New Zealand Woman’s Weekly 1737

Welcome home, ladies! One of our most-successful sporting teams, the Black Ferns, touched down at Auckland Airport last week after clinching the World Cup for an incredible fifth time. Despite their amateur status – most players juggle training, full-time jobs and families – the team pulled off an impressive win in Belfast when they squared off against their old foes, England, in the final of the women’s Rugby World Cup. The team was given a rousing haka as they came through the arrivals gate and many were clearly overwhelmed to receive floral garlands to add to their gold medals. Star winger Portia Woodman – a former Northern Mystics netball player – scored an incredible four tries in her team’s semi-final victory over the US, and told waiting media at the…

When I asked Allyson Gofton to share a memory of her friend and mentor Tui Flower – our legendary food editor who passed away last month – a plethora of thoughts and stories quickly flowed. She spoke of Tui lending her the money to get into a flat and help furnish it when a then-penniless Allyson first arrived back home from London to take up a job under Tui. One memory really stuck out to me – Allyson said, “Tui’s kindness to me never stopped. When I was ill in hospital suffering from pre-eclampsia with my first pregnancy, Tui would make asparagus rolls and bake cheese scones, two or three times a week for Warwick to bring up to me, as it was all I could eat. Tui showered me…

‘I told her I think she’s a wonderful, strong woman and she’s someone I’d like to go into the future with’ While she’s been out and about on the campaign trail recently, eagle-eyed members of the public might have noticed something different about MP Maggie Barry: A beautiful ring, emerald and rose gold, worn on her engagement finger. It was put there by longtime partner Grant Kerr following a romantic marriage proposal. “We were walking through a park,” explains Grant, who’s a traditionalist about this sort of thing. “It seemed the right time to ask Maggie to marry me. So I told her I think she’s a wonderful, strong woman and she’s someone I’d like to go into the future with, holding hands. Then I asked, ‘Will you marry me?’”…

BY GEORGE, HE’S exhausted From eternal bachelor and party prince to father-of-two and devoted husband – life certainly has changed for George Clooney since he met his wife Amal. But in one of his first interviews since welcoming twins Ella and Alexander two months ago, the Hollywood star says even he wasn’t expecting fatherhood to be quite as scary. “I just had to clean barf off my tux,” he jokes. “It used to be my barf, but now it’s the twins’ barf. So it all works out!” George and Amal have been staying at their lakeside Italian estate for a couple of weeks, after welcoming the twins in London. While Amal (39) was spotted looking ravishing last week as the pair enjoyed a date night, George’s under-eye bags and sallow…

‘I was extremely good looking. I don’t think I am now. When it went, it was inevitable’ There are some benefits to being a lady of a certain age in the fickle acting industry – just ask Dame Diana Rigg. Once voted the sexiest TV star of all time by US TV Guide magazine – thanks to the figure-hugging catsuits she wore as Emma Peel in ’60s show The Avengers – the 79-year-old is quite happy to no longer feel as if she must look a certain way. “I am long past improving my appearance,” says Diana, whose latest role is playing the Duchess of Buccleuch on the TV series Victoria. “I only take half an hour in wardrobe and make-up. I try to have it all done as quickly…

As we count down to Election Day on September 23, the Weekly put your questions to the leaders of our political parties. In part one of our series, we have the responses from ACT leader David Seymour, Labour leader Jacinda Ardern and the leader of The Opportunities Party, Gareth Morgan. (Some responses have been edited for length.) David Seymour, ACT What do you think is the biggest problem facing New Zealand, and if you’re in government, what would you do about it? Chris (65) Rotorua The massive cost of housing is the single largest cause of poverty and inequality in New Zealand. ACT says it’s crazy to ban people from building homes during a housing shortage. We would restore affordability by cutting red tape in land use and construction, allowing…