Shape Kitchen by Poliform

Contemporary design and considered functionality collide in this kitchen

Poliform’s Shape Kitchen combines considered functionality with a sleek, ultra-contemporary aesthetic, offering a modern riff on a traditional kitchen that has been enhanced with elements and accessories designed to improve the user’s everyday experience.

From a fully equipped, cantilevered sink within the worktop, to the chic, slim-profile range hood with a luminous extractor unit, to the integrated breakfast bar, here, every little detail is considered — resulting in a modern masterpiece that will slot seamlessly into any design-led home.

For those wanting to experience the craftsmanship and thoughtful detailing up close, Poliform’s Shape Kitchen can be viewed at Studio Italia’s Auckland showroom, where the design’s materiality, innovative functionality and architectural presence are best appreciated in person.

studioitalia.co.nz

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The Stars Have Aligned, Babe!

Hey, hey, you. Stop, stop the scroll. This was meant to be. If you got this message today, then today is THE day everything changes. That shitty past you’ve been battling through, the six years of lack of respect from everyone. Your parents are demanding you move out of home, your boss is expecting you to come into the office on Mondays and Fridays, even though you are certain you agreed to a TWAT arrangement. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only. Between 11 and 1. Energetically present, physically optional.

That old life is over, girlfriend. Shit is finally about to rain down upon thee, and by shit, I mean an abundance of riches. It’s your time to shine bright like a diamond. I’m seeing carrots. Big carrots, no, not those ones you’ve been surviving on, babe. Yellow ones, so big, I’m guessing 15 carats, possibly lab-grown, but details, babe, these are not my forte.

The crazy thing is, the fact that you have been served this post means big things are happening to you. This opportunity only comes around once every 30 years. Seriously, if you miss the signs, you’ll miss the abundance. You are a chosen one, babe, do not mess this up. The window of opportunity will close as soon as the moon phase shifts into that snarky bitch, Scorpio. That sting is not what you’re here for. Look around, what is the world telling you? What the cards are saying is that your cup is going to runneth over, babe, and not in a had-one-too-many-Pals-and-spilt-your-drink way. Life is about to be very, very good. But you must look for the signs.

As a Sagittarius, you are a very lucky sign in life, but this does not compensate for your constant lack of money. Despite your tendency for incessant verbal diarrhoea, you at least have a lot of friends who are keeping you fed and warm. And all this because you know how to deftly pretend to be a kitty-cat. But you must learn when to shut up; no one needs to hear the truth. This is possibly why you keep getting beaten up.

Things seriously must change, babe, and this slightly ajar window is only here today, and only for you. If you miss it, you’re kind of fucked for the next 30 years, minimum. I don’t want to be too dramatic here, but this kind of celestial calling is rare, babe.

Let’s pull some tarot cards… Wow! The Fool, but you’re no fool. This card is giving me new beginnings; a leap of faith is needed, so is money. I’m feeling someone old, a man, full of abundance, in the financial way, babe. Listen, he’s no oil painting, ok. But there is no doubt he has a financially liquid collection of great art, all full of potential future abundance. What I’m getting from this is: “Fortune favours the bald.” This could be it. Look out the window, are there any old men about? Seize the day, babe. The Moon may be in your seventh house right now, but you need to get your head out of Uranus.

As luck would have it, your moon sign is entering Leo. This is definitely hitting at the right time, babe. Leos are boorish, but elegant. Capable of trampling on anyone, which they sometimes do out of pure curiosity and an idiotic childish desire to see what will happen. Leos want to be masters of everything. They make it very clear to anyone just how un-fucking-believably lucky they are to be in the presence of a Leo, and demand to be treated appropriately. This is the kind of cosmic energy you need to attract, conquer, and secure the fortunes of the bald. Lean into this temporary energy from your moon sign and begin today by demanding that everyone address you simply as “Almighty.”

I have one more tarot card that’s calling for you. The High Priestess, now we’re getting somewhere. Are you cursed with the need to accomplish something? Anything? With Libra in your third house, you have a habit of chasing the peace of mind that’s basically unattainable because your scatty nature always outweighs your highly spiritual ideals. This constant state of cognitive dissonance between reality and wishful thinking is holding you back, babe. Get a grip. I mean, everyone else on your Instagram timeline is hustling hard, on boats, with old bald men. But what have you achieved? This card gives a glimmer of hope that you can emulate their true lived experience. But you must act now. Regardless of your (trivial) pursuit, you can always find a means to undermine your own dedication for the sake of looking like a winner at life.

