Canvas 25th October 2025

NADIA V CHELSEA

Who wins the battle of the cookbooks?

'PARIS, HERE I COME!' A writer follows in her family's footsteps

PUZZLES EXTRA! A long weekend full of brainteasers

PAULHENRY

Why his new role in The Chase scares him

Best Books

KAREN McMILLAN Books Editor

William & Tiraha by Michael Littlewood (Quentin Wilson Publishing, RRP $37)

The author has taken family history and crafted it into a fascinating work of fiction that brings to life an extraordinary story grounded in fact William was abandoned in Paihia in 1823 by his whaling ship and married Tiraha, the daughter of a great chief They raised 12 children, were pioneer shipbuilders on Stewart Island, and later, witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi Karen McMillan

Angels of Clay by Madeleine Eskedahl (Matheson Bay Press, RRP $37)

The beautiful coastal town of Matakana is rocked by the murder of a young Lotto winner, the body positioned in the shape of an X Sergeant Bill Granger and Constable Niko Sopoanga investigate an increasingly complex case Meanwhile, echoes of US soldiers stationed in the Warkworth area provide another mystery The third in the Matakana series, perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves

Karen McMillan

The Humiliation of Millicent Salmond by Jenny Lynch (Mary Egan Publishing, RRP $38)

The former editor of the NZ Woman’s Weekly has written a collection of short stories that are like a decadent dessert with just the right amount of tart

Family history is the basis for Michael Littlewood’s new novel.

These tales of greed, ambition, lust and betrayal are hugely entertaining Jenny Lynch is an astute observer of human nature, and her stories are delightfully twisty, witty and surprising A perfect escapist treat for readers

Karen McMillan

New Zealand Rustic by Kate Coughlan, Tessa Chrisp and Yolanta Woldendorp (Rough & Co Publishing, RRP $60)

The New Zealand homes featured in this gorgeous hardback are breathtaking, offering the perfect blend of natural beauty and artisanship that seamlessly integrates into their surroundings Every page in this carefully crafted book is a delight, with earthy textures and tones that complement the hills, bush, or coastal settings The photography is stunning and the text insightful Simply superb!

Karen McMillan

He Puawai: A Natural History of New Zealand Flowers by Philip Garnock-Jones (Auckland University Press, RRP $80)

The extraordinary photography and text in this stunning coffee table book showcase 100 of Aotearoa’s most beautiful flowers From kowhai, manuka and pohutukawa to other varieties you may not have heard of before, this book is a must-have for gardeners, foragers and anyone interested in our natural beauty The book includes a viewer to see the flowers in spectacular 3D Karen McMillan

● For more reviews go to nzbooklovers co nz

Should you rush for gold?

Gold or cash? Darcy Ungaro

Before you jump into buying gold, try to understand the worldview from the most enthusiastic people in the room

These are the “gold bugs” and, if you ask them “why gold?”, this might be their answer

Over the past four years, more than 1000 tonnes of gold have rolled into central bank coffers each year Add inflation concerns, lower interest rates and geopolitical risks, and the price of gold could go much higher

I know, investing in gold sounds old-fashioned, and you’re right

Gold’s been used as money for more than 5000 years Some say the fact that central banks have been buying so much gold suggests it’ll be used as money again

Gold is often viewed as an “alternative” investment It doesn’t act like most stocks, and its price can remain low for years at a time Most investors only have 3% of it in their portfolios, yet now, firms like Morgan Stanley are suggesting this should be closer to 20%

Why? Because historically, gold’s been useful during times of global uncertainty, and there’s a good example following World War II

In 1944, 44 Allied nations, through the “BrettonWoods Agreement”, declared the US dollar the world’s reserve currency Foreign governments would accept it in trade, believing they could exchange it for gold upon request It worked well until in 1971 when President Richard Nixon removed gold-convertibility completely

The age of pure “fiat currency” began (money backed by trust, not by gold)

The New Zealand dollar has lost about 5% a year in purchasing power since 1971

So why has gold risen by more than 60% in 2025 so far? In my view, it’s because of the “debasement trade” narrative It’s not about gold going up, it’s about the value of our currency going down

A debasement trade is betting that governments and central banks will print so much money that currencies will lose value even faster You can

engage in the debasement trade by owning anything scarce, like gold, where there’s a large community of people who believe it’s valuable

In New Zealand, one of the easiest ways to own gold is through ETFs (exchange-traded funds) You can access these through your online brokerage account, or even through some types of KiwiSaver funds ETFs allow you to benefit from gold price movements, without the hassle of having to physically store it

You may wonder, is that something people still do? Yes, in fact, some do prefer owning physical precious metals They claim it makes them less likely to sell impulsively, or they use it as a backup plan should the banking system fail Although bank failures might be unlikely in New Zealand, in some countries holding physical gold is the only way to save

I once had some clients who bought gold bars and then buried them in their front lawn They weren’t looking to get rich from their gold, rather, they were looking for a method to pass wealth down to their kids How’s that for “adding value” to your property!

If you can’t store gold at home for security reasons, though, there’s the option of storing it in bank vaults, or through specialist gold storage services

If you like the idea of owning gold so far, what

are the downsides? To start with, it’s a chunk of metal that doesn’t produce dividends, like shares in a company can Gold also doesn’t pay interest, like a term deposit does And gold won’t sustain you in retirement with streams of income In fact, the main way you’ll win with gold is if you sell it for more than you paid for it Even hardcore gold bugs struggle with timing the market

You should still rely on traditional mainstream investments to help you grow wealth, but alternative investments like gold can help you you protect it An allocation to gold can be great in KiwiSaver, though ETFs or even in physical form Gold can offer peace of mind in a crazy world, an alternative form of money if banks fail, or even a form of intergenerational wealth So often with investing it’s not about the investment, rather, it’s about the investor, about you Currencies, governments and financial systems aren’t infallible, but how much “insurance” is appropriate for you is a conversation worth having with someone who understands your complete financial picture

● This week, gold experienced its steepest single-day decline in over a decade.

● Darcy Ungaro is an authorised financial adviser and host of the NZ Everyday Investor Podcast

Paris, here I come

Dodai Stewart rediscovered Paris by following her uncle’s 1953 guidebook

My favourite Paris guidebook is not from Lonely Planet, Wallpaper or Monocle In fact, I’m sure you have never heard of it Titled Paris Here I Come! and published by the Afro-American Co in 1953, it is a slim volume, a mere 30 pages set inside a cheerful yellow cover emblazoned with a white line drawing of the Eiffel Tower

Full of charming, conversational advice, the booklet describes Paris as “not a place, but a way of living unique, lusty and uninhibited”

The book’s author, Ollie Stewart, was my father’s uncle, born in Louisiana in 1906 He was the first Black reporter accredited as a war correspondent during World War II, and after the war, he lived in Paris until his death in 1977

In the e-book Race Goes to War, Antero Pietila and Stacy Spaulding describe Uncle Ollie’s wartime travels for The Afro-American, a Black newspaper based in Baltimore He covered skirmishes in North Africa in 1942, the battle for Sicily in 1943 and the invasion of Normandy in 1944

He described conditions of segregated soldiers, attended trainings of the Tuskegee Airmen, and was “treated as a celebrity in The Afro and other Black newspapers ”

After the war, instead of returning home to the Jim Crow South, he stayed in Paris, where I met him for the first and only time in 1976 I was a small child, traveling with my parents, and I remember just fragments of visiting Uncle Ollie’s tiny apartment: his cigarette smoke, his piles of books and papers, his hulking black typewriter, his wrinkled grin

Uncle Ollie died the next year He never married, and had no children But his writing about Paris reveals how he fell in love with the city In addition to Paris Here I Come! he wrote lots of unpublished Paris-oriented articles and essays, including a 4000-word piece titled “Cafe ´ Sitting: A Way of Life”

So when I am in Paris, as I was last year to cover the Olympics, I seek out Uncle Ollie’s words

Though Paris Here I Come! is more than 70 years old, and long out of print, its approach feels energetic, fresh “With money, a companion, a good stomach and an appreciation of good living,” the introduction reads, “Paris can be the most satisfying place in the world even if you don’t speak the language!”

