JENNIFER HORMONES

& HAPPINESS
ANISTON WHAT EVERY
STARTING WOMAN
AGAIN NEEDS TO
KNOW
AT 50
Beauty
fd
BEYOND RECIPES
BOTOX TO GET
WHY AGEING YOU
WILL BE GLOWING
OPTIONAL
THE BIG NEW
FITNESS MYTH SEAS
STYLON

the FOR
A
E
AGESLL

Body
KIWI CELEBS & REAL WOMEN TALK
CURVES, CONFIDENCE & PUTTING THEIR
BODY BATTLES BEHIND THEM
Auckland Cup Week – two magical days,
one magnificent event. Get swept up in
the air of excitement, feel the anticipation
build and hear the roar of the crowd as
the drama of racing & fashion unfold
before your eyes. Spoil your senses -
there’s nothing like it.
Vodafone Derby Day combines the best
of everything Auckland Racing Club has
to offer, featuring the $1 million Group I
Vodafone New Zealand Derby and Viva
Prix de Fashion, it’s an unmissable event
in social, fashion and racing calendars.
“ Spoil your senses - “
there’s nothing like it.
Rounding off the week in inimitable style is
Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup Day.
Acting as one final hurrah to an incredible
summer of racing, join us to cheer on
racing’s leading athletes as they vye for
the revered Auckland Cup silverware,
and their place in the history books.
Derby Day
Saturday 3 March

Auckland Cup Day

Saturday 10 March

ellerslie.co.nz
BUFFALO/ARC7312
FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome
Mi representatiо
Early in my career I was hired for a journalism job at the same time as one of my
university classmates, who was a man. We had the same level of experience, and were
doing exactly the same job, but at some point I found out that he was earning 20%
more than me. He’d negotiated his salary, I hadn’t. How did I feel? Let’s start with
shocked and stupid…
I know many of you will have been in similar situations – or suspect that you are. The

†‹–‘”ǯ•’Š‘–‘‰”ƒ’ŠMichael James Rooke††‹–‹‘ƒŽ’Š‘–‘‰”ƒ’Š•Supplied

difference between then and now is that we’re finally talking about the pay gap. With

–›Ž‹‰Louise Hilzƒ‹”ƒ†ƒ‡—’Lisa Matson”‡••Camilla and Marc

International Women’s Day fast approaching – March 8, mark it in your diaries – and
the equality movement growing in momentum, I can guarantee we’ll be talking
about it even more this year. In this issue we’ve taken a look at what equality means
to you (page 70), and we sit down with the Minister for Women to find out more
about the American who is tasked with ending the gender pay gap in New Zealand.
There’s no doubt that solutions will have to come from many areas, but perhaps
we could take a leaf out of cover girl Jennifer Aniston’s book. This is a star ahead of
her time when it comes to standing up for herself, be it body shaming, ageism, or
asking for equal treatment. In the second season of her hit show Friends, Jennifer and
co-star David Schwimmer, aka Rachel and Ross, earned more than the other four cast
members. But when season 3 rolled around the cast decided to negotiate their salaries as
a group so they would be paid equally – which meant Jennifer and David took a pay cut
that year. In the long term, with the show’s popularity around the globe
making it one of the most successful sitcoms ever, all six were able
to successfully secure bigger salaries year on year – and remove
any chance of resentment among each other while they were at it.
Transparency and unity – sounds like a winning formula to me.

‘‘The difference is we’re finally talking about the pay gap’

T H I S M O N T H AT N E X T

—”–”ƒ˜‡Ž™”‹–‡”ƒ‹‡ŽŽ‡ Š‡–‡ƒ•‡Ž‡…–•–Š‡•Š‘–•ˆ‘”
•‘ƒ•—’•‘‡•‡”‹‘—•Ž› ‘—”ˆƒ•Š‹‘•’”‡ƒ†Ǥ
•–—‹‰˜‹‡™•‘–Š‡

”‡‡‹•Žƒ†‘ˆƒ–‘”‹‹Ǥ

‡•‹‰‡””–‹ƒŽƒ›•‘—–
‡ƒ—–›‡†‹–‘”ƒ•‹
–Š‡’‹‡…‡•ˆ‘”–Š‡ Š‡ƤƒŽ†ƒ›•‘ˆ
•Šƒ”‡•ƒ•‡ƒ’‡‡‘ˆ
ƒ‰•Š‘‘–Ǥ †‡ƒ†Ž‹‡ǡˆ—‡ŽŽ‡†„›
Š‡”ƒ‡—’”‘—–‹‡Ǥ
…‘ơ‡‡‘ˆ…‘—”•‡Ǩ

4 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 Contents
76
Trends you can
wear whatever
your age
From fashion
to food, we
March
ON THE COVER
have plenty 22 Jennifer Aniston on why she’s
excited to be approaching her 50s
to keep 28 Kiwi celebs and real women
share how they really feel about

you inspired their bodies

46 The breakthroughs that will
make ageing optional
52 The big fitness myth
76 Timeless trends to suit
every life stage
115 What every woman needs to
know about hormones
134 Food to get you glowing

UP FRONT
4 Editor’s letter
8 Behind the scenes
10 Community
12 Hush hour... tranquil retreats
around the world
16 The Hot List
19 Snap Chat: Matty McLean
20 Soapbox: A working mum’s
thoughts on the First Baby
40 Equality control: We talk
feminism with our Minister for
Women

146 Santorini... a slice of

Greek heaven

86
One skirt, 3 ways
to style it

6 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 126 AT A GLANCE
Sensational
salmon.

140 Beauty boosting

chocolate recipes.
85
Our pick of
hoop earrings

Join us ve
We’d lo our
e a r y
to h
ts. Find
though k at:

Welcome to the body issue! a ceb o o

us on F agazine NZ 100
Nex t M A cottage gets
the minimalist
treatment.
56 The Kiwi makeup blogger
taking over the world
64 From Trump to Time’s Up...
we look back at a year of trials
and triumphs for women
72 The scientist who blended her
passions to start a beauty business
28
Famous
Kiwis tell us
LIVING how they
84 Fashion News feel about
their shape.
85 The hot earring trend
86 One skirt, three ways
88 Your decade-by-decade
guide to skincare
92 Beauty News: A fresh twist
on an Estée Lauder classic,
nude lippies and more
94 Freckles... beauty tips
and tricks

92
The hottest
thinking around fat intake
112 Body News
new lippies 122 Books
125 Our pick of local products
to serve with salmon
126 Go fish... dishes that put
salmon centre-stage
133 Food News
140 Chocolate recipes that are
good for your skin too!
146 Greek odyssey... a writer
goes island hopping

LAST UP
96 The new soaps that are
raising the bar 152 Puzzles and stockists
98 How to go grey gracefully 153 Horoscopes
100 An artistic couple’s carefully 157 Divorce Diaries
curated cottage 159 Last Laugh
106 Home News 160 Backchat
107 Home Trends: Rough luxe 162 The List: 14 Ways to Celebrate
108 Fat and fiction: The new International Women’s Day

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 7

BEHIND THE SCENES

NEXT (ISSN 1170-3121) is subject to copyright in its entirety.

The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either whole
or in part, without the written permission of the publisher. All
rights reserved in material accepted for publication, unless initially
specified otherwise. All letters and other material forwarded to the
magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly
labelled ‘Not for publication’. Opinions expressed in the magazine
are not necessarily those of Bauer Media Group (NZ) LP. No
responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material.

Editor Rachael Russell

Creative Director Louise Thomson
Deputy Editor Sarah Murray
Chief Sub-Editor Maria Hoyle
Sub-Editor Julia Braybrook
Writer Monique McKenzie
Designers Bridget Daulby, Artia Natiur
Fashion Editor Sonia Greenslade
Beauty Editor Tamsin Marshall
Digital Editor Karyn Henger
Editorial Assistant Sophie McEwen

Publisher Bauer Media Group (NZ) LP. Street address:

ƒ—‡”‡†‹ƒ‡–”‡ǡͿͶ‡ŽŽ‡•Ž‡›–”‡‡–ǡ—…Žƒ†‘•–ƒŽ
ƒ††”‡••ǡ”‹˜ƒ–‡ƒ‰Ϳ͸ͻͷ͸ǡ‡ŽŽ‡•Ž‡›–”‡‡–ǡ
—…Žƒ†ͷͷͺͷ

Editorial Director Sarah Henry

GM Publishing & Insights Tanya Walshe
Chief Executive Officer Paul Dykzeul
Managing Director Brendon Hill
Commercial Director Kaylene Hurley
Production Manager Lisa Sloane

Production/Advert Co-ordinator Raewynn Cowie

Easy Printer Webstar Distribution Gordon & Gotch

Š‘‡ȋͶͿȌ͹Ͷ;͸ͽͽ͹ǡ‡ƒ‹Ž‡š–̻

breezy
„ƒ—‡”‡†‹ƒǤ…‘ǤœǤ—…Žƒ†
•—„•…”‹„‡”•’Š‘‡ȋͶͿȌ͹Ͷ;͸ͽ͸ͷǤˆ‘—–•‹†‡—…Žƒ†ǡ’Ž‡ƒ•‡
…ƒŽŽ–‘ŽŽˆ”‡‡‘Ͷ;ͶͶ
ȋͶ;ͶͶͼ͸ͺͽͺͼȌǡ‡ƒ‹Ž
BENEFIT ELIZABETH ƒ‰•Š‘’̻„ƒ—‡”‡†‹ƒǤ…‘Ǥœ‘”˜‹•‹–™™™Ǥƒ‰•Š‘’Ǥ…‘ǤœǤ
GIMME ARDEN 
—…Žƒ†ǣ‹”‡…–……‘—–
Whether strolling along the avenues of
New York City or soaking up the sun
in LA, Jennifer is the quintessential
cool girl. Here’s how to recreate her
relaxed, beachside vibe…
SHISEIDO ROUGE
ROUGE LIPSTICK IN
DESERT QUARTZ, $55.
BROW LASTING ƒƒ‰‡””—ƒ‹…ƒ–ƒǡ’ŠȋͶͿȌ͹ͼͼͻ͹ͷͷǡ‡ƒ‹Ž„Ž‹…ƒ–ƒ̻
EYEBROW IMPRESSION „ƒ—‡”‡†‹ƒǤ…‘ǤœǤ‘‡”…‹ƒŽ”ƒ†ƒƒ‰‡”Žƒ—†‹ƒ
GEL, $45. MASCARA, $60. ‘ŽŽƒ†ǡ’ŠȋͶͿȌ͹ͶͶͺ͸;ͷǤ—•–”ƒŽ‹ƒǣ†˜‡”–‹•‹‰ƒŽ‡•
ƒƒ‰‡”ƒ…Š‡Ž…‡ƒǡ‡ƒ‹Ž”…Ž‡ƒ̻„ƒ—‡”‡†‹ƒǤ…‘ǤœǤ
Žƒ••‹ˆ‹‡†ƒŽ‡•ƒƒ‰‡”‹Šƒ’ƒǡ’ŠȋͶͽȌͻͽ;͹ͼͺͼǡ
‡ƒ‹Ž…Žƒ••‹ˆ‹‡†•̻š–”ƒǤ…‘Ǥœ
Contributors Kylie Bailey, Peta Bee,
Cath Bennett, Hazel Brooke, Emma Clifton,
Nicola Feeney, Louise France, Carolyn Haslett,
Susan Hassman, Deborah Hill Cone, Louise Hilsz,
Angie Humphreys, Katrina Keppie, Danielle
Lagos, Sarah Lang, Sharon Laurence-Anderson,
Lisa Matson, Emily Matcher, Megan McChesney,
Ellie McDonald, Tony Nyberg, Sarah Quigley,
Rebecca Richmond, Claudia Rodrigues,
Photographs AUGUST/Raven and Snow and supplied

Michael James Rooke, Nick Russell, Lisa Scott

This magazine is subject to NZ Press Council procedures. A

CLINIQUE BEYOND
complaint must first be directed in writing to next@bauermedia.
PERFECTING FOUNDATION co.nz. If you’re not satisfied with the response, the complaint may
+ CONCEALOR IN be referred to the Press Council, PO Box 10-879, The Terrace,
NEUTRAL, $65. Wellington 6143. Or use the online complaint form at www.
presscouncil.org.nz. Please include copies of the article and all
correspondence with the publication.

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COMMUNITY

оlOiMnEe
OUR

Hope H

for the
best HOT TOPICS
Here’s what you were
looking at this month…

The standout read for me in the February issue was the article ‘Hanging on to hope’.
I always assumed the road to pregnancy was solely an expensive one when it comes to
overcoming infertility. Dr Liu’s programme certainly sounds radical but has clearly
brought about some really positive results. It’s awesome that alternative methods, such
as herbs and hypnosis, are becoming more talked about. I loved reading about the
quirky worldwide fertility solutions, especially the mixture of baboon urine and beer

Ha ah
in Zimbabwe – who would’ve thought!

ING THE MOVE S TA R T I N G O U T

I enjoyed your story ‘Making the Move’...
I’ve lived in Auckland all my life and as
much as I love it, I do worry about the
cost of renting and the amount of time I
spend sitting in traffic. I’d
love to shift to a more
I’m not a regular NEXT reader, but I picked it up from
the supermarket when I saw the toolkit about being
your own boss and I’m glad I did! Starting my own
business has been on my mind for a while, but I wasn’t
ssure where to start – and the thought of
jjust going for it was very daunting. I

Taluks to
affordable town, but
right now it’s just not
possible. So while I
won’t be going anywhere ceive yo ur
We love to re ail us at:
just yet, I loved reading feedback . Em
edia.co.nz
about the success these next@bauermok Nex t
or Facebo NZ
families have found in Magaz in e
aalso loved reading about other
w
women who’ve started their own
b
business. It’s always good to see what
t
they learned when they were starting
o
out. Now I’ve got a much better idea
o
of what to do and what to look out
for, and I think this may be the

Scarle Frances
the regions. yyear to start!

INSTAGRAM &
This month, our favourite
cover ’gram will receive a
Living Nature prize pack,
valued at $274:
Win!
THICKENING MASCARA IN JET
BLACK; SKIN STEPS TO NOURISH
NORMAL SKIN (INCLUDES
NOURISHING DAY CREAM,
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thatkiwigirl88
LIPSTICK IN WILD FIRE; FIRMING
@mytreat.co.nz thank you!!!!
FLAX SERUM; RADIANCE NIGHT OIL; January box arrived this morning!!
AND BEE VENOM MASK SACHET. Always on my day off too.
To enter, simply snap the 7 goodies inside! Here’s to a great
cover and tag us on 2018 and looking after me. Xx
Instagram @nextmagazinenz

FOLLOW US ON SUBSCRIBE TO OUR

VISIT US ONLINE LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM DIGITAL NEWSLETTER
NOWTOLOVE.CO.NZ NEXTMAGAZINENZ
@NEXTMAGAZINENZ NEXTMAGAZIINE.CO.NZ/SIGNUP

10 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 The product
most recommended
by doctors for
scars & stretch
marks.
Colmar Brunton NZ,
2016

New Packaging. Same Formulation.

“I never wrote a testimonial before for any sort of product. But

then, I have never been impressed or happy with any of the results
until now! I saw a Bio-Oil ad in a magazine and I have to admit I
was totally sceptical but decided to give it a go. It has been over
a month that I’ve been using Bio-Oil twice a day and the stretch
marks on my stomach have started to look so much better! So I just
wanted to let you know that this product is working for me and I
will continue using it. And the price tag is an extreme plus!”
Alexandria Pelletier

Bio-Oil® is a specialist skincare product formulated to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and uneven skin tone. Its unique formulation, which contains the breakthrough
ingredient PurCellin Oil™, is also highly effective for ageing and dehydrated skin. For comprehensive product information and results of clinical trials, please visit bio-oil.com. Bio-Oil is available
at pharmacies and selected retailers. Individual results will vary. Bio-Oil is distributed in New Zealand by Douglas Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Auckland. BGA171205–NXT–AP
 SOUND of
SILENCE
Need to recharge? These noise-free spots
around the world could be just the ticket

12 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 PICTURE THIS

Can you remember when you last had some quality

‘me time’? And no, a night in front of Netflix
doesn’t count. Sometimes you need to stop, switch
off your time-sucking smartphone and enjoy a
little peace and quiet.
When the modern world’s constant clamour
gets your ears ringing, escape to these quiet spots
and silent retreats…

Left: The ancient pre-Buddhist technique of

vipassana has been gaining popularity among
stressed-out 21st century dwellers. Vipassana, which
means ‘to see things as they really are’, involves
silence, stillness and observing your breath.
Practitioners learn the technique at 10-day silent
meditation retreats, held at some 160 centres
worldwide. Dhamma Giri, in the Indian state of
Maharashtra, is one of the biggest. Meditate
beneath cyan skies in a golden pagoda with more
than 400 separate meditation cells, and share
vegetarian meals with everyone from cleaners to
CEOs. Adherents claim benefits ranging from
hallucinations to full-body orgasms (!). »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 13
 H R I D AYA YO G A ,
MEXICO
The yoga and silent retreat
centre on the glorious
ƒœ—–‡ „‡ƒ…Š ‘ơ‡”• Šƒ–Šƒ
yoga, group meditation and
•–—†› ‘ˆ ‹†—ǡ —Ƥǡ
Buddhist and Taoist texts.

Words Emily Matcher Photographs Getty Images

E M OY E N I ,
S O U H A R I CA
The Buddhist retreat centre on
the slopes of the Magaliesberg
”ƒ‰‡ ‘ơ‡”• ƒ –”ƒ†‹–‹‘ƒŽ
nine-day meditation retreat
that means no speaking for
more than a week.

14 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 PICTURE THIS

IONA, SCOTLAND
This dot of an island in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides has
been a spiritual centre for at least a millennium and a half.
These days it attracts thousands of pilgrims each year.
K A R TAU S E I T T I N G E N ,
SWITZERLAND
Visitors to this former Carthusian
monastery can quietly stroll through the
garden’s thyme maze, wander the ancient
cloisters or join in group meditation.

K I E L D E R F O R E S T,
UK
A certain boggy hill in this
600 sq km Northumberland
forest was recently declared
the quietest place in the UK.

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 15

 THE
HOT
T H E H A B I T … hiring stuff.

2 Yep, it’s the eco-friendly alternative

to consumerism. You can hire
everything from lawn mowers and luxury
handbags (bagborroworsteal.com
– be Carrie Bradshaw for a month!) to
party cake tins and camping equipment.
It’ll give you a new lease on life.

LIST
Look no further than our edit of the
3
THE NOVEL…
The Goldfinch.
Why? Because
this gem is being
made into a movie
and, well, it just makes
sense to read the book
first so you can gush
‘ooh, great casting’
top 10 places to go, objects to desire and so forth. The
novel by Donna Tartt
and everything in between follows the journey of
Theo, 13, from
surviving a terrorist bomb that kills his
mother in New York, to being taken in by a
posh Manhattan family, to living in Vegas
where he’s caught up in a surreal world of
drugs and art theft. Trust us, it’s awesome.

THE JEWELLERY… If you like your

4 bling to hold some meaning, then

Swedish designer Monika Knutsson’s
work is for you. She turns vintage lace into
jewellery by dipping it in sterling silver or
24k gold, and makes to order too. You can
T H E E V E N T … Cuba Dupa, New Zealand’s largest immersive outdoor arts

1
do as one client did, and get earrings
festival, is back. Head to Wellington on March 24-25 for samba sounds, brass beats, made from her mum’s wedding dress.
street opera and dance workshops along with crazy costumes and a whole heap From $195 for ready-made pieces; $295 for
more. The best bit is YOU get to be part of the show. For more see cubadupa.co.nz. custom made. monikaknutsson.com

16 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 IN THE KNOW

T H E A C T I V E W E A R … it was only a matter of T H E S O L U T I O N … Mexican architects have made a

5 time. Harry Potter fitness gear is here. Choose from

leggings and tops in the colours and logos of your fave
Hogwarts house and inject a little magic into your workout.
6 prototype for safe, affordable social housing that is
sustainable – and can be made in a week. The pre-made
bamboo frames form a 60-square metre home and can be easily
Go to blackmilkclothing.com/collections/team-hogwarts. assembled on site without the need for builders.

THE PROJECT... Behind the Scars is a series of photos that elevate scars from

7 the ugly to the captivating. Photographer Sophie Mayanne wants to challenge the
idea of scars as ‘flaws’, and instead reframe them as artwork which tells a story.
The pictures are frank and surprisingly beautiful. See sophie-mayanne.com.

THE FOOTWEAR... Sportswear THE SEARCH ENGINE... Do THE EXPERIENCE… If pitching

8 maker XBlades is kicking outdated

ideas into touch with a football boot
designed specifically for women. Despite
the growth of women’s football, female
players have often resorted to wearing
male boots, or boots shrunk into women’s
sizing, which can leave the foot less stable
and at risk of injury. xblades.com.au
9 your web searches using Ecosia and
know that you are helping to protect
the planet. Ecosia uses the income from
its search ads to plant trees in a bid to
absorb carbon dioxide, promote
biodiversity, protect the soil, prevent
droughts and help the 1.6 billion people
whose lives depend on forests. ecosia.org
10 a tent in the wilds isn’t for you,
how about urban camping?
With Bivouac, you get to camp and cook
a communal meal on a New York rooftop.
And if you’re doing Kumbaya round the
campfire, keep it down. Remember it’s
a habitat full of neurotic animals.
People, that is. bivouacnyc.com

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 17

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To be in to win
this Issey Miyake
bag, plus
its contents,
simply send an
envelope marked
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to www.nowtolove.co.nz,
click on the ‘win’ tab and
enter your unique code:
NXTBAG318. All entries
must be received by
March 31, 2018.
Photograph Angie Humphreys / Bauer Media Studios Styling Bridget Daulby
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Information on
how to enter forms part of these terms and
conditions. Entry into this competition is
deemed acceptance of these terms and
conditions. Entry is open only to New Zealand
residents. Employees of Bauer Media Group, all
prize suppliers, and their affiliates, agencies and
immediate families are ineligible to enter. All
entries must be received by March 31, 2018. The
prize is one Issey Miyake Bao Bao bag;
OSMOSIS: Cleanse; Skin Perfection Harmonized
Water; Polish Enzyme Firming Mask; South
Beach Bronzer; Water Colour in Opal; Lip Balm;
and Quench Plus. No responsibility is taken for
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prize, the winner consents to the promoter
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MY PICKS
T H E M OV I E I ’ V E
WAT C H E D T H E
MOST IN MY LIFE
NEVER BEEN
KISSED
I AM STILL OBSESSED WITH
DREW BARRYMORE’S
CHARACTER, JOSIE GROSSIE
The song that
Matty McLean
always makes me The Breakfast weather
want to dance is
anything by presenter and viewer
Beyoncé favourite takes us through
his daily routine
T H E C I T Y I ’ D LOV E
TO L I V E I N I S The websites I check
every day are...
1newsnow.co.nz. I’m not even
being forced to say that.
Facebook, because I like to
quietly stalk my loved ones.
And Buzzfeed. Give me a
‘Which Disney Princess Are
NEW YORK
You?’ quiz any day.
My advice to my
The top 3 younger self... You’ll find
Photographs Getty Images and supplied
happiness when you’re happy
If I was stranded on a with yourself. Oh, and that
tropical island, I’d need… look you think you’re pulling
off when you decide to try
1. Good music wearing collared shirts with
stubbies? Yeah, you’re not
2. Good friends pulling it off.
3. A good bottle of gin My typical week…
I work on Breakfast, so it’s an
early wake-up call. I head in
to work, chat to the team
about that morning’s show,
and start writing the weather
script for myself that
morning. I’m on air between
6am and 9am telling the
country what the weather’s
doing, as well as making a
general fool of myself. After
the show, I do prep for the
next day/week, try have a wee
nap if I can. I play with my
dog Otis, spend time with my
partner Ryan, and keep
myself entertained. And then
I have to hop into bed, often
before the sun’s even set, so I
can get up at 3.45am the next
day to do it all over again.
And I wouldn’t have it any
other way.
SNAP CHAT
THE PERSON I’D
CAST IN A MOVIE OF
MY LIFE WOULD BE
Eddie
Redmayne
BECAUSE HE’S INCREDIBLE.
MY FAVOURITE DAY
OF THE WEEK IS
Saturday
because I don’t have to
set my alarm to wake up
for work at 3.45am.
The book that
changed my life was
M Y FAVO U R I T E
Q U OT E O R P O E M I S
‘Happiness can be found,
even in the darkest of times,
if one only remembers to
turn on the light’ –
Albus Dumbledore
MY LAST SUPPER MEAL
WOULD BE…
PIZZA – IT’S THE BEST
THING EVER
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 19
SOAPBOX
by Sarah Lang
What was your reaction to news of the ‘First
Sprog’? A gasp, a fist pump, a tear? I had
the warm fuzzies, too. There’s nothing
more beautiful than a couple in love, and
who want to be parents, expecting a baby.
My Facebook feed just couldn’t deal. The
emojis weren’t up to the task of conveying
all the delight and admiration, especially
after realising Jacinda had led successful
coalition negotiations while suffering
morning sickness. “F***ing wonder
woman! My first trimesters I took baths.
Could there be a tougher combo than prime
minister and new mum, contactable for
six weeks then back at work?
That’s all,” one woman posted. “What can’t
Jacinda do?” posted another. But even as I
happily pictured a glass ceiling shattering
into shards, I felt an unmistakable jolt of
concern (while worrying that my concern
betrayed the sisterhood). Yes, as Helen
Clark tweeted, “Every woman should have
the choice of combining family and career”.
But could there be a tougher combo than
prime minister and new mum, contactable
for six weeks then back at work?
If anyone can make it work, it’s Jacinda
Ardern. I voted for Jacinda. I admire the
20 NEXT / MARCH 2018
P R I M E
TIME
TO TALK
Jacinda’s pregnancy is great news,
says one working mum – especially if
it opens up discussion about the messy
reality of the work/baby juggle
hell out of her. I’m not worried about the
effect of her dual roles on the country.
Jacinda will be brilliant at both, but trying
to excel at both will take a physical and
emotional toll. Because until you have a
baby, you don’t know how hard it will be
(though you might think you do). Holly
Walker, who had a baby as a Green MP,
said  the attempt to do both nearly broke
her. “I was also really sleep deprived,
really  overwhelmed, really stressed, really
anxious,” Holly said. “I felt like I was tearing
myself in two every time I went to work in
the morning.” Maybe we can have it all, but
can we have it all at the same time? It will
certainly help to have a stay-at-home
partner, enough paid help, and the ability
to call Winston “maternity cover”.
And yes, a male prime minister with a
baby on the way would also be a thing,
because both of you get woken up. Not
until you’re an insomniac or a parent can
you understand why sleep deprivation is
an established method of torture. Then
again, Jacinda’s partner Clarke or a nanny
could handle the night shift, while Jacinda
could get some industrial-strength
earmuffs. And let’s support her whole-
heartedly if she decides to formula feed.
Trying to juggle breastfeeding and
expressing milk with the top job would be
logistically difficult and physically taxing.
Many of us are thinking about these
things. Surely we should be able to talk
about them without fear of being shut
down as a traitor to feminism, or a
nosyparker (come on, we’re all nosy about
this). Surely, rather than donning rose-
coloured glasses, we can have robust
conversations about the dilemma of the
often-exhausted working mother, and put
in place systems to counter patriarchal
values in the workplace, where, for
instance, after-work schmoozing often
helps you up the ladder, and part-time or
flexible hours are seen as slacking off.
*
Photographs Olivia Hemus and supplied
What do
y ink?
We’d love to get
your feedback! Write
to us at next@
bauermedia.co.nz
 Cruise 11 nights from $1,929pp* twin share
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Jennifer Aniston opens up about ageing, her new attitude

Being Jen
 COVER STORY

and what her ultimate dream is

 When the word came out that Jennifer Aniston was
returning to TV, it’s not an exaggeration to say that
the world rejoiced. Jen – Our Jen – had been sorely
missed since Friends wrapped in 2004, not that any
of us can remember when it officially finished
because the reruns have never left either our
screens or our hearts. But back she is coming, to
star alongside Reese Witherspoon in a drama set in
the New York TV media landscape.
Professionally, Jen has never been hotter, and her
personal life is a smiling success as well. But the part
we’re seriously in love with? The take-no-prisoners
attitude we’re now seeing in the 49-year-old. With
all women, there’s a certain amount of ballsiness
that comes with growing older. And for Jen, who has
endured more than her fair share of unwelcome
tabloid attention, the first sign of this said ballsiness
came when she wrote a powerful essay for the
Huffington Post about how fed up she was with it explained her thought process behind the piece,
all. She was speaking for herself, but even more so saying, “My marital status has been shamed; my
on behalf of all women and the ridiculous standards divorce status was shamed; my lack of a mate had
to which we are all held accountable. She later been shamed; my nipples have been shamed. It’s
like, Why are we only looking at women through

‘I JUST THOUGHT: I HAVE WORKED

this particular lens of picking us apart? Why are we
listening to it? I just thought: I have worked too
TOO HARD IN THIS LIFE AND THIS hard in this life and this career to be whittled down
to a sad, childless human.”
CAREER TO BE WHITTLED DOWN She grabbed the reins of the narrative she’d been

TO A SA CHILDLESS HUMAN’

forced into over the years and made sure we knew
just how okay she was with her life. And now? There’s

Girl about town

From her early days on Friends to being snapped with friend and co-star ReeseWitherspoon,
it’s undeniable that Jennifer is one of Hollywood’s A-listers. Unlike many celebs though, she
doesn’t have an Instagram account. However, she has made the occasional appearance on
both Sharon Osbourne’s Insta and that of her husband, Justin Theroux.

24 NEXT / MARCH 2018


no stopping her. First she hit back at remarks
surrounding the topic we’re good at making women
feel bad about – children, or in her case lack of
them. Then came Jen’s rebuttal on the second topic:
ageing. When asked what one thing she would like
to change about the narrative about growing older
as a female in Hollywood, she once again pointed to
the larger societal issues all women face. “I think we
have to change our perspective,” she said. “I don’t
think life stops after 50 – if anything, it gets more
and more exciting. For some reason, we don’t
honour or pay respect to ageing. It’s something that
we look at as a negative, and yet every single person
on this planet does it. I don’t understand why it’s not
something that’s celebrated, why there’s some sort
of an expiration date on who you are as a person
worth watching and a story being told about you. It
makes absolutely no sense.”
The older goddess
he did, however, think the tide was turning –
S and that it was her age group of actresses that
would be helping drive that change.
“We have a generation of actors who were up-
and-coming before the internet existed. We’re all
still here, and we’re doing just fine. So maybe we’ll,
COVER STORY
hopefully, be setting the example of ‘this is what it
looks like’. Look at Helen Mirren – rock star,
gorgeous, goddess. Meryl Streep, stunning – a rock
star, gorgeous, goddess. All of the stories, there’s so
many stories that are there to be told.
“Just because you can’t bounce a penny off your
tummy anymore, because you’re not 22 or 32,
doesn’t mean that should quantify what makes you
relevant and interesting.”
Can we get an amen? Jennifer is no longer sitting
on the sidelines when it comes to the A-grade
nonsense that all women – celebs and civilians
included – have to go through. She’s living her best
life – and it’s only getting better with age.
Show business
full circle
ennifer Aniston was just 25 when she got the
J role that would make her a household name
for the rest of her life. Friends was – and still is
– a juggernaut. The cast made millions, and the
show remains a hit – finding a new lease of life on
streaming sites like Netflix. And now, 23 years after
she first started on Friends, Jennifer is set for a
return visit to the medium that made her famous.
While – sadly – not a Friends reboot, she’s teaming
up with Oscar-winner Reese, who’s recently become
the patron saint of women’s roles thanks to her
work on Big Little Lies and Wild. The pair have been
best friends for decades, but this is the first time
‘I THINK WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR
PERSPECTIVE. I DON’T THINK LIFE
STOPS AFTER 50 – IF ANYTHING IT
GETS MORE AND MORE EXCITING’
they will be series regulars together. It’s reported
their new show will be a drama exploring the world
of morning shows and the New York media scene.
It’s got a good amount of talent behind it; House of
Cards producer Jay Carson is attached to write it,
and the former head of HBO producing it. So… it’s
a surefire hit in the making.
“Lately all the great work has been on television,”
Jen says. “Reese was my little sister on Friends. She
had just given birth to Ava, who’s 18 now, so it was
like ‘Oh my god, a baby with a baby!’”
Mind you – the great work might be on television
but movies are still pretty big business for Jen: her
films have grossed more than $2 billion worldwide,
and is still one of the top 10 highest-paid actress in
Hollywood. And ticking along in the background
this whole time has been Jen’s marriage to The Girl
on The Train actor Justin Theroux. The pair have
been married for two-and-a-half years now »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 25
COVER STORY

‘IF YOU GO OUT

INTO THE WORLD WITH
INNER PEACE YOU’RE
MORE JOYFUL. THERE’S
A “LIFE’S TOO SHORT”
POLICY I NOW HAVE
WITH MY WORK’
Jen’s beauty secrets
and are only just opening up about what their big Taking care of herself is far from a tedious
day was like. This has always been a stealth skill of chore for Jennifer – it’s her way of life.
Jen’s; despite being in the public eye for so long,
she’s very, very good at maintaining her private life. The long-time Aveeno spokesperson let
Even though her marriage to Brad Pitt was the
biggest of big news, she only ever released one
us in on her best-kept secrets for that
photo from the wedding – we still don’t know what year-round glow
her dress was like. It’s the same with Justin –
although Jen has recently let some details out of the geing is she explains. “That’s it and sunscreens, all
bag. Talking to comedian Amy Sedaris – who
happens to be Justin’s best friend – the pair got
chatting about the wedding, which took place at
A inevitable, and
as Jen explains,
there’s nothing to not
in a nutshell.”
If you’ve lain on a
beach a little longer
the time.”
It’s not just about
taking care of the
Jen and Justin’s Bel Air home in 2015. They kept it love about it. than you know you outside. While many
a secret right up until the day itself, pretending it “I really wish we could should in pursuit of a celebrities have millions
was really a party for Justin’s 44th birthday, in order shift our perspective on summer glow, Jen of fans following their
to throw the press off. It worked; even though the it as a negative because understands. every move on
intimate wedding was a star-studded affair, there it’s happening to every “I love the sun – I love Instagram, Jennifer
have still been no pics from it. The only thing we single one of us,” she it a lot!” she says, doesn’t have a social
know about Jen’s dress is that it was “beautiful and says, adding that one adding, “from the time media account.
breezy”, according to Amy, and that everyone was key to ageing well is to of a babe – I mean, I was “This business is
dressed “like a bunch of woodland creatures”. But nurture your skin. a brown berry! I loved stressful – and the
that may be all we ever learn: in a world full of over- “Keep it healthy, and being brown – I loved it, world, in general, can be
sharing celebrities, Jen is one of the few to stay keep it tended to – as I loved it, I loved it. stressful,” she says.
under the radar whenever she can. we tend to our cars, “My biggest beauty “Not only that, but

Words Emma Clifton Extra reporting Ellie McDonald Photographs AUGUST / Raven and Snow
as we tend to our regret is the amount of we’re staring at all these
appliances, as we tend sun-bathing I used to do †‹ơ‡”‡– •…”‡‡• –Šƒ–
Her big dream to everything else we
tend to.”
without sunscreen,” she
confesses. “I mean,
used to just be a
television screen.
here is an obvious elephant in the room when That goes from the baby oil! What was I Now it’s a computer

T it comes to discussing Jennifer’s readiness

and excitement at turning 50 soon-ish: she
looks really, really, really good. Like ‘20-year-olds
inside, out.
“Don’t eat processed
foods, sugars or
thinking?! It’s certainly a
cautionary tale: just
wear sunscreen!”
screen and a phone and
God knows what else!
These things are like
would swap their bodies for hers’ good. But it’s not high-saturated foods,” “For me, I’m all about barnacles to us;
an accident, or faux celeb humble ‘oh I just woke up she says. “Like, all those Aveeno Protect + technology just wraps
like this’. Jen has always taken ‘health is wealth’ fried yummy foods we Hydrate Lotion itself around us.
seriously, and if the by-product is being, well, super- love to have (and that Sunscreen Broad “It’s important to just
freaking hot at 49, then that’s okay. ™‡ •Š‘—Ž† †‡Ƥ‹–‡Ž› Spectrum SPF 70 and have that time to be
“My dream is to open a wellness centre,” Jen indulge in once in a the Aveeno Daily with yourself. Be in your
recently said. “I have a fantasy where you have this while, of course) – it’s Moisturising Sheer home with your feet on
beautiful space with facialists, rotating workouts, pretty basic!” Hydration Lotion – they the ground, taking in
meditation classes, and a café with recipes that are For ultra-hydrated are actually in my car, in the earth we have
healthier versions of delicious foods so you’re not skin, Jennifer keeps to a my bag, in the pool, in – however long we may
deprived. I’m working on it in my brain.” morning routine. the kitchen, in the have it,” she laughs.
It’s been a conscious shift, she says, to only seek “I keep my Aveeno bedroom, in the “Appreciate it and
the positive in the world. “Not to sound all woo-woo, moisturising lotion in bathroom – they’re take care of it. And get
but if you go out into the world with inner peace, the shower so that I put everywhere. As well as outta your damn phone.
you’re more joyful. There’s a ‘life’s too short’ policy I ‹– ‘ „‡ˆ‘”‡  –‘™‡Ž ‘ơǡdz my hand lotion. Lotions My God!”
now have with my work: no negative nancies.”
*
26 NEXT / MARCH 2018
INSPIRATION

The
SHAPE
OF YOU We asked four New Zealand celebrities to
select two photos of themselves from
different stages of their lives, and to share
what the intervening years have taught
them about body image
BY MONIQUE MCKENZIE

Lynee Forday - actor

uch-loved by Shortland Street fans started ballet at four. In this photo, I was

M and starring in the current series

of 800 Words, actress Lynette
Forday, 50, has worn more than a few hats
over the years, playing real-life roles of a
professional ballet dancer and Pilates
instructor. She shares what her daughter
has taught her about loving herself:
16 and this was to get into The Royal Ballet
School in London, the top school in the
world for ballet dancers. You sent in
photos of yourself doing different
positions to see if everything was right
physically. I was terrified because it was all
about being good enough.

