Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 33, 2025 i New Zealand Woman's Weekly

SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE Singer Kelly is there for her grieving kids after a family tragedy Their divorce was bitter, but popstar Kelly Clarkson pushed her resentments aside when her ex-husband was dying of skin cancer. Brandon Blackstock passed away on August 7 after a secret battle with melanoma, a loss which has left his young children with Kelly, daughter River, 11, and son Remy, nine, bereft. Throughout his three-year illness, the family managed to keep Brandon’s health status under wraps and when American Idol winner Kelly earlier this year missed 10 tapings of her US TV talk show, rumours swirled that she was about to quit. Fans also couldn’t help but notice in early August that Kelly, 43, fought back tears during a Las Vegas show as she performed…

Nola Vlatkovich will never forget the moment her son Antony called to say a liver was available and he needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible for transplant surgery. She was in the middle of a manicure. “I told the girls, ‘Stop the nails!’ and I was on my way,” remembers Nola, 66. The life-changing November 2023 call came as the close-knit family were already juggling grief, distance and uncertainty. Just two days earlier, Nola’s beloved 97-year-old mother Matija, the backbone of the family, had passed away. Her daughter Katija, now 39, who was often raised by her nana while Antony, now 38, was in and out of hospital as a child, had also just moved to Berlin. Throughout everything, Nola’s thoughts turned to the donor’s family.…

In a world obsessed with hustle, glowing screens and artificial light, the idea of moonbathing feels like a quiet rebellion. Much like its sun-drenched counterpart, it’s the practice of intentionally soaking in natural light. But this time, it’s the soft, silvery glow of the moon. No SPF required. While sunbathing brings to mind beach holidays and sunburn, moonbathing is about slowing down. It’s a ritual that is rooted in calm reflection and restoration – a chance to realign with nature’s rhythms and your own. What is moonbathing? Exactly what it sounds like: spending time under the light of the moon. You might lie down in its glow, walk slowly beneath it, sit by a window or let it gently light up your room. There’s no one way to do it…

Letters to the Editor FAMILY SURPRISES ● Winning letter How exciting to find out via DNA where you come from (NZWW, August 18), though it might open a can of worms! My family, on both sides, have kept copious records, so I have no doubt who I am, except… I didn’t know until I was an adult that the woman I thought was my great-grandmother wasn’t! Although she and her husband had 14 children of their own, they generously adopted my grandfather, the child of her unmarried sister, who never revealed the name of the father. So, hey, I could be related to an earl, a pirate or a gardener! Anne Your prize This week’s winning letter writer receives five blocks of the new Whittaker’s Banana Caramel chocolate and an…

The song I listen to when I need a pick-me-up is… Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness. Just for the lines – “I know the storms and strife cloud up your outlook on life, just think ahead and you’ll be inspired to reach higher and higher.” My favourite part about filming Eat More For Less New Zealand is… Watching people go from being crushed by the cost-of-living crisis and a lack of food education, to having hope that they’ll be able to get themselves and their families out of the funk they’re in. The shop I can’t walk past is… Saint Anthony’s food store in Sandringham. It’s the only shop in Auckland that has anything close to the South Indian food that’s in my DNA. My on-set ritual is… Before we…

Royal update Scandalous headlines about their parents have been part of life for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. The pair have grown up used to the exploits of their dad Prince Andrew and mum Sarah, Duchess of York attracting worldwide attention – although when they were small, their parents tried to protect them by banning newspapers at home and, thanks to an agreement with their principal, at school. But there’s been no way of hiding the latest stream of sordid allegations that have surfaced in Andrew Lownie’s explosive new biography Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York. And the sisters are said to be “utterly mortified” by what’s been written – especially about Andrew, 65, and his links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein – that it could lead…

In her own words... Jess Sayer Jess Sayer is a sought-after actor and a talented scriptwriter who has won numerous accolades for her writing, including the prestigious Bruce Mason Award. In addition to playing Maeve Mullens on Shortland Street, the dynamic 35-year-old has also starred in Auckward Love and Runaway Millionaires. Jess’ writing is gaining attention both here and abroad, with her latest play MARY: The Birth of Frankenstein soon to be staged by Auckland Theatre Company. “When I was five, my family moved to Brunei and my parents taught at Jerudong International School, which is the Sultan’s brother’s school. It was massive, from kindy to Year 13, and there was a cool blend of ex-pats and local kids. The school was on the edge of a jungle, with big…

Earl Grey bomboloni with lemon curd PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR (+ REFRIGERATION & STANDING) MAKES 25 80g unsalted butter, softened 1 cup (250ml) milk 3 teaspoons (10g) dried yeast ¼ cup (55g) caster sugar, plus 1 cup (220g) extra ¼ cup (60ml) lukewarm water 2 Earl Grey tea bags 3 cups (450g) plain flour ½ teaspoon table salt 2 egg yolks Vegetable oil, for deep-frying LEMON CURD ¾ cup (165g) caster sugar 1 tablespoon lemon rind, finely grated ½ cup (125ml) lemon juice 4 eggs, beaten lightly 150g cold unsalted butter, chopped 1 To make the lemon curd, combine sugar, lemon rind, juice and eggs in a medium heatproof bowl. Place over a medium saucepan of simmering water. Stir for 5 minutes or until mixture thickens and thickly…

