Shining a light on almost 400 fantastic community businesses, Denizen Everyday Heroes recognises and acknowledges their ongoing commitment to enriching our everyday lives. By honouring the small, independent operators whose services we rely upon, we’re reinvigorating community spirit.
What’s more, everyone who votes will be entered to win one of four $500 vouchers* to be spent at one of the nominated businesses. So there’s no excuse not to show your love for thy neighbour.
The winners of each category will receive $8,000 of promotion** with Denizen as part of our winner’s announcement campaign for Denizen Everyday Heroes. The first and second runners-up will receive $4,000 of promotion** as part of our announcements.
With your support, we can celebrate and honour those who work hard to add value and vibrancy to our local communities.
Voting closes at midnight, Sunday 29th September 2024. Our Everyday Heroes 2024 winners will be announced on denizen.co.nz, across our social channels, and in the Summer Issue of Denizen magazine.
Denizen Everyday Heroes
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Terms and Conditions:
*terms and conditions **Winners and runners-up of each category will receive free promotion on Denizen’s channels (magazine, website and social media channels) that relates specifically to Everyday Heroes. The placement and timing of each category winner and runners-up will be at the discretion of Denizen. The promotional prize cannot be combined with any other marketing or paid advertising and cannot be exchanged for cash.
Alla Prossima, a new restaurant specialising in Emiliano-Romagnola cuisine, recently opened its doors within Abstract Hotel on upper Queen Street — quickly making a name for itself with it’s fresh and authentic hand-crafted Italian pasta and delectable Bologna-inspired fare. In Italian, Alla Prossima means ‘until next time’ — nodding to the fact that, once guests experience the exceptional food by notable Italian chef, Gabriele Marangoni, they’ll be back in a flash.
Alla Prossima
The Emilia-Romagna region is the home of many of our most-loved Italian delicacies — from Parmigiano Reggiano to Modena balsamic vinegar and Prosciutto di Parma, and is also where Marangoni was born and raised. Here, working from a young age in his family’s restaurant in Bologna, he acquired a deep passion for the best and most authentic Italian cuisine, something that has proven foundational to his success to date. Marangoni refined his culinary skills in Italian restaurants across Europe — in Vienna, Rotterdam and Strasbourg — then returned to Bologna to work in traditional Italian restaurants before moving to New Zealand in 2016.
Since then, the chef has earned a name for himself amongst Auckland’s diners — best known as the culinary force behind Mt Eden’s Pasta & Cuore, where, over eight years, he developed a reputation for delivering simple, authentic Italian cuisine made with quality ingredients, passion and great artisanal skill. Now he’s bringing this and more to Abstract Hotel’s in-house eatery. “Simplicity is a choice, but authenticity and integrity aren’t negotiable: discerning customers love to know the story behind what they are eating and where it comes from,” says Marangoni. “And [at Alla Prossima] most of our products are sourced from the Emilia-Romagna region, known as the land of slow-food thanks to a perfect microclimate which is difficult to reproduce anywhere else in the world.”
Right: The Beef Cheeks
At Alla Prossima, Marangoni and his team combine these Italian-sourced products with fresh ingredients from local suppliers, selecting the best of New Zealand’s produce and premium cuts. Using techniques passed down through generations, dishes are prepared with traditional flavours to create exceptionally delicious fare that celebrates the rich tradition of Italian cuisine.
As such, on the menu you’ll find hand-crafted pasta in all shapes and sizes — from balanzoni bolognise (homemade spinach-infused ravioli stuffed with mortadella, prosciutto, spinach, massimo’s ricotta, aged parmigiano reggiano, and truffle, served in a creamy truffle sauce) to classic tagliatelle with prosciutto di parma, lemon zest and butter, and a veritable spectrum in between, alongside flavourful mains. The chianti-braised beef cheeks with caramelised cauliflower puree, sweet and sour borettane onion, and pancetta is a dish not to be missed, while the spezzatino di polpo all’ubriaca (octopus cooked in red wine and tomato sauce with potato, kalamata olives, and basil, served with garlic bread) is the perfect dish for lovers of seafood. The twice-cooked panna cotta is also an essential way to finish any meal.
Alla Prossima’s Balanzoni
With a notable chef at the helm and a cosy dining space providing the perfect escape, Alla Prossima is an eatery worthy of your attention.
With its generous proportions and clever, in-built technology, the Ninja XXXL FlexDrawer Air Fryer eliminates back-to-back, multi-pan cooking, with capacity to divide and simultaneously prepare dual components of any meal.
