Posts by New Zealand School of Food & Wine
1610 days ago

New Zealand Sommelier of the year - 2021

New Zealand School of Food & Wine

Congratulations to Andrea Martinisi as he is awarded New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2021.

Andrea Martinisi is presented with the New Zealand Sommelier of the Year 2021 trophy by Marek Przyborek (NZ Sommelier of the Year 2018) and chair of the Examination Committee with Celia Hay, chair of New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals Association. Andrea is General Manager and Head Sommelier of The Grove Restaurant, Auckland. Marek is head sommelier at Amisfield, Central Otago.

The day started with the Theory Assessment (60 minutest) and Blind Tasting of 2 wines. The white wine was Saint Clair Pioneer Block Gewurztraminer 2020 from Marlborough and from Spain, Muga Seleccion Especial Rioja 2016. The Practical included a restaurant scenario to decant a bottle of Te Mata Awatea 2018 and provide a food pairing. This was made a little tricky as we also had a bottle Te Mata Awatea 2019 on the sideboard... to check if the candidates were reading the label!

The Practical also featured a spirit tasting where candidates were asked to identify 4 spirits. This year the spirits were Bacardi, Tequila Blanco, Jack Daniels, Calvados.

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More messages from your neighbours
2 days ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.4% Complete
  • 20.1% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    20.1% Complete
  • 69.5% Nah - not for me
    69.5% Complete
675 votes
3 hours ago

🎉The Riddler wants to hear from you 🫵

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

🧩 Got a riddle that can stump your Neighbourly community? Share your brain teasers with us and watch your neighbours scratch their heads 😕🤔❓

Send us your tricky puzzles!

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12 hours ago

Witnesses sought in relation to mass disorder on K-Road Auckland

The Team from New Zealand Police

Police are appealing to the public for any footage they may have of the mass disorder that occurred on Karangahape Road in Auckland in the early hours of Sunday 28 December.
Emergency services were called to the disorder around 3.41am where it is estimated around over 50 people were present.

A Police investigation is underway after there were three serious assaults on and around Karangahape Road during the mass disorder.
A portal has been set up to allow the public to upload any footage they have of the disorder and the serious assaults.
The portal is https://dahr.nc3.govt.nz/

Police have arrested one person but are asking for help to identify and locate others involved.

• Around 4:15am there was a serious assault outside the Crown Bar on Queen Street.
A 33-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4647.

• Around 4:30am there was another serious assault on a Cobden Steet just off Karangahape Road.
A 27-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4462.

• Around 5am there was third serious assault at the Mobil Service Station on the corner or Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road.
A 46-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He has been bailed to appear in court again on 16 January 2026.
The Police file number is 251228/4774.

Police would like to speak to anyone who has witnessed or filmed the assaults.

Witnesses can call Police directly on 105.
Please quote one of the above file numbers.

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