Left to right: Hello Beasty, Bar Magda, Andiamo

Our November dining guide has all the reasons to head out

31 Oct 2025

As we finally start to thaw out and look ahead to long lunches and revived spring menus, preferably with a seat in the sun, there’s no time quite like the present to fill the calendar with November dining events. From annual wine pop-ups to much-anticipated culinary collaborations, we like to think of spring as the perfect precursor to the festive season ahead. In a bid to keep you well-fed from start to finish, consult our dining guide for the best foodie happenings to know about (and book into) throughout November.

Available for a limited time, Hercules Noble x Deli di Bossi’s Carbonara Pane Fritto

Don’t Miss: Hercules Noble x Deli di Bossi

Two culinary heavyweights unite for a one-week-only sensation. Ahead of World Sandwich Day, Deli di Bossi — renowned for its authentic Italian fare — joins forces with viral sourdough star Hercules Noble to create the Carbonara Pane Fritto. Combining Noble’s cult-favourite sourdough with Bossi’s signature flair, this indulgent toasted creation is layered with mascarpone, pecorino and crispy guanciale. It’s a meeting of craftsmanship and creativity that promises to be Auckland’s most coveted bite of the year.

Available 3–8 November at Deli di Bossi, 10 Commerce Street, Auckland CBD.

Bubbles and Blush: An Afternoon in the Huami Garden

Celebrate spring’s most appropriate pairing — flowers and champagne — at a special afternoon of Bubbles and Blush. Huami’s Perrier-Jouët Garden Bar transforms into a floral atelier, part sensory escape, part social indulgence. Guests are invited to create something beautiful, guided by the floral artistry of talented florists from Blush, with a glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne in hand, set against a lush garden backdrop. Expect a fun afternoon of fragrance, florals, and effervescence, as you sip, snip, and savour delicious dim sum while crafting your own arrangement to take home. Book here.

Saturday 22 November, 11.30 am to 1.30 pm
Limited seats available
$95 per person

– Guided fresh floral workshop, with an arrangement and a posy bowl to take home
– Glass of Perrier-Jouët Champagne
– Hand-crafted dim sum basket

Somm Sundowns

After a typically wet and weary Auckland winter, warmer climes and lighter spring menu edits usher in a welcome change. In keeping with their expansive local wine list (conveniently available by the glass) and a plethora of gastro offerings to boot, Somm’s October menu edit has arrived at precisely the right time. What’s more, to kick start the summer season in one of our favourite seaside locales, Somm Sundowns has officially returned, offering an extended happy hour menu from 4 pm until 6 pm daily.

‘Tis the season for tasty little morsels from Knead on Benson

Knead On Benson Christmas Offerings

‘Tis the season for tasty little morsels, courtesy of Remuera’s favourite local bakery. Available from October 27 right up until Christmas, this year’s seasonal selection includes a nostalgic runlist of tried and true gems — think house-made fruit mince tarts, the biscuit selection, Christmas cake and the almost too-pretty-to-eat gingerbread tree.

Perrier-Jouët Garden Bar at Huami

SkyCity’s epic food festival, Served, will return this November. Among this year’s seasonal standouts, the Perrier-Jouet Garden Bar at Huami will return on November 5, running right through until February 1. Sip and savour a PJ flute or bring your appetite and indulge in the Bird Cage Platter for $45, including four standout dishes from the dim sum menu.

DineAid Christmas Campaign Returns

It’s the season for giving — and dining out has never felt more rewarding. From November 1 to December 31, 61 of the country’s favourite restaurants are joining forces for the 13th annual DineAid Christmas campaign, proving that a little generosity can go a long way. The initiative encourages diners to add a $3 donation to their bill, or $1–$3 to a featured dish or cocktail, with every cent going directly to City Missions across Aotearoa.

Thanks to the generous backing of Precinct Properties, one hundred per cent of donations raised will help fund food banks and community kitchens through City Missions in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, reaching more than 135 distribution points nationwide. It’s a deliciously simple way to do good while enjoying a long lunch or festive dinner out.

Founder Mark Gregory says, “We’re so grateful to the restaurants and diners who show up for DineAid each year — their kindness makes a tangible difference to families in need.”

So this festive season, eat, drink and give generously — because every bite counts.

The DineAid Christmas Campaign runs from November 1 to December 31, 2025. For a full list of participating venues, click here.

