This October, ECC Auckland becomes the stage for a rare encounter with one of Australia’s most quietly influential tailoring houses. P.Johnson, long admired for its effortless refinement and modern interpretation of sartorial codes, will host an exclusive trunk show at ECC’s Grafton showroom from 22nd — 26th October. While the brand has presented in New Zealand before, this marks the first time its womenswear collections will be seen here — an evolution that underscores its widening scope while retaining the ease and precision that have defined Patrick Johnson’s vision since founding the label in 2009.
P.Johnson founder Patrick Johnson & his wife, interior designer Tamsin Johnson
P.Johnson’s showrooms are located in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, London, and New York, with tailoring made in an atelier in Tuscany, so the opportunity to experience the craft first-hand in Auckland, is a rare one. For five days, New Zealand clients can step into the world of P.Johnson through made-to-measure and ready-to-wear appointments, guided directly by the brand’s team. Expect fluid suiting in muted neutrals, relaxed silhouettes that read as both contemporary and timeless, and collections spanning essentials, eveningwear, tailoring, and swim.
ECC will play host to the upcoming trunk show alongside custom USM modular furniture
The setting is, unsurprisingly, as considered as the clothing. Styled by Johnson’s wife — lauded interior designer Tamsin Johnson, the ECC showroom will feature the brand’s summer arrivals alongside custom USM modular furniture. The pairing is deliberate, with P.Johnson and USM sharing a commitment to clarity, longevity, and understatement. “Interior design has always been central to our identity,” Thomas Walsh, partner at P. Johnson tells me, “Partnering with ECC and USM felt natural. Collaborating with ECC allows us to connect with our New Zealand community in person — an audience with an innate sense of design. This partnership embodies the intersection of fashion and design, a dialogue that lies at the heart of the P. Johnson brand.”
P.Johnson’s September Collection
Just as USM’s modularity reflects permanence and adaptability in design, P.Johnson’s tailoring is created to live fluidly in the rhythm of its wearer’s day. Both reject excess in favour of quiet precision — a philosophy ECC, too, has long championed in its curations. “ECC is proud to partner with USM for the P. Johnson Trunk Show, with wardrobes chosen for the occasion by Creative Director and Interior Designer Tamsin Johnson. A modern classic, USM embodies timeless, sustainable design — pieces crafted to endure, echoing P. Johnson’s own ethos of craftsmanship,” says Richard Thorburn, Director at ECC.
For those attuned to design and detail, this trunk show is not merely a shopping opportunity but a moment of alignment, with fashion, furniture, and space coming together to create an atmosphere of rare refinement. Appointments are essential.
If you would like to purchase one of the custom USM units chosen by Tamsin, or design your own unit, email [email protected], or head into the showroom to discuss your requirements.
Let’s be honest, truly great modern Indian food is rare. When you find a place that nails it, it’s sure to end up on your weekly dining agenda. That’s the deal with Times of India, a modern Indian eatery in the heart of the city from the team behind 1947 Eatery. Times of India takes everything you love about Indian cuisine, the fire, the fragrance, and the theatre, and dials it into a fresh, elevated experience.
Left to right: aloo chaat & Koliwada prawns
Kebabs charred to perfection
The menu runs the gamut from street-side snacks to Mughal-inspired feasts. Bhel on a puri bursts with tang and crunch, while aloo chaat is a riot of textures — crisp potatoes, tamarind, mint, and pomegranate. Paneer Maska layers cottage cheese with spiced cream cheese and apricot, while Koliwada prawns deliver a crisp, spicy punch. From the tandoor, lamb seekh kebabs, garlic malai chicken, and stuffed mushrooms come charred to perfection.
Left to right: Zafrani Dum Biriyani & Lamb Chops
Butter Chicken
For mains, the classics sit comfortably alongside more adventurous plates. Sure, there’s butter chicken — creamy and nostalgic — but also rarer finds like Bhuna Gosht (a rich Deccani goat curry), South India prawn curry simmered in coconut masala, and the knockout Rara Pepper Chicken in a fiery mince gravy. Vegetarians are spoiled too, with Paneer Lababdar, vegetable kofta, and slow-simmered dal makhani.
Negroni Sour
Drinks-wise, bespoke cocktails and a global wine list keep pace with the food’s big flavours, and dessert seals the deal, from gulab jamun with ice cream to mango kulfi, or gajar ka halwa made with imported Indian carrots.
Dine in for the full sensory journey or takeaway when the craving hits, either way, this is modern Indian that will keep you coming back.
