Sometimes, an incredible, game-changing innovation comes from a genius coming up with a fantastic idea that is researched and planned to perfection and executed brilliantly, proving instantly successful and becoming a staple in society from there. Sometimes, that’s not exactly how it works, and the road is far less straightforward. In fact, sometimes a game-changing […]
It’s easy to find ridiculously priced bottles of whisky out there. Usually studded with diamonds to fluff their value and to grab easy headlines. But let’s be realistic, if you’re an actual connoisseur, you aren’t buying that stuff. You can’t taste a bottle. So let’s get back to what really matters, the liquid inside. The […]
Our M2 Editor-in-chief Andre Rowell chats with former Air New Zealand CLO, Dr. Sydney Savion. Savion was named Chief Learning Officer of the Year in 2020 for her work with Air New Zealand. She shares with us the qualities she believes are essential to achieving excellence in any field, how her upbringing in rural America […]
Our M2 Editor-in-chief Andre Rowell chats with co-founder and Managing Director of Chooice NZ, Sarah Colcord. Chooice NZ (originally conceived as New Zealand Made Products) is a New Zealand-based online marketplace which allows New Zealand small businesses to sell and market their products and services to consumers through its website and Facebook group, the latter […]
Our M2 Editor-in-chief Andre Rowell chats with Kernel founder and CEO, Dean Anderson. Kernel is an Auckland-based index-funds management company and investment platform. Anderson founded Kernel in 2019 after leaving his corporate job to pursue starting his own business. He shares with us the circumstances that led him to taking the entrepreneurial path, the risks […]
Tom Hiddleston, for all intents and purposes, might be a really nice guy who wishes the world all nice things, but he makes the perfect villain as the God of Mischief in Marvel’s Loki. Like a lot of narrative story telling, where we as an audience are asked to follow and empathise with the antihero, […]
For those not particularly invested in history, the name Napoleon Bonaparte might only be associated with the disparaging label given to aggressive, vertically-challenged men known as the ‘Napoleon Complex’. However, in certain industries, the iconic 19th Century French military leader left a legacy far greater than just his temperament and stature. One lesser-known area where […]
The M2 office bookworm give us his top five winter reads to keep you entertained during these cold months. Tripwire By Lee Child I find a lot of writers do some great work in the early stages of their careers, so I read an earlier Jack Reacher thriller this month, from 1999, Tripwire. Being from […]
Sometimes relationships reach a natural conclusion. The spark dies out, the mistress blows cover, the pool boy finally tells all. Whatever the case may be, it’s time to split your life down the middle and watch it slide off into the sunset. For most of us, it might mean figuring out what to do with […]
People use very particular language when articulating how they felt about a film. Some of the words they use however are frontloaded with meaning that can tell you everything you need to know. Here’s a beginners guide to get you started. “It’s fun!” Usually spoken in a slightly higher pitch than the rest of the […]
The Suicide Squad Don’t mistake The Suicide Squad for its dead on arrival predecessor, this one’s got “The” in the title! Maybe they could swap it out for an “A” at the beginning next time. Perhaps “the” should be underlined, as this could be the definitive team of misfits that define the series going forward. […]
Croydon Cole, restauranteur and chef at Smokin Cole BBQ, tells us the top three things on his bucket list, his advice for people to fund their dream and how he keeps up to date with current affairs. What’s your morning routine? Up around 0500, check emails, make lists for the day, sex with my partner, […]
Hospitality business coach and consultant, Mark Collins, gives us his thoughts on What’s your morning routine? 40 minutes mediation and affirmations as soon as I wake up, shower, dress, make breakfast and then walk to work in the CBD – an satisfying anchor to the day. What are the top three things on your bucket […]
Yusuke Inui, Director and Senior Digital Strategist of Unleashing Potential gives us his two cents on the secret to success, how to fund your dream and motivation. What’s your morning routine? Get up, drink a glass of water, have a shower, feed the kitten, eat my breakfast, check my emails, hit the gym, drink a […]
Aniol Serrasolses performs during the Red Bull Snow Kayak project in Pucon, Region de la Araucania, Chile on September 17, 2020. Aniol Serrasolses is a madman when it comes to the kayak. The start of this trip had him start on top of a snowy volcano and reach speeds of 100kph. Oh, he also managed […]
Following the titular PR woman-turned-detective-sleuth (played by Ashely Jensen) across the English countryside, Agatha Raisin is a thrilling, drama-filled and often hilarious time for viewers. Set in the large(ish) fictional village of Carsley, nestled between the folds of the Cotswold Hills, it seems to audiences that this place isn’t really the stereotypical location of a […]
