Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 26, 2023 i New Zealand Woman's Weekly

The bubble has burst for the Princess of Wales’ family. The party supplies business that made her parents Carole and Michael Middleton multimillionaires has gone bust, owing more than $5 million. The resulting scandal could be bad news for Kate, as furious creditors who have been left out of pocket say they expected better from a company with such close connections to the royal family. ‘I trusted her as the mother-in-law of the future king’ One business that supplied helium for balloons sold by Party Pieces says it feels badly let down by founder Carole. A spokesman for the firm, which is owed over $40,000, says, “What hurt me most was that I trusted her as the mother-in-law of the future king and she just betrayed me. It is absolutely…

Celeb news She’s just turned 50, but it’s all water off a duck’s back to Heidi Klum. “It is, for me, just a number,” the German-born supermodel-turned-TV personality muses. “Because I don’t feel 50. I mean, sometimes I look in the mirror and I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, I am 50.’ But internally, I feel like I’m 25. “I’m full of energy. My husband is 33 and I know I have more energy than him! So, the birthday doesn’t change anything for me.” After 31 years in the spotlight, there’s no denying Heidi has ticked off many of her life’s ambitions – she’s given birth to and raised four children, been on the cover of glossy magazines all over the globe, forged a successful business and television career, found love and…

It wasn’t one of the saddest exits in Coronation Street’s history. When Kym Marsh’s popular character Michelle Connor drove away from Weatherfield for a new life in Ireland in 2019, it wasn’t as heart-wrenching as some farewells because the storyline allowed for the possibility Michelle could come back in the future. At the time, actress Kym – who played the barmaid for 13 years – sounded keen to return one day to pull some more pints at the Rovers Return pub. “We didn’t see it as me saying goodbye,” she said shortly after her last scenes aired just after Christmas, 2019. “I love the character and it definitely isn’t the end of Michelle. I really wouldn’t want to shut the door on this.” However, fans who were hoping that a…

When Sharron Gardner suddenly felt her legs and feet go numb last August, the 60-year-old’s life took a drastic turn. The gym-loving Manukau local couldn’t change clothes or go to the bathroom unassisted and for three months, she was misdiagnosed with a stress-related neurological disorder. In reality, Sharron had rare disease transverse myelitis, caused by inflammation of the spinal cord. “Before, I was at the gym three times a week and busy in the home. All of a sudden, I was useless,” recalls Sharron, who suffered numbness in her mouth and tongue a day before she lost feeling in her legs. “My husband Lyall had to pick me up and help put me into a chair because I lost the ability to walk or balance.” Sharron’s first visit to hospital…

20-minute combination dumpling soup SERVES 4PREP + COOK TIME20 MINUTES 2.5 litres (10 cups) chicken stock1 tablespoon soy sauce1 teaspoon fish sauce1 tablespoon finely shredded fresh ginger12 frozen pork dumplings400g cooked chicken breast200g medium uncooked prawns, peeled, deveined, tails intact (optional)100g fresh mixed mushrooms, sliced thinly2 baby pak choy (300g), washed, trimmed, quartered4 spring onions, sliced thinly1 fresh long red chilli, sliced thinly¹⁄³ cup loosely packed fresh coriander leaves1 ¼ cups (100g) bean sproutsLime wedges, spicy chilli crisp (optional), to serve (see tip) 1 Bring stock, sauces and ginger to the boil in a large saucepan. Add dumplings, simmering for 4 minutes. Add chicken and prawns (if using) and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until prawns change colour and soup is hot. Stir, then add mushrooms and pak choy.…

Giant skillet chocolate & cinnamon spiral with chocolate sauce SERVES 8 PREP + COOKTIME 1 HOUR 20 MINUTES(+ STANDING TIME) ½ cup (80g) sultanas¹⁄³ cup (80ml) coffee-flavoured liqueur¾ cup (180ml) lukewarm milk4 teaspoons (14g) dried yeast½ cup (110g) caster sugar2 eggs, beaten lightly1 egg yolk3 cups (450g) ‘00’ flour, bread flour or plain flour (see tip)3 teaspoons sea salt flakes150g butter, softened, cubed, plus40g extra, softened150g dark chocolate, chopped coarsely¾ cup (180ml) cream Vanilla ice cream, to serve FILLING ½ cup (50g) walnuts, roasted lightly, chopped¹⁄³ cup (75g) firmly packed brown sugar2 teaspoons ground cinnamon125g dark chocolate, chopped coarsely 1 Combine sultanas and liqueur in a small bowl, then set aside. 2 Combine milk, yeast and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a small bowl, covering with cling film. Stand…

