Our People

This couple's double life between Amsterdam and Ōakura

An entrepreneurial couple get the best of both worlds with back-to-back summers.

The luxury retreat lovingly restored by keen owners

A beautifully restored northern Wairarapa house, a seven-year labour of love for this much-travelled New Zealand couple, is now arms wide open to guests.

The trials and triumphs of the ultra-marathon

Queenstown's attractions led a new arrival towards the region to ultra running. It has become a voyage of self-discovery.

A dreamy canvas getaway high in the Waitomo hills

After escaping inner-city stress for life on the farm, a Waitomo family is offering an oasis for those who wish to do the same.

The little libraries with a purpose

An Auckland woman finds a creative outlet that brings her joy and delights her community.

The Australian woman behind Aotea's gin

From advertising creative to gin distiller, Andi Ross exemplifies the liberating potential of a midlife career change.

The Coromandel artist using colour to brighten up her gallery

After a challenging year for Coromandel, the Mercury Bay Art Escape is back to celebrate its natural and artistic wonders. Meet one of the exhibitors.

An avid reader finds endless comfort in her favourite seat

Claire Mabey’s favourite chair was saved from a life of destitution at the tip. It now serves as her faithful reading assistant.

The glam Hamilton home hosting a lifetime memories for a young family

There’s never a dull moment in this striking family home built by an energetic Hamilton family — and that’s just the way they like it.

A houseboat and a tiny cabin straight out of the Shire

This jeweller and doctor duo from Poland might be the best ambassadors for tiny living.

Costume maker Donna Jefferis on dressing the part

The Head of Costume for the Royal New Zealand Ballet is one of the company's most valuable assets.

Alison Ballance's best seat has some stellar views

Natural history ace and active relaxer Alison Ballance’s favourite seat is a non-stationary affair.

How the Bostocks became New Zealand's organic powerhouse

The family at the forefront of large-scale organic food production takes us behind the scenes.

Finding calm at this Karitāne coastal haven

Modern-day guests are more coddled than the property’s first war-ravaged inhabitants but they’re still chasing good health.

An American and a Scotsman make a home in a slice of Tasman paradise

A picturesque patch of land in the Tasman region near Nelson grows in beauty and usefulness thanks to two expat kaitiakitanga.

How a Lake Ōhau couple built a treasure-packed barn from ashes

A phoenix arising from the destruction of fire is a perfect metaphor for the new home of a family who lost everything in the 2020 Lake Ōhau fires.

Down in the woods: A Raglan cabin houses handmade artisanal talent

A family used to living in far-flung countries has now returned to this 40-hectare Raglan lifestyle block, where their entrepreneurial natures have free reign.

The Piha man bringing athletes to peak performance

A strong sense of place gives mind-body coach Dave Wood a grounded foundation.

The Northland homestead going viral with their cast of animal friends

From a small farm in Northland, a young couple have amassed a huge Instagram following by sharing down-to-earth content about their new rural life.

Forest foraging sees nature, art and cuisine collide for this Danish artist

Gathering ingredients from the bush is an art for this Scandinavian-born creative.

Meet the woman behind the best café in New Zealand

A Motueka café was recently named Best Café in New Zealand. Its creator wonders how it all happened.

View from the top: Dwayne Rennie finds inspiration in his environment

Lake Ōhau inspires Dwayne Rennie to get out with his camera, day and night

Award-winning designer Tracy Grant Lord in her element

Whether a touring opera or recounting a story over coffee... she always sets the scene.

An artist finds a unique way to rebuild her home after an earthquake

An artistic spark and a commitment to recycling helped Belinda Paton turn the ruins of her home into a creative sanctuary.

The couple bringing this historic Carterton home and garden into the modern era

One of the country’s leading gardens is entering a new phase in the hands of a Wellington lawyer and his design-focused partner.

The Wānaka clothing thrifter in love with slow fashion

An obsession with pre-loved fashion has set serial thrift-er Lydia Bishop on her feet.

A Gisborne family bringing eco-friendly wool to the masses

The market for strong wool has been in decline for decades. A family with 120-plus years in the trade is determined to reverse the fibre’s fortunes.

Gordon Collier's latest gardening masterpiece

Pushing close to four score and 10 isn’t deterring this horticultural legend from developing a third significant garden.

How a vintage Beetle became one wife's great Christmas surprise

Don’t be fooled by the mild-mannered exterior of Alan Bekhuis’ 1970 Volkswagen Beetle.

The Otago glamping haven hidden under tussocks

What was once a rocky outcrop used by shepherds is now the site of an off-grid retreat.

Making its mark: This Otago luxury hunting lodge has a unique offering

A South Island high-country farm is attracting high-value international tourists thanks to its growing reputation.

A Sumner home with an unbeatable view

Undaunted by the pitfalls presented by a perilously steep slope, this Christchurch couple forged ahead anyway, seeing potential in the site — and that view.

This lush garden near Whanganui took 45 years to plant

She has the brains; he has the vision. Together, this couple has developed an extraordinary and surprising garden.

Strength (in all areas) is the key to rowing success

Louise Storey’s role at Rowing New Zealand is to help the country's rowing elite cope with the pressure-cooker environment of high-performance sport.

Jack and Gill went up the Okitu Beach hill

A brother, his hard-working sister and their partners created a forest on a hillside above the Pacific Ocean.

This chairman never forgets the legacies of those who came before him

Bayden Barber’s path to a significant tribal leadership role was inevitable, given the influence of his elders on his upbringing.

Pluck of the Irish: An Otago winemaking legend's latest project

The man often referred to as the godfather of Central Otago wine is still chasing the perfect pinot well into his 80s.

Bruce Topp’s British rogue is the perfect fit

The Jensen Interceptor was the dream of someone who wanted something a bit different. Bruce Topp is that someone.

Why this actor chose the life of a storyteller

The New Zealand Samoan actor credits high school teachers for allowing him to see acting was more than just a hobby

A call to leadership took this wāhine back to the ahi kaa

With Taranaki Maunga physically at her back and spiritually guiding her, Paula Carr is contributing to her Ngāruahine iwi with innovative ideas and by connecting people.

The Radon family are farming and crafting in paradise

Antonia and Mike Radon farm pāua, sheep and cattle, grow pearls, host visitors and sell jewellery to tourists in Whekenui Bay, Marlborough Sounds.

What is canoe slalom? It was the scariest thing this Kiwi ever did

Canoe slalom is not a sport for the faint-hearted. Paddlers must beat the clock, their opponents and, most challenging of all, turbulent water. One teenager is up for the run.

The Taranaki woman sharing her passion for parenting

Even as a pre-teen, this parenting expert knew what she’d do when she had children. And now she shares her knowledge with many others

From rugby journo to lawn bowls aficionado

The sedate setting of a lawn bowls rink is a world away from rugby grounds.

Ever heard of Esperanto?

A way with words has coloured the career of this Wellington polyglot.

An inspiring maximalist expresses herself through colour

The colourful and ordered home of a university librarian belies the chaos of her insatiable curiosity and the challenge of discovering her tikanga.

Ngāti Kurī chair Harry Burkhardt is people-focused

With Ngāti Kurī and Swiss whakapapa, Henri Jacques Burkhardt, aka Harry, has come into his tribal leadership role occupying “grey spaces”.

Step inside the secluded world of Lavericks Bay

Seven generations of one family have loved Lavericks Bay life, and now visitors can also enjoy the many charms of this secluded sheep farm.

Golf-course design has taken this Kiwi all over the world

Kristine Kerr became the first female member in the history of the Australian Society of Golf Course Architects when inducted in 2010.

A practical pair build a home in Pahoia

He is good at building things; she is clever in the garden. The home and life they’ve built together are outward-focused, expansive and rewarding.

Turning junk into a curated home in Carterton

A house so leak-free it might pop if air were pumped into it delights its owners-designers, who smile every day at its light and effective footprint.

This West Coast woman is finding the adventure in every day

Young mother Renee Cadigan is developing a self-sufficient life and teaching her boys valuable life skills at the same time.

A Kiwi diver shares the hard work behind the quick dive

Diving is a study in time and motion, breath-taking synchronicity of mind and body. The aim, as always, is perfection.

Design couple find work and life balance their resort-like home and office

Many hours of hard work have driven a designing couple to great career heights. It helps that they like each other — a lot.

From Auckland to chic off-grid living on a block near Taupō

Leaving Auckland for a bare Taupō block prompted a young couple to build an unfussy life from total scratch, savouring every moment.

Sonya Rimene on creating a strong foundation of identity, culture and reo

A strong public service background has given Sonya Rimene the experience, networks and relationships required to help influence Crown decision-makers to advance and support the aspirations of iwi/Māori.

The colourful world of maximalist Virginia Winder

More is more when it comes to handbags, hot sauce and living life to the max.

Badass biker babes take Nelson by storm

Around Nelson, off-road female friendships are born from a need for speed.

A collector brightens her days with vintage décor and dresses

Despite managing a rare — and sometimes debilitating — illness, Natalie Robinson-Tantin is an active participant in a world she’s designed with living colour.

Inside a designer's 10sqm eco cabin in Central Otago

A Dunedin designer’s beautiful bespoke garments incorporate wild pest fur. No wonder Central Otago’s plentiful rabbits steer well clear of Jane Avery’s tiny Earnscleugh holiday cabin.

Inside Blair Somerville's world-famous Lost Gypsy caravan

His gallery is a Gypsy Caravan, he is possibly a gypsy himself, but Blair Somerville is far from lost in the world of fantastical art.

Prickly business: Growing finger limes in Gisborne

All the limes grown by this Gisborne family have prickly personalities but that doesn’t stop them from being in great demand.

Inside a bach and matching tiny house at Waikawa Beach

Life in Aotearoa is celebrated in a bach and matching tiny house on the Horowhenua coast.

An architect's not-so-bland bach at Bland Bay

The child of two cultures, Lyzadie Renault found that where she was born is not actually where she belongs. The journey to find her true place, however, has been unexpected.

A father's Jag-loving spirit lives on through a 1964 Jaguar Mk2

Karl Lagerfeld said of the Jag: ‘It’s an idea of beauty with no standard.' Scott Wood, who inherited one from his dad, has come to agree.

The whimsical home, garden and art of Waiheke Island's mermaid

Daily swims and barefooted adventures lured this British couple to Aotearoa. When a siren call came a second time from across the sea, they followed — and never looked back.

Two indigenous wāhine preserving their cultures

As part of her multimedia movement Nuku, journalist and author Qiane Matata-Sipu amplifies the voices of indigenous wāhine. Two women share their stories.

Rhododendron lovers fill Kimbolton garden with rhodo trials, hybrids and more

An infatuation for genus Rhododendron keeps a park budding with rare shrubs, hybridization and thousands of blooms.

Why David Trubridge's muse is Mother Nature herself

Many artists spend their entire lives searching for inspiration. But for David Trubridge, the natural world has everything he could need.

Sweet chestnuts are one of the secrets behind Poaka's cured meats

It’s no wonder Josh Hill’s pigs produce melt-in-the-mouth cured meats, feasting as they do on a diet of Canterbury sunshine and homegrown chestnuts.

How Crossfit gets Lana Whiunui through the ups and downs of life

When this athlete decided to ramp up her exercise regime, she never envisaged the impact a new sport would have on her physical and mental wellbeing.

Moa bones, caves and velvet worms on a family farm in Waitomo

A spirited Waitomo clan have filled their lives with art and adventure, exploring every nook and cranny of their region and sharing some of its best bits with visitors.

Award-winning salmon farmers aim to rear happy fish in Akaroa Harbour

Akaroa Salmon wins NZ Life & Leisure's Spirit of NZ Award for its three decades of high-quality food production and careful stewardship of fish stock.

A conservatory and tiny house filled with tropical greenery

These two houseplant devotees find calmness and joy from decorating their spaces with flora.

Making perfume the Victorian way in Wellington

Forester by training, teacher by career, Francesco van Eerd found his true calling distilling, blending and selling perfumes with fragrant Victorian flair.

Father and son live large in a tiny home at Tai Tapu

Tiny-home living isn’t just for the green-minded. According to a Christchurch dad, it’s the perfect playground for a father and son.

James Brown left early retirement to work for his iwi

Self-taught builder James Brown focused on his tribal leadership role while strengthening his community to withstand the challenges of treaty negotiations.

