Indice dei contenuti per Issue 91 Dec 2023/Jan 2024 in Good

@wendylnissen “But this year, at the age of 61, a new Christmas fairy will be turning up in the shape of me, a silver haired, fully made up, glamour ambassador for older women.” I’m not sure when I stopped buying a special dress for Christmas Day. I do know that in my 20’s it was something I did every year as a way of giving myself a Christmas bonus for getting through another year of being a wife, a mother, a daughter and a full-time worker. As I got older, I think Christmas got harder, as in, instead of turning up at my family home or my husband’s family home and helping out a bit, it was at my home and that meant making Christmas happen. Who has time for…

Hands up who is hanging out for the holidays and spending time with friends and family, chilling out at the beach, reading a book or two and generally lazing about. In Aotearoa New Zealand we are blessed to have many amazing beaches, lakes, and camping sites on our doorstep, and as a nation we tend to pack up our cars and depart en-masse, hitting the road to escape and enjoy much anticipated downtime. The problem is, that we can end up taking the holiday vibes too far when it comes to diet and exercise and return feeling less rejuvenated than is optimal. Swanning around in togs and lavalavas is deliciously free and comfy but doesn’t provide the same reminder that a snug fitting pair of pants might, to put down…

Of all the items to pack in your bag for your summer holiday, sunscreen is one of the most important. No matter which destination you’re headed for – beach, lake, or mountain – you need to protect your skin from the sun, especially in New Zealand with our depleted ozone hole which means there’s no filter between us and UV light. We might not be talking about the ozone hole as much, but NIWA* reports that it is still a concern, and it did in fact appear earlier this year than previously and is likely to be around longer lasting into the summer months. This is due to the January 2022 eruption of the Tongan volcano Hunga-Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai. The extra water vapor from the volcano took 18 months to spread…

DECEMBER • There’s nothing like making a summer salad with leaves grown in the garden. Plant lettuce, mesclun, parsley, rocket, basil, silverbeet and spinach in stages so you’ve always got some ready to go.• Now is also a good time to plant chilli, capsicum, courgette, cucumber, eggplant, pumpkin, squash, radish, spring onions and sweetcorn.• Fruit to plant include blueberry, strawberry, passion fruit, grapes, kiwifruit and tamarillos.• If you had planted potatoes for Christmas continue mounding soil as shoots grow until they are approximately 30cm tall. This protects them from wind and frost and prevents light reaching tubers and turning them green.• Water is essential during the warmer months, especially for tomatoes. Well nourished tomatoes will have a better chance at keeping insect pests and diseases at bay.• Remember to trim…

“And once the airbed is pumped up and dressed with sheets, plump pillows and duvet; a doormat placed at the entrance for wiping feet; and comfy chairs arranged out front under a shady awning… you can sit back, cold drink in hand, and life is good.” As a nation we are blessed with wonderful campgrounds in primo spots by the beach, bush, rivers and lakes. Camping in nature with some creature comforts is a wonderful as well as cost-effective way to spend a summer holiday. In recent years I’ve become a huge fan of camping holidays, though that wasn’t always the case, my experience tarnished from a memory as a teenager when our family camped beside a river and got eaten alive by sandflies and had a possum raid our…

The Pacific islands are known to most Kiwis as an island paradise. An idyllic holiday destination with snorkelling, fancy resorts, pristine blue water, sunny skies and friendly locals. They certainly were to me. But on a recent trip for work, I discovered another side of the picture-perfect postcard – a serious and growing problem. Human trafficking and sexual exploitation. What do I do for a job? I’m glad you asked. I’m a communications specialist with Tearfund New Zealand. One of the Kiwi organisations working hard alongside some incredible locals to fight the fastest growing criminal industry on the planet. Fiji First, let me introduce you to three remarkable Fijian lawyers seeking justice for victims by putting perpetrators in prison These three women, all under the age of 35, Susan Serukai,…

FEATURE BOOK FLORA: CELEBRATING OUR BOTANICAL WORLD These two images – placed side-by-side – an enamel paint necklace by artist Colin McCahon (C. 1950) and velvet portrait of a Polynesian woman (C.1940) by Charles McPhee, are an example of how beautifully this glorious big book, Flora, has been curated from the collections at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa. Produced by Te Papa Press, Flora, $80, is a unique collaboration between five editors – one from each of Te Papa’s disciplines – and 12 guest essayists. The floral objects – which range from botanical specimens to art, photography, furniture, jewellery, tivaevae, applied art, textiles, stamps and ceramics – explore the unique characteristics of New Zealand flora as well as how artists and cultures have used flora as a motif…

