NZ Life & Leisure

A couple, seeing the wood within the trees, set out with a long-term vision for a new home and an alternative forestry industry.

The sixth generation of a Hawke’s Bay farming family is bringing style to an historic landscape.

Boutique owner Karan Gregory has an eye for business based on experience earned, not learned.

A sewing teacher with a superhero-like enthusiasm for saving the planet packs a heap of personality into her tiny house.

Summer holidays for a Hamilton family mean a beach on the wild Waikato west coast with a small dog called Rosie and a retro caravan called Roxanne.

A New Plymouth mum pours her heart into a global movement, bettering the planet one toy at a time.

Mary Biggs started with Le Cordon Bleu, detoured into lemon cordial and is now back to basics with a country cooking school, sharing the bounty of her beloved farm.

If this green-fingered Dunedin landscape architect had her way, the entire world would be a massive garden with flowers bursting into bloom all year round.

Global cheese aficionado Juliet Harbutt hosts foodie tours from her home with vineyard views.

Despite growing up on the cutting edge of the minimal Modernist movement, this interior and architectural designer’s heart is in the past.

This refreshing cordial also makes a terrific base for a cocktail – just pour with gin over ice, then top up with soda water.

To cement their partnership, Antonia de Vere and Mark Seeney got married. Now they combine their talents in one very creative business, Markantonia

In her new book Observations of a Rural Nurse Sara McIntyre combined her nursing work with pleasure capturing, photos of the town of Kākahi where she practised.

Central Otago artist Deidre Copeland's paintings are immediately recognizable. Big canvases. Hyperrealism.

Hunting for truffles is not for the impatient or the olfactorily impaired. Success calls for a sniffer-out of buried bounty – in other words, a dog.

A stay at these all-glass cabins on the outskirts of Kaikoura is to step into a magical realm where the world is reframed and time works in mysterious ways.

How to keep a lime happy, even in the cold.

This recipe comes from Ruth Pretty's good friend Serena Bass, a cooking-school teacher and caterer based in New York.

A Wanaka couple’s enthusiasm for natural-fibre products weaves essential purpose into their business, warmth into their home, and ties them to a very personal pioneering past.

Further reading and additional online resources for our special edition In Your Backyard: Sustainability Through the Seasons.

These little individual cakes are very, VERY good. You can keep a stash of unfilled cakes in the freezer for emergencies.

A universal truth is the power of three. In the coastal township of Raglan, three adored baches subscribe to that hypothesis.

Happy days are forecast when the owner of a rosy-hued vintage caravan takes to the road.

Responsible for millions of bees, 26-year-old Steph Munro of Southland's Munro Honey now combines her design skills with the sweeter side of life.

The Rockhopper penguin is a New Zealand native whose numbers have sharply declined in the last 30 years. Inspire the kids to support the Rockhopper in Forest & Bird's Bird of the Year competition with this adorable crochet hat.

Between the mountains and the sea, sculptor Ben Foster and environmentalist Sabrina Luecht have found the best of nests.

Canterbury sculptor Raymond Herber has carved out a true niche for his life and work in an abandoned quarry.

This is a take on a Jo Seagar recipe and a favourite with the Whalley family for Christmas pre-dinner nibbles. They use a 12-muffin tin but you could also make them mini-muffin size.

Amy Leigh Wicks’ second volume of poetry, The Dangerous Country of Love and Marriage, looks back to her childhood in the United States, untangles her arrival in New Zealand, and charts the upheaval of her adopted hometown, Kaikōura.

Manaaki condiments, made in Blenheim with traditional Māori ingredients, aren’t just delicious. They also spread hospitality and generosity.

Kurow lavender farm’s sweet smell of success

A picture-perfect lavender farm, is just one of a bunch of businesses nourished by a Kurow dairy farm.

Truffle flavour marries perfectly with butter, cream and eggs and  exceptionally well with food that is white: potato, rice, bread or pizza dough, cauliflower, pasta and fish.

A not-so-common species of beetle has been adored, stored and restored

A voyage on the high seas inspired an entrepreneurial couple to create a marine tracking system for boaties.

Yes, you can cut down on plastic waste. All it takes is a little planning to change to more eco-friendly habits says the experts.

A delivery business with a twist boosts returns for a Gisborne orchard.

A scoopful of fun is included in every tub made by these award-winning, boutique ice-cream makers.

There’s little room for nuance in the debate over the health of the country’s rivers and streams.

James and Polly breathe life into an old Oxford that’s more companion than caravan.

Brooke and Maggie Noonan left jobs at Auckland Zoo to build an off-grid, eco-friendly house in the Far North. And they struck oil.

Each decade of their life together has taken a New Plymouth couple a step closer to the way they dreamed of living.

Take fresh produce, freeze it, remove the moisture and wow professional chefs and home cooks alike with a range of exciting new ingredients.

Take roasties and savoury chicken to new heights with fragrant tarragon butter.

A creative and artistic grandmother’s blue-toned gift is one that keeps on giving.

An old-fashioned fruit is transformed with a little heat and a lot of airy coconut cream.

Businessman Scottie Chapman was told: ‘No one wants that product.’ It was music to his ears

In Hackland, the grown-ups learn the same way kids do - by trying new things and having fun.

There’s no need to bungy-jump from a bridge or swing perilously close to a cliff-face in a jet-boat to sample the delights of New Zealand's adventure capital. Autumn is a time for gentler pursuits.

Of all of the scenes set decorator Megan Vertelle has crafted into reality, her patchwork Piha villa is the one that steals the show.

The park ranger reflects on the past, present and future protection of Auckland’s Waitākere Regional Park.

From the moment she was baptised Mary Dominica, Mary Horn was on a path to a convent. Her call to be an artist came much later — at nearly 60.

Late summer calls for lovely finger food that celebrates fresh ingredients, like eggplant and red pepper.

