NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT
Registered nurse and director of Cashmore Clinic, Leanne Cashmore, says taking a seasonal approach to caring for your skin can make a significant difference to how it looks and feels year-round.
Registered nurse and director of Cashmore Clinic, Leanne Cashmore, says taking a seasonal approach to caring for your skin can make a significant difference to how it looks and feels year-round.
PHOTO SALINA GALVAN
If you ask me, winter presents the perfect opportunity to reset and repair your skin. Whereas summer is often focused on protection and maintenance, this time of year is all about nourishment, restoration and correction.
During the cooler months, humidity reduces, and cold air outside combined with indoor heating can leave skin feeling tight, dehydrated, flaky and more sensitive than usual. Many people notice increased redness, irritation or dullness, because the skin barrier – the outer layer responsible for retaining moisture and protecting against environmental stress – has become compromised.
In the skin industry, winter is widely considered to be ‘treatment season’. Reduced sun exposure and heat mean you’re able to recover more comfortably and effectively from advanced treatments, plus many professional treatments increase sun sensitivity, making winter the safest time to achieve optimal results.
Resurfacing treatments are one of the most popular winter options. They work by exfoliating the skin, encouraging cell turnover, and targeting concerns such as pigmentation, congestion, uneven texture, acne and fine lines. Having such treatments in winter reduces the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation.
For safety and best results, laser treatments targeting pigmentation, redness, acne scarring, rejuvenation and overall skin correction are also best performed when sun exposure is lower. Laser technology works by creating controlled stimulation within the skin to encourage collagen production and improve imperfections.
The less-sweaty season is an effective time for microneedling too. By creating tiny micro-injuries within the skin, it stimulates collagen and elastin production to improve scarring, texture, enlarged pores and signs of ageing.
You have much to gain from even just a quick reassessment of your skincare routine. Avoid over-exfoliating and, ideally, use active ingredients under the supervision or guidance of a professional. For home care, look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, glycerin and essential fatty acids that will boost hydration and support a stronger, healthier skin barrier. And remember, SPF is still non-negotiable. UV exposure remains one of the leading causes of premature ageing and pigmentation, whatever the weather.
A thoughtful reset can create long- term improvements that are difficult to achieve during sunnier seasons. Rather than viewing winter as a challenging time for your skin, I say see it as an opportunity. CASHMORECLINIC.CO.NZ
Results achieved from Ultra Veloce. One treatment only in conjunction with medical-grade skincare.
A WEEK IN MY CHAIR
Shelley Pullar of Salon G reveals this season’s top hair trends, as well as the challenges her clients are up against this winter.
Shelley Pullar of Salon G reveals this season’s top hair trends, as well as the challenges her clients are up against this winter.
PHOTOS KATIE COX + SUPPLIED
Shelley Pullar.
Winter always brings about a change, not just in the weather, but in how people want to feel. Lately, I’ve noticed a real move toward looks that feel intentional yet effortless.
Short hair is having a moment. I’ve had a run of pixie cuts that are soft, textured and full of personality. Think longer layers, feathered edges and movement that doesn’t feel too “done”. It’s a natural fit for winter, when collars come up and scarves go on. These cuts hold their shape but still feel touchable, which is key.
For those keeping their length, I’ve seen a change in styling. Clients with classic straight bobs are asking for a subtle directional flick – something that gives the hair a bit of attitude without committing to a full restyle. It’s the kind of look that works just as well the next day. It’s a little looser and a little more lived-in.
Colour-wise, warmer tones are leading the way. Rich coppers, ambers and deep cherry shades have been especially popular – bold colours that aren’t too overpowering. At the same time, blondes are leaning softer. The focus is on blended, “lived-in” colour, like buttercream, beige and soft gold tones that melt seamlessly from root to end. Nothing harsh or stripy, just beautifully diffused colour that grows out gracefully.
One of the most rewarding parts of my job, though, has been working with first-time curly clients. Many arrive a little hesitant, often after past experiences that didn’t go well. Curl trauma is real, and it usually comes down to misunderstanding how curls behave, especially with shrinkage.
For me, these appointments are about building trust. I take the time to really listen and understand their hair history, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what they’ve disliked most. From there, it becomes a collaborative process. Nothing is rushed, and nothing happens without them feeling comfortable.
Education plays a huge part. I talk them through each step as we go, including how much moisture the hair needs, how to encourage a more even curl pattern, and the difference between air drying and diffusing. The goal is for them to leave not just with great hair, but with the confidence to recreate it at home.
When your hair feels right, everything else falls into place. SALONGRANGE.COM
BORN INTO LEGAL LIMBO
New Zealand’s surrogacy laws belong to another era. Decades on from being written, the families caught up in them are paying an enormous price.
New Zealand’s surrogacy laws belong to another era. Decades on from being written, the families caught up in them are paying an enormous price. WORDS HAYLEY BARNETT
Imagine spending years trying to have a child, enduring miscarriages and failed fertility treatments. Maybe biology just isn't on your side and you spend forever searching for someone to carry your baby to full term. When you finally find a surrogate willing to do so, everyone in the room knows exactly who the parents are. Except the law.
Under New Zealand’s current framework, the intended parents – as in the people who created that embryo, who have longed for that child and will take them home and raise them – are legal strangers to their own baby at birth. The surrogate and her partner are the legal parents, and until a lengthy, costly adoption process plays out over months or years, that’s how it stays.
This is the reality for thousands of New Zealanders who build their families through surrogacy, but according to the experts working alongside them, it doesn't have to be this way.
“Nobody gets to surrogacy easily,” says Stewart Dalley, a family lawyer who has spent years working on such cases. He was part of the first same-sex de facto couple in New Zealand to jointly adopt their children.
“For a gay couple, you don’t really have any other option than surrogacy because ordinary adoptions are rare as hen’s teeth. But for a heterosexual couple, you’ve probably gone through multiple years of infertility, unexplained infertility, multiple miscarriages, all of those things, which place a massive emotional drain on you. When you get to the point where surrogacy is your only option, then begins the long, bureaucratic road to becoming the parents.”
Under New Zealand law, the woman who gives birth to a child is automatically recognised as its legal mother, regardless of whether she has any genetic connection to that child. Her partner, whether male or female, is recognised as the other legal parent. Legally, the people who may have created the embryo and will raise it from birth don’t have any such status.
“What the law treats mum and dad as is sperm donor and egg donor,” explains Stewart. “Nobody intended this to be the situation. I think it was just short-sighted. The law hasn't kept pace with technology and reality.”
The practical consequence is that intended parents must go through a formal adoption process to be legally recognised as the parents of their own child. It’s a process that Caren August, a counsellor at Fertility Associates, says typically runs for around two and-a-half years from first appointment to completed adoption. But the absurdities don’t stop there.
Christchurch influencer Rebecca Keil became a surrogate in 2019 for Wellington couple Tess Dunford and Dan Stemp after seeing Tess’s plea for a surrogate on Instagram. Tess had suffered a postpartum haemorrhage during the birth of their first child that required an emergency hysterectomy. Although it was devastating, her ovaries were intact, meaning IVF and surrogacy were possible. For Rebecca, the decision to help was straightforward, however, the legal reality that followed was anything but.
“We don’t have surrogacy laws,” she says. “We have ancient adoption laws, which make the process a whole lot harder.”
Because Rebecca was married, her husband Jared was automatically presumed to be the baby’s legal father, despite having no biological connection whatsoever to the child. His name, and his ethnicity, went on the birth certificate.
“He’s a whole-ass fruit salad,” jokes Rebecca. “On this child’s birth certificate, it says his father is Māori and Samoan, and he’s a Pākehā child. It’s so crazy and misogynistic.”
Caren recognises the reaction immediately. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had the partner of a surrogate say, ‘But why? I’m not contributing eggs, I’m not contributing sperm, I’m certainly not carrying the pregnancy.’”
Beyond the bureaucratic frustration is genuine fear. Until the legal process is complete, the surrogate and her partner are the child’s legal parents. The intended parents are not. For everyone involved, that ambiguity can be a source of dread.
“The worry of the surrogate is that the intended parents are going to ditch her and she’s going to be stuck with this baby,” says Stewart. “The worry of the intended parents is, what if the surrogate decides to keep the baby?”
Caren sees this play out throughout her counselling sessions. “Even when you know each other really well and have a deep sense of trust, there can still be that thought that comes up occasionally. What if they change their mind? What if I do something that upsets them and they decide to keep the baby?”
She describes it as “a common undercurrent alongside times of excitement and hope”.
Legally, that fear isn’t entirely unfounded. “Surrogacy is not legally enforceable in New Zealand,” explains Caren. “The surrogate or the intending parents could withdraw from it, even once there's a pregnancy.”
Rebecca says the fear never took hold for her personally, because she trusted Tess and Dan completely, and felt no grief at handing their son Ziggy over, but she understands why others might feel differently. “If I was in a scenario where it had maybe gone south, and I knew there were no legalities and nothing to protect me, that definitely would have felt a bit different.”
What she does remember vividly is the chaos of the immediate aftermath. Ziggy was born on a Sunday in the early hours of the morning. Rebecca, who had complications during the birth, found herself sending emails from her hospital bed at 5am to relinquish legal rights.