Opening Hours: Lunch: Monday — Friday, 12pm until 2pm Dinner: Monday — Sunday, 5pm until 10pm
Words Sjaan Askwith | PHOTOS Shayan Asgharnia | 2 Oct 2025
Known for his work that sits at the intersection of realism and abstraction, George Byrne is a multi-faceted artist with a lifelong connection to creating. From a suburban Australian upbringing to years spent on the road as a musician, to now, living in LA as a full-time artist, Byrne has developed a distinct style that draws on the rich tapestry of his life, infusing urban photography with constructed abstraction. Here, he reflects on his craft, career, and the next chapter in his creative evolution.
George Byrne is not an artist who stumbled into his métier by accident. His path — winding and, at times, unruly — has always been fuelled by a deep curiosity and innate sensitivity to art, shaping both his work and the broader trajectory of his life. Raised in suburban Sydney in the 1980s, with Emmy-nominated actress Rose Byrne as a sister, the artist recalls a wonderfully free-range upbringing, marked by the vivid chaos of a big family and a natural pull toward creativity. “I think from a young age I was quite sensitive to music, atmosphere, and aesthetics,” he reflects. “I didn’t have the language for it at the time, but I was always noticing things — colours, moods, light. That stuff stuck.”
Yellow Door by George Byrne, 2021.
It was music that first moved him, inciting that visceral, full-body recognition of beauty. “One of the first pieces of music I recall being hit by was the chorus of the Beatles song Penny Lane,” Byrne recalls. “I must have been seven or eight… I felt it in my body and thought, wow that feels good.” Music was his first love, with photography arriving later, and much more stealthily. “I was always fascinated by composition and structure. In music, I was drawn to layering, mood, and space,” he says. By his late teens, this fascination shifted to visual arts. “I started taking photos seriously in my late teens and immediately felt a kind of intuitive pull. There was something about framing the world that made sense to me. It was quiet, solitary, and a bit mysterious.”
This connection to photography only intensified in his early twenties. Despite early forays into drawing and painting, it was photography that beckoned with its unique duality — the power to both document and distort reality. “On one hand, it’s this objective medium, capturing what’s in front of you, but on the other, it can be incredibly abstract and interpretive.” After an early solo exhibition at 21, built from photographs taken on a trip to India and drawing on inspiration found at a Grant Mudford and Wim Wenders exhibition at the MCA in Sydney, where Byrne realised photography’s potential to live in a gallery context and still carry poetic and conceptual weight, he seemed destined to make a name in visual arts. But then, life pulled him in a different direction.
Do Not Enter by George Byrne, 2019
“I poured about ten years into [music] — made records, toured, lived that life — and while it was incredible in parts, I never quite got where I wanted to get to,” he shares. Burned out and seeking change, Byrne moved to Los Angeles. “I was still broke, but I was genuinely happy,” he says of those early days, working odd jobs, making stock music, and taking photographs on instinct. The camera, once again, became a means of processing the world. “I was seeing fragments of beauty everywhere: colours, structures, weird details in the LA light.”
It was through Instagram that Byrne’s work found an audience, an early show following soon after and solidifying his return to visual arts. “From there, I focused everything on developing a visual language. Shooting on film, scanning, editing, constructing scenes from multiple sources… It became more like building paintings than taking photos, part documentary, part invention. I drew on my music background a lot, thinking in terms of albums and series, rhythm and tone. That structure gave me clarity, and I just ran with it.”
“I think I’ve always had a bit of a tension between inner restlessness and a desire for stillness. The work is a way to settle things, to slow the world down.”
Today, Byrne’s photographs sit at the midpoint of realism and abstraction — a blending of real urban elements and constructed compositions that feel both tangible and dreamlike. “Place is central,” he says, speaking of how location, especially Los Angeles, continues to shape his work. “But it’s always filtered through my perception… I collect fragments from all these places and rebuild them into new compositions.”
George Byrne in his studio
As an Australian in America, he possesses a unique perspective which lends itself to his style, “Growing up in Australia, I had a romanticised view of America, especially California. Then you get here and it’s grittier, stranger, more layered.” Being from outside of America, he tells me, has definitely sharpened his sense of observation. “I think I still carry a kind of outsider’s gaze. I notice things that locals might not, which is evident in my work.”
There is a meditative slowness to Byrne’s art — a deliberate quietness amidst the urban sprawl. “I think I’ve always had a bit of a tension between inner restlessness and a desire for stillness. The work is a way to settle things, to slow the world down,” he explains. His process is intuitive, guided less by strict intention and more by instinct. “I shoot instinctively, sometimes hundreds of images in a day, then months of nothing… Then in the studio, I start sorting, matching, and building.”
