Career

Black Ferns sisters Chelsea and Alana Bremner share their special story

The Black Ferns are excited to be trying their hands at some off-the-field pursuits
Petra Mingneau

The Bremner family trophy cabinet is bursting at the seams with the awards, medals and accolades that come with having two Black Ferns in the family.

But for rugby superstars Chelsea and Alana Bremner, their 2022 Rugby World Cup medals are nestled right alongside their first big awards – their Weet-Bix Kids Tryathlon medals.

“Mum’s still got all the medals and the photos,” says Chelsea, 28. “We did five Tryathlons when we were kids and she’s kept it all.”

It’s the Kiwi-est of sporting starts, and for the super sisters, who grew up in the tiny town of Little River (about an hour outside of Christchurch), sport has been the thread that’s bound them as they pursued their own passions – with elder sister Chelsea only starting to play rugby in her early 20s!

“I think it was the weekend after my 21st birthday when I made the switch from netball,” recalls Chelsea. “Alana asked me to come along to her Lincoln University game. I was really nervous and hesitant, but I played one game and I absolutely loved it. And here we are!”

The siblings who loved Weet-Bix Tryathlons as kids, are still besties and housemates.

Adds proud sister Alana, 26, “She was awesome right from the get-go. I grew up playing rugby with all the boys – there weren’t many girls in our age group. I can imagine coming across into a male-dominated sport must have been daunting, but these days, it’s so different. There’s so many people backing women’s rugby now to make it so inclusive.”

The sisters are as close as you can get and have played alongside each other for years – although last year was their first time lining up against each other, with Chelsea making the move north to play for the Chiefs Manawa from the South Island’s Matatū Super Rugby Aupiki teams.

But they’re also best mates off the field. In fact, they’ve bought a house together, have each other’s backs and still enjoy hanging out as much as they did when they were kids.

“We had the best childhood together,” recalls Alana. “There was no competitiveness really because we were playing such different sports. Well, there was competitiveness, but not with each other!”

Adds Chelsea, “We did all the sports that were available really. We just wanted to be outside in the country. We’d do time trial races around the house with our brother Michael and muck around in the backyard.”

Alana nods, “It probably didn’t hurt that on the farm we lived on, we didn’t have reception – if we wanted to message our friends or anything, we’d have to run up the hill! We got pretty fit from that.”

The training looks different these days, with both sisters committed to their Super Rugby Aupiki and Black Ferns workouts. But what hasn’t changed is the sisters’ unconditional love and support, despite their differences.

“We’re really similar, but then really different, if that makes sense!” says Chelsea. “We look similar, and we have the same morals and values, but we have quite different personalities. We shared a room until I was 18 and Alana was 16, so we’ve definitely grown together. I’m definitely louder!”

“Whereas I’m often mistaken for the older one,” Alana says. “I’m a bit more serious, maybe?”

Chelsea agrees, “She’s the captain – she’s an amazing leader.”

They also love to dabble in different side hustles too – Chelsea, a trained primary school teacher, has recently got her celebrant licence and is looking forward to marrying couples, while Alana, who trained in agribusiness and marketing, loves photography and is keen to grow her skills.

Chelsea (left) and Alana still get a thrill taking to the field together.

But before any of that, they’ll be putting down their clipboards, cameras and even their black jerseys to offer inspiration to the next wave of superstar Kiwi kids who will be participating in this summer’s series of Weet-Bix Kids’ Tryathlons, an event close to their hearts.

“We love the Tryathlons,” says Alana. “We know exactly how the kids are feeling – it can be daunting and scary, but it feels so good when you cross that finish line.

“It’s a Kiwi institution and it was a massive part of our childhoods – we’d drive into Christchurch, stay at our grandparents’ place and get ready for the race in the morning together. It’s a pretty cool full-circle moment for us to be handing out the medals at the end now!”

And who knows – perhaps some of this year’s awards will be displayed alongside future Rugby World Cup gold medals too!

For more information, visit tryathlon.co.nz

Celebrity News

Shortland Street star Courtenay Louise shares her 10-year love story

While she tries on bridal gowns for her upcoming big day, the actress opens up about her romantic love story
Robert Trathen, Pia at Curate Weddings.

As an actress, Courtenay Louise gets to play dress-ups every day and she’s already walked down the aisle in a white frock twice on screen. So slipping into gowns ahead of her upcoming real-life wedding to fiancé Chris Read in April was nothing new – yet designer Trish Peng still made it an enchanting moment.

“I’ve been in two bridal dresses as an actor, but Trish turned it into a really magical experience,” says Courtenay, who plays Monique Strutter on Shortland Street. “The first time I went, I had high tea with my mum and sister, which was so special. I got to try on Trish’s beautiful dresses in her store. She’s phenomenal – I told her my vision, she sketched it up and it’s perfect.”

Woman’s Day was there as Courtenay went into her latest fitting in Auckland and while the 30-year-old actress will no doubt wow Chris when she walks down the aisle, it’s how her fiancé makes her feel when she’s not glammed up that she cherishes.

“I could be feeling ugly and sitting like a sloth on the couch, but he’ll still say I’m beautiful, which means so much,” grins Courtenay. “I don’t ever feel like I have to wake up and put makeup on. I often leave the house looking questionable and feel my most beautiful because he makes me feel that way.”

Bridal designer Trish made finding the perfect dress an enchanting experience.

For his part, Chris, 32, says he admires Courtenay’s “determination and the way she lights up a room”. He explains, “She can run through brick walls and make everyone laugh along the way. I’m not sure how much of that I’ve picked up over the years, but certainly her bad jokes have rubbed off on me!”

The pair will tie the knot exactly one month before marking their 10-year anniversary, having met at now-closed Auckland bar Tyler Street Garage when Chris interviewed Courtenay for a bartending job.

“He was super-charming and kind,” she recalls. “He offered me a trial, but I’d never worked in hospo and was terrible! Everyone was so knowledgeable, but I was 20 and all I drank was vodka cranberry! I learned quickly.”

After Courtenay moved from waitressing to a front-of-house position, she was put on shifts with Chris and the two got to know each other better, sharing a butter chicken on their first date.

