Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 17, 2023 i Woman's Day Magazine NZ

You may know Erika Takacs as a singer from Kiwi girl group TrueBliss, a TV presenter from music show RTR Countdown or a reality star from the very first season of Celebrity Treasure Island, but as you’ll read in our story on page 16, she’s also a mother-of-five – and a skilled Hollywood stuntwoman! But that’s not all. As I discovered when I popped into her gorgeous family’s Auckland home for our exclusive shoot, Erika is also a very talented knitter (I’ve put in an order for an extra-thick, army-green cardigan to beat the winter chill) and a rather persuasive bartender – my “quick visit” turned into several hours thanks to her delicious gin sours and fabulous stories about her time on movie sets. Speaking of beautiful families, I’m also…

HOT OFF THE PRESS Elvis Presley was the King of Rock ’n’ Roll and now his world is set to collide with real-life royalty as the Duchess of York has teamed up with his granddaughter Riley Keough on a new film. Sarah Ferguson, 63, who worked as a producer on the 2009 Emily Blunt movie Young Victoria, co-founded Vestapol Films in 2022 and now hopes to produce a flick starring the late singer’s granddaughter, 33, who has shot to mega-stardom thanks to hit TV series Daisy Jones & The Six. Fergie was close friends with Riley’s late mother Lisa Marie Presley and has been a comfort to her children while promoting her latest novel, A Most Intriguing Lady, in the United States. The duchess even spoke to the…

HOT OFF THE PRESS After taking a break from films to focus on his family and music, new dad Stan Walker is returning to cinemas with a role that could break him into the States! The Hunt For The Wilderpeople actor and Australian Idol winner has been cast in an upcoming heist movie, which will be shot in Aotearoa but will also feature “some stellar Hollywood acting talent”, according to Kiwi producer Alex Beingan, who hints at some very famous names. Stan, 32, tells Woman’s Day, “I love making films as much as watching them. Once my last studio album, All In, was released, I started to think more about returning to film as an actor and composer, as the music in movie soundtracks can often make or break a…

Makeup mogul Kylie Jenner and Willy Wonka star Timothée Chalamet have been secretly dating since January! Insiders say sparks flew between Kylie, who split from longtime love Travis Scott four m onths ago, and the New York-born actor when they met at a Jean Paul Gaultier fashion show in Paris. Kylie, 25, and Timothée, 27, managed to keep their romance under wraps for more than two months, but they were recently spotted out with Kylie’s sister Kendall, 27, and her new boyfriend, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, 29, in West Hollywood. “That’s when the whispers really cranked up,” says a close source. “It’s early days, but things are heating up.”…

Exclusive When you start off your career as a popstar, it’s hard to imagine how life could get more adventurous. But TrueBliss singer Erika Takacs has built a life anyone would find exciting – working all over the world as a stunt department coordinator, collecting a husband, five children and countless stamps in her passport along the way! Erika, 45, was introduced to the stunt world through hubby Allan Poppleton, 51, an Emmy-nominated stunt coordinator and performer, who she met in 2003 at a barbecue at her sister’s place. “I always wanted to marry somebody who was going to love me as much, if not more, than I loved them because I had a lot to give – and Al had way more than I ever expected,” smiles Erika, who…

Celebrity news Poor Naomi Watts! Speculation is swirling online about her long-term love Billy Crudup’s friendship with his The Morning Show co-star Reese Witherspoon. In the aftermath of the announcement of her divorce from Jim Toth last month, gossip site DeuxMoi alleged their decision to split was due to 47-year-old Reese’s fling with “a co-star from another streaming service”. While our insiders have cast doubt on that report, one does tell us, “The chemistry between Billy and Reese was off the charts when they were filming last December. It was a glorious pairing onscreen and they love working together. In fact, everyone was teasing her for having a crush on him, but he was home every night with Naomi and the kids. “Reese definitely took a shine to him and…

