Spend summer of ’25 with some much-loved Kiwi stars

What do you love about summer?

The lack of routine! There are no obligations and you just do what you feel. Because I work early radio shifts all year, I love sleeping until I want to wake up and staying up later than normal with the rest of my family.

What will you be doing this summer?

We’ll be spending a week in Havelock North for the Colgate Games, where the kids are competing in athletics. We’ve hired a massive house with five other families. On the to-do list will be the new waterpark and wineries. We also love playing and watching tennis, so we’ll head to the ASB Classic, and have several doubles battles with family and friends.

What’s your favourite holiday spot?

We’re a massive beach family, so we love Whangamatā. I’ve been going there since I was a kid. It’s got the perfect mix of surf beach, slow pace and a shopping district for the wet days. We love surfing, boogie-boarding, kayaking, body-surfing and biking around.

What will you be reading?

I have the latest Jojo Moyes, We All Live Here, plus I want to read Honey Hireme-Smiler’s book Honey: My Story Of Love, Loss And Victory, and See How They Fall by Rachel Paris.

What do you love about summer?

Just being outside in the sunshine. Everything just feels a bit better when you have some sun!

What will you be doing these holidays?

Guppy [Laura’s husband, Black Caps legend Martin Guptill] is playing for Auckland in the Super Smash, our domestic T20 competition, so the kids and I will go to as many games as we can. This year, I’m also working on the ASB Classic for Sky Sport, so we’ll be spending most of the summer in Auckland, which will give us lots of time to have barbecues and catch up with friends and family – it’s the best!

What will you be eating and drinking?

Ham, beautiful salads and anything that can be barbecued! In terms of a drink, I can’t go past a glass of Champagne, an Aperol Spritz or a Pimm’s on a lovely summer’s day!

What will you be reading or watching?

As well as watching cricket – the India vs Australia series on Sky is epic – I’ll be reading anything by Colleen Hoover.

What do you love about summer?

The big adventures – sudden two-hour drives to beaches out of town – and late, warm nights outside fighting off mosquitoes, chatting around bonfires and, of course, sticking marshmallows on the end of twigs and accidentally catching them on fire! It’s a bit of romantic time for friendships.

What’s your favourite holiday spot?

He uri ahau no [I’m a descendant of] nga iwi o Ngāti Mūtunga me Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, so I always take a moment to spend time seeing family in Taranaki and Whanganui, basking in the West Coast sun.

What are you doing this summer?

As an avid planner, I’m trying to give into a bit of spontaneity this holiday season, so mostly I’ll be taking it as it comes! But I recently bought a new camera, so I’m really excited to use it.

What will you be eating?

No season is better for fruit than summer! I will be eating far too much watermelon, cherries, plums and peaches!

What will you be reading?

There’s some New Zealand literature that has been on my bucket list for a long time now that I’d finally like to get to – Amma by Saraid de Silva, Kōhine by Colleen Maria Lenihan and Hiwa: Contemporary Māori Short Stories edited by Paula Morris.

What do you love about summer?

The longer days – more time to go on adventures and mow the lawns! I also enjoy road tripping, going to summer concerts, loads of bush walks and living in my togs!

What’s your favourite holiday spot?

I love going home to Northland – with hundreds of beaches at your doorstep and dual coasts, you can find a calm spot no matter the weather!

What are you doing this summer?

We’re heading to my hometown beach of Glinks Gully in Northland, then going to the West Coast of the South Island with my wife’s family for jet-skiing and barbecuing!

What will you be eating or drinking?

Platters, more platters and barbecues. Also, I’m a huge fan of the wide range of low-carb beers we now have – so I can eat bread alongside them!

What do you love about summer?

I usually spend a lot of time at the beach with my family. My favourite thing to do is dive into a good book – summer is perfect for getting lost in a novel! Also, a bit of hiking. No doubt my brother will be forcing the family to get out their boots and take us for a beautiful walk!

What are you doing this summer?

I’ll be taking the road up north to Mangawhai with family friends who have kids. We’ll be doing lots of fun activities – taking the jet-skis out, exploring the area, and keeping the kids entertained with games and adventures. It’s a great mix of relaxation and fun!

What will you be eating or drinking?