Baa-my bros! RAMS FROM TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, TVNZ+ Sir Sam Neill and The Castle’s Michael Caton star in this movie about estranged brothers Colin and Les, who are at war in remote Western Australia. When one of their flock contracts a rare and lethal illness, the authorities order every sheep to be killed. Can the siblings set aside their bitterness and work together? Funny line-up TASKMASTER NZ 7.30PM, MONDAY, AUGUST 18 AND TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, TVNZ 2 A new batch of Kiwi celebrities are ready to be judged by Taskmaster Jeremy Wells as the beloved local comedy kicks off its sixth season. But they’re not alone – shepherding the group is deadpan Paul Williams, brother of Guy. Those desperately trying to win Jeremy’s favour this time are Bree Tomasel, Pax…

Family dynamics and a hint of mystery are combined in this slow-burn story, set in London and northern Italy. Elegantly written, it’s very much a character-driven tale. The Homemade God revolves around one man. Vic Kemp is a world-famous artist, now in his seventies and poised to create his greatest masterpiece – or so he has told his four children. While his paintings have made Vic rich, he has never been accepted as a serious artist. No one believes in him as much as his family do. And Vic’s love and approval matter more than anything to stormy eldest daughter Netta, her sister Susan, sensitive brother Goose and to childlike Iris, always the baby of the family. Each of them is devoted to looking after him. So when Vic announces…

Cover story For the first time in 16 years, Kiwi kayak queen Dame Lisa Carrington has had a chance to catch her breath. Well, sort of. While she’s still hitting the water six days a week in preparation for the next Olympics – and made an unexpected return to racing this month – the sporting superstar has enjoyed an extended break from international competition. It’s given her something rare: a little extra time. From weekends away with husband Michael “Bucky” Buck, time spent in her hometown of Ōhope, to cuddles with her cavoodle Colin, Lisa’s been soaking up all the things she misses when she’s travelling and competing. It’s undoubtedly been a well-earned change of pace, but if you think she’s mastered the art of slowing down, think again. “It’s…

News update Former Labour MP Grant Robertson learned a lot during his many years in politics. “I came to understand that you’ll never achieve everything you want to and some great ideas won’t make it to fruition,” says Grant, 53. “And it’s frustrating when some of the things you worked really hard on are reversed by the next government. But having taken a step back, overall I know I did good things and I helped people.” Raised in Dunedin, Grant’s political career began at the University of Otago and went on to include a stint at the United Nations in New York. But it was when he returned to New Zealand in 2001 and became MP Marian Hobbs’ ministerial advisor that Grant was drawn to the Beehive. Then when Marian…

For Jackie van Beek, success isn’t measured in red carpets or TV ratings – it’s found in the joyful, chaotic moments of creativity shared with her children. Whether they’re being bribed into reading her scripts or starring alongside her in Educators, the writer, actor and director says her teens are her greatest collaborators. “I offer them money to read scripts, either ones I’ve written or when I’m deciding whether to take a job or not,” says the 49-year-old. “They sit with me, advising me about what I should and shouldn’t be doing, which I thoroughly enjoy. And it’s a great way for them to earn pocket money. “I feel so touched that I have children who don’t feel humiliated by the ridiculous things that their mum and dad decide to…

Oven-baked risotto with chicken, rocket & tomato PREP + COOK TIME 45 MINUTES SERVES 4 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 large onion, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 cups (400g) Arborio rice ¾ cup (180ml) dry white wine 1 litre (4 cups) chicken stock 4 small chicken breast fillets Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season 250g heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved 50g baby rocket leaves ½ cup (40g) finely grated Parmesan 1 tablespoon fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped coarsely 1 Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan. 2 Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan or flameproof baking dish to medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic, stirring, for 5 minutes or until onion softens. Add rice and stir to coat in onion mixture. Stir in wine…

Breakfast bonanza! Kiwi functional nutrition company Radix is on a mission to make breakfast – and busy mornings in general – a whole lot easier. Made from natural ingredients at the brand’s Waikato facility, its Original Breakfasts come in single-serve pouches designed to fuel everything from early gym sessions to long days at your desk. Each flavour-packed serve (think Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry and Banana) includes 21g protein, along with fibre, vitamins and minerals, and costs $54.90 for an eight-pack. Simply add water or milk, then devour straight from the pouch! See radixnutrition.co.nz Oil change Rethinking ultra-processed seed oils? Mt Maunganui-based Mitchells Nutrition – best known for its bone broths, protein powders and organ supplements – has just launched Mitchells Beef Tallow. Made from 100 percent grass-fed New Zealand beef, this…

When writer and speaker Jo Pybus was approaching the middle of her life, she thought she knew what was coming. “Hot flushes and the gradual slowing of my period until it stopped,” she says. “What I did not expect was four years of more frequent, heavier periods and anxiety.” Even though she had Dr Google and her GP to get informed, Jo wondered why she’d never talked about it with the three friends she walked with every morning. “We bare our souls on this walk and yet we’d never touched on menopause – ever.” Being a talker, she began to share her symptoms and discovered her friends were all facing their own unique set of challenges. “I was blown away by the fact we had all been soldiering on in…

You will need ● Glass vases ● Low-tack masking tape ● Paintbrush ● Resene Quick Dry primer ● Resene testpots. We used Resene Cutty Sark, Resene Deep Teal, Resene Kandinsky, Resene Tequila and Resene Wax Flower 1Using Resene Quick Dry primer, paint a basecoat on the vases and leave to dry. 2 Tape up the sections for the stripes. 3 Paint the stripes using Resene testpots, using our example as a guide. As there are various colours, you’ll end up painting some of the stripes and leaving them to dry, then masking off for the other stripes and painting them. Remove the masking tape and allow to fully dry. 4Your vases are ready to be filled with the fresh seasonal flowers and foliage. Top tips You can use Resene Waterborne…