“I grew up in Australia in a little country IMPOSSIBLE STANDARDS

town. I was the only Chinese girl in my
class; in fact, we were the only Chinese
family at the whole school. I never fitted in
because I was different looking. When I
was growing up it was trendy to have small
lips, a fine nose and thin eyebrows; that
was the look. I always wanted to have those
little lips and hated my nose because it was
flat and small. I was a ballet dancer then; I
As a ballet dancer, I always felt I was
incredibly overweight. I wish I could say
now I wasn’t an overweight ballet dancer
but I still look back and see an overweight,
chubby little girl. That’s how I saw myself
back then and how I would’ve felt. At
age 16, I spent a good five hours a
day looking at myself in a leotard in front Lynette, age 16, applying for the
of a mirror. » Royal Ballet School.

28 NEXT / MARCH 2018

¶%DOOHWLVDYHU\VKRUWOLYHGFDUHHUDQGEHLQJDZRPDQ
DQGORYLQJZKR\RXDUHLVIRUWKHUHVWRI\RXUOLIH·
As I became a professional ballet dancer
I spent probably eight hours a day looking
at myself in a leotard. The more you look
at yourself in the mirror, the more imper-
fections you find. Just like the rugby player
has to be a certain physique, the ballet
dancer needs to be a certain physique,
that’s a given, and I felt I was never that; I
know I wasn’t. You had to be very long and
lean and I had curves. In that photo, you
may not see curves, but that’s curves for a
ballet dancer. I couldn’t tell myself as a
little girl not to be like that.
I have a daughter now who is 13, Lucia,
and I’ve talked to her about the pitfalls of
becoming a professional dancer. Ballet is a
very short-lived career and being a woman
and loving who you are is for the rest of
your life, so think carefully about what
profession you choose.
A NEW BALANCE
Ballet dancers don’t have a healthy
relationship with food. I met up with a
group of dancers years ago; I always
thought one of them had the perfect body.
We were talking about it and they turned
around and said, “Oh my gosh Lynette, you
had the perfect body,” and they all talked
about how they hated their bodies.
Dancing is about perfection. Perfection
doesn’t exist. There may be dancers out
there – I’m sure there are – who would
argue with me and say, “Well no, that’s not
true, I loved my body and was naturally
thin,” but my experience is there might
have been that one person who was born to
eat chocolate but didn’t put on weight.
It’s very hard to get rid of the ballet
dancer within you. I still exercise every
day because it’s part of brushing your
teeth, waking up, and knowing the sun
rises. I still eat healthy; however, I do eat
treats every day. To me, exercise is not
about being slim or trying to be skinny;
Having her daughter, Lucia
(left) taught Lynette a lot
about self acceptance.
exercise is a part of mental health, it’s
about being happy.
When I was at The Royal New Zealand
Ballet, the company recommended that I
have my breasts reduced. They wanted
me to have that and said that’s what I
should look at getting done. At 17 or 18
years old, I agreed with them. I knew
breasts were holding me back as a dancer.
My mum said to me, “You’re a ballet
dancer for a very short time in your life.
You’re a woman for the rest of your life.” I
wasn’t huge, I was probably between a B
and a C cup, if that, but that’s big for a
dancer. However, as a young actress, my
breasts weren’t a hindrance; in fact the
truth of the acting industry is that sadly, it
still values the stereotype of a particular
shaped woman. As you get older you learn
there are more things in life than the size
of your waist. That’s what I’ve learned
about self-acceptance, and that being
skinny doesn’t necessarily make you
happy. People and situations make you
happy and create happiness, not how
much you weigh. Eating good food, going
to the movies, laughing, seeing my
girlfriends and children happy and my
mum healthy makes me happy.
ACCEPTING YOURSELF
I will look at other women who aren’t
necessarily a model size or face, and
think, ‘she is so beautiful’. Turn that
around, look at yourself and say, ‘Stop
trying to fit a stereotype.’
There’s so much beauty in people that is
not stereotypical. My friend said to me
once, “We should love who we are right
now because in 10 years’ time we’ll look
back and say, ‘I wish I was as beautiful as I
was 10 years ago.” Love exactly who you
are now because as you go on you look
back every 10 years and think, ‘I was so
gorgeous when I was 16, 26, 36,’ and keep
going like that, because it’s so true. It’s
true when you talk to an 86-year-old
woman who’s going to say, “Oh my
gosh, you’re so young and gorgeous,” so
remember that.
I loved being pregnant because I was so
happy. Your body knew instinctively what
to do instead of having to let your mind
get in the way. I don’t know whether it’s
true or not, it could be a myth, but they
say your body during pregnancy resets
your metabolism. I was lucky because I’d
messed around with diets all my life and
when I was breastfeeding, I lost so much
weight. My metabolism seemed to be

NEXT
PANEL
We asked 50 of our
readers to share their
Pa ne l How has your
relationship
with your body
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30 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 INSPIRATION

doing the right thing. I got rid of all the

diets and said, “This is what your body is
meant to be doing.”
My daughter has taught me so much
about loving who you are because I want
her to grow up loving and embracing
everything that’s so perfect about her.
Trying to teach your daughter, that makes
you look at yourself, and you have to do it
yourself. She’s talking about her eyebrows
now, she has those beautiful, thick
eyebrows and she keeps saying, “I don’t
want those eyebrows.” I’m constantly
telling her they are perfect just as they are
and they make her special.
“She has spectacular teeth and talks
about needing to see an orthodontist to
get braces because apparently, it’s trendy
to see an orthodontist. We went to a
dentist, there was the tiniest bit of
crossover and the dentist said, “I’m sick of
seeing these girls trying to be like those
photoshopped Kardashians. What you
have is perfect.”

BREAK THE MOULD

I do motivational tours and went around
to a whole load of kids and talked to them
about how people have used what makes
them different to become famous. Being
different is amazing, so don’t try to fit
into something because we’re being told
it’s perfect, because it’s not. That’s what
ballet taught me; it didn’t matter how
perfect I looked, I still didn’t feel perfect
because there is no such thing.
“When you are happy in your heart and
mind then comfort eating is not needed.
Exercise is a  fantastic endorphin, so get
out and get active and eat a little piece of
cake because as that corny but true saying
goes, ‘life is short’ and on your death bed
you’ll remember the happy moments, not
the size of your waist.” »

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 31

Brodie Kane
– Jrnalist
rom not liking the way she looked

F to running up more than 11,000

stairs and losing a remarkable
9kg in 10 weeks, The Hits Christchurch
breakfast host Brodie Kane, 31, shares
her body confidence journey.

“In April last year, I was training for the

Sky Tower Stair Challenge to raise money
for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ. The
challenge is 11,052 stairs and you do it in
firefighters’ gear, which is 20kg. In ths
photo (opposite page) I was probably
three or four weeks into a transformation.
My personal trainer friend, Maxi, was
making me run up seven flights of stairs 10
times. I had a 20kg vest on and was carry-
ing that weight on my shoulder. The funny
thing is there’s a smile on my face; I thrive
on the fact I’m putting my body through
something absolutely ridiculous but the
reward at the end is that achievement.
When I decided to do that, it was at a point
in life where I wasn’t happy. I didn’t feel
great, so when I started that stair chal-
lenge I’d also started seeing a nutritionist.
I got to a position where I was like, ‘I need
to lose weight’. But it’s not about ‘I want to
be skinny,’ it’s about, ‘I want to be happy
and love the skin I’m in.’ I’ve always been
fit and done a lot of exercise and sport,
but to get to the point where I didn’t like
what I saw in the mirror, it was time to
bloody grab it and do something about it.
When I went to Bali in June last year I’d
been eating well, training hard and really mirror we look at every fold, every bit of coach, Gaz from Get Running. He said,
trying to look after myself. I had 10 weeks cellulite, whether our boobs are too big, “Have you run a half marathon?” and
before we went to Bali, and in that time whether our boobs aren’t big enough. You I said, “I did one 10 years ago.” He asked
managed to lose 9kg, so between these two need to be able to love yourself, but you’ve me what time I did and I said, “An
photos was a lot of hard work. You get to got to do the work to feel that way. hour 53 minutes.” He said, “That’s pretty
an age and stage where you start good, 10 years later you’re probably going
appreciating what you put into your body. FROM THE START to struggle to get that”. The minute
You go, ‘I’m an adult now and no one can I’ve always been really active. I’m from a he said that I was like, ‘I’m going to
look after me other than myself’, and as sporting background; I was heavily absolutely waste that time,’ and I beat it
you get older it takes longer to right your involved in surf lifesaving from a young by three minutes. I’ve always had high
wrongs. I worked hard for 10 weeks and age, so I was always at the beach, doing expectations of myself to be as fit as I can.
was proud of the hard work I’d done. swim training. Mum’s done all sorts of After that, I decided I’m going to run a
Someone took that photo and I went, ‘I crazy events; she’s done two Ironmen, full marathon because, why not?
bloody love that photo,’ and I’m sitting she’s swum the Cook Strait. I come from a
there and I think, ‘I look bloody great.’ As family where there’s not really an excuse THE GOOD PLACE
women, we need to find that position to not be active. I’m competitive against I don’t like to say you should have a goal
where we can love ourselves because we’re myself. When I was training for the weight but if we take the word weight out,
so hard on ourselves. When we look in the Auckland Half Marathon, I had a running you’ve got goals. I’m still trying to reach

32 NEXT / MARCH 2018


goals to have a healthy body mass index
where you can have a week away, fluctuate
up and down a bit and be comfortable
with that. I feel great in my clothes, but I
still have work to do.
Working in the public eye a lot of
people ask me, “What food plans are you
doing?” or, “How are you doing them?”
but it’s important to remember I’m doing
it for me; not for anybody else. It’s not a
competition, it has to be for yourself. If
someone says, “Gosh, you don’t need to
lose weight,” that’s not really their prob-
lem. It’s about being happy in your skin
and finding that happy place.
Right now I’m 31 and in one of the best
stages of my life. You get to a point where
if you could’ve told your 20-year-old self
to  appreciate yourself more, be kind
to  yourself and not worry about what
anybody else thinks, you would’ve. I’ve
always been a free spirit and pretty
realistic about that stuff, but you’ve just
got to work with and be proud of what
you’ve got. I have wonderful parents and
family and I should be grateful I’m here.
They’ve taught me to be who I am. You’ve
Brodie during her training for
the Sky Tower Stair Challenge.
“ “
Brodie chills out in Bali, 10
weeks after starting training.
got to be grateful for that every day.
So many Kiwi women work incredibly
hard, whether it’s in a full-time job,
raising children; you’ve got to make an
effort to look after yourself. If you’re tired
and rundown you’re not going to be any
use to anybody, so keeping a good
routine, eating well and having some sort
of exercise is important to keep produc-
tivity up. You will be happy if you look
after yourself; that’s not to say you might
‘It’s okay to invest in your health. Don’t
feel like you’ve got to tackle this alone’
not need help. I’ve got an amazing
personal trainer and he has to push me
hard. I need that to keep motivated to
reach goals.
REAL TALK
Often people say to me, “Gosh, how much
do you spend there?” and it’s like, ‘Well, if
I don’t spend that $80 on him, I’m going
to spend it on two bottles of wine or a res-
taurant meal.’ It’s okay to invest in your
health and wellbeing. Last year I had a
motivational nutritionist; don’t be afraid
to seek out people who are trained to
help, don’t feel like you’ve got to tackle
this alone.
It is hard in this day and age with social
INSPIRATION
media. It’s so easy to portray something
that isn’t real. You can think, ‘that’s the way
I should look because that girl’s got 50,000
followers and I want to be like her.’ But
there is way more body empowerment at
the same time. There are just as many
smart, sassy women portraying that amaz-
ing message that you are beautiful.
“It’s important if you’ve got a platform;
so your Instagram followers or the people
who listen to you on the radio know
you’re real, you’re not hiding behind
Photoshop. There’s definitely a sense of
fakeness everywhere you look, but now
more than ever there’s realness, and we
need to grab that, hold onto that and
make sure younger women and our teen-
age girls know that’s out there.
You realise the more you look after
yourself that the better you will be long-
term. I’m fit, healthy and I keep a
relatively good hold on that. You don’t
have to do it every day and certainly, you
go away on holidays, but if I do that now
I’m sure my 41, 51, and 61-year-old self
will be very grateful for that. And that’s
important to me.
“I want to love myself as much as I do
now when I’m 61, 71, and 81.
I will admit it’s not all ‘I’m amazing,
look at all I’ve done’. We all have days
where we feel like crap and want
something we don’t have and it’s
absolutely okay to have those.
As women, we are all like that. There’s
no point trying to change that, but you’ve
got to spend more time focusing energy
on embracing who you are because
you’re not able to change that.
“Be proud of the bits you love, and the
bits maybe you don’t love and go ‘they’re
mine, they’re nobody else’s and I’m going
to rock that,’ and shifting energy into
positively embracing who you are. »
Panel
e the
r the
it
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 33
Ngahuia Piripi
– Actor
S
hortland Street star Ngahuia Piripi –
much-loved for her role as Dr
Esther Samuels – considered not
breastfeeding as she was trying to put on
weight post-pregnancy. After a recent
cancer scare, the 28-year-old stresses the
importance of getting checked and tells
women to be kind to themselves.

“I had my daughter Owairea when I was

19. I felt great pregnant. You have
something to look forward to and be
happy about. I love this photo [opposite].
Believe it or not, this was an accidental
photo. My best friend studied photo-
graphy and design at university. I’d gone
into the studio with her and she was test-
ing the light. I remember thinking when I
was pregnant, ‘am I going to lose this
weight?’ and the whole time I was preg-
nant I was like, ‘okay, make sure I join the
gym so I get my body back after the baby.’
But it went the other way and I started to
lose weight. That made me worry about
the baby. I continued losing weight after
the baby was born. I even considered
stopping breastfeeding because I was so
concerned about my weight.

THE DROP-OFF
This second photo is post-pregnancy; I was
20 and a lot thinner than I am now. I wasn’t
happy. I’d started dropping a lot of weight
quite quickly – which, when people have
had a baby, they think is cool. But I
definitely wasn’t trying to lose weight. It
wasn’t until people started to comment,
and often, I was like, ‘do I look that thin?’
It’s as bad as somebody coming up to you
and saying, “You look quite fat, how are
you? Are you okay or eating too much?”
Except they were like, “Congratulations
on the baby, you’re looking thin, are you
alright? Are you looking after yourself?” I
joined a gym to try to put on muscle to
gain weight. I used to eat a lot, and bad
foods, because I thought that’s what makes
people fatter. I didn’t care what I ate.
That photo was in Huntly. There was this
resort I’d stayed at there and gone down
for a kapa haka competition at the Waikato
regionals. The next day I got all the
comments. I left the  competition, that’s

“
“ “
wellbeing.

34 NEXT / MARCH 2018


Above: Ngahuia during her
pregancy. Right: Post-
pregnancy, she dropped a lot
of weight unintentionally.
how bad it was. I remember everything
about this particular time. I used to weigh
myself every day to see if I’d gained weight.
Looking back at how skinny my legs were
and that flat tummy, I wish I was happy
with how I was because it’s hard to be com-
fortable in your own skin. I look at this pho-
to now and think, ‘I don’t know what you
were complaining about.’
I’d love to find something old from
then to see if I could fit it. I was smaller
than what I was at school and yet I was
always thin during school. When you leave
school your body changes and I used to
compare myself to my school weight a lot.
I’m a lot more comfortable in my skin now
than I was back then.
SPEAKING OUT
When I found out about the cancer scare
I cried – not for myself, but for my
daughter. I was scared for her. I found the
lump by accident this time last year. It
took me a few months to get checked. I
thought, ‘If you don’t check it you’re not
going to hear bad news,’ which is so
stupid. I went to the nurse at work and her
advice was as soon as you find a lump, get
it checked straight away; better to be safe
than sorry. My GP checked it and referred
me to the breast clinic.
They said, “We can schedule you in for
a biopsy but it’s already quite big. We
could either do a biopsy now, and test to
see if they need to remove it, or you can
just get it removed.” Because it was so big
we decided to get it removed. They didn’t
say, “It’s definitely not cancer,” at the
beginning but they made me believe it
was fine. They were like, “You’re still
young, the chances of it being cancerous
are low.” It wasn’t until I got the results
back that they were like, “Actually, it’s not
what we thought it was, it’s a bit alarming.
It’s a tumour.”
‘I’m as comfortable
as I can be in my
skin, but you get
those reservations’
It’s scary stuff and that’s why I share my
story because this happens to a lot of
people, and when they’re young they
don’t think it’s going to happen to them. I
wanted people to be aware and if you can
get one or two people to check them-
selves, why not?
I actually got some messages. One said,
“Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Because of you, my wife got checked and
found something.” It’s quite a personal
story and people don’t usually want to go
out and talk about their boobs so freely,
but I’m comfortable with that.
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
I definitely feel pressure because of the
show but I’m better at handling it. When
I’m out people say one of two things,
“You’re so much prettier in real life,” or,
“You’re so much skinnier.” Automatically I
get like, “Do I need to lose weight so I look
skinnier on TV?”
I had one lady come up to me. She said,
“Are you Esther off Shortland Street? I had
to ask because you look so big on TV but
you’re so thin.” Then she carried on, “but
you’re so big on TV”... When I started
Shortland Street everyone said, “Try not to
check social media because when you
start, people always say you’re fat, a bad
actor, or ugly.” They’ll pick out certain
things about you. Occasionally I might
read it but not to see what they say about
me, just to see how they’re responding to
INSPIRATION
certain storylines. Sometimes I’ll ‘like’ the
bad comment so somebody can see I’ve
seen it, but still not respond. It’s my way of
saying, ‘I see you, I see that you’re saying
something and I want you to know I’ve
seen that, but I’m still not responding.’
HAPPY HABITS
I’m not the best when it comes to
compliments. They usually go in one ear
and out the other. I’m as comfortable as I
can be in my skin, but you get those little
reservations. Like most people, you have
things you’d like to work on.
I’m not big when it comes to New Year’s
resolutions, but I usually have a theme.
This year my goal is to try to look after
myself a bit better. I look at it like I’m
trying to be healthier, exercise, and eat
better foods but not to look a certain way.
You just accept what is, and only focus on
the things you can control.
I’d want to say to my younger self, “Be
kind to yourself and look after yourself.”
Because it’s not just how you are physically,
it’s mentally too. I’ve always been quite
hard on myself. I teach my daughter not to
care about weight. She’s only eight, and
she comes home and talks to me, “Mum,
I’m getting fat.” Eight years old and she’s
saying things like that. I tell her, “Darling,
that’s nothing to worry about, you’re a
growing girl. You need to be eating food
so your bones can grow.”
I even talk to her about body hair,
because she’s concerned her legs are too
hairy. I asked, “Has somebody been saying
things to you about your legs being hairy?”
She said, “No, but I’ve noticed they are, so
what can I do?” I told her, “Nothing. You
don’t need to worry about anything like
that. All you need to worry about is making
sure you’re healthy.”
You’ve got to be kind to yourself. If
anything just love yourself. Look at
yourself in the mirror and try to find one
thing you love about yourself, however
long it takes, and focus on that more than
the million things you hate. A lot of us,
sadly, focus on things we don’t like about
ourselves and I did that for a long time. I
catch myself doing it now too, but I’ve
learned to pick out the good. That starts a
habit, you’ll start doing it more often, and
then you’re happier. It might be something
as simple as, ‘I love my eyes or how I’ve
done my hair today.’ If I’m feeling really
down about how I’m looking, I’ll do
something little like get my nails done to
make myself feel better. Or if they’ve done
my makeup at work I’ll leave it on. »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 35
Jey-May
Clarksо
– Jrnalist
T
VNZ sports presenter and former
Silver Fern Jenny-May Clarkson
copped criticism for being on
television while pregnant with twins.
Looking back on her body journey, the
43-year-old talks about finding her bliss.

“This photo of myself [opposite page] was

taken when I was 42, pregnant and
presenting sport at TVNZ. It was a tumul-
tuous time in terms of having copped
criticism about what I looked like pregnant
with twins. I certainly wasn’t small, and you
certainly noticed I was pregnant, but it’s a
natural thing and I never thought twice
about whether I’d stop working because of
what I looked like; it was more about how I
felt. Somebody messaged me to tell me,
“Have you seen the story blowing up on-
line?” I was at work at the time and going,
“What have I done now?” I had no idea,
then saw somebody had posted up the
letter written into the TV Guide from
an older man who basically said I shouldn’t
be on TV. You had to be silly to criticise a
woman being on TV pregnant because
you’re criticising half the population – all
the mums and grandparents in this world
– so it was a foolish thing to do but people
have their opinions and we live in a society
where you have the right to do that.
It became this big controversy but it still
didn’t make me go, ‘jeepers, I actually look
like this, should I be on TV?’ Not once did
I question whether I should still do my job.
I feel I do it very well and that was the
most important thing. What I looked like Silver Fern you get criticised. When I was compare how I felt during pregnancy and
didn’t enter my head. I’m incredibly proud playing people criticised me all the time. post-pregnancy – we all go through, I
of the way I carried myself during work and That wasn’t ever something my parents imagine, that period of, ‘I don’t feel good
pregnancy. A lot of people online, and coped with. Having to go through that a about myself, I want to get myself back to
people I didn’t know, would come up to me second time wasn’t fair. I’d encourage any- where I was pre-pregnancy,’ and it’s hard
and say, “I think you look great.” It was body to just be you. I look at that photo and because you have no energy or time, and
overwhelming; loads of support. I’m proud of it, because I feel like I looked all that time and energy you do have is
At times like that the only thing you get great. Any woman who is pregnant, you just put into your family.
disappointed about is how it affects those want them to be proud and understand the Trying to keep two little boys alive for
closest to you. My husband was very upset. I significance of what they’re doing. the first few months of their lives was our
said, “I don’t care,” but I guess because I’m priority, and that certainly hasn’t changed.
not that way he feels he has to be that way LOOKING AHEAD I was proud of what I looked like then,
for me. My mum and dad get hurt when Being an older mum I’ve got more of a and of what I look like in the second
they see comments people make. As a grip on what matters in life, so if I photo with my boys because that’s my

36 NEXT / MARCH 2018


‘You’re in different seasons all the time. You’ve got to
recognise that season you’re in and accept it’
body. We all want to look or feel better but
in that season of my life that’s what I
looked like. For me it’s more about energy
than what I look like, but I’m not taking
away from the fact that yes, sometimes I’d
like my body to bounce back to what it was
pre-pregnancy. I was a  CrossFitter and
played international netball; there was a
certain expectation I had about my body
and what it should look like. It won’t look
like that again. But mostly I’m okay and
more than happy with that.
We have a mountain behind us, so my
husband and I try to walk that a couple of
Photographs Lynette, Brodie and Ngahuia Supplied and Bauer Syndication Photographs Jenny-May Michael
days a week and we’ve finally got our
home gym, a little rower and a few
weights. Having done CrossFit, I can put
together workouts. That’s become an
important part of our lives now our boys
are going off to Kōhanga Reo. We’ve
finally got our head above water and can
start looking after ourselves, so walking
James Rooke Hair and makeup Claudia Rodrigues Styling Sonia Greenslade
Above: Jenny-May with fellow
mum-to-be Renee Wright and TVNZ
1 News presenter Greg Boyed. Right: At
home with her twin boys.
Panel
If I’m honest I struggle
with the physical side of
ageing. I am grateful that I am
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vain enough still to cringe at the
“ ,·YHOHDUQHGWRQRWEHVRKDUGRQP\VHOIDQGDSSUHFLDWHP\
“
developing sags and wrinkles.
and a bit of weights; that’s pretty much it.
My husband and I love walking because
we can spend time together. In terms of
food we’re up and down all the time. At
the moment we’re not eating carbs and
pulled back on alcohol and wheat. We’re
trying to live a healthier lifestyle and
being an older parent, you want to be
around a lot longer for your kids. Us
being in our 40s and with our twin boys
only 24 months old, you want to be
around. We want to see our grandchildren;
we want to spend more time together.
There’s so much more to experience. I’d
like to say that’s how we choose to live our
lives always, but it’s not. We go, “Right, no
bread, not too much processed food,” but
you fall off the wagon. You get back on it.
EMBRACE THE SEASON
Life is about seasons. You’re in different
seasons all the time. You’ve got to
recognise that season you’re in and accept
it. There might be a season where
everything’s going well, then maybe
another season where, ‘I’m so busy I don’t
have time to get to the gym,’ so your body
changes. Physically you might not be able
ERG\IRUWKHPDQ\PLUDFXORXVWKLQJVLWKDVGRQHOLNHFKLOGELUWK
,ORYHDOOWKHEXPSVDQGVWUHWFKPDUNVDQGFDQDSSUHFLDWHWKH
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when I was a teenager.
INSPIRATION
to get to the gym or spend that half hour
walking the dog but the next season, you
might be able to fit that in. There are
always times in our lives where things
don’t go how we’d like to. So deal with it,
and the next season start again.
You’ve got to find your bliss. At one
period in my life it was CrossFit, swimming
and walking, and I felt amazing. My bliss
now is my family. I know I look okay, I
know I look good, but it’s less of a focus
now because my bliss is different.
When  you find that bliss, you’re going
to  feel good about yourself. But if you
don’t find that, you’re always going to
be  searching for things you don’t feel
good about.
When I was single, I felt really good
about myself when I was doing exercise,
working and taking that time out for me.
Whether it was going to the gym at 5.40am
in the morning or that swim at 7am,
jumping in the ocean and getting out
again, I felt amazing and refreshed. I’d sit
there and think about a couple of things I
was grateful for. I loved it; I was pumped
for the day. Then I’d come to work and
feel like I’d been on holiday. It was such a
cool time, even though I was going, ‘I’m
going to be single for the rest of my life,’
but I was taking care of me. That was my
bliss, that’s what made me happy.
And it radiated out; people would say,
“You look awesome.” I was thinking, ‘well
I want to find a man,’ but I was feeling
good about me. Now I can reflect on other
times in my life where I had no bliss and
was miserable, going to work, coming
home – didn’t have anything that gave me
joy. I still looked good, but there was
nothing making me happy. A lot of the
time we get busy and you forget about
your bliss. You’ve got to look after you,
whatever that looks like. It doesn’t matter
*
what it looks like, it’s yours.”
MARCH 2018 /
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PROFILE
ON THE
AGENDA
She wasn’t sure she’d even make it into parliament, but our
new Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter now has big
plans for New Zealand. The Green Party MP shares her
thoughts on closing the pay gap, Trump’s America and why
it’s the perfect time for women’s issues BY MARIA HOYLE
Picture a girl of 10, maybe 11. She lives in a nice
home in the suburbs with two loving parents. She
shouldn’t want for anything. And yet. There is
something she really wants. Not a pony, or a trip to
Disneyland or new rollerskates. She wants to
change the world.
She debates fiercely with her family at mealtimes
about inequality, homelessness, the environment.
People no doubt joke – ‘Hey, that kid’s gonna be
president some day’. Well that girl didn’t grow up to
be president; but she did become Aotearoa’s
Minister for Women.
Julie Anne Genter couldn’t have imagined, all
those years ago growing up in southern California,
that this is where she’d be today. But then even
in the months before last September’s general
election, when she was still just a Green list MP
plugging away on issues like cycleways and medicinal
cannabis, she couldn’t have known it either. Two
weeks out from the polls, Julie Anne “thought it was
equal chances that I wouldn’t have a job after the
election, that the Greens wouldn’t make 5%”.
‘IT’S EASY TO WORK LONG
HOURS BECAUSE WE ARE
ADDRESSING ISSUES I AM
REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT’
40 NEXT / MARCH 2018
But then the incredible happened. Labour leader
Jacinda Ardern became, at 37, the world’s youngest
female leader. Jacinda rolled up her sleeves, dived
into negotiations with the Greens and NZ First to
form a government, and when everyone came up
for air, Julie Anne found herself wearing three
hats: Minister for Women, Associate Transport
Minister and Associate Health Minister. How on
earth does she know where to start?
ON THE JOB
So I’m here, at the door of Julie Anne’s low-rise
1930s apartment building – which she shares with
her partner Peter – in a lush green inner Auckland
suburb, to ask her just that.
In bare feet and a patterned dress with a colourful
70s vibe, she welcomes me into the living room.
Wooden floors, plants, lots of books. It’s the sort of
place that urges you to hunker down with a good
novel and a cuppa. But I’m guessing not a lot of that
goes on these days.
Julie Anne agrees it’s full on; she’s commuting to
Wellington – she’s there Monday to Friday – where
she’s either in meetings all day or occupying her
seat in parliament. But it doesn’t feel like hard
work, she emphasises.
“It’s easy to show up early in the morning and
work long hours because we are addressing questions
and policy issues I am really passionate about.”
The 38-year-old is proud of what she and her »
 ‘WOMEN HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED
IN THE DESIGN OF OUR CITIES’
party achieved during her six years in
opposition – “certainly the big increase in
walking and cycling funding, the urban
cycleways. But now being in government
it’s a whole new ball game and it’s really
exciting and incredibly rewarding.”
How could it not be? You look at the
new, young female lineup in the Beehive
– among them Iranian refugee and fellow
Green MP Golriz Ghahraman; Green MP
Chlöe Swarbrick – in parliament for the
first time at just 23; Julie Anne; Jacinda of
course… and you can’t help, as a woman,
but feel a frisson of pride. But it must be
daunting too. I ask if there are mornings
when Julie Anne wakes up and just goes
‘Yikes! The pressure!’
“I’d say most jobs I had done before
there was a period of ‘am I doing the
right thing, am I working hard enough?’
But stepping into this role has felt easier
than n I expected or more…” A pause.
ON SUPPORTING
O “I was living in a suburb of Los Angeles.
MUMS
When Jacinda revealed her
pregnancy, she acknowledged she
was in a position of privilege, with
her partner Clarke Gayford able to
be full-time carer. But how can we
support ordinary Kiwi mums?
“The extension to paid parental
leave [to 26 weeks from 2020] is
helpful. We will be investigating
opportunities to incentivise men
to take paid parental leave too.
You look at countries like Sweden,
where they get 480 days paid
parental leave, the father will take
a substantial amount of that. They
have paid daycare available.
Women return to work earlier,
there’s less of a pay gap. It’s paid
off enormously for the countries
that have invested in it. Another
thing that will really help mothers
is raising the minimum wage.
There are about 350,000 women
who are in that minimum wage,
precarious work, and a lot of them
will be solo mums.”
42 NEXT / MARCH 2018
Then a tentative… “effortless?”
She speaks with precision, which you’d
expect from a politician. But there’s a
freshness and vigour about her, like she’s
weighing these matters for the first time
and eagerly sharing her conclusion.
Sometimes she’s disarming; she doesn’t
stare into the distance to think, but right at
you so you misinterpret the wide eyes and
silence as, ‘well, that was a dumb question’
but in fact she’s mulling, wanting to do
your query justice.
EARLY AWARENESS
Is it ‘easy’ partly because of the other
women around her? “Mmmm… it’s just a
perfect time. Especially on women’s issues.
“Everyone’s talking about #metoo, there’s
the Women’s March… there’s pay equity. It
feels like we’re at the crest of a wave about
to break and we’re right out in front of it.”
More of waves and crests and priorities
in a moment. But first, how did a 10-year-
old girl, living quite comfortably thank
you, become so fired up about inequality?
It was quite a well off area and we
sometimes  went downtown [with my
parents] to make sandwiches for homeless
people. That was just a complete contrast
to where we lived and I suppose that caused
me to have a lot of questions about why
things were the way they were.”
Julie Anne’s dietitian mother and her
father, a doctor, weren’t all that interested
in politics. Their passion was health, both a position to change things.”
wanting to make a positive difference And now that she’s very much is in a
where they could. But she says it took her position to change things, what’s her
and her brothers [Liam and Sean] number one priority? “Closing the gender
debating with them to get her parents to pay gap.” Just like that.
understand the full historical context of “I don’t have all the levers myself. I am
these social issues. primarily an advocate. It’s other ministers
After graduating from UC Berkeley with who are directly responsible for the state
a BA in philosophy, Julie Anne left for sector, or workplace relations. But they’ve
Paris for three and a half years to study been very supportive and it is in the Green
politics at the prestigious Sciences Po – yes, Party’s confidence and supply agreement
she speaks fluent French. Then she headed with the Labour-led government that we
to New Zealand to do a Masters of Planning will close the gender pay gap [in the
Practice at the University of Auckland, and public sector].”
has been here for 12 years. Is it true the An important step came last April, with
decision to head overseas was prompted by Kristine Bartlett’s historic $2 billion pay
her disgust at the war-launching proclivities deal for her and her fellow aged care
of then US President George W. Bush? workers. But shortly afterwards, the
“Yes,” she says. Then adds, almost government released its draft pay equity
defensively “I had just finished my bill, which unions and the Opposition
university degree so I didn’t feel I was in said would hamper similar settlements as

it would force claimants to compare their
pay  first with colleagues in their own
sectors, rather than with similarly skilled
workers elsewhere.
“With Iain Lees-Galloway, Minister for
Workplace Relations, he and I are working
hand in glove to ensure a new piece of
legislation that will go in a positive
direction to ensuring we have equal pay in
New Zealand.”
And then fresh from this rather official-
sounding statement, she gives a little
laugh and, with a hint of mischief, says:
“It’s surprising how many men on the
internet though, think there isn’t a pay
gap! And it’s like, well, it’s Statistics New
Zealand, it’s not like I made this up!
Soon after being named Minister for
Women, she proudly nailed her flag
to the women’s rights mast, calling herself
a ‘full-time feminist’. What does this
actually mean?
“Women should be equal to men.” That
simple. And then “It’s not just limited
to  women. There are also gender
diverse  people who will suffer from
discrimination. Pasifika women, Māori
women or other women of colour. We
need a particular focus on the pay gap for
Māori and Pacific women because it’s so
much worse for them. It’s like 23 to 27%.”
EVERYONE BENEFITS
How would she explain the level of male
denial about the pay gap?
“There’s some evidence that if people
have been in a position of systematic
privilege and it starts to be more equal,
they feel something has been taken away
from them. And I think a lot of people out
there are perhaps just really unhappy or
lonely and that causes them to lash out
PROFILE
against others. On the internet especially,”
she adds with a smile.
That’s quite a compassionate view, I
point out. “I  think the key to progress is
compassion,” she counters.
At this point the traffic outside has built
to a rumbling chorus – backing vocals
provided by the odd lawnmower. As Julie
Anne gets up to close the window, it seems
an apt place to talk about another of her
passions – sustainable, people-friendly
cities. And even roads and buildings, it
seems, are a feminist issue.
“Women have been overlooked in the
design of our cities. Women are much more
likely to make linked trips to be dropping
kids at school. Planners for much of the
second half of the 20th century were very
focused on single commuter trips from
home to work. So making society better for
women will make it better for everyone.” »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 43
 PROFILE