A few years ago, I stayed at a small hotel in the 9th Arrondissement, near Montmartre I checked to see what Uncle Ollie had to say about the nearby Place Pigalle He wrote, “You’ll have your choice of nude shows, private exhibitions, smutty movies

and men in dresses and women in pants ”

There were indeed signs for table dances, lap dances, lingerie and “specialist aphrodisiaque ”

More than one store was offering a sex toy in the shape of the Eiffel Tower

But these days Pigalle is also home to a McDonald’s and is lined with bars and nightclubs frequented by the young and stylish Bouncers on thresholds survey their circumscribed kingdoms as lines of patrons smoke and laugh Snippets of pop songs leak from the doorways

It’s impossible to know what Uncle Ollie would think about that But I know he would have disapproved of the giant suitcase I packed to cover the Olympics He was firmly against heavy luggage “You may have to run to make a train, with no porter in sight,” he wrote, adding: “That’s when packing light will make you proud of yourself ”

The “Wine and Liquor” chapter of Uncle Ollie’s guide insists that “Champagne is the perfect drink“ And it still is

Some of the restaurants and bars Uncle Ollie recommended closed ages ago But during the Olympics, I took his advice and dined at Le Do ˆ me in Montparnasse Uncle Ollie described it as a good place to “sit and watch the world go by” and noted that Ernest Hemingway was once a regular Of course, some of the tips are outdated Paris,

and the world, have changed since 1953

You can skip Uncle Ollie’s advice to get traveller’s checks, and the entire chapter about arriving in Paris via ship His declaration that “the French never serve or drink water with meals” is no longer true, especially at establishments frequented by tourists But the bookstalls by the Seine that lured him are still there, and as he wrote: “When you get tired of books and prints, you can sit on a bench and doze in the sun It’s a good old French habit, and nobody will criticise you for not sweating your brains out on a job all day long ”

And Paris remains a great city to walk in In the sightseeing section of his guide, Uncle Ollie wrote, “Taking a stroll and getting lost is the best way to learn a city ”

On one afternoon walk, I passed at least a dozen dazzling landmarks the massive classical columns of La Madeleine; the brilliant, gold winged monuments on top of the Paris Opera; the Egyptian obelisk at the Place de la Concorde

Walking the city reveals its musical rhythm narrow, twisty side streets open up into noisy, bustling plazas like a tinkling melody giving way to a boisterous chorus

To accompany this composition: visual delights Triumphant angels, grimacing gargoyles, intricately wrought balcony railings, bright green shutters, gray mansard roofs punctuated with curious dormer windows Beauty for beauty’s sake

When I crossed the Pont de la Concorde, I wondered which bridge was Uncle Ollie’s favorite After the brutality of the war, had he slowly strolled the Quai d’Orsay and marvelled at the sheer extravagance of the Pont Alexandre III with its cheeky cherubs, smiling nymphs and gold accents as I was doing now?

On Page 21, Uncle Ollie wrote that if a reader required a recommendation not found in the guide’s pages, “you’ll have to look me up when you get to Paris, and we’ll see what we can do ”

My grandparents and my parents have all died, and none of them left much in the way of tangible assets No property, no precious gemstones or wedding gowns

What they passed down is what they taught me, how they lived, how they loved

And Uncle Ollie’s guide is a priceless heirloom He bequeathed his passion for Paris, and for exploring the world with humour and gusto His directive is to take hold of life and wring it dry, to blow past expectations and limits, laughing, to make your own rules and, for as many shimmering moments as possible, truly bask in the joy of living As he wrote of spending an afternoon by the Seine:

“You can take a boat ride down to the river, or shell out a few francs to rent a fishing pole from a Frenchman You probably won’t catch a thing but neither do the hundreds of people who fish daily in the Seine But who cares? The sun is shining and you’re alive and what would the boys back home say if they could see you now?”

The New York Times

ANNE & CAROLINE’S FRIENDSHIP TAKES OFF

Happy Hour friendship evolves into Mediterranean cruise for Edmund Hillary Village buddies Anne and Caroline.

For friends Anne and Caroline, moving into Edmund Hillary Village brought the expected benefits of safety, security, and support - but the close friendship they’ve formed has been an unexpected joy.

Now, they’re planning a 22-day cruise together, starting in Istanbul and ending in Rome

Though they share many interests, their reasons for moving into the village were quite different

As a former sales advisor for Ryman, it was an easy decision for Anne.

“I always knew I’d come to a Ryman village,” she says. “I made up my mind a long time ago!”

Caroline’s decision came after her husband Ross was diagnosed with dementia

“Within a month of being here, walking around the village and the beautiful gardens, we started talking to people. Everyone was very inclusive and understanding,” she says.

After meeting through mutual friends at Happy Hour, Anne and Caroline bonded over shared tastes in music and dancing

The pair began meeting for movies, shopping, café visits, and exercise

“Anne walks up Mount Wellington and luckily we walk at the same pace!” laughs Caroline

Their friendship deepened when Caroline became unwell. With Ross in the village’s rest home, Anne stepped in to help

“Anne would come round and take me out and we had a couple of wines and got to know each other better then.”

When Caroline was hospitalised again, medics instructed her to arrange someone to look after her.

“I asked if I could stay with Anne… and she gave up her bed,” says Caroline.

“I have got a lovely couch!” laughs Anne.

“We just naturally clicked as soon as we met,” adds Anne, who affectionately calls Caroline ‘petal’.

“It’s been amazing meeting each other as we share so much in common, ” says Anne Caroline agrees: “We are looking forward to experiencing lots of adventures together”

‘It scares the

Paul Henry tells Mitchell Hageman that hosting The Chase New Zealand might be his most important role to date one that will show a side of him rarely witnessed on our screens

Despite his cool, calm and collected nature on set and his reputation for a biting wit Paul Henry isn’t afraid to admit his latest role “scares the hell” out of him

“It is a big machine A huge set, a huge studio, and there are a huge number of people involved in making this show,” he says after walking off The Chase New Zealand set in Sydney for the first time

“It’s quite a lot of pressure If I muck up, then everyone has to reset ”

He’s not wrong Reaction to the announcement

Henry would be the host of the Kiwi version of the hit TV show, taking on a role held by the hugely popular Bradley Walsh in the UK, was a mix of interest and speculation Would he try to mimic Walsh’s easy charm? Or would he go balls-to-thewall in true Henry fashion?

Unlike his previous Traitors NZ hosting role, and perhaps his work on radio, Henry says there’s a different force at play here one we don’t often see from the verbose host-with-the-most

“I am a bit of a showman, but people haven’t really seen me I was going to say being nice but people do think that I’m potentially an arsehole,” Henry admits

“I’m not saying I’m not, but I really do want these contestants to win ”

Anyone watching the show will realise pretty quickly he’s not bluffing

Henry is a natural when dealing with the visibly nervous contestants, breezing through dialogue without corniness and with an air of genuine sincerity It seems the ego really has left the building

“You do feel a responsibility not to do it in a particular way, but to do it really well For me, the really important thing is that you really see people for who they are,” he says

“I’ve said before [Bradley Walsh] is the star of The Chase, and he fumbles through the show, but as he fumbles, he’s holding the whole thing together, and it’s masterful If I can do a little bit of that, I’ll be happy ”

The role is a return to TVNZ, where Henry hosted Breakfast It was a show where he made ratings skyrocket and a place where he, by his own admission, often tested the limits

His on-air comments in 2010 about the pronunciation of Indian politician Sheila Dikshit’s name resulted in New Zealand’s high commissioner calling India to apologise, and Henry eventually resigning from his role He was already suspended for suggesting then-Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, who is of Fijian-Indian heritage, was not a real New Zealander

Henry is honest about his thoughts on that time and the legacy he left on Kiwi screens from his fits of laughter to his controversial jokes

“I maybe every now and then miss not being able to do it, but I never miss having to do it,” he says, pointing out an interesting distinction

“They were great days, but could I even do that now? The world has changed; New Zealand has changed The desire for that kind of style is as strong as it always was, but the ability to get away

hell out of me’

with some of the things I said you know ”

And honestly, Henry seems as surprised as anyone by his return to TVNZ screens “Did anyone ever think this would happen?”

After filming for The Chase NZ wrapped across the Tasman, and well after our interview, it was announced Henry had been appointed to the TVNZ board

It was previously revealed that Henry sought the approval of Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith to host The Chase during discussions about his appointment

“Any perceived conflict can be effectively managed,” the minister said at the time, saying Henry had “a deep and passionate understanding of the sector and will enhance the board’s insight and strategic decision-making”

Henry obviously has a vested interest in The Chase NZ doing well But he also applauds the broadcaster for what he believes was “a pretty big risk” investing in a show like this

“Who else would do a show like this for New Zealand?

“And it’s brave of them to do it, because times are tough, and it’s not a cheap business The demand for content is insatiable We’ve got phenomenal demand and no money ”

The importance of shows like The Chase, which bring a bit of light-hearted entertainment to the screen, isn’t lost on Henry

“What was it, like three out of four Kiwis have watched the show? That’s an incredible impact,” he says

Sure, he knows shows like this aren’t going to “change the world”, but they do create a welcome escape from modern life’s onslaught of chaos, war and suffering

“We need entertainment because we’re alive right now We can’t put the fun of living on hold because times are tough or horrible ”

But why, at this stage in his career, would he take on a role as high-profile and highpressure as The Chase NZ host?