Should you be double cleansing? In a word: yes. Double cleansing can be one of the best things you ever do for your skin – and essentially every skin type can benefit. Put simply, this is a two-step process that has been long-practised in Japanese, Korean and French beauty cultures. Step one involves purifying your face of make-up, pollution, dirt, debris and sunscreen – essentially anything found in your pores and on the surface of your skin at the end of the day. The second step ensures anything that wasn’t removed in the first is washed away, including leftover cleanser. The end result? Skin that’s gloriously clean and ready to absorb whatever you slather on next. If you wear make-up or sunscreen, live where pollution is a concern or simply…

In New Zealand, are there still inequities for women in the workforce? Women still have a way to go to reach equity here and elsewhere in the world. Only last month, female CEOs finally outnumbered CEOs with the first name John among S&P 500 companies (the leading publicly traded companies in the US), according to a new analysis from Bloomberg. In many sectors, women are still paid less than their male counterparts, with the average gender pay gap in NZ in 2022 at 9.2% overall based on statistics provided by the NZ government. The pay gaps for Ma¯ori, Pacific and other ethnicities are wider than for European women. What is the child premium? The child premium refers to the career and economic costs of having a child. It’s a multi-factorial…

The beloved broadcaster’s reflections on life I was talking to a cameraman mate who shoots videos about people living in retirement villages and rest homes. We were agreeing what remarkable people are found in these places and what life stories they can tell. It reminded me of something extraordinary that happened 12 years ago. I’d been asked if I’d visit a lovely rest home and read to residents from a book I’d just written. When I arrived, there were about 50 in attendance. A particularly stylish woman in her 80s approached me, politely introducing herself. I didn’t recognise the name. She told me she, too, had written several books. When I asked what they were called, she couldn’t remember. But we had a brief chat. We moved to a large…

Letters to the Editor MAKING NEW FRIENDS ● Winning letters The first page I turn to is Colin Hogg and a recent article struck a chord (NZWW, June 12). I’ve always taken great pleasure in chatting with strangers – at the bus stop, in the mall, at the shops. It always makes for a more interesting day. Many times, my husband would ask, “Who was that?” And I would reply, “I haven’t a clue!” as we had been chatting away like long-lost friends! Waiting at the medical centre, people are locked to their phones, not a word spoken or a glance of acknowledgement. We have lost the connection of talking to people. Even dining out, couples sit opposite each other, staring at their phones without engaging, or sometimes it’s just…

A great chat with the queen of talk back Recently, I took a mini break to Sydney, Australia, with a friend of mine, Di. We’ve had some splendid adventures together, wonderful cycling tours in various beautiful parts of the country. Trips to watch the All Blacks play. Nights out to see touring musicals. Weekends away in country houses to just relax and catch up properly with one another and mutual friends. It had been quite some time since we’d packed our bags and left our respective families and headed off. “Let’s go to Sydney and see Vivid!” Di said a couple of months ago. “We can get cheapish airfares if we go midweek. And Vivid is really worth seeing.” “Okay,” I said and booked the flights that night. It was…

Everything You Know About Sharks is Wrong by Dr Nick Crumpton, illustrated by Gavin Scott (Allen & Unwin, $27.99) Think that sharks are mean and nasty, and the world doesn’t need them? This inventive and entertaining book by zoologist Dr Nick Crumpton will make you think again. From fascinating fishy friendships to incredible powers of invisibility, it tells tales that debunk many of the common myths about all kinds of sharks. Quite a different take on an animal book. In or Out: A Tale of Cat Versus Dog! by Stacy Gregg, illustrated by Sarah Jennings (HarperCollins, $35) A hilarious story about friendship and patience. Dog is trying to play with his cars and finish his painting masterpiece. Cat wants to come in. No, Cat wants to go out. In. Out.…