Perfect for family mealtimes or entertaining, with this clever appliance, you can prepare protein and veggies in tandem — making roasts a breeze, summer salads simpler than ever, and the kid’s meals stress-free.
As Ninja’s largest air fryer, the XXXL FlexDrawer unlocks the ability to feed the whole family — with capacity to cook larger proteins (like whole chickens) and plenty of vegetables in one draw, or divide different elements of a meal — cooking two foods, two ways with Ninja’s Smart Finish setting.
There are seven functions, from air frying to baking, roasting to reheating, proofing, dehydrating, and keeping things at the perfect temperature, offering a simple, speedy solution to busy mealtimes.
Soho House’s legacy began in the mid-nineties, when founder Nick Jones opened the first venue on London’s Greek Street above his restaurant, Cafe Boheme. A chic, eclectic boutique residence and private club situated in a Georgian house in Soho, this first iteration set the tone for all that followed, as Jones quickly captured the attention of the cultural capital’s creative elite.
Now, you’ll find Soho House venues across the globe, eschewing the stuffy and trite nature of traditional member’s clubs and luxury hotels to offer thoughtful spaces with a homely yet unique atmosphere, affording members a consistent yet novel experience with each visit. From New York to Barcelona, Mumbai to Rome, no matter which of the 43 venues you visit, you’ll find meticulously planned spaces, designed with the lifestyle of creatives top of mind. Each ‘House’ includes spaces for drinking, dining, unwinding, working, and leisure, with screening rooms, rooftop pools, and, perhaps most notably, a curated collection of artworks which shape the distinct ambience.
Not a hotel chain, nor a hospitality business, nor exclusively a private member’s club, Soho House has solidified itself as an interconnected series of cultural hubs, its allure ever-present, despite the location. From a design perspective, its success lies in a unique ability to implement a bespoke design approach sympathetic to each building and city, while maintaining a central set of creative codes that link each House.
And it’s the thoughtful design of the venues that brings to life the now world-straddling brand’s essence. When speaking on Soho House’s design approach, Jones told Dezeen, “I think that, above all, it’s got to be comfortable,” — a modus operandi enlivened by the company’s interiors venture, Soho Home, which is available exclusively in New Zealand via Design Central.
The elevated brand offers a curated edit of the furniture, tableware, accessories, lighting, home fragrance, and textiles found at the Houses around the world; an offering members and non-members alike have been requesting since Greek Street. The Soho Home range invites those who have admired the Houses’ hallmark interiors to bring the covetable brand into their own homes — each thoughtfully-designed piece bringing with it that inimitable sense of relaxed yet elevated, social living that has become synonymous with Soho House.
Offering an unmatched getaway, with world-class diving, picture-perfect surrounds, fantastic, fresh food and the warmest of welcomes, Wakaya Island Resort is an idyllic Fijian escape.
At Wakaya Island Resort, luxury is not just a promise — it’s a way of life. This exclusive Fijian hideaway blends impeccable service, exquisite accommodations, and bespoke experiences to offer an unforgettable escape. Nestled amid pristine white sand beaches and lush tropical forests, the resort is a stone’s throw from some of the world’s largest and most vibrant coral reefs, offering a true Fijian experience with world-class diving, stunning natural surroundings, and warm hospitality.
The resort’s exquisite accommodations feature nature-inspired designs that highlight the crystal-clear waters and lush landscape. Here, guests are invited to indulge in farm-to-table fare, crafted from the island’s own nutrient-rich volcanic soil — making every meal an authentic celebration of local flavours.
Wakaya Island Resort provides tailored experiences for every guest. Whether seeking adventure or relaxation, you’ll find endless options from private hiking excursions to snorkelling, rejuvenating spa treatments and yoga sessions — all curated to inspire discovery and relaxation.
And for those looking to explore the stunning surrounds, this haven is also home to an impressive Marine Protected Area, offering exclusive access to vibrant coral reefs and lush rainforests teeming with exotic wildlife. Guests can discover the island’s rich biodiversity through guided nature walks and immersive cultural experiences.
And given the focus on sustainable luxury, Wakaya Island Resort incorporates eco-friendly practices into every aspect of its operations, so any holiday here also means you are supporting conservation efforts and the local communities.
From unparalleled relaxation to picture-perfect surrounds, exceptional, personalised service, and exclusive experiences, Wakaya Island Resort promises a serene, luxurious retreat in paradise.
