This week in...

May 13, 2024

She’s been on the country’s favourite soap for almost a decade and this week Ngahuia Piripi (or Dr Esther Samuels for Shortland Street fans) opens up about the juggle of balancing motherhood and career, and how important having people around her to support raising her children is.

Elsewhere, we chat with journalist Joy Reid, who recently stepped down from her role at TVNZ after 15 years. Viewers haven’t seen her on screen for some time because she’s been battling long Covid – something that impacted her so severely, she used a wheelchair because she felt unable to cope or walk in places such as a mall. She is another mum who highlights how grateful she is to those who have helped her and her kids. Thankfully,

Joy is doing better now – while still not feeling 100 percent, she’s aiming to be.

Speaking of villages and parenting, my youngest Madeline recently turned 21! We had a couple of days of celebrations with friends, family, brunches, parties, presents and loads of fun. As many mums will appreciate, it’s a significant milestone for us too and involves a lot of reflection. Her life is very different from mine at her age and it’s wonderful to see her thriving.

What I needed after all of that socialising was some downtime, which I found by lounging in a beanbag and reading Marian Keyes’ latest book, My Favourite Mistake. If you’re a fan of the Irish author, it’s a return to the Walsh family – this time with sibling Anna – and covers a range of topical issues with fabulous wit and insight. It’s a great read!

Enjoy your magazine,