How to fix Super Rugby: Ideas to save the competition
The easiest way to fix this would be a move to a top four. However, the powers that be would worry about a three-week finals format being cut to two weeks. As a result, home and away semi-finals cannot be ignored. As we see in European rugby and football, teams would square off twice in […]
How To Not Mess Up A First Dinner Date: Jesse Mulligan’s Essential Dating Advice
In his fortnightly advice column, Viva’s resident Dining Out editor answers reader questions, sharing his expert recommendations and insider advice. There’s a girl in my class at university who I really like. We’ve hung out a bit and it’s never really been clear whether there’s anything going on or not. But today I asked her […]
How pharmacies quietly drain your budget and what to do about it – Nadine Higgins
You’re probably thinking “how bad could that possibly be?” The answer was fairly alarming. I’d estimated we spent on average about $50 a month at the chemist. With two small boys who kindly bring us home every bug known to man, Pamol and Vicks feature heavily, particularly in winter. But when I totted up what […]
Retrain your taste buds: How to enjoy food with less sugar and salt
According to the Heart Foundation, New Zealanders currently eat around 9 grams of salt a day, which is more than double the recommended amount. And when it comes to the sweet stuff, we consume around 107g of sugar a day (the equivalent to approximately 27 teaspoons), which is more than double the recommended amount. Lily […]
Daylight saving sleep tips: How to reset your body clock after the shift
What happens to our brain and body clock when daylight saving switches over? Daylight saving, O’Keeffe says, causes what’s called “circadian disruption”. “Everyone has a body clock in the brain that needs to be synchronised to the sun in order to stay healthy and function well. And of course, when we move our bodies to […]
Waikato veganic market gardener Sarah Oliver shows how to grow food without animals
“I became a vegan in my late 30s, this time on more ethical grounds. “I’m not anti‑farming at all – the world has to be fed, and unless the movement for plant‑based food really takes off, people will continue to eat animal products. “It’s a personal decision for me not to eat factory‑farmed food or […]
Fuel prices: How to legally and safely store petrol amid spiralling prices
The average price of unleaded 91 petrol in New Zealand passed $3 a litre today for the first time since June 2022, according to fuel tracking app Gaspy. The average price was $2.49 13 days ago. How to safely and legally store petrol Auto stores across Auckland have been selling out of their petrol containers […]
How to protect your finances if you are at risk of getting dementia – Diana Clement
Once your capacity reduces, managing day-to-day money can become difficult. You might forget to pay bills, or lose track of bank accounts. Being too trusting could lead to unauthorised use of bank cards, or pressure to “help out” financially, or just scams. The list goes on. Around 500 New Zealanders are diagnosed with dementia every […]
How To Dad’s Jordan Watson: ‘Cheap and cheerful is what’s worked for me’
“It’s a fun way to hear some insights from our athletes, not your classic, boring Sky TV interview … You never fathom how impressive these people are – their drive, how stoic and mentally focused they are in their training.” In the show, Watson jumps on a bike with Olympic gold medallist Ellesse Andrews at […]
How to declutter your financial life – Diana Clement
Now’s the perfect time to check phone plans and utility bills. Are you still paying for services you don’t use, or have discounts for your plans expired? Chances are you can phone the supplier and ask for new discounts. Think long and hard about whether you have any long-forgotten financial obligations. Are you still named […]