Let’s not pretend that the Avenger’s most persistent villain and antihero isn’t the best character in the Marvel universe. Tom Hiddleston has had the great fortune of being able to play a comedic relief, while being taken absolutely seriously. While his face has become synonymous with Loki, he isn’t being typecast anytime soon. He debuted […]
Getting cancelled is the hottest new way to ruin your life since cocaine. Sick and tired of working a 9 to 5? Use the examples in this list to quickly free up your days by becoming completely unemployable and possibly divorced. You too can become destitute! Cancellations have been around since the dawn of time. […]
Sydney Savion fulfilled a 21-year career in the US Air Force (active duty and reserves) in the fields of aerospace operations and joint plans and operations and honorably retired as a commissioned officer. After retirement, Dr. Savion received a PhD in human and organizational learning at The George Washington University. Her research focused on the […]
For the House of Dior Ready To Wear Winter 2021-2022 collection, artistic director Kim Jones has drawn inspiration from the masculine extravagance of ceremonial garb. Uniforms with embroidery and embellishments notably inspired by the Académie des Beaux-Arts offer a masculine touch to couture. The colour palette running throughout the collection, soft, muted blues, navy, dusky […]
Kanye changed the footwear world when he performed at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards wearing a brand new shoe no one had ever seen before. Its swoosh was the only giveaway to its identity. The world just saw its first pair of Air Yeezys. Now in a private auction set by Sotheby’s for Ryan Chang, […]
American start-up car company, Aptera, is planning on launching their latest electric vehicle to the market this year, but with a twist. An ultra-efficient, three-wheeled electric vehicle powered by solar panels. Steve Fambro and Chris Anthony founded the start-up in 2006 and offered the futuristic idea to be funded. Google offered them a few million […]
The fall of civilisation is a morbid curiousity of the human psyche. We pick around the remains of towns and cities long past looking for clues. How do we avoid a similar fate? How long does it take for nature to fight its way through the cracks in the asphalt to reclaim its place in […]
Adashiko believe that a few star products will send you on your way to better health with better skin. As their ethos goes ‘health & beauty from the inside out’ . . . so their first go-to products they suggest is their high performing super collagen made from 100% bioavailable ingredients – meaning that they […]
When it comes to injectables for men, the stigma’s gone and there are multiple options to help you up your game. Here’s our guide to 5 of the best: 1. Botox to stop sweat You know that guy who never breaks a sweat no matter what – a huge client presentation or tense negotiation? What’s […]
Dry July Dry July has come around again, and it’s surely going to make a massive impact on struggling Kiwis. A fundraiser that challenges you to go alcohol-free to raise funds for those affected by cancer, the initiative is simple to follow. Just sign up to the challenge on the Dry July website and go […]
When you’re out for your daily jog, it’s always nice to run and listen to the latest health and fitness podcasts to get you motivated. Did you know it’s been proven by experts that listening to sounds through your headphones whilst exercising greatly reduces stress and makes muscles easier to function? Plus some of the […]
Ewan Mcgregor’s career defining moment was set as a scruffy drug addict. A few decades on, he’s finally matured to a well dressed drug addict in the new Netflix mini-series Halston. Ewan has gone from strength to strength as one of the few actors who can go from Mr. Nice Guy in Star Wars to […]
At first glance you wouldn’t know it, but Bernard Arnault is the world’s luxury taste-maker. He won’t be flashing you with ridiculous fashion statements and blingy rings any time soon though. “All that interests me is promoting my brands, never myself,” he once said. This unassuming facade hides his acumen at pulling small brands out […]
Some of the greatest opportunities in life come from stepping out of the comfort zone and taking a wild leap into the unknown. BMW Group New Zealand Managing Director Karol Abrasowicz-Madej has defined his life by using uncertainty to propel him forward to his goals. He shares with us the defining moments in the history […]
Regardless of what your company does, chances are that you want to be found by your customers and rankings on search engines is the digital battle ground that has a very real, bottom line impact for success. One of new Zealand and Australia’s leading Enterprise level search engine optimisation agencies is Digital Popcorn (the enterprise […]
Success and humility are not mutually exclusive. It’s not a new concept but here we are. We have all seen it happen, after putting in years of hard work pursuing and dominating career goals, ambitious high fliers reach the peak of success (which they truly deserve) and well, their egos inflate exponentially. Whatever happened to […]
Clarity of desire is essential when it comes to getting an action plan down on paper. I think most people that want to achieve a goal realise that someone has to do something and, in fact, this is foundational to achieving anything. So intensity of desire and taking significant action are the two foundations of […]
