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Exclusive, Luxurious, and Just For You. Sponsored by Champagne Bollinger.
Flapping Up a Maelstrom of Success
The gentle flutter of a butterfly’s wing can change the course of history forever. At least that’s the logic behind The Butterfly Effect – a pillar of Chaos Theory – where massive outcomes can be determined by the smallest details along the way, i.e.: how the tiny wind created by a butterfly’s wings can have […]
The Search for the Perfect Partner
2014 was a mixed year weather-wise in Champagne. A rainy autumn and winter gave way to two parched, sunny months, of which June was the sunniest in 50 years. But the summer was also unseasonably cold. Fearing more unexpected changes, legendary champagne maker Bollinger wasted no time harvesting their grapes in September completing the task […]
Bollinger R.D. 2007 – The Best Of The Best
You may have lived your entire life thinking that a good Champagne only has one age. If you’re buying non-vintage wine, you may not have even heard of Disgorgement dates. Recording the disgorgement date wasn’t done until Bollinger’s own Madame Bollinger had the flash of inspiration to do it. The year was 1967 and drinking […]
M2 2022 Watch Guide: Rolex
Each year we bring you a collection of the finest timepieces to add to your collections, or to start them, depending on where you are in life. Each one has its own story of how it came into being. Some choose tradition and use what was done in the past to inform the future. Others […]
M2 2022 Watch Guide: Longines
Spirit Pioneer The brand new Longines Spirit Pioneer Edition is the latest addition to the Longines Spirit collection. It’s a 42mm grade 5 titanium chronograph, making it more resistant to corrosion, scratches and heat. It’s tinted sparingly with a neon green which is carried across the dials, numerals and subtly in the stitching of the […]
M2 2022 Watch Guide: IWC Schaffhausen
Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 TOP GUN Ceratanium IWC Schaffhausen has been bringing out Top Gun models thick and fast this year. To cap off the collection is a black ceramic model as well as the first 41-millimetre model made of Ceratanium. Ceratanium is a new material which is light and robust like titanium, but hard […]
Welcome to urban cool. Sponsored by Jimmy Choo Man Aqua.
It’s the Beach in a Bottle
Murmuring waves ooze onto the beach in a rhythmic roar offset by the random squawks of children splashing in the surf and gulls squabbling over spilt chips. The setting sun leaks gold right across the ocean for a brief moment, forcing us to look up from the sausages sizzling on the barbeque so we can sear […]
Gucci & Adidas Just Made a Double Sided Baseball Cap
Gucci and Adidas have been teaming up recently bringing their unique flavours to the table. It seems that sometimes the best compromise on design is to not compromise at all, which appears to be the philosophy of the Adidas x Gucci double-sided baseball hat. RRPing for $810 this hat promises to shield both your face […]
Higher and Higher with Marlon Williams
Drifting away into song is one of life’s simple pleasures. Nothing beats just sitting back on a summer’s day with a pint of something bubbly and listening to music that allows you to soar, or climb, or transport you somewhere different. As is Kiwi custom, listening to classic homegrown musicians is a go-to for many […]
Explore the world of the lavish and luxurious. Sponsored by Rolls-Royce.
Rolls-Royce Will Be Fully Electric by 2030, Here’s Their First
We’ve been waiting years for word on Rolls-Royce offering an electric car, and now right on the day of the UK premier of Bond: No Time to Die, they drop their new car Spectre, the name shared with Bonds last film outing. This isn’t any sort of tie in though. It appears to be entirely […]
This Boat Tail Is A Pearl
Last time the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail graced our pages, it was for the custom coachbuild that was rumoured to cost upwards of $28 million and delivered to Jay-Z and Beyonce. We’ll never know for sure, unless Jay-Z is caught at the traffic lights with that beautiful machine but the Rolls-Royce Coachbuild team has been busy […]
Most Expensive Car in the World: $28 Million Rolls-Royce Is Essentially A Fold-Out Bar
Dubbed the “Boat Tail”, Rolls-Royce has pulled out all the stops for an unknown client to create their dream car. There are clues and rumours as to who this might be, which we’ll get into later, but let’s take a look at this insane $28 million Rolls-Royce a little first. Only three of these beauties […]
A world of iconic style. Sponsored by Montblanc Legend Red.
