From supporting our inner health to making sure the outside is just as radiant, New Zealand wellness brand Me Today has launched an extension of its skincare range with six new, targeted products.
Encompassing four new vitamin serums and two new botanical oils, all formulated for specific uses, the range is a harmonious continuation of the brand’s philosophies, utilising effective yet naturally-derived ingredients that are vegan and cruelty-free.
Those wanting to address sun damage will gravitate towards the Me Today Vitamin Glow C Serum, enriched with vitamin C-rich botanicals strawberry and kiwi seed, while Vitamin Bounce B5 Serum aims to improve hydration using 2% vitamin B5, vegan hyaluronic acid and watermelon, aloe vera and cucumber.
Smooth and firm the skin with the help of the Vitamin Renew A Serum’s enriched vitamin A, bakuchiol and rosehip, and Vitamin Purify B3 Serum wields niacinamide and Gigawhite™, promising to clarify and refine the skin, reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation and blemishes.
If you’re not familiar, Gigawhite™ is a curated blend of seven skin-purifying, organic, sustainable and fair-trade certified botanicals. Clinically proven to target multiple steps in the skin pigmentation process, it limits tyrosinase (which is the enzyme that controls the production of melanin) and intercepts the migration of melanin to the upper layer of the skin — in this way, assisting with anyone wanting to reduce hyperpigmentation.
Facial oils have undoubtedly exploded in popularity over the last few years, thanks to their ability to deliver intense hydration and lipophilic state — meaning they generally support the lipid layer of the skin, protecting it from external factors like pollution and potential irritants.
Me Today’s Botanical Miracle Facial Oil and Botanical Organic Rosehip Oil are sourced sustainably and developed to feel and smell great on the skin. The former combines nine Omega 3, 6 and 9-loaded botanical oils, antioxidants and vitamins to restore and moisturise the skin, while the latter is certified organic and cold-pressed to target stretch marks and visible signs of ageing.
The idea for these products has been in the works since day one, says Me Today Product & Innovation Manager, Celeste Peh, and through countless tests and trials the team has launched products they proudly consider the best in the market, ensuring the brand’s offering is even more well-rounded than ever before.
The transcendence of a household object into an ingenious melding of form and function is a noble — and beautiful — pursuit. One would be hard-pressed to find a more harmonious example of this union than the lights offered within the Powersurge Lito Series; epitomising understated complexity, these luxurious statement pendants enhance any space.
Having recently been announced a finalist in this year’s Best Design Awards, the Lito Series lights are handcrafted to order by Powersurge’s team of artisans from solid brass, finished with a clear satin lacquer. Designed to work across both residential and commercial interiors, the lights harness the innate luminosity of the brass; when partnered with glowing LED beams, it creates a welcoming warmth. The combination of the soft light within the golden lineal lengths means the pendants feel more like illuminated sculptures than standard lighting – and without comprising their intended function.
From left: Lito Series, Lito Trio
Powersurge directors Andrea Harradine and Todd Stevenson say they have always been drawn to art deco architecture and objects, and in designing the Lito series found themselves referencing some of the movement’s lines, reimagining them in a contemporary context.
When one thinks of a lightbulb, or even a lamp, chances are the first form to spring to mind is one of roundness, but the Lito lights turn this interpretation on its head while cleverly nodding to a curved form.
“What’s so interesting about the Lito Series,” says Stevenson, “is that despite being made from vertically suspended rectangular lengths, the final profile is actually rounded and projects light cylindrically — so, although not necessarily obvious, those spherical forms are present within.”
Despite their refined silhouette, the Lito Series lights are complex and intricate to assemble with each component made and finished by hand. “Although the process of construction is laborious, the craftsmanship on each piece is reflected in the meticulous end result,” explains Stevenson.
From left: Lito Petite Trio; Lito Dual Trio
The series can be suspended individually as captivating statement pieces or en masse in clusters, creating luxurious and immersive illuminated sculpture. The Lito Dual Trio works beautifully in a hallway or stairwell, while the Lito Trio and Petite Trio are popular in the intimate nooks of lounges and bedrooms.
