Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 8, 2025 i New Zealand Woman's Weekly

There’s one word that crops up more than any other when Jake Bailey talks about what’s happened to him in the last decade. It’s not cancer, which struck when he was 18 and nearly claimed his life. Nor is it resilience, which is the topic of a book he’s written. The word Jake, 27, can’t help using over and over is “lucky”. He knows he’s fortunate to have survived cancer and grateful because it changed his life for the better. “Luck has been the defining factor of everything that has happened to me in the past 10 years,” he says. “I survived a very aggressive cancer. If I’d been left with long-term effects, I would have felt differently, but I was lucky that I wasn’t. “I was lucky I had…

Relaxing at his second home in the Cook Islands about a year ago, real estate entrepreneur Mike Pero decided to read through his past medical notes, not realising his life was about to dramatically change. With a family history of heart conditions, Mike first found out he had elevated cholesterol 10 years ago and has taken statins to control it ever since. Between this medication and annual check-ups with his cardiologist, Mike believed everything was under control. But while reading his notes, he learned his calcium score was through the roof at 885. “My first thought was, ‘Hang on, there must be a typo here because this can’t be the case, I’m off the scale,’” recalls Mike, 64, who became increasingly concerned as he investigated. “I looked it up and…

Air fryer roast pork belly with apricot, tomato & fennel salad SERVES 4-6PREP +COOK TIME 1HOUR 20 MINUTES (+ OVERNIGHT MARINATING) 1.2kg piece boneless pork belly ¼ cup (60ml) apricot nectar 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon coarse salt 400g tomatoes, some chopped, some sliced 1 medium (300g) fennel, trimmed, thinly shaved, fronds reserved 2 shallots, thinly sliced 6 apricots, quartered APRICOT DRESSING 2 tablespoons apricot nectar 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard 1 teaspoon honey ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season 1 Using a small, sharp knife, score pork rind at 1cm intervals, then pat dry. 2 Combine apricot nectar and garlic in a shallow tray. Add pork meat-side down (rind-side…

Keeping your makeup brushes clean is essential – not just for flawless make-up application, but also for maintaining healthy skin. Dirty brushes can harbour bacteria, oils and old makeup, leading to breakouts and uneven blending. With the right care, your brushes will last longer and perform beautifully every time. 1 RINSE THE BRISTLES Hold your brush with the bristles facing downward under lukewarm running water. This positioning prevents water from seeping into the ferrule (the metal part), which can loosen the glue that holds the bristles in place, leading to shedding. 2 LATHER UP In your palm, on a cleaning mat or in a small bowl, mix a few drops of brush shampoo or gentle cleanser with a bit of lukewarm water. If your brushes have been used with oil-based…

Musings from our favourite Kiwi funnywoman International Women’s Day is one of my favourite lady celebrations. Low-key as it is – and increasingly observed via offers of retail discounts for things women are supposed to adore, like small appliances and lingerie – it has a proud history. The first IWD was organised in 1909 by the Socialist Party of America (three cheers for the pinko lefties!), then it caught on around the world in countries where women didn’t have the right to vote, which was most of them apart from New Zealand, us being an early adopter. It’s wild when you think that our sisters in America had to wait until 1920 to be allowed to participate in democracy and in the UK they had to hang on for eight…

Letters to the Editor HANG ON A MINUTE! ● Winning letter Like Michèle A’Court, I think washing flapping on the line in the sun and fresh air is a joyful sight (NZWW, February 24)! A friend moved to a new neighbourhood recently and was hanging out her washing when a face appeared over the fence. “Oh, goody!” thought my friend, happy to meet a local. “I just thought you should know,” said the face before disappearing, “that around here, we do not hang our laundry outside to dry.” How sad. Anne This week’s winning letter writer receives Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025 book, worth $34.99! The annual best-selling guide features 30 top destinations from around the world, including must-visit cities, regions and countries, as well as beautiful photography, emerging…

A great chat with the queen of talkback There’s something disconcerting about going for a swim before heading off to the rugby. In the olden days, summer was tennis and cricket. Winter was netball and rugby. Now we have all sorts of different sports demanding our attention and they don’t stick to a defined period of time. So it was I found myself racing home from the beach to get ready for the Blues versus the Chiefs game at Eden Park. I was taking Mum as my date, given she’s a life-long Waikato and Chiefs supporter. She grew up in Morrinsiville in a rugby-mad family, at the same time as local boys Don and Ian Clarke and Ponty Reid were playing for the All Blacks, so it’s only natural that…