“Because it was a Sunday, there were issues around getting things sorted,” she says. “There was a point where they weren’t going to let Tess and Dan leave the hospital with the baby, and that came down to the timing of it. If it had been midweek, it probably would have been way easier.”
When the adoption order is finally granted, which is often months later, in a courtroom, Stewart says it’s often profoundly emotional. “I’ve seen judges crying happy tears. It’s a lovely ceremony, but the parents are crying not only because it’s a lovely moment. It’s also, ‘Thank God it’s finally over’. There’s the exhaustion of the whole process, the cost, the emotional drain. That order being granted at the end is just the final, final step.”
For Rebecca, the court appearance came around six months after Ziggy’s birth. “It was just a wildly insane scenario,” she says. “I give birth to someone’s biological child and they have to adopt it off me.”
New Zealand’s surrogacy laws have been overdue for reform for decades. A Member’s Bill incorporating Law Commission recommendations is now sitting before Parliament awaiting its second and third reading, but progress has been glacial.
“It’s Parliament time, basically,” says Stewart, who was one of the expert legal advisors to the review. “Whether it’s going to happen in this term, or roll over into a new political cycle, I honestly don’t know.”
It was former MP Tāmati Coffey, himself a father through surrogacy, who came closest to making it happen. He drafted the original Member’s Bill alongside Louisa Wall and gathered cross-party support, but it stalled on timetabling and, he believes, the cost of implementation. He left Parliament before seeing it over the line.
“I’m sad that we’re still kicking the can down the road. It shouldn’t have taken this long,” he says.
He also points to a glaring inequity where every professional in the process gets paid, except the surrogate.
“As it stands, women who do this need to do it for the love in their heart. But every other professional is clipping the ticket, and clipping big.”
Rebecca echoes this. Surrogates cannot be paid beyond tightly prescribed medical expenses, and costs like physiotherapy and dietary changes aren’t covered.
“Things like your diet changes, your body changes and legally they’re not allowed to reimburse you for any of it.”
It’s a barrier, she says, that deepens New Zealand’s already scarce surrogate pool.
“The law shouldn’t discriminate against children and impose hurdles and barriers because of the accident of their birth,” says Stewart. “Why push people through a court process just to be recognised as the parents of the child? It seems absurd.”
Tāmati wants the issue on party manifestos before the next election. His vision for what better looks like is simple.
“When you’ve got willing parties, the law just needs to fall into line.”
For Rebecca, her mission is to keep talking.
“I would never talk about surrogacy without telling one more person why it’s so messed up,” she says.
For the people who arrive at surrogacy after years of loss and heartbreak, she says it must be the worst of the worst. “And then you've got this. Just another thing.”
HEALTH WITH HEART
Where weight loss and appearance medicine are concerned, you want your goals to be deeply considered. This time, at these clinics, it’s personal.
Where weight loss and appearance medicine are concerned, you want your goals to be deeply considered. This time, at these clinics, it’s personal.
PHOTOS DEBORAH DE GRAAF
Brenda Newman (left) and Julia Perry
Towards the end of UNO’s interview with Brenda Newman and Julia Perry, who run the Weight Loss Clinic at Fifth Ave Family Practice, I ask Brenda if there’s anything she says to her clients that really resonates. “I tell them, ‘It’s not your fault – it’s not a lack of willpower.’” Does this strike a chord, I wonder? “It’s a very emotive topic,” she replies.
Weight – and losing it – is a topic very much in the public eye. Excitement around drugs such as Wegovy/ Mounjaro (the GLP-1 drugs available in New Zealand) creeps into conversations, and for those with health-impacting weight issues, their use is being heralded as a game-changer. The great thing is that although the GLP-1s are an option offered at this private clinic, it’s far from the only solution. Expertise and wrap-around support is an important component of the service.
The Weight Loss Clinic was established last year because of the impact obesity has on health. Brenda and Julia are both nurse practitioners with a background in the management of long-term conditions, SCOPE (Strategic Centre for Obesity Professional Education) certified by the World Obesity Federation, unflappable, non-judgemental and reassuring. Their service is built on the understanding that a desire to lose weight should be addressed without shame or stigma.
There are a multitude of factors at play when it comes to weight gain or obesity, whether genetic or circumstantial. Having expert guidance and support on what may be a lifelong journey is invaluable.
Brenda’s quick to point out that weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have exploded in popularity because they’re a hot topic in the media, but there are criteria and costs attached. There are also several other medications available; some act as appetite suppressants, others are targeted towards reducing cravings.
“A lot of people walk in with preconceived ideas, and that’s when we say, ‘Okay, that’s cool, let’s talk about all the medications that are out there, but let’s also talk about lifestyle.’ There are so many ways to assist,” says Brenda.
“We want to be able to talk about all the options – bariatric surgery, exercise, meal supplements, healthy eating,” adds Julia. “It’s important to be well informed.”
People can self-refer to the clinic whether patients of the practice or not. A thorough questionnaire followed by an appointment then helps to establish an action plan.
What’s essential to recognise, says Julia, is that “obesity is a long-term, complex, chronic condition that’s relapsing”. Ultimately, this sits at the very core of the clinic’s value: because the battle’s not won when the weight is lost, establishing a lifelong shift in mindset is critical. The ability Brenda and Julie have to provide ongoing support as they watch their clients recover their health, improve their self-image and gain confidence is exactly why this clinic was set up.
Dr Sam Mahesh (left) and Dr Kiran Singh.
Contributing to Fifth Ave Family Practice’s holistic approach to health and wellbeing is its Cosmetic Medicine Clinic, run by Dr Kiran Singh and Dr Sam Mahesh. Kiran established the clinic (which he runs alongside his GP work) eight years ago, and Sam joined him last year. Both are heavily invested in the ethical practice around appearance medicine, and we discuss how standards have become less stringent as aesthetic treatments have become more mainstream.
As Kiran points out, “You can potentially be in the hands of someone who has trained through a YouTube video and set up a clinic. Our core business is in medicine. We’re grounded in safe practice and good clinical judgement, as well as cosmetic outcomes.”
Treatments such as Botox are ever more easily accessible, but it’s still important that the practitioner you choose is highly skilled. Says Sam, “Because the substances worked with have become so normalised, people have forgotten how powerful they are.”
As well as their medical qualifications, Kiran holds a Diploma in Cosmetic Medicine from NZSCM, completed, as Kiran puts it “for service excellence, really, and ensuring you’re the best in what you do”. Sam is currently working towards the same diploma.
Sam’s mantra is “enhance, don’t alter”. Kiran asserts that for the very best results, restraint is key. “It’s our job not just to provide the treatment, but to ask, ‘Is this required and reasonable?’.”
Both Kiran and Sam love the symbiotic relationship between the science of medicine and the art of aesthetics. Says Sam, “When you look at the way mental wellbeing can be tied in with physical appearance, it explains why helping improve people’s confidence is a real privilege.” FIFTHAVENUE.CO.NZ
BALANCED BEAUTY
Target what matters and skip what doesn’t. Leanne Cashmore from Cashmore Clinic shows us what to do and where to do it, using subtle, considered treatments for a fresher look.
Target what matters and skip what doesn’t. Leanne Cashmore from Cashmore Clinic shows us what to do and where to do it, using subtle, considered treatments for a fresher look.
PHOTO SALINA GALVAN
When it comes to ageing well, the most effective results come from targeting specific concerns rather than overhauling your entire face. Different areas age in different ways. Repetitive movement creates lines, volume loss causes hollowing, muscles pull downward, and skin quality declines.
A tailored plan focuses on what truly needs attention: softening expression lines, restoring structure where support has diminished, relaxing tension in the lower face, and improving overall texture and firmness. The goal isn’t to look different, but to look less tired, less tense, and more refreshed.
Here are the treatments that target all those areas of concern.
JAW / JAW CLENCHING
Concern: Teeth grinding, tension headaches and bulky jaw muscles. Treatment: Masseter Botox to relax overactive muscles, which reduces discomfort and can slim the lower face over time.
JOWLS
Concern: Sagging or heaviness along the lower face.
Treatment: Strategic dermal filler placement to support and lift. A fullface assessment is essential, as this often requires balancing with Botox.
FOREHEAD
Concern: Horizontal lines, creasing and heaviness.
Treatment: Anti-wrinkle injections (Botox) to soften dynamic lines and prevent deeper creases. Strategic placement can also create a subtle brow lift.
FROWN LINES (GLABELLAR LINES)
Concern: “11” lines between the brows, resulting in a tired or angry appearance.
Treatment: Anti-wrinkle injections (Botox) to relax strong frown muscles, softening the expression while maintaining natural movement and preventing static lines.
CROW’S FEET
Concern: Fine lines around the eyes when smiling.
Treatment: Anti-wrinkle injections (Botox) to smooth dynamic lines, brightening the eye area and improving make-up application.
EYE HOLLOWS (TEAR TROUGHS) Concern: Hollowing, shadowing and a tired appearance.
Treatment: Dermal fillers to restore lost volume and brighten the under-eye area. This requires advanced anatomical knowledge and careful assessment.
NECK
Concern: Neck bands, laxity, and fine lines.