I’ll be enjoying plenty of fresh fish, oysters and classic fish ’n’ chips on the beach. There’s nothing like eating seafood right by the water! I’ll also be sipping on some bubbles to celebrate the warm days and good company.

What will you be reading?

I have The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah and The Guest List by Lucy Foley on my reading list. When I love a book, I’ll finish it in a day, so fingers crossed I love them!

What do you love about summer?

I love the long, hot, sunny days, swimming at the beach and spending lots of time outdoors. That time to recharge and reconnect with nature is really special.

What’s your favourite holiday spot?

We usually head to Christchurch to visit family, but we’ve also recently been getting into camping. I have always loved it as a child, so we want to create those lovely memories with our girls too. We tend to book one of the many beautiful and affordable DoC sites we have all around the country.

What are you doing this summer?

We’re heading north to Ahipara to go camping with our friends. I’ve actually never been to Ninety Mile Beach, so we’ll explore that with the kids and go for day trips to other parts of Northland. It’s such a beautiful part of the country.

What will you be reading or watching during the summer?

I’ll be reading the newspaper – the hard copy! There’s something so pure about reading a physical copy of the local rag over a cup of coffee in the morning. And, of course, I’ll be spending time watching ThreeNews!

What do you love about summer?

Sleeping in, unscheduled eating, dinner outdoors and enjoying more time with my family.

What will you be eating or drinking?

Strawberries! And tonic water with mint and lemon with lots of ice, which is my favourite on a hot morning. I also always look forward to trying out my family recipe for salmon!

What will you be doing to spend time through these holidays?

Lazy days with dog walks, picnics and slow evening jogs. It’s been different every year since having a daughter, though, so we’ll see what a three-year-old brings us!

What will you be reading?

Lots, I hope! I’ll probably be making my way through Throne Of Glass by Sarah J Maas and waiting to get my hands on Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.

What’s your favourite thing about summer?

Charcuterie boards and mimosas! I also love dipping my toes into the eerie and silent Auckland nightlife when everyone’s left. I usually end up fostering kinship with other stragglers at some party or other.

What will you be doing over the holidays?

My mum has what I like to call obsessive horse disorder. She’s saved two Kaimanawa horses and has five all up. She lives only minutes away from the beach, so my guess is we’ll be taking the horses, our nieces, nephews and ourselves for many swims. My back-up plan is to become friends with someone extremely wealthy, so I have easy access to an outdoor pool all summer – volunteers would be appreciated!

What will you be watching?

I’ll be anticipating the release of Luca Guadagnino’s film Queer in 2025. Who doesn’t want to see Daniel Craig being gay on screen?!

What do you love about summer?

I love the long, sunny days, eating dinner outside and swims with the kids!

What’s your favourite holiday spot?

I have two young children, so we’ve spent the past few years chilling at home in Auckland. The city is quite nice over that period because a lot of people leave and it becomes really quiet! We go strawberry picking and have lots of beach days. We love going for walks in nature and finding playgrounds – just getting outside as much as possible!

What are you doing this summer?

We’re going on our first family holiday to the Gold Coast! I haven’t had a holiday since before the pandemic, so I’m very excited to say the least. Let’s hope my toddlers sit still for the flight…

What will you be eating or drinking?

I have the best recipes for frozen strawberry daiquiris, so I’d say a few of those! I love fruit and salads, but I feel like both of those have become expensive over the past few years – hopefully it will be better this summer!

What do you love about summer?

It’s always a chance to wind down, relax with family and friends, and spend time at the beach or on the bank watching cricket. I’m always happiest cooking the barbecue – doesn’t matter where that is!

What are you doing these holidays?

We’re a little bit all over the show at summer. After some time in New Plymouth with my wife Kimberlee’s family, we’ll head to Christchurch with my family, then finish off with some time at my in-laws’ bach at Pauanui in the Coromandel. It’s absolute paradise down there!

What will you be eating or drinking?

Lots! I love cooking a big barbecue with all the usuals on there, but I like doing a big leg of lamb too. You can’t beat a summer evening with some beers and good food!

What will you be reading or watching during summer?

I’m currently reading I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes, which is amazing – I know I’m very late to the party! Any crime thriller by James Patterson is right up my alley too. I’ll also be watching the cricket and tennis on the box this summer, as well as the mighty Auckland FC!