Auckland’s downtown retail precinct has secured a major international name, with Arc’teryx set to open its first New Zealand store at Commercial Bay in Spring 2026. Founded in North Vancouver and shaped by the demands of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, the Canadian performance brand has built a global following for technical outerwear, precision design and alpine-grade functionality that now travels well beyond the mountain.
The arrival marks a notable moment for Commercial Bay, which has continued to draw premium international retailers into the heart of the city since opening in 2020. For New Zealand, where outdoor culture sits close to national identity and the weather has a habit of making amateurs of us all, Arc’teryx feels like a particularly appropriate addition.
The new store will bring the brand’s full premium offer to the local market, housed within a retail environment designed to reflect Arc’teryx’s rigorous approach to performance and material intelligence. “New Zealand has a strong outdoor culture and an increasingly engaged customer base seeking premium technical apparel,” says Bianca Bernadi, Arc’teryx Country Director ANZ. Commercial Bay, she adds, is “a natural fit” as the brand expands its global retail presence.
Scheduled to open later this year, the store adds further weight to Commercial Bay’s position as Auckland’s most desirable downtown retail address, and gives local devotees of the brand something far more satisfying than the usual online chase.
With the last of the autumn sun still upon us and a long weekend ahead, the most appropriate call to make is to secure plans before the weekend gets underway. With the forecast for sunshine, we suggest setting your sights on Ki Māha for a much-deserved Saturday lunch.
Just a 35-minute ferry ride will transport you to our celebrated island paradise, Waiheke, and there’s no place offering the sort of sensory transportive dining experience like Ki Māha. Located on Onetangi Beach, where a long stretch of white sand and crystal-clear water is the same exacting destination brief that many globetrotters request from their long-suffering travel agents. Except this one is right on our doorstep.
For those in the know, this slice of heaven is less arduous to access and decidedly more elevated and enjoyable than any Caribbean isle.
Positioned with a picture-perfect outlook of the sand and water beyond. But the restaurant itself is where your aesthetic and gastronomic needs will be completely fulfilled.
The stylish interiors evoke the beach clubs and atmosphere of Pampelonne, with the added comfort of an outdoor fire when the temperature calls for it. The service is always impeccable, and the eternally captivating vantage point offers a visual and conversational distraction that, let’s be honest, some lunch companions can require.
The menu is built around modern international flavours and the country’s best produce. Sustainably harvested seafood, ethically farmed meats, fruit and vegetables sourced as close to the island as the season allows.
Start with the Crayfish and Prawn Rolls and Yellow Fin Tuna Tartlet, suitable for pairing with a glass of something crisp and effervescent. After all, we are celebrating the King, and it is customary to do so in a regally resplendent manner.
Follow with an equally monarchical feast of Dry Aged Duck Breast served with oyster mushroom, dates, and a Marmite and cashew cream, then for a table prepared to eat like Kings, the 350g grass-fed Wagyu sirloin, long-fed for 360 days at WX5 plus, arrives with the kind of mineral depth that is revolutionary. Add some truffle fries, and several bottles of Burgundy for good measure.
Rather than letting them eat cake, we suggest a round of affogato for dessert to keep the celebrations alive.
Let the afternoon get away from you, knowing that, unlike some members of the royal family, you’ve made very good decisions. Decisions that don’t involve planes, private or commercial.
After a career as an international fashion model, Viktoria Rader settled in Munich to raise a family, but her love for fashion and innate style have remained a passion. Balancing family life with four young children, Viky Rader, has evolved her career to become a stylist, brand consultant and creator of her own namesake fashion label. A regular attendee on the global fashion circuit, Rader’s style has been well documented and analysed by the fashion cognoscenti largely because of her seamless aesthetic, which resists trend cycles in favour of a classically chic approach.
Viky Rader with her daughters at Sa Punta de S’Àguila, Mallorca.
Building a wardrobe around longevity rather than novelty, compiling day-to-night looks that are effortless, paired with accessories that are considered, Rader shows restraint while still stepping out in looks that are both luxurious and head-turning.
With a travel schedule that sees her either holidaying with her family in exotic locales or attending high-profile galas and fashion shows, she has a wardrobe divided into two registers. In the city, she dresses with fashion precision: a navy blazer over a poplin shirt, wide trousers and loafers, with the finishing touch of a Hermès scarf knotted at the neck without ceremony. While a mountain escape sees her in shearling, après-ski knitwear, fur-trimmed parkas, and ski suits that look genuinely worn rather than styled for a shoot.