“He’d just graduated and was working at Tyler Street but didn’t want to do that forever, while I was transitioning from modelling and wanted to become an actor,” recalls Courtenay. “We bonded over both having bigger dreams to achieve.”

Enjoying nights out and long beach walks, the two continued to hit it off. They were seven months into dating when Courtenay decided to pursue her acting dreams in Australia – and Chris was all for it.

“When we first met, I told him I wanted to be an actor and 99% of actors are unemployed, but he’s always been so supportive,” says Courtenay, who trained at Sydney Theatre School, then Howard Fine Acting Studio.

She still cringes recalling her first performance with Chris in the audience in Sydney, where she forgot her lines. “It was a really big deal because I wanted to show my life partner I could act, but my brain went blank and that was Chris’ first impression of me acting. I was mortified. But he stuck around!”

Over the years, Chris, who’s now CFO of nutrition company The Pure Food Co, was schooled in acting alongside Courtenay. She laughs, “He’s like ‘You’ve ruined watching movies for me!’ We recently went to the new Hunger Games film and didn’t feel a connection with any characters. Ten years ago, we would’ve been absorbed by the story, but now we’re picky about continuity, direction or cameras.”

Courtenay says “expect the unexpected” from her Shorty character Monique this year.

Since returning to Aotearoa, where Courtenay has also appeared in My Life Is Murder, the couple’s biggest challenge has been finding work-life balance amid their busy careers.

Courtenay tells, “I’ve had to ask my Shorty colleagues how they navigate relationships because we can be on set from 6.30am till 6.30pm, then we go home, kiss our partners, go upstairs and learn lines for hours. There are so many sacrifices, but Chris is so supportive. He’s the kindest person, which you can see in how he treats his mum, sister and family. I’m a hothead with no time for bulls**t, but Chris is empathetic and understanding.”

Blushing, her fiancé says simply, “Nothing worth doing is easy and we went into our relationship with eyes wide open about each other’s ambitions. We’ve always given each other lots of space to chase professional goals and tried to focus on quality time together when we don’t have a huge quantity of time. We also try to properly check in with each other in the evenings if it’s been a long day.”

Chris’ support and selflessness are among the reasons she said yes when he proposed in Queenstown in 2020. With aching legs after skiing, Courtenay was hellbent on a hitting the hotel hot tub when Chris convinced her take to a stroll along Lake Wakatipu. Even when it started raining, he still insisted on the walk.

“I reached for his jacket and he grabbed it off me,” recalls Courtenay. “Normally, he’d give me his jacket, so I thought, ‘That’s extremely interesting!’ We sat down and I was waiting for whales to jump out of the lake painted with, ‘Will you marry me?’ and nothing happened, so I said, ‘Let’s go,’ then he got down on one knee. It was very cute.”

The couple still laugh about Chris’ proposal. “It was very cute,” says the bride-to-be.

The nuptials will take place at Tu Ngutu Villa, a clifftop home in Mahurangi, just north of Auckland. The bride-to-be pulls out her tablet to show us her “white, classic, minimalist” wedding vision and dishes that her Shorty castmate Rebekah Randell is baking the cake.

The first among both her and Chris’ siblings to wed, Courtenay says marriage is about partnership and “having someone who will have your back no matter what”. She adds, “We both want children soon, so it’s also about creating our own family and bringing our families together. I’m desperate to host a family Christmas! I’m also excited to call him my husband, experience the day, put the photos up around our home, then think about children and what’s next.”

“We both want children soon,” says the star.

Chris adds, “Hopefully our wedding day will be filled with love, laughter, family and friends – sunshine would be a bonus! Courtenay is doing the lion’s share of planning, so I know it’ll run smoothly. It feels like a real milestone and it’ll be fun thinking about the next phase of our lives.”

Courtenay is back at work on Shorty after spending Christmas in Tauranga with her family, then holidaying in Hawke’s Bay with Chris and his whānau.

When it comes to her character’s future on the soap, Courtenay teases, “Expect the unexpected. She’s been through so many men. She’s had four engagements. She needs to find power in herself and be a strong, independent woman – and keep climbing that corporate ladder!”

Shortland Street returns 7pm Monday on TVNZ 2.

Viral News

Griselda: The godmother of the underworld

Building an empire on the blood of her family and foes, Griselda became the most feared woman in the world

With chubby cheeks and thinning grey hair pulled severely back, Griselda Blanco Restrepo could have passed for someone’s gran, but this “Cocaine Godmother” was more the stuff of nightmares than fairytales.

Her reign of terror over 20 years in Colombia, New York and Miami left an estimated 200 people dead, including her three husbands and the many men who helped her build a $3 billion drug empire.

At one point, she was making more than $100 million a month smuggling and selling cocaine, and she was even rumoured to strike fear into the hearts of some of the most evil men in the world, including notorious Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, who killed an estimated 4000 people.

“The only man I was ever afraid of was a woman named Griselda Blanco,” Pablo once admitted.

Her drug empire was estimated to be worth $3 billion.

Power & precision

Griselda was born into poverty in Colombia in 1943, proving at a tender age that she was willing to do anything to escape her lot by kidnapping and attempting to ransom a child from a wealthy family. When they refused to pay, 11-year-old Griselda shot the boy dead.

Ten years later, she had illegally immigrated to New York with her second husband Alberto Bravo – after divorcing her first husband Carlos Trujillo, who she later executed over a business disagreement – and her three sons, Osvaldo, Uber and Dixon, from her first marriage.

She and Alberto sold marijuana, but soon turned to an even bigger illegal money spinner, importing and selling cocaine. They used the proceeds from their marijuana business to set up a lingerie company, but it wasn’t bras and undies that made them rich.

Griselda killed 200 people, including her three husbands.

Griselda used the lingerie company as a front to import kilos of cocaine, cunningly hidden in secret pouches in the bras she designed.

When she was indicted on federal drug charges in 1975, she and Alberto fled back to Colombia.

Just a few years later, she was back in the US, minus husband number two, whom she shot in the head after accusing him of fleecing millions from their drug operation. Her third marriage, to Dario Sepulveda, would also prove to be a fatal union.

By this time, Griselda had built her cocaine empire into one of the biggest criminal organisations in the world, ruthlessly killing anyone who stood in her way.