A respected broadcaster becomes a law-firm partner

A once-familiar face and voice across the nation, Linda Clark is now more likely to appear in court than on the television news, having swapped the world of journalism for the law.

Turning wool into a game-changer for the nappy industry

A new mum’s dissatisfaction with disposable nappies leads to the birth of a business.

Words of wisdom from the man behind this magical Upper Moutere garden

After 40-plus years of developing a large property, Michael Edwardes is beginning to recognize that he is more than okay at this gardening business.

Dave Gibson becomes an e-bike convert — and thinks all Kiwis should too

A television and film producer moves south to be with his partner and practises semi-retirement by starting an e-bike festival.

Olympian Eliza McCartney's leaping for the stars

Pole vaulting requires energy, endurance, timing, technique, strength and control. According to Olympian Eliza McCartney, it’s also fun.

The oldest-ever police graduate proves it's never too late to switch careers

It took Lynda Perry 40 years to realize her dream of joining the police, but it’s been worth the wait.

From apple orchard to art-filled arboretum

Five generations of the Blundell family have made their home at Riverhaven in Clevedon, south-east of Auckland, first as farmers, then orchardists, and now artists.

A retiree turns a weed infestation into a bush track in Russell

A stroll a day keeps the weeds at bay along this walkway, created by two retirees in the Bay of Islands.

A competitive fisher is angling for more women to try fly fishing

Rachel McNae is playing a lead role in encouraging women to tie flies, step into their waders and go fishing.

Meet the creative couple behind Waiheke's largest mudbrick home

She is an artist, he has grand ideas; a couple so enamoured with bringing beauty to the world has transformed a Waiheke hillside into an earth-brick masterpiece.

Photo essay: Three Kiwi artisans shine at Uzbekistan’s colourful folk-art festival

The creative endeavours — goldwork, jewelry and flax-derived lace — of three Antipodean artisans shine brightly at Uzbekistan’s new folk-art festival.

How this Kakanui craftsman is reviving the art of handmade goods

A craftsman working in stone, iron and wood channels his Celtic forebears and takes his time to make everything look just so.

A couple falls totally in love with Naseby's slower pace of life

Two men, two dogs and 50-odd phones vie for space in a 19th-century Naseby mud-brick home.

How Donna Ngaronoa Gardiner is helping future generations

Ngāti Ranginui chair Donna Ngaronoa Gardiner focuses her leadership on common iwi goals within Tauranga Moana so future generations can grow and strengthen their connections.

From chocolate hoarding to constructing a sweet empire in the Southern Lakes

An Argentinian couple built a chocolate business in the Southern Lakes out of a deep longing for the tastes of their childhood.

Ruanui Station is a tight-knit family affair

Farming life is changing rapidly. But for this Rangitīkei family, the land still has an incredible tug.

Explore this glam hangar-home hybrid in mid-Canterbury

A pampered plane lets its devoted humans share its fancy hangar on a high-country station in mid-Canterbury.

Clayton McMillan on leading the Chiefs by example

Professional rugby isn’t only about what happens on match day; personal development is an essential part of the modern game.

Lynda Hallinan's teeny, treasure-filled cottage

Lynda Hallinan finds her happy place in a tiny house decorated with op-shop treasures, an abundance of plants and hues of green.

This film producer's favourite scene is his heritage villa in Hawke's Bay

Of all the far-flung places this couple has been — and film sets they’ve seen — a heritage villa in rural Hawke’s Bay is the showstopper that surpasses them all.

The Waikato trust creating space in sport for women

A Sport Waikato initiative is helping females of all ages to feel comfortable about their bodies and encouraging them to be active.

The Chinese woman pushing for a multicultural approach to conservation

Estella Lee is inspiring Auckland’s Chinese community to become more involved in conservation.

From busy farm to a breezy seaside paradise

Christopher and Susanna Grace, both well-known in the farming and horseracing industries, downsized when they moved from their Hunterville farm to the Kāpiti Coast. But they continue to live as if just out of the starting gates.

From orchardist to organic vinegar maker

From organic apples to apple cider vinegar, an Ōtaki business has had a common-sense evolution. The progression from vinegar-maker father to daughter is just as logical.

The culinary journey of chef Monica Galetti

Monica Galetti’s tastes were awakened by the fresh fruit and seafood of Samoa, then sweetened on the processed delights of 1980s Wellington. Now one of Britain's leading chefs, she’s wowing visitors with a dash of Pacific passion at her London restaurant, Mere.

Freeze-dried honey: Spinning liquid gold into meringue-like chunks

Ancient trees and modern technology are a winning combination for Chatham Island apiculturists Kaai Silbery and Francesca Bonventre.

The gutsy little Fiat that could

It's been reworked, rebuilt, re-engineered and re-imagined, but this little car has retained its big heart.

Volunteer calls companionship 'therapeutic as a drug'

A hospital volunteer discovers a good yarn can be as therapeutic as medicine — for patients and himself alike.

Life lessons from this fantastical garden at Lake Wakatipu

Thomas Schneider’s whimsical approach to significant issues results in a profusion of sculptures and statues, flowers and trees, animals and birds, and all critters — great and small.

The dual life of Taranaki singer-songwriter VGB

This Taranaki singer-songwriter writes her own rules for thriving in Aotearoa’s competitive music scene.

Exploring the natural world with illustrator Ned Barraud

An illustrator and author gives children an insight into Aotearoa’s extraordinary natural world, from extinct monster birds to modern backyard beasts.

Piha local hero uses art to help young creatives

An environmental artist, dipping into her palette of life experiences, is painting a brighter future for young creatives in West Auckland. It’s her most powerful work yet.

How Greytown's Mr and Mrs Blackwell fell in love with village life

A couple so in love with their picturesque village can’t help but come up with ideas to make it even better.

An ancient drink gets a plant-based twist

Take an ancient, fermented drink, then add a whole lot of coconuts and billions of beneficial bacteria. A Raglan business has hit on a winning recipe.

Meet Wellington's all-electric turquoise ferry

There’s a new player in Wellington Harbour cruising alongside the familiar red tugboats and lumbering Interislander ferries.

This man's Farina tugs at an emotional level

Uncooperative steering, motor-induced driver deafness, and general lacklustre performance haven’t dulled the love between Todd Sisson and his A40 Austin Farina.

Whimsy defines Mary Phillips' work and home in the Gibbston Valley

After three decades in the fast-paced world of producing children’s television in Auckland, Mary Phillips is now flourishing in a quiet valley in Central Otago.

World wanderers return to nest in a Far North tiny house

For two years, this couple traveled in a Jeep throughout the Americas, the length of Africa and into many of Europe’s far-flung corners — often facing great danger. But the lessons they learned together on the road will drive them into an exciting future.

From photographer to zookeeper at Auckland Zoo

Combining an artistic eye with a love for animals created a career trajectory that Grace Watson hadn’t anticipated.

Hūhana Lyndon on using her influence for good

Hūhana Lyndon, previously a vocal critic of the Ngātiwai Trust Board, is its new chief executive.

The Akaroa Men's Shed has become the talk of the town

A retiree joins a global movement, lending a hand to build relationships — and neighbourhoods.

This treasured herb can fetch up to $10,000 per kilo

One of the world’s most valuable herbs is growing in secret plantations in NZ, and you can grow it too.

Growing an idyllic lifestyle (and garden-fresh ventures) on the Kina Peninsula

A natural phenomenon helped one Tasman woman shake off serious post-op complications and led to a thriving produce and floristry business involving an entire family.

From hobby cheesemaker to a top-selling cheese brand

A Gisborne couple spent many years building a farm-to-plate business, now one of New Zealand’s most significant independent brands.

How Tom Waldin scaled his way into a pro climbing career

Sport climbing has been around since the 1800s, but thrill-seeking Gen Z-ers have made it so popular it has earned a place at the Olympics.

The Kiwi company keeping its cool with eco-friendly refrigeration

When temperatures soar, the hum of air conditioning and refrigeration units sound an ominous chorus. This company is offering a greener solution.

A Raglan mother transforms her yard into a lush, spray-free food haven

A former theatre nurse has turned her Raglan property into an almost self-sufficient “wild garden” and is now raising a gluten-free bread business that looks and tastes as good as the real stuff.

Building a 50sqm cabin beneath the stars of Mackenzie Country

Inspired by the endless skies and tussocks of Mackenzie Country, this couple left their hearts wide open to building a life (and tiny cabin) in the nation’s night-sky capital.

Lynda Hallinan's tips for surviving tough gardening times

When the going gets tough, it’s not just the tough who get going.

Two Nelson bakers swap their whisks for lemon squeezers

A sip of elderflower lemonade changed the trajectory of two bakers’ lives. Pete and Marleen Suy swapped their whisks for lemon squeezers and haven’t looked back.

This hunter-led initiative protects the local whio population

A band of hunters and fishers is bringing a rarely sighted bird back to the Waioeka Gorge.

Kiwi actor Tyler Warwick becomes TikTok sensation

Stuck in limbo between lockdown and audition opportunities, actor Tyler Warwick started uploading to TikTok and Facebook, so far generating millions of views.

A couple creates a secluded retreat in the treetops of their farm

Diversification was on the cards when a buzz-loving broadcaster moved to a remote Canterbury valley with a sixth-generation farmer. Million Springs farm is today host to 2000 cows and a business in the trees.

Alice Alva on turning embroidery into whimsical fine art

Her modern spin on an ancient craft proves embroidery can be as gallery-worthy as a painting.

These block owners are helping kids reconnect with nature

A Northland family share the healing powers of their land to help children in crisis, and it’s working.

Waiheke Island life called, and the Judkins family answered

A third-generation Waiheke Islander has her feet firmly planted on the soil. However, her head and heart are often off with the arts — in a supporting role at least.

A surfer restores his dream 1960s station wagon

Paul Barclay loves to surf, and there was just one thing he needed to make his life complete.

Helmut Modlik on how Māori values can enhance a venture’s success

Helmut Modlik recognized early in life that his identity as a Māori was shaping his worldview. Now he leads his community at Takupūwāhia on the shores of Porirua Harbour.

At home in Piha with investigative journo Melanie Reid

This well-known investigative reporter keeps an eagle-eyed watch over situations — in more ways than one.

Life slows down at this 1950s crib in Karitane

Beneath the mild-mannered exterior of this coastal crib lies a fold in the space-time continuum — one this family fell unwittingly into.

Transforming a bare block into a self-sufficiency dream

If it weren’t for chocolate and coffee, Angela Clifford and her family would be mostly self-sufficient food-wise from their bountiful organic block.

From backyard butchery to a banger of an empire

This outdoorsman’s venture, born in a backyard shipping container, is bringing finger-lickin’ good barbecue fare to the masses.

Glamping at a high-country station in Windwhistle

Thanks to the décor-doings of his Scottish wife, a Canterbury sheep and beef farmer now has a fancy new flock on his land — holidaymakers.

Fleur Wickes digs deep to create her poetic art

This Whanganui artist calls her work ‘mark-making with paint’ and regards it as helping her to beat crippling depression.

How the Wehi family harnesses the power of kapa haka

A couple, leaders of a multi-generational legacy, let the power of kapa haka take centre stage in life, love and identity.

A Holden EK takes the trip of its lifetime from Snells Beach to Tīmaru

After six decades of service, this beloved survivor is hopefully spending the winter tucked up in a blanket in Central Otago.

Meet the couple behind Aotearoa’s first botanical rum

Rum is the 'wild west of spirits', according to the man behind New Zealand’s first botanical rum. But Matt Bridge has tamed it into a bottle, and it drinks as beautifully as it looks.

From ‘caravan graveyard’ to a sunny new life

Lovely Lola the caravan ensures the Browns relax in colourful comfort whether by the beach, the lake or in the bush.

Car collector Bing Crosby loves a vehicle with a bit of bling

He was nicknamed after the famous crooner, but Bing Crosby of Browns Bay's smooth style is reflected in his choice of motor vehicles.

How these four Kiwi women found their creative calling

In an extract from Spirit: Conversations with Creative Women, we look at four women, four artistic genres and four inspiring stories of how they turned their creativity into a full-time job.

This Northland block is family living at its best

Roots and wings brought this family back together on a slice of coastal land in Northland where they’re flourishing — pandemic be damned.

