Klaudia's Blog

Reviews - Autumn 2025

We are loving the top picks from your reading and listening libraries.

Fiona’s Favourite Winter Must-Haves

Fiona McIlraith, the mastermind behind our favourite woollen slippers, Woolfi, inspires us with her top winter comforts.

Orange & Black Olive Stew

The transformation that takes place when a cheap cut of beef, cooked long and slow, becomes rich and melt-in-the-mouth delicious is a little like alchemy. 

Helen Ollivier: Are We There Yet?

In her latest exhibition, Are We There Yet?, contemporary painter Helen Ollivier invites viewers to experience the intimate grandeur of Aotearoa’s diverse landscapes through a contemplative lens that explores our relationship with journey and destination.

Exploring Rawene

Catching the ferry to Rawene from nearby Kohukohu offers the most enchanting approach to the charming township of Rawene.

Taste the Wild

Creating a legacy of craftsmanship and passion, James Polhill is on a mission to bring new sensory discoveries to palates here and abroad. A mission he is well on his way to achieving, with his new whisky-infused Mānuka Honey.

Winter Solstice & New Beginnings

Marking the shortest day and longest night of the year, winter solstice (21 June) symbolises the turning point towards light and renewal, inviting reflection and rest during the colder months – helping us to slow down.

A Wonderful Life

Winter is our time to reconnect with awe and wonder. On the rugged Banks Peninsula coastline, Canterbury creatives Wendy and Alex Keir have used their talents to create a place for their guests to truly reconnect with what’s important.

Quality Without the Price Tag

There’s a quiet revolution happening in rural New Zealand, and it has nothing to do with tractors or milk prices. We head in-store with Farmlands to uncover how they are bringing style and substance to rural living.

Raspberry & Coconut Chia Pudding

This breakfast is a firm favourite in our household where we top ours with cocoa nibs instead of dark chocolate. Though a bit of dark chocolate is good for both body and soul in my eyes. It can easily be made in advance and transported for breakfast, or snack on the go when away.

A National Star

Jenny and Guy Oakley have been welcoming visitors to their stunning garden for decades, and this year will mark the 38th time they have taken part in the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival. With spectacular mountain views, lush borders and a chorus of native birds, it’s not surprising that Oakley Garden was named a Garden of International Significance.

Savouring Simplicity

Milking cows is not something Wayne Good ever imagined he’d do, but life in the country suits this former chef and interior designer whose creativity is transforming a quiet rural block north of Hamilton.

Garlic & Cheese Pull-Apart Sourdough

Making your pull-apart in a cast-iron pan means it can be easily transported and warmed on the fire before devouring. A word of warning, this won’t last long!

A Gentle Winter Reset

As daylight shortens and winter settles in, many of us feel a quiet pull inward. While colder days often invite cosiness and comfort, they can also signal a perfect moment for gentle resets that profoundly boost our health.

Schnoodles & Snoozes

Presenter, podcaster and media chaplain Petra Bagust has been married to both a man and a couch for a quarter of a century. Only one of them has needed two facelifts.

Green Mac ’n’ Cheese

This recipe takes a much-loved classic and adds fresh herbs, lemon zest and good dose of green vegetables for a slightly more sophisticated end-result, with all the hearty warmth of a traditional mac’n’cheese.

Touring Tasmania

Travel articles can be frustrating – perfect meals, non-existent budgets, no crowds, insects, thin hotel walls or upset tummies. Alas, this is not the article that will genre-bust travel writing, because 10 days in Tasmania delivered for me (a wine and history geek) and my two travelling companions (a nature-loving fitness freak and a hard-to-please youth).

Honey marshmallows

Cradling a cup of hot chocolate to warm your hands in winter after being outside is one of life’s greatest pleasures and in our house, we have to load them up with marshmallows.

Saved by Cacao

From a small food trailer on the berm outside her home, Ōtepoti entrepreneur Marōtini Clements produces Ka kā wā Confectionery – artisanal bean-to-bar chocolate that promotes health, wellness and regenerative practice.

Quirks & Rattles

Fondly referred to as Alex Keir’s ‘first wife’ by his wife Wendy, this much-loved Kingswood ute is a treasured heirloom, brought out for special occasions and sunny-day family escapades.

What's on: Winter 2025 highlights

A snapshot of events from around the country to inspire, inform and delight.

