The closer we get to December, the more Christmas is on our minds (and agendas). And while much of the joy of Christmas can become lost to admin like gift organisation and holiday planning, the festive period is a great time to get creative. Reminding us of exactly that is Savor Group, who is promising to bring the fun back into our Christmas preparations with a Wreath Making Workshop, set to take place on Saturday, the 2nd of December.
Held at the iconic Seafarers Rooftop, this workshop promises more than just a crafty afternoon. Here, Savor has teamed up with Vida Flores, renowned for its floral expertise, and Moët & Chandon, a Champagne synonymous with convivial opulence.
The workshop will take place from 11 am until 2 pm and is designed to guide participants through the intricate process of crafting a Christmas wreath. The materials, including a sturdy frame, wire, and an assortment of lush green foliage, will have those in attendance tapping into their creative potential to produce veritable masterpieces to hang proudly on their front doors.
In addition to recieving wreath expertise, guests will be welcomed with a crisp flute of Moët & Chandon, followed by a refreshing Belvedere Spritz, setting the tone for a day of indulgence. There will also be a number of culinary delights on hand in the form of a light lunch, each course meticulously crafted by the Ebisu team. The whole event offers a fusion of floral artistry and gastronomic pleasures, making it the perfect prelude to the festive season.
Sp, for those who love the festive pomp and ceremony of Christmas but are seeking a break from the conventional holiday routine of shopping, wrapping and packing, secure a coveted spot at Savor’s Wreath Making Workshop now, and take home your very own, beautiful wreath (as well as a new skill set to boot). Tickets are $250 per person, and there is limited availability so we recommend getting in while you can. Book here.
The Ayrburn story started over 150 years ago, when an expansive piece of land set against a striking, mountainous backdrop was purchased by Scottish-born William Paterson. It was turned into one of the first farms in the area, and remained a successful wheat, sheep and dairy operation until the early 21st Century. Over the years, it evolved to incorporate a striking homestead, woolshed, stables, a cart shed and dairy, each addition enhancing its charm. Now, after a series of meticulous renovations and painstaking restorations to the original buildings (in order to carefully maintain their original features), Ayrburn is poised to reopen as New Zealand’s most exciting new dining destination, courtesy of local developers Winton.
The new Ayrburn exists at the intersection of heritage and innovation. While the old farm buildings remain, they now serve to house a series of exceptional hospitality venues that will offer visitors a vast array of experiences. Officially open to the public from the ninth of December, Ayrburn is shaping up to be unlike any other dining precinct in the country, not only for its spectacular setting but also for the sheer breadth of its offering. From The Woolshed, where diners can order hearty and delicious, family-friendly meals by an open fire, to The Burr Bar, an intimate, calm and luxurious space in which drinks with friends will take on a decidedly elevated vibe, to The Manure Room, dubbed a ‘haven for wine lovers,’ and offering a more relaxed atmosphere and specialty wine tastings of Ayrburn’s own wine range, there truly is something here for any taste or proclivity.
Even those harbouring a sweet tooth will find everything they need at Ayrburn’s The Dairy, a destination filled with whimsical sweet treats that promise to hit the spot every time. While those who simply want to take in the peaceful setting with a coffee or wine in hand, or even with a picnic, can do so at The Dell, Ayrburn’s central, social lawn that will become something of a gathering space, as well as playing host to markets and other community events.
The venues mentioned above will be open in December, while in 2024, Ayrburn will add another four to its hospitality lineup, including Billy’s, its flagship fine dining restaurant, The Bakehouse, a casual drop-in where visitors can enjoy fresh coffee, pastries, pizza and more in an alfresco, garden setting, R.M. Specialty Meats, a traditional butchery selling the finest line-up of epicurean meats, and The Barrel Room, an exclusive, candle-litspace that can be booked for private functions and gatherings.
Overseen by industry leaders, from Executive Chef Richard Highnam to Master of Wine Sophie Parker-Thompson (who has worked with winemaker Jody Pagey to bring expertise to Ayrburn’s award-winning wine range, served exclusively on site), Ayrburn’s many venues have been thoughtfully brought to life with the goal of offering something truly unique and memorable.
As Winton’s CEO, Chris Meehan says, “An incredible amount of time has gone into making sure Ayrburn will be a place for great times. It embodies our commitment to celebrating the stories of the past by giving them a new future… Ayrburn is not just a destination, it’s an invitation to have fun and experience the best of New Zealand’s food, wine and hospitality in a place chosen 160 years ago for being one of the country’s most stunning locations.”
