Our print publication is back, better than ever before. Despite the neverending news media feeding us a plethora of equal parts optimism and pessimism, none of us really have the faintest idea what the short-to-medium-term future holds. But having hope for a brighter outcome gives us the motivation to keep going, in spite of it all.
Three weeks ago, a small team of our most passionate contributors gathered our collective resilience to pull together this issue. Our survival was paramount, our failure not an option. With the support of our strong community of both dedicated readers and generous advertising partners who have continued to empower us with their trust, we are here.
Our winter issue celebrates the best of what we have right on our doorstep, from proclaiming our love of Auckland, and supporting local, to exploring the best of the South Island’s iconic Queenstown. We shine a light on the restaurant dishes we longed for so greatly during lock-down. Contributing photographer Jake Terrey, and his model partner Matilda Dods, also share a glimpse into their life in isolation with a personal photo essay shot in their home garden.
But above all this, we also honour those Denizens who, in the face of all the odds, have chosen the path of resilience. Despite the inherent obstacles that have either been thrust upon them in the wake of COVID, or because systemic racism has made them have to work harder to be heard or seen.
Whatever the challenges, right here and now presents one of the greatest opportunities in our history to collectively accept that the world needs to change in positive ways.
We hope you enjoy the issue.
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While many of us are perfectly proficient at spending any amount of time (and money) on the latest treatments, products and gadgets for the skin on our faces, when was the last time you spared a thought for that oft-neglected area just south of the chin?
Phenomena like ‘tech neck’, for example, have prompted many to hone in on ways to prevent wrinkles supposedly formed by excess smartphone use (a sadly appropriate dilemma for our times), and damage from increased exposure to blue light from screens.
Phone addiction aside, the skin on our necks and around the jawline is prone to showing ageing earlier due to the thinner, more delicate skin in that area and, well, gravity.
Treatments to encourage a ‘snatched’ (taut) jawline in particular are on the rise, and an innovative new product from French skincare brand Sothys promises to focus on this very goal.
The Perfect Shape Neck Stretch Mask is like a sheet mask for your neck and jaw. Presented as a stretchy fabric in an individual sachet, it’s soaked in active ingredients like hibiscus stem cell extract, algae extract and almond seed extract, which aim to brighten, moisturise, lift and rejuvenate.
The shape was custom developed to fit the lower half of the face, so one applies it to the very bottom of the chin and jaw, pulling up either side and hooking the mask around the ears to enhance the stretch and pulling-up effect.
Having never tried anything like this before, I was certainly intrigued and excited to give it a go. I have to confess I’m not the biggest fan of sheet masks, finding them claustrophobic around my nose and mouth, however I had no such trouble with this one as it hooks comfortably onto the ears and around the jaw, leaving the rest of the face free.
Leaving it on for 15 minutes, I also used the gua sha tool I have at home to work the mask and its extracts even more into my jaw and neck — a technique I’d highly recommend, seeing as it doubles as a tension-reducing massage and helps absorb the products into the skin.
After removing the mask and any product residue further into my skin (this is a no-rinse product), I have to say the skin around my jaw and upper neck felt incredibly soft, and remained that way for the day.
While at the tender age of 28 I’m not yet in need of anti-aging products around my jowls, I whole-heartedly believe prevention is the best cure and so would definitely enjoy adding the Perfect Shape Neck Stretch Mask into my pampering routine.
When you have a specific craving, and want to see it realised, only the best version of that particular food will do. For an unshakeable — or even fleeting — hot dog craving, we recommend visiting the good people at Good Dog Bad Dog.
The Chilli Cheese Dog
Situated within Commercial Bay’s Harbour Eats food hall and helmed by the team behind Gochu, Good Dog Bad Dog initially began life as a pop-up in Newmarket before it put down roots inside the bustling precinct, and we’re all much better for it.
The menu includes different variations of the universally-loved delicacy, including the Chilli Cheese Dog, Good Dog, a Pepperoni Pizza Dog and a Mac n’ Cheese Dog in addition to the more familiar Classic Dog.
The Chilli Cheese Dog combines a traditional frankfurter sausage with a house-made chilli mix, and cheese topping with chives, while the Good Dog comprises a vegan hot dog featuring shiitake mushroom, fried tofu, jalapeno and truffle mustard, and a vegan sausage, all encased in a bun that, according to the menu, will ‘suit it all’.
The Mac n’ Cheese Dog is pretty self-explanatory (yes, it’s a hot dog with the pasta dish dolloped on top), while the Pepperoni Pizza Dog involves a frankfurter topped with slices of pepperoni pizza and pineapple salsa.
We’re also very keen on the look of a recent addition — the Buldoggy — which tops a frank with bulgogi beef, Gochu mayonnaise, coleslaw and nori. It’s the mash-up we never knew we needed, but very much want to taste.
Great style permeates every area of Constance von Dadelszen’s (née Cummings) life. As the founder of vintage specialty store Love and Object, she has developed a deep love for objects that are both beautiful and individual, curating such pieces for her customers and clients. From vintage jewellery to homewares and floral arrangements, Love and Object is the place to go for things that will improve your space or jewellery collection. Exercising the same discerning taste in her role as creative director of womenswear for fashion brand Dadelszen, alongside her husband Eddie von Dadelszen, she certainly keeps herself busy. Here, the tastemaker gives some insight into a few of her other interests.
