Meet the Team

Kate Coughlan

TITLE: Editor
THE BEST THING ABOUT MY JOB IS… working with people whose company I enjoy and talking to people I find fascinating.
FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD… my little bit of rugged Central Otago – its massive green schist tors, its wild thyme, mysterious distant mountain ranges and wild light shows as the weather moves across the plain below.
FAVOURITE ROOM IN MY HOUSE… my sitting room where my family and I sprawl on over-generous comfy sofas reading on wet Sunday afternoons.
THE BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME IS…no way…can’t choose just one.
NZ IS GREAT BECAUSE…of contrasts. Get away from it with the kids to a river for a picnic but enjoy great art. That kind of easy, quality living.
THE PROJECT THAT’S CURRENTLY TAKING MOST OF MY ENERGY IS…outside of work? Fitting in the housework around trying to maintain fitness, doing yoga, learning to meditate and keeping the fridge stocked while sticking to my vegan diet. Oh yes, and trying to get through a three-stack pile of highly recommended books on the table by my bed. So I guess the short answer is: trying to live well.
MY GREATEST LOVE IS…people who make me feel anything is possible and that life is exciting.
I AM MOST INSPIRED BY…the growing awareness that everything is up to me and I can change anything and achieve anything.
MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME…to be kind and expect the best of others.
MY FATHER TAUGHT ME… the entertainment value of eccentricity.
THE LAST THING I CHECK BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE IS…that I am wearing matching shoes – you only get that wrong once.
I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT… love, and lots of it please.
I CAN LIVE WITHOUT…telephone sales pitches, lost courier parcels, adipose tissue.
MY GREATEST SIN IS… not listening well.

Yolanta Woldendorp

TITLE Art Director
THE BEST THING ABOUT MY JOB IS… the creative process of working with fantastic photographers and the freedom to express my own creativity. FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD… my hometown in the West Australian bush, Tuscany and, for a quick break, Aitutaki.
FAVOURITE ROOM IN MY HOUSE… the stables.
THE BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME IS… National Geographic’s Book of All Time Best Photographs.
NZ IS GREAT BECAUSE… it’s a land of so much diversity. It’s a very beautiful and spiritual country.
THE PROJECT THAT’S CURRENTLY TAKING MOST OF MY ENERGY IS… continuing to produce a magazine of top quality.
MY GREATEST LOVE IS… my partner and riding our horses.
I AM MOST INSPIRED BY… my father and nature.
MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME… how to dance and never give up!
MY FATHER TAUGHT ME… how to really look with your eyes, and that I can do anything.
THE LAST THING I CHECK BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE IS… that the front door is locked.
I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT… a good moisturizer.
I CAN LIVE WITHOUT… people’s prejudices.
MY GREATEST SIN IS… gluttony.
MY BIGGEST PASSION IS… horses.
I RELAX BY… riding my horse along the beautiful West Coast beaches and over rolling farmlands.

Jane Turner

TITLE Sub-Editor
THE BEST THING ABOUT MY JOB IS… playing with words.
FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD … a tie between London, Melbourne and my own veranda.
FAVOURITE ROOM IN MY HOUSE  … the veranda.  It’s always cool and breezy on a hot afternoon and is the best place for breakfast and the papers at the weekends and a glass of wine at sunset.
THE BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME IS… the diaries of Lady Cynthia Cooper.
NZ IS GREAT BECAUSE… anyone can do anything.
THE PROJECT THAT’S CURRENTLY TAKING MOST OF MY ENERGY IS… Issue 14.
MY GREATEST LOVE IS… my children, followed by the cat and runny icecream.
I AM MOST INSPIRED BY… house magazines, flower shops, Kate.
MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME… never to smoke or eat in the street.
MY FATHER TAUGHT ME… to be truthful and kind.
THE LAST THING I CHECK BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE IS… under the bed to make sure the cat’s not hiding there.
I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT… family, friends, flowers, perfume.
I CAN LIVE WITHOUT… people who say “Oh well, you can’t have everything”.
MY GREATEST SIN IS… wanting everything.
MY BIGGEST PASSION IS… words.
I RELAX BY… reading, working in the garden.

Trudy Parsons Smith

TITLE National Advertisng Manager
THE BEST THING ABOUT MY JOB IS… the challenges and the lovely clients.
FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD… my home on the water.
FAVOURITE ROOM IN MY HOUSE… my lounge where I curl up and watch the boats go by.
THE BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME IS… well recently, Phillipa Gregory’s books about King Henry’s wives.
NZ IS GREAT BECAUSE… of the beaches, mountains, trees, fresh produce and our restaurants.
THE PROJECT THAT’S CURRENTLY TAKING MOST OF MY ENERGY IS… meeting budget!
MY GREATEST LOVE IS… my children, they have grown into perfectly delightful human beings! Oh, and Max, a wonderful Italian I met at Rome Airport. He wrote the most beautiful letters and poems for years!
I AM MOST INSPIRED BY… enthusiastic and motivated people.
MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME… how not to have 13 children.
MY FATHER TAUGHT ME… humour, love and being in control of your own destiny.
THE LAST THING I CHECK BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE IS… that it’s clean and tidy (I love coming home to perfection).
I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT… flowers, wine, my children, humour, and finding the perfect man!
I CAN LIVE WITHOUT… kissing frogs to find my prince.
MY GREATEST SIN IS… that would be telling.
MY BIGGEST PASSION IS… laughing with family and friends and living the good times!
I RELAX BY… kayaking, giving dinner parties, delighting in setting the table and preparing for a night of fun.

Margy McNamara

TITLE Essentials Advertising Manager
THE BEST THING ABOUT MY JOB IS…that I have a great product to sell, which makes it easy for me to love each minute, and it never feels like a job.
FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD… the East Coast beaches of the North Island.
FAVOURITE ROOM IN MY HOUSE… my lounge as it is light and opens to large decks and the sunny north.
NZ IS GREAT BECAUSE… it is the place I have chosen to stay and live.
THE PROJECT THAT’S CURRENTLY TAKING MOST OF MY ENERGY IS…  new ideas for my garden and exterior painting of my house.
MY GREATEST LOVE IS… family.
I AM MOST INSPIRED BY… people who are setting out on new exciting adventures and challenges that are changing their lives.
MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME… manners and to cook.
MY FATHER TAUGHT ME… the love of the garden and respect for people.
THE LAST THING I CHECK BEFORE I LEAVE THE HOUSE IS… that I have my keys in my hand before I shut the door.
I COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT… friends and laughter.
I CAN LIVE WITHOUT… dining out.
MY BIGGEST PASSION IS… art.
I RELAX BY… walking by the sea.