Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 3, 2026 i New Zealand Woman's Weekly

WEEKLY STAFF EDITOR Marilynn McLachlan LIFESTYLE & BEAUTY EDITOR Anna Lee WRITER Rebekah Hebenton CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Denise Bowden SUB-EDITOR Darren Bevan ART DIRECTOR Mirella Monteiro DESIGNERS Anna Pétursdóttir, Béla Trussell-Cullen, Hayley Pearce, Shane Kelly PHOTO EDITOR Kellie Blizard CONTRIBUTORS Donna Fleming, Elisabeth Easter, Fleur Guthrie, Fiona Hawtin, Kasia De Vydt-Jillings, Megan McChesney, Nicky Pellegrino, Sophie Neville ARE MEDIA GROUP MANAGEMENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jane Huxley GENERAL MANAGER Stuart Dick EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Sarah Henry For advertising enquiries, please contact advertising@aremedia.co.nz…

Nepo baby be DERN-ED! Laura defends kids born into showbiz Jay Kelly star Laura Dern grew up with screen icons Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd as parents – then became a screen legend herself. The star says she loved her childhood, shuttling between studio lots and red carpets. However, she’s also frustrated at being labelled a “nepo baby”. “It’s insane,” says Laura, 58. “I’m curious if anyone’s ever called your local butcher whose kids take over the business a ‘nepo baby’. Or a milliner. It’s absurd. “Back then, there wasn’t ‘nepo’ anything. It was part of a legacy story – I was raised in this industry. But this generation? My kids’ age? It’s like it’s an embarrassing scarlet letter they’re wearing. I guess social media has done that.” Laura shares…

Chicken Waldorf lettuce cups PREP + COOK TIME 25 MINUTES (+ COOLING) SERVES 4 1 chicken breast fillet (see tip) 1 red apple, cored, julienned 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 celery stalk, chopped finely ½ cup (50g) walnuts, roasted, chopped coarsely (see tip) ½ small red onion, sliced thinly ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, sliced thinly 150g small red grapes, halved 8 butter lettuce leaves CREAMY-ZESTY DRESSING ¼ cup (75g) whole-egg mayonnaise 1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1 Place chicken in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low-medium. Cook for 7 minutes or until just cooked through and cool in liquid. Drain and shred chicken. 2 Place apple and lemon juice in a bowl, tossing to combine. Add…

Top tip Tiny tweaks add up over time. Incorporate two or three simple habits into your routine every month, then watch your skin and hair transform throughout the year. 1 WORK OUT YOUR BEAUTY GOALS Define exactly what you want to achieve this year. Clearer skin? Healthier hair? Stronger nails? Set your goal and create a plan to make it happen. 2 CURATE YOUR BEAUTY CALENDAR Map out daily, weekly and quarterly rituals blending skincare, haircare, professional treatments and wellness to ensure consistent progress. 3 MASTER MORNING MINI RITUALS Two-minute facial massages or cold showers can instantly depuff, energise and refresh. 4 LAYER LIGHT STRATEGICALLY Apply soft illuminators under foundation rather than on top of powder for a “lit-from-within” glow. 5 INDULGE IN AT-HOME TREATMENTS Monthly deep-conditioning, bond-repairing or shine-boosting…

You wake up and your brain is already racing – today’s meetings, unread emails, half-finished projects and before you’ve had your first coffee, your day is already off and running. But, according to research by Michael Smolensky and Lynne Lamberg in The Body Clock Guide to Better Health, the early part of the day holds a unique advantage. Most people reach peak alertness around 10am, with their best coordination and mental clarity following soon after. This natural rhythm creates ideal conditions for focused, high-impact work, yet too often that precious window is lost to email triage, status meetings and low-value busy work. Your energy zones In my work with many professionals and teams across industries, I see the same pattern – brilliant people using their best hours on the least…

YOU WILL NEED: ● Old or basic bedside table ● Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer ● Paintbrush ● Roller ● Dowel (8mm) ● Handsaw ● Caulking gun ● Construction glue ● Ruler ● Fine-grit sandpaper ● Resene Quick Dry Waterborne Primer Undercoat ● Paint (we used Resene Dusted Blue) ● Drill and drill bit the size of the handle screw (we used 4mm) 1 Prep the bedside table by making sure it is clean and dry. Apply the Resene Smooth Surface Sealer with a brush or a roller to the exterior surfaces – leave the drawer face as it is – and allow to dry. 2 Measure the face of the drawer and cut the dowel accordingly. We required 51 cut dowels for each drawer face. Use a handsaw and…