Lynda Hallinan finds more peace than profit on her lifestyle block

Lynda Hallinan is celebrating the joy she finds on her block, even when she’s weeding.

How Tania Niwa uses photography as a vehicle for healing

This photographer believes a picture does much more than paint 1000 words.

A Taupō beekeeper finds another sweet gig — making mead

First there was craft beer, then gin. But is mead the next big artisan drink craze?

Explore a paddock-turned-sculpture garden

One couple, one hectare, and a thousand more years in which to write a vision upon the land.

Karen Vercoe on how sports and tribal leadership intersect

The skills Karen Vercoe learnt representing New Zealand in rugby and touch rugby are invaluable in her tribal leadership roles.

The zero-waste legend helping Matakana turn trash into treasure

This Matakana local has gone from being classed as a hippie to an environment hero.

Op-shop queen Anna Easton is back home in Ōamaru

Ōamaru is welcoming this troupe of creative nomadic hipsters with arms wide open.

How Lynda Hallinan stumbled into gardening at 18

In her new book, The Joy of Gardening, Lynda Hallinan recalls how it nearly didn’t happen to her — the joy of gardening, that is.

Painting calmness through life's ups and downs

An artist draws strength and comfort from the beauty in art and nature.

Ramshackle baches have been perched on this rocky bank for generations

Geologists have a saying — rocks remember. If Nelson’s Boulder Bank could talk, it would lay bare the goings-on that take place in the ramshackle baches on its stony shores.

Inside the stormy business of seaweed harvesting

When wild winds rage across the top of the Hauraki Gulf, it’s time for these farmers to harvest a special crop.

Former pro golfer finds new shots after 40+ years in the game

Phil Tataurangi first picked up a golf club when he was a child. Forty-something years later, 20 of those spent as a tour pro, the sport continues to enthral him.

Getting hooked on a colourful, retro craft

Beth Willis is reviving a colourful 1970s craft — one crocheted daisy earring at a time.

How this top female orienteer goes the distance

Grit and determination are part of an elite athlete’s makeup. They were also qualities this orienteer needed to help steer her through the scariest moment of her life.

A vision to reinstate hemp in Aotearoa

These three young men are cultivating a future in which more New Zealanders embrace the plant-based protein in hemp.

From salon floors to the frontline of firefighting

Rachael Utumapu QSM left school at 15 for hairdressing. Since then, her life has been dedicated to the community.

How this Wānaka-based couple is embracing circular design

Meet a couple spinning golden-hued chair legs from flax and glass-perfect transparent seats from plant-based resin for chairs designed to last generations.

An encounter with a 1930 Rolls-Royce 20/25 turned out to be fate

Over the years, John Bristed has owned many cars, but his siren call was the fearless little lady on a Rolls-Royce bonnet.

This man's letterpress collection is anything but hard-pressed

A passion for print and printing presses is filling an Auckland man’s life as well as his three sheds and double garage.

Inside this Clevedon family's growing veggie-box business

A family vegetable business on a South Auckland block has created an award-winning way of selling their produce.

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou CEO George Reedy on goals, challenges, and how non-Māori can help

George Reedy, chief executive of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, aims to ensure the road to wellbeing, wisdom, and wealth for his whānaunga is clearly marked for the next 100 years or more.

Catching crayfish and pāua to order in South Wairarapa

This couple hit the water, rain or shine, in a new venture bringing fresh kaimoana to plates while respecting the ocean’s resources.

Sniff, sip and swirl: Meet the South Island's first master of wine

This Blenheim lawyer-turned-master of wine has always been lured by the grape, from hand-labeling bottles as a child to organizing wine tastings in her first student flat.

A Wellington mum transforms her front lawn into a productive veggie garden

Sarah Hopkinson’s personal and professional passions come together in a sandy section she’s transformed into a productive garden.

Why Lynda Hallinan can't give up on fussy ferns

Lynda indulges her fever for ferns with a tabletop collection of covetable species.

The South Canterbury dynasty behind a potato empire

One man’s penchant for potatoes has led to a thriving multigenerational family-run paddock-to-packet potato-chip business.

How this artist landed on sculpted and wearable art

First chemistry, then food, followed by painting and now sculpted and wearable art — for several decades, this artistic soul has been fully occupied creating what inspires her.

Recloaking Gisborne with eco-sourced trees

A group of (mostly) women are regenerating Gisborne’s flora — one eco-sourced seed at a time.

Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua on the value of elders, cultural values and Māori in leadership roles

Successful organizations rely on clear cultural values, vision, authenticity, and creative thinking, says this professional director.

How a bush hut inspired this couple's new lease on life

A backcountry hut along the Forgotten World Highway is a befitting backdrop for this city-eschewing couple.

This spiced-up classic is heating up the drinks scene

Fresh apples and creativity are at the core of this reinvention of a spicy classic.

A Queenstown couple's outdoor approach to teaching pre-schoolers

A Queenstown couple take on the task of nurturing Aotearoa’s most valuable and important resource.

Watch Willy Coenradi manoeuvre an 1880 Columbian printing press

Step back in time and watch a 19th-century printing press in action.

Bringing back the macramé movement in a big way

The art of decorative knotting is making a comeback, says Jade Parkinson.

A bonsai collector learns resilience from meticulously pruned trees

A bonsai collector shares the lesson of caring for artfully pruned trees.

A passion for destroying moth plant has spread far and wide

A crusade against the noxious vine has grown from one to a thousand-strong team.

A globe-trotting couple make Waiheke their forever home

Two global citizens who dropped anchor in Waiheke Island continue to grab opportunities as soon as they come along in a home that melds identity and imagination.

A Nelson couple's mascarpone wins over taste buds

An Italian couple recreates favourite cheeses from home.

How tragedy inspired an aircraft tracking solution

A tragic search-and-rescue mission prompted these innovators to rethink aircraft safety.

How Vicki Virtue stumbled into a career of cliffhangers

Detective novels were such fun to read, this travel writer wondered if they would be as much fun to create. She found out.

Meet the couple behind this dairy-free coconut kefir

A Raglan couple developed an alternative idea over six years — and now they’ve fermented it.

A former triathlete finds solace in ocean swimming

A devastating diagnosis forced an ambitious athlete to give up the sports she loved. Determined to keep exercising, she took the plunge into ocean swimming.

Lake Hawea's dreamy stone glasshouse

So she said: ‘I’d really like a stone glasshouse.’ And he said: ‘Sure, I know exactly what you mean. I’ll build it.’ And he did.

 

How Rio Cox creates objects at 1:12 their real-life size

A steady hand helps this Lower Hutt woman create tiny scenes, people and things.

Transforming a 14ha block into a cute-as-a-button retreat

A block in Raglan that started with very few prospects is now one of the most wish-listed places to stay on Airbnb.

Sustainable principles rule at this award-winning pāua company

Tora Bay on the South Wairarapa coast is home to a new venture and top-notch kaimoana.

How this young woman grew a slow-flower farm from the ground up

A psychology student’s budding business, providing solace when she most needed it, is rooted in the belief that homegrown flowers can heal the mind, body and soul.

The not-so still-life of this artistic Tīmaru couple

Several generations of two families — one Japanese, the other Bohemian — live on in the work of two artists, a couple working in Tīmaru.

Wairarapa butchery wins at 2021 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards

Dion Kilminster produces top-quality beef and lamb — but the road to success constantly challenges him.

Leaving Paris for the sweet life in Hawke's Bay

A pastry chef is constructing a slower, sweeter life in Hastings after bidding adieu to a law career in Paris.

 

Q&A: A wool champion on her favourite natural fibre

This Christchurch entrepreneur hopes the country will fall back in love with woolly wonders.

Ārepa founders on changing the mood of the drinks industry

The founders of beverage company Ārepa are aiming high with the twin goals of creating the world’s smartest drink and building New Zealand’s first billion-dollar beverage company.

A clever family takes a pioneering idea from the Waikato to the world

A mad idea sown in a tin shed has grown into a bountiful business, taking this go-getting family from the Waikato to the world.

The paint-spattered Badcock family tree

Father and daughter, John and Susan Badcock, are just two members of the thoroughly paint-spattered Badcock family tree.

Wakatū chair Paul Morgan on investing in people

Paul Morgan is shaping the future by investing in current Māori leaders and training the next generation.

The ups and downs of sculptor Ben Foster's car restoration

Ben Foster has come to realize his car project is a form of therapy for himself and his mates after the psychological and mental anguish of the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake and the last year of the pandemic.

A surf champ's perfect wave was in Māhia all along

Ricardo Christie started surfing almost before he could walk and was still in his teens when he won the national championship.

A couple's shared love for permanent pigments

A Featherston couple has set up two studios, separate but connected, on the town’s main street. While one favours neutral hues, the other is drawn to a profusion of pigment.

This woman proves it's never too late to change careers

Kay Paku feels life has delivered her a series of career options — each a lucky chance rather than a deliberate choice.

A Kiwi's sun-soaked life growing organic veggies in México

It started as a surfing holiday and ended as a lifestyle choice, growing vegetables and herbs south of the border, down México way.

Meet the Tauranga duo behind eco-cloth business Good Change

Combining friendship with work can be risky but two go-getting Tauranga women, each with a desire to create a more sustainable world, have chosen to join forces.

This couple has protected Goat Island for more than 20 years

The sea, land and people reward this couple — in more ways than one — for their years of dedication to the Matakana Coast.

Teresa Tepania-Ashton on staying true to her identity

The ability to be true to her identity has helped Teresa Tepania-Ashton to succeed in corporate and tribal leadership roles.

Black Ferns Sevens star ready for the Olympic spotlight

Working to improve her mental strength and gaining much-needed confidence has been a game-changer for Black Ferns Sevens star Michaela Blyde.

How Kathleen Green is paying homage to the classic Kiwi blanket

Finding herself unemployed in the middle of a recession, Kathleen Green began restoring vintage wool blankets to their former glory.

An unused car park becomes an urban market garden

A former fine-arts student finds his muse in providing Aucklanders with organic produce.

A nunnery's glam new life near Lake Hayes

Resurrecting an old cottage, once home to nuns, thrilled its owner and the judges of the 2020 New Zealand Architecture Awards, who pronounced it an overall winner.

Behind the scenes at NZ's fastest-growing snack company

One couple’s journey to running the fastest-growing snack company in New Zealand — from baking cheesecakes in the United States to crafting the perfect crisp in the South Island.

How this woman scored a 1969 Lancia Fulvia

Italian flair comes to Ōhakune in the form of a racy little italian number.

A Wellington lawyer tackles systemic racism in the justice system

Julia Whaipooti never shies from being an agent of change, whether speaking at the United Nations or fighting for equality and equity within Aotearoa’s justice system.

At home with Waiheke artist Tanya Wolfkamp

On a hillside on Waiheke Island, an artist has found her niche, creating the designs for colourful Kiwiana homewares and accessories.

Striking a chord with the ukulele community in NZ

A musical couple in Geraldine fosters joy — and a nationwide community — with the little lute that could.

Meet the foragers turning wild herbs into wellness

A love of foraging in the hills of Central Otago is at the heart of a natural health business that's transforming wild herbs into wellness.

From Auckland to an 11ha block in Mihiwaka

Skye Macfarlane and Jed Tweedie ditched life in the middle of Auckland City for a remote block, self-employment, and an organic market garden with a million dollar view.

A limoncello-making couple's zest for life

Willing friends pitch in to help this Paraparaumu couple make their zesty award-winning limoncello.

Meet the inspiring mums behind bilingual book series Reo Pepi

A vision to reclaim their ancestral language prompted these Dunedin cousins to create a bilingual resource for future generations.

A 'gin garden' brimming with gin-worthy botanicals

When two artisan gin-makers wanted to source the best organic botanicals, they created a very special garden.

The delicate art of breeding bumblebees

Zonda Beneficials provides insect predators for use in horticulture and small-seed production and breeds bumblebees for commercial and domestic pollination.

How a Papamoa couple grew their house tree by tree

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

Loving the free-range life on the Tutukaka Coast

Regard for the land remains firmly at the heart of this family after half a century of love, loss and regeneration.

The Hastings couple led by the nose for high spirits

Two former winemakers are creating gin and other spirits, capturing the essence of the region in which they live.