Sometimes in life, it is important to recognise when it is time to let go and step back from the helm. I have seen it time and time again when a business is outgrowing the capabilities of the founder and they hold on for dear life, thereby stagnating the business and curtailing its potential. A […]
Fine dining establishment, The Grove, is more than just a restaurant, it is the crown jewel amongst Auckland’s superb culinary scene. Headed by owner, Michael Dearth, alongside Head Chef, Ryan Moore and Food & Beverage Director, Andrea Martinisi, The Grove was recently named 15th in the world on TripAdvisor’s 2021 Travellers’ Choice “Best of the […]
Being a CEO used to be easy. As ever-increasing returns to shareholders were the be all and end all of everything, all you had to do was cut corners on production, dispense with quality and keep the wages for your staff low – and the champagne corks would pop at the AGMs. And who the […]
Bruichladdich has been around since 1881. With that much history behind them, they’ve had a bit of time to create quite a portfolio and storehouse of single malts. If you haven’t been alive for the last 140 years to keep up with them, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve found our selection of the […]
In 1896 the Xray Machine had only just been invented. Ford released his Quadricycle, revolutionising transport forever. Queen Victoria had just established herself as the longest reigning monarch in British history at the time. But more importantly, Taylor’s had just processed a small batch of fresh grapes from one of the finest harvests of the […]
In our spare time, we attend the occasional whisky tasting club. Among our number is Brendon Lawry, Chief Executive of Liquorland Ltd. Apparently he isn’t above sampling the merchandise because he had a lot to tell us about these whisky picks. The Glenlivet 12 The Glenlivet was the first legally licensed whisky in Scotland’s highlands. […]
On The ROG Gaming Phone Dropped earlier this year, the ROG Phone 5 UItimate is the top tier choice for people looking for a gaming phone. It has all the grunt a phone in 2021 possibly needs to have lagless gameplay, and includes tweaks to its overall design that makes it particularly gamer-friendly. A charging […]
Here we are in the M2 helicopter flying above [insert your city here]. We have harnessed the power of predictability to print you your live weekday traffic report, brought to you by our sponsor the M2 Summit, associating itself with breakdowns and stress since 2018. Midday to 3pm: Looks like traffic is free flowing currently, […]
Now that you’re done hustling for the day, time to kick back, relax, and sweat it out with these games that are far too demanding for their own good. Here’s M2’s review on The Climb 2 and NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139. The Climb 2 You’d be surprised how much of a workout climbing an imaginary cliff […]
We’ve driven far and wide to bring you the world’s most bizarre traffic laws, from puddle splashes to not using your headlights at all times. 1. Lights out in India High beaming oncoming traffic is pretty dangerous and a high cause of accidents. In India it can result in a 500 Rupee fine (about NZ$10). […]
The Grove restaurant is like an institution of food for New Zealand. Since its inception in 2004, the Auckland fine dining eatery has developed a reputation for excellence that stretches far beyond Aotearoa’s borders. So much so that fully 60-70% of its clientele were visitors to the country. Many of these people came on cruise […]
The Grove is a dining institution in Auckland. Established in 2004 by ex-pat American Michael Dearth, The Grove offers a French-inspired, technique-driven degustation menu featuring New Zealand produce alongside high end bar snacks in a well-appointed wine and cocktail bar. Immensely popular with both Kiwis and international travelers alike, The Grove has become a “must-go” […]
August is right around the corner which means it’s time to strap in for what is going to be an absolutely stacked slate of new movie releases taking us into 2022. With a ton of iconic franchises garnering much of the hype and attention (Bond, Ghostbusters, Top Gun, MCU, etc.), it might be understandable that a moody period piece from a director who most […]
It might be a little bit too big to fit with all the other memorabilia in their basements, but a special item is about to hit the market that rich hardcore film buffs are going to be emptying their wallets for. You’ve probably heard of Hollywood legend, Tom Hanks. The prolific actor has been in a staggering list of iconic films, from Forrest Gump to Saving Private Ryan to Cast Away to Toy Story 1, 2, 3 and 4 (and inevitably […]
Say the word ‘sommelier’ and we automatically think of a restauranteur with an extremely strong knowledge of wine. But in France, sommelier just means ‘waiter’ as they don’t really separate food and wine, seeing them as all part of the same dining experience. A Master Sommelier, however, is something quite different as they have passed […]
While the packed shelves of Whisky Galore’s Christchurch store and the seemingly endless list on its online catalogue is certainly impressive, it can be daunting figuring out how to narrow down the massive selection. Well, if you’re in the market for single malts, either for yourself or as a gift, and are open to suggestions, […]