Pussy bow blouses, high-waisted flares, sky-high platforms, tailored silhouettes and accents of brown suede — all hallmarks of what is arguably one of the greatest sartorial eras of all time: the 70s. Channel your inner Bianca Jagger (or Jerry Hall), and shop our edit of the boho-inspired pieces that have our attention.
For those who take joy from procuring and collecting luxury fashion, the only suitable storage solution is one that puts your prized purchases on display.
If you’re a collector of fine clothes, shoes and handbags, you have every reason to invest in a wardrobe that does justice to your precious investments.
With the luxury fashion resale market bigger than ever, you have a very valid reason to invest in an impeccable wardrobe system that showcases your stunning purchases and protects their quality long into the future.
The master craftspeople of luxurious wardrobes at Italian company Poliform have designed the Stylebook wardrobe system to be both functional, and as aesthetically pleasing as the items within. Allowing your precious finds to be displayed in a gallery-like setting makes for easy contemplation when deciding what to wear, while equally preserving their long-term quality. The essential accessory for any style savant, investing in a customised Poliform wardrobe system from Studio Italia is truly life changing.
Acknowledging the pure joy in seeking out pre-loved garments and fashion gems, Muse Boutique is relaunching its popular sustainable fashion initiative, Muse Circular. The dedicated pop-up shop, open now on Osborne Street in Newmarket, offers a unique opportunity to discover a curated collection of pre-loved Muse wares at a fraction of the price.
Shopping pre-loved not only reduces the environmental impact of your garments, it also contributes to a more circular economy, with Muse’s unique offering presenting the sartorially savvy with the unmatched thrill of discovering stunning, quality pieces from brands such as Victoria Beckham, Christopher Esber, Harris Tapper, Tibi, DVF, and more that they may have missed out on previously (here at Denizen, we’ve found some of our most-loved pieces at Muse’s previous pop-ups). Muse Circular’s carefully selected items are all high-quality and one-of-a-kind, promising a unique and thrilling shopping experience.
And if you, like us, have a wardrobe brimming with beloved Muse pieces, some of which are no longer getting the wear they deserve — the pop-up will offer the chance to sell your own previously-purchased Muse items, just in time for spring clean season.
Muse Circular aims to inspire customers to embrace a more conscious and sustainable approach to their wardrobe and discover a whole new way to shop and sell pre-loved in the process.
Given how much emphasis we place on curating the perfect wardrobe, it’s unsurprising that we’re now beginning to more carefully consider how we care for our clothes. From delicate silk gowns to soft wool knits, the fabric mix within our wardrobes is diverse, and as such, requires considered upkeep. Gone are the days of simply throwing everything into the machine on a delicate cycle and hoping for the best, or bunching up our most prized wares and dropping them at the dry cleaner for some TLC. Now, thanks to Fisher & Paykel’s range of Steam Care appliances, designed in partnership with Boffi, we can expertly care for our clothing at home, with laundry spaces evolving far beyond washing and drying — into a connected fabric care system that can be seamlessly interwoven with the architecture of the home.
Strikingly combined into a considered ecosystem, Fisher & Paykel’s Steam Care appliances, including the Fabric Care Cabinet, front loader washers, and heat pump dryer, introduce a new repertoire of specialised care techniques to the home, allowing you to carefully refresh garments that might once have only been dry cleaned, encompassing everything from structured tailoring and soft leather and suede to ultra-delicate silk, wool, and activewear, and even treasured accessories. Underpinning Fisher & Paykel’s fabric care approach is the insight that the better we care for our garments, the longer they last — and the less impact we have on the planet.
At Fisher & Paykel’s Auckland Experience Centre, the luxury appliance company’s fabric care and wardrobe spaces, designed with Boffi, illustrate this evolution. Each space reveals the future of laundry as holistic and connected fabric care — gentle, convenient, and effective.
As one of New Zealand’s most revered hair stylists and makeup artists, Kiekie Stanners is well-versed in the art of using hair styling tools to effortlessly achieve the most glamorous of looks. For this issue’s cover shoot with actress Lydia Peckham, Stanners opted for two contrasting but equally stunning looks — styled using Shark’s range of powerful and versatile hair tools. Here, she talks us through the easy recreation of Lydia’s bouncy, voluminous look, and her slick and straight style, using Shark’s styling tools at home.
For more exclusive access to what the city has to offer, engaging content, excellent imagery and thought provoking commentary on the life that surrounds you, subscribe to Denizen magazine now.