Like many smart men, Henry credits his wife, who was persistent he should give it a go That gentle nudge put things into perspective, and he realised an opportunity like this doesn’t come along often

“The gut feeling is no Do I want to learn all these scripts? Reading lots of questions is as hard as answering lots of questions, and the pressure is on,” he says

“There’s an awful lot going through a 65-yearold man’s mind, but how could you not? I’ve also got some very very famous friends who are glued to the television for The Chase, and they would’ve hated me if I’d said no ”

He wouldn’t let slip as to who the “famous friends” are, but he’s known to have run in the same social circles as former PM Sir John Key and the late, great Sir Michael Hill

Henry gives credit to The Chase NZ contestants,

too, some of whom flew especially from New Zealand for the occasion

“It takes a lot to get up and be a contestant The easiest thing to do in life is to not do things,” he says And speaking to those contestants, it’s clear they appreciated his kindness Many mentioned how relaxed Henry made them feel

In true Henry style, he’s both less and more charitable towards the UK presenter he could perhaps be compared most closely to Jeremy Clarkson has also spent years in front of the camera, hosting the likes of Top Gear before moving into reality TV with Clarkson’s Farm Henry, who owns both a boat named Olive (in memory of his late mother) and numerous properties, jokes he could probably out-farm the controversial British pundit

“I’ve got a bit of land in the Kaipara I tell people I’m a farmer In Palm Springs, I talk like I’ve got a huge station,” he says “But I think [Clarkson] has less of an idea about it than I do and I have no idea ” As well as getting back to his land, a bit of travel is on the horizon for Henry after the conclusion of his Chase hosting duties

“New Zealand, Palm Springs, on the boat, and I’m going to London a bit for Christmas,” he enthuses, stoked he’ll be seeing the snow this year And then what? Now he is part of the TVNZ board, one question hangs in the air: will one of New Zealand’s most experienced and recognisable broadcasters ever step in front of the camera again? Henry says he wouldn’t be too bothered if this turned out to be his final time on our screens

“It’s been quite a career for a little gypsy kid from the boondocks, and I fumbled through it, but it’s gone pretty well,” he laughs

“If this is it, it’s a pretty good way to go out ” ● The Chase NZ screens on TVNZ1 and TVNZ+ from November 3

Chelsea vs Nadia

Which new cookbook will rule Kiwi kitchens this Christmas asks Kim Knight

Nadia Lim is braising bunnies Chelsea Winter swears you won’t notice there’s cauliflower in the sushi And the person leaving the celebrity cookbook kitchen tonight?

Depends how you feel about skinning a rabbit

(See also: bone broth brownies)

Lim and Winter, respective winners of MasterChef New Zealand seasons two and three, have gone head-to-head with October cookbook releases I begged for copies and fell on them like cake

They are the country’s most popular contemporary home cooks; women so famous that, in the food world at least, they don’t need surnames Winter lives on a lifestyle block in Taranaki with her children Sky and Sage, and her seventh recipe collection, Tasty, was New Zealand’s bestselling overall book in 2024

Lim, meanwhile, has produced at least a dozen books, and is three seasons deep into a television show documenting her life at Royalburn Station in Central Otago, where she farms with husband Carlos and their three boys, Bodhi, River, and Arlo

Lim describes Nadia’s Farm Kitchen ($55) as her “best book to date” In the gluten-free corner, Winter claims Nourish ($50) has “more purpose and intention than anything I’ve done before” Wooden spoons at the ready, silicone spatulas at dawn it’s the clash of the Christmas cash cows and there can only be one winner winner chicken dinner!

Begin by judging the book by its cover Winter’s features a lamb shoulder only marginally plumper than her own The parsimonious roast is served with broccolini, whipped feta and a delicious glass of water? I know we should all eat less meat (and the author was, until recently, vegan), but this is the kind of portion control I’d expect from a David Seymourapproved school lunch box

Down on the farm, Lim leans against a creaky, lichen-stained door festooned with dead rabbits

There is a pitchfork to her right and lord knows what’s in her casserole dish The only thing standing between this cover and a Stephen King plot is three beetroots and a savoy cabbage

To the opening double-page spreads, where we learn (a) Lim has a cute farm, and (b) Winter has cute kids Repeat Repeat Repeat

We’re here for the food and, after about five years of reading (Lim), liberal use of the word “balance” (Winter) and three full-page photographs of hydrangeas (also Winter does she know they are poisonous to humans?), I finally encounter some recipes

A great chef once told me even the very best cookbook will only contain three recipes you’ll want to make again True or false? I think it depends on your understanding of the word “recipe” and, in Winter’s case, “bagels”

Dear reader, there are simply not enough inverted commas in the world to explain her “recipe” for apple “bagels” three ways, but I will try: Take one whole apple Remove central core Slice the apple into rings

I think you can see where this is going and it is absolutely nowhere near a bagel

Non-recipes are the new recipe Witness Nigella Lawson and the avocado toast debacle, Simone Anderson’s frozen grapes and absolutely any cookbook with a sandwich on its cover

Lim’s nasturtium leaf with goat’s cheese, strawberry and honey is not the worst example in the genre Nevertheless, in my humble opinion, six pages for a seven-ingredient no-cook canape is overkill The recipe makes 20 morsels “ideal for spring and summer gatherings” and I swear I watched each one manifest in real time

If both books are picture-heavy, Lim’s takes the (upside-down plum and cardamom) cake

“Having grown up in the tropics and later in Auckland, waking up to a snow-covered landscape still feels like a fairy tale,” she writes “What still blows my mind about living down here is how abrupt and on-time the seasons are It’s as if nature has set an alarm clock ”

Former MasterChef New Zealand winners Chelsea Winter (left) and Nadia Lim are going head to head with new cookbook titles, below

because it looks delicious and her pitch (“this recipe is going to take the country by storm”) is so confident Ditto, her chicken pie 2 0 because, “you wouldn’t believe the secret ingredients in the sauce are cauliflower, hemp seeds and basil leaves it’s gonna be a lifer I guarantee it ”

Meanwhile, on page 146: “Cauliflower is more nutritious than white rice which makes these sushi rolls utter genius, because I guarantee a lot of people won’t be able to tell the difference when they eat them!”

Is Winter sponsored by Big Cauli? (I had planned to test the sushi hypothesis on my colleagues but they work in media and their lives were sad enough )

Proof of scientific concept? Several million pages of photographs of the farm at various stages of the Earth’s axial tilt

In Lim’s seasonally organised world, you cook spring ramen before summer-into-autumn pudding, and vine-ripened gazpacho before coq au vin

Winter’s layout also follows the natural order of things Dinner is followed by sweet treats, breakfasts, lunches, snacks, basics, celebrations and poultices (Take one large potato and stop laughing, because I am truly not making this up )

There is, of course, much to love about both books I will not, on principle, pay for a recipe that tells me how to scramble eggs (they both have one) but I understand this is knowledge that can save lives, cure hangovers and plug the skills gap in a country where the Government has just proposed removing more food-related subjects from the school curriculum I digress

Winter’s breezy, matey, Insta-friendly speak has earned her a legion of fans and, if you are among them, then BOOM you ain’t gonna be disappointed

(Bows to bestselling author )

I will be making Winter’s turbo teriyaki chicken

From Lim’s collection, I immediately earmarked the brown butter miso mushroom noodles, instructions for making fresh ricotta and a recipe for sunflower oil focaccia At Royalburn, between one and four million sunflowers are planted annually Seeds that haven’t been ravaged by mice or birds or people jumping the fence to pose naked in a sunflower field (true story) are sent to Christchurch for cold-pressing, which is a potentially expensive pathway to flatbread, but so is a bottle of supermarket olive oil

In 2019, American food writer Helen Rosner noted the internet should have killed cookbooks Instead, cookbooks had reinvented themselves: “Recipes still mattered, but now they existed in service of something more a mood, a place, a technique, a voice,” Rosner wrote

Aotearoa’s kitchen queens achieve this in spades and/or pitchforks This kind of compare and contrast review is only possible because Lim and Winter are so fully invested in their respective points of view Rabbits are a farm pest, so some people shoot and eat them Cauliflower has fewer carbs than rice, so some people use it as an alternative in sushi

Lim says farming is humbling in every possible way She wants you to feel more connected to the origins of your food to understand what it takes to produce a bag of flour, a tomato, an egg, a chicken breast or a litre of milk

Winter wants you to know that healthy eating need not be overly complicated, or expensive, or strict she advocates simple ingredient swaps (spelt flour instead of bleached white flour; coconut oil instead of refined seed oils) and says “homemade and natural is where it’s at”

We are what we eat And, really, you should just buy whichever book you like best On this, I am certain Lim and Winter would agree: Nothing is more delicious and life-affirming than going with your gut

Summerset “superior in a lot of ways”

“I’d been to Summerset on a couple of occasions as part of my job as Eve’s Real Estate branch manager in Papamoa. We looked at villages in the area and when we compared them all, we felt that Summerset is superior in a lot of ways,” said Summerset resident, Trevor Hansen.

