New Zealand

1. 
   10
   Jun

   Top 6 foodie places in Havelock North

   My top 5 turned into a top 6… Hawkes Bay is my childhood stomping ground, and Havelock North is a little village that punches above its weight for eating, drinking and being generally merry. Here’s my list of the places I try and get to each time I visit: Black Barn Growers Market This vineyard [...]

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2. 
   9
   Jun

   Museum now free for Aucklanders

   If you live in Auckland and haven’t been to the Auckland War Memorial Museum (for that is its real name) for a while, then you have no excuse now. The “donation” of $10 has been removed for all locals (upon proof of address) as your rates are officially recognized as helping the museum’s coffers. Out-of-towners [...]

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3. 
   2
   Jun

   Shopping in Shannon – I know, where?!

   I’d flown to Wellington and got a lift back to Hawkes Bay with my sister. We’d been trying to shop up a storm in the big smoke, but I had disappointingly come away empty handed. Don’t worry, said she, there’s an awesome shop in Shannon. Where on earth…?!, said I. I’ll show you, she replied, [...]

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4. 
   14
   May

   What to expect in Air New Zealand’s premium economy

   Thanks to Air New Zealand’s adorable little Airpoints Fairy, where you can make a wish and hope she will wave her little cartoon wand and grant it, I was granted Gold Status a couple of months back and found myself upgraded to Premium Economy on the 777-200 NZ6 to Los Angeles last night. (It would [...]

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5. 
   13
   May

   Auckland’s best restaurants for 2010

   We all have our favourite restaurants don’t we? Usually they’re ones we go back to time and again lest we stumble upon an untried dish and be disappointed. My dad is a classic example of this: when he and mum are on holiday, woe betide my mother if dad finds the perfect steak on the [...]

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6. 
   12
   May

   What does the All Blacks haka mean?

   If you’ve ever switched on your telly at the start of a rugby game when New Zealand’s All Blacks run out to take on their fiery opponents, you’ll have seen the haka. You’ve probably even tried it yourself — particularly when the keg runs dry! Slapping your thighs and chest and shouting words that sound [...]

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7. 
   9
   May

   New Zealand’s best spas

   I had the arduous task of attending the launch of the “Best Spas of New Zealand” last week. The posh do was held in the Langham Auckland’s Chuan Spa with wine, nibbles and fanciness. They stopped short of giving everyone a free two-hour treatment, but I did get a hand massage because I was schmoozing [...]

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8. 
   7
   May

   Waoku Lodge: Affordable 5-star luxury in Raglan

   If you thought the seaside town of Raglan was only for wetsuit-clad dreadlock wearing surfers, think again. I just nipped down to the rugged west coast town (about 2 hours south of Auckland, 40 mins from Hamilton) to spend a couple of nights at Waoku Lodge. This new 5-star luxury B&B has just received a [...]

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9. 
   6
   May

   Epsom Bowling Club & cheap beer

   Auckland Scene with Luke Oram: For those of us hanging on to the last remnants of a dying summer, the barbeque is still far from being oiled down and retired. There’s a few more lazy afternoons to be squeezed out of this temperate purgatory, if you ask me. And none of this hauling the brazier [...]

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10. 
    5
    May

    Pillow time at Wellington’s Holiday Inn

    I have family dotted from Auckland to Wellington, pivoting at Hawkes Bay, so for a girls’ meet-up I flew one-way to the capital city and met my sister, who had driven from the farm to visit her daughter (my niece), and return via car over a few days. Lol – did you need to know [...]

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