Treatment: Neck Botox (Nefertiti-style lift) to relax downward-pulling muscles, or injectable skin boosters to improve texture. Often combined with collagen-stimulating treatments.
OVERALL SKIN TEXTURE
Concern: Dullness, enlarged pores and uneven texture.
Treatment: Skin needling (microneedling) or radiofrequency needling to stimulate collagen. Medical-grade skincare and injectable skin boosters (such as Profhilo or Sunekos) are also highly effective for hydration and refinement.
CUTTING EDGE
For 30 years, ADO Hair salon in Tauranga has put the luxe into locks.
For 30 years, ADO Hair Salon in Tauranga has put the luxe into locks.
WORDS NICKY ADAMS | PHOTOS SALINA GALVAN
Everything about Jason and Penny Davies screams creative. The husband-and-wife team and owners of ADO Hair Salon are lively, animated and above all incredibly knowledgeable about the industry. This year they celebrate 30 years together as both salon owners and in marriage, with 2026 looking to be a year filled with new projects and professional goals.
Achieving this kind of longevity as business owners is no mean feat, yet both Penny and Jason fizz with excitement about the journey so far and the road ahead.
They met, Jason tells me, in 1993. By 1996 they were married and had purchased the business from Jason’s previous boss, when they rebranded to ADO.
Even as young professionals they thrived on the energy of Tauranga. “We’ve always loved Tauranga as a base,” says Penny. Adds Jason, “At the time, our main supplier was L’Oreal Professional and so they were able to offer a lot of opportunities - that connection in Paris was really important. Having the infusion of international trends coming through was vital to our business growth.”
By the early 2000s, L’Oreal Professional strengthened the relationship further by recognising the talent of the team, selecting Jason to go to Paris, which was, he says, “a very humbling experience, but one which really opened our eyes up to the possibilities.”
This dynamic was stepped up further when Jason was chosen as an educator (a position he retained for 11 years), meaning he has been instrumental in bringing innovative styles, techniques and technology from the heart of the industry in Europe back to New Zealand.
Despite both being ridiculously creative, Penny and Jason together drill into the different business aspects of the salon. They then come together, constantly inspiring each other with their love of the craft. They are generous with their talents, sharing them with the community. If you’ve ever been to a local event with mind-blowing hair or props, from dance shows to Tarnished Frocks and Divas, you can be sure this couple is behind the scenes.
But the ability to harness the crazy and streamline their trade has been a big part of their 30 years in the industry. As Jason explains, “There’s a symbiotic nature to it, with the artistry supporting the business, but the business simultaneously supporting the creativity.”
With hair one of the most trend-led aspects of an individual’s experience, it’s exciting to know that the salon is not just following but leading with flair. Along with the consumer accessible styles, Jason says, “we can also turn our hand to the zanier looks.”
Penny and Jason have always prided themselves on their fusion of different methodologies; they bring in the cleaner cuts of Vidal Sassoon, but equally will work to the softer textured styles championed by Toni & Guy. This flexibility is something they acknowledge has served them well.
When I ask what they feel their greatest achievement has been over the years, they are in accord. “Penny and I both feel it’s the way we’ve created a salon with a distinctive vision and a leading-edge team that’s endured within the industry. We’ve cultivated a longstanding clientele that’s supported us, and we’ve done it together.”
As for the ‘where to next’, the excitement is palpable. Penny is the first to let the cat out of the bag. “We’re planning a boutique training programme, where we train up new skilled stylists, taking in ten, keeping a couple and the rest will go to other salons”.
With Jason’s background in education and Penny’s passion to nurture talent, this feels like the perfect next chapter. ADO.NZ
To botox or not to botox?
Hayley Bath takes a wrinkle-filled stand against the pressure to freeze by embracing her unapologetic laugh lines.
Hayley Bath takes a wrinkle-filled stand against the pressure to freeze by embracing her unapologetic laugh lines.
If Hamlet were written in 2025 instead of 1599, the iconic line wouldn’t be “To be or not to be?” It’d be “To Botox or not to Botox?”.
Last month, I found myself at an event surrounded by a sea of unwrinkled, unmoving brows. Scanning the room, I realised only myself and one other woman were left in the natural-forehead resistance. Even some of the guys had it. I felt like the last raisin in a bunch of juicy grapes.
Now I’m a fairly expressive person. My forehead alone could star in its own play, and these wrinkles are starting to take center stage. Even in my 30s, I see them while doing my makeup, in videos, and sometimes I catch myself smoothing my forehead mid-mascara, just to sneak a peek at the alternate Botox universe me. She looks oddly surprised.
As a voice and face on radio and in the media, I’ve been offered free injectables. Twice actually. From real, professional places promising no wax-figure vibes. Yet, I haven’t done it. Can’t do it. Every time I think, “Maybe it’s time,” but some inner part of me screams, “Over my wrinkled forehead!” Blame personal hang ups, a weird sense of loyalty to my wrinkles or just stubbornness.
So why haven’t I joined the Botox parade? Especially when many people look great with it.
First, the niggle at the back of my head whispers ‘what about my daughter?’. She’s a quiet observer, learning from my life. I don’t want her to feel like she’s got to change or alter herself, because she’ll already be swimming in a sea of filtered, curated and perfectly polished faces online.
Secondly, people die young. Yikes. Apologies, that got heavy fast. My late-cousin sadly never got to have wrinkles. These lines are proof I’m still here. Laughing and squinting at emails I don’t fully read. Wrinkles are my life’s receipts. I’m trying to see them that way.
And, of course, there’s always a little fear stopping me. What if the results aren’t great? I don’t want to end up looking like you could crack a walnut on my forehead for six months. Or what if I get the dreaded eyebrow droop? And we’ve all met someone who looks like their upper face missed the memo that their lower face is trying to have a conversation. I like having full facial expressions.
To be clear, this isn’t Botox-bashing. Botox can boost self-confidence, make people feel good about their appearance and even be used for relief from migraines. But for me? This might be the hill I grow old, and wrinkly, on.
I haven’t shouted, “This is my wrinkle revolution!” I want to. But what if, in years from now, I wake up feeling worse for wear and the voice whispers, “Just one little jab...?”. Easy to be bold in your 30s, harder later. Do I have the guts to do nothing? I think so. I hope so.
In a perfect world, everyone would stop cosmetic injectables. Then we’d all be back on an even-aging playing field. But what if we revolted? What if laughter lines became badges of honour and we felt the freedom of not giving a toss? What if looking ‘old’ wasn’t something we avoided?
Until then, I’ll keep stretching my forehead in the mirror, wondering what could be, but probably sticking with what is. Because just like Hamlet, the internal conflict is the biggest battle. Having the courage to leave the sword (or in this case, the needle) could mean surviving all five acts with a face that tells the whole story.
There’s also something bad-ass about letting gravity have a go.
Catch Hayley on The Hits 95FM weekdays 9am to 3pm.
The truth about sleep
Why sleep is your body’s superpower and how we’re getting it all wrong.
Why sleep is your body’s superpower and how we’re getting it all wrong.
WORDS HAYLEY BARNETT
When I speak to Dr Patryk Szulakowski he’s recovering from a virus, one of many going around Tauranga Hospital where he works in internal and respiratory medicine.
“If you’d called me yesterday, I’d be coughing through the whole interview,” he laughs.
Despite feeling under the weather, his passion for sleep medicine is crystal clear. Patryk recently opened SleepMedik, a private clinic in Tauranga, after years of watching patients struggle through long public waitlists.
“The system is mostly focused on sleep apnea,” he says. “But thousands suffer from insomnia, parasomnias, circadian rhythm disorders, all sorts of challenges, and they’re not getting help.”
Originally from Poland, Patryk earned his PhD in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, but pivoted toward sleep after realising the impact treatment could have.
“When you treat sleep problems, you often see people transform. Their low mood, memory problems, exhaustion all improve. That kind of change is rare in medicine.”
Dr Patryk Szulakowski.
More than snoring
Psychologist Dr Amber McAllister sees the link between sleep and mental health daily in her clinic.
“Sleep issues are a common symptom of stress and mood disorders,” she explains. “And being exhausted makes everything feel harder, which worsens anxiety. It becomes a vicious cycle.”
Mental strain compounds physical tiredness. When that happens we often turn to stress relievers to compensate, like food.
Nutritionist Jess Thorns agrees. “What we eat and when we eat can have a big impact on sleep quality,” she says. “A common pattern I see is people under-eating early in the day, then getting ‘afternoon hanger’ and overeating late. This, especially with low protein intake, can interfere
with both falling asleep and staying asleep.”
Psychologist Dr Amber McAllister.
The myth of the bad sleeper
Many of Amber’s patients come in believing they’re just naturally terrible sleepers, but often, it’s a learned pattern, not a lifelong sentence.
“It’s not a case of being biologically broken,” says Amber. “Chronic poor sleep leads to frustration, and that creates beliefs and behaviours that reinforce the problem. But it’s usually very treatable.”
The first-line treatment, both Patryk and Amber agree, is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). “CBT-I is one of the most evidence-based interventions we have,” says Patryk. “But most people don’t get access to it. They’re offered medications instead.”
Amber says CBT-I involves more than sleep hygiene tips. “It helps people understand their sleep patterns, track them, challenge their beliefs around sleep and improve routines. It’s not always easy. Sleep can even get worse before it gets better, but it works.”