She commanded the murders of 200 people, both rivals and some members of her own organisation. The ease with which she ordered executions saw her become one of the most feared women in the world.

She kept order with a gold-plated submachine gun studded with emeralds.

Family consequences

Dario would not escape her evil clutches either. He became the third and final husband she had killed when he left her in 1983, taking their son, Michael Corleone Blanco, who was named after Al Pacino’s character in the three Godfather movies, back to Colombia.

Griselda paid to have him executed and then brought Michael back to the US, where he has the sad distinction of being the only one of her four sons to still be alive.

Michael’s reunion with his mother was to be short-lived, though, with Griselda arrested in 1985, and charged with conspiring to manufacture, import and distribute cocaine. She was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison, and later pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree murder.

Michael is the drug queen’s last surviving son.

Hollywood lawsuit

Michael was recently back in the spotlight after attempting to sue Netflix over the new TV series based on his mother’s life and crimes.

The family also launched a lawsuit against its lead star, Sofía Vergara, with both parties facing allegations over the unauthorised use of the family’s image and likeness.

After production refused the family’s offer to consult on the project, Michael slammed Sofía as “disrespectful” and “offensive”.

“All I have to say is that if my mother was alive, she wouldn’t have got away with it,” the marijuana salesman added.

“It’s such a slap in the face knowing that we come from the same land, that we come from the same culture.”

Modern Family star Sofía plays the titular role.

In response to the lawsuit, Griselda creator Eric Newman declared, “It’s not my first rodeo. The Escobar family made similar claims for the TV series Narcos.

“We had a very specific story we wanted to tell. I believe we told it and I don’t think it in any way prevents someone else from telling their own version of it.”

Griselda – who was also known as the “Black Widow” for killing her husbands –was released on compassionate grounds in 2004, after suffering a heart attack in prison, and deported back to Colombia.

She lived for another eight years, before she was shot and killed, at the age of 69, by an assassin on a motorcycle, outside a butcher’s shop in Medellín.

Real Life

Radio wedding couple Steve and Kersha celebrate 20 years of marriage

After tying the knot in a leap of faith 20 years ago, their marriage has been a triumph
Petra Mingneau

Twenty years ago, Kersha Veix arrived at her wedding as her dad whispered, “If you want to turn around, we can walk out now.”

Heading towards the altar marked the first time seeing her husband-to-be Steve, after being matched together through The Edge radio competition, Two Strangers and a Wedding.

A firm believer in fate, Kersha stayed the course and hasn’t looked back.

“I felt like Steve was my fate and that we’d put in 100 percent, be committed and do anything to make it work,” smiles Kersha, 46. “There have been plenty of arguments over 20 years, but we’re really good at communicating. Steve will talk about it straight afterwards and we always get it sorted before we go to bed. It’s a testament to how good he is.”

Remembering their 2003 wedding day, Steve says signing up for the radio promotion was an “out of character” move.

Marrying on October 30, 2003, Steve and Kersha resolved to “never give up” on their relationship.

The competition saw his family and friends interview potential brides before choosing for him the woman he would marry, sight unseen. Everything was documented on air, including their wedding being broadcast live.

“I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” recalls Steve, 47. “At the time, it was pretty bold and scary, but we exchanged phone numbers sneakily before the wedding and spoke for hours, so I felt I knew her.”

Plenty of people thought it was a bad idea and wouldn’t work out, but the Methven couple insist it’s the best leap of faith they ever took.

“I was amazed how pretty she was and just thought I was really lucky,” says Steve. “There was a sense of relief too. It’s a bit like buying a car without seeing it – the salesman can talk it up, but you don’t know what you’re getting. It might be full of rust!”

Laughing, Kersha tells the Weekly that after two decades and three children together, Steve’s playful sense of humour is still one of the things she loves most.

“He has a lovely childish thought pattern, always has a joke and doesn’t let anything get too serious,” she tells. “He’ll keep me young. But he also puts in so much effort to work and study, and is halfway through his second Master’s degree while working full-time. They’re things I’m not so good at, so I look at him and really admire that.”

10 years ago: “We should be bloody proud,” says Steve of the couple’s three wonderful boys (from left) Mitchell, Joshua and Finn.

Steve is quick to return the sentiment, praising administrator Kersha’s caring nature, especially when it comes to their sons Mitchell, 18, Finn, 16, and Joshua, 12.

“Kersh does everything for everyone else. She’s driven the kids to the moon and back for their sports. We’re so lucky she does so much for them and me.”

Parenthood came early for the former farmers. Around six months into their marriage, they both knew they’d found their forever person and not long after, Kersha became pregnant.

“I always wanted children and pretty much as soon as I knew Steve was the right person, in my brain, I was like, ‘We’re trying for a baby.’ Steve didn’t know, but I was on to it,” she laughs, adding, “I knew Steve wanted kids and he wasn’t worried about timelines.”

Since then, their life has largely revolved around the boys and both count raising them as their biggest achievement. “I’m the soft place to fall, but Steve is a mentor and the rugged, let’s go-out-and-do things type – they’re very lucky to have that,” says Kersha.

The beautiful family are still together today!

Steve adds, “We’ve been really invested in our children and to see them turn out so well is such a highlight. We’ve also had some hard times and some disappointments financially when we came out of a bad patch farming. But we’re together, the boys are good kids with their heads screwed on and doing fantastic. We should be bloody proud.”

Parenting has brought the duo immense joy, but as their sons become more independent, they’re also looking forward to more time together and relaxing at the dream home they’re in the process of building.

“We’ve enjoyed the kids so much in the different stages, but the next phase is our time,” says Kersha.

Continues Steve, “We’re building on a 4000-square-metre site with a stream boundary and a view up to Mount Hutt. It’s going to be so nice to wake up and look at the ski field.”

So after 20 years, three children and their fair share of ups and downs, what’s the secret to an enduring marriage? According to the committed Canterbury couple, “don’t give up”.

“You have to be a bit tenacious,” says Steve. “I understand Kersh inside out, as she does me. We’re not perfect people – we each have weird habits and different ways of doing things – but we understand each other. You have to have tolerance and the drive to want to stay together.

