for after breakfast.
Fashion designer Kate Sylvester announces the closure of her business after 31 years
When Kate Sylvester announced she was shutting shop after more than three decades, it was Viva’s Dan Ahwa she shared the news with first. The pair talk about the hard work, famous frocks – and why it’s someone else’s time to shine.
Actor Sophie Hambleton returns as Dame Jacinda Ardern in new Covid play
“Ardern is cancer.” The ferocity of the Dame Jacinda Ardern backlash is explored in this interview with actor Sophie Hambleton, who channelled the Prime Minister in a verbatim stage script two years into the Covid-19 pandemic – and again, in this year’s follow-up. “This time, it’s going to get ugly,” writes Joanna Wane.
Tom Hardy on his love letter to London, his dog Blue and the cologne he’s always asked about
An interview with an actor about a movie about a perfume inspired by his father and a love of London. Viva beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti covers plenty of territory in this Q&A with Tom Hardy (Inception, Peaky Blinders, etcetera), a companion piece to an earlier interview with fragrance queen Jo Malone. Could you list your own personal palette of memories evoked by smell? Hardy’s includes a dusty pillow, a dry barn in the sunshine – and the forearms of his mother and father.
Matt Heath on self-help, self-awareness and self-abuse
Recently, Matt Heath asked Prime Minister Christopher Luxon if he sleeps in the nude. He also asked him if he had pre-ordered a copy of his book – a 13-step self-help guide to loving the life you’ve got. Greg Bruce was there, recording a day in the life of the man who went on to advise the PM that “if you feel like you’re stressed, go and make some people some coffee … ”
US writer Ann Patchett’s long-awaited Auckland Writers Festival debut
This year’s Auckland Writers Festival was one for the record books. An 85,000-plus attendance, across 167 events, showcasing 240 participants – including author, Ann Patchett. Joanna Wane zoomed her for a conversation on luminosity and love, noting: “At the core of Ann Patchett’s novel Tom Lake is the difference between the wild, heady love you experience in your 20s and the deeply satisfying love you can have, if you’re lucky, in your 50s.”
Can New Zealanders walk in six-inch stilettos? Christian Louboutin, the most famous shoe designer in the world, thinks so
In a never-ending parade of activations, openings and parties, how does a designer stay true to themselves? Christian Louboutin shares the surprising insight he learned from his woodworking father with Viva’s Dan Ahwa. (Plus shoes. Really great shoes).
Dai Henwood’s cancer battle: New book The Life of Dai on living (and loving) with a stage-four diagnosis
“I was so scared of cancer,” Dai Henwood tells the crowd. “Then I had to do this crash course … cancer has been an amazing teacher. I feel I am a better man, better husband, father, comedian and member of society because I’ve had to deal with cancer.” The comedian, television personality and ice bath owner talks candidly to Kim Knight about the worst possible news.
NZ musician Hollie Smith on infertility, her new tour and art exhibition
Last year, Hollie Smith made an estimated $180 in global music streaming sales. And if that’s not shocking enough, wait until you see her newest project. Kim Knight sat down with the musician who bared all (literally) ahead of a new music tour and an unexpected art exhibition.
Singer and painter Hollie Smith with her artwork, which she exhibited in June at a Grey Lynn gallery. Photo / Jason Oxenham
NZ actor Jodie Rimmer talks ageing and new solo play Nicola Cheeseman is Back
Is it time women started acting their age? Joanna Wane put the question to actor Jodie Rimmer (aged 50) as she prepared for a new solo stage show that skewers the idea that women tumbling towards menopause are obsolete.
Juliette Hogan has dressed politicians, Grammy winners and everyday New Zealand women. What next?
For two decades, Juliette Hogan has been one of our more consistent fashion designers, shaping the way New Zealand women dress. But how much do we know about her? The designer, mother and industry leader talked to Dan Ahwa about navigating the business of fashion, dressing everyone from Taylor Swift to Jacinda Ardern, and the type of future she envisages for our local fashion industry.
“Juliette has what many fashion designers don’t — business savvy,” Dan wrote. “She’s built a brand that plays to her strengths of adapting quickly to the market, while delivering clothes New Zealand women rely upon for every facet of their lives.”
