henry | Winter 2023

Leading with laughter:

Dai Henwood on the power of humour

Think more time for quality time

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You’ve got to laugh

It’s true: laughter is medicine. Humour brings people together, connects us, builds resilience and triggers positive emotional changes in the body. Not only does it feel great to share a laugh, it also inspires hope and can support physical and mental health - all things that are more important than ever in these challenging times. Best of all, this incredible medicine is free and available to everyone.

In this issue, well-known NZ funnyman Dai Henwood talks about the pull he felt towards comedy from a young age, the exhilaration of making an audience laugh and the profound role it’s played during his recent health battle.

We also recognise Matariki, as Aotearoa prepares to officially observe the start of the Māori New Year on July 14. If you want to know more about the meaning and significance behind this special time of year, turn to page 13,

and the kids will love our Matariki-themed activities on page 54. Speaking of kids, do yours understand the value of money? We delve into this essential life skill and look at how you can start teaching your children financial responsibility from a young age, with some practical ideas and resources (page 44).

There’s loads more to offer in this winter issue, from innovations in the dairy industry (page 48), to a revealing Q&A with Air NZ chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty (page 40) to how to revamp your outdated wardrobe (page 36).

Enjoy!

ABBY BESWICK | EDITOR

 Hell's Gate-Cameron Mackenzie

Taupō District buzzing for another busy winter!

Kia ora koutou, Winter is on the way, which means looking for ways to stay active but stay warm! The Taupō District offers a huge variety of locations to visit, be it indoors or outdoors, and now that our newly upgraded airport terminal is officially up and running, we look forward to welcoming visitors from all over Aotearoa.

We recently held the official opening of the lakefront ātea space in our town centre transformation. It is a sight to behold and something we are all very proud of. This amazing space reconnects our town centre with our beautiful lake and to the Tongariro Domain. It is a wonderful place for families to have a picnic, go for a stroll, or drop into one of our local cafes for a hot chocolate.

Some of our forest tracks were recently damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and are currently undergoing an upgrade, with fallen trees being removed and tracks repaired. Craters Mountain Bike Park is expected to be closed for another six months. Luckily, there are many other walks and bike trails throughout the district for everyone to enjoy – a great way to heat up the internal temperature on a cold winter morning!

As the winter days start to bed in, we are excited to see snow building up on the mountains. We look forward to a great ski season, with plenty of visitors staying in our district, and enjoying the attractions we have to offer while they head up to the snow.

The Taupō District is thriving, looking awesome and there is a real buzz in the crisp winter air!

Ngā mihi, David Trewavas MAYOR, TAUPŌ DISTRICT

Kia ora koutou,

It’s annual plan time for councils, which means you’ll soon be finding out how much your rates will cost. These plans outline what we propose to do to in the next financial year to ensure better outcomes and value for our communities.

As the new Mayor and council in Rotorua, we are taking this opportunity to refocus spending to ensure we can deliver well on what’s absolutely necessary, in a costeffective way. Council will invest $141 million into key projects like beginning work on the Rotorua Museum restoration, completing our Aquatic Centre upgrade, major stormwater enhancements to future-proof the district from flooding events, and replacing existing major infrastructure assets that are coming to the end of their lives.

Together the councillors and I have listened to what’s important for our community and taken on board the strong desire from our locals for change. What we’ve proposed has required some tough decisions to re-look at what council can and should be delivering. As well as finding savings, we’re also proposing ways to increase revenue to help pay for services, based on a user pays system.

We invite you all to take this chance to have your say on the future of your district by looking at the council’s draft annual plans and submitting feedback. Your voice is important in ensuring councils can deliver on a better future for all.

Ngā mihi, Tania Tapsell

ROTORUA

It’s rate setting time – don’t miss your chance to have a say

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events

showcase

from 12 JUN

Matariki Dish Challenge

 Mon, 12 June – Sun, 16 July

 matarikidishchallenge.co.nz

The Rotorua Matariki Dish Challenge is back and set to shine light on the culinary stars in Rotorua. Eateries from around the region's will showcase a dish that celebrates local and highlights Matariki.

While mystery judges will determine the regions champion, the public can have their say too by rating the dishes they’ve tried. So, this winter get out and discover something new in Rotorua.

Taupō Marathon

 Sat, 5 August

 Tongariro Domain

 Entry Fees Apply

 taupomarathon.co.nz

Join us for the 28th running of the Taupō Marathon this August, in support of Lake Taupō Hospice! Running along the picturesque Taupō lakefront, this event offers several run and walk options for every age and ability, from a 2km kids dash, all the way up to a full 42.2km marathon.

Add in a kids zone, food trucks, a beer garden, plus some live music and you’ve got the perfect weekend away with family and friends.

Trust Horizon, Light Up Whakatāne Light Festival

 July 28 - August 6

 Whakatāne

 FREE Entry

 lightupwhakatane.com

Discover and delight at illuminated art installations and projections, while meandering along the river walkway, town centre and green spaces of Whakatāne. Attend one of the Community Nights.

Opening Night, Friday 28 July or the Light Parade on Saturday 5 August. To view the full programme visit our website.

Do you have an event to list?

Email the team at hello@henrymagazine.nz to showcase your spring event in the next edition of henry

JUN

Taupō Cook Schools and Degustations

 June-August & November-December

 Brantry Eatery

45 Rifle Range Rd, Taupō

 Prices vary between $75-225pp

 brantryeatery.co.nz

If you enjoy contemporary dining experiences or refining your culinary skills, then Prue Campbell of Yum Food Company has designed a jam packed calendar of cook schools and degustations at Brantry Eatery.

The cook schools presented are either within Prue’s private residence or the well-established restaurant on Rifle Range Road.

Cook Schools are during the day with opportunities to upskill with soups, tagine, hot desserts, eggs-manyways, entertainers-dream-skills, Christmas themed and more. Don’t forget our popular Matariki Degustation Dinner on the 14th July. Limited spaces. Book via website.

Quirky

Pottery/Gallery

 Tuesday - Saturday 10am to 4pm

 45 Oruanui Street, Taupō

 facebook.com/QuirkyPottery

 info@quirkypottery.co.nz

 021 996 014

At Quirky Pottery Studio/ gallery we create functional and sculptural pottery and we offer private pottery workshops, hen's, birthdays or any type of pottery workshop.

Gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm but you can book your private class anytime. For more information or booking please contact Didi Chapman. Mention "HENRY WINTER" and get 10% off.

what's on events

June

The Little Big Markets

Mount Maunganui

 June 3rd & 17th

 Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui

 thelittlebigmarkets.co.nz

Taupō Art Connection King’s Birthday Weekend Art Trail

 3rd – 5th June

 District Wide

 taupoartconnection.co.nz

10cc & Hello Sailor – The Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour

 4th June

 Toitoi Opera House, Hastings

 plus1.co.nz

The Greenflea Carboot Sale

 4th June

 Northcroft Reserve

 marketcentraltaupo.co.nz

The greatest love of all – A tribute to Whitney Houston

 9th June

 Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Rotorua

 rotoruanui.nz

2 Mile Bay Sailing Centre – Dog & Grog

 10th June

 331 Lake Terrace, Taupo

 2miletaupo.com

Guy Montgomery – Comedy Show

 10th June

 38 Durham Street, Tauranga

 livenation.co.nz

2023 Matariki Dish Challenge

 12th June – 16th July

 matarikidishchallenge.co.nz

July

Hamilton Field Days 2023

 14-17 June

 Mystery Creek Events Centre

 fieldays.co.nz

The Possum Night Trail

 17th June

 Kinloch

 thepossum.co.nz

Taupō Historical Cycle Tour

 19th June

 Taupō Lake Front

 taupodc.govt.nz

Rock & Roll Sunday Social

 25th June

 Stag Park Diner

 facebook.com/tbirds.nz

Taupō MCC Winter Series

– Round 3

 25th June

 Digger McEwen Motor-cross Track

 taupomcc.co.nz

Psychic Medium Sue Nicholson Show – Rotorua

 25th June

 272 Fenton Street, Rotorua

 trybooking.com

Taupo Winter Fest

 30th June – 16th July

 taupowinterfestival.co.nz

Malcolm Flowers Insurance

Taupo Winter Festival 2023

 1st – 16th July

 Tongariro Domain

 taupowinterfestival.co.nz

North Island Cross Country

 8th July

 Spa Park

 athleticswaikatobayofplenty.org.nz

Rotorua Home & Lifestyle Show

 7th July

 Energy Events Centre, Rotorua

 homeandlifestyleshow.co.nz

Rotorua Swap Meet

 9th July

 105 Paradise Valley Road, Rotorua

Costumiers’ Fantasy

Masquerade Ball

 14th – 15th July

 Millennium Hotel, Rotorua

 cnzwildadventures.com

Taupō MCC Winter Series

– Round 4

 15th July

 Digger McEwen Motor-cross Track

 taupomcc.co.nz

Taupō MMC Battle of Teams

 16th July

 Digger McEwen Park

 taupomcc.co.nz

From Broadway to Westend

 18th July

 Rotorua Baptist Church

– Malfroy Road, Rotorua

 rotoruanui.nz

Do you have an event to list?

Email the team at hello@henrymagazine.nz to showcase your spring event in the next edition of henry.