Dogged determination helps restore the DIY mana of a west Auckland pastry chef, and creates the ultimate city retreat.

These Yoyos are guaranteed to melt-in-the-mouth. This classic sweet treat is quick to make and will no doubt be an absolute crowd pleaser.

Make your own beeswax food wraps: updated recipe

This environmentally friendly alternative to plastic cling film is easy to make at home.

Lord of the Rings and Indiana Jones Actor John Rhys-Davies brings an international flair to the new TV2 black-comedy, Fresh Eggs.

Start a simple yet sensational late summer lunch with some autumn flavour.

A Wellington-based painter’s pop-surrealist works are finding favour among art buyers captivated by the subversive cuteness of her creatures.

A workshop, once bursting at the joists with a lifetime of useful things, is reworked into an exceptional holiday home.

Could making your own larder staples, cleaning products and beauty creams really be a simpler, healthier way of life?

A recipe that is both indulgent and virtuous, these courgette, apple and orange-scented mini cakes are irresistibly moist and beautiful to eat.

A wild orchard in the heart of Dunedin is planted with more than 60 fruit trees.

Making sense of the past has allowed a Kaiteriteri couple to shape the future — titiro whakamuri, kōkiri whakamua. Now they are paddling forwards and taking others with them.

Sally Maguire’s dog knew a thing or two when it introduced its owner to the love of her life, Helmut Hirler. They walk us through their beautiful home and art gallery, 'Artmosphere' .

Young, smart-thinking innovators are developing remote methods to ensure the country’s rain-water tanks never run dry.

The vast majority of Kāpiti Island is a nature reserve. But 20 hectares of the iconic island is privately owned by a whānau dedicated to preserving their whakapapa — including the land and everything upon it — and sharing it with the world.

Kyushu, Japan’s southern major island, has rugged mountains, thick forests, glorious food, and plenty of steam. It’s also heating up for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Add some Mediterranean spice to your summer BBQ with homemade flatbreads and yoghurt dip.

What Tom and Benita Ormond knew about business when they took over a prominent Hawke’s Bay coffee roastery could have been written on one of those nuggety brown beans. Now they are winning awards.

The brain is often split when it comes to processing information, which could be why humans don’t always do what they know they should.

Possibly the most authentic Corolla in the country rocks the socks off its 28-year-old owner.

Hannah O’Neill is thriving in the fifth year of a lifetime contract with one of the world’s premier ballet companies.

The world wants our freshwater crayfish. Now there’s a practical guide on how you can farm them and get a bite of the juicy price tag.

Iced watermelon is a refreshing summertime treat that can be made into a mocktail or served with a dash of gin for a cocktail.

Most people avoid getting into hot water, but the creator of a Coromandel resort spent two decades, and many millions of dollars, drilling for it.

A 1926 Grade II Historic Place-listed concrete milk station is seeing a new life as a spectacular Otaki wedding venue.

The family’s plan for electricity is jeopardized by a dangerous thought.

The Twin Coast Cycle Trail snakes through Northland’s often raw backcountry. What better way to learn the contours of the land than by bike?

One man’s vision for protecting an unspoiled Coromandel Peninsula is shared by family and friends who count themselves lucky to holiday there.

Meet the scuba diver on a mission to clean up Wellington’s ocean floor.

When Sam met Jess on a ski field in Turkey, neither guessed they’d end up running a yacht-support business together in Vanuatu.

Let these bold flavours and colourful combinations brighten up summer barbecues.

This luscious dish makes good use of seasonal produce. You need to make the red pepper relish at least a day ahead.

The only human residents of a thriving Great Barrier Island wildlife sanctuary are fiercely protective of their native neighbours.

Swapping pavlova and sunshine for European waterways and cuckoo clocks helps one voyager realize the festive spirit she never knew she had.

Characters, curiosities and intrepid opportunity lie around every corner of one of New Zealand’s longest rivers.

Polly plays doctor after four-year-old Zen’s latest misadventure — an unfortunate incident with a packet of crayons and a staple.

A mid-life career change is just what the doctor ordered for Auckland film editor Jacks Jackson

For more than 100 years Wellington’s Clyde Quay boat sheds have been happy places for people who love tinkering with boats.

This moreish dish is best served with a fresh summer salad.

Former bartender James Waugh went underground to develop a range of Prohibition-inspired soft drinks that are mixing it with the best.

Breakfast for a sweet-tooth doesn't get much better than this.

A tisane or infusion is a drink made by steeping fresh or dried herbs in hot water.

A book argues New Zealanders are already starting to make a living out of the natural world in new ways based on “value” rather than “volume”.

Add some local flavour to the traditionally homemade staple.

The food was exquisite, the sake was flowing and the conversation was filled with colourful travel stories at the NZ Life & Leisure and Walk Japan reader lunch.

Fortunate indeed are the endangered Blue Ducks now flourishing under the protection of a family that has figured out how to combine farming with eco-tourism.

Keeping it in the family, two talented Picton creatives share a love of hand-crafted work with individual pieces that take fierce focus and many hours to make.

Whanau, film, theatre, love and Neapolitan sauce are paramount in the lives of a super-creative couple who have masterminded the revival of Italian cinema in Aotearoa.

Keep the kids busy these school holidays and support the Eastern Rockhopper in Forest & Bird's Bird of the Year competition with this easy toilet-roll craft project with printable stencil.

With lab-raised meat and plants picked by robots, what was once science fiction is now reality.

This delicious sauce keeps in a container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

A laissez-faire approach and Monet-inspired palette flow into a magnificent Marlborough garden surrounding a sparkling creek.

With a custom-made vacuum chamber Greg Beattie turns seawater from the Hauraki Gulf into New Zealand’s first truly artisanal sea salt.

Jumping off a cliff was a free-to-be-me revelation for a one-time middle manager who ditched the boardroom for the brushes.

