Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 39, 2023 i Woman's Day Magazine NZ

In this week’s issue, writer Wendyl Nissen chats to 1 News political editor Jessica Mutch McKay ahead of the 14 October election. Funnily enough, the last time we caught up with the talented journalist and her daughter Margaux, it was just before the 2020 election. The gorgeous wee girl was celebrating her first birthday, and Jessica and her husband Iain – who shared their wedding with Woman’s Day back in 2018 – were celebrating surviving a whole year as parents. Time certainly flies, but some things stay the same… Juggling motherhood and a demanding job still has its moments, and in our cover story on page 12, Jessica is very candid when it comes to her struggles. Sticking to politics, on page 34, we meet Wellington City councillor and Green…

Hollywood star Al Pacino surprised everyone earlier this year with the news that he and girlfriend Noor Alfallah, 29, were expecting, with little Roman arriving in June. Bizarrely, Noor has now asked Al, 83, to sign paperwork agreeing to be the father of Roman while assigning her full physical custody. With the process all but ensuring Al will be expected to provide child support, he has enlisted an attorney to help with any legal hurdles that may ensue. According to one source, however, the pair are still dating! “Al and Noor have mutually reached agreements regarding their child,” a representative maintains.…

Stepping out together to attend the US Open, it was clear that Keith Urban was not in his wife’s good books. Now Woman’s Day can reveal Nicole Kidman had a few choice words to say to her husband about their new neighbour, Jessica Simpson. It turns out Jess and her family are splitting their time between Nashville and LA, and she wants Keith to help with her singing comeback. “I’ve been planning it for the past 12 years,” Jess says of her musical career, which has been on hold since 2010. With her roots in pop and country music, and as a longtime fan of Keith, 55, an insider says Jess, 43, is keen to get in the studio with the star – aplan that has Nicole, 56, already on…

There’s a space in Ngaire Te Tai’s home she visits each day for quiet moments, where photos of her son Kane sit beside a glass display cabinet holding army medals, poppies and a stuffed teddy bear in military attire. A sculptured turtle sits as a centrepiece, metres from a baby photo of the dad-ofone, in honour of his battlefield codename “Turtle”. Memories are all Ngaire, a mum-of-seven, has left of her firstborn now, along with the bittersweet knowledge he died a Ukrainian war hero. In April 2022, Kane flew from New Zealand to Ukraine to support the fight against Russia’s invasion, a cause the former New Zealand Defence Force soldier, 38, vowed he was prepared to die for. Sadly, on 20 March this year, while on the front lines in…

Called the skincare world’s “moisture magnet” and one of the industry’s most buzz-worthy ingredients, hyaluronic acid is the hydrating, plumping molecule you need. A hero if you’re a fan of a well-hydrated face, it’s a non-negotiable in any healthy skin routine. What exactly is hyaluronic acid? For starters, it’s a molecule that is naturally found in your skin, as well as the connective tissue in your body. It acts as a cushioning and lubrication agent for our joints, nerves, hair, skin and eyes. A superstar at alleviating dry skin, hyaluronic acid is a moisture binder, which means it will attach itself to the water in the cells, making them plump. What is the best way to add hyaluronic acid to my daily routine? The beauty of hyaluronic acid is that…

Q I’ve been struggling for the past 18 months and recently resigned from my job. Will this year get better and will I find my person? Vanessa MITCHELL SAYS I have your lovely mum coming through with so much love for you. She’s glowing with happiness and tells me she’s with her family. Your mum says that although you’ve had a lot of setbacks over the past year, things are only going to get better for you. Because you’ve resigned from your job, I feel you are now on the right track and the universe will put you on a much better path. Your mum says once you’re settled again with work, an aura of love will begin to blossom around you. I can see you meeting a wonderful, loving…