Star WEEKLY The hottest celebrity scoop They kept their relationship under wraps for five years and finally got married in a secret ceremony. But actors Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup, both 54, couldn’t resist sharing photos of their special day on social media, proudly announcing, “Hitched!” The pair, who posed on the steps of a New York courthouse after saying “I do”, met while starring in the Netflix series Gypsy in 2017, but didn’t make their red-carpet debut as a couple until 2022. A pal of Australian Naomi says the couple fell in love “very quickly”. They have kept quiet about their romance, although Billy did thank her when he won a Critics Choice Award for The Morning Show in 2020. The friend adds, “They wanted a private wedding and…

Antonia Prebble became a household name for her role in Outrageous Fortune and she’s had a busy couple of years, including starring on Shortland Street and performing in a stage show, and is currently on our screens in the comedy Double Parked. As she tells from page 12, she is now taking a break and enjoying time with sons Freddie and Gus. Don’t miss our story with the incredible Mea Motu on page 16. A mother of five, she became a world champion boxer in April, but she’s had to overcome so much on her path to the top. I greatly admire her spirit and courage, and can’t wait to see what’s next for her. Recently, Kerre Woodham wrote about her love of books and her bookshelves, and this week’s…

The wrap up... She’s riding high with the success of her Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That… but Kristin Davis says she’s struggled with getting older. The star, 58, has been playing Charlotte York since her thirties and on the subject of Botox and facial fillers, she says, “I’ve had to get them dissolved and I’ve been ridiculed relentlessly. And I have shed tears about it. It’s very stressful.” When she had work done on her lips, she says it didn’t work out as she’d expected. “No one told me it didn’t look good for the longest time,” she says. “Luckily, I do have good friends who did say eventually.”…

If you had asked Mea Motu 10 years ago if the boxing ring would become her safe place, she would have laughed and thought, “What a joke!” At the time, in the grips of domestic violence and feeling trapped, she associated the sport with her then-husband. Dodging jabs from him was a weekly occurrence. “I hated boxing,” tells the single mother-of-five. “My ex did it, so that made me bitter towards it. There was always a shadow of him associated with it. I was like, ‘Boxing isn’t for me, it’s for him.’” So no one is more surprised than Mea that becoming a professional boxer has brought her healing. It’s redeemed all the things that were stripped from her – self-confidence, freedom and mana. In April, the 33-year-old made history…

Our people By his own admission, Bill Bush was an unlikely All Black. A kina diver at primary school and a labourer at Marsden Point refinery at 14, Bill was keener on swimming. It took the promise of a bit of kai – Fanta and a mince pie – to lure him into his first game of rugby as an 11-year-old for the Wairaka Marae third-grade side. “I did go to Rugby Park in Whakatāne after rugby games, but it was only to collect empty bottles to earn enough to get into the local picture theatre,” he recalls. “When I was asked why I wasn’t playing rugby, I’d reply, ‘Oh, no... it’s too rough for me!’ “Honestly, for a long time I couldn’t get over how the hell I’d got…

For almost three quarters of her life, mum-of-two Madeleine Johnco has suffered from endometriosis so bad, the pain could make her faint. But growing up, she had no idea why, with doctors insisting she simply wasn’t handling her periods well. ‘You can’t see it, so people don’t really understand’ “I got my period when I was nine and by 10, it was really heavy and I’d have to take time off school,” recalls early childhood worker Madeleine, now 37. “I was told it was normal and was just prescribed strong pain relief. I felt like I was neurotic and it made me really doubt myself.” At times, the period pain was so agonising it caused her to vomit. “When I was 15, I changed doctors and they told me I…

Spice it up The spicy new line-up by award-winning chef Sid Sahrawat will add ooph to homemade Indian dishes. Expanding Sid’s Cassia at Home range of Indian spices and sauces, Chaat Masala – a staple in kitchens and for street-food vendors throughout India – is ideal for sprinkling over curries, fries, scrambled eggs and more ; Tandoori Masala is delicious mixed through yoghurt to marinate chicken, fish or red meat; and Garam Masala will add an extra kick to your curry. Available in 150g cubes (rrp $9 each) from cassiaathome.com and Farro Fresh. Cheers to that This versatile wine by Brown Brothers is the perfect tipple to have on standby for a celebratory occasion, when unexpected guests pop around, or moments when you simply fancy a light and refreshing glass…