It’s been 50 years since the United Nations first celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 and while planning this issue, I thought of Jude Dobson – a trailblazer in many ways herself. Jude has interviewed four remarkable Kiwi women who reflect on the past, how far we have – or haven’t – come and their hopes for the future. It made me pause and think about the women who paved the way for me, both professionally and personally. My mum and grandmothers were hardworking women, showing me the value of perseverance and ambition. Their wisdom shaped my outlook and their example taught me the importance of building inner strength. A history teacher I had at 15 inspired me so deeply, I trained to be a teacher myself. And now,…

Basil, lime & strawberry cheesecake PREP +COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ REFRIGERATION) SERVES 8 Cooking oil spray 125g Scotch finger biscuits 75g butter, melted 3 teaspoons powdered gelatine ¼ cup (60ml) water 375g cream cheese, softened ½ cup (110g) caster sugar 1 tablespoon lime rind, finely grated 300ml cream ½ cup (125ml) lime juice 2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped 2 tablespoons baby fresh basil leaves, to serve (optional) BASIL-INFUSED STRAWBERRIES 2 tablespoons water  ½ cup (160g) strawberry jam  1 tablespoon lime juice  8 large fresh basil leaves  250g strawberries, halved 1 Spray a 20cm springform pan with cooking oil – don’t use butter as this hardens in the fridge. Line the base with baking paper. 2 Process biscuits until fine. Add butter and process until combined. Press mixture firmly over…

If you have successfully set and stuck to your New Year’s resolution of working out more – congratulations! But if you’re wondering whether your workout is even working two months down the track, you’re not alone. You might have also heard the saying, “It’s not a good workout unless you’ve broken a sweat.” But how much of that is down to exercise rather than, say, a hot and crowded room? “Breaking a sweat is definitely a great side-effect of working out, but it isn’t the only sign of a good one and not always necessary – depending on your goals,” explains nutritionist and exercise scientist Brooke Turner. So, is that workout working? Brooke shares the signs to look for... Soreness When you do resistance training, you’re causing tiny “micro tears”…

You will need ● Tablecloth (or another fabric to rework, such as a duvet cover) ● Tracing paper ● Pins ● Scissors ● Sewing machine 1 Draw out the pattern onto tracing paper using the following measurements and guide: Back panel: one 70cm x 80cm; Front panels: two 70cm x 33cm; Sleeves: two 45cm x 71cm x 40cm trapezoids – the height will be 38cm; Pockets: two 21cm x 23cm; Neckband: two 83cm x 15cm. All measurements include a 12mm seam allowance. Cut a 15cm x 4cm space for the neck in the 70cm x 80cm rectangle, 33cm along the 80cm side. 2 Iron tablecloth, laying front and back pieces flat on the table. Place assembled front and back pattern onto tablecloth, then pin or weigh them down and cut…

ARIES Mar 21 – Apr 20 Have you ever thought about being in business for yourself? Or taking a creative interest further? If you have, it’s time to push things ahead. You have the right recipe – you just need to take that leap of faith. When it comes to love, you won’t be able to help yourself. There is a strong mutual attraction. TAURUS Apr 21 – May 21 There’s so much positive energy flowing around you that nothing can go wrong. Whatever you choose to do this week will work out for the best. If you expect the best scenario, then that is what you will achieve. Make sure to avoid negative thoughts and people. GEMINI May 22 – Jun 21 Take things slowly, no matter what your…

AN EVENING WITH GRAHAM NORTON MONDAY, MARCH 24 – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 The former Father Ted star and owner of TV’s infamous red chair heads to New Zealand for his firstever tour, promising to spill the beans on his favourite guests and some behind-the-scenes secrets. And in a tables-turned moment, he’ll also be facing questions from the audience, so anything could happen. CUBADUPA SATURDAY, MARCH 29 – SUNDAY, MARCH 30 The free festival takes over the capital’s heart for plenty of carnival atmosphere. From food trucks and street theatre to dance and live music, Wellington’s bringing on the party to see out the final days of summer. More than 140 local and international acts will be part of the event, including recent Silver Scroll winner Anna Coddington. For more info,…

It caused something of a stir when the Prince and Princess of Wales were no-shows at the BAFTA Film Awards in London last week. It was thought that Kate would make her first red-carpet appearance at the star-studded ceremony after returning to work earlier this year, having had much of 2024 off while she was undergoing cancer treatment. She and William, 42, don’t attend every year, but he has previously said it’s an event Kate, 43, especially enjoys. Now the fact they didn’t show up, instead taking their children on holiday to the Caribbean, is a sign that the couple are embracing a “new normal” where they choose at times to put family – and each other – first ahead of anything. ‘Kate is actually a much stronger person in…