It’s never a bad time to get out of the house and enjoy some of the sensational hiking trails New Zealand has on offer. However, before you head out, it’s important to make sure you’ve got the fit to match the conditions, particularly during the winter months. Fortunately, Merrell have created a fantastic, practical and […]
We recently covered what was no doubt a sensitive topic for some readers out there; The Most Painful Active Droughts In Sports. While they did not pop up on that shortlist, the 50 year title drought for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks, dating all the way back to 1971, was definitely worthy of a spot. Well, as of Wednesday (NZT), we can happily report that they are […]
We all know people who are convinced that you can practically read someone’s entire personality based off of their star sign. I’m not going to tell those people they’re wrong, but I find you can tell a lot more by their tastes; food, movies, partners and sports. With the Olympic Games at our doorstep, we thought it would be a good […]
There’s been a bit of a lull in the Taika-verse in the last couple of years. Aotearoa’s biggest entertainment star was absolutely red-hot at the back end of the last decade, hitting the big time after a stretch which saw him direct and star in a knock-out Thor sequel film, reprise that role in the biggest movie in a generation and win his first Oscar on the side […]
Well, despite 56 million raving mad English football fans screaming in our collective ears for a month straight that it was ‘coming home’, I can confirm for the M2 audience that it did not, in fact, come home. England’s pursuit of their first major trophy in 55 years fell one leg short as they went […]
Not all protagonists who pop up on our big and smaller screens are what you would call role models. I, for one, would not recommend you attempt to model your behaviour after Tony Soprano or Don Draper. However, the world of film and television has given us almost endless characters of the years who display […]
Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow has been with us since her big debut in Iron Man 2 back in 2010. As I recall, she was busting a chair she was tied to over some thugs head. After the cataclysmic events of Infinity War, it didn’t look like we’d ever see a solo outing for our most […]
We wouldn’t be Kiwis if we didn’t kick the legs out from under any achievement we’re given an opportunity to brag about. The 2021 edition of The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (The EIU) Global Liveability Ranking finds that Auckland is the most liveable city in the world. The last year has really shaken things up in […]
If you consider yourself a luxury brand and you haven’t made a bespoke wine and Champagne coolers yet, then what are you? Probably a sham. Champagne is inextricably linked with good times and fanciness, it’s natural that aspiring car companies would want some of that star power to wear off onto them. Over the years […]
One of M2’s favourite menswear labels is about to drop a brand new collection later this year in collaboration with Fear of God, a prominent LA brand. You may already be familiar with Ermenegildo Zegna’s 110 years of tailoring expertise. But for those that need an introduction to Fear of God, the label was conceived […]
In the final installment of Ermenegildo Zegna’s ‘Defining Moments’ campaign, ‘All the World’s a Stage’, the Italian luxury menswear label follows three men as they define their identity, embracing progressive attitudes and versatility while modelling the brands’ Northern Hemisphere Spring/Summer 19 collections. André Holland, star of Oscar-winning film, Moonlight, wears a made-to-measure look from the […]
The question, “What does it mean to be a man today?” can feel like an abstract one, best left to hang wringers of the culture wars. But it can also be a deeper personal question that can lead to self reflection and improvement. Italian men’s fashion house, Ermenegildo Zegna, has been observing men’s fashions and […]
It’s been a rough couple of years for the once seemingly indestructible All Blacks. The team that has spent the better part of two decades dominating the sport was left reeling after a stinging semi-final loss at the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic has essentially stifled any opportunity for the AB’s […]
It’s not quite been the absolute upheaval of everything we knew normal life as that was 2020, but six months in and 2021 has certainly given us plenty of headlines. As we’ve officially passed the half way point, we thought it best to take a moment to reflect on what has already been a pretty […]
You’re scrolling through your Netflix homepage, it’s delivering you the same old drivel it’s been showing you for years now. You briefly consider another streaming service but the idea of having yet another subscription turns you off almost immediately. But wait, let’s take a good look at all the excellent sci-fi television the other services […]
As the first awesome action movie in a long time, John Wick has become a genre unto itself. Keanu has ascended to the halls of action gods, alongside Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The series has been going hard since 2014 and chapter four is expected to drop next year, Covid willing. It’s defined by […]
A brand new issue of M2 Magazine has hit the shelves and while we don’t like to blow our own trumpet, the July/August issue contains some outstanding features on some big names in the world of entertainment, art and food. Here’s just a sneak peek at what’s on offer. Our cover star for the M2 […]