Hope for the Hoiho

With its distinct call, the noisy but shy hoiho is one of the world’s most endangered penguins. Despite valiant efforts over the past 30 years, the mainland population is disappearing before our very eyes.

Clean, Minimalist & Light

Mother-daughter duo Mary Jane Tomasi and Katie Tomasi Edwards are Auckland property stylists with a flair for staging and furniture fit-outs. Both embrace apartment living and enjoy styling small spaces in step with the changing seasons.

Driving for little hearts

For Peter Marr, Taihape Automotive Specialists proved an unlikely home for a piece of national automotive history – a 1948 Land Rover with chassis number R860020. The very first Land Rover in New Zealand.

DIY Bath Tray – The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift!

A simple and beautiful project crafted from live edge timber - thoughtful, handmade, and easy to create!

Atér Winter 2025 Collection

Founded in 2023, Atér is a sustainable fashion brand who have proudly curated a collection of timeless 100% New Zealand wool coats.

It’s Never Too Late

Ali Mau is no stranger to Kiwis, having graced our screens for over two decades – yet what many might not know is that she is much more than just a journalist and advocate for women’s rights – she’s a passionate horse rider and an ardent pursuer of dreams. 

The Bug of the Year

An ancient gummy-looking worm-like creature with a vicious hunting method that involves projecting sticky glue from its head, the New Zealand velvet worm, has been crowned this year’s Bug of the Year.

Making the Most of Nature’s Bounty

Late summer in the edible patch is about anticipating the harvest season and enjoying a slower pace as we seek the shade. Sarah Frater offers some expert advice.

Good Things Take Time

Mike Taylor is a seasoned professional whose vision and leadership has propelled Pie Funds from a small investment advisory firm to one of New Zealand’s premier wealth management specialists. We talk to him about how working with a skilled wealth manager could be the key to unlocking your financial potential. 

A Celebration of Rural, Community, and Competition

Tailored to you

Cosmetic injectables are mostly known for their ability to smooth out frown lines or plump lips, but there are many ways in which they help address signs of ageing such as wrinkles, volume loss and sagging, as well as sculpt facial features for a more defined, youthful look.

Beef, Eggplant, Tomato & Feta Salad with Salsa Verde

The elements in this salad come together to form a wonderfully moreish meal that will be sure to impress even the most discerning dinner guest. The eggplant is unctuous and rich, the tomatoes fresh and the feta creamy and sharp. Cook the beef to your liking and don’t skimp on the salsa verde – it is vibrant green and perfectly balanced.

Breaking down the basics of pruning

Before we know it, it will be time to start thinking about pruning our trees, gardens and hedges. We spoke to Farmlands Technical Advisor Laurence Frost for some expert advice on how to get the pruning process right.

Crispy Sausage, Potato & Caper Salad

This takes potatoes and sausages to dizzying heights and is a lovely dish either to serve as a light meal or to bring to a potluck dinner. The potatoes are deliciously crispy and paired with the crumbled sausage and the peppery rocket they make a satisfying meal.

Be in to win one of three Lucy’s Gluten Free Bread Mix packs

Be in to win one of three Lucy’s Gluten Free Bread Mix packs

A little wonderful

Two Canterbury sisters have turned a love of design and creation into a fashion brand centred around sustainability, ethical practices and bringing a smile to their customers.

Just move

Kane Brisco is passionate about helping people realise the impact movement can have on our mental and physical wellbeing – he shares his top tips for getting started.

My Colourful World ... with Klaudia

Our art director Klaudia Krupa is in the hot seat this issue as we dive into her creative world and the role colour plays in her day-to-day.

Listening collection - February & March 2025

Discover something new with our top picks of what to wrap your ears around this month. Reviews from our wider CountryWide Media team.

Weed Salad with Orange Dressing

This is less of a recipe than it is an invitation to get outside and explore what edible weeds you might have in abundance in your garden. Weeds are high in antioxidants and each one offers support to the body in different ways. I love how eating weeds takes you outside into the garden, where you look and listen and reap nature’s abundance. Be careful to eat weeds you know are free from sprays and always double-check that you are picking the right weed.

Be in to win a Memories pampering experience from Linden Leaves

Be in to win a Memories pampering experience from Linden Leaves

A hidden gem

Settled amongst Martinborough’s sprawling vineyards and lush country gardens, Parehua Resort is the ultimate retreat to stay, relax, revitalise and explore.

House of welcome

After nearly eight years of closure, Timaru’s Aigantighe Art Gallery has reopened. The stunning heritage building has been restored to its former glory – a crowning jewel of the arts to delight visitors from far and wide.