Liquor Store Yucca Valley by George Byrne, 2024.
Byrne’s relationship with colour is equally instinctual. “If I’m photographing something, it’s because it’s moved me in some way, and colour is part of that… I’m really just trying to translate that feeling — to pass on whatever resonance or emotion I felt in that moment, as faithfully as I can.” Indeed, though his imagery is deeply personal, Byrne never seeks to dictate meaning. “I don’t go into a piece thinking, ‘I want the viewer to feel this exact emotion.’ What I aim for is to create a space — a tonal world — where a viewer might pause, breathe, and project something of their own onto it.”
Over time, his themes have shifted from purely aesthetic compositions to something more layered. “Especially after going through things like the pandemic, becoming a father, losing loved ones, the work started carrying more emotional weight. There’s still quietness and stillness, but also a kind of melancholy, or searching. I think the older I get, the more I’m interested in mystery.”
Desert Collage by George Byrne
This begs the question whether, in a world saturated with visual content, Byrne struggles to stay inspired and maintain that sense of wonder. “If anything, I often feel stressed that I don’t have enough time in my life to do all the things I want to do!” he laughs. “But image saturation is real, and that can be overwhelming. I think each person has to figure out their own threshold, what’s inspiring, what’s numbing, and build a relationship with that.”
“…going through things like the pandemic, becoming a father, losing loved ones, the work started carrying more emotional weight…”
He recognises, and has experienced first-hand, the double-edged nature of digital platforms. “Social media gave me a critical platform early on, but it’s also a noisy, addictive time waste. It’s very sticky.” Likewise, on newer frontiers like AI, Byrne is pragmatic. “It’s fascinating… I think the artists who’ll thrive are the ones who know how to use it as a tool, not a crutch. You’ve got to have something to say, not just a clever way of saying it.”
When it comes to what Byrne hopes his own work communicates, it’s a reminder to take pause in the often chaotic world we live in. “A sense of stillness. Maybe a moment of seeing something ordinary in a new way. I hope it reminds people to look, to notice light, to feel things they can’t name. For me, it’s more about transmitting a state of mind — a kind of stillness, or reverie. If someone else feels that too, then it’s done its job.”
Washington Blvd by George Byrne
In return, his artistic practice has been a mirror for his own evolution. “Art has a way of revealing your inner architecture. I think it starts with me — with trying to express something I can’t quite put into words. I’ve also learnt I’m happiest when I’m deep in the process, when I’m chasing something I don’t fully understand.”
More recently, Byrne has returned to the practice of painting. “It’s energising, and has reminded me that reinvention is part of the process.” I can’t help but wonder whether recently becoming a father has inspired this shift back to a practice so deeply rooted in feeling, “[Fatherhood] has slowed me down in the best way. Made me more deliberate, more protective of my time. It’s also softened me, maybe cracked something open. There’s a whole new emotional range to draw from now, and a whole new level of chaos to navigate.”
Ace Hotel Sth Broadway by George Byrne, 2015
For Byrne, being an artist is, above all, a privilege. “Whether this ride lasts one more year or thirty, I’ll never take it for granted.” Asked who inspires him, in both work and life, Byrne’s answer speaks volumes of his character: Hockney and Matisse, musicians who have evolved over decades, and most importantly, his wife and daughter. “My daughter reminds me what pure happiness looks like daily, and my amazing wife (actress Rose McIver) — one of the most emotionally intelligent people I know — inspires me daily.”
Temple St. by George Byrne, 2015.
And as for what comes next, outside of enjoying watching his baby grow and savouring a slower pace, Byrne is in no rush to limit himself. “Painting is a big one… sculpture and installation interest me too. I’d love to create work that occupies physical space in a more immersive way.” Ultimately, Byrne’s future is not about perfecting a single vision, but about staying alive to evolution. “To keep evolving, to keep loving it, to build a body of work that feels like a real contribution — something people come back to.”
And it’s clear that no matter the medium through which Byrne communicates his inner world, he was always destined to be an artist who offers us not only a way to see, but a way to feel.
While the weather is certainly still a mixed bag, daylight savings is in full swing — and we think lighter nights and longer days are certainly worth celebrating. What is also worth celebrating is the sheer number of delicious foodie events and goings-on taking place over the next month. From exceptional events to unmissable dining deals and more, this is Denizen’s comprehensive October Dining Guide.