A place that feels like home

“When we started to look for a retirement village, we included our children We have three adult boys, two locally and one in Germany The local boys came with us to visit villages,” said Trevor “The main draw was that Summerset is modern with a number of different facilities on site that were superior, and the location is close to our sons and the grandkids ”

“We liked the village cafe as well as the people here The staff were very friendly towards us, even though we hadn’t yet signed up When you throw all of that into the mix, Summerset was ticking so many boxes And Heather liked this village for the newness and its safe and secure, with care facilities for later”

The value of village living

The Hansen’s felt more informed than others might when they started looking for a retirement village and shared the importance of understanding the value you ’ re really getting when signing up to a village

“Being in real estate helped a bit with understanding contracts and I knew about licence to occupy agreements I’m not saying I’m an expert, we took legal advice, and our

solicitor was our trustee A fundamental thing to understand is the deferred management fee As long as you can get your head around that, then you can see the benefits for you, ” shared Trevor

“It’s also important to get your families support on what you ’ re doing In real estate, I dealt with a number of people who were thinking about going into a village who were talked out of it by their children I saw people in their late eighties and nineties saying, ‘ we ’ re not going to sell now we ’ re going to stay here ’ Our family said, ‘ go for it’”

“I believe that above all you have to place a high value and worth on the lifestyle and camaraderie And all the facilities and activities you can do on your doorstep Then there’s the safety and security You need to place a lot of worth and value on enjoying all that while you ’ re alive,” stated Trevor

Since moving in, the Hansen’s have more in their diaries than ever Trevor participates in the ukelele group, bowls and pool teams While Heather is a fan of the fitness classes and enjoys crafting.

If you are contemplating village life, pop in and spend some time in a village You can enjoy a cuppa and treat in the café or just call in and talk with the friendly team and chat with residents who already love the Summerset life

If you’d like to know more about Summerset, or find a village near you, visit summerset.co.nz

LONG WEEKEND TOP SPOTS

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND AND BEYOND O

FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES

If you’ve got little ones to entertain this long weekend, there is no more joyful place to do it than at Motat’s Nga Mirumiru Bubbles event The museum’s been running these weekends for years now and they’ve got them down pat There are live-action bubble shows, bubble displays, hands-on activities like catching bubbles, painting with bubbles and getting inside giant bubbles Plus there’s all of Motat’s usual live day excitement like tram rides, food trucks and live entertainment

Today, tomorrow and Monday, 10am4pm Motat Great North Rd, Western Springs Usual entry fees apply

A few new or newish Auckland hot spots are on our long weekend to-do list, starting with Lilliputt and The Country Club on Tamaki Drive They’ve just finished a mammoth redevelopment and now have fully refurbished courses and an all-day eatery with harbour views and an outdoor playground

Meanwhile, on the other side of the bridge, Takapuna Beach Cafe has opened its summer fish and chip pop-up, open seven days a week and the perfect spot for a long weekend beach dinner Over on Waiheke, SOHO Family Vineyards opened its permanent cellar door just yesterday It sits on a sprawling grass lawn where wine enthusiasts can also chow down on Mexican street food by chef Joel Larson, known for his food truck Tacos y Masa, and play lawn games

Lilliputt: Daily 10am-late, 3 Tamaki Drive, Parnell

Visit lilliputt co.nz for

more information

Fish & Chip Shop: Daily 3pm-8pm, Takapuna Beach Cafe, 22 The Promenade

SOHO Family Vineyards: Friday to Tuesday 11am-5pm, 74 Onetangi Rd, Waiheke Island sohowineco com

AN ODE TO ANALOGUE

FEED THE BIRDS, TUPPENCE A BAG

This one’s less an

and

a

BirdCare Aotearoa is

PLAN AHEAD

Next weekend is the inaugural Analogue Aotearoa festival in Te Aroha The first of its kind in New Zealand, the festival celebrates analogue photography and has a full programme of events including exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, swap meets, slide shows and more Among the highlights of the weekend’s activities are cyanotype workshops pinhole photography workshops a Super 8 film showcase by Isabella Rose Young, and a wet plate portrait session with one of the festival directors, Adrian Cook of TinType Central With just a week until the festival, you may struggle to find accommodation in Te Aroha but options abound in the surrounding town centres May this be the first of many Analogue Aotearoa festivals

November 1-2 Te Aroha Visit analogueaotearoa com for more information

PHOTO / ADRIAN COOK

GIN AND SIZZLE SEASON

Auckland has hinted at the arrival of summer this past week and a hint is all we need to signal the arrival of gin and barbecue season Four Pillars Gin is hosting an event called Pillars & Links tomorrow at Nami Record Bar in Ponsonby to raise money for KiwiPAL a charity supporting the children of Palestine Head along to Nami Record Bar tomorrow afternoon to welcome in the summer with a sly gin and a sausage sizzle from Grey Lynn Butcher, and know you’re supporting a good cause while you’re at it Tomorrow, 2pm Nami Record Bar, 115A Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby

A MILESTONE CELEBRATION

Following an unexpectedly challenging year for Auckland Museum the northern entrance and galleries have finally reopened To celebrate, the museum has a host of free events for Aucklanders throughout the long weekend Among the much-missed galleries now open are Mataaho Volcanoes, WWI Hall of Memories and Te Ao Turoa Maori Natural History Today tomorrow and Monday Auckland visitors can get free guided museum tours, see Maori cultural performances, and participate in the Weekends of Wonder craft activity for children The Great Kimberley Wilderness VR experience will also be free all weekend (subject to availability, book onsite only) Work is still being done on the Maori Court and Pacific Galleries but this is a significant milestone in the remediation process for the museum, well worth celebrating Today, tomorrow and Monday Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland Domain, Parnell Free for Aucklanders

A SHAKESPEAREAN MASH-UP

A WESTY MUSIC FESTY

Actor and comedian Penny Ashton has a history of tinkering with classic literary works to create original and unique theatre pieces, and her most recent production carries that tradition on The Tempestuous opens at Tapac on Thursday, with an opening night fundraiser for Shine It’s a musical comedy that gives Shakespeare’s texts new life and showcases not just the superb performance skill of Penny Ashton but her talents as a comedic writer as well The show received rave reviews when she performed it back in 2023 and is on for just four nights next week, after which Ashton will begin preparing for her December tour of Austen Found October 30-November

1 Tapac, 100 Motions Rd, Western Springs Tickets

$25-$39.50 + booking fees from tapac org nz

COMING UP

Bill Bailey Vaudevillean: nationwide tour from October 29-November 23

Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo: October 30-November 9, Spark Arena, Auckland

Dungeon of the Damned: October 31-November 2, Birkenhead, Auckland

Auckland Festival of Quilts: October 31November 2, Auckland Netball Centre

Bach Musica NZ Singing Workshop: November 1, Somervell Presbyterian Church, Remuera

The Trusts Halloween Spooktacular: November 1, New Lynn, Auckland

Tofiga Fepulea’i, Shuuush Your Mouf: November 1-8, Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga

A Journey to See Exhibition: November 1-21, Lake House Arts, Takapuna

The Dry House: November 4-15, Basement

Theatre Auckland

Japanese Film Festival: November 6-9, Academy Cinemas, Auckland

One of Auckland’s most artsy and alternative suburbs, with occasional hippy tendencies, will be vibing more than usual this weekend for the Titirangi Festival of Music If you head to the village today, there will be a full-day programme of free music, cultural and community performances, as well as ticketed concerts by Annie Crummer (pictured), with Arjuna Oakes; Albi & the Wolves; Blackstratblues; Taylor Griffin Septet; Na’amah; Renee & Raylee; Chelsea Prastiti; and Daughters Two Tomorrow, at Avondale Memorial Park, there will be a free concert by a selection of local West Auckland music talents including Thabani Gapara Head West for music and good vibes this weekend Today and tomorrow, Titirangi Village and Avondale Memorial Park See titirangifestival co nz for more information