Sleeping pills aren’t the answer
Patryk is deeply concerned by the long-term use of sleeping pills. In New Zealand, nearly 680,000 sleeping‐pill prescriptions were issued over one financial year, with over 36,000 dispensed in the Bay of Plenty alone.
“They should be short-term, for things like grief or acute stress, but we see people on them for years.”
Amber acknowledges that medication can provide temporary relief. “Sometimes people just need rest. But if you don’t address the root causes, the problem doesn’t go away. It just gets masked.”
Nutritionist Jess adds that certain foods and drinks are often overlooked culprits. “Caffeine, chocolate and alcohol can all interfere with sleep. Even morning coffee can disrupt deep sleep hours later, depending on your sensitivity.”
Screens, teens and sleep disruptors
One of the most common enemies of modern sleep is screens. Blue light from phones, TVs and tablets suppresses melatonin, the hormone that tells your brain it’s time for bed.
“We’re designed to respond to darkness,” says Patryk. “When the sun sets, melatonin rises. Now we’ve flooded our homes with light, especially blue light, and it’s confusing our biology. Many families see this up close with teenagers, who naturally prefer later bedtimes and often want to stay on their phones late into the night. Even with apps and parental controls to limit screen time, it can become a constant struggle against biology and technology combined.”
A consistent bedtime routine is one of the most powerful tools for better sleep. “Going to bed and waking at the same time, even after a bad night, helps regulate your body clock,” says Amber. “Sleeping in or napping throws it off.”
Jess agrees: “Dinner should be balanced with protein and complex carbs to help you feel satisfied and regulate blood sugar through the night. Magnesium-rich foods, like leafy greens or avocado, help relax the body, and teas like chamomile can signal it’s time to wind down.”
What happens while you sleep
Behind closed eyes, your brain and body are busy. During deep sleep, the brain’s glymphatic system leaps into action, clearing away metabolic waste like beta‐amyloid, which is linked to Alzheimer’s risk. REM sleep, by contrast, helps cement memories and regulate emotion through intense neural activity and selective neural pruning. This nightly “brain reboot” underpins everything from mood stability to learning.
“Sleep is when the brain cleans itself,” says Patryk. “It’s like overnight housekeeping.”
Nutritionist Jess Thorns.
Health and hidden risks
Sleep isn’t just about energy levels. It’s basically a pillar of physical health. Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, weakened immunity, diabetes and even cancer.
“In the Netherlands, women with breast cancer who worked long-term night shifts can apply for compensation,” Patryk says. “That’s how strong the link is. Disrupted circadian rhythms and melatonin suppression are major risk factors.”
Sleep also plays a powerful role in metabolism, and that’s where nutrition matters again. “Eating sugary or high-carb foods at night is like giving your body a burst of energy at the wrong time,” Jess explains. “It disrupts your ability to wind down.”
Unstable blood sugar can even lead to night waking. “Especially when combined with hormonal fluctuations, like in perimenopause, where you can get stuck in a cycle of poor sleep and next-day cravings.”
And poor sleep impacts food choices, too. “You’re hungrier, less satisfied and more likely to snack,” Jess says. “It also reduces insulin sensitivity, leading to energy crashes and more sugar cravings.”
Gut health also plays a role. Good gut health supports sleep by boosting serotonin and melatonin production, reducing inflammation and keeping the body’s circadian rhythm in balance. “If your gut is out of balance, it can affect your ability to relax and fall asleep,” explains Jess.
How much sleep do we really need?
“There’s no one-size-fits-all number,” says Patryk. “Most adults need seven to nine hours. Teenagers need more. Sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented with age, though the restorative need for sleep remains.”
If you’re consistently waking at 3am, Amber says the cause may be psychological. “Often it starts with stress, but over time, people begin to feel anxious about sleep itself. The bed becomes associated with frustration.”
If sleep is a struggle, Jess’ advice is simple. “Start by stabilising blood sugar. Eat enough protein, especially in the morning. Limit caffeine to before midday, reduce alcohol and include sleep-supporting foods like eggs, leafy greens and kiwi fruit throughout the day. A small protein-carb snack before bed can help, too.”
The bottom line
For a long time, sleep was treated as a passive process. It was less important than diet or exercise. But that’s changing. Experts now agree that sleep is the foundation.
“Good sleep lifts the weight of exhaustion,” says Amber. “When people finally sleep well, everything becomes easier.”
Or, as Patryk puts it: “It’s not wasted time. It’s essential for memory, mood, immunity and even longevity.”
So tonight, dim the lights. Put the phone away. Give your body what it’s really been asking for, which is deep, restorative sleep.
Rewriting the rules
The region’s first ADHD clinic brings together leading minds and lived experience, in a place where families feel seen.
The region’s first ADHD clinic brings together leading minds and lived experience, in a place where families feel seen.
WORDS NICKY ADAMS | PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL
Dr Sarah Moll and Freddie Bennett
It’s hard to pinpoint the most frustrating aspect of believing you have a neurodiverse child with ADHD or autism. It could be the helplessness you experience as a parent as you try to justify behaviour that to others appears anti-social, or the despair of feeling like a failure as the protector of your young one from their overwhelming emotions. Likely it’s the acute anxiety of knowing that you need help to navigate this.
Bay Paediatrics is a private clinic recently set up by leading specialists in the field of neurodiversity, that has been established here in Tauranga. A multi-disciplinary team of paediatricians, psychologists and behavioural change experts (among them co-founder Dr Sarah Moll, herself a paediatric consultant at Tauranga Hospital) will be working together to provide an all-encompassing, world-class service for ADHD, autism, cognitive and learning challenges, and across the neurodiverse spectrum.
Light, bright and spacious, the practice is welcoming - the waiting room is relaxed and comfortable, and there is a separate play area set up for neuro-sensitive children. Freddie Bennett, co-owner and husband of Sarah, shows me around, explaining the reasons behind the decision to set up the practice.
Dr Sarah Moll.
Working as a developmental paediatrician at Tauranga Hospital, Sarah has always wanted to create the best outcome for families, to give them the treatment and guidance they need. However, she was increasingly wishing more could be done. In addition, as parents, Sarah and Freddie have lived experience of the challenges ADHD can present.
As Freddie explains: “We went through a journey with our children, looking at an ADHD diagnosis. At the same time, I’ve come to recognise my own ADHD. Like many parents I looked down the list of symptoms and thought it started to sound familiar. When ADHD came on my radar all the pieces came together. As parents we know what it’s like to navigate ADHD with your children, to feel overwhelmed, confused, to feel like you’re stuck in this holding pattern, waiting and wondering. And there’s a lot of guilt, because you feel like you’re failing as a parent and you should be doing more, but you don’t know what to do.”
Sarah’s role at the hospital made her more than aware of the challenges parents face while trying to get a diagnosis, and as soon as she actively expressed a desire to do more, Freddie was on board. “We thought, what if we tried to create this centre of excellence. We asked, ‘What would I have needed two years ago when we were going on this diagnosis journey? What would I have needed five years ago when I was struggling with my son’s behaviour and I didn’t know what the hell to do? What if we can create the tools, the support, the diagnosis - everything - so other parents don’t have to go through it?’ With Sarah’s skills and talent, we had the platform to help as many children as possible. Now, with the New Zealand Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence - officially opened by New Zealand Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey in August - Bay Paediatrics is going from strength to strength.
Freddie Bennett.
The combination of skillsets of Freddie and Sarah are perfect for a venture such as this. Sarah brings the neurodiversity specialism, while Freddie takes care of business management. As Freddie explains, the beauty of the centre is the idea of it being a one-stop-shop. “We can assess, diagnose and prescribe ADHD medication. But we also thought, ‘For kids with ADHD and autism, let’s give parents some strategies designed for each family that will make a difference at home and school’. ADHD is often not a standalone condition. We have a multi-disciplinary team to provide gold-standard autism assessments, and with cognitive and learning assessments we can also test for and diagnose dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and beyond. So, while we areBay Paediatrics, we call this building the New Zealand Neurodiversity Centre of Excellence. This is about giving every neurodiverse family the freedom to thrive.”
There are multiple points of difference offered by Bay Paediatrics, one being that while they are a private practice, they're extending their service to offer help to those that may just need clarification. Freddie confirms: “We will review a substantial amount of information for every family that comes to our door. Our medical team will review, and we will recommend the best next steps and assessment pathway for every family. We offer that service for free. Only if we see enough traits of ADHD do we then go on to offer them an assessment. We'll gather the information, analyse it and recommend a next step which may include ADHD, autism, cognitive and learning assessment or just consultation with our psychologist.
Freddie and Sarah have personally invested heavily into this venture, excited to be instigating what they consider a gamechanger. Sarah’s credentials are enough to get people to take notice of what they're doing. She was recently the only paediatrician in New Zealand to present at the 2025 ADHD World Congress in Prague. With her expertise comes knowledge on the most up-to-date diagnostic tools and resources available. Indeed, they are the only paediatric clinic in New Zealand to develop the unique 'ADHD Illuminate' assessment. This groundbreaking ADHD assessment utilises digital assessment techniques to provide a truly objective and science-backed diagnosis. Freddie says, "This is a gamechanger for families. No more guessing. No more worrying about teachers not picking up the signs of ADHD. This allows us to move faster, look deeper and go further for every child".
