Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 23, 2025 i Woman's Day Magazine NZ

Mr Right Now They’ve been looking cosy together on the set of their upcoming film Office Romance, with rumours their chemistry has spilled over to real life. But sources close to unlucky-in-love Jennifer Lopez are warning her co-star Brett Goldstein not to get too comfortable. “Brett’s not the kind of guy Jen would settle down with,” an insider reveals. “She doesn’t want to be with someone that low down on the star totem pole. When she wants to have something long-term, she will go for an A-lister.” Indeed, while J.Lo, 55, and Brett, 44, may be regularly photographed sharing longing looks, cosy embraces and flirtatious giggles between takes in New Jersey, our on-set source insists that “no one sees this lasting beyond the movie’s premiere”. We’re told, “Brett’s serving a…

There are new fears for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s son Pax, with photos emerging of him having to be physically held up by his pals during a wild night out in Los Angeles. The 21-year-old aspiring photographer looked worse for wear, visibly swaying and struggling to stand by himself as he left Chateau Marmont last week, before heading to a strip club to continue the party. According to our sources, his dad, 61, is none too happy about it, blaming his ex-wife Angelina, 50, for losing control of the wayward youngster. “There’s not a whole lot Brad can do as Pax disowned him long ago, but he still loves him dearly and keeps tabs on all the kids as much as he can,” says an insider. “It breaks his…

Aussie comedian Hannah Gadsby revealed their surprising connection to Loretta after her death, sharing some touching photos of the two of them sharing a laugh together in New York. “I was lucky enough to meet Loretta when she came to the New York opening of my show Douglas in 2019,” posted the star of Netflix hits Sex Education and Nanette. “We became friends and I would catch up with her every time I visited New York. She was so very supportive. I just really loved her. What a gem, a true delight – kind, funny and a loose unit of the best variety. I’m really going to miss her.” Hannah, 47, who is a nonbinary regular on the global comedy circuit and also starred in Please Like Me, revealed they…

With three decades of performing under his belt, you’d imagine the original Yellow Wiggle, Greg Page, would be able to shrug offstage nerves. But stepping into the unknown by playing the role of US president Franklin D Roosevelt in a new stage production of the much-loved musical Annie left the 53-yearold star “extremely nervous”. He tells Woman’s Day, “I’ve done many rehearsals with the band over the years, but this was different. I’m nowhere near as good a performer and singer as musical theatre people – they have incredible voices. While I’ve made a career out of that, I sing in a very different way.” Now on in Sydney, before travelling to Melbourne and Brisbane later this year, Annie is Greg’s first-ever stage musical, but he says his nerves melted…

Defying regular and traumatic seizures, 17-year-old Charli Gardiner-Hall has won medals and broken national age-group records in discus, shot put and javelin. The Waiuku-based student is racking up some impressive results in para-athletics, but her neurological condition means she lives in trepidation of the next seizure episode. Born with Sturge Weber syndrome type 3, Charli struggles with balance and coordination issues. However, it’s the seizures, which occur as regularly as twice a month, that cause the most concern. “When I haven’t had one for a long period, I fear it’s going to be a big one,” explains Charli. “It’s quite scary when you don’t know when they’re going to happen.” Back in December, Charli had a near-fatal seizure while swimming at Oakura Beach in Taranaki. Unable to move and drowning,…

Iron deficiency is sadly a very common experience in the perimenopausal transition. However, in my clinical experience, the majority of women aren’t aware this is the case or if they are, they just tolerate it rather than acting to change it, not realising that iron deficiency can be the sole driver (or co-creator) of the symptoms they’re struggling with. Whether it’s long-standing iron deficiency on and off since the teenage years, or a state that has unfolded in more recent years with more blood loss due to heavier periods or more frequent bleeding, too many women go through perimenopause with some degree of iron deficiency – depletion, deficiency or anaemia. Understanding your iron status and addressing any deficiencies during this phase of life can have a profound impact on how…

How did you find the inspiration for your new leading lady? Lila, my main character, is younger than me, but she is me and every woman. We are part of the sandwich generation – with children who bring their own challenges, managing elderly parents, trying to stay in a marriage and doing all the things we’ve been told we should do just to be an accepted woman in this world. I wanted to write about those women as I think they’re amazing. What did you want to achieve in this new book? I had a few tricky years in which my friends helped me out – it still makes me emotional to think how they looked after me. In this book, I wanted to celebrate female friendship. Unlike your twenties,…

She missed the event itself as she was still on air, but Heather du Plessis-Allan was the big winner at the NZ Radio & Podcast Awards in Auckland, where she picked up the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year trophy. Speaking to Woman’s Day at the after-party, the 41-yearold Newstalk ZB host – who welcomed her second child, daughter Mackay, in January – said, “I was not expecting this, which is why I’m in my civvies. I’ve just come in from the office! “I’m not trying to make this about being a woman or being a mum, but when you’ve just had a baby and you’re out of the workforce for three months, you come back really unsure of your place and full of weird hormones that make you…

