In the first few days of the local release of The Odyssey the film became New Zealand’s biggest opening of the year. It’s earned rave reviews both here at the M2 offices and across the board among critics and general audience. The women of The Odyssey all contributed magnificently. Zendaya […]
Queenstown is setting itself up as the foodie capital of New Zealand as it secures the only two-star Michelin restaurant in the country. 110 restaurants were recognised by Michelin on our fair shores with 15 of them receiving stars, 35 Bib Gourmands and the rest recognised for their excellence, so […]
New Zealand has a bountiful gin scene. Here are a few of our favourites this season. National Distillery Company: Grass and Leaf Gin The NDC Grass and Leaf focuses on kaffir lime leaf and lemongrass. The pour shows a distinct viscosity, a sign of botanical density. On the nose, the […]
The Italians have never really treated coffee as a casual affair. It is ritual, performance, social glue, mild personality test and, always, an acceptable reason to stop everything you are doing. So it makes perfect sense that Bialetti and Dolce&Gabbana have looked at the humble morning brew and thought, “Yes, […]
One Night Only Imagine The Purge but it was about getting laid. That’s my elevator pitch for One Night Only. This is a romantic comedy directed by Will Gluck (Anyone but You, Easy A, Friends With Benefits) where single people are only allowed to have pre-marital sex once a year. […]
Few artists capture the heart of a story quite like New Zealand musician, Lee Martin. With a voice that blends warmth, strength, and vulnerability, Martin has built a reputation as one of Aotearoa’s most authentic musical storytellers. Born in South Africa and now based in Ōtautahi, she began studying classical […]
It’s difficult to find five-star luxury experiences that include everything from a Michelin dining experience to a UNESCO heritage status wartime bunker. This is something you think you might be able to swing in Europe perhaps in some European village, but you can actually find it much closer to home […]
Nolan’s IMAX 70mm mind and time bending behemoth, The Odyssey has landed and inspired people to start rereading those Greek classics. But before we start getting all hero worshiping about Odysseus, the Matt Damon rendition or otherwise maybe we should remember that he is a man who kept finding excellent […]
Seen by millions of people in more than 60 cities each year, the World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 invites viewers to step outside the news cycle and think critically about important topics in our world. This year’s curated selection we’ve brought you explores family, grief, and overcoming adversity. It can […]
I recently got the notion in my head that a road trip was needed. Whether it was too much rosé or too many rounds of NZ edition Monopoly that influenced me, I can’t be sure, but I chose the grand and glorious heights of New Plymouth for this soirée. I […]
I love light shows, they are creative in a way that inspires childlike wonder. So if you are looking for an excuse to escape the ordinary this spring, I’ve got exactly what you need. In Mid-October the already stunning TreeChurch and Gardens in Waikato’s Ōhaupō is transforming into an illuminated […]
With the release of Fire And Ash Scarlett Johansson has been dethroned as the highest paid actress of all time by Zoe Saldana. Zoe Saldana has got a stake in a few major franchises which boosts her profile. She shares a slice of Marvel movies with Scarlett as well as […]
lydiarachel.com Photography Finding success in two careers is hard, having to say goodbye to one of them is even harder. Rachael Mayne had to make this choice between clinical psychology and art, with each having a symbiotic relationship with the other. Since taking the plunge with art she has been […]
Digital life is monitored and exploited by Big Tech, with every interaction benefiting the companies that control algorithms and harvest our data. Yanis Varoufakis’ concept of technofeudalism highlights the illusion of freedom and the concentration of wealth. The essay encourages us to challenge this system and envision digital spaces that […]
It’s important to get a variety of perspectives on the world. We only ever see one side of anything, with multiple perspectives we can finally start to see the full picture of what is happening. The Siena Drone Photo Awards brings together a cohort of international photographers, amateurs, emerging talents, […]
Season 4 of Bridgerton is hard on our heels with this season focusing on Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) falling for each other. Bridgerton Season 4 will debut in two parts. Part 1 will premiere on 29 Jan, 2026, and Part 2 will premiere on 26 […]
Not meaning to come across too poetically pretentious, but I have always felt that music (in all its forms) is a mirror and road map with two contrasting faces: chaos and calm, shadow and light. Good music, if we let it, can cradle a broken heart; be rooted yet restless, […]