Ok, I’m picking up something really strong now. Do you have a computer? Wow, you do? Crazy. Do you have Apple Pay? This is definitely fortuitous. Quick! Click my “Fatebook” link, and I will unleash the full power of your future self. The influx of endorphins will flood through you; you’ll be overwhelmed by feelings of actual accomplishment. This message was served to you, babe, and only you. Because making unfortunate futures feel temporarily hopeful is my skill, babe. Do it now, or suffer in solitude, squalor, and endless overdrafts for eternity.

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Cigale bag from Dior

All tied up: The bow-detail handbag trend taking over this season

This season, the bow fastens itself to the handbag with studied nonchalance, equal parts ingénue charm and quiet luxury. Less overtly feminine than its early-2000s predecessors, the new wave of tie details arrives with a softer kind of confidence, appearing as delicate leather knots, sculptural fastenings and gently gathered silhouettes that feel refined rather than saccharine.

From slouchy everyday carryalls to polished top-handle styles, designers are embracing the bow as a subtle point of distinction, lending classic shapes a sense of ease and personality. The result is a romantic counterpoint to the structured, logo-heavy bags that have dominated recent seasons, proving that fashion’s enduring appetite for softness is far from over.

Bottega Veneta small Andiamo bag from FWRD
Aquazzura Bow tie pleated leather clutch from Net-A-Porter
CarryAll Vibe MM bag from Louis Vuitton
Bow Bag from Dior
Jennifer Lawrence  wearing the Cigale bag from Dior

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Taco Loco, Westmere

Westmere’s new Mexican brings its bold flavours to the neighbourhood

Westmere just got even more colourful. Taco Loco has opened a second outpost at number 85 Garnet Road, bringing its particular brand of vibrant, unapologetically fun Mexican food to Westmere, and the neighbourhood is already better for it.

If you’ve eaten at the Mt Albert restaurant or the original food truck, you already know the deal. If you haven’t, the short version is this: Marcelo and Roger built a fiercely loyal following at markets and festivals across Auckland, turned that energy into a permanent restaurant, and created the kind of place that feels less like dining out and more like being welcomed into someone’s home.

The Westmere location carries the same DNA. The exterior alone, all hand-painted signage and unapologetic colour, is the kind of street presence that makes you slow down on Garnet Road whether you’re hungry or not. Inside, the palette is loud in the best possible way. Vivid murals, traditional Mexican crafts, and the sort of atmosphere that makes Taco Tuesdays feel like a small, delicious celebration.

But you’re here for the food, and the food delivers. The tacos are built with the kind of care that comes from operators who clearly treat a tortilla as a serious undertaking. The beef birria tacos arrive with a richness and depth that rewards every bite, the chicken quesadillas have a golden, satisfying crunch that holds up to generous fillings, and the enchiladas are the sort of thing you order once and then quietly rearrange your weekly schedule around. And then there are the homemade churros. Warm, crisp, coated in cinnamon sugar and entirely non-negotiable.

Homemade Churros

What makes Taco Loco work, and what makes this second location feel like a genuine win for Westmere, is the energy. This is a restaurant that doesn’t take itself too seriously but takes its food very seriously indeed.

Opening hours:
Monday – Tuesday: 5 pm – 9 pm
Friday: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm, 5 pm – 9.30 pm
Saturday: 11.30 am – 9.30 pm
Sunday: 11.30 am – 8.30 pm

tacoloconz.co.nz

Taco Loco

85 Garnet Road
Westmere

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The new additions to Non Solo Pizza’s long lunch that you’ll want to know about

The Italians understood something the rest of us are still catching up to: lunch should never be efficient. Non Solo Pizza’s weekend Italian Long Lunch, every Saturday and Sunday from midday, takes this philosophy seriously.

HOUSE MADE PANE, BURRATA, BEEF CARPACCIO

At $55 per person for groups of four or more, the format is family-style and three courses deep. Antipasti arrive for the table, including burrata with grilled eggplant and green pesto, and beef carpaccio with truffle aioli. From there, the mains land in generous sharing plates: tortellini caprese, free-range chicken in Tuscan sauce with sweet peppers, and roasted market fish with Cloudy Bay clams. It’s the kind of menu that rewards a table willing to settle in.

FREE-RANGE CHICKEN IN TUSCAN SAUCE

And now, by popular demand, the lunch extends into Non Solo Pizza’s home territory. Woodfire pizzas can be added to the spread, which is frankly the only upgrade this format was missing. Pair it all with the new Incanto and Crepuscolo cocktails, or start proceedings properly with seasonal oysters, and you have an afternoon that does exactly what a good Italian lunch should: go longer than planned.

