Blog Archives

Journalist Mark Saunokonoko Sheds Light on Maddie

Journalist Mark Saunokonoko Sheds Light on Maddie

‘Maddie: A Door Marked Closed’ about the disappearance of three-year-old Madeline McCann is the latest investigation by Sydney-based New Zealand journalist Mark Saunokonoko. ‘Maddie’ debuted at No 1 on Australia’s iTunes podcast charts in…

Design Lover’s Guide to New Zealand

Design Lover’s Guide to New Zealand

New Zealand’s natural splendour is renowned, but aesthetes are now making the voyage to check out a burgeoning architecture scene based on sustainable and indigenous materials. Charu Suri investigates for a feature in Architectural…

Software Startup AskNicely Moves to Portland

Software Startup AskNicely Moves to Portland

Auckland-founded software startup AskNicely has moved its headquarters to Portland, Oregon. The company’s technology is designed to help clients improve customer satisfaction and it opened its Portland outpost in 2017 and now employs 35…

Rocket Lab Now Building Customisable Satellites

Rocket Lab Now Building Customisable Satellites

Small satellite launcher, New Zealand-founded Rocket Lab is getting into the business of making satellites in addition to launching them. The company has announced that it is offering a new service to customers: a…

Ferrari Protégé Marcus Armstrong Recruited by Todt

Ferrari Protégé Marcus Armstrong Recruited by Todt

Ferrari junior, New Zealander Marcus Armstrong, 18, has joined the All Road Management stable run by Frenchman Nicolas Todt. Christchurch-born Armstrong, who will compete this season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Prema Racing,…

How Scapegrace Gin Beat the Best in the World

How Scapegrace Gin Beat the Best in the World

Late last year news emerged that Scapegrace, a New Zealand gin had won the highest accolade in the global industry: best London dry gin at the global International Wine and Spirits Competition. It was a…

Oprah Hails Jacinda Ardern’s Response to Tragedy

Oprah Hails Jacinda Ardern’s Response to Tragedy

Many have praised New Zealand’s prime minister’s compassionate leadership following a terror attack that killed at least 50 worshippers at a mosque in Christchurch in March. Among those who lauded Jacinda Ardern’s response to…

New Zealand’s Best Beaches Too Stunning for Words

New Zealand’s Best Beaches Too Stunning for Words

“Countless amazing beaches line the coasts of New Zealand. The island nation is known for its jaw-dropping stretches of sand, but knowing which ones to put on your itinerary can be tough for even…

Rugby Australia’s Raelene Castle on Equality

Rugby Australia’s Raelene Castle on Equality

In a perfect world there would be no need for this conversation and the role women play in sport would not be addressed as a separate issue, “but we’re still about 10 years away…

Stefania LaVie Owen New Hollywood Star

Stefania LaVie Owen New Hollywood Star

Young actress Stefania LaVie Owen, 21, from New Zealand stars in The Beach Bum alongside Matthew McConaughey and will appear in a Netflix show later this year. Owen talks to the The New York Times…

Home Truths With Jazz-Leaning Popster BLAKE

Home Truths With Jazz-Leaning Popster BLAKE

“BLAKE is a New Zealand-born songwriter who has navigated her way to the UK, finding a new home in London’s dense network of creative communities,” Robin Murray writes for Clash magazine. “Along the way she’s…

Paul Clews in Legal Team Dealing to Risky Bonds

Paul Clews in Legal Team Dealing to Risky Bonds

A legal duo made up of New Zealander Paul Clews, 41, and American Sabrina Fox, 42, lead the newly formed European Leveraged Finance Alliance (ELFA), a group trying to raise standards in Europe’s junk…

Menstrual Company Hello Cup Expands into US

Menstrual Company Hello Cup Expands into US

New Zealand menstrual cup brand Hello Cup, co-founded by Robyn McLean and best friend Mary Bond, has signed a deal with American clothing brand Urban Outfitters. From the end of this month, Hello Cup will…

Chef and Columnist Jess Murphy a Food Champion

Chef and Columnist Jess Murphy a Food Champion

Food columnist for the Irish Times magazine, New Zealander Jess Murphy has been named Blas na hÉireann Producers’ Champion 2019. The award is made annually in recognition of support for and promotion of Irish…