My personal style can be defined as: Timeless with a contemporary twist.
The last thing I bought and loved was: A 10ft palm tree for our entranceway.
Villa Le Fontanelle
An unforgettable place I visited was: We stayed at our wedding venue, Villa Le Fontanelle, in Florence during January. It was wonderful to be back at a place that had so many wonderful memories for us.
Next place I’d like to go to: I won’t be going anytime soon with a baby on the way but I’d love to stay at one of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust eco-lodges in Kenya. We sponsor a few of their elephant and rhino orphans via Love and Object and I’d probably cry with joy seeing them in real life.
An object I would never part with is: My engagement ring. Its design and history holds such a unique and special meaning for us. I’ll likely be obsessed with it for the rest of my life.
On my wish list is: Matching original mid-century light shades for the house. The ones that came with the house represent everything bad about 90s interior design.
The last thing I added to my wardrobe was: The Gainsbourg coat in cream from our [Dadelszen’s] new womenswear collection — available online soon. Its the most divine mix of masculine-inspired tailoring with such a feminine colour and fabric. However, I’m petrified of spilling something on it.
Lauren Hutton
My style icon is: All-time muse- Lauren Hutton, contemporary style muse- Ilenia Toma.
The design (building, person, item) that inspires me is: The house we currently live in has been the most inspiring home for me yet. It’s an old dame that needs work but its craftsmanship has stood up to the test of time and its a little bit quirky. Since we’ve been here we’ve added some of my favourite items to our collection, its spaces have pushed us to think outside the box interior-wise.
My favourite app is:Pinterest, for instantly downloading all my thoughts on creative projects and it saves me so much time! I used to have stacks of scrapbooks that would take me hours to put together.
An indulgence I would never forgo is: Cafe purchased lattes, I can’t make a proper coffee to save myself.
If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city it would be: So tough! I love hunting for items when we go travelling and locally too. If I had to pick it would be Florence, for its mix of new and vintage fashion stores, amazing food, flowers and its antique stores.
The Last Dance
I can’t miss an episode of: I was obsessed with The Last Dance on Netflix recently. One of the best docos I’ve seen, even if you’re not a basketball fan.
In my fridge you’ll always find: Buffalo feta or blue goats cheese.
My favourite room in my house is: Our bedroom; it’s still a WIP but it has one of my favourite pieces of art by Grace Wright and an art deco bedroom suite that looks like it’s from old world Hollywood.
I recently discovered: Journalling, I used to think the idea of writing down your thoughts about your day was a bit naff, but it helped motivate me and keep me calm during the crap days of pregnancy and lockdown.
The people I rely on for my wellbeing are: My husband and closest friends. I can turn to them no matter what and they get my sense of humour.
My favourite website is: 1st Dibs, I could spend hours looking at furniture and vintage clothing.
A gadget I can’t do without is: My phone. I hate it but it’s my lifeline for work and currently serves as a memory bank to counteract my baby brain.
Rothko
The one artist whose work I would collect is (if price is not an issue): Rothko. No doubt about it.
The last meal out I had that truly impressed me was: I haven’t been eating out at all recently, instead, we’ve been ordering in house catering from our local Barulho. I love their take on elevated home-style cooking.
The best gift I ever received was: Serge, our dog. He’s the best.
The beauty/ grooming product I can’t live without is: A brow brush and gel. Mine slope downwards if left untamed, which only adds to my resting b*tch face.
If I wasn’t doing what I am, I would be: A museum curator, an archaeologist, an environmental lobbyist; I ‘d love to have many lifetimes so I could experience different careers.
I have a collection of: I come from a family of collectors so I caught the collectors bug from a young age. Fortunately, I’m able to “collect” vintage jewels and homewares for Love and Object and Eddie and I love collecting unique items for our home.
A great piece of advice I’ve received: You can never be everything to everybody. It’s a great piece of advice for anyone starting a brand.
Treat yourself with a delicious spin on a warming hot chocolate. More of a method than a recipe, this drink is so easy to whip up there’s no reason to delay.
Ingredients
Base: – 4 tbsp Fix & Fogg Chocolate Hazelnut butter – 2 cups milk of your choice (dairy or non-dairy)
For topping: – Whipped cream – Shaved chocolate – Crushed hazelnuts – Mini marshmallows
Method: 1. In a saucepan, gently heat milk until hot. Be sure to whisk milk so it doesn’t burn. 2. Add Chocolate Hazelnut Butter to hot milk and whisk until melted through. 3. Pour hot chocolate into mugs and top with whipped cream, marshmallows, crushed hazelnuts and extra chocolate.
Don’t let a soggy sock ruin your day. Finding the perfect winter shoe is an essential pursuit, and whether you’re after a versatile and tidy pair of sneakers or an all-weather boot, there’s sure to be a style out there for you.
1. The Casual Lace-Up Common Projects Derby Shine An elevated step up from the sneaker, this style solves the inevitable ‘smart-casual conundrum.
2. The High-top Sneaker Dior B23 High-Top Sneaker If logo-mania appeals but you just want to dip a toe in, so to speak, these Dior high-top sneakers are a good way to give the trend a try.