Why this Kiwi film-maker visited México and never left

The vibrant spontaneity of a city where a circus troupe might suddenly appear amid the colourful buildings appealed to the creative spirit of this film-maker. So she relocated to Mexico's San Miguel de Allende— and never left.

Explore this bright-but-basic bach at Punakaiki

A couple of legal high-flyers and their twin girls are now enjoying a slower way of life in a basic-but-beloved bach on the West Coast.

How this top athlete found her beat in race walking

On the best of days, the grueling sport of race walking feels like dancing to New Zealand’s top-ranked female competitor Alana Barber.

A Piopio-based boat builder finds his anchor

A boat builder with itchy feet, huge ideas and a young family finds his spiritual home in a tiny-but-mighty King Country town.

This family turns its 30-tonne feijoa harvest into liquid gold

Love them or loathe them, Lothlorien Winery’s founders believe their beloved feijoas have a budding future as more people grow to love them here and abroad – starting with their sparkling feijoa wines.

From news junkie to a radio newsreader

She never expected to be a radio newsreader, nor the voice of a mobile network. But these days Mary-Jane Tomasi is broadcast far and wide.

This Wānaka couple finds purpose in the mountains

Helping people to find their “why” is the life purpose of a Wānaka-based couple who find answers in the mountains.

Ngāi Te Rangi iwi leader Paora Stanley on past, present and future

Helping a tribe navigate a Treaty of Waitangi settlement can be long and tumultuous, says the chief executive for Tauranga iwi Ngāi Te Rangi, Paora Stanley.

A wee hut on a 1400ha farm in north Canterbury

This couple has built a first-rate life among the drylands of north Canterbury, spiced up — as if it were needed — with classic cars and a cottage with a view that rolls on forever.

This bike-lover rides away the mid-life blues

Originally designed in late-1950s communist Czechoslovakia, the Czeta was rebranded to NZeta when it reached Aotearoa. One, now meticulously restored, helped this bike-lover through a mid-life crisis.

How a squashed tomato sowed a growing love affair

Food writer Kristina Jensen celebrates a special couple and their favourite tomato.

They left their jobs to become mushroom growers

Two management consultants have exchanged the corporate world for a country life dedicated to sharing the joy of mushrooms.

These neighbours joined forces in the name of ice cream

Two Nelson farmers are keeping things local, churning their A2 milk into ice cream produced just minutes down the road from their milking sheds.

Why Joanna Wickham is letting nature reclaim her property

A ballad of birdsong, rushing water and rustling kauri caused this photographer to swap the crowded streets of inner-city Auckland for the gravel roads of Donnellys Crossing.

 

 

How Forty Thieves cracked the nut butter industry

The nut butter industry, known to be tough to crack, didn’t unnerve this health-conscious couple. Four years later, their nut buttery stocks more than 400 retailers nationwide.

How this Pāpāmoa dad became king of the sandcastle

A nostalgic summer activity reaches new heights in the hands of a Bay of Plenty performance artist.

Glamping at historic Clifton Station

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

A wild suburban garden inspired by Tāne Mahuta

Two of Valda Poletti’s ancestors arrived from England, settled on land near New Plymouth and burned the bush and forest to make way for pastures of ryegrass and clover. Valda has done precisely the opposite.

Whangamata business owner can work 20 days in a row over summer

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

He's been enraptured with NZ birds of prey for decades

A Rotorua falconer takes flight, spreading his love for Aotearoa’s native birds of prey.

A fabric upcycler Sarah Lancaster's cute tiny house

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

From second-language learner to te reo Māori champion

At a time when many young Māori were heading to Australia, Brisbane-born and raised Jeremy Tātere MacLeod bucked the trend by moving to Hastings to immerse himself in Māori culture.

Retro caravan called Roxanne restored to heyday looks

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.

Explore this cute-as-a-button tiny home in Burkes Pass

Marie Pourcel wakes each morning to goats bleating outside her tiny home in Burkes Pass. It feels like a million miles from the apartment and office job she left behind in France’s fourth-largest city.

The couple bringing fun to the mushroom business

A 2 billion year old organism is the hot new food trend, and a gourmet business opportunity.

How this Auckland man makes a litter(al) difference

A walker recovering from illness took the chance to clean up his local area. Both are now in good health.

This Ōākura artist regards colour as therapy

A secondary school art teacher scolded his students for being “plum puddings” and told them to get on with their art. One of them took this admonition to heart, his words inspiring her since.

The power of trying 52 new things — in 52 weeks

When her life went off-script, writer Lauren Keenan did something new – 52 of them, in fact, in only 52 weeks. Her new book, The 52 Week Project, covers her discoveries as she writes new chapters for herself.

How these block owners found their perfect livestock

They moved to the country to live off the land. But it took a few odd years to find the right animal for their block.

Explore this Aucklander's lifelong vintage collection

A lifetime love affair with apparel enters a new phase with the collector becoming the creator.

The four young Kiwis behind a sparkling drink empire

Four young entrepreneurs want to promote and protect the country's native environment while growing their sparkling drink empire.

The adventures of an off-grid couple near Rotorua

They live off-grid in a log cabin, drive an electric car, and measure their progress in toilets. Meet a pair of earth nerds living their great adventure.

The Kiwi mum-turned-leader in maternity activewear

This Whāngārei-based maternity activewear brand reached 14 on the Deloitte Fast 50 list within five years of shipping its first bras.

Explore this wedge-shaped house in Central Otago

A conductor and a violinist find a soothing new tempo inside a Central Otago triangle.

The Toyota that stole her heart and joined her down the aisle

Kellie Hollingsworth wasn’t interested in cars, let alone restoring them. But then a shabby old Toyota stole her heart.

Playing it forward at the Taranaki Toy Library

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

This architecture graduate found structure in jelly

A jolly delicious business born from an art project is reinventing a Kiwi classic.

Eight years to master the gluten-free loaf

Once a builder, now a baker — a Hastings entrepreneur hasn’t let life’s hurdles get in the way of nourishing himself (and others) along the way.

Q&A: A Marlborough artist on patience, painting wild birds

Marlborough-based artist Nicolas Dillon’s coffee-table book of drawings and paintings of New Zealand birds represents his lifetime love affair with the natural world.

This couple grew an eco-house and co-housing village

Richard Thompson and Laurel Stowell have grown their dream home, and a village to go with it.

Meet the woman enriching lives with Māori culture

Lawyer Precious Clark takes a lead role in helping Pākehā identify with Māori culture in a way that adds value personally and professionally.

Tackling a fear of heights in Central Otago

Lisa Scott has always been afraid of heights or, to be more precise, falling. Now she’s attempting to overcome that fear.

Harnessing the power of sunflowers in Waitaki

Two Waitaki families farming in partnership for more than 50 years have developed a bird-loving business out of a crop sown on a wing and a prayer.

A vision to clear pest vines spreads across Golden Bay

Banana-passion vines stand no chance against a Golden Bay man’s infectious vision.

Dr Hinemoa Elder talks on whakaaro and modern stresses

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr Hinemoa Elder shares the sayings of her ancestors for use in the modern world.

Kelly Wilson: "There were things which reduced me to tears, yet also moments of joy and laughter"

Kelly Wilson spent two years camping on mountain ranges, deserts and plains across the globe observing the behaviour of wild horses for her new book, Wild Horses of the World.

Mary Biggs and the Country Cooking School

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.

A glorious six-star garden inspired by England

Nature gets away with quite a bit in this otherwise formal country garden.

Meet the duo behind NZ's first homegrown oat milk

Two old mates with a shared goal are shaking up New Zealand’s plant-based milk market.

A tram to call home in a rainbow flower garden

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.

Lynda Hallinan's Blog: The charm of a barn

This garden-lover’s pet project sees a rundown barn turned into a room of her own.

International cheese expert's food and wine tours in the Hawke's Bay

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

Tami Neilson steals the show — even when she's unable to perform

Country roads take this award-winning singer-songwriter home to the place where she belongs.

A couple's ultra-modern home in Herne Bay

Career paths with many twists and a dead-end or two led this Auckland couple to success.

From casual stargazing to self-taught astronomer

Despite leaving school at 15, this self-taught astronomer reaches for the stars in more ways than one.

Meet the fifth generation of Wairarapa beekeepers

The fifth generation of a Wairarapa beekeeping family is producing high-grade honey fit for the breakfast table and the medicine cabinet.

A 1970 Datsun 240Z passed down through generations

This resilient little Datsun has provided a lifetime of special moments to three generations of the Davis family. Grant Davis calls it his ‘sunny-day’ vehicle.

neil mclachlan

A life saving houses

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

Trevor Nathan's journey from signwriter to sculptor

A traditional signwriter carves a new niche for himself after technology turns his industry upside-down.

Confessions of a Horowhenua yuzu grower

You don't eat the fruit, they have little or no juice, and the tree may grab you and never let go. Meet the amazing yuzu.

Making the health and beauty supermarket aisle plastic-free

An ambitious duo hopes to change the world with affordably priced personal-care products packaged without plastic.

Changing perceptions of second-hand clothing

This Auckland mum says it’s time to take a second look at second-hand.

Protecting Tasman Bay with fun, hands-on education

A Nelson-Tasman conservation group encourages its youngest generation to love and protect a 120-kilometre coastline.

Meet New Zealand's very own pug saviour

A long-time pug owner opens up her home — and heart — to give rescue dogs a happier, heathier life.

Zooming in: Beauty therapist teaches confidence from her new rural home

A beauty therapist loves her new rural life while keeping up her work for a good cause.

Simple living in a 65-sqm eco-home

A Southland photographer has repurposed her former possession-driven life to become a conscious consumer in a small eco-home.

This Otago professor is on a mission to improve Māori health

Emma Wyeth’s regard for fairness and compassion is improving health outcomes for Māori.

A springboard diver plunges into tiny house living

A world-class springboard diver is not only relishing a second chance at her athletic career but also hoping her tiny-homes business will have a big impact on the planet.

From the costume department to fashion label

This Queenstown-based designer has charted a course to success by creating a lifestyle brand straight from her heart.

At home with Northland artist Lester Hall

Lester Hall uses art to make sense of New Zealand’s multi-cultural history — and future.

This Austin 7 Boat Tail remained a secret for a year

Seven is a lucky number in many cultures, and Jill Evans knows it for sure every time she steps into her Austin 7 Boat Tail.

Their high-country wools hit the mark for lockdown knitters

The excitement of opening new retail store Perriam in Christchurch vanished in an instant as the lockdown was imposed.

A classical garden in the middle of wine country

Mythological creatures live harmoniously in a fun-but-formal Italianate garden created by a pillar of the community.

This indoor jungle started with a cheap bundle of houseplants

Huw Evans bought a bundle of houseplants from Trade Me. They’ve grown into a passion that’s taking over his home, inside and out.

Explore the edible jungle in the middle of dairy country

Thirty-three years ago, Hawi and Susann Winter decided to create a jungle of the most delicious kind.

The Auckland couple transform dried flowers into beautiful floral artworks

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

Sara McIntyre captures life in small town Kākahi

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.

Taranaki's host with the most

As the master of ceremonies at his New Plymouth boutique hotel, Terry Parkes is on hand to dish out advice on the city’s top spots and sights. He’s also more than ready to celebrate a marriage — or a well-lived life.

Zero-waste hero: This is all Kristy Lorson sends to landfill each month

Kristy Lorson, her husband and young daughter fill one wheelie bin with rubbish every two years. They love their (virtually) zero-waste life.

How Clevedon Herbs & Produce nourished NZ during the lockdown

A family in its fourth generation of growing vegetables not only flourishes during the lockdown but also wins an award.

How to grow yuzu in New Zealand

This lip-puckering chef favourite can easily be grown at home.

A retro bach preserves the glory of its 1950s heyday

Captured while still in its full mid-century glory, a holiday house on Waiheke Island rejoiced in its original retro attire.

Passengers participate in conservation work

An entrepreneurial couple have built a Fiordland-based business that takes New Zealanders out of their daily lives and back in time.

A life lived large: artist Deidre Copeland

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

LilyBee founder's practical advice for low-waste living

A Hawke’s Bay entrepreneur takes tiny steps to create a better world for future generations.

A Cardrona farmer's delicious twist to the classic merino

Slow-cooked merino lamb, that prized Central Otago delicacy, owes much of its popularity to a high-country farmer’s love of his land.