Very much the cherry on the cake with it comes to ADHD assessment, this computer-based diagnostic tool is designed to help evaluate ADHD by objectively measuring core ADHD symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity through motion tracking, eye-movements, computer tasks and scientific analysis. It supports a comprehensive diagnosis by helping to more accurately rule in or rule out ADHD, inform treatment decisions and enables the creation of personalised treatment plans.
“Another aspect of the Illuminate ADHD assessment is that you can come in at 9am and by 4pm you’ve got your diagnosis and potentially a prescription. We can give families the three C’s - certainty, clarity and confidence in one day. What we won’t do is tie you into follow-up appointments - there’s no hidden costs.”
Freddie emphasises that the clinic will stop at nothing to give families the support they need. His mission is to establish the Bay of Plenty as the 'Silicon Valley of child neurodiversity' for New Zealand... and eventually the world. He says, "A neurodiversity diagnosis stays with a child for the rest of their life, so nothing is more important than getting it right first time, every time."
Another aspect of the vision for Bay Paediatrics is the commitment to offer families the tools they need to develop confidence in neurodiversity. Freddie is excited about providing help, regardless of whether a parent chooses to come here for an assessment. “We have free resources, and we run the EPIC programme — Extraordinary Parents and Incredible Children. We have free podcasts and workshops; we have free books on our website. We run the EPIC Families events... giving parents the very best guidance. I believe this because as a parent with ADHD who has a child with ADHD, I know what it's like to feel that the world is against me. That's why we're starting what we call the 'neurodiversity revolution'. As a parent, I say revolution happens when a bunch of people turn around and say, ‘We’re not going to be overlooked anymore, we’re not going to be kept quiet and hidden away’.”
The passion from Freddie is palpable, and it’s clear the emotion that drives this clinic is genuine. There’s a deep understanding of what tip-toeing along the path of neurodiversity means for families. As Freddie points out, “Everything we create is for the real world, for real parents who have real struggles. We can give them tools to help them through. Most of all we want to help parents feel seen and understood. We want to be world-class. And we want Bay Paediatrics to lead the charge.”
More than skin deep
Katrina Ross teaches us how to glow inside and out.
Katrina Ross teaches us how to glow inside and out.
WORDS NICKY ADAMS | PHOTOS KATIE COX
Without a doubt, non-invasive skincare treatments are giving surgical cosmetic procedures a gentle nudge to move aside and share the limelight. As owner/operator of About You Medi Spa, Katrina Ross is a certified aesthetician practitioner with 25 years’ experience. Katrina embodies her work — she is glowing, articulate and clearly knows her stuff.
When Kat began her career in beauty therapy she was always focused on results driven, medically based appearance medicine. After finishing her initial training, she worked alongside renowned doctors both in New Zealand and Australia, ultimately opening About You Medi Spa 10 years ago. Here she offers multiple bespoke treatments, all carefully chosen to complement each other; from laser rejuvenation for sunspots and collagen production, to microneedling and make-up artistry.
We quickly move onto discussing the Cavi Lipo cellulite and fat reduction treatment. This technology has been around for 14 years and was designed in America as an alternative to liposuction, without the risk. Non-invasive, targeted fat reduction for stubborn areas of fat such as abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms can even help define the profile on the double chin. I wonder how it ranks against other types of treatment addressing the same issues. “It’s by far a safer alternative, I believe, to the other forms of body contouring and fat reduction on the market. It’s the most noninvasive, is FDA approved and has shown its effectiveness and results over time.”
Measurable loss is judged by statistics taken at the start and finish of a series of treatments. I’m curious how long the process usually takes. Katrina tells me: “I can normally see skin tightening and how responsive the skin is in the first couple of treatments. Usually around four to six you see measurable weight loss. I say an average of eight treatments is needed for the best shot.” I ask if every time she will see a discernable result, the reply is emphatic. “Yes, that’s why I’m in business!”
Katrina reiterates the value of this treatment combined with self-care and a healthy, active lifestyle. “It’s a very complimentary treatment for people who are motivated to improve themselves, and for those with stubborn areas that they just couldn’t move along with exercise alone.” And is it permanent? “Once the fat cells are reduced, they don’t come back in that area.”
This may sound like the holy grail of fat combat, but Kat emphasises it’s not a quick fix. While aesthetics is a crowded market, Katrina is not jostling for a space. She has invested in the very best equipment, is constantly training, has experience, skill and above all works on a one to one. Her clients are in safe hands; she knows it, and most importantly, they know it.
Changing the glow game
If your skin has lost its spark, Cashmore Clinic’s Leanne Cashmore has the solution.
If your skin has lost its spark, Cashmore Clinic’s Leanne Cashmore has the solution.
In clinic, I often see clients trying to decide between resurfacing or rejuvenation, as though one must come at the expense of the other. But skin changes in tone, texture, firmness and clarity, so why treat it with a one-note solution?
Ultra Veloce, our latest treatment and a new favourite among clients, brings together two of the most advanced technologies in aesthetics, and, as a skin nerd, I’m genuinely excited by what this combination can do.
The first step uses broadband light from the Super Veloce 4800, which is a new arrival to New Zealand and, in my view, a quiet revolution in skin therapy. Think of it as a reset button that targets redness, pigmentation, rosacea, broken capillaries and even hormonal acne. And unlike older IPL machines, it’s surprisingly comfortable.
Then comes the LaseMD UltraTM, a non-ablative fractional laser that works deeper in the dermis to stimulate collagen and elastin. This isn’t just about smoothing fine lines or softening scars (although it does that brilliantly). It’s about activating the skin’s own repair mechanisms. One client called it “a wake-up call for my face,” and I loved that.
What makes this combination truly special is that the results are both immediate and progressive. You’ll see a glow within days, yes, but over the weeks, as new collagen forms and old pigmentation fades, the transformation continues. Skin becomes more resistant to future damage.
And it’s not limited to just the face. We’ve used Ultra Veloce to treat sun-damaged chests, ageing hands and scarring on the arms and legs. It’s for anyone wanting to feel confident in their skin, not just in makeup or good lighting.
Ultimately, every skin journey is personal. But if you’ve been looking for something that meets your skin where it’s at, this may be exactly what you need.
Clear vision
Optometrist Alex Petty opens our eyes to smarter eye care, new tech and lifelong sight.
Optometrist Alex Petty opens our eyes to smarter eye care, new tech and lifelong sight.
PHOTOS KATIE COX
Alex Petty.
When it comes to eye health, most of us don’t give our eyes a second thought until something feels off. Blurry mornings, tired evenings or a mysterious twitch that won’t quit usually puts our eye health on the radar.
Now Alex Petty, director of Bay Eye Care in Tauranga and UNO’s newest expert voice on all things vision, is here to shift your perspective, both literally and figuratively.
Originally from Auckland, Alex returned to New Zealand in 2016, after years working in Australia. The pull was a love for the Bay lifestyle and the chance to fill a crucial gap in specialist eye care. Nine months later, Bay Eye Care opened its doors. Today, it’s a nationally recognised clinic with a reputation that stretches across the ditch.
“What sets us apart is that we don’t sell glasses,” Alex explains. “We focus 100 percent on clinical care.” That means no upselling and no retail pressure, just expert advice grounded in what’s best for your eyes. It’s an approach that’s earned the clinic a growing fanbase of families who’ve stayed with Alex for years.
The Bay Eye Care team from left: Grace Elliot-Brown and optometrists Aidan Quinlan and Alex Petty.
And it’s not just about what he does, it’s how he does it. Alex’s philosophy combines personal connection with cutting-edge innovation. “No two people, and no two sets of eyes, are the same,” he says. “Understanding someone’s story helps us offer truly tailored care.”
That blend of empathy and expertise has turned Bay Eye Care into a go-to destination for advanced treatments. We’re talking Ortho-K (overnight lenses that reshape your cornea while you sleep), custom lenses for keratoconus, high-tech solutions for dry eye and the clinic's latest investment, LipiFlow, which treats dry eye at its root by unblocking the oil glands in your eyelids.
They're also ahead of the curve with genetic testing for glaucoma, using a simple cheek swab to assess your risk and personalise your treatment plan. It's science, but with a heart.
Still, for Alex, the real reward lies in the long-term relationships. “I’ve watched kids grow up in my clinic, coming in shy at age eight, then at sixteen they’re tall, confident and talking about their future. That connection is what it’s all about.”
In 2020, when Alex faced a sudden cancer diagnosis, he was forced to step away from the clinic for three months.
While away, he was overwhelmed by the messages of support. “People wrote to say I’d changed their life or helped their child see again. I never expected that. It reminded me why we do what we do.”
Now, he’s bringing that same passion to the pages of UNO, kicking off a four-part series to bust myths, share insights and answer the most common questions about eye health.
First on his list? Contact lens hygiene. Alex warns that wearing lenses longer than prescribed or sleeping in them is a major no-no. “Even if you’ve never had a problem, all it takes is one bad bug, to risk a potentially blinding infection. You only get one set of eyes!” Alex warns. He’s also ready to set the record straight on reading glasses. “They don’t make your eyes worse. That’s a myth,” he laughs. “As we age, our eye structures naturally change, causing vision issues. Putting off help just leads to more strain and frustration. The good news is that there are amazing solutions, from high-tech contact lenses to surgery.”