3. The Boot R.M.Williams Classic Craftsman Boots Perfect for inclement weather and suitable for almost any outfit, a good pair of boots will be with you through thick and thin.
4. The Oxford Dadelszen Alessia Lace Up Shoe Upgrade your look with a pair of modern Oxfords. This season, textural brown is surpassing heavy black in a tonal takeover.
5. The Sneaker Koio Capri Sneaker With post-Covid wardrobes putting comfort as a priority, a reliable sneaker will prove key for the new relaxed look.The Dress Shoe
6. The Loafer Gucci Loafer The ease of the loafer belies its sophisticated look. This is the ideal shoe for a man who loves luxury but loathes the effort that comes with it.
Beloved Eden Terrace cafe Coffee Pen has a cult following. Tucked away down Basque Road, this hidden gem has been a firm favourite since owners Yasuji and Fumi Hisai opened it in 2016 after moving to Auckland from Sydney. The pair spend their days providing customers with delicious house-baked sweet treats, hot lunch specials and topnotch coffee, and Coffee Pen is occasionally the site of community market events, bringing a throng of visitors from around the city. Stepping out from behind the counter for a moment, Yas gives us some insight into the duo’s interests.
The last thing we bought and loved was: Yasuji: A car last year – a Toyota Blizzard 1988.
An unforgettable place we visited was: Kaitaia. If we have the day off we speed up there to go fishing.
Next place we’d like to go to: Germany to see the arts, music and buildings.
An object we would never part with is: Yasuji: Technics turntables (SL-1200MK3D) and Vestax mixer (PMD-06 ProA). I got them when I was a teenager in 1996, and that’s when I started collecting records and CDs.
On our wish list is: A Kayak!
Kaitaia
An indulgence we would never forgo is: Fishing in Kaitaia.
In our fridge you’ll always find: Beer.
Our favourite room in our house is: Not actually inside, it’s outside on the balcony. It’s not huge but we have a beautiful Auckland view.
Apero
The last meal out we had that truly impressed me was: At Apero. We had roasted savoy cabbage, parmesan & walnuts, and roasted cauliflower with goat’s curd, almond and mint.
We recently discovered: Yasuji: I love walking. I hated it before – even walking five minutes, but after lockdown I’m now happy to do 3 hours.
Our favourite website is:nepenthesny.com – a Japanese clothing brand.
The one artist whose work we would collect is (if price is not an issue): Tomoo Gokita, Henrietta Harris, Emma McIntyre.
The best gift we ever received was: Yasuji: A B&W Zeppelin speaker. My old friends gifted it to Coffee Pen when we opened.
Subsequence
The best book we read in the last year is: Subsequence, a semi-annual publication with features on arts, craftsmanship and culture. Kennedy Magazine, a biannual journal based in Athens, Greece. Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling.
Favourite music we’ve recently been listening to: Jeff Parker’s album Suite for Max Brown.
If we weren’t doing what we are, we would be: Yasuji: I think it would be the same as now.
We have a collection of: Records and art books.
Top three favourite records in our collection: Its too hard to choose though… 1. Steve Riche Music for 18 musicians live 1978 ECM records (minimal contemporary music) 2. Head Nordic Tuesday 2002 from Insiduous urban records. (Jazz, Hip hop) 3. Tide & Ticked Trio Observing Systems 2003 from Morr Music (German electronica/dub/jazz)
I’m Oliver Green. I’m a glass-half-full type of guy! Except, with me, the glass is half-full with the blood of my enemies. I overheard some fuckin’ life coach say… or maybe I read it on the back of a tea bag or on a kindergarten teacher’s T-shirt, that practicing gratitude makes you happier. So. This is that. Welcome to a new column written by an angry, nihilistic, curmudgeon who is trying to be a better person by finding the good bits of life and focusing on them. So that my wife doesn’t make me go and live in a chicken coop. So… yay! (Etc.)
#1. How fuckin’ good is… dancing?!?!
I’m old enough to have seen Footloose in the movie theatre. The original one with Kevin Bacon. For those of you pretending not to know what I’m talking about, it’s a film about a boy named Ren McCormack who finds himself in a small town in America where dancing is banned. But Ren McCormack loves to dance. It’s very important to him. It’s how he blows off steam and celebrates the way his hair moves. So he takes it upon himself to teach the small town how to dance again and along the way he teaches them how to love, too. It’s a movie that made 12-year-old me want to live inside a learning-to-dance-montage with Chris Penn. Also, thanks to Lori Singer, I think it was the first time I noticed that women have nipples… a fact I haven’t unnoticed since.
Dancing is a sneeze your soul does. It’s an uncontrollable compulsion like some sort of benign haunting. It’s a very specific feeling that requires a physical response based on how honest you want to be with yourself. Limb flailing, shaking, shuffling, pointing, clapping and the making of faces, dancing is this unique moment where your intellect and ego hand your body over to your soul and let it turn you into a marionette. And all you can do is shrug and say, “this makes no sense… but okay.” And your ego becomes a dichotomous wreck, flipping from joy to fear with every song the DJ chooses.
