Alexia Santamaria

What does it take to stay in the hospitality game long term in Aotearoa?

Joe McLeod is part of a small movement of Māori chefs who are finding modern and creative ways to pass traditional Māori food onto future generations.

It's hard to know what to expect from somewhere that's been regularly declared one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, and as I boarded the tiny plane from Rarotonga to Aitutaki I couldn't help but be slightly wary of possible disappointment.
Would it really be as gorgeous as in all those pictures? Instagram filters have taught us all how easy it is to make something seriously average, look seriously amazing

After some of the world's strictest lockdowns and Covid restrictions, Japan has announced it is finally reopening its borders to all travellers from October 11. (Until now, you had to apply for a special visa and book a package tour through a travel agent.) Reopening is likely to see Japan return to the top of must-visit destinations for Kiwi travellers.

There are several things you’ll notice immediately when you enter Bossi, a brand new restaurant on Auckland’s Commerce Street. The chic, sage green barstools. The marble counter. The plush booths. The floor’s large, diamond-shaped tiles and the striking, modern chandeliers. But take a few steps further into this elegant space and you’ll be struck by something else: the two-metre-high black and white framed photo of a smiling Italian woman in an elegant ‘40s dress.

Jews, Christians and Muslims – the major monotheistic religions – all celebrate a holiday at this time of year. We talk to a member of each community to find out what they're eating, and why.

River cruising is one of those romantic, fairy-tale holidays I'd heard so much about before experiencing it myself. According to those who had gone before, I would be lounging in my luxury bed or kicking back in the bar, looking out over sparkling water, Aperol spritz in hand as castles, hilltop villages and vineyards drifted by. Can't fault that as a concept.

For a chef who’s trained in some of the country’s top kitchens, the small beachside suburb of Milford on Auckland’s North Shore might not seem the likeliest location to open a venue. But even before its doors open tomorrow, modern Korean restaurant Tokki looks at home on Kitchener Road.

Writer Alexia Santamaria lives in the outskirts of Auckland. As the country manages to contain the virus, she explains what life is like in New Zealand.

When it’s time to retreat from the stresses of daily life and put yourself first, New Zealand has some top-class retreats. Alexia Santamaria discovers those where the menu is as important as the mantra.

Queenstown has done it tough over Covid but it’s great to see New Zealand’s best-known resort town looking busier once more. Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort is in the midst of a bit of a makeover in preparation for increasing visitor numbers - same gorgeous views, even better accommodation. And so far the blocks that have been upgraded are looking pretty good.

Every other January, visitors flock to the quirky Republic of Whangamōmona to celebrate a place that "refused to be swallowed up".

Auckland’s isthmus setting means that water is never far away and with it, the opportunity to dine with a sea view. A new restaurant has just opened in one of the city’s most popular harbourside locations, taking advantage of the outlook just in time for summer.

A sanctuary away from the madness of the pandemic is what every couple needs after a long Auckland lockdown.

The world’s in a mess, but Dr Hinemoa Elder says the traditional wisdom she explores in her new book can help us find a way forward. She tells Alexia Santamaria about learning to relax and be still, the pleasure of gardening and her ongoing battle to master te reo