Wonderland Glow Show

 20th July

 Great Lake Centre

 glowshow.co.nz

Free Basic Bike Maintenance Workshop

 27th July

 Top Gear Cycles  taupodc.govt.nz

Great Forest Rogaine 2023

 29th July

 Redwoods, Whakaerwarewa Forest  obop.org.nz

August

Taupō Marathon

 5th July

 Tongariro Domain

 taupomarathon.co.nz

Pedal Safe Women’s Cycling Skills

 5th August

 Taupo community Park – Titiraupenga Street  taupo.govt.nz

Sunnto Run the Forest

 12th August

 Redwoods Rotorua

 runtheforest.co.nz

Rotorua Secondary Schools

Tough Guy & Gal

 23rd August

 Lakes Ranch, Rotorua

 eventpromotions.co.nz

Rotorua Junior Tough Guy & Gal Challenge

 24th August

 Lakes Ranch, Rotorua  eventpromotions.co.nz

Rotorua Touch Guy and Gal Challenge

 26th August

 Lakes Ranch, Rotorua  eventpromotions.co.nz

Mount Maunganui Half Marathon

 26th August

 Marine Parade, Mt Maunganui  bayofplentynz.com

Piaf: The Legend – Taupō

 26th August

 Great Lake Centre  piafthelegend.com

Matariki

What is Matariki?

Also known as the Māori New Year, Matariki is the name of a cluster of stars that appear in the night sky in mid winter. The two meanings of Matariki refer to the stars: mata ariki (eyes of God) and mata riki (little eyes).

Matariki is often called the Pleiades or the Seven Sisters in English. The brightest star in the constellation is called Matariki toothis is the mother of the other stars that surround it. In the traditional Māori lunar calendar called the Maramataka, the new year begins with the first new moon after Matariki appears in the sky. Ancestral knowledge and wisdom are at the heart of Matariki. It is a time of remembrance - honouring loved ones who have died since the last rising of the stars - giving thanks for the present and looking to the future. Historically the stars of Matariki were also closely tied to planting and harvesting.

A special holiday

The Pleiades star cluster named Matariki is celebrated every year, on its first rising in late June or early July. This marks the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar. Matariki first became a public holiday in New Zealand in 2022. The holiday date each year falls on the closest Friday to the Tangaroa lunar calendar period of the correct calendar month. This year, the holiday will be on Friday, 14 July.

How is it celebrated?

The rising of Matariki is traditionally a time of transition and reflection, when families get together to remember the past and prepare for the future. Festivities are typically held between late June and mid July and there are lots of ways to mark this midwinter celebration with your whānau and friends.

Traditionally, Matariki was a time for families and communities to spend together. People meet to share food and entertainment and look forward to the new year ahead. Often, loved ones gather to view the Matariki cluster. The best time to do this is early morning, just before dawn. There are typically Matariki celebrations, events, exhibitions and workshops taking place around the country, so check out what is happening in your area.

Historically, the next season’s crops were influenced by the appearance of the star cluster too. A clear and bright Matariki meant an abundant season ahead and planting should start in September. If the stars were hazy however, it was a warning for cold days ahead and crops shouldn't be planted until October.

What you need to know about

 Abby Beswick

Abby Beswick

The science of comedy

Humour is enticingly universal and elusive. We all understand instinctively whether something is funny, yet it’s hard to explain why in a way that encompasses it all. The dictionary defines humour simply as “the quality of being amusing or comic ''. From films, to plays, memes or TikToks, we’re all looking for laughs. And it can take a range of forms, including witty conversation, quips, sarcasm, slapstick and deadpan. Of course, most of the humour we experience arises from everyday life.

We are all born with the impulse to laugh - an instinctive behaviour that is programmed by our genes. When we laugh it releases endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in our bodies, making us feel happy and relaxed. So it’s not surprising, funny people tend to receive positive attention and admiration.

“We call it in the industry, funny bones,” says comedian Dai Henwood. “You just know if someone’s got funny bones.” He goes on to tell me about an uncle who told really average jokes “but he was absolutely hilarious”. It was hard to put your finger on exactly why, he was simply a funny person, he says.

Henwood is undoubtedly a funny person. One of New Zealand’s bestloved comedians, the 45-year-old is a familiar face on our TV screens and performing stand-up around the country. The intoxication of making people laugh started young for Henwood, who knew he wanted to be a comedian when he was five. “I can remember the feeling of making people laugh - it just made

me feel really good and I saw how good it made other people feel and that just drew me to it.” By his final year at primary school, almost everyone in Henwood’s class predicted he would become a comedian.

A life of laughs

Comedy has been a powerful force in Henwood’s life. He grew up in a family where performing and comedy were part of daily life. His father, Ray Henwood, was a professional actor who starred in one of the country’s longest-running sitcoms, Gliding On, as well as a number of serious and comedic roles.

Growing up in the theatre gave young Henwood a behind-thescenes understanding of art. “A lot of people just see the performance, but they don’t see the work that goes into it.”

When Henwood announced to his family at age 17 that he had decided



on comedy as a career, they were right behind him. “I was lucky to have a very supportive family, who viewed the arts as a really important job.” Going onstage for the first time was a turning point, he says. “Until you get onstage in front of an audience, then you’ll know if it’s for you or not. It was just in my soul that I had to do it”.

He began his career on TV show Pulp Comedy and in 2002 he won the prestigious Billy T James Award. Since then he has taken his comedy around the world, performing in comedy festivals and solo shows. He’s also become a well-known TV personality on a number of shows including comedy travel show Roll the Dai, 7 Days and Lego Masters.

Beyond a joke

Henwood agrees comedy is a science, but there are other elements to it. “I would liken it to something like gravity - it just is. You can’t create gravity, it just is, and that’s the same with comedy.”

You can study comedy all you like, but that won’t make you a good comedian, says Henwood. There are a lot of comedians and you don’t know why they’re funny, it might be

in the way they look at the audience, the way they move, their delivery, or something that’s harder to define.

It might be surprising to many people how long the process of writing jokes and putting together a set can take. Jokes and funny ideas pop into Henwood’s head throughout the spectrum of everyday sad, happy and difficult situations. From there he’ll spend time developing them, and possibly build a whole story around them before testing it out at an open mic night. Those seven minutes onstage might produce one or two minutes of usable material. He goes home and records it, edits it and continues to develop it further.

It can take months to write a 30-minute set, which he’ll then tour with for up to 12 months. Even when his set is finished and he’s touring, Henwood tailors it to each audience, often cutting a bit out or changing tack on stage, depending on how the audience is responding. “Because comedy’s so organic it will keep evolving.”

Comedy connects us

Do comedians share any specific personality traits? They’ll do anything for a laugh, says Henwood, and that brings people together in a powerful way - “comedy is what binds us all”. He’s right of course; comedy needs a connection to work. There’s an incredible camaraderie among comedians, of simply enjoying being around people who make you laugh and wanting each other to succeed, says Henwood. His favourite part of the job is sitting in the green room before a show, talking and laughing with other comedians. “You don’t want the person before you to bomb, you want them to have a great set because the better everyone's going the better you go.”

One of the things Henwood loves most about comedy is its authenticity. “Comedy is so honest. You can’t fake laughing, so as a comedian you know immediately whether you’re going bad or good.” When you strike the right chord with an audience it’s an incredible

feeling.“When you have that moment where it feels like the audience is with you and you’re riding the wave, it’s amazing.”

Finding humour in good times and bad

Comedy and laughter has always been central to Henwood’s life. But it’s in some of the darkest times during his recent health struggles that he’s truly appreciated what it offers. Recently Henwood revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which has spread to his liver and lungs.

He has undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

Throughout it all, comedy has been an escape, a release and a friend. “The fact that I’ve been able to find a smile and find laughter in my life is a blessing.”

Even while getting an MRI scan or sitting chatting with nurses, funny ideas or jokes have popped into Henwood’s mind. Being on stage has also been therapeutic.

“As someone who has been dealing with cancer for the last three years, it’s been something that’s huge for me, because when I’m performing I think of nothing else. I’m just in the moment of telling jokes and wanting to share jokes with the audience. It’s the perfect point of mindfulness.”

A self-described introvert, Henwood says he’s quieter at home but being silly and joking around have always been part of family life. He’s also

passed his passion for humour onto his children, aged 10 and 7. “As a comedian, when one of my kids says something funny and it’s the combination of the joke is funny and the delivery is good, I get a huge swell of pride.”

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Hot picks Rotorua's

Velocity Valley

Live out your wildest dreams with an array of unique NZ adventure activities. Agrojet, Shweeb, Freefall Xtreme, Swoop & Rotorua Bungy. Solo and family packages also available.

Mention henry to receive a 10% discount on packages

1335 Paradise Valley Road, Rotorua 0800 949 888 velocityvalley.co.nz

Skyline Luge Rotorua

Skyline Luge Rotorua offers gravity fuelled thrills for the whole family. With incredible lights, tunnels and five tracks to choose from, a visit is a must do for everyone!

3 new tracks with corkscrews, tunnels and amazing lights! Book online!

178 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua 07 347 0027 skyline.co.nz

Off Road NZ

Adventures that are perfect for everyone. From our self-drive 4WD Bush Safari, to the Monster 4X4 Thrill Ride, and heartracing Raceline Karting, this truly is the adventurer’s playground of their dreams.

Exceptional packages available

193 Amoore Road, RD2, Rotorua 07 332 5748 offroadnz.co.nz

Skyline MTB Park

Skyline MTB Park gives riders easy access to 12-kilometre of world-class downhill mountain biking, featuring trails with varying terrain for all ability levels.

NZ’s first all-season Gondola assisted bike lift park. Open from 10am daily

178 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua 07 347 0027 skyline.co.nz

Rotorua Canopy Tours

Soar through the trees and experience ancient NZ forest like never before – in two unforgettable zipline adventures. This is a must-do multi award-winning adventure not to be missed!