Who doesn’t love a modern romance with a dash of sporting royalty? It’s not every day a young medical worker from Ireland ends up bagging herself a hunky All Black after he sent her a cheeky Instagram DM. But that’s exactly what happened to Diary Of A Junior Doctor star Shannon Halpin, whose love story with Brad Weber began outside a Mexican restaurant in Havelock North and now sees them living la vie en rose in Paris. Ooh la la! For the full story, turn to page 10. Meanwhile, on page 18, The Edge radio star Steph Monks introduces her gorgeous son Rocco, sharing the joy and chaos of her first year of motherhood – one highlight being how her fiancé Jake stepped up as a full-time father. And speaking…

Renée Zellweger has been devastated by reports that her boyfriend of three years, Ant Anstead, has moved in with a wealthy cycling instructor in California while she’s in New York filming Only Murders In The Building. The English TV presenter, 46, has been living apart from his actress girlfriend, 56, for the past year. He was spotted staying overnight at the Laguna Beach home of 36-year-old Julia “Jules” French as he faces bankruptcy after a slew of lawsuits totalling more than $3 million. A spin instructor tor at Rhythm Ride Laguna Beach, Jules is reportedly in the process of divorcing her wealthy financier husband. “Renée has some tough decisions to make and everyone’s urging her to be careful,” an insider tells Woman’s Day. “Ant’s adamant it’s completely innocent, but even…

It only took one week into her New Zealand adventure for Irish doctor Shannon Halpin to bag a hunky All Black for a tour guide – one so good, she didn’t want to leave! The gorgeous star of new TVNZ docuseries Diary Of A Junior Doctor was exiting a Mexican restaurant in Havelock North when she caught the eye of Chiefs and All Blacks player Brad Weber. “I was like, ‘Far out, that girl’s gorgeous!’” Brad, 34, laughs as the now-engaged couple chat to Woman’s Day from Paris. “I was stalking the restaurant’s Instagram later that night and she’d posted a story, so I slipped into her DMs.” Offering to show Shannon around, it was the start of a cute holiday romance. But Shannon, 30, had every intention of returning…

Rocco Jake Ebdale Born 1 May 2024 Weight 4.97kg Steph Monks loves Friday mornings. It’s the one day where the popular co-host of The Edge Afternoon Show gets to slow down and spend precious one-on-one time with her delightful boy Rocco. “It is hands-down my favourite part of the week – just us hanging out at home,” she smiles. “He’s just learnt to walk and he loves pushing things around the house, rearranging our rooms. I reckon he’s got a future in interior design! “Rocco makes us laugh every single day. He’s so inquisitive and determined. He currently cracks up at the word ‘ew’ – he thinks it’s the funniest thing ever!” Rocco recently had his first birthday, which Steph, 33, and her fiancé Jake Ebdale, 35, celebrated by taking…

For most professional sportspeople, the question of what comes after retirement can be a tricky one. Some go into coaching, commentating or sports management, others become entrepreneurs and some choose a life away from the spotlight. Not Marcus Daniell. The former tennis star is busier than he ever was on the courts of Wimbledon and the Australian Open or winning medals at the Olympics. Today, the 35-year-old juggles a role at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with High Impact Athletes, the charity he founded in 2020, which works with top international athletes such as Kiwi boxer Joseph Parker, NFL pro Patrick Laird and Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has ranked as high as world number three. But it’s Marcus’ latest gig that’s filling a lot of his hours and…

New mother Dr Deborah Lambie is proving that babies and beauty competitions can go together. Just five months after giving birth to her gorgeous boy Theo, the 33-year-old is juggling a newborn and sleepless nights, while vying to become the first-ever mum to take the Miss Universe New Zealand crown. “I never thought I’d return to pageants,” admits the former Miss World NZ 2015, who was born in Dunedin but now lives in Auckland. “But when Miss Universe started embracing a broader definition of beauty by welcoming married women, mums and even pregnant women to enter, I wanted to be part of it!” It’s another trailblazing moment for Deborah, who last year hit the stage as the first pregnant finalist in Miss Universe NZ and possibly any national pageant worldwide.…

LINGUINE WITH CREAMY MUSHROOM SAUCE SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 15 MINS • 375g linguine • 4 green onions, sliced • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped • 300g button mushrooms, sliced • 300ml pure cream • 100ml vegetable stock • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 Cook pasta in a stockpot of boiling, salted water until tender. Drain. 2 Meanwhile, heat an oiled, large non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat. Add onions. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 mins or until soft. Add garlic and mushrooms. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 mins or until golden brown. 3 Stir in cream and stock. Cook for 4-5 mins or until thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in parsley and cooked pasta. Serve. PENNE ALLA PUTTANESCA SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 10…