Gucci Has Gone 70’s Sport Cool
Mixing Gucci’s kaleidoscopic aesthetic with adidas of the late 70s comes one the year’s most highly anticipated colabs. Launching in early June, the adidas x Gucci collection features colourful prints, jacquard fabrics and a range of lifestye products, combining high fashion luxe with functional sportwear. Envisioned by Gucci’s Creative Director, Alessandro Michele, the campaign’s imagery […]
The Scent of Freedom
There’s something inherently cool about the West Coast of America! Maybe it’s because of all those cool West Coast road trip movies Hollywood has made over the years. Movies like; Easy Rider, Vanishing Point, Sideways or even Thelma & Louise – which was set elsewhere but filmed in California. They all portray that environment of […]
Elevate Your Look with these Pops of Colour from Monti Castello
Monti Castello – Made in Italy The Italians use the French term ‘pochette’ to differentiate them from the ‘fazzoletto’. In English too, the practical ‘handkerchief’, should not be confused with the delicate square of silk that serves purely to elevate the aesthetics of one’s jacket – the ‘pocket square’. From parrots to paisley, terrazzo to […]
Finding your next level of success. Sponsored by Du Val.
5 Reasons To Invest In the New Zealand Property Market
If you are looking to invest in the New Zealand property market, Du Val Group will likely have you covered. Not only are they one of the country’s largest and most successful developers with a wide range of property investment and buy-to-live-in options but they also take a 360-degree approach to their developments from design […]
Cutting Through The Noise Of Property Investing
For some reason, the concept of property investing has become a divisive subject these days. For those who are not in the property market, landlords have become a convenient target for many who feel disenfranchised and locked out of the market. And for landlords, what might have once been a source of pride about taking […]
4 Common Excuses That Hold People Back From Achieving Their Dreams
There is a fine line between success and failure. Often our internal dialogue, outlook and beliefs can tip the scales either way. It is natural to suffer from doubts and imposter syndrome and to talk yourself out of potential opportunities. In the words of Winston Churchill: “Optimists see the opportunity in every problem, pessimists see […]
Leave A Mark
The Intersection of Business & Luxury. Sponsored by Montblanc.
Here’s Your Ultimate Leather Accessories Collection
Here’s Your Ultimate Leather Accessories Collection Montblanc is making a name for itself as it expands its Meisterstück luxury leather collection. The collection aims to be the pinnacle of luxury leather goods, and with contemporary round shapes and a flare of new design details, it certainly achieves this goal. The latest collection also features a […]
Accessories to Never Leave The House Without
We’ve previously covered off on the best in travel companions by Montblanc, featuring their leather airpod cases and stylish travel bags. But what about when you’re closer to home? What are the absolute essentials. If you’re leaving home without your phone, smartwatch, and wallet then you’re going to be at a loose end. Montblanc has […]
This Ultra Luxe Pen Pays Homage to the Stars
Montblanc has a new writing implement coming out worldwide this September 2022 and it might be their most elegant yet. Earlier this year NASA gave us the clearest images yet of distant universes. We all took a moment out of our busy lives to marvel at the swirls of distant worlds. It was a universal […]
Best Kept Secrets
Sharing the secrets of the most exclusive experiences. Sponsored by Spy Valley.
The Villains That Define Us
Without Villains Bond is just a guy who picks up women at hotel bars for one night stands. Without villains the women wouldn’t end up inexplicably dead a day or two later to send him a message. Without villains, he’d have to have awkward conversations with them later when they catch him at another hotel […]
Spy Valley, Redefining the Marlborough Wine Brand
Marlborough – we all know the region is home to some of the best Sauvignon Blanc produced in the world. It’s a given, we’ve known that ever since we were kids; it’s an inherent fact like the All Blacks are the best international rugby team in the world and Wellington is the windiest capital city […]
A Kiwi/Mexican Summer Soiree
Ah! We’ve finally reached Summer which also – hopefully! – means plenty of hot, sunny weather to come too. It also means it is time to bust out the summer entertaining dinners for all the friends and family. For such a summery time of year, light, fresh and zingy meals suit best. And what better […]
Discover the secret to over 60 years of excellence in watchmaking. Sponsored by Grand Seiko.
The Grand Seiko Series 9: The Link Between Nature & Time
Watches and clocks are not the only way to tell the time; nature supplies us with many other options. We can track the sun’s path across the sky during the day or the changing pattern of the stars in the night sky. We can even see the changing seasons of each year by observing whether […]
Check Out The Latest Sport Timepieces From Grand Seiko
Few countries in the world wear winter better than Japan. With its incredible array of natural wonders which become blanketed in white throughout the winter months, the sights and sounds of the season are almost impossible to not be mesmerised by. It’s these wonders, such as the magnificent Hodaka mountain which sits in the backdrop […]
The Heartbeat of a Winner
When you have a chance of victory in any competition, the heart beats faster as the excitement grows, the eyes widen and the tension mounts. At least, usually that is what happens, but in horological competitions – the opposite is true as it is only the steadiest heartbeats keeping an unchanged and deadly accurate pace […]
Welcome to a world of heritage. Sponsored by Misson Estate Winery.