Voted the world’s best experiences by TripAdvisor.

147 Fairy Springs Road, Rotorua 0800 226 679 or 07 343 1001 canopytours.co.nz

Redwoods Altitude

A tree top experience like no other: 25 jungle bridges, 3 flying foxes, 2 spirals and an optional big jump. Fully guided and harnessed, allow 2.5 hours. Combo includes fast pass entry to Nightlights and Treewalk. A Rotorua must do.

All 3 for $159pp – (includes Treewalk Day, VIP (fast pass) Nightlights & Redwoods Altitude)

1 Long Mile Rd, Rotorua 027 536 6355 redwoodsaltitude.co.nz

Rotofobia

Escape your troubles and enter a world of excitement! Do you have the brain power to solve your way through our rooms? Find out now!

Get 15% off booking total by using code henry15 at checkout on our website

1282 Hinemoa Street, Rotorua CBD 027 527 9660 rotofobia.co.nz

Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua

Soak in a cedar hot tub on the forest’s edge, complete with tub-side bar service. Share your adventure beside a campfire or over a refreshing beverage from our unique café and bar.

Receive a free Shinny Dip foot hot tub with any drinks purchase.

Redwoods Treewalk

A Rotorua must do! A suspended bridge walk captures the beauty and ambiance of the forest from a bird’s eye perspective. Daytime for nature and night time for magic!

A Rotorua must do

1 Long Mile Rd, Rotorua treewalk.co.nz

Lakeview Golf & Country Club is a unique free-draining 18 hole, par 72 course with undulating fairways and challenging greens where everyone is welcome! Contact us to book your tee time.

Mention henry to get a $10 discount on our $45 green fees

Lakeview Golf & Country Club 704 State Highway 5, Hamurana 07 357 2341 lakeviewgolf.co.nz

Buried Village of Te Wairoa

Visit one of Rotorua’s most iconic tourist destinations and New Zealand’s most visited archeaological site. Immerse yourself in history, where stories of the Tarawera eruption come to life.

Receive a free chronicle when you mention HENRY magazine

1180 Tarawera Road, Rotorua 07 362 8287 buriedvillage.co.nz

Horse trek through native bush and working sheep and cattle farms with stunning views of Lake Okareka, Lake Tarawera and Mount Tarawera. Rides

Reading Cinemas Rotorua

Reading Cinemas Rotorua is Rotorua’s first class 5 screen cinema complex. The cinemas feature huge screens, first release movies in 2D and value packed candy bar deals!

Amazing value all day everyday

1281 Eruera Street, Rotorua 07 349 0061 readingcinemas.co.nz

Contact us on 021 292 2233 or email lucy@treklakeokareka.co.nz

Beyond the frost

Warm your body and soul at these essential hot spots

Polynesian Spa, Rotorua

This iconic Rotorua destination has been a well-loved spot for both locals and visitors alike for more than 50 years.

Has winter got you feeling a bit blue? Why not warm your bones in one of our region’s many amazing hot pools! These natural hot springs and spas are the perfect place to relax, rejuvenate, and forget about the cold, dreary weather. Whether you’re wanting a quick splash or a full spa treatment, these geothermal escapes are sure to warm the cockles of your heart.

Locals know winter is a perfect time to visit, when you can enjoy serene wintery views across Sulphur Bay on Lake Rotorua while staying warm in the geothermal waters. Let all your worries soak away in their 28 hot mineral pools, fed by two different geothermal springs.

The heritage-protected Priest Spring features acidic water historically known for relieving tired muscles, aches, and pains, while the alkaline waters of the Rachel Spring offer the antiseptic action of sodium silicate, which nourishes the skin. Make a day of it with a luxurious spa treatment or book a dual massage and soak in one of their private hot pools afterward.

Planning a winter group experience such as a family getaway, business retreat, or special celebration? Take advantage of their spacious wellness sanctuary and tailor a

unique experience with options including yoga classes, mindfulness and wellness workshops, catered lunch and more. There’s also an onsite café serving smoothies and tasty snacks, and a retail shop stocked with quality gifts and skincare products.

Wairakei Terraces, Taupō

Nestled in the Waiora valley at Wairakei, and situated alongside the Wairakei Geothermal Steamfield, are the first ever man-made silica terraces. Mineral-enriched water, drawn from 2.5-kilometre depths underground, cascades over the terraces into four outdoor bathing pools, each with a different temperature to suit everyone.

The striking blue and silky waters will warm your body to the core, while nourishing and moisturising your skin and revitalising your mind, body, and soul. For a complete holistic experience, include a relaxing massage, using their own gentle, natural oil blends made from nutrient-rich NZ native plants.

Take a moment to experience a sense of history and reflect on how,

 Harri Sharman

 Polynesian Spa

Wairakei Terraces

hundreds of years ago, Māori used pools in these natural settings for healing. From the turn of the 20th century, visitors from all over the world have also come here to "take the waters," testifying to its curative and therapeutic effects.

Secret Spot Hot Tubs, Rotorua

The secret is out about these secluded hot tubs, nestled beside the breath-taking Whakarewarewa Forest. Soak in your own spring-fed cedar hot tub, surrounded by native ferns. There are large umbrellas over the hot tubs providing shelter, and if you go at night, you’ll soak in a magical illuminated setting complete with outdoor campfires.

Take relaxation to the next level with their delicious range of craft beer, cider, and steaming mulled wine delivered directly to your hot tub at the push of a button. Experience live music on Saturday afternoons, try their delicious smash burgers, fries, and street food from BaseCamp kitchen, or enjoy a Shinny Dip foot hot tub – free with any drinks purchase. Secret Spot handily provide free lockers and drinking

water for use during your visit. If you’ve got a special event in the pipeline, BaseCamp is available to book for mid-week functions as well.

Polynesian Spa, Rotorua 1000 Hinemoa Street, Lakeside, Rotorua 3010 polynesianspa.co.nz

Wairakei Terraces, Taupō 671 Wairakei Drive, Wairakei, Taupō 3377 wairakeiterraces.co.nz

Secret Spot Hot Tubs, Rotorua 13/33 Waipa State Mill Road, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3073 secretspot.nz

 Secret Spot Hot Tubs

reasons to Taupō

Taupō International Motorsport Park – Go Karts

The Taupō Go Karts are a must-do experience. Our modern karts and the newly redeveloped 400m outdoor track makes for an exhilarating experience. We also have two-seater karts, which makes the experience accessible to 6-10 year olds.

Prices from $49. View times and book on our website. Opening hours: Thursday to Monday 10am-4:45pm.

Lil Something - Spa Park

Café kiosk at Spa Thermal Park, on the edge of the Huka Falls walking track and the iconic Otumuheke Stream. Ice-creams, award-winning coffee, milkshakes and fruit smoothies.

Mention henry for a free upsize on all hot drink orders.

Spa Thermal Park, Spa Road, Taupō 021 311 984 lilsomething.co.nz

Craters of the Moon

Explore geothermal features often wreathed in clouds of steam from the heat just below your feet! One hour walk traverses the unique landscape around this cratered valley.

Part of the largest geothermal field in NZ. Open daily, small admission fee

171 Karapiti Road, Wairakei Park, Taupō 027 656 4684 cratersofthemoon.co.nz

Hukafalls Jet

The only jetboat company permitted to take you to the base of the mighty Huka Falls! Taking you along a beautiful river environment, Hukafalls Jet is half an hour of thrills, fun and excitement.

Present this advert for a free Hukafalls Jet t-shirt. Not in conjunction with other offers & packages

Wairakei Tourist Park, Taupō 07 374 8572 or 0800 485 253 hukafallsjet.com

Rapids Jet

Enjoy 35 minutes of exhilarating fun for all ages, 5 to 93 (and up!), on NZ’s only white-water jetboat ride and Taupō’s #1 boating activity. Soak up the thrills, excitement and striking scenery

Deals available! Check our website for more info. Gift vouchers available.

Taupō Museum

A great place to visit! Engaging displays on Taupō District’s history and culture, the Ora Garden of Wellbeing and everchanging exhibitions in our art galleries.

Open seven days, 10am – 4.30pm

Story Place,

07 376 0414 taupo.govt.nz/museum

Confinement Escape Rooms

Offering an exciting experience in Taupo Town Centre. Perfect for friends, couples, work groups and families. Solve the clues, get out in 60 minutes!

Use henry15 as promo code at checkout for 15% off.

15% off booking when shown henry in Confinement

33B Oruanui Street, Taupō 07 376 5326 confinement.co.nz

PREMIUM BRANDS BIKE SALES & SERVICING

AC

Baths

An all weather venue that is fun for the whole family. Enjoy our thermallyheated pools, hydro-slides, tarzan swing, private pools, sauna, cafe, swim shop and hire equipment.

Mon-Fri: 6am-7pm. Sat, Sun and public holidays: 7am-7pm

Cnr of Spa Road and AC Baths Avenue, Taupō 07 376 0350 taupo.govt.nz/acbaths

Swing by and play like a champion today and get the next shot at winning $10,000 cash at the iconic Lake Taupō Hole in One Challenge!

Show

LARGE RANGE OF MENS & WOMENS MTB APPAREL

Award winning mead makers doing what comes naturally. We combine raw native NZ honeys with organic fruit and spices to create taste sensations for your tastebuds pleasure.