Hyperspace by Albert Belz 7-24 Feb, Auckland Theatre Company For lovers of dance movies and ‘90’s nostalgia, award-winning play Hyperspace will take you back to 1990, the heyday of Pump Up The Jam. It’s the NZ Aerobics Competition and small-town Natalie has to team up with haka queen Tāwhai for the mixed doubles. atc.co.nz Art Deco Festival 14-18 Feb, Hawke’s Bay The Art Deco Festival is back after a four-year hiatus. Expect everything from epic street parties and vintage car parades to the iconic Great Gatsby Party at Mission Estate plus plenty more new and exciting events will take place in Napier, Hastings and Central Hawke’s Bay. artdecofestival.co.nz Wildlife Photographer of the Year Now until 28 April, Auckland War Memorial Museum An exhibition of outstanding wildlife images from London’s Natural…

Summer is the season most of us who love gardening wait all year for. For me it’s collecting baskets full of basil and sweet cherry tomatoes, my kids racing each other to the strawberry patch every day after school, and slicing cucumbers, still warm from the sun, into our salads. I love looking out our kitchen window at the vibrant tangle of colour from the wildflowers dotted between our veggies and seeing the bees and butterflies reveling in the pollen and nectar. It’s the time of year when we see the fruits of our hard work and are rewarded with an abundance of grown food. During this season our gardens need some extra care and attention. With the long hot days and lower rainfall, plants require a lot more water.…

joellethomson.com Two of Martinborough’s oldest wineries have a new cellar door called Runholder, which is built on the edge of the village, offering commanding views over valleys, majestic hills and the moody west coast in the background. The name pays homage to the founder of Martinborough village, John Martin, who was a runholder and owned a vast tract of land, including the cottage that sits at the bottom of the drive that leads to Runholder. This impressive new cellar door, tasting room and barrel hall includes two restaurants and a gin distillery, which is the new home to Lighthouse Gins. The vast building contains a large amount of glass to take advantage of the drop dead gorgeous views of the nearby landscape. It is the biggest restaurant and cellar door…

1 There’s no such thing as away When it comes to plastic (and most rubbish, really), there is no such thing as ‘away’. By throwing that wrapper in the bin, we’re just putting it somewhere else – and, nearly always, that somewhere else is doing damage to our planet. Which is why challenging yourself to use less single-use plastic is such a powerful habit. The Milkwood Permaculture Living Handbook by Kirsten Bradley 2 READ THE RECIPE If following a recipe, read it right through to the end before starting. That way, you’ll know where you’re heading and can decide if any steps could be completed concurrently (and also if any steps or ingredients could be skipped or simplified). The Organised Cook by Amelia Freer 3 SPORTING INJURY MYTH According to…

ACROSS 1. Triumphant 6. Lamest (excuse) 10. Transported moonshine 15. Takes short sleep 18. Barn dance 19. Crane operators 20. Duo 22. X in tenpin bowling 23. Subtleties of meaning 24. Broken-limb support 25. Dietary fibre, … bran 26. Hoodoo 28. Diner 30. Computer key 31. Freight 32. Monty Python comic, … Idle 33. Infrequent 34. Antagonise 35. Office reminder 37. … & papa 39. Bar account 40. Log vessel 42. Listening organs 45. Held up 48. Medium-length skirt 49. As well 50. Credit facilitators 53. Tyrannosaurus … 54. Constructed 56. Strongboxes 59. Involved tales 61. Bawl 62. In place, in … 63. Prickly husk 64. Almond or pecan 65. Football squad 66. The 3rd W of WWW 68. Oblong-shaped 69. LA suburb, … Air 70. Presses charges 71. Chew…

Words can appear forwards, backwards, vertical, horizontal, on the diagonal and overlapping. Two words appear twice. A CHRISTMAS CAROL ANNA KARENINA DON QUIXOTE EMMA GONE WITH THE WIND GREAT EXPECTATIONS HEIDI JANE EYRE LITTLE WOMEN MOBY-DICK NORTHANGER ABBEY PERSUASION PRIDE AND PREJUDICE REBECCA THE AGE OF INNOCENCE THE CATCHER IN THE RYE THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING THE GREAT GATSBY THE MERCHANT OF VENICE THE SECRET GARDEN TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD WAR AND PEACE WUTHERING HEIGHTS Find the two words that appear twice in this Word Find and / or 31 across on the Crossword (opposite page) and enter online at goodmagazine.co.nz/competitions to be in to win one of two Absolute Essential Rose and Frankincense Gift Collection sets valued at $129 each.…

Since launching her podcast Grey Areas, broadcaster Petra Bagust has helped lift the taboo on talking about perimenopause and menopause, and its high ratings have proved that it is more than a sporadic hot flush. Its sizzling success politely gives the finger to a male exec naysayer of the project because “who’s going to listen to that?!”. Now in its fourth season with a fifth in the planning, Grey Areas is a place where women are free to express themselves and talk openly about navigating menopause – the pros and the cons. At age 51, Bagust is excited for the future and “this season” as she likes to put it, and she’s not referring to her podcast, Christmas or the summer break – though it’s a favourite time of year.…