Ayrburn Whisky Flights in the Vintner’s Bar

Treat your resident whiskey connoisseur or brush up on your own knowledge at one of Ayrburn’s Whiskey Flights. Guests will enjoy a range of artisanal drops from time-honoured distilleries in both Ireland and Central Otago. Designed to be enjoyed at your own pace, the full flight allows guests to sample the very best on offer, alongside a curated selection of cheeses and gourmet chocolate. No booking required, settle into Ayrburn’s Vintner’s Bar and let the atmosphere take hold. Available from 11:30 am, 7 days a week.

Maison Vauron Rosé Market Day

A firm fixture on our spring calendar, the one-and-only Maison Vauron is back with their hotly anticipated Rosé Market Day — just in case that European holiday was starting to feel very far away. This free event will take place on Saturday, November 8, and features over 20 rosé wines from boutique producers across regions like Provence, Méditerranée, Bandol, Bordeaux, Loire, Beaujolais, and the Languedoc. Guests will be treated to live music, an array of French food trucks, and cheese from La Fromagerie, served alongside fresh cafe fare from L’Atelier du Fromage. We can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday.

Campari Laneway Sessions

Nothing says “summer’s beckoning” quite like a Spritz. Kicking off on Friday, the 7th of November and scheduled to run for seven full weeks, Campari will take over Bar Ziti’s iconic laneway for the Campari Laneway Sessions series. Expect resident DJs from 5 pm until 8 pm every Friday, a curated selection of spritzes and aperitivo hour between 4 pm and 6 pm.

Kohi Beach Fish & Chips Pop-up

One for the entire family to enjoy, Kohi Beach will resume its Fish & Chips Pop-up from the end of October. Make full use of the extended daylight hours and treat little gourmands to the full line-up of Kiwi classics — think fish burgers, prawn toasts, hot chips and cray rolls.

Highlights from Andiamo’s fresh new spring menu

Andiamo’s New Menu

Officially reopening to a steadfast and true loyal following on Wednesday, October 22, the beloved Auckland eatery has quite literally never looked better — with a fresh new spring menu to boot. Diners can expect to be thoroughly impressed by the additions, including the melt-in-your-mouth bruschetta toasts topped with smoked fish, green tomatoes and capers, or the deliciously shareable Vitello Tonnato with rose veal, tuna mayo and caper berries. Sitting neatly alongside hero dishes with cult followings, the newest gastronomic delights further bolster a menu that, quite frankly, needs no introduction.

Gaja’s New Menu

Our go-to for a well-balanced Bibimbap or impromptu takeaway night, Gaja has fast become one of Auckland’s best Korean eateries. What’s more, the Ponsonby Central mainstay has just released a new, improved spring menu, featuring no dishes over $20. We suggest you gather your friends and indulge in Seoul’s authentic flavours.

Bar Magda’s fourth vintage — 2024 Magda “heart breaker”

Bar Magda BYO

Tucked down a Cross Street staircase, Bar Magda feels like a sultry little secret — a low-lit lair where Aotearoa’s seasonal bounty meets Filipino soul. Chef Carlo Buenaventura’s menu never misses, and with a $65-per-person set menu and no corkage fee, it’s high time to pay a visit (if you haven’t already). What’s more, this hidden gem has recently introduced their very own vintage, the 2024 Magda — a tannin-rich, chilled red blend, produced by Brood fermentation in Nelson, in collaboration with chef Carlo — we strongly suggest keeping Bar Magda in steady rotation.

Enjoy High Tea in the Libraries and devour an array of sweet and savoury delights

Aotearoa High Tea in The Libraries at The Hotel Britomart

Offering a curated combination of art, design, and culinary delights, High Tea in The Libraries at The Hotel Britomart is back, featuring a whole host of contemporary delicacies crafted by executive chef Andrew Lautenbach. Drawing inspiration from his favourite childhood sweet treats, guests will be welcomed to the space with a glass of No1 Family Estate Assemblé, followed by a selection of teas from Zealong. An afternoon in The Hotel Britomart, devouring an array of sweet and savoury delights — sounds heavenly.

Lawson’s Dry Hills Winemakers’ Degustation Dinner at The Libraries

Wine-lovers, mark your calendars. Lawson’s Dry Hills’ chief winemaker Marcus Wright and Kingi’s head chef Stefania Palermo will come together to host a casual, free-flowing tasting on November 26 in the Kingi courtyard. For $57 per person, guests can expect tailored food and wine pairings alongside insights into both the vineyards and intricacies of the winemaking process, celebrating the very best of the Marlborough region.