Research, much of it by companies with deep investment in AI, suggests that chatbot interactions alter how users think. In January, researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University posted a study online on how artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT affect critical thinking. They wanted to know how knowledge workers — […]
Above: Russell Clark, The Shearer’s Wife, 1952. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, promised gift of Greg J Moyle Foundation through the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation. For most of us, a visit to Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is an occasional weekend outing. For Greg Moyle, it became a […]
If you’ve ever thought, “I should become the kind of person who goes to the opera,” but didn’t know where to start—Mandarin Oriental, New York, has just the ticket. Their Metropolitan Opera VIP Experience is basically a cheat sheet for looking sophisticated without breaking a sweat. You’ll spend two nights […]
In June 2020, Sony Interactive Entertainment released The Last of Us 2. The game, a postapocalyptic adventure created by the California-based video game developer Naughty Dog, became one of the highest-grossing in Sony PlayStation history, selling four million units in its opening weekend and receiving more than 300 awards. It […]
In the two decades since she debuted her acting chops on PBS’ Barney & Friends, the amazing, brave and versatile Selena Gomez has actually tried to let go of every kind of disguise and be the same person in public and private. Even after Bloomsberg recently announced her as a […]
Disney’s Snow White The live action romp continues with this remake of a classic. Rachel Zegler steps into the title role while Gal Gadot stars as the Evil Queen. Apart from buckets of CGI dwarves I’m going to have to suspend my belief that Gadot is only the second fairest […]
Ah, tapes – those charming relics of a bygone era, complete with that ever-delightful risk of unravelling into a nested mess that no pencil can salvage. For some reason, they are coming back in a big way. Maybe it’s some relentless lobbying by the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise and […]
It is a right for all New Zealanders—especially wahine and their tamariki—to feel safe in their homes. Unfortunately sometimes this isn’t the case. To feel safe and secure is a right that everyone should hold. According to a report published by The Guardian last year, in New Zealand, police attend […]
The crowd bursts into fits of laughter. Ali Wong has just told a rip-roaringly funny joke in her 2016 critically-acclaimed Netflix comedy special, Ali Wong: Baby Cobra. Something about Fancy Asians versus Jungle Asians. It’s Ali Wong’s signature dry, self-deprecating humour, and her audience is lapping it up. Several months […]
Nobody’s story is the same. Everyone has their own individual struggles and challenges to overcome. We’ll never know the inner turmoils others are going through, although maybe we should take the time to find out sometime. One way or the other we find ourselves in this very moment. Some sitting […]
Asia, much like Europe, is a massive playground just waiting to be explored. It offers a little bit of everything. White sandy beaches, mountains, some of the busiest cities on the planet, you want it they’ve got it, and it’s closer to New Zealand than Europe to boot. More importantly […]
Before talks of glass ceilings and pay parity, the women forging businesses weren’t facing a mountain of obstacles so much as a sheer cliff. Born just prior to the French Revolution, and weathering the Napoleonic wars Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin literally married the boy next door at the age of 21. […]
Over the French Summer Louis Vuitton is turning over it’s Saint Tropez Restaurant at the White 1921 Hotel to Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Donckele and pastry chef Maxime Frédéric, so get ready for a five star experience. These two connoisseurs have put their hands and heads together to design a […]
Born in 2001, Raquel Abolins-Reid grew up with music in her bones, for sure. A Churton Park-native, her early life was spent dancing and signing herself up for talent shows in the local mall. Her family (all music lovers with an eclectic mix of tastes) had massively influenced her—also Beyonce, […]
Inside the enigmatic world of Jane Birkin – the style maven who redefined French chic and left behind a legacy that transcends generations. From her illustrious film and music career to the eponymous Birkin bag, we look at the life of a woman who turned simplicity into luxury. Amidst the […]
Napoleon Only Ridley Scott could be trusted to bring a historical epic to life like this. The film charts Napoleon’s rise to power, with the titular character played by the powerhouse Joaquin Phoenix. Vanessa Kirby comes in to play his estranged wife. To surprise each other during the divorce scene […]
Hansel & Gretel Returns This year The Royal New Zealand celebrate 70 years on the stage. In a fairy tale ending to the 2023 season, Hansel and Gretel sees out the year (26 October–9 December). Maybe you know the story of the two hopeless children, lost in the […]