A my Jennings and Llewe Jones know they won’t have a dedicated Lego room forever – they’re making the most of this time because it won’t be long before their son Leon wants his room back! The Lower Hutt couple used to store their bricks in their bedroom, but their hobby has forced them to rethink and they have created their own brick pit in Leon’s room. “Originally the Lego was in our bedroom and it was getting a bit overwhelming,” tells data analyst Amy. “It wasn’t like we forced him out of his bedroom. Thankfully, Leon wasn’t really sleeping in there. It was nice that that our son wants to share a room with his sister.” Lego is a new-found shared hobby for the couple, both 40, after Amy’s…

Mother and daughter balloon artists Sharyn Donn and Jenifer Lo are usually on the same team, especially when it comes to their shared passion for the gym, but when the cameras start rolling for Three’s explosive new show Blow Up, they’ll be vying against each for the title of reality TV champion. Sharyn’s interest in balloon art was piqued when Jenifer, now 20, was little. “She was just three when I first saw a balloon artist twist a six-petal flower and I was in awe,” chuckles Sharyn, 50. “I wanted it so bad!” And 15 years after taking up the quirky hobby, her whole family have been sucked in. With daughters Jenifer and Alicia, 18, plus husband Mike, 56, in on the act, Twisted Faces is a thriving family business,…

As Sri Lanka’s long-running civil war drew to a close in 2009, Kaviesha Abeysinghe Perera used to travel on her high school van and worry that there were bombs about to explode. While she may not have had such fears in 2010 when, aged 18, she arrived in Aotearoa, there were other challenges ahead. The chance for a good education was one of the main reasons why Kaviesha’s parents brought her and younger sisters Raviesha, now 29, and Nethasha, 20, from Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, to make a new home here. But arriving in Auckland was a huge culture shock, especially seeing so many people from a multitude of different cultures in one sprawling city, having to learn to speak English and acclimatising to winters colder than they’d ever experienced.…

HealthBe well with YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BEING THE BEST YOU Our feet don’t always get the credit they deserve, but they perform a pretty amazing job of carrying and supporting us through the day. For that reason, it’s important to give them the attention and care they deserve. Along with choosing the right footwear (with added insoles for support when needed), it’s also a good idea to see a podiatrist if you have any kind of persisting foot pain. Here are four common foot problems that many people experience. PLANTAR FASCIITIS This common condition is often characterised by a stabbing pain in the heel or arch of the foot and it’s often at its worst first thing in the morning. Sports podiatrist Emily Smith says this is caused by…

Family As far as requests from teenagers go, it was pretty tame, I suppose. However, it’s one that’s sparked a lot of debate in our household over the past couple of months. “Mum, are you going to buy me a car as soon as I get my driver’s licence?” I could see why my daughter might have thought a response in the affirmative was even a remote possibility. She had, after all, witnessed plenty of family friends purchasing their own (older) teens brand-new cars on which to slap L plates. Why would I think any differently? THE ARGUMENT AGAINST... Call me crazy, but I’ve actually always felt sorry for the kids whose first car is a luxury vehicle purchased entirely from the bank of Mum and Dad. What about the…

Psychics Q I have been unhappy where I live for some time now. It is badly managed and is becoming more stressful every year. Will I get enough money to buy something nice? I still have a few years to go before I retire and I’m worried where I’ll end up. Jess MITCHELL SAYS There is a wonderful lady from your mother’s side of the family watching over you. She tells me that you’ve been through an awful lot in terms of where you’ve been living, but the stress and drama you’ve endured will soon be a thing of the past. I feel you will end up making a successful offer on a lovely home that’s low maintenance and in a very quiet street. It will look on to some…

MOVIE BEAU IS AFRAID This surrealist horror movie from Joaquin Phoenix and Midsommar director Ari Aster will stay with you long after the credits roll. Reclusive Beau has spent his life riddled with anxiety. When his mother dies unexpectedly, he must make the trip home, but the universe is intent on making all his worst fears come true. IN CINEMAS THURSDAY BOOK EL FLAMINGO by Nick Davies Kiwi actor-turned-author Nick takes readers on a thrilling adventure in his debut novel. Struggling to land a job, Lou Galloway heads to Mexico to drown his sorrows. On a night out, he is mistaken for a famous assassin and is swept into the dangerous world of Latin American espionage. OUT NOW (YBK PUBLISHERS, $31.99) EVENT THE WILD If you’re searching for something for…