Thinking of getting a vasectomy in NZ? Kiwi men share what it’s really like
When the head of the Alternative Commentary Collective, Mike Lane, decided to have a vasectomy, he knew it could make for a landmark moment in both broadcasting and vasectomies. After discussing it with fellow ACC commentator Jeremy Wells, he scheduled it to take place during that summer’s one-day international between New Zealand and Australia at Eden Park.
The broadcast, which made global news, was billed as the first live sporting commentary to be delivered during a vasectomy, but for Lane it was far more important than that.
Sonia Gray and her daughter, Inez, with the family’s corgi, Baxter. Photo / Michael Craig
‘I love it now’: Sonia Gray on why ADHD is the best part of her
Sonia Gray has battled anxiety and depression, and was diagnosed with ADHD after a psychologist working with her daughter Inez suggested she and her husband, Simon, get tested. Her mother told her it explained Gray’s entire childhood.
“My big thing was that I couldn’t trust my brain, so I had to be hypervigilant and would get into absolute panics if things weren’t exactly right,” says Gray, Lotto presenter and host of the podcast No Such Thing as Normal. She knew from an early age that there was something different about her.
Medication has helped calm the chaos in her mind – “not completely, but just enough so it’s not 15 voices all speaking at the time and at the same volume”.
All seasons of Beverly Hills 90210 are available to watch on Prime Video. But should you devote your long weekend to a rewatch?
Beverly Hills 90210: Is the TV show that defined the 90s worth a rewatch?
The clothes! The cars! The side burns! The most famous zipcode in modern television is back, with all episodes available to stream on Prime Video, and we have thoughts. Beverly Hills 90210 screened from 1990 to 2000 and made household names out of actors Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling, Ian Ziering, Brian Austin Green, and Luke Perry (RIP). Writer Sarah Pollok wasn’t even born when the show started. Kim Knight was in her first journalism job. Dan Ahwa just wanted to live in Casa Walsh. In this story, the Gen X, Y and Z trio went back to where it all began to ask: Does 90210 stand the test of time?
Is it really possible to reverse your biological age?
Can science unlock the secret to eternal youth? Joanna Wane took on a 12-month challenge to dial back her biological age and in this story, she revealed the final results.
“The answer is… it’s complicated,” Wane wrote. “That’ll teach me to be smug after the results of my initial DNAage test looked pretty damned good. So did a follow-up six months later.
“The final 12-month report, on my ‘significant birthday’, produced far more mixed results… maybe turning 60 really does take it out of you.”
In this entirely subjective story, Bruce ranks 15 of Tāmaki Makaurau’s malls, from best to worst. Useful reading if you’re heading out for Labour Weekend sale shopping this weekend.
Webb’s to refund art photography auction purchases after ‘misunderstanding’
It’s one of the most sought-after pool views in the country – but are all Slim Aarons prints created equal? And why is Webb’s auction house offering refunds for reproductions of the society photographer’s work? Kim Knight reported on this curious art story – and her investigation brought about real change.
Just broken up? Here’s how to handle the rough first days
No matter your age, life stage or general level of robustness – the early days of a breakup can knock you off your axis. Outside perspective can be invaluable. Enter Wellington-based journalist and mother of three Sarah Catherall who has literally written the book on breakups. Her manual How To Break Up Well: Surviving and Thriving After Separation details lessons learnt the hard way following the dissolution of her own marriage in 2009. She talked to Tyson Beckett and shared big-sister-style tips on how to practically and philosophically navigate your own breakup, from day one.
Richard Osman’s new book We Solve Murders is out now. Photo / Connor O’Leary
Jonah Lomu’s Thursday Murder Club cameo – author Richard Osman explains
There is a theory that New Zealanders subconsciously seek out the letter “Z”. When it appears on the printed page our eyes, apparently, leap to the familiar. Are we there yet? Can the world see us now? In the fourth book of the wildly popular Thursday Murder Club series, we are definitely there.
Page 342: “There was a rugby union player, Jonah Lomu, a New Zealand Tongan, who rewrote the rules of the game, because of his size and speed. No one had seen anything like him before. This hulk, this oversized tank, who moved with such grace and pace.”
How did a Jonah Lomu cameo end up in a book about four senior citizens who solve murders? Kim Knight asked television funnyman turned Thursday Murder Club novelist Richard Osman to explain.