Real Life

NZ’s first radio wedding couple celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss

It’s been a quarter of a century since they were married at first sight!
Sacha Kahaki

It’s hard to believe that it’s already 25 years since the country fell in love with, well, two people falling in love.

Zane Nicholl and Paula Stockwell were matched by their mates during a groundbreaking radio promotion for The Edge called Two Strangers And A Wedding. Back in 1999, there was no Love Island, no Married At First Sight and no Tinder – it was the first time there’d been an opportunity of this type in Aotearoa.

Remarkably, for this pair, who first laid eyes on each other at the altar, the mutual attraction was instant and their love grew quickly. And now, as parents to three young adults, they’re sharing their own relationship advice with their children, Max, 22, Jack, 19, and Olive, 14.

“It’s pretty simple – be honest, speak your truth and always be mindful of the other person,” tells Zane, 56, settling in for an exclusive interview with Woman’s Day at the couple’s Hamilton home.

“We recently had some feedback that our kids are great to have around – grateful for what they have and helpful towards anyone who is having any sort of issue. I think that’s the best compliment any parent can receive. It makes my heart sing!”

“We’re very lucky that our kids are nice, kind and soft-hearted,” chips in Paula, 52.

Quite possibly, they’ve had two of the country’s most wonderful role models.

With their kids (from left) Max, Olive and Jack.

Spending time with the Nicholls, it’s clear that theirs is a deep, true love. There’s a shared sense of humour – such as when Zane wonders aloud if it’s using Paula’s Thin Lizzy that keeps him looking youthful – and plenty of gentle Kiwi ribbing.

But there’s also a profound respect for one another, evident whenever they speak about their relationship, which began in a blaze of publicity – something unfamiliar to them both.

“We watched out for each other from the word go,” recalls Zane. “We were in it together and I was really attracted to the way Paula was handling herself in those situations.”

Fast-forward to 2024 and they still have people approach them on the street or at cafés to ask how life is going. The answer? It’s changing – fast!

Zane says empty-nest syndrome is becoming a reality for the couple as Max gains his independence, Jack contemplates his, and little Olive becomes increasingly caught up in clothes, makeup and boys!

Max, who has autism, attended a special-needs school up until he was 21.

“He was experiencing that people in his class were moving out of home and going flatting, so it became a massive goal of his to do the same,” says Zane with obvious pride. “We began working with disability-support organisation Aspire to find a place that catered for people with special needs.”

The story of their love.

It had to be somewhere Max would flourish alongside others with similar traits, continues Zane. “Max, for example, doesn’t like noise, so we had to find a place that was pretty quiet. He moved into

a flat at the beginning of 2023 and he loves it – he’s living the dream! And while we’re both so excited for him, it’s crazy not to see him every day.”

Jack has recently finished school and is considering his next move, while Olive is “just delightful”, says Zane. “All our kids are fantastic, but the father-daughter relationship is one I really treasure.”

Paula, who works with special-needs students at a local school, says forming strong individual bonds with the children has been a priority for the couple.

“We have date nights with each kid separately, taking them out to do something they like. They’re all really cool, open kids, but you have different conversations when you get them on your own. I enjoy it as much as they do!”

Zane, who is a track manager at the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, says their dates don’t need to be elaborate.

“Often, I’ll just take one of the boys out for a coffee and we’ll talk. We might reflect on what the week’s been like or how they’re feeling. It’s really important for guys to talk about how they feel. It’s good to be able to be a mate to them, help them out if they are having some issues and try to share some of my own life experiences to help them through.”

In fact, Paula says it was Zane’s open nature and caring heart that drew her to him in the first place.

“He’s a talker!” she laughs. “Him being so in touch with his emotions has helped us get through hard times. We don’t normally fight, but if we do, we’ve been able to talk it out.”

“Well,” quips Zane, “there’s a bit of a quiet period first!”

With the kids so independent, the couple are already planning their next move – “a trip to Europe”!

Both committed Married At First Sight viewers – “Paula has it in the diary and I end up watching by default,” confides Zane – they believe today’s dating shows are more about the entertainment value than creating a long-lasting love.

“We all like watching the spicy relationships when there’s conflict,” confides Zane, “and while I’m sure the experts are doing their job to the best of their abilities, it’s the clashes that sell the show.”

In terms of their own disputes, Zane says he’s learnt to listen rather than talk.

“We’re pretty level-headed and know the direction we want to head as a couple. But you do have those conversations that you get emotional about, where you might struggle to get your point across. I know sometimes, when I get a bit heated, I’m worried more about making my points than stepping back and thinking, ‘Hang on, what is she actually trying to say?'”

“Also, I’m always right,” laughs Paula.

Paula’s still the girl of Zane’s dreams. “She’s a delight!” he declares.

With the chicks flying the nest and more time on their hands, Paula and Zane say they’d love to travel. “It’s a bit greedy, but we’re quite looking forward to having time to be available to do anything we want without having to worry about anyone else,” Paula tells.

“Freeing up more money would be lovely,” adds Zane. “Maybe a townhouse with no lawn to mow and a trip to Europe.”

Both agree that during their quarter-century together, their love has thrived. In fact, they’re just as excited to greet each other in the morning as they were when they first moved in together.

“She’s a delight,” smiles Zane. “Let’s just say that I open my eyes, see Paula and I roll over quickly!”

Chuckling, Paula adds, “He really is my perfect match. We’re probably more in love now than we were all those years ago. We’ve got the loving family and the loving marriage.”

Nodding, Zane concludes, “Lots of people don’t have what we have.”

Married at First Sight

Meet 2024 MAFS contestant and self-proclaimed “alpha male” Jack Dunkley

And learn why there is controversy surrounding him

Married At First Sight Australia has a history of introducing interesting characters, and with 20 participants signing up for season 11, there are bound to be some drama filled moments.

Among the 2024 MAFS participant list is new self-confessed ‘alpha’ male Jack Dunkley, who has been lined up to be one of the more controversial characters this season.

Other than being one of two-man buns this season, what do we really know about the MAFS groom?

Meet MAFS groom Jack Dunkley.

Who is Jack Dunkley?