In a world where wellbeing and self-care have taken centre stage, there’s one aspect that remains somewhat ‘hush hush’ despite its numerous benefits – masturbation. It’s a topic that can sometimes be shrouded in secrecy and met with raised eyebrows and hushed tones. Let’s come together (no pun intended) and break the silence to explore the profoundly positive impact that masturbation can have on our mental health and overall wellbeing. Why so taboo? First, let’s address the elephant in the room – why can talking about masturbation and self-love be considered ‘taboo’? One reason is undoubtedly societal norms and expectations. From a young age, many of us are conditioned to believe that these topics are private, even sinful. This conditioning can make it difficult for us to approach the subject…

Most companies would throw a big party to celebrate 35 years, but Absolute Essential has never been a slave to the social norm. Instead of baking a big cake and popping the corks, company founder and CEO Dr Bo Hendgen and her team with a group of willing volunteers broke ground, planting 500 native trees at the company’s HQ and surrounding properties in Muriwai. This action is what we’ve come to expect from the producers of the trusted multi-award winning therapeutic essential oil brand. For the past 35 years, Hendgen and her team have produced professional prescription blends of pure, certified organic essential oils and carriers from the best of the world’s medicinal plant harvests. Hendgen is proud to have scaled the business to where it is today, while maintaining…

CATEGORY WINNERS Skincare Hair & Body Make-up Health Supplements Lifestyle Food & Drink Brands PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER Aleph Beauty People’s Choice Congratulations to Aleph Beauty for being voted the winner of the Best of Natural Awards People’s Choice Award for 2023! Aleph Beauty also won three awards in the Skincare and Make-up categories of the Best of Natural Awards for its Concealer / Foundation; Lift & Lengthen Mascara; and The One Reset and Restore Moisture Cream – so taking out the People’s Choice Award makes it a quadruple win for this leading B Corp-certified natural make-up and skincare brand. It is the second time Aleph Beauty has won the People’s Choice Award. The first was the inaugural Best of Natural Awards in 2020. This year, Aleph led by 358 votes…

Christmas is a time of the year when it’s easy to blow the budget, over buy and produce way too much of everything from presents, decorations, food and general rubbish. To help keep your home, bank balance and mind clutter free this holiday season, try these helpful tips that will also limit your environmental impact. CHECK SUPPLIES BEFORE YOU BUY Before you hit the shops, check what you already have at home. Sounds simple but it’s easy to get carried away. Do you really need three extra matching platters? You’ll likely have most things you need already to entertain. TIPS: • Declutter and check what you have at home first• Borrow from friends and family if you’re short a roasting pan or bowl• Re-use or upcycle (that old chair might…

Since buying a 703-square-metre property in 2010, Phoebe and Dave Atkinson have designed and built productive, functional and recreational spaces, including an abundant kitchen garden and a mini orchard. They also have chickens, composting systems and a propagation shed! Phoebe and Dave Atkinson’s gardening practice is deeply entwined with their family and community. Twelve years on from purchasing their Forrest Hill property, the garden and their gardening ideology have expanded to include a seedling stand as well as a community garden. Their two children are also involved in every aspect. For as long as Phoebe can remember, she’s been drawn to gardens. If she ever came across some kind of structured productive space, she gravitated there. Her early years were spent on a classic quarter-acre (1012-square metre) section in semi-rural…

Summer holidays are a time of giving, whānau, and food – lots of food! All this food has its downsides of course – increased food bills and waste, for example. In Aotearoa, it is estimated that food waste doubles in December, so here are our top tips to ensure you enjoy all that delicious holiday season fare without the guilt. Be a planner Last-minute panicked trips to the supermarket are a sure way to increase your food bill and waste. Whipping around the food aisles piling random food items into your trolley, worrying about needing extra items to cater for unexpected guests or being lured into multi buys can quickly add up. To avoid this, sit down with a cuppa, pen and paper and plan out what meals you need…

Donning a pair of Specsavers x Moko Smith glasses will undoubtedly add a new edge to any look as well as turn heads. The side profile features distinctive taratara notching that represents a genealogy pattern “to honour our shared descent from those ancient Oceanic navigators”. These satisfyingly simple patterns are found throughout many Oceanic cultures and Moko hopes will keep our cultural aesthetic alive and strong in our region – and by that he means New Zealand as well as the wider Pacific. This is particularly poignant as $25 from the sale of each pair of glasses sold in the limited edition range is donated to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ to help them in ending avoidable blindness in the Pacific. A key focus of The Foundation is to work…