1 EMBRACE YOUR AUTHENTICITY Embrace self-confidence and celebrate unique qualities that make you who you are. 2 DRESS WITH STYLE Don’t get stuck in a style rut. Showcase your personality and wear clothes that make you feel confident and comfortable. Choose well-fitted garments that flatter your figure. Ill-fitting clothes can make you appear less put together – consider tailoring your clothes to achieve the perfect fit if you can afford to. Add stylish accessories such as statement jewellery, scarves or hats to elevate your outfits. Don’t be afraid to try new trends and experiment with different styles. Fashion is meant to be fun and expressive, regardless of age! 3 KNOW YOUR COLOURS Understand what colours work best with your skin tone. Darker colours can be draining and black can look…

Musings from our favourite Kiwi funnywoman It turns out we are not losing our minds. Well, okay, I can’t speak for everyone – have you seen the nonsense some people are posting on community Facebook pages? Honestly, it’s not us, it’s the others. But this whole thing of not knowing when things happened? How we find ourselves saying, “Gosh, I haven’t seen you for two years!” and it turns out actually it’s been five years or possibly six months? This is not your fault. Do not panic! Peer-reviewed analysis from researchers (and let me tell you, this is the best kind of analysis and not generally evidenced on community Facebook pages) at the University of Aberdeen has found the Covid pandemic has caused distortions in how all of us perceive…

Not so hot! My husband was collecting the children from the play area. Upon asking our eldest daughter where her younger sister had got to, he was told she had gone to buy a hot dog. At that moment, three-year-old son spied a dog asleep in the sun. He ran to it, shouting, “Hot dog, Daddy, hot dog!” and proceeded to pat it. Then with a disappointed look on his face, he returned to his father and remarked – “Not hot, Daddy, only warm!” Peer Gynt Eligible tractor I’ve always thought of automation as inevitable and desirable, but now I’m not so sure. It seems that some machines are going too far already. In our local paper, a firm has been advertising for staff, including – “Married and single shepherds,…

The King’s plans to slim down the monarchy mean those working royals left carrying the load are having to take on extra work. And one of those proving time and time again why she is such an asset to the royal family is Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. The mum-of-two has worked tirelessly as a representative of the monarchy since marrying Prince Edward 24 years ago, but has stepped up even further since the death of the Queen last year. And in recent weeks, she’s added even more engagements to her already full schedule, supporting important causes like a children’s hospice and a blindness prevention charity. Evidence of her growing status in The Firm includes the appearance she made last week at an event alongside Prince William. The fact she accompanied…

The wrap up... Britney Spears is once again embroiled in a bitter public feud. The Toxic singer came out swinging recently after a British newspaper published a story in which Britney’s ex-husband Kevin Federline – father of their sons Sean, 17, and Jayden, 16 – said she needed help for her addiction to crystal meth “before it’s too late”. In the interview with author Daphne Barak – who wrote the best-selling book Saving Amy about late singer Amy Winehouse – Kevin, 45, said he was “terrified” for Britney’s wellbeing and that Sean and Jayden refused to spend time at their mother’s California mansion after allegedly seeing drugs being delivered to the property. Soon after the story made headlines, both Britney, 41, and Kevin denied there was any truth to the…

Antonia Prebble is at the top of her game with show after show featuring her talents. Last year, she headed to Australia for the SBS drama Safe Home and then went straight into rehearsals for Auckland Theatre Company’s production of North by Northwest. She finished the year working on Shortland Street. But it’s her latest project, the bright new comedy Double Parked, from top Kiwi comedians and writers Chris Parker and Alice Snedden, which has given her a new string to her bow: the ability to act in a comedy. “Most of the shows I’ve done, such as Outrageous Fortune and Westside, have been dramedies. I’ve never really acted in a comedy before and that was one of the reasons I wanted to do Double Parked,” she says. “It’s quite…

Local talent Jackie Clarke is no stranger to the spotlight, wowing Kiwi crowds for more than three decades with her maverick entertainment style. But with age, she’s found fewer opportunities, so the 57-year-old diva decided to create her own. “I love my wrinkles!” she declares. “They’re an expression of the life and love I’ve experienced, and my humanity. So when the doors started closing on me, I just built my own house and opened my own doors, making my own opportunities.” Her determination to stay on the stage is hardly surprising, given she joined her first band, Marching Orders, at the age of 16, stole hearts with her rock group The Lady Killers, then spent the last three decades pursuing various other roles, including as a judge for New Zealand…