But it’s good to let your soul be the puppet master — it doesn’t get much of a turn on the controls these days. We are all so self-aware and scared that the soul often gets left out, shunned, treated like a piece of gluten with rollerblades on. Our souls need honesty and integrity to thrive but it feels like those concepts have become nothing more than two of the 25 hashtags on our selfies making sourdough at dawn in our yoga pants (or whatever this month’s like-baiting affectation happens to be).
The soul can only grow and flourish in a state of abandon. Which makes dancing with abandon the sign of an evolved human being. Someone who has a rainbow aura, whose body odour smells like an AESOP shop. Who has ridden themselves of the shackles of the herd and truly no longer cares what other people think. Who can ascend the ladder towards a new frontier of human happiness (a place I imagine is populated by people who have let their Brazilian waxes grow out into pubic-hair sparrows nests, who write 87-word palindromes for fun, who laugh in original Latin and who are able to wear and actually pull-off Rick Owens).
There are no rules for dancing (which is the real reason men don’t do it — no one wins at dancing). That said, if you’re aware that you’re dancing when you’re doing it, then you really aren’t dancing. It’s like the Double Slit — a quantum physics experiment that asked whether consciousness could alter matter, and noted the odd behaviour of particles that were being observed. It concluded that the act of the observing, changes the outcome. When we dance with awareness, we’re like those particles. We change. We’re self-conscious. And we become sentient, a quality that doesn’t belong on any dance floor.
The dancing high-tide is toddlerdom. Toddlers are about as sentient as a spaniel. They are the embodiment of perfect dancing and we should all be working hard to shed our egos and be the music like we did when we were 50cm of who-gives-a-fuck-what-you-think-joy. We should all be jiggling and swaying, running and squatting and then probably shitting our pants and crying every time the music comes on. That’s an authentic response to Fleetwood Mac. If you don’t fall asleep on your face with a shit in your pants after every dance session then get back in your space ship and fuck off back to planet Trying-Too-Hard and have a kale douche, Sandra.
Self aware dancing is like self aware love-making. Have you ever had sex with someone who knows they are having sex and isn’t totally bamboozled by the whole thing? Those sex people. Yuecchh. The worst. But dancing is often the precursor to sex because its makes the soul horny. For beautiful people this might be because the dance floor is a place where you can see how someone’s body moves, and so the sex parallel is an obvious one. But for the rest of us lumpy uglies who dance like a corpse being pushed out the back of a stolen station wagon down a cliff, the way we make each other’s souls horny is by ‘Worsethanning’. You don’t know what that is because I just made it up but Worsethanning is a very sophisticated courting technique where you show your intended mate that you are worse than them at things. I am ‘worsethan’ you at cooking, analysis of movies, fashion, parenting or in this case, dancing. Worsethanning removes all the pressure from the moment and lets everyone just relax and let go of that fart they’ve been holding in since 2006.
That said, every dance floor comes equipped with some twat ‘Betterthanning’ and ruining the fun. Look, I get it. You’re a dancer. I’m cultured, I’m into ballet. But if you are good at dancing then dancing with us is not for you. Your dancing is not laced with the complicated emotions of doubt and fear and shame that it is for the rest of us. If you are good at dancing and it’s a chance to show off and do something downright impolite like ‘express yourself’ then thanks, but no thanks.
A sure way to make dancing not fun is to GO dancing. “Would you like to go dancing!?” No. That’s a terrible idea. I would like to go and drink in a dark room with music playing that, in any other context would sound like a crime being committed in a cutlery drawer and then let some invisible force pull me onto the floor for a dance. Lost in pleasure. Dancing is cathartic like crying, quitting your television or throwing a brick through a window. When done with enough abandon it will get your brain to microdose you with chemicals like serotonin.
In my visions of hell, I’m sitting in a chair. Next to me is a small man. In front of him is a giant book, in which is written everything I have ever said out loud. And then the small man starts reading out those things. To me. Forever.
Maybe the best thing about dancing is that you can’t talk when you’re dancing. Maybe that’s the point. When you’re dancing (and I mean really dancing) you can’t do anything else. You don’t have to wear a lanyard to do it. You don’t have to be good at it. You don’t have to go anywhere to do it. Just let your soul sneeze and make sure no one turns the lights on.
Set among dense vegetation in the Atlantic Forest of the Paulista Coast of São Paulo, the Jungle House is a fine example of architecture that seamlessly blends into the surrounding topography. Designed by lauded Brazilian studio mk27, the project takes advantage of its tropical surrounds and spectacular view of the ocean.
Projecting proudly out from the mountain range, the three-storey structure has a clear, pragmatic division between each floor. The ground level boasts a large wooden deck that acts as a generous shaded area for the children to play in as well as allowing full immersion into the lush surrounds.
Above this, the first floor holds six bedrooms, five of which have their own private veranda equipped with hammocks, while the top floor acts as the social hub of the home, housing the kitchen, living room and pool area.
The calm and welcoming interior contrasts the bright tropical theme encompassed by the exterior. With a brief to create a feeling of cosiness and comfort while also asserting a modern tone, a bold declaration is made in the living room with the inviting Tufty-Time sofa by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia. The iconic Saarinen coffee table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll projects a modern accent, while the Nepal chair by Paola Navone for Baxter brings a feeling of warmth and intimacy to the room.
