Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 4, 2025 i New Zealand Woman's Weekly

Sir Anthony Hopkins proved he’s made of tough stuffat the Joy Awards in Saudi Arabia, just days after losing two of his homes in the Los Angeles fires. “The only thing we take with us is the love we give,” shared The Silence of the Lambs star, 87, when he stepped out with his wife Stella Arroyave, 68, flying to the Middle Eastern nation to present fellow Oscar winner Morgan Freeman, 87, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Meanwhile, Mud star Matthew McConaughey, 55, accompanied by wife Camila Alves, 42, was celebrated as Personality of the Year. Christina Aguilera, 44, shimmered on the lavender carpet with her long-term fiancé Matthew Rutler, 39, before opening the show with a number of her hits, including Genie in a Bottle.…

Bronzed, blonde and lip-glossed to perfection, Pamela Anderson rocketed to stardom on Baywatch in 1992. Filling out her red swimsuit in all the eye-popping places, she was emulated by women and desired by men all over the globe. Through five seasons of the hit TV show, Pamela wielded her sexual power like a legendary Hollywood vixen. But more than 30 years later – after decades in a career slump – the actor is stepping again into her power. Yet it’s a very different power from what she once had but, perhaps most gratifying to Pamela, women still want to be her. Just for very different reasons. “She’s proving that your fifties and sixties can be fabulous,” cultural commentator Laura Craik says of the 57-yearold star. “Pammy is positive proof that…

Don’t You Forget about... The Breakfast Club! It’s been 40 years since we first met the so-called “criminal”, “princess”, “athlete”, “brain” and “basketcase” serving a Saturday detention at Shermer High School. Launching the careers of Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy, The Breakfast Club is considered one of the best movies of the ’80s and one of the best teen flicks ever. Read on to discover things you might not have known about the film... • Judd, now 65, who plays “criminal” John Bender stayed in character when the cameras stopped rolling, bullying co-star Molly, 56, to the point that director John Hughes almost fired him. Paul, now deceased, who played vice principal Vernon, defended Judd. • Unusually for a film, it…

Summer pudding PREP + COOK TIME 40 MINUTES (+ OVERNIGHT REFRIGERATION) SERVES 8-10 This recipe is best made a day ahead. 250g fresh strawberries, quartered 250g fresh blueberries 350g frozen raspberries 250g frozen blackberries ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar 1 cup (250ml) lighter-style red wine (such as pinot noir or shiraz) 11 large slices (400g) white sandwich bread Extra fresh berries, cream or ice cream, to serve BERRY SYRUP 150g frozen raspberries ¼ cup (80g) redcurrant jelly (see note) 1 Combine berries, sugar and wine in a medium saucepan. Stir occasionally over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved. Cook for 2 minutes, then remove pan from heat. Cool. 2 Strain berries over a large bowl, reserving berry liquid. 3 Remove crusts from bread. Cut a round for the base from…

Brave Together is a global initiative by Maybelline New York to help those facing anxiety and depression by supporting 35 not-for-profits in 25 countries, including New Zealand’s Youthline. The local charity provides support to all Kiwis aged between 12 to 24, offering a free and confidential 24/7 helpline service (call 0800 376 633 or text 234), face-to-face counselling services and more. To nurture her mental health, four-time Grand Slam tennis champion and Brave Together ambassador Naomi Osaka approaches it with the same care and commitment she gives to her physical health. “Your physical health and mental health are equally important,” says Naomi. “It’s important to talk about things, talk to therapists if you want to, meditate – that’s something I really love to do. I love to listen to rain…

Maintaining good bone health is essential for Kiwis over the age of 50. Osteoporosis, a common condition that weakens bones, is more often than not responsible for broken bones that are a result of even minor falls. This is because our bone density declines naturally with age, which increases the risk of fragility fractures. Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) plays a vital role in fracture prevention and bone health after a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Because individuals who have already suffered a fragility fracture are at a higher risk of future fractures, ACC’s James Whitaker is a strong advocate for public education about prevention. He encourages all patients who have suffered fractures to speak with their GP about possible referral to the FLS so they can get further information and make informed…

I was surprised a few years ago when a friend of my older brother declared, “I remember you when you were at college. You were the black sheep of the family.” This man was a former judge of the Court of Appeal. He didn’t make things up, nor did he intend any slur. He was simply recalling it as it was. I couldn’t disagree, but I hadn’t realised it had been so obvious. I’d always accepted, as the youngest in a family of five, that I fell short in many respects. I wasn’t as academic, I wasn’t as well-behaved and I wasn’t as good at sport. I appeared the least talented in a talented family. Yet despite all that, I felt I was more in tune with the rest of…