Outside of the MAFS experiment, the 34-year-old has made a living as a personal trainer from the Gold Coast, Queensland.

In the wedding vows, Jack described himself as a proud, independent, intense and fast-paced man. But what truly pricked viewers interests is when Jack claimed he was an “alpha male who needs a partner respectfully submissive to his dominance.”

As for what he “high expectations” for ‘the one’, he is searching for someone “glamorous, fit, a nice smile, tanned” and preferably brunette.

Jack is a personal trainer.

Jack is now ‘married’ to self-confessed ‘control freak’ Tori Adams, a 27-year-old strong-minded business development manager from Melbourne.

Tori doesn’t need a man but is ready to make room for an “alpha male” who isn’t intimated easily. Her ideal type is “masculine, fit, career-focused, driven, tidy emotionally intelligent and a good communicator.”

Since their wedding day, Jack has admitted there were “no sexual sparks flying” for him while Tori felt all was well.

Jack is paired with Tori.

Why is there controversy surrounding Jack?

When it was discovered that Jack would be a groom on MAFS 2024, it was reported by the Daily Mail that he “abruptly ended” his relationship to take part on the reality dating series.

The Daily Mail and Yahoo Lifestyle have since reported his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Jade, took to social media to claim Jack ended their relationship to relocate overseas for work. But she discovered the alleged lie after finding the paparazzi photos of Jack marrying Tori.

“Breaks up with me right after I met his family and he told me he loves me. Tells me it’s for ‘work opportunity in America’ only to find out he’s on MAFS in Sydney,” Courtney wrote on The Wash‘s Instagram pictures.

Courtney added in a separate comment: “When someone tells you they love you, introduces you to their family, lies to you saying they are going America ‘for a work opportunity’ only to find out they broke your heart to be on MAFS. The world we live in disgusts me.”

Celebrity News

Wilhelmina Shrimpton reflects on her biggest year yet

After grieving her old life, the broadcaster’s started a new business and is excited for what lies ahead
Robert Trathen

On New Year’s Eve as the clocked ticked over to midnight, Wilhelmina Shrimpton counted down with friends, enjoyed a toast and later, quietly, had a cry.

It was the realisation of making it through the hardest year of her life – where she “met both the saddest and happiest versions of herself”, coupled with an appreciation of coming out the other side.

“If you had said to me at the start of 2023, ‘So, this is what’s going to happen…’ I would have said, ‘You’re insane!'” smiles the award-winning journalist.

“Within eight months, I lost my job, separated from my husband, went to India to work, launched my own business, met someone special and had to find a new place to live. Everything that could’ve changed, changed. They say variety is the spice of life. Well, I’ve been keeping it pretty spicy lately!”

As Wilhelmina welcomes the Weekly team into her Auckland home, her new partner, rugby referee Ben O’Keeffe, arrives at the same time, back from a run in the muggy heat.

While they’re not ready to share all the details of their budding relationship, she does reveal it stemmed from “a simple follow” on Instagram, before they exchanged messages and went on a first date.

“We hadn’t met each other before, but we kind of knew each other existed [through Ben’s younger brother, Newshub presenter Michael O’Keeffe],” grins the 33-year-old. “All I can say is that we’re both really, really happy.”

Ben with his Newshub brother Michael.

Now based in Auckland, Ben, 35, was in Paris as part of the 2023 Rugby World Cup referee squad – where Wilhelmina met up with him amid the closing rounds – and also works as a locum ophthalmology registrar when he is not on the field.

Since then, the gorgeous pair has shared loved-up summer holiday snaps on social media.

“New Years was a really reflective time for me,” tells Wilhelmina. “I have so much gratitude for how things have worked out and being able to meet Ben. I’m feeling really positive and excited for what’s ahead after such a weird, intense period of life-change.”

She’s found new love with Ben. “We’re both really, really happy.”

In fact, the last time the Weekly caught up with the popular broadcaster, we were celebrating her new “dream job” as investigations editor and host at Today FM.

However, on March 30, the day after the magazine went to print, the station was abruptly taken off air.

“It was tough having the article come out, but I still mean everything that I said about my role. I had the best time working there and it really built up my confidence.”

Only days after the station shut down, Wilhelmina had four nominations at the New Zealand Radio Awards in three different categories – they’re now proudly hanging in her home office – and she went on to win Best Long Form Video for her documentary High and Die: The Fentanyl Problem, as well as Best News Journalist.

It was undoubtedly a bittersweet career highlight.

Wilhelmina’s first day doing talkback.

Then, several weeks after being out of a job, Wilhelmina and her husband of five years, Mike Sanders, also decided to separate. Even though it was an amicable parting, she describes that time as

the lowest point of her life.

“I went to ground and I grieved,” she says candidly. “I’ve had some massive setbacks before, which I thought were the lowest points of my life, but this by far surpassed those moments.

“My mum Wendy was a massive rock for me, along with my best friend Tess Woolcock, who had also been through a separation and launched her own business. She was a wonderful sounding board for me.

“There were lots of phone calls, tears, panic attacks and lots of scary, hopeless moments for sure… And days when I thought, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to get out of this?’ Or, ‘How am I going to pay rent and bills?’

“Mum kept saying, ‘You can do anything you put your mind to.’ Tess told me, ‘I’ve been through it before, it will be okay. The opportunities will come, the money will come.’ I didn’t believe her at the time, but retrospectively, she was right. It has been okay.”

Going out on her own professionally had always terrified the former Newshub newsreader. When she left Today FM, she was determined to find the next full-time broadcasting role. But after talking to multiple newsrooms around the country – many with hiring freezes – they only had a budget for freelancers.

Silencing the voice in her head – “You know, that naysayer telling you you’re not good enough” – Wilhelmina found the courage to launch her own business mid-year, called Wils & Co. Media.

“I’ve always been a go hard or go home kind of gal.”

While journalism and storytelling will always be her true passion, diversifying her skills became key.

“I’ve always been a go hard or go home kind of gal, so I hired a graphic designer and built a website, and became my own IT and accounts team.” (She jokes that her cat Florrie and pup Albie are in charge of HR and workplace culture).