44 NEXT / MARCH 2018

Photographs Tony Nyberg Hair and makeup Lisa Matson
 One way we can do this, says Julie Anne
– who did a Master of Planning Practice at
the University of Auckland, then worked as
a transport and planning consultant – is
getting women involved in the planning
process. As well as thinking harder about
what women need. “If you make it easier for
women to have flexible working hours, to
have longer paid parental leave, for men to
be more involved in looking after the kids
then women are more able to use bicycles
for short trips. That’s better for their
health, it’s better for their mental health.”
MUM’S THE WORD
And if you want to create a society that
respects working mums, it can’t hurt to
have a young pregnant PM at the helm?
“I am thrilled for her and I am thrilled
for New Zealand that we have this
opportunity to prove the naysayers wrong.
The expectation has been that women
can’t do important jobs and be a mother at
the same time. Even though for a couple of
decades we have been trying to say that’s
not true, it hasn’t really been…” she picks
her words carefully “…completely proven.”
She adds that it is “great symbolism for
women”, especially as it’s 125 years since
we got the right to vote in NZ.
Meanwhile, back in Julie Anne’s
country of birth… Does the Trump
phenomenon depress her, or does she see
things changing?
“I really hope so. But the electoral
system there desperately needs to change.
They need proportional representation.
The Republicans have become very
extreme and I don’t think they represent
most Americans. But what gave me the
most hope was reading an article about
how there had been a record number of
women signing up to be candidates at
every level of government as a reaction
to Trump.”
I suggest there’s probably an element of
‘crikey, if he can be president, anyone can’.
She emits a gleeful laugh.
“Yeah! But women are so hard on
themselves and tend not to put themselves
forward for the top job or to be politicians.
Because they think ‘who am I? I’m not
perfect.’ Whereas men generally overrate
their abilities! So I think it’s wonderful if
women can feel brave enough to put
themselves out there.”
THE FIRST PRIORITY
So how does a woman who has ‘put herself
out there’ in a big way keep it together?
A priority, she says, is to get enough
‘I THINK IT’S
WONDERFUL IF
WOMEN CAN FEEL
BRAVE ENOUGH TO
PUT THEMSELVES
OUT THERE’
sleep and to eat well. She finds hiking
“restorative”, and wants to get back into
yoga, which she used to practise twice
daily, because it energises her. “It’s part of
doing my best in the job; if it’s just another
obligation then it’s not going to work.”
She also loves making ‘good food’, by
which she means “healthy and delicious”.
She’s “obsessed” with Little Bird’s raw
organic recipes, and uses their app to
make smoothies, cashew-based dips and
almond milk. “But also, you know, kumara
chips and it’s not always super-healthy.”
There’s an amusing anecdote I read
about Jacinda and Julie Anne – who both
vied for the Mt Albert seat last year and are
good friends – attending music festival
Splore. Jacinda was taken aback that Julie
Anne turned up with a pie because… she
cycles. Somehow in her mind that made
her a very improbable ‘pie person’.
“To be fair, it was a gourmet pie!” laughs
Julie Anne.
MEETING OF MINDS
Does Peter, her partner of five years, cook?
“He tends to do quite complementary
things to me. I tend to do salads and main
dishes. He is more into things that require
flour. Pizza crusts. Quiches. Tamales...”
She met Peter, also from California, when
she’d been an MP for about a year and he
was working as a consulting economist.
Mutual friends told him ‘You have to meet
Julie Anne’. She smiles. “Just to talk about
transport economics.” Of course.
They met at “one of those mayoral
conversations run by the council, it was
about urbanism.”
Apart from an interest in city planning,
they found common ground; he had two
younger brothers, his brothers live in the
US, his parents live in California...
“He did email me after we met and said
‘Do you want to catch up and talk about
transport?’ and I think I said ‘Yeah how
about in five weeks?’”
Not to be mean, but because of work
commitments. He rang after five weeks,
“but I had forgotten about it! The first
time we met it was for dinner. And it
became clear it was a date [laughs]; I
didn’t know until we got there!”
I ask if, before I leave, she wouldn’t
mind recording a quick International
Women’s Day message for NEXT’s website.
Of course, she replies, but could she just
put on some makeup? When she returns
I’m still frantically searching for the ‘on’
button for the sound device. Great. She’s
just given me her ‘women can do anything’
spiel, and I appear to be doing my best to
refute that.
Julie Anne waits patiently and then, as
I’m turning to Mr Google for help, she
leans over and gently hits a switch. The
screen lights up.
I have just been, quite literally,
empowered by the Minister for Women.
And if that is a symbol of what’s in store…
then bring it on.
*
ON BACKING
OTHER WOMEN
International Women’s Day is all
about solidarity. What can women
do to support each other more?
“Getting out and voting, helping a
candidate in their campaign or
•–ƒ†‹‰ ˆ‘” ‘ƥ…‡ ›‘—”•‡Žˆǡdz •ƒ›•
Julie Anne. “We need more women
in politics. And in the workplace I’ve
heard an example from the Obama
administration. Even though it was
very progressive, women weren’t
always at the top decision-making
meetings and they weren’t being
heard. So women started to insist
on being present and they would
amplify each others’ points so they
wouldn’t be lost. Someone would
say something and someone else
would speak up and say ‘I really
want to support what she said’
and say it again. Globally I was
disappointed we didn’t get a female
secretary general of the UN…
That’s what unconscious bias leads
to: ‘We shouldn’t promote someone
just because they’re a woman, we
should get the best person for the
job’. The reality is there are plenty
of women who are the best person
for the job and they haven’t been
‹†‡–‹Ƥ‡† „‡…ƒ—•‡ –Š‡› ƒ”‡ ™‘‡Ǥ
‡ ‡‡† –‘ ”‡˜‡”•‡ –Šƒ–Ǥdz
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 45
46 NEXT / MARCH 2018
 REPORT

MINISTRY OF
TOMORROW

‘Old age’ is a concept we

need to revisit, thanks to
revolutionary advances
in health, science and
appearance medicine.
In the first of our
‘Ministry of Tomorrow’
series investigating the
opportunities and
disruptions of the
future, we look at the
new face of ageing
BY CATH BENNETT

n a world where driverless cars, hand

I transplants and space tourism are no longer

the stuff of fantasy, it’s little wonder that
ageing is a another major frontier we look set
to conquer.
From the days of Cleopatra bathing in milk and
honey to the explosion of a beauty industry
dedicated to turning back the clock, society has
been obsessed with both longevity and eternal
youth for centuries.
And with advances in this area having accelerated
to the point where it’s not inconceivable to picture
a New Zealand populated by fresh-faced
centenarians doing cartwheels, the very definition
of ‘ageing’ is undergoing a rethink.
We began 2018 with headlines trumpeting the
fact Kiwi babies born this year will have some of
the longest lives in the world. Most can expect to
see in the next century, with projections from
Unicef and the World Data Lab giving them a life
expectancy of 82 – a figure that has grown by more
than two years per decade for the past century.
According to Professor Matthew Parsons, one of
the country’s leading academics in the area of
gerontology, our life expectancy is now increasing
so rapidly we can see it on a daily basis.
“Over a 24-hour period we don’t age 24 hours; »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 47
we age 23 hours and 40 minutes,” he
explains. “We’ve expected it to plateau for
the past 20 to 30 years but it hasn’t, it has
continued to increase.”
Which means roughly every 10 weeks
another day is added to your life span –
making it no surprise that by 2056 the
number of Kiwis over the age of 95 is
tipped to increase by more than 600% to
reach in excess of 42,000.
It will make those hitting 65 seem
positively middle aged, and that group
will certainly be dominant in our society.
According to Statistics New Zealand,
there were almost 730,000 Kiwis over the
age of 65 in November 2017, a figure
predicted to roughly double by 2046. By
2056 that group will represent a quarter
of our population. While such statistics
have historically been viewed negatively,
with predictions of a ‘grey tsunami’
shrinking the workforce, over-stretching
the economy and drowning the health
system, those working in the area see it in
a very different light.
Parsons is at pains to point out “it’s not
all doom and gloom”.
“If you look at what makes up a
community, it’s generally grandparents
and mums, and these people are
volunteering and making a huge
contribution. We’ll see a marked increase
in the ability of people to contribute and
12%
OF OUR
“Because of all the improvements
in lifestyle and management of hyper-
tension we have begun to notice a plateau
in the incidence of dementia,” explains
Parsons.
provide support to communities.” Not only that, at the end of last year,
It’s a view which Grey Power national
president Tom O’Connor agrees with.
WORKFORCE experts in the field of neurodegeneration
revealed we could be on the cusp of a
“There are significant economic and WILL BE AGED 65 cure, after a breakthrough in the
social benefits in having an healthy and treatment of Huntington’s Disease – a
active older generation who retire & OVER BY 2063 progressive brain disorder.
gradually in part-time work and remain Human trials of new drugs that work
active in their communities,” he says. and central to Parsons’ work is the concept like synthetic DNA have proved successful
Indeed, New Zealand has one of the of the ‘compression of morbidity’, explor- in homing in on genetic flaws and shutting
world’s highest rates of employment ing how we can delay age-related ill health down their destructive abilities.
among the over 65s, with a quarter still until a few weeks before death. Leading neuroscientist Professor John
working, a figure that rises to 43% among When it comes to the negative aspects Hardy, who two years ago predicted
those aged 65-69. According to National of ageing, the prospect of losing our Alzheimer’s will be treatable by 2025,
Labour Force Projections, that 65-plus minds is perhaps the most terrifying – described it as “the biggest breakthrough
group, who currently make up 6% of our and certainly, the 2016 Attitudes Towards in neurodegenerative disease in the past
working population, will represent 12% of Ageing Report found 56% of Kiwis worry 50 years”. It has given hope that the same
employees by 2063. about becoming mentally ill or getting therapy could treat dementia.
dementia in their later years. Given the The acceleration of research into DNA
BENEATH THE SURFACE latter affects a third of people over the manipulation, as well as revolutionary
For all that our lives are expected to age of 85, it is something that has become insights into gut bacteria – the microbiome
continue extending, few relish the thought a focus for scientists in recent years, to – is not only impacting on disease treat-
of a long existence tainted by sickness – great effect. ment, it’s also leading to a rethink around

‘We’ll see a marked increase in the ability of

people to contribute to communities’
48 NEXT / MARCH 2018
 REPORT

WILL GET YOUR DNA ANALYSED TO

$25,000
FIND OUT WHAT HEALTH AND BEAUTY
ISSUES YOU’LL FACE IN THE FUTURE
undiagnosed diabetes; monitoring blood sugar, so you should stay away from sugar
sugar would not only make people aware and that will reduce the process of
if they are at risk, but also allow sufferers ageing,” she explains.
to manage it effectively. Which sounds all well and good, but if
“We will probably look back in 20 years’ we become so hyper-aware that certain
time and say we can’t believe people used foods will give us diabetes, and other
to suffer from these issues,” says Warren, snacks deep wrinkles, could the future of
founder of holistic health company healthy ageing be one in which many of us
BePure. “It will be bizarre if you don’t feel obliged to eschew the pleasures of hot
know what’s going on in your body. You chips, bacon sandwiches and chocolate
will be able to check your phone and know fudge sundaes?
your progesterone and oestrogen levels, While Warren concedes vegetables will
or check your melatonin levels after a certainly have more of a starring role
bad night’s sleep. All these things are in our food choices in the New Zealand
possible right now, they’re just expensive.” of tomorrow, he doesn’t see McDonald’s
If you can’t wait – and have a spare and KFC disappearing from Kiwi towns
prevention, as well as day-to-day health. $25,000 – the Health Nucleus in San Diego any time soon.
Personalised nutrition – where DNA is used will analyse your DNA and microbiome to “I don’t think we’ll see a drastic collapse
to establish what diet is right for the establish all the health and beauty issues of fast food places, but we’ll certainly see
individual – is already starting to make which could affect you in the future – and a shift in their business models,” he says.
waves, and is an approach expected to advise how you can avoid them. However, he does fear that in the longer
dominate in years to come, both extending Dr Catherine Stone, one of New term, eating food in its natural form may
and improving the quality of life. Zealand’s top cosmedicine doctors, fall out of favour as more affordable,
Clinical nutritionist Ben Warren is at believes such analysis will be game- sustainable and ultimately genetically
the forefront of this area, and is in the changing. “So, for example, the Health compatible solutions emerge.
process of launching a genetic testing lab Nucleus could tell you that you’re more “Potentially in the future only the very
in New Zealand, which will drastically
reduce the $600 cost Kiwis currently pay
prone to damaging your collagen with wealthy will eat organically-grown, »
to get their blood analysed overseas.
It is likely this detailed information will
lead to us carrying devices – and even
being implanted with technology – that
will instantly let us know which foods
make us slim, healthy and energetic, and
those which might bring on illness and
contribute to us ageing badly.
“Just a couple of months ago I was
wearing a device that had a needle going
into my arm which measured my blood
sugar levels constantly,” says Warren. “With
nutrition you often don’t see the effects of
what you’ve eaten until the future, but with
this device, when you’ve just eaten a
doughnut you will get instant feedback on
whether that food worked for you or not.”
This has huge implications for the likes
of diabetes, which the Ministry of Health
states is the largest and fastest growing
health issue facing New Zealand. It’s
believed around 100,000 Kiwis have

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 49

pesticide-free high quality food,” he
suggests. “Many of us will be eating
synthesised food that provides our bodies
with the nutrients we need specific to our
genetics. To a degree it’s already
happening with body builders and their
protein powders and bars – going forward
we will see that a lot more.”

BEAUTY SPOT
Nutrition isn’t the only industry entering a
space that was unimaginable a few years
back; the capabilities of the beauty industry
are evolving at phenomenal speed.
If you thought your options were limited
when it comes to the seemingly inevitable
crinkling, wrinkling and sagging that
comes with age, think again.
Stone’s clinic, the Face Place, already
offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) – a
treatment which involves extracting
beneficial platelets and plasma from your
blood, then reinjecting them, a process
which aims to rejuvenate the tissues,
improving texture and elasticity.
But in the future she says this type of
procedure will enter another level as our
own stem cells, harvested from blood or
fat, will be used to turn back the clock.
“Stem cells are going to become a big
thing across the board,” says Stone, a
regular attendee at industry conferences
around the world. “At the moment it’s
not quite there in terms of the balance of
risk and safety, but I think in the next two
to five years we will see stem cells in
common use.”
And as the treatments become more
high tech, so too could the process of
getting them – with robots enjoying a role.
“Artificial intelligence will become a
much bigger part of practice, both in
terms of diagnosis and potentially in
the administration,” says Stone, who is
writing a book titled Grow Younger and
More Beautiful As You Age.
She is highly aware the future is both
“mind-blowingly scary and exciting all at
the same time”, and is already considering
the best way to guide her business and
clients through it.
“Within 10 to 20 years ageing will be
optional,” she says. “We are looking at how
we manage this change, doing it in a way
that it integrates beautifully and enhances
people’s experience, longevity, and how
they look and feel about themselves as
they grow older.”
END OF THE LINE
For all the advances that have been made
around ageing and longevity, death itself
will always remain an inevitability. But if,
as a pensioner, you knew how long you
had left to live, would you treat life
any differently? And regardless of your
state of health, would you rather spend
your final year in and out of hospital or in
your own home?
These are questions the Institute of
Healthy Ageing has devoted a huge
amount of research to, to the point the
Hamilton-based facility can now work out
when a person is in their last 1000 days of
life – a prediction they hope GPs nation-
wide will soon be able to make.
While it might sound morbid, Barbara
Garbutt, chair of the Institute, explains it
is quite the opposite. She suggests if a
person knows they have finite time left,
10-20
YEARS FROM NO
TECHNOLOGY WILL
MAKE AGEING
OPTIONAL
The theory is this beats the alternative of
being unaware you have just six months to
live, turning up to A&E with a health issue,
spending a month in a high dependency
unit then even longer in a regular hospital
bed – before being discharged and dying
two weeks later anyway.
“We’re trying to get people to talk about
those last 1000 days in a positive
way,” Garbutt says. “It’s about making
informed decisions at a time when you’re
comfortable to make them, rather than in
a time of crisis.”
While cynics might suggest such an
approach – along with other programmes
which focus on at-home care instead of
lengthy hospitalisation – is a way of freeing
up beds and cost cutting, research shows
keeping people out of hospital can

2018
they can plan accordingly, and be clear on actually extend life.
Photographs Getty Images

how much intervention they want. Parsons, who works with the Institute,
explains our muscles deteriorate at 3%
per day when we are inactive in a hospital

MOST BABIES BORN IN THIS YEAR CAN

bed, and that reduction in muscle mass
and strength directly correlates with

EXPECT TO SEE IN THE NEXT CENTURY

slower recovery – and even death. “The
days of keeping people in hospital  for

50 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 REPORT

months and months has long gone,” he
says, adding that the prevalence of people
going into residential care is also on the
decline.
“All the evidence says getting home is
the best possible thing you can do.”
Garbutt points out it is also patients’
preference. “We are seeing that our older
population would prefer to be at home
and not in hospital.”
BIG LITTLE COUNTRY
What is increasingly apparent is that when
it comes to innovations in the ageing space,
New Zealand will not be left behind.
“I think we’re in a very good position
moving forward,” says Parsons, referencing
‘Ageism is one of the most serious impediments’
the fact we were one of the first countries
to implement InterRAI, a clinical assess-
ment tool that identifies the needs of
older people. “We take learnings from
evidence across the world and in many
instances we are significantly more
advanced than where those initiatives
left off.”
Ben Warren is attracting world experts
to his lab in the Hawke’s Bay, and is
confident New Zealand “has an opport-
unity to be at the forefront of all this.”
“As a market we are of a good size to
test offerings, we’ve got good internet,
smart people and we have a great lifestyle,”
he continues.
In fact, it seems one of the only barriers
to healthy and positive ageing in the
future will be our attitude towards those
over the age of 65 – something Tom
O’Connor believes is one of the biggest
challenges facing that sector.
“Ageism is one of the most serious
impediments to older people being fully
engaged in society,” says the Cantabrian,
who at 73 serves on a district council,
runs a small farm and is a newspaper
columnist – as well as head of Grey Power.
“Old is a relative term – a generation
ago 60 was considered old, today people
of 70 are not seen as particularly old.”
And in the world of tomorrow, it seems
perfectly plausible that 100 could be the
new 70.
*

BREAKTHROUGHS
B
IN THE QUEST
FOR YOUTH
• In 2016 researchers at the University of New
South Wales discovered that a molecule called
NAD+, which is found in every cell of the body,
is key in DNA repair. Treating old mice with an
NAD+ booster vitamin meant that within a week
their cells were indistinguishable from those of
young mice. Human trials are now underway.
Ȉ ‘ŽŽ‘™‹‰›‡ƒ”•‘ˆ”‡•‡ƒ”…Š‹–‘–Š‡‡ơ‡…–‘ˆ
telomeres – structures in chromosomes that
are key in ageing – last year a book was released
explaining how to control them. The Telomere
ơ‡…–, by Elizabeth Blackburn and Elissa
Epel, reveals how healthy living can lengthen
telomeres and therefore your life.
• In 2017 a study from Cedars-Sinai Heart
Institute explored the impact of stem cell
manipulation on the overall ageing process.
A month after old mice were injected in the
heart with stem cells from newborns, they
were able to exercise longer, regrew hair faster
and had a rejuvenated cardiac system.
• In a paper published in the journal Cell last
year, scientists at Baylor College of Medicine
‹˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‡†–Š‡™ƒ›–Š‡‹…”‘„‹‘‡‹ƪ—‡…‡•
how we age. They suggested we may be able to
slow the ageing process and increase longevity
by using supplements derived from gut bacteria.

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 51


SIZE and
PREJUDICE
When Louise Green turned up for her first half marathon,
organisers assumed she was there for the fun run. Now the
95kg trainer’s quest is to challenge ideas around fat and
fitness, and help other ‘big’ women get fit
Louise Green is 1.7m and weighs 95kg. The
45-year-old wears NZ dress size 18. She doesn’t
mind you knowing she has rolls of fat around her
tummy and that she’s no stranger to ‘chub rub’
when her thighs chafe as she runs. She knows what
it’s like to struggle to find a sports bra that remotely
does the job. She knows that faced with a slab of
cake, she’ll find it hard to resist.
She also knows what it’s like to be cold-called at
her home in Vancouver, Canada, by fat-shamers
who tell her she has no right to do what she does
for a living. For Louise – who would count as obese
if she stood on one of those scales that measure
your BMI rating – is a personal trainer.
Thousands of plus-size women have been taught
by Louise to run, jump, skip, cycle, surf and box.
They’ve done circuits with not a care about their
back fat, because everyone else in the class has it
too. She’s got women who are so overweight that
when they sign up they can only exercise sitting
down. By the end of her programme they are
running up hills. Her classes are so popular – and
as someone who’s had her fair share of ‘chub rub’
over the years, I love the thought of this – skinny
women beg to try them.
Louise is at the forefront of a new movement. Fat
PROFILE
BY LOUISE FRANCE
lives matter, if you like. It’s a movement that has
seen Ashley Graham, the gorgeous plus-size model,
on the front of US Vogue and the cover of Sports
Illustrated’s swimsuit issue. (Graham has her own
online workout called Curvy Fit Club.) Last year
Nike launched a plus-size range with sizes up to
3XL. There are Facebook groups called Fit Fatties
where talk of diets is banned. Sport England’s This
Girl Can campaign, with women of all shapes and
sizes doing sport, has seen 2.8 million British
women increase their physical activity since their
adverts in 2015.
It’s a shift in perception spread, like most things
these days, by social media. Instagram is jam-
packed with bootylicious yoga teachers, curvaceous
marathon runners, fat girl hikers (slogan: ‘Trails
Not Scale’”). There are tummies on show in crop
tops, chunky thighs encased in shiny Lycra. A
video of XXL ballet dancer Lizzy Howell nailing
multiple pirouettes became a viral hit.
Most days see Louise training with her clients,
then running 5km or swimming 50 laps at her
local pool. She completes triathlons and half-
marathons several times a year. Her latest goal is a
half Iron Man triathlon in New Orleans which
will include a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride and a
half-marathon.
For a recent Ted talk she wore a short skin-tight
dress and towering wedge heels, her dyed blood-
orange precision-cut bob catching the lights. The
whole look, as she prowled the stage, was
unapologetic – this is what a proud plus-size »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 53
woman looks like. Louise’s point is that
the dictionary definition of the word
athlete is “a person who is proficient in
sports and other forms of physical
exercise”. Proficient. No mention of being
ripped in there. “So how come our culture
celebrates only one fitness ideal: chiselled,
youthful and lean, leaving millions of
people on the sidelines?”
Until very recently, she argues, exercise
has been the preserve of the thin.
She compares the emerging appearance
of plus-size people doing sport to the
influential moment in 1967 when
Kathrine Switzer became the first woman
to run the Boston Marathon, despite
being harassed by a male official who told
her to “Get the hell out of my race.” The
photograph that caught the moment
became a turning point for long-distance
female athletes. Louise wants to do the
same for plus size. And it looks like it is
happening. She’s currently in talks with a
television company that wants to make
her the star of a new reality TV series.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Louise, who was born in Liverpool and
moved with her family to Canada in the
early 70s, has not always been one for
pressups and burpees. In her 20s, she
worked in a law firm and was drinking a
bottle of wine a night, smoking 20
54 NEXT / MARCH 2018
‘I LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW AND A
MAN JOGGED BY. I DECIDED THEN AND
THERE I COULDN’T LIVE LIKE THIS ANY MORE’
cigarettes a day. She would walk past
athletic clothing shops with photos of
tanned, toned women wearing crop tops
and leggings and feel depressed.
She vividly describes half-hearted
attempts at exercise. “I’d drive to the
local track before work, smoking on the
way. I’d muster up two laps maybe. Then
call it a day and get back into the car and
light up again. I very much wanted an
athlete’s lifestyle, but I just didn’t know
how to do it.”
She remembered what it was like to be
fit – like a lot of girls she had exercised
regularly until her teens, when boys and
parties became more attractive and
getting sweaty no longer seemed like the
cool option – but she didn’t know how to
get back there. (Almost twice as many
boys exercise regularly as girls, with the
discrepancy kicking in as early as seven,
according to research from University
College, London.)
“I’d go on binges of five days of aerobic
classes, trying not to smoke and drink and
eating tuna,” recalls Louise. “I could only
sustain that for five days and then I’d crash
off the mat and go back to the couch. I’d
go to Weight Watchers and starve myself
all week and they’d be like, “Good for you!
You lost 0.8lb [0.3kg]!” And I’d think - not
even 1lb! I can’t believe what I just went
through for that. I can’t do this.”
She tried counting calories and fat
grams. She avoided carbs, ate nothing but
soup, survived on protein shakes, and
consumed pre-packaged diet food. None
of it worked. “It just made me feel worse.”
It didn’t help that her boyfriend, Gord,
a construction worker – now her husband
– also smoked and drank. She was 29
when she decided this wasn’t the life she’d
had in mind for herself.
“I was sitting at home, hungover,
desperately sad, and I looked out of the
window and a man jogged by. I just
decided then and there I couldn’t live like
this any more. I told Gord, ‘I’m not doing
this any more, so you can either come with
me, or we need to go our separate ways.’”
Gord, for the record, subsequently got
fit too. They have a son, Eli, now nine. She
signed up for a Learn to Run 5K group.
It was a cold, rainy night.

“That first time I hovered about outside
the club, spying on ‘the real runners’. I
was almost paralysed. I was terrified of
being there. I felt so inadequate,” she
recalls. “I was convinced I’d be the biggest,
the slowest. It took every fibre of my being
not to go home.”
Then the trainer turned up. She was a
tall, broad, Amazonian figure.
“I was shocked to find she was plus size.
This was the first time I had seen a woman
of size as a runner. And it was certainly
the first time I had seen a woman of size
leading a running group. For once I was
with someone who looked like me.”
Something was ignited inside Louise. A
switch was flipped; over 12 weeks she
learned to love running. She stopped
drinking (she hasn’t drunk alcohol since),
gave up cigarettes a few weeks later and
got hooked on endorphins instead.
Louise’s argument is that the main
reason plus-size people don’t exercise is
that they have no role models. They have
been the invisible majority. There are no
plus-size women on gym advertisements
(when Women’s Running magazine did
put a plus-size athlete, Erica Schenk,
on its cover, it made headlines worldwide).
Exercise teachers are rarely plus size.
(Go onto message boards and ask, “Can
you have a fat PT instructor?” and the
responses are mostly derisory.) Fat spin-
class teachers have traditionally had as
much credence as skinny chefs. All this
means that ultimately, the fitness industry
has been a club that feels off-limits to the
very people who have needed it most.
A MORAL PANIC
Anyone who is plus size gets used to being
harangued by much thinner people telling
them they are overweight. Not being able
to fit into an X label top at Zara is the least
of it. It is impossible to be plus size, turn on
the news, and not know you’re on an
Insta diary of a Fit Girl...
‘STIGMATISING FAT
PEOPLE DOES NOT
MAKE THEM
THINNER AND IT
ALMOST CERTAINLY
MAKES THEM LESS
HEALTHY’
express train to type 2 diabetes, cancer,
heart disease, infertility, osteoarthritis,
gout or depression.
I ask Dr Michael Mosley, the BBC
documentary-maker and author of the
Blood Sugar Diet, which promotes a low-
calorie eating plan to combat type 2
diabetes, whether it’s possible to be fat
and healthy.
“You can be healthy,” he says. “But you
are unlikely to be. Everyone has their own
personal fat threshold and some people
are overweight and not diabetic, for
instance. It’s all about genetics. But if you
are overweight you are at much greater
risk.” He voices concerns about plus-size
exercise putting significant pressure on
joints, which means a greater risk of
arthritis and deteriorating bone health.
Exercise, he argues, shouldn’t be an
excuse for eating too much. Women,
especially, are at risk from weight around
the gut.
“Having a big waist and small hips can
point to all kinds of problems: metabolic
syndrome, high blood pressure, fatty liver
disease. It’s the visceral fat you have to
worry about. It’s true there are some
people who are skinny who also have
visceral fat – but that doesn’t mean that
being overweight is good.”
Yet there are some experts who argue
being fat is not necessarily the time bomb
PROFILE
we’ve been led to believe. It is physical
inactivity that is more dangerous to health.
Paul Campos is a Colorado law professor
whose book is called The Obesity Myth. He
argues that the obesity epidemic “was and
is a moral panic. It’s a classic case of society
freaking out over a risk that is exaggerated.”
According to Campos, while between 1980
and 2000 body mass in the US and other
western developed countries did increase,
it has since flattened out. We’re actually
healthier than we’ve ever been, and that
includes size 16s and over.
“The amount of attention obesity gets
is out of all proportion to the evidence,”
Campos argues. “Indeed, it is counter-
productive –the more it’s focused on, the
more hopeless an overweight person feels.
Stigmatisation has a lot of bad side-effects
– stigmatising fat people does not make
them thinner and it almost certainly
makes them less healthy than they would
be. The so-called cure is actually causing
the disease to which it is addressed.”
THE NO-RESULTS DIET
Dieting doesn’t work. Most people who lose
weight will be heavier three years later. The
likelihood of maintaining a significant
weight loss for five years or more is about
5%, the same odds as surviving metastatic
lung cancer, according to Harriet Brown,
author of Body of Truth. On the other hand,
encouraging people to be physically active
does correlate with better outcomes.
Professor Steven Blair recently retired
from his job at the University of South
Carolina. Since the 90s he has tracked
more than 20,000 people, following their
weight, body composition and cardio-
respiratory fitness. The patients were
followed over their lifetimes to see who
got sick, who stayed healthy, who lived and
who died. The results were surprising (so
much so he asked the statisticians to go
back and check again). “Our follow-up »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 55
PROFILE

showed the death rate for women and

men who are thin but unfit is at least twice
as high as their obese counterparts who
are fit,” he explains.
The obesity
He believes society’s fear of fat is based on
research that has failed to include exercise.
paradox

I
“Research into the best dietary advice s it really possible to accumulate that
flip-flops around. But exercise research extra insulating layer without
results have been pretty constant for years: worrying where it will lead? Scientists
fitness appears to provide protection have debated the ‘obesity paradox’
against early mortality no matter how much for decades, trying to determine if exercise
you weigh. In my view it’s inactivity that is ‘ơ•‡–• –Š‡ Š‡ƒŽ–Š …‘•‡“—‡…‡• ‘ˆ „‡‹‰ ƒ
the biggest health risk of the 21st century.” little lardy. John Brewer, professor of applied
The research was as popular with the sport science at St Mary’s University,
skinny brigade as a full-fat latte – but Blair London, says aerobic activity – swimming,
did get an award from the American cycling, brisk walking – ameliorates the
Obesity Society.
CHANGING SHAPE
Louise actually weighs 8kg more than she
did when she began to exercise.
“Hunger shouldn’t be part of your health
plan,” she says. Although she admits sweet
stuff is so tempting she can’t allow it into
the house, she no longer believes in diets.
“For me to live in a thin body, I’d have to
starve myself. Some people are going to be
big, no matter what.”
She argues that any weight gain doesn’t
mean she has failed. When she goes to the
doctor her blood pressure is healthy; her
blood sugars are in a safe range.
“Body composition-wise, because I’m so
active, my shape has changed and it looks
more athletic. I still have fat on my body,
there’s no doubt about that. But I’m
definitely more toned.”
According to Louise, muscle strength
and cardiovascular conditioning are
much better indicators of a person’s
health than their body mass index (a
measurement invented in the 1830s and
widely considered inaccurate).
When she turned up to run her first half
10,000 Canadian dollars ($11,900) to get
started. She had clients almost immediately.
Now she licenses her approach to other
trainers. Her latest project is an inspiring,
well-argued book, Big Fit Girl, which tells
her story and gives sound practical exercise
tips tailored for bigger women, including
where to buy a decent sports bra and how to
work up to a 5km run.
BIG BUCKS
The diet industry – worth about $66 billion
in the US – keeps going because it knows
people will ultimately fail, argues Louise.
“Many big girls have dieted for most of
their lives,” she says. “If this model actually
worked, we’d all be thin.”
Meanwhile, the failure has an impact on
mental health. Exercise, on the other hand,
does the opposite, especially if losing weight
is taken out of the equation (which makes
sense, because studies show you have to do
an awful lot of it to burn calories). Anyone
who’s ever gone for a jog around the park
knows that for all the slog, they begin to feel
like a new person as the endorphins kick in.
As Louise says, “Exercise makes me feel I
‡ơ‡…–• ‘ˆ ‡š…‡•• ˆƒ–Ǥ Dz– ‹• ˆƒ” „‡––‡” –‘
exercise regularly and carry some extra fat
than to be thin but sedentary,” Brewer says.
DzŠ‡ ‘•– ‹’‘”–ƒ– —•…Ž‡ ‹ –Š‡ „‘†› ‹•
your heart and if that is in good shape
through aerobic exercise, it doesn’t really
matter how you look.”
Numerous studies have proved being
active virtually eliminates the undesirable
…‘•‡“—‡…‡• ‘ˆ ‡š–”ƒ ‰•ǡ ‡•’‡…‹ƒŽŽ› ‹
terms of heart health. One showed that
overweight, but not obese, people tended
to live longer than those of normal weight.
Other scientists have reached the
opposite conclusion, suggesting being
heavy raises the risk of high blood pressure,
high cholesterol and heart problems, even
in a person who works out every day. A
•–—†› ƒ– ‘—– ‹ƒ‹ ‘•’‹–ƒŽ ‹‘”‘–‘ǡ
for example, found those who were
overweight with no other heart health risk
factors were still more likely to have an
early death than a person of normal weight.
Perhaps the most convincing science is
–Šƒ– ™Š‹…Š •—‰‰‡•–• Ƥ–‡•• …ƒ „Ž—– •‘‡
‘”†•̽‘—‹•‡ ”ƒ…‡ȋ•‹†‡„ƒ”–‡š–‡–ƒ‡‡ȌȀ‹‡•ƒ‰ƒœ‹‡Ȁ‡™•›†‹…ƒ–‹‘
of the metabolic and heart risks that are a
•‹†‡Ǧ‡ơ‡…– ‘ˆ „‡‹‰ ‘˜‡”™‡‹‰Š–ǡ „—– ‹–
won’t eliminate them. What is also proved
marathon, the organisers took one look at can conquer anything.” ‹• ›‘— …ƒ „‡ Ǯ•‹› ˆƒ–ǯ ‘”   ȋ–Š‹ ‘
her and presumed she was competing in
the fun run. Even the race shirts were too
small. Gradually she realised if she was
being discriminated against, so were other
potential plus-size athletes. It was when she
was pregnant with Eli that she decided to
retrain as a personal trainer specifically for
plus-size people. She approached a credit
union with the idea and they loaned her
‘MANY BIG GIRLS HAVE DIETED FOR
MOST OF THEIR LIVES. IF THIS MODEL
ACTUALLY WORKED, WE’D ALL BE THIN’
56 NEXT / MARCH 2018
The irony is she probably wouldn’t be as
successful if she were a typically thin
personal trainer. Plus-size training is a
potentially lucrative gap in the market.
“People have a very narrow idea of what
health and fitness can look like. There’s a
belief that you can tell if someone’s fit just
by looking at them. It’s not true.
Weight isn’t everything.”
* who were overweight but fat
–Š‡ ‘—–•‹†‡ǡ ˆƒ– ‘ –Š‡ ‹•‹†‡ȌǤ ˆ ›‘—ǯ”‡ •Ž‹
but eat badly, smoke and haven’t exercised
since school, you’ll almost certainly be
™‘”•‡ ‘ơ –Šƒ –Š‡ ‘˜‡”™‡‹‰Š– ‡š‡”…‹•‡”Ǥ
A 2015 study in the Annals of Internal
Medicine found normal weight people with
fat around their middle were at a greater
risk of mortality than those
all over. Louise Green may be
on to something…
Big Fit Girl, EmbraceThe
BodyYou Have by Louise
Green, Greyston Books, $27.
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 BEST FACE
FORWARD
Kiwi blogger Shannon Harris, aka Shaaanxo
– named by Forbes as one of 2017’s top global
beauty influencers – talks to NEXT about
being a social media star and what got her
through the ups and downs along the way
BY KYLIE BAILEY
New Zealand’s most influential internet star,
Shannon Harris, is gearing up to shoot one of
her legendary beauty tutorials for her YouTube
channel, Shaaanxo.
Bare-faced and ready to roll, she pulls a silly
face, making sure the shot is set up just right.
Hitting the record button on the camera she has
set up above her computer in the white-walled,
fairy lit office of her Palmerston North home, she
greets her three million subscribers with a smile
and a wave.
Today she’s pre-recording one of the three
Shaaanxo beauty tutorials she releases every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The look she’s
road-testing? Mojito – a complex and beautiful
blend of green eye shadows across and around the
lid, coupled with soft pink cheeks and lips.
As the episode begins, it’s clear it really doesn’t
matter whether you are interested in the techniques
As she makes herself up on
camera, she captivates
58 NEXT / MARCH 2018
Shannon’s discussing in detail or not. The fact is, as
she makes herself up on camera, she captivates.
There’s just something about the Kiwi vlogger’s
frank, quirky, down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is style
and self-deprecating humour that makes you want
to… keep watching. Not to mention her ability to
effortlessly conduct a glamorous makeover before
your very eyes.
YOUTUBE FAVOURITE
Since launching in 2009, Shaaanxo has grown to
be one of YouTube’s most popular channels. Last
June, it clocked up three million subscribers and
Shannon was named by Forbes as one of 2017’s top
global beauty influencers – she was number five on
the list.
Aged 25 and already inspiring a massive online
community of 8.3 million followers (and counting),
Shannon is sought after by international
marketeers as one of the key faces in the ‘new
generation’ of online influencers.
These influencers have become important to the
business of beauty because of their unique ability to
introduce new customers to brands through »
 PROFILE