Transforming a dry block into a food forest and off-grid nursery

Twelve years ago, an enterprising couple started creating a permaculture food forest and perennial farm on a dusty, bare block in a dry Hawke’s Bay valley. Today, it’s unrecognisable.

A 94-year-old hospice hero proves volunteering has no age barrier

Despite retiring long ago, this Dunedin nonagenarian has no intention of stopping work as a hospice volunteer.

Clevedon Herbs & Produce win big at the 2020 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards

An Auckland family is producing a vegetable box that looks and tastes better than homegrown — and is this year's Spirit of New Zealand winner at the the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards of 2020.

PurePod glass cabins are a partnership with NZ farmers

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.

A couple's decades-long mission to save heritage seeds and fruit trees

Kay Baxter and her family faced the biggest challenge of their lives in their quest to save New Zealand’s heritage seeds and fruit trees.

Explore Clachanburn Station through the seasons

Creating a Garden of National Significance in the remote foothills of inland Otago with its extreme climate and heavy clay soil takes a body of strong bones, a will of iron and a soul of magic.

This performer jumped through hoops to join the European circus

A young contortionist knew her working life wouldn’t be spent cooped up behind a desk in a nine-to-five job.

Wellington nuttery Fix & Fogg combine nuts and seeds in their award-winning spread

Another winning seed and nut mix from a small Wellington nuttery, which has big ideas on how to take great flavours to the world.

A new take on the classic NZ sheepskin

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.

emoyeni chilli sauce

Tokomaru firm's ghost chilli hot sauce wins big in international awards

A mild-mannered couple are producing red hot, award-winning chilli products and running a sustainable business on their Horowhenua block.

Meet the probiotic-rich (and award-winning) health drink on the block

Clevedon’s queen of fermentation has brewed a natural, low-sugar beverage that packs a probiotic punch — and won the Drink category at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards of 2020.

The Wānaka ice-cream makers churning out award-winning boysenberry ice cream

A Wānaka freezery lives up to its name with handcrafted ice cream with pure, homegrown flavour that won the Dairy category at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards of 2020.

This 15sqm garage-turned-tiny house features a catamaran-inspired trampoline

A desire to see the world encouraged an Auckland couple to reimagine their living requirements and move into their reworked garage.

Dr Haare Williams uses words, poetry and art to bridge the distance between Māori and Pākehā

Haare Williams has spent a lifetime bridging  the distance between Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pākehā using words, images, and conversation.

A Gisborne company give the underrated kahawai a new smokey treatment

A new way of treating a former by-product catch is tickling taste buds — and winning at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards of 2020.

Alert 4 is easy peasy for NZ's most self-sufficient family

The lockdown time has meant hardly any adjustment for New Zealand's most self-sufficient family.

Bostock Brothers named Supreme Champion at 2020 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards

A family-run business producing premium poultry is the Supreme Champion in the 2020 Outstanding New Zealand Food Producer Awards.

This Wairarapa woman transforms her garden into a living church

A creative woman on a beautiful farm branched out beyond her flower-free, well-hedged garden to plant herself a business. It’s growing divinely.

She knitted away the pain after a spinal injury

She was once a super-sporty, outdoors girl but Rachel Guisolan broke her back in a horse-riding accident. Her new life, she says, has a silver lining.

"Growing food and helping others is inspiring to me”

Shannon Wright has turned a passion for nutrient-rich food into a growing business of goodness.

Nicola Galloway's inspiring garden-to-table life

The real magic happens at snail’s pace in this devoted foodie’s kitchen and garden.

How Northland artist Shane Hansen found solace with art, whānau and self-care

Artist Shane Hansen emerged from a period of mental illness, finding peace — and a new career — with creativity.

In the vegetable garden with Tūhoe artist Tāme Iti

Tāme Iti has always used creativity to frame his social and political rhetoric. Now in his 60s, paint propels his inimitable style of agitation.

An artistic couple proves funky, handcrafted wallpaper is still en vogue

When a Martinborough artist and winemaker couldn’t find quirky New Zealand-produced wallpaper for their new home, they decided to take DIY to the next level.

A couple turns their orchard into an organic garden, café and gallery

Annie and Shaun Wilson stress the importance of having multiple income streams.

Happy Feet: Saving little penguins on the Banks Peninsula Track

Tourists and trampers help a hardworking Banks Peninsula family in their four-decade struggle to rescue penguins, save the native forest and secure their livelihood.

A bacon lovin' couple leaves the city to raise pigs

Meet a couple who love bacon so much, they left Christchurch to go pig farming.

He traded in his cows for a 1963 Volkswagen Kombi

Several Ashburton cows were all that stood between professor Haxby Abbott and his dream of a (pre-1967) Kombi.

A Tauranga family turns pest control into pet food

A Bay of Plenty family is turning pests into profitable products.

A woman's shell collection started more than 50 years ago at Lyall Bay

A hobby that grew from a childhood love of seashells has spiraled into something far greater than a pocketful of limpets, pipis and cockles.

A Lady Butcher revives old-school charcuterie with free-range, local meats

A charcutier returns to the forgotten days of butchery – plucking free-range livestock from the paddock and using every last jowl, shoulder and trotter.

Artist Emma Bass harnesses the healing power of beauty

Artist Emma Bass finds life-affirming beauty in many places, sometimes even in disorder and decay.

Behemoth's rise to making politically infused craft brews

Andrew Child’s first award-winning beer was named after a Wellington mayor. Then came Dump The Trump IPA.

How this couple turned their block into a small-scale market garden

When red-hot chilli fans Steve and Anne Corkran got burned by big business marketplaces, they decided to go direct to their customers and turned their block into a thriving market garden.

A feijoa lovin' journalist blazes the feijoa trail in South America

Obsessed with a fruit many New Zealanders think of as their own, an award-winning journalist traveled the world to search for its roots.

From shearing and coal-mining, to mussels and then wine

The owners of Rapaura Springs Wines keep such a low profile that when a local newspaper wrote about their sponsorship of Garden Marlborough, people said: ‘We didn’t know you owned that business, we thought you just worked there.

A couple turns their berry-pickin' hobby into a 6-ha blueberry orchard

What was once a silly dream has been whipped into a business churning out refreshing blues.

These Mākara locals braved the cold to clean up their waterways

An environmental society establishes roots — and a community spirit — along a windswept Wellington estuary.

A philanthropic couple's Lake Taupō bach

A modern holiday home in Taupō’s Three Mile Bay is a retreat for this couple, who spend much of their time giving back to others.

This mum studied the Spanish shoe industry before launching her kids shoe brand

When Natalie Meldrum found herself living on the other side of the world, isolated from friends and family, she channeled her energy and creativity into a bold new venture.

A self-taught costume designer trades city life for the Dunedin food scene

It’s never too late to change careers. This self-taught costume designer is now trying her hand at cooking after decades in the dance industry.

Interview with a vampire: Deacon from What We Do In The Shadows is back

Reprising his role as a sexy, 188-year-old blood-feeding, actor Jonny Brugh is about to brave the stage in Bread & Circus: The World Buskers Festival in Christchurch.

repair cafe te puke

What is a Repair Café? Te Puke joins a global movement to reduce waste

A Bay of Plenty town joins a global movement, repairing, fixing and mending to reduce waste and forge connections.

Off-grid in Nydia Bay: Meet the family behind a remote lodge and mussel farm

An adventurous farming family learns to cultivate tourists and mussels in a secluded Marlborough Sounds property.

How Crete beans made their way to NZ in the name of love

Every seed has a story, and some are sown with love.

Citroën 2CV van gets an electric makeover

Dinky, red and full of green cred, a wheezing Citroën 2CV van gets a zippy new electric life.

Michael Van de Elzen returns to his rural roots with a lifestyle block in Muriwai

Chef Michael Van de Elzen is creating a block where everything is grown and cooked from scratch.

A Greytown couple's sweet life making juice and cider

Mela has been keeping New Zealanders sweet since 2004. Now a second generation of makers is forecasting great things for the Wairarapa brand’s cider and single-variety apple juices.

This social enterprise re-purposes used prosthetics for the Pacific

Medical equipment that would have ended up in the rubbish dump is getting a new life in the Pacific Islands thanks to an innovative social enterprise.

An outdoorsy couple goes the distance between Auckland and Fiji

He lives in Fiji running yacht charters. She lives in Auckland with the kids. It’s a long-distance lifestyle that takes a boatload of love, trust, and passion for the Pacific.

Why Tom Johanson is casting his two-piece fishing rod into uncharted territory

Decades after his parents began producing carbon-fibre fishing rods, Tom Johanson has designed an all-in-one rod kit to set the family business apart in an age of mass-production.

How an Auckland couple is bringing native butterflies back to the city

Robert Jones and Angela Moon-Jones are bringing native butterflies back — one garden at a time.

Inside a 1960s pinked-out retro caravan

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

Inside a hut overlooking the Whanganui River

An architecture graduate put the theories learned in the classroom into practice and built her own tiny hut in the woods.

Growing asparagus and strawberries on a fourth generation farm

This farming family grows asparagus and strawberries — the food manifestations of spring and summer. But Horowhenua’s Lewis Farms is a year-round operation.

Kiwiana décor, homewares and art in a 1960s Fibrolite bach

It’s more than a storehouse of treasured family memories, more than a good example of 1960s bach architecture. It’s a museum of its era and now it has inspired a book.

Kiwis return to their camping roots in Raglan, in style

An ancient pack-up-and-go structure is reincarnated as a camping-with-comfort option, proving that what goes around comes around.

Meet the caretakers of a historic DOC farm in remote Northland

A family which counts itself lucky to be the keepers of a DOC farm in an unspoiled coastal wilderness shares it every summer with holiday campers.

This Māori leader led negotiations with the Crown for seven years

Meet Amokura Panoho, the first subject of our new series focusing on Māori leadership. Amokura, the author of previous features for NZ Life & Leisure, will write the series from the next issue.

This couple's outdoor businesses are just as spontaneous as they are

Owning a collection of outdoorsy businesses means this Matakana couple are adept at adapting to the wind. But they are also proving pretty flexible when life’s personal challenges blow in.

Q&A: Michael Barker on making elderberry wine at age 11

The man behind Barker's of Geraldine reflects on five decades of being in the sticky business of syrups, preserves and savoury spreads.

On holiday in Venice with actress Alison Quigan

She may only be edging towards her 70s, but Alison Quigan can empathize with Gen, the character she will play in the Auckland Theatre Company’s new comedy.

A couple's horse and mountain-biking trail oasis in Rotorua

He’s into his bikes; she’s into her horses. This Rotorua couple makes a living out of their hobbies.

Q&A: Peta Mathias on love, aphrodisiacs and travel

Kiwi chef Peta Mathias shares her favourite love stories from around the world in her latest book Eat Your Heart Out. NZ Life & Leisure writer Emma Rawson gets the scoop straight from the foodie herself.

This mystery novelist has been trapping pests in the Waitākeres for a decade

Trapping rodents in the Waitākere Ranges is not as daunting as it seems, says bird-lover Jenny Wheeler.

Meet the surf and tequila-loving couple behind Made in Mexico

Spontaneity has taken two long-time surfers on a journey of self-discovery — and landed them a business to boot.

Meet the family stirring up seaweed in Paeroa

Seaweed is the star ingredient in natural fertilizers and tonics for land and animal health. It also makes beautiful body-care products for organically minded people.

A Golden Bay mum's small business turns into a health product empire

In 1988, a solo mum living in the back of beyond launched a business selling health products. It now turns over $35 million a year.

A New Plymouth designer brings the lush outdoors into his home

A grand designer of houses and gardens credits the elegant heritage of mid-century Hāwera for developing his eye.

Meet the Ōtāhuhu artist who is hooked on crochet (and owns the word fat)

An artist has found joy after great heartbreak by connecting past and present with loops of hot-pink yarn.

They crowd-funded $30,000 to bring locally cultivated yeast to brewers

From brewing beer to cultivating cow-less milk, companies are experimenting with yeast to make food and drinks for an increasingly eco-minded world.

Limited-edition designer onesies for a good cause

Twenty-one designers have aligned with Great Full for its first charity initiative. The founder of the social enterprise, Melissa Gardi, explains why community matters.

Explore a furniture designer's alpine home in the Queenstown Basin

This couple, one a furniture designer and the other a general practitioner, work in vastly different disciplines, but are aiming for precisely the same goal.