Beehave! Brewbar open Wed, Thur, Sun 11am-6.30pm, Fri & Sat 11am-8.30pm

Beehave! Craft Meadery 116 Spa Road, Taupō 021 844 299 beehave.nz

Mon - Fri: 8:30AM - 5:00PM Sat: 9:00AM - 12:30 PM 40 Runanga Street, Taupo 07 377 0552

Ebike Motor Rebuilds Book your service and shop online topgearcycles.co.nz

Lake

in One Challenge

Chasing the sun A Whakatāne winter escape

Dreaming of a winter sun adventure?

You don’t need to look far: there’s a stunning winter sun trap right on our doorsteps. Whakatāne is well known for being one of the sunniest spots in New Zealand, even during winter months. It’s the perfect affordable

Where to stay

Ōhope Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, Ōhope

On the eastern end of the stunning Ōhope beach, this family-friendly holiday park offers a range of accommodation for all budgets. From campsites to basic cabins up to self-contained apartments with spa pools, with every option you’re never far from the beautiful 11km beach. On site you’ll find hot tubs, a sauna, and a hot soak pool, ideal for relaxing and warming up in winter months. In case of wet weather, there’s also an indoor movie room and games room to stay entertained, plus a pizza oven, onsite shop, and lots more.

Where to eat

The Comm., Whakatāne

Conveniently located in the heart of Whakatāne just a short stroll from the waterfront, The Comm. is the perfect stop for all-day dining. Stop in for a craft beer or cider after an outdoors adventure or grab a bite of delicious soul food for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The menu offers something for everyone (including kids) with brunch options, pizza with gluten free bases available, tasty burgers, a full dinner menu and a range of sharing plates and snacks. Wash it down with a Good George beer on tap, a cocktail, or a hand-selected New Zealand wine. Check their website for upcoming live music nights and entertainment as well.

escape, without the maddening crowds of summer.

Whakatāne and nearby beach towns Ōhope and Ōpōtiki offer wide expanses of stunning landscapes, adventures, and relaxation with plenty of opportunities for soaking

Where to relax

Awakeri Hot Springs, Awakeri

Take a short trip out of Whakatāne proper to discover Awakeri Hot Springs, a beautiful bushland sanctuary. The family-run Holiday Park’s special attraction is the natural spring-fed mineral hot pools, with geothermal water taken directly from deep bores. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the 37-39°C hot pools, perfect for unwinding during an actionpacked holiday. The hot pools area is partially covered with large shade-sails, and there are smaller pools for children and toddlers too.

 Harri Sharman

Winter like this?

up some soft winter sun. Experience the peaceful serenity of a native bush walk, accompanied by the rustling sounds of native birds. From April to July, you could encounter the calls of a kiwi on a guided night walk, operating during these months while kiwis are most vocal. Walks are run by the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust every Friday night and depart from either Ōhope Scenic Reserve or Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve.

Another must-do experience for nature lovers is a guided tour to Moutohorā (Whale Island), a predator-free eco-sanctuary nine kilometres offshore from Whakatāne. The island is home to various species of rare and endangered birds, reptiles,

and plants – see if you can spot tuatara, tīeke (saddlebacks), bellbirds, dolphins, little blue penguins, and fur seals. Tours include a stop at secluded hot water beach, Sulphur Bay, perfect for warming up in your own hand-dug hot springs pool.

Whakatāne town also offers the perfect retail therapy experience in its compact, charming town centre. Nestled between the spectacular, bush-clad cliffs and a scenic river walkway, the bustling shopping precinct boasts boutique stores from homeware and gift shops to fashion and health and beauty. The Hub shopping centre is home to all the main national retail chains, so you’ll be covered if you need to pick up a forgotten holiday item as well.

Home &Garden Your winter planting guide

 Abby Beswick

Although the months are colder, there’s plenty to keep you busy in the garden. There are so many vegetables you can grow successfully in winter that will keep your family stocked up over the coming months.

June to October is the right time to grow and harvest your winter vegetables. If you’re an inexperienced gardener, this is a great time to try your hand at planting, as many vegetables are easy to grow, hardy and provide bountiful harvests with minimal pest and disease problems.

Raised gardens are best. However, if you don’t have vegetable plots and space is an issue, you can use pots or containers, depending on the vegetable. Your winter vegetable patch will need good drainage to cope with the winter rainfall, so avoid waterlogged areas. Make sure your plot is also exposed to as much sun as possible. Here are some of our favourite vegetables you can sow and grow in New Zealand in winter.

Garlic – Winter is the best time of the year to plant garlic and you can do so anytime before the end of August. After this, there isn’t enough day-time for the bulbs to fatten up before they stop growing in about October and harden up. This versatile vegetable is a great addition to every kitchen.

Broccoli – Rich in antioxidants and vitamins, it’s no wonder this powerhouse of goodness is so popular. It’s also easy to grow and hardy in frosts. Plant in early winter in full sun and water regularly. Harvest in 20-25 weeks.

Broad beans – Broad beans benefit the gardener and garden. This useful crop sends nitrogen into your soil, which is critical for plant growth and reproduction. Broad beans also provide food for your family, while producing beautiful flowers in an often dreary season. You can sow the seeds right up to the end of winter and they will be ready to harvest in 10 to 12 weeks.

Peas – Peas can be planted in late autumn or early spring as they prefer colder temperatures. Use stakes or trellis to keep the crop off the ground and provide a growing structure. Feed and water them regularly. You’ll be rewarded with delicious, sweet peas in 10-12 weeks.

Spinach – Sow in winter or early spring, when the risk of frost has passed. Ensure your spinach is in an area that gets plenty of sun and soil that is rich in compost or other organic matter. Water well after planting. This fast-growing crop is easy to grow and thrives in the garden or containers. Spinach can be harvested a leaf at a time - so you can pick as you need it. This will also encourage new growth.

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A sweet milestone

Celebrating 30 years of Huka Honey Hive

The bees are a-buzz with birthday celebrations, as iconic attraction Huka Honey Hive celebrates 30 years in business. Since 1993, the family-friendly destination has been promoting the sustainability and welfare of bees while enabling visitors to learn about and share their passion for bees and artisan honey.

On a tranquil section of land located close to Huka Falls, Huka Honey Hive offers a sensory experience of a different kind. Coming from humble beginnings as a beekeeper’s group of hives, Huka Honey Hive moved into their current location in 1993. Back then, the philosophy was much the same as it is today: education about bees and their role in nature, honey tasting and hands-on discovery.

In 2018, current owners Jo and Mark Saville took over the business from the founders, having been long time visitors. Jo herself has fond memories of visiting as a child over summer holidays, and says she loves that the attraction brings in visitors from all generations - some of their returning guests are even bringing their grandchildren now!

Huka Honey Hive is committed to sustainable tourism, helping to support local environmental initiatives like Greening Taupo. They also stock the largest range of honey across New Zealand,

supporting generations of small independent beekeepers, including BioGro certified organic honeys. They are a low carbon impact business and advocate for healthy bee ecosystems, both onsite and in the wider environment. The bee friendly garden is a great place to get up close to these wonderful creatures and watch them in their natural habitats.

Alongside the large range of honey and honey related products, including skincare, health and wellbeing, mead, and liqueurs, there is a fabulous café on site, serving delicious Kapiti ice creams, sundaes, coffees, teas, and hot honey drinks. Kids can enjoy watching the bees in the hives both from inside the safety of the shop and outside in the gardens, learn some neat bee facts, or play in the kids’ area – complete with a bee simulator game.

If you haven’t been to visit, come see what the “buzz” is about – and help this amazing local business celebrate 30 years.

 Advertorial

Love it or list it?

Tips for a winter home glow up

Whether you’re prepping your house for sale, or it’s time to refresh and fall in love with your home again, we’ve got some easy ways to renew your space this winter. From quick tweaks to floor-to-ceiling makeovers, there’s something for all budgets.

LOVE IT

If you’re planning to stay put for a while and your home is needing a bit of love, there are plenty of ways to improve the way it looks and feels. These simple changes will also ultimately add value to your home for when it is time to sell up.

Add some natural materials

In recent years, design trends have moved away from heavily man-made materials and re-embraced natural fabrics and textures. You can add warmer, natural elements toyour home by incorporating materials like wood, leather, and textiles such

as rattan or linen. Weaving in smaller accent details can be a good way of adding textural interest to your home without requiring a whole renovation, such as swapping out metal dining furniture for solid timber or purchasing kitchen accessories with a wooden accent. Coffee tables made from live edge wood make an eye-catching lounge centrepiece.

Look after those hardwood floors

If you’re thinking about switching to hardwood floors, they are highly sought after and add great value to a home thanks to their durability and longevity, plus they’re easy to clean and maintain. They are also a healthier option for those with allergies because they don’t harbour dust and allergens. Flooring care experts Bay of Plenty

Floor Sanding gave us some important reminders about caring for beautiful hardwood floors.

Timber flooring is timeless and can complement any interior design style. If you live in an older home, you may have existing hardwood floors underneath carpet that can be brought back to life with a bit of love and elbow grease. This is a cost-effective way of adding sophistication and visual appeal to a home.

Sanding and refinishing existing floors is an excellent option for a simple refresh and adds years to the life of a floor. In fact, timber floors can last a lifetime if properly refinished every eight to ten years.

 Harri Sharman

Consider changing the colour of the floor with a new stain or take it right back to its natural look with a clear finish. There is a large range of finishing options available, whether you prefer a simple and understated look, bold and full of character, a contemporary modern look, or a more traditional finish. Bay of Plenty Floor Sanding use low odour, nontoxic polyurethane for a safe and family friendly finish.

LIST IT

Properly staging your home can help potential buyers envision themselves living there. This can include arranging furniture in a way that maximizes space while highlighting the home's best features.