This October, Kingi’s laneway is the place to toast spring with Rosés & Canapés. For a modest $39 per person, enjoy a glass of The Landing Rosé alongside three elegant seafood bites from head chef Stefania. Extend the evening with a tasting flight of The Landing wines — or opt for a non-alcoholic Rosé — with every glass purchased putting you in the draw to win a wine tasting and lunch at The Landing.
After seven years on Jervois Road, stalwart eatery Andiamo is taking a short pause for a makeover. Expect more space, a fresh new menu, and, yes, a revamp of the powder rooms. The neighbourhood favourite is set to reopen in mid-October, ready to welcome you back with its signature warmth and charm. Keep an eye on Denizen for updates!
Gloria’s is serving spring on a plate with its October special: a moreish Chicken & Peas sandwich. Think poached chicken salad, ricotta salata, smashed peas, dressed lettuce, and yoghurt ranch. Light, fresh, and unbelievably satisfying.
SkyCity’s Served festival continues this October and November, bringing bespoke menus, wine pairings, special offers, and one-off events across its top dining destinations. Must-dos this month include Masu’s Issho Ni event on Thursday the 9th — a rare Japanese-Nikkei collab with five fiery courses from Nic Watt and Krish Dutt, Al Brown’s Down and Dirty “Dego” at Fed Deli on Tuesday the 21st, pairing bold flavours, cult classics, and matched drinks, and The Grill’s Mapari Beef x Torbreck Wines event on Tuesday the 28th — a nose-to-tail beef feast paired with Barossa’s Torbreck. Serious food and wine lovers, take note.
Takapuna Beach Cafe’s beloved Fish & Chip Shop is back on October 8th for a second seaside summer, dishing up elevated classics with a playful twist. Expect everything from John Dory and hapuka to whitebait fritter butties, seafood baskets, and even a deep-fried pineapple-lump chocolate fish — all served beachside from 3–8pm daily, October through May.
After a sell-out debut, The Wine Room’s Le Club series returns on Friday 31th October. Expect cabaret-style performances, DJ sets, Champagne, caviar, and chef Ryan Moore’s refined canapés — all in a sumptuous late-night setting.
Soul Bar & Bistro is heating up Viaduct Harbour for Campari Month with a series of standout events. Alongside a bold menu of bittersweet cocktails and Campari-infused dishes, there is a Masterclasses on the 15th of October where folklore meets flavour, and a lavish Campari Long Lunch on the 18th — perfect for those who like to linger over food, cocktails, and great company.
On the 29th of October, The Hotel Britomart is set to host a special three-course dinner by chef Andrew Lautenbach using rescued ingredients from The Kai Ika Project. Held around communal tables, the night blends great food with generosity, with 100% of proceeds funding dining vouchers for families in need.
Make the most of the final month of Savor Festival with a line-up of unmissable dining moments. On 15th October, Bivacco hosts Peroni Aperitivo Sessions with acclaimed Australian chef Mitch Orr, who’ll be serving exclusive bites alongside $10 Peronis on tap from 4–6pm. Across the city, festival menus are still in full swing, with $35 two-course lunches and $55 dinners at standout spots including Ebisu, Ortolana, Non Solo Pizza, Bivacco, and Azabu’s Ponsonby and Mission Bay outposts. Round out your calendar with Bivacco’s Aperol Ladies Lunch or abundant Sunday Feast, sip your way through Azabu Ponsonby’s high-energy Sip & Savor, indulge in Ebisu’s Oki No Sushi Saturdays, or linger at Ortolana’s Cork & Fork. Plus, enjoy $15 cocktails at some of the city’s most-loved venues. A bold, flavour-packed finish to an epic culinary celebration.
Every Tuesday night, Somm sets the mood with live jazz from 7–9pm. Think soulful vocals, sax, keys, and a rotating line-up of local talent — from Amanda Bovo & Friends to the Flying McNicoll Brothers. Pair the music with your favourite wine and seasonal plates, and sink into the easy buzz of this cosy wine bar.
October at Atelier means one thing: Champagne. The Karangahape Road wine bar is celebrating with an entire month dedicated to bubbles, including four exclusive pairing dinners. The first, on Wednesday 8th October, sees Louis Roederer Champagne matched to a four-course menu — think prosciutto croquettes with NV Collection 246, market fish ceviche with 2017 Rosé, wagyu bavette alongside 2016 Vintage, and pavlova with 2016 Blanc de Blancs, with three more events following a similar formula across the month on the 16th, 22nd, and 29th.