A Tiny Corner of Godzone Producing Wine the World Can’t Get Enough Of
Here and there dotted about this wondrous Earth we live on are magical places. Freakish regions with a unique climate and terroir that combine to produce something that no other district on the face of the planet can even come close to replicating. For example; Yakutia in Siberia offers up more diamonds than any other […]
The Rolex Goodwood Revival is a Time Capsule of Cool Cars and Dapper Looks
If you’re a vintage racing enthusiast, then there’s only one place to be in September and that’s trackside alongside 150,000 other motoring and vintage enthusiasts from around the world. You could describe The Revival as the most glamorous second-hand event. At its heart, it’s a celebration of craftsmanship and sustainability, from an age when possessions […]
AlUla: 7,000 Years Of History Dug Up For Luxe Living?
AlUla in Saudi Arabia is one of the most significant archaeological regions in the world. Its red sandstone canyons bear the ancient traces inscribed by the members of multiple civilisations who habited the area going back 7,000 years. It is also home to the largest conserved site of the Nabataeans south of Petra in Jordan, […]
Speights Is Giving Away Free Chips So You’ll Talk To Your Mates in This Travelling Tavern
We’re now full swing into Movember, so I trust your upper lip is looking healthily bushy at this point gentlemen. Personally, I forgot to shave mine at the start so I’m just pretending that I’m one of those insanely fast growers, the kind that have a full beard 12 hours after shaving. As part of […]
Ep.84 – The Power Of Community – Rob Dunne
Robert Dunne has been Country Manager of Movember for the last 10 years. He is predominately responsible for the Movember Fundraising campaign while also involved in the management and governance of Movember funded programmes like Headfirst, Man Enough and Social Innovators challenge. Rob spoke at the M2 Summit, 3 November 2020 about the power of […]
Reconstructing Mental Health in Construction
At some point in their life, nearly one in two New Zealanders are likely to suffer from mental illness. All of us are likely to experience or witness mental illness at some time. Therefore it is important that we understand and recognise the signs in order to help. Especially when we consider the obvious challenges […]
Discover the Best New Zealand Wines Have to Offer. Sponsored by Te Mata Estate.
The One Coleraine You Simply Cannot Miss
We have spoken before in these august pages about ‘The One’; that freakishly good vintage that came around only because the weather conditions played out flawlessly throughout Hawkes Bay in 2021. There was the perfect amount of rain at exactly the right time with ideal temperatures and just the right amount of water stress to […]
Why Wait for Quality When You Can Have It Straight Away?
Read any wine magazine – or indeed, the pages of this august website – and you’ll see a lot of how long fine wines will cellar for; five years here, ten there, even twenty plus for that one. But the problem is; the sun’s out, the barbie’s freshly cleaned and the lamb kebabs are ready […]
A Flavour to Savour
There are two kinds of people in the world; those that like sweet, and those that like savoury. I definitely prefer to enjoy the umami delights that foods like mushrooms and game can deliver over the pleasures of chocolate every day of the week (and twice on Sundays!) Plus, if you are like me and […]
Staying on the pulse with the best the city has to offer. Sponsored by Cordis Auckland.
Cordis Auckland: Masters Of Sustainable Success
There’s been a bit of a buzz about Cordis Auckland these days, and it’s not just because of its stunning views and impeccable service or the rooftop bees for that matter – well actually partially but we will touch on that later. For now, the big news is the fact that the luxury hotel has […]
Pinnacle Tower At Cordis, Big In The Details
We share our office with a highly respected business consultant. Unfortunately for those around us, him and I will often pontificate during lunch about the current hurdles of modern business and emerging management theories. It’s all very interesting, believe me. Especially when the A3 sheets of paper come out to display a maze of business […]
In Auckland? Everything to Eat, Watch, Experience this April
April is fast approaching. It’s time to sort out your date nights, your weekends, and your social calendar in general. By the end of the month you’re going to be twice as cultured as you are now. Or at the very least, finally know the difference between all these IPA’s the microbrewers love so much. […]
Finding the excellence behind every masterpiece wine. Sponsored by Yalumba.