AT A LOOSE END KARLIE KLOSS The model and fashionista chose a very apt outfit for the Fashion Scholarship Fund Gala in New York, showing the inner workings of her power suit! Surely someone had a pair of scissors on hand for those loose threads? Blanket chic TARAJI P HENSON While out in New York, the petite Hidden Figures actress found a way to grow a few extra centimetres, thanks to a pair of skyscraper Marc Jacob heels! Ready for baby LINDSAY LOHAN The mum-to-be celebrated 12 months of marriage to her husband Bader Shammas with this cute Insta shot. “One year today,” she posted. “Happy anniversary!” The Mean Girls actress and the Kuwaiti financier are reportedly expecting their first child in August or September. MATE’S RATES BLYTHE DANNER You…

The LOW DOWN As if the pressures of holding the royal family together weren’t enough, Princess Mary is said to be deeply shaken by a series of vicious online attacks – yet more fallout from the bitter family feud between Prince Frederik and his brother Prince Joachim. According to reports coming out of Denmark, Mary, 51, has become “an object of online hate”, with the public taking to Instagram to write harsh comments about her since Queen Margrethe stripped Joachim and his wife Marie’s children of their titles. “Mary finally got them out of Denmark. Now she can be number one all the time,” a troll wrote, referring to the couple’s move to the US. Mary’s biggest concern is, of course, her four children – Christian,…

Running club Catch me if you can! Simon Baker’s new mystery woman had him doing the chasing in Sydney’s Byron Bay, where they spent Easter with his sons Claude, 24, and Harry, 21. Bumper buddies Singer Rita Ora practised her wheelies while visiting Sydney’s Royal Easter Show with her husband Taika Waititi’s daughter Te Hinekāhu, 10. Sunday best! Pregnant Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank made it to church in Windsor on Easter Sunday, despite rumours of a rift between the pair and the older royals. Hello sunshine! Showing his softer side, former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan found a beautiful bunch of sunflowers to give wife Keely Shaye Smith while they enjoyed an Easter break at their countryside retreat. Party of five Ciao! Chrissy Teigen and hubby John Legend…

Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi is reportedly preparing for his most important role to date – as wedding singer for his son Jake Bongiovi, 20, who just proposed to 19-year-old Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown! “Jon can see why Jake’s crazy about her – she’s brilliant, funny and brings out the best in Jake,” reveals a source. “He does worry they’re too young, but Jake’s mum Dorothea was Jon’s childhood sweetheart and they’re still crazy about each other.” According to insiders, the Bed Of Roses singer, 61, has promised to compose a special song for their wedding. Our source adds, “While he hasn’t promised to be their official wedding singer, he has every intention of performing – but only if they want him to!”…

It looks like Taylor Swift won’t be spending the next few weeks writing heartbreak tracks for her next album, with sources revealing she’s already moved on from her ex Joe Alwyn! The popstar, 33, revealed she’d split from her boyfriend of six years last week and insiders say she’s already back on the dating scene. “Taylor’s keeping the tightest rope around her mystery new guy,” reports a spy. “It’s way too early to make it official, but the fact she finally went public on her split from Joe, which happened over Christmas, means she’s getting serious with this guy. “All she’ll say is that it’s private, he’s great, he’s not a celebrity and he isn’t ready to be A-list just yet, which is what would happen if she…

Celebrity news LOSING HER VIRGINITY TO SUPERMAN! In the mid-’80s, Brooke Shields studied at Princeton, where she fell in love and lost her virginity to Lois & Clark star Dean Cain. “When we finally had sex, I immediately ran out of the room, ran down the hall butt naked, just running,” the 57-year-old recalls in her doco Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields. “I didn’t know where I was going. He ran after me with the duvet and grabbed a hold of me and said, ‘Where are you going?’ He said, ‘I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving you.’” While the pair didn’t last, she’ll always love Dean for being a kind man among a cohort of creeps. “People were trying to bribe students to sneak pictures of me in the shower,”…

