Sustainability

Fashion

18 Ethical Kiwi Fashion Brands To Get Behind

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

Things To Do

The Best Markets In Wellington For 2024

Whether you’re out for a veggie deal, are craving some homemade treats, or just want to support local grassroots creatives, Wellington’s market scene has got you.

Pets

10 Dog Adoption Centres In Auckland Where You Can Find Your New Best Friend

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

Where to stay

Ruru PurePod

A sublime getaway just 90 minutes from central Auckland, Ruru PurePod the tonic to a this-close-to-burnout sort of week; it's a jaw-droppingly gorgeous setting for a romantic getaway and a secluded retreat for reflection and self-care. 

Bars & Pubs

Isle On Snickel

Venture down one of the smallest, most secret lanes in Auckland CBD and you’ll happen upon a bar and cellar you won’t want to leave. Sitting pretty among a florist and botanical gift shop, a Thai vegan eatery, a Japanese restaurant, and a barista, Isle On Snickel completes a micro-climate that’s a welcome relief from the frenetic energy of the city. 

Pets

Adopt, Don’t Shop With The Best Cat Adoption Centres In New Zealand

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.

Food & Drink

The Best Vegan And Vegetarian Restaurants And Cafes In Auckland

Forget everything you thought you knew about vegan and vegetarian food. Far from its can-o’-chickpea origins, vegan fare is now unapologetically delicious.

Features

Level Up Your Kōrero, Here’s How To Get Behind Māori Language Week

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.

Pacific

A Thrill-Seeker’s Guide To Spending 72 Hours In Fiji’s Yasawa Islands

Psst, we’ll let you in on a secret—heaven is a place on earth. From mainland Fiji, a scenic two-hour boat ride will take you to the magical Yasawa Islands. The word Yasawa, meaning ‘heaven’, is a totally apt translation for the breathtaking vistas seen before your very eyes.

Recipes

Level Up Your Recipe Repertoire With These Carnivore Dishes From The Tattooed Butcher

Nan used to say "your butcher knows best" so we’ve called on the best on Aotearoa—literally.

Activities & Itineraries

Here’s All Of The Incredible Open Air Māori Art To Check Out In Tāmaki Makaurau In 2024

Commissioned by Auckland Transport, pockets of Māori mahi toi (art) are woven through the city centre. What starts as a functional project—say revamping infrastructure—becomes a powerful art project. 

What's On

Secure Tickets For These Unmissable Black Ferns Matches At Wallet-Friendly Prices

At long last, women’s sport is taking centre stage and we are here. for. it. As we head into the cooler months, all eyes are on our Black Ferns and their highly-anticipated 2024 test calendar. 

Health + Wellness

From Run Club To Race Day, A Kiwi’s Journey To The London Marathon

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. 

Features

11 Of The Best Op Shops In Auckland Where You Can Find Second-Hand Gold

If Macklemore taught us anything during his brief but incontestable reign over the radio, it’s that thrift shopping—correction, op shopping—is f**kin’ awesome.

Features

11 Second-Hand Furniture Stores In Auckland Where You Can Pick Up Pre-Loved Gems

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

Features

How Kiwi Luggage Brand Honest Wolf Is Breathing New Life Into Wool

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.

What's On

The Best Auckland Pride Festival Events You Can’t Miss In 2024

Here are all the events not to miss at this year's Auckland Pride Festival. 

Local Escapes

6 Reasons Why You Need To Visit Waitangi As An Adult

Cue the roadie, it's time to broaden your knowledge of our hītōria (history).

Food & Drink

Take A Walk With Kiwi Chef Kia Kanuta And Uncover His Favourite Places To Eat In Auckland

Need a hand navigating your local eats? We’ve teamed up with BNZ to ask local chef Kia Kanuta about his holy grail locations.

Local Escapes

The Best Sunflower Farms In New Zealand And Where To Find Them

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.

Features

From Firefighting AR Glasses To An AI Buddy For Seniors, This Design Award Is Changing The World

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.

Features

How Paris And Henry Mitchell-Temple Fuel Their Creativity Every Day

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

Features

The Importance Of Keeping Māori Culture Alive Through Social Media

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

Gifts

The Best NZ Christmas Gift Ideas So You Can Smash Out Your List For 2023

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

Features

How The Thrift Store Founder Tabitha Coleman Turned Her Passion For Thrifting Into A Full-Time Gig

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.

Features

Sonny Ngatai: From Simpsons To Super Saiyan: My Family’s Adventure Reclaiming Te Reo Māori

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. 

Features

Why We Need To Preserve Queer Stories For The Next Generation

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.

Things To Do

8 Reasons To Care About Digital Equity And How It Impacts Your Community

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. 

Features

Why Matariki Is For All Of Us

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

Features

Why We All Need To Stand By Our Trans Community In New Zealand

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

Features

Auckland And North Island Floods | Where To Get Help And Offer Your Support

Well, whānau, what a time. As we finally come up for air following the unprecedented floods in Tāmaki Makaurau and with potentially more coming on the horizon, it’s time for us to come through for each other. 