Alex's new column will cut through the jargon, offer practical advice and answer the questions many of us didn’t even know we had. Keep an eye out for it in the next issue.
Ahead of the curve
Salon G’s Shelley Pullar brings a fresh perspective this spring, with soft layers, natural texture and colour that enhances every angle.
Salon G’s Shelley Pullar brings a fresh perspective this spring, with soft layers, natural texture and colour that enhances every angle.
PHOTOS Deborah De Graaf | MAKE-UP ARTIST Sophie Garth | SUNGLASSES Secret Optics | STYLIST Robyne Dowdall
Spring 2025 is here, and this season is all about the cut. Bold pixie cuts, cowgirl layers and even bobs are getting a makeover with curved edges and feathered insides that feel fresh and not too fussy.
The best part is that haircuts are finally working with your natural texture, not against it. It’s all about enhancing what you already have and tailoring it to your face shape. Here at Salon G, we’ve been focusing on helping clients understand how their face shape plays into not just their cut, but their colour too. Think of it like contouring, where bright pieces (like baby lights around the hairline) highlight and add width, while deeper tones (like a soft root smudge or mid-lights near the cheekbones) create depth and really make your features pop.
Colour-wise, we’re steering away from bold, chunky blocks. Instead, we’re loving softer, more lived-in colour, with panelled ribbons, blurred roots and those sun-kissed, low-maintenance tones. Warm shades are big right now: think cherry cola, spiced ginger, rich caramels, espresso browns, and our forever-fave, teddy bear blonde.
Thinking of brightening things up for summer? Book a blow dry and mention this article to get a free Tailored Pre-Spring Hair Treatment, courtesy of Wella at Salon G. You’ll leave feeling totally refreshed and ready for the season.
Dentistry with depth
Blending decades of international expertise with a warm, family-focused approach, DentalPlus is redefining modern dental care in Tauranga.
Blending decades of international expertise with a warm, family-focused approach, DentalPlus is redefining modern dental care in Tauranga.
photo SANDRI BLOM
When Dr Dalton and Candice Booyse arrived in Tauranga two years ago, they didn’t just bring their twin boys and a love for the ocean, they brought decades of experience, a few cherished heirlooms, and a vision for family-focused dental care.
Eleven months ago, the Booyses took over DentalPlus, a well-established practice that's been serving the Tauranga community for over 17 years.
“We were looking for a place that reminded us of home, somewhere the boys could be outdoors, where there’s space to fish, surf, and just enjoy life,” says Dalton, a seasoned dentist with over two decades of international experience.
Originally from Durban, Dalton previously worked in the UK before returning to South Africa, and finally, making the leap to New Zealand. DentalPlus is now home to a tight-knit team of 13, including three experienced dentists and two hygienists. Among them is the clinic’s previous owner, Chris, a familiar face in the community. He has remained onboard and still works at the practice.
“Having that continuity has been really helpful,” says Candice. Though she doesn’t practice dentistry, Candice plays a key role in the business operations, customer care, and keeping the family-run essence alive.
“It’s important that our patients feel like part of the family,” she says. That warmth extends to the waiting room, where a vintage dental cabinet once owned by Dalton’s father – also a respected dentist – now sits proudly.
“It’s a real talking point,” laughs Candice. “We shipped it all the way from South Africa. It’s full of little drawers and tools from a different era, and people love seeing it.”
The clinic offers a full suite of services, from routine check-ups and hygienist care to cosmetic procedures, orthodontics, advanced implant work, Invisalign and full dental rehabilitation. The clinic also offers sedation for nervous patients. While Chris is a Platinum Invisalign member, his other colleagues also bring a unique level of expertise. Dr Nicola Wood has special interests in minimally invasive dentistry, and cosmetic and functional dentistry, including dental implants. “We all cover a wide range of treatments and can bounce ideas off one another. It’s a great team dynamic,” Dalton says.
Technology is also a focus. DentalPlus is embracing the digital shift with 3D scanners, CBCT imaging, and AI integrated tools. “It’s about giving people the best care with the most up-to-date methods,” says Dalton. “But it’s still the relationships we build that matter most.”
And those relationships often start young. With a focus on family care, the team encourages regular hygienist visits to set a strong foundation for long-term health. “It’s amazing the difference early care can make,” Dalton adds.
While the Booyses may have started out thousands of kilometres away, their roots are now firmly planted in the Bay. Having taken over a practice already built on heritage, heart, and high standards, it can only get better from here.
Heal, recharge, revive
Alternative healing is becoming more and more mainstream. UNO looks at three thriving Bay businesses focusing on innovative therapies to help people heal and transform their wellbeing.
Alternative healing is becoming more and more mainstream. UNO looks at three thriving Bay businesses focusing on innovative therapies to help people heal and transform their wellbeing.
Massage at Hands On Healing.
Into the light
Burnout led Ange Ellison to discover holistic healing – now she’s helping others with Red Light Therapy.
Ange Ellison knows firsthand how frustrating it can be to feel unheard by conventional medicine. That’s what led her to explore alternative therapies, and ultimately, to create Gaia Wellness in Pāpāmoa. Specialising in Red Light Therapy, Ange helps people dealing with chronic pain, exhaustion, and skin concerns find relief in a space designed for effortless self-care. From full-body red light therapy and infrared sauna and ice baths to Power Plate technology, Gaia Wellness offers science-backed treatments aimed at restoring energy and promoting recovery. We sat down with Ange to learn more about how it works and why her clients keep coming back.
How did you get into alternative therapies?
I used to try to do it all – attempting to be ‘superwoman’, constantly juggling all the things. But over time, I realised it isn’t sustainable in the long run. The conventional medical system told me that feeling completely exhausted 24/7 was just part of being a full-time working mum. While I had always known about alternative and holistic therapies, I was led to believe they were ineffective or ‘woo-woo’. But in the end it was these therapies that truly helped me, and they continue to support me to this day.
What are the benefits of Red Light Therapy and how does it work?
The benefits of Red Light Therapy are extensive. Some of the main reasons people try it are for recovery, skin issues, body and bone aches, and because they are desperate to find relief after being told by conventional medicine to “suck it up“ and live with it.
The simple way Red Light Therapy works is that our cells need energy and light to help us function, but modern lifestyles often deprive them of this. The wavelengths of Red Light Therapy deliver this energy to our cells, allowing the body to prioritise its use where it’s needed most. While this is amazing, it can sometimes be frustrating for clients who want it to target a specific issue, but the body determines another priority.
Describe your typical client.
We have a variety of clients — young, not-so-young, sporty, mums, corporates, male, female. It suits everyone except those who are pregnant, as there is no research confirming its safety during pregnancy. One of my clients initially came for tennis elbow treatment but now returns three times a week, simply to enjoy 20 minutes of uninterrupted relaxation.
What are your most FAQs?
What do I wear in the Red Light Therapy? The more skin exposed, the better, but comfort is key. You have the room to yourself, so you can go naked if you’re comfortable or wear underwear.
Why does it smell so good in here? That could be me! Or the diffuser in the chill-out space, the essential oils for the sauna, or the diffuser in the entrance.
What made you open this? My experiences led me to create a space where self-care is effortless. Once you reach burnout, it’s a long and hard road back. I wanted a place where people can just turn up, with everything provided, so they don’t have to think about what to bring.
Are there any side effects?
More energy, better sleep, tiredness if your body needs rest, improved skin, reduced pain, and decreased inflammation.
How much does a typical session cost?
A one-off session at Gaia is $60. Our Red Light Therapy is full-body. We offer concessions and memberships for more cost-effective options.
Healing hands
Rachel Hyatt’s FaceUp therapy blends massage, myofascial release, and lymphatic drainage for transformative results.
With 15 years of experience as a therapeutic massage therapist, Rachel Hyatt has always been passionate about helping people feel their best. But after discovering the FaceUp method, her approach to treatment changed entirely.
Combining techniques like myofascial release and lymphatic drainage, FaceUp works holistically to ease tension, reduce stress, and refresh the face. We caught up with Rachel to learn more about this innovative therapy and the impact it’s having on her clients.
How did you get into alternative therapies?
I’ve been a therapeutic massage therapist for around 15 years, working alongside different chiropractic clinics in Tauranga. I saw Olga’s (FaceUp method) work online and thought, “Wow, I want to train in this technique.” I completed her FaceUp training in November 2023, and it completely transformed my approach to treating people.
What are the benefits, and how does it work?
FaceUp is an algorithm of different techniques, including lymphatic drainage, myofascial release, and massage. It works physically, spiritually, and mentally, releasing tension, stagnation, and stress from the face. Clients leave feeling depuffed, less stressed, lifted, and tension-free.
Describe your typical client. Does it suit certain people and why?
Anyone can benefit from it — men and women alike.
What are your most FAQs?
How can I get rid of jaw pain, elevens (frown lines), forehead wrinkles, double chin, headaches, and a tight neck?