Touching insights There’s not much legendary actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus hasn’t achieved in her 30-odd years on hit shows such as Seinfeld and Veep, so it’s hardly surprising the star, 62, has moved her focus to the podcast realm with Wiser Than Me, which focuses on wisdom and life lessons from accomplished women over 70. “In our culture, older women are rarely seen or heard – what a shame,” says Julia. “I want to hear from these older women. I want to talk to them. I want to know how they navigate ageing and their tips for a life well lived.” Here’s what some of Julia’s standout guests have to say... CAROL BURNETT The veteran actress was a trailblazer in Hollywood, with The Carol Burnett Show among the first to be…

wdaynz@ aremedia.co.nz nowtolove.co.nz WomansDayNZ @womansdaynz SUBSCRIPTIONS & DELIVERY Subscribe today at magshop.co.nz to receive FREE HOME DELIVERY and great savings. Subscription enquiries: 0800 MAGSHOP Delivery enquiries: delivery@magshop.co.nz We are EDITOR Sebastian van der Zwan DEPUTY EDITOR Amy Prebble CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Denise Bowden SUB-EDITOR Katie Shepherd ART DIRECTOR Mirella Monteiro DESIGNERS Anna Pétursdóttir, Béla Trussell-Cullen, Debby Wei, Hayley Pearce PHOTO & EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Kellie Blizard BEAUTY EDITOR Hélène Ravlich MANAGEMENT: CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jane Huxley GENERAL MANAGER Stuart Dick EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Sarah Henry ADVERTISING: SALES DIRECTOR Claire Chisholm claire.chisholm@aremedia.co.nz SALES MANAGER Chloe Jordan chloe.jordan@aremedia.co.nz SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Jacquie Fraser jacquie.fraser@aremedia.co.nz COMMERCIAL BRAND MANAGER Bridget Hewitt CAMPAIGN MANAGER Angela Wei Woman’s Day is published by Are Media Ltd, Level 1, 317 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland 1021. Printed by Webstar, 114 Swanson…

Mum’s the word While Aussie A-lister Margot Robbie is on top of the world with the success of Barbie, friends say her next major project might be a baby! “Margot is definitely getting broody and having a rare break in filming for the first time in years, she’s getting restless about starting a family,” one of her pals reveals. “She doesn’t want to be so career-focused that she misses out.” Spotted outside a Los Angeles restaurant chatting with some girlfriends, the 33-year-old looked very comfortable holding her mate’s baby in a portable car seat, making sure she kept the little one out of the harsh LA sun. With her work slate reasonably clear, the timing could be perfect for Margot and husband Tom Ackerley, who will celebrate their seventh wedding…

When it comes to the daily events that play out in Parliament, Jessica Mutch McKay is confident she has us covered. But if you ask her how she’s doing being both political editor for 1 News and a doting mother to her gorgeous nearly-four-year-old daughter Margaux, she’s less certain she’s got it all sorted. “I’m totally a professional and I think that I’m a good mum, but I have my moments – sometimes I can be a great mum and an editor, but I’m not being a great friend, a great wife or a great daughter,” she confesses to Woman’s Day. Things are easier now Margaux is at an “awesome” daycare, smiles Jessica, 39. “She has great teachers and a little network of besties, which is all sorts of cool,…

Holding hands and kissing as they finished up a romantic night out in New York, Justin Theroux and his beautiful brunette date looked to be swept up in an exciting new romance. But seeing pictures of the hands-on outing is bound to crush Justin’s ex-wife Jennifer Aniston, who just weeks ago was said to be hopeful of a possible reunion. IN HAPPIER TIMES Justin, 52, is clearly ready to tell the world about his romance with young actress Nicole Brydon Bloom, 29, with the pair laughing and kissing as they left a night of dining at Altro Paradiso restaurant. The flirty pair also stopped in at trendy Ray’s bar, which Justin co-owns with Succession star Nicholas Braun. THE REUNION’S OFF The budding romance comes after reports that Jen, 54, and…

‘They’ve got the spotlight on them for all the worst reasons’ Stars apologise to abuse victims After a week from hell, where their loyalty to convicted rapist friend Danny Masterson caused a furious backlash in Hollywood, insiders say Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis’ already delicate eight-year marriage is hanging by a thread. The married couple wrote letters of support to an LA judge after Masterson, 47, had been found guilty in May of raping two women in 2003, but before he was handed his 30-year sentence on 7 September. “Mila blames Ashton as she was against getting involved in Danny’s case in the first place and it’s turned into the worst possible scenario,” an insider tells Woman’s Day. “They’ve got the spotlight on them for all the worst reasons and…