Spicy Salami Pizza
Hand holding a ribbed crystal glass with a deep red foamy cocktail on a wooden bar surface.
Crepuscolo cocktail

Non Solo Pizza’s Italian Long Lunch is available every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm. $55 per person, groups of four or more. Book here to secure your table.

savor.co.nz/non-solo-pizza

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Mastering autumnal dressing: Your guide to effortless seasonal style

Achieving an effortlessly elegant yet practical wardrobe is not as simple as it seems, especially when the season calls for navigating crisp mornings, mild afternoons, and cooler evenings all in a single day. Autumnal dressing is an art of balance: staying warm without sacrificing style, and looking polished without overthinking every outfit. The key lies in building a curated selection of timeless, mix-and-match pieces that work harder so you don’t have to.

Ankle Boots

Shop The Edit
Le Monde Beryl Camille leather wedge ankle boots from Mytheresa
Vittoria bootie from Gucci
Saint Laurent Suede booties from Net-a-porter
Khaite Bella leather ankle boots from MyTheresa
Totême Croc-effect leather chelsea boots from Farfetch 
Cheri zipped boots from Celine
Prada Nappa leather booties from Farfetch
Bottega Veneta Atomic ankle boot from MyTheresa

Tailored Blazers

Shop The Edit
Bar Jacket Green Virgin Wool Tweed from Dior
Prince of Wales wool jacket from Gucci
Victoria Beckham Collarless Jacket from Muse
colonne jacket IN DIAGONAL WOOL from Celine
Bardot Blazer in Velvet from Harris Tapper
Seri Blazer from Camilla & Marc
These Are The Good Old Days Blazer from Maggie Marilyn
Reese Blazer from Rebe

Straight-Leg Jeans

Shop The Edit
Horsebit-embellished mid-rise jeans from Gucci
Saint Laurent Distressed high-rise straight-leg jean from Net-a-porter
Frame Essential recycled mid-rise straight-leg jeans from Net-a-porter
Regular-fit jean from Christian Dior
The Row
Daciana straight jeans from Mytheresa
AGOLDE 90s mid-rise straight-leg jeans from Net-a-porter
Bottega Veneta
Mid-rise straight jeans from Mytheresa
Phoebe Philo
Straight jeans from Mytheresa

Fine Knits

Shop The Edit
polo sweater in fine cashmere silk from Celine
Long Sleeve Orwell Polo in Merino from Harris Tapper
Wool knit polo shirt from Miu Miu
Guest In Residence
Compass Jane Cardigan from Workshop
Cotton knit polo shirt from Miu Miu
Elemental Lola Cardi from Paris Geogia
Loewe Double L asymmetric sweater from MyTheresa
Knit wool cardigan with embroidery from Gucci

Leather Jackets

Shop The Edit
Saint Laurent Leather bomber jacket from Mytheresa
Magda Butrym Belted Leather Jacket from Moda Operandi
Leather with aged effect jacket from Gucci
Róhe Leather bomber jacket from Mytheresa
Balenciaga wrap wide-sleeve jacket from Farfetch
Saint Laurent Belted leather jacket from MyTheresa
Theory Leather Jacket from Muse
Leather Jacket from Miu Miu
LOEWE belted nappa leather coat from Farfetch
Chloé Cropped leather biker jacket from MyTheresa
Nour Hammour Pia leather bomber jacket from Farfetch
Alaïa Hooded leather bomber jacket from MyTheresa

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Tilda’s Bow High Jewellery fancy yellow and white diamond earrings, Tilda’s Bow High Jewellery fancy intense yellow and white diamond ring, Tilda’s Bow High Jewellery fancy intense yellow and white diamond necklace from Graff

Crafted for eternity, Graff’s Tilda’s Bow collection is a luminous emblem of love and legacy

In the language of jewellery, few motifs are as quietly powerful as the bow. It suggests a moment of intention. A ribbon drawn tight, a gift sealed, a gesture made with care. With its Tilda’s Bow collection, Graff captures that fleeting instant in diamonds, transforming the softness of silk into sculptural brilliance.

The collection takes its cue from the precise moment a ribbon is tied. Loops arc gracefully, ribbons cascade, and each curve is articulated through exceptional stones that lend the designs both movement and light. Necklaces sweep across the collarbone in flowing forms, earrings echo the delicate symmetry of folded silk, while rings and bracelets trace elegant bows around the wrist and finger. Each piece feels fluid and organic, yet unmistakably Graff in its precision.