St Andrew’s Epsom Strawberry Fair: November 8, Epsom, Auckland

Harry Enfield And No Chums: November 13 and 21, Auckland

Kowhai Art & Craft Club Sale and Exhibition: November 7-9, Matakana Hall

NZ Sculpture OnShore: November 7-23, Devonport, Auckland

Parnell Festival of Roses: November 9, Parnell, Auckland

All Together Now Choir, Mixtape for the Mission: November 9, Auckland Town Hall

Auckland Rose Society Annual Show: November 15-16, Parnell, Auckland

An Evening with Priscilla Presley, Life after Elvis: November 20, Bruce Mason Centre, Auckland

Black Grace, If Ever There was a Time and Esplanade: November 21, The Civic, Auckland

Eddie Izzard The Remix Tour Live: November 21-26 Christchurch Wellington Auckland

Po’ Boys and Oysters: November 22-29, Herald Theatre, Auckland

H.R. The Musical #2: November 25-December 6, Q Theatre, Auckland

CINEMA FROM OLD BLIGHTY

One of the highlights of the Intrepid British and Irish Film Festival, which opens nationwide on October 29, is the New Zealand filmed biopic Moss & Freud (pictured), chronicling the relationship of model Kate Moss and artist Lucian Freud It sits within a programme of 23 superb films, playing in 22 centres across the country, including The Choral, starring Ralph Fiennes; Dead of Winter starring Emma Thompson; Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, and more This might be your only opportunity to catch some of these films on the big screen so take a moment to pore over the programme this weekend and make a movie date October 29-November 19 Various cinemas nationwide (Lido, Capitol, Bridgeway, Rialto, Monterey and Waiheke cinemas in Auckland) Visit britishfilmfestival co nz/ for more information and tickets

Auckland Horticultural Council 24th Annual Flower Show: November 29, Western Springs 92nd Farmers Santa Parade: November 30

Auckland

Kirk Franklin, The World Tour: December 10-13, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland

Dynamotion & Q Theatre present A Christmas Crisis: December 10-20, Q Theatre, Auckland

Oprah In Conversation: December 14, Spark Arena Auckland The ASB Classic: January 5-17, Auckland

Jimmy Carr Laughs Funny Tour: Nationwide January 7-8

Auckland Folk Festival: January 23-26, Auckland

Email canvasguide@nzherald co nz with brief details of your upcoming event, including dates/times, location and website

Here comes the long weekend... and Nici Wickes’ advice is to take it easy

The season of long weekends begins now, with Labour Weekend, and I love the extra day, don’t you? It’s like a glorious gift, one that says, “Slow down, relax, breathe easy and cook ” You can linger over coffee, potter about in the kitchen without the usual rush and even replace “proper meals” with snacks and grazing food Long weekends are made for easy, generous cooking

First things first a decent cake that will last the whole weekend You need a keeper that improves over the days and a carrot cake, in all its spiced glory, is perfect It lasts beautifully for days (if it’s not gobbled up sooner) and can be served plain with coffee, or dressed up with a thick swirl of yoghurt or cream and I serve mine with an orange syrup for dessert Other good weekend keepers include a dense banana loaf, an old-fashioned chocolate cake, or a lemon syrup cake zingy, glossy, and perfect for slicing as friends drift through the door These kinds of cakes are best made ahead, they travel well if you’re heading away, and somehow taste even better as the days go by

Once the sweet side of things is sorted, it’s time to think savoury I like to have a few easy dishes up my sleeve that can stretch to suit the moment Flatbreads Turkish pide, Lebanese breads, focaccia or even ciabatta are so versatile I keep a few in the freezer and pull them out for impromptu pizzas or loaded flatbreads like the recipe I’m sharing this week You can keep it simple for the toppings like a swipe of tomato pasta sauce or creme fraiche, some olives, mozzarella and a scatter of basil or rocket, or get as creative as you like

Other great savoury food ideas for a long weekend rely on having some essential supplies in the house; platter fixings marinated olives, good cheeses, some spiced nuts, charcuterie are a must A ready roast chicken (with stuffing of course) and some soft white rolls with plenty of mayo and shredded lettuce is a a simple and delicious lunch or dinner, as is a big tray of roasted pork and fennel sausages or spicy chorizo and vegetables tossed with feta and herbs just as good warm as cold and endlessly useful as a side, salad or filling for wraps A pot of homemade chilli beans can be useful for breakfast or used for taco or nachos if you’ve got guacamole and sour cream on hand

The beauty of long weekend food is in its ease It’s not about fuss or formality, but about simple abundance feeding people well and soaking up the slower pace that a long weekend invites Let this first one roll out softly and slowly

FLATBREADS WITH SPICED LAMB & SALAD

Oh, how I love making myself one of these for lunch or dinner, or serving it to guests It’s full of freshness and texture

Serves 2-4

150g lamb mince

1⁄2 tsp each cumin seeds and ground coriander

1⁄2 tsp sea salt

1⁄4 cup olive oil

200g cherry tomatoes

3 Tbsp lemon juice

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar or pomegranate molasses

Pinch of sugar

2 handfuls of fresh herbs (mint, basil, coriander, parsley)

1 Turkish pide, ciabatta or slab of focaccia

100g feta

In a bowl, mix together the lamb, spices and salt Roll into small meatballs and place in a pan with a tablespoon of olive oil Cook over a medium heat until lamb is cooked Remove from pan Add half the tomatoes to the pan and cook for 3-4 mins or until they collapse a little Set aside

In a bowl, whisk remaining oil, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar (or pomegranate molasses) and sugar Cut the remaining fresh tomatoes and add these into the dressing, along with the fresh herbs and toss to coat

Cut a thin layer off the top of the bread if using thicker breads like ciabatta or focaccia or even in half if they’re quite thick this helps the toppings soak into the bread

Freshen the bread up by warming it in the oven

Spread feta over bread and top with the dressed salad, meatballs and cooked tomatoes Poor over any excess dressing from the bowl Slice and eat!

Note: Make it your own by using chopped chorizo or smoked salmon or other flaked smoked fish in place of the lamb meatballs

SPICED CARROT CAKE WITH ORANGE SYRUP

Serves 10-12

Cake

2 large eggs

1 cup brown sugar, loosely packed

2 cups self-raising flour

1 2 cup raisins

1 2 cup walnut pieces + extra for topping

2 tsp each cinnamon and mixed spice

2 cups grated carrot

1 2 cup grated apple

200ml oil, I used light olive oil

50ml water

Icing

150g cream cheese

50g soft butter

1 cup icing sugar

Syrup

Zest and juice of one orange

1 3 cup sugar

3 Tbsp water

Preheat oven to 180C fan bake Grease and line a 22cm springform cake tin

Beat eggs and sugar together until pale and creamy Pour in oil and water and mix until just combined Add in flour, raisins, spices and grated carrot and apple and beat briefly to combine

Scrape into prepared cake tin and bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean Cool in tin for 10 minutes before turning out and cooling completely before icing

Make the icing by briefly beating cream cheese and butter then stirring in the icing sugar and mixing until combined Spoon over cake lavishly, encouraging it to drizzle down the sides, and sprinkle over walnuts Serve cake with a drizzle of orange syrup

Orange syrup: Simmer the ingredients together in a small pot for 5-7 minutes without stirring Cool

’TIS THE SEASON TO PARTY

Get ready for summer entertaining with this simple but spectacular salad, perfect for adding some variety to a barbecue lunch

ROCKET AND PROSCIUTTO SALAD

Serves 6 Ingredients

1 pot buffalo mozzarella

70g prosciutto

1⁄2 cup sultanas

250g rocket leaves

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

A pinch of salt

A handful of croutons

Dressing

1 tsp whole grain mustard

1 tsp runny honey Juice of 1 lemon Salt and pepper to taste

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method Sprinkle salt over thinly sliced red onion, then place in red wine vinegar Leave to marinade for 10 minutes until the onion is soft

Whisk all the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl Taste and season with salt and black pepper if needed

Arrange the rocket leaves on a large platter Tear the mozzarella and the prosciutto into pieces and place on the leaves, then scatter the onion, sultanas, and croutons over the top Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving

NOTE: You can use bought croutons, but making them yourself is easy Pull half a loaf of sourdough bread apart into small crouton-sized pieces You want them a bit rough and rustic, not perfect cubes Combine them into a bowl with a good slug of olive oil and a grind of salt, then put on a lined baking tray and bake in a 200C oven for 10-15 minutes, or until crispy fresh.co.nz