Wānaka in a jar

Tineke-Maree Sutton is bottling up the best of Central Otago with her Taste of the Alps preserves, bringing flavour to your everyday dishes.

Toasting the sea

When Marlborough winemaker Matt Thomson finds time to sit around, the seat he’s most keen to occupy is one that wears a good lick of sea spray.

Reducing Risk

Did you know sunscreen needs to be applied 20 minutes before heading outside so it can absorb into skin and activate? Emma Shields offers an insight into what else you need to know when it comes to protecting yourself from the sun’s rays.

Explore my backyard

For Bron Kemp, the heart of Tairāwhiti lies in the deep connection to culture and community which you can experience through storytelling, local boutiques and cuisine.

Bull Shark Dive Snapshot

The dive team at Barefoot Kuata caters to a range of experience and abilities. There is a simple snorkel along the beautiful shallow coral reef directly in front of the resort, or at the other end of the scale, the ultimate sharky experience of a bull shark dive. It is this opportunity that lures the largest number of visitors to the island. Getting up front and personal with these magnificent animals is an incredible experience.

Strawberry, Tomato, Bocconcini & Basil Salad

I love recipes which contain few ingredients but yet taste utterly delicious and look equally as beautiful on a plate. This is one of them. Choose sweet ripe strawberries and cherry tomatoes as these will add extra flavour and sweetness.

All aboard!

Been toying with the idea of a cruise? Travel broker Suzie Wilson provides some insider hints and tips to ensure you get it right.

What's on: February and March 2025 highlights

A snapshot of events from around the country to inspire, inform and delight.

Herby BBQ Chicken with Noodles, Peanuts & Cucumber

The combination of herby green chicken, fresh crunchy vegetables and creamy coconut dressing is irresistible in this salad. My kids loved it so much they went back for thirds!

Managing perimenopause

Every woman will be affected by menopause in some way. Dr Pip Shirley explains how some of the more troublesome symptoms can be managed.

On the shelf

Known to read well into the night, our editorial team Lucinda Diack and Belinda O’Keefe have uncovered some fabulous new books this month. Happy reading.

Some-fin good happening in paradise

Two remote islands in Fiji’s Yasawa group show measurable benefits from harnessing tourism’s economic power to restore a vulnerable marine environment and support an equally vulnerable local population.

Be in to win one of two Mechi duo packs, valued at $99 each

Be in to win one of two Mechi duo packs, valued at $99 each

Mastering Cut Flowers

Displaying a vase or jar of home-grown flowers on the table is one of life’s greatest joys. We asked Akaroa’s Julia Atkinson-Dunn for tips on how to prolong the experience.

Explore My Backyard

Central Otago is a destination for every time of year. We talk to Arrowtown-based architect Anna-Marie Chin about her top places to go when exploring this beautiful slice of Aotearoa.

Picnic Style

With a passion for heading out locally and a love for quality picnic accessories, Susie Jamieson shares an insight into her top picks for exploring your backyard in style!

Wool in Summer?

Sustainable fashion advocate Charlotte Instone shares her top tips for incorporating wool into your summer wardrobe.

Shifting Focus

In the joyful season, more than ever, it’s important to find joy and protect your peace to get through the madness. Artist and mindfulness enthusiast Jen Sievers shares her Top 5 to survive.

Quality Eye Care

Dispensing optician Vanessa Cumming provides an insight into how to combat those tired, dry eyes.

Island Caretaker

The population of Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands is two. With her partner (the island’s caretaker), Natalie McCondach shares a snapshot into her way of life.

Listening Collection

Discover something new with our top picks of what to wrap your ears around this month. Reviews from our wider CountryWide Media team.

On the shelf

Summer is coming and that is excuse enough for us to spend hours in the sun on the deck with a good book. Here is what our team of reviewers – Lucinda Diack, Belinda O’Keefe and Luisa Osborne – have been poring through this month.

Happy hacking

A large proportion of horses kept in New Zealand are used for light work including hacking, pony club, low-level competitions and riding for pleasure. While workloads may not be high, nutrient requirements still need to be met and careful consideration is required to provide a balanced diet for what is often a much-loved family pet. Farmlands Equine Nutritionist Luisa Wood offers some expert advice.