With an ambition to showcase local furniture designers mastery throughout the home, perhaps one of the most standout pieces resides in the bedroom — the Anemone chair by the Campana Brothers for Edra, a contemporary statement that reflects the provenance of the home.
Tolomeo Mega Parete from ECC, Alexander Dining Table from Sarsfield Brooke, Float Mini Lounger by Paola Lenti from ECC, Menu WM String Dining Chair from Tim Webber, Saarinen coffee table from Studio Italia, Tufty-Time sofa from Matisse
Architect: studio mk27 — Marcio Kogan + Samanta Cafardo
Interior design: studio mk27 — Diana Radomysler
Photography: Fernando Guerra
Focaccia is one of the most satisfying things you can make; we’re talking low input, high reward. Crispy at the base, fluffy in the centre and still warm from the oven: nothing beats making it at home.
This recipe serves up to four people, and is ultra-simple with flour, salt and high-quality olive oil being the three crucial ingredients.
If you’re keen to jazz it up, try adding in mortadella, some mozzarella or burrata and a pinch of freshly crushed pistachio.
For a super-fast version, you can even skip the entire proving stage and go from mixing the dough, right to baking. Stretch the dough into the tray, dress with olive oil and rosemary and pop it straight into a cold oven. Set it to 180ºC and let it bake for around 30mins. The dough will prove as the oven heats up.
Ingredients: 300g flour 150g water 2 tbls. extra virgin olive oil (plus extra for brushing) 1 tsp. kosher salt 7g instant yeast Sprig of rosemary Maldon sea salt flakes
Your choice of filling. Try: Mortadella Burrata Crushed pistachio
Method 1. Combine flour, kosher salt and olive oil in a bowl. 2. Slowly add the water and mix vigorously with a fork* 3. Add the yeast and mix into a dough, making sure to work out any lumps. 4. It should come together as ball on your fork. 4. Place the dough ball into a large oiled bowl and cover. Leave to prove for 1 hour** 5. Place the dough on a lined tray and delicately stretch into a long oval shape. 6. Using your fingers, softly press little dimples into the dough. 7. Brush with a good amount of olive oil and season with rosemary and a sprinkle of salt flakes. 8. Stand for 30 mins** 9. Put the tray into a 180ºC oven*** 10. Bake for 20-30 mins or until golden on top. 11. Remove the focaccia from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 mins.
*You can use a stand mixer for steps 2 and 3. Be sure to use the dough hook attachment. **Skip these steps if you’re going for the super-fast method. ***Don’t preheat the oven for the super-fast recipe.
Karangahape Rd fried chicken joint Free Bird is proving it can do justice to more than a southern-fried drumstick.
Owners Sade Hopkins and Kim Workman have opened a new go-to breakfast hang out inside their diner called The Grilled Cheese, and as the name suggests, this time tasty toasted sandwiches are in the hot seat.
Purists will love The Classic – straight-up grilled cheddar cheese in bread – while The Breakfast Toasty combines Swiss and cheddar cheese with bacon, scrambled eggs, tomato relish and chives for more of a morning meal.
The Breakfast Toasty
Into The Blue and PB&J get a little funky; the former comprising blue cheese, cheddar, roasted, mushrooms, thyme and caramelised onion, and the latter offering sweet-tooths a must try option with crunchy peanut butter, berry jam, cream cheese, caramelised banana and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
There’s an ever-changing grilled cheese of the week on offer, and the all-important extras include Buffalo hot sauce and pickles to take your morning hot sammy to the next level.
Washed down with a glass of OJ or a Kokako hot filter coffee and that’s what we call a great start to the day.
Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 7am until 11:30am Take away and delivery available
Britomart is doubly the place to be next week as a variety of fun and tasty cultural activities take place, part of this year’s Matariki Festival ringing in the Māori New Year as the constellation rises in the winter skies above Aotearoa.
Historically a time for communities to come together, acknowledge the year gone by and make plans for the year ahead, there are several great happenings taking place in wider Auckland from June 20 to July 15 that encourage celebrating with kai, kōrero, rituals and entertainment.
Down in Britomart from Tuesday, June 30 to Saturday, July 4, visitors can be treated to a traditional hāngi by hāngi master Rewi Spraggon, who is setting up his pit in Takutai Square. We’re excited to try one of the hāngi pies on offer and there are also hāngi lunchboxes available to take away, so why not get the office involved for a group lunch?
Auckland Council has also collaborated with Britomart to host daily performances by local kapa haka groups from Monday, June 29 to Saturday, July 4, with two 20-minute performances occurring each day at 12:15pm and 1:15pm.
Lunchtime tunes by DJ Pomale Tamati keep the vibe going and visitors to Takutai Square can also take in an impressive display in the form of a lightbox exhibition.
The imagery displayed features a selection of local kapa haka performers, some of whom will be representing Tāmaki Makaurau at the next national kapa haka competition.
So whether it’s a hot hāngi lunch or a performance that appeals, we recommend joining the celebrations down in Britomart to mark this year’s Matariki.