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 59

PROFILE
their massive online networks. The power
of their digital footprints is huge – just
one endorsement on Shaaanxo can see a
particular product sell out within hours of
the episode going live.
Such influence means Shannon is now
able to command hundreds of thousands
of dollars in advertising revenue and
sponsorship for both Shaaanxo and her
personal channel, Shannon Vlogs, in
which she shares anecdotes (especially
about her two dogs, Lewie and Zeus) from
her daily life.
Along with her on-camera presence,
Shannon’s behind-the-scenes business
savvy is also helping her to successfully
build a family empire. She has leveraged
her following to create her very own
beauty   brand, xoBeauty. Launched in
2012, the e-commerce business sells
Italian-made vegan cosmetic brushes,
false lashes, beauty blenders, brush
¶6KHDOZD\VWROGPHWRWU\DQGÀQGDSDVVLRQWKDWLVERWK
DKREE\DQGDSD\FKHFNVRLWQHYHUIHHOVOLNHZRUNLQJ·
cleaner and  cosmetics. Shannon also
collaborated with BH Cosmetics in the
US to release her very own eyeshadow
palette at beauty department store Ulta.
FAMILY BUSINESS
Taking care of business with the help of
family and support staff, Shannon has
been based back in Palmerston North
full-time since 2014, when she moved the
business back to her hometown with
boyfriend Hamish and their dogs in tow.
She runs the businesses alongside her
mum and Auckland-based manager,
Imogen Johnson. Over the years,
Shannon says she has learned the
importance of backing  herself, taking
time out and never forgetting the advicee
60 NEXT / MARCH 2018
given to her by her mum. “She always told
me to  try to find a  passion that is both
a  hobby and a pay  check, so it never
feels like working,” recalls Shannon. “She
was a big inspiration to me growing up.
We weren’t well-off at all  and we missed
out on a lot of time together when I was
small. I was with my  grandparents while
my mum worked holidays.”
Today, her mum remains a role model
and inspiration. Shannon is honest. It’s
“naturally” not easy to work with family
but she’s most proud of the day her mum
was able to quit her full-time job to
join xoBeauty.
The nature of their relationship has
changed since working together.
“There is no one you can trust more
than your own mum. She always has my
best interests at heart. She works her ass
off for me! We have had to learn new
things about each other. It has made our
relationship more solid. She has had to
come to terms with the fact I’m no longer
her little girl anymore and I am now a
business person with a reputation and a
brand to uphold.
“We have similar personality traits –
especially our stubbornness and drive –
which can cause us to clash. When we are
both throwing about ideas and one of us
thinks it’s amazing and the other thinks
it’s the worst, those moments can be
tough. But we’ve always made it out alive
and we know how to compromise.”
THE EARLY DAYS
Like her YouTube channels, xoBeauty was
developed after Shannon saw a gap in the
market and filled the need. But when she
Fr
From makeup demonstrations to product
reviews, Shannon’s Insta is a beauty lover’s dream
first launched her channel from her
bedroom, Shannon never thought her
beauty vlogs would amount to much more
than a confidence boost and a chance to
find like-minded friends online.
For as far back as she can remember, she
says she’s been obsessed with makeup.
“As a little girl I kept getting in trouble
for climbing up on the bath edge to get in
the cupboard where mum kept her giant
Elizabeth Arden palette,” she recalls.
When she was bullied at school for her
“red cheeks”, makeup became her shield
from the world.
“My mum started letting me wear a little
tinted moisturiser as the  bullying was
really affecting my confidence. When I got
to high school, I started experimenting
with foundation and mascara. It was a
security blanket for me and I wouldn’t be
caught dead in public without makeup.”
By the time she had reached her final
years of high school, Shannon was
obsessed with watching US YouTubers
apply their makeup online.
“It made me feel super-creative and
empowered when I copied their tech-
niques. But I realised there was no one
like me, in New Zealand or Australia,
filming their own videos.”
So she decided to get started.
“I remember filming a video where I
propped my camera on top of my TV and
filmed myself, showing what I carried
around in my handbag. The TV was on.
The sound too. I was illuminated in the
dark with blue lights flashing about on my
face. I was awkward, shy – terrible, to be
honest, as most people naturally would be!”
As she refined her techniques, she »
‘As a little girl I kept
getting into trouble
for climbing up to
get in the cupboard
where mum kept her
giant Elizabeth
Arden palette’

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 61

 ‘I was drinking too
much, partying,
staying up late…
It all took its toll
on me. I didn’t
feel happy’

62 NEXT / MARCH 2018


fell in love with the process of filming
YouTube videos and eventually settled on
the first ones she would post online.
“I uploaded and deleted a few videos
before gaining the confidence to keep
them up there and not care about what
people thought. ‘Shaaanxo’ was just a
username I used on social media when I
was younger for my MSN account. At first it
was ‘shanxo’ – short for Shannon, kiss hug.
Then when I joined YouTube to watch my
fave USA YouTubers, shanxo was taken.”
Thinking Shaanxo with two a’s “looked
weird”, Shannon created the moniker that
is now a globally recognised brand name.
“I never knew what was to come in my
future! But I’m glad it worked out the way
it did. Shaaanxo is a cute username. It’s
just part of me now.”
OVERCOMING ANXIETY
Embracing her love of film, Shannon went
on to study for a Bachelor of Applied
Visual Imaging at Massey University. But
student life proved tough. After breaking
up with the boyfriend she’d spent most of
her five years at high school with, a shift to
a new contraceptive pill caused massive
hormonal changes, leading to debilitat-
ing anxiety.
“Life changed a lot for me. I went from
having a sturdy schedule between work,
school, family and relationships.
Suddenly, I didn’t have a boyfriend any
more to spend time with, my mum had
just moved an hour and a half away and I
had a lot more flexibility and freedom in
my new university course.”
Using her free time to work on her
YouTube channel and hang with friends,
Shannon says she slipped into the typical
‘I’ve learned I am capable of achieving
things I thought were fantasy’
life of a uni student. “I was drinking too
much, partying, staying up late… It all
took its toll on me. When I was put on the
new pill, I began feeling down, like really
down. I wasn’t myself anymore and I
didn’t feel happy. I was way too terrified to
mention it to my parents. I was even too
scared to tell my friends.”
The turning point came during a family
dinner. “I must have looked a certain way,
because my auntie asked, ’Are you okay,
Shannon?’ I just walked off and cried in
my room. That was the moment I knew
something was up. The feelings of sadness
‘If I ever need something done, I’ll teach
myself and work hard until it’s done’
and crippling anxiety were too much. I
spent too long curled up in bed with no
motivation to even move. That’s when I
knew I needed to just start over.”
Making the decision to quit not only
university but also her job was difficult.
“One and a half years in, I told my dad I
wanted to drop out of uni. I’d always been
hard on myself when it came to course
work and I have always prided myself on
doing a good job, so I felt pretty dis-
appointed. But I also knew it had to be
done. My dad saw that too. He knows me
and knew it [the decision to quit] wasn’t
something I would take lightly.”
This was also the moment she decided
to back herself to make something out of
YouTube.
“At this point I was regularly earning a
few hundred dollars in Adsense [YouTube
Advertiser] income off my videos. It was
just enough to get by monthly. I knew I
needed time to focus on myself and was
never intending YouTube to become a
full-time thing.”
MEETING HER LOVE
Having met new boyfriend Hamish (she’s
still with him today), she took another leap
and moved to Auckland. Devoting all her
time and energy to YouTube, Shannon
says her channel started “exploding”.
“My channel quickly hit 100,000
subscribers. I was beginning to see more
money through my ads, and slowly
companies began to approach me to do
paid features in my videos, which was
unheard of to me. I remember saying to
my mum, this could be a real thing!”
From a health perspective, Shannon
also began to feel more like herself again.
“I soon came off the contraceptive pill I
was on and everything changed, I felt so
well again. It’s crazy how these pills and
things can affect our mind and wellbeing.
“Looking back I wish I’d got some
professional help to get me through those
dark times, because I don’t even think I
have admitted properly to myself how low
I really did get.”
PROFILE
THE FUTURE
As he was then, today Hamish remains
her rock and is by her side as she tours the
world. When NEXT catches up with
Shannon, the couple have just returned
from their first-ever trip to Vidcon US in
Los Angeles. Now in its eighth year,
VidCon is a multi-genre online video
conference and the biggest event in the
world for internet video creators and
their fans.
In September she travelled to
Melbourne for Vidcon Australia –
another chance to springboard the
Shaaanxo brand into the social
influencer stratosphere and a new oppor-
tunity to push Shannon outside of her
comfort zone.
Even with all the experience she has, she
admits she’s still pretty shy and it’s a
challenge to get up and talk in front of
people. But this year, she says, she’s
determined to do the things that scare her.
That means finding new ways to step
into her power and harness her
confidence. She says she felt hugely proud
when she came off the stage at VidCon,
having completed two talks at the
conference. Yet she says there’s no way six
or seven years ago she could have ever
anticipated sitting in front of a live
audience in the US with other vloggers,
discussing the ins and outs of building a
successful YouTube brand.
She’s also learned how to ring-fence
herself after getting run down physically
and emotionally last year. With a close
family member suffering a terminal
illness, Shannon has taken a step back to
enjoy more downtime. She and Hamish
recently bought a beach house in Mount
Maunganui so they can get away whenever
they need to and they’re planning to
travel around the South Island to see
more of New Zealand.
“I am so much stronger than I thought,”
says Shannon. “My problem-solving skills
are so much stronger because if I ever
need something done, I’ll teach myself
and work hard until it’s done. I’ve
learned I am capable of achieving things
I thought were fantasy. And if I can do it
I think anyone out there can do it. I’m just
a regular girl from Palmy who took oppor-
tunities that came my way, worked my ass
off and created a brand for myself.”
*
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 63
 W O M E N

RISING
64 NEXT / MARCH 2018

This year marks 125 years of women’s suffrage in New Zealand
and International Women’s Day is upon us, but when it comes to
women’s rights how far have we come? We take a look at the
triumphs and trials of feminism over the past year BY JULIA BRAYBROOK
International Women’s Day on March 8
deserves prime time on your calendar
this month, but it hasn’t always been
as celebrated as it is today. While it was
honoured for the first time in 1911, it
wasn’t until 2011 – the 100th anniversary of
the day – that former US president Barack
Obama declared March to be Women’s
History Month. Since then, recognition of
the day has soared and each year brings a
new focus to promoting women’s rights.
Last year, the campaign theme was
Be Bold for Change – encouraging
individuals and organisations to take
“ground-breaking action that truly drives
the greatest change for women”.
In a sign of how much visibility the day
has achieved, Facebook reported that
International Women’s Day was the most
talked about topic on the site, ahead of
other topics such as the vote on same-sex
marriage in Australia and the Super Bowl
in the US. After the World Economic
Forum released the 2017 Global Gender
Gap Report – which found gender parity
is still more than 200 years away – Press
for Progress was chosen as the campaign
for this year’s International Women’s Day.
Organisers say “now, more than ever,
there’s a strong call-to-action to press
forward and progress gender parity”.
Ahead of the day, we take a look back at
a momentous year in which conversations
around women’s rights took centre stage.
In many ways, 2017 was a good year for
women. It was off to a remarkable start, with
the International Women’s Marches taking
place around the world, from the US to
#WOMENSMARCH
BECAME THE SIXTH HIGHEST TRENDING
TOPIC ON TWITTER FOR 2017
IN NEW ZEALAND
WOMEN TOOK TO THE STREETS FROM
3500
AUCKLAND TO INVERCARGILL IN
DEFENCE OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Nairobi to Antarctica. It’s estimated as many
as 4.5 million women marched in the US
alone, with up to 500,000 of those marching
on Washington, DC the day after Donald
Trump’s inauguration as president. Here
in New Zealand, around 3500 women took
to the streets from Auckland to Invercargill
in defence of women’s rights. The hashtag
#WomensMarch became the sixth highest
trending topic on Twitter for the year. And
this year, hundreds of thousands of women
again took to the streets for women’s rights.
WOMEN IN ACTION
‘Feminism’ was also the Merriam-Webster
dictionary’s word of the year, chosen
over ‘complicit’ and ‘recuse’, while a
new feminist rallying cry was born after
Democrat Elizabeth Warren was silenced on
the floor of the US Senate. Senate majority
leader Mitch McConnell remarked: “She
was warned. She was given an explanation.
Nevertheless, she persisted.”
At the box office, female-led and
directed movies dominated, with Star
Wars: The Last Jedi, Beauty and the Beast
and Wonder Woman taking out the three
most popular movies in theatres across
the globe – quite the feat, considering
REPORT
women-led movies haven’t occupied the
top spots in a single year since full box
office data became available 37 years ago.
On the small screen, women were in the
spotlight as well, with The Handmaid’s
Tale and Big Little Lies taking home the
top prizes at the Emmy Awards. As Reese
Witherspoon said, while accepting the
Outstanding Limited Series award for Big
Little Lies, “It’s been an incredible year for
women on television. Bring women to the
front of their own stories and make them
the hero of their own stories.”
A year of women taking the spotlight
– not to mention the #metoo movement
– wasn’t just confined to the box office.
It also saw an influx of women entering
politics – most notably in the US. Anna
Eskamani, who is campaigning to become
a state representative in Florida, says,
“When you put last year’s [2016] election
in perspective with all the stories of sexual
assault and harassment and the fact this
has been happening for generations, that
couples with this upcoming election cycle.”
She adds, “The personal is very political.”
In the states of Virginia and New
Jersey more women were on the ballot
box than at any time in the past decade,
and in Virginia’s 100-member House of
Delegates, the number of women elected
will go from 17 to as many as 29.
According to the Centre for American
Women and Politics, 353 women have
already filed to run for the US House of
Representatives so far this electoral cycle,
compared to 272 in the whole of 2016 »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 65
 On e big scrn
An article detailing years of sexual harassment from Hollywood’s elite
spurred a movement that saw actresses take the spolight for equality
It was a big year for Hollywood, with
bombshell revelations of sexual harassment ‘It is a statement
which led to Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey
and Louis CK (among others) being dropped of action… We are
from movie and TV studios. Most recently,
Hollywood’s elite staged a ‘black out’ at the powerful when
Golden Globes, with the stars donning black
to stand with victims of sexual assault. As we stand together
actress and director Amber Tamblyn wrote
in the New York Times: “What we are wearing with women across
is not a statement of fashion. It is a statement
of action… Black because we are powerful industry lines’
when we stand together with all women
across industry lines. Black because we’re
starting over, resetting the standard. Black because we’re done
being silenced and we’re done with the silencers. Tonight is not
a mourning. Tonight is an awakening.”
The event shone a spotlight on the Time’s Up movement, which
penned an open letter signed by almost 300 actresses including
Alicia Vikander, Cate Blanchett and Meryl Streep, “on behalf of
ȏ‘”‡–Šƒ͙͘͘͘Ȑ™‘‡™Š‘™‘”‹ƤŽǡ–‡Ž‡˜‹•‹‘ƒ†–Š‡ƒ–”‡dzǤ
They called for “all survivors of sexual harassment, everywhere,
to be heard, to be believed, and to know that accountability is
’‘••‹„Ž‡dzǡƒ•™‡ŽŽƒ•Dzƒ•‹‰‹Ƥ…ƒ–‹…”‡ƒ•‡‘ˆ™‘‡‹’‘•‹–‹‘•
of leadership and power across industries.”
“The struggle for women to break in, to rise up the ranks and
to simply be heard and acknowledged in male-dominated
workplaces must end; time’s up on this impenetrable monopoly.”
Time’s Up sprung out of the #metoo movement, which started
with a single tweet from actress Alyssa Milano after the Harvey
Weinstein story broke: “Suggested by a friend: ‘If all the women
who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too’ as a
66 NEXT / MARCH 2018
status, we might give people a sense of
the magnitude of the problem.’” The
movement spread over social media as
millions of people responded, from
Twitter to Facebook to Instagram, with
women sharing their stories, including
Anna Paquin, Debra Messing and Rosario
Dawson. It soon went global as
#BalanceTonPorc (French), #YoTambien
(Spanish) and #Ana_kaman (Arabic).
In recognition of the cultural reckoning
seen by the tales of sexual misconduct
and the #metoo movement itself, Time
magazine named The Silence Breakers
as their 2017 Person of the Year. Among the six women pictured
on the cover – representing people who came forward to report
sexual misconduct – were Uber engineer Susan Fowler, singer
Taylor Swift and actress Ashley Judd. Also pictured were Adama
Iwu, a coporate lobbyist who said she was groped in front of
colleagues, and a woman using the pseudonym Isabel Pascual, an
agricultural worker who was harassed by a man who threatened
to harm her and her children. A sixth woman – a hospital worker
and victim of sexual harassment – has just her elbow pictured.
She was there anonymously “as an act of solidarity to represent
all those who could not speak out”.
Time wrote, “These silence breakers have started a revolution
of refusal, gathering strength by the day, and in the past two
months alone, their collective anger has spurred immediate and
•Š‘…‹‰”‡•—Ž–•ǣ‡ƒ”Ž›‡˜‡”›†ƒ›ǡ•Šƒ˜‡„‡‡Ƥ”‡†ǡ‘‰—Ž•
toppled, icons disgraced.
“This reckoning appears to have sprung up overnight. But it has
actually been simmering for years, decades, centuries.”
 REPORT

46
WOMEN WERE
ELECTED TO
PARLIAMENT IN
NEW ZEALAND
LAST YEAR – THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF
REPRESENTATION
FOR WOMEN IN
ITS HISTORY
– a 64% jump over the last election.
Non-partisan organisation She Should
Run, which helps women in the US enter
politics, has also seen a huge surge in
interest. CEO Erin Loos Cutraro says,
“Since Election Day, we’ve seen over 4500
– and counting – women step up. To give
you context, we usually see about 100 or so
women each month. It’s quite remarkable.”
In New Zealand, 46 women were elected
to parliament in last year’s election – the
highest level of representation for women
in its history. Of the total 120 MPs, women
currently make up 38.4%, up 7% from the
previous parliament. With Jacinda Ardern
– our third female prime minister – it’s also of the parliament by reason of having the Meanwhile, Lebanon, Jordan and
the first time since 2001 that our governor- care of a baby.” And in May 2017, Green Tunisia voted to repeal an archaic law
general, chief justice and prime minister Party member Larissa Waters was the first that allowed men accused of rape to be
have all been women. to make use of the rule change – and make exonerated if they marry the individual
And in the unending battle to reach history – when she breastfed her daughter they raped. Ghida Anani, founder and
a work/life balance, parliament itself is Alia in parliament. director of women’s right’s organisation
leading the charge, with Speaker Trevor Abaad, says, “A white dress doesn’t cover
Mallard pledging to make parliament a A GLOBAL MOVEMENT up rape. It’s the first step to changing the
more family-friendly place. Following the Chile also eased restrictive abortion mindset and traditions.”
announcement, Labour MP Willow-Jean regulations in September, granting women And Tunisia saw women’s rights get
Prime became the first woman to breastfeed the right to have an abortion in three support from a surprising quarter: The
in the debating chamber in November. cases: when the woman’s life is in danger; president himself. Beji Caid Essebsi
The push to make parliament more when the foetus is not viable; or when the pointed out that under the Tunisian
accommodating has also been seen in pregnancy is the result of rape. Previously, constitution, the state was “civil”, adding
Australia. In 2016, a rule change allowed Chile joined El Salvador, Nicaragua and that when it came to men and women’s
breastfeeding MPs to bring their babies the Dominican Republic as one of four rights, “We must state that we are moving
into the chamber of parliament. Previously, countries in the Americas that banned towards equality between them in every
breastfeeding mums often had to miss abortion under all circumstances. sphere. And the whole issue hinges on the
out on important parliamentary duties The same month saw women in Saudi matter of inheritance.”
and delegate their voting power to other Arabia finally granted the right to drive,
members to vote in their absence. and they’ll be able to drive not only cars LEVELLING THE FIELD
When the vote passed, Leader of the but trucks and motorcycles too. Many It was a bold stand. Under Islamic
House Christopher Pyne said, “No member, activists saw it as a milestone moment after jurisprudence, daughters have a right to
male or female, will ever be prevented a long campaign that saw women arrested only half of the inheritance given to sons,
from participating fully in the operation and jailed for defying the driving ban. barring exceptional circumstances. »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 67
WHILE SOME FIRMS IN THE UK HAVE ALMOST CLOSED
THE PAY GAP – OR CLOSED IT ENTIRELY – OTHER
COMPANIES HAVE PAY GAPS OF UP TO 64.8%
Widows are also systemically passed over
for inheritances, in favour of brothers-
and parents-in-law. Together, it means
that women are usually reduced to being
dependants for life.
And in Africa, women’s groups organised
a Congolese Women’s Forum for peace
and equal political representation in the
Democratic Republic of Congo. Just weeks
after the forum, 80 local women were
included in talks alongside militant groups
in the volatile and often violent Kasai
region. Women made up almost 20% of
those at the table – a big step forward for
women’s representation in the region.
While there were momentous wins for
women’s rights across the world, there are
many areas where equality isn’t yet a reality.
Pay equality in New Zealand is still to
be achieved. The gender pay gap has
remained static at around 12% for a decade
– though Statistics New Zealand reported
it fell to 9.4% in September, the smallest
the gap has been in five years. Research
commissioned by the Ministry for Women
last year found 80% of wage inequality was
due to “unexplained” factors, including
conscious or unconscious bias that
negatively affected women’s opportunities
for both recruitment and wage increases.
Hope is on the horizon though. The
government last year announced a $2bn pay
equality settlement for aged and residential
care support workers, which would see care
workers in female-dominated industries
receive page rises of up to $5000. This year
the Labour Party has pledged to build on
equal pay by implementing the changes
to the Equal Pay Act, as recommended by
the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity
Principles. As the legislation put forward by

Hding e line the National government has since lapsed,

In May women’s rights appeared to
take a step backwards when President
Trump reinstated and expanded the
Global Gag Rule – legislation that
prevents overseas healthcare providers
from receiving US government funding
if they provide information, referrals or
services related to abortion. Previously,
the Rule applied only to family planning
funds but with the expansion, the
Rule now applies to all global health
funds provided by the US government,
‹…Ž—†‹‰’”‘‰”ƒ‡•Š‡Ž’‹‰–‘Ƥ‰Š–
HIV/AIDS and malaria. The expansion
also stops organisations from using
their own or other people’s funds for
abortion-related services, if they want
to receive US government funds. It’s
expected that NZ$14.6 billion will be
cut from global health funding in total.
But since Dutch minister Lilianne
Ploumen established She Decides
to cover the shortfall in early 2017,
11 countries and three foundations
have raised a total of just under NZ$650 million, and crowdfunding by citizens and
smaller foundations have raised almost $832,900. While it doesn’t cover the full
amount of funding slashed, it will cover the $650 million of family planning funding
that the Global Gag Rule previously covered. Lilianne said, “It shows once again that
the international community is not abandoning women in developing countries to
their fate, but seeks to guarantee their fundamental right to family planning.”
the Labour Party intends to introduce new
legislation making it easier for women to
bring forward claims if they believe they
haven’t been paid equally.
Iceland has gone much further. On
New Year’s Day, it passed legislation that
requires companies with 25 or more full-
time employees to analyse their salary
structures every three years to ensure men
and women are being paid equally for
equal work. They must then report back
to the government for certification or face
penalties that include fines. Though equal
pay has been enshrined in law since 1961,
the new standard is seen as the first time
specific steps have been put in place to try
to force companies to close pay gaps.
BALANCING ACT
Transparency around salaries seems to
be the new frontier on addressing pay
inequality. Back in 2016 the UK passed
legislation that required organisations
with 250 or more workers to publish their
salaries from April 2017. The results were
eye-opening. While some firms have almost
closed the pay gap – or in the case of the
British Museum, closed it entirely – other
companies have gaps of up to 64.8%.
And it was revealed women at the BBC
were paid 10.7% less per hour on average
than their male colleagues. Of those who
earned more than NZ$280,000, two-thirds
of them were men and no women ranked

68 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 REPORT

among the seven highest earners. That OF WAGE INEQUALITY WAS

disclosure led to journalist Carrie Gracie
resigning as the BBC’s China editor, citing
the pay gap between herself and her male
counterparts. She said of the revelation:
“For the first time, women saw hard
evidence of what they’d long suspected,
that they are not being valued equally.”
While Carrie was offered a raise that
would increase her salary to NZ$340,000
from $255,000, the salary would still have
been lower than her male counterparts.
“I could not go back to China and collude
knowingly in what I consider to be
unlawful pay discrimination. I could not
do it, nor could I stay silent and watch the
BBC perpetuate a failing pay structure by
discriminating against women,” she said.
She added she would return to her
previous post in the TV newsroom in
London “where I expect to be paid equally”.
Photographs Getty Images
80%
DUE TO ‘UNEXPLAINED’ FACTORS,
INCLUDING CONSCIOUS OR
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS
roles men and women occupied as the CEO of GypsyFest, have since led the
reason for the gap, with men working in “glittery march for consent” through
higher-paid and more powerful positions Auckland’s city centre to stand in solidarity
– an issue in itself. with victims of sexual assault. The
organisers hope the march will also open
A WAY TO GO YET up conversations around consent, victim
And while in New Zealand we may have blaming and sexual harassment.
elected a female PM, an incident at popular Progress has definitely been made in
music festival Rhythm and Vines where the past 12 months – some of it quite
Madeline Anello-Kitzmiller was groped significant – but there’s still a way to go
while topless has until we reach full equality.
sparked conversations But in a world where
around consent and women are speaking up
What do

The BBC said in a statement “there was no sexual assault. and speaking out, and
systematic discrimination against women”,
though it has since announced that it will
Both Madeline, who
was wearing a ‘glitter
y ink? New Zealand celebrates
an important milestone in
be making “substantial pay cuts for some boob’ decoration by We’d love to women’s rights, here’s to
get your feedback!
men, and pay rises for some men and GypsyFest at the time Write to us at next@ the coming year bringing
women” to address a series of “anomalies”. of the incident, and bauermedia.co.nz that dream a little bit
Many companies cited the different Jolene Guillum-Scott, closer to reality.
*
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 69
 THEITY
L
EQUAPORT
WHERE WE STAND
RE
e’ve long lauded our history as a
W feminist country – first to give
women the vote, three female
prime ministers when many countries
have yet to have one, and recently, a
historic win for pay equality. But what do
New Zealand women think about the state
of equality today?
In a new survey of more than 1000 New
Zealand women*, 89% say that equality is
personally important. When asked what
equality means to you, it’s about having
equal opportunities and treatment –
notably pay equality, with 98% saying they
believe men and women should be paid
the same for the same job role.
But most believe equality isn’t yet a reality,
with 69% saying it’s still a man’s world. One
said society was tipped in favour of men, as
“masculine systems dominate government,
business and social interactions”. Others
pointed to the home as an area where
women are disadvantaged. “Men do not
have to choose between having children
and filling leadership roles in business
and the community. In many families,
women can work but running the home
and childcare are disproportionately their
responsibility. The man’s job is important
while the woman’s job is peripheral to her
role in the home.”
Attitudes in society are also to blame,
said some. “Men are automatically referred
to as strong leaders, women as aggressive.
The bias around words defining roles
is extreme.”
One woman said she didn’t feel she was
treated equally when it came to finances.
“Men are still looked to for the final rights
in banking situations, real estate purchases,
job seniority, authority. I do all the buying
and control the Visa in our house but when
I want to change anything it’s my husband
who has to give permission to the bank.
I instigated an account with a store and
when they sent out new cards many years
70%
OF WOMEN BELIEVE THAT EQUAL
RIGHTS FOR WOMEN IS NOT
YESTERDAY’S NEWS.
70 NEXT / MARCH 2018
44%
BELIEVE SEXUAL
DISCRIMINATION IS
STILL AN ISSUE IN
WORKPLACES
later it was in my husband’s name, who has
nothing to do with the card.”
Many women cited the workplace as a
context in which women still aren’t valued
the same as men. Of the women surveyed,
44% believe sexual discrimination is still
an issue in workplaces and a fifth believe
the glass ceiling will always remain. One
woman said she held a senior position
at her workplace but was often assumed
to be taking notes for meetings, while
another said that in her male-dominated
industry, it was perceived men were more
knowledgeable when it came to technology.
And one said she felt there was an
expectation men would play the key role:
“I’ve recently been in a role at a large NZ
company where the entire senior leadership
team was male. As a female working closely
with them I still felt at times like I wasn’t
taken seriously. I had to be assertive and
at times almost aggressive to get my point
across and then I was made to feel like I was
a ‘bulldog’ for being that way. It surprises
me that that sort of attitude still exists.
That very same workplace was desperately
trying to recruit more women into senior
roles and to diversify its leadership team.
It really isn’t surprising that many women
don’t aim for leadership roles and senior
roles when they have to put up with that.”
In fact, many women believe there’s
still a way to go for equality; 69% say there
are still big battles for women’s rights to
be won. Some women said they were still
fighting for rights they thought would
have been won years ago.
“I am 62 years old. I hope I live to see
my granddaughters grow up to know true
equality, so they don’t have to choose
between family and a career. I thought
this would be true for my daughter and
can’t believe it isn’t!” Another said: “Pay
equity… Contraception… Abortion… All
are battles still being fought, and I know
– I was heavily involved in the women’s
movement back in the late 1960s. Little
has changed in those areas.”
“Maybe legally the battles have been
won,” said one woman, “but socially
women are still perceived as less than equal
in many areas, by many sectors of society.”
While many women enjoy the rights won
by previous generations, the ongoing fight
has 43% saying they believe there’s some
complacency around gender equality.
“With women’s rights, there goes
responsibility and I don’t think some of
the younger generation are buying into
the responsibility bit of it. There is a battle
89%
SAY THAT EQUALITY
IS PERSONALLY
IMPORTANT
still to come,” said one.
But there is hope. The past 12 months
saw women take the spotlight and sparked
a new conversation around equality – and
70% of women believe that equal rights for
women is not yesterday’s news. In fact, just
over half of New Zealand women believe
we still do okay as a country in leading
the conversation around equality. Many
said our history of leading the charge in
women’s rights made us a good leader for
that conversation: “We are a country of
strong women with enormous potential.”
Many women were advocates for carrying
Words Julia Braybrook Photographs Getty Images
on the conversation around equality.
“Social change is slow,” said one. “We still
need to lead the equality conversation
until equality becomes the norm.”
Another said we owed it to previous
generations to keep pressing for progress.
“Our grandmothers fought for equality
and we would not have the educational
opportunities we have today if it wasn’t for
them. It is our responsibility to honour that
fight and keep striving for change.”
* Bauer Insights IQ Equality Report 2018
“ W H AT D O E S E Q UA L I T Y M E A N
TO NEXT READERS?

“Being paid at the same pay scale for

1984
the same job as men. Also, having our
opinions on matters regarded as
important as men’s opinions.”
“Equality is about having the same
recognition, responsibilities and BY GEORGE ORWELL
A NEW ADAPTATION CREATED BY ROBERT ICKE AND DUNCAN MACMILLAN
remuneration for the same education
and work. Being able to prioritise your
own wellbeing and goals equally.”