The trekking treasures of Nepal

Nepal has no shortage of adventures. There are countless trails in the himal (mountains) or pahad (hills), some suited to hikers, trekkers and expeditioners while others are accessible to curious wanderers, offering a charming blend of natural beauty and cultural immersion.

Plum & ginger chutney

Roasting this chutney in the oven means that you no longer have to slave over a hot pot. Instead, you can tend to other things as the plums, ginger and chilli slowly come together to form this rich, velvety chutney.

Mint & rose rocky road

This rocky road is as pretty as it is tasty. I had fun decorating mine with sprinkles that I found at Spotlight and rose petals from my garden that I dried especially for the occasion. I thought the colours worked so beautifully together. Have some fun and get creative when decorating yours!

My colourful world

Wellington commercial product and food producer Nikki Astwood takes us behind the scenes of her bold and intricately crafted still lifes. 

Show & shine for a good cause

Hospice South Canterbury provides those with a terminal illness special care and support on their end-of-life journey; while at the same time supporting the wider family. One of their major annual fundraisers is the Caroline Bay Rock & Hop. We talk to Kim Rogers to find out more about this incredible event.

Chocolate, cranberry & cashew muesli

This recipe can easily be doubled to make twice as many Christmas gifts. Lovely packed into jars and tied with a ribbon and gift tag. Loved by teachers, uncles and aunts, and employers alike!

More than a gardener’s paradise

Tucked away in one of the eastern bays of the Banks Peninsula, Cornelia Holten and her family are quietly building a local herb farm treasure with a global reach.

A lifetime of memories

As Anthony (‘Tony’) Gibson and his family celebrated 60 years of his father’s company in September 2024, he reflected on the role a humble pickup truck played in its history. 

Marvellous mistletoe

Traditional Christmas cards often feature sprigs of English mistletoe with white berries. Aotearoa’s native mistletoes are a much more spectacular sight at Christmas, lighting up southern beech forests with bright clusters of red, scarlet and yellow flowers.

Dreaming big

Only eight years old, Longbush Cottage garden in the Wairarapa has earned four stars from the New Zealand Gardens Trust, and has developed a reputation for bringing colour and gardening inspiration to the region.   

Parmesan & chilli crackers

These crackers are incredibly morish and if you don’t watch out you’ll eat half the batch before they have even cooled down!

Cinnamon maple glazed nuts

These nuts are deliciously crunchy, cinnamon spiked and just sweet enough. If you like things a little spicy then add in a teaspoon of chilli flakes to the sugar mix.

What’s next?

Fertility delay is a frustrating and challenging time for all involved, and not just limited to those hoping to conceive for the first time. Dr Greg Phillipson offers some advice.

A mitey good spread

While many people dream about another life, this pair of Auckland food retail experts turned their idle thoughts into a breakfast spread, took it to market and now have a fast-growing food brand.

What's on: December and January 2025 highlights

A snapshot of events from around the country to inspire, inform and delight.

Bridged beauty

Beechwoods, a first-time entry into the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival, is a story of second-time love after loss. The one-hectare country garden has a woodland with a stream spanned by three bridges, a Japanese garden, vege patch, and esplanade along the road front.

It’s not just food

Dr Lee Danks’ passion for pet nutrition and welfare is palpable. Thanks to Farmlands, we got to talk to him – as a veterinarian working in pet food research and development – about the importance of what we put in their bowls and how to hunt out the best foods.

Garden Calendar - October and November

October and November are busy times in the garden with spring blooms making themselves known and lots to plant to ensure a continuous supply of florals and delicious edibles in the months ahead.

Caring for cast iron

Kate and Levi Slavin have taken a ‘dying art form’ and given it a new lease of life with their cast-iron cookware collection.

Lessons in history

A trip to Britain is always a history lesson. Here, we visit some special and varied gems – from historic houses to the charming city of York, an Arts and Crafts architectural masterpiece and a wee Fife fishing village. If you want to experience where a queen slept, walk ancient city walls, or ‘decipher’ the Second World War, read on …

Recipe: Sausage, Caramelised Onion & Lemon Aioli Open Sandwich

The humble sausage in bread is elevated to new heights in this recipe. The staples – bread, sausage, onions, are all present to which I have added a lovely lemony aioli and zingy rocket leaves. Simple yet utterly delicious. Double, or even triple this recipe to feed an army.

A Restorative Sanctuary

A beautiful haven of peace, tranquillity and calm, Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa is a destination for those seeking stillness and a connection with culture. A Rotorua retreat awaiting to embrace you in its magic.