Former pharmacist Sara Higgins was intrigued by the world of wellness long before Coronavirus swept the globe. Unexplained fatigue had hounded Higgins for five years and while seeking medical assistance she stumbled upon the beneficial effects of infrared saunas and more recently, red light therapy.
“I was fortunate to meet a lot of amazing holistic doctors and practitioners over the past few years who have been instrumental in helping me on my own health journey,” Higgins says. “I was looking to make a change to really focus on utilising my skills and combine it with my passion for helping others on their health journey.”
The red light at the end of the tunnel is Hana (which means to shine, glow and radiate in Māori) a stylish sanctuary created by Higgins at The Scrap Yard development in the heart of Auckland’s Grey Lynn.
The newly-opened Hana offers private infrared therapy with two standard-sized and one larger infrared sauna suited for up to three people, along with one of the city’s few red light pods. In addition to this, the space also houses an onsite massage therapist and a one-on-one reformer Pilates instructor.
Infrared Sauna
With polished stone floors, meditative arches and beautiful textured walls, brought together with triumphant visual harmony by architectural designers Pennant & Triumph, the feeling of replenishment begins when you step through the door. “I wanted to create a welcoming space where people can fully immerse themselves in a healing sanctuary and leave feeling fully nourished,” says Higgins.
Red Light Pod
To the novice, the idea of a sauna may conjure up images of hot steamy rooms, but the infrared experience is different. Unlike traditional saunas, which heat the body from the outside in, infrared saunas create heat in the body rather than in the air, penetrating tired muscles, stiff joints and gradually increasing circulation. The benefits of a regular 45-minute session in an infrared sauna runs the gamut of weight loss, cellulite reduction, immune system boosting, detoxification, a reduction in stress and relief from muscle pain. And then there’s the post-session skin glow which receives universal positive feedback from Higgins’ regular customers. “With the saunas you will feel great after a one-off visit, but to get the most out of it, I recommend at least once or twice a week.”
Stella Pilates pop-up
Unlike the saunas, the red light pod treats the body differently through photobiomodulation. Having become a firm favourite with health gurus and fashionable types the world over, the benefits of exposing the entire body to red and near-infrared light for 20 minutes are pretty enticing. Clinical studies have shown great results including repairing skin damaged by the sun, reducing fine-lines and wrinkles, healing acne scars, fading stretch marks, encouraging collagen synthesis and repair, all restoring the mitochondrial oxidation of the body’s cells. It’s also been shown to reduce inflammation.
“It depends on what you are hoping to achieve, what age you are and whether you have any health concerns, be it mild or chronic conditions, but ideally you would use the light therapy twice weekly. Definitely once a week is important,” Higgins says.
Harper Therapy massage room
As well as being a place for direct treatments that offer immediate benefits, Higgins hopes that Hana will become a destination for people to further explore their wellness journeys.
This is one of those occasions when we suggest following orders. If you’re told to walk towards the light, especially if the destination is Hana, then do so with haste.
North Shore locals have been flocking to the newly-opened Pym’s of Milford since its surprise opening two weeks ago.
Situated on bustling Kitchener Rd, the 55-seater bar and eatery offers a relaxed and welcoming environment for customers to comfortably while away a few hours with friends (or solo), hosted by its friendly staff.
Helmed by Jacqui Blythe, Sarah Carroll and Craig Pym in their first joint hospitality venture, Pym’s of Milford is the culmination of a long-held dream by the owners, plus a response to what they saw as a gap in the local offering.
With a curated wine-list featuring both recognisable and independent names, plus boutique spirits like gins from Scapegrace and Botanist, the drinks offering aims to have something for every taste and so far, the feedback has been favourable.
Food-wise, customers can expect simple yet tasty, fresh dishes that present the option of a light snack with your libations, or a combination for a more substantial meal.
The tempting Pym’s burger is on the heartier side, comprising grass-fed brisket beef burger with cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion with a side of chips. A classic, done well.
Seasonal vegetable kebabs, two sizes of grazing platters, pork meatballs and chilli prawns are some other small plates on offer, made with good quality ingredients sourced from local suppliers.
It’s a family-affair, with the three owners’ various relations running operations behind the bar and in the kitchen, and this is part of Pym’s of Milford’s charm. Next time you find yourself in the area, or if you’re a local, and you should decide to stop by, you’re sure to receive a warm welcome.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 2pm until late Saturday and Sunday: Noon until late
No matter the skin you’re in, feeling confident and beautiful should be within reach for everyone.
If cosmetic treatments are a part of this for you, you’ll be thrilled to know that incorporating these into your routine has just become even easier with the opening of Lovely By skin institute’s fifth location at central Auckland’s new hub of activity Commercial Bay.
Now you can keep your co-workers guessing about your extra glow after indulging in a ‘lunchtime face lift’ with Ulfit Skin Tightening, or maintain your anti-ageing regimen with access to anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers.
While Lovely By skin institute’s convenient location makes it easier to achieve the appearance you desire, it is still overseen by parent company Skin Institute’s respected doctors, with all treatments performed by highly-trained nurses and beauty therapists.
While you’re checking out the incredible food and fashion offerings at Commercial Bay, stop to peruse Lovely By skin institute’s menu for affordable skin and body treatments to meet your needs.
