Woman NZ

We may not have used our passports, but I’m pretty sure I had a case of jet lag when we arrived home after our summer holiday. The good-times memory bank was overloaded, my heart was full – and my little whānau of four was completely wiped out. A hap

“It feels good to talk about it,” says Ria Vandervis, through tears. The Shortland Street star has done many interviews during her eight years on the iconic Kiwi soap, but never once has she spoken publicly about one of the most important things in h

Pulling on a black uniform with a silver fern proudly embroidered upon it is the dream of many Kiwi kids. It’s the pinnacle of years of blood, sweat, tears and resolve; the summit of sacrifice and struggle. But when Silver Fern Sulu Fitzpatrick donne

What was it like growing up in New Zealand? Kiri: My parents left Gisborne when I was around 12 to move to Auckland for my singing [and] by the time I was 21, I was in England, so I didn’t put down roots anywhere in New Zealand. My time in Gisborne w

As far as summer holidays go, Claire Chitham’s recent break on the Coromandel Peninsula was a pretty good one. There were long, lazy days on the beach, wonderful catch-ups with friends and family, and an incredible night spent at a festival dancing a

Some people spend years hustling for fame or even recognition, others appear in the public eye as though they’ve always been there. Emma Espiner is one of those people. By the time she popped up on TVNZ’s election coverage and won over their audience

The whispering started shortly after Prince Albert II and his family arrived at the Yacht Club de Monaco the week before Christmas to christen a new police launch. The ruler of the tiny European principality, his wife Princess Charlene and their six-

Charlene’s marriage to a prince hasn’t quite been a fairytale, and a centuriesold curse might have something to do with it, according to rumours doing the rounds in Monaco. Popular lore has it that the ruling Grimaldi family was cursed back in the 13

It’s not how I thought the interview would go, but halfway through my chat with Wellington musician Estère Dalton, she changes into pyjamas. It’s 1pm on a sunny Tuesday, but, it turns out, Estère works best in her PJs. “Working in bed brings out my c

It’s 11.30am on a grey Wednesday morning and, under normal circumstances, I would have completed an interview, written a few hundred words and pitched a story or two. But we are not living in normal times. Instead, I’ve wandered into the garden to pi

making hiapo – traditional Niuean bark cloth painting – takes time and energy. First, you strip bark from an ata tree, pulling it off in large pieces and taking care not to make holes in it. Then you might soak it for up to a week or spend hours beat

The bride wore white, the groom wore blue and Elvis’ outfit had so many rhinestones it was probably visible from space. I was that bride and that was my 2008 wedding in Las Vegas. I met my husband Martin in a grimy London pub during my OE and we’d sp

These are super easy and kids love to help make them! 1 cup sushi (short grain) rice1 teaspoon salt105g tin salmon2 tablespoons mayonnaise½ avocado½ red capsicum1 packet seaweed snacks (small sheets of seaweed)2 tablespoons sesame seeds4 tablespoons

Serves 4 1 tablespoon oil2 tablespoons butter12 scallops, skirts removedSalt and pepper to taste3 tablespoons peanut oil3 garlic cloves, chopped4cm piece ginger, chopped1 large red chilli, seeds removed, finely chopped2 spring onions, chopped150g ver

Photos: Mike Rooke. Hair & make-up: Loren Cunningham. Styling: Tori Ambler. Model: Helena Turner. ■

Why do we drink alcohol? It’s become such a normal part of many of our lives that we may not have stopped to ask ourselves that question. But it’s something we should possibly reflect on as we settle into a summer of socialising and relaxing. I’m sur

Modelling clay (air-drying or baking)Rolling pinKnifeStrawFine sandpaperResene testpot brushResene testpots (see colours listed)Resene FX Paint Effects MediumSmall spongeCord to hang 1 Start by rolling out your clay about 7mm thick (A). It’s importan

Now is the time in the summer holidays when we start running out of ideas to keep kids entertained and – if you’re anything like me – patience! Christmas presents have been played with, most of us have gone back to work and we start counting down the

As is the case for so many families, our “number two child” found the first day of school a breeze. After giving me a huge hug, he launched himself off with a wave and strode across the playground to find his classroom. My eldest looked on, aghast! A

Scrawled early in my notes: “My God, this woman is amazing.” And Ruth Bader Ginsburg, aka RBG, the former US Supreme Court Justice who died last year, gets even more amazing across the 274 pages of this book. Drawn from more than two decades of conve

Start the language lessons before the bell rings When I was growing up, I remember summer holidays feeling like they went on for months – but now, as a parent, I’m convinced they’re even longer than they used to be. Our kids, now at three different s

There are times when taking public transport is meditative. Then there are times when it’s a challenge of endurance, character and restraint. I’ve found a new kind of zen not trying to find a park in the city, where finding a space is often harder th

I think last year was, among other things, the year of crazy dreams. Not the unfulfilled ones – they pretty much came with the territory – but the “I married a Swedish prince and had reindeer babies” dreams. Apparently it is completely normal to have

1 Anti-riot vapour (4,3) 4 From the Orient (5) 8 Frostily (5) 11 Dark Angel actress, … Alba (7) 16 Northeastern US state (5) 18 Sailing skill (13) 19 Rock-breaking tools (13) 21 Sentiments (8) 23 Hooch (9) 26 Gripping (8) 28 Mouth sores (6) 30 Cuba’s

Gemma Arterton may not be a name many are familiar with, but the British actress and former Bond girl has a variety of projects lined up for release this year which are sure to make her star rise higher – from the Kingsman prequel to the haunting Neo

Yellowstone is a family saga set in Montana and, with three seasons of the show being dropped on Neon, this sprawling modern Western that is easy to lose yourself in. Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves, Wyatt Earp) leads the cast, heading back to what

WHAT WAS THE BIG ALBUM OF YOUR YOUTH? Blink 182’s Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. A bit of an odd one because it’s not exactly pre-teen friendly, but I have an older brother and I loved whatever he loved, so I became obsessed with that album. LAST BO

Lena Hehepi, 28 Barista, Napier ■