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NZ Herald
an hour ago
- NZ Herald
Burnt flat whites, $101 brunch and screaming foxes: What it's like to be a Kiwi in London
So while I was busy Googling 'Harry Styles Hampstead Heath sightings' and 'Soho apartments', he was doing the important stuff like sorting visas, booking flights, and finding an Airbnb for our first week there. He was prepared, I wasn't. Guess who was shocked when we landed? After three hours in London, which included battling Oxford St (hell), navigating the Tube (chaos), and paying £45 for a sub-par breakfast ($101, because we were still converting), I decided my best friend's brother was right: it was a sh**hole - but I also felt an overwhelming sense I was going to love it here. Fifteen months later, I can confirm: I do. It's everything I wanted and more, but that's not to say it doesn't come with some culture shocks. A screaming fox From hearing a fox scream at 2am, becoming a human sardine on the Tube, or trying to find a flat white that doesn't taste like burnt milk, it's been a ride, and that's before we talk about the sushi. I once paid £8 for a lukewarm chicken avocado roll that tasted like disappointment and uncleaned fridge. The wildest quirk, though, has to be the people. Before moving here, I thought Brits were basically like us, just with better TV. I was wrong. Londoners (the born-and-bred kind) aren't exactly rude, they're just not nice either. At my first job, I got chatting to a colleague. We were vibing, or so I thought, then mid-sentence, she looked at her computer screen and didn't speak to me for the rest of the day. I got semi-ghosted, at work, in daylight hours. Every Kiwi I know has a similar story. Why do they do it? We have no idea. Maybe they just can't keep up with the chat. Maybe it's their version of boundaries. Either way, I now treat every office conversation like it could be my last. That's partly why my partner and I ended up making friends mostly with other Kiwis and Aussies — for the banter, but also the comfort, and that's not the only home away from home comfort. While we may struggle explaining what 'yeah nah' means, it's easy to get our hands on the essentials: lamingtons, lolly cake, Pic's Peanut Butter, and even Milo, thanks to cafes like Proud Mary's, Butter Beans, and Ozone. Tumeke Pies has the goods too, and Clint from Kiwis in London always knows where to go. And the All Blacks, they're a bigger part of my life here than at home. Whether it's 7am or 9pm, Kiwis flock to a pub (usually found via the Kiwis in London Facebook group) wearing jerseys, pint in hand, no idea what day it is, just screaming at a screen like it's a mini Eden Park, only with more Guinness and less sun. Lillie Rohan (centre) in London with former Herald colleagues Jed Bradley and Zoe Holland. Other perks include cheap holidays, experiences you couldn't have back home, a sense of independence, and so much more. Rent, however, is wild. We paid double what we did in Auckland CBD, and now that we've got our own place, it's nearly triple. It's worth it, though. We've ticked off a bunch of dreamy European destinations, and my career - which now spans freelance copywriting, a bit of PR, and being a full-time entertainment journalist on TikTok - has gone completely bonkers. In the past year, I've been to the Brit Awards with reality TV royalty, roamed Glastonbury with the Spotify team, come face-to-face with Louis Tomlinson, and landed invites to premieres I used to only dream about. Lillie at this year's Brit Awards in the O2 Arena in London. So, for anyone considering the move, or anyone with a child, cousin, or flatmate already here, yes, it's a sh**hole, but it's also the greatest city in the world — and for every overpriced rent payment or underwhelming roast, there's a night where you catch the Tube home, tipsy with opportunity, and think: how can I live here forever?
NZ Herald
an hour ago
- NZ Herald
Shortland Street star Rebekah Randell returns to acting after welcoming baby daughter
It's almost two years since her much-loved character left for Australia, and no one – including Rebekah – knew if she would ever be back. But when the phone call came a few months ago, Rebekah grabbed the opportunity without a second thought. 'Before Isla, I always thought, 'You're an actor first and foremost,' but then you become a mum and that is your entire world. But now Isla is a bit older, I feel really good about going back to work. It's a treat to be able to do both of the things I love. I am really lucky.' Rebekah's daughter, Isla, turns 2 in October. Photo / Amalia Osborne Rebekah's adorable blondie, who turns 2 in October, is a ray of sunshine at our special mother-daughter photoshoot, lighting up the room with her giggles and energy. Being Isla's mum is a dream come true, the actress says. 'I just love my little life with her,' she enthuses. 'She's really sparky and funny. She makes us laugh all the time with the things that she comes out with. It's just like hanging out with your little best friend.' While slipping back into her Shorty role felt like pulling on a pair of comfy old slippers, Rebekah, 32, admits she was a bundle of nerves taking on a brand-new character in the cosy Kiwi murder-mystery series The Brokenwood Mysteries. Cast as Nikki, the younger sister of Kristen, played by acting veteran Fern Sutherland, Rebekah was thrilled but also apprehensive. After a year at home with Isla and seven years playing Dawn on Shorty, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd forgotten how to do her job. 'I was absolutely terrified!' she recalls. 'I felt like I'd been out of the game for so long that I was like, 'What if I can't do this?' or, 'What if I can't remember lines any more? or, 'What if I play this character exactly the same as Dawn because I've been playing her for so long?' Ferndale favourite Dawn Robinson is making a shock comeback after almost two years away. Photo / Woman's Day 'But I stepped on set and everyone was so lovely and so supportive, and I realised, 'Ah, I can do this!' All those nerves were eased pretty fast because everyone was looking out for me, and I had such a great time.' In fact, after just a few days on set, she felt energised and excited for her career all over again. 