Along with laser rejuvenation and microdermabrasion, Cooltech™ fat reduction is growing in popularity. The non-invasive treatment targets fat cells forever by freezing them – think love handles and stubborn belly fat. Typically you only need 1–3 non-surgical treatments using scientifically proven technology on an area to notice results, with each session taking just over an hour.
And so you can continue seeing and feeling the improvements from your in-salon treatments at home, treat yourself to products from Lovely By skin institute’s range to cleanse, nourish, hydrate and protect your skin, while dealing with concerns around pigmentation, sensitivity and skin brightness.
Just as New Zealand’s lime season enters full swing, a mezcal and tequila bar has arrived in Auckland by way of New York City. Situated in the new downtown shopping precinct Commercial Bay, Ghost Donkey is a lively and vibrant venue that aspires to impart Mexican hospitality to every one of its visitors.
Helmed by the team behind The Poni Room, Liquorette and the soon-to-come Saxon + Parole, Ghost Donkey’s flagship New York location is an award-winning cocktail bar and now New Zealanders can enjoy a unique and high-energy experience courtesy of one sparkling, rouge-tinted bar.
With over 35 mezcals and tequilas on the menu, Ghost Donkey boasts the largest offering of the top selection of each style in Auckland. Led by renowned master of Mexican mixology Nacho Jimenez it’s a serious curation primed for serious fun.
If you’re not 100% sure what the difference is between mezcal and tequila, allow us to explain a few key points:
While both are distilled from the agave plant, tequila must be made in Mexico’s Tequila region from the blue Weber agave, while mezcal can be produced anywhere in Mexico (although it’s usually made in Oaxaca) and can be made from more than 30 types of agave.
Technically, all tequila is a type of mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila —think of it like bourbon and whiskey. All bourbon is a type of whiskey, but it’s not the same the other way round given whiskey can be Scotch, Irish, rye, Japanese, or something else entirely.
Mezcal can often be denoted by a smokey flavour which arises when the agave is cooked in underground fire pits filled with wood and charcoal, while tequila is made in above-ground ovens then distilled in copper pots.
We suggest taking this knowledge with you next time you visit Ghost Donkey — although we’re sure the staff will be more than happy to explain in more detail.
It’s not all liquor; New York-based executive chef Brad Farmerie has created a menu of snacks centring on nachos. Offering a selection of ‘Nachos Especiales’, the aim is to showcase high-quality ingredients and unusual flavour combinations to elevate the humble dish.
The rest of the menu is split into ‘tacos’ and ‘not tacos’ with the latter encompassing fresh takes on traditional Mexican bar snacks, and Ghost Donkey’s selection of house-made hot sauces are always on hand to spice things up.
An irreverent and dynamic part of Commercial Bay’s innovative hospitality offering, Ghost Donkey is sure to be the scene of many a memorable night.
Chalk up another inspiring New Zealand success story to entrepreneur Libby Matthews who has seen her collagen supplement business Dose & Co. explode in only 18 months, thanks to the simplest of skin-saving ideas. Inspired by living in the US, Matthews developed a range of creamers for hot drinks containing premium quality collagen to help people look and feel better, and now Does & Co. is expanding from its online business into retail stores in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.
“We had no idea the brand would grow as fast as it did,” Matthews says. ”We launched with just two products and just over a year later we have ten products which include a retail range. Our intent with the brand is pure and simple, to help people look and feel better.”
The brilliant idea for Dose & Co. started three years ago, after Matthews gave birth to her daughter and experimented with a cocktail of supplements to treat terrible postpartum hair loss. When someone suggested collagen, Matthews knew that she could improve on expensive offerings packed with sugar, while still delivering the benefits of improved hair, skin and joint health.
“Our collagen products are empowering, change people’s lives, and help them get results from their postpartum hair loss, improving hair, skin, nails, gut health and joint and ligament health. Some people have had eczema or psoriasis and tried every product including antibiotics and steroid creams to help with these conditions. After using our collagen they notice results within a week.”
Up until now the most popular product from the Dose & Co. range has been their coffee creamers, originally only offered with a coconut milk base, but now also offered in a version made with New Zealand dairy powder. The range has grown to include a Collagen Protein Powder (a whey protein with added collagen) in Chocolate Fudge and Creamy Vanilla and a super versatile unflavoured Pure Collagen.
With business booming as Dose & Co. starts lining the shelves of selected New Zealand supermarkets, along with their successful website trade, Matthews is also committed to saving the planet while saving your skin. The company has a plastic-free policy, packaging their collagen collection in deluxe cardboard canisters.
“It didn’t feel right to put these premium formulations in a plastic tub,” says Matthews. “Eliminating plastics was paramount.”
With the US market in Dose & Co.’s sights and the new range in stores, Matthews is sporting a healthy glow of anticipation.
“It’s an exciting time,” she says. “We’ve been working on these products for so long now and I can’t wait for them to be released.”
Alongside partner Dariush Lolaiy, the eternally gracious Rebecca Smidt runs Balmoral mainstay Cazador, the ultimate destination for inventive dishes that bring out the best of wild game, along with exquisite hospitality. As the second generation custodians of the popular restaurant Smidt and Lolaiy have created an award-winning cookbook and recently opened a spectacular deli to add even more flavour to the Auckland hospitality scene. We asked Smidt to slip off her Birkenstocks, rest her feet and reveal her inspirations.