Lighting’s effect on the overall home environment and ambiance should never be underestimated, emphasises Stevenson. A well designed interior has clever architecture that harnesses natural light when it’s available, and otherwise is strategic and selective in its light fittings.
“When lighting is treated with the same significance as all the other elements of a build, it feels integrated and permanent just like the walls and floors,” says the Powersurge director. “This is what we had in mind when designing the Lito Series; we wanted to create lighting people would have for a lifetime, that would remain contemporary and timeless amidst the ebb and flow of interiors.”
Having dressed our floors with premium, hand-made rugs since 2015, natural rug atelier Nodi now has an appropriately beautiful space in which to showcase its wares, with a newly-opened flagship showroom in Ponsonby.
Located on Mackelvie Street, the new showroom is an exciting next chapter for the brand and the business, says Nodi founder Olivia Moon, after they outgrew their first small space in Parnell. “It feels like we’ve grown up a lot and created a space that reflects our DNA — being authentic, curated, natural and elegant.”
Born from Moon’s love of natural textures and background in textile design, Nodi (meaning knots in Italian) specialises in rugs using only natural fibres. From New Zealand and Himalayan wool, to jute sustainably sourced from West Bengal, Nodi uses hand spun yarns for a unique and soft finish underfoot. While the rugs are visually simple, they’ve managed to cut through a crowded market thanks to an authentic philosophy, the aforementioned natural fibres and the curated modern range that’s not driven by seasonal trends.
Aiming to create an environment to express the essence of Nodi, Moon transformed the Mackelvie Street location to a tactile space using a calm, muted palette, providing a gentle backdrop for the textured rugs to shine. “I enjoyed the tension of keeping it very simple and refined while adding just enough layers for it to feel like home — without adding too much,” she explains. “The space really came together by sanding back the floors (which had been painted black) and uncovering the beautiful natural timber, as well as combining new and antique furniture to make the space feel like a beautiful home. The feel is modern, layered, soulful and pared back.”
Moon’s driving impetus is introducing people to natural rugs, showing them how a rug can ground spaces and define areas within the home. “I emphasise the word natural here, a lot of people are unaware of what’s on their floors be it carpet or rugs and fill their homes with polyester — which is plastic!”
Despite the year being challenging for everyone, many people are spending so much time at home and it has meant a lot more energy is going into the home and updating interiors. “This has subsequently meant it’s been a really busy few months for us, which was an unexpected and welcome surprise,” says Moon.
For some, it might be easy to underestimate the effect a rug has on the home environment, but anyone with any interior design nouse should know better. This power is something Moon hopes to be able to further convey with the new showroom.
“For me, without a rug in a lounge room or space where people gather, there is no soul. The new space is designed to connect people with that soul and inspire them to create that in their own spaces.”
When dining out, one of the most important aspects of any well-rounded offering — aside from the culinary element — is heart. With the opening of their new restaurant Onslow, renowned New Zealand chef Josh Emett and his wife and business partner Helen Emett have that in spades.
Situated on the entrance level of highly-anticipated, luxury residential development The International, Onslow will open on 15th October, bringing a sophisticated yet welcoming fusion of tradition and modernity to the prime Princes street location.
Earlier this year, the Emetts took over Waiheke Island institution The Oyster Inn, and with this opening they are firmly establishing themselves as a key part of Auckland’s varied, world-class food scene. And, while Josh’s impeccable culinary credentials are widely-respected, this is the first restaurant either of them will have established from the ground up.
The central location resonated for several reasons: the proximity to Albert Park, the Northern Club and Auckland Art Gallery, as well as the main business hub of the city. British-born Helen feels the surrounding streets have something of old England about them, wider than the rest of the city with history-rich buildings.
Josh’s key experiences cooking in the UK occurred at Michelin-star restaurants alongside Gordon Ramsey at the Savoy and Claridge’s hotels, two London institutions. It’s fitting, then, that Onslow’s position was once home to the revered Grand Hotel, which the Earl and Countess of Onslow opened at 9 Princes Street in 1889.