An award-winning New Zealand-designed electric utility bike for the farm is on the road to success in the US market.

Freshly spuds are glorious but can take up coveted growing space in the veggie patch. This Spud Stacker encourages vertical plant growth and tidily contains backfilled soil, with shiplap frames stacked on top of a base frame and pegged corners for stability.

This is a very satisfying dessert and should be enjoyed with a wee glass of late harvest riesling.

Not every baby is born with the ability to smile. Cleft palates are a heartbreaking but treatable condition. In Kenya, one photographer documents the mothers and children that make their way to surgery as they embark on a journey of hope.

Once the domain of royalty and rock stars, a glamorous Rolls-Royce is living the ordinary life in Rotorua – well, almost.

An Oamaru couple play with wild yeasts and wild ideas in a low-ceilinged cavern where they brew Belgian-inspired ales that could put hairs on the chest.

A happy childhood in a musical family led one young woman to pick up an instrument, whisk up life with a wooden spoon, and ultimately, to film stories of human compassion.

Five generations of a Central Otago family have tilled soil, trained trees, and fought the forces of nature and political upheaval to sustain a lifestyle they love.

Behind the scenes at the September/ October issue of NZ Life & Leisure cover shoot at Hortensia House.

Stewart Island is a flawless microcosm where the fish is fresh, seeing a kiwi is likely and the genuine welcome also makes it special.

Wellington poet Chris Tse delivers a special poem for National Poetry Day from his collection He's So MASC.

Ice cream and photography were the unlikely stepping stones that led a couple to a house among the trees and into the exotic-flower business.

Beneficial insects are essential for any garden and bugs will naturally find a home under leaves, bark, stacked wood or within your garden beds. A ‘bug hotel’ is an enjoyable way to celebrate your garden helpers, a fun family project and instant garden art.

This is a light, cleansing dessert, however it’s also lovely served with softly whipped cream. Remember, only cook with wine you would be delighted to drink.

A custard-coloured Impala has had a string of owners over the decades but has now found her sweet spot – her forever home.

Truffle adds its unique aroma and umami savouriness to any ingredient with which it comes in contact.

An Otorohanga vet has won an international following writing romance novels with a country twist.

This all-time favourite bread is exceptionally easy to make. The dip can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to three days.

Just as the Waitaki River grinds down mountain ranges carrying them in serpentine fashion to the sea, Kate White is an irresistible force changing the face of a small south island town.

In between many entrepreneurial pursuits, one hardworking, creative woman has left a living legacy - a five-star garden and a close-knit family - and made her mark on her community.

Discover a region where the sunshine hours are unrivalled and the beaches are shared with sunbathing seals.

Amid teenage comic hopefuls sweating backstage at a comedy club, 52-year-old Sacha Jones sat reading a Charles Dickens’ novel. “People said, ‘Aren’t you nervous?’ and I told them, ‘I’m old!’”

You can also try this dish out with gurnard or blue cod (although, these will take a little longer to cook than terakihi).

Cauliflower never had it so good. This is a fabulous starter for an evening meal or serve in espresso cups or shot glasses as an amuse-bouche.

By rejuvenating an ancient tipple, Oren Dalton hopes to breathe new life into our regions.

Whales and wild waters, sugared beaches and dramatic landscapes, kangaroos and convict chronicles are all wrapped into the story of this isolated coastal stretch made accessible when explored by small ship.

A sweet no-bake made with coconut yoghurt and raw cashews.

Want skin that looks film-star fab and forever wrinkle-free? Develop a more trusting relationship with needles say the experts.

Reserve this decadent potato mash for special occasions.

Two American environmentalists have turned a run-down campground in Glenorchy into a sustainable development where technology and nature work together.

An earthy salad to warm up any winter gathering.

Wholesome ingredients and happy memories of childhood holidays on the Coromandel form the DNA of  coconut yoghurt and cereal business Cathedral Cove Naturals.

There are few places one can land a plane on a lake, creep through treetop canopies, dangle feet in geothermal waters and explore the pockmarked landscape left by an enormous explosion.

A Wellington entrepreneur who created chainmail worn by Frodo and others in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is making sturdy armour for buildings.

If your dog often barks and jumps at strangers, pulls on the lead,  or whines when you leave for work these could be symptoms of a relationship problem. Selina McIntyre, a former lion-cub carer turned dog-behavioural expert explains why.

In a world where robots rule, superheroes surprise us and gorgeous frocks rock, costume designer Kate Hawley has found her forever home. Occasionally, she returns to Wellington where she’s surrounded by treasures magpied on her travels.

Popular TV builder John Cocks is a keen diver who refuses to simply go with flow: although his body is ailing, his maverick spirit prevails – so there’s no cause for the undersea critters around Tairua to rest easy just yet.

Lisa Scott gets her skates and her badass attitude on at the roller-derby rink.

These cos leaves make a delicious, healthy nibble. Use the best of fresh seasonal pears to really bring out the flavour.

These NZ entrepreneurs may have invented their way to an economically viable future for the New Zealand wool industry. Their products aren't what you'd expect.

This classic flavour combination is always a party favourite.

When you occupy a world in which fantasy and reality converge, where life-size and miniature models co-exist, you need an artful attitude – and a kickass outfit or two.

The president of Canine Friends Pet Therapy is used to people looking straight past her or peeking over her shoulder, but Ann Evans is happy to step aside and let her furry stars shine.

A long ride on a spine-cracking rickshaw and ten days of excruciating, immobile silence lead to a place of slow-and-surprising recognition.

These Wellington boat sheds – some of them important local landmarks – mean many things to many people.

Give classic potato wedges a gourmet twist with Ruth Pretty's turmeric, almond and fenugreek aromatic salt blend.

A cruise passenger speed-dates destinations along the south-east Asian coast, and hopes to meet some of them again.