Short-term PR, podcast and writing contracts soon started rolling in, and she was approached to design and run a media training course along with emceeing gigs.

It also coincided with an unexpected request to go to India for a month, working six days a week with an international news network and its journalists in preparation for the G20 Summit in Delhi.

“I got a message through my LinkedIn page, telling me about a contract in India in the lead-up to G20 and asking if I’d consider going over,” explains Wilhelmina. “My first thought was, ‘Have I been hacked?’ And, of course, I was expecting a follow-up message saying, ‘Please deposit $3000 into this account!’ But it was all legit.

“It was such an amazing opportunity, it didn’t seem real. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for me to be in a whole new environment, working alongside new people – the likes of who were war correspondents and BBC newsreaders. It was such a pinch-me moment!

“I was able to meet international correspondents who I did interviews with on Today FM. India was never a place that was on my must-do travel list, yet now I hope I get another contract there because I’d go back in a heartbeat. I made friends for life.”

Taj Mahal beauty! Wilhelmina in India, where she worked with an international news team.

Since launching her company, Wilhelmina has relished the nonstop work, including some new irons in the fire like event planning and hosting her first Saturday afternoon shift on Newstalk ZB recently.

It was a fresh challenge, well outside of her comfort zone, as she explains she’d always been “hideously afraid” of doing talkback – “because you can’t plan talkback and I’m such a meticulous planner”.

“But thankfully, I didn’t have to use the ‘dump’ button [used when a caller utters swear words] and it was really, really nice to be back on the airwaves again.”

She also received a number of texts from people, saying, “It’s so good to hear your voice again”, which she didn’t expect.

“One caller goes, ‘Wilhelmina? Shrimpton? You were on Newshub, right?’ I replied, ‘Yes.’ He says, ‘Well, this is embarrassing, but I had the biggest crush on you!’ I said, ‘Oh, I’m so flattered… Now what are your views on…'”

Reflecting on the tumultuous roller-coaster ride of 2023, she says she’s discovered all of those overused clichés people spurt about life appear to be true.

“Everything happens for a reason… Big risk equals big rewards… The universe only gives you as much as you can handle…” she lists off, joking that she’s become unashamedly “woo-woo”.

“But honestly, I’ve found the biggest growth comes from the toughest times. Growth doesn’t come from being in your comfort zone, it only happens when change is thrust upon you.

“I never ever imagined grabbing the bull by the horns and creating my own business. It was the leap I’d always been too scared to make. Too afraid to fail, too afraid to know when and how to start, and definitely too afraid of accounting!

“It’s been a wild ride, but I’ve learned I’m more capable than I thought. It’s going to be an epic 2024. I can’t wait!”

Money

Five female business leaders share their investment tips

Amid all the conflicting advice about how to save for retirement, we speak to five savvy female business leaders about the choices they make and why

Arihia Bennett – CEO Ngāi Tahu

Do you have KiwiSaver and where is it invested?

Yes, I am a long-term member of KiwiSaver. I come from the time when there were post office savings accounts when we were attending primary school. As I now move towards the other end of the continuum, I’m grateful that I learned the importance of saving for a rainy day.

What other investment or financial decisions have you made to align with your retirement goals?

I’ve invested capital into a so-far-successful offshore whānau business, I have a developing property portfolio and I’m also enrolled with Whai Rawa, which is the Ngāi Tahu investment scheme that helps create a better future for Ngāi Tahu whānau.

When you imagine your retirement, what do you hope for?

To be able to live comfortably within a multi-generational household. Our current home environment is three generations where we live together, supporting one another and taking care of our elders. There are many benefits of whanaungatanga – collective economic contributions, as well as social and cultural connectivity.

What do wahine Māori and Pasifika need to take into account when thinking about their retirements?

Wāhine naturally come from a caring, collective approach, and while they continue to nurture and support whānau, planning for their own future can be overlooked. It’s important they engage in KiwiSaver or another saving schemes while employed.

What one message would you send to the companies managing our KiwiSaver investments?

I’d recommend a greater focus on communications. Often people will be turned off if information is complicated. Whānau do not want to be embarrassed if they don’t understand.

Kate Wareham – Te Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive, Volunteer Service Abroad

Do you have a KiwiSaver and where is it invested?

Yes, I’m with one of the big schemes and although I looked at a few when deciding which to go with, I kept it simple and chose one from a major provider.

Conservative, Balanced and Growth – do you know the difference?

My scheme automatically changes as I age – a nice way to set and forget! It started more in Growth, but as I got older, I wanted to reduce the investment risk and moved it to Balanced, as it smooths the potential ups and downs that the riskier investments in Growth offer.

When you imagine your retirement, what do you hope for?

A simple life! I’d like more time for the things I love, such as family and friends, but also hobbies like swimming. I’m part of an adult swim squad, and particularly enjoy open-water swimming and competing in events over summer.

What other investment or financial decisions have you made to align with your retirement goals?

We have an investment property, which will eventually go towards funding our retirement. We’ve talked about how long we might work, and how we’ll taper off into retirement through part-time and voluntary work.

What worries you, if anything, about how you will manage your retirement years, financially or otherwise?

My number-one concern would be my health and that of my family. Having regular health checks, such as mammograms, and my swimming are important.

How do you ensure your children understand about saving and investing for their futures?

Our daughter is 13 and she’s now got two bank accounts – one for spending and one for saving. It’s been a way to help her learn about the value of money, budgeting and being mindful of decisions about spending.

Robyn McLean – CEO Hello Period

Do you have a KiwiSaver and where is it invested?

I’m guilty of just allowing myself to be put into a default fund several years ago and not having done much with it since. I do know I’m in a Growth Fund and last time I looked, the line was going the wrong way!

What do you consider when making a decision on where to invest for retirement?

Embarrassingly, I’m so busy in my work life, I don’t pay enough attention to my KiwiSaver. I have a kind of naïve faith that funds automatically prioritise ethical investing these days, but I need to ensure that is actually the case with the fund I’m with as that is a non-negotiable for me. Returns are also important, but not if the fund isn’t prioritising ethics.

Have you ever switched from one provider to another – and why did you make that choice?

Not yet, but once I’ve found a provider who feels right, I will be making a change. I’ll be looking for a fund that’s challenging the status quo.