As an avid skier, she carries the easy authority of someone who knows the difference between looking the part and acting the part. Goldbergh, Toni Sailer, and Fusalp appear regularly, layered with vintage finds and the occasional Loro Piana cashmere.
But ultimately, what separates Rader is her editorial sensibility. After years spent on shoots, she has carried what she learned and created her own stylistic template that continues to evolve each season.
She has parlayed her style into a consultancy that works with fashion and lifestyle brands on creative direction and styling. Collaborating with brands such as FOPE, Brunello Cucinelli, and Molteni&C, each sitting comfortably within the world she has built rather than interrupting it.
Some shows steal the spotlight, while others quietly deliver brilliance in the background. This round-up dives into the most underrated comedy series — sharp, offbeat gems that deserve a place on your watchlist. From unconventional love stories to workplace absurdity and the chaotic joys of modern parenthood, these shows balance wit with heart, offering fresh takes on humour that might have slipped under the radar. Whether you’re after clever dialogue, unexpected satire, or pure feel-good escapism, these sometimes overlooked series are sure to become your next binge-worthy obsession.
Brought together by a car accident and an injured dog who they name Colin, two flawed, funny strangers — Ashley and Gordon — form an unexpected bond. As they navigate personal chaos and awkward encounters, their unlikely friendship slowly blossoms into something more. Colin from Accounts, with its offbeat humour and heartfelt plot line, offers a witty, refreshing take on life, love, and second chances.
Lovesick
A hidden gem in Netflix’s catalogue, Lovesick is a sharp, heartfelt British comedy that certainly deserves more attention than it got. Following Dylan as he retraces past relationships after a chlamydia diagnosis, the show blends witty humour with genuine emotional depth as he explores past relationships. With charming performances and a refreshingly honest take on love and friendship, it’s a must-watch for rom-com fans seeking something smart and endearing.
Hilarious and heartwarming, Catastrophe follows an American man, Rob, and an Irish woman, Sharon, whose brief fling results in an unplanned pregnancy — leading them to navigate a fast-tracked relationship. As they fumble through marriage, parenting, and cultural clashes, the series captures the chaos and absurdity of modern love with brilliant chemistry and biting wit.
After losing his wife, therapist Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel) ditches professional boundaries and starts giving his patients unfiltered, sometimes reckless advice. His new approach causes ripple effects in their lives — and forces him to confront his own grief. Backed by a stellar cast, including Harrison Ford, Shrinking, with its clever humour and heartfelt storytelling, proves that sometimes, following the heart over the head is the right approach.
In LOVE, Gus, a sweet (yet neurotic) guy, crosses paths with Mickey, a free-spirited but emotionally damaged woman. Their unpredictable romance unfolds in Los Angeles, where they grapple with personal baggage, commitment issues, and awkward moments. This witty series dives into the messiness of relationships, offering a raw, relatable portrayal of love, flaws, and growth.
Nikki and Jason want a baby, but with natural conception off the table, they turn to adoption. As they navigate endless obstacles, well-meaning but chaotic loved ones, and their own insecurities, Trying delivers a heartfelt, hilarious look at modern parenthood. With charming performances and sharp writing, it’s a warm, witty exploration of love, resilience, and what it really means to be ready.
Not necessarily underrated, but worthy of a shout-out to push it to the top of your watchlist, Ted Lasso is a heartfelt comedy which follows an optimistic American football coach who’s hired to manage a struggling English soccer team — despite having no experience with the sport. What begins as a setup for failure turns into a heartwarming journey as Ted’s relentless positivity, unconventional coaching, and deep empathy transform the team, winning over skeptical players, staff, and fans in unexpected ways.
Two socially awkward roommates, Mark and Jez, navigate their dysfunctional lives filled with cringe-worthy decisions, selfishness, and strange humour. Peep Show takes you inside their minds with first-person perspective, offering brutally honest internal monologues that reveal their deepest insecurities and bizarre ambitions. A darkly comedic, yet surprisingly heartfelt, exploration of friendship and self-doubt.
At the fictional Blue Mountain State University, a group of rowdy college athletes navigate over-the-top parties, wild antics, and their hectic sports careers. The show follows newcomer Alex Moran as he joins the team, balancing fame, mischief, and a chaotic life on and off the field. It’s a raucous, irreverent comedy about college life, friendship, and everything in between.