FaceUp helps to alleviate these issues by targeting tension and improving circulation in the face and neck. I also do buccal massage, which is inside the mouth, for jaw pain and joint issues.
Are there any side effects?
No.
How much does a typical session cost?
$250.
Go with the flow
Flowology’s Karen Gemmell helps clients restore balance and vitality through Flowpresso’s deeply relaxing therapy.
After facing burnout and menopausal symptoms, Karen Gemmell discovered the power of Flowpresso therapy — and it changed everything. Inspired by her personal results, she trained in the technique and co-founded Flowology Wellness, helping others access its deeply restorative benefits. Known for enhancing lymphatic function, Flowpresso combines compression, deep pressure and heat, to support relaxation, recovery and rejuvenation.
Whether clients seek stress relief, better sleep, or overall wellbeing, Karen’s approach to holistic health offers a path to balance and renewal. We spoke with her to find out how Flowpresso works and why people are embracing this cutting-edge therapy.
How did you get into alternative therapies?
In 2019, after experiencing significant burnout and menopausal symptoms, I was introduced to lymphatic specialist and Flowpresso creator, Desiree De Spong. The therapy had a profound impact on my health, and when it officially launched in February 2020, I trained as a Flowpresso technician and co-founded Flowology Wellness with Desiree.
Karen Gemmell.
What are the benefits, and how does it work?
Flowpresso delivers a sensation similar to a gentle full-body embrace, combining compression, deep pressure hugs, and thermodynamic heat. It fosters beneficial flow, activating the body’s natural healing mode to calm the mind, promote relaxation, and enhance lymphatic function. It helps reduce stress, fatigue, fluid retention and inflammation while restoring energy and improving sleep.
Describe your typical client.
Flowpresso is ideal for those seeking a holistic, non-invasive wellness approach. It benefits busy professionals, exhausted parents, menopausal women, frequent travelers, those with ongoing conditions, and athletes seeking muscle recovery.
What are your most FAQs?
What should I wear to a Flowpresso session?
Loose, comfortable clothing such as long sleeves, full-length pants, and socks.
How many sessions are recommended?
Typically, three to six sessions for noticeable benefits, with regular sessions for optimal long-term wellness.
Why should I support mind and body flow?
Enhancing natural lymphatic, mind, and body flow has wide-ranging benefits for long-term health, such as boosting detoxification, immune function and autonomic balance.
Are there any side effects?
Some people may experience mild detox symptoms like headaches or fatigue, but these are temporary.
How much does a typical session cost?
$85 for a 40-minute therapy session.
Summer radiance
Adapt your self-care with the hottest new season essentials.
Adapt your self-care with the hottest new season essentials.
Real men moisturise
Men’s skin is typically a lot thicker, tougher and more oily than women’s, creating a need for specific skincare. The brand new range from Flint targets common skin concerns men face including sensitivity from shaving, uneven skin texture, and signs of ageing. With a focus on both effectiveness and affordability, it’s the perfect opportunity to dip your toe into self-care, guys. From RRP$35. FLINTSKINCARE.COM
Eye spy
Going beyond the call of duty is the new Lash Boost Tubing Mascara from xoBeauty. Infused with growth serum for longer, nourished lashes, this mascara offers a defined look by encapsulating each lash in tiny tubes. For even more reason to be excited, included is an adjustable wand to target different areas of your lashes more effectively. RRP$38.99.
Honey trap
As a natural extension to their stunning sculptural range, RAAIE's new Golden Nectar Mānuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser works harmoniously with their other products as the first, and most essential step, in your skincare routine. With smoothing fruit enzymes and nourishing Mānuka honey it also doubles as a treatment mask, meaning less waste and less packaging from this conscious-consumption brand. RRP$97.
Blurred lines
Combining skincare, sun protection and makeup is Aleph’s latest clean beauty innovation: Smoothing Skin Tint SPF/20. Like a real life skin filter, plant-actives work behind the scenes to smooth, the sheer tint blurs the appearance of imperfections, and SPF protects. Apply between moisturising and foundation and ditch the need for additional serums and sunblock. RRP$92. ALEPHBEAUTY.COM
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Hormone hacker
UNO editor Hayley Barnett sits down with leading expert Dr Linda Dear to unpack menopause’s grey zone of symptoms, the buffet of options beyond HRT, and why midlife's uninvited guest is more frenemy than foe.
UNO editor Hayley Barnett sits down with leading expert Dr Linda Dear to unpack menopause’s grey zone of symptoms, the buffet of options beyond HRT, and why midlife's uninvited guest is more frenemy than foe.
It’s 3am on a Thursday morning. I’ve been lying here for the past hour tossing and turning, trying desperately to get back to sleep. What better time than now, I think, to write about my perimenopause woes?
I’ve had the same problem every day for the past week and it’s probably linked to the amount of sugar and caffeine I’ve been consuming as a solution to stay awake during the day. It’s a vicious cycle and, if I’m being honest, has become more of a lifestyle linked to my own vicious cycle, of the menstrual kind.
But, according to Dr Linda Dear, it doesn’t have to be this way. About a year ago, UNO interviewed Linda about the issue of menopause, and women still talk to me about it one year on. Linda is one of the country’s leading menopause experts who just happens to reside in Tauranga and runs her business, Menodoctor, from the Bay. Women come to her from all over New Zealand begging for help with symptoms that are increasingly affecting their professional and personal lives.
“Most women who come to me are having symptoms of perimenopause and it’s impacting them either at home or at work or both,” says Linda. “A lot of the time, I’m just confirming what they already know − that it’s hormone related. But it can be such a grey zone and nobody’s really sure, including sometimes their own GP. They want to know they're not going mad or that they’re not ill or sick.”
I sit down with Linda to discuss my symptoms and what might help. I had completed a questionnaire before arriving for our appointment. Hot flushes? No. Sleep problems. Yes. Frequent urination. Yes. Night sweats. Yes. It dawns on me that waking drenched in sweat during a five-degree winter’s night probably isn’t normal.
All these symptoms, though ‘not normal’, are actually very normal for a woman my age and beyond − 40 plus. But again, says Linda, they don’t have to be.
In my case, the contraceptive pill would help with PMS problems, she says, but so would HRT – and actually HRT comes with a lower risk of blood clots and other side effects, as it uses body identical lower dose estrogen. It also helps with insomnia. Sold.
But Linda is quick to point out that HRT is not the only option – and not always the right answer for every woman. Though she sings HRT’s praises, Linda describes herself as more holistic than many doctors in this area. She’s not against HRT and says for some women it’s the only thing that will help. But she also likes to offer natural alternatives.
“There are many things you can try,” she explains. “I like to offer what I call ‘the menopause buffet’. Women should be introduced to the whole table of treatments, and there are many that you can mix and match − and others that you can’t. But everything is optional, even the buffet itself. You don’t need to do anything if you don’t feel like it. You can just sit and enjoy the show if you prefer.”
The options include everything, from herbal supplements, like St John’s Wort, through to the contraceptive pill and SSRIs (antidepressants).
“Lifestyle changes like adding weights sessions to your workout routine make a huge difference for some people,” says Linda. “Or just increasing protein in the diet − that can completely change everything.”
After asking me to take a blood test, Linda prescribes me some HRT with detailed instructions for patches and progesterone pills and suggests buying some iron tablets and ashwagandha for my sleep.
While I’m grateful for the help, I wonder about those who can’t pinpoint certain times in the month, but who have similar symptoms. How can you tell if it’s perimenopause and not just dealing with life’s demands, I ask? Let’s face it, our forties are a very demanding time. We’re often dealing with kids, mortgages, careers, relationships, not to mention the possibility of World War III, climate change, the government, that weird rash Google tells you is
probably fatal? Surely, the doom scrolling has something to do with our highly anxious states and lack of sleep.
“We do need to be careful about blaming perimenopause for everything,” says Linda. “That’s why I don’t want to become an HRT factory. I also don’t want to deny anyone of that either, since we’ve gone far too long without it. We have to go through the symptoms and come up with a plan together. It’s about trial and error, finding out what helps and what doesn’t.”
We talk about my sleep issues and how they’re much worse if I drink even just one glass of wine.
“She loves to ruin our fun,” says Linda, who talks about perimenopause in the third person, referring to this time in a woman’s life as a friend, or more so, a frenemy. ‘She’ apparently is not a fan of alcohol, and neither is Linda. She explains the dangers of alcohol and its link to many different illnesses, one of which is breast cancer. It’s ironic then that it was only a decade or so ago that women were fearful of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for its links to breast cancer.
“We think the breast cancer risk, which is very small – around an extra eight cases out of 10,000 women who take it – only starts after a woman has been taking HRT for at least five years. So taking HRT for less than five years likely carries no risk at all. But taking it for five years or longer means we do have to factor in a small risk of breast cancer. But this needs to balanced against the health benefits that HRT can bring, such as reducing heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. Research has also shown that when you start HRT before you turn 60, this leads to a longer lifespan. So these are pretty big benefits to think about.”
Despite there being a range of treatments, potions and lotions, and lifestyle suggestions, Linda is quick to point out that this time shouldn’t necessarily be looked upon as a negative.
“She’s not all bad,” Linda says. “Though there are some negative sides, we also need to see some good in this phase, as it’s a time of growth. A lot of women get through this and become a better version of themselves eventually − they feel more like themselves than they ever have. They can feel stronger and more empowered.”