UMO Brings Intimate Rock Feel to Oregon Gig

UMO Brings Intimate Rock Feel to Oregon Gig

Ruban Nielson, New Zealand-born singer and guitarist of Unknown Mortal Orchestra excitedly addressed the sold-out crowd at the WOW Hall, in Eugene, Oregon. “What’s up, Eugene? You alright?” Unknown Mortal Orchestra (UMO) brought a…

Stylist Chloe Hill Leads Anti-Minimalism Movement

Stylist Chloe Hill Leads Anti-Minimalism Movement

There’s beauty and ease in the ability to maintain a minimalist sense of style. Colours remain subdued and consistently complementary. Plus, a less-is-more approach, in essence, keeps the actual effort in getting dressed to…

Sake Changed Rebekah Wilson-Lye’s Life

Sake Changed Rebekah Wilson-Lye’s Life

Tokyo-based sake expert and International Wine Challenge (IWC) judge, New Zealander Rebekah Wilson-Lye is one of three central figures in Kampai! Sake Sisters, a documentary about women in the sake industry. Wilson-Lye is also…

Scottish Opera’s Alex Reedijk the Company’s Saviour

Scottish Opera’s Alex Reedijk the Company’s Saviour

In 13 years, New Zealander Alex Reedijk has pulled Scottish Opera back from the brink, turning it into a thriving company that takes risks on stage and serves the community, from the youngest to…

Mitch Evans and Rocket-Ship Take E-Victory

Mitch Evans and Rocket-Ship Take E-Victory

New Zealander Mitch Evans, 24, negotiated a chaotic opening lap that saw bumps, crashes and a multi-car pile up before pulling off a dramatic overtaking manoeuvre to secure victory at the Rome E-Prix. Evans’ triumph is…

Surgeon Simon Talbot Heads World-Leading Team

Surgeon Simon Talbot Heads World-Leading Team

Harvard-based New Zealander Dr Simon Talbot M.D. leads a team of surgeons performing astonishing hand transplants and plays a part in operations that give patients a new face, reports Clare de Lore…

Emilia Wickstead Recruits Some Important Women

Emilia Wickstead Recruits Some Important Women

When London-based designer Emilia Wickstead took inspiration from her native New Zealand to create a capsule collection with The Woolmark Company, it seemed fitting that she should ask her fellow countrywomen to model it….

Swiss Give Artist Judy Millar First Survey Show

Swiss Give Artist Judy Millar First Survey Show

Since attracting the Zurich-based Galerie Mark Muller 17 years ago, the Swiss have embraced New Zealand artist Judy Millar’s wildly colourful art with its untamed brushstrokes, and given the North Shore born-and-raised artist her…

Laybuy Continues its Move onto UK Platforms

Laybuy Continues its Move onto UK Platforms

Laybuy, which was co-founded by Gary Rohloff and his son Alex, is a New Zealand company that’s trying to bring a new payment model to the UK. It’s based on a model known as “layby”,…

Big Names to Speak at Film Summit in Auckland

Big Names to Speak at Film Summit in Auckland

New Zealand filmmakers Niki Caro, Philippa Boyens, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and US film producer Charles King will headline global screen inclusion summit, Power of Inclusion, which will take place 3-4 October in Auckland. Mulan…

Jacinda Ardern One of World’s Greatest Leaders

Jacinda Ardern One of World’s Greatest Leaders

The Fortune magazine’s sixth annual leaders list “is the home of the brave”. “These thinkers, speakers, and doers make bold choices and take big risks – and…

Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck at TED in Vancouver

Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck at TED in Vancouver

Peter Beck is a space entrepreneur with a rocket and launch pad in New Zealand that has permission for flights “every 72 hours for the next 30 years”. Beck recently spoke at the TED…

Egg Shortage as Farmers Scramble to Go Free-Range

Egg Shortage as Farmers Scramble to Go Free-Range

New Zealand is in the grip of an egg shortage as the industry undergoes a massive period of disruption while it transitions to free-range farming. The Guardian reports. The shortage has also been caused by…