Styling professionals Houndstooth Interiors offered us some of their pro tips for staging your home. These also work if you’re looking to cosy up your home for yourself as well!

Layer your ambient lighting

Having a mix of lighting, including large table and floor lamps, can set a comfortable mood while defining areas in the home. This is a mustdo for open-plan spaces and larger rooms.

Large natural fibre rugs

The difference between cheap synthetic rugs and natural fibres is obvious, and nature fibres add an extra layer of complexity and luxury to your home. You can never go too large with these – the bigger the better, especially if you have a large space to fill.

Quality art

Investing in large scale quality art is a great way to add value to your home, while bringing substance and a luxurious feel to your home. You're not fooling anyone with those cheap mass-produced art prints!

Houndstooth Interiors 027 308 2937

houndstooth-interiors.com

holly@houndstooth-interiors.com

Bay of Plenty Floor Sanding 027 321 4654

bayofplentyfloorsanding.co.nz

sean@bayofplentyfloorsanding.co.nz

Get prepared: what to put in your household emergency kit

When Cyclone Gabrielle struck, bringing historically heavy rainfall and extreme winds, multiple regions were thrown into a state of emergency. The catastrophic storm caused flooding and landslides, which knocked out power and communication networks, just when people needed them most.

In the wake of the destruction, families were displaced and many

others who were able to remain at home, survived on dwindling supplies and often in isolation, during what was one of the country’s worst weather disasters.

The effects of the cyclone continue to disrupt people’s lives as we put our regions back together, and will likely be doing so for years to come. For many of us, the cyclone also showed us how unprepared we were

for such a major event, and what we need to do differently to ensure we’re ready when the worst happens.

Global warming on climate change means extreme weather events like this are likely to become more and more common. It’s up to you to make sure your family has what it needs to get through a disaster on your own.

Following is a checklist, to help you prepare your emergency household kit .

Get household ready

Remember, you could lose power and be out of contact for a while so it’s crucial to have enough supplies for at least three days. You probably have most of the items already but they need to be in one place, so you can locate them quickly and in the dark.

1. Water for three days or moreWater supplies can be affected in an emergency, and this is the single best thing you can store to be prepared for a disaster. Make sure you have at least 9

litres of water for every person in the house. This will be enough for drinking and basic hygiene. For more information about treating and storing drinking water go to wremo.nz/getready/home-ready/store-water/

2. Long-lasting food that doesn’t need to be cooked (unless you have a camping stove or gas barbecue), including food for babies and pets. If you have special dietary needs, make sure you include these items. Remember to include a can opener.

3. Toilet paper and large plastic buckets for an emergency toilet. Work gloves, face masks and hand sanitiser

4. First aid kit including, a variety of plasters, bandages and sterile dressings, safety pins, tape, antiseptic, tweezers and paracetamol.

5. Torch, batteries, solar or battery-powered radio

6. Portable phone charger

7. Copies of important documents and ID

In an emergency, remember to grab any medication you might need in case you have to evacuate.

The cyclone has shown the importance of being prepared for an emergency. Putting together an emergency kit is one of the best ways you can care for your family when the unexpected happens.

 Abby Beswick

we love…

Skin Smiths

We have found it: skin care that prides itself on being cruelty free, vegan, recyclable, sustainable and certified plastic negative. Skinsmiths is a mindful innovation, which focuses on skin loving ingredients. Powered by nature and enhanced by science, harnessing SauvigNZ™ found in the world class NZ Sauvignon Blanc grapes prove to help protect your skin and prevent the signs of ageing. Their products range from skin kits, to supplements to reusable cotton pads and all the necessary skin products that you need to get that glow on.

skinsmiths.com

Lucy by the sea

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout has crafted an exquisite novel centred around a divorced couple stuck together and isolated in lockdown. A pandemic novel that’s frozen in time, focusing on the minor quirks of daily life that helps us to view the societal plan more clearly. This is a story that touches on the need for human connection, enduring love, loss, despair and hope, all while set against the arresting backdrop of a swirling, moody sea. Pick up a copy at your local Paper Plus or read it on your Kindle.

_roseandmay

Wearing more of what already exists is a new means for swapping out fast fashion for slow, sustainable and pre loved items to prevent unnecessary waste. Roseandmay are a local business that create bespoke garments from vintage fabrics & bed linen, created to love again with sustainable and upcycling practises. These ladies provide fun, bold colours and prints that you know are one of a kind. View their Instagram and shop the range for these hand crafted beauties.

@_roseandmay

Kowhai Forge

Have you ever imagined being a blacksmith of olde, wielding a hammer and tongs next to a raging forge as you beat molten steel into shape? Good news, you can live out your blacksmithing dreams at Kowhai Forge! Take on a knife making class or go big and craft a hammer or axe. This one-of-a-kind Waikato experience is hard work, but you’ll come away with newfound appreciation for the craft – plus your very own metal creation to show off.

Kowhaiforge.co.nz

Bonnet – Kiwi made app

If you struggle to keep up to date with vehicle appointments or forget to update your rego, then the kiwi made app Bonnet, will be your new best friend. This is an easy avenue for centralising vehicle administration such as getting your WOF, registration, paid road user charges, mileage, service dates and warranties for all vehicles ranging from a single car to a family cars and even fleets for businesses.

In App Purchase: Bonnet Vehicle App

Youtube channel –YesTheory

This isn’t just your ordinary YouTube channel - it’s a philosophy, a way of life and a community. Yes Theory is a movement that encourages individuals to say yes to doing things that take them out of their comfort zone. The content takes viewers all over the world to experience foreign cultures in a fresh and authentic way, with their mantra being “Seek Discomfort”. This is the channel you didn’t know you needed, with its consistent positivity and promoting an open mind. This is exactly what you need when you want an informative and fun channel to follow.

@YesTheory

Update or outdate? Revamping your post-pandemic work wardrobe

Is your work wardrobe feeling a bit stale? Do you find yourself glancing at what your younger colleagues are wearing and feeling a little outdated? If so, this article is for you.

If you’ve stuck with the same old office-friendly outfits you had long before lockdowns were a thing, it could well be time for a sartorial update. With many of us back fulltime or at least part-time to the office these days, it’s the perfect season for a workwear wardrobe wake-up. While office wear trends do tend to change more slowly than casual wear, there have been some shifts – especially as a result of us staying at home on Zoom calls –and you might be wondering how to freshen things up and cut a more current silhouette.

First, you’ll want to examine your wardrobe with a critical eye to identify what’s working for you and what isn’t. Then, review our list of updates you could make and pick out some you think will work for your tastes. Making a few strategic purchases here will help you stay current for years to come.

Looser silhouettes

Women’s office fashion from the mid-2010s often revolved around

skinny jeans, tight ponte pants or leggings, and tucked-in or belted waist tops. There has been a general loosening of fit, possibly thanks to the comfy, sofa-friendly clothes we got used to during 2020, which means jean and pant cuts like flare and straight leg are very much “in” again.

Jeans and pants

If you’re used to wearing jeans in the office, you can easily update your look by swapping skinny jeans for a pair of straight leg jeans. The same is true for updating leggings or skinnycut pants or slacks. This looks great when paired with a chunky sweater over a button up shirt. Don’t panic if you’re a skinny jean aficionado, there are still ways to make this cut work while modernising other pieces of your outfit. Try rolling the bottom hem up or pairing them with combat boots or chunky platform shoes.

Shirts and tops

Modern “classic” white shirts embrace a generous cut, long enough to tuck into pants or a skirt, but not so long that it goes below the hips (like a shirtdress). They can be worn untucked without looking frumpy. Gone are the useless square pockets placed too high on the front from older shirt styles. You might

also see looser voluminous sleeves, contrasting trims or buttons, and interesting necklines adorning the classic “nice top”, which is more often an oversized or billowy shape.

Sweaters and jackets

If you’re a fan of the office blazer, current trends are moving toward longer, roomier cuts, often oversized. In a similar way, the cosy jumper is often oversized as well, sometimes with chunkier sleeves. These also work well if you are holding on to your nice leggings or skinny jeans look.

Minimal accessories

When it comes to accessories, the modern style is less chunky or showy, and more about delicately enhancing an outfit. This works well with looser fitting cuts. For example, minimal jewellery such as a fine necklace and simple stud earrings can look more current than oversized statement pieces. Quality is more important than quantity. If you still want to show off a statement piece, opt for true precious metals, and keep it to one piece only.

 Harri Sharman

“Bizcaz” bags

Great news if you travel for work or carry a laptop: practical bags like the business-casual backpack are the modern carrier of choice. They are also better for your back health than shoulder bags with skinny straps. Choosing leather or leather embellishments is an easy way to elevate the look, and they can come in a range of sizes depending on how much of your life you want to carry around.

Shoes and sneakers

When it comes to your choice of shoe, modern style heels are shortening and widening, and chunky oxfords or loafers are preferred over thin, uncomfortable flats. Platforms are the new way to add height over skinny heels, as seen on combat boots, ankle boots, and even sneakers. If your office is more casual, you’ll be pleased to know that nice sneakers can add comfort and style. Keep them sleek and clean, without embellishments, and again, leather can add a professional edge.

As we age, skin problems like uneven pigmentation, sun damage, broken blood vessels, and wrinkles become more prominent and common. Fortunately, there’s a high-tech, non-invasive way to say goodbye to blemishes and uneven skin tone. If you’d like to reveal brighter, clearer skin this winter, you’ll want to consider photo rejuvenation, or a “photofacial”, as the treatment is also known. Best undertaken during winter, this is the ultimate way to rejuvenate your skin this season.

So, what exactly is this treatment?