A Must Stop On Life’s Wine Journey
The enjoyment of wine is a lifelong journey. As a teenager you start off by sucking down a bladder of Chateau Cardboard from the supermarket bargain bins to get you into party mode. In your early twenties you start taking wine bottles to dinner parties, usually decided by price but sometimes by the number of […]
Wine Going Vegan
When you hear me talk about vegan wine, you might wonder what animal products could possibly be doing anywhere near a barrel of crushed grapes. After the grapes get picked, but before it makes it to your glass, they go through a stringent process to become the wine they were always destined to become. Part […]
Beyond The Bottle
They say a fine wine only gets better with age, and with a rich history spanning over the past 168 years, Australia’s Yalumba winery is a testament to that. Take a closer look at the only operating wine cooperage in the southern hemisphere. Nestled away in the Barossa Valley, Yalumba may just be the most historic winery […]
Your guide to the best in motoring. Sponsored by Rapid Radio.
The Death of a Legend and the Birth of a Super Sportscar
Lots of things have happened over 2020 but amongst everything, the motor racing world lost one of its greats when Sir Stirling Moss, the British motor-racing ace, died on 12 April at the age of 90. Known as the “king without a crown,” Moss, recorded 16 victories in 66 starts in Formula 1 Grand Prix […]
Back to the Electric-Powered Future
Released in 1985 and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the cult-classic Back to the Future has been long seen as one of Hollywood’s greatest accomplishments. Surprisingly mainstream and absolutely ridiculous, mixing much-loved quotable lines to over-the-top pseudoscience. A contextualised narrative of a typical school kid (Michael J. Fox) and a kooky scientist (Christopher Lloyd) navigating the […]
Formula 1: How Motorsport Has Driven Innovation
Geneva, 2020 – Sir Jackie Stewart has spent all of his life pushing the boundaries, whether taking the chequered flag in Formula 1 ®, revolutionising driver safety or running his own Grand Prix-winning race team. The Flying Scot has always been prepared to go beyond the perceived limits of achievement, an attribute perfectly aligned with […]
The best in culture and entertainment. Sponsored by Casio Privia.
James Cameron Tells You If It’s Okay To Have A Bathroom Break During Avatar 2: The Way of Water
James Cameron has come out pre-emptively taking swings at critics and trolls alike and I love it. In talking to Empire, he first zeroed in on the trolls and naysayers of the first Avatar, of which there are plenty. You don’t become the highest grossing film of all time without cracking some eggs along the […]
The Greatest Movies Never Made
From the outside, making movies doesn’t seem that complicated, right? You whip up a script, get thrown a boatload of cash, chuck up a green screen, hire some pretty people to stand in front of camera, a bit of cutting and chopping here and there and voila, a movie is made. If you’ve got a […]
New to DJing? Start here!
Ever watched a DJ at a party and wished you could do that? Well, Pioneer DJ have brought out the perfect controller to get you started, even if you’re a complete beginner. The all-new DDJ-FLX4 has a professional feel and its simple, user-friendly design makes it super easy for you to find your way around […]
Learning to invest from the best. Sponsored by Augustus Park.
What changes to the rental market will mean for you
In 2008, the real estate industry was overhauled with the introduction of the Real Estate Authority (REA). This decision provided further consumer confidence that complaints would be dealt with independently and transparently. An independent regulator sets a minimum industry standard to work to. Before this, the real estate industry was self-regulated by the Real Estate […]
Investing In Price Rises Without Paying The Price Rises
While inflation has hit most sectors within New Zealand over the last couple of years, the impact on the cost of both residential and commercial building has been particularly profound. And of course, Gib board has become the poster child for this rise with desperate builders scrambling to find supply. A recent Trade Me auction […]
Why Do Private Owners Engage A Professional Property Manager?
Believe it or not, if you are reading this, and you manage your investment property privately, you have probably experienced at least one of the following reasons as to why a professional agency is contracted to manage a private property. Over the last 5-6 years, and especially within the last few years, the industry has changed significantly. The recent […]
The latest and greatest, brought to you by The Release
Let Me Sell You This Dyson Stick Vac
Is a single micron of dirt too much for you? Well Dyson’s new Gen5detect Absolute Handstick Vacuum Cleaner can remove 99.99% of particles, down to just 0.1 microns². I know you want that last .1 micron gone as well but I’m pretty sure doing that would create a miniature black hole in your carpet or […]
Air Frying Will Change Your Life
Having an air fryer in the kitchen is possibly the most dangerous thing you could own, purely because of how many delicious things you could be frying up in it. I’m sorry I don’t need to supercharge my ability to make delicious food, but maybe you do with the Tefal Easy Fry Grill & Steam […]
This Grill Can Automatically Cook Your Steak Perfectly
Imagine the perfect steak or cookthrough being as simple as set and forget. Painstakingly watching the queues and the timers could be a thing of the past with the new Tefal Optigrill Elite GC750. This grill is so intelligent it takes all of the guesswork out of cooking meat to perfection. It achieves this by […]
The best the world can offer. Sponsored by Waitiri Creek Wines.
