This article takes you behind the scenes at The National Distillery Company in Ahuriri, revealing the passion, creativity, and craftsmanship that go into producing award-winning spirits. From the hands-on journey of Head Distiller Sean Hughes to the challenges and innovations shaping New Zealand’s distilling scene, discover how tradition and experimentation blend to create unique flavours that are gaining international recognition.

How often have you driven along a country road and wondered what was behind the thick hedge or stand of trees? I really like it when I catch a glimpse of something wonderful hiding beyond my view. In this issue, we take you on the other side of the fenceline and show you some of what lies there, and tell you how it got there.

Do you remember as a child that numb feeling in your bottom and legs from sitting too long in class, or the scratches on the back of your thighs from the slivers of wood that pierced your skin as you slid off your chair? David takes you back to those school days of wriggling in your seat and walks us through the welcome improvements in ergonomics that began in Hastings and have spread worldwide.

Words by Charlize Russell January 17, 2025 LIVING Hawke’s Bay is all about the Bay, so what is the Bay without our local gannet colony?...

St Georges Restaurant has become an iconic landmark for its previous wine production, unique Dutch architectural design, and transformation over time. What began as a family-owned vineyard is now a notable restaurant with its own vegetable garden, rich in history and on the brink of a new Hawke’s Bay legacy.

In a world where online shopping is booming, local markets are more important than ever for bringing small business owners together and providing opportunities to showcase their products and passions in person. Bex met up with the creators of Wonder and lets us in on the wonders of Wonder.

A little over year ago, the destruction wrought by Cyclone Gabrielle turned Esk Valley into a disaster zone that looked too intense to come back from. But now, the valley is experiencing a new example of Kiwi resilience. Kiwiesque, a property dedicated to luxury accommodation has risen from the floods and is ready to start again