Taupō skin clinic Diamond Laser Medispa is here to answer all your questions and provide a professional, top-of-the-line treatment. The expert team pride themselves on providing the latest technology skin treatments that enhance each client’s natural beauty. Here is everything you need to know about photo rejuvenation, and why you need to book this treatment this winter.

Skincare spotlight: photo rejuvenation

Shining a light on youthful looking skin

What is photo rejuvenation?

IPL photo rejuvenation is a popular, non-invasive light therapy used to improve many varied skin conditions. It uses precise amounts of powerful light to penetrate skin, before being absorbed by the melanin in the skin to break it down. This intense light source with broad-spectrum highintensity pulses is much gentler than lasers, which use a more intense, narrow wavelength.

Photo rejuvenation is used to lessen the appearance of brown pigmented and red vascular lesions in the skin, while simultaneously stimulating the production of collagen. It’s less invasive than similar treatments like chemical peels, and improvements can be seen from just the first appointment. Photo rejuvenation is recommended in winter because you’ll need to stay out of the sun and wear good sunscreen for 4 weeks prior to and after treatment.

How does it work?

Photo rejuvenation works on the theory of selective photothermolysis. Freckles, sunspots, birthmarks, and skin discoloration are patches of the pigment melanin. IPL (intensepulsed light) lasers target these spots of unwanted pigment, which absorb the light and begin to break down, leaving the surrounding skin unaffected. These darker spots naturally move toward the surface of the skin and shed, leaving behind fresh skin cells. And thanks to the way IPL works, special filters can be used to effectively treat specific skin concerns, rather than a one-sizefits-all treatment.

What are the

key treatment areas?

The most common treatment area is the face, but you can treat any part of your body that experiences:

• sun damage

• uneven and blotchy skin

• freckles, sunspots, and general pigmentation

• redness, rosacea, and red scarring

• vascular lesions, spider veins, broken capillaries, and red spots

 Advertorial

How many treatments are needed?

Most clients see a marked improvement after just one session, but you’ll generally need between two to six sessions performed roughly every 7 to 28 days, or when all the darkened cells have completely shed. This will help achieve the best results in skin texture, pore size and firmness.

What does photo rejuvenation feel like?

Don’t worry if it sounds a bit scary - each pulse of light usually feels no worse than a hot elastic band snapping on your skin. This is due to the light converting to heat in the targeted lesion. Thanks to the advanced technology used at Diamond Laser, patient comfort is high.

What sort of results can I expect?

Visible improvements can be seen after each treatment, including the first, with a 70-90% reduction of pigmentation overall. After treatment, the spots, freckles, or blood vessels will generally go darker, then will naturally fade, or flake off within a few days. These areas can easily be covered with a mineral makeup during this process.

How will my skin react after the treatment?

This varies from person to person; however, you may be a bit pink and sensitive immediately afterward. This can be covered with a little makeup, but the treatment should be avoided just before a big event as your skin will need time to recover. Be sure to avoid going out in the sun without SPF protection – a 30+ SPF mineral sunscreen is best – for at least a month afterward. This will help protect the skin while maintaining results for much longer. Using the correct prescribed skin care following your treatment will net better results, and your dermal therapist will recommend some great products after your session.

Who will perform my photo rejuvenation treatments?

Your treatments will be performed by one of our dermal therapists, who are all qualified and experienced photo rejuvenation and laser safety officers.

Air NZ’s post-pandemic recovery takes off

relaunching routes and getting staff back to ensure we’re delivering that great customer experience Air New Zealand is known for.

Three years on and we’re making great progress. We’ve brought our 777-300s back into service and welcomed new ATRs and A321s for our domestic fleet, adding around 300,000 seats to our domestic network. We’ve also run the biggest recruitment drive in our 83-year history – hiring 3,000 people in the last year.

We’re now back to 30 international destinations – having just relaunched Bali in March.

More generally, we’re focusing on our key markets like the USA, Japan, China and obviously Australia and the Pacific Islands.

What innovations can we expect in the near future?

Currently we’re exploring a range of innovations focused in areas such as sustainability, digital technology, and customer product and service offerings.

We reviewed snacks on board, revamped international menus, adjusted seat offerings, launched our Gen II app and refined our loyalty and Customer Centre platforms.

Our national carrier has suffered a turbulent few years thanks to Covid, but strong customer demand is driving a turnaround for the airline, with its recovery well underway. Air NZ chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty reflects on recent challenges and progress and reveals some exciting innovations.

What have been some challenges and highlights over the past year?

When Covid hit, at its worst virtually overnight we found our passenger network closed down, and aircraft parked, resulting in a drop in demand by 95%. We’ve spent every waking hour since, restarting our airline,

Are Kiwis travelling as much as we did pre-Covid?

Demand has come back in a big way from the moment borders reopened. To give you a sense of the rebound, we flew 8 million customers in the first six months of our financial year (July 2022-June 2023), compared to 3 million last year. Our domestic network is back to around 95% of pre-Covid and international is at around 75%.

Will you be opening more routes?

We were thrilled to launch our New York route in September last year which is our flagship route.

From 2024, Air New Zealand will offer a new Business Premier Luxe suite, a new Business Premier seat and the world's first Skynest. This includes a new Business Premier Luxe seat, designed to give customers more space and privacy, and Skynest, the world's first sleep pods for Economy travellers.

One of the most exciting innovations we’re working on is our Next Gen Aircraft. We’ve partnered up with some of the world’s leading innovators to help us replace our Q300 domestic fleet with a more sustainable option from 2030.

We have never been more optimistic about Air New Zealand’s future.

 Abby Beswick

Contemporary retirement living

Introducing LakeCrest Lifestyle Village

LakeCrest Lifestyle Village is a brand new, master-planned retirement village for residents over 65, and is set to welcome its first residents later this year. The $140m village is being built on eight hectares of land on Tauhara Ridge Drive, as part of the new Kokomea Park development overlooking Lake Taupō at Rainbow Point. Upon completion, LakeCrest will boast 122 architecturally designed villas, 35 apartments, a 60-bed aged care facility and all the amenities required for luxury lakeside living.

a planned medical centre and pharmacy, and welcoming places to grab coffee, enjoy a meal, or indulge in some shopping.

Residents will be able to be as involved as they wish in the LakeCrest community, with recreational, fitness, cultural, and social spaces to enjoy. LakeCrest’s indoor amenities will include a restaurant, café, lounges, library, heated swimming pool, private gym, and spa pool. Outdoors, there will be beautifully maintained feature gardens, a community vegetable garden, walking and cycle paths, and family recreation areas. The Members Lodge will become the centre of the village’s social heart, where residents can attend events, stay for a drink or chat, watch a movie, or sit by the fire.

Comfort and style, architecturally designed

Handily located just ten minutes from Taupō town and a five-minute drive from the airport, LakeCrest embodies a holiday feel with all the conveniences for easy living. Nestled within the new residential town of Kokomea Park, near Wharewaka, it benefits from a strong connection to a growing community of all ages. Kokomea Village Centre is just a short stroll away, with easy access to the new Countdown supermarket,

Six inspiring homes will be available, each architecturally designed to embrace lake living. Choose between the 2- or 3-bedroom villas or the stunning 2-bedroom duplexes, all with stunning exteriors and layouts designed with residents’ needs in mind. With contemporary styling, abundant natural light, and warm interiors, the homes are tastefully designed with the flexibility to be individual.

Residents who purchase in the first stages will also be able to choose design touches to match

their personal style, including selecting from a palette of colours and finishes. Expertly curated by LakeCrest’s interior design team, choices include window coverings, kitchen benchtops and bathroom tiles. Residents will enjoy a new house that feels like home as soon as they move in.

A local connection

LakeCrest is proudly independent, New Zealand owned, and has a

 Advertorial

strong local connection. One of the village owners is John Penny, whose family have lived in the Taupō area for over 60 years. In 1998 he established Penny Homes and has been delivering quality homes to the people of Taupō ever since.

“I’m very proud of what we’re building at LakeCrest, and I can’t wait to see the first residents moving into our village,” says Penny.

LakeCrest’s two sister villages, Arrowtown Lifestyle Village near Queenstown and Aspiring Lifestyle Village in Wanaka, are both highly regarded as benchmarks in quality and community. LakeCrest project manager Aaron Armstrong previously managed the development of Aspiring and Arrowtown. With 25 years’ experience in the retirement village industry, he understands the needs of residents well.

“Our residents want beautiful homes,” says Armstrong. “We build modern, architecturally designed 2- and 3-bedroom villas with large floorplans that our residents

Visit: www.lakecrestvillage.co.nz

How to teach kids the value of money

We all know it’s important to be money smart as adults, but when should you start teaching these skills to your children?

Learning how to budget, set savings goals and spend money wisely are crucial life skills, and you can start introducing them to children from a young age. In fact, the earlier you start, the better.

There are so many benefits to educating kids about the value of money. Here are some tools and resources to help you teach your children the basics of financial literacy and set them on the right path.

Start young

Research shows early experiences children have with money can shape their financial behaviour as adults, and parents have the biggest influence in this respect.

Children as young as three or four can start making choices around money and understanding the consequences. Give them some coins to handle and let them choose how they spend them. Make it clear, whatever they choose to buy, they won’t have the money to spend on something else.

By age seven, most children are capable of understanding the value of money, saving for a much-wanted item and understanding the choices are irreversible.

Talk about the purpose of money

Help your kids understand the value of money by discussing the different things it’s used for. Take photos of different items in your home and ask kids to classify them as necessities or luxuries, to start a discussion. Include costs they can’t necessarily see such as electricity, gas and hot water.