Indeed, looking across Ayrburn’s historic buildings, set against the dramatic Central Otago backdrop that has, since time immemorial, endeared visitors to this place, it’s clear that this dining destination is out of the ordinary.
Winton’s design team have created some of the best interiors and gardens seen in the region, with Ayrburn humming with history even as it leads New Zealand’s hospitality scene into the future. Sit in any one of its many venues (like The Manure Room, allegedly once used by tipplers to evade the authorities during prohibition) under the carefully-preserved, barn-like roofs, surrounded by an extensive collection of New Zealand art, and you’ll feel the special energy of the place. From its majestic, postcard views of the Remarkables and Coronet Peak to its perfectly manicured grounds where mature trees sit alongside a natural stream that winds through the outdoor tables, Ayrburn is a place where exceptional food, great wine and good times collide in one of the most spectacular settings in the world.
Sure to become a hive of activity as soon as it opens, and the scene of many memorable occasions to come, Ayrburn is exactly where you should find yourself the next time you head to Queenstown and its idyllic surrounds. “We wanted to create a destination where locals and visitors alike could spend the day with friends and family, to simply enjoy being together over world-class food and wine,” Meehan reiterates. A simple goal, executed perfectly, plan your visit now.
When searching for gifts that are as useful as they are luxurious, it is to the clever, creative minds at Powersurge that we turn every time. Renowned for creating bespoke pieces for the home, as well as collections of elegant, brass accessories and sleek tabletop accoutrements, Powersurge is the perfect place to find a gift for the design-lover in your life. From showstopping door handles (Powersurge’s new Empire range is a stunning example) to simple shelves to tech-savvy stands, these are the Powersurge pieces that we are putting on our Christmas wish lists.
Moreover, purchase any Powersurge product for Christmas this year and you’ll automatically go in the draw to win over $30,000 from the brand’s coveted Home Collection. On now until the 15th of December (11:59 pm) this deal is the perfect excuse to get your hands on a Powersurge piece for someone special.
With the dawn of summer comes a considered re-introduction of a bolder, brighter colour palette, and adding a subtle, tonal touch to your makeup is a surefire way to dazzle this holiday season.
Lend some colour to your outfits by adding a hint of 60s-era glam via a coloured eye or lip in adventurous hues. Keep it simple with a sorbet shade of peach, lilac or powder blue, or strike out with an electric liner or a bold lip in an unexpected tone. ‘Tis the season!
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Skywash Liquid-to-Powde Eyeshadow Tint from glossier
GUCCI BEAUTY Rouge à Lèvres Gothique Lipstick from Net-A-Porter
While we all know how important it is to limit our exposure to the sun, there’s no reason to forgo a glow this summer. Fake tans have come a long way since the days of orange tones and patchy hands, and there is a raft of intriguing products promising a faux glow that is just as good as the real thing.
From easy-to-use drops to gradual, buildable creams to tanning pads and all the buffers and brushes to ensure streak-free application, these are our picks of the best bronzers to buy this season.
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Tan Lux The Face Illuminating Self-Tan Drops from Revolve
ST. TROPEZ Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Water Body Mist from Smith & Caugheys
From new womenswear collections to trending styles for men, to a raft of handbags, accessories, shoes, sunglasses, beachwear, celebratory attire, exquisite jewellery and highly collectable watches, the Coveted pages of our Summer Issue are full of everything to keep you feeling ahead of the style game this season. Here, we have rounded up all our hero pieces from the pages of our latest magazine in one, easy-to-shop edit, so that you can have the latest fashion at your fingertips, just in time for the summer season.
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Coastal Classic
Athleisure meets beach style in this sporty hybrid that will have you ready to spring into action at any time.
Destined to become heirlooms for future generations, there are plenty of reasons to invest in beautiful jewellery pieces. Pick the right ones, and you’ll cherish them forever.
A decidedly contemporary take on the classic sleepers, this luxurious style carries plenty of glamorous cachet but are still subtle enough to wear everyday.
Offering rich tones that deliver depth and dimension to any jewellery collection, special pieces with gemstones like sapphires, emeralds or rubies are always unique and memorable.
Invest in a piece with head-turning capabilities, to be worn on occasions that call for a bit of sparkle. Here, opt for something colourful, iridescent and unapologetically glamorous.
David Yurman stax chain link hoop earrings from nat-a-porter
05. Bold Earrings
Rendered in exquisite yellow gold and set with diamonds, a pair of bold earrings should be included in every jewellery box. Not only statement making, this style will take any outfit to the next level.