Celebrate the sweet nostalgia of Hokey Pokey at Giapo’s first-ever Hokey Pokey Day. On Thursday 2nd October, from 11.30am — 1pm, the beloved ice cream atelier is giving away free cups of its golden crunch creation at its Britomart outpost. Just download the Giapo app, redeem your voucher, and scoop it up while stocks last.
On the 16th of October, Origine is joining forces with Thea Matcha for a one-off giveaway that’s sure to brighten your morning. From 8am, the Commercial Bay brasserie will be serving up 100 complimentary matchas — available until they’re all gone.
This October, Takapuna is serving up a month-long celebration of flavour with Taste of Takapuna. From exclusive showcase dinners and foodie crawls to progressive feasts, the neighbourhood’s top eateries are coming together to highlight the chefs, dishes, and stories behind the menus. Plus, cast your vote in the People’s Choice Awards and be in to win dining vouchers.
Queens Rooftop is ushering in spring with a vibrant new menu from Executive Chef Maia Atvars, where seafood takes centre stage. Think grilled scampi with shellfish aioli, crisp prawn lettuce cups, and the playful whitebait toasty — all designed to share against the city’s best skyline views.
This sprawling neighbourhood gastropub recently opened its doors in Onehunga, much to the delight of locals, and is already proving the area’s most buzzing destination. The perfect spot for kids (with an outdoor sand pit, arcade games, an enclosed courtyard, and plenty to offer on the food front), its an ideal perch for a catch-up with friends knowing everyone dining will be well fed and suitably entertained. The little’s menu spans the usual suspects, from fish and chips to pizza, while the rest of us will find options for any taste and proclivity, from a Sunday roast with all of the trimmings to pub classics and more elevated salads and mains.
All October long, Advieh is keeping things easy with $10 pours of Sawmill’s crisp, refreshing Hefeweizen. Available daily from 12–6pm, it’s the perfect excuse to swing by and toast the season.
On Thursday 9th and Friday 10th October, head to Market Square in the Viaduct between 7am — 10am for a free breakfast worth waking up early for. Breakfast purveyors Oat Bros are serving their signature creamy oats, supercharged with The Science Of’s revolutionary gut health powder. To round things out, Ozone Coffee and Anew water will be on hand to keep you caffeinated and refreshed.
For those residing in Central Otago, The Bakehouse at Ayrburn is reviving the traditional Sunday roast every week from 3pm, complete with Yorkshire puds, crispy potatoes, and all the trimmings (plus seasonal specials). Think comfort, nostalgia, and a Sunday well spent.
Sugar has a knack for slipping into more of our meals than we realise. Beyond the obvious suspects — chocolate, pastries, fizzy drinks — it lurks in sauces, cereals, even ‘healthy’ snacks. While the occasional indulgence is hardly a crime, consistently high sugar intake has a way of making itself known, and not always subtly.
One of the first signs is the energy rollercoaster. That mid-morning muffin or afternoon hot chcocolate may deliver an instant surge, but the aftermath often feels like someone pulled the plug. Blood sugar spikes and crashes don’t just leave you sluggish; they can feed a cycle of cravings that has you reaching for the next hit almost automatically.
Your skin, too, can start to make its objections known. Breakouts, dullness, or a lack of elasticity may stem from sugar’s impact on hormones and collagen. Inside the body, the consequences are just as insidious: excess sugar can trigger low-grade inflammation, encourage fat storage, and put strain on the systems designed to keep everything in balance.
Cognitive sharpness doesn’t escape unscathed either. Regular sugar highs and dips can cloud concentration, leaving you with that ‘brain fog’ feeling where tasks seem harder than they should. Add to this an increase in thirst, disrupted sleep, or the creeping onset of stubborn weight gain, and the message becomes hard to ignore.
The good news is that small shifts make a big difference. Start by trading out sugary drinks for sparkling water or herbal tea, and look twice at labels — condiments and cereals are often stealth offenders. Building meals around protein, fibre, and healthy fats helps steady energy levels and quell cravings. Even something as simple as swapping dessert for fresh fruit a few nights a week can recalibrate your palate.
The aim isn’t to exile sweetness altogether (we’re not insane), but to reframe your relationship with it, making sugar an occasional pleasure rather than an everyday default. Your body, skin, and focus will thank you.
There’s a low-key eatery slowly and quietly becoming one of the top spots to find a true taste of Mexico in Auckland. Taco Amaiz, now with outposts at both Elliot Stables and in the heart of Parnell at 269, is a taqueria centred on good, hearty, authentic Mexican cuisine — no frills, just delicious, quality food.