The soaring lobby of The International makes for quite the impressive entrance; as one enters, a sashay rather than a mere walk seems appropriate for the journey to the back of the space where the 100-seater Onslow awaits through striped glass doors. The building’s interiors are designed by Rufus Knight of Knight Associates, and inside Onslow the feeling is one of elegant warmth and comfort, large windows at the rear framing the cityscape.
Described as ‘refined but not fine-dining’ Onslow is dedicated to quality and provenance. “It needs to be classic and quite timeless,” explains Josh. “We’re focused on providing a really nice level of warm and attentive service.”
“One thing we’ve really tried to get across to our staff is we want people to feel something,” adds Helen. “Rather than just having great food and saying the service was really good.” Both owners are passionate about Onslow patrons feeling that their time at the restaurant went above and beyond, tailoring the experience for each and every diner to be special and memorable. It doesn’t have to be fine dining for this to happen, they say. “You want to walk into a restaurant as a regular, and for people to know your name. That goes such a long way.”
The menu, as per Josh’s preferred style of cooking, starts with incredible New Zealand produce.“The food will be very simple, very approachable, which is the way I love cooking, but it’ll be packed full of flavour.” With exquisite local ingredients as the base, he’ll be creating food that’s timeless and classic — “Dishes you’ll recognise, but me doing them in a way I think is their best possible version.”
A highlight is the salmon trolley service, whereby your waiter will carve 48 hour-cured Big Glory Bay salmon gravadlax at your table. Served with fennel, honey mustard dressing, pickled cucumber and dark toasted Swiss rye bread, it’s sure to be unmissable.
Other dishes include an olive oil-poached Hapuka with spring peas, wild garlic, onion fries and flowers; aged Wakanui beef roast; a moreish snack of fried bread with stracciatella and a starter of confit yellowfin tuna with endive hearts.
For dessert, one of the signatures is a nostalgic chocolate soufflé served with hazelnut ice cream.
Regardless of the challenges that have been faced by the hospitality industry this year, the duo are excited about Onslow. “The truth is, forget any point in history, people want to go out and eat,” says Helen. “We’re teeth-grittingly determined to make it bloody good — from how they feel when they’re here, to the service, to the wine.” Every tiny detail within Onslow has been touched by the Emetts to make it as outstanding as it can be, aiming to resonate with diners for far longer than just the length of a meal.
Onslow is open from 15th October and taking reservations now, click here to book.
If you’re looking to welcome a pup into your life, it’s well worth considering adopting one of many abandoned dogs before you opt to visit a breeder. Albany-based dog and animal shelter Last Lamp Post rescues dogs and puppies in the hopes of helping them find their forever home, making sure these animals have the safe and loving future they deserve.
During the first lockdown they managed to re-home more than 40 unwanted dogs that would otherwise have been euthanised. Pictured above is Ted, who was one such pup, who now has a loving family that adores him.
Founded by Auckland property developer and dog lover Andrew Davies, Last Lamp Post was opened in 2018 after Davies, a longtime SPCA volunteer, had his eyes opened to the magnitude of abuse and neglect dogs are often exposed to.
Having found a property in the upper reaches of the Waitematā Harbour, Davies set to re-building the farm house and renovating the shed to make it a manager’s cottage, with an adjoining kitchen and nursery for puppies. In addition to secure areas for older dogs, there is accommodation and a four garage utility shed for the caretaker, plus a purpose-built clinic with the intention of having a vet on site in the future.
Even more vital since the SPCA started reducing their frontline services throughout the country, Davies works closely with Summer Johnson from the Bay of Island Rescue Centre and Ros Stewart of Bridge Bully Rescue. Over the past three years, Last Lamp Post has been involved in the rescue and re-homing of over 200 dogs and puppies
Unlike many other rescue centres, at Last Lamp Post the dogs spend most of their time out of cages, running free on the secure property, enjoying the ponds and paddocks. “The puppies learn from the older dogs what they can and can’t get away with,” says Davies, “and with a bit of love and attention, we see them developing the confidence they need to be able to integrate successfully with their new families.”
