NZ Sommeliers hosted Travel by Glass at NZSFW and Tori’s chose to feature wines from the 1000 kilometers of the Loire River.
NZSFW graduate Tori Haysom enrolled first as a cookery students and followed this by studying the Certificate of Professional Wine Knowledge. She is now Auckland fine wine specialist for Dhall and Nash wines.
Vincent Careme Vouvray 2018
Aphonse Mellot La Moussiere 2020
Domaine de Noire Caractere 2016
Domaine des Pothiers Gamay St Romain, from Cote Roannaise AOC. This clone of Gamay Noir is found in a remote location of the central Loire Valley in the Auverne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Our students, under the guidance of Chef Finn prepared a selection canapés to accompany the wines:
Potato croquettes with remoulade
Goats cheese goujons
Chicken liver parfait, quince puree on crouton
Compote of mushrooms, pickled onion on toast Melba
Smoked Salmon Vol au Vent
Duck confit rolls with mustard mayonnaise and gherkin
Cucumber cases
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#finewine #cooking #winetasting #somm #sommelier #sommlife
Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”
We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?
Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.
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40.9% Yes
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33.9% Maybe?
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25.2% No
Auckland Transport----Free weekend travel for kids Making family outings easier
Did you know kids aged 5 to 15 can ride buses, trains, and ferries for FREE every weekend and public holiday with an AT HOP card?
But wait, there’s more! Load a child concession onto your child’s MyAT account and unlock 40% off weekday travel too. Managing their HOP card is super easy: create an AT HOP profile under your MyAT account, enter their birthday, and you’re good to go.
So, grab those HOP cards, tag on, and start exploring, because family adventures shouldn’t come with a price tag!
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Great news for Auckland’s tertiary students!
From 14 December, tertiary students will enjoy even bigger savings! The tertiary discount is increasing from 20% to 40% off AT HOP adult fares on buses, trains, and most ferries.
If you already have a tertiary concession loaded on your AT HOP card, there’s nothing you need to do, the increased discount will be applied automatically.
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Summer Rail Upgrades
27 December 2025 to 28 January 2026
We’re upgrading your rail network this summer as we get closer to more trains, more often, when City Rail Link opens up in 2026.
27 December – 18 January: Full rail network closure.
9 – 26 January: Partial rail network closure.
27 – 28 January: Full network closure for City Rail Link testing.
Rail replacement buses will be available throughout the summer rail upgrades to keep you moving.
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IKEA Sylvia Park – What to Expect Now That It’s Open
If you’re planning a visit to IKEA Sylvia Park, consider taking public transport.
Train: Eastern Line - it's about 19 minutes from Waitematā to Sylvia Park.
Bus: Six routes serve the area. Five stop directly at Sylvia Park shopping centre, and another stops on Carbine Road, close to IKEA.
For bulky purchases, home delivery is available to help reduce congestion and parking queues.
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Enjoy the festive season without the fuss.
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Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.
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