Once on the international stage for environmental causes, Georgina Langdale returned home to set up a back-to-nature business that makes a difference, one purposeful potion at a time.

When you learn the best childhood lessons in a garage, and spend the ensuing decades tinkering with troublesome classics, you’re a bona fide car devotee

Annika Streefland’s dreams of being a botanist stalled when a formidable headmistress gave her a lecture on the value of independence. How thankful she is now.

The powerhouse behind House of Dumplings shares her recipe for this Wellington Night Markets favourite.

Vision, grit and a good shot of gumption propelled the World of WearableArt from a small-town show to a global spectacle.

There are secrets to discover in the Cook Islands by following the road less traveled.

Why serve plain old cheese and crackers when you can dish up these simple cheese shortbreads topped with cauliflower mousse?  Place a tablespoon of cauliflower mousse in the centre of each shortbread and garnish with tomato.

When a Texan belle arrived in New Zealand for a three-month holiday, she didn’t plan on meeting a rugged West-Coaster. Thirteen years, two kids and a thriving jewellery business later, there’s nowhere else she’d rather be.

Serve up this decadent, fruity finger food at your next party.

What’s the best advice your mum ever gave you? We asked some people who have featured in our stories as well as writers for our site to share motherly words of wisdom.

This recipe uses 3 kilos of pork spare ribs - and you'll never have enough.

Getting to grips with the grassroots of growing, and of a community, Lloyd Rooney and Michael Fraser found contentment by leaving the glamour of London for the quiet backwaters of the Waikato.

When a French potter met a vineyard-owning investment banker from the opposite side of the world, they discovered their talents and tastes were sublimely matched.

We raise a glass, and a tasty morsel or two, to the winners of this year’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.

Richard and Helen Dorresteyn are committed cheesemakers, inadvertent buffalo farmers and deserving Supreme Winner of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards for 2018.

Amy Schumer's new film  I Feel Pretty is a departure from the brash comedy style the star is famous for.

Cocktails look and taste great, but are tricky to do at home. Meet the NZ entrepreneurs making them easy. Plus 2 bonus cocktail recipes.

Looking down at iPhones and computers is damaging our spines. To relieve back pain, try out physio Steve August's quick-fixes.

In the monasteries and churches of lower Bavaria, spiritual and secular pleasures go hand in hand.

Whether competing in NZ's national canoe polo team  or working with sharks, this sporting talent is paddling her own path.

Traveling frequently between homes in the United States and two in both New Zealand and Sri Lanka, keeps this international couple from falling into the groove of predictable living.

For more than 100 years, a Rangitikei farm has been home to one family. Now the fourth generation is putting its own twist on tradition.

Mark our words, there’s nothing better than a squished possum. This cute, comical bookmark is just the fun craft project to remind you of that.

Our heroine casts a dashing figure as she marches across the Banks Peninsula. And like all good dramatic characters, her  past holds a compelling secret.

In celebration of International Women's Day, we share a few of our most popular stories about inspiring Kiwi women.

For a lavender enthusiast and landscape designer, crafting a wild and beautiful garden in one of the country’s most inhospitable environments was an expression of letting go.

A 45-year-old Aussie eye-catcher has added colour to its owner’s life.

As a champion of the health and happiness benefits of rich, rotting compost, nothing makes Ben Elms more content than the multitude of microscopic critters squirming in his compost.

Scaling the heights of success is becoming almost commonplace for a couple who became engaged on Mt Everest and steer a company that just scooped New Zealand’s most prestigious tourism award.

Ruth Pretty's name is synonymous with having a good time: meet the well-loved caterer who is bringing her special brand of deliciousness to your dinner table.

While she wasn’t immediately sold on the tiny house movement, 20-something Amanda Chapman has now jumped on board, boots and all, building her own.

Otago winemaker Duncan Forsyth agrees it's almost counter-intuitive a top pinot noir producer should start making vermouth.

Chef Josh Emett introduced Ruth Pretty to the beauty of this style of ceviche. Ruth uses tuna but kingfish, trevally, snapper or salmon would all be great substitutes.

Entries close Friday 2 March  for the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.

With roots too deep to easily move, the Hart family found a temporary fix - two transportable cabins beside the estuary at Point Wells.

A gentle walk in the Japanese countryside is an intriguing introduction to the country’s spiritual and cultural heart.

Three generations of one family ride the tides of change on an East Coast beach saturated with history.

The latest instalment in a story that began 170 years ago sees a historic estate earning its keep in a very modern way.

Graphic designer Glenn Jones burst onto the T-shirt scene with a bang and has gone on to create a global business from the spare room of his Auckland villa.

Coming into a great deal of money isn’t a guarantee of an easy life. It takes tenacity and planning to live well, says someone who knows.

You’ll know when your digestive system is working the way it should.

Some people have fairies at the bottom of their garden; the Jacob family of Mt Eden have a cave.

When everybody knows your name, a private space becomes a treasure and Jools Topp has found hers in a country caboose.

Southerly gales invigorate the Hills family life in a holiday house by the sea.

This dish can be cooked at a leisurely pace in a lidded barbecue or pizza oven.

Multi-roomed tents with real furniture make communing with nature a very smooth operation at Wainamu.

Iron deficiency is common. How much do you need, and why? Dr Libby sums up a vital mineral.

The journey has been every bit as important as the destination for two farming families behind New Zealand’s longest-running private walk.

A bach at the beach yields vintage holidays for one of New Zealand’s best-known wine-making families.

One of Australasia’s most successful bagpipe players, plays a triumphant tune that drifts from the flat plains of Palmerston North to the Scottish Highlands.

A couscous perfect for summer with spring onions, dates and feta.

Hula girls, grass skirts and a pineapple ice bucket... the only thing missing from this Hawaiian homage is a coconut palm swaying in the warm Waiheke breeze.