Big Brother
Run e world Is Watching You
When it comes to strong female role models, New
Zealand has no shortage of inspiration. More than half
the women surveyed picked Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern as the country’s top role model, followed by
Helen Clark (47%) and Valerie Adams (31%). Rounding
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JACINDA ARDERN HELEN CLARK VALERIE ADAMS

ENGLISH NATIONAL BALLET

GISELLE
AKRAM KHAN’S

KATE SHEPPARD TONI STREET

Internationally, women have many role models to Don’t miss

choose from. Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey
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CORE FUNDER
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QUEEN ELIZABETH II KATE MIDDLETON aaf.co.nz
 I started ss
b u s i n e
a

GRASS
ROOTS

Dr Iona Weir was told she

couldn’t be both a scientist
and a CEO. But she
ignored the naysayers
and launched a skincare
company that makes the
most of her unique skills
 A love of science and nature – and
years of research – saw Dr Iona Authenticity is key
Weir turn her attention to blending
“This business is about helping people. I developed the anti-ageing cream because I
her two passions. We sat down
was fed up trying to buy a face cream. You have to put serums on, then you’ve got to
with the 51-year-old CEO of Atopis
put cream on and it wasn’t working. It was about creating a cream where I quickly put
Skincare to talk about her that on, put makeup over and I’m done – time-effective but also cost-effective. We
30-second rule, being authentic, have customers telling us they’ve had eczema their whole life and for the first time,
and tackling the US market. they’re willing to show their legs. I’ve had women who’ve had acne their adult life and
now have absolutely no acne. I’ve had women who’ve gone through menopause early,
and their skin was getting dry and thin. When they’re telling me about the anti-
DO THE RESEARCH ageing cream, they’re saying, “You should see my face. I have me back”. That’s what
“We launched Atopis Skincare last the company is about. Our slogan is, ‘No more cover-ups’.”
February. Behind it was four years of
scientific research, two clinical trials,
formulations and regulatory approvals.
My 27 years of research all came
together; I’d used coconut water to get
plant stem cells to regenerate new plants,
now I use the same technology in Atopis. I
did my PhD on apoptosis, which is
programmed cell death, and was the first
person in the world to prove apoptosis
can be reversed in plants. I then used the
combination I knew how to manipulate –
apoptosis and the immune system – to
develop products for human health.
I wanted to work with plants and loved
anything to do with nature, so it was
Know your market
about taking everything I knew from my “The New Zealand market is small, so my entire focus is on the huge US market – New
years of research and putting it together. Zealand customers can buy us online. The goal is to have a range of Atopis for the cradle to
The patented technology for Atopis is the grave; baby products, teenage products, all the way through. There are women like me
where I manipulate plant cells to turn on who’ve spent too much time in the sun, so we’re about to come out with a body cream that’s
pathways that give me the bioactives I about giving you back your body. The dream is you’ll wear togs and you’ll walk with
want. These bioactives work with your confidence into the water. We’re coming up with a day cream targeted at younger women,
immune system and the apoptosis in your giving them the same benefits
cellls to bring you back to normal.” as our anti-ageing one, and a

Quick tips
As told to Monique McKenzie Photographs Tony Nyberg Hair and makeup Sharon Laurence-Anderson

gentle cleanser if you’ve got

sensitive, acne-prone skin.”

WAIT UNTIL YOU’RE READY: Every company I’ve worked for LEARN TO SAY NO. People are always coming
I’ve had people dictating what they believe should happen to the products I
developed. This company I’ve planned and designed from the start. Everyone
said, “A scientist shouldn’t be a CEO. You are going to need somebody to run
1 at you with requests. You need to manage your
–‹‡‡ơ‡…–‹˜‡Ž›ƒ†ƒŽ™ƒ›•ˆ‘…—•‘–Š‡‰‘ƒŽǤ
Other female CEOs have gone, “There comes a point
your company. You should just invent the products.” A scientist as a CEO has where you say no.”
far more appreciation of the product, the science and the market. I decided I
DON’T GIVE UP. There are always challenges,
wanted to start a company 10 years ago, and set about getting the skills and
network to achieve that. We started designing the exit, worked backwards,
planned all the way through, then set about doing it. I spent a couple of years
running a consultancy while at home with my children, Siannah, 14; and
2 and there are moments when it seems impossible.
Don’t give up; work your way around the problem.

BUILD A STRONG TEAM AROUND YOU.

Tess, 12, going under the radar, doing research and business development for
Atopis. That’s one thing I’ve learned; don’t put your head up until you’re
ready. The minute you put your head up, competitors come at you.
3 You can’t do it on your own; work out what your
•–”‡‰–Š•ƒ†™‡ƒ‡••‡•ƒ”‡ƒ†Ƥ†’‡‘’Ž‡
who complement your skill set. Listen to your team
and work with them to succeed.

30-SECOND RULE LISTEN TO YOUR GUT. Every time I ignored

Four different women in business gave me the same advice. People see
a woman and think you’re a pushover. Ask, “What is it you’re going to
do for me and how much is it going to cost?” If they can’t tell me in 30
seconds, then walk away. I’ve been applying that and it really works.
4 my gut feelings and was persuaded by someone
to do something my instincts were saying was
wrong, it always went wrong. If you aren’t sure and
people are putting time pressure on you to make a
decision, wait – never be pushed into a decision.

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 73

 The best skincare for
freckled faces. 94

100
Lifestyle
One couple’s
carefully curated
cottage.

85 The new take on the

classic hoop earring.

76
New season trends
for ageless style.

Live your best – and

healthiest – life with classic
trends, wholesome meals,
and natural beauty basics

126 Dishes that put the

spotlight on salmon. MARCH 2018 / NEXT 75
 SILVER
If you think metallic is
only for evenings, think
again. Pair this dress
with sneakers or black
ankle boots for a
daytime vibe.

FOREVER
CHIC
We showcase eight of
this season’s trends
that you can embrace
with confidence,
whatever your
life stage

MODERN LOVE DRESS, $699,

WORLD. EARRINGS, $189, SILK
& STEEL. CHOKER (MADE WITH
SILVER TRIMMING, $3 PER
METRE), GEOFF’S EMPORIUM.
BELT, $129,TK STORE. KIEKIE
HEELS, $329, KATHRYN WILSON.

76 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 FASHION

WRAP SHIRT, $439, RACHEL

MILLS. CARDIGAN, $349,
KOWTOW. MARLY PANTS, $360,
GESTUZ. RADIANCE HOOP
EARRINGS, $189; AND
RUNNING WILD NECKLACE
(MIDDLE), $149; BOTH SILK &
STEEL. PEARL DROPLET
NECKLACE, $99; AND FLOWER
NECKLACE, $99; BOTH
HOMAGE BY KAYLA JURLINA.

RED
Don’t be afraid to mix
different shades of red
and a variety of
textures for a creative
mash-up of this
classic hue.
 DARK
FLORAL
This trend pairs
well with statement
fabrics like suede,
knits, lace, silk
and fur.

MOXIE SHIRT DRESS, $500,

GESTUZ. EARRINGS, $119, SILK
& STEEL. SCARF, $10,THE
SCARF QUEEN. RIO BOOTS,
$300, MI PIACI.

78 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 FASHION

DOUBLE
DENIM
A delicate fabric like
lace or silk, or a
ÁRDW\ IHPLQLQH GUHVV
PDNHV IRU D VWULNLQJ
FRQWUDVW ZLWK GHQLP·V
LQGXVWULDOIHHO

OVERLAPPING
JACKET, $899; AND
SKIRT, $800; BOTH BY
AUT STUDENT EUNJI
CHOI. CLAUDE LACE
TOP, $280, LEON
& HARPER. GOLD
AND LABRADORITE
EARRINGS, $179,
SILK & STEEL.
 OFFICE CHIC
Whether you’re
heading into work or
QRW WKH QLQHWRÀYH
look is the business this
season. A mid-length
skirt works best for this
trend; swap the pencil
style for an A-line if
you prefer.

BLOUSE, $165, DEBY DEBO.

NARI TAN BLAZER, $299,
INTERVAL. NAVY BLAZER, $290,
SEED HERITAGE. RADIANCE
SILVER EARRINGS, $159, SILK &
STEEL. BROOCH, $99, FOUR
CORNERS. DUDA MAROON
KITTEN HEELS, $210, MI PIACI.

80 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 FASHION

POLKA DOTS
Stripes give the dots
some edge – but feel
free to pair this
versatile trend with
other prints.

TOP, $119; AND SCARF, $18;

BOTH ZARA. WIDE PANTS, $80,
H&M. STUDS, $16, LOVISA.
LEELEE MULES, $339, STOLEN
GIRLFRIENDS CLUB.

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 81

 ANIMAL
PRINT
Add animal
print shoes, a
handbag or belt to a
VLPSOH EODFN RXWÀW WR
instantly give it class
and elegance.

CHRISTINE DRESS, $450,

GESTUZ. FEELING DUSTY COAT,
$429, COOPER. FRESH WATER
PEARL BROOCH, $99,
HOMAGE BY KAYLA JURLINA.
 FASHION

FIRST SHIRT, $425, HARRIS

TAPPER. JACKET, $99; AND
PANTS, $80; BOTH H&M.
CHOKER, $99,TRELISE
COOPER. BAG, $329, LEON
& HARPER. WHITNEY
SLINGBACKS, $260, MI PIACI.
Photographs Michael James Rooke Creative director Louise Thomson Styling Sonia Greenslade Hair and makeup Carolyn Haslett Model Arehana @ Clyne

PLAID
To keep this trend
modern, sophisticated
and feminine go for
high-waist pants and
skirts and amp
up the glam in
your accessories.

Stockists, see page 152

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 83
FASHION
Life’s a
beach
It’s known for yoga and active wear pieces,
and now WE-AR has made the foray into
swimwear. The first swimwear collection
features three fully reversible styles, with
a one piece and two bikinis, which are
designed to stay put when heading out
into the surf. And like all WE-AR’s
clothing, they’re designed to the highest
ethical standards. we-ar.com
84 NEXT / MARCH 2018
RINGING
IN CHANGE
The Golden Globes saw stars
stand in solidarity with
victims of sexual assault in
black dresses. But some stars
including Nicole Kidman
and Shailene Woodley added
an extra touch to their outfits
– the Duet Pinky Ring by US
jewellery brand Shiffon. The
brand donates 50% of the
sales of the ring to seed
grants for young female
entrepreneurs and
companies that empower
women around the world. It’s
fashion with a cause – and
one we can definitely get
behind. shiffonco.com.
NOW TRENDING
After curating the best of the runway, fashion bible Vogue
has found the top trends for 2018, though they’re not quite
day-to-day wear. Along with lace cycling shorts à la 80s, also
featured are cardigans worn over the shoulders and fastened
with brooches; tracksuits jazzed up with beading, sequins
and ribbons; and head-to-toe denim, bra included.
Fashiо
WHAT’S GREEN
NEW BY JULIA BRAYBROOK
GARMENTS
In a win for ethical
fashion, 64 companies
including ASOS and H&M
have committed to increas-
ing sustainable design,
garment collection, and the
WINTER
use of recycled materials by
WONDERLAND
We’re coveting this silk
2020. The move follows the
Global Fashion Agenda’s
overshirt from Liann Bellis. focus on ‘circular fashion’
The designer’s latest – the idea garments can be
collection also includes made to have a lifespan
…Š‹ơ‘–‘’•ǡ˜‘Ž—‹‘—• benefiting the environment
Photog raphs Supplied
skirts and pinstriped wool at all stages, from produc-
’ƒ–•ǡ‹Š—‡•–Šƒ–”‡ƪ‡…– tion to disposal. And
New Zealand’s winter companies will be required
landscapes. Conspiracy Shirt, to publish a progress report
$489. liannbellis.co.nz detailing their move to
sustainable fashion too.
 FASHION

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From the classic to
the quirky, these hoop

GE.
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earrings add the finishing

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touch to your outfit
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18,
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MARCH 2018 / NEXT

FASHION
EARRINGS,
$169, HOMAGE
BY KAYLA
JURLINA.

O N E S K I R T TILLY BAG, $295,

SABEN.

3 WAYS
9-5, after dark, or a lazy
weekend... this stylish skirt
is your one-stop solution Dier
MADRID SHIRT,
$229, BLAK.

V-NECK BLOUSE, ALEXIA 9,

$19
$70, H&M. SKIRT,
DEBY
.
DEBO MELODY BOW
MULES, $200,
SEED HERITAGE.

SMOOTH
OPERATOR BELT,
$129, TRELISE
COOPER.

PRIMA
DONNA
RING, $299,
SILK & STEEL.
RITUAL
TEE, $99,
KOWTOW.

Work RADIANCE
GOLD EARRINGS,
$189, SILK &
STEEL.
THE FOUNTAIN
BAG, $495,
ANDREA MOORE.

BABY CAMDEN

ip
BAG, $389; AND
CONTRAST
STRAP, $79; BOTH
are
Wkend
SABEN.
irts
sk on
Midi his seas sy
in t dd a co ler
– a for coo
knit nights SLICK LOAFERS,
$260, MI PIACI.
Stockists, see page 152 SNEAKERS, $80, MAX.
Sign up to any Caci treatment
plan before March 31 and receive
up to a year of bonus facials!*

*
Promotional facial offer is valid from February 1 2018 until
March 31 2018. Please see caci.co.nz for full terms and conditions.
88 NEXT / MARCH 2018

OF AGE
As we add on the years, so does our skin. We give you the
lowdown on what to expect in each decade and how you
can address the signs of ageing BY TAMSIN MARSHALL
In yr 30s
Your sun and lifestyle habits from earlier
years are going to haunt you now and
what you do during this decade is
crucial for the years to come. “Now is
when you’re likely to start developing
uneven skin tone with sun spots and
broken blood vessels,” says Dr Catherine
Stone from The Face Place.
“Hyperpigmentation can be caused by
sun damage – this pigmentation usually
sits more superficially in the skin and is
easier to treat. Melasma, which sits
deeper in the skin, is often caused by
hormonal stimulation with pregnancy or
the oral contraceptive, and is much more
difficult to treat.” Sunscreen is super-
important – always wear it. “UV exposure
causes pigmentation and it only takes
five to seven minutes of exposure to
stimulate collagenase, an enzyme that
destroys collagen, which results in
sun-damaged skin,” adds Brandy
Wehinger, national education manager
for Caci Clinics. Your skin will also start
to get drier and it might also become
thinner and more prone to fine lines and
wrinkles as sebum production slows.
ELIZABETH ARDEN PREVAGE
ANTI-AGING DAILY SERUM, $299.
What you do during
this decade is crucial
BEAUTY
C O M E
MURAD CITY SKIN
BROAD SPECTRUM
ENVIRON
SPF 50 I PA, $105.
EVENESCENCE STARTING OUT
C-BOOST If you haven’t already begun incorporating regular
CLARIFYING
skin treatments into your regime, now is the time
CREAM, $89.
to start. You should also up the ante with products
containing vitamin A and C to help repair the
damaged skin cell DNA that results in pigmentation.
“You could try IPL to target the redness and
superficial brown spots, but it doesn’t work well
for melasma. Sometimes dermal needling can be
helpful in moving the deeper pigment,” suggests
Stone. Wehinger also recommends regular
treatments and says sonophoresis infusions and
microdermabrasion facials help keep skin in good
shape – they stimulate the creation of collagen and
increase cell turnover. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
injections can also help stimulate the skin.
“These treatments are useful for ‘banking’ your
collagen – building up stores before they start to
diminish, to reduce the impact of the ageing
CLINIQUE
REPAIRWEAR LASER
FOCUS, $114.
process,” says Stone. If you’re noticing volume loss in
the midface and chin area, dermal fillers can gently
restore volume and lift the early signs of ageing
through the smile lines and mouth corners. »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 89
 ENVIRON RAD DERMALOGICA AGE CLINIQUE SMART
SUN PROTECTION SMART AGE REVERSAL CUSTOM-REPAIR
CREAM, $56. EYE COMPLEX, $115. SERUM, $120.

ULTRACEUTICALS ULTRA A SKIN PERFECTING

SERUM CONCENTRATE, $175.
STOPPING THE SAG
In our 40s elasticity will decrease, skin will sag a little more
and dehydration will cause skin to look less luminous.
“Switching to a stronger vitamin A such as retinol will help.

In yr 40s This has resurfacing properties to improve cell turnover and
reduce the build-up of dead cells – minimising the ‘rough
patches’ that can develop on skin at this age,” says Stone.
Skin will start to thin even “Look for products with copper peptides – small proteins that
more and become dehydrated, help your cells communicate and can also be helpful to add
and fine lines will start to into your skin regime, as they get ‘eaten up’ by stress and our
show around the eyes and skin is often depleted of them by now.”
mouth. Boosting hydration Structurally we start to lose some of the support in our faces
topically with serums and and the skin starts to drop from the cheeks to the jowls and
moisturisers rich in often through the brows. The fat pads around our temples,
hyaluronic acid will help, as mouth, chin and jawline also shrink.
will drinking more water. “The 8 Point Lift (with dermal filler) or ‘vampire facelift’
Sunscreen is still a must for (filler and PRP) can create a beautiful, subtle lift that
protection and prevention of restores the facial volume and gives a fresher, more youthful
further damage. Hormonal changes during this decade also look, in a very natural way,” says Stone. “Small, regular doses
make a difference as some women go into perimenopause. of Botox can help reduce and prevent the fine ‘smoker’s
“You want to continue treatments that promote collagen lines’ around the mouth and you might consider a special
production and hydration levels,” says Wehinger. “Treatments form of PRP, Cellular Matrix, which uses hyaluronic acid
like photo-rejuvenation and collagen induction will help to with the PRP to help strengthen, hydrate and thicken skin. If
maintain a fresher, more healthy-looking skin, even out skin you’re noticing hair loss, leaky bladder or a diminished
tone and help diminish signs of sun damage from earlier years.” sexual response, PRP can be helpful in treating those too!”

Boosting hydration topically with serums

and moisturisers rich in hyaluronic acid will help
90 NEXT / MARCH 2018
 BEAUTY

In yr 50s+ ESTÉE LAUDER PERFECTIONIST PRO

INSTANT WRINKLE FILLER, $158.
The changes in your skin are more noticeable now –
thinning, sagging, volume loss and fines lines forming
aren’t probable, they are definite. Those in their 50s
and 60s grew up in the era of minimal sunblock,
coconut oil, sunbeds and the idea that being tanned to
the max was a good thing. While we can’t turn back the
clock, we can remedy the damage with the assistance of
experienced skin therapists.
“As our oestrogen declines, further loss of collagen
may lead to deeper lines and sagging. More advanced
treatments are required to increase collagen production
– fractional CO2 laser is a great option for more
advanced signs of ageing,” says Wehinger. “It treats
damaged skin by correcting tone, firmness and texture
while also reducing fine lines and wrinkles.” In our 50s
skin takes longer to repair. “If you have sun damage in
your 50s and beyond, we can sometimes see dramatic
improvements in skin with a combination of medical
skin products (especially vitamins A and C,
antioxidants, and pigment reducing products called
tyrosinase-inhibitors), medical skin treatments (peels,
LED light treatments such as omnilux, medifacia
and our super-duper skin texture, pore
size, crepey skin treatment: the

Vampire Facial Plus,” says Stone.
A combination of in-clinic
treatments and at-home care
can make a huge difference,
no matter what age you
start. But at its simplest –
sunscreen is the best
use th écolletage
anti-ageing product you can
possibly use.
While we can’ t
turn back the clock,
we can remedy
the damage
Photographs Getty Images and supplied
Tip
ULTRACEUTICALS ULTRA DERMALOGICA AGE ENVIRON INTENSIVE
B2 HYDRATING SMART MULTIVITAMIN RETINOL 2, $83.
st SERUM, $102. THERMAFOLIANT, $99.
m s a ren’t ju
Seru o ur face
–
fo r y
great n your ne
ck
em o
and d
as well. NATURE VS NURTURE
How much of how we age is dependent on
genetics as opposed to lifestyle?
W hile observing how our
mothers and grandmothers
to it every day. Our skin is the
largest organ in our body, and is
age can help us understand
the predecessors for our
our barrier to the environment
so it is important that it receives
skin, there’s no doubting that
lifestyle factors have a huge
adequate nutrition,” says Stone.
“Unfortunately, it is the last
role to play. The sun is the most organ in the body to receive the
damaging element there is – nutrition from our blood, and
you simply need to look at the in most cases our diets have
†‹ơ‡”‡…‡ „‡–™‡‡ •‹ –Šƒ– inadequate nutrition so we need
is frequently exposed – like to boost the skin’s vitamins by

the backs of your hands – to applying them on the skin –

skin which isn’t. Other lifestyle
ˆƒ…–‘”• –‘ ‹ƪ—‡…‡ ‘—” •‹ǯ•
condition are what we eat,
stress, and whether or not we
smoke. “It is commonly quoted
that 80% of the results with
your skin are what you apply
hence why vitamin A and C are so
important.” Keeping hydrated,
resting well and supplementing
with essential fatty acids will
assist skin nutrition from the
inside, while what you apply
topically will aid from the outside.

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 91

 Roll up
Revlon’s nifty new ColorStay
Exactify Liquid Liner, L I G H T LY
$30, has a rolling wheel tip THERE
(like a micro pizza cutter) •–±‡ƒ—†‡”ǯ•
providing a smooth, straight most iconic
line. The liner is waterproof ˆ‘—†ƒ–‹‘Šƒ•ƒ
and comes in four shades. Ž‹––Ž‡•‹•–‡”Ǥ‘—„Ž‡
‡ƒ”—†‡ƒ–‡”
”‡•Šƒ‡—’
 ͚͝ǡ͆͞͝ǡ‹•ƒ
Ž‹‰Š–‡”˜‡”•‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡…—Ž–
…Žƒ••‹…ǡ‘ơ‡”‹‰ƒ•Š‡‡”‡”
…‘˜‡”ƒ‰‡™‹–Š–Š‡•ƒ‡͚͜ǦŠ‘—”
Ž‘‰Ǧ™‡ƒ”ˆ‘”—Žƒ’”‘˜‹†‹‰ƒ
ƪƒ™Ž‡••Ƥ‹•ŠǤŠ‘•‡™Š‘
’”‡ˆ‡”ƒŽ‹‰Š––‘‡†‹—
…‘˜‡”ƒ‰‡™‹ŽŽŽ‘˜‡–Š‹•Ǥ

DARE TO BARE
Our love affair with nude
lippy continues with these
stunning new shades:

Beauty Steal: bareMinerals Gen

Nude Squad, $28 each
Splurge: Nars Under Arrest,

WHAT’S
Hell Gate, Embrasse Moi, $44
each (limited edition Spring
Collection available from Feb
27 at Mecca Cosmetica).

NEW BY TAMSIN MARSHALL S pl u

r ge

JO MALONE
LONDON GERANIUM SCORCHING SUN, DRYING SALT AND
& WALNUT HAND
CREAM, $70.
CHLORINE ARE GIVING HANDS A
HARD JOB OF STAYING SOFT
AND SUPPLE THESE SUMMER
MONTHS. SO GIVE THEM
L’OCCITANE SHEA
BUTTER HAND A HELPING HAND
CREAM, $51.
(PUN INTENDED)
e al
WITH THESE SAVIOURS.
SKIN FOOD
Detox your skin with this yummy
GINGER
AND ME BE ‡™ ˜‡‰ƒ …‡”–‹Ƥ‡† ˆƒ…‡ ƒ• ˆ”‘
HAPPY, $25. –‹’‘†‡•Ǥ ƒŽ‘ ‹Ǧ”‹‰Š–‡‹‰
ƒ…‹ƒŽ —† ƒ•ǡ ͆͘͝ǡ Šƒ• —–”‹‡–Ǧ
”‹…Š —† ˆ”‘ –Š‡ ˜‘Ž…ƒ‹… ‡–”ƒŽ
LA MER
THE HAND Žƒ–‡ƒ— •…‡–‡† ™‹–Š ˜ƒ‹ŽŽƒ ’‘†ǡ
TREATMENT, ”ƒ•’„‡””› •‡‡† ƒ† —•Ǥ – Šƒ• ƒ –Š‹…
$150. …”‡ƒ› …‘•‹•–‡…› ƒ† —•‡• ƒ˜‘…ƒ†‘
‹•–‡ƒ† ‘ˆ „‡‡•™ƒš ƒ† Š‘‡›Ǥ ’’Ž› –™‹…‡
ƒ™‡‡ˆ‘”Ž—‹‘—••‹Ǥ

92 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 Q&A WITH
JANELLE BRUNTON-RENNIE
THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF
MEDIAJAM BOUTIQUE HAS A PENCHANT
FOR NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS

total hit and has been

SKINCARE
I use a mixture of skincare
products and I’ve worked
out exactly what works
best for my skin. My
go-to’s are Ultraceuticals
Ultra Rich Moisturiser
Cream, $112, at night and
I exfoliate weekly with
Ethique Gingersnap Face
Scrub, $22 – these smell
absolutely delicious, like
you could eat them! I also
use Ultraceuticals Ultra A
Skin Perfecting Serum,
$154, and Osmosis
Catalyst DNA Repair
Serum, $242.
HAIRCARE
These little eco hair-saving
babies from Ethique are
every bit as good as
rumour would have it!
For anyone with a sensitive
scalp like me, this
combination has been a
uber calming, soothing
and healing. Ethique
Heali Kiwi Shampoo
Bar, $22, and Wonderbar
Conditioner, $25.
MAKEUP
I use Inika Long Lash
Organic Vegan Mascara,
$52. This product is
fantastic! It separates,
lengthens, stays put,
doesn’t flake, and removes
easily. It’s also cruelty free,
vegan and great for
sensitive eyes. I line my
eyes with Inika Organic
Liquid Eyeliner, $34; it
glides on beautifully and
stays put. My current
favourite lipstick is Karen
Murrell ‘Blushing Rose’,
$30. The best foundation
I have ever used is
Osmosis Pressed Base,
$93, and Bare Minerals
Ready Bronzer, $43.
BEAUTY
Gоe
DOTTYGot freckles? Here’s
what you need
to know...
BY TAMSIN MARSHALL
Delightful, cute, charming? Or
something to be covered up? Freckles
are often desired by those who don’t
have them, and regarded by those who
do have them as a nuisance. Right now
freckles are in fashion, but with our
harsh summer sun, it’s important to
make sure your spots are safe.
THE GENETIC
FACTOR
We’re not born with freckles –
some people will get them in
childhood, and they might stay
or fade away during adulthood.
“Some freckles have a genetic
link and those who have lots of
freckles may have one MC1R
gene copy, which is the same
gene link to red hair,” explains
Dr Maria DS Reeves,
dermatological skin cancer
surgeon and founder and
director of Claris Group.
“General sun exposure also
increases the tone and number
of freckles, therefore even
though we cannot stop them
appearing, at least
the regular use
of sun care can
reduce the
number and
colour shade
of freckles.”
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94 NEXT / MARCH 2018
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LOVE THEM OR
LASER THEM?
If you’re seriously concerned,
freckles can be removed with laser
treatment. “QS laser is one way to
treat freckles,” says Reeves. “But
I always advise people to have a
skin check before committing to
treatment such as this so they can
discuss with a professional.”
Rachael says she once booked
in for laser treatment and was
brusquely told by the NEXT
beauty editor at the time not to as
they were a feature she loved.
“That actually meant a lot to me.
RACHAEL’S STORY Although the main thing that put
me off laser was having to stay out
NEXT editor Rachael Russell has a
love-hate relationship with her freckles.
of the sun afterwards. I like the
By the time she was in her teens, they
beach too much.” But is there a
more sinister aspect to them? With
covered her face and arms. “When I
all the concerns around moles and
was 13 I spent my pocket money on
sunspots there is the worry that
Superfade cream,” she says. “It promised
the cute freckle could be harmful
whiter, clearer skin. The results weren’t
too. “Freckles that become
immediate so I lost interest!” At uni she
damaged with UV light, such as
discovered Moisture Mist – “It gave me
the sun, are called Lentigines.
amazing, even, luminous skin as it was so
These type of damaged freckles
full coverage,” – but for day-to-day wear
can become cancerous and
opts for a mineral foundation. “These
develop into lentiginous
contain sunscreen and provide light
melanoma,” explains Reeves.
coverage that still lets my skin show
Maintaining safe skin with
through.” Rachael says her freckles stand
sunblock is very important.
out more in summer and fade in winter.
Zinc-based sunscreen is the only way to OSMOSIS PROTECT
stop them getting very dark in summer. INVISIBLE ZINC SUNSCREEN SPF 30,
“I always wear FACE + BODY 30ML, $72.
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face before a swim at
the beach, or if I plan
to sit outside all day.
Fake tan also helps; it
evens my skin tone so
there isn’t so much
contrast between my
freckles and my skin.”
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BEAUTY

 er
a
The humble bar of soap

Lup is soaring in popularity

again... it’s time to get
sudsy BY TAMSIN MARSHALL

Tip: g
r y keepinoden
T o
ap o n a wish to
so tted d
sla ep from
ke lting’
‘me

Photograph Bauer Media studios

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TUBEROSE, $13; L’OCCITANE SHEA MILK EXTRA-GENTLE SOAP, $19; ETHIQUE PUMICE AND PEPPERMINT FOOT POLISH, $18;
AND NESTI DANTE LUXURY BLACK SOAP, $13.
96 NEXT / MARCH 2018
ELECTRO-SONIC
ENVIRON
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The Environ DF Mobile device helps
to stimulate the skin to allow for
significantly higher concentrations of
active ingredients to get to where the
skin needs them the most, targeting
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‚ Smile lines and fine wrinkles
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‚ Upper lip lines
‚ Hyper-pigmented marks
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‚ Minor scars
‚ Double chin

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To find a stockist visit www.psb.net.nz

and experience your skin #RebornBeautiful.
 amazing
GREYS
Going grey? Don’t hide it…
f launt it. With the right products
and treatment, your silver mane
can be your finest asset.
Here’s how BY TAMSIN MARSHALL

Meryl Streep looked stunning in an icy

grey tone for the film The Devil Wears
Prada. British Vogue fashion features
director Sarah Harris is renowned for her
long grey mane that looks enviably chic.
Having grey hair is no longer the realm of
the ageing; it’s become a fashionable
statement and sign of strength. It shows an
authentic acceptance, a defiant approval
of nature’s way. But how easy is this look to
pull off in real life?
Gradual journey
Marie, a 45-year-old teacher, first started
noticing grey hairs in her 20s. At first it
was a light sprinkling contained mainly in
the front fringe section – an area that has
Multiple approaches
“It’s taken me about two years to reach the moment
when enough was enough and grey was going to be
my new colour,” says Marie. “During this time period,
I started to lighten the colour of my hair. For me this
was a process of accepting my grey hair more and
more. I am still not 100% grey; I think it will be
about another year of continued management as I
have long hair past my shoulders; I didn’t want to cut
it all off so it’s slow going. But this suits me.”
Marie’s hairdresser, Lauren Gunn from Auckland
salon Colleen says, “I’ve transitioned many people
from coloured to grey hair and there are lots of ways
to skin that cat. Some people will grow out their
Photographs Getty Images and supplied

roots then chop their hair off into a cropped pixie

now turned to light silver. Her original
cut. For others I might lighten out the colour that is
hair colour was light auburn with a
in the ends and add a translucent tone in to the new
tendency to turn strawberry blond in
natural regrowth. If hair is in good condition we can
summer. But it started requiring frequent
bleach out the old colour and tone it with silver to
trips to the hairdresser, which is when she
match the new hair growing through.”
began considering just letting it all go.
Lauren says greying hair will go one of two ways;
“It was a slow journey for me,” she
typically it becomes more coarse and unruly in
explains. “It was definitely motivated by
texture, but for some people it becomes finer, softer
the fact I had to dye my hair every three
and a bit thinner.
weeks. The upkeep was driving me crazy.
It was also supported by a growing social
acceptance that grey hair for women in
their 30s and 40s was not bad, but in fact
‘It was motivated by the fact I had
natural and beautiful.”
to dye my hair every three weeks’
98 NEXT / MARCH 2018
 BEAUTY

Soft and silky

“The best way to treat unruly texture is using keratin smoothing treatments that
restructure the surface of your hair to a soft and silky texture,” explains Lauren.
“I also recommend using Plex treatments at home. A Plex treatment will
help to smooth out stubborn kinks and reduces frizz.”
“I’ve been lucky my hair hasn’t thinned and I really didn’t notice a difference,”
says Marie. “I did get a keratin treatment at the beginning of the ‘grey out’ process
and it was amazing for my hair texture. Once summer is over I’ll do this again.”
Transitioning to this new colour can take guts. Marie says it was important for her that
her partner was cool with it. “It was a big step emotionally, which seems a little silly in
hindsight as I’m pretty happy with it now,” she says. “But I wanted to make sure he was
still going to find me beautiful. I’m now grey so I guess that answers how that
conversation went. My friends and family are all great with it. What
you realise is people don’t just see your grey hair, they see you.”
Marie advises anyone considering the change to first
consult with a great hairdresser/colourist.

CARING FOR GREY HAIR CONTAINS LITTLE TO NO MELANIN

(NATURAL COLOUR) AND CAN BE MORE

GREY HAIR
FRAGILE THAN PIGMENTED HAIR. IT CAN BE
EASILY DAMAGED AND DEHYDRATED,
MAKING THE TEXTURE COARSE AND WIRY.
SLEEK AND SHINY GREY HAIR IS THE GOAL
1. JOICO COLOUR SO USE PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOURISHING.
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:
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MARCH 2018 / NEXT 99
 AN ARTISTIC
NATURE

This couple’s minimalist, carefully curated home speaks

volumes about who they are – as well as honouring the
natural world outside
100 NEXT / MARCH 2018
 Forget online personality tests; your home can
reveal more of your psyche than a game of
Cluedo. For Lotte Barnes and Lia-Belle King,
their thoughtfulness and dedication to handmade
items shows in their 1900s cottage.
“We like our home to be a harmonious reflection
of the environment outside, but also of our
personal and locational journeys,” Lotte says.
“The practice of wabi-sabi [beauty in the
imperfect and incomplete] influences our
aesthetic, making for a space that is humble and
calm, but also artistically interesting.”