How do you feel about leaving a 4K QLED TV with accompanying soundbar on your deck to get rained on? Or maybe you have kids that run around with garden hoses all the time and are sick of having to get everything replaced. If you didn’t recoil at that idea, then Samsung’s weatherproof TV, the […]
Hopefully enough water is under the bridge from all the various forms of Lockdown we endured last year – for us to be able to whisper quietly amongst trusted friends that; they were actually good for us. Hang on – woah woah! Before you get too hot under the collar about such a radical statement; […]
We canvassed the office recently to catch what everyone is watching at the moment. The results were then promptly dumped into my inbox and given to me to present in an engaging and appealing manner. Everyone wanted their names associated with their picks, presumably assuming that their choices wouldn’t be considered one step away from […]
Ah the Olympics, where the world’s best and brightest come together and win by any means necessary. Some do it the old fashioned way by spending years honing their talent to a fine point, while others decide to use life hacks, otherwise known as fraud and cheating, to gain an edge. At the end of […]
It’s a tournament that has developed a bit of notoriety in the last few decades for churning out some wildly unpredictable results, and the 2020 (no, we haven’t gone back in time, you’re still in 2021, the organisers are just that stubborn) version of the UEFA European Championship has thus far more than lived up […]
It’s been just over 14 years since one of this century’s most iconic finales aired. The episode titled ‘Made in America’ drew the curtain on HBO’s The Sopranos, shocking, frustrating and mystifying an audience of millions and leaving everyone with the burning question; what happened to Tony Soprano? While the sudden passing of lead actor […]
Michael Fraser Milne was born and raised in Keith, a small town in the heart of Whisky country Speyside, Scotland. Then in 1993, half a world and lifetime away, he and his wife Stella established Whisky Galore and started to fill a gap in New Zealand’s whisky scene; high quality single malt whisky was now […]
[podcastfooter] Sometimes, it’s in our most trying times that we find inspiration. This was the case for Melissa Davies, Founder of Holdmine, who shared with us her devastating, but hopeful story at the M2 Summit on Thursday 20 May. Davies was flying high in the corporate world, until one phone changed everything. “It felt […]
Which is the best whisky to drink? Scotch or Japanese? Irish or bourbon? That’s like asking; ‘which is the best car? An Aston Martin, Ferrari or Rolls Royce?’ All are equally awesome, it’s just that some have been designed more for one purpose than another and may be superior in one aspect yet inferior in […]
Few films have been able to maintain a level of cultural relevance on the level of Jurassic Park. The 1993 Spielberg classic is one of the most beloved pictures of all time and the popular reboot franchise which began in 2015 has brought the phenomenon back to the forefront of pop culture once again. It makes sense then, that a […]
There’s no such thing as a perfect product. However, the bold, brave, and creative ones come close to creating such things. This is the case for James Mount and Grace Glass, co-founders of Natural Paint Co, a disruptive eco-friendly paint brand, that’s proudly New Zealand-made. Their brainchild seems to have it all – a natural, […]
We in New Zealand like to think we are top of the food chain when it comes to fantastic hikes with spectacular scenery. And don’t get me wrong, from the Tongariro Crossing to the Hillary Trail to Roy’s Peak and so many more, we’ve got it pretty damn good down here. But don’t sleep on […]
The great thing about the fiction is that the laws of science don’t matter. You can create with quite literally anything, any kind of car, weapon or accessory, and as long as it makes sense in the context of its environment, we the audience will eat it right up. Nowadays, it seems like the mega-geniuses […]
It’s one of the most divisive issues in the modern developed world and yet one that so many barely know exists; your data and who it belongs to. Ask everyone in the world with a smart phone, I’d be shocked if more than a third truly understood what their ‘data’ really was and who had […]
If you ever wandered around the Sky Tower’s observation deck and thought to yourself “aw yeah I’d chuck a bed on this and spend the rest of my life here” then we just found the home for you. A new concept home designed for a couple in California is turning heads, and as we’d call […]
There was once a time, around half a century or so ago, when a crew returning from space would’ve been appointment viewing and had the world’s undivided attention. Nowadays however, it seems, rather morbidly, that the only time a returning space flight is on our radar is if something has gone wrong. It might be […]
Recently I’ve been becoming a massive Roseanne Liang fan, “joining the Liang gang” I’ve been calling it since watching Shadow in the Clouds starring Chloë Grace Moretz. Now a new series, Creamerie, directed and co-written by Liang during our year of lockdowns and interruptions has hit TVNZ on Demand and I can’t get enough of […]