As the theme songs goes, everybody needs good Neighbours. For the cast of the show, this became abundantly clear when they spoke with fans on their comeback tour through the UK earlier this year. For many, lockdowns were a dark time and Neighbours was the one bright spot of their day. “One guy said he felt isolated and alone in lockdown,” tells actress Jackie Woodburne, 67, who has played Susan Kennedy since 1994. “He said, ‘The only thing that kept me going is I wanted to find out what was going to happen next on Neighbours.’ Our little show that we make on the other side of the world mattered to him in a significant way.” Jackie’s on-screen husband Alan Fletcher, who’s played her hubby Dr Karl since 1994, adds…

As contestants on The Block Australia in 2019, Mitch Edwards and Mark McKie renovated one of the biggest houses on the hit reality show, then returned for a Fans V Faves rematch that won the series, netting them more than $1 million in prize money for the two sales. And now the partners, grandparents and full-time property flippers are back to share their expertise as the new hosts of Location, Location, Location Australia, guiding potential buyers through the property landscape as they search for their dream homes. “A lot of what people have seen us do on TV has been design and planning-oriented, but they haven’t perhaps realised we’ve also done a lot with property – buying, renovating and selling,” explains Mark, 62. In the show, the pair introduce Aussies…

“K ane came into my life very confident yes, but the next when I was exhausted morning, I scolded him through by fear and the war. happy tears! Kane hugged me Explosions and sirens and said, ‘There’s no special time were sounding day and night. We became good friends and spent hundreds of hours talking before he asked me to be his girlfriend. He was very attentive and asked, ‘What can I do to relieve you of stress?’ I asked for a nice sunset by a fireplace and Kane organised it that evening, along with music and sushi. He also took me on camping trips among Ukrainian sunflower fields and we watched the most beautiful sunrises. ‘We planned to his country and family.' Kane dreamed of getting married, but I…

As complementary and alternative medicine become increasingly popular, we’re learning more about traditional therapies practised by different cultures for centuries. Traditional Thai medicine (TTM) is a form of healing that has been around for hundreds of years. Recently, it’s started to gain attention from the rest of the world, with people travelling far and wide to try TTM at retreats like RAKxa in Bangkok. One of the biggest misconceptions about TTM is that it only involves massage. In fact, traditional Thai medicine is an entire discipline of diagnostic practices, medicines and treatment techniques. It shares some similarities with traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, but it’s also deeply rooted in Thai traditions and teachings that have been passed down for centuries. TTM isn’t an alternative to modern medicine, but a complementary…

Sausage, mustard & basil rigatoni SERVES 4 Bring a large saucepan of salted water to boil. Add 400g rigatoni (medium shells or penne) and cook according to packet directions until al dente. Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Squeeze the meat from 6-8 Italian sausages out of the casings into the pan and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon into roughly walnut-sized pieces as you go, for 5 mins or until browned all over. Add ¾ cup dry white wine and simmer 5 mins, scraping all the delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan with the spoon, until reduced by about half. Add ¾ cup cream, 3 tbsp wholegrain mustard and a pinch…

Tiny but mighty AMANDA SAYS Teddy tells me he has passed over and is with Kate’s mother-in-law, who he knew very well. Teddy died on his own time, at 11 years old, and tells me he had heart problems. He then points to his head and shows me cognitive problems, saying he was very sick for a while. Teddy shows me another dog who has passed over called Ming. Teddy did not know her, but Ming tells me there are many other animals passed and brings them all through, including three canaries Kate loved, plus a cat. Another big dog called Riley comes through, along with another cat called Butch. Kate’s new dog Dexter also appears and says he often sees all the other animals around when they visit. He…

Rap diva Cardi B made a showstopping entrance on a crystal disco ball, but it was Taylor Swift who made history at the MTV Video Music Awards in New Jersey, racking up an incredible nine gongs, six of them for her hit track Anti-Hero, which was voted Song of the Year by fans. The Blank Space singer, 33, also collected Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Show of the Summer, with the haul taking her past Madonna to become the second-most decorated female artist with 23 VMA wins. Beyoncé is in the top spot with 30. The singer celebrated by partying into the early hours with bestie Selena Gomez and rapper Saweetie. “Taylor was in top form and having an amazing night,” reports an onlooker. “She was…