Waiting game
hen Lotte and Lia-Belle moved from

W Bali to their new home – which they

now  share with three-month-old »
102 NEXT / MARCH 2018
‘We like our home to be a harmonious
reflection of the environment outside’
 daughter Ophelia and their dog Gray – they didn’t
rush to deck it out.
“We had to wait months for our furniture to
arrive, and are still acquiring the pieces we
need,” Lia-Belle says.
Their advice: take it slow and don’t decorate just
for the sake of it. “You’ll accumulate things over
time and when a chair, vase or pot does come into
your life, it will be really special.”
The pair look at auction houses, eBay and vintage
stores for interesting one-off pieces.
“We prefer works that have been handmade or
have a personal element to their creation, and
purchase directly from craftsmen and artists,”
Lotte says. “The items we buy hold an element of
integrity that you don’t find with factory-made,
mass-produced items.”
Oosites aract
he home provides ample room for the
T couple to express their differing passions –
Lotte’s statement artworks alongside
Lia-Belle’s Art Deco furniture and crystals.
“We opt for a ‘less is more’ approach, adding a
few statement pieces of furniture or art to bring an
interesting lift to an otherwise fairly minimal
scheme,” Lia-Belle says.
The result is a home that is serene, uncluttered
and constantly evolving with them.
*

Lotte and Lia-Belle’s five golden rules

Mix materials: ƒ ”‡ƒŽŽ› ‰‘‘† ™‘‘ŽŽ‡ Ž‘‰ Ž‹‡ …—”–ƒ‹• –‘ ƒ –Š‡ Ž‡•• ˆ—”‹–—”‡ ƒ† Š”‹•–‹ƒ‡ ’ƒ‰•„‡”‰
1
Š‘–‘‰”ƒ’Š• Bauer syndication

‘„‹‡ †‹ơ‡”‡– ƪ‘‘” ”—‰ Ȃ ‹– ™‹ŽŽ –‘–ƒŽŽ› ™‹†‘™ ƒ† ’—– ƒ ‰Žƒ•• ‘–Š‡” ’‹‡…‡• ›‘— ™‹ŽŽ ƒ† –‹•ƒ”‡›Ǥ
ˆ—”‹–—”‡ ƒ–‡”‹ƒŽ• Ȃ –”ƒ•ˆ‘”›‘—”•’ƒ…‡Ǥ Žƒ’ ‘ ƒ –ƒ„Ž‡ ƒ† ›‘— ‡‡†ǡ ƒ• –Š‡› …”‡ƒ–‡ ƒ
ˆ”‘ –‹„‡” ƒ† …ƒ‡ ™‹ŽŽ ‹•–ƒ–Ž› „”‹‰ ˆ‘…ƒŽ ’‘‹– ƒ† ƒ†† Add a little
–‘ …‘…”‡–‡ ƒ† …Š”‘‡
Ȃ –‘ …”‡ƒ–‡‹–‡”‡•–Ǥ 3 Switch on: ˆ ›‘—ǯ”‡
™‘”‹‰ ™‹–Š ƒ
™ƒ”–Š –‘ –Š‡•’ƒ”•‡•–
‘ˆ ”‘‘•Ǥ
•‘’Š‹•–‹…ƒ–‹‘ –‘ ƒ›
”‘‘Ǥ ‘––‡ ƒ†
5 greenery:
†‘‘” ’Žƒ–• ƒ”‡ ›‘—”
…”‡ƒ ‘” ”‡Žƒ–‹˜‡Ž› –‘ƒŽ ‹ƒǦ‡ŽŽ‡ ˆƒ˜‘—” –Š‡ „‡•– ˆ”‹‡† ™Š‡ ‹–
Don’t forget •…Š‡‡ǡ Ž‹‰Š–‹‰ ƒ‡• Opt for art: Š‡ ™‘”• ‘ˆ ƒ”–‹•–• …‘‡• –‘ •‘ˆ–‡‹‰
2 underfoot:˜‡•–‹ ƒŽŽ–Š‡†‹ơ‡”‡…‡Ǥ†† 4 Ž‘—†‡”–Š‡ƒ”–™‘”•ǡ ‘”†ƒƒ ‡”›ǡ ‘‘–‘‡ Ž‘‘•Ǥ

104 NEXT / MARCH 2018

HOME

TALIA MAGAZINE BASKET, $70,

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Whatever the colour palette, the power
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W IT H
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TRAVEL – AT HOME Resene

Desperado
Never shaken that feeling of wanderlust? Go for a look
Photographs Supplied

that’s all about escapism. Even if we can’t physically

”‘ƒǡ ˆƒ”Ǧƪ—‰ ’Žƒ…‡• …ƒ „‡ ‡…Š‘‡† ™‹–Š …—Ž–—”ƒŽ
–‘—…Š ’‘‹–• ƒ† ‘ƒ†‹… •‡•‹„‹Ž‹–‹‡• ”‡ƪ‡…–‡†
in ethnic prints, tropical motifs, indigenous art
Resene
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look where you’re free to break the rules and
matching isn’t a must. Opt for spicy colours or
•’”‹‰ ‰”‡‡• –Šƒ– ”‡ƪ‡…– ƒŽŽ …‘”‡”• ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‡ƒ”–ŠǤ
There’s no need to pack a suitcase – dream of
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106 NEXT / MARCH 2018 Stockists, see page 152
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HEALTH
FAT &
FICTION
Is saturated fat really bad for you? We look at
ew thinking around fat intake and ask,
how much is too much?
Without giving it much thought, do you
trim the fat off steak, drink skimmed
milk and opt for low-fat spreads? It’s
probably because for years you were told
the saturated fat in these foods isn’t good
for you, that it raises your cholesterol
levels, increases the risk of heart attack
and stroke, and makes you overweight.
But recent science suggests the low-fat
lifestyle could actually harm your health
and that saturated fats shouldn’t be
completely shunned.
Contrary to what you may have thought,
a diet that’s very low in saturated fats
has now been found to possibly increase
your risk of premature death by 13%.
Meanwhile, a relatively high intake could
actually lower your chances of an early
death by 23% and reduce your risk of
suffering a stroke, according to a new
study from McMaster University in
Canada. The most likely reason for these
findings, say the researchers, is that when
you cut back on fat, you turn to carbo-
hydrates to fill you up – which often equals
bread, rice, pasta and sugary foods. This
could mean missing out on vital nutrients
A DIET VERY LOW IN SATURATED FATS HAS
NOW BEEN FOUND TO POSSIBLY INCREASE
YOUR RISK OF PREMATURE DEATH BY 13%
108 NEXT / MARCH 2018
and increasing your risk of other health
problems such as insulin resistance, which
is the precursor to type 2 diabetes.
SAT FAT FACTS
As a macronutrient, fat is vital for your
health. It gives you energy, keeps your
brain firing and helps you absorb other
nutrients such as lycopene, beta-carotene
and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K,
which are important for bone strength,
blood clotting and fighting off free radicals.
“Saturated fat has a specific role to play,”
says registered nutritionist Claire Baseley.
“It’s used to manufacture hormones such
as oestrogen and progesterone, which are
made from the cholesterol created when
we eat it. This combo also provides part of
the structure of all the cells in your body.”
However, while the latest research
suggests eating plenty of saturated fat
could help you to live longer, earlier
research has disagreed.
“Previous trials have shown that high
intakes of saturated fat lead to high LDL
cholesterol levels, which in turn could lead
to a greater risk of heart attack and » such as butter and coconut oil,
Did you
know...
● There are more than a dozen
types of saturated fatty acids?
The ones we eat most are stearic
acid found in animal fats;
palmitic acid from palm oil, red
meat and dairy products; and
lauric acid, which is found in
coconut and palm kernel oils.
● All fats contain a combination
of fatty acids – no fat is pure
saturated fat. Animal fats, for
‡šƒ’Ž‡ǡ…‘–ƒ‹•‹‰‹Ƥ…ƒ–
amounts of essential omega-3
and 6 fats, especially if they
come from grass-fed as opposed
to grain-fed animals.
● Fats that are mostly saturated,
are solid at room temperature,
while fats that are mostly
unsaturated, such as olive oil, are
liquid at room temperature.
HEALTH
stroke,” says Naveed Sattar, professor of
cardiovascular and medical sciences at
Glasgow University.
“We also know that if you have high
cholesterol, reducing your saturated fat
intake could help to lower it and reduce
your chances of a heart attack.”
HOW MUCH FAT IS
TOO MUCH?
The recent Canadian study suggests that
for optimum health, your total dietary
intake of fats should make up 35%
of  your  calories – a little higher than
current New Zealand recommendations, at
20-25%. For saturated fat, it gets a little
more complicated. The  study showed the
healthiest people ate up to 13% of their
calories  from saturated fat. Current
recommendations are set at 10% of calories
from saturated fat.
So eating a little bit more than the
guidelines suggest might not be harmful
to your health if your diet is otherwise
healthy and balanced.
If you were eating 2000 calories a day,
10% of your calories would equate to 20g
of saturated fat and would give your body
all it needs to produce hormones and
keep your cells healthy.
Check out food labels when you’re
shopping – anything with more than 5g
‘A DIET HIGH IN SATURATED FAT AND
SUGAR TOGETHER IS LIKELY TO BE WORSE
THAN JUST EATING SATURATED FAT’
HOW MUCH
SATURATED
S FAT IS IN
YOUR FAVOURITE
FOODS? (PER 100G)
Coconut oil: 87g
Cheddar cheese: 21g
Olive oil: 14g
Butter: 51g
Dark chocolate (70%): 24g
Digestive biscuit: 21.5g
Sausages: 8g
Rump steak: 3.6g
ƒŽ‘ƤŽŽ‡–ǣ͛Ǥ͙‰
Vanilla ice cream: 7g
Full-fat natural yogurt: 2.9g
Whole milk: 2.6g
Skinless chicken breast: 1g
110 NEXT / MARCH 2018
The coconut
oil debate
Coconut oil contains 87g of sat fats
per 100g – but some people
consider it healthy. “Some
medium-chain saturated fats,
such as those in coconut oil, may
not negatively impact cardiovascular
health like the longer-chain versions, such
as palmitic acid found in palm oil,” says Claire.
“However, the main sat fat in coconut oil, lauric
acid, behaves more like a long chain saturated
fat and therefore isn’t overly heart healthy.”
saturated fat per 100g is considered to be
high in saturated fat. “It’s best to eat less
of these foods, but you don’t need to avoid
them completely,” says Claire.
ADDICTIVE COMBOS
When people experience dietary-related
health issues, a lot of it can be boiled
down to problematic food combinations.
For example, products containing both
butter and sugar aren’t very nutritious,
but are also pretty addictive, so you’re
more likely to eat too much of them.
“If the foods contain saturated fat and
sugar, for example ice cream, cakes,
desserts and chocolate, it’s best not to eat
them often,” says Claire. “A diet that’s high
in saturated fat and sugar together is likely
to be worse than just eating saturated fat.
This is because sugar, when consumed to
excess, contributes to weight gain with all
its associated risk factors for cardiovascular
disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.”
Instead, opt for full-fat dairy such as
milk, cheese, butter and (sugar-free)
yoghurt within your sat fat quota, which
can also have additional health benefits.
More research is needed to explain
exactly why the saturated fat in dairy
seems to be better for heart health, but
scientists suggest milk and other dairy
products are a good source of calcium
and potassium, which are two minerals
important for blood pressure control.
Plus, they contain protein, which helps
you feel satisfied and means you’re less
likely to overeat.
Other sources of animal protein are
fine to enjoy within that 10% quota – as
long as you go for quality.
“A couple of portions of red meat per
week is okay, especially if it’s from grass-fed
animals, which contain a higher proportion
of healthy omega-3 fats too,” says Claire.
“But it’s best to eat a variety of protein
sources, including plant-based ones such
as pulses, as well as fish, eggs and poultry.”
BE SAVVY WITH SWAPS
If you have high cholesterol, or a strong
family history of heart problems, it might
pay to lower your saturated fat intake a bit,
but be mindful of what you swap it with.
“Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated
fat from olive oil, avocado and nuts or
seeds is good and seems to reduce cardio-
vascular risk,” says Claire. “But replacing
the majority with refined carbs such as
biscuits, white bread and pasta does not.”
Eating refined carbs that are high in
Copyright Top Santé Photographs Getty Images
sugar and low in fibre is associated with
lower levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol
and higher levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol
and triglycerides, which could increase
your heart disease risk. Wholegrain carbs,
on the other hand, such as oats and brown
rice, could help reduce cholesterol levels.
Overall, these new studies are reassur-
ing that if you’re otherwise healthy, and eat
a balanced diet, then a nice steak, a nibble
of cheese and perhaps the occasional ice
cream, is fine.
*
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 TOOLKIT

STEADY
as she goes
From puberty to pregnancy to menopause, there are many
times when our hormones can be thrown out of whack.
We’ve rounded up expert advice and practical tips to help
you keep your hormones happy

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 115

Hormones can wreak havoc on our
emotions, moods and behaviour. When
they are in balance, it can feel as if all is
well with the world but when they’re out
of kilter, you soon know about it. Here
we aim to scratch the surface of those
wondrous chemicals that have the
power to rule our bodies and minds, in
order to understand them better and
create balance for a happier, freer life.
We look at the science, offer practical
tips, and hear from three women about
the journeys their hormones have
taken them on.

In search of hormonal happiness

Our female hormones and their effects can seem like a minefield to navigate.
After injecting herself with hormones daily for IVF treatment, no one knows
this better than Kat Lister. Here, she investigates this complex world
T he undeniable power of hormones was
made clear to me the moment I
embarked on IVF. Over two months in
2015, I self-administered 55 hormone
injections in order to produce multiple
eggs for collection, fertilisation and embryo
transfer. To the outside world, I was bravely
battling through in vitro with an
unrelenting smile on my face. Yet behind
closed doors, I felt alone and adrift. Needles
stung and thighs swelled. I cried, shouted
and laughed without any understanding
why. Liquid hormone slunk in every
morning with a sting in its tail. It whimpered
quietly at first, before wailing louder, until I
was unable to distinguish my true feelings
from the extreme highs and lows the
follicle-stimulating hormones produced.
Like a kite in a windstorm, I lunged and
lurched against the unpredictable current.
Everything seemed distorted. I wasn’t me.
My struggle with IVF is only one isolated
experience, but it acutely demonstrates the
ways in which hormones can uproot a
woman, wreaking havoc on her body and
mental wellbeing. Most women will
menstruate for around 40 years following
puberty, experiencing around 500 periods
in total. That’s a lot of hormones to deal
with in a lifetime – and they don’t always
play fair as we journey through puberty,
potential motherhood and menopause.
So, are there ways we can minimise their
negative impact, in order to better our
everyday lives? We can take small, positive
steps to help us navigate our monthly
fluctuations. By better understanding the
hormones that guide us, we can all work
towards happier and healthier lives.
‘You are your hormones’, or so the saying
goes. For many women, this can feel acutely
true on a monthly basis. Our menstrual
cycle is controlled by special chemical
messengers that surge through our bodies
at different times. Every month, rising
levels of oestrogen (a hormone secreted by
the ovaries, initiating ovulation) make way
for progesterone (a progesterone steroid),
which helps the womb lining grow thicker,
ready for pregnancy. If fertilisation doesn’t
occur and we don’t become pregnant, the
egg passes out with our period and the
levels of oestrogen and progesterone
hormones fall, preceding the menstrual
flow. Throughout this process, many
women experience a range of debilitating
and destabilising symptoms: from
depression and anger to anxiety, body
dysmorphia, spiked euphoria and fatigue.
According to the Royal College of
Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ (RCOG)
official guidelines, these distressing
symptoms persist during the ‘luteal phase’,

116 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 TOOLKIT

CONSULTANT GYNAECOLOGIST
NICK PANAY SAID PMS WAS ‘POORLY
UNDERSTOOD AND, IN MANY CASES,
the phase of the cycle that lasts from 10 to
16 days after ovulation, regressing by the

cycle’send. Sowhydotheseinterchangeable
and fluctuating hormones have such an
impact on some women’s mental health?
Frustratingly, we don’t definitively know.
Janice Rymer, vice-president of the
RCOG, says: “Hormone levels fluctuate
throughout the month, which can affect all
organs in the body and therefore changes
in emotions, processes of thought and
physical wellbeing can be expected.”
Anyone who’s burst into uncontrollable
sobs watching X Factor can testify to this.
However, just like the basic diagrams we
studied in biology at school, this explan-
ation can still feel unsatisfyingly impersonal
and vague. Going one step further, the
RCOG’s guidelines suggest our ovarian
output of hormones has an influence on
particular messengers in our brain.
PMS PROBLEMS
TV presenter Amy Nickell, 27, doesn’t need
science to tell her reproductive hormones
and neurotransmitters (the brain chemicals
that communicate information) are linked.
Amy first started noticing PMS symptoms
and its immeasurable effects on her daily
life in her early teens.
“I feel like I’m two different people,” she
says. “When experiencing symptoms, I’m a
shell of the woman I am without them.”
INADEQUATELY MANAGED’
This feeling of alienation is something
40-year-old Julia Willmott has also battled
throughout her life. Experiencing heavy
bleeding and terrible pain, she was put on
the pill by her GP, aged 13, but it wasn’t until
she had her first baby at 38 that she began
to struggle with low moods. “I was only able
to see the negative side of things; this would
affect my confidence at work and my ability
to cope with the slightest of stresses. I was
less patient with my family, too.”
Amy and Julia aren’t alone. Janice Rymer
says four in 10 women experience symptoms
of PMS, and 5-8% of these will suffer from
severe symptoms. At the furthest end of the
spectrum, premenstrual dysphoric disorder
(PMDD) affects 5-10% of women, triggering
more exaggerated symptoms that can
include feelings of hopelessness, persistent
depression, low self-esteem and extreme
anger or anxiety. “PMDD and severe PMS
can have a profoundly negative effect on a
woman’s daily life,” she says.
So what’s the approach to managing these
hormonal conditions. And is it working?
“Diagnosis and management of PMDD and
severe PMS can be difficult,” Janice admits.
Nick Panay, consultant gynaecologist and
chairman of the National Association for
Premenstrual Syndrome, concurs. In a
report, he said PMS was “poorly understood
and, in many cases, inadequately managed”,
calling for an integrated response
comprising gynaecologist, psychologist,
dietitian and counsellor. In order to alleviate
the effects of PMS on our lives, it would
seem seeking professional help and making
lifestyle adjustments are of equal
importance. Although the RCOG guidelines
are quick to point out that improved self-
care (eg reducing stress or eating a low
glycaemic index diet – foods with complex
carbs that keep blood sugar levels balanced)
hasn’t been studied in depth, they still
consider it ‘good general advice’.
Both Amy and Julia’s experiences seem to
back up this theory. For Amy, while the
contraceptive pill, implant and injection all
worsened her symptoms, an antidepressant
prescription actually balanced her out.
Alternatively, she credits turmeric tincture
as a ‘breakthrough’ in helping to manage
her symptoms. As for Julia, looking back,
she says it’s a shame the only treatment she
was offered when she sought professional
help was drug-based. “I now know nutrition,

EXPLORE, NAVIGATE & LOVE YOUR BODY

Knowing your cycle is key to loving your body and
experience as a woman. That’s a seriously radical and
rebellious act in a world where billion-dollar diet and
‡– ˆƒ‹Ž‹ƒ” ™‹–Š ›‘—” …‡”˜‹…ƒŽ ƪ—‹†ǣ Taking note of the consistency
beauty industries, which are reliant on your insecurities
and self-loathing, exist. Be radical. Love your body.
Get to know your menstrual cycle: This is done more
‡ơ‡…–‹˜‡Ž› ™Š‡ ‘– —•‹‰ Š‘”‘‡Ǧ…‘–”‘ŽŽ‡† …‘–”ƒ…‡’–‹‘
methods. You can do this with a charting device like Daysy. It’s
hormone-free and hassle-free, taking your temperature and charting
they’ll become a unique-to-you guidebook to how your body works.
ƒ† …‘Ž‘—” ‘ˆ –Š‹• ƪ—‹† –Š”‘—‰Š‘—– –Š‡ ‡•–”—ƒŽ ‘–Š ‹•ǯ– Œ—•– ˆ‘”
those who want to get pregnant. It helps you to know how fertile
and healthy your womb is, too. Milky + lumpy consistency = not
fertile. Egg white + runny consistency = fertile.
Pay attention: Be mindful of the natural processes your body is
going through. Often we try to block this out with painkillers and
›‘—”…›…Ž‡Ǥ–ǯ•͡͡Ǥ͛ά‡ơ‡…–‹˜‡Ǥ
Chart your emotions: Note your feelings in a diary each month for at
least three months; you’ll start to notice patterns, hot spots and
power days in your cycle. These will vary from woman to woman but
tampons so we can carry on as ‘normal’. Try slowing down and
‘–‹…‹‰‡ơ‡…–•‘ˆ„Ž‡‡†‹‰‘›‘—”„‘†›ƒ†›‘—”‹†Ǥ
This is an adapted extract from Love Your Lady Landscape
by Lisa Lister.

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 117

 BOOST YOUR
FEEL-GOOD
FACTOR
Which hormones make
us feel great, and how
do we get more of them?

SEROTONIN
1
Serotonin is responsible for
maintaining appetite, sleep and,
you guessed it, mood balance, but a
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serotonin could improve mood, and
mood could, in turn, increase serotonin
Ȃ‡ƒ‹‰–Šƒ––Š‹‹‰’‘•‹–‹˜‡Ž›
could cause your body to raise
•‡”‘–‘‹Ž‡˜‡Ž•ǡŠ‡Ž’‹‰›‘—
‘—–‹–Š‡Šƒ’’‹‡•••–ƒ‡•Ǥ

OXYTOCIN
2 exercise and mindset make a huge
difference to my symptoms,” she says. In
effects of all the additives and preservatives
that are added to packaged food,” says
š›–‘…‹‹•–Š‡Š‘”‘‡—•‡†–‘Š‡Ž’ the past 12 months, Julia has made a big Fran McElwaine, a certified integrative
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Ƥ†‹‰–Šƒ–Š‹‰Š‡”Ž‡˜‡Ž•‘ˆ‘š›–‘…‹
increase a person’s generosity by
ƒ™Š‘’’‹‰͘͠άǤ
DOPAMINE
3 understanding our bodies lies with the rise
‘™ƒ•–Š‡’Ž‡ƒ•—”‡Ǧ•‡‡‹‰
Š‘”‘‡ǡ†‘’ƒ‹‡…‘‡•‹–‘’Žƒ›
™Š‡™‡‰‡––Šƒ–Ǯ‡™–‡š–‡••ƒ‰‡ǯ
ˆ‡‡Ž‹‰ǤŠ‡’”‘„Ž‡‹•–Šƒ–ˆ‡‡Ž‹‰
can become addictive and distract
—•Ǥ”›•‡‡‹‰†‘’ƒ‹‡Š‹–•ˆ”‘
Š‡ƒŽ–Š‹‡”•‘—”…‡•ǡ•—…Šƒ•–‹…‹‰‘ơ
–‘Ǧ†‘Ž‹•–•ƒ†‡‡’‹‰—’™‹–Š”‡‰—Žƒ”
›‘‰ƒ’”ƒ…–‹…‡Ǥ‡†‹–ƒ–‹‘Šƒ•ƒŽ•‘
„‡‡”‡’‘”–‡†–‘Š‡Ž’‹…”‡ƒ•‡–Š‡
”‡Ž‡ƒ•‡‘ˆ†‘’ƒ‹‡Ǥ
118 NEXT / MARCH 2018
effort to cut down on sugar, starchy carbs
and caffeine. Healthy fats such as oily fish,
seeds and nuts have also helped. “A lot
more could be done to educate women on
hormonal health,” she adds.
CLASSROOM FAILURES
So why aren’t we educating women more?
“The response I get from most women is,
‘Why was I not taught this at school?’” says
Lisa Lister, author of Love Your Lady
Landscape. For Lisa, the key to
and fall of our hormones, and how this
affects us at different times in our cycle.
She’s also keen to underline that it isn’t
all doom and gloom; there are times when
we can utilise our hormones, too. Lisa says
ovulation can make you “super articulate”,
so it’s the perfect time to schedule in an
important work presentation. “These are
power tools for women,” she says. “If you
know your cycle, you are able to take back
control in your life.”
Speaking of power tools, nutritional
health is another. “The simple truth is we
really don’t understand the compound
nutrition health coach and wellness
expert. “What we do know is most of these
additives disrupt the endocrines (glands
which release hormones) and it just makes
sense to avoid them if at all possible.”
For those women who wish to reduce
their PMS or work through menopause or
perimenopause, Fran suggests swapping
refined carbs for fibre-packed foods
such  as lentils, beans and wholegrains.
For  anyone “with even a hint of
PMS,  perimenopause, polycystic ovary
syndrome or endometriosis”, she advises
cutting back on unfermented soy products
like soy milk and tofu, and even processed
vegetable oils like margarine. “Oh and eat
chocolate!” she adds. “Raw and dark
chocolate are amazingly good for you.”
FUTILE FERTILITY
When it comes to fertility issues, the sad
reality is hormones can kick up a fuss
there too. Although my IVF cycle was
necessitated by my husband’s chemo-
therapy, for a proportion of the 3.5
million couples who struggle to conceive,
hormonal disruption can be a significant

MANAGEMENT
Studies suggest the foundation of healthy hormone levels is the gut. So
how can we help our gut create a better environment for optimum
balance? Nutritionist Jeanette Hyde has some answers
Q Is it true the gut holds the key to
hormonal balance? If so, how?
A Many scientists are now calling the
bacteria in our gut the ‘control centre’ of
our health. We all house a ‘microbiome’;
bacteria that live in and on us, most of
which are in our colon – about 1.5kg in
weight. In the past, the medical profession
acknowledged them, but it was thought
they had no function. From 2008 over five
years, there was a major piece of research
in the US, the Human Microbiome Project.
Scientists found the microbiome was far
more plentiful and active than previously
thought. Since then, other research has
revealed the microbiome is very powerful
indeed and sends signals to, as well as
connects with, several systems of the body.
Q What exactly is the microbiome?
A It is a finely balanced ecosystem; like a
forest with many types of plants, trees and
animals living in it. Microbiome is the
umbrella name for all the bacteria, good
and bad, but they need to be in balance,
with the good bacteria dominant. It’s
important to keep it in a good condition,
and it can be manipulated by what we eat,
our environment and lifestyle factors like
stress. It’s linked to our immune system and
nervous system, and sends signals to them.
Research has focused on the microbiome’s
signals in relation to hormone production.
The research is new but, if you accept the
broad principle that the miccrobiome
needs to flourish and be in ballance,
you start to see improveme ents
in  our physical systems, and
connections with our moo od,
influenced by hormonal health h.
Q What’s one key thing we can
do to support the microbiome e?
A When you eat well, many sppecies
of bacteria will flourish. For gut health,
the Western, processed diet iis the one to
Micro
avoid. If you eat lots of sugar, white refined
carbs, artificial sweeteners and fats, and few
veg, you tend to find the microbiome won’t
have abundant species and is out of balance.
You can develop dysbiosis, ie gut health is
imbalanced and pathogenic (bad) bacteria
are in the majority, instead of good bacteria.
You can fall into poor health, which has
an  impact on your hormonal balance.
Antibiotics are also detrimental; you might
have an ear infection, and want to kill the
bacteria that’s causing it, but the antibiotics
also kill swathes of bacteria in your gut.
Q What does gut health mean for
hormonal wellbeing?
A The hunger hormones, ghrelin and
leptin, for example, which tell us when
we’re hungry and when we’re full, are
hugely impacted by gut health. When there
isn’t a range of species in the microbiome,
we can feel hungry all the time and have
cravings. In this regard, artificial sweeteners
have been shown to upset the balance of
good and bad bacteria, which could result
‘THE MICROBIOME
IS A FINELY
BALANCED
ECOSYSTEM
ECOSYSTEM’
TOOLKIT
in us feeling hungrier. They could also be
responsible for worsened PMS symptoms. I
invite people to stop the Western diet for a
month, and to eat in a way that actively
nourishes the microbiome. In a study I’m
working on with St Mary’s University, 21
people did a ‘gut makeover’ diet over one
month and filled out questionnaires before
and after the trial. We saw that digestive
symptoms (wind, bloating, heartburn, IBS)
decreased, while brain symptoms (anxiety,
mood, memory) improved dramatically.
This backs up the research that the gut,
brain and nervous system are connected.
Q What changes can we make for gut
health and to rebalance our hormones?
A First, try to get around 30 different
varieties of plants and veges into your diet
every week. When you’re shopping, if you
see a pomegranate and think, ‘When did I
last have one of those?’, buy it and the put
the seeds in a salad. If you’re roasting veg,
put in as much variation as possible.
Fermented foods contain tens of thousands
of good bacteria. Extra virgin olive oil is
rich in polythenols that the gut bacteria like
to feed on, which helps the microbiome
flourish. After people adopt these changes
for a month, their cravings disappear and
their hunger hormones become more
balanced. They also sleep better, which is
connected to hormone balance. Women
also often see an improvement in their
men nopausal symptoms. Secondly, have a 12-
hour overnight fast; finish dinner by 8pm
and don’t eat breakfast until 8am. Drink
lots of water but don’t eat; this gives the
micrrobiome time to repair and rebalance,
and for the right bacteria to start to flourish
againn. Thirdly, sit down at mealtimes, relax
and properly chew your food. Undigested
partiicles of food, which make it down to the
colonn, feed the bad bacteria and cause an
imbaalance. Slowing down to chew food can
make a big difference to health. »
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 119
factor. Janice says one of the causes of
infertility is the frequent release of eggs
from the ovary, which can occur as a result
of hormone balance disturbances – the
most common being polycystic ovary
syndrome, an endocrine condition
sometimes seen in women of childbearing
age. Problems can also develop if a woman
produces too much prolactin (breast milk
hormone), thyroid hormones or adrenal
hormones. And even testosterone can be
an issue. “If a woman’s body produces too
much testosterone, she may have irregular
or absent periods,” Janice says. “High
levels of testosterone can also lead to
infertility and are commonly seen in
polycystic ovary syndrome.”
MERCILESS MENOPAUSE
Which leaves us with, arguably, the biggest
hormonal taboo: the menopause. It’s
something that affects all women, so why
are we uncomfortable talking about it? Like
all reproductive developments, the meno-
pause is governed by hormones, initiated
when the ovaries stop producing eggs and
the amount of oestrogen in the body drops.
This usually happens between the ages of
45 and 55, although a rare number of
women can become menopausal in their
30s, or even younger. Janice says during this
time, up to 80% of women experience
physical and/or emotional symptoms,
including hot flushes and night sweats,
tiredness and sleep disturbances, as well as
mood swings, forgetfulness or lack of
concentration, and a loss of sexual appetite.
“Every woman is affected by the meno-
pause differently,” Janice says, “but for

How are hormones influencing you?

Take our test to see how your personal hormonal profile is impacting different areas of
your life, and the key hormones you need to get off the rollercoaster.

1 Which of these is currently the biggest

challenge in your love life? 5 People would be surprised to learn
that you: 9 When stressed, you’re
most likely to:
ρ Go off sex
ρ Lack of libido ρ Often feel like shouting at others
ν Mood swings ν Be snappy
ν Still think of yourself as a naturally slim
φ Lack of general energy φ Comfort eat
person in your head
ɲ Poor body image ɲ Lie awake all night
φ Have days when you struggle to keep going
ɲ Could live without a sex life

2 What you eat on any given day

depends on:
10 Which of these do you feel the
least in control of right now?

ρ How well you’ve slept 6 Your fairy godmother offers to ‘turbo

ν The time of the month
φ How good you feel about your body
ɲ What kind of mood you’re in
charge’ one area for a month. You
would choose:
ρ Your personal sexual attractiveness
ν Your happiness and mental wellbeing
φ Your ability to lose weight
ɲ Your energy, strength and stamina
ρ My mood or happiness levels
ν My eating habits
φ My physical health or energy levels
ɲ My sexual health or fertility
Add up your score for each answer
and see opposite for which hormones
hold the key to better wellbeing.

3 What do you usually think about

when you’re in the shower? ρ ν φ ɲ
ρ Why you feel so tired and achy
ν Why you never feel like having sex
7 Feeling a bit ‘meh’ is usually
a sign that: 1 8 6 2 4
ρ You’ve binged or made unhealthy food
φ Whatever you’re currently worrying 2 2 8 4 6
choices
about 3 4
ν Your period is due 2 8 6
ɲ What you’re going to eat that day φ You’re under stress
ɲ You’ve been overdoing it and need more 4 4 2 8 6
sleep 5 4
6 2 8
4 Your self-confidence takes a bashing
when you: 6 8 6 4 2
ρ Overeat or eat the wrong things
ν Physically feel under the weather
8 Overall, you experience the
most ups and downs in: 7 4 8 6 2
ρ Your energy levels 8 2 4 6 8
φ Are due your period
ν Your weight
ɲ Feel anxious or can’t stop worrying 8 6 4 2
φ Your mood 9
ɲ Your sex drive
10 6 4 2 8

120 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 TOOLKIT

some, the symptoms can be debilitating
and dramatically impact their health,
work, relationships and quality of life.”
Despite this, she adds that a recent
British Menopause Society survey found
only half of the UK women who took part
spoke to a healthcare professional about
their symptoms, a shocking admission
that illustrates just how self-censoring
many women still are when it comes to
their bodies.
If I’ve learned anything from my isolating
IVF experience, it’s that silence isn’t the
answer – and neither is denial. It’s about
time we spoke up and shared our hormonal
journeys: the good, the bad and the ugly.
We may feel uncontrollably defined by the
chemicals that surge through our bodies,
but that doesn’t mean we can’t redefine our
relationship with them. Self-awareness is
key, as is knowledge and communication.
To paraphrase Lisa Lister, our hormones
are about so much more than making
babies. They work overtime to promote our
health and wellbeing too.
*

IF YOU SCORED IF YOU SCORED IF YOU SCORED IF YOU SCORED

BETWEEN BETWEEN BETWEEN
20 AND 35: 36 AND 45: 46 AND 60:
Regaining your glow:
Life can feel like an uphill
struggle at times, as you
battle against low energy and
exhaustion. You can also be
affected by unexplained
aches and pains. You may
have the feeling you’ve lost
your glow. The key is getting
better-quality sleep, which
will give you the energy you
need to upgrade your health.
Your key hormones: Cortisol
and melatonin. Cortisol is the
get-up-and-go hormone that,
in small doses, helps us to be
focused. But consistently high
levels can tip the body into a
permanent stress response,
resulting in random aches and
pains. It can also speed up
ageing, and affect the quality
of skin and hair. Melatonin is
Text © Psychologies Magazine Photographs Getty Images
BETWEEN
61 AND 80:
Finding your happy weight:
Food cravings are sabotaging
your relationship with your
body. You may struggle with
bloating and feel frustrated
that your happy weight is out
of reach. You may have an
interest in healthy eating and,
on good days, make nutritious
choices. But you give in to
cravings for a fast fix of sugar
or fatty foods, or ‘trigger’
foods like bread or biscuits.
Your key hormones: Leptin
and ghrelin – your ‘hunger
hormones’. Leptin, made by
your fat cells, is the ‘full-up’
hormone which decreases
appetite. Ghrelin makes you
feel hungry. Spikes in the
stress hormone cortisol can
also sabotage your healthy
eating intentions by triggering
Boosting your mood: You may
be going through a stressful
time, or feel overloaded. You
might also be struggling with
brain fog and mood swings,
alternating between feeling
tearful and needy and craving
space, or finding those
around you irritating. You
may suffer bouts of self-doubt
and low confidence.
Your key hormones: Cortisol
and insulin. Supporting your
adrenals, the glands that pump
out stress hormone cortisol, is
key. High levels can affect
concentration and mood and
put you at risk of depression.
Spikes in blood sugar that
trigger insulin release can also
contribute to irritability and
anxiety, while fluctuating levels
of oestrogen and progesterone
Getting back your mojo:
If you could describe it,
you’d say you’ve lost your
spark. Signs your sexual
energy may need a boost are a
fluctuating libido, mood
swings and bloating linked to
your cycle, or feeling hijacked
by perimenopause symptoms.
Your key hormones: Oestrogen,
progesterone and testosterone,
which mostly keep themselves in
balance and you in good health.
Oestrogen boosts mood so low
levels can make you feel down,
but excess levels can trigger
anxiety. A lack of progesterone
nearing menopause can disrupt
sleep by raising body
temperature at night. Low
testosterone can affect libido
but high levels can cause skin
issues and irregular periods.

the antidote to cortisol, the
hormone which signals to your
body it’s time to slow down.
Get off the rollercoaster:
Cutting back on sugar,
caffeine and alcohol, and
taking time to relax is
important for you, as it will
help keep your cortisol in
check. You can also support
your melatonin levels by
avoiding screen time before
going to bed and making sure
you sleep in the pitch dark.
cravings for sugary, fatty food.
Get off the rollercoaster:
A diet high in wholegrains
and lean protein and low in
fat can help suppress levels of
ghrelin. Go for low-GI,
high-fibre, wholegrain foods
and include lean protein
with meals. Do breathing
exercises in the day to keep
cortisol in check, and get lots
of sleep. On hungry days,
try short bursts of high-
intensity exercise.
can undermine feelings
of wellbeing.
Get off the rollercoaster:
Keeping on top of stress can
make a big difference to your
mood. But exercise is key,
helping your body process
excess cortisol and boosting
serotonin, the calming brain
chemical. Mindfulness and
yoga will also help. If your
mood swings are cyclical, try
agnus castus, a phytoestrogen
supplement, or lavender oil.
Get off the rollercoaster:
Producing excess cortisol can
throw your female hormones
off balance, as can lack of sleep.
Reducing stress and keeping
blood sugar stable by eating
wholegrains, lean protein and
fresh fruit and veg can take the
edge off PMS. Add regular
exercise to soothe nerves and
boost mood. If menstrual or
perimenopausal issues continue
to affect your sexual energy and
wellbeing, see your GP.