Gina Riley as Kim, Peter Rowsthorn as Brett, Jane Turner as Kath, Glenn Robbins as Kel and Magda Szubanski as Sharon in Kath & Kim
And oldie bit a goldie. Kath and Kim are a mother-daughter duo living in suburban Melbourne, where their hilariously dysfunctional relationship and outrageous personalities take center stage. The show follows Kath’s search for love and Kim’s self-absorbed antics, offering a wildly entertaining, often absurd look at family dynamics, with a unique Aussie twist.
Rev.
Rev follows the life of Adam, an inner-city Anglican priest struggling to balance his faith, personal life, and the demands of his parish. As he deals with eccentric parishioners, his own moral dilemmas, and a series of increasingly ridiculous situations, the show presents both a humorous and a heartfelt exploration of spirituality, responsibility, and life’s unpredictability.
In a sleepy British seaside town, Wicked Little Letters follows two women whose escalating feud involves sending increasingly outrageous letters to the local paper. As their rivalry intensifies, the town’s eccentricities begin to emerge. The show offers a clever and entertaining exploration of small-town drama and the impact of words, filled with wit and absurd humour.
Whether you’re heading away or staying put, this long weekend calls for a considered listening edit. Kylie Minogue’s latest release from her new documentary offers a polished dose of nostalgia, while Cigarettes After Sex’s Twizzler brings a hazy, after-dark energy perfect for slower evenings. For something more conversational, If Books Could Kill delivers sharp cultural commentary with just enough humour to balance things out. Press play and let the weekend unfold.
New Albums
More Pulp
Jarvis Cocker returns with the first Pulp album in decades, and somehow it arrives without the usual reunion-tour embarrassment attached. Wry, intelligent and beautifully world-weary throughout, More examines ageing, desire and modern absurdity with lyrical sophistication few contemporary bands can still convincingly deliver today.
Song to start with: Spike Island
Never Enough Turnstile
The Baltimore band continue pushing hardcore into more melodic and emotionally expansive territory without losing any momentum or edge. Restless, euphoric and unexpectedly moving throughout, Never Enough proves guitar music still possesses genuine life when handled by artists more interested in evolution than cynical nostalgia or tired revivalism entirely.
Song to start with: Never Enough
Look for Your Mind! The Lemon Twigs
The D’Addario brothers return with another impeccably crafted collection of lush harmonies, psychedelic textures and seventies-inspired songwriting. Beneath the immaculate musicianship sits something surprisingly contemporary though, balancing melancholy, wit and emotional intelligence in ways that feel timeless rather than merely retro or self-consciously nostalgic.
Song to start with: I Just Can’t Get Over Losing You
New songs
Light up Kylie Minogue
Twizzler Cigarettes After Sex
End of an Era Niall Horan
Second Chance Lukas Graham
Hit the Wall Gracie Abrams
I’ll Be there – Charleon Remix Jess glynne, Charleon
Classics to revisit
Sade Love Deluxe
Silky, restrained and impossibly elegant, Love Deluxe remains sophisticated late-night listening with emotional intelligence still entirely intact.
Song to start with: No Ordinary Love
Massive Attack Mezzanine
Dark, hypnotic and permanently influential, Mezzanine transformed trip-hop into something colder, moodier and strangely timeless almost overnight.
Song to start with: Teardrop
Talking Heads Remain in Light
Art rock, funk and nervous intellectual collapse collide brilliantly across one of the most influential records ever made.
Song to start with: Once in a Lifetime
Intriguing Podcasts
The Rest Is Entertainment
Marina Hyde and Richard Osman dissect celebrity culture, media scandals and the entertainment industry with intelligence, wit and remarkable observational precision. Smart, sharply funny listening for anyone fascinated by the machinery behind fame and the increasingly absurd economics shaping modern public attention and cultural influence.
If Books Could Kill
Michael Hobbes and Peter Shamshiri hilariously dismantle bestselling self-help manifestos, airport business books and wildly influential cultural nonsense with forensic precision. Equal parts intellectual criticism and comic relief, the podcast offers satisfying listening for anyone increasingly suspicious of modern thought leadership and performative expertise everywhere.
Shell Games
Journalist Evan Ratliff explores artificial intelligence, digital identity and the blurred distinction between human and machine interaction through investigative storytelling. Clever, unsettling and unexpectedly funny, the podcast examines the technological anxieties quietly reshaping modern life without collapsing into panic or Silicon Valley worship entirely.
A Bit of Optimism
Simon Sinek’s conversational podcast explores leadership, creativity, relationships and modern working life through thoughtful interviews with cultural figures, entrepreneurs and thinkers. Less corporate jargon and more reflective curiosity, the series balances practical insight with genuine warmth, making it compelling listening during chaotic and distracted times globally.