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Time Keepers
Wrap your wrist in a diamond-lined timepiece to stay one step ahead of the game.
From the pages of our Summer Issue straight to your screens, our curated edit of the very best pieces of design are now at your fingertips. Featuring the colours, materials, textures and trends sure to elevate any space, this shoppable edit allows you to explore all the hero design pieces from our recently unveiled Summer Issue.
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Set the Bar High
Any entertainer knows the crucial importance of a well-stocked bar for hosting success. Whether you opt for something that is tucked tidily behind sleek doors or installed as a focal point in the corner of a room, these home bar options are sure to keep the good times rolling, no matter the occasion.
Offset the linear shape of your dining table with a set of chairs that bring soft, serene curvature to the space. Not only do these chairs look good but their rounded backs are so comfortable, you’ll want to linger long after the last plates have been cleared.
Introduce an element of whimsy into your space with an ethereal, cloud-like pendant. Carefully made with near-translucent materials cleverly shaped over metal frames, these eye-catching lights promise to cast your home in an otherworldly glow.
Create a dream-like oasis for children with a room rendered almost entirely in soft hues of dusty pink. Layered on a neutral base, this bold but beautiful room choice will result in a space that feels imaginative, calm and perfect for kids to escape into their own, unique world.
Children’s room in John Legend & Chrissy Teigen’s Beverly Hills Home
Giving mid-century modern a contemporary twist, this trend harnesses elements of perpetually stylish mid-century design and marries them with distinctly of-the-moment details — a bold piece of art here or a pop of chrome here. Take the mid-century aesthetic and make it your own.
Infuse your home with a tactile warmth by employing natural textures and materials. Raw timber, stone, bouclé upholstery, brass and leather detailing and soft woollen carpets all play into this trend, and will (when used correctly) result in an interior that feels inviting and cosy, but still decidedly contemporary and cool.
After 14 years in the hospitality industry both as a chef, a manager and a venue owner (having run Mollie’s Boutique Hotel and previously owning Ponsonby’s Boy & Bird), Aari Puri decided that his next venture would be something simple and impactful, and Brew’d Hawt was born.
A few years ago, Puri opened his first Brew’d Hawt outlet in Manukau, with a vision for offering fried chicken that was bold, inventive and high quality. “It’s been the culmination of a life-long passion for me,” Puri tells us, who explains how Brew’d Hawt’s free-range fried chicken has been meticulously tested and crafted to retain its flavour and crunch, even when picked up as a takeaway and eaten 20 minutes later. “My idea was to create a nice, clean place to eat flavoursome fried chicken,” Puri says, “where people can find chilled vibes and good food and drinks, whether they want to dine-in or takeaway.” He continues, “as we say, friend chicken is a new religion.”
Left: Bombay G Burger. Right: Mac’N’Cheese with House Chilli Oil
Indeed, fried chicken in its myriad forms is at the heart of Brew’d Hawt’s delicious menu, which, when combined with the vast array of spices and sauces, makes for a surprisingly diverse offering. There, you’ll find epic classics like chicken wings in buffalo, Korean and Brew’d Hawt’s ‘OG’ (which we’re told is a fresh take on Nashville) flavouring, alongside more unusual combinations like Szechuan pepper, lemon pepper and Thai Thai (a sticky, sweet combo lashed with coriander, kaffir lime and lemongrass).
In the burgers, the classics are joined by the likes of the Bombay G (a flavour sensation of Indian spices), the Truff’d (a fried chicken burger finished with truffle honey, truffle aioli and smoked cheddar) and a veggie offering that packs a serious punch.
All of the fried chicken and burgers can be ordered with a level of spice that works for you, whether it be none at all or the ‘Hawt Hawt’, with three other options in between.
OG Loaded Fries
As for sides, hungry punters can order dishes like sweet and spicy fried pickles, jalapeño cheese rolls, cucumber marinated in chilli, garlic, ginger and soy, a line-up of lettuce wedges (served with a range of toppings) and a variety of fries, whether you like them crinkle cut, shoestring or loaded. One particular highlight, however, is the mac n’ cheese, where an indulgent béchamel sauce is topped with a baked breadcrumb crust and a drizzle of chilli oil. This can either be ordered as a side, or, as Puri tells us, is a part of Brew’d Hawt’s ‘Secret Menu’, where he divulges that those in the know can order the ‘OG Mac’ — which is the OG burger with a hefty helping of mac n’ cheese added in.
This ‘Secret Menu’ can be found as an extra tab on Brew’d Hawt’s ordering screens, with Puri explaining that it will be constantly changing with various specials and tasty treats.