Here’s Everything To Do To Make The Most Of Your Next Queenstown Visit
Queenstown remains one of the country’s most beloved domestic holiday spots and is great to visit any time of year. If you’re making the journey down to the southern paradise in the near future, here’s five terrific ways to fill in the days. HIKING Many will know that Queenstown is renowned for its sensational […]
Waitiri Creek: The Triumph of Man Vs Machine
Winemaking has been around for a very long time, as evidence has been discovered that it was being made in the Middle East about 8,000 years ago. That makes it one of the oldest skills we as humans have developed and, amazingly, it has changed little over all that time. Other ancient arts like construction […]
Mastering Success
Becoming a Master Sommelier is an intense and exacting process that very few people achieve. Cameron Douglas is New Zealand’s first and only Master Sommelier, a dedicated professional wine and beverage expert. Cameron is well known and respected both here in Aotearoa and abroad. He has judged and presented in the UK, USA, Oceania and […]
Get to know one of Auckland’s finest dining establishments, recently named 15th in the world on
TripAdvisor’s 2021 Travellers’ Choice “Best of the Best” Restaurant’s list. Sponsored by San Pellegrino
The Grove At Home: Silk Robe
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 […]
The Ever-Changing Face Of The Grove
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” […]
Welcome to Fine Dining 2.0
Forget what you knew before about dining, a whole new culinary world is emerging. The changes are across the board with what we eat and how we eat it. Some of these changes have been happening for a while now with more and more people having an allergy to this ingredient or a moral objection […]
Our guide to changing your life for the better one step at a time. Sponsored by Oticon.
‘Grumpy Old Man’ Syndrome – Male Menopause, And What To Do About It
Male menopause or andropause exists in some men, and research has suggested that loss of testosterone in the ageing male is an important contributor to health problems. Some of the scientific literature calls it Late Onset Hypogonadism, but the implications are now being explained by research, which shows increased health problems, like increased abdominal fat, […]
5 Transition Tips For A Healthy Lifestyle
Professional Black Sticks hockey star and co-founder of boutique boxing gym Studio Box, Dwayne Rowsell knows a thing or two about focus, hard work and pushing through the pain, but the last couple of months haven’t been in any rulebook. We talk to Dwayne about business in the age of Covid, performance off and on […]
Health 2.0
‘Rapid Antigen, Lucira or PCR – which is the better nasopharyngeal test?’ Only a global pandemic dragging on for over two years could possibly bring such normally obscure health thoughts to our minds, yet this is what we find ourselves worrying about alongside our current concerns about travel with flaky borders and a majority of […]
The Sanction-Proof Car
“What do you call a Lada with brakes?” “Customised” The future is here, and for Russia, that means a butt ton of sanctions that makes importing anything almost impossible. Enter the sanction proof car from Lada, with almost none of the modcons or safety features you’ve come to expect from modern vehicles. Russia has been...
Hands On With MX Everything
Much ado has been made of Logitech’s latest peripherals and their incredibly poppy colours designed for live streaming gamers in mind, but what of the working professional who just wants to get the job done with the best of the best? Enter the MX Master Series; reserved colour schemes and solid build quality prevails in...
How We Grew into New Zealand’s Market Leading Digital Marketing Agency
When I started Pure SEO in October 2009, I had just moved to New Zealand from the UK. Whilst I had extensive experience in business and marketing, I had no idea of any of the nuances of the New Zealand market. I had no network here whatsoever. n early 2010, I was still a sole...
Ep.37 – How To Create Valuable Products Here
Chloe and Florence are sisters who craft health beverages in their hometown of Nelson, New Zealand. Surrounded by mountains, lakes, and at the edge of the Pacific Ocean; the outdoors is their playground. Chloe is a neuroscientist and holds a diploma in herbal medicine. With this background and a passion for nutrition, Chloe set out […]
Ep.121 – Cameron Douglas – Mastering Success
Becoming a Master Sommelier is an intense and exacting process that very few people achieve. Cameron Douglas is New Zealand’s first and only Master Sommelier, a dedicated professional wine and beverage expert. Cameron is well known and respected both here in Aotearoa and abroad. He has judged and presented in the UK, USA, Oceania and […]
Ep.24 – What Can Landing On An Aircraft Carrier Teach Us About Covid-19?
Win Charlesbois is the co-founder of The Diamond Shop which specialises in handcrafted diamond engagement rings. At one point he was a Navy pilot, landing on and taking off from aircraft carriers, before settling for a slightly slower form of transport in the form of a hand-built sailboat. In 1974, Win and his wife Linda […]