Happy Hour at Advieh in Commercial Bay

In a bid to keep spirits high until summer, make a beeline to Commercial Bay to enjoy the welcome return of Advieh’s Happy Hour. Available daily from 3 pm until 7 pm, the new and improved menu includes an impressive lineup of cocktails and bar snacks. Hero libations include the Wild Dahlia Roots — a refreshing combination of gin, crème de cassis, pomegranate shrub, lemonade, coconut and lime foam. Chef’s kiss.

Silo Park Auckland Night Markets

Treat yourself to flavours from around the globe in the very heart of Auckland’s CBD, with Silo Park’s beloved Auckland Night Market, now back in full force. Open every Saturday from 4 pm until midnight and Sunday from 4 pm-11 pm, the city comes to life throughout summer with colourful stalls, live music, and a mouth-watering array of street eats.

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For gifts that go beyond the ordinary, Sutcliffe Jewellery’s bespoke creations give moments lasting meaning

31 Oct 2025

Timeless and poetic, master craftsman and internationally awarded jeweller Brent Sutcliffe’s bespoke creations are crafted to mark life’s special moments with rare beauty and personal meaning.

For over two decades, Sutcliffe Jewellery has been creating showstopping bespoke pieces with such meticulous attention to detail that every glance reveals something new. Under the eye of master craftsman Brent Sutcliffe, a goldsmith whose career spans New Zealand’s finest workshops to London’s elite Hatton Garden, each commission is a marriage of artistry and engineering.

More than 70 percent of Sutcliffe’s work is private commissions, often beginning with a carefully sourced gemstone and a hand-sketched design. From there, hundreds of hours of exacting craftsmanship transform it into a jewel that feels as personal as the story it represents.

“Bespoke commissions can be delicate and understated, such as a pendant to honour a new chapter. ”

Every piece is a true collaboration between jeweller and client. An exchange of stories, inspiration, and ideas shapes every curve and setting, ensuring that the end result is entirely one-of-a-kind and filled with personal and lasting meaning.

Fiore drop earrings from Sutcliffe Jewellery

Secret Springs Tourmaline ring from Sutcliffe Jewellery

The Arbor Reverie bracelet from Sutcliffe Jewellery

Bespoke commissions can be delicate and understated, such as sweet diamond earrings to mark an 18th birthday, or a pendant subtly set with birthstones to honour a new chapter. Others can be rich with symbolism, like a ruby or sapphire chosen for its personal significance and turned into a statement ring marking a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. Whatever the piece, the journey to create it is as unique as the jewel itself, ensuring it becomes more than an adornment — it’s an heirloom in the making, destined to be loved now and treasured for generations.

sutcliffejewellery.com

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How To: Get a Bartender’s Attention

31 Oct 2025

Getting thirsty waiting for that longed for tipple? Follow these guidelines to ensure you’re served swiftly, time and time again.

Be on your game. Space is at a premium when you are bar side. There is only a fleeting moment before the tiny slice of space left behind some other reveler is swallowed up by a bar goer with better reflexes, so it’s best to be nimble.

Once you’ve established prized bar real estate, it’s time for initial eye contact. Please don’t linger and stare seductively, quick eye contact will suffice. Bartenders have seen every trick in the flirt-to-get-drinks book. Try and wink, snap fingers or worse yet, bang on the bar, and you’ve got yourself a 20 minute wait. Also, no gesturing wildly please, you’re not haggling at a fish market. Bartenders have remarkable peripheral vision, so when you think they haven’t seen you they are probably just ignoring you.

Finally, once you’ve got their attention, remember that simple drink orders communicated clearly and politely always win over awkward winks, brash yelling, absent manners or complex mixology.

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Elevate your at-home culinary skills with an expertly designed Italian kitchen

29 Oct 2025

Poliform’s Phoenix kitchen merges architectural precision with Italian elegance, elevating
the heart of the home.

The Phoenix kitchen by Poliform embodies a vision of living where refined design meets everyday functionality. Defined by clean lines and subtle proportions, it conveys a sense of timeless modernity, while offering complete flexibility through modular configurations and exquisite material choices. Integrated handles, slim profiles, and seamless surfaces create a light, architectural aesthetic that feels both discreet and sophisticated.