Turn to page 134 for delicious recipes to help you balance your hormones and regain your youthfulness and vitality

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 121

BOOKS

BY MEGAN MCCHESNEY

Bk of e mо
Stranger
David Bergen
Duckworth Overlook, $37

Íso is a young woman living in the

Guatemalan highlands. She works
as an attendant in an alternative
fertility clinic for wealthy white
American women who come to
soak in the supposedly magical,
impregnating waters.
Íso has no such fertility issues herself.
She falls pregnant to an American
doctor working at the clinic, and
months after he returns home she gives
birth to a perfect baby girl. A day later
her baby is stolen – and so starts Íso’s
epic journey to find her child.
Bergen’s spare yet elegant writing
suits the story beautifully as Íso faces
myriad dangers, crossing illegally into
Mexico and then again, much more
dangerously, through the staunchly- DON’T MISS
patrolled desert wasteland on the
Mexican-US border. The Chalk Man
It’s an odyssey not so different to the C J Tudor
Underground Railroad used by escaped
Michael Joseph, $37
slaves in the American South in the
If you’re looking for a razor-sharp psychological thriller with
1800s. Every choice Íso makes will
a head-bending twist, this is it! In 1986 Eddie and his friends
either take her closer to her child or
discover a dismembered body in the woods. Thirty years later,
lead her to disaster.
all the gang are in their early 40s and the body in the woods is
At its heart, this is a mesmerising and
a distant memory… until each of them receives a strange and
suspenseful adventure story but it also
unsolicited message. Then, one of them turns up dead. A well-
presents a damning picture of
crafted page-turner with a nostalgic nod to the 80s.
inequality. Bergen draws a stark world
where the wealthy take what they want
from the powerless – even a newborn The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao
child. A place where the haves hide
themselves away in gated communities
Martha Batalha
while the have-nots riot in the streets. It One World, $27
would be less depressing if it were not It’s Rio de Janeiro in the mid-1900s and Euridice Gusmao is
for the most part true. a genius with the misfortune of being born female. Instead
While Bergen’s America has a of getting to change the world, she gets to keep house for her
dystopian edge, Íso herself is an husband and children. But as it turns out, you can’t keep a good
antidote. She’s brave, smart, vulnerable, woman down! Not only does Euridice manage to hide her extra-
resilient, quietly determined and more curricular activities from her husband, her prodigal sister turns up
real than any overblown superhero that with an eye-popping story of her own. A quirky and witty tale full
Hollywood could dream up. of the zest we’ve come to expect from South American literature.

122 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 HEARTFELT
The Sealwoman’s Gift
Sally Magnusson
Two Roads, $38
In 1627 Barbary
pirates raided Iceland
and took 400 captives
to sell into slavery.
Author Magnusson
has imagined what
happened to one of
those captives – a
pastor’s wife, Ásta.
Ásta has seemingly
lost everything as she’s forced into the
very bottom rungs of Arabian culture.
But she has retained something – the
folk tales of her homeland. A novel
about how the power of storytelling
helps us make sense of the world.
Oliver Loving
Stefan Merrill Block
Atlantic, $33
A high school
shooting in Texas
leaves Oliver Loving
in a vegetative state.
Over the following
years, his family falls
apart and questions
are left unanswered:
What caused the
shooting? Would
things have turned out differently if
secrets had been told? Then, 10 years
after that fateful night, a new medical
test promises to unlock Oliver’s trapped
mind and, with it, the possibility that the
truth will finally emerge.
w in
Photographs Getty Images and supplied
WITH NEXT
We have five copies of Stranger to give
away. To enter, go to our website
nowtolove.co.nz and click on the ‘win’
tab. State the reason you should win,
plus your details and your unique code
NXTB0318. Or like us on Facebook and
post your reason on our wall.
Competition closes March 31, 2018.
Mt e auor
Journalist Rosamund Dean
has had her share of hair-of-
the-dog moments. With her
new book Mindful Drinking
(Trapeze, $35) she shows
how to cut back on the booze
without going teetotal…
Tell us about your book…
It’s simply about learning tools to help
you drink more moderately, which is
easier said than done for many reasons,
not least because, once you’ve had a drink
or two, your self-control and decision-
making skills go out the window.
Ultimately, the aim is to free yourself
from hangovers, fatigue and alcohol-
induced anxiety. It’s not about complete
abstinence, or deprivation.
It sounds like you were a true ladette
through your 20s. How do you rate
the experience?
A lot of it was incredibly fun! But my head
was constantly fuzzy and I had a gnawing
sense of anxiety about everything from
work to relationships, which I didn’t really
connect to drinking at the time. I was
naïve about the effects of alcohol.
Any regrets?
I certainly had mornings when I woke
up  feeling worried about what I might
have said to a colleague at work drinks,
and there were some boys I probably
shouldn’t have kissed! But I never had a
rock bottom moment, which is what
makes my story relatable. I was never an
alcoholic. It was a case of eventually
realising that drinking heavily was
making me fat, exhausted and anxious.
Then it was another dawning realisation
that cutting down wasn’t as easy as I’d
thought it would be. That’s why I decided
to work out some simple tools to  help
me do it.
How has your life improved?
How long have you got? Sharpened
concentration, increased energy, improved
memory, greater motivation and
productivity at work, extra disposable
income, weight loss, glowing skin, less
anxiety, improved moods, better sex,
stronger immune system, more restorative
sleep, improved digestion… and that’s
without even mentioning the reduced risk
of developing cancer and other big health
issues. Now that I’m a moderate drinker,
I’m quite squiffy after two glasses of wine!
How dangerous is it to gauge your
drinking based on the amount
others consume?
Really dangerous. Heavy drinkers tend to
hang out together, so it’s easy to think you
don’t drink too much because you’re not
as bad as that friend that’s always sloshed.
Why is it so much harder to moderate
drinking as opposed to abstaining?
Abstinence is one decision: I don’t drink,
ever. Whereas moderation requires
hundreds of little decisions: Am I going
to drink today? How much? What shall I
drink? What do I say to people who try to
coerce me into drinking? How do I stop
when I’ve had enough? Each of those
decisions is an opportunity to slip up and
fall back into heavy drinking.
What is your favourite clever trick for
mindful drinking?
Only pour half a glass at a time. It really
does make a difference, weirdly!
What was the last great book
you read?
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng was
clever, funny and heartbreaking.
For people wanting to live more
mindful lives in general, what book
would you recommend?
Modern Mindfulness by Rohan Gunatillake.
If someone else had written your book
when you were a ladette, would you
have taken any notice?
Hahaha! No.
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 123
now TOLOV E.CO. NZ

d’s favourite women’s magazines

together at a new online home.
owtolove.co.nz and discover a
f stories from these magazines,
usive online-only content like
photo galleries and more.

’s lifestyle website
NEW ZEALAND
 food by
On the following pages we showcase New Zealand’s
world-class king salmon. Here are a few quality local
ingredients that complement this flavourful fish BY NICK RUSSELL

Cracking combo
Smoked salmon with something fresh and something
…”‡ƒ› ‹• ƒ ‹†‡ƒŽ …‘„‹ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ ƪƒ˜‘—”• ƒ† –‡š–—”‡•Ǥ
‘” ƒ ‰”‡ƒ– •ƒ…ǡ –”› ƪƒ–„”‡ƒ† ™‹–Š ƒ ˆ‡™ •Ž‹…‡• ‘ˆ –Š‡
artisan aged ricotta salata made by Nelson-based ViaVio
with some smoked salmon, a few slices of red onion or
tomato and some capers or fresh dill. viavio.co.nz
Miso magic
Whether as part of a marinade, glaze
or as a broth, miso paste is a perfect
partner for salmon. There are few
better than the New Zealand-made
miso paste from the talented Takehi-
to Maeda at Nelson’s Urban Hippie.
He also sells umami salt (shio koji)
and his miso-style breakfast spread
Misomite. You only need 1 Tbsp of
miso paste in some boiling water, a few
soba noodles, some Asian greens and fresh salmon for a quick
and very healthy lunch. miso.co.nz

T ip: Pacific king

ming
n el is cogreat
f e n
Freshseason. It’s rved
into sted and se almon
salmon is the only
roa n-fried s e out
a
with phelps balancof
salmon species farmed
as it e richness
th e fish.
in New Zealand
th

A H E R I TAG E O F F L AVO U R
The salsa criolla on the barbecued salmon (page 132) uses baby
heirloom tomatoes, and what better opportunity to seek out the
fruits of Anthony and Angela Tringham’s labours? Their
Curious Croppers heritage tomatoes appear in restaurant
menus around the country, in specialty food stores like Moore
Wilson’s and Farro Fresh and at their Clevedon Village Farmers’
Market stall. Of course, farmers’ markets around the country
are a great place to get your hands on quality fresh heritage
tomatoes so keep your eyes peeled! curiouscroppers.co.nz
Photographs Getty Images and supplied

THE GOOD OIL

Our summer breakfast staple of local Hass avocado on Vogel’s has
been transformed with a drizzle of Seresin Estate’s newly released
lemon-infused extra virgin olive oil. Locally grownYen Ben lemons
join their estate-grown Tuscan olive varieties Maurino, Leccio del
Corno and Frantoio at the press and the resulting oil has a wonderful
•ƒ˜‘—”›…‹–”—•ƪƒ˜‘—”–Šƒ–ƒ‡•–Š‘•‡ƒ˜‘••‹‰Ǥ•‡”‡•‹Ǥ…‘Ǥœ

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 125

 Whether you’re entertaining a group or cooking for two,
these dishes see salmon take centre stage

Salmon rice
paper rolls, page 131

Rich fish, fresh veges and tangy dressing elevate this

simple dish into a meal above the ordinary
126 NEXT / MARCH 2018
food by

Salmon patties
with courgette
& asparagus
salad, page 131
 %DNHG VDOPRQ ÀOOHWV
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 food by

Barbecued salmon
with salsa criolla,
page 132

Whether you’re just hosting friends or have guests to impress,

this is sure to be a show-stopping dish
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 129
 Salmon with walnut
pesto and parsnip
chips, page 132

130 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 food by

An entertainer’s dream or a quick weeknight

meal, salmon is extremely versatile, readily
available and delicious to boot
Remove from heat; stand with combined zest, juice mint leaves
for 10 minutes. Remove and remaining extra ½ cup bean sprouts
salmon from poaching oil; toss gently. 50g sugar snap peas,
liquid to a plate; remove and 7 Serve patties with salad, blanched and sliced
Salmon patties discard onion, rind and yoghurt, extra dukkah 2 Tbsp chopped almonds
with courgette & peppercorns. and lemon wedges. 2 tsp chopped fresh
asparagus salad 2 Bring poaching liquid SERVES 4. garlic chives
back to the boil. Remove READY IN: 40 MINUTES 

2 x 200g skinless salmon from heat; stir in couscous.  
 1 Tbsp lime juice
fillets, halved crossways
2 spring onions, white parts
only, green tops reserved
5cm strip lemon rind
4 whole black peppercorns
1 cup water
¾ cup couscous
͙ „•’ ‘Ž‹˜‡ ‘‹Žǡ ’Ž—• ΁ȀΒ …—’
extra
¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh
flat-leaf parsley
2 free-range eggs, beaten
lightly
45g packet lemon and herb
dukkah, plus extra, to serve
1 medium courgette
170g asparagus, trimmed
½ tsp finely grated lemon
zest
1 Tbsp lemon juice
΂ȀΒ …—’
”‡‡Ǧ•–›Ž‡ ›‘‰Š—”– minutes each side or until
Lemon wedges, to serve
1 Place salmon, reserved
onion tops, rind, peppercorns
and the water in a medium
saucepan; bring to the boil.
Stand; covered, for 5 minutes
or until liquid is absorbed.
Separate grains with a fork.
3 Place couscous in a medium
bowl with oil; mix well. Add
flaked salmon, spring onion,
parsley and half the egg;
season. With wet hands,
shape mixture into eight
patties; place on an oven tray
lined with baking paper.
4 Place remaining egg and
dukkah in separate small
bowls. Dip the patties in
egg, draining off excess;
coat in dukkah.
5 Heat half the extra oil
in a large frying pan over
medium heat; cook patties,
in two batches, for 3
cabbage
golden and heated through.
Drain on paper towels.
6 Using a mandoline or sharp
knife, thinly slice courgette
and asparagus into ribbons.
Place in a medium bowl
Salmon rice
paper rolls
4 x 22cm rice paper rounds
150g thinly sliced sashimi-
grade raw salmon
½ cup shredded green
leaving the tops open. Serve
½ medium thinly slice red
capsicum
1 medium grated carrot
¼ cup loosely packed fresh
coriander leaves
¼ cup loosely packed fresh
1 tsp salt-reduced tamari
1 tsp finely grated fresh
ginger
2 tsp grated palm sugar
½ seeded, finely chopped
fresh long red chilli
1 Dip the rice paper
rounds in warm water until
soft. Lift from water; place
on a damp, clean tea towel.
2 Divide salmon, cabbage,
capsicum, carrot, coriander,
mint, bean sprouts, sugar
snap peas, almonds and
garlic chives between rice
papers, leaving a border at
the base.
3 Fold rice papers up from
the base, then roll sideways,
rice paper rolls with dipping
sauce.
4 To prepare the dipping
sauce, combine all
ingredients in a small bowl.
SERVES 2.

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to salmon –

fillets make for an easy dinner while a whole side
of salmon is a party showpiece
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 131
food by
Barbecued salmon
with salsa criolla
2 tsp sea salt flakes
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2kg salmon fillet, skin on,
pin-boned
2 Tbsp coarsely chopped fresh
flat-leaf parsley
2 cloves garlic, crushed
Lemon halves, to serve
SALSA CRIOLLA
350g baby heirloom
tomatoes, sliced or
quartered
250g cherry tomatoes,
quartered
½ medium red onion, finely
chopped
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
΁ΨΡ cup loosely packed fresh
coriander leaves
1 To prepare salsa criolla,
combine all ingredients,
except the coriander, in a
medium bowl. Season to taste.
Just before serving, add
coriander; toss to combine.
2 Preheat a covered
barbecue, with all burners on
low and hood closed, until
temperature reaches 200°C,
or follow manufacturer’s
instructions.
3 Combine salt flakes and
half the oil in a small bowl;
rub mixture on skin side of
salmon. Combine the parsley,
garlic and remaining oil in
a small bowl; rub mixture on
132 NEXT / MARCH 2018
flesh side of salmon. Season.
4 Barbecue salmon on open
grill, skin-side down, in
covered barbecue. Turn
burners off underneath
salmon and turn other
burners to high. Cook
on covered barbecue for
20 minutes or until cooked
as desired (salmon is best
served medium-rare in
the thickest part).
5 Serve salmon with salsa
criolla and lemon halves.
SERVES 8.
READY IN: 40 MINUTES
Salmon with
walnut pesto &
parsnip chips
3 small parsnips
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 x 200g salmon fillets,
skin on
1 lemon, halved crossways
2 cloves garlic, quartered
1 cup roasted walnuts
1½ cups firmly packed fresh
mint leaves
1½ cups firmly packed fresh
parsley leaves
¼ cup lemon juice
½ cup olive oil, extra
1 Tbsp torn fresh flat-leaf
parsley leaves
2 cups firmly packed trimmed
watercress
1 Heat a barbecue (or grill)
over medium-high heat.
2 Using a mandoline or sharp
knife, thinly slice parsnips
lengthways. Combine parsnip
with half the oil in a large
bowl; season. Cook parsnip
on barbecue, in batches, for
2 minutes each side or
until charred and tender.
3 Brush salmon with
remaining oil; season.
Cook salmon and lemon
halves, cut-side down, on
barbecue for 4 minutes
each side or until salmon is
cooked as desired and lemon
is lightly charred.
4 Meanwhile, blend or
process garlic, walnuts,
herbs and juice until finely
chopped. While motor is
operating, add extra oil in
a thin, steady stream;
blend until mixture is
combined. Season.
5 Serve salmon topped with
walnut pesto and torn parsley;
accompany with parsnip
chips, watercress and
charred lemon halves.
SERVES 4.
READY IN: 20 MINUTES
Baked salmon
fillets with
tahini sauce
& tabbouleh
4 x 150g salmon fillets,
skin removed
1½ tsp sumac
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
TABBOULEH
½ cup coarse cracked wheat
(burghul), rinsed
1½ cups water
2 spring onions, thinly sliced
1 medium tomato, chopped
coarsely
1 cup firmly packed fresh flat-
leaf parsley leaves, coarsely
chopped
¼ cup firmly packed fresh
mint leaves, coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp lemon juice
TAHINI SAUCE
½ cup Greek-style yoghurt
1½ Tbsp tahini
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tsp lemon juice
1 To prepare tabbouleh,
bring cracked wheat and the
water to the boil in a small
saucepan. Reduce heat to low;
cook for 20 minutes or until
tender. Drain. Cool. Place
in a large bowl with onion,
tomato, herbs and juice; toss
to combine. Season.
2 To prepare tahini sauce,
Whisk ingredients in a small
bowl until combined; season
to taste.
3 Preheat oven to 200°C
(180°C fanbake).
4 Line an oven tray with
baking paper. Place salmon
on tray, sprinkle with 1 tsp
of the sumac; drizzle with
oil. Season. Bake for 12
minutes or until almost
cooked through.
5 Serve with tahini and
tabbouleh. Sprinkle with the
remaining sumac.
SERVES 4.
READY IN: 40 MINUTES
Tip: Baking salmon in
the oven makes for a great
weeknight meal – it lets you
focus on other parts of your
meal while the fish cooks.
Just keep an eye on the
cooking time.
 H oley m oley
–ǯ• –Š‡ •–‘”‡ ™‡ǯ˜‡ ƒŽŽ „‡‡ ™ƒ‹–‹‰ ˆ‘”ǥ ”‹•’›
”‡‡Ǩ Š‡ †‘—– …Šƒ‹ ‹• „”‹‰‹‰ –Š‡‹” ‘”‹‰‹ƒŽ
‰Žƒœ‡† †‘—–• –‘ —…Žƒ† –‘ •ƒ–‹•ˆ› ›‘—” •™‡‡– –‘‘–ŠǤ
Š‡ †‘—–• ƒ”‡ ƒ†‡ ˆ”‡•Š †ƒ‹Ž›ǡ ƒ† –Š‡”‡ǯ• ƒ †”‹˜‡
–Š”— ‹ˆ ›‘—ǯ”‡ ‹ ƒ ”—•ŠǤ ’‡ ˆ”‘ ‡„”—ƒ”› ͚͠Ǥ

Pete boxes
clever with
Fd
lunches
Bored of having the
same old sandwiches
WHAT’S
or leftover dinner for
lunch? Pete Evans’
book Lunch Box will
inspire you to make
your midday meal
more exciting. More
NEW
than 70 recipes include
healthy main meals
and afternoon treats.
And all recipes are
dairy, gluten,
nut and refined
sugar-free. $30.

CONE OF
CHEFS GO HEAD
GOODNESS
A Cornetto is the perfect
TO HEAD cool-down treat on a hot day
If you just can’t get enough of MasterChef, turn – and now a vegan version is
your attention to the new season of the UK version being launched in the UK.
of the hit show – MasterChef: The Professionals. Each The ice cream is soya based,
episode will challenge the chefs on their cooking the chocolate is vegan and
skills and their ability to make delicious food in the whole delicious treat is
demanding conditions. Mondays at 9.30pm gluten-free. Here’s hoping
from March 5 on Food TV. they’ll make their way to NZ!

A P L AC E T O U N W I N D
AND DINE
What better way to kick back than with a drop
‘ˆ “—ƒŽ‹–› ˜‹‘ ƒ† •‘‡ Ƥ‡ Š‘‡‰”‘™ ˆƒ”‡Ǥ
Discover foodie paradise at the North Canterbury
Wine & Food Festival, where you can savour local
’”‘†—…‡ ƒ† ™‹‡ ‹ ’‹…–—”‡•“—‡
Ž‡ƒ” ‘ƒ‹Ǥ
March 11, $30Ǥ ncwineandfood.co.nzǤ

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 133

 sc a les
Balancing your
hormones with these
dishes is the key to
reclaiming your
e
youthfulness and energy

Courgette
spaghetti,
page 138
 food by

Holy sweet
potato burger,
page 138

Ti p:
oco
bette nut oil is
r
oil fo than oliv
r cook e
high i ng a
heats t
.

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 135

 Warm Brussels
sprouts chicken
caesar salad,
page 139

136 NEXT / MARCH 2018

 food by

Chicken
vegetable soup,
page 139

Ti p:
h a side
er ve w it een
gr
of leaf y x tra
re
veges fo V
EHQHÀW

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 137

Recipes
As well as nutritious food, throw in some exercise and
prioritise sleep to put you on the path to hormone harmony
Courgette
spaghetti
4 medium courgettes
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup pine nuts
3 cups tomato, roughly
chopped
2 portobello mushrooms,
roughly chopped
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp dried thyme
1 cup chopped basil, plus
extra small leaves to garnish
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp raw cacao powder
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp freshly ground
black pepper
Nutritional yeast, to serve
1 Spiralise the courgettes into
spaghetti-like noodles, then
spread out on paper towel to
absorb the excess moisture.
2 Heat the olive oil in a frying
pan over medium heat. Add
the garlic and cook for 2
minutes, then add the pine
nuts and sauté for 4 minutes.
Stir in the tomato, mushroom,
Coconut oil has plenty of medium-chain
fatty acids to give your energy levels a boost
138 NEXT / MARCH 2018
oregano, thyme, basil, honey,
cacao powder, salt and pepper.
3 Reduce heat; cover and
simmer sauce for 20 minutes,
stirring occasionally with a
wooden spoon. If you have
time, remove sauce from the
heat and let it sit for 2 hours
to intensify the flavour.
4 To serve, divide the
spiralised courgettes among
four plates, add the sauce and
sprinkle with nutritional yeast.
Garnish with basil leaves.
SERVES 4.
READY IN: 45 MINUTES
Note: Enjoy this ‘spaghetti’
without the belly bloat. And
while it’s not the same recipe
used by my Italian mother, it’s
delicious all the same. You
may think that adding cacao
powder is a bit out there, but
it’s full of magnesium, which
helps improve your mood.
The mushrooms also contain
energy-giving vitamin B12.
Holy sweet
potato burger
3 kumara, peeled, roughly
cut into cubes
3 Tbsp coconut oil, melted,
plus extra for greasing
1 cup quinoa, rinsed well
and drained (or use cooked
brown rice)
͙΁Ψ͚…—’•˜‡‰‡–ƒ„Ž‡•–‘…
(ideally homemade, but if
store-bought ensure it is MSG-
free) or salted water
΁Ψ͚”‡†‘‹‘ǡˆ‹‡Ž›…Š‘’’‡†
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
΁Ψ͚–•’•™‡‡–’ƒ’”‹ƒ
1 tsp finely chopped
coriander root
1 bird’s eye chilli, seeded
and chopped
¼ tsp sea salt
1 cup baby spinach, lime
wedges, coriander sprigs and
Healthy Guacamole (see
right), to serve
1 Preheat the oven to 180°C
and line a baking tray with
baking paper.
2 Put the kumara in a large
bowl and coat generously with
the coconut oil. Spread out
evenly on the lined tray and
roast for 35-40 minutes
or until tender and lightly
caramelised. Set aside to
cool slightly.
3 Meanwhile, combine the
quinoa with the stock or
water in a medium saucepan
and bring to the boil over
high heat. Reduce the heat
and simmer, covered, for
15 minutes or until the
quinoa has absorbed the
liquid and each grain has
a white spiral tail.
4 Grease a baking tray with
coconut oil. Place the kumara
in a large bowl and mash. Add
the quinoa and mix gently
using your hands, then mix in
the onion, garlic, cumin,
paprika, coriander root, chilli
and salt. Shape the mixture
into four or six burger patties
and place them on the
prepared tray. Bake for 20
minutes or until cooked to
your liking.
5 Serve the burgers with the
spinach, lime wedges, sprigs of
coriander and the guacamole.
SERVES 6.
READY IN: 1 HOUR 15
MINUTES
Note: Kumara is one of
the best slow carbs and
is packed with vitamin A.
Guacamole adds a burst of
vitamin E that’s great for
your skin. Make extra for
tomorrow’s lunch.
Healthy
guacamole
2 ripe avocados, mashed
4 spring onions, thinly sliced
1 large tomato, finely diced
2 cloves garlic
½ jalapeño chilli, finely
chopped
¹/Ρ cup lime juice
3 Tbsp chopped coriander
½ tsp sea salt
1 Place all the ingredients in
a bowl and mash with a fork.
For a smoother consistency,
pulse in a blender.
Note: Avocados are a great
source of magnesium. To
ripen avocados, leave them
overnight in a brown paper
bag with a ripe banana.

When it comes to shopping for hormone-
balancing foods, opt for seasonal, local,
organic and whole ingredients
Warm Brussels
sprouts chicken
caesar salad
4 x 150g skinless chicken
breast fillets
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
500g Brussels sprouts, thinly
sliced
Chopped flat-leaf parsley, to
garnish
DRESSING
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp finely grated lemon zest
΁ΨΡ cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, roughly
chopped
3 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp tamari
2 tsp capers, rinsed
Sea salt and freshly ground
black pepper (optional)
1 First, prepare the dressing.
Combine the olive oil,
lemon zest, lemon juice,
garlic, mustard, tamari and
capers in a blender and
blend until smooth. Taste
and season if required.
2 Place the chicken in a glass
or ceramic dish, then pour
half the dressing evenly over
the top. Set aside to marinate
for at least 15 minutes
(though if you can, prepare
this in the morning or even
the night before so it has
plenty of time to marinate). It
will keep for up to 3 days
in the fridge.
3 Preheat the oven to 180°C.
4 Transfer the chicken breasts
to a baking dish and bake for
20-25 minutes or until cooked
through. Alternatively, cook
them on the barbecue.
5 Meanwhile, heat the
olive oil in a frying pan over
medium heat, add the
sprouts and sauté for about
5 minutes or until just tender.
Transfer to a large bowl.
6 Toss the remaining dressing
through the sprouts. Slice
the chicken and scatter over
the top, then garnish with
flat-leaf parsley and serve.
SERVES 4.
READY IN: 45 MINUTES
PLUS MARINATING TIME
Note: Brussels sprouts
are part of the brassica (also
known as cruciferous) family,
and have a cleansing effect on
the liver. Happy hormones
love a naturally detoxed liver.
If Brussels sprouts aren’t your
thing, use 1 head of romaine
lettuce, roughly chopped,
instead. Just toss it with the
dressing and serve with the
chicken and parsley.
Chicken vegetable
soup
1 x 1.2kg-1.8 kg chicken
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 leek, white part only,
There are plenty of whole foods in these dishes
to help ease digestion and detoxify your liver
halved lengthways, washed
and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 large carrot, peeled if
necessary, diced
4 celery stalks, diced
2 small courgettes, diced
1 turnip, peeled and diced
2 litres chicken stock (ideally
homemade, but if store-
bought ensure it is MSG-free)
2 cups cold water
Sea salt and freshly ground
black pepper
Chilli flakes and chopped flat-
leaf parsley, to serve
1 Wash the chicken and
pat dry with paper towels.
2 Heat the olive oil in a
saucepan large enough to
hold the chicken over medium
heat. Add the leek and garlic
and sauté for 2 minutes or until
soft but not coloured. Add the
carrot, celery, courgettes and
turnip and sauté for 2 minutes.
3 Add the chicken, stock and
cold water, ensuring the
chicken is covered with liquid
(add more water if needed).
Increase the heat to high and
bring to the boil, then reduce
the heat to low and simmer,
partially covered, for 1 hour or
until the vegetables are tender
and the chicken is cooked
through and nearly falling off
the bone, stirring occasionally.
4 Carefully remove the
chicken from the soup and
allow to cool slightly. Skim
away any skin or froth that may
have settled on the surface of
the soup. Remove the meat
from the bones and roughly
food by
chop; return it to the soup.
Season with salt and pepper.
5 Ladle the soup into warmed
bowls, scatter over the chilli
flakes and parsley, and serve.
͜ǧ͞Ǥ
READY IN: 1 HOUR 40
MINUTES
Note: Chicken soup is good
for the soul and the waistline.
Celery is a wonderful diuretic
with an abundance of fibre
and magnesium. Combined
with glutamine in the chicken,
it’s an excellent sleep-
enhancing meal. You can
reduce the cooking time if you
use a pre-cooked free-range
barbecued chicken. Gently
pull the meat off the bones
and add to the soup after it has
been simmering for about
20–30 minutes. Serve warm.
Recipes from The
Australian Healthy
Hormone Diet by Michele
Chevalley Hedge and
Jennifer Fleming,
Macmillan, $40.
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 139
Raw white
chocolate
mixed berry
cheesecake,
page 144

E A T
PRETTY
Chocolate isn’t just a treat; in these recipes from
nutritionist Lola Berry it becomes a skin superfood too
 food by

y ou
Did ?
Avocado &
walnut fudge
w
knots containch
brownies,
page 144
nu hi
Wal in E, w kin
m s
v ita s keep .
p
hel mooth
s

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 141

Paleo chocolate,
macadamia &
courgette bread,
page 145

Did y
ou
know
The go ?
o
macad d fats in
a
g reat mias are
for glo
w
s k i n. i n g

142 NEXT / MARCH 2018

food by
Choc-coconut
raw mousse,
page 145

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 143

 We know blueberries are good for us; they’re
at the top of any superfoods list because
they’re full of anti-ageing antioxidants
Raw white
chocolate mixed
berry cheesecake
BASE
½ cup almond meal
8 medjool dates, pitted
¼ cup desiccated coconut
2 Tbsp almond butter
Pinch of salt flakes
WHITE CHOC FILLING
2 cups cashews,
pre-soaked (see note)
1 cup almond milk
½ cup maple syrup
¼ cup cacao butter, melted
Pinch of salt flakes
BERRY SWIRL
¼ cup fresh or frozen
blueberries
¼ cup fresh or frozen
raspberries
TO DECORATE
Pomegranate seeds
Edible rose petals
1 For the base, place all the
ingredients in a blender with
2 Tbsp water and blend. You
want a tacky, sticky mixture,
so if it’s not quite there then
add another tablespoon or so
of water. When the mixture is
ready, press it onto the base of
a 20cm springform cake tin,
then pop it in the freezer
until the filling is ready.
2 To make the white choc
filling, place the cashews,
almond milk and maple syrup
in a blender and whiz. Pour in
144 NEXT / MARCH 2018
the melted cacao butter and
salt and blend again. Set aside
½ cup of the filling and pour
the remainder onto the cake
base, then put the cake tin
back in the freezer to begin
setting.
3 To make the berry swirl,
place the reserved white choc
filling, the blueberries and
raspberries in a blender and
mix. Pour the berry mixture
into a squeeze bottle with a
thin nozzle. Take your cake
out of the freezer (it doesn’t
matter if it’s not totally set)
then pipe the berry mixture
in polka dots (or any pattern
you like) over the cake.
4 Place the cake in the fridge
for 6 hours or the freezer for
2 hours to set. When set,
carefully remove from the tin
and place on a serving platter.
Decorate with pomegranate
seeds and rose petals. Let
the cake come to room
temperature for 15 minutes
before serving.
SERVES 12.
READY IN: 25 MINUTES
PLUS CHILLING TIME
Note: This is such a
pretty dessert and it wows
my guests every time. Most
people don’t even realise it’s
healthy – I often don’t tell
them it’s raw and vegan until
they’ve devoured it and they
don’t believe it! It works well
as cute little tartlets, too.
To prepare the cashews, just
soak for 2-3 hours (or
overnight if possible), then
rinse before you use them.
I’ve used almond milk in
this recipe, but you can
also use other non-dairy
alternatives, like oat, rice
or macadamia milk.
Avocado & walnut
fudge brownies
¼ cup coconut oil, melted,
plus extra for greasing
1 large avocado
1 cup medjool dates, pitted
΁ΨΒ cup maple syrup
1 vanilla pod, split and
seeds scraped (or ¼ tsp
vanilla powder or extract)
Salt flakes
3 large eggs, whisked
½ cup almond meal (ground
almonds)
½ cup coconut flour
΁ΨΒ cup cacao powder
1 cup roughly
chopped walnuts
Coconut ice cream, to serve
(optional)
1 Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Grease a 20cm square baking
tin with coconut oil.
2 Pop the avocado, dates,
maple syrup, coconut oil,
vanilla and a pinch of salt
into a food processor or
blender and blitz everything
together well. Spoon the
mixture into a big bowl and
stir through the eggs, then
add the almond meal,
coconut flour and
cacao powder and mix
together gently until well
combined.
3 Stir in the walnuts, then
scoop the brownie mix into
your baking tin using a
spatula (it’ll be pretty sticky).
Sprinkle over a last pinch of
salt and bake for 20 minutes,
or until soft and fudgy.
4 Leave the brownies to
cool for 10 minutes, then
slice and serve with coconut
ice cream for a really dreamy
dessert, or just enjoy them
on their own. The brownies
will keep for up to 4 days in
the fridge and can be kept
frozen for much longer.
MAKES 12.
READY IN: 40 MINUTES
Note: Before you say
no to avocado in a sweet
recipe, try this creation –
it’s so simple to make and
the brownies have the best
consistency ever. This
recipe is full of good fats
from the avo, coconut oil
and walnuts, which make
for the softest skin and
silkiest hair, too. And it’s
also the perfect brain food!
 food by

Chocolate is brilliant for skin health. Dark

chocolate (we’re talking about 70% cocoa) helps
combat beauty’s number one enemy: stress
Paleo chocolate,
macadamia &
courgette bread
½ cup coconut oil, melted,
plus extra for greasing
2 courgettes, grated
4 eggs, lightly beaten
΁ΨΒ cup maple syrup, plus extra
to serve
½ cup cacao powder
2 heaped Tbsp coconut flour
½ cup almond meal (ground
almonds)
½ cup cacao nibs
½ cup macadamia nuts
1 Tbsp maca powder
1 vanilla pod, split and seeds
scraped
1 tsp ground cinnamon, plus
extra to serve
½ tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp gluten-free baking
powder
Pinch of salt flakes
MACADAMIA BUTTER
3 cups macadamia nuts
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
½ cup coconut oil, melted
1 Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Grease a 21cm x 11cm loaf tin
with a little coconut oil.
2 To make the macadamia
butter, pop the macadamias,
lemon zest and juice and
coconut oil in a food
processor and blitz until
smooth, blending in a
splash of water if it’s too
thick. Spoon into a bowl
or jar (or roll up in baking
paper to form a log) and
store in the refrigerator
until needed.
3 Place the grated courgettes
in a sieve and press with
your hands to remove any
excess liquid. Drain on paper
towels (or a clean tea towel)
and twist to remove the last
of the water.
4 Place the courgettes in a
large mixing bowl with
the remaining ingredients
and mix thoroughly.
(The batter should have a
nice even consistency and
should smell and look
quite chocolatey.) Spoon
the batter into your loaf tin.
Cook for 20-25 minutes, or
until a skewer inserted into
the centre of the loaf comes
out clean.
5 Remove from the oven and
leave to cool before turning
out of the tin. Or, if you’re
like me, wait about 5 minutes,
cut a slice, and top it with a
slather of macadamia butter,
a drizzle of maple syrup and a
sprinkle of cinnamon.
MAKES 1 LOAF.
READY IN: 45 MINUTES
Note: This is perfect
for when you are craving
chocolate cake but you don't
want to undo all of your good
work! When I make this
little cracker of a recipe, I
will often dive in for seconds
– it’s really yummy warm, with
macadamia butter, cinnamon
and maple syrup. It freezes
nicely, too. Just slice it up
and pop in zip-lock bags in
the freezer until needed. It’s
the perfect pick-me-up!
Choc-coconut
raw mousse
2½ avocados
400ml coconut cream
½ cup cacao powder, plus 2
extra Tbsp
½ cup maple syrup
1 Tbsp rice malt syrup
Pinch of salt flakes
1 tsp vanilla paste
TOPPINGS
Bee pollen
Coconut flakes
Edible flowers
1 Scoop the flesh out of
the avocados into a blender
or food processor, add the
rest of the ingredients
and pulse until smooth
and creamy.
2 Spoon into a serving
bowl or individual glasses
and transfer to the fridge
to cool for 2 hours before
serving, then make it pretty
with your favourite toppings
(I like to have mine with bee
pollen, coconut flakes and a
few edible flowers).
SERVES 4-5.
READY IN: 10 MINUTES
PLUS COOLING TIME
Note: This recipe is easy to
make and is perfect for when
those chocolate cravings
come calling! It’s also great
face food, as the cacao
powder helps to reduce
stress, which means less
collagen breakdown and
therefore less wrinkles.
Flavonols (the type of
flavonoid found in chocolate)
are antioxidants that enable
your skin to glow really
naturally by helping it protect
itself from UV damage and
increase blood flow.