Features

Cyclone Gabrielle Relief | How To Offer Your Support

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.

Features

Clean Beauty Guru Emma Lewisham Has Just Dropped A Radiant New Product That Works While You Sleep

Multi-award-winning NZ clean skincare brand Emma Lewisham has just dropped a next-level Sleeping Mask which is basically beauty sleep in a bottle.

Health + Wellness

Say Goodbye To Plastic Bottles With These New Shampoo Bars That Actually Work

Say goodbye to plastic bottles and hello to healthy hair with Ecostore's new shampoo bars. 

Features

16 Awesome Things To Do During Earth Hour 2022

Each year, countries all around the world unite together for Earth Hour, one of the largest global movements where millions of people pledge to become more earth-conscious by partaking in an electricity-free hour. On 26 March at 8:30pm we’re turning off the lights, the electricity and even our phones (you can do it!) for one hour all in the name of sustainability. 

Features

The Sustainability News You Need To Know About Cult Kiwi Skincare Brand Emma Lewisham

While the rest of us are settling into the new norm of an already strange 2022, luxe skincare brand Emma Lewisham has been busy proving itself a sustainability powerhouse once again by recently gaining a B-Corp certification. This means the brand is now recognised as meeting the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, joining the ranks of a global community of businesses that balance profit and purpose. Talk about a guilt-free shelfie. 

Here’s How 9 Inspirational Women Are Breaking The Bias, Part 1

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

Local Escapes

Rotoroa Island | 12 Magical Things To Do At The Hauraki Gulf’s Newest Wildlife Sanctuary

If you haven’t heard of Rotoroa Island, you better catch up, stat, because you’re definitely missing out.

Features

How Kester Black’s Anna Ross Created A Sustainable Beauty Empire

When it comes to the beauty industry, sustainable and eco-conscious aren’t often the first words that come to mind, which is why we’re just a little bit obsessed with Anna Ross, the boss babe behind vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand Kester Black.

Features

Yours Truly Is The New Pre-Loved Bridal Gown Store That Has Sustainability At Its Heart

Washing your hair with solid shampoo and taking your keep cup everywhere is a solid way to make sustainable changes, but it’s super easy to forget that the environment comes into the equation with pretty much everything we do, and that includes getting married. 

Features

7 Ways To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint And Help Slow Climate Change

From growing your own vegetables to cutting down on single-use plastics, slashing your food waste and walking more, here are seven ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

Features

Show Your Fave Zero-Waste Brand Some Love By Voting In The Circle Awards Now

Here at Urban List, we're passionate about putting our best foot forward, dedicated to being as conscious as possible when it comes to sustainability.

Local Escapes

Buckle Up In This Eco Friendly EV And Get Off-Road To Explore Glenorchy

If you’re planning a Queenstown getaway, make it a memorable one by heading out to Glenorchy and exploring the impressive scenery in an electric 4WD buggy. Delta Discovery offers self-drive tours (so much more fun taking on river crossings yourself) in a 100% emissions free vehicle loaded with GPS technology. 

Local Escapes

Book Yourself In For The Ultimate Staycation At The Hotel Britomart

2020 is officially the year of the staycation, and we can't think of a better spot to spend our next getaway than in the heart of the city itself, at the newly revamped Britomart precinct.

Features

Wave Goodbye To Beauty Guilt With This Revolutionary Kiwi Recycling Program

Have you ever looked at the skincare in your bathroom cabinet and just wished for a fairy wand to make everything natural, ethical, and sustainable—as it should be? Maybe you've even given yourself a retinol burn, or seen a depressing Vice article on what really happens to the plastic you think you've dutifully recycled.

Features

Take Action, Here’s How You Can Help End Racial Injustice In New Zealand

The death of African American man George Floyd, while being arrested by Minneapolis police, has sent shockwaves around the world. The horrific footage of his killing has resulted in protests across the US and have caused more of us to speak up about the injustices and abuse our Māori, Pacific Island, migrant, or any person of colour (POC) endure every single day in our country.

Local Escapes

Unwind At One Of New Zealand’s 8 Most Blissful Retreats

There are times in life when you just need to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and treat your body and mind to a little TLC.

Features

Urban Culture Curve | Pave A Way Forward With New Wave Positive Publishing

This month, we look at the power of positive headlines in a crisis, the industry emerging to serve our newly-formed at-home dining habits, 5G's unlikely place in pop culture, the dismantling of high maintenance beauty and international shopping, and our new-found enthusiasm for a ballet class. 

Features

Have A Positive Impact On The World With Us As We Take On Sustainability

Let us introduce Urban List Sustainability, a commitment we are launching in partnership with Bank Australia to take our platform and our incredible community to the next level as we commit to having an even more positive impact on the planet and its people.