Beyond its beauty, the Phoenix is designed for living — ergonomic layouts, intuitive storage, and customisable finishes adapt perfectly to contemporary lifestyles. As a centrepiece, it exemplifies Poliform’s philosophy: the kitchen as both a functional hub and a statement of style.

studioitalia.co.nz

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Who let the dogs out? Unleash your beasts in appropriately wild attire

29 Oct 2025

With Halloween now upon us, it’s high time to make sure that all family members are costume-ready for October 31 — that includes any four-legged friends.

From food-inspired fits to Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl, there are few things in life that’ll spike your dopamine quite like trawling for dog-friendly Halloween costumes. Here are a handful of this year’s standouts.

Pirate

A pirate pug? Adorable. This one lends itself to the perfect owner-pet coordinated costume moment. Bonus points for the little Captain Hook paws.

Life of a Showgirl

Channel Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album and go full Showdog this spooky season. Nothing turns heads at the local dog park quite like top-to-toe sequins.

Dirty Martini

Serving as both an homage to the classic cocktail and a powerful way to reframe the dreaded cone, this dirty martini costume never gets old and is surprisingly easy to achieve.

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14 of the most iconic horror films to add to this week’s must-watch list

28 Oct 2025

In Celtic tradition, the night of Halloween marked the worlds of the living and the dead becoming misty and blurred. From devil-worship to well-dressed cults, immerse yourself in the mingling realms of fashion and frights this October 31st, with our pick of the most stylish Halloween movies of all time.

Rear Window (1954)

Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window may have found its thrill in the themes of voyeurism, but watching Grace Kelly’s stylish turn is what really entices us to this acclaimed film. As fashion model Lisa Fremont (who is the girlfriend of a home-bound photographer who suspects one of his neighbours is a murderer), Kelly is dressed by revered costume designer Edith Head in the elegant height of 50s fashion — from the Parisian New Look complete with a pearl choker to a flowing silk and chiffon nightgown.
Style level: 9/10
Spook level 5/10

The Birds (1963)

Yes, another Hitchcock — but as any aficionado will know, The Birds is one of the director’s most masterful movies. Adapted from a short story by the equally epic gothic writer Daphne du Maurier, it is a full-colour horror to cacophonous sound effects. Tippi Hedren donned the now iconic Chanel-inspired ‘eau de nil’ green skirt suit for the main scenes of running-scared socialite Melanie Davis. As well as its sleek fashions, the film has stood the test of time thanks to its cinematography technique and chic.
Style level: 8/10
Spook level 6/10

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Scream queen Winona Ryder returns to the big screen in this reimagined cult classic. Almost three decades after the original 1988 film hit cinemas, Lydia Deetz returns, this time as a mother, struggling to protect her teenage daughter (played by Wednesday‘s Jenna Ortega) from a haunting of her own. With Tim Burton returning to the director’s chair and featuring much of the original cast that includes the likes of Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara, the 2024 remake boasts a stellar line-up, with the addition of Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe. As far as the wardrobe goes — expertly led by costume designer Colleen Atwood — expect plenty of 1980s nostalgia, goth-glam peplums, wide stripes and suiting (synonymous with Ryder’s own personal style).
Style level: 8/10
Spook level: 5/10

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Another carefully executed remake, the follow up to the beloved 1993 original sees the return of our favourite trio of witches, with Bette Middler, Sarah Jessica-Parker and Kathy Najimy all reprising their original roles. Designer Salvador Perez takes the reigns from original costume designer Mary E. Vogt, paying homage to the first film with sumptuous fabrics, lush velvets, plenty of corseting and chiffon. The sequel picks up 29 years after the sisters were resurrected by the Black Flame Candle, and follows Salem teenagers Becca and Izzy, as they prepare to celebrate Halloween and Becca’s 16th birthday. Naturally, the plot thickens and misadventure takes hold of the witchy town of Salem once the witches get involved.
Style level: 7.5/10
Spook level: 3/10

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Starring Mia Farrow as a wide-eyed Rosemary, this psychological thriller had a notable impact on both cinema-goers and fashion designers. The sixties shifts and pinafores became emblematic of the era, with references since seen in the collections of Miuccia Prada and Joseph Altuzarra. While the film is slow to start — especially for modern movie watchers — the subject matter (being impregnated by the devil) is certainly disturbing, and it has some of the most suspenseful scenes we’ve seen.
Style level: 7/10
Spook level: 7/10

Carrie (1976)