There was a young girl who dreamt of faraway lands, who saw roads stretching ahead filled with never-ending stories. Thankfully, it became it reality.

Kith and kinship are at the heart of the happiness found in a tiny holiday community on the South Island’s south coast.

Unwanted waste might disappear from the immediate environment, but it has to go somewhere.

Fifty private huts, hidden in native bush in the Orongorongo Valley near Wellington, have played an important role for generations of families.

Doing up a vintage or retro caravan is a bit like doing up a vintage car. Not only is it addictive, but you are also faced with a number of very similar decisions to make.

Don Jessen shares his experience restoring a rusty 1958 14-foot (4.2 metre) Liteweight Kiwi caravan, one of only 28 built, to her former glory.

The more we demand organic foods and reject pesticides, the more available organics will become.

Drought, ferocious winds and extreme temperatures aren’t ideal conditions to create a garden, but Penny Zino has done it.

Stylist and costume designer Claire Croskery travelled throughout Asia, stitching a little flair into everything from stage shows to television commercials. But it was India that stole her heart.

Organic, biodynamic and natural skin care products were once on the fringe. Now they are all the rage.

‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ could have been invented for adventure traveler Ellis Emmett.

‘Valve’ becomes an offensive word when Polly and co suffer plumbing problems.

Eric Swinbourn hankered after a friend’s cobalt blue Alfa Berlina, and then his chance came his knocking.

The decommissioned Stratford-Okahukura line covers some of the most isolated country in the North Island making it home to the tunnels, bridges and townships that time forgot.

A NZ home-brew company has doubled its turnover after launching an electric brewing machine called The Grainfather.

A visitor to Dublin meets Molly Malone, Oscar Wilde and Handel, and downs his first-ever Guinness in the embrace of a local pub-goer.

Every vista in this world-class garden, photographed through the seasons, tempts visitors down a path laden with promise. Barewood Garden's creator shares how she's grown alongside her garden.

A Matakana couple find that brewing beer, staying creative and living in the country is the best medicine for what ails you.

A farewell tour of some of the United States' most famous destinations comes close to breaking the heart of this nature photographer.

This week in the water cooler:  we learn how to look after dogs on Guy Fawkes Day, let boy bands navigate us and are eating cakes that can't be beet-en.

A colourful Auckland family with a motley crew of animals are opening their garden gate for the Heroic Garden Festival.

Driven by a vision of a simpler way, five Manawatu families are reaping the benefits of living side by side.

The children are fascinated by the sight of inky falling insects, while a spot of foraging nearly sends James to meet his maker.

Anthony and Sandra Grant's curious Matakana playground mixes a love of art with a soupcon of insanity for all to enjoy.

The doggedness of two Raglan friends - plus a supportive community - helped launch a posh pet brand

Love and loss have given a 40-year-old sports car a new lease of life.

NZ Life & Leisure editor Kate Coughlan, aka Little Miss Muffet, takes a voyage around her great-grandfather and makes cheese.

When life is for living, why settle for 'beige'? Virgil and Fay Roberts have crafted a sculpture of a home, as colourful and exuberant as they are.

The cookbook queen is happiest when she's following the lead of her nature-loving mother.

Angela Beer didn't even know she was a dog person until she met her beloved Dunhill, and she had even less idea just how far that love would take her.

Peter Cooke and Anna Moore are turning a lifetime's commitment to organic gardening and sustainable living into a retirement income.

When a legendary gardener dies, what becomes of his or her garden? Ask Fergus Garrett, the guest speaker at November's Nelmac Garden Marlborough.

New wearable pet sensors will not only find Fido, they can also report on how he's feeling.

A passion for hunting and a taste for cured meat prompted Chris and Sally Thorn to start their own artisan business in Lumsden.

A spirited New Zealand biochemist and entrepreneur is finding ways to support women in science on her own home soil.

This German-born dream machine is  loving Kiwi country roads

A young entrepreneur from Great Barrier Island is tasting success from his own bitter medicine

To truly get to know Wellington’s hidden secrets, leave the preconceptions at home.

As Liz Morrow sits and drinks in her environment, she sees an extraordinary place of which she is but kaitiaki — or guardian.

The weight-loss equation of calories in/calories out is not only dated, it can also be harmful

A Christchurch-based couple who met in Russia had a gut feeling a tasty new probiotic would be a hit in New Zealand. They were right

You can’t actually age backwards, but you can look like it. Take these few make-up tips for keeping your face as ageless as your spirit.

Mt Ruapehu robbed William Pike of one of his legs but never his ability to inspire

A couple’s wish list read: their own land, a self-sustainable lifestyle and a business that reflected their personal values.  After a bright idea and lots of hard work, that list has become a blueprint for the Blue Earth range of body products

A long list of charity work and a focus on living a good and healthy life occupies one of the country’s leading business people. Annette Presley shares her insight

A flagship venture in the forests of Southland and Otago aligns commercial interests with conservation ideals

This recipe is from Luke Adams at Caffe L’affare in Auckland

A former DJ- with an intensely colourful streak- is dancing to the beat of his own drum in the Auckland urban jungle.

It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but what do Game of Thrones, a jigging Irishman and Bill Clinton have in common? Belfast

In this award-winning story, Lisa Scott travels on foot through northern Southland’s high country and on board a helicopter to the roof of the world  in Southland.

Marie-Ann Billens understands that the key to a long-lasting career is to create a good foundation – and to find a job that never feels like work

Of all the many significant achievements in her very successful business career, what does Joan Withers identify as the most important? ‘Finding the right man at 15 and then marrying him’

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be a juggle but finding the right balance is essential for happiness and wellbeing.

Te Kura Whare is a new-generation building embodying super-green values and the spirit of Tūhoe

Water, a precious resource, is at its most pristine in a spring-fed stream chuckling its way through the heart of Wanaka

After years overseas, an Auckland couple has created an urban oasis on home soil in a house they have lived in twice.