When you imagine your retirement, what do you hope for?

I hope that I have enough reserves for whatever life throws my way. But as long as I have a warm home, food in the fridge, and the ability to spend time with friends and family, that would be my ultimate retirement goal realised.

How does KiwiSaver enable you to reach your retirement goals?

It’s forced saving that I can’t access! I’ve been known to be a bit spontaneous with booking travel, and if I looked at our bank account and saw we had savings in there, there’s a very real possibility my willpower would go out the window as I book a bucket-list trip rather than be sensible.

Nicola Toki – CEO Forest & Bird

Do you have KiwiSaver and where is it invested?

Yes, because I want to be prepared for my retirement. However, I’ve been one of those people who just accepted their default KiwiSaver when it was allocated to me. In the past decade, while I considered it on occasion, I was busy changing careers, having a child and probably should have prioritised it more!

Conservative, Balanced and Growth – do you know the difference?

I’ve always been in Balanced because I’m pretty risk averse, but I’m considering my options given I still have a long career ahead of me and a long time to have my money invested in KiwiSaver. However, I do contribute a higher percentage of my income – around 8% currently – than the default setting for employees.

Have you ever switched from one provider to another – and why did you make that choice?

I’ve recently switched to ethical KiwiSaver provider Pathfinder because I wanted more assurance that my money was doing good things. It’s crucial that my KiwiSaver reflects my values, particularly around protection of the environment, as well as other ethical influences.

What does ethical investing mean to you?

Careful consideration of impacts on future generations who are inheriting Earth, the state of which is dependent on the decisions we make today.

When you imagine your retirement, what do you hope for?

I don’t expect to be living in luxury, but I have seen the mental and physical impacts of significant financial stress on retired people. I’d like to have a secure home and enough to enjoy my retirement, while also allowing my investment to continue to provide for the odd adventure.

What message would you like to send to the companies that manage our KiwiSaver investments?

Protecting natural resources is crucial for the ongoing prosperity of our communities. It’s a no-brainer for any investment company to be investing significantly in our greatest natural assets, to ensure a sustainable return financially, and for the ongoing health and resilience of our communities.

Faye MacGregor – General Manager All Good NZ

What do you consider when making a decision on where to invest for retirement?

Initially, convenience. I therefore invested via my bank. But I’m now focused on ensuring the money I’m investing is not only supporting my retirement goals, but also companies that have a positive impact on either people or the planet.

Have you ever switched from one provider to another – and why did you make that choice?

After attending a women’s investing seminar earlier this year, I engaged with a financial advisor who is supporting me to make smarter investments that align with my personal values. I’m now in the process of switching to the Quaystreet Socially Responsible Investment Fund.

How is your KiwiSaver helping you reach your retirement goals?

KiwiSaver is a part of my overall plan, but alone, it won’t completely financially support me given the average life expectancy is now 82! But it has allowed me to be more educated around investing and what I can do to ensure I have a portfolio of diversified investments to support my retirement.

What other investment or financial decisions have you made to align with your retirement goals?

Two key decisions. Purchasing my home, which I will own freehold by the time I retire, is by no means my golden retirement nest egg, but should I not reach my retirement savings goals, I’ll have the flexibility to downsize and use the funds from the sale of the house to help fund my retirement. Also, working with a financial advisor, and being curious about extending my knowledge and confidence around investing.

What message would you like to send to the companies managing our KiwiSaver investments? There needs to be

more education for the younger generations around the importance of saving for their retirement, while making the information about the options available easily digestible. Education drives knowledge and engagement.

Destinations

Your guide to travelling Rarotonga on a budget

Writer Carmen Lichi celebrates a wallet-friendly milestone birthday in the Cook Islands

Stay for less

From hostels and homestays, to budget hotels and five-star luxury, there’s an array of Rarotonga accommodation options. I found the Edgewater Resort & Spa to be the perfect place, both for poolside cocktails with my bestie and as a safe spot to keep my four-year-old entertained. The wild child made lots of friends at the fabulous Coconuts Kids Club, where he folded origami fish, tie-dyed sarongs and went for nature walks. The club has morning, afternoon and evening sessions, plus you can hire an on-site babysitter for a reasonable $15-an-hour. Nearby, the Rarotonga Backpackers is another great option, starting from $60 per night for a double room with an en suite, so you can splash more cash on activities. There are travellers from around the world, so you’re always in good company, and there’s a communal kitchen with a microwave and gas cooker.

Cocktails and crayons kept mum and son busy!

BYO snacks & snorkels

Hiring snorkel sets can quickly add up, so it’s definitely worth bringing them from home. Meanwhile, duty-free spirits keep sundowners affordable – just add local coconut cream and pineapple juice for a piña colada! And though there’s nothing like an antipasto platter, snacks such as chips, crackers and cheese are expensive here, so consider stopping by the supermarket before you jump on your plane. When it comes to dining out, we found the local food trucks very affordable, especially the friendly Vibe Fish Van, which serves the freshest seafood, including the best fish ‘n’ chips and local delicacy ika mata. Pair it with a cold beer from the Rarotonga Brewery, where a litre of takeaway lager costs just $12!

Use local transport

Explore on foot where possible and use the local buses ($4 per trip), which run regularly both clockwise and anticlockwise around the island’s 32km circumference. If you’re adventurous, scooters can be a great budget alternative to a hire car. For your licence, take a written and practical test at the police station in downtown Avarua, then ride with caution, looking out for potholes and stray dogs!

Affordable experiences

Tourists have often reported that 7 days is the optimal time for a holiday to Rarotonga. Here are some of the amazing activities you can fit into that time.

Hike the needle

It’s not for the faint-hearted, but if you’re a keen tramper and balance isn’t a challenge, Pa’s Cross Island Hike with Maunga Tours is a must! Guide Bruce is a mine of information about Rarotonga folklore, while a refreshing dip at Wigmore’s Waterfall is a great way to conclude the walk.

Hire a kayak

Muri Lagoon is a fab place for a paddle. Expect to pay around $15 for one hour in a single kayak or $25 for two hours. Afterwards, unwind at the cool Muri Beach Club Hotel, famed for its $45 fishbowl cocktails served in a 1.5-litre orb.