Celebrity news Until recently, radio star Azura Lane would never have called herself a morning person. But these days, as the newest host of the Flava Breakfast show alongside Stacey Morrison and Mike Puru, she’s no stranger to an early start. “I get up at 4.30am!” she laughs incredulously. “If I wasn’t a morning person before, I am now!” Taking over the morning mic after Anika Moa recently left the show is a dream come true for the 25-year-old Aucklander, who is of Nga¯puhi descent. “There were some nerves,” admits Azura, who started presenting Flava’s night show six years ago. “Co-hosting with two people who are such broadcasting legends, I hoped I could do it justice! “But it took us all by surprise how much we got on – it…

Real life Libby Robertson saw the light about alcohol after throwing herself out of a two-storey window following a drunken argument with her boyfriend. She had fallen on her head on concrete and, because she had a concussion, Wellington hospital staff were trying to keep her awake. “I just remember the nurse shining the light in my eyes and telling me I was lucky to be alive,” says Libby. “I was in the hospital bed, neckbrace on, no pants on – it was very undignified – but I knew at that point I could never drink again. I didn’t want to die and I never thought I would do something like that while drunk. I knew I was going to do whatever it took to never be in that position…

WIN! A SHARE OF $2000 CRYPTIC CROSSWORD ACROSS 8. Improve, hence an alteration (7)9. But turn over by stout (5)10. Look into part of infidel vegan (5)11. Looked at grinder by wood-processing plant (7)12. I’d ran about lowest point (5)13. Tidy, no, devoured! (6)16. Pull back in embarrassment finding ring in church (6)18. Points to oil spilt by big cats (5)22. New Californian city is by the book (7)24. Bird of prey is below par (5)25. Man to leave with fruit (5)26. Choose Les to get gherkins (7) DOWN 1. Deer returns to southern grasses (5)2. Mal turns on the movie friend of Louise (6)3. Going in and putting in data (8)4. Some of these eggs turn up from birds (5)5. Pack away then pull from south (4)6. Boot…

No matter the season, night cream is the hard-working essential our skin needs, and one of the best ways to seal in moisture, hydrate and restore skin with minimal effort. But some may still question why we need to use different moisturising formulas from day to night. If that’s you, read on! How does night cream differ from day cream? During the day, our skin acts as a sort of shield against environmental aggressors, and it’s during this time that there is the highest skin barrier protection, thickness and sebum production. Conversely, evenings and nights are the time for intense cleansing and regeneration, so it’s during this time that you experience the highest DNA repair and cell proliferation. And as skin barrier function is at its very lowest during this…

Psychics I’m with all my animal friends AMANDA SAYS Calais comes through to tell me that he was and still is adored by his whole family. Calais says there are other animals over the rainbow bridge with him. He knew Jessie and Jaxon, and he then brings two other dogs. One is called Prince, who tells me he is a golden Labrador and Fiona’s first dog. The other is an Old English sheepdog named Ben. Then there are two cats – one called Shark and a male cat called Tiger, who passed away at age six. There are also two budgies that belonged to Fiona’s sons. Calais tells me his “poppy” – Fiona’s dad – came to pick him up and that he loves this man. Fiona’s father tells…

HOT OFF THE PRESS Kiwi sporting legends Richie and Gemma McCaw have added to their team with a gorgeous baby girl, named Ella Mae, who was born on 3 April, weighing 3.45kg. “We are enjoying these precious moments as a family of five,” says the couple, who are also parents to daughters Charlotte, four, and Grace, two. Former Black Sticks hockey star Gemma, 32, recently told The Australian Women’s Weekly, “Three under five is going to be hectic! Everyone keeps telling us we won’t be able to divide and conquer. Both of the girls are really busy girls – it’ll be chaos, but a good kind of chaos!” While she says All Blacks fans had constantly told her they were hoping for a little boy since Richie, 42, is such…