Left: Truff’d Burger. Right: Marinated Cucumber
Those wanting some kind of libation with their fried chicken can choose from Estrella Damm on tap, a range of Fortune Flavour craft beer, Spy Valley wines, Catinella Sounds, Moet Chandon and an Italian Prosecco. Of course there is also an array of soft drinks served in vintage glassware (if dining in) and kombucha, too.
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cheesecake
And if you harbour a sweet tooth, Brew’d Hawt’s desserts are sure to hit the spot, including a Whittaker’s chocolate brownie with salted caramel sauce and peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake, with an Oreo cookie base, Whittaker’s milk chocolate and a peanut praline.
Shaping up to become a new go-to for a quick, delicious bite, or when a fried chicken craving comes on, Brew’d Hawt should definitely be added to your dining agenda.
The end of the year is upon us, and what a year it has been. Naturally, our minds have started to wander to destinations far from here, places where we can escape and find the kind of rest and relaxation we have been craving for the last few months. But travel might not be on the cards for everyone, and so, in lieu of actually jumping on a plane to somewhere like Byron Bay, Tulum or St Tropez, we’ve found the next best thing in Assouline’s travel series.
A collection of coffee table books that has become one of the publisher’s most sought-after, Assouline’s travel series, each tome with a sleek, modern cover and aspirational pages, is the easiest way to satisfy wanderlust in a decidedly cost-savvy way. And to make these exquisite books even more appealing, they are currently on sale at Ligne Roset, alongside a raft of other Assouline titles.
From Friday the 24th of November until Monday the 27th of November, Ligne Rose is offering 15% off all Assouline books, including the travel series and others. But if you’re already in Christmas gifting mode and want to get a jump on the season, we have a special code to give you early access from now — simply enter ‘DENIZEN‘ at the checkout.
When Tane Tarlton, a 22-year-old from Auckland (and, as it happens, our Editor-in-chief’s brother-in-law), decided to embark on a mission to travel the length of New Zealand to raise $10,000 for Movember, he couldn’t have imagined the levels of love and support he would have encountered along the way. Relying on nothing more than his can-do attitude, his trusty electric scooter (laden with all the essentials, including camping equipment and an extra battery) and the kindness of strangers, Tane set off at the beginning of the month from Cape Rianga and made his way down the North Island, traversing backroads only, pulling over every few hours to charge his batteries and staying in the homes of welcoming Kiwis who opened their doors and lives to him.
Now, Tarlton is over halfway through his intrepid journey and has already surpassed his initial $10,000 goal. In fact, he has recently announced that he has raised his target to $20,000 as he sets off on his final week, travelling down the South Island towards Bluff.
With an ever-growing follower count keeping track of his progress on Instagram and TikTok, and the donations continuing to roll in on his Movember page, it’s clear that Tane’s message has hit home. In New Zealand, he says in one of his videos, three out of every four suicides are men. Historically, the culture in this country has not encouraged our men to talk about their feelings or give voice to their concerns or inner worlds and it has created a mental health crisis. It is something that Movember and its supporters have long strived to change, recognising the crucial ripple effects that mental health can have on individuals, families, communities and beyond (particularly if left unaddressed).
“Movember is a cause that’s incredibly close to my heart. As a young male in New Zealand, I’ve seen the effects of suicide and mental health, and I wanted to do my bit to make a positive change,” Tane tells us. “This e-scooter mission is my unique way of getting behind the charity to help raise awareness, inspire conversations and share a bit of love along the way. I’ve met so many kind and generous Kiwis on my travels who have welcomed me into their homes, offered me dinner, a bed for the night and a chance to charge up my scooter,” says Tane, pausing. “This journey really is proof there are so many incredible people out there willing to help if you can just find the courage to ask. It’s also a bit of fun and a good reminder there’s always an adventure waiting to happen.”
Tane’s journey is certainly inspirational. The help he has received from strangers up and down New Zealand serves as a reminder that our underlying Kiwi spirit of community, kindness and togetherness is still very much alive and well. And the support he has seen from generous donors proves how we all collectively care about these issues.
Follow along with Tane’s journey here, as he embarks on the South Island leg of his journey, and if you feel compelled, donate to his efforts here. If one thing is clear from Tane’s trip so far, it’s the immense difference that one person can truly make if they set their mind to it. While it can be so easy to feel like we don’t matter, or like the actions of just one of us could never make a significant difference, they do, and Tane Tarlton is proving it, one electric scooter charge at a time.
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.
