https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/rss NZME Read the latest lifestyle news at Newstalk ZB. We have the latest in reviews, competitions, events, home & garden, motoring and more.     Sun, 17 May 2026 05:48:34 Z en https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/celebrity-chef-josh-emett-designs-new-menu-for-air-new-zealand-premium-cabins/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/celebrity-chef-josh-emett-designs-new-menu-for-air-new-zealand-premium-cabins/ Air New Zealand has named acclaimed chef and restaurateur Josh Emett as its new Culinary Ambassador. Sat, 16 May 2026 21:50:56 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-indulgent-dips-in-queenstown/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-indulgent-dips-in-queenstown/ “Slow down and soak up the truly remarkable surroundings”. That simple tourist maxim has taken on new meaning in Queenstown, as the wellness wave washes over our premier resort town with unprecedented relish. A host of recent and upcoming openings is redefining Queenstown’s elemental allure, headlined by the floating saunas popping up in Lake Whakatipu. If you fancy a Finn-like frolic with contrast therapy, you’re in luck. I’ve just taken the plunge at Watershed, which opened just before Christmas as New Zealand’s first floating sauna experience. It’s part-owned by Dominic Bowden.   Sat, 16 May 2026 00:17:19 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-trails-and-treats-around-w%C4%81naka/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-trails-and-treats-around-w%C4%81naka/ No matter the season, the mesmerising lakeside setting of Wānaka is a supreme body of beauty. Clad in floor to ceiling windows, I was staying at Marina Terrace Apartments on Lakeside Road, waking up to the yolky dawn of a new day as the first rays of sunlight torched the sprawling sweep of Lombardy poplars strutting the western shoreline, beneath Roy’s Peak. Gazing across to the gilded glory of the morning light show, it vividly underscored to me Wānaka’s elemental brag-power as one of our greatest natural playgrounds. And it beats to a less frenetic tempo than the throb of Queenstown. Unsurprisingly, most of the locals look strikingly fit, lithe and active. I guess it becomes second nature – as does using the Mt. Iron loop track as your open-air gym.   Sat, 09 May 2026 00:57:37 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/lp-tiktok-hack-can-the-kiwiana-classic-really-be-made-with-coke-sprite-and-lemon-juice/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/lp-tiktok-hack-can-the-kiwiana-classic-really-be-made-with-coke-sprite-and-lemon-juice/ A viral TikTok trend has left some Kiwi soft drink fans wondering what L&P actually is, with users claiming to have recreated the Kiwiana classic at home through a concoction of Coca-Cola, Sprite and lemon juice. Thu, 07 May 2026 04:15:34 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/mighty-ape-kogan-xpresso-14-full-hd-pro-dual-screen-tri-fold-portable-monitor-you-cant-go-back/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/mighty-ape-kogan-xpresso-14-full-hd-pro-dual-screen-tri-fold-portable-monitor-you-cant-go-back/ Without getting too meta about it, one of the pitfalls of reviewing tech is you're always in danger of becoming one of those converts who spends all day trying to get other people into the latest craze you've become obsessed with. Wed, 06 May 2026 04:27:08 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/amazon-fire-tv-stick-hd-2026-more-amazony-than-ever/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/amazon-fire-tv-stick-hd-2026-more-amazony-than-ever/ When it comes to streaming on a budget, it's hard to go past a Fire TV Stick. Mon, 04 May 2026 00:31:50 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-crisp-adventures-around-arrowtown/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-crisp-adventures-around-arrowtown/ Tucked beneath the rugged Crown Range and richly wreathed in the charm of its gold-rush legacy, my abiding love-affair with Arrowtown is fully renewed with every visit. Long famed for its ravishing fall foliage, autumn’s full flush is still on radiant display. The annual Arrowtown Autumn Festival celebrated its 40th anniversary a fortnight ago – no mean feat when so many events and cherished festivals around the country have struggled to continue. I happened to be in town for the tail end of the festivities. This year’s cooler temps have been a boon for leaf-peepers, because the cooler, crisp nights help trees retain their colourful leaves longer, while also producing even more vibrant hues. So even though it’s now May, you can still feast on the flamboyantly coloured foliage if you hot foot it to Arrowtown in the next few weeks. The flaming colour palette moves like morning mist through the trees in the Arrow Valley: from mossy green and petal rose, to flaming copper and soft honey gold, all part of the unfolding medley.  Sat, 02 May 2026 01:05:23 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/laser-14-portable-monitor-work-from-anywhere/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/laser-14-portable-monitor-work-from-anywhere/ So we all worked from home. Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:22:13 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-cultural-treats-in-grapevine-texas/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-cultural-treats-in-grapevine-texas/ With its endearing small-town warmth and surrounding big-city enticements, Grapevine is a distinctive gateway destination and home to Dallas Fort Worth Airport. Its magnificent Main Street and Historic District are not just cat nip for your Insta feed, but burst forth with homegrown retailers and enterprising artisans offering indelible authentic encounters. A great example is the gorgeously evocative Bermuda Gold and Silver jewellery store on Grapevine’s Main Street, where I got a surprise Bonnie and Clyde education. The jewellery store building was previously the Grapevine Home Bank and was robbed by two members of Bonnie and Clyde’s gang in 1932. Owner Debi Meek, a wealth of Bonnie and Clyde lore, will tell you the history of the framed newspaper from the 1932 Fort Worth Star-Telegram on display in the store, which describes the robbers’ eventual capture and their part in helping the police locate Bonnie and Clyde. Their guns are still on display in City Hall.  Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:42:27 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/tineco-carpet-one-cruiser-never-hire-again/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/tineco-carpet-one-cruiser-never-hire-again/ Have you ever tried to clean your own carpets? Wed, 29 Apr 2026 01:34:10 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/koh-chang-to-koh-kood-how-to-island-hop-thailand-s-east-coast/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/koh-chang-to-koh-kood-how-to-island-hop-thailand-s-east-coast/ Contrary to popular belief, Thailand island hopping isn’t solely for backpackers. Take the languid, calmer approach by exploring the quieter east coast, writes Ron Emmons. Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:08:12 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-main-street-delights-in-grapevine-texas/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-main-street-delights-in-grapevine-texas/ The pint-sized Texan city of Grapevine certainly struck it lucky with the location Gods. Bounded by the sprawling immensity of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), its mighty aviation neighbour prevents the threat of urban sprawl swallowing up Grapevine into the metroplex. DFW, with its seven runways, encompasses a greater area of land than Manhattan Island. This plucky little city remains safeguarded in its own compact bubble, like a world apart, while offering transit passengers at DFW the chance to enjoy an indelible dabble with the delights of Grapevine. TEXRail runs trains every 30 minutes to and from the airport, which is ideal for day-trippers. But once you get here, you’ll soon realise that Grapevine deserves so much more than just killing a few hours between flights. The place is a revelation.  Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:57:23 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/warning-for-coeliacs-as-peanut-mm-s-now-use-gluten-containing-ingredients/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/warning-for-coeliacs-as-peanut-mm-s-now-use-gluten-containing-ingredients/ By RNZ Life reporters of RNZ Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:11:41 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/dyson-cleanpluswash-hygiene-theyre-back-baby/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/dyson-cleanpluswash-hygiene-theyre-back-baby/ After being surprisingly underwhelmed by my last Dyson experience, (the Spot+Scrub Ai robot vacuum) I was a little anxious about dipping my toe back in to its latest product line. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:36:52 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-style-and-splendour-in-scottsdale-arizona/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-style-and-splendour-in-scottsdale-arizona/ After taking in the retro charms of Route 66’s on a romp across northern Arizona, the desert was calling. I pointed the car south, driving through the achingly gorgeous Oak Creek Canyon route to Sedona, bound for Scottsdale. Towering red sandstone cliffs and an undulating quilt of ponderosa pine create a riveting scenic medley. Situated on the eastern flank of the sprawling Phoenix metroplex, Scottsdale has been dubbed “the Beverly Hills of the Southwest” and “a desert version of Miami’s South Beach.” It’s desert chic, unmistakably stylish and manicured, but it’s also stimulating, creative, and rugged. The singular beauty of the landscape is sublime, inspiring Frank Lloyd Wright to set up shop here, ninety years ago. It’s the same reason artists have been swooning over Scottsdale ever since – drawing inspiration from rugged nature and the soft light. And all of that derives from the Sonoran Desert, one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems.  Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:41:19 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-a-milestone-year-for-america-s-mother-road-route-66/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-a-milestone-year-for-america-s-mother-road-route-66/ I’ve lost count of how many road trips I’ve clocked up in the United States, but it’s a form of free-roaming travel adventure that remains an abiding personal passion. From navigating the mighty interstate highways to losing yourself on the forgotten backroads, where big skies, lonely landscapes and totems to the past are all part of the experience. But there’s one classic American touring route that holds the unique distinction of capturing the hearts and minds of tens of millions of international travellers, every year. Adding to its allure, 2026 marks its centenary. Yes, Route 66. The Mother Road. The Main Street of America.   Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:15:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/tranzalpine-railway-named-among-world-s-most-beautiful-train-routes/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/tranzalpine-railway-named-among-world-s-most-beautiful-train-routes/ A scenic New Zealand rail route has been named among the world’s most beautiful train journeys. Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:06:58 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/hp-smart-tank-7605-easing-the-biggest-printer-pain-point-of-all/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/hp-smart-tank-7605-easing-the-biggest-printer-pain-point-of-all/ Printer frustration. After arguments between colleagues about what temperature the office air-con should be set at, surely getting the printer to do what it's supposed to is cause for more workplace stress than any other issue. Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:44:10 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/bay-of-plenty-couple-ken-and-frances-elphick-celebrate-75-years-of-marriage/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/bay-of-plenty-couple-ken-and-frances-elphick-celebrate-75-years-of-marriage/ Bay of Plenty couple Ken and Frances Elphick will celebrate 75 years of marriage on Tuesday. Still living independently in their 90s, they attribute their long lives and marriage to their faith in God and living off the land. Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:31:27 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardey-centenary-kicks-on-arizona-s-route-66/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardey-centenary-kicks-on-arizona-s-route-66/ If you’re keen to savour a bite-sized sampler of America’s Mother Road, Arizona’s Route 66 is a bumper section, tightly packed with time-honoured attractions and kitschy Americana curios. A century on from its launch as the nation’s first cross-continental route, the pioneering highway endures as a metaphor for the pursuit of new possibilities. Route 66 was officially decommissioned forty years ago by the multi-laned march of the I-40, but the evocative, retro-wreathed, roadside towns remain.  Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:17:17 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-blissed-out-at-four-seasons-las-vegas/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-blissed-out-at-four-seasons-las-vegas/ If you’re planning a getaway to the bright lights and big dreams of Las Vegas yet covet staying at a hotel that is close to the action but beckons as a restorative oasis from the sensory overload, Four Seasons Las Vegas is the dream destination. With all of the bling-bling titillation surrounding the Las Vegas Strip, a luxury hotel that seamlessly spirits you away from the hustle into a haven of calm, is really the best of both worlds. But with its easy access at the southern end of the Strip, I also made the hotel my base for wider forays with Nevada’s many nuggets. Best of all, Allegiant Stadium is just a short stroll away from the hotel.  Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:08:07 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/jbl-endurance-pace-and-jbl-endurance-zone-im-open-to-it/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/jbl-endurance-pace-and-jbl-endurance-zone-im-open-to-it/ If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times; when it comes to earbuds, it's all about the fit. Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:23:51 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/cloud-nine-travel-hairdryer-recall-check-model-xdm-3600-now-after-warning-of-overheating/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/cloud-nine-travel-hairdryer-recall-check-model-xdm-3600-now-after-warning-of-overheating/ Cloud Nine has recalled a hair dryer because of a potential safety issue. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:28:44 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-frasers-house-a-luxury-collection-hotel-singapore/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-frasers-house-a-luxury-collection-hotel-singapore/ It’s been a luxury hotel landmark in Singapore’s characterful Bugis district for 30 years. Formerly known as the InterContinental Singapore, the gorgeous five-star property has been freshly branded this year as Frasers House, a Luxury Collection Hotel.   Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:03:30 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/oppo-find-n6-meet-the-new-leader-in-foldable-flagships/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/oppo-find-n6-meet-the-new-leader-in-foldable-flagships/ Over the last year I've been able to trial quite a selection of folding phones that for the first time, really feel like polished, fully finished products - rather than the next step in something experimental that may or may not actually be going somewhere. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:44:10 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-the-latest-and-the-greatest-in-las-vegas/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-the-latest-and-the-greatest-in-las-vegas/ One of life’s great truths is that Las Vegas never rests on its laurels. It is constantly in a state of evolution and reinvention, unfurling ever brighter and more ambitious embellishments to enrich its entertainment arsenal. With Robotaxis on the march in the USA, Las Vegas is home to Zoox. It’s not a car, more like an autonomous glossy rectangular cabin on wheels that will zip you all over Sin City with precision. Its symmetrical body design allows it to move in either direction, eliminating the concept of a traditional front or rear. You can hail a Zoox for a free ride during the testing period this year. They seemed to be everywhere, when I was in town.  Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:19:15 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/horl-3-sharpening-for-dummies/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/horl-3-sharpening-for-dummies/ So here's the scenario; It's Christmas Day. We're hosting. It's been a long morning (and early afternoon) of present opening, eating, drinking and general merriment. Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:10:15 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/english-village-mystified-by-public-dumping-of-private-bin-nz-sauvignon-blanc-bottles/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/english-village-mystified-by-public-dumping-of-private-bin-nz-sauvignon-blanc-bottles/ Sauvignon Blanc put Marlborough on the world map. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:41:05 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-the-rise-and-rise-of-fiji-airways/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-the-rise-and-rise-of-fiji-airways/ There’s no denying that Fiji Airways is on a roll, busy spreading its wings across the world. Fiji’s plucky and ambitious national carrier is now a serious, highly competitive airline player in the Pacific, directly connecting Nadi with over 25 international destinations in 15 countries and territories. Its international route network is nearly as comprehensive as Air New Zealand’s, who fly to 29 international destinations in 16 countries.   Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:00:47 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/blink-outdoor-2kplus-small-upgrades-big-value/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/lifestyle/technology/blink-outdoor-2kplus-small-upgrades-big-value/ If  you've ever read any of my home security camera reviews, you'll know there are two things I come across all too often that really get my goat; Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:29:20 Z