Model wearing Graff diamond bow necklace, earrings, and bracelet set against mint green background.
Tilda’s Bow Diamond Necklace, Tilda’s Bow Diamond Bracelet and Tilda’s Bow Diamond Earrings from Graff
Model wearing Graff double-strand ruby and diamond necklace, bow earrings and ring in white gold.
Tilda’s Bow Double Knot Ruby and Diamond Ring from Graff

Crafted by the house’s master artisans, Tilda’s Bow balances delicacy with drama. One striking interpretation reveals layered ribbons of white gold set with more than 22 carats of Graff diamonds, their scintillation giving the illusion of fabric caught mid-movement. Elsewhere, the motif becomes more architectural. Bold knots are  sculpted into necklaces and earrings, their cascading ends set with pear shape diamonds and anchored by commanding solitaire stones. For those drawn to colour, the collection reveals another flourish. A high jewellery suite centres on extraordinary oval Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds, their sunlit brilliance framed by hundreds of white diamonds that trace each ribbon edge in glowing contrast. The result is a composition that feels both joyful and refined, radiating warmth against Graff’s signature icy sparkle.

Tilda’s Bow Classic Diamond Pendant from Graff
Tilda’s Bow Diamond Double Strand Earrings from Graff
Tilda’s Bow Diamond Necklace from Graff
Tilda’s Bow Classic Diamond Ring from Graff

Yet beyond the technical virtuosity lies something more intimate. The inspiration for Tilda’s Bow rests in family connections, a sentiment woven into the very fabric of Graff itself. Founded in 1960 by Laurence Graff and now led by the next generation, the house remains one of the few great jewellery maisons still guided by family hands. In Tilda’s Bow, that spirit finds elegant expression. A diamond ribbon tied not merely with precision, but with meaning. A jewel designed not simply to dazzle today, but to be cherished and passed forward for generations.

graff.com

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Sir David Attenborough
Sir David Attenborough
Sir David Attenborough and Queen Elizabeth II
Sir David Attenborough
Sir David Attenborough

One of the world’s greatest humans, Sir David Attenborough, turns 100

There are very few people today whom the entire human race, regardless of religion or political beliefs, can collectively hold in the highest regard than Sir David Attenborough, who celebrates his 100th birthday.

His unwavering commitment to highlighting planet Earth and all of its species, to ensure that humanity pays attention to the other species with which it shares this planet, is incomparable. Delivering his important message for more than 80 years, with his idiosyncratic warmth, wit, and immediately recognisable voice, Attenborough is attached to our hearts as a champion for all that is beautiful, while quietly serving as a fierce advocate for humans to wake up to the breadth and depth of our planet.

Attenborough started his interest in wildlife when his father gave him a fire salamander when he was eight. By eleven, he was selling newts to the zoology department at Leicester University for three pence each. That early instinct, the compulsion to find creatures and then make other people care about them, became the architecture of his entire life. Life on Earth, his landmark 1979 series, has been watched by an estimated 500 million people worldwide, and its most famous sequence, in which young mountain gorillas in Rwanda clambered onto him and tugged at his shoes while he whispered to the camera, was never scripted. He described it simply as “bliss.”

David Attenborough is also very funny. During the filming of The Life of Mammals in 2002, to scare his camera crew, he delivered a wolf howl so convincing that an entire pack of wolves assembled within view of the crew, prompting Attenborough to break into uncontrollable laughter at their shock. In 2013, he was filmed on his hands and knees in a Kenyan conservancy, squeaking back at a blind baby rhino named Nicky as though the two were having a perfectly reasonable conversation. He is also, despite a lifetime spent face to face with gorillas, snakes and the full spectrum of the planet’s more confronting inhabitants, utterly terrified of rats, a fear he cheerfully attributes to one unforgettable night in the Solomon Islands when they ran across his bed in a tropical storm.

At 100, Attenborough no longer traverses the world’s jungles and deserts, but earlier this year, he presented Wild London, discovering canal-dwelling snakes and pigeons riding the Tube with the same attention and admiration he gives all life on earth.

Today, we celebrate the man who has ignited our curiosity and love for our planet and all of its inhabitants. We are immensely grateful for his curiosity and unwavering commitment to sharing the truth about all life on Earth.