Inside the little Dunedin cottage where writers get big ideas

Since 2003, writers have been invited to a tiny brick cottage just off Dunedin’s main street to tap away at whatever they need to get down on paper.

His friends thought getting this Dodge Challenger on the road was impossible

Few muscle cars have more fans than the Dodge Challenger. Gary Covich found one and brought it back to life. But it took more years than he cares to remember.

This vegan cheese brand crowd-funded $385,000 in nine days

An environmentalist's heavenly range of vegan dairy producers is flying off the shelves.

Third-generation charcutier says sausage-making is an artform

Philippe Arregui is winning the hearts of New Zealanders one gourmet sausage at a time.

Why this Southland woman switched from art to beekeeping

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.

How a young creative flipped his career to pursue art full time

Studying graphic design helped pave the path to Sam Mathers' full-time career as a contemporary artist.

Former poet laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh on daring to be different

Selina’s time as poet laureate has come to an end, but she has many more stories to tell, beginning with her empowering new book, Mophead.

A sustainable, garden-to-table bistro tucked away in the Karangahake Gorge

Meet the city escapees whose off-the-trail bistro feeds their need for community, family and a fine vegetable garden.

This organic grower hasn't had aphids in two years

A garden doesn't get much trickier than a steep slope by the sea, but this one produces enough to feed a family, a community, the birds, and the bees.

The rockin’ hobby spreading kindness in NZ

This new pastime is rocking the worlds of Kiwis of all ages – and sparking joy stone by stone.

Meet the Christchurch sisters trying to change perceptions of the plant-based diet

Low energy and poor mental health had Margo and Rosa Flanagan trying out the vegetarian diet. They’ve never looked back, but look to the future with their new cookbook Two Raw Sisters.

An Ōpōtiki artist transforms feathers into works of art

This Bay of Plenty artist fastidiously creates her feathered art, placing plumage perfectly — just as it is in nature.

Video: Watch Ben Foster create his faceted sculptures

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

Raymond Herber's sculpture park

Forging ahead at the Iron Ridge Sculpture Park

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

How this New Plymouth project director kicked workplace sexism to the kerb

The project director for New Plymouth’s new airport terminal is flying high.

What is switchel? Meet the Kiwi couple brewing kombucha's switched-on cousin

Chantel and Mike Priddy are quenching a thirst for living well with a traditional fermented drink.

From London to Herne Bay: A British-Kiwi couple learn to love the slow life

This couple spent many years among the glitterati in London’s fast lane. Now Auckland-based, they’re learning the joy of slow(ish) motion.

The couple behind Forty Thieves share three ways to prepare hummus

Traditional hummus is a staple for Shyr and Brent Godfrey. Here's how they do it.

This Auckland artist (literally) paints the shirt off his back

This Auckland artist’s joyous art is an antidote to melancholy. It’s a prescription he’s taking to the world.

Explore this nomadic couple's home-turned-gallery café in Stratford

A heritage building in need of revival brought this creative — but nomadic — couple back to their home town after decades away.

Goodnature's self-resetting traps are changing pest control in NZ

A Wellington company is delivering a lethal blow to the world’s pests.

A Ford F1 Flathead V8 pickup and its journey to Aotearoa

Cheap to mass-produce, incredibly popular, the Ford F1 Flathead V8 kickstarted the United States’ ongoing love affair with the pickup truck.

C’est si bon in Hastings

The combined cultures, competences and courage of a French-Kiwi couple have fueled a journey of love and food.

The Nelson couple connects pets and people with their pet-sharing service

Imagine getting all the benefits of a pet without the need for a sprawling yard or doggy daycare. Welcome to pet-sharing.

Sally Brown's must-dos for a year-round cutting garden

A vase of fresh flowers is a simple way to bring joy into your home. Expert gardener Sally Brown shares her tips on how to grow cutting blooms all year-round.

Yeshi Taye's homemade Ethiopian sauce is stirring up Wellington's food scene

A former refugee cooks up a taste of Sudanese culture in memory of her mum.

The Kiwi connection at Wardington Manor

Designing duo Bridget Elworthy and Henrietta Courtauld are the pick of the bunch with their design and cut-flower company the Land Gardeners.

Poet Amy Leigh Wicks on love, marriage and earthquakes

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.

The artisan tonic water from a once-secret colonial recipe

A once-secret family recipe that saved lives in Kenya’s colonial days has become available to New Zealand G&T lovers.

Backstage at Six Degrees of Separation with costume designer Lucy Jane Senior

Costume Designer and stylist Lucy Jane Senior agonized over finding the perfect pair of jewelled block heels for the new Auckland Theatre Company show.

An upcycling couple's eco home next to a train track

Two bike-loving upcyclers have built an eco home that is off the rails in suburban Auckland — but only just.

An Oamaru family breaking the mould with a very special blue cheese

Good things take time say the team behind the winner of this year’s NZ Life & Leisure spirit of New Zealand award.

Meet the former marketing guru getting Kiwis outdoors, one trip at a time

A social entrepreneur hosts outdoor excursions so New Zealanders can conquer their inner mountains — just as he has.

Why Dave Cotty finally gave in to his Mini Cooper madness

An icon of the swinging 1960s, the Mini was revered as a new approach to compact-car making. It still enjoys an almost saintly status — just ask Dave Cotty.

'Garden angels' transform cemetery into a blooming garden

An old cemetery — the final resting place of many notable Taranakians — is fully appreciated by the still (thankfully) alive and kicking due to the efforts of a bunch of hardworking volunteer gardeners.

David Walshaw traded city life to grow olives

A financier leaves a 25-year city career to pursue an ancient rural trade.

Brigit and David Kirk's Hawke's Bay retreat

David Kirk and his wife Brigit live in Sydney, but have established a part-time New Zealand base not far from where their shared story began.

Foxton's DIY queen creates upcycled treasures

Meet Foxton’s upcycling queen. Not only does she create stylish effects with masking tape and bright paint, she also redistributes any profits she earns from her clever crafting.

Why Survivor winner Avi Duckor-Jones considers his tiny house 'abundant'

New Zealand’s first Survivor winner is back-to-basics again in an Auckland tiny house, using lessons learned during his time in Nicaragua and Ghana.

How Kurow locals transformed a wasteland into a clean, green wonderland

North Otago locals transform a polluted river island into a community paradise.

Omaka marae 'aunties' say their preserves are 'Maori culture in a jar'

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

Thinking caps on: Hats made from upcycled fabric

An eco-entrepreneur, who started making caps from curtain scraps, is trying to save the world from waste, one limited-edition hat at a time.

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.

A couple's yacht voyage inspires safety device for boaties

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

Why every day is an open house at this Dunedin couple's gallery

A creative couple have established a gallery in their Dunedin home with everything for public view — even the art in the loo.

Kiwi actor digs deep to play Northland farmer in Bellbird

Marshall Napier knew nothing about cows before joining the Bellbird cast to play a Northland dairy farmer. She'll be right, he said.

Maximalism in tiny spaces: Inside a designer's bold 65sqm apartment

A top interior designer has a new London pied-à-terre and a modern side business — one that builds on the links between home, wellbeing and state-of-the-art technology.

Hard work, scenic views: The farmers of Glenmore Station are earning the good life

Will and Ems Murray are the fifth generation of the family to farm Glenmore, a high-country station bordering Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park. They aim to not be the last.

A Timaru roller-derby dame's colourful slice of life

The bright side of life isn’t half bright enough for a roller-derby dame feeling her groove in Timaru.

A former movie exec creates a whimsical garden

Making movies in London one minute; growing grapes and welcoming guests to a rural garden the next. Life is full of surprises.

Marlborough's regional airline reaches new heights – literally

One of New Zealand’s smaller airlines is on a route to success.

At home with Wellington oil painter Jane Blackmore

Jane Blackmore has been painting in oils for 25 years. Her work is well-known to fans of her landscapes, seascapes and florals, but Jane is anticipating a move.

She gave up a new kitchen for her 1974 El Camino ute

Backcountry Gisborne is full of surprises. Here’s an unexpected sight sweeping around a corner right now.

200 meals per day for kids in need

A community that not only grows its food — but also shares it around — is incredibly powerful, says this Wellington altruist.

From doctor to author: A Lower Hutt woman's path to award-winning fiction

As a doctor, Eileen Merriman knows the science of blood and bone. As an author, she delves into the intricate depths of heart and soul.

Inside a colour-blind gardener's 800-sqm wonderland in Taupo

Renowned gardener Gordon Collier is red/green colour blind — but it isn’t the reason he refuses to plant by painted numbers in his small suburban garden; he prefers to mix it up a little.

Behind the scenes at a third generation angus stud auction

A historic angus cattle stud takes winter by the horns with a seasonal celebration.

Cranmer Square's Red House rises again

When this Christchurch couple saw their dream home disintegrate before their very eyes, they discovered the Phoenix inside — and skills they never knew they had.

Auckland start-up's game-changing wine technology

An idea spun from a university project is making an explosive impression on the wine industry.

Clevedon stables becomes garden oasis

Over three decades of patient-yet-determined graft, the Walkers of Clevedon have crafted a rural enclave around a thoroughbred stables that they hope will stay the distance way past the winning post.

From clay soil to a block blooming with herbs

Cathy Bouma never planned to have a herb business. Or a block.

The Kiwis behind the next generation of eco-products

Meet the innovators driving the push for products that last.

Homegrown Farm Fresh Meats' lamb hot in demand

Wairarapa sheep and beef farmers Dion Kilmister and Ali Scott of Homegrown Farm Fresh Meats are focused on ensuring what their customers eat is as good as what they eat at home.

A life in isolation on the Chatham Islands

Helen Bint turned her back on the city to live a pioneering life on New Zealand’s remote Chatham Islands.

7 creative ways to celebrate mum's special day

Mother’s Day is almost here (it’s this Sunday, May 12th) so get sorted with these fresh ideas for activities, gestures and gifts to show you care.

In Queenstown painter Tim Wilson's world, light is everything

Tim Wilson’s father was so excited by his son’s first exhibition of landscape paintings he proudly predicted, ‘You know Tim, one day you’ll be getting $1000 each for your pictures.’ He wasn’t wrong.

Taranaki farmers go with the grain in dairy country

A Taranaki family with an eye on the future have sown their faith in an ancient grain.

Woman in the Wilderness author loves a life without walls

Miriam Lancewood lives the epitome of an “open door” policy – except, for the past eight years, she’s had no doors. Or a roof. Or an address. And that makes her very happy.

Oamaru's Whitestone Cheese rakes in medals for top-notch cheeses

Whitestone Cheese may not be reinventing the wheel, but it is certainly giving it a twist — one that earned them the Spirit of New Zealand award at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards for 2019.

Provenance Meat owner says healthy soil is behind award-winning lamb

Bio-farmed and ethically raised, the lambs grown for Provenance Meat are owner David Crutchley’s pride and joy — and reason for winning the paddock category of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards for 2019.

A Gisborne fishery delivers transparency and sustainability

In Gisborne, two men are delivering fish that’s not only wharf-side fresh but traceable and sustainable — and are much deserving of winning the water category at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards of 2019.

The Chia Sisters reach new heights for award-winning, solar-powered juicery

The success of a South Island soft-drinks company has its owners juiced — and selected as winner of the earth category in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards for 2019.

Wooden Spoon Freezery's ice-cream makers get playful with flavour

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

Wooden Spoon Freezery named Supreme Champion at 2019 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards

The ice-cream makers at Wooden Spoon Freezery are proof that business and pleasure can be mixed.

160kg of fruit per tree at this Whakatane feijoa orchard

Whakatane’s White Goose Orchard produces fantastic feijoas and winning wines, and its owners are huge proponents of the potential nutritional benefits of the aromatic fruit.

How artist Ema Frost followed her instincts to pursue art full time

While an art career started as an off-piste dream, young creative Ema Frost couldn't shake the feeling that art had chosen her.

Two clever new farming products from Kiwi inventors

New Zealand minds are behind a new biodegradable tree guard and recyclable, lightweight batten system.

A Marlborough distiller is putting New Zealand bitters on the map

Marlborough-made bitters are making waves in the cocktail world, and their creator is just getting started.

A new off-grid life in the Far North

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.