With their motto “adopt, do not shop” Davies and centre manager Louise Burgess ensure the adoption process is thorough and strive to find the right match between their pups’ personalities and the lucky families they go to. Declining homes if they don’t think it’s in the animal’s best interests, they’ll look after a dog for as long as it takes to find the perfect home.
Follow Last Lamp Post on Facebook for updates on new dogs that require homing.
Since establishing his eponymous label Wynn Hamlyn in 2014, Auckland-based designer Wynn Crawshaw has seen the demand for his highly sought-after designs only increase. Going from strength to strength both on our shores and internationally, stocked on global e-commerce giant Moda Operandi, in Bloomingdales in Kuwait and Harvey Nichols in Dubai, the focus has now shifted closer to home with arrival of the very first dedicated Wynn Hamlyn boutique, opening today in Commercial Bay.
Taking up residence in the precinct’s Little Queen Street laneway, where the brand will be joining the already-established selection of premium New Zealand designers, the opening is a declaration of optimism towards the end of a very challenging year. For the team at Wynn Hamlyn, it could certainly have been worse. “This year has been good, which is a relative term,” says Crawshaw. “There have been ups and downs, and lots of challenges — but, on the whole, we’re really grateful to still be going and have this opportunity to try different things. So, good in that sense.”
The store is a result of a changing of circumstances for the business; while a large part of Wynn Hamlyn’s growth has been from the international wholesale side of the business, now’s a good time to diversify and focus on direct-to-customer local sales, rather than being so reliant on an international market. “Secondarily, it’s a great place to control the message of our own identity,” explains Crawshaw. “We can put our whole collection in here, and have it displayed the way it was intended.”
The shop itself is unconventional in the best kind of way, with around three quarters of the space and floor painted a vibrant, yet not fluorescent, yellow. Buster Caldwell from concept and interior design studio Wonder Group worked on the initial structural design with Crawshaw, with the brief to create a kind of haven where customers could feel like they were in a private, Wynn Hamlyn world.
This involved constructing a wall, painted that same yellow, to sit in front of the existing large glass windows of the store front. “We want people to feel like you can come in here and have a little session, and walk around and try things on,” says Crawshaw. Anto Yeldezian and Jack Roy of spatial design studio Stockfile helped to conceptualise the feel of the space, with the walls a slightly rough-textured finish compared to the vinyl floor, contrasting with long, heavy cream curtains. The strong structure of the space, and that yellow — shade name: Sweetcorn — allow the fluidity of Crawshaw’s designs to stand out nicely against them.
In terms of where the brand’s at, Crawshaw is enjoying the fact that Wynn Hamlyn now has a very defined aesthetic after just over five years. It’s the perfect time to introduce menswear, he says, which is arriving with the spring/summer 2021 collection early next year, and the store gives them the opportunity to do made-to-measure and alteration services as well.
With the Wynn Hamlyn studio only a few hundred metres away on Anzac Ave, the boutique’s location within Commercial Bay makes sense in more ways than one. “It’s perfect for us,” says Crawshaw. “It kinda feels like our own neighbourhood store.”
Wynn Hamlyn
Commercial Bay
7 Queen Street
Auckland 1010
For a healthy meal that delivers a full-on flavour punch, look no further than this chermoula chicken skewer recipe from Miss Polly’s Kitchen. Simple yet irresistible, this dish makes the most of herbs and spices to create a tasty chermoula sauce that’s bound to become a forever favourite. Pro tip: Pre-soak skewers in warm water for 10-30 mins before cooking to prevent burning.
