Our Life

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

With a mission to amplify the connection between leadership, women, food and global sustainable goals, Lindy Nelson is leading the way to partnership and purpose, both at home in Eketāhuna, and in the agriculture sector.

It has been 40 years since Marty McFly stepped inside Doc Brown’s time-travelling DeLorean, but the pop culture allure of the ‘Back to the 1980s’ DMC-12 remains as strong as ever. 

Finding a moment of peace and tranquillity can be easier said than done in a busy world – yet Amy Burke is on a mission to share her love of natural minerals and essential oils to allow us all to do just that.

Twenty years ago, founder and former editor Kate Coughlan and her small band launched this great magazine. In celebration of its 20th year of publication, we asked Kate to cast her mind back to its earliest days.

Registered Nurse and Midwife Frances Green explains why the language of gynaecology and maternal health is changing for the better.

Partners in work, life and parenting, Becs Caughey and Nick Brown are the yin to each other’s yang. We sit down with them to talk business, world firsts and life on the go in their beautiful North Shore villa.

A capsule wardrobe is the cornerstone of sustainable, effortless dressing that transcends seasons and bucks fleeting trends. But where do you start? We sat down with the team at Untouched World, as they prepare to celebrate the brand’s 30th birthday, and they shared some sage advice.

Helen Riley-Duddin’s story is deeply rooted in creativity and helping others. From her beautiful 120-year-old home in Ōamaru, she shares an insight into her ‘beautifully chaotic’ life. 

Nicci Richards wears many hats. When she’s out on her Taranaki dairy farm, it’s something warm or practical. For her role as a volunteer firefighter in the nearby town of Ōkato, it’s a protective helmet. But when she dons her hot pink top hat – that’s when sweet magic begins.

In 1990 Susie Jamieson created what has become known as ‘the perfect accessory’ for family picnics on the farm and holidays at the lake. Her handcrafted bags became an instant hit with her friends and family and propelled her into a household name – ‘Susie’s’. 

A Kaleidoscope of Colour

These curly-haired sisters bring a smile to your face with their bold, intricate metal forms made entirely from repurposed 44-gallon drums.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Creative Portal

A deep fascination with the foibles and fancies of human nature keeps Robyn Malcolm in thrall to the make-up chair.

Takes Two to Triumph

Two great car marques of the 1960s, Triumph and Volkswagen, keep their place in the hearts of this pair of car enthusiasts, though they are far from being the only makes in their garage.

Wild and Wonderful

With her feet in the tussocks, artist Jacqui Gibbs Chamberlain shares a busy farming life with husband Chris at their remote, beautiful Port Levy property on Banks Peninsula. In her studio, Jacqui’s imagination takes flight to places wild and wonderful. Words Kim Newth, Photos Alister Winter.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.