Indoor Plant Lady (at least that is what the locals have come to know her by), Siobhan Vermaak, uprooted her family and business four months ago from bustling Auckland to embrace a more serene lifestyle in the verdant haven of Kaipara.

Horse trainer, Tyson Miller, has a passionate commitment to nurturing the individual partnership between horse and rider. Trust-based horsemanship and understanding a horse’s mind is where his core values lie as a horse trainer.

AI Consultant, futurist, marketer, and founder of Ten Past Tomorrow, Mark Laurence, is telling anyone that is concerned about what Artificial Intelligence may mean to them personally or in business to ‘embrace it, don’t fear it’.

Recent Matakana resident, Carine Claudepierre, brings with her a passion for vegan baking fueled by her love of the planet. Sharing her recipes online as a food content creator is something she’s been doing for many years, and now she’s looking forward to the opportunity to connect with her new community through food.

After a long and distinguished career in journalism, including working as a senior producer for the BBC World Service, Cliff Taylor has committed himself to a new path as a novelist. His fourth novel, The Spanish Garden, has just been published, and a fifth is on the way.

Robertson's Boatyard has been a staple in the Warkworth marine industry since 1932. Writer and avid sailor Alex Stone, along with his wife Lesley, make their regular and much-anticipated ritual with their sailing catamaran, Skyborne, during its annual maintenance haul-out at Robertson's Boatyard.

When Amber Rose and Briar Rose crossed paths, their shared vision for humanity and the earth ignited a collaboration. Recognising the immense potential of regeneration, they have embarked on a mission to bring together the world leaders in this field.

Toyota 86 Champion and Matakana resident, Brock Gilchrist, has been driving since he was four. Hoping to race next in Australia and move onto Porsches, he’d happily drive any race car, as long as he was getting paid to do it.

Introducing our cover star, Murphy. He’s one very lucky pup after being rescued by Helen and Gavin

from Country Retreat Animal Sanctuary and finding his forever home with Jordan and Rob.

Back by popular demand, performing not just one night but two, Tiki Taane is at Leigh Sawmill this month, and due to his signature improv techniques, even he doesn’t know what to expect!

It may surprise people to know that Leigh is at the forefront of technology when it comes to robotics and Artificial Intelligence, thanks to local resident, Philip Solaris.

Stunt double, Tineke Robson, is taking some time out for herself, which is not surprising considering what she has been doing recently; eating eyeballs, getting shot at, and crawling across walls, to name a few.

Redefining the word disabled, Glass Ceiling Arts Collective is showing the world what they’re really made of, and everyone's invited.

Trevor Brljevich has achieved a lot in his many years, from a lifetime service for St John ambulance, to being the oldest competitor in the Kaiwaka Top of the Rock event; not to mention being the only New Zealander to have received the Dix Penning award.

Seventies band Hello Sailor is back touring, in support of 10cc, but not before they’ve warmed their pipes at Leigh Sawmill. Last remaining co-founder and new Matakana resident, Harry Lyon, talks about the band’s journey and why he still loves the hometown shows.

The rumblings of innovation are continuing to grow within the Matakana community, and advancing payment technology is set to be the next locally-grown success story.

Filmed at the Country Retreat Animal Sanctuary near Warkworth, a new series aimed at pairing unwanted dogs with new owners starts this month and it’s feel-good fun for all the family.

While you were eating your Christmas lunch, 28-year-old Laura Andrews was three-quarters of the way into her 1000-kilometre ski trek to the South Pole, weathering temperatures that averaged minus 25-30°C, and as low as minus 49°C when the wind chill factor was included.