Salty, sweet, and savoury there’s a lovely mix of flavours in this salad

/ FRESH MEDIA

The

of this year’s gems Here are my picks

CHRISTY

This is a hugely impressive debut from Irish director Brendan Canty Gritty social realism with heart, Canty manages to find beauty in bleakness and reminds us there’s always hope when people look after each other Life has been tough for 17-year-old Christy, played by Danny Power After the death of his mother he has been passed from one foster home to another, and on the verge of his 18th birthday finds himself back in his home town staying with his older half-brother Christy may be fast with his fists and have a ciggie in hand most of the time, but underneath the bravado is a good kid just looking to fit in Brilliantly acted and full of spirit

THE NORTH

If you love spending time in nature you’re going to love this 600km trek In director Bart Schrijver’s second feature film we follow friends Chris and Lluis who reunite after 10 years by walking Scotland’s West Highland Way and Cape Wrath Trail Don’t expect too much action or dialogue, just settle in and enjoy the rhythm of long distance walking, stunning cinematography, superb sound editing and a gentle transformative experience for the two men The North will have you heading to the hills as soon as you can

OF BRITISH (AND IRISH)

drama about a mother’s battle against the system to regain custody of her children after a short stint in prison It a gruelling, emotionally journey for Molly (Posy Sterling) as the system is unhelpful and cruel yet Hudson resists making a one-sided film, acknowledging Molly must take accountability for herself and her predicament Lollipop is a compassionate, fiercely performed drama; Sterling is simply superb

FOUR MOTHERS

James McArdle will have you laughing out loud in this delightful Irish comedy about a novelist struggling to deal with imminent global literary success, and his mother Edward’s young adult novel is about to take off in the US and a book tour is being planned, but as the sole caregiver for his stroke-affected mother (Fionnula Flanagan) he’s torn about whether he can manage both his mother and his career To add to the chaos, three of his gay friends dump their mothers on his doorstep while they head off for a long weekend partying A hilarious and warm film about ageing, intergenerational care, loneliness and gay adults navigating relationships with their meddling mothers

LOLLIPOP

Lollipop is a film from British film-maker Daisy-May Hudson, who, in 2015 made a very personal documentary about her family’s homelessness She’s now taken that lived experience and created a fictional

GLENROTHAN

Calling all whisky lovers! Actor Brian Cox’s (Succession) directorial debut is a love letter to Scotland and whisky, with a story of family dysfunction and forgiveness thrown in Set in the Scottish Highlands (Scottish tourism will do well out of this festival) at a picturesque whisky distillery, brothers played by Cox and Alan Cumming are reunited after 35 years Donal (Cumming) returns home after decades in the US to find the family business run by brother Sandy (Cox) is in trouble, but before they can come together and sort things out a long-running family dispute needs to be settled You’ll be wanting a dram after this

● For more information head to britishandirishfilmfestival co nz

7

8 05 Bradley Walsh and Son: Breaking Dad PGC 3 0 Bradley and Barney Walsh embark on a European journey, starting in the sunny south of Croatia where the pair compete on aqua bikes.

8 35 M Love of an Icon: The Legend of Crocodile Dundee M 0 2025

Documentary A behindthe-scenes glimpse of Australia’s most iconic film, and the extraordinary creative partnerships that made it possible.

10 20 Grand Designs New Zealand 3

11.15 Elsbeth M 3

12 10 Sherwood 16VL 3

1 15 The Split PG 3

2.20 Chateau DIY 3

3.05 Quiz

3 30 Infomercials

0

6am Children’s Programmes

9 10 Malory Towers 3 0

9 35 The Gamers 2037 3 0

10am Fresh PG 0

10.30 Shortland Street Omnibus PG 3 0

Noon Renters PG 3 0

12 30 The Graham Norton Show PG 3 0

1.30 Gladiators UK In the first of the semi-finals, four contenders face the Gladiators before taking on the gruelling eliminator

2 40 Warren’s Vortex PG 3

4 10 Dance Moms: A New Era PG 0 The team heads to the regionals in Miami and, in a twist, Glo splits the girls into two groups to compete against each other.

5.05 Two and a Half Men PGS 3 0

6.05 The Big Bang Theory PG 3 0

7pm America’s Got Talent 0 America’s votes reveal which six acts from the previous night are moving on to the finale, and four acts that received the live show golden buzzers advance through.

8pm M The Fast and the Furious MVC 3 0 2001 Action An undercover cop must decide where his loyalty lies when he becomes enamoured with the street racing world he has been tasked to destroy. Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster

10pm M That’s My Boy 16LS 3 0 2012 Comedy After not seeing each other for years, a man’s world is upset when his son returns just before his wedding.

12.15 M The Stand In 18L 3 2020 Comedy

2am Nightflyers 16VLC

4.10 Fresh PG 3

4.35 Closedown 0 5am Infomercials

6am Charles Stanley PG

6 30 Infomercials

9 30 Supermarket Stakeout 3 0

10 30 The Zoo PG 0

11.30 Animal Embassy 3 0

Noon Cupcake Wars 3 0

1pm Unsellable Houses 0

2pm Lakefront Bargain Hunt: Renovation 0 A couple hope to escape Atlanta with a holiday home on Jackson Lake, Georgia

3pm Lakefront Bargain Hunt 3 0

3.30 Chopped 3 0

4 25 Wheel of Fortune with Graham Norton 3

5.30 Ocean Bounty 0 A visit to the Havelock Mussel Festival, and Dr Richard O’Driscoll explains fisheries, science, and the effects of sedimentation in the Hauraki Gulf.

6pm Three News 0

6 30 The Best of the Middle PG 0 Halloween finds the Hecks in their own Twilight Zone-type stories, with Brick providing an introduction to each.

7pm M Beetlejuice PG 3 0 1988

Comedy A dead couple hire a scare-monger to help them frighten off the family who have bought their former home.

9pm M Gravity M 3 0 2013 Drama. A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after their shuttle is destroyed, leaving them adrift in orbit Sandra Bullock, George Clooney

10.55 Doom Patrol 16 0 With Madame Rouge vying for her old spot in the Brotherhood of Evil, the Doom Patrol brace themselves for their impending visit

12am Infomercials

5am Leading the Way PG

5 30 Charles Stanley PG

8am N Secrets at Red Rocks PG 0

8 30 Kiri and Lou 3 0

8.35 Moe and Friends 3 0

8 50 Michal and Moe 3 0

9 10 Extreme Cake Sports 3 0

9.35 Kea Kids News 3 0 10am Infomercials

Noon MasterChef USA PG 0 The duos who failed in the audition rounds get a surprise second chance, and have to make three identical, restaurant-worthy dishes.

1pm Pawn Stars PG 3 The team saddles up for some rare Western memorabilia.

3pm The 100K Drop 3 0 Contestants must get the answers right to stop their pile of cash getting lost through a trapdoor

4pm Triple Threat PG 3 0 Jorja draws on her highland dancing to give her an unexpected edge, and Ilona Maher shares her wisdom with KV.

4.30 Football: A-League Men (DLY) Auckland FC v Western Sydney Wanderers. From Go Media Stadium, Auckland.

7 30 Rugby: NPC (DLY) 0 Final: Canterbury v Otago. From Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch.

9 30 M Blown Away MVL 0 1994 Action. A former bombdisposal expert suspects a friend’s involvement when his replacement is killed by a bomb. Jeff Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Tommy Lee Jones.

12am Time 16VLC 3

2am Infomercials

5am UFC: PPV Prelim

The Thicket M 2024 Thriller 4.35 Kokako PG 2023 Short. 4.55 Bread and Roses PG 1993 Drama. 6.40 Black Dog M 1998 Action. 8.30 Lowlifes 16 2024 Horror A family holiday takes a wrong turn and they get a weird feeling about their new accomodation 10.05 Hungry Hearts M 2014 Drama 12am The Hitcher 16 1986 Thriller 6am QI PG 7am Richard Osman’s House of Games PG 9.30 Dragons’ Den PG 10.35 Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators PG 11.20 Shakespeare and

6am Rural Delivery 3 0

6.25 Dog Squad PG 3 0

6.45 Attitude 3 0

7 10 Marcus Wareing: Simply Provence 3 0

7 40 Songs of Praise 3 0

8 20 John and Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen 3 0

9.05 Mr Bates vs the Post Office: The Real Story PGC 3 0

10am Waka Huia

10 30 Marae

11am Rich House Poor House 3 0

Noon Attitude PG An informative and entertaining approach to cerebral palsy from those with lived experience.