Taco Amaiz owners
Founded by two Mexican chefs, Taco Amaiz is built on roots that run deep in Northern Mexico. It’s here that recipes were learned by the duo the traditional way — in family kitchens, around crowded tables, and always with a sense of community. That same spirit now permeates Taco Amaiz’s two Auckland outposts, where every detail is designed to feel warm, humble, and above all, authentic.
The menu centres around hand-pressed corn tortillas, layered with slow-cooked meats and vibrant toppings that showcase the richness of time-honoured cuisine. Birria takes pride of place — the aromatic, slow-braised beef that’s a cornerstone of Mexican cooking — and at Taco Amaiz, it’s celebrated in inventive forms too, like their already cult-favourite birria ramen. There are additional favourites to be found too, such as fresh, tasty quesadillas, burritos, and flavourful rice bowls. These are dishes that refuse shortcuts, cooked low and slow, with flavour unfolding in every bite.
Left: Birria Tacos
While the food sings of heritage, the philosophy is equally contemporary: source locally, cook seasonally, and keep it uncompromising. The result is an experience that balances simplicity with soul. It’s designed not just an eatery, but a gathering place, somewhere to linger with friends, order another round of tacos, and feel transported without leaving town.
For those seeking a place where food feels both familiar and transformative, Taco Amaiz is a reminder of why honest cooking, done well, always amazes.
Founded by holistic facialist Rachel Jackson, Rae blends sculpting massage, lymphatic drainage, and breathwork to refresh both skin and spirit. This spring, Rae’s signature treatment helps ease tension, boost glow and leave you feeling lighter, calmer and reconnected.
Rachel Jackson, founder of Rae
How does your signature treatment support a spring reset?
After a Rae signature sculpting treatment comes a feeling of lightness and rejuvenation — easing tension in the facial muscles, tissues and fascia. The blend of breathwork, lymphatic drainage, sculpting, and buccal massage clears stagnation, reduces puffiness and reconnects you to yourself, helping release winter’s built-up stress and restore flow, glow and balance.
Why do you feel this treatment or ritual is particularly suited to spring — are there physical or emotional benefits that come to the forefront at this time of year?
This treatment supports both physical and emotional reset — detoxifying the skin, releasing facial tension, and boosting circulation, while also calming the nervous system. When your body rests and resets, it naturally shows in your skin.
How do you tailor this experience to each client — what intuitive or technical steps guide you during the treatment?
Before each treatment, I consult with clients to understand their unique needs and tailor the session accordingly — adjusting techniques or focus areas as needed. During the treatment, I also “listen” to the body, sensing tension and blockages to help release what’s been held.
Are there any ingredients, tools, or techniques involved that are especially grounding, clarifying, or seasonally supportive?
I use beautiful natural facial oils like Sans [ceuticals], Milou, and Living Libations Seabuckthorn — calming, hydrating, and perfect for reviving the skin. Buccal massage helps release deep jaw tension, especially for TMJ or clenching, easing both physical and emotional stress. Regular lymphatic drainage also supports reducing puffiness and stagnation, and is a grounding practice you can continue at home.
What kind of shifts do clients tend to notice after the treatment?
Clients often say, “My skin felt amazing afterwards,” with reduced puffiness, smoother fine lines, and improved facial tone and jawline clarity. Many also feel deeply relaxed — some even fall asleep — and notice better sleep afterward. It’s a unique, renewing experience for each person.
What makes your space and your work feel different from a traditional facialist or skin clinic experience?
I’ve tried to create a safe, comfortable and soothing environment to signal to the nervous system that it can chill. It’s not a clinical space but one you can show up as your authentic self with no judgement and just be. The goal is relaxation and rejuvenation here and everyone is welcome.
There’s plenty to get excited about on a culture front this October, with a bumper calendar of events spanning everything from thrilling theatre and ballet to exceptional exhibitions, comedy, live music, markets and more. Below, we round up everything worth attending.
Waka Painting Tribute to Wi by Simon Kaan, 2025, ink and oil on board, 1230 x 935 mm
Sanderson presents Hiringa Nuku, a collaborative exhibition from Simon Kaan and Wi Taepa exploring the energy of the earth through painting and clay. Rooted in the tuakana–teina tradition of mentorship, the works embody the fluid, evolving dialogue between water and land, sky and clay, heritage and new perspective.