'I came home beaming one night and said to Bevan, 'This is my thing! This is the thing that I enjoy, and that I really have such a love and passion for.' It was really nice to reignite that spark.' And while Rebekah was at work, little Isla had a great time too. The actress credits her incredible support network of doting grandparents for helping her make it work and, of course, husband Bevan, a builder, who took time off to be at home while Rebekah returned to Shorty. 'He was so chuffed about having the opportunity because a lot of dads don't get that privilege of spending so much time with little ones,' she explains. 'He got to experience Playcentre and Jumping Beans, and all that sort of stuff. He really leaned into it and did such a phenomenal job as a stay-at-home dad.' She says watching the relationship between Isla and Bevan, whose brother is radio star Clint Randell, is one of her favourite things about motherhood. 'Whenever Bev gets home from work, she goes, 'Dadda, Dadda, come, come!' And she takes him off for a tea party. They're always giggling and being silly, and it's so lovely seeing their relationship because I feel it's different to the relationship I have with her. If she needs a cuddle or emotional support, it's always 'Mum, Mum!' but as soon as she wants to have fun or be silly and run around, she'll ask Dad to chase her. He's her absolute go-to for fun.' With Isla's second birthday approaching, Rebekah loves watching her toddler grow. Rebekah is grateful for being able to balance motherhood with her return to work. Photo / Amalia Osborne 'We've just finished potty-training,' says the proud mum, who says the trick was using ice cream as a reward. 'She'd say, 'Ice, ice!' and run to the freezer.' For many actors, the sporadic nature of the industry and uncertainty around when the next job will come along is one of the hardest parts. But for Rebekah, this flexibility is a blessing now she's a parent. Being able to balance motherhood with her return to work – and pick and choose the roles that excite her – is something she'll always be grateful for. And she knows just how lucky she is to have grandparents at the ready to help. 'Even with all this support, it's an absolute juggle, so I have full respect for any mums that are doing it full-time with kids in daycare,' she says. 'I'm so unbelievably lucky to have such a supportive family, in that they will drop everything and have Isla so I can go and film. What you realise with grandparents is you're actually giving them such joy just by letting them have Isla. They have such a special bond.' As she scoops up Isla for a cuddle, Rebekah tells us that becoming a mum has healed her heart after the devastating loss of her and Bevan's first baby three years ago. She wishes she could go back in time and tell herself that everything would be okay. 'Having the miscarriage was so devastating,' she admits. 'But I really wish I knew then how amazing life would be down the track, you know? It's so frustrating and upsetting at the time, and you're so heartbroken, but I wish I could have told myself how happy you'd be when you finally got that beautiful baby that you were dreaming of. 'Isla really is the best thing that's ever happened to me.' The Brokenwood Mysteries streams on TVNZ+.
Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Otago Daily Times
Waste-to-power venture gains global recognition
Ecogas — a joint venture between Central Otago's Pioneer Energy Group and Ecostock Ltd — has received global recognition, winning AD Hero of the Year at the 2025 Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Industry Awards in the United Kingdom. The awards, held during the World Biogas Summit and Expo in Birmingham, recognised global excellence in the anaerobic digestion and biogas sector. More than 400 people attended the event hosted by the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) and the World Biogas Association. Pioneer Energy ventured into the waste-to-energy sector through a partnership with Ecostock Ltd to form Ecogas. In 2022, the business commissioned its first site in Reporoa, in the central North Island, New Zealand's first and only commercial-scale anaerobic digestion facility. Since opening, the facility has diverted more than 125,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfill, generating renewable natural gas and biofertiliser. Last year, Ecogas became the first company to inject generating renewable natural gas into New Zealand's national gas infrastructure, marking a major milestone in the country's transition to renewable energy. It has secured a contract with the Christchurch City Council to build a second food waste-to-bioenergy facility. The award was accepted by Andrew Fisher, managing director of Eco Stock Supplies and a founding partner in Ecogas, who attended the ceremony in Birmingham and said he was "super proud" to represent Ecogas and New Zealand on the global stage. Pioneer Energy Group and Ecogas chief executive Peter McClean said the company's success had only been possible through strong partnerships and a shared vision to divert organic waste from landfill and create lasting value for New Zealand. "We championed this technology in a highly competitive market with limited policy mandates or financial incentives. We are incredibly grateful to our partners, councils, and commercial customers who have supported us on this journey," he said. Jeffrey Clarke, chief executive of New Zealand's gas sector body, GasNZ, welcomed Ecogas's win, saying he was not at all surprised. "What they have achieved is nothing short of remarkable. Through vision, persistence and a passion to do what is right, Ecogas has led a collaboration of partners who have quite literally turned Kiwi waste into treasure. "Where others saw rubbish destined for landfill, Ecogas saw opportunity. They are converting the energy from food scraps and other organic waste into much-needed gas to power thousands of homes, generating heat and bioCO2 that significantly boosts greenhouse crop production. "All nutrients are being captured to make rich biofertiliser to support Kiwi farmers. Communities should be replicating Ecogas's Reporoa plant all over New Zealand to help solve our energy shortfall, reduce GHG emissions, reduce dependency on fertiliser imports, and so much more." Earlier this year, Ecogas was also recognised at home, winning the 2025 WasteMINZ Award for excellence in best resource or value recovery initiative. — Allied Media