Chermoula chicken skewersrecipe Serves 3
Ingredients: Chermoulasauce ¾ tsp cumin seeds, toasted ¾ tsp coriander seeds, toasted 2 garlic cloves ½ tsp smoked paprika Pinch of salt Pinch chilli flakes Zest of one lemon ¼ cup lemon juice ¾ cup olive oil 1 cup parsley 1 cup coriander
Skewers 500g chicken thigh ½ red onion, cut into quarters 1 large red capsicum, cut into small chunks 1 cup of yoghurt for the dipping sauce
Method 1. Turn the oven to 200°C fan bake. 2. Blitz the cumin and coriander seeds in a food processor until they are mostly ground up. Add the garlic, paprika, salt, chilli flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice and oil, then add in the herbs. Whizz together into a nice paste. 3. Chop the chicken pieces into bite-sized pieces, as well as the onion and capsicum. Using half of the chermoula, coat the chicken, onion and capsicum and then thread it onto pre-soaked skewers. I did chicken, onion, capsicum — repeat. 4. Bake for 15-17 mins depending on the size. 5. Mix the remaining chermoula with a cup of yoghurt and enjoy as a dipping sauce. 6. For the salad, try combining ½ a sliced fennel bulb, cherry tomatoes, peas, blanched beans and a ribboned zucchini along with a big handful of basil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Enjoy.
Gosia Piatek sits at the helm of one of New Zealand’s most internationally successful clothing brands. Since 2006, Kowtow has been steadily amassing global recognition and stockists, and is now sold at over 250 retailers worldwide including the likes of Galeries Lafayette in Paris. As founder and creative director Piatek isn’t one to shout about her success, but the stratospheric rise of her brand all over the world is certainly worth acknowledging.
Aesthetically, Kowtow is known for its clean lines and figure-skimming fits, but it’s the brand’s sustainability ethos that has made it a pioneer in the fashion industry. Piatek and her team live and breathe their values of sustainable and ethical manufacturing, from overseeing the cultivation of organic, fair trade cotton seed planted from the outset, to ensuring each impeccably-designed wardrobe staple is manufactured in an ethical manner. This unwavering conscious commitment has become the signature of a brand that is respected the world over.
The trailblazing creative director with a penchant for pushing the status quo shares her journey and divulges what it is that keeps her moving forward.
I used to spend a lot of time in remote places in nature throughout my teens and early twenties — deeply connecting to it and seeing it for its amazing wonder. On the side, I did jobs that I felt meant so little to me and wanted to combine my passion for the natural world, the people in it and my personal life. The concept was simple and continues to be today, 15 years on. A transparent, ethical and sustainable supply chain for certified fair trade organic cotton, with respect for people and nature at the forefront of all decision making.
I did a commerce degree at university. With my family being Polish, you don’t get a choice whether you go to university or not. My brother’s naturally academically gifted and I’m not, I’m more curious about life, I wanted to travel. And actually in hindsight, maybe that’s a good thing, that I went to Uni and it was a bit hard, and I got a degree in the end.
Kowtow’s Wellington boutique designed by Knight Associates. Photos: Simon Wilson
I think hardship is actually a positive, not a negative. It teaches you to be focused, and resourceful, and you’ve got to be resourceful with fashion.
As a company, we’re quietly very focused. I wonder if it’s because we’re in Wellington, and quite removed from the New Zealand fashion scene which is in Auckland, and then we’re removed completely from the global scene being in New Zealand. But, we tick away at things.
I don’t like the idea of being a show off, it embarrasses me. I define my own personal success as very low-key and down to earth.
Kowtow blossomed further when I hired people to take over my role after stepping back to have my son Laker in 2014. At the time, it was a rather impossible situation — I had a newborn, I didn’t have all the systems in place and was doing newsletters at 2am after I gave birth. Everybody at Kowtow is truly passionate about the vision and the purpose, and through me letting go and delegating, the people I employed took the company to a whole new level.
I have that hard graft tenacity. If something is important, I just have this focus, I want it completed and I want it done. And my arm’s very easily twisted — if someone gives me an idea, I just want to make it happen, I’m like that in my personal life too, I’ll give anything a go. I’m not scared of change, I’m not scared of risk.
There was international interest from the get-go. The world has always seemed like a small place, and the brand’s ethics and sustainability are a global issue. That’s what’s always driven the overseas hunger for success.
We’ve never had any investment as a brand, it’s always been self-funded and the profits have been reinvested into the company. It’s just slow and steady. It’s quite amazing, because we now have warehousing in Canada, America, the UK, Australia and New Zealand, and we have a logistics manager who manages all of that. It blows me away sometimes. I’m like, “how does that extra small, white V neck T-shirt make it to Iceland?”