The film that catapulted Sissy Spacek and John Travolta to fame, Carrie is a horror for the ages. It follows what happens after the titular character unleashes her telekinetic powers at her school ball, after being humiliated by her classmates. The most profound pink gown ever worn to a prom, it starts as a soft silk slip before it becomes blood-soaked. Talk about killer style.
Style level: 6/10
Spook level: 6/10

The Hunger (1983)

Capturing the timeless beauty of Catherine Deneuve, the cruel elegance of David Bowie, and the open sensuality of Susan Sarandon, The Hunger created the most stylish vampire love triangle on-screen (and there’ve been a few). For Tony Scott’s directorial debut, no expense was spared on the costuming, which included Yves Saint Laurent suits and historical costumes by the Tirelli tailoring house. Okay, so the ’80s effects are not so riveting now, but the perverse fear portrayed will still get your heart racing.
Style level: 7/10
Spook level: 4/10

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

One of the most haunting films in recent memory, the Peter Jackson classic stars a young Kate Winslet alongside our very own Melanie Lynskey. The film documents the true crime story of the notorious 1954 Parker–Hulme murder case in Christchurch, New Zealand, examining the relationship between teenage girls — Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme — ahead of the brutal killing of Parker’s mother. Wardrobe designer Ngila Dickson perfects the cinched ’50s silhouette throughout, bringing an ultra feminine quality to a truly gruesome crime thriller. Spanning cinematic genres and eerily disturbing from start to finish, Heavenly Creatures stays with you long after the final credits roll.

Style level: 7/10
Spook level: 5/10

Death Becomes Her (1992)

In an eternal quest for youth, rivals Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn become undead Beverly Hills style icons in this cult classic film. As well as their iconic gowns, Isabella Rossellini’s dark-arts character, Lisle Von Rhuman, manages to wear the witchcraft that is bejewelled crop tops. While it’s much more fun than fright, this ahead-of-its-time feminist film is worth a watch.
Style level: 7/10
Spook level: 3/10

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1993)

Francis Ford Coppola’s naughty-nineties horror starring Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves and Anthony Hopkins takes from the original Dracula novel, and dresses it up to a vampish vampiric effect. Like most cult classics, it’s a camp feast that keeps our attention through the co-ordinated costuming more than anything else — especially Dracula’s bride’s outlandish lace coffin-gown.
Style level: 6/10
Spook level: 4/10

Practical Magic (1998)

While it’s categorised as a romance fantasy, there are elements of Practical Magic that are certainly horrifying. Based on the novel by Alice Hoffman, it sees sister witches — played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman — become deathly unlucky in love. At the peak of 90s style, Kidman’s character, in particular, has become a bewitching style icon.
Style level: 7/10
Spook level: 3/10

American Psycho (2000)

As the best dressed potential serial killer we know, Patrick Bateman sure knows how to select a sharply tailored suit, and a transparent raincoat to boot. Christian Bale really throws himself at his immoral investment banker character who dresses to kill — making him fashionable fodder for a last-minute Halloween costume too. While the film is much more enjoyable to sit through than the more despicably detailed novel by Bret Easton Ellis, it’s still not for the faint-hearted.
Style level: 8/10
Spook level: 8/10

Suspiria (2018)

A remake of the menacing ballet thriller of the 70s, the latest Suspiria from Luca Guadagnino tells the story of the ambitious characters and coven through show-stopping costumes. With something much more sinister playing out behind the scenes at the dance academy, there are clues in every detailed item of clothing worn by Susie, played impeccably by Dakota Johnson, and Madam Blanc, terrifying embodied by Tilda Swinton.
Style level: 7/10
Spook level: 8/10

Midsommar (2019)

This folk horror is one of Ari Aster’s most watchable scary movies, its sunny disposition and a stellar performance by Florence Pugh distracting from its scarcely interspersed, gory scenes. From the interesting interiors to one very stylish long-lunch in the meadow, the mise-en-scène is simply mesmerising. Inspired by traditional Swedish festival costumes, the folkdräkt, the white embroidered smocks have garnered a fashion-following, despite their more sinister symbolism in the film.
Style level: 8/10
Spook level: 7/10

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Meet Kett, the globally inspired hero brand now available at Dawson & Co.

24 Oct 2025

Now available in New Zealand exclusively through Dawson & Co., Kett delivers timeless furniture defined by craft, place, and enduring details.