Each winter, SkyCity’s DELISH campaign returns with the kind of dining programme that shifts Auckland’s attention firmly towards the table, and this year’s edition feels particularly considered, drawing together a series of chef-led menus and nostalgic dishes that place memory, comfort and familiarity at the centre of the experience rather than spectacle alone.
left to right: Lesley Chandra, Megan Cruickshank, Jun Bae, Patrick Ikinofo, Tommy Hope, Jack Stott
Running from 26th May until 31st July across SkyCity’s signature restaurants, DELISH 2026 revolves around the idea that the most memorable dishes are rarely the most elaborate, but rather the plates that become embedded within personal histories, revisited repeatedly and remembered long after the meal itself has finished. It is this sentiment that shapes A Chef’s Story: Plates That Shape The Table, where chefs across Depot, MASU, Metita, Fed Deli and The Grill revisit the kinds of dishes that defined their own relationship with food, reworking them through the lens of their respective kitchens.
The Grill’s Childhood Bites: steak & cheese pie, fish & chips, Bunnings snag
Fed Deli’s Potato Croquettes: smoked cheddar, mozzarella and onion croquets with chipotle mayo and house gravy
At Depot Eatery & Oyster Bar, Jack Stott turns to grilled kahawai with braised leeks, pickled daikon and miso coconut sauce, while Fed Deli’s Megan Cruickshank revisits the comfort of the classic deli counter through smoked cheddar, mozzarella and onion croquettes served with chipotle mayo and house gravy, alongside her take on the corned beef sandwich. Over at The Grill, Lesley Chandra reimagines classic childhood staples, from steak and cheese pie to fish and chips and the unmistakable Bunnings sausage, approached with the refinement expected of the restaurant without losing the humour or familiarity that makes the dishes so recognisable.
Elsewhere, MASU by Nic Watt’s Jun Bae presents an elegant unagi no kamameshi featuring tare-marinated eel, NZ yuzu and Mt Cook salmon ikura, while Metita chef Tommy Hope closes the experience with Pudini Niu, a coconut rice pudding layered with mango and kalamansi sorbet that feels distinctly rooted within Pasifika flavour traditions.
Metita’s slow-braised lamb shanks
The Grill’s Mt Cook salmon with mandarin granita
Alongside the individual dishes, DELISH also introduces a series of seasonal set menus designed to showcase each restaurant more expansively, from MASU’s Shomi Menu, which moves through chirashi nori tacos, robata grilled beef fillet and king salmon, to The Grill’s winter menu of Mt Cook salmon with mandarin granita and slow-cooked beef cheek with black garlic. At Metita, a three-course sharing menu centred around Pacific flavours, spanning natural oysters, oka, braised lamb shanks and steamed snapper, offers one of the strongest reasons yet to settle in for a long midweek dinner.
MASU Shomi Menu — $108pp, available daily from 5pm The Grill Seasonal Menu — $85pp, available daily from 5pm Metita Seasonal Sharing Menu — available Tuesday–Thursday, 5–6pm
Nic Watt
Beyond the set menus, DELISH also sees the return of MASU’s popular Counter Dining Series across four Thursdays in June, where guests are seated directly at the robata counter for an immersive five-course dinner hosted by Nic Watt himself. Long considered one of the campaign’s standout experiences, the evening brings together fire, precision and theatre in a way that feels uniquely suited to MASU’s open kitchen energy. The Counter Dining Series runs 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th June, priced at $138pp.
Masu’s Ramen
For those looking for something slightly more casual, MASU’s new midweek ramen lunches arrive just in time for the colder months, with a line-up that includes sesame miso ramen with wagyu shabushabu beef, char siu pork belly ramen and a spicy ramen topped with crab soup dumplings, available Wednesday to Friday from midday. Across the precinct, espresso martinis also take on a starring role this season, with every venue offering an $18 classic alongside signature interpretations unique to each restaurant, from Depot’s Ferrero Rocher-inspired version to SkyBar’s tiramisu espresso martini.
Metita’s Espresso Martini
The Grill’s Espresso Martini
DELISH runs from 26th May until 31st July across SkyCity’s dining precinct.
The Enn table and Ozzy chair for Flexform approach dining with a kind of understated precision that feels increasingly rare, where every detail has been considered not for visual excess, but for the atmosphere it creates within a room. Defined by the Enn’s sculptural truncated-cone base wrapped in supple cowhide and softened by a circular timber top free from harsh edges, the table carries an architectural presence that still feels remarkably warm and inviting within residential settings.