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Viva Espolón: Savor’s tantilising tequila takeover

Who doesn’t love Mexico in May? Forget the flights, Savor Group has brought la vida loca to Auckland. Viva Espolón sees Espolón Tequila cocktails served at Bivacco, Bar Ziti, Flush, Non Solo Pizza, Ebisu andAzabu’s Mission Bay and Ponsonby outposts, with every eatery creating a delicious cocktail list, with each drink only $18 a serve. Pair your cocktail of choice with the specialty dish to transport yourself elsewhere.

With a cocktail lineup that includes margarita and paloma variations, ranch water, tequila negronis, and mezcal-led twists that lean into bright citrus, gentle heat, and the grassy backbone of agave, this is a rare chance to taste how a single spirit reshapes itself across six different eateries.

Bivacco’s Braised Short Rib With Pickled Onion, Avocado, Lime, Beef Sugo On Grilled Corn Tortilla and Spicy Paloma

At Bivacco, the bar is pouring the classic margarita alongside a spicy paloma, the latter built for diners who like a bit of friction with their citrus. Pair it with the fried prawn taco, dressed with salsa verde and campechana, or the braised short rib taco with pickled onion, avocado, lime and beef sugo on a grilled corn tortilla.

Bar Ziti’s Ranch Water
Bar Ziti’s Passionfruit Margarita

Meanwhile, Bar Ziti leans into stone-fruit territory with a passionfruit margarita that drinks like a late summer refusing to leave. The Ranch Water sits beside it for anyone after something cleaner and more linear, all lime, salt and the quiet hum of tequila.

Non Solo Pizza’s Rosita
Non Solo Pizza’s Osteria Pizza

Non Solo Pizza’s contribution is the Rosita, a tequila negroni that swaps gin’s botanical edge for something warmer and rounder, designed to drink alongside the Osteria pizza. It’s an unlikely pairing on paper that makes complete sense when you try it.

Ebisu and Azabu Mission Bay (and Ponsonby) share a menu, that might be the most ambitious of the lot. The ESPaloma anchors the drinks list, while the kitchen sends out poached prawn tostadas and wagyu tartare tacos that play the group’s Japanese sensibility against Mexican brightness. Expect rotating taco specials throughout the month, so a return visit is definitely required.

Azabu And Ebisu’s Espaloma
Azabu And Ebisu’s Wagyu Tartare Taco

Viva Espolón runs for the entire month of May across the participating Savor venues, with $18 cocktails the entire month. We suggest working your way through the list for a true slice of la vida loca.

Full details and bookings at savor.co.nz.

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ASHOKA Four Claw Solitaire

Rare, radiant, and cut for those who know

Among the countless ways a diamond can be cut, only a handful achieve true distinction. The Ashoka is one of them. Instantly recognisable to those fluent in fine jewellery, this elongated diamond with its softly rounded corners possesses a poise that feels both modern and timeless. Elegant without being austere, it offers the crisp geometry collectors admire in emerald cuts, but with a brilliance that feels far more alive.

That brilliance is no accident. The Ashoka cut features 62 meticulously arranged facets, engineered to amplify light in a way that traditional step cuts rarely achieve. While an emerald-cut diamond is celebrated for its clean architectural lines, it is not typically known for sparkle. The Ashoka changes that equation entirely. Its additional facets create a vibrant play of light, producing a brightness and scintillation that feels noticeably more radiant on the hand.

Achieving that effect is neither quick nor easy. Each Ashoka diamond can take up to six months to cut and polish, a painstaking process requiring extraordinary precision. The stone must be carefully shaped to achieve the cut’s exact proportions, ensuring the facets align perfectly to maximise both brilliance and balance.

Before that process even begins, the odds are already narrow. Fewer than one per cent of rough diamonds possess the clarity, size and elongated crystal structure required to become an Ashoka. The material must be exceptional from the outset. Only then can the cutter begin the long and highly specialised journey toward the finished stone.

The result is a diamond that appears larger than many others of the same carat weight, thanks to its elongated silhouette and distinctive faceting. On the finger, it has a luminous, almost floating quality, the light moving through the stone with a softness and energy that sets it apart from more familiar cuts.

Today, the Ashoka remains one of the few proprietary diamond cuts. Developed
by the renowned William Goldberg Diamond House in New York, after years of research and experimentation, it is produced exclusively by the brand and a tightly controlled group of authorised partners worldwide.

For those who value individuality in fine jewellery, the appeal is obvious. The Ashoka is not simply another diamond cut. It is a connoisseur’s diamond; rare, exacting, and unmistakably brilliant.

ASHOKA® diamonds are available at Partridge Jewellers in New Zealand.

partridgejewellers.com

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