The Casketeers stars Kaiora and Francis Tipene have revealed their beautiful newborn baby girl was rushed to hospital after she stopped breathing for a few moments. “Ngāwaiata gave us a heck of a scare,” Kaiora posted in a moving message on Instagram. “Thankfully, we are seven minutes away from the Starship Children’s Hospital. As soon as we arrived with baby, the response team did not muck around, giving her oxygen and taking tests in the resus[citation] room… This shook us both to our core and had us emotional wrecks.” Ngāwaiata was born on 22 August, five weeks earlier than expected. She’s the beloved funeral directors’ sixth child together and their first daughter. Francis has one son from a previous relationship. Kaiora says that after all of the tests, doctors were…

There are those who say that art and politics don’t mix, but Tamatha Paul isn’t one of those people. The 26-year-old, who could become one of New Zealand’s youngest-ever MPs if she wins the Wellington Central electorate for the Green Party next month, has found a way to combine her twin loves. The talented artist has sold a number of her original artworks and prints to fund her campaign for the upcoming general election. It’s not the first time her art, which incorporates native birds and plants, has supported her political ambitions – last year, it funded Tamatha’s successful bid for a second term on the Wellington City Council. “I don’t have spare money to throw at political campaigns, but I have skills and creative talent, so I used those…

For five seasons now, twin sisters Melissa and Stacey “Stack” Wilburn have been making us laugh with their cowgirl quips and tell-it-like-it-is attitude on Travel Guides Australia. But with Mel staying home to look after her one-year-old daughter Savannah, Stack has had to rope in her brother Josh to join her on the road. For the 29-year-old construction worker, who had never left Australia before, signing up for the series was a no-brainer, especially after so many years of watching his siblings jaunt around the world. “To say I was jealous of them is an understatement – I was heartbroken,” confesses Josh, who lives near Stack in rural Gunnedah, New South Wales. “So I was really excited to get to travel with my sister this time around.” This season, the…

TURMERIC is rich in curcumin, which may help to neutralise free radicals and shield cells from damage. This potent spice can be consumed to help treat stomach disease, flatulence and colic. JASMINE FLOWER is used in TTM to soothe the heart, energise the body and unwind the mind. It’s also said to boost circulation, nourish the scalp, and combat inflammation, headaches, stress and insomnia. KING OF BITTERS (Andrographis) has a bitter taste and possesses cooling properties that pacify internal heat. In TTM, it’s combined with other herbs to reduce inflammation, tension and heat.…

Virgo 24 AUG – 23 SEP Under spring’s auspicious stars, many Virgos will receive extra support or surprise payments – a new income stream might even appear. As Venus tunes into your sensitive side, alternative therapies and New Age areas could prove to be magnetic. Why not learn more? STAR TIP The Moon’s passionate vibes might be too hard to ignore this week! JOAN JETT The iconic star is still rocking! She turns 65 on 22 September. Libra SEP 24 – OCT 23 As the sun shifts into your sign, that social, playful side should kick into action. As a bonus, a stressful situation should fade into the background. Best of all, your positive attitude should filter through to others, so be sure to circulate and spread the love around.…

Walk on the wild side LISA RINNA It was hard not to spot the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star as she stepped out in New York. Looking very much on the prowl, Lisa rocked leopard-print from head to toe – and nailed it! Stranger swings! MILLIE BOBBY BROWN The Stranger Things actress made her first foray into the fragrance world by launching her new lavender-scented perfume Wildly Me in Berlin. A ROYAL COMBO DUCHESS OF SUSSEX Meghan looked just like us as she treated herself to a burger meal in California, rolling down her window and ordering via the drive-thru. Do you want fries with that, ma’am?! BIKINI BABE ELIZABETH HURLEY Still rocking a two-piece at 58, the swimwear designer and occasional actress was celebrating an “Indian summer” at…