Talk about ways to save money and how adults to prioritise what they spend their money on. You could challenge your children to have a ‘no-spend’ day or to make a recipe using only ingredients you have in your pantry.

Get them engaged

Kids learn the value of money by getting hands-on with it, so playing board games that involve money or shops using real money is a great first step.

Taking kids to the shops is one of the best ways to involve them from a young age. Show them what you can

buy and how much each item costs. You can also get them to look for cheaper or sale options to meet your budget.

Pocket money is a tangible way for children to learn about money and saving. For young children, a money box works well.

Resources

There are lots of free resources you can use to teach children about money. Moneyhub.co.nz has a guide to help kids become money smart, including links to apps and activities. NZ app SquareOne encourages children to earn, save and manage money with the help of an adult by providing the child with a debit card and online savings balance that a parent can monitor.

Money & Me is a money education program to develop children’s realworld money skills and set them up for financial success. Parents can download workbooks with practical, fun activities to complete with their children, from age five through to 17. Go to mybudget.com.au for more information.

 Abby Beswick

A NEW FORMULA FOR CHILDREN’S SUCCESS

We welcome all enquiries from parents wanting their children to benefit from high quality tuition, to build their confidence, and reach their true potential.

Our NCEA English and Maths tutoring services will boost NCEA results, we also provide small group and individualised programmes for early readers from the age of 6 years old.

I come to Taupō Tutoring because it helps with school.

The activities at Taupō Tutoring are fun. I learn lots. I also get yummy food.

I come to Taupō Tutoring so I can learn and have a better future and have a good life.

Where does your business rank online?

The art and craft of good SEO

68% of all online experiences begin with a search engine. Most people won’t look past the first 3 results, never mind onto a second page. Is your business being left behind because of where you rank in Google? If search engines like Google and Bing aren’t finding your website easily, your target audience won’t be able to, either.

What is SEO, and why is it important?

Search engine optimisation (or SEO for short) is the art of threading together technical and content improvements to make it easier for search engines to both find your website and push it higher up the results page.

To put it briefly, SEO is a set of best practices for optimising your website. The aim is to increase your visibility and ranking on search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo (yes, people still use Yahoo!). A major part of good SEO is having a clean, user-friendly website, where a visitor can easily find all the information they are looking for.

It also involves keeping your site up to date with the latest technologies. Employing these principles will accelerate your business’s online success. Here’s how:

• Increased brand awareness: SEO helps increase brand awareness. The higher up you appear in search results, the more people are likely to see your site and remember it.

• Increased traffic:

the more people see your site, the more likely your page is to be clicked on – simple!

• Increased sales: more visitors equals more potential customers, and more opportunities to drive your profits.

 Harri Sharman

What is SEO not ?

SEO is several things, but there are just as many things it’s not. Here are some common misconceptions we encounter about SEO.

1. SEO is not a total digital marketing strategy. It doesn’t include paid advertising or consider other valuable channels for driving traffic to your site, such as social media. Good SEO however is a crucial part of any sound marketing strategy.

2. It is most definitely not about cheating your way to the top. Search engines now actively punish websites that engage in “spammy” behaviour, like stealing or duplicating content, stuffing pages with irrelevant keywords, or hiding things in the code.

3. Lastly, it is not “set and forget”. Technologies change all the time – just look at the recent explosion of artificial intelligence tools. It’s crucial to keep on top of your web performance often, or better yet, have an SEO expert looking after it for your business on a regular basis.

How to maintain strong site performance

Whether your site is brand-new, or a few years old, it doesn’t matter –good SEO is necessary for any site to keep performing well. If you’re not in the market for a full website refresh, even an hour or two per month spent optimising your site can get you results. Here are a few areas of SEO that can impact your rankings.

On-page updates

Google loves fresh content. Adding new content to your site tells search

engines you’re an active business. You can do this by posting a blog about a new product, adding a case study of a recent project you worked on, or going through with a fine toothcomb to update imagery and key information. Also check for any broken links, missing meta data and that your pages are properly structured with headings and include relevant keywords.

Off-page updates

Did you know that sites with poor authority linking to yours can cause your own ranking to decrease? Attracting good quality backlinks and disavowing any toxic backlinks tells Google that you’re a reputable business.

Technical updates

This one’s trickier unless you’re a developer. It involves updating code for mobile responsiveness, minifying JavaScript or CSS, checking the latest versions of plugins are installed, and any APIs or external programs that run on your site are all working correctly.

The first way to supercharge your web performance is to do an SEO audit. At ninetyblack, their SEO experts will run your site through several industry-leading tools to get a complete picture of how you’re doing online. They’ll identify key areas for improvement or build a content strategy for you based on competitive market analysis. Take advantage of ninetyblack’s monthly maintenance packages to get ahead of the curve, attract highquality traffic, and ultimately boost your conversions.

So, what are you waiting for? Get proven results for your business with ninetyblack’s expert SEO services.

"We're so happy with the SEO improvements that ninetyblack did for our website!

They were able to increase our new users by 80% in the six months after the work was done, and our conversion rate increased from 0% to 1.6%. The website loads much faster, and we’re now regularly the number one organic result on Google for “wardrobes taupo”.

We're so grateful for their help in growing our business’s online visibilty."

Jeff Page

For a digital boost to your business, start with us:

P: 0800 90 2522

W: ninetyblack.com

Wardrobes by Design, Taupō

Innovating the future of NZ’s dairy

 Harri Sharman

Contributing

more than 20 billion litres of milk per year to the global dairy industry and generating more than $18 billion from exports last year alone, dairy is a shining jewel in the New Zealand economy. Yet this sector is also facing several challenges. Health and wellness concerns, growing awareness of dairy farming’s impact on the environment, and the rising trend toward plant-based diets are major obstacles to the future of the industry. Fortunately, several Kiwi businesses are creating innovative solutions.

Greener pastures?

The ramifications of extensive dairy farming on the environment are well known. Synthetic fertilisers used for intensive dairy farming runoff into nearby water sources,

causing poor water quality, pollution, and disrupting local ecosystems. Damning reports show more than 80% of New Zealand’s low-lying lakes and rivers are in a poor or very poor condition. Vast amounts of water are needed in traditional dairy farming, causing further strain on this capped resource. The final straw on the cow’s back is the volume of greenhouse gases processing plants and the animals themselves emit - coal is still burned by many processors to turn liquid milk into profitable, export-friendly milk powder. While Fonterra has committed to exit coal entirely by 2037, critics argue this may be too late.

Christchurch company Happy Cow Milk have created a way to take milk from the farmer straight to the consumer with an innovative “milk

factory in a box”. While removing steps in the supply chain, it also means less plastic, as farmers can supply fresh, pasteurised milk direct to cafes, retailers, and schools in refillable, stainless-steel vats.

The creators say the technology enables farmers to have smaller herds and encourages more sustainable polyculture.

Healthier herds

One way to help farmers reach emission reduction goals is by increasing the efficiency and quality of their stock. Resilient Dairy is a research programme supported by MPI and DairyNZ, aimed at improving cow productivity through disease management technologies and competitive breeding via genomic enhancements.

The programme will provide key research and development work to drive the sustainability and resilience in our national dairy herd.

Farmers can now proactively monitor the health of their existing cows, improve pasture utilisation, and reduce labour demands by using an innovative technology from Kiwi-founded Halter. Halter’s smart collars translate human intentions into signals the cow can understand, and animal behaviour into insights about its welfare. The collars enable “virtual fencing”, the ability to move and control where a cow goes without invasive techniques and to allocate the correct amount of grass per cow while maximising grass quality. The collars also monitor the health of each cow, alerting farmers to potential issues much earlier.

Cheese please – hold the cow

While some are advocating a shift away from dairy and animal products entirely, many believe as long as there is demand for food, there will be demand for dairy products. How those products are created may look quite different if dairy disrupters like Daisy Lab have their way. This Auckland-based biotech startup uses the concept of precision fermentation – using microorganisms to break down sugars to create milk proteins such as casein and whey without the need for a cow. Their current research focuses on producing cheese, yoghurt and ice cream that have the same taste and mouthfeel as

those traditionally made with cows’ milk. This could reduce hesitance in some consumers switching to plantbased substitutes, as they would be virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

There may well be a future for New Zealand’s dairy industry after all, if the combination of these great innovations can help reduce the need for large farms and intensive practises. By embracing a holistic view of dairy and how farms can positively impact the environment, New Zealand’s dairy industry is in a unique position to be at the head of the herd.

Drop into Taupo’s newest fun zone

Have you experienced the excitement at Taupo’s biggest entertainment centre yet?

Inside Wharewaka’s The Landing complex, The Dropzone is a hub of fun for all ages, rain or shine. Here’s what a full day out at The Dropzone could look like.

Start your day of thrills and laughter at the Bounce Park. Letting off steam on their trampolines is the best way to start the day! For a whole hour, bounce, play, flip, and slide your way around the bounce zone.

If you’re watching the kids and feel like you need an energy boost as well, you can join in the fun – or watch sedately from the nearby viewing area with a hot drink. Passes also include access to the new Mega Slides for speed racing fun!

The Ninja course, which has recently moved outside and been made bigger and better, is open for anyone over 12 years of age. Ninja course contenders will make their way through a series of physical challenges, including scaling high walls, swinging between obstacles, and hanging upside down in the hope of being crowned champion. Race a group of your mates or tackle the course solo to beat your own personal best.