Learn the art of basic willow weaving and give your local birds a tasty treat with our beginner's project.

A young Wellingtonian is thinking big with a burgeoning tiny house business.

Western Australia’s wild flowers draw hoards of hunters in search of a floral fix.

Native birds and high fashion might be odd bedfellows but not in the hillside home of a German expat and A New Zealand designer.

This yummy berry and apple cake can be served warm like a pudding, or cold with lashings of yoghurt.

Looking for opportunities to keep their adult children working and raising their families nearby, Philip and Anne Woodward added cave exploration and a café to their farming operation in a remote area south of Port Waikato.

Environmental scientist and lawyer Fergus Power has moved from protecting the Great Barrier Reef to injecting a little “rocket fuel” into the Wairoa District Council.

Rongotea dairy farmer Alan Rowe has struck a surprising little problem with the car he has owned for 47 years.

Stay chic and cosy this winter with our fashion picks.

Ask Rodney and Clinton and Erin and Emma... They’ll tell you it’s love that makes a family, not just blood ties.

Boutique winemaker Debra Cruickshank has produced a port especially for duck hunting season.

An artisan cheesemaker is concerned that increasing costs of compliance will force their business to go underground.

When the owners of an earthquake-wrecked home were told it was a lost cause, They knew it wasn’t.

An Auckland chicken-restaurant chain founded on a wing and a prayer is now one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing businesses thanks to the adaptability  of its owners.

In which Polly trades in foreign treasure-hunting for a more sedate seeking of materials and finds it just as rewarding.

Art gallery founder Pauline Bianchi has overcome a life-threatening accident to create a meaningful life with her  6 year-old daughter Valentina.

Greg and Rachel Hart share a mission: to connect New Zealanders with what they eat, how they live and with the planet itself.

A grand city built on a wave of gold-fueled wealth, Dunedin has had its ups and downs. today finds the city very much on a high.

Weaving wattle is an ancient craft where you can make fences out of coppiced branches and stakes to form a woven lattice.

Look younger, fresher and brighter with these radiance boosting tips.

From a little girl in her mother’s Auckland studio to the big-city stages of the world, ballerina Clytie Campbell’s career has swept from one act to the next.

The Off-Topic Book Club has plenty of food for thought when exploring the science of eating in the non-fiction book Gastrophysics by Oxford University's Charles Spence.

Breathing new life into an old church has taken more than a decade and cost twice the estimate but the owners are in heaven.

This is a simple dish, yet to do it well you need to concentrate.

A revelation turned an experienced and successful architect away from the traditional styles in which he’d always worked towards something far more organic.

This recipe comes from  Jersey Girl Organics, winner of the Dairy Primary category of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.

This recipe by The Prodigal Daughter founder, Rachel Priestly showcases her own Italian- styled cured meats.

Meet Sean and Jodi Brosnahan – East Coast farmers, breeders of supreme Angus beef and winners of the inaugural Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards 2017.

It’s almost time for the announcement of the winner of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards 2017 so thisNZlife asked the award judges to reveal their kitchen secrets.

The wild yeasts of Kapiti Island star in a new brew from a Waikanae company known for its barrel-fermented sour beers.

There are many environmental factors that can stress your chickens out, but knowing how to recognise the signs early will help make them happier and healthier faster.

Meet the selection of creative female go-getters selling their wares at the Rural Ladies marketplace.

From two sprawling high-country stations on either side of the Waitaki River, two young and creative rural ladies are empowering and connecting like-minded women.

Naughty yet loveable, the Goodman family’s goats are not just pets but the raw and rather vocal talent in a cheesemaking success story.

An Auckland entrepreneur is earning a crust with a clever bread mix business.

If you think selling food you’ve made in your home kitchen can’t be done legally, you could be in for a delicious surprise. We meet some small-time home-based business people with a passion for food who show how they work within the rules.

An Auckland-based technology entrepreneur is making going to the doctor as easy as pushing a button

Cycling the exotic island of Madagascar provides a lesson in the country's economy, as well as one in humanity.

Chris Parry, drummer for the iconic 1960s band Fourmyula and manager of British bands the Jam and the Cure, left New Zealand 50 years ago expecting never to return. But that was until he found a soul-soaring piece of turf he now calls home.

Serial entrepreneur Pic Picot has learned that nothing pays better than peanuts.

A favourite gluten-free recipe from Mary Bigg's Country Cooking School.

Two brothers have turned a patch of Wanaka into a lavender business in full bloom.

Although losing her sight meant the end of artist Juliet Jackson’s love affair with painting, it sparked a new-found passion for the written word.

Use natural beeswax and coconut oil to make your own luxe moisturising bars.

A creative couple has spun a niche business by fusing old-world hand-weaving and modern design.

In the two years since the proficiently self-sufficient Vinbrux family of Oamaru first captured the hearts of NZ Life & Leisure readers, for their ability to live well on food expenditure of $90 a week, the family has branched out and taken Oamaru food retailing by storm.

These chewy and gooey bite-size sweet treats are not only delicious, but gluten-free.

Lazy summer days? Huh. For Polly and family the warmer months are too busy spent making hay while the sun shines.

We share the apple and date cake recipe which appears on the cover of NZ Life & Leisure.

Kim Donker has turned a baking hobby into a thriving home business. She shares tips for getting started without breaking the bank.

Friends told Peter and Ellen Jarratt they were reckless, crazy and throwing it all away when they upped sticks to follow their hearts. But they did it anyway.

Monique Fiso is one of the most innovative young chefs in Maori and Pacific cuisine, but it took a job halfway around the world for her to discover her true passion.

A love of beautiful things- particularly weddings- has transformed the lives of a Southland family from the ground up.

