Urban List Features

Welcome to the most fabulous corner of the internet—Urban List's destination for the picks of the beauty crop. This month, our fave haircare has a glow up, there's new scents galore, indie brands are having a *moment* and a new immersive beauty space. 

Let’s face it: the Gregorian calendar’s New Year's is overrated.

Ava Wardecki caught up with culinary creative and all-round ray of sunshine, Amelia Ferrier, to chat about what it really takes to live that full-time recipe creator life.

Working smarter, not harder goes way beyond hacks for meetings that should have been an email: it turns out that it works a treat for Black Friday sales too.

Your go-to guide for maximising your time on-board.

More time and energy to focus on the bigger hauora (wellbeing) picture.

To make things easy for you, we’ve created this list of the best places to buy your Christmas tree this year—now you have no reason to procrastinate!

Shop our selection of the best Christmas gift ideas this side of the North Pole.

From morning brews to late night snacks, the kitchen is the heart of the home, so it's important to get it right. 

Laneway Festival 2026 lineup brings Chappell Roan, Wolf Alice, PinkPantheress, BENEE & more to stages across Australia and New Zealand.

NZFW's 2025 Return was a feast for the eyes—group chats, moodboards and credit card bills too. 

 Next-gen artists lighting up the city, tropical islands, ancient rainforests and sun-soaked afternoons await.

Your go-to guide for maximising your time on-board.

Sophie Marcoux is the chic director behind perfume brand Ficifolia Fragrances. Here, Sophie shares ice cream spots that transform into wine bars, an incredible rabbit ravioli and the best street for vintage shopping in Paris.

To understand Texas, you need to eat your way through it. And thanks to this guide, you'll know exactly where to go when you take the holy trip down to the Lone Star State.

Activewear is the holy grail of the wardrobe. 

Cue the Macklemore flashbacks. It's clear that thrift shopping—correction, op shopping—is f**kin’ awesome. Especially in Auckland, with the best op shops per capita, so we say. 

We sent writer Vicki Young to check out The Chef's Table at Blue Duck Station. 

How Pairama Wright found connection to his Māori heritage through food, and the magic of a one-tin traybake.

Tattoos are a universal art form used as a form of self-expression and tribute and as the world’s most tattooed nation, it's no surprise we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a tattoo studio in Auckland.

Connection through fashion, nude bike shorts and finding your glow.

From the Smokefree Rockquest stage to the billboards of Times Square.

This is your one-stop money-saving guide to ensure you stay on track with your finances while you study. 

Your guide to finding more soul-nourishing moments in 2025.

Forget the total routine overhaul, in 2025 we're making small changes that stack up to a better year. 

The warmer weather is here, and that means it’s the season for lavender to bloom. Here are the best farms across New Zealand where you can stroll amongst the fields, take a picture for the gram and pick your own lavender. Hot tip: pop a few flowers into your next glass of champagne.

Sunflower season is short but sweet and while there might not be an abundance of sunflower farms in Aotearoa, there are five magical spots you’ll definitely want to visit.

From bubble skirts to 'that' tank, these are the season's pieces to curate a wardrobe for every occasion

Having just completed her very first marathon in The Big Apple, Meg Marshall is the young kiwi proving that a casual Friday jog and a bit of initiative can take you a long way. 

It’s all about choosing brands based on our own values—not just the dollar value of a product.

Kiwi summers are incomplete without heading out to the wild exploring the beautiful nature the land has to offer. Read on to learn about the five spots in Hamilton to relax this summer. 

We've compiled a list of the top places to adopt a dog in Auckland so you can be part of the solution.

The best things in life are furry, so we've compiled a list of the top places to adopt a cat in New Zealand so you can help a kitty in need.

This week, and every week henceforth, we encourage you to go beyond learning how to order your coffee in Māori in exchange for a free brew at work, and do something to create a lasting impact for yourself and te reo Māori.

Popping that pretty question can be a nerve-racking time—we get that. What should be a piece of cake, however, is picking out that sparkling little something to seal the deal with. Here’s your definitive list of the best places to shop for engagement rings in New Zealand.

