Growing Into Life at The Bayview Retirement Village
Pam in the Garden at Bayview Retirement Village “I’ve got to have my hands in the dirt,” Pam says as we leave the light-filled reception area at The Bayview and begin walking together. Her husband, Warren, is beside her, and we head through the cafe. It’s buzzing – conversations overlapping and people lingering over coffee. […]
Kiwifruit
Kiwifruit of every variety graces the cover of our Autumn 2026 covers By Rachel Hart You may not know this but other countries simply call kiwifruit … kiwis. Blasphemy, I know! You’d never get away with that here. Kiwis are people; kiwis are flightless birds that live in the forest and come out at night; […]
Building with Downey Designer Homes- Take Two
Katrina and Shaun Hewald in the second Downey Designer Homes Words Vicki Ravlich-Horan, Images Brydie Thompson We’ve all heard it – building a home is stressful! Not so, according to Jenni and Jason Hare and Katrina and Shaun Hewald, both of whom loved the process and results so much they have done it twice. And […]
Growing Broccoli
Wise words on growing broccoli by Lynda Hallinan When I was a teenager, I didn’t know much about American politics – oh, for a return to those halcyon days! – but I was aware that President George H. W. Bush shared my adolescent antipathy for boiled broccoli. “I haven’t liked it since I was a […]
Tea Talks with Native Tree Farm & Webster’s
Words Vicki Ravlich-Horan Images Erin Cave Mark Webster from Webster Tea says right from the beginning he had wanted to include New Zealand ingredients in their teas. Their Kawakawa tea was first. Mark explains: “I was aware of its medicinal benefits, which led me to research it further. Then I started noticing kawakawa everywhere! […]
Is It Perimenopause … or Something Else?
Words by Natalie Jaques from The Herbal Dispensary Many women in their late 30s and 40s begin to notice subtle (or not so subtle) changes in their bodies. Sleep becomes lighter, moods feel less predictable, energy dips mid‑afternoon, weight shifts despite unchanged habits, and anxiety can feel unfamiliar or heightened. The question often asked is: […]
A Shared Harvest at Awatere Village
A Nourish Promotion with Oceania “There is nothing in the world more miraculous than what appears from a tiny, wee seed,” Joy says, holding her fingers close together to show the size of it. “Some seeds are like a pinprick. And then suddenly there are all these leaves. It’s just beautiful.” It’s the kind of […]
Rebuild or Renovate?
This is a dilemma many home-owners struggle with. You love the location, the neighbours, the atmosphere of the street. But the house itself no longer works. Maybe it’s too small, poorly laid out, cold, or simply not designed for how you live now. So, what’s the answer: renovate, rebuild, or attempt a combination of the […]
Autumn Reset
Enjoy an Autumn reset with the team at Tranquillo Autumn is an opportunity to return to routine, slow down, and replenish from within. Autumn carries a quiet elegance. As social calendars soften and the pace of life begins to ease, we are offered a welcome opportunity to return to routine, slow down, and restore what […]
A Decade of Hayes Common
Words Denise Irvine, Images Ashlee DeCaires When you head down Wellington Street to Hayes Paddock in Hamilton East, a big green building stretches out before you. It’s set back from the street on a corner site, and there are typically people sitting at outdoor tables in the sun, amid kids, dogs, bikes and gardens. The […]