Spoiler alert: I am about to reveal details of the final episode of the popular American, neo-western television series Yellowstone. If you’re not interested in the show, fair enough. I’m not particularly enthused by cowboys, ranches and broad volcanic plateaus either, but like most good TV dramas, you get sucked in. It’s also one of those wonderful shows both Megan and I watch together and have not cheated on each other with – television still bringing couples together. As I write, the last epic instalment has not aired – yet some people know details of how it concludes. Apparently there’s been a leak. This was all revealed to me and my family last night as we took an Uber home from a stopover at a friend’s place. For some reason,…

EDITOR Marilynn McLachlan LIFESTYLE & BEAUTY EDITOR Anna Lee SENIOR WRITER Catherine Milford CHIEF  SUB-EDITOR Denise Bowden  SUB-EDITOR Darren Bevan  ART DIRECTOR Mirella Monteiro  DESIGNERS Anna Pétursdóttir, Béla Trussell-Cullen, Debby Wei, Hayley Pearce  PHOTO & EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Kellie Blizard CONTRIBUTORS Donna Fleming, Fleur Guthrie, Kasia De Vydt-Jillings, Leigh Matheson, Megan McChesney, Nicky Pellegrino, Sophie Neville, Steve Landells ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Claire Chisholm claire.chisholm@aremedia.co.nz  SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Chloe Jordan, Amy Madden  ACCOUNT MANAGER Sara Grace Aldis  SENIOR COMMERCIAL BRAND MANAGER Angela Wei angela.wei@aremedia.co.nz COMMERCIAL BRAND MANAGER Georgia van Koningsveld  DIRECTORY SALES MANAGER Kim Chapman 021 673133 classifieds@xtra.co.nz ARE MEDIA GROUP MANAGEMENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jane Huxley  GENERAL MANAGER Stuart Dick  EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Sarah Henry PRIVACY NOTICE New Zealand Woman’s Weekly is publishedby Are Media Limited (Are Media). Are Media may use…

Fans of Shortland Street were surely gutted to see Dr Harper Whitley meet her end in the dramatic Christmas cliff hanger. But as you’ll read in our cover story, actor Ria Vandervis is embracing life beyond the soap. Like so many parents, she faced the relentless juggle of career and home life. She confesses to feeling as though she wasn’t excelling in either role, which led to burnout. Ultimately, she made the brave decision to step away from Shorty, explaining, “My body was saying no more.” An avid DIY enthusiast, Ria is now taking time to slow down, spend quality moments with her son and to reflect. Thankfully, she’s already feeling much better. Coincidentally, we have a feature this week on avoiding burnout. It highlights the importance of setting boundaries…

Back in the day, if there was more than one woman in a comedy line-up, people would curiously question: Is it a fundraiser? Is it a special night for breast cancer awareness? The issue never was that women weren’t funny. It’s that for generations, stand-up comedy had only been an almost exclusively male art. For the original queens of Kiwi comedy, Michèle A’Court and Justine Smith, they’ve also had to endure a lot of derogatory comments during their 30 years in the limelight. Now, as they come together for a Weekly photoshoot at Auckland’s Q Theatre, they’re speaking out about their own experiences to make sure the next generation of female comics can work in a safe environment. Along with Courtney Dawson – who stumbled into her first comedy gig…

HELP IS HERE Alcohol and Drug Helpline – 0800 787 797 or online chat. For a self-described introvert, Robbie Williams did a sterling job posing on the Golden Globes red carpet last month. Standing next to his wife Ayda Field, the rock legend shone in his bling-encrusted silver suit. The Rock DJ hitmaker was at the event because his song Forbidden Road – written for his recently released biopic Better Man – was nominated in the Best Original Song category. He came away without a gong, but it hardly mattered to Robbie. After years battling alcohol, drugs, depression and anxiety, he’s finally found his own personal nirvana the old-fashioned way – with a wife he’s crazy about and four happy, healthy kids. The Angels singer is also riding high right…

Pork ribs with sticky barbecue sauce PREP +COOK TIME 1HOUR 5MINUTES SERVES 4 1.75kg meaty pork spare ribs 1 cup (250ml) tomato sauce ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil ½ cup (110g) brown sugar 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 2 teaspoons smoked paprika Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season 1 Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, then reduce heat to low. Add ribs and cook, covered, for 40 minutes or until tender. Drain. 2 Combine the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and add ribs, turning to coat well. Season. 3 Cook coated ribs on a heated barbecue (or grill plate or grill) for 15 minutes or until well-glazed, basting occasionally with remaining marinade mixture. 4 Cut…

Location Creating a home office space that encourages work starts with choosing the right space. 1 Consider what you need from your office space. If peace and quiet is a top priority, a separate room or a corner in a less frequently used room is where you should set up camp. If you have to keep an eye on small children, you may need your workspace near a communal family area, in which case a cupboard office or an office nook might be for you. If you’re small on space, look to set up your office in a corner of the living room or, as a last resort, your bedroom. 2 It’s important to separate your personal life from your work life when working from home – to make it…