Edited extract from

Maca powder helps to balance out hormones, Lola Berry's Beauty
Food by Lola Berry,
and it comes to the rescue when you’re seeing PanMacmillan
Australia, $30.
breakouts on your chin or lower face
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 145
 B E A U T Y & T H E

GREEK
Turquoise sea, ancient streets, blue-domed buildings that dazzle
in the sun… Greece is a photographer’s dream,
and Danielle Lagos gets to strike a pose on two
of its most picturesque islands
 TRAVEL

The vibrant blue

domes of Oia on the
island of Santorini
are postcard- and
Instagram-famous.
Sitting on a veranda overlooking the
sparkling lights of Thira, capital of
Santorini, a welcome sea breeze makes the
stifling heat of the day a distant memory.
The restaurant is full of people – young, old,
couples, families, and dialects aplenty –
feasting over plates of grilled meats,
moussaka, seafood, pita breads and dips.
There is a weathered man strumming a
guitar to one side of the room, singing
Greek ditties, when the sound of smashing
plates abruptly hits the air. “Opa!” exclaims
a lady at a nearby table. The shattered
porcelain isn’t a sign of celebration but the
result of a waiter losing control of his tray,
much to the manager’s annoyance. It’s all
very unintentionally Greek – but it’s still a
nice touch to a girls’ getaway in Greece.
My two best friends and I have found time
to spend a week island hopping between
enchanting Santorini and Mykonos. If I
could smash a whole collection of white
china to show my excitement I would, but I
don’t think the manager would like that
either. Right now, with plates of tzatiki,
moussaka, lemon chicken and seafood
sprawled out in front of us, and the dazzling
view of Santorini in the foreground, you can
understand the fuss surrounding this
148 NEXT / MARCH 2018
European hot spot. Pick up any postcard of
Greece and I bet my bottom euro it’s of
Santorini and its stunning white building-
scattered cliff tops, panoramic ocean views
and iconic cobalt blue domes. I’d also bet my
last souvlaki skewer it’s of the island’s best
known town, Oia. About a 30-minute bus
ride from Thira, Oia is famous as a wedding
and honeymoon getaway – and you’re almost
guaranteed to stumble across at least one
pair of these lovebirds during your visit.
Models & urchins
he town is a maze of lean laneways
T with cafés, clothing and trinket
shops, and it’s easy to lose track of
time while perusing what’s on offer. We take
it slow while we navigate closer to the
outskirts of the village to get those spectac-
ular sea views and take a snap of the famous
domes – us and every other tourist. I doubt
you’d come across as many spontaneous
photoshoots if you were at Auckland’s
Viaduct during Fashion Week. But it’s under-
standable and we wait for our turn to pose in
front of the peach bell tower and domes too.
Getting away from the crowds, we head
down to the waterfront, weaving past
donkeys and edging our way through
restaurants until we get a clear path to
Amoudi Bay. This small cove, which you can
only get to on foot or by boat, is a pit stop
worth the mini trek. When we get there,
there are about 30 people swimming, a few
boats milling about and a few brave souls
climbing up a large rock jutting out of the
water to jump off. We decide it’s only fitting
that we join the queue and take the plunge
ourselves. We carefully shimmy up the
jagged rocks and get to the top to be greeted
by a couple of young guys egging each other
on and a couple of girls comforting each
other, psyching themselves up to jump. The
girls let us go before them – more for their
benefit we figure – and with little thought,
one by one, we run and jump over the edge.
It’s scary and exhilarating – and a one-time
only thing, mostly because I don’t ever want
to experience that kind of wedgie again.
Uncomfortable malfunctions aside,
here is a fashion tip: when taking the
worthwhile detour to Amoudi, wear
appropriate footwear in the water. Not
only to help you climb the rock but also to
protect you from pesky sea urchins on the
seafloor. Take it from one writer who spent
the better part of the afternoon bribing
 TRAVEL

Opposite: Clockwise
from top left, even the
souvenir shops have
great views; Santorini
is postcard perfect;
seafood doesn’t come
much fresher; quad
bike queen Danielle.
This page: Narrow
roads make touring
an adventure;
Santorini wine; and
Mykonos.

i a i s f a m  s as
O g e ta w ay
a h оe y m  n

her travelling buddies to fish 10 spikes anywhere else easily or on time. There’s only six wines, from your full-bodied red and dry
from the pad of her foot. one way you can get around and that’s by white to the sweetest dessert wine you could
quad bike. Well, you can also get cars and dare taste. We never want to leave.

Yachtie for a day scooters, but with narrow gravel roads you’ll

o island getaway is complete

N without leaving dry land and
boarding a boat, so we book onto a
yacht. Besides, we figure the best views are
of the island itself. The sunset voyage starts
off by taking us to the Caldera, close to the
volcano, to some hot springs. Being a New
Zealander, it may be unfair to say the
springs don’t hold up to our very own
Rotorua, but the mud bath makes for a nice
stop-off. We mosey on along to Red Beach
for a swim before continuing to White
Beach – both named after the colour of
their sand – where we anchor for another
swim, a snorkel and a barbecue buffet.
With salt in our hair and full stomachs, it’s
time to return to Oia village to watch the
sun go down on another incredible day.
soon be grateful you opted for the quad.
Not to mention it’s so much fun.
We step into one of the many car hire
places on the island, hand over our licences,
and about NZ$100 later walk away with two
quad bikes. It was a little nerve-wracking to
begin with but, after you see that every old
man and his dog – quite literally for one
rider – are doing it, you come to grips with it
quite soon. We take off and explore, going
about 50km an hour on sparse roads,
pulling over to take a quick snap, eat a
gyros, or take a dip in the sea. We end up at
the most southern tip of the island, near
Akrotiri, at the lighthouse known as ‘Faros’.
It’s a beautiful spot, not only because of the
landmark, but because we get to look back
across the island and admire the cluster of
buildings sprinkled across the cliffs.
Navigating the island is thirsty work and
Mykonos
A
two-and-a-half hour ferry ride
from Santorini is Mykonos. Once
known as one of the poorest Greek
Islands, it’s now one of the glitziest and one
of the best nightlife destinations in the
Mediterranean. But don’t let its party-hard
reputation fool you: Mykonos really does
lend itself to being whatever you want it to
be. And right now we want shopping.
We can’t come to Greece and not nab
ourselves a pair of genuine leather sandals.
They’re very affordable, come in all styles
and colours, and are made of the softest
leather you’d ever hope to wrap your feet
in. Pick up a beaded clutch, a George Meis
print of the landscape or some Greek
pottery (or, like me, all of the above). The
expected tourist shops are there, but

To the lighthouse there is no better place to quench it than at

Santo Wines Winery. The hot spot has
more unexpected are the storefronts of
Swarovski, Michael Kors and Yves Saint
e soon discover that on Santorini, infinite sea views and we’re lucky to find a Laurent to name a few.

W if you’re just relying on public

transport you’re not going to get
perch in the ‘front row’ of the balcony to
admire the sunset. We order a tasting tray of
The town is the epitome of what you
imagine a Greek village to be, a labyrinth»
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 149

Opposite: A sunset
yacht voyage is a
romantic way to see the
islands. This page,
clockwise from above:
Who needs Uber when
you’ve got four-legged
transport; the views and
food are to die for.
of grey cobbled paths twist around stark
white buildings, and vibrant red and
fuchsia bougainvillea frame blue shutters.
lunchtime legend
or the best lunch in Mykonos,
F venture out to Kiki’s Tavern, a
local secret for those in the know
– or for those who know someone in the
know. It’s a small setup, fitting in no more
than 40 people at capacity. With no
electricity, the restaurant is only open
between 1pm and 7pm, and people wait
from midday to nab a spot. There is no
line; you just need to know who’s in front
of you. Incredibly, the charming host
keeps a mental list and approaches the
right party when a table comes free.
We chat away merrily to the other
dozen or so people milling about (helped
by the complimentary cask rosé for
waiting patrons). When our number is
up, we are guided to a small table near the
fire pit, sitting among vines, the smell of
barbecue wafting on the air. We look out
on a typical Greek scene of cliffs and blue
water – and it’s the perfect setting for
what’s about to come. We  decide on the
baked feta, a mix of the salads, octopus
and chicken thigh. To say this was one of
the standout meals of our vacation is not
putting it lightly – and there is nothing
150 NEXT / MARCH 2018
The town is the epitome of
light about me after I finished everything
that was served.
Where Santorini had us exploring,
Mykonos had us mooching. There’s no
shortage of beautiful beaches and you’ve
got to sample a few. At Paradise beach,
with the famous Tropicana beach bar,
you’ll find the early 20-something crowd
twerking their way through the day and
night. Ornos and Platys Gialos are kid-
friendly havens, Lia is a quiet spot thanks
to the lack of public transport to get there,
but the hands-down favourite is Elia.
Its sandy shores are peaceful and as it’s
the longest beach on the island it doesn’t
feel crammed.
Beach life
n our last evening in Mykonos we
O make our way to Scorpios. The food
is expensive but almost justifiable
given the surroundings. Make your way
past the lounge, bar and restaurant, and
you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled into an
extravagant bedouin campsite thanks to
the atmospheric music, cushions scattered
around the cliff’s edge, massive fire pit and
lanterns. If you’re budget-conscious, skip
the meal, order a bottle of wine, and head
for a cosy nook to take in a stunning view
of, you guessed it, the sunset. You really
never get sick of them.
*
hat the
locals know
● If you arrive in Santorini
by ferry, it is very easy to get
caught up with the many
Ž‘…ƒŽ• ‘ơ‡”‹‰ –”ƒ•ˆ‡”• –‘
your hotel. The average
price is about NZ$16-$25 per
person. But you’d do better
walking a bit further from
the port and getting a bus.
● Ferries are easy to book in
Greece and you don’t need to
reserve far in advance.
● Make note of bus
timetables as they aren’t
frequent. And be warned:
if they are full, they aren’t
stopping to pick you up, and
your wait begins again.
Photographs Getty images and supplied
● There’s no such thing
as a free sun lounger. They
can be anything from about
NZ$16. Some are ‘free’
if you buy a drink, but be
careful as these drinks can
be expensive. Always check
the price before you lay out
your towel.
 TRAVEL

what you imagine a Greek village to be

PUZZLES & STOCKISTS

Brainteaser
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 20. Sri Lanka’s former 17. Innate, inborn (8)

name (6) 19. High spirits, jubilance (7)
9 10 21. Scottish lake (4) 22. American Made star,
23. Active Sicilian Tom … (6)
volcano (4) 25. Fragrance (5)
11 12 13 14 24. Remainder (7) 26. Leave out (4)
27. Gin and vermouth 29. Fish eggs (3)
15 16 17 cocktail (7)
28. Eagle’s nest (5) Complete the crossword – the
18 19 20 letters in the shaded squares
30. Immoral act (3)
31. Apprentice, person will spell out a mystery word.
21 22
under instruction (7) Find the solution in the April
23 24 25 32. Twitter message (5) issue of NEXT.

26
T W I R L B O S S I E R
27 28 29
Down Y N A P E P R O
P O K E R A N A G R A M
1. Wind instrument (8) H V T R E E
30 2. Short sleep (3) O P E R A T E T O G A M
O O A I N C A U E
3. Board game (5) N O V I C E I N F L U X
31 32 4. Person with specialist S E A R I A A C
T S A R M O N A R C H
knowledge (6) O D I P A A
5. Unusual, odd (7) D U R A B L E O C E A N
I A O O D I M R G
ACROSS 10. Green gemstone (7) 6. Derided, made fun of (9) N E P T U N E I R A T E
1. Sceptical person, doubter (5) 11. Cutting tooth (7) 7. Statistics, information (4)
Solution from
4. Made certain of (7) 14. Pleasant (4) 12. Informal restaurant (9)
February NEXT
8. Evil spell, curse (3) 15. Male deer (4) 13. Capital of Norway (4)
Word to the wise: Rapid
9. Abundant, plentiful (5) 18. French landmark, … Tower (6) 16. Dull pain (4)

p86
p85
Crossword Katrina Keppie Photographs Bauer Media Studio and supplied

STOCKISTS

COLETTE BY COLETTE HAYMAN www.homageonline.co.nz STOLEN GIRLFRIENDS CLUB

www.colettehayman.com.au
COOPER www.trelisecooper.com
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EUNJI CHOI tmsnvlv@gmail.com
FOUR CORNERS
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FREEDOM FURNITURE
www.freedomfurniture.co.nz
GEOFF’S EMPORIUM
www.emporiums.co.nz
GESTUZ www.gestuz.com
H&M www.hm.com/nz
HARRIS TAPPER
www.harristapper.com
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152 NEXT / MARCH 2018
INTERVAL www.stolengirlfriendsclub.com
www.internationalfashiongroup. THE SCARF QUEEN
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ME & MY TREND TK STORE www.tk.net.nz
meandmytrend.com TRELISE COOPER
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SEED HERITAGE WALLACE COTTON
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SILK & STEEL WORLD www.worldbrand.co.nz
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 HOROSCOPES

Pisces
RELATIONSHIPS
‘—ǯŽŽ ˆ‡‡Ž Š‘’‡ˆ—Ž ƒ† —…‡”–ƒ‹ ƒ– †‹ơ‡”‡– –‹‡• –Š‹• ‘–Šǡ
ƒ† –Š‡•‡ •‡‡‹‰Ž› ‘’’‘•‹‰ ˆ‘”…‡• ™‹ŽŽ „‡ ƒ……‡–—ƒ–‡† „›
‡”…—”› ƒ† ‡—• ‹ ‹•…‡• ‹ –Š‡ Ƥ”•– ™‡‡ ‘” –™‘Ǥ Š‹‰•
ƒ”‡ •Šƒ’‹‰ —’ ˆ‘” …Šƒ‰‡ ‹ ›‘—” ‡‘–‹‘ƒŽ Ž‹ˆ‡ ƒ† ›‘— …ƒ
‡š’‡…– •‘‡ —’• ƒ† †‘™•Ǥ ‘” –Š‘•‡ ‹ ƒ •–‡ƒ†› ”‡Žƒ–‹‘•Š‹’
ƒ ”‡—‹‘ ‹• ‘ –Š‡ …ƒ”†•Ǥ CAREER
‘—ǯ”‡ —†‡” ’”‡••—”‡ –‘ ™”ƒ’ —’ ƒ ‘—–•–ƒ†‹‰ ™‘” ƒ––‡”
MONEY –Š‹• ‘–ŠǤ  †‡ƒ†Ž‹‡ ™‘ǯ– ™ƒ‹–ǡ •‘ ›‘—ǯŽŽ ‡‡† –‘ ˆ‘…—• ›‘—”
—’‹–‡”ǡ –Š‡ ’Žƒ‡– ‘ˆ ’”‘•’‡”‹–›ǡ ‹• •—„†—‡† ƒ”‘—† –Š‡ •‹‰‹Ƥ…ƒ– ‡‡”‰‹‡• –‘ ƒ…Š‹‡˜‡ ‹–Ǥ Ǯ–‡ƒ†› ƒ• ›‘— ‰‘ǯ ‹• ’”‘„ƒ„Ž›
™‡‡‡† ‘ˆ –Š‡ ͙͘–Š ƒ† –Š‡ ”‡•—Ž– ‹• Ž‹‡Ž› –‘ „‡ Š‘ǦŠ— ˆ‘” ™Šƒ– ›‘— ˆ‡‡Ž Ž‹‡ǡ „—– –Š‡ ”‡ƒŽ‹–› ‹• ‘”‡ Ž‹‡Ž› –‘ „‡ Ǯˆƒ•–‡ ›‘—”
›‘—” Ƥƒ…‡•Ǥ ˆ ƒ „‹‰ ’—”…Šƒ•‡ –‡’–• ›‘—ǡ ‹– ™‘—Ž† „‡ •‡ƒ–„‡Ž– ˆ‘” ƒ „—’› ”‹†‡ǯǤ Š‡”‡ǯ• ‘ •‹‰ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ’ƒ…‡ ‡ƒ•‹‰ ‹
•ƒ”– –‘ –ƒ‡ ƒ †‡‡’ „”‡ƒ–Š ƒ† ’—– –Š‡ ’Žƒ•–‹… ‘—– ‘ˆ •‹‰Š–Ǥ ƒ”…Š „—– ƒ ‹’”‘˜‡‡– ‹• …‡”–ƒ‹Ž› …‘‹‰Ǥ ‘—ǯŽŽ ‹’”‡•• ƒ
† –Š‡”‡ ‹• •‘‡ ’‘•‹–‹˜‡ ‡™•ǡ ™‹–Š •Šƒ”‡† ƒ…–‹˜‹–‹‡• ƒ† ’‡”•‘ ™Š‘•‡ ‘’‹‹‘ ƒ––‡”• ‘ –Š‡ ͚͞–ŠǤ ‘‡ •‘”– ‘ˆ ƒ ‘ơ‡”
’ƒ”–‡”•Š‹’• †‡Ž‹˜‡”‹‰ ’”‘‰”‡••Ǥ Š‹‰• ™‹ŽŽ ‰‡– ‡ƒ•‹‡”Ǥ ƒ› ‡˜‡–—ƒ–‡ ƒ† ›‘—ǯŽŽ „‡‡Ƥ– ˆ”‘ –ƒ‹‰ ƒ Ž‘‘Ǥ

Things are shaping up for change in yr life

ARIES usually the restless one see the beginning of don’t hold back. Take CAPRICORN
MAR 21 – APR 20 but this time it’s your something new. time to pamper DEC 23 – JAN 20
Someone new comes partner. If that rings an Recognition for effort is yourself on the 31st. You’re in a significant
into your life, most alarm bell, it could be indicated on the 23rd. phase of growth,
likely at work, and there your cue to ease the SCORPIO helped along by feisty
will be the spark of a pressure and go your VIRGO OCT 24 – NOV 22 planet Mars in your
sudden attraction on own way for a while. AUG 24 – SEP 23 The whole thrust of birth sign. It’s just the
the 7th. The planet Your love life is given a your life just now is impetus you need to
Mercury enters Aries CANCER lift by the arrival of positive, with real confront a troubled
on the same day and JUN 22 – JUL 23 Mercury, your ruler, in rewards beckoning, so relationship. A special
favours all activity The Moon’s moods are adventurous Aries on it’s a shame your skill that has often
where you make use important for Cancer the 7th. March brings a relationships may be stood you in good
of your intuition. and this month the whole swag of positive about to get a bit stead will come to your
effect is especially developments – a key messy. The weekend of aid. March 26th is a
TAURUS noticeable. The Full goal is looking the 10th sees the day for action.
APR 21 – MAY 21 Moon on the first eminently achievable. reappearance of
There’s a renewed weekend of March Avoid mixed messages someone who used to AQUARIUS
spring in your step brings a sparkle to on the 24th. Try to matter to you. Be true JAN 21 – FEB 19
and you’ll feel more your social activities. make sure you say to yourself. There’s a lot going
motivated. The month A stranger will be exactly what you mean. on in your life, none
picks up speed as you intrigued by your aura SAGITTARIUS of it straightforward.
LIBRA
‘”†• Hazel Brooke ŽŽ—•–”ƒ–‹‘ Susan Hassman

get into it, so there’s no of mystery. NOV 23 – DEC 22 Still, you thrive on
point putting things off SEP 24 – OCT 23 Lots of coming and action and this month
– do what has to be LEO The Libran Full Moon goings this month, you’ll meet someone
done right away. The JUL 24 – AUG 23 on the 2nd brings an socially and at work. who’ll have a far-
weekend of the 24th Feeling restless? You opportunity. A distant Your ruler Jupiter is in reaching effect on
brings a surprise. can turn that feeling to influence, whether via success-driven Scorpio your future. The
your advantage. A travel, a visitor or and this will strengthen weekend of the
GEMINI re-awakened sexiness unexpected news, will your effectiveness. 10th is all about
MAY 22 – JUN 21 on the weekend of the shape this month in a Financially, a late- commitment. Are you
There’s change in the 10th has a hint of the significant way. If month influx of funds in for the long haul, or
air for a long-term forbidden – dangerous, you’re about to embark marks the start of a are you keeping your
relatonship. You’re but tempting. It could on something new, more helpful trend. options open?

MARCH 2018 / NEXT 153


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MARCH 2018 / NEXT 155
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HE, SHE
AND WE When it’s time to face
her lover’s wife, Sarah
learns matters don’t
always go to plan
I’m trying hard to think it’s normal that
the wife of my new man is involving me
in  discussions about their divorce. “Not
normal,” Jenna says decisively. She’s
started a dogwalking business and we’re
out walking in a maelstrom of saliva-
soaked leashes. “She wants an Ally – and
becoming The Wife’s Ally is the surest way
to lose The Husband.”
“You think?” I’m not completely sure,
thinking of the steely upbeat tone of Mrs
Stable’s emails. She seems to be casting
me in the role of an Objective Adviser
who, instead of taking a fee, will take a
pesky absent-minded professor off her
hands. But I could live in Germany for
the rest of my life without being any closer
to understanding German women: their
practicality when it comes to love and
marriage astounds me.
Jenna jerks on the leads of two unruly
dachshunds. “Tom! Harry!” She smiles
glintingly at me. “Now all we need is a
Dick. They always compound a problem.”
I laugh but I feel as skittery as the dogs.
“It’s 11.58. She said she’d contact me
before midday.” Right then, with the usual
Stable precision, a text pings in:
‘We’ve discussed locations, we’ll meet at
Illustration Getty Images and supplied
the Italian restaurant; we often go there.’
Three ‘we’s’ in one text! I sit down
heavily on a dew-laden bench. “Don’t sit
there!” Jenna advises too late. “You’ll look
as if you’ve wet your pants.”
“I hate the pronoun ‘we,’” I mumble. To
be specific, I hate the way couples use the
pronoun ‘we’, as if they’re a single entity:
‘We’re reading The Girl on the Train’, ‘We
by Sarah Quigley
don’t listen to Trump-related news’, and
so on. When I got married, I vowed I
would never speak like that – and part of
the tattered silver lining of divorce is that
it’s become even easier to avoid the
Merged Person’s pronoun.
When I got
married, I vowed
I would never
speak like that
“You know what else?” I stare bleakly at
Jenna, who’s pulling reams of plastic bags
from her pockets like a magician. “I hate to
say it, but I feel territorial.”
“You mean you want to be ‘we’?” She
starts briskly scooping poop. “Don’t
worry, sweet, you’ll be there before you
know it.”
Later on, before the dreaded dinner, I
stop in at my local bar. I need to set foot
on my own turf before entering
unfamiliar Italian territory. It’s the usual
off-kilter scene, like a scene from
a Tarantino movie. A naïve-looking
kindergarten teacher has ordered a wine
spritzer, oblivious to the fact that the last
person to order one of those in this
militantly anti-chic bar was bundled
unceremoniously back out onto the
street. One of the regulars has headbutted
another regular and there’s blood on the
floor. Meanwhile the barman is lighting
DIVORCE DIARIES
up a cigarette in continued defiance of
the smoking ban passed in 2008.
The kindy teacher’s face has turned
as red as her hair. “I didn’t realise,” she
says embarrassedly. “We don’t go to bars
very often.”
“Don’t worry,” I reassure her. “We’ve
been coming here so long that we don’t
notice the weirdness anymore.” Her use
of ‘we’ is crystal clear; she’s wearing a
wedding ring. But mine? “We…” I trail
off. “Me, the headbutters, her” – I nod to
the aged once-famous actress who carries
photos of herself in her salad days.
“And – ” I stop short as Mr Stable enters.
“And him…”
The kindy teacher does a double-
take and her warm anti-bourgeois beer
sloshes in her glass. Mr Stable looks wildly
around as if considering doing a runner.
In a flash I realise who I’m sitting beside:
Mrs Stable, who’s belatedly come to
check out where her husband has been
drinking and straying all these years. Our
‘we’s’ have violently collided and suddenly
being headbutted seems an awfully
desirable thing.
*
Mr Stable looks
wildly around
as if considering
doing a runner
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 157
 SUMMER AT HOME

ON NEWSSTANDS NOW
BEST MAGAZINE DESIGN
Canon Media Awards 2017
 LAST LAUGH
by Lisa Scott

Sweet and
SOURLisa ponders the
phenomenon of the
sneakily toxic friend

Is the sisterhood a myth? I thought we

were supposed to have each other’s
backs, but sometimes the way we treat
each other makes Harvey Weinstein look
like Glinda the Good Witch with a slight
sexual problem.
And the ways in which we undermine
WE NEED TO Thursday/said I’d pick up the kids/have
dinner with your parents? Are you
BE PILOT LIGHTS gaslighting me?!”
Anyway, being a bit away with the fairies,
NOT GASLIGHTS like most writers, I often don’t notice if
people are being dicks to me. Trying to
ILLUMINATING manipulate me is rather like teaching a cat

one  another can be quite subtle. Take
‘gaslighting’ for example. If you don’t know
what that is, here’s the dictionary definition:
verb, manipulate (someone) by psychol-
ogical means. Per the element, it’s a sneaky,
odourless threat to your wellbeing where
seemingly innocuous whiffs build into toxic
fumes, much like my attempts to make
elderflower champagne. Gaslighting is
when someone tells you didn’t say/do some-
thing when you did, that up is down, and
Nana’s armchair has always been in that
corner. Do it often enough and a person
will start to seriously doubt their sanity.
The younger man’s 1928 villa is best
viewed by gaslight; it was he who explained
the phenomenon to me (and made me
realise I’d worked with a gaslighter in my
very first job; I’d just thought she was a
shockingly bad listener). He was gas-lit
himself in a previous relationship and,
being a simple rural chap: it’s either a
cheese roll or it’s not, it did his head in.
Gaslighting is so clever, so Hitchcockian.
Photography Getty Images and supplied
EACH OTHER’S WAY
designed to change perceptions of reality
to ensure a permanent state of wonkiness.
Gaslighters tell a lie with a straight face.
Once they tell a huge lie, you’re not sure if
anything they say is true. They deny they
have ever said something, even if you have
proof. It’s done gradually, then starts
ramping up, frog-in-boiling-water style.
Gaslighters use random drops of praise,
because they know confusion weakens
people. In management this is called the
‘sandwich technique’, where you insert an
insult between two compliments: “You
have a lovely smile Bob, shame you’re so
crap at data entry, but everyone loves the
muffins you bring for morning tea.”
Gaslighters align people against you, or say
they have: “Moira knows you’re crazy, too.”
Gaslighting is essentially Mean Girls grown
up and, unsurprisingly, women are the
stone-cold queens of it.
to fetch the paper – pointless, unnatural,
and tiresome for both parties. Plus, I don’t
need anyone’s help falling off my psycho-
logical perch; all it takes is one exploding
bottle of elderflower champagne – you try
keeping your cool while picking glass out
of the ceiling on Christmas Eve, worrying
about all the other unexploded bombs
under people’s trees. Moral of the story,
don’t double the fermentation yeast
because it doesn’t seem fizzy enough.
Recently though, I couldn’t help but
notice, as the woman concerned may as well
have been wearing a T-shirt saying, ‘Lisa,
I’m being a dick to you’. Cornering me
outside the Warehouse when I was in bare
feet (I’d just blown a plugga on my jandals),
the lies she told were ginormous (the kind
a five-year-old tells), the conversation
seasoned with compliments and insults
both. Back home, jandal-less and reeling, I
thought ‘what the hell just happened?’ Why
are women such bitches to each other?
We need to be pilot lights,

Like the plot of Vertigo where the blonde I’m just too lazy to not gaslights, illuminating
was actually a brunette and poor Jimmy gaslight anyone (you’d each other’s way, solar lights
Stewart got all bamboozled, the psycho- need to be fairly consist- What do on a midnight path, kindly
logical term comes from the 1938 play Gas
Light where a husband tries to convince his
ent and I’m easily dis-
tracted). Also, I think, y ink? beacons for sea-tossed
ships, because I have
wife she’s going insane by constantly with a bit of repurposing, Have you ever been enough trouble remember-
moving things around then lying about it. it’s the perfect excuse for gaslit by a friend? Send ing where I put the keys
your thoughts to:
A form of manipulation that uses persistent a sloppy memory. “What next@bauermedia.co.nz without some baggage
denial (much like having teenagers) and do you mean I was telling me I never owned a
misdirection to destabilise the victim, it’s supposed to be here car in the first place.
*
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 159
 The
of

eborah has a
theory... and a solution

160 NEXT / MARCH 2018


Floating on an inflatable rainbow unicorn
on a blue pool on a summer day. Getting
sore hands clapping as your daughter wins
a school prize. Finishing writing the first
draft of a TV script: finally! All the family
squashed in bed with popcorn and a Harry
Potter marathon. Can you summon some
happy moments of your own? Prosecco,
Venice, maybe? Or even fish and chips, in
summer, on the ordinary beach down the
road? You know those special stop-the-
clock moments when everything comes
together, when everything is perfect. Got
one? Good. Can you really feel the
happiness, bask in it, let it soak into you,
like water soaking into a sponge? If you
can, good for you, my friend! Keep going.
But for some of us, when those so-called
wonderful moments happen, you might
try to do the sponge-thing and appreciate
it, but you also feel a bit, well, awkward. Like
you’re not there fully, in the way you’d like
to be. That you should be able to feel the
delight more vividly, without any nagging
thoughts bringing you down, like you don’t
really deserve this. Or perhaps there’s some
niggling irritation, trivial but annoying.
A friend of mine, an entrepreneur, used
to say even when he was in bed, having
great sex, part of him would still be going
‘This is great, but it could be even better if
we had 800-thread count Egyptian cotton
sheets’. I know what he means.
Or maybe you need to post a photo on
Facebook to assure you what is happening is
authentically blissful. (Er, not a picture of
the sex). It may only feel an authentic happy
Photography Getty Images and supplied
moment if it is reflected back to you through
the appreciation of others. You need the
comments: “Cool shot! Love the inflatable
gold swan! I’m jealous!” to give you
permission, a signal, to tell you what to feel.
Does it feel sometimes, like experiencing
real happiness is just another thing you’re
not getting quite right? Or even that being
happy is something you have to work at,
something else you need to do properly,
conscientiously, along with scrubbing your
by Deborah Hill Cone
grouting and eating more leafy greens? It
sounds crazy, right? How can experiencing
happiness be a chore! It’s just happiness.
It’s not a ‘project’ (although actually that’s
the name of a bestselling book. Ugh).
We say we want to be happy, but take a
look at our mental health statistics and
obviously something is not right. In
material terms, with modern midwifery
and plumbing and smashed avocado toast
we’re objectively better off than centuries
ago. And think about all those books and
podcasts with people doing yoga on the
beach and laughing while eating salad. We
celebrate happiness. We worship it. We
really, really want to be happy. Or do we?
Here’s my wacky theory. Contrary to
what we might think, we find it harder to
let ourselves experience happiness than we
THE UNSPOKEN
TRUTH ABOUT
HAPPINESS IS IT
MAKES US NERVOUS
do to experience pain and suffering.
Consciously we tend to say we are on a
quest for happiness, but in reality we tend
to minimise our good feelings. They are
too scary to trust.
The unspoken truth about happiness is
it makes us nervous. It feels too fragile and
precarious. It might be good now, but we
are waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Maybe it is safer not to be happy in the first
place. So without even realising we tend to
step past some of our quiet deep pleasures.
When you have achieved something,
satisfaction in your accomplishment
quickly devolves into a kind of clinical self-
evaluation and self-deprecation.
Maybe we are not so scared of sorrow as
we are of joy. We might be happier if we
stopped trying so hard.
Happiness is meant to
make us better workers
and parents and
partners; it’s supposed What do
to make us live longer.
But in the 16th century,
y ink?
What are your thoughts
sadness was thought to about relishing happiness...
do most of those things. we’d love to hear!
It’s even possible to next@bauermedia.co.nz
read self-help books
BACKCHAT
from that period which try to encourage
sadness in readers by giving them lists of
reasons to be disappointed. Historian
Tiffany Watt Smith, in a brilliant TED talk,
says these self-help authors thought you
could cultivate sadness as a skill, since being
expert in it would make you more resilient
when something bad did happen to you, as
invariably it would. Feel sad today, and you
might feel impatient, even ashamed. But
maybe we could learn a bit from the old-
fashioned attitude of stoicism.
The great psychoanalyst Carl Jung called
neurosis (that is most mental illness) a
flight from authentic suffering. But many
of our mental health problems may actually
be a flight from authentic joy. Psychologist
Ken Page argues there is a happiness skill
no one teaches us: that we have to “learn to
bear our joys”. I like his suggestion: a
deceptively simple practice, which only
takes one to two minutes, to help you build
the important – and untaught – skill of
savouring your joys. It’s a micro-meditation.
Any time you experience joy, happiness,
peace or pleasure in your day-to-day life,
don’t just note it and move on. Page suggests,
take an extra 30 seconds to savour the good
feeling. Let it linger, casting its ripples inside
you, soaking the sponge. Get to know its
flavour. When the ripples of pleasure pass,
move on. You can do this with the many tiny
pleasures of your day; it doesn’t have to be
drinking bubbly on the Grand Canal or
winning an award. Try it with your morning
coffee, a positive interaction with a stranger,
an interesting or beautiful sight. In the
warmth you feel after these tiny moments
you’ll be enriched, deepened, truly joyful.
Can you picture doing this? The late
poet John O’Donohue said, “A lot of
suffering is just getting rid of dross in
yourself, and lingering and hanging in the
darkness is often – I say this against myself
– a failure of imagination, to imagine the
door into the light.” That imagination
sounds a lot like learning to bear joy.
Oh but honey, just one warning, and I say
this as a veteran over-thinker
myself. Don’t put this micro-
meditation on your to-do list
and make it into another
oppressive drag, something
to do along with cleaning
out your cutlery drawer.
That would really not make
you happier!
*
MARCH 2018 / NEXT 161
THE LIST

14
INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN’S DAY
ways to
celebrate Host a

women
meet up
br
1
the mos eakfast for
t impor
in your ant
avoid t
in a ca
t
life (or
fé a
he dish nd
es).

2. Make a bold statement about the unequal 9. Choose an action to #PressforProgress

division of household labour by not doing
any chores for the day.
3. Support women-run businesses and treat yourself
to something from a Kiwi fashion designer.
4. Become a SheEO activator to help support Kiwi
women starting a business.
5. Donate to programmes that keep girls in school.
6. Watch a movie or TV show directed by a woman.
7. Take a dinner around to a new mum or offer
to babysit for a friend.
8. Wear purple (the official colour of IWD).
(see internationalwomensday.com/PressforProgress).
10. Read Gloria Steinem.
11. Send a letter/flowers/visit a friend to tell her how
much you appreciate her friendship and support.
12. Watch a film featuring kickass women role models –
our faves include Norma Rae, Suffragette and
Hidden Figures.
13. Go out for a beer – author Jane Peyton claims it
was ancient Mesopotamian women who were the first
to develop, sell and drink beer!
14. Tweet or Instagram using the hashtag #womensday.

162 NEXT / MARCH 2018

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