PISCES Feb 20 – Mar 20 Use your creativity to demonstrate how important a loved one is to you – even a picnic for two will do the trick! You’re seeking solutions to practical or emotional dilemmas, while a dream could remind you of a past passion that could be rekindled. Personal fulfilment starts with self-care. ARIES Mar 21 – Apr 20 Adventure knocks unexpectedly for you and you’re more than ready for a challenge. Your enthusiasm will attract the attention you so crave and may lead to something truly special. Group get-togethers are favoured, but use your downtime wisely to avoid burnout. TAURUS April 21 – May 21 Sensory pleasures dominate. Savour flavours, textures and sights that refresh the soul. Maybe revisit a favourite fragrance for summer. Stock the…

LORDE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Lorde’s long-awaited homecoming promises something powerful. The Ultrasound World Tour transforms her striking new era into an immersive experience, blending haunting melodies, emotional intensity and bold visuals. From euphoric highs to intimate moments, this is a rare chance to see one of Aotearoa’s most influential artists at her most daring, confident and compelling – on home soil. Find more at livenation.co.nz LANTERN FESTIVAL THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 – SUNDAY, MARCH 1 One of the city’s most beloved summer celebrations returns to light up the skies for the Year of the Horse. Expect hundreds of glowing lanterns, spectacular live performances, fireworks and a feast of flavours from across Asia, transforming Manukau Sports Bowl into a vibrant nighttime wonderland. Free to attend and family-friendly, this…

Juggling two small children while hosting a Newstalk ZB show is something that Heather du Plessis-Allan somehow makes look effortless. The Weekly team spent a wonderful morning with her for our photoshoot, making the most of one of those rare pockets of time in her schedule. While the experience was a world away from her usual day-to-day routine, she was such a good sport about it, with her signature sense of humour. From page six, Heather opens up about becoming a mum for the second time and how, after a couple of tumultuous years, she’s found a new perspective, and is embracing and accepting herself fully for who she is – something many of us will recognise at various life stages. Meanwhile, it’s that time of year again when after…

Readers celebrated Sacha McNeil as she opened up about the joy of turning 50. Welcome to the club. You look fantastic. Cohen Looking gorgeous, Sacha. Happy New Year to you – I hope you have a fabulous 2026. Sending lots of love to you. You are my favourite always and forever. Michael You look stunning! Bex Such a nice story and gorgeous photos! Dana Readers showed they love Lisette Raymer for her amazing journalistic talent – not the size on her clothing label You are a gorgeous woman inside and out. Such a professional. Colleen Lisette, you always look amazing. Deb Love and admire you lots. Trisha One of my fave journalists. Sandy Great read. Lisette is fabulous. Christine…

The Princess of Wales’ 44th birthday was a low-key affair, celebrated at home with her husband, children and extended family, with minimal fuss. But Catherine did use the occasion to share a deeply personal message, reflecting on how grateful she is. Nearly two years after learning she had cancer, now in remission, Catherine released the final video in a series of four seasonal clips called Mother Nature. In them, she reveals how immersing herself in nature has helped her on the path to recovery. The latest film, Winter, shows her taking a walk in the countryside on the Windsor estate and opening up about her journey since her devastating diagnosis. “I find myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am,” she says. Catherine goes on to say how nature helps…

Banished royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor insisted his daughters attend the Christmas celebrations at Sandringham – so they could “spy” on his behalf. Royal writer Ingrid Seward says Andrew, 65, was keen for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to join the royal family’s traditional festive gathering so they could report back to him about what was said. “I don’t think Beatrice and Eugenie had a choice,” says Ingrid. “Andrew said to them, ‘You have to go.’ He wants to know what’s going on and what people are saying about him. They are Andrew’s only passport into the royal family now.” The disgraced former prince spent Christmas alone at Royal Lodge in Windsor, while Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, stayed at Sandringham with the rest of the royals. They were seen mingling with their…

Broadcaster Mark Leishman has graced the airwaves since the 1970s, when he landed his first radio gig with Radio Avon. Since then, Mark has hosted 50 television and radio shows, including Top Town, Sunday Grandstand, The Young Farmer Contest and Tux Wonder Dogs. The proud father of three now enjoys several roles at RNZ National, his latest as a reporter on Country Life. I was born in Timaru. My father was a grocer and very proud his shop was a superette, not a dairy. There wasn’t much product branding back then and my parents would sit in the storeroom, packing loose tea leaves from big tea chests into individual brown paper bags. I was the youngest of four and on the rare occasion our parents went out, as soon their…