As a woman, whether you decide to do something about perimenopause, or just ride the wave, there is definitely one thing to look forward to.
“Our periods stop!” smiles Linda. “We all have to admit the idea of that is quite nice.”
Telltale signs you might be in perimenopause:
Irregular or missed periods
Hot flushes
Sleep disturbances
Memory and cognition issues
Vaginal atrophy
Mood swings
Decreased sex drive
Weight gain
Hair, skin and nail changes
Frequent urination
Changing cholesterol levels
Future focused
Leanne Cashmore from Cashmore Clinic introduces Veloce: The revolutionary light treatment transforming skincare with fewer sessions and remarkable results.
Leanne Cashmore from Cashmore Clinic introduces Veloce: The revolutionary light treatment transforming skincare with fewer sessions and remarkable results.
photo SALINA GALVAN
As someone who’s been in the skincare industry for years, I’ve seen countless treatments come and go – but nothing has excited skincare professionals quite like Veloce.
Since introducing this Intense Pulsed Dual Light (IPDL) laser treatment, I’ve seen an enthusiastic response. Many have been impressed by the results they’re achieving, often after fewer sessions than expected.
What sets Veloce apart is its versatility and precision. The treatment can address a wide range of skin concerns with impressive effectiveness from stubborn pigmentation and broken capillaries to generalised redness, photo rejuvenation, fine lines, deeper wrinkles, acne scarring, and even hair removal.
It can be used on various parts of the body, including the face, neck, stomach, arms and legs. Veloce’s dual lamp system produces high-speed light pulses that penetrate deep into the skin, stimulating the body’s natural rejuvenation processes.
Unlike other lasers that might focus primarily on skin tone and texture, Veloce offers a more holistic solution by combining multi-wavelengths to address a broad range of indications. This advanced IPDL technology allows for a comprehensive approach to skin rejuvenation.
One of the most exciting features of Veloce is the N-Tight treatment. This procedure triggers contraction and remodeling of collagen, resulting in a significant tightening effect that’s immediately noticeable and continues to improve over time. It's a game-changer for those concerned about skin laxity.
It also delivers results without requiring a lot of downtime. Thanks to its cooling system, most clients can return to their daily activities immediately after treatment. The duration of each session typically ranges from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the treated area and the specific concerns being addressed.
After treatment, clients may experience some redness, but this usually subsides within a few hours. While visible results can often be seen after just one treatment, the number of sessions needed varies from person to person.
Whether you’re battling the signs of ageing, struggling with pigmentation, or simply want to give your skin a radiant boost, Veloce offers a tailored solution that delivers real and efficient results.
For even more impressive results, double up with the Ultra MD for better skin rejuvenation.
Grey expectations
Ready to go au naturel? Samantha Henry of Shine Hair and Studio May shares her top tips for going gorgeously grey.
Ready to go au naturel? Samantha Henry of Shine Hair and Studio May shares her top tips for going gorgeously grey.
photos SALINA GALVAN + SUPPLIED
Samantha Henry.
The mirror doesn't lie – those silvery strands are multiplying faster than you can say "salon appointment". But before you reach for the bottle (of hair colour, that is), let's chat about embracing the grey with style and confidence.
First things first: emotional preparedness. Are you ready to rock the silver vixen look? Many women find inspiration in others who've made the leap, so start scrolling those #silverandfree hashtags for a confidence boost. After all, why should men have all the fun as "silver foxes"?
Transitioning to your natural grey can take anywhere from one to three years, depending on your hair length. The first few months can be the trickiest, as you'll notice the demarcation line where your coloured hair meets the new growth. But don’t worry – there are clever ways to blend the old with the new.
One option is to switch from all-over colour to highlights or lowlights. This allows your natural hair to peek through while maintaining some bounce and texture.
Another route is to swap permanent colour for semi-permanent, which covers up to 50 percent of grey and blends up to 70 percent (using Wella Colour), giving your overall look a softer appearance.
For the adventurous, consider a balayage or ombré service to create a gradual transition from roots to ends.
Regular trims are your best friend during this journey. They'll help remove any lingering coloured ends and keep your hair looking fresh as it grows out.
Treat yourself to nourishing conditioning masks to keep your tresses hydrated and prevent breakage.
Lastly, if you do choose to let your grey shine, know you're in good company. From A-list celebs to your next-door neighbour, more women are ditching the colour and rocking their natural grey.
It's not about giving up; it's about owning your look and redefining beauty standards. With a bit of patience and the right attitude, you'll be turning heads for all the right reasons.
Who knows – you might even inspire others to embrace their own silver lining.
Face the future
Plastic surgeons, Dr Adam Bialostocki and Dr Brandon Adams from Da Vinci Clinic, talk to UNO about the latest technology in facial skin tightening. The best part? You don’t need to go near an operating room.
Plastic surgeons, Dr Adam Bialostocki and Dr Brandon Adams from Da Vinci Clinic, talk to UNO about the latest technology in facial skin tightening. The best part? You don’t need to go near an operating room.
photos ALEX CAIRNS
Inspired by the ideals of Leonardo da Vinci's visionary spirit, which revolutionised aesthetics and science centuries ago, the Da Vinci Clinic is continuing this legacy of innovation, with cutting-edge beauty solutions that are transforming the landscape of appearance medicine.
In the world of aesthetic treatments, new technology is making waves – or rather, Sofwaves. This non-invasive procedure offers the latest high-tech method of facial rejuvenation, and a painless alternative to traditional facelifts.
While ultrasound technology isn't entirely new to New Zealand's aesthetic treatments, Sofwave uses high-frequency ultrasound to target the skin's deeper layers with precision. What sets Sofwave apart is its ability to restore youthful elastin content in the skin, a feat unmatched by existing technologies in the country.
And, unlike light-based treatments that rely on specific pigments in the skin to absorb energy, Sofwave's ultrasound technology doesn't depend on skin colour. This means it can safely and consistently treat a wide range of skin tones. From very fair to very dark, it results in noticeable improvements in skin firmness, reducing wrinkles and fine lines while providing a subtle lifting effect.
The treatment is quick, comfortable, and requires no downtime, making it an attractive alternative to surgery.
Two of Da Vinci Clinic’s plastic surgeons, Adam Bialostocki and Brandon Adams, share their insights on why Sofwave is reshaping the field of aesthetic medicine in New Zealand.
UNO: What is Sofwave?
Adam: Sofwave is a new clinic-based technology utilising ultrasound, which will provide lifting and tightening of facial skin. It is not invasive and does not require any anaesthetic. It is FDA approved for treatment of the neck, face, around the eyelids and the forehead.
UNO: What does it achieve?
Brandon: The standout feature for Sofwave is to increase the elastin component in your skin. No other technology can do that. Restoring youthful elastin content in skin greatly improves skin laxity, so you will expect to see less wrinkles and lines, with a lifting effect of your facial and neck tissues. In addition, the treatment will induce Hyaluronic acid formation, which is an essential dermal component responsible for a youthful skin appearance. i.e. a 'filling' effect is gained.
UNO: Who would benefit from using it?
Brandon: If you have signs of early facial ageing in your neck, cheek, eyelids or forehead, then Sofwave may be good option for you. Because the mechanism of action is on the dermal layer of the skin, the thinner skin of advanced age would have less of a result. Sofwave can also be used in addition to facial rejuvenation surgery to improve skin quality before or after structural surgery. There are no limitations on age, sex, weight or skin type.
UNO: What are the risks?
Adam: Not many! The results will vary from one person to the next, so it's best to set expectations realistically. There may be a few sites of treatment that are less comfortable than others: A small 'pinching' sensation may be felt, and we use a cold air jet to help with reduction of any discomfort. Sofwave is unique in that it is safe for use on all skin tones without risk of scarring or pigment changes.
UNO: Why would you choose this over other similar treatments?
Brandon: Because it is the only FDA-approved technology that increases Elastin, it doesn’t have any competitors. Sofwave is also a very comfortable procedure with rapid recovery compared to laser, thermage or HIFU. This may be an ideal treatment for someone not yet a candidate to undertake a surgical facelift to address facial ageing.
UNO: What does the procedure involve?
Adam: This is a clinic-based procedure, and it takes about an hour to do a full-face. A cooling gel is applied to the treatment area and then pulses of energy are delivered to the skin using a handpiece that is applied onto the skin. There is an immediate visible change, but the full effect of Sofwave is noticed between 3-6 months later as the skin tightens, lifts and becomes more elastic.
UNO: Do you need to do anything to prep the skin beforehand?
Brandon: No. You just need to be sure not to have any active skin infections, such as acne pimples. It’s best to avoid taking any anti-inflammatory medications, before or after the treatment. After the treatment you can exercise, go back to work or out
to socialise without any downtime.
UNO: What is the cost and how often should you be having it?
Adam: The treatment is a one off. Once the skin has been tightened nothing further needs to be done, although we all keep ageing and gravity continues to take its effect, so an annual top-up may be considered. You can choose to treat specific areas, such as the forehead and the area around your eyes, or to undertake a full-face treatment. Prices start at $1,500 for specific areas, with a full face and neck treatment costing $4,500.