A grandmum's spirit lives on through her Hillman Imp

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

A family's journey from farm eviction to the sweet life at Birdswoods

Evicted from their farm in Zimbabwe, a family’s fresh start in Havelock North has brought freedom, and an opportunity to pay it forward.

Is sheep milk NZ's next big export industry?

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

Camanda tiny house on wheels

Video: Sustainable living in a tiny house on wheels

A tiny house that includes upcycled parts of a state home is the first step towards sustainable living for an Auckland couple.

Makerspace Hackland offers a grown-up playground

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

Christchurch terror attack: How to support NZ’s Muslim communities

Mass murder at mosques in Christchurch on Friday targeted Muslim New Zealanders at worship. Here are some things you can do to support a devastated community.

A set designer's showstopper home

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

waitakere jason duff kauri

A Waitakere ranger finds joy protecting vulnerable park

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

Sister Mary Horn's third calling

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.

How a wonky kennel inspired a cute-as-a-button hut

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

Artist paints native birds in the style of Goldie and Lindauer

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

New Zealand actor's hybrid career

Kiwi actor Nicola Kawana feels her life is nicely balanced between roles on the stage, in film, and her work as a gardener.

From a cluttered workshop to a modern crib

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

Eleanor Ozich's recipes for the simple life

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

Finding their tūrangawaewae in the Abel Tasman

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.

When Helly met Sally: love through the lens

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' .

Meet the guardians of bird-lover's paradise Kapiti Island

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.

Meet NZ's biggest Toyota fan

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

Life as a Paris Opera première ballerina

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

How to host a country wedding

If you’re a romantic at heart, turning your land into a wedding venue might be an opportunity to earn some extra cash.

Discovering the lost spring of Taputapuatea

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 milk bottle chandelier at The Milk Station in Otaki.

Derelict milk station transformed

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

On holiday at Project Kiwi's home base

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

Volunteer divers keep Wellington's waterfront plastic-free

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

All hands on deck for Kiwi yacht-support business

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

This couple call a wildlife sanctuary on Great Barrier home

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

Christchurch's ring master: Meet hilarious hula-hooper Toni Smith

Hilarious hula-hooper Toni Smith brings her international street performance routines home for Bread and Circus, the World Buskers’ Festival in Christchurch from January 10 to February 3.

Pottery hens with a cult following

Yvonne Sutherland has been firing and painting hens for more than three decades and collectors around the world obviously adore them as much as she does.

The Southland wedding venue with a difference

It takes a village to create a thriving business for one Southland couple. Or in this case, several very small villages, a railway, and a real church.

Golden Bay's Clean Earth Soap

While her knowledge of soap-making was limited, she had already studied essential oils through a correspondence course which proved useful for what has turned out to be Clean Earth Soap.

Take a peek inside Wellington's iconic boat sheds

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

How to build with SIPs

A small house in an olive grove is the smart home of Brooke and Maggie Noonan's dreams.

NZ-made clothes designed in a high-country sheep station

Hayley Rhind moved onto a new farm with her husband and two young children. Then she had a brilliant idea for a clothing business.

Native plant nursery founder wins big at NZI Rural Women Business Awards

A group of innovative thinkers has been given top honours at the prestigious NZI Rural Women Business Awards.

Wellington craft soft drink start-up mixing up the beverage market

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

How a grandpa's invention grew into a multi-national business

When Bill ‘Grandpa’ Kirkham came up with a good idea for a chicken feeder, he had no idea it would turn into a family-run multi-national business.

Nelson gardener brewing strong tea business

A herbal tea hobby has brewed into a strong cup of business for a Nelson gardener.

Finding a solution to period poverty in NZ

Six months' volunteering abroad inspired a 24-year-old Wellingtonian to look for a sustainable and economical solution to a worldwide problem - and to implement it on her university campus.

Watch: Brooke & Maggie Noonan find true north in Mangonui

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

Lance and Bridgette O'Sullivan's wedding plans

New Zealand’s Lord of the Reins, Lance O’Sullivan, and his wife Bridgette have found new passions beyond the heady days of Bollinger and BMWs.

Sisters making intentionally unsexy underwear

A pair of Wairarapa sisters are two decades in to making comfy underwear designed for the wearer, not the viewer.

Kingsland brewery's Champagne pilsner

A brewery and tasting room in Kingsland is planning to convert as many as possible to craft beer. It’s fermenting a potent name for itself, including with thirsty international visitors, fresh off the plane.

Pagan Karauria's shear determination overcoming adversity

She’s a hard job, wool handling. For some, it’s harder than shearing. Pagan Karauria of Central Otago says that’s the case for her, and she’s a master wool handler as well as a shearer.

Highlights from the NZ Life & Leisure and Walk Japan Reader Lunch

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.

The farming family taking Blue Ducks under their wing

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.

6 design tips from NZers who built eco houses

A smart home is one designed and built to a standard that few NZ houses meet. We talk to three design specialists about building small, efficient, warm, smart homes.

Sister act in the Sounds

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.

An Italian/Maori romance

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.

Bubbles, undies and animals – the life and art of NZ children's author Ruth Paul

Ruth Paul is a children’s book writer and illustrator who shares her semi-rural lifestyle with her husband, sons, dog Teddy, and other wandering wildlife. She’s also just won Best Picture Book at the recent Children and Young Adult Book Awards.

Anthony Hoy Fong's big bites in the Big Apple

From deep-fried chicken to fine-dining foams, and from family man to food warrior, this New York-based New Zealand chef loves his kai – in more ways than one.

Ditching the boardroom for the brushes

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

Wild yeast ale made in a low-ceilinged cavern

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.

Five generations of Central Otago orchardists

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 Hortensia House

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

Video: A special poem for National Poetry Day

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

Video: Home sweet tiny home

A young Wellington couple talk about designing and building their first home, a tiny house on wheels, and reveal what it’s really like to live in a whare iti in winter.

Orchid growers put down roots in Titirangi tree house

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.

After 20 owners, Bertha the Impala finds her forever home

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

The bookshop at the end of the world

Rare books with adventure and action tucked into their pages have found a home which restless spirits of all kinds will appreciate in Oamaru.

danielle hawkins

Part-time vet, full-time romance novelist

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

How taxidermist Peter Wells is preserving NZ natural history

The art of the taxidermist lies in the delicate processes of preservation and presentation of creatures great and small.

Video: 21-year-old NZ mandala artist with worldwide fanbase

Meet 21-year-old fine arts student and artist Lizzie Snow who is winning fans around the world with her intricate geometric mandala designs. Watch our exclusive video.

Kate White's crusade to protect the Waitaki river in Kurow

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.

How a family of four ditched cling film for good

Lunchbox snacks, leftovers and half-eaten avocados can all be kept fresh plastic free with a few simple swaps.

Celebrating Sue Macfarlane's Winterhome garden

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.

An eco school where kids learn outdoors - and take risks

Dani Lebo uses her family’s permaculture farm to teach local children about farming, food, fun and taking an element of risk – all outdoors and in all weathers.

Entries close soon for the NZI Rural Women New Zealand Business Awards

The NZI Rural Women New Zealand Business Awards 2018 celebrates innovative women in the rural sector who illustrate success through their rural business.

Sacha Jones: "The older you are the funnier you get"

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!’”

Minding their own beeswax

Two young Hawkes Bay parents are proud eco-exponents who turned their personal mission into an industrious enterprise. They're helping their little corner of the world go plastic free with beeswax food wraps.

What your dog is trying to tell you

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.

From Hollywood to Wellywood: A renowned costume designer comes home

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.

TV builder Cocksy's Tairua home

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.

chris ballantyne

Take a tour of Chris Ballantyne's organic mini-farm in Te Atatu

A landscaper with a mini backyard farm believes small-scale food production is key to well-being and urban ecological balance.

Lisa Scott gets her skates on for roller derby

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

A life of caravans, corsets and tiny sculptures

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.

Pets make the best therapists

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.

From the UN to a back-to-nature apothecary

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.

How the advice of a headmistress shaped a corporate exec turned viticulturist

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.

WOW: At home with the creator of WearableArt

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

ash hilton jewellery

West coast jewellery family's silver linings play book

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.

Mum knows best: 'The best advice mum gave me'

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.

"Make me a supermodel"

Lisa Scott goes backstage at iD Dunedin Fashion Week, tries on an androgynous face and rediscovers her inner Milla Jovovich.

Trading London life for paddock-to-plate

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.

Philippa Fourbet fell for Anduze pots, then the French potter

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.

3 things to do in East Auckland

Trying to make sense of South and East Auckland is like peering into a kaleidoscope. Every twist reveals a new scene – there’s the colour of Otahuhu, the calm of Clevedon, the mana of Mangere, the solitude and beauty of the regional parks and the history of Howick.

Pandoro founder's brush with fate

The founder of a groundbreaking artisan bakery has returned to her childhood stomping ground and  a creative calling that was always waiting in the wings.

NZ's finest food producers revealed

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

Cocktail delivery service? Sign us up

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

NZ Canoe Polo Jordan Aria Housiaux

Canoe polo is "basketball in boats"

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

Sustainable packaging firm driving change

A company formed by two childhood friends is helping New Zealand businesses reduce their waste.

Globe-trotting couple's homes with heart

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.

How a look through a camera lens saved a century-plus-old villa

When Rotorua photographer Tracey Scott looks through her camera, she sees possibilities - not problems - which is also her metaphor for life.

Novelist Tanya Moir's double life

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.

Andrea Bosshard on filming her father for new doco

Kobi – a Life Work documents the story of film-maker Andrea Bosshard’s father – an unassuming goldsmith and mountaineer who became known as New Zealand’s grandfather of contemporary jewellery.

How Ryan Sanders and Marco Creemers scaled the heights of success

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 on how to be the host with the most

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.

The tiny guide to building tiny

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.

Why vermouth is enjoying a revival

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

Three generations' Anaura Bay bach escape

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

From rotting walls to dreamy wedding venue

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

How the Big Bang Theory transformed Glenn Jones' business

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.

Fiona Campbell: 'My millions came at a cost'

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.

The cave at the bottom of a Mt Eden garden

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

How the southerly winds inspire Mark Hill's amazing sculptures

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

Family and friendships formed on the Tora Coastal Walk

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

Villa Maria founder's Waipu Cove escape

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

Palmerston North's award-winning bagpipe player

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 caravan suffering from a mid-life crisis

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.

Hipsy Scott's storybook home on wheels

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.

Take a tour of the historic Bull Creek cribs in Otago

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

 

Wired-up sculptor Cherise Thomson's No. 8 creations

An Auckland artist regularly uses hundreds of kilometres of wire, but she isn’t making fences.

Debra Cruickshank named supreme winner of Enterprising Rural Women Awards

A boutique winemaker has taken out the top prize at the Enterprising Rural Women Awards.

Nelson family growing capri tomatoes since the 40's

Thanks to one very determined grower, Nelson’s favourite tomato is still growing strong after 60 years.

The adventurer living in a treehouse

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

Artist John McLean's coastal orchard in Taranaki

Artist John McLean was driven by need to become self-sufficient 30 years ago, but today he and wife Chris couldn't live any other way.

Garden Marlborough

Water Cooler: Garden Marlborough marvels

This week in the water cooler, Kate explores Garden Marlborough, Emma steps aboard the Orient Express and Nadene finds inspiration in a new book Growing More than Grass.

Kristina Cavit

Teaching mindfulness to vulnerable NZ teens

For Kristina Cavit – yoga teacher, mindfulness coach and youth leader – mindfulness means not only paying attention to and nourishing her present, but also that of others.

What Carolyn Ferraby learned creating Barewood Garden

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.

Maori and Pacific health researcher recognised

L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellow Dr Matire Harwood has long been a dedicated spokesperson and advocate for the health of Maori and Pacific Islanders.

Religious community launches tiny house business

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

Living and filming the good life in a 20 sqm home

The pair behind Happen Films spends their non-shooting time living and working in an unplumbed house that’s as small and perfectly formed as their short documentaries.

Self-taught knitter turns heads at Vogue

Nicole Leybourne’s designer jumpers are so sought after, she’s had to hire a team of knitters across the country.

The magic of madness at Matakana Sculptureum

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

Kelly Wilson back in the saddle saving the snowy brumbies

Kelly Wilson’s work with wild horses is a family affair - but it nearly didn’t happen.