Ballet goes gothic in Dracula, a world premiere fusing Tchaikovsky, Bach, Stravinsky, and Rachmaninov. Choreographed by Joel Burke and performed by an international alumni cast, this darkly seductive reimagining promises ballet at its most haunting.
When & Where:Thursday 30th October — Sunday 9th November, Spark Arena
A dreamlike carnival between heaven and earth, Corteo is Cirque du Soleil at its most poetic. Featuring soaring acrobatics and a one-of-a-kind stage design, this whimsical production invites audiences into a dazzling world of joy, nostalgia, and breathtaking beauty.
When & Where:3rd — 12th October, various locations country-wide
Fresh from US stages alongside Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, country powerhouse Tami Neilson returns home with her Neon Cowgirl tour. With a soaring new album and a voice that’s won fans worldwide, Neilson brings her firebrand energy to Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, and Christchurch.
When & Where:Wednesday 15th October, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre
Bibi’s first world tour, Eve, promises an electrifying blend of genre-bending sound, raw emotion, and bold theatricality. Closing her acclaimed Era of Love series, the tour showcases dual personas, unforgettable visuals, and the magnetic presence that’s made her a star.
When & Where: Wednesday 15th October — Sunday 9th November, Sanderson
Sanderson presents Main Character, a new exhibition by New York–based New Zealand artist Natasha Wright. Known for her vivid, neo-expressionist canvases, Wright fuses figuration and abstraction to reframe the portrayal of women. Her layered works blur sensuality and strength, challenging conventional ideas of femininity with bold colour, confident line work, and an instinctively contemporary voice.
When & Where:3rd — 4th October, Viaduct Events Centre
Celebrate a decade of Winetopia at Auckland’s Viaduct. Over 50 of New Zealand’s top wineries gather for a weekend of tastings, masterclasses, live music, and entertainment — a vibrant pop-up cellar door where every pour tells a story.
Good Form Makers Market, Designer Garth Badger of Chop Shop / Coffee Table and Lamp
When & Where:11th — 12th October, Good Form Gallery
For one weekend only, Good Form Gallery transforms into a vibrant hub of independent design. Featuring around 20 visionary makers, Makers Market is a tactile showcase of furniture, objects, and homeware that celebrates authenticity, ingenuity, and the next wave of Aotearoa design talent.
Music and cosmos collide in Strings Under the Stars, as Auckland Philharmonia’s string quartet performs celestial compositions beneath Stardome’s immersive skies. Expect Beethoven and Debussy alongside a new work by Keith Moss, paired with a planetarium journey that transforms this concert into an interstellar experience.
When & Where:30th October — 20th December, various locations country-wide
The Royal New Zealand Ballet reimagines The Nutcracker for a Kiwi summer, set against the nostalgia of pōhutukawa blooms, barefoot cricket, and ice creams by the bach. Choreographed by Ty King-Wall, this magical production blends Tchaikovsky’s timeless score with uniquely local traditions for a dazzling festive season.
When & Where:Friday 10th — Monday 13th October, various locations country-wide
Rob Beckett is hitting the road with Giraffe, his brand new stand-up show. Expect big laughs, takeaway-fuelled tales, and a guaranteed good time from one of comedy’s most loveable loud-mouths.
Bellevue by Michael McHugh, 1520 x 1520mm, Acrylic on Canvas, Framed
When & Where:4th — 20th October, Föenander Galleries
With over three decades of practice, Michael McHugh returns with a striking new body of work at Föenander. Layered abstractions shift between gestural mark-making and botanical forms, capturing both brooding intensity and vibrant energy in vivid, textural compositions.
When & Where:21st October — 8th November, Q Theatre
A smash hit at the Edinburgh Fringe, Captain Morrow and the Sands of Time makes its Aotearoa debut this spring. Two actors, one musician, and no props conjure a riotous cast of pirates, sea gods, and monsters in a gloriously absurd 60-minute romp that’s part swashbuckling adventure, part comedic tour de force.
Artland: An Installation by Do Ho Suh and children
When & Where:Now until Sunday 19th July 2026, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Step into a world of wonder at Artland, the Auckland Art Gallery’s playful new installation by renowned Korean artist Do Ho Suh and his young daughters. Crafted from colourful modelling clay, this evolving, hands-on experience invites families to shape their own fantastical landscapes.
When & Where:4th — 25th October, Gow Langsford Onehunga
Dick Frizzell unveils a major new series of landscapes in The Weight of the World. With his signature wit and painterly assurance, Frizzell elevates everyday scenes — from poplar-lined paths to fishing huts — into grounded yet spectacular reflections on place and optimism.
