Alexia Santamaria

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.

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

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

Most Kiwi families have at least some culinary traditions associated with Christmas day. But what about our migrant populations?

A Central Otago couple combine their culinary and scientific talents in
a saffron-growing venture that’s attracting interest around the world

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.

Bev Evans will be 92 this September, and despite a few spells in hospital over recent years, she’s still a keen sea swimmer. Bright and bubbly, she’s a prime example of how keeping active as you get older can boost both physical and mental health.

This job puts you in some interesting situations, and ziplining in an underground cave is something I didn't even know existed, let alone ever thought I'd ever find myself doing.

It's pretty hard to know what to expect, but like many attractions in New Zealand it's another way to get an adrenaline hit doing something a bit left field – after all this is the country that decided it was a great idea to throw yourself off a bridge attached to a huge springy cord, or hurtle down a hill inside a l...

One of Hiria Faofua's fond memories as a young girl was spending school holidays with her grandmother. A talented seamstress, Mama let her curious granddaughter play with surplus fabric, pearls, brooches and other treasures, while she worked on her sewing machine, teaching her to do alterations and craft amazing dress-up clothes.
Hiria had no idea back then that the skills, love ...

Compared to other cities in the world, Auckland is a little late to the rooftop bar game. But the last few years have seen it make up for lost time – and there’s arguably no better city to have a drink a few floors up.

From the waterway to the art to the food, this city has many reasons to visit, writes Alexia Santamaria

As we all look for ways to explore and have fun while trying to tread lightly on Papatūānuku, it’s helpful to know what activities have a sustainability focus in different cities.

Alexia Santamaria lives life of a bon vivant aboard her first river cruise

A short detour from Dunedin lies Karitane, a peninsula that’s renowned not just for its rugged beauty, but also for its vital contribution to New Zealand. Alexia Santamaria combines city fun with some dramatic Kiwi history.

During New Zealand’s two-year border closure, there were some exciting developments in the Christchurch food scene. A fresh, vibrant group of young chefs, mixologists and cafe operators have created venues with exciting and thoughtful food, often with a sustainable and local focus.