Kett is a furniture brand founded on the idea that design should be inspired by place. Under the direction of lead designer Justin Hutchinson, the brand collaborates with craftspeople in Italy, Indonesia, and Australia to create collections that balance timeless craftsmanship with contemporary form. Each piece reflects the character of the environments that inspire it. From rugged coastlines to urban skylines, these references are distilled into furniture that feels grounded, enduring, and deeply considered.

Portland dining table and chairs by Kett from Dawson & Co.

The Portland Arc Dining Table epitomises this approach, its gently curved timber legs recalling the protection of natural bays, while its solid surface conveys both strength and permanence. It finds a natural companion in the Portland chair, a design defined by curvaceous elegance, crafted from solid ash and finished with upholstery that is tailored to order. Together, they articulate a dining experience where sculptural presence meets everyday ease.

In living areas, the Erskine Sofa demonstrates Kett’s gift for soft yet architectural gestures. Sweeping arms and fine French seams frame generous cushioning, offering an invitation to settle into moments of conversation or repose. By contrast, the Frame Living Collection takes a more technical approach, integrating storage and technology into a modular, wall-mounted system that is at once functional and discreet, with materials chosen for both their sustainable standing and with a healthy home in mind.

Frame Living Collection by Kett from Dawson & Co.

Every Kett piece is made with longevity at its core, combining traditional methods with modern precision. With a network of treasured collaborators, including timber suppliers from Italy, teak specialists in Indonesia, and their Melbourne upholstery atelier, each design is crafted with the intention of lasting decades. In an age of fleeting trends, Kett’s collections endure as furniture to live with, cherish, and pass on.

Shop the Kett range in store at Dawson & Co.’s Parnell Gallery or North Shore Gallery.

dawsonandco.nz

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Everything worth listening to this spring

24 Oct 2025

Hitting the open road this long weekend? Here is our definitive guide to the best new music and illuminating podcasts to keep in rotation.

Soul-Stirring New Albums

Madonna

Veronica Electronica

The cult gem in Madonna’s expansive catalogue, Veronica Electronica is a bold remix album that pulses with late-90s club energy. Reimagining tracks from Ray of Light through a kaleidoscopic, electronic lens, it reveals the Queen of Pop at her most experimental, embracing the underground while staying unmistakably Madonna.

Olivia Dean

The Art of Loving

The wildly successful sophomore record from the British singing-songwriting sensation, The Art of Loving charts Dean’s ascension to the very top of her game. With Dean’s warm, neo-soul vocals front and centre throughout, this is the kind of album that stands on its own and showcases the full breadth of Dean’s range and lyricism. If your only reference for the 26-year-old is the viral Man I Need, spend a little time with this body of work and expand your repertoire.

Ed Sheeran

Play

With Play, Ed Sheeran leans into his pop sensibilities, delivering an album that’s equal parts infectious and intimate. Built on rhythmic guitar loops, catchy hooks, and Sheeran’s conversational lyricism, it feels like a spontaneous jam turned chart-ready album. There’s an easy charm to the music, it’s effortless, upbeat, and laced with a touch of romantic mischief.

Intriguing Podcasts

Let’s Get Dressed

with Liv Perez

This weekly fashion podcast is hosted by journalist, Today Show style contributor, and trend authority Liv Perez. Each Monday, she dives deep with industry voices — from Julie Wainwright (The RealReal) to Tibi’s Amy Smilovic and Euphoria costume designer Heidi Bivens — offering insider tips and inspiration.

Your Undivided Attention

with Tristan Harris & Aza Raskin

A bi‑weekly podcast from the Centre for Humane Technology, hosted by Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin. The pair explore how emerging technologies shape our lives and society, unpacking the attention economy’s impact with leading thinkers — from AI ethics to digital democracy — while seeking paths toward a more humane future.

The Wellness Scoop

with Ella Mills & Rhiannon Lambert

This insightful podcast delivers practical, evidence-based advice from hosts Ella Mills (Deliciously Ella) and nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert. Each episode tackles a trending health topic — from gut health to fertility — offering clear, no-fuss insights to help you cut through the wellness noise and feel your best.

The A24 Podcast

with A24

With no host, no ads, and no structured format, this monthly series drops two creative minds — often an actor and a director — into free‑flowing conversation. From behind‑the‑scenes anecdotes to artistic philosophies, each episode offers intimate, unexpected insights from the talent behind some of the most talked about TV and film of our time.