Kids will also find even more thrills at Playland, an indoor playground full of bright colours and

textures and a delight for the senses. The multilevel playground lets kids do what they do best – climb, slide and explore. There are also two new Mega Slides for ultimate sliding fun. After all that activity, it might be time for a snack and a break. Luckily, The Dropzone has its own full bar and bistro, serving up delicious burgers and pizzas, alongside a range of refreshing hot and cold drinks. Gutter Balls Bar & Bistro is also fully licensed for all your celebratory drinks.

Once you’ve got some energy back, test your competitiveness in the arcade, with the latest interactive video games, virtual bikes, car racing, shooting games, and more. See how many prizes you can win! The awesome tenpin bowling alley is also great for testing your skills against your friends. With ten lanes, the latest technology, fresh tunes, and exciting atmosphere, it’s a popular spot both day and night. Bookings for most activities at The Dropzone are recommended to avoid disappointment at busy times – check The Landing’s website for more details.

The Landing 650 Lake Terrace, Taupō 07 378 5633 thelanding.co.nz

 Abby Beswick

Call for Kiwis to grow our love affair with avocados

There’s no doubt New Zealanders love avocados and growers hope to increase our passion for this superfood even further, by getting us to eat more.

Auckland recently hosted the 10th world avocado Congress, where hundreds of growers and industry representatives gathered to discuss every aspect of the sector - including international rates of consumption. As part of this, bold goals were set for Kiwis to more than double their average avocado intake from 16 to 40 per year.

Currently Mexico leads the world, eating their way through 40 avocados per person every year. Here, while our most avid avocado lovers eat an astonishing 16 per month, for the rest of the population the average intake is 16 per year. The sustainability of our local avocado market relies on Kiwis eating more, says Congress spokesperson Jen Scoular. We grow enough avocados here for the whole population, so every avocado eaten supports our local economy. “We know that 60 percent of all avocados grown in New Zealand are eaten by just five percent of our people, so there is huge potential for growth here, we have definitely not peaked,” says Scoular.

The New Zealand climate is different from the hotter tropical environments typical for avocado production. Our unique mix of temperature, rainfall and nutrient dense soil produces distinct, delicious fruit. Most NZ avocados are grown in Northland and the Bay of Plenty, which are the “powerhouses” of the industry.

“Kiwis and avocados are a match made in heaven”, says NZ Avocado market manager, Matthew Ball. “For many, a weekend brunch isn’t complete without some avo on the plate but we like to think of avocados as a staple in the kitchen as they can be adapted for amazing meals any time of day; breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and even dessert – you name it!” And this versatile food is not only delicious, it’s also packed full of vitamins, nutrients, and healthy fats, while having low levels of sugar and sodium, making it a healthy choice, says Ball.

When it comes to choosing the perfect avocado, Ball recommends looking at the colour, shape and texture. Avocados change colour as they ripen, so choose one that has started to darken and is smooth. Avoid extremely soft avocados with very dark skin, or dented or flattened areas as this indicates bruising.

Avocados by the numbers:

1400 Growers in NZ

5000 Hectares of production

$234m Industry value (2020-2021)

14 International markets

7.5-9 million - 5.5kg trays of fruit per year

Harissa beef & scalloped potato pie

Hot, saucy and smoky with a little crunch - that’s the epitome of comfort food, and exactly how we’d describe this pie.

Harissa adds an aromatic smokiness; use the best quality harissa to get the best depth of flavour.

Serves 6

HARISSA BEEF

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 450g beef mince

• 1 medium onion, diced

• 3 large cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1 stick celery (about 75g), finely diced

• 1 tbsp ground coriander

• 1 tbsp smoked paprika

• 2 tsp ground cumin

• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

• ¼ cup harissa paste

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• 1x400g can chopped tomatoes

• 1 cup beef stock

• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 1 tsp salt

In a large saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. When shimmering, add beef and break up with a wooden spoon, Cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes until brown all over. Transfer beef to a bowl, keeping as much juice in the pan as possible. Add onion, garlic and celery to the hot beef juices in the pan. Continue to cook over mediumhigh for 5 minutes, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the vegetables are beginning to brown.

Add spices, and reduce heat to medium. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant, then add the browned beef along with the harissa and tomato paste. Cook for another 2-3 minutes before adding tomatoes and beef stock.

Bring to a bubble, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, until thickened but still nice and saucy. Stir through balsamic vinegar, salt and lots of black pepper.

POTATO TOPPING

• 2 large potatoes (450g), scrubbed and sliced 1mm thick with a mandolin

• 100g grated cheddar cheese

• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp harissa paste

• ½ tsp salt

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180°C. Lightly grease a 21x21cm square baking dish. Toss potatoes with half the cheese and the garlic, olive oil, harissa, salt and lots of pepper to evenly coat.

Pour harissa beef into your prepared dish. Evenly layer over the potato slices and sprinkle over remaining cheese. Bake for 1 hour, over until the potato is cooked through and nicely browned. Allow to cool slightly before serving hot.

 Olivia Moore

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Everything you need for your kitchen FIND

Gifts for every occasion. We stock a broad range of products including clothing, crystals, sterling silver and gem jewellery, souvenirs, body piercings and ornaments. We also carry Nemeses ornaments, statues and fairies as well as Anne Stokes. We have everything you need for birthday celebrations. Get in touch to see how we can help you.

46 Horomatangi Street, Taupo

Hours:

Mon - Fri 10:00am - 4:30pm Sat 10:00am - 4:00pm Sun 10:00am - 3:00pm

stardustwanganui@xtra.co.nz www.stardustcreations.co.nz

Ph 07 378 5884

Kids’ fun Te Hangareka ā-Tamariki

Mānawatia a Matariki! Mid-winter brings the celebration of Te Mātahi o te Tau, or the Māori New Year, with the rising of the Matariki star cluster. Matariki is a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the future.

To help you and your whānau celebrate, why not try some of our Matariki-themed activities and have fun learning about this special time of year.

MATARIKI AND SOUTHERN LIGHTS PAINTING

This hands-on painting method is heaps of fun and makes a really pretty picture of the night sky in winter. The Southern Lights (aurora australis) is a dazzling display of coloured light visible at night under certain special conditions. It’s best seen during the winter months, so if you’re out starspotting for Matariki, keep an eye out for this amazing light show as well.

What you’ll need:

White paint

Black A4 paper

Chalk pastels in different shades of blues, greens, a yellow and a red

An old toothbrush

An extra piece of plain A4 paper or card

A toothpick

How to…

1. With your spare piece of paper, make a horizontal rip across the page in the shape of a mountain range

2. Place the ripped piece of paper over the bottom part of your black paper sheet to create the mountain horizon

3. Dab a bit of white paint onto the toothbrush, and then flick gently over the black paper to create the starry night background

4. Take the ripped paper away while the stars dry, and make some different coloured sections along the top edge with your chalk pastels

5. Make sure the paint has already dried on the black paper before placing the chalked paper back down where it was. Using your finger, smudge the chalk dust colours upwards into the sky, from the plain paper onto the black piece

6. Using a small paint brush or toothpick, pick up some white paint onto the end to start creating your Matariki constellation. Make a small dot for each of the stars in the shape of the constellation

7. Wait for your painting to fully dry, then hang it up for everyone to admire

Tip: to help your pastels last longer on the paper, you can use a fixative spray from any craft shop (or hairspray can also do the trick!)

 Harri Sharman

WEAVE A HARAKEKE WHETŪ (FLAX STAR)

Weaving is a great tradition to try at Matariki, and what better than a star made from harakeke? You can also use ribbon if you don’t have any flax nearby. We’ve included a great video resource to help you make your flax stars – scan the QR code below to watch. Make a few and you’ll have enough for a whole Matariki cluster – just remember it’s traditional to give away the first star you make!

What you’ll need:

Four strips of harakeke –ask a pakeke (grown up) to help you harvest them

Sharp scissors

How to…

Watch this step-by-step video to make your harakeke star – scan the QR code with a phone camera.

MATARIKI WORD FIND

Do you know your whetuu (stars)?

Test your Matariki knowledge with our word find and see how many kupu you can spot!

Te Papa Matariki

Looking for even more awesome activities to keep the whānau busy? Download the Te Papa Matariki activity book and learn how to play Mū Tōrere, create your own pepeha, complete a Matariki crossword, and other fun and games. Scan the QR code below.

Last night training before Nationals this weekend ��. These kids have been giving their absolute best and having so much fun the past 7 weeks leading up to this weekend ��

Let’s get social!

Look out! We’ve been having a nosey into what you’ve been enjoying most over the past few months – here are some of the best finds.

Here's to the weekend! Don’t go over doing it. Lakemans top tip for the weekend… Find a chilled spot, put your feet up and crack a cold one!

@shred_nauts Taupō BMX Club

@aliciataylorxo Redwoods Treewalk Rotorua up high with the trees ������

@naturallymishy Te Tuhi Hut & Dome days like this

@lakemanbrewing Lake Taupō

@jackandthebeanadventures_

Mangakino - Camp Epic 86km

Today our final team member joined us! The four of us set off around 8:30 this ready for a big day climbing hills.

@kiwidad_adventures Ohope Beach

So proud of these guys!

Frederika, Chayden and Amelia entered the Local Wild Food Challenge on Saturday in Ohope.

@teawaglamping

A hammock, a good book and the flowing river is the perfect combo for feeling totally at peace. It's especially special at this time of year where the dappled sun through the leaves provides the perfect temperature ��

With both feet, all in, scared, anxious, excited.... it’s the quick way to figure out how to fly!

Te Awa

@gettinglostisnotawasteoftime Hamurana Springs, Rotorua Hamurana Springs always stunning!

@jade_pedersen Tauhara Maunga