Justin Foote Writer

You wrote the feature on the 2023 Readers’ Choice Home of the Year for us this issue. What is it about this house that stood out to you most?

For most people, when you say ‘architecturally designed’, they automatically think grandiose and eye-wateringly expensive, and sure, a lot of the homes you see in architectural magazines would fall into the ‘aspirational’ category. The great thing about the Daniels Reef project was that it was never about building a ‘show home’ but rather the common thread when I talked with the owner, architect and builder, was the passion they each had for the project and for bringing a long-held dream to fruition. Daniels Reef reminds us that the ‘Great Kiwi Dream’ is something we can all have when we collaborate with the right people.

As a freelance writer and editor you have the freedom to work from anywhere. Tell us about your favourite place to write and why you enjoy it.

It’s not so much a favourite place as it is a favourite experience. I’m old enough that when I started out it was the era of dial up (in fact one of my classes at uni was on using the internet as a resource - just to be clear it was the 1990s not the 1890s), so you were pretty much office bound. Now, with the advent of Wifi, I can write anywhere and everywhere the fancy takes me - any place that combines my love of travel with my love of writing is my favourite place.

Top places to eat, drink, and visit in Auckland?

Hmm... there really are too many to choose from, but here goes: to eat would be Big Fish in Penrose, consistently great food in an unexpected setting. To drink, Sly Bar on K Road, in the thick of things but at the same time removed, and with a great cocktail list. To visit, Westbrook Winery in Waimauku, which I know is a bit of a cop out, mostly because it’s mainly about the first two things, but really, delicious food, great wine and all in a pretty superb setting... what more could you want?