Some Kiwis do their initiation into adulthood and go on a “gap year,” aka the big OE. For me, I didn’t exactly get that chance. Instead, I dived headfirst into a career shift in my mid-twenties. 

Forget what you know about the Southern Lights. Aurora Australis? Please…we have something much more exciting for you! Come Queen’s Birthday weekend, Queenstown’s waterfront is set to transform into a magical forest wonderland, lit up with interactive light sculptures and illuminated art installations.

Run clubs are gaining popularity and for good reason. Fitspo is dead—and real, authentic, cool breeze, crisp air, blood pumping, good-for-you activity is in. 

Give your space a budget and eco-friendly revamp with some of the best second-hand furniture stores in Auckland.

The perfect cake doesn't exis—oh wait, it does. 

The first Afterpay Day sale of 2024 officially kicks off in New Zealand on Thursday 14 March. Shop the best deals on fashion, beauty, and homewares. Get discounts from top brands like The North Face, Culture Kings, Glassons, and more. 

It's widely accepted that representation matters; that diversity of thought is to be celebrated and that greater understanding can help shift public opinion. But when an industry hasn’t been particularly inclusive—in fact when it has been explicitly exclusive—who is to blame for that ongoing exclusion?

Sophie and Sam Hurley dreamt up Honest Wolf after searching for a niche in the market they could cater to using their farm’s existing resources.

VR tech to restore the feeling of lost limbs and exercise therapy that employs AI—we’re living in the future, baby—and the Lexus Design Award is here to showcase and bring to life this world-class tech.

How do the pair find time to inject subtle luxury into their jam-packed schedules as parents and sustainably conscious empire-starters?

In this video, Tūranga Morgan-Edmonds speaks to the importance of cultural preservation through Māori content creators such as himself in the digital world.

From a 9-5 desk worker to a professional op shopper, Tabitha Coleman has turned one of her biggest passions into a full-time job.

We’re exploring refined cocktail classics made with premium Appleton Estate rums.

We sat down with him to talk about his creative process, maintaining his artistry and his bold new project with Doritos designing their latest packaging. 

Our journey isn't just about learning; it's about reclaiming a piece of our whakapapa that was nearly lost. It's about bridging the gap between generations and healing the wounds of the past. 

When the mercury rises, post-hibernation spring soirées begin to sprout—and we're here for it. To celebrate, we've teamed up with Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky to help you craft a few new cocktails and knock the socks off your next event. 

Shaneel Lal, a Fijian-New Zealand writer, LGBT rights activist, and New Zealand's first-ever trans person to win Young New Zealander Of The Year, advocates for the preservation and amplification of queer stories in mainstream media, emphasising society's obligation to ensure a brighter and more inclusive future for the next generation of queer individuals.

Takapuna Winter Lights will be lighting up the shore over four nights this July as part of the Elemental AKL festival and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever.

If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re a) on a device, b) connected to the internet, and c) know your way around the wonderful world web. While it’s easy to take these factors for granted, it’s important to realise this isn’t a reality for a lot of New Zealanders. 

Here’s a roundup of the best teams to watch in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. 

For me, Matariki represents a time of celebration, reflection, and connection to people and land across New Zealand. 

Adrenaline-pumping activities, forest-bathing among ancient trees and unwinding in relaxing hot springs is the idyllic trifecta that awaits you in Taupō. Here are some of the best hotels to stay at when you get there. 

Long and unjustly discriminated as the smuttiest of spirits, vodka is both the queen of classy and the king of trashy - and we should know - here at Urban List we are fine connoisseurs of the occasional vodka vocation. So before we crank into the boom of Summer, we’ve rounded up 12 of New Zealand's best vodka brands.

Taupo is a firm favourite among Kiwis for a cheeky getaway at any time of the year, here are the best motels in Taupo.

After taking Auckland and then Christchurch by storm, entertainment masters Funlab has announced that its biggest (and best) Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq AND Holey Moley will be opening right in the heart of Wellington.