Even as I’m reading the latest articles about “one-bag travel” and the current fashion for taking only carry-on luggage even on international flights, I’ve been leaning into my penchant for chucking everything I fancy into my suitcase. Call it rebellion if you like – whatever the cool kids are doing, my default position is to have none of it. I never got into Game of Thrones, Bitcoin or lash extensions and it feels too late now even if I were to change my mind, which I won’t. Or call it the habit of a lifetime – I adored packing for family trips as a kid. Even a day down by the river was an opportunity to put together a little bag of treasures – a hairbrush, a doll, a hairbrush…

It’s the last week before I go back to work and the time seems to have flown by. I know for a lot of you round the country, it’s been a rubbish summer and I’m sorry. But in the Far North, it’s been like one of those summer holidays from childhood – long, sunny days, beautiful cool nights, magnificent surf, and catching up with family and friends in a leisurely fashion. We rented out the house for a week in the middle of January, but I decided on one last hurrah and scooped up the grandkids to come along with me. Their parents are back at work and given the choice between going to a holiday programme or coming on a roadie with me, the kids chose to be with…

The struggle is real This tale of a troubled teen will touch your heart Quite honestly, mother seems to expect. I hesitated before At first, her behaviour picking up this just seems a bit bratty, as book. I wasn’t sure if I could she refuses to shower or spend an entire novel inside change out of her horrible the head of a character hoodie when she’s taken with bipolar disorder. But I out for dinner. ought to have trusted in the Back in university, Maddy’s author. She has produced a highs and lows become story that is compassionate, steeper, and both are revealing and captivating. terrifying. When she is low, When we first meet Maddy she can hardly get out of Banks, she is in a Las Vegas bed; when…

Five minutes with... How much preparation did you do for the role? Director Pablo Larraín expected me to work very, very hard and he expected me to sing. I went into classes six or seven months before then, to take Italian classes, to understand and study opera, to immerse myself completely and do the work. For Maria, there was no other way. When Pablo said, “Can you sing?” I thought, “I mean, sure, a little,” but the truth is, as he said, “You have to learn how to sing opera or I will be able to tell when we are close on your face because it’s who she is.” How was the experience of learning how to sing that way? To be very candid, it was the therapy I didn’t…

Walking away from the job she loved wasn’t an easy decision for Shortland Street star Ria Vandervis, but after reaching what she describes as “total burnout,” the 40-year-old knew it was time for a bold new beginning. And after 12 years of giving her all on the iconic Kiwi soap, Ria is embracing this next chapter, which is all about slowing down and being present for her miracle son Teddy. “Shortland Street was such a huge part of my life, so it was a really scary decision to leave,” says Ria, who played much-loved Harper Whitely on the show. “But I had to be brave because I’d reached the point where my body was saying ‘no more’. I couldn’t keep going as I was. And now, I’m just loving having…

He has more than three million followers on social media for his dance videos, filmed a Disney movie, promotes music and global brands, and one of his moves features in the popular Fortnite video game. But things could have turned out very differently for Austin Taylor, who’s battled bullying and suffered a stroke at age 16. “I’ve always had a passion for sports,” explains Austin, 19, who divides his time between Auckland and his family home in Tauranga, with dad Mike, 45, mum Alisha, 48, and brothers Jordan, 17, and Rory, 14. “I loved moving and I was dancing pretty much before I could walk. “When I was younger, I didn’t really think of dance as a career, but I’m super-competitive, so when I started getting offers, I realised it…

Founded by Prince Harry in 2014, the Invictus Games brings together wounded, injured or sick armed servicemen and women from 25 nations around the world to compete in adaptive sports. As 550 people globally prepare to compete in Whistler, Canada, this month, three local competitors share their stories with the Weekly. When married couple Buffy Little and Alana Blackman represent New Zealand together at the Invictus Games, it will be a reminder of how far they have come in their ongoing journey as cancer survivors. The pair, who serve in the New Zealand Army, have successfully defeated breast cancer three times between them and hope their stories will inspire others facing a similar fight. “Winning selection for the 2020 Invictus Games gave me the confidence to be able to share…

Pumpkin, corn & chicken slice MAKES 16 PIECES PREP +COOK 55 MINUTES (+ COOLING) 900g store-bought rotisserie chicken 500g pumpkin (see notes) 300g can corn kernels, drained 4 spring onions, chopped finely 4 eggs, beaten lightly 1 tablespoon sage leaves, chopped (see notes) ½ cup (75g) self-raising flour 1 cup (120g) grated cheese Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan. Grease a 20cm x 30cm slice pan. Line with baking paper, extending the paper 5cm over long sides. 2 Remove skin from chicken and shred meat from bones – you’ll need about 3 cups (480g).  3 Peel and coarsely grate  pumpkin. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Place in a large bowl. Pat corn dry with a paper towel, then…