What's on: October and November highlights

A snapshot of events from around the country to inspire, inform and delight.

The best of both

Rātā Sidwell’s life in Pīkowai Valley has truly fulfilled her Little House on the Prairie aspirations.

Barbecue Beef Brisket with Coleslaw & Pickled Red Onion

This version of barbecue sauce is made without store-bought tomato sauce, which is replaced instead with canned tomatoes and extra spices. Brisket is a wonderful cut of meat and here it is slow-cooked in barbecue sauce until tender then thinly sliced and served piled into soft buns with coleslaw and pickled red onion.

On Foot

Part of the beauty of Aotearoa has to be our many walking tracks where we can step off the treadmill and enjoy a different route.

A Visual Feast

The fifth annual Sculpture Festival at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre features work by some of the country’s best artists; we talk to curator Koji Miyazaki about what to expect.

Recipe: Braised Potato & Spinach with Eggs

This is a simple, yet elegant dish. Onions, potatoes and spinach are gently braised in butter, before eggs, and a lemon and Parmesan cream are added in. It is one of those dishes that works for breakfast, lunch or dinner and is delicious served with some sourdough bread on the side.

Allergies & Gut Health

With summer just around the corner, we turned to Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Practitioner Sarah Vickers for some advice on allergies and how to keep them at bay.

Taking Care Down There

A Registered Nurse and Midwife for over 35 years, Frances Green notes a tendency for women to take unnecessary steps in the name of ‘cleanliness’. As she explains, educating yourself on your anatomy and its processes is a better bet.

On the shelf

Summer is coming and that is excuse enough for us to spend hours in the sun on the deck with a good book. Here is what our team of reviewers – Lucinda Diack, Belinda O’Keefe and Luisa Osborne – have been poring through this month.

Recipe: Rhubarb & Ginger Shrub

Shrub is a fruit syrup made using vinegar and sugar. The rhubarb in my garden is thriving at the moment and makes the most beautifully blushing pink drinks. Here it is combined with warming ginger which goes so wonderfully in this refreshing spring drink.

Beautifully useful

Finding that balance between rural living and corporate career has been a challenge many of us have encountered and navigated. For Sophie Hurley, it has culminated in a fashion brand that has grown beyond her wildest dreams.

Listening Collection

Discover something new with our top picks of what to wrap your ears around this month. Reviews from our wider CountryWide Media team.

Colour is back!

The sun is out so it is time to shed the layers and have a little more fun! While neutral looks are as popular as ever, colour is back in cosmetics and giving skin a refresh never goes out of style. Tracy O’Connor shares her must-haves to effortlessly welcome summer in style.

Recipe: Lemon Layer Cake

This cake is the prettiest shade of sunshine yellow and will impress guests with its lovely lemon flavour and not-too-sweet sour cream icing. Decorate with soft yellow or white flowers.

On the road

Kirianna and Lachlan Poole have built a successful life on the road, travelling the length of New Zealand, Australia and even Japan in their van – with three kids in tow! We get some expert advice on what different campsites in Aotearoa offer to set you up for your summertime adventures.

My colourful world ... with Catherine Robertson

Best known for her contemporary romantic comedies, bestselling Kiwi author Catherine Robertson works hard at crafting lively banter and fresh funny lines, with a colourful backdrop providing plenty of inspiration and fun to help fill the pages.

A sensory space for all

Two Christchurch businesses that played a huge part in Christchurch’s post-earthquake regeneration have teamed up to revitalise part of the city’s red zone.

A native haven

The goal of building a retreat for people from all walks of life to share their views was overtaken by a plan to afforest a large chunk of hilly land west of Auckland.

Still Loving What They Do: Rob and Mary Ann Burrows

Rob and Mary Ann Burrows were looking for their dream hill block when they sold their 275-hectare flat family farm Beechwood in Culverden nine years ago. While on the hunt, the couple thought the small holding of eight hectares on Marshmans Road in Ashley would do them for the time being. They now describe it as their forever home.

On the shelf

This issue we turned to our favourite booksellers for their picks on what to read this month – Sara Shand from Emmas at Oxford and Millie Blackwell from Mrs Blackwell’s Village Bookshop. And they didn’t disappoint! We can’t wait to get reading.

Cheers to Spring

Christchurch foodie and lover of all fine wines and delectable cocktails, Tom Newfield, inspires us to try something new in our favourite cocktail glass as he raises a toast to the vibrant flavours of spring.