Live music & dancing

Get into the groove at Charlie’s, a convivial bar where you can sup on a fresh coconut while sharing plates of tuna sashimi and ika mata. A fave with the locals, happy hour runs from 4pm to 6pm, then the live music kicks off from 6.30pm.

Captain Tama’s lagoon cruise

A fun whānau-friendly option, Tama and his talented glass-bottom-boat crew bring laughter, songs and delicious home-cooked kai to an island, with fish-feeding and snorkel opportunities en route. My four-year-old deemed this one of the highlights of the trip. Visit captaintamas.com for more info.

All aboard for a cruisy holiday adventure!

Spa treatment

The Ocean Escape Resort and Spa has a touch of Saint-Tropez glamour and a top-notch massage at its Essential Spa ($60 for 45 mins) was the perfect birthday treat. After choosing from one of several coconut-based essential oils, my charming masseuse February skilfully worked on unwinding my many knots. I felt so chilled, I practically floated out of the place!

Storytellers eco-cycle tour

Kiwi expat Corinna’s bike tour is a fun way to understand local culture and you don’t have to be a cycling pro. Over four hours, we covered around 15km, with plenty of pitstops, including historic Black Rock and even Raro’s only prison. Corinna pointed out an array of flora and fauna, showed us how to hull a coconut and told tales of the island’s bloody tribal battles.

Day & night markets

Local character Paul and his award-winning hot sauces are among the many attractions at the Punanga Nui Cultural Market, from 8am to midday every Saturday. The night markets at Muri are also a good way to sample local fare.

Paul’s hot sauce is not one to miss!

Volunteer at the SPCA

With more than 30 dogs to walk twice a day, the Cook Islands SPCA staff have their work cut out for them. Any helping hands are welcome – from donations to dog walkers. Check them out on Facebook. Near the Punanga Nui markets, there’s also an SPCA op shop, which will accept used clothing, shoes, sunglasses etc. All proceeds go towards looking after the copious canines.

Celebrity News

Priscilla Presley on how she wants to be remembered

The star finally sets the record straight about her relationship with Elvis

As the final credits to the movie Priscilla rolled at the Venice Film Festival last year, lead actress Cailee Spaeny fidgeted nervously in her seat.

Next to her sat Priscilla Presley, the woman whose life she’d just laid bare on the screen in front of them.

“She turned to me and said, ‘I watched my life through you and through this movie,'” Cailee, 25, later shared. “And the weight off my shoulders when she said that was massive. I broke down in tears.”

Priscilla has spent a lifetime in a gilded cage, known as the woman who married Elvis, the King of rock’n’roll. Then, she was the woman who gave birth to Elvis’ child. Then, the woman who left Elvis.

Now, as executive producer of Oscar-winning director Sofia Coppola’s new biopic, she is getting to see her story being told on her own terms. At 78, it seems Priscilla feels she is finally being seen as a person in her own right.

Priscilla opens in cinemas on February 1 and is already being talked about in Hollywood circles as an awards contender.

Based on Priscilla’s memoir Elvis and Me, it traces her extraordinary life. Her mother, Ann, gave birth to Priscilla when she was just 19, and six months later, her navy pilot dad, James Wagner, died in a plane crash.

Cailee and Jacob Elordi star as the famous couple.

Three years later, Ann tied the knot with Air Force officer Paul Beaulieu, and Priscilla, “a shy, pretty, little girl”, moved with her family to different air bases every few years.

By 1959, the Beaulieus were based in West Germany and Elvis, aged 24 and already a big star, was doing his military service in the same town.

The two met at a party at the singer’s home and despite the Beaulieus’ concerns about the age difference, they allowed them to see each other.

“People think, ‘Oh, it was sex,'” Priscilla said recently. “No, it wasn’t. He was very kind, very soft, very loving, but he also respected the fact I was only 14 years old.

“It was difficult for my parents to understand that Elvis would be so interested in me. And I really do think it was because I was more of a listener. Elvis would pour his heart out to me… His fears, his hopes, the loss of his mother – which he never, ever got over. That was really our connection.”

After Elvis had finished his military service, Priscilla’s parents let her move to his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, in 1963, on the understanding she would finish her high school education and that a wedding was in the offing.

At Graceland, Elvis slowly changed the way his young girlfriend looked, getting her to wear make-up and grown-up dresses, and to change her hairstyle.

“When I did something that wasn’t to his liking, I was corrected,” Priscilla later recalled.

Elvis was addicted to prescription drugs, and he often gave Priscilla uppers to keep her awake at school and downers to bring her down from her highs.

They finally tied the knot in Las Vegas in 1966, and nine months later, Priscilla gave birth to their daughter, Lisa Marie.

Love me tender: Welcoming daughter Lisa Marie.

Throughout their six-year marriage, their bedroom was littered with bottles of pills. They owned his-and-hers clocks, and Elvis had two phones – one for private calls and the other solely for calls from his overbearing manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

Elvis enjoyed a string of affairs and Priscilla also fell into the arms of a number of lovers, including her karate instructor. In 1972, she told Elvis she was leaving.

“It wasn’t because I didn’t love him – he was the love of my life,” says Priscilla. “It was the lifestyle that was so difficult for me and I think any woman can relate to that.”

Indeed, when the pair left the courthouse on the day of their divorce, they held hands.

Priscilla never remarried and went on to build a successful career as an actor, starring in the blockbuster TV soap Dallas and in three Naked Gun movies.

After Elvis’ death in 1977, aged 42, she turned Graceland into a successful tourism destination, securing daughter Lisa Marie’s financial future.

Priscilla, however, hasn’t been saved from further heartbreak.

Lisa Marie died in January last year, aged 54, as a result of weight-loss surgery complications.

Before her death, she’d seen an early version of the Priscilla script and wrote a stinging rebuke to Sofia Coppola for her “contemptuous” treatment of her father.

The script was amended, but we will never know if the final version was met with Lisa Marie’s approval.

One person who has given it the thumbs-up, however, is Elvis’ stepbrother David Stanley, who said after the film’s premiere, “I felt it was a good depiction of her life with Elvis.”