Calling all tweens and teens! Your skin is like your favourite hoodie – it’s there to protect you, but you’ve got to take care of it too. Just starting to dip your toes into skincare? This guide has your back. Irritating formulas Before slathering a new product all over your face, dab it on a small patch of skin first to avoid surprise reactions. Wondering if a product is the culprit behind those pesky pimples? Keep an eye out for clusters of tiny zits or irritation popping up in spots you’ve applied the product. If things get worse, give the product the boot and see if your skin clears up. Most importantly, listen to your skin! If it stings or burns, ditch it. Harsh ingredients Right now, your skin doesn’t…

Osteoporosis affects more than half of women and about one-third of men over 60 years old. And yet you may only find out you suffer from osteoporosis when your GP arranges a bone-density scan. Suddenly, you could find yourself having to make decisions about treatment for a problem when you have no symptoms at all. Alternatively, you may discover you have osteoporosis after a minor bump, stumble or fall, and you’re in severe pain with a fractured bone in your wrist, spine, a hip or a rib. Osteoporosis can take a toll beyond the agony of a fracture too. And being in chronic pain, unable to get around or losing your independence can be just as traumatic as the injury itself. What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis (“porous bones”) causes bones to…

Scare yourself into investing Ask yourself three questions: 1. “How old am I right now?” 2. “How long have I been working?” 3. “When am I going to stop working and retire?” If you’re 45 and plan to retire at 65, you could be halfway through your working life. So add up your KiwiSaver, any savings and your home equity, then double it. If you repeat the first half of your working life, that’s roughly what you’ll have for retirement. Some people will find that reassuring. For others, it’s a wake-up call. Perhaps enough to stick to that New Year resolution to be better with money. This is a bit overly simplistic because your income typically goes up as you get older. Generally, you’re not earning very much when you…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Honorary Kiwi Elijah Wood made a lasting impression filiming The Lord of the Rings trilogy in New Zealand, then last year following it up with new classic The Bookworm. He turns 44 on January 28. Meanwhile, Olivia Colman takes The Crown on January 30 when she celebrates turning 51. You’ll always be The Favourite to us! PISCES Feb 20 – Mar 20 The week could be a little strained as you try to figure out why a certain person in your life is being difficult. Just get on with other things – there’s a sense they are wanting attention and manipulating the situation. It’s good news on the career front, with a bonus or offer on the table. Take it! ARIES Mar 21 – Apr 20 Everyone loves…

Letters to the Editor DEAR DIARY... ● Winning letter Editor Marilynn wanted to know what New Year’s resolutions her readers had made (NZWW, January 20). One I made – and kept – a few years ago was keeping a gratitude diary. Once you get in the habit of thinking about all you have to be thankful for, it really lifts your mood. Think about something as simple as being able to have a shower. The World Health Organisation estimates two billion people worldwide don’t have access to clean water. So I’m grateful. Kathy Your prize This week’s winning letter writer receives a Waitoa barbecue pack, worth more than $100, complete with a cooler bag, thermometer and a $75 voucher! Perfect for summer entertaining, Waitoa Free Range Chicken has launched a…

Modern love Modern Family alum Sarah Hyland, 34, returned to her theatre roots as Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby musical, celebrating with comedy idol Richard Kind, 68, at the production’s Broadway Centennial Celebration Gala in New York. Mad about Jools Jamie Oliver knows the recipe for a perfect marriage! “My best mate,” shared the celebrity chef, 49, who has been married to wife Jools, 50, for 24 years. MODEL TIME Adorable mum-and-son duo Elizabeth and Damian Hurley were typically glam at the after-party for Oliver! at The Prince Of Wales Theatre in London’s West End. Elizabeth, 59, is helping Damian, 22, her only child, follow his dream of becoming a successful film director. The power of love Céline Dion shared a rare photo of her three sons, René-Charles Angelil,…

Dame Helen Mirren is getting in touch with her bad side! The British icon might have won an Oscar for The Queen, but now she’s stepping into the shoes of an underworld matriarch. The actor, 79, was snapped shooting Guy Ritchie’s new TV series Fixer, in which she plays the head of an Irish crime family in London. The star-studded cast also includes Pierce Brosnan, 71, Tom Hardy, 47, and Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt, 44, and insiders say Helen is thrilled to be working once again with Pierce. The pair first co-starred in The Long Good Friday back in 1980 and most recently teamed up for The Thursday Murder Club, which is yet to be released. “Helen is definitely having fun embracing her inner gangster,” says an insider. Production began…