Features

Anyone who has flown across the Tasman or beyond knows the difference between a smooth flight and a frustrating one. Air New Zealand has built a reputation that keeps passengers returning, but how does it actually perform in 2024? In its latest financial year, the airline reported earnings before taxation of $222 million and on‑time … Read more

Walk into the MasterChef Australia kitchen in 2025 and you might have spotted Declan Cleary—a builder from Queensland who swapped nail guns for whisking bowls. For many viewers, though, his biggest moment came when he found love with fellow contestant Sarah Todd. Age: 27 (as of 2025) · Occupation: Builder, Chef Ambassador, TV personality · … Read more

Few names in Australian business history spark the same mix of anger and fascination as Christopher Skase. He built a string of luxury hotels, became a media darling, and then vanished to a Spanish island when his empire collapsed, leaving creditors with a giant bill. Born: 18 September 1948 · Died: 5 August 2001 · … Read more

Most travelers mistake distant peaks for Mount Cook, but the real thing, Aoraki/Mount Cook, is a far more demanding climb than Everest at 3,724 meters, and it sits three hours from Queenstown in the Southern Alps. This guide covers how to get there, what makes it special, and whether it’s worth visiting. Highest peak in … Read more

If you grew up watching NBA basketball in the 1990s, Charles Barkley was impossible to ignore. He was a powerhouse forward who could rebound, score, and talk his way into the spotlight. Height: 6’6″ · Weight: 252 lbs · Points per game: 22.1 · Rebounds per game: 11.7 · All-Star selections: 11 · NBA MVP: … Read more

Few fashion designers have left a mark as deep—and as haunting—as Alexander McQueen, whose death at 40, on the eve of his mother’s funeral, sent shockwaves through the industry and beyond. This article pieces together the facts behind his suicide, his documented mental health struggles, and the unusual fate of his £16 million estate. Born: … Read more

Most people know Ozzy Osbourne’s wild rock-star life, but fewer know the daughter from his first marriage who grew up far from the flashing cameras. Jessica Starshine Osbourne has built a low-key acting career while staying publicly quiet about her famous father — and that silence has fueled plenty of online rumors. Full name: Jessica … Read more

Not many workplace strikes end with a prime minister pouring soil into a worker’s hands. But that is exactly what happened when Vincent Lingiari, a quiet Gurindji stockman, led 200 Aboriginal workers off Wave Hill station in 1966. Born: 1919 (Victoria River Gorge, Northern Territory) · Died: 1988 (aged 68–69) · Known for: Leading the … Read more

Chad Michael Murray became a household name as Lucas Scott on One Tree Hill, but his real story is far less scripted. At age 15, his intestines twisted, causing internal bleeding that required surgery and a blood transfusion (New York Post). Born: August 24, 1981 · Place of birth: Buffalo, New York, U.S. · Height: … Read more

If you spent any time watching Bones, you probably remember Angela Montenegro’s bright smile and artistic flair, but the woman behind the character, Michaela Conlin, has kept much of her personal life out of the spotlight. Born on June 9, 1978, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and of half Chinese and half Irish American descent (IMDb (actor … Read more