Sarah Mary Chadwick’s Latest is Otherworldly

Sarah Mary Chadwick’s Latest is Otherworldly

“The mix of New Zealand-born singer agony and the hope of the organ she’s playing makes for a compelling listen,” according to Kory Grow in a review of Chadwick’s new song,…

Author Heather Morris Discusses New Novel

Author Heather Morris Discusses New Novel

After delivering one of last year’s biggest bestsellers with The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Te Awamutu-raised Heather Morris is ready to reveal Cilka’s Journey as a follow-up. Morris recreated the experiences of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian…

Record-Breaking Breeding Season for the Kākāpō

Record-Breaking Breeding Season for the Kākāpō

The world’s fattest species of parrot, the kākāpō, has had a record-breaking breeding season in New Zealand, with scientists saying the fortunes of the critically-endangered bird are finally turning around. There are only 147 adult…

Teen Charlie O’Brien Breaks Swinging World Record

Teen Charlie O’Brien Breaks Swinging World Record

After 32 hours, Taradale High School student Charlie O’Brien, 16, has broken the world record for longest non-stop marathon on a swing. O’Brien was allowed a five-minute break for every hour he swung, which he…

Exploring Aotearoa in Sunshine and in Rain

Exploring Aotearoa in Sunshine and in Rain

“We could not have asked for a more spectacular summer day when we set off from Awaroa Lodge on our walking/kayaking adventure in Abel Tasman Park,” Sue-Ann Levy writes in a travel piece for…

Māori Business Revaluing the Past

Māori Business Revaluing the Past

Global businesses should heed traditional, indigenous knowledge to better protect land, honour old customs and boost profits, participants at a Wakatū Incorporation conference in Wellington said last week. Instead of a wasteful “take, make and…

Chef Monica Galetti Recounts Rise to Cooking Fame

Chef Monica Galetti Recounts Rise to Cooking Fame

Samoan-born New Zealand chef Monica Galetti was the first woman to become head chef at La Gavroche and now runs her own restaurant, Mere, in London with her husband. Galetti talks to Britain’s Independent…

Tā Moko as Much about Māori Identity as Art

Tā Moko as Much about Māori Identity as Art

The “unusual and pioneering exhibition” Māori Markings: Tā Moko, on until 25 August at the National Gallery of Australia, is curated by Crispin Howarth, and explores and documents tā moko over the past 250…

PM Jacinda Ardern Discusses Global Scrutiny

PM Jacinda Ardern Discusses Global Scrutiny

Optimism is baked into Jacinda Ardern’s character, Spinoff editor Toby Manhire writes in a feature about the prime minister published in The Guardian. At school, her mother once revealed, she convened a “happy club”….

Feijoas Are a National Pastime

Feijoas Are a National Pastime

The little green fruit that’s native to Brazil, feijoa, is one of the most vitamin C-rich foods you can eat. But just for the record, New Zealand discovered them before Australia. “We’re going to smash…

Designer Richard Clarkson Looks to the Stars

Designer Richard Clarkson Looks to the Stars

Intrepid visitors to the Architectural Digest Design Show on in New York during March braved lashings of chilly rain to get there. But inside, the elements were the source of inspiration, and included an exhibition…

Auckland Gets More People on Its Buses

Auckland Gets More People on Its Buses

“Cities across the world are struggling to tempt people out of their cars and onto transit, but Auckland has reversed the trend by creating a really, really good bus network for very little money.” Fast…

Travel the World Like Influencer Alex Gillespie

Travel the World Like Influencer Alex Gillespie

New Zealand-born Instagram travel guru Alex Gillespie has amassed over 54k followers on Instagram over recent years, and has made a living travelling the world. He’s one of those enviable people who seems to…

Saving the Strangest Parrot on Earth

Saving the Strangest Parrot on Earth

It’s as plump as a goose, has the face of an owl and waddles like a duck. It sleeps in the day and is active at night. And it can climb just about anything…

New Zealand Continues Plans to Save Natives

New Zealand Continues Plans to Save Natives

New Zealand is three years into what many consider to be the world’s largest animal protection programme. The Predator Free 2050 government programme has a goal of removing all non-native pests by the year…

Hong Kong Basel Showcases Painter Imogen Taylor

Hong Kong Basel Showcases Painter Imogen Taylor

This year, Art Basel in Hong Kong featured 242 galleries from 35 countries and territories, with a booth set up by Auckland gallerist Michael Lett featuring Whangarei-born painter Imogen Taylor. According to American online…