He was released from prison just four months ago, but disgraced tennis star Boris Becker is already making the most of his new-found freedom with a getaway to Ibiza. Last week, the former world number one and his younger girlfriend Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro were seen soaking up the sun and enjoying the local cuisine on the Spanish party island. Boris, 55, was given a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence in the UK in April 2022 for hiding $5.1 million in assets to avoid paying his debts. But the three-time Wimbledon champ was released after eight months of his sentence and has described his time in prison as “brutal”. “Whoever says that prison life isn’t hard and isn’t difficult, I think is lying,” he told BBC Radio’s 5 Live Breakfast. “It was…

Exclusive MATCH FIT LEAGUE LEGENDS For years, Sione Faumuina has been running from the limelight. But content with the new life he has built for himself, wife Renay and their three – soon to be four – children in Rotorua, the Sione who is chatting to Woman’s Day now is a far cry from the one some Kiwis might remember. “I like to think I’m a different man now,” he says with a wide smile as he and Renay wrestle their kids, daughters Ella, seven, and Aiva, six, and son Kees, two, in front of our photographer with minimal fuss. “There’s still chaos – but now it’s a completely different kind!” It’s been years since the former New Zealand Warrior and international league legend has willingly put himself in front…

He was rumoured to be dating Heath Ledger’s daughter Matilda, but it seems Robert Irwin is actually romancing another young woman in the same family – Matilda’s cousin Rorie Buckley! And the cute couple already seem serious, with Robert flying to Perth on 6 April to enjoy Easter with Rorie’s family. “Robert’s absolutely smitten and you can tell from his ear-to-ear grin,” a close source tells Woman’s Day. “He’s fallen for Rorie big-time and who can blame him? She’s a complete sweetheart, very kind and not at all intimidated by his life in the spotlight. She adores Robert and can’t believe she’s found someone so down-to-earth in that world.” MEET THE LEDGERS! According to the insider, Robert, 19, was “nervous” about meeting his 18-year-old girlfriend’s family for the first time…

True crime It was 12 June 1968 and two-year old Kathy Wrethman sat on the front steps, swinging her legs and eating a lolly. She and her mum Mary had just dropped big brother Angus off at school and back home, Kathy was in the front yard while her mum nipped inside quickly. Kathy’s baby sister Maria snoozed next to her in the pram. Just three weeks before, the Wrethmans had arrived in Sydney from the UK. “Dad had left the military and wanted to make a new life for us,” Kathy, now 56, tells Woman’s Day. “He had told Mum that Australia was the Lucky Country.” TAKEN FROM HOME But that day was anything but lucky for the Wrethman family because when Mary came back outside, her toddler had…

Breakfast burritos with avocado, kūmara & tofu Packed full of nutrition and flavour, this is the ideal recipe for a family brekkie or brunch with friends SERVES 4 Preheat oven to 200°C and line a baking tray with baking paper. Transfer 2 medium-sized orange ku¯mara (peeled, cubed) onto the baking tray, then season with 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp oregano and ½ tsp cayenne pepper, plus salt and pepper to taste. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and toss well to coat. Roast ku¯ mara for 25-30 minutes or until tender, flipping halfway through. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan, on medium-high heat, sauté 1 spring onion (thinly sliced) with olive oil until fragrant. Crumble 450g firm tofu into the pan and stir to combine, cooking…

Stars Aries 21 MARCH - 20 APRIL Trying to hold back the tide? With an Aries eclipse pushing things along, going with the flow might be your best option. Leave any life-altering decisions for mid-May, when Mercury moves back into forward gear, and open your mind to new possibilities. STAR TIP Feeling the pinch? A cost-cutting drive could save you a small fortune! KATE HUDSON The star marks her 44th birthday on 19 April. Taurus APR 21 – MAY 21 As the planets crowd into your sign, the pace will pick up. Work, study or travel plans may be consuming your thoughts, but with Mercury shifting into reverse, better options could pop up out of the blue. Yes, life may feel a tad chaotic, but at least it’s exciting! STAR…