Unless you're Barbie, the amount of single-use plastics we have is not fantastic. And with the drive of consumer culture and mass packaging, for many, the gravity of the problem is often overlooked. 

It's official whānau, IKEA is finally coming to Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Instead of dreading your next interview, come prepared with some killer questions that will bump you to the top spot.

Irrespective of how you feel about trans people, no one deserves to be excluded because of who they are.

Shopping sustainably is becoming easier and easier, with more local NZ brands being launched all the time specifically developed to be way better for the environment than their predecessors. We've filled our list with some of the lesser-known brands, so you can support small business while you build your more sustainable life.

Today is International Women’s Day, an important day for all those who identify and women and allies. To celebrate, we reached out to 10 inspirational women to see what they had to say on this year’s theme #EmbraceEquity.

Whether you’re a baby feminist or a seasoned equality fighter, this list covers the freshest feminist reads from Australian and international authors alike. From mind-blowing factual works to eye opening fiction and even a few timeless classics, put your reading glasses on and add these prime publications to your to-read list.

Green does not mean boring, folks. And, proving they know what’s what when it comes to all things good, The EcoFest Festival is returning for a month-long party of all things seriously eco! 

Here we are again, whānau. Cyclone Gabrielle, hot on the tail of the recent floods, has put further strain on our communities. Here are 11 ways you can contribute to the Cyclone Gabrielle relief effort.

The New Zealand Government has this morning announced a National State of Emergency in response to Cyclone Gabrielle's journey across the country.

Drool Alert! Get ready for biscuits like never before. Here's how you can whip up a batch of Whittaker's hokey pokey crunch biscuits.

Chocolate lovers rejoice! We've got the cake recipe your dreams are made of. It's rich, it's moist, and it's slathered with chocolate ganache icing. Oh, and it's made with two bars of NZ's all-time fave, Whittaker's chocolate.

This year, let baking Queen Miss Trixie Drinks Tea help you level up your pav game with her Cherry Ripe-inspired Christmas monolith. Bruce, June, let us introduce to you the Pavlova MKII.

It's no secret we love Christmas and all the glitz and glam that comes with it, from beautifully wrapped gifts beneath pretty trees, to swanky end-of-year parties with fancy food and drink. However we also know that, as the Grinch himself discovered, 'Christmas means a little bit more'. It's about spending time with loved ones, creating special memories and most importantly—helping out those less fortunate than ourselves.

Make more conscious gifting decisions this Christmas.

Ideal for sipping on a summer afternoon or evening, cooling your red wines allows for bright, ripe fruit notes to step forward and Jacob's Creek Lively Bunch is the sip of the season. 

Special events call for extra special outfits. Luckily for us, there are heaps of fancy dress hire shops across New Zealand to help us get our glam on. 

“Frosé Your Way” has been dreamt up by everyone’s favourite rooftop bar Dr Rudi’s and will even feature a garnish wall so you can customise your drink to perfection.

Not many people can say they started a beauty brand in their own kitchen, but Brianne West did just that when launching Ethique.

Essential reading.

Whether you’re a die-hard pickle fan, on the fence or just pickle-curious this week will hit in all the right places.

What's better than a block of Whittaker's 33% cocoa Creamy Milk chocolate? A block of this classic velvety chocolate with a silky hazelnut gianduja centre. Yes, you read it right. The team at Whittaker's have done it again with their latest addition, Hazella.

Is there any better news than a new scoop shop? Well, one that gives out free ice cream of course.

Chef's Josh Barlow and Brody Jenkins' menu deserves the top spot on your NZ eats list. 

It's time you watched Seaspiracy.

In recent times there’s been a welcome shift in tides to bring style and sustainability together thanks to some clever brands adopting planet-savvy changes. 

Apron up and follow on for what is no doubt one of Excell’s magnum opus, the gluten-free cinnamon roll.

Stay up to date with our live list of the latest updates of restrictions around Auckland and New Zealand.