Even in Brogues Peter Messervy-Gross Completes Race

Even in Brogues Peter Messervy-Gross Completes Race

It would be hard enough completing a 160km ultra marathon across a frozen Mongolian lake with the proper equipment. New Zealander Peter Messervy-Gross, 47, performed the feat wearing his everyday fashion brogues. Messervy-Gross had spent…

Icy World Record for Diver Ant Williams

Icy World Record for Diver Ant Williams

Freediver Ant Williams, 47, has claimed a Guinness World Record for the deepest dive under ice, in a Norwegian fjord in the Arctic Circle. Overseen by GWR observers, wearing only a wetsuit and carrying a…

New Zealand’s Engaged Diaspora an Asset

New Zealand’s Engaged Diaspora an Asset

The number of New Zealanders scattered around the globe is massive. Back in 1999 Brian Sweeney, founder of nzedge.com which originated the idea of a Kiwi Diaspora, put the number at one million of…

Garden Designer Bayley LuuTomes Wins in Melbourne

Garden Designer Bayley LuuTomes Wins in Melbourne

New Zealand garden designer Bayley LuuTomes has ticked a career goal off his bucket list and won a bronze medal in the process at this year’s Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show – the…

What the Haka Means and How It’s Performed

What the Haka Means and How It’s Performed

It’s what representing their country is all about – walking out in New Zealand’s All Blacks jersey, facing their opposition, and delivering a spine-tingling, hair-raising haka before the whistle blows for kick-off. George Ramsay…

Singer Kelsey Karter Is Only Getting Started

Singer Kelsey Karter Is Only Getting Started

“A raw rock n’ roll outbreak of ecstasy and intimacy, ‘What U’ asserts Kelsy Karter, 24, as a genre-defying talent everyone deserves to hear,” according to Mitch Mosk, editor-in-chief of music journal Atwood…

Designer Rebecca Taylor Serves Up Crisp and Breezy

Designer Rebecca Taylor Serves Up Crisp and Breezy

“Last year, Rebecca Taylor chucked up the deuces to her beloved New York City to set up shop in Paris and unveil a City of Light-inspired lineup for her Fall 2019…

Tamaryn’s Voice Channels Newfound Intensity

Tamaryn’s Voice Channels Newfound Intensity

In the Los Angeles apartment of New Zealander Tamaryn – one of the most underrated artists in the world of gothic-synthpop – a TV screen is always on a loop featuring classic ‘80s music…

40,000-Year-Old Log Explains Earth’s Mystery

40,000-Year-Old Log Explains Earth’s Mystery

A 40,000-year-old 60-tonne kauri log discovered during excavations for a new power station in Ngāwhā could explain a mysterious global event, which may have dramatically changed the Earth’s climate. Scientists in New Zealand believe the…

New CMO Role at TRI Pointe for Linda Mamet

New CMO Role at TRI Pointe for Linda Mamet

One of America’s largest homebuilders, California-based TRI Pointe Group, announced last week that New Zealander Linda Mamet has been named chief marketing officer. In her role as vice president of corporate marketing for the past…

New Zealand Artwork That Really Makes Its Mark

New Zealand Artwork That Really Makes Its Mark

Tā moko is the traditional Māori art of marking the skin. It is very different from a tattoo and is considered a great cultural privilege. Australia’s National Gallery’s curator, Pacific Arts, Crispin Howarth, says,…

Everyone’s Talking About Monica Galetti’s Mere

Everyone’s Talking About Monica Galetti’s Mere

“With a name as well-known, well-liked and well-respected as Monica Galetti, it’s no surprise Mere (the name of Monica’s mother) has people talking for all the right reasons,” Alicia Grimshaw writes in…

Acclaimed Artist Lisa Reihana Exhibits in Adelaide

Acclaimed Artist Lisa Reihana Exhibits in Adelaide

In partnership with the Adelaide Festival, the Samstag Museum of Art unveiled four dynamic exhibitions in February including one from New Zealand-born artist Lisa Reihana. Reihana’s panoramic video ‘In Pursuit of Venus ’ subverts a…