Pioneering luxury

Travelling 300 days a year, Geoffrey Kent is a veritable expert on the world’s top travel destinations. Here are his top picks to visit …

Fashion for the earth

Describing her clothing brand, Jessica Flora, as a love letter to Mother Earth, Jess Beachen is on a mission to make clothes that the fair lady herself would be proud to wear. We talk about sustainable fashion and what it means to her. 

Improve your sleep

There are a number of other dietary and lifestyle recommendations that can improve the way we sleep.

Supporting a healthy lymphatic system

Shaz Andrew, Naturopath and Holistic Nutritionist from Hana shares seven ways of supporting a healthy lymphatic system.

Tinkering with tools & tyres

A lifelong passion for V8s led to Julian Cameron fulfilling his dream pastime of building his treasured Ford 1966 MKII GT40.

Best seat with Simon Richardson

When Dunedin artist Simon Richardson starts talking about his best seat – a sleek chrome wire affair – it seems like he’s misunderstood the brief.

The stage is set

Abby France and Catherine Bygate are the dynamic duo behind the iconic Hanmer Springs Fete – and now they are taking their success a step further with their inaugural Wānaka Fete. We talk to them about the inspiration behind these incredible events and the who, what, how of pulling a fete together.

Developing potential

Third-generation property developer Caroline Cooper-Dixon is a firm believer in finding what you love, and making a living from it. She talks to us about her journey, her learnings and her latest project – Rolleston Fields.

Life at new heights

To celebrate our second wedding anniversary and taking our business to another level with the purchase of NZ Life & Leisure, my husband and I celebrated with a bucket-list adventure by going up.

Recipe: Pear and Cardamom Shortcake

This cardamom-scented shortcake is absolutely delicious and is sure to be devoured by kids and adults alike. It is light and buttery and the cardamom in the shortcake batter pairs perfectly with the lemon-spiked pear filling.

Recipe: Spiced Tea

Easy to make and full of flavour, this tea makes a fantastic afternoon brew best enjoyed with something home-baked and in good company. It also makes a wonderful present. Mix up a batch or two now and come Christmas they will be full-bodied and ready for gifting.

Recipe: Spiced French Lentils

These French lentils make a hearty vegetarian dinner and are simple, yet utterly delicious. If you need an extra boost of greens stir in a cup of baby spinach at the end of cooking or serve with a handful of microgreens as garnish.

Recipe: Apple Crumble Pancakes

Granted these pancakes have a few steps to them, but prepare the batter and the crumble the night before and you’ll just have the pancakes to cook and apples to fry and pretty soon you’ve got breakfast fit for a queen!

Recipe: Brussels Sprout, Apple and Chilli Slaw

I love a good apple-spiked slaw and this one is taken to new heights with the addition of crunchy salted peanuts, black sesame seeds and red chilli. It makes a lovely big salad, perfect for wowing friends and family at your next potluck dinner.

Listening Collection

We asked our wider editorial team for their must-listens of the moment – enjoy adding them to your listening library!

No such thing as normal

Let’s stop using the word ‘normal’ to talk about women’s bodies. As a registered nurse and midwife, Frances Green has had a front-row seat to absolutely everything the female body can do. After 35 years of experience, she explains why there’s no such thing as ‘normal’.

Backyard chickens

Raising chickens is no longer limited to those in the country. Relatively low maintenance, they don’t require a lot of space and can supply a steady stream of delicious eggs, while making great pets. Dr Rob Derrick from Farmlands shares an insight into what you need to know when it comes to starting your own backyard flock.

Up the gardening path

Helping people successfully grow vegetables at home is a welcome new career for an experienced entrepreneur and event manager.

A spoonful of country … with Abby France

One of the greatest pleasures of country living is the peace and quiet it offers; along with the chorus of native birds, I find solace in the quiet moments that are increasingly rare in urban settings.

My colourful world … with Ness Dickie

Farmers, product designers and entrepreneurs Ben and Ness Dickie were a natural choice for our cover story this issue with their beautiful home and property in Waverley, Whanganui creating an enviable lifestyle. Here Ness shares an insight into her journey and love of colour.

A tapestry of feathers

Standing in front of a piece of art by Fiona Kerr Gedson is a captivating experience. Where at first glance they appear to be blocks of colour, a closer inspection reveals the texture and layers of the individual feathers that have been used to create them.

What's On: August and September highlights

A snapshot of events from around the country to inspire, inform and delight.