In planning our new issue, we felt inspired by the ways in which New Zealand had been put on the map in the last year. Not only as one of the safer countries in the world (as far as Covid was concerned) but also, for our efforts in hosting one of the biggest sporting events of the year — America’s Cup.

Dedicating a section to the America’s Cup, we looked at some of the key players to know, the best places to go and the seafaring etiquette everyone should be aware of as they head out on the water. From Peter Burling to Patrizio Bertelli to a glossary of terms for sailing novices, this section celebrates the culture and excitement around the Cup, and will prove an invaluable resource.

Elsewhere, we sought to highlight the talent of formidable Kiwis with profiles on design guru Arch Macdonnell and silver screen darling Melanie Lynskey, as well as the raft of inspiring up-and-comers in our ‘People to Watch 2021’ section. From a superyacht designer to a New York Times bestselling author to the man on a mission to change the way we shop, these are the people giving us hope for the future.

Of course, our Gastronomy section is packed with delicious dishes to eat now, a guide for finding the tastiest vegan dishes everyone will love, a deep-dive into some of the tastiest sweet dishes around and a few words of advice from hospitality guru Sophie Gilmour about starting an eatery. But if cultural consumption is more what you’re hungering for, our Culture section is equally full of recommendations around what to watch, read and listen to in the coming months.

Over in Design, we explore the fantastical, utopian worlds of digital art and look at an exquisite property tucked into a remote part of Waiheke Island, alongside detailing the simplest ways to spruce up your interiors. Similarly, our fashion section will see you adequately equipped for an Autumnal change-up, with new labels to know, trends to get on board with and a masterclass in style with the new Creative Director of luxury womenswear label Adrienne Winkelmann, Jessica Grubiša.

And if your feet are starting to feel itchy as we approach the season when we would usually be planning an overseas trip, look no further than our Navigator section, bursting with Expedition Earth’s photos of less-frequented parts of New Zealand alongside Eddie von Dadelszen’s trip down memory lane, as the designer waxes lyrical on all the overseas destinations that have meant something to him.

Offering an optimistic vision for the future, our Autumn issue is not only a reminder of the wellspring of talent we have on our doorstep, but a reminder for us to proactively go out and support those individuals in hospitality, design, fashion and beyond, working hard to ensure Auckland continues to grow into a world-class city.