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3 days ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
If you’ve tuned in to any of the countless reality TV shows available to stream in 2025, chances are you’re feeling some viewer fatigue. There’s a reason for that - while the drama can be addictive, experts have decried many modern reality TV formats as harmful to both participants and viewers.
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3 days ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
The case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard has made headlines since she was imprisoned in 2016 for her part in the murder of her abusive mother. A second season of Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up, documenting her life since her December 2023 release, is now available to view on TVNZ+ in New Zealand. Here, Blanchard tells the Herald how she’s adjusting to new motherhood and reveals her hopes for the future.
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1 week ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
From culinary school to music video shoots, these New Zealanders share the beginnings of friendships that have gone the distance. How did you meet your best friend? Maybe you were strangers seated next to each other on a plane and got chatting during the flight. Maybe you met while waiting in line outside a concert or in university halls, or you’ve known each other since the first day of primary school. Some friends are part of your life just for a season.
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1 week ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
Rita Ora and Taika Waititi attend the 2024 Met Gala. Photo / AFPThe 2025 Met Gala is nearly here, with Hollywood’s biggest names set to take to the red carpet at the annual fundraiser for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The star-studded event opens the Met’s annual fashion exhibit each year, overseen by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
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1 week ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
Aucklander Ben Prince-Saxon, 24, is running 12 marathons in 2025 to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand. Ben Prince-Saxon was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was 4 years old. In 2025, he’s undertaking a huge challenge: running 12 marathons, one for each month of the year, to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis New Zealand, a charity that has supported him and his family since his diagnosis.
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2 weeks ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
Canadian singer Shannon Beresford, 32, performs as a Taylor Swift tribute act. Photo / Taylor's StoryWhat’s it like to impersonate the biggest pop star in the world? Before travelling to New Zealand with her Taylor Swift tribute act Taylor’s Story, Canadian artist Shannon Beresford tells the Herald how she ended up performing the artist’s biggest hits on stage. Tribute acts have been around for decades, from Elvis impersonators to homages to Oasis, Fleetwood Mac, Abba and more.
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2 weeks ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
Matt and Kerryn Hoani married on April 2, 12 years after Matt had a life-changing motorbike accident in Australia. Photo / Rachel Jordan, Two Little Starfish PhotographyMatt and Kerryn Hoani were planning to get married in 2013 when a motorbike accident left Matt a quadriplegic and put their dream day on pause. Eleven years later, he finally got to pop the question at Eden Park. They’ve been together for 26 years and finally got to tie the knot on April 2.
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3 weeks ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
The Boat Shed Bakery opened in December 2024 in sheds 1 and 2 on the Frankton Marina. Photo / Will NelsonThere’s no shortage of spots to dine and drink in Queenstown. If you’ve tried most of the hospitality institutions in and around the resort town, here are some newer openings to pop on your itinerary, writes Bethany HaverlandBoat Shed BakeryThe Boat Shed Cafe and Bistro in Frankton is a popular lakeside dining spot – and since December the Boat Shed Bakery has been open just down the road.
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3 weeks ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
Marriage is an enduring subject in literature and popular culture. Let these 10 books draw you into the conversation. Here are 10 authors who have written about marriage in myriad ways – its history as an institution, its advantages and downsides, how it works as a mirror for our best and worst traits, and what makes it last. Recent figures from Stats NZ show that the number of marriages, along with civil unions and divorces, is steadily decreasing in New Zealand – a reflection of global trends.
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1 month ago | 
nzherald.co.nz | Bethany Reitsma
A Wellington woman has opened up about experiencing a first-term missed miscarriage. Photo / 123rfA Wellington woman in her early thirties waited 35 days for an operation at Hutt Hospital after having a first-term missed miscarriage. She’s now ready to talk about it. The first time Sarah* got pregnant, “nothing went wrong”. “Naively, we just thought that the second time round would be the same,” she tells the Herald.