Now that half the world’s working from home, we’re lucky we design the clothes we do, because these are the kind of clothes people want. The materials are natural and comfortable and they breathe.
I see other successful businesses as a challenge to do better. As soon as something impresses me, I can already see flaws and ways to improve. The goalposts are always changing.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned throughout running Kowtow is that sustainability is a journey and admitting to mistakes means we can problem-solve them as a group.
Kowtow’s Auckland boutique designed by Knight Associates. Photos: Simon Wilson
I’m really proud to be working on circularity within Kowtow — it makes so much sense. As designers, we are accountable for the life of our product, so having the ability to take it back and repair it or put it back into a circular company ensures it does not end up in landfill.
I’d love to learn how to relax, but I’m not sure if it suits me.
The hiccups are all solvable and only make things stronger and better.
As a species we need clothing, however there just seems to be way too much choice in the world. I feel confident that making a natural and circular product is the way forward and it’s what makes me want to continue to get up and go to work. I think synthetics have no place on the planet anymore so providing an alternative is an important mission.
The motto I live by is “trip, stumble, fall, then get up again.”
COVID has been the most significant thing I’ve had to overcome in business. Our stores were closed, 200 international retailers closed, we couldn’t ship online orders or access the workroom and both factories were also closed. But somehow we are navigating through it with my amazing team and supportive customers. I guess this proves anything is possible in business.
From time-bending tales to thought-provoking documentaries, there are plenty of new and noteworthy films to catch at the moment. Whether you want to stream from home or spend an evening at the cinema, these movies are an excellent way to stay entertained.
A Life On Our Planet International treasure and naturalist David Attenborough is back on our screens at the age of 93, this time to tell his greatest story yet — the arc of his extraordinary life, and the monumental environmental decline he has witnessed during it. Sombre and soul-stirring, this documentary will stay with you long after the credits roll. Watch on Netflix
Tenet The new Sci-Fi spectacle from lauded director Christopher Nolan (of Interstellar and Inception fame) centres around a secret agent tasked with preventing World War Three, who embarks on a journey of international espionage that will take him beyond real time. Filled with shocking moments of revelation, time- and mind-bending twists and gripping action, this is Nolan’s own take on a Bond film, albeit through the auteur’s typically gritty, consistently complex lens. Rent on Neon.
Savage Director Sam Kelly’s feature film debut Savage is just as the title suggests, a gruelling and gritty examination of gang culture in New Zealand. Set over three chapters, the film follows Danny (aka Damage) from childhood to adult, mapping a pathway to his crime-fueled life in fictional gang the Savages. Confrontational and emotional, this film has garnered critical acclaim.
Enola Holmes Based on the YA novels by Nancy Springer, this upbeat film centres around (you guessed it) Enola Holmes, the cheeky, unconventional teenage sister of detective Sherlock Holmes. Starring Stranger Things‘ Millie Bobby Brown as Enola (alongside Helena Bonham Carter as her mother and Henry Cavill as Sherlock himself) this is a light-hearted, playful watch for both the young and young at heart. Watch on Netflix
The Trial of the Chicago 7 Based on the notorious trial that followed the protests of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, this hotly-anticipated film was written and directed by Oscar- and Emmy-winning, Aaron Sorkin and features a cast that includes Michael Keaton, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Eddie Redmayne. Watch on Netflix
Black Is King Conceived, directed and performed by Beyoncé, Black Is King is the multi-hyphenate performer’s new visual album, a cinematic experience brimming with zeitgeist-shifting fashion and symbolism. Framed by the body of work she conceived after voicing Nala on The Lion King, the breathtaking cinematic is a celebration of the breadth and beauty of Black ancestry. Watch on Disney+
Da Five Bloods Following four African-American war veterans who return to Vietnam in search of the remains of their fallen squad leader (as well as a stash of buried gold), the latest offering from renowned auteur Spike Lee is driven by its action sequences as much with its brilliant performances. Watch on Netflix
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