Q I’m very worried about my niece. She is going through a lot right now because of her sons. Will she be alright and will the truth come out about why they are being so vindictive? Aunty MITCHELL SAYS I feel your niece is carrying a lot, but she is stronger than she knows. I’m picking up that the situation with her sons is not as straightforward as it seems, but the truth will be revealed in time. There’s a lovely lady from your niece’s mother’s side who is watching over her. She tells me it may take longer than your niece would like, but there are things happening behind the scenes that will eventually bring everything to light. I can hear her saying, “What is hidden cannot stay in…

MY FAVE KIWI SHOW Celebrity Treasure Island – I love seeing famous Kiwis just being themselves on TV. There’s drama, humour and a lot of friendly competitiveness that really shows off our local spirit. It’s entertaining and feels like something uniquely ours. MY BEST BINGE-WATCH The Rookie because of the incredible acting and writing. Each episode gives a deeper insight into the lives of every character, not just the main one. Nathan Fillion, who plays John Nolan, brings so much heart and humour to the role, it’s impossible not to keep watching. LAST FILM I LOVED The last one I really adored was 300, which had the perfect blend of storytelling and emotional impact. I was especially impressed by the visual imagery and how the actors physically adapted d to…

The war between een the Beckhams and their daughter-in-law Nicola Peltz has turned even uglier amid news that Nic is arming herself with the Duchess of Sussex’s “reputation lawyer” in a bid to safeguard her marriage to hubby Brooklyn, 26. On the advice of Meghan and Prince Harry, Nicola, 30, is said to have been holding a series of “battle-plan strategy meetings” to work out how to deal with the negative press since news of the family feud broke. “Victoria’s preparing for the worst but hoping for the best,” says a pal. “She’s not going to be stealth-bombed with any more negative snipes from Nicola. Her circle of rich friends has her team on high media alert for any signs of trouble. Victoria’s faced off some of the biggest catfights…

Move over, Blake Lively – Selena Gomez is officially in! Taylor Swift has not only taken back control of her full music catalogue by buying all her master recordings, but she’s also wasting no time moving on from her disastrous friendship with Blake... and her longtime pal Selena has been promoted! “Taylor’s been planning her wedding to Travis Kelce for months now and Blake was a big part of that,” says an insider. “Now she’s so desperate to move on from Blake, she’s starting from scratch. “Selena’s been the perfect person to step in as she’s also working on her own wedding plans to fiancé Benny Blanco and Taylor feels like she could be the perfect maid of honour. “Taylor’s thrilled to have a friend in the same stage in…

The only original pair to survive MAFS are loving their new ife living together After surviving a particularly scandalous season of Married At First Sight Australia, the experiment’s only originally paired couple to stay together, Rhi Disljenkovic and Jeff Gobbels, have emerged quietly victorious. And while their castmates have been busying themselves with showy event appearances, podcasts and brand deals, Rhi and Jeff have been happy to just focus on themselves in their new little love nest. “We moved in together a couple of months ago,” Rhi tells Woman’s Day. “It’s been so easy,” adds Jeff. “I mean, if we can get through MAFS in those tiny apartments, getting filmed every day, it’s going to be easy!” Their new space, located in Melbourne’s Caulfield North, is certainly an upgrade from…

Snezana Calic is viewing MasterChef Australia: Back To Win with the resilience that carried her from war-torn Serbia to a new home in Melbourne. “When we fled as refugees, it was really hard,” recalls the 42-year-old, who was born in Croatia and relocated to Serbia as a child. “But my family focused on being together – not what we lost.” Snez is now channelling that strength by cooking up rustic Balkan and Mediterranean dishes that honour her heritage – and she’s particularly thrilled by the feedback from judge and season one runner-up Poh Ling Yeow. “I love that Poh encourages us to cook food that has a story,” she says. “When you cook food you grew up with, there’s no way it’s not going to be good.” “The best cooking…

LORETTA SWIT 1937-2025 She will forever be sharp-tongued, tough nurse Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan to millions of fans worldwide, but the woman behind one of M*A*S*H’s favourite characters was a big-hearted animal activist and pioneering feminist. Loretta Swit died at age 87, on 30 May of natural causes at her New York home, some 42 years after the brilliant last-ever episode of M*A*S*H was watched by more than 100 million adoring fans. Actor and director Alan Alda, 89, who played wisecracking surgeon “Hawkeye” Pierce in all 11 seasons, says Loretta deserved her two Emmy wins, in 1980 and 1982, as well as her 10 consecutive nominations. “More than acting her part, she created it,” he said in a touching tribute. “She worked hard in showing the writing staff how they…