Kate Tieman can vividly recall a college teacher pulling her parents aside one day to suggest she had an eating disorder. From the outside, she was a thin student who often chose not to eat. But in her last year of school, it all made sense. Kate had been suffering with undiagnosed Crohn’s disease. “I was a sick kid and took quite a bit of time off school with sore tummies and in my teenage years, it started getting bad enough that we began to investigate it more,” says Paraparaumu-based Kate, now 31, who owns and runs a marketing business from home. “I saw a handful of doctors and explained my symptoms, and they’d say it was growing pains or I wasn’t eating well or getting enough exercise.” Although she…

Chocolate hazelnut cookies & cream bars SERVES 16 PREP + COOKTIME 15 MINUTES(+ 1 HOUR 20 MINUTESCHILLING) BASE & FILLING 220g Oreos60g (4 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted400g (1 ¹⁄³ cups) chocolate hazelnut spread (we used Nutella), melted TOPPING 30g (2 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened 115g full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature260g (generous 2 cups) icing sugar, sifted 1 Line a 20cm (8in) square baking tin with nonstick baking paper. 2 Put the biscuits into a food processor and process until finely crushed. Alternatively, put them into a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Set aside 20g of the crushed Oreos for the topping. Tip the rest into a medium mixing bowl, then pour in the melted butter and mix with a spoon until fully combined. Press…

BOLD HUES This deep bottle green shade will work for all skin tones. To achieve the biggest impact, pair this coordinated waistcoat and these tailored trousers with bright-pink pieces that offer a striking contrast to the richness of the green. Add a statement shirt, a fluoro beanie and pair of casual-cool sneakers for a stylish ensemble with a fashion-forward edge. GREEN SUPREME Why not wear several shades of green at once? Start with this floral-print blouse tucked into a midi-length faux- leather skirt in a much darker green. Layer a coat over the top and finish with teal accessories, such as these geometric earrings, two-tone bag and sophisticated suedette heels. KHAKI COOL Thyme isn’t just for cooking – add it to your wardrobe too! Start with a lightweight trench coat…

CANCER Jun 22 – Jul 23 Love and matters of the heart are very strong for Cancerian singles. There are a couple of contenders for your heart, and you have dreams of them dueling it out and falling at your feet! Will one of them win your affection? I think you know already, but you’ll enjoy the attention and take your time. LEO Jul 24 – Aug 23 It’s so important to keep personal life just that – personal. You’ll be asked questions in your workplace and if you’re not in the workforce, it’ll be someone who’s an acquaintance or official who wants to know more than they should. Keep things very low-key. VIRGO Aug 24 – Sep 23 You’ll achieve all the things on your list this week –…

Mayhem and mirth with the man about the house The news these days is so often bad that when some good stuff comes along, it seems almost shocking. For instance, I’ve just been reading all about a new study of New Zealand teenagers that suggests they’re much better behaved than they used to be. Back when I was young, teenagers could be pretty wild if they got the chance, especially around alcohol, something some of them had trouble accepting was only for adults to enjoy. I was one of those teenagers and such wickedness might have set me up for a lifelong relationship with the stuff. But all that foolishness could be coming to an end, with teens of today apparently so sensible, they’d rather stay home and look at…

Teacher’s favourite A darkly witty flashback to school and the ’80s Maybe it was the grey weather or being at the end of a too-busy week, but I was feeling blah. What I needed was some reading that wasn’t entirely harrowing or relentlessly bleak. A smart, witty page-turner with a story to keep me guessing and characters to care about. An easy read, but not a light and frothy one. This was a big ask apparently. It turned out to be difficult to find anything to fit the bill. So thank goodness for Pet, the latest novel from Catherine Chidgey. It’s a darkly witty and playful flashback to the 1980s that has an element of thriller, but is also a keenly observed portrayal of the cruelties of school life and…

Daughter date L.A.’s Finest Jessica Alba and her daughter Honor Warren looked like twins at this year’s French Open held in Paris. Honor recently celebrated her 15th birthday, with her doting mum, 42, sharing, “I am so proud of who you have become my Honorcita… To say my heart burst open the moment I saw you doesn’t even cover it.” Picture perfect Hollywood legend Tom Hanks was one of 90,000 people to attend this year’s CMA Fest in Nashville. After acting for more than four decades, the two-time Oscar winner, 66, recently announced he doesn’t have any desire to retire. He says, “I’m not working for the sake of working. I’m in a very lucky position.” PARTY IS STARTED! There’s no stopping pop singer Pink, who kicked off her eighth…