QUEEN OF THE AWARDS Saoirse’s Hollywood star has never been brighter She might have missed out on winning a BAFTA for her role in The Outrun, but Saoirse Ronan is riding high. The Irish actor, 30, has been hailed as one of the standout talents of her generation, with more nominations and awards to her name than any other star her age. Her latest award nod brings her total to seven BAFTA nominations, four Oscar nominations and one Golden Globe win. This year, The Lovely Bones star will also be celebrating her first wedding anniversary with Scottish actor Jack Lowden, 34. The pair met on the set of Mary Queen of Scots in 2018 and wed in secret in Edinburgh last year, with just a handful of family and friends…

Reflecting on my own life and that of my mother’s, women’s equality – or lack thereof – is demonstrated in all sorts of moments,” says TV personality Jude Dobson. “In the 1950s, my mum was one of only a handful of TEAL air hostesses. Marriage signalled an end to her international flying career because the rules stated hostesses needed to be single. That seems absurd now and when you think of the reasoning, sort of creepy. “When I got the Sale of the Century presenter job in 1989, I was called a co-host instead of a hostess. It was a small but significant step forward. I was also given more airtime to talk than in other countries, which riled a few (male) viewers. “I asked for time off in my…

Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw) First appearance: May 3, 2000. Biggest storyline: Eileen’s husband Pat Phelan turned out to be a nasty conman with a habit of bumping people off. She was terrorised by him until he was stabbed and killed by neighbour Anna Windass. Eileen’s long-running feud with Gail also inspired some dramatic – and hilarious – storylines. Why she’s going: After a quarter of a century working on Coro and recently taking several extended periods of leave – during which she appeared on reality show I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! (becoming great mates with royal contestant Mike Tindall) and toured the UK with the musical Sister Act – Sue, 61, wants to try something new. “I’ve had 25 privileged years on Coronation Street,” she says. “As…

Fish burgers with courgette & dill salad PREP + COOK TIME 25 MINUTES SERVES 4 700g skinless, boneless white fish fillets, minced (see note) 1 egg 3 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs 3 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley, chopped Grated zest of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon chilli flakes 3 tablespoons olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season 4 brioche buns, cut in half 4 tablespoons good-quality whole egg mayonnaise COURGETTE & DILL SALAD 2 small courgettes, thinly sliced 3 teaspoons olive oil Juice of 1 lemon 1 small handful dill sprigs 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed 1 Put minced fish, egg, breadcrumbs, parsley, lemon zest, chilli flakes and olive oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Using your hands, combine mixture and knead for 1-2minutes. Divide mixture into 4…

A NEW WAY OF NETWORKING Harsh truth: Networking is dead… at least in the traditional sense of the word networking. You don’t get anywhere by accumulating thousands of transactional personal and professional connections. You get somewhere by building genuine relationships: ● Giving with no intention of receiving in return. ● Acting in the service of others. ● Creating value for those around you. Those who invest in building relationships rather than networking will reap the most valuable long-term rewards – health, wealth and happiness. Whether you’re moving to a new area, starting a new job, progressing in your current career, going to a professional event or just want to make new friends, here are four core anti-networking principles that anyone can use... PRINCIPLE 1: FIND VALUE-ALIGNED ROOMS Put yourself into…

The beloved broadcaster’s reflections on life Have you lost something and never got over its loss? Something sentimental like a ring or jewellery, a signed book or a special photo? Decades ago, I thought of making a TV documentary about two of my great-uncles, identical twins, killed in World War I, aged 21. Their names were Laurence and Leo Donohue. But they were better known as Jum, short for Jumbo, and Tiny, because the only way they could be told apart was a marginal height difference. I collected all the photos of Jum and Tiny from my uncles and aunts, along with postcards the twins had sent from Europe. I put them in a chocolate box, along with other precious family photos I’d collected in the process. This included a…

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Reflections from a stand-up guy Since the invention of the wheel, there’s been a running archetype of men as stubborn drivers who refuse to stop and ask for directions no matter how lost they’ve become. Bonds were formed between women discussing the utter frustration at partners who seemed not to perceive the reality through the windscreen, screaming, “You are lost! Just stop and ask someone.” Always ignored, of course. How the pendulum has suddenly and dramatically swung. These days, my better half – and I wager many other halves as well – gets frustrated at her husband’s slavish dependency on a little thing called Google Maps. I know there’s Apple Maps, but in an unusual turn of events, the giant spherical fruit does not dominate the map space because when…

WAKE-UP... I love sleeping in. I don’t usually get up until 10am and I blame that entirely on show schedules! First thing, I like to do my morning Gen Z routine of scrolling on my phone and saying good morning to loved ones as I lounge in Melbourne. My days are a little different when I’m staying in Auckland with my grandad. He’s usually up and cleaning the spotless house, so I like to be up earlier to make breakfast and hang out with him. COFFEE TIME... I either make myself a lovely cup of oat matcha latte if I’m doing a show or a hot oat cappuccino if not. MID MORNING... I don’t usually wake up early enough to have breakfast and I’m also a classic Asian – I…