Twenty-five years ago, we were first introduced to the fast-talking world of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. The single mum and her daughter from the tight-knit, wonderfully quirky Connecticut community of Stars Hollow quickly captured audiences’ attention with their enviably close relationship. From their romances and aspirations – Lorelai (played by Lauren Graham) hoped to open an inn with her best friend, chef Sookie (Melissa McCarthy), while Rory (Alexis Bledel) dreamed of going to Harvard – to their strained relations with Lorelai’s wealthy, overbearing parents Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily (Kelly Bishop), we were privy to every corner of their lives. As Gilmore Girls celebrates a massive milestone, we discover some interesting facts about the popular drama. THE TIES THAT BIND The series ran for seven seasons, from 2000 to 2007.…

When you think of a midlife crisis, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? It’s a balding, middle-aged man in a sports car, clinging to his youth one horsepower at a time, isn’t it? The stereotype is alive and well. But after watching a few friends hit their forties and fifties (and taking a long hard look in the mirror myself), I’ve realised this “crisis” can present itself in many different ways. Men may start adding protein shakes to their diet, swapping their Crocs for Nikes and taking an unexpected interest in triathlons or golf. There’s also usually more cologne too. Way more. Women tend to feel their way through it. Emotionally. Often with a career change, a spiritual awakening and the sudden urgency to install ceiling fans in…

MITTELI JUMPER Model: Mittelspitz (size 2) Sizes: 1 (2, 3) Neck circumference: 39 (50, 61)cm Chest circumference: 44.5 (55.5, 66.5)cm Waist circumference: 38 (46.5, 55.5)cm Back length: 30 (36.5, 46) cm YARN ✦ Novita 7 Veljestä Nummi (76% wool, 20% polyamide, 4% viscose; 200m/100g) or equivalent 10ply yarn ✦ MC: 945 Frost 1 (1, 2) skein(s) or 200 (200, 400)m ✦ Novita Wool Rescue (75% recycled wool, 25% polyamide; 200m/100g) or equivalent 10ply yarn ✦ CC1: 289 Honey 1 (1, 1) skein or 200 (200, 200, 200)m ✦ Novita 7 Veljestä (75% wool, 25% polyamide; 200m/100g) or equivalent 10ply yarn ✦ CC2: 064 False morel 1 (1, 1) skein or 200 (200, 200, 200)m Needles: 80-100cm circular needles and either double-pointed needles or 40cm circular needles for the sleeves, in…

BERRIES & CREAM SPONGE SERVES 12 PREP 20 MINS COOK 25 MINS • 4 eggs, at room temperature • ¾ cup caster sugar • 1 cup self-raising flour • 1 tbsp cornflour • 10g butter, melted • 300ml tub thickened cream • 250g mascarpone • ¼ cup icing sugar mixture, plus extra ½ cup • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste • 500g fresh mixed berries • 2 tsp milk • pink food colouring 1 Lightly grease two 20cm round cake pans. Line bases with baking paper. Dust with a little flour, shaking away excess. 2 Beat eggs and sugar in large bowl of an electric mixer for 10 mins, until thick and pale. 3 Lightly fold in combined sifted flours, followed by ¹/³ cup boiling water combined with butter. Pour…

Happily over the rainbow bridge AMANDA SAYS Hamish comes through and tells me he passed away about three years ago. He lived on a property with his best mate Monte, who died before Hamish, and they had both been there since they were pups. Hamish says that one day he just wandered off and despite everyone searching for him, he was never found. Hamish was led by the passed-over Monte through a gate, then a paddock and finally a dam, which was actually owned by Fiona’s in-laws. Fiona’s lovely father-in-law then comes through – these two dogs just adored him. They’re both so happy to be with him and often visit a little white dog called Eddie. Then Eddie comes through, telling me he belongs to Fiona and often sees…

MOMAGER’S SPECIAL CHRIS APPLETON After working his magic on J.Lo, the celebrity hairstylist stepped out at a Netflix event in LA, expressing interest in following in his pal Kris Jenner’s footsteps by getting a facelift. Hope they don’t ketchup! Who let the dogs out?! PAUL RUDD He’s best known for his roles in Ant-Man and Clueless, but now the actor has taken on his toughest role yet – a hot dog! Paul donned this mascot’s outfit at a Kansas City softball game to raise money for a kids’ hospital. Beers are Flo-ing! FLORENCE PUGH & YUNGBLUD Proving nothing is beneath her, the Midsommar actress kept pulling the pints at a pub in London while celebrating the singer’s latest single. Go, Flo! COUNT ME IN! ADAM DRIVER He was a villain…