My personal style can be defined as Black everything. It hides all sins – it’s a casualty of my industry.
The last thing I bought and loved was: Dinner at Culprit. Imaginative, fun, friendly and delicious.
Culprit
An unforgettable place I visited was: Rajasthan. It’s overwhelming in every sense. It’s beautiful, exhilarating, exhausting, captivating and I want to go back.
An object I would never part with is: Things come and go…
Next place I’d like to travel to: The Chateau at Mt Ruapehu. I’d love to visit some of our old-time hotels and drink brandy by the fire. The Chateau is first on my list, then maybe the Waitomo Hotel. Imagine the carpets!
The Chateau
On my wish list is: A second bedroom.
The last thing I added to my wardrobe was: An oversized silk shirt from Widdess, to match all the other oversized things in my wardrobe from Widdess.
An indulgence I would never forgo is: Sherry. A fino sherry before dinner is where it’s at.
The design (building, person, item) that inspires me is:Jamie McLellan. He’s a genius, a master of simplicity and he has a really cool dog.
Jamie McLellan
If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city it would be: Since we’re not doing markets and souks and bazaars for a while yet, just drop me off on Ponsonby Road. My two main stores are Widdess and Kate Sylvester. I can have an Eighthirty Coffee before I get started, then lunch at Orphans Kitchen and then maybe I’ll get another pair of sensible Birkenstocks from Shoe Science.
In my fridge you’ll always find: Champagne and cheese.
My favourite room in my house is: Our apartment offers a choice of two rooms, so I’ll say the living room, as it’s where I do my eating and my reading – my two favourite things.
To demonstrate the potential of a new development in the bohemian Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, leading Australian design practice Hecker Guthrie was called on by JCB Architects to apply their considerable expertise to the showpiece apartment.
Set on sturdy bluestone foundations the original building, with striking arched windows and stone trims, served as an inspiration for the design team, keen to incorporate historical elements with modern functionality. The red brick facade of the former boot maker’s shop, dating back to the 1880s, became the leaping-off point.
Bertoia fully upholstered dining chair from Studio Italia, Knoll Platner dining table from Studio Italia
“We took references from the origins of the site’s environment and expressed this through the materiality,” said Hecker Guthrie founding director Hamish Guthrie.
Inside the apartment, there’s a sophisticated play between light and dark, with the bathrooms becoming a sanctuary of polished stone.
“Glass panels throughout are tinted darker to represent the grit and tenacity of the surrounding landscape, and the overall colour scheme is darker to give it a very sophisticated, premium feel,” Guthrie said.
Adding to the sophistication is the 3.3 metre ceilings, which bring an element of the contemporary loft to the historically-minded location, anchored by rich oak timber detailing and fluted partitions which define spaces while maximising the generous flow of light.
To maintain the high standard of sophistication, furnishings were kept to a minimum, with select pieces offering aesthetic satisfaction with defined silhouettes and textural details with warm leathers, plush velvets and rumpled linen.
Rivea 1920 J+I crocetta stool from Matisse, Flos Snoopy table lamp from ECC, Minotti Lou Table from ECC, Uno Goose Neck Mixer from Robertson, Knoll Platner lounge chair from Studio Italia
With rain on the forecast, what better time to engage in some R&R and stay indoors with a great TV show? From royal satire to an acclaimed novel adaptation, these are the recent releases to watch now.
The Great Hilariously irreverent and loosely based on the facts, this show centres around Catherine The Great (Elle Fanning) and her fraught journey to power. Set in the Russian court of stroppy Emperor Peter (Nicholas Hoult), Catherine must find her own path through rampant promiscuity, violent outbursts and cautious conspiracy. Stream on Neon
Bad Education The true story of the largest public school embezzlement in American history, Bad Education is a dark comedy/drama that follows Dr Frank Tassone (Hugh Jackman) and Pamela Glukin (Allison Janney) as they steal millions of dollars from the Long Island public school they run, while simultaneously striving to make it the best in the district. Stream on Neon
The Way Back Ben Affleck plays an alcoholic ex-high-school basketball star who, after walking away from his future, is stuck on a meaningless path. Originally titled The Has-Been, this is a story of loss and resurrection without leaning on cliches, the protagonist is given a shot at redemption when he becomes the basketball coach at his alma mater. Stream on Apple TV
Misbehaviour Starring Keira Knightly, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jessie Buckley, Misbehavour tells the story of the women who hatched a plan to hijack the 1970 Miss World competition — the year that saw the first black competitor crowned. (Coming soon)
Normal People Based on the critically-acclaimed novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, Normal People offers a tender portrait of the relationship between protagonists Marianne and Connell, as they navigate life and love after high-school. Stream on TVNZ on demand
Mrs America Centred around second-wave feminism at the time of the Equal Rights Amendment, this slick miniseries focuses on Phylis Schlafly — conservative darling of the right — and her attempts to thwart the amendment’s passing into law. Told through the eyes of women from the era (on both sides of the aisle) and anchored by a masterful Cate Blanchett in the leading role, this show offers a fascinating look into history. Stream on Neon.
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