The integrated revolving centrepiece, positioned seamlessly at the centre, introduces a quiet practicality that encourages shared dining and slower, more conversational gatherings, while reinforcing the table’s underlying philosophy of connection, harmony and circularity, concepts drawn from the Japanese word “enn” itself. Alongside it, the Ozzy chair’s graceful curvature and generous upholstery soften the composition further, bringing comfort and tactility without compromising the overall restraint of the space. Rather than dominating a room, the collection settles into it with calm confidence, expressing Antonio Citterio’s enduring preference for proportion, materiality and timeless Italian elegance over unnecessary ornamentation.
There is no shortage of cafés on Karangahape Road, but very few arrive with a sense of visual clarity strong enough to stop people mid-scroll before anyone has even properly explained the coffee. That already seems to be the case with HARDcore, the quietly striking new opening at 510 Karangahape Road, where brushed steel tables, oversized paper lanterns and an almost gallery-like sparseness give the space a mood more commonly associated with Melbourne or Seoul than central Auckland.
Part café, part concept store, HARDcore folds together specialty coffee, pastries and a tightly considered retail offering of niche New Zealand design pieces, allowing the space to operate less like a traditional grab-and-go café and more like somewhere people settle into slowly. Sculptural metallic furniture sits against polished concrete floors and soft white walls, while abstract artworks and oversized communal tables reinforce the feeling that every element inside has been chosen with intention rather than excess.
The opening continues a broader shift along K’ Road, where hospitality spaces increasingly blur into retail, design and culture, although HARDcore approaches it with a quieter restraint than most. There is no visual overload, no overt attempt to manufacture coolness. Instead, the café relies on atmosphere, proportion and materiality, with the enormous lantern lighting and brushed steel surfaces giving the room a calm, almost cinematic quality throughout the day.
Opening hours: Mon – Friday, 7 am – 3 pm Saturday – Sunday, 8 am – 3 pm
Classic silhouettes are returning in suede this season, softening structure with quiet, tactile authority. The mood is tonal, the palette runs from caramel to chocolate, and the shapes are familiar: a top handle, a tote, a heritage hobo. See the Paparazzo bag in camel, or the Large Diorly bag in quilted nappa suede, both arguments for trading hardware and shine for something you actually want to touch.
Long before the printed word became a thing of speed, convenience and algorithmic disposability, books held a different kind of authority. They were objects of knowledge, devotion and social power, made to be preserved, protected and passed down, their pages carrying the weight of language and of collective belief.
Mickey Smith
Untitled Vol. III, Hereford, 2024
Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag
1200 x 800 mm, edition 1 of 10 — from Sanderson
This June, Sanderson presents Sacrosanct, the latest evolution of Mickey Smith’s award-winning photographic practice, extending her decades-long inquiry into the physical and social significance of literary texts and archives. Having previously turned her lens towards bound periodicals in public stacks, Smith now enters more rarefied territory, focusing on centuries-old religious manuscripts that carry an anthropological weight alongside something quieter, more enigmatic and meditative.
Mickey Smith Untitled Vol. XIII, Nostitz, 2026 Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 800 mm x 1200 mm, Edition 1 of 10 from Sanderson
Mickey Smith Untitled Vol. X, Strahov, 2026 Archival pigment print on Ilford Fine Art Canvas Galicia 1200 x 800 mm, edition 1 of 10 from Sanderson
Photographed in The Chained Library of Hereford Cathedral in the United Kingdom and the Strahov Library in Prague, the works document ancient volumes with forensic intimacy, revealing the material character of texts that have survived as spiritual artefacts and as historical evidence. Smith’s strict ‘as found’ methodology remains central to the project. Nothing is touched, staged or artificially manipulated; instead, the books are captured exactly as they exist in situ, their bindings, surfaces and surroundings allowed to speak with their own delicate eloquence.
Mickey Smith Untitled Vol. XII, Strahov, 2026 Archival pigment print on Ilford Fine Art Canvas Galicia, 1600 x 1095 mm, edition 1 of 3 from Sanderson
Mickey Smith Untitled Vol. II, Hereford, 2024 Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 1600 x 1095 mm, edition 1 of 3 from Sanderson
Mickey Smith Untitled Vol. I, Hereford, 2024 Archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 1340 x 885 mm, edition 1 of 3 from Sanderson
The result is a body of work that considers what these manuscripts contain and what they continue to powerfully signify.
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