The world premiere of D.R.A.G. at Q Theatre’s Loft
When & Where:13th November — 6th December, Q Theatre Loft
Q Theatre’s Loft becomes Lady T’s, the hottest drag club in town, for the world premiere of D.R.A.G. Directed by designer and Silo collaborator Daniel Williams, this high-energy showcase sees Aotearoa drag icons battle it out for the crown in a dazzling celebration of artistry, activism, and unbridled glamour.
When & Where: 16th — 19th October, The Civic, Auckland
Critically acclaimed and heart-expanding, Love Stories brings Trent Dalton’s celebrated collection to the stage for just five performances. Adapted by Tim McGarry with additional writing by Dalton and Fiona Franzmann, and directed by Sam Strong, the production captures tales of love in all its forms — funny, moving, raw, and profoundly human. Inspired by Dalton’s conversations with everyday Australians, this poignant theatrical gem unfolds as a series of interwoven stories that ask one enduring question: What is love?
Turua Gallery presents Shift into Neutral, a serene showcase of works by seven New Zealand artists. From abstract paintings to recycled beehive sculptures and ceramics, the exhibition highlights the quiet power of minimalism, texture, and a neutral palette.
Stepping into Chul’s feels less like dining out and more like being welcomed into a Korean home — exactly what founder Rex Chang intended. With nearly two decades in hospitality and a background in Japanese cuisine honed through formal training in Japan, Chang has long been a fixture of Auckland’s dining scene, helming Yume Izakaya for over 15 years before launching Kome Sake Bar in 2024. His latest venture, Chul’s, represents both a return to heritage and a fresh chapter.
Seafood soft tofu stew and veggie Korean rice roll
“When conceptualising the brand, I wanted a name that would be approachable, memorable, and culturally resonant,” says Chang. In Korea, “Chul-su and Young-hee” are symbolic, almost archetypal names, and from there, “Chul’s” was born — simple, familiar, and warm.
The menu is anchored by two quintessential Korean offerings: baekban, the everyday home-style set meal, and kimbap, the versatile comfort food that often accompanies picnics or gatherings. “Together, these dishes capture the essence of Chul’s — approachable, comforting, and authentically Korean,” Chang explains. The drinks list follows suit, weaving traditional Korean beverages with cocktails and a wine selection carefully chosen to complement the food.
Yukhoe Bibimbap, beef tartare rice bowl
Left: Seafood stew. Right: Chul’s takeaway Korean rice rolls
Design also plays its part. In collaboration with Studio Tatami, the interiors combine nostalgia with modern ease — a Korean neighbourhood eatery, reimagined for Auckland. “Our goal is for guests to experience culinary authenticity combined with cultural warmth,” says Chang. “Every dish should feel like it was prepared with the care of a mother’s hand.”
At its heart, Chul’s, according to Chang, is “a celebration of Korean soul food — simple, heartfelt, and rooted in tradition.” It’s a dining experience that extends beyond the plate, inviting guests to feel both comforted and connnected.
From now until the end of September, Soul Bar & Bistro is painting the Viaduct red with a month-long celebration of Campari, the world’s most iconic aperitif. For four weeks straight, the waterfront favourite will be serving up a menu of bold, bittersweet cocktails and dishes designed to showcase Campari in all its vibrant glory.
Soul Bar & Bistro
Expect to find classics with a twist, from juicy, cloud-like Garibaldis to perfectly balanced Negronis, alongside more playful creations, like the Soulbird, a tiki-style escape tempered with Campari’s trademark bite, or the decadent Black Forest, which layers vodka, cacao, and raspberry jam into dessert-in-a-glass. For something floral and refined, the Bitter Rose brings a delicate blend of amaros and fruit, while even the sober-curious can join the party with non-alc sips like the Nogroni and Coral Kiss.
Left: SOULbird. Right: Classic negroni
Campari Month isn’t just about cocktails, either. On the food front, Soul is dishing up Negroni rigatoni (with or without prawns), plus a silky orange blossom panna cotta crowned with Campari jelly in the perfect bittersweet finale. Add to that a series of special events, from an intimate Campari Masterclasses (15th October) to a lavish Campari Long Lunch (18th October), and there are plenty of reasons to get involved.
And in true Soul style, there’s purpose behind the pleasure: for every Negroni ordered, $1 goes to Negroni Week in support of the Slow Food Movement. So raise a glass, savour the season, and let Campari Month carry you into spring.
When: Every day from now until Sunday, 19th October
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