Big Swiss By Jean Beagin A brilliantly original and funny novel about a sex therapist’s transcriptionist who falls in love with a client while listening to her sessions. When they accidentally meet in real life, an explosive affair ensues. Bold, outlandish, and filled with irresistible characters, Big Swiss is both […]
Wine and Dine in Style Foley Wines presents The Runholder, a stunning culinary destination nestled on Te Kairanga vineyard with captivating views of Martinborough Terrace. The new hub, shared by Te Kairanga, Martinborough Vineyard, and Lighthouse Gin distillery, sets the scene for elevated hospitality. With three distinct indoor dining spaces […]
Bri DiMattina is a second-generation Italian-Kiwi, a home gardener and trained chef who inherited her love of good food from her chef mother and her Italian nonna. After a career in the food industry, Bri moved to Māngere Bridge with her son and partner. There she began growing a […]
The recent unveiling of the all-new Maserati Grecale SUV saw plenty of Auckland’s finest come out to enjoy the Italian-themed evening – in spite of the weather. Guests also enjoyed a slice of Italy, being transported to Bologna with a selection of aperitivo, cocktails, and Italian wines curated by premium […]
Nestled within the commune of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, between Monaco and Menton, in the South-East Côte d’Azur region of France, a stunning villa sits on the cliff-side, almost teetered too close to the edge, as though one small breeze will push it over. If anything, it looks as though from a dream—its […]
What does a barrel-racing cowgirl, a Mundari tribesman looking after his cows, and a pair of crested caracara birds all have in common? They’re all the subjects of category-winning photographs at this year’s Sony World Photography Awards Open competition. Sitting alongside seven other stunning works of the other category winners, […]
Trends in food may come and go, however baking with excess is forever. The idea of balance goes out the kitchen window when sugar, cream and butter are on the ingredients list, and the philosophy of ‘more is more’ is one followed by sweet tooths the world over. Petra Galler […]
I’m in love with this flavour combination. The loaf is a little less labour intensive than the individual twists, but just as delicious. Serves 10–12 Ingredients Dough 550 g (1 lb 4 oz) plain flour 100 g (3½ oz) caster sugar 14 g (½ oz) instant dried yeast 3 eggs […]
Legend has it, there was a Persian woman who was in love with a prince. She baked him this cake, filled with magical love powers, in the hope that this would ensure a happy ever after. There are actually two endings to this tale. Serves 6 Ingredients 360 g (12¾ […]
I Scream, You Scream Wahiki Creamery’s latest ice cream range offers a fresh take on some Kiwi classics in a delectable variety of low-sugar, vegan, and coeliac-approved flavours. The range includes three new inclusion-based flavours, which promise an extra layer of texture and complexity to your ice cream fix. Their […]
We might be a little bit biased toward the new 2023 BMW M2, but we are excited to share that this anticipated release has landed in style. We had the opportunity to explore this automotive masterpiece, courtesy of Auckland City BMW and East Auckland BMW and it really is a […]
Engage your senses at this year’s long awaited LUMA Festival, piqued to be the ‘winter event of the Southern Hemisphere’. Extending to a five day event, this Queenstown festival promises something for everyone, with lights, arts and performance installations on display among its forest and Botanical Gardens stage. Encouraging visitors […]
Producing a film isn’t for the faint-hearted. It takes a lot of patience, hard-work and determination. Producers have the delicacy and perfectionism of the greatest love poet and the stamina and determination of a highly-skilled artisan. It was American director Robert Rodriguez (famous for the 1996 Tarantino flick, From Dusk […]
Music Magic Experience the music of this iconic masterpiece as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra plays the electrifying score of West Side Story. Performing alongside the newly re-mastered film shown in glorious high definition on the big screen with the original vocals and dialogue intact, this performance is not one […]
Women Talking Inspired by the shocking events that happened at the Manitoba Colony in Bolivia between 2005-2009, this moving drama shows the power of protest. After discovering that the men in their community had been drugging and raping women at night for years, eight Mennonite women must grapple with how […]
While McDonald’s has never really had much traction in the fashion scene, that shouldn’t stop them from becoming inspiration for the industry anyway. Some of the biggest names in fashion have already done just that. In 2021 Louis Vuitton, released a leather monogrammed pizza box. Although it was destined to […]
