Articles in ‘Home & Living’

It’s probably not surprising, considering we live in one of the most isolated countries in the world, that us Kiwis love to fly the coop and travel around the world to far flung destinations and there’s nothing we love more than visiting warm climates for the summer, where we can lay on the beach, get a tan and check out the stunning views. While places like Rarotonga, Hawaii and…

With one marmalade sandwich, two Hollywood blockbusters (and a third one coming), a TV series and 70 books in 30 different languages under his hat, few icons of post-war Britain have been so enduring as the magnificent Paddington Bear. But did you know, that one of the world’s most beloved characters has an amazing Jewish backstory? The original Paddington Bear started out in…

Recipe 4 – 6 Serves 15 mins Prep Time 3 hrs 30 mins Cook Time Ingredients Steak Filling 600g Quality Mark gravy beef (cut into 2.5cm pieces) 1/3 tsp salt 1/3 tsp black pepper 3 Tbsp white flour 1 Tbsp canola oil 1 onion (finely chopped) 4 garlic cloves (finely chopped) 2 Tbsp tomato paste 2 cups beef stock 250g button mushrooms (finely chopped) 2 tsp brown sugar 2 carrots…

National Prizes 1st Prize: $300 2nd Prize: $150 3rd Prize: $75 Local prizes for Franklin residents of book vouchers from PaperPlus Pukekohe Each story must be on the theme of “Written in the Stars” and be 300 words or less. You may enter up to 3 stories. Each must be original fiction and not previously published. Entry fee is $10 per story or $25 for three. Entries must…

FREE FRIDAY LUNCHTIME CONCERT Friday June 23rd 2023 at 2pm St Georges Church Thames THAMES HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC STUDENTS Thames High School Music Students will present vocal and instrumental performances in a 45 minute free concert Enjoy Hot soup and a bun after the concert for $5, Koha accepted By no means a strictly classical singer, Will is renowned for his engaging…

By Loz Blain The winners have been announced in the third annual World Nature Photography Awards. A haunting glance from a mud-crusted crocodile lying in wait takes the top honors, but there's a visual feast to enjoy from the other winners and runners-up. Based in London, this completely independent contest aims to encourage people all over the world to take in different…

Who doesn’t love a summer salad. Try any of the ones below and you will be guaranteed a winner at home or to take out to a gathering with family or friends. Recipe 1: Asian Slaw with Peaches and Herbs Colorful, juicy, crunchy, sweet, bitter, herby, spicy… there are so many flavors and textures to put together with all the great fruits and vegetables that are in season right now.…

Chinese New Year is the festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. It was traditionally a time to honor deities as well as ancestors, and it has also become a time to feast and to visit family members. Celebrations of Chinese New Year traditionally last for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern…

RECIPE : Frozen Cherry Chocolate Pudding Cake Ingredients 1kg store-bought Christmas pudding, crumbled 6L vanilla ice cream, softened 2 cups cherries in cane sugar syrup (from delis and specialty food shops) 2/3 cup (165ml) cherry syrup Chocolate shards and pitted fresh cherries, to decorate Chocolate Icing 1/2 titanium-strength gelatine leaf 11/3…

There is something about strawberries that says Christmas in New Zealand. The bright red, sweet summertime berry is in full season mid-December and there are plenty to go around. In some places you can even pick your own. They are beautiful just as they are, with whipped cream or dipped in Chocolate or try some of the below recipes to mix things up a bit this Christmas. They are…

We have been eating a lot of Kumara in our house recently, and this Kumara Cake can be enjoyed by those with sensitive tummies. In Moderation of course! Ingredients: 1 ½ Cups Soft Light Brown Sugar 3 Eggs 1 Cup Sunflower Oil ½ Cup of Pineapple crushed. 1 ½ Cups Gluten Free Flour 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda 1 tsp Baking Powder (check the brand, but most Baking powder is gluten…

Self-sufficiency is the new ‘en vogue’. Housing shortages, rising costs and a mistrust in the way our food is produced are fuelling a move to the way that our grandparents used to live. Vegetable gardens are popping up in apartments and back yards alike, chickens are becoming more commonplace, and entire groups on social media are sharing and devoting their time and energy to a…

Have you ever wondered why people say, “history repeats itself”, or why some people, with everything going well, suddenly crash and burn? You know that every individual, including you, has a history. Through hindsight, you accept that some past decisions were the wrong ones. And in the present time, you continue to suffer their consequences. Imagine if you had access to a…

It is well documented that COVID can upset the gastrointestinal tract, even after more traditional symptoms have disappeared. So, if you are suffering from intestinal discomfort and are at a loss why, make a big bowl of this delicious soup and give your digestive system a rest from foods that can irritate it. Even if you are not, it makes a delicious lunch or dinner meal making…

The RBNZ is set to lift the cash rate, again, by 50bps on Wednesday. The assertive move will see the cash rate hit a neutral setting of 2%. But there will be more rate hikes to come. The focus is on the RBNZ’s forecasts. We expect to see the OCR track pulled forward and shunted higher. We’re interested in the RBNZ’s thoughts around unemployment and inflation into 2023 and beyond.

Ingredients 1.5C rigatoni pasta or similar uncooked 2 tbsp. olive oil, divided 12 fresh sage leaves 1/4C. pine nuts, toasted and roughly chopped 1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest 1 shallot, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, pressed Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1C. pure pumpkin 2 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup), plus more for serving 1/4C. cream 1/8 tsp.…

Hampered by tightening credit conditions, the housing market continued to cool in February according to the latest data from REINZ. The house price index (HPI) recorded a modest 0.5% gain in the month. However, the data overall paint a picture of a market in decline. Seasonally adjusted, house prices recorded their third consecutive monthly decline. Annual house price growth…

In 1923 Elizabeth Welsman Dawson, a Takapuna resident, wrote and sent a humorous poem to the newspaper about the difficulties of travelling on the Takapuna Steam Tram. The noisy, black smoke belching little tram was the main means of public transport on the North Shore between 1910 and 1927. Now almost one hundred years later Elizabeth Dawson’s grandson, writer Terry Carson has…

Nestled in the countryside of Waiuku near Kariotahi beach is a hidden treasure if you are looking for a perfect wedding or party venue that will provide you with a celebration that exceeds your expectations, without the huge costs. Dellrian Gardens, is a botanical oasis set amongst 17 acres of outstanding gardens and farmlands that can see you meandering down pathways, along the…

Every two years, Franklin Hospice holds their famous garden ramble where the public can go visit gardens in the Franklin area. A few years ago, it was decided to try out having a market and festival at one garden location over a weekend on the in between year which proved extremely popular and successful. This year our venue is Winsford Gardens which is a stunning garden…