Use a mild-flavoured honey, such as blue borage, in this toasted sesame version of the classic treat.

This week in the water cooler: Nadene is seeing stars in Hunua, Emma has gone to the dogs (again) and Cheree goes banana(grams).

When a crane swung two shipping containers over the treetops of a cherry orchard it signalled the start of a new way of life for the Heeringa family.

A sacred forest in Bali’s Ubud is both a conservation area for monkeys and a place where humans strive to reach physical and spiritual well-being in accord with Hindu principles.

The Mussel Inn beats at the heart of Golden Bay's creative, organic community. Its music-loving owners created it with grit, vision... and a bit of inspiration from Bob Dylan.

She may be berthed close to the super yachts of the world’s well heeled at Auckland’s Silo Marina but the Moerangi is no flash-n-crass gin palace.

An Anglo-American couple find their adventurous spirit by swapping international careers for a Golden Bay distillery and its stock of barrel-aged rum.

If you are looking for the next perfect edition to your backyard, then tagasaste is the one you've been searching for.

Cows and sheep aren’t the only creatures enjoying the bucolic life — holiday-making families can too. as farmers look for new ways to diversify, home-stays and holiday rentals, even posh camping sites – are on the rise.

Some of the physical and emotional consequences of giving birth can be felt for up to 10 years afterwards. These are Dr Libby's tips for combating tiredness and focusing on your wellness.

Do you have borage growing in your garden? Try using the petals in this refreshing summer soup.

This burrito recipe is fast, low fuss and delicious. It is ideal for feeding a crowd at the family bach.

Surf-loving foodies Jason and Melissa Philips downsized and relocated to the Wairarapa to give their hand-rolled burrito business the best chance of catching a big break.

It’s been a flavourful career for Kohu Road founder Greg Hall. There’s a pinch of everything in his recipe for success – and the outcome is simply delicious.

Life is a movable feast for these house-bus-living, fun-loving, free-spirited ‘gypstas’.

A Christchurch paddleboard entrepreneur is riding a steady wave of growth.

A South Island couple takes on two run-down old rail carriages and, in doing so, embarks on a long, exhausting – and ultimately very rewarding – journey.

For more than half a century, this classic launch has been a summer base afloat. 

In a parched and withering place, a New Zealand photographer gets instruction on how to live.

Fun and freedom on a budget? Or the family holiday from hell? Traveling some 1200 kilometres from Christchurch to Auckland in a campervan with two small children isn’t everyone’s idea of heaven. But this family survived… and then some.

From sexy swimsuits to silky separates, skin-baring tops to transparent jumpsuits, summer is all about show.

Louise McNutt thought climbing into a wolf den was the biggest challenge she’d face in her animal-focused career, until she chose to ride the length of New Zealand on horseback.

A storybook house in the towering mountains offers an adorable princess, talking animals, a modest prince and a very funny mummy. She's a comedy writer, he's a beekeeper- meet the Dunbars.

Rhianna Osborne lives like a local to enjoy Melbourne without breaking the bank.

For an alternative to well-worn (and often overrun) Tuscany, the relatively unknown Abruzzo region in central Italy offers a true Italian experience with the capacity to surprise.

She may have named her first craft beer after a famous lipstick, but brewer Ava Nakagawa is certainly not making beer just for the girls.

The Pitches Store chef shares his award-winning recipe for Green Tea Smoked Silver Fern Farms Reserve Beef with Beetroot Mustard.

He’s interested in how everything is interconnected; she in the personal story of her clients. This pair of Sydney-based Kiwi architects continue to make their mark on both civic and private jobs

There may be a few hills to climb and you could well be subjected to a little karaoke, but this trek through some of New Zealand’s best scenery does good in more than one sense.

For a woman who really loves black and white, Wellington businesswoman Liz Stringer lives a most colourful life, split between town and country.

David Elliot loves nothing more than a good story. As luck (and hard work) would have it, his country-spanning, award-winning, character-rich career has bestowed him with plenty of content.

Beauty-junkie daughter? Fragrance-loving friend? Or just looking for some inspo for your own Christmas lust list…? here’s a guide to some of the best beauty gifts of this festive season.

The NZ Life & Leisure spring luncheon was huge success, raising $6500 for Ranui House.

The government’s audacious goal of a predator-free New Zealand by 2050 needs to harness clever people and smart technology. Meet some leaders in the field.

Sheryl welcomed her husband Tony into their marriage by giving him the key to her  fabulous 56-year-old fin-tailed Ford.

Polly laments the communal bed while a new DIY feature window brings some unexpected lessons – and just a little pain.

Jason & Tristin Dickey talk us through how they brought superyacht technology down to size in a range of luxuriously fitted aluminium boats.

Hurricane Hallinan, aka the country’s liveliest gardener Lynda Hallinan, shows us her spring makeover in time for another charity fundraiser.

This refreshing chutney makes a delicious filling for vegetarian sandwiches. It can also be used as a dipping sauce for meatballs, kebabs or crudités.

Seafood is found in abundance in Goan cuisine. The curry gets its colour from turmeric, one of the stars of the spice world, and has a hint of sweetness from the coconut.

Jen Viegas is bringing the rich and evocative flavours of Goa to New Zealand gourmets, one spoonful at a time.

Bolo de Coco is a favourite Goan  sweet treat.

Meet the Williamsons: global merino suppliers raising a tribe of small boys and creating real socks appeal in Omarama.

Planting in this geometrically composed garden was underway long before the decision was made to build a Restoration-period house in its centre. The two are a seamless match

In a two-part series, Dr Libby fronts up to a question about nutritional deficiencies.

This is a gorgeous and simple alternative to the traditional after-dinner cheese board.

Mt Eliza raw milk cheese has been described by one foodie as like watching colour television after years of black and white.