12.30 F Find My Country House Canada

1pm Emmerdale PG

1 30 Coronation Street PG 3

2pm Chateau DIY 3

3pm Find My Country House: New Zealand 3

4pm New Zealand’s Best Homes with Phil Spencer 3

5pm The Chase 0

6pm 1News at Six 0

7pm Border Security PG 0

7 30 M Crocodile Dundee: The Encore Cut M 0 1986 Comedy Drama. An Australian bushman who has survived a crocodile attack in the outback must survive a week with a reporter in New York. Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski.

9 20 Heaven and Hell: The Centrepoint Story 16VLC 3 Former members of the 1970s Centrepoint commune tell their stories, in an intimate and harrowing insight into New Zealand’s most infamous cult.

11 20 DNZ: The 501’s: An Inside Story ML 3

12 15 Quiz

12 30 Infomercials

0 C

L

6am Children’s Programmes

8 25 Young Riders 3

8 30 What Now? 0

9.35 The Voice USA

10.20 Home and Away Omnibus PG 3

12.25 Dog Squad Puppy School 3

1.30 MKR 3 0

3 10 M Happy Feet Two 3 0 2011 Animation. An emperor penguin’s son must realise his talents when the penguins discover a new threat their home.

5.05 Two and a Half Men PGS 3

6 05 The Big Bang Theory PG 3

7pm Highway Patrol 0 A duo have swapped seats trying to skirt the law, as the driver is just days away from finishing his suspension due to drink driving.

7 30 Ambulance Australia PGC 3

0 Ambulance heroes deliver a baby, save a four-yearold with a heart condition, assist a 91-year-old man, and respond to a serious motorcycle accident.

8 30 M The Dukes of Hazzard M 3 0 2005 Comedy The Duke cousins must save the family farm from Hazzard County’s corrupt authorities. Johnny Knoxville, Jessica Simpson, Seann William Scott.

10.35 The Graham Norton Show PG 3

11 35 F FBI: International MC The team discovers they are on the trail of a serial killer, taking the investigation to Japan to put an end to the international killing spree

12 30 M The Grudge 2 16VC 3 2006 Drama.

2.15 F I Knew My Murderer MVC

3 30 Infomercials 5 30 Closedown

6am Beachfront Bargain Hunt 3 0

6.30 Leading the Way PG

7am Charles Stanley PG

8am Key of David PG

8 30 Turning Point PG

9am Guy’s Ranch Kitchen PG 0 Guy Fieri gives his chef friends lemons, and they make a citrusy Tom Collins, and puffy pavlova with lemon curd whipped cream.

9.25 The Hui

9.55 You Live in What? 3

10.45 Island Life 3 0

11.10 The Great Food Truck Race 0

Noon Motorsport: Nascar Xfinity Series (HLS)

1pm Motorsport: New Zealand Rally Championship (HLS) Rally Bay of Plenty

2pm Motorsport: World GT Endurance (HLS)

3pm Motorsport: Nascar Cup Series (HLS)

4pm Motorsport: MotoGP (HLS)

5pm Gold Rush: Dave Turin’s Lost Mine PG 0 Dave and Lance prospect in the historic foothills of Mt Denali.

6pm Three News 0

6.30 Gold Coast Cops PG 3 0

7pm Parental Guidance PG 0 Looking at peer pressure, the parents unpack how to support children to make real friends and avoid toxic influences.

8 35 M Crazy Rich Asians M 0 2018 Rom-com. A young woman is whisked into her boyfriend’s extravagant lifestyle when she is asked to meet his parents. Constance Wu, Henry Golding.

11pm Roadies 16 0 The crew fall victim to a mythical rock and roll curse.

12 10 Infomercials

7am Religious Programmes

9am Our Other Islands PG 3 0 Troy is on AoteaGreat Barrier Island and meets people creating opportunities with limited resources.

9.30 Only in Aotearoa PGL 3 0

10am Premiere League: Goal Rush

Noon Football: Men’s A-League (HLS) 0 Week One

1pm Golf: PGA Champions Tour (HLS) 0 Dominion Energy Charity Classic From the Country Club of Virginia, Richmond.

2pm Golf: LPGA Tour (HLS) 0 BMW Ladies Championship. From Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam-gun, Korea.

3pm Cricket: ICC Women’s ODI World Cup (HLS) 0 India v White Ferns.

4pm L Netball: Constellation Cup Silver Ferns v Diamonds: Game Three. From Globox Arena, Hamilton.

6pm Rugby Nation Highlights and analysis of the latest rugby action.

6.30 Pointless Australia 0

7pm Home, Land and Sea 0

7 30 Gary Barlow’s Wine Tour: Australia PGC 0 Gary and Andi Peters try barrel making in the Barossa Valley, and in the worldfamous McLaren Vale, they get a unique lesson from the Willy Wonka of wine.

8.30 Rugby League: Pacific Championship (DLY) Samoa v Tonga. From Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. 11pm High Speed Chase MVLC

3 0 A deputy’s life is threatened in a routine traffic stop, and a man hijacks a school bus.

12am All American: Homecoming MLS 1am Infomercials

Puzzles and horoscopes

1. Give parts of verb, once confused with jug at entry (9)

5. Something on second letter from Greece that’s unfinished (3)

7. Capture a piece made of teak (4)

8. Gain on one at sea and examine it for repair (8)

10. Pursuit of pleasure made him send nothing out (8)

11. It is signally light – exactly that (4)

13. What’s left of building may appear to be blur (6)

15. Public worship might repay the Right (6)

18. One may name something for a visit (4)

19. Unsolicited advertising in post lost him a variety of it (4,4)

22. Took the meeting but despaired of making it after a loss (8)

23. Invader of Britain was used to sacking (4)

24. Regret it may have to bear the traffic in France (3)

25. Being disposed to cheat one out of his nest, do it otherwise (9) DOWN

1. Baseball player booked in the rye (7)

2. Nude German muddles thanks (5)

3. Recommend one a side that changes when about five (6)

4. A noble is almost before his time (4)

5. Valour of the Red Indian warrior on the railway (7)

6 Agree to try right away to take everything in (5)

9 To go fly-fishing with an ancient Briton (5)

12. Marching of men up and down may be a bore (5)

14. Think it to be so

WordWheel

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): Not everything valuable is advertised as such. Life is a treasure hunt because you say it is. And the treasure you find has the value you put on it.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): There are situations when good manners are only good to the ones who made up the rules Compliance can be harmful when the system itself is harmful. The important thing is to stay awake and aware.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): As a "twin," multiplicity is your gift today. You can hold two sides of an argument, two moods and two truths at once. Your talent is holding the tension when nothing needs to resolve right away. It's a form of intelligence.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): Empathy is your superpower, but it can also wear you out. Today, protect your energy. Offer kindness without absorbing someone else's pain. Sometimes, stepping back is the truest act of love.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): You don't have everything you need to pull off the plan, and that's the whole point. If you had everything, it wouldn't be worth taking on. It's about what you learn and create to get yourself to the finish line.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): Even if you understood why people behave the way they do, it wouldn't change what's happening Sometimes people are confusing. You don't need to figure them out. Today's situation will smooth over on its own.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): For you, it's not about being correct, important or powerful; it's about being harmonious. You're willing to keep or perspective on the inside while you express yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Don't discount the quiet experiment. Innovation doesn't have to be radical to be impactful. A subtle shift, a tweak, a surprising angle that no one else thought to try – it may be your most revolutionary act.

Tyrannosaurus 8 Merit 14 Sabotage 17 Takings 18 Flush 20 Brews 23 Tare ACROSS

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): Novelty isn't always found in new places; sometimes it's hidden in old ones. A familiar street may reveal things you've walked past a hundred times. Today, discovery is more about perception than distance

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Don't confuse speed with progress For instance, you can't read the signs, you can't turn safely, you won't remember much because nothing stands out. so just slow down. Way down.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Secrets are tricky currency. Withholding can feel powerful, but disclosure creates intimacy. The question is not whether to tell, but why. If the reason brings connection instead of control, it's probably worth sharing.

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Dreams are a language your psyche uses when waking words fall short. It won't help to interpret them literally, but it may change things to notice the emotions they stir Mood points you to what needs tending.