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Melding art and function, Lucy McMillan’s hand-crafted tiles bring sculptural beauty to interior design

22 Oct 2025

Where timeless technique meets modern design, Lucy McMillan’s ceramic tiles, exclusive to Obery, are objects of quiet power and presence.

At the intersection of fine art and functional design, artist and ceramicist Lucy McMillan is redefining what it means to create surfaces with presence. Her hand-formed, layered, and richly tactile ceramic tiles are available exclusively through Obery (formally Design Central), a design studio known for its innovation in sourcing unique finishes.

With a practice steeped in centuries-old techniques and a reverence for material experimentation, McMillan’s work offers something rare: architectural detail imbued with genuine presence. “I was initially drawn to clay for its transformative qualities,” McMillan explains. “There’s a rawness and responsiveness that no other material offers.” What began as a personal project, designing tiles for her own family kitchen, quickly evolved into an all-consuming discipline. Today, her tiles are coveted by architects and designers worldwide for their painterly textures, sculptural depth, and quiet irregularity.

McMillan approaches tile-making with the same intentionality as she does sculpture or painting. “My process is built in layers and steps,” she says. “I often hand-stain and blend my clays, using techniques inspired by agateware and pictorial methods like collage, layering, and inlay.” Each tile is crafted individually. There is no mould, no replication. “It’s a slow, intuitive process,” she adds, “one that keeps me connected at every stage.”

Her fascination with agateware, a technique that dates back to the Tang Dynasty, informs much of her surface experimentation. She works with colour embedded within the clay itself, often combining this with Ancient Roman inlay techniques. “Pulling clay works from the kiln can feel like unearthing relics,” she says. “I love that sense of history, of process meeting chance.”

This tension between utility and art is at the core of her practice. “I approach my tiles as applied art; utilitarian, yet one of a kind,” she notes. “They need to function architecturally, but I never want to lose the sense that they’ve been made by hand, with variation and presence.” To McMillan,
it’s precisely that imperfection, that “quiet irregularity”, that makes her work resonate in
an age of mass production.

Her studio practice, in-house at Obery, is multidisciplinary, with sculpture, wall pieces, and tile work feeding into each other in a continuous dialogue. “Sculpture gives me freedom to be more experimental without utility, which feeds back into the richness of my tile work. Likewise, the discipline and repetition of tile-making help ground my sculpture. It’s a constant loop of influence.”

McMillan’s collaboration with Obery has provided fertile ground for this evolution. “Being part of Obery has sharpened how I think about scale, collaboration, and site,” she says. “Working with architects and designers has encouraged more fluid movement between disciplines and pushed me to think more broadly, especially as Obery expands into Australia.” She’s particularly energised by the boldness she sees in contemporary Australian design. “There’s a willingness to take risks with material, scale, and spatial narrative that I really admire,” she says. “I’m excited to be part of that conversation, to connect with people who are pushing boundaries.”

Despite the technical mastery involved in her work, McMillan remains deeply humbled by the medium. “There’s an alchemy to clay,” she reflects. “It’s constantly shifting, and often forces you to respond rather than control. There’s always an element of unpredictability. It’s changed how I run my practice: with more openness, and more attention to process.”

Every commission begins with intention, but what emerges is always singular — a surface of rich material memory, formed by hand, one tile at a time. In McMillan’s world, function and art are not opposites. They are inseparable.

oberystudio.com/lucy-mcmillan

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Sleek, silent and powerful — meet the bladeless fan you need this summer

22 Oct 2025

At first blush, you’d be forgiven for doing a double-take. The Shark TurboBlade is seriously that slick.

As we shift into longer days and lighter living, comfort at home becomes more of a priority — especially when it comes to staying cool at night and surviving the sweltering summer humidity.
Enter the TurboBlade, a design-led, bladeless fan that proves home appliances can look sleek and over-perform.

Modern and minimal in its charcoal or dove finish, the TurboBlade is made to complement contemporary spaces rather than compete with them. But it’s more than just good looks — the fan is powerful enough to cool larger rooms with ease, circulating fresh air exactly where you need it. With innovative, fully customisable settings, you can pivot, twist, and oscillate to find your perfect level of comfort, whether it’s a direct breeze or a soft, even flow.

Quiet enough to use while working and sleeping, safe for homes with children or pets, and refreshingly easy to clean — this is cooling that prioritises function as well as form. It’s the perfect solution for anyone who wants their home to feel calm, cool, and put-together — even in the stifling heat.

sharkclean.co.nz

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