Seatoun families open doors for Neonatal Trust tour

Homeowners in a prime Wellington’s seaside suburb are opening their doors to help some of the country’s smallest babies.

Naturalist Sheila Natusch celebrated on screen

New Zealand naturalist, writer and illustrator Sheila Natusch brought science to the people. A film about her life captures her love of the natural world and her unconventional and indomitable spirit…

The imaginarium of Virgil & Fay

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.

Why Chelsea Winter feels at home in the country

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

Is this Disneyland for dogs?

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.

Mother and son racing team rally on

Brenda Williamson is as competent managing a private hospital as she is navigating tight corners.

Iona Weir

The biochemist discovering secrets in NZ soil

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

Smooth riding in the 1962 Porsche Karmann

This German-born dream machine is  loving Kiwi country roads

Creating a Garden of International Significance

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

The Burt Munro of the skies

A New Zealand pilot is channeling Burt Munro racing a Soviet World War II era fighter plane in Reno next month.

Simon Gault from plot to plate

Former MasterChef judge Simon Gault’s diabetes diagnosis is a 'sauce' of inspiration for a new food venture and at his restaurant Giraffe where he serves veggies grown in his own garden .

The Russian fermented drink, brewed in Christchurch

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

Eruption survivor climbs to the top

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

Reader story: Joany's sometimes stall

The roadside stalls that dot the rural landscape, suddenly appearing on a windy road when you least expect it, so I was trying not to let on just how desperate I was for one of my own.

Sweet smell of success for vegan soap business

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

Art with a world view

A leading Japanese businessman who has chosen New Zealand as his home, wields art to encourage society to reuse what exists rather than waste resources. he shares his vision for bringing contemporary art into the natural landscape.

Annette Presley says 'feel the fear and do it anyway'

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

Video: Botanist Philip Simpson shares his love of totara

Our native trees are some of the most unique in the world, and so is the man who has dedicated his life to studying them and telling their stories, including his latest on the king of them all.

Some like it pop

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

My career path: Estée Lauder GM, Marie-Ann Billens

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

Joan Withers

At home with top company director Joan Withers

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’

Composting loos: the final frontier

Composting toilets are a sustainable waste disposal for the 21st century. Home owners share their experiences with the next generation of fuss-free, low-odour, environmentally-friendly waste systems.

Meet the 'unofficial mayor' of Awakino

Garry Wycherley and Robyn Ansell are putting tiny Awakino on the map, one building at a time

How Tuhoe is leading the way in sustainable design

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

Sustainable sewing in a solar-powered campervan

Sarah Lancaster is a maker on a mission to encourage sustainability - one hand-made tote at a time. Through her business, Sew Love, she’s teaching basic tailoring skills such as hemming, mending and patchwork.

Twice as nice for couple living in villa for 2nd time

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

Tiny house business booming for 21 year-old

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

Cathy Dickison's thriving Erb business

The last thing Cathy Dickison thought she would be doing is turning her gardening skills into a dried herb business.

An illustrated life

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

The caves at the bottom of the farm

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.

Wairoa's man of action

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.

Two same sex couples raising one happy little girl

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

Meet the stars of Pecking Order

The 2017 National Poultry Show is a celebration of NZ’s oldest poultry club, and its members are all stars of a chick flick with a difference.

Slavko Martinov talks brain tumours and Pecking Order

The director of the new film Pecking Order talks about the bizarre world of poultry showing, and how a brain tumour has shaped his outlook on life.

MPI is out of touch says cheesemaker

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

Snake beans, bitter melons and curry leaf - grown in Whanganui

Whanganui based green house gardener Shane McCulloch has created a niche market for the hugely popular unusual Asian vegetable market.

1906 villa sees new life after Chch earthquake

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

Former America's Cup sailor floats new business

A three-time America’s Cup winning team member is back on a boat but in a wooden dinghy.

How Bird on a Wire became one of NZ's fastest-growing firms

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.

Anthony Byrt and the conversation of art

Journalist and art critic Anthony Byrt is doing his bit to make the world – and Northland – a better place.

Why Pauline Bianchi always trusts her instincts

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

Is eco-friendly Mangarara Station the future of NZ farming?

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

Career path: life as a ballet mistress

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.

A divine conversion

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

The inspiration behind Fred van Brandenberg's organic building design

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

Full list of winners for the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards

NZ Life & Leisure proudly supports the annual Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards. With 150 entries, from the Catlins to Kaitaia, the judges were spoilt for choice.

For crying out loud! NZ's town crier shortage

New Zealand towns and cities are crying out for more town criers. Two sisters are ringing the bell for a proud (and loud) institution.

tiny house

'10 lessons I learned living in a 27sqm tiny house'

Golden Bay writer Charlotte Squire learned a lot about life in downsizing her family into a 27sqm home

Judges’ kitchen cupboard secrets

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.

NZ chef wins over Scottish food critics

Kirsten Gilmour is winning the hearts and stomachs of Scottish food critics one sweetcorn fritter at a time in her cafe in the Scottish Highlands.

A healthy food plan for post-emergency power cuts

Food in a refrigerator won’t last long without power so plan your food usage carefully to avoid contamination.

A creative network of young country women

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

Connecting Young Rural Ladies

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.

Gluten-free bread business on the rise

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

Creating a culture of innovation

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

Are you breaking the law when you host a wwoofer?

Some businesses are disguising their employees  as volunteers, so are you breaking the law when you host a wwoofer from another volunteer scheme?

Mexican photographer's first farm visit

Mexican photographer Carla Danieli had never spent time on a farm before her stay on a remote station in the Waihopai Valley.

Nature - enter me: Chris Parry's Coromandel home

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.

Growing a family business on the Wanaka Lavender Farm

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

Juliet Jackson: 'Losing my sight didn't curb my creative spirit'

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.

Bespoke handwoven textiles on a World War One loom

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

George Clarke on Kiwi DIY and the power of tiny houses

Amazing Spaces host George Clarke is in New Zealand to build a tiny house with Mitre 10. He weighs in on two innovative tiny homes recently featured on thisNZlife.

Yes, this cow is made of cake

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

Growing creative minds in a converted boatshed

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.

Reader responses: should we change the school term dates?

In the February Kate Coughlan made a case for shifting the school holidays until February. We had an overwhelming response.

Monique Fiso

How Monique Fiso is raising the bar on Maori cuisine

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.

Farm reinvented as Southland wedding venue

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

A 60sqm container house in a cherry orchard

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.

The colourful couple behind the Mussel Inn

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.

From farm to 'glampground'

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.

Martinborough firm riding Mexican wave

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.

'Losing my sight at 14 hasn't held me back'

As a teenager Minnie Baragwanath was told her disability would limit her life. But the winner of the 2013 Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award is determined to make a difference for the lives of disabled people.

Kohu Road founder's career path to the sweet life

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.

Living large in a 20sqm gypsy caravan

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

Entrepreneur finds success testing the waters

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

Serial inventor's wastewater system could revolutionise dairy industry

He blew up his first methane tank, built a boat in the shape of a saucer, and helped to design a super-efficient water blaster, but Coll Bell’s favourite inventions involve manure, and the more, the better.

Carriages see new life off the rails

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.

Cruising in the Trinidad

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

Wild horses, big dreams

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.

Actress finds her happily ever after in Rakaia Gorge

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.

Why the Beer Baroness misses beer

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.

How to make Green Tea Smoked Beef

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

Architect couple's two different approaches to design

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

Life on the run with Liz Stringer

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

From Antarctica to Port Chalmers: David Elliot's well-drawn career

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.

Highlights from the NZ Life & Leisure spring luncheon

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

Top female go-karter inspiring new generation

Top go-karter Tiff Chittenden is teaching a new generation of speedsters how to tackle the track.

Bringing super yacht technology down to size

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

Personalised perfume business winning fans

A burgeoning, and bespoke, perfume business strays no further than nature’s garden for ingredients

Inside Lynda Hallinan's "posh barn"

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

Dunedin through a phone lens

A travelling foodie changes captures the best of Dunedin - through her phone.

The street artist giving power to the people

Paul Walsh is the artist behind the quirky animal utlity boxes around Auckland. He shares his story of being homeless on the streets of London and his passion for creating public art.

The high country station selling merino to NATO

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

A garden of surprises

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

An award-winning toy business run from home

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

From soap star to designer

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.

Small town fashion success

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

What drives a person to run 100km?

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

Turning heads at 78

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

Finding work/life balance

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.

Shark attacks, cannibals and Antarctica

Dr Sea Rottman will soon depart on an all-female expedition to Antarctica - just one of many adventures in her life.

It's not easy being a green beekeeper

It's not easy being an organic beekeeper when bees can forage as far as 5km for their food.

Business bubbling along in the Catlins

A bubbly soapmaker has turned her favourite hobby into a cottage industry on her Otago small block.

Watercooler: magnolias, bliss balls & a song for walking

In this week's water cooler, we devour delicious bliss balls, sing along with Geoff Chapple, and give away tickets to an award-winning Christchurch play.

Creating a home in France

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

World-class climber reaches new heights

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.

The Artisan Paper Pusher

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

Success with bush basics

The secret to Diane Coleman’s successful tree nursery business is in the way she’s grown it.

Thinking inside the box

This shipping container uses every square inch to nurture the future of country kids, and the adults too.

Two weddings and a Land Rover

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

Following his guitar dreams

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

A colourful life

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

Architect's dream home built from coolstore panels

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

Grandma's recipe for success

Marie Mullins is known as the pickle lady, and the secrets to her success lie on the beautiful lifestyle block she calls home.

martin carroll

Policeman by day, silversmith by night

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

Silver Fern Farms

How I became a meat grader

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

Wood entrepreneur finds eco niche

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

Jing Song

How this woman is changing NZ wine

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

Hukerenui School

How a school is making a profit from the land

The enterprising students of Hukerenui School are making a profit from growing maize, lavender and keeping bees.

Noeline Young

This inspiring 80- year-old will make your day

Noeline Young is a trail-blazer who adores aviation.

Okewa raincoats

Why this couple are singing in the rain

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.

Jessica Rose tries living without plastic.

'How I quit plastic'

Urban eco warrior Jessica Rose suggests some easy lifestyle changes to make for Plastic-Free July.

Chasing Great is in cinemas from September 1.

Trailer for Richie McCaw doco

What makes some people great? The documentary Chasing Great, featuring one of our best All Black captains ever, promises some answers.

Michael MacMillan and family

5th generation artist explores heritage

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

Kimberley Crossman as Nikki Hart in Hashtaggers.

Kim Crossman and the new TV frontier

Kimberley Crossman talks about working with William Shatner on her new breakthrough show Hashtaggers.

Apollo Taito.

Career Path: The vegan soldier

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

Why his nickname is 'Bulldog'

There's a reason why Brook MacDonald is a top 10 World Cup mountain bike rider.

Shoemaker Louise Clifton

Dunedin shoe school kicks off

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

Using herbs to aid stress

When she began she thought $100 was a good day's takings, now Brownwyn Lowe is helping hundreds of people cure the symptoms of stress.

Averil Stuart-Head in Italy

A new Italian life at 57

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

Actress Liu Shishi at the Waitomo caves in King Country, New Zealand.

Waitomo photos shared around the world

Photos of a celebrity Asian couple at Waitomo Caves have gone viral.

compost toilet

Blog: When compost loos go bad

This week Polly Greeks discovers the perils of a compost toilet.

life on a container ship

Life on a container ship

26 days on a container ship puts life on dry land in perspective for a photographer.

rugby romance tour tattoo

Inside the world of rugby romance literature

A romance writer adds rugby to the traditional plot mix and finds an avid and growing audience - who are currently exploring New Zealand.

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.

How a personalised number plate led to rockabilly love

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

Geocaching in New Zealand

Modern day treasure hunters

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.

peony growers New Zealand

Peony flower power: the secret beneath the soil

The peony is one of the most beautiful flowers in the world, but it’s what it grows beneath the soil that has turned into a unique business for one Nelson couple.

Soul searching with Hollie Smith

A number one album isn't enough to make a living in the music industry. Soul and jazz singer Hollie Smith's new album has topped the charts but she's still cleaning houses to make ends meet.

Clachanburn Country Garden

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.

The king of Kombi vans

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

Good Bitches Baking

Saving the world through cake

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

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NZ Life and Leisure    NZ Lifestyle Block
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