The kids play in the bush and fish in the stream. The adults work from home creating toys that win awards.

Wellington tea maker’s three herbal blends are led by gut instinct, ensuring what’s tasty also nurtures body and mind.

He wanted a race car, she wanted a comfortable ride, turns out the 1974 Ford Capri was the car they didn't know they always wanted.

More than half the food thrown out by Kiwi households could be eaten.

Designer Katrina Hobbs is an expert at reinvention. From travel-show host to soap star, business presenter and now business owner, she takes a role and runs with it.

Jenny Drury is finding success with fashion label Ketz-ke by focussing on wholesale and supporting New Zealand retailers.

A Havelock North's desire to support  Pacific Island farmers has led to sweet business success.

Cheree Morrison takes a walk in the well-worn running shoes of Fiona Hayvice, one of the world’s top ultra-marathon athletes.

A new wwoof-er demonstrates his unfamiliarity with wholefoods and a spiral staircase sends the family’s spirits to heaven.

Dunedin style icon Barbara Brinsley says she isn't afraid to stand out in a crowd.

A personal quest for work/life balance is at the core of a new restaurant and wellness centre run by a top chef and his yogi wife.

In the first of a new series, Dr Libby tackles a problem head on.

Former Auckland art dealer Anna Bibby ignored the voices that told her she was bonkers and upped and moved to small-town France for a life tres tranquille

Height is no limit for Dale Thomas. New Zealand's champion tree climber is just as comfortable at the tops of giant trees as he is with two feet on the ground.

David Stedman is doing his artisan bit to keep our digitally drenched society in love with paper.

In a parched and withering place, a New Zealand photographer gets instructions on how to live.

Romance has fulled the revival of a family's much-loved 60-year-old Land Rover.

Guitar-maker Dave Gilberd ditched a high-flying career in engineering to follow his dreams.

There’s an element of Wonderland in interior designer Anya Brighouse’s home but this creative force is anything but out of control

A canny Central Otago winemaker gives Pinot Noir some good city legs.

Taranaki-born Jamie Tuuta is enhancing the potential of Maori land and assets in his role as the Maori Trustee

An architect designed his dream house on the shores of the Kaipara using coolstore panels.

Half of Martin Carroll's life is spent stopping dangerous drivers; the other half is spent creating works of art

Sarah Duncan appreciates a good steak — her career is dedicated to assuring that the meat on Kiwi forks is of the highest possible standard.

Daniel Gudsell turns a customer complaint into a thriving, environmentally friendly wood business.

A wine producer is allowing her creative spirit to pop while exploring the Chinese heritage of Central Otago.

The demise of a local coincides with the near-death of the family’s bathroom plumbing.

Noeline Young is a trail-blazer who adores aviation.

The rain fell down and a solution popped up – a young Wellington couple has designed a collection of classy raincoats that are making a splash.

With art in his arteries, Michael MacMillan maintains a family tradition in a valley of hops and hopefulness, his greatest supporter by his side.

Apollo Taito is a manager in the mental-health sector, part-time soldier, PhD student,  vegan and animal-rights campaigner.

The club were divided over My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante.

She made her first pair of shoes out of some car mat, now Dunedin’s Louise Clifton has opened her own shoe school.

From weird face masks to smart skin patches, there are plenty of beauty trends to help you face the future.

Christchurch’s Averil Stuart-Head followed her heart to create art in a medieval village in Italy.

This edible flower cheesecake tastes as good as it looks.

A South Auckland grower shares the secrets of her edible garden.

Cultural wonders, spectacular solar footage and a pawsome way to hook up - Frances Jones premieres what's hot in tech at the moment.

A chance vacancy at Olveston Homestead has enabled three generations of the Goldsmith family to polish up a bit of Kiwi history

Some cars lead a colourful life this, is  the story of vibrant Italian icon called Niko.

Make these truffles even when passionfruit is out of season.

A life less ordinary at the Fox River Commune

The times may be a changing but the Fox River Commune on the West Coast still attracts a colourful group of thinkers, dreamers and creators.

Hey Daddy-O! Meet the Nixon-Sparkes - the coolest bunch of crazy cats to ever shake rattle 'n' roll.

Sophie Armitage is just one of millions taking part in a worldwide treasure hunt, where the prize is prestige and may be hidden just around the corner.

Hotter than Hades in Chihuahua, Mexico

Head into Breaking Bad territory, where land is dry, throats are parched and dogs are very very small.

In the first of her fortnightly blogs,  NZ Life & Leisure columnist Polly Greeks shares an update of life in her mudbrick off-the-grid home in the Far North.

Does a cup of tea taste better with Jersey cow milk?

A Waikato farming family takes the cow by the teats and markets its own jersey milk.

My wayward wheels: from mountains to the sea

Riding 300 kilometres on the Alps 2 Ocean cycle trail can be hard work  but it’s worth every turn of the wheel.

Vanessa Hayes, aka the Nut Lady, is on a mission to establish a nut industry for Maori on the East Coast.

Peta Mathias explores Uzes

The writer, cook and lover of the south of France tempts visitors to dance in her town square.

Video: Behind the scenes at Clachanburn Country Garden

What does it take to create a garden of national significance in a remote place with an extreme climate and heavy clay soil? A body made of strong bones and a soul full of magic is a good start.

From a crop of potatoes to a booming enterprise

Starting with a single crop of potatoes, a Gisborne farmer has created one of New Zealand's largest and most innovative horticultural businesses.

Turning Japanese: brewing sake in Queenstown

There's a new sake brewery in Queenstown. How it got there involves three middle-aged men, helicopter honeymoon flights, rugby and karate all knitted together.

The king of Kombi vans

A series of chance encounters with volkswagens has steered an Auckland family to a love of vintage campers.

Saving the world through cake

What started as an idea to spread some sweetness throughout Wellington has blossomed into a national charity movement.