The rise of male sex toys: How technology is removing the stigma and increasing the pleasure
This story begins with a warning: “contains sexual content and is suitable for adults only”. Where it goes from there, is surprising, sometimes shocking and very funny.
Greg Bruce takes a deep dive into the world of male sex toys to find out what’s available and how technology – especially AI – is helping men to work out what they want. Prepare to have your mind blown.
Emerging designers on their favourite moments of Te Wiki Āhua O Aotearoa
Youth-focused community fashion week called Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa took over the moody studio of Raynham Park on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd in September. The event brought together young creatives from across the country.
Each evening of the five-day schedule saw the space booming with DJ sets and a crowd spilling on to the streets, for a fashion-focused celebration in a year where New Zealand Fashion Week had announced a postponement. The attendees ranged from local industry to established academics and fashionably focused peers.
After taking a weekend of rest, creatives from behind the scenes of Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa shared with Madeleine Crutchley their favourite moments and reflected on what the week-long celebration meant for them.
In his darkest hour, Shihad’s Jon Toogood doubted he’d get through. Here’s what saved him
As he prepared for the launch of his first solo album, Jon Toogood took Greg Bruce through the bad times. And there were many.
The death of his mother, while he was stuck in Melbourne during Covid lockdowns. Being stuck in New Zealand the following year, away from his wife and children, again, due to Covid lockdowns. His brother-in-law being diagnosed with terminal cancer. Debilitating symptoms caused by, you guessed it, Covid.
How did he get through? And how did making his album act as medication?
Richard O’Brien talked to Joanna Wane ahead of touring his new musical The Kingdom of Bling.
An audience with the queen: Rocky Horror’s Richard O’Brien on the monster behind his new show
It’s been 50 years since The Rocky Horror Show became a global phenomenon. Now, creator Richard O’Brien is heading back out on the road and he says the world has a lot more to worry about than some sex-crazed, cross-dressing aliens.
O’Brien told Joanna Wane about the inspiration behind his new show – Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch and the state of the world, which distresses him intensely. “If all you’re going for is greed and a celebration of wealth and isn’t it great that I’ve got so far and f*** you, it’s not good enough,” he says. “You’d think character would count for something. But that’s where we are at the present. It’s a very scary time.”
Can I fix my menopausal face without needles? A $2250 skincare experiment
In this revealing, funny and in-depth story, Kim Knight writes about how, aged 54, she realised that her low maintenance skincare routine was suddenly no longer enough.
“Marilyn Monroe is said to have glowed in photographs because of the way the camera flash caught her facial fuzz,” Knight wrote. “As a woman on her way to developing a full menopausal beard, even candlelight is dangerous. Like, literally, a fire risk.
Waterview’s Te Whitinga bridge follows a curved line linking Mt Roskill/Puketāpapa with Mt Albert/Ōwairaka. Photo / Supplied
18 great Auckland walks because the city isn’t just bars, restaurants and shopping
Auckland is a treasure trove of walks. With its 53 volcanic cones, beaches, parks and sprawling suburbia there are endless pockets of the city to explore. While classic walks like Tamaki Drive to Mission Bay will always be a joy on a sunny day, this roundup highlights some of the lesser-appreciated corners of Auckland, some of which have been slowly regenerated to create more urbane environments, with shared paths for walkers and cyclists, native planting and signposting.
Some walks take you through swathes of towering trees and urban waterfalls, mere metres from dense housing, others weave under motorways and on to overpasses and emerge into a city park. It’s this sense of contrast that makes an exciting walk, whether you’re in it for fitness or pleasure.
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While the concept of sport and fashion has been well documented, the glamour factor is hard to ignore in the world of Formula One, writes Dan Ahwa, in this deep dive into the new breed of F1 stars who are accelerating their earning potential outside of racing.
“The circuits alone take place in some of the most moneyed towns on the planet – including the glitz of Miami and Las Vegas to the sport’s blue ribbon showcase of the Circuit de Monaco,” Dan wrote. “Despite the impracticality of the course, the tiny principality on the French Riviera offers the perfect backdrop for luxury: superyachts, good-looking people watching and some of the world’s best F1 cars in all their glory.”