Peach & yoghurt upside-down cake SERVES 9-12 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 20 MINUTES (+ COOLING TIME) 2 cups (440g) caster sugar, plus ¾ cup (165g) extra 1 cup (250ml) water 165g unsalted butter, chopped, softened ¼ cup (60ml) bourbon or orange juice 3 eggs 1 tablespoon orange rind, finely grated 1 cup (170g) fine polenta 1 cup (280g) Greek yoghurt 1 ½ cups (180g) almond meal 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 4 medium peaches, halved, stones removed, sliced thinly 1 Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan. Grease a 20cm square cake pan. Line base and sides with baking paper. 2 Stir sugar and water in a medium saucepan over low heat, without boiling, until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and boil without stirring for 10 minutes or until…

ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR FEELINGS It’s normal for children to feel reluctant and nervous about starting or returning to school. Some might miss the freedom of holidays, while others could be anxious about new teachers, classmates or subjects. Take the time to talk to your child about how they’re feeling. Highlight the positives – seeing friends again, participating in sports or clubs and exciting class trips. Validating their feelings can their calm nerves and build confidence. MORNING ROUTINE AND TIMING Work out how long it takes your child to get ready each morning, then establish a realistic wake-up time. Include a balanced breakfast with protein, healthy fats and whole grains – studies show this helps with mood regulation, memory and attention. Encourage children to pack their own bag or lay out their…

When friends track down their Scots forebears, many seem to discover links with grand people, like poet Robert Burns, or events, such as the famous Battle of Culloden. My Milne forebears are Scots from a small town down the southern end of Aberdeenshire, called Laurencekirk. It’s famous for – hold your breath – a hinge. We visited there when my son Rory was living and working in Edinburgh. It was a pleasant trip by train, though not without a disappointing conclusion. We’d made some effort to establish exactly where my great-grandfather was born. We even had a photo of his family’s tiny stone cottage on Laurencekirk’s main street. When we arrived, we discovered it had been demolished to make way for a supermarket entrance. I had my photo taken in…

Apparently, I’m going to live forever. Well, closer to forever than I otherwise might have. It’s because I have so many daughters. New research claims to show that men who have daughters gain an extra 74 weeks of life per daughter. And as I might have mentioned in earlier columns, I have five daughters. Yes, five. So I am quintessentially blessed. I also have a son and I haven’t yet spotted any research about what boys do to a father’s lifespan, but it might not be as good as it is for girls. Though my boy is a gem. I imagine he’s boosting my life by a couple of months at least. So if that crazy research about dads and daughters is true, I’m going to be around for seven…

Holiday from hell Paradise turns into chaos for Lou and her friends While it may seem like a dream to buy a beautiful piece of land with a group of great friends, it’s a scenario that has the potential to turn into a nightmare. In The Hiding Place, things go spectacularly wrong. This dark domestic drama lurches from secrets, lies and betrayals to a major pile-up of disasters. It was Lou’s idea for them all to buy the abandoned mining town in the middle of the wilderness. It seems like paradise, set on four hectares with a river running through it, an old pub and a mountain. Lou has grand ideas about being custodians of the land, plus this is the first time they’ll all be camping there together. Things…

Going nuts! After working through the holiday season, Rita Ora, 35, enjoyed a much-deserved island getaway with her Kiwi husband Taika Waititi, 50. Peace of me As he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, actor Alan Cumming, 60, had a cheeky shout out to a former teacher. “I’d like to thank my acting teacher at drama school who told me when I was 19 that I’d never make it.” TAKE A BOW Best dressed According guests at the Vanity Fair and Amazon MGM Studios awards season party in LA, the only way to get through the crowds was to follow in the wake of Kate Beckinsale, 52, and her voluminous dress. One that got away! It seems there is no bad blood between Leonardo DiCaprio, 51, and…