Styx KenKen

Across

1 Sombre old record covered in protective material (10)

6 Famine not supported by popular celebrity (4)

8. Foil is torn badly in mould (8)

9 Powerful tenor’s limitations shown in musical production (6)

10 Sing the praises of retired twin (4)

11 Hosts come onto the stage flanked by press (10)

12. Bag for suitable earnings (3,6)

14 Muslim noble was briefly involved in arrest (5)

17 Capital of Oregon is trading millions (5)

19 Present presented in dance affected commitment (9)

22 Revolutionary groups are holding crew’s first officer responsible for shipment (10)

23 Mother leaving market prepared for a long walk (4)

24 American girl has ordered Australian birds (6)

25 Real outlet prematurely ended police undercover operation (8)

26. Locks away stationery items (4)

27 Travellers go through cooked greens (10)

Down

1 Self-indulgent people viewed notice in tasteful shop’s opening (9)

2 Platinum-coated object, an item of jewellery (7)

3. Drives away loaded with a representative’s hair-care products (8)

4 Isolated listeners whined terribly (2,3,10)

5 A great deal of wind he had flowed out copiously (6)

Observer Everyman

6 High-ranking naval officer replaced mast on time in bombardment (5,4)

7 Mediterranean island’s small tailless cat? (7)

13 Wrecked plane is full of live people with common characteristics (9)

15. Shonky baker gets old stock that can’t be sold (9)

Last week

16 Ten, in the time of one lesson, start to examine a bleaching agent (8)

18 Mature one largely knocked back praise (7)

20 Sedative never misused around home (7)

21 A superior outside court does the wrong thing (4,2)

Across: 1 Prefaces, 9 Hears out, 10 Sacrum, 11 Meditation, 12 Size, 13 Newsmonger, 16 Meat pie, 17 History, 20 In progress, 22 Roti, 23 Descriptor, 25 Edible, 26 Adelaide, 27 Nematode Down: 2 Real life, 3 Form letter, 4 Commanding, 5 Shadows, 6 Waft, 7 Boring, 8 Stingray, 14 Mainstream, 15 Naturalist, 16 Main drag, 18 Retailed, 19 Heathen, 21 Poster, 24 In it

Last week

Across

1 Clobber team denied opening, game displaying this? (3-2-3-2)

6 Wildebeests celebrated in retrospective (4)

9 Because, quaintly, it is mostly Paul singing loudly (10)

10 Architect who creates home from moss (4)

11 Cover roast with foil and plan a crime? (4,3,5)

15 After deliveries, with just the starters, Everyman’s apt to indulge (7)

16 Ensured supply for customer (3,4)

17 Needlework showing military displays (7)

19 Flipping sibling with sound that’s meditative, very – it permeates gradually (7)

20 Mark eschewed by the vulgar? (7,5)

23 Heavy metal star (4)

24 Argue, with justification, for what goes into burger (6,4)

25 And gangster’s love (4)

26 Hello, fuss (3-2-3-2) Down

1 Present talent (4)

2 Made haste – and a ladder (4)

3 Soldier, moor up somewhere calm (7,4)

4 Primarily: naturally / oh, so what / easy / any time? (2,5)

5 Gentleman to drive away, we’re told, in casual footwear (3,4)

7 Vain man’s crisis? (10)

Warbler’s shorts hung up (4,6)

With seconds to spare, just damn edgy, worried it’s the end of the world (8,3) 13 To dream: all cured meat! (10) 14 Cat, to spite, shredded lingerie (10)

18 New Orleans: it’s SE of Naples (7) 19 Somewhat churrigueresco? Rot! Undeniably magniloquent! (7) 21 Suitor’s loud ribbon (4) 22 Do in seafront (4)

How to play It’s like sudoku: each vertical and horizontal line has to contain the numbers 1-6, and the numbers can’t be repeated in any row or column The numbers in each heavily outlined set of squares must produce the number in the top corner For example, 5+ means the numbers add up to 5, 15x means the numbers multiply to 15

Across

6 Something on your finger (10)

8 Remains from a fire (5)

10. A braided length of hair (5)

13 A shelf over a fireplace (11)

14 Memorise (5)

17. Have the same opinion (5)

19. Made a new finding (10) Down

1 A shallow bowl (4)

2. Omelette ingredient (4)

3 Journey (4)

4. Molten rock from a volcano (4)

5. Squashed (9)

7 Spread this on toast (9)

9. Go in (5)

11. Not telling the truth (5)

12 Cunning (3)

15. As well (4)

16. Middle of the day (4)

17 Monkey-like animals (4)

Puzzle Extra

15x15 #1

Across

1. Entry (6)

5. Idiotic (7)

10. Language (colloq) (5)

11 Outing (9)

12 Balmy (7)

13 Pupil (7)

14 Evade (5)

16. Expression of disapproval (9)

19. Cautiously (9)

20. Praise, glorify (5)

22. Lured (7)

25. Avoidance (7)

27. Coming before (9)

28 Tranquillity (5)

29 Regarded as (7)

30 Ecstatic (6) Down

2. Challenger (9)

3. Wear away (5)

4. Disbelieving (9)

5. Concentrate (5)

6. Blue-green colour (9)

7. Give an opinion (5)

8 Sacred place (7)

Anacross

9. Even-tempered (6)

15. Streamlined (9)

17. Group of US universities (3,6)

18. Lifeless (9)

Anacross is a two-part puzzle First solve the anagrams, then work out how to fit the words you’ve found into the grid

BALMY AS ME NASTY VIA ROTA BANS HUM CHIC SPY SEE CERT HEAD RUN

Myriad

19. Vine (7)

21. Dabble (6)

23. Silly person (5)

24. Desiccated (5)

26. First in importance (5)

Dice Maze

15x15 #2

Across 1 Clap (7)

5. Strongly dislikes (7)

9 Freight (5)

10. Scent (9)

11 Consciousness (9)

12. Throw out (5)

13 Damp (5)

15. Clear of blame (9)

18. Assurance (9)

19. Subject (5)

21. Jewish teacher (5)

23. Caretaker (9)

25. Bordering (9)

26 Delayed (2,3)

27. Occurring each day (7)

28 News (7)

Down

1 Praise (7)

2. For each person (L) (3,6)

3 Residence (5)

4. Unlike (9)

5 Jumps over (5)

6. Pact (9)

7. Therefore (5)

Myriad

Each colour represents a direction (up, down, left or right) and the number of dots on each die tell you how far to go Starting in the middle, follow the directions correctly and you will visit every die in turn once only Which dice is the last you visit on your trip?

15x15 #1

8 Ghost (7)

14. Custom (9)

16 Omission (9)

17. Afrog or toad (9)

18 Wreath (7)

Complete the Myriad grid so that all the rows and columns, and all squares of the same colour, contain the numbers 1 to 7.

20 Own up (7)

22. Small and elegant (Fr) (5)

23. Cool (5)

24 Egg-shaped (5)

Lucky Numbers

This week’s numbers are in.

None of the five winning balls is yellow, and none is divisible by seven, or contains digits that add up to nine Can you find the fortunate five?

Anacross

ssorcA: 1 ss,cceA 5 s,uoutaF 01 ,ogniL 11 ,nosirxcuE 21 ,tnemelC 31 ,tnedutS 41 ,egdoD 61 ,smciitirC 91 ,ylluferaC 02 ,tlxaE 22 ,dceitnE 52 ,nosivaE 72 gnidceerP 82 ceaeP 92 detupeR 03 detalE nwoD: 2 ,rednetnoC 3 ,edorE 4 ,lcaitpecS 5 s,cuoF 6 ,seiouqruT 7 ,enipO 8 ,muctnaS 9 ,dcialP 51 ,tneciEffi 71 vyI ,eugaeL 81 ,etaminanI 91 ,repeerC 12 ,rkeniT 32 ,prewT 42 ,deirD 62 ahplA

15x15 #2

ss,efnoC 22 ,uojiB 32 ,llihC 42 divoO

:ssorcA 1 ,dualppA 5 s,ehtaoL 9 ,ograC 01 ,ecnargarF 11 ss,enerawA 21 ,ctejE 31 ,stioM 51 ,etarenxoE 81 ,eetnarauG 91 c,ipoT 12 ,ibbaR 32 ,naidostuC 52 ,gniniojdA 62 nO ,cei 72 ,lanruiD 82 s.gnidiT :nwoD 1 ,miacclA 2 reP ,atipca 3 ,edobA 4 ,tnereffiD 5 s,paeL 6 ,tnemeergA 7 ,ceneH 8 ,erctepS 41 ,noitidarT 61 ,thgsirveO 71 ,naibihpmA 81 ,dnalraG 02

PuzzleExtra

HighFiveSudoku

These five 9x9 puzzles work in the same way as a single sudoku - each 3x3 box, each row and each column requires the numbers 1-9 But, in addition, where a 3x3 box is shared between two puzzles, the numbers in that box must work for both puzzles

VennDDiagram

Can you work out which areas of this diagram represent gold bracelets that have been engraved and set with sapphires but not rubies, and sapphire and ruby bracelets that aren’t gold and have not been engraved?

Crackingthesafe

Wordsearch: REFRESHINGLY REAL RETIREMENT

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