‘I’ve had more time to do things I love. I’ve been learning to surf’ When radio star Heather du Plessis-Allan was pregnant with her second child, she had moments of worry about just how hard the jump from one child to two would be. Well-meaning friends warned her the juggle would only get tougher, so she braced herself for chaos. Instead, welcoming baby Mackay a year ago has brought unexpected calm to the Auckland home she shares with husband Barry Soper and their firstborn Iggy, three. Her little girl has been a dream addition to the family and the Newstalk ZB Drive host says that somehow, life feels more balanced with her in it. A self-described “fusser”, she laughs that spreading the love has been a surprisingly freeing shift. “I…

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, may finally be able to circle a date on her calendar for her return to the UK after four years away. She could be joining husband Prince Harry, 41, at an event to promote the Invictus Games – due to be held in England next year – on July 10, if a review of their taxpayer-funded security finds that they are entitled to armed police guards whenever they visit Britain. The lack of police protection – withdrawn after the couple stepped back as working royals – means Harry has refused to take his wife or children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, to his home country from his new home in California. That could all change if the review finds in his favour. ‘Harry has…

As Auckland FC midfielder Cameron Howieson trained in the pouring rain on the morning of his wedding, he worried his special day would be a washout. But when the moment came for Cam and his longtime partner Samantha to finally say “I do”, the sun broke through the clouds as if to bless their union. “It was perfect,” smiles Samantha. “It’s really nice to finally be married and have the same last name as my kids.” Adds Cam, “Our main priority was for the girls to be there. With the venue and the small amount of people, it was really nice.” The couple, who were engaged in 2021, planned their low-key elopement in a few months after their close friend and celebrant, Jamie Drake of Let’s Toast Weddings, threatened to…

Lemon honey chicken with broccolini PREP + COOK TIME 35 MINUTES SERVES 4 3 medium lemons 4 chicken breast fillets (see tip) 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper Salt, to season 1 ½ cups (300g) red quinoa (see tip) 2 cups (500ml) water 50g butter ¹⁄³ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon extra 2 bunches broccolini (350g) 2 tablespoons honey 1 Finely grate rind from 2 lemons, then juice – you will need 1 tablespoon rind and 2 tablespoons juice. Halve chicken horizontally. 2 Place chicken in a bowl with lemon rind, pepper and salt, turning to coat. 3 Rinse quinoa in a sieve under cold running water. Place quinoa in a medium saucepan with water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered,…

If you’ve tried a greens powder in the past and swore off after gulping down what feels like a glass of sludge, rest assured – the latest crop is much easier to swallow. No longer relegated to the back shelf of health food stores, greens powders are gaining popularity as more of us fall short of the daily recommended intake of vitamins and minerals. Useful for those with busy lifestyles and specific dietary needs or while travelling, they can help fill nutritional gaps. “Greens powders are dietary supplements made from dried and powdered green vegetables, fruits and other plant-based ingredients,” explains dietitian Alice Bleathman. Their purpose? To provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients commonly found in leafy greens, and colourful fruits and veges. Tasty tips Think the…

The home office is a place where function often tends to triumph over form – but you don’t need to sacrifice one to achieve the other. In fact, creating a workspace that looks and feels good will mean you’ll want to spend time there, so you’ll get more done. The IT department It’s not a good idea to work hunched over a small laptop screen and trackpad all day – so get yourself an external keyboard and mouse, and prop up your laptop so it’s at eye level, or mirror it to a larger external screen. Make sure you have a strong wifi connection – if not, get a wireless range extender. You’ll also need power points close at hand and maybe a power board. Aim for a mix of…

It irks me that there is no female equivalent of the “Dad Bod”. Sure, technically there is – we have “Mum Bod”, which refers to what we look like postpartum, but it’s judged (by the people who judge) to be a transitory state, a temporary softness and roundness until we get back to Pilates and ease off on the breastfeeding snacks. Mum Bod is a “before” image and society is waiting to see our “after”. Whereas Dad Bod is a destination – no one is expecting him to work that off. It is apparently a sign that a man is spending more time with his family, less time at the gym. Relaxing into the role of provider and protector, if you will. Aspirational. It’s ironic that in a world where…

I love a good roadie. I’ve had some epic ones over the years – shout out to Anna who drove the two of us in her VW Beetle from Hamilton to Palmerston North to see one of our former school friends who was going to uni there. We had no heater and only one tape – the Dance Exponents – and 42 years later, I am word perfect on every song on the album. We stayed the night, then drove back. I had a magical roadie around the South Island with chef Al Brown some years back. We were putting on a cooking show for a rural women’s organisation – well, Al cooked, I just got in his way and made silly comments, but we got to visit 10 fabulous…