Woman’s Weekly New Zealand – December 29, 2022

Summary

Hilary Barry, 52, opens Woman's Weekly New Zealand December 29 2022 as the cover interview, declaring the cork is out and she cannot put it back in after a career of serious reporting. Ryan Reynolds met the King and Queen Consort at his Wrexham AFC club, bought for $4 million in 2020. Suzy Cato's new chapter, Jason Gunn's success formula, and Bake Off judge Peter's meals-that-save-lives feature round out the people content. The Charles and Camilla year-in-review tracks a monarch's first year from Queen Elizabeth's death to the coronation build-up.

The food section runs 14 pages from page 36, covering Christmas leftover recipes, strawberry desserts, and coconut-based summer dishes. Fashion and beauty at pages 48-50 offer holiday-season style edits. Regular columns including the celebrity wrap-up and weekly people department provide light news digestion.

With a New Zealand summer setting, the issue leans into reset-and-relax messaging: cover lines read TAKE TIME FOR YOU. The Dress for Success charity angle through Barry's ambassadorship adds substance to the celebrity cover. A strong beach-read issue for the post-Christmas week.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / People

p.6 · Hilary Barry's joy: I'm finally free to be me
The Seven Sharp presenter, 52, reveals she spent years asking uncomfortable questions as a serious reporter before finding her natural personality on the feel-good show. She is a Dress for Success ambassador of 15 years, donating her own Formal Friday ballgown to the charity. The cork-is-out metaphor sums up her late-career liberation.

p.12 · Charles and Camilla: Inside the year that changed everything
A retrospective covering the Queen's death, the Accession, and the King and Queen Consort's first months. The feature tracks how the couple handled the transition, the public's response, and the ongoing Harry and Meghan narrative. The December 2022 timeline places this as a first-draft history reference.

p.18 · Bake Off judge Peter: My meals save lives!
Bake Off judge Peter shares how his cooking philosophy extends beyond baking to meals that address nutritional deficiencies and support health recovery. His claim is that properly designed meals can prevent hospital readmission. Use his base formula of protein plus three coloured vegetables for a balanced recovery plate.

p.16 · Suzy Cato's new chapter: I don't want to let go!
The beloved New Zealand children's TV presenter opens up about transition, legacy, and the emotional weight of stepping back from a long-running role. Her career timeline from early morning kids' TV through to current projects is mapped. Archive your own work recordings before you leave a long-term role.

▸ Royal & Celebrity

p.22 · Jason Gunn's secret to success: Anyone can have an extraordinary life
The radio and TV personality shares his formula for building a career on personality rather than formal training. He advocates for saying yes to every opportunity early in your career. Say yes to one thing that scares you this month, even if the fee is low.

p.24 · What a year! Celebrity milestones
A photo-driven roundup of 2022 celebrity highlights from New Zealand and international figures. Each entry is a short caption with a key date or achievement. Use this format for your own annual family newsletter.

▸ Features

p.30 · MP Mark's family tragedy: My mum's a hero
MP Mark shares a deeply personal account of his mother's influence through hardship. The article includes specific policy positions formed by his upbringing. Write down three ways a family experience shaped your work ethic.

p.32 · Wild about animals: Zookeeper's 35-year love affair
A Wellington zookeeper reflects on 35 years of caring for exotic and native species. The feature covers daily routines, favourite animal encounters, and the changes in zoo philosophy over three decades. Visit your local zoo on a weekday morning when keepers are doing training demonstrations.

▸ Food & Summer Eating

p.36 · Love Your Leftovers
Christmas leftovers transformed into fresh summer meals: cold salads, fritters, and sandwich fillings. Each recipe specifies the original leftover ingredient and the prep time. Reserve turkey bones for a stock before you clear the Christmas table.

p.40 · Strawberry Fields
A New Zealand summer strawberry feature with three dessert recipes, a pick-your-own guide, and a short-season storage tip. The recipes use fresh berries at their January peak. Do not wash strawberries until just before eating to prevent mould.

p.44 · Cool Off With Coconut
Coconut-based recipes for summer: chilled soups, dairy-free desserts, and a coconut water hydration guide. Each recipe notes the coconut product type for clarity. Keep a can of coconut cream in the fridge for instant summer dessert base.

▸ Regulars

p.10 · The Wrap-Up
Celine Dion's health update, Dame Julie's farewell, and Lisa's Friends confession in a single quick-read column. Each item is 3-4 sentences for the scanning reader. This format works best for the week between Christmas and New Year when attention spans are short.

p.48 · Fashion
Holiday-season style edits: summer dresses, sandals, and occasion wear at accessible price points. Each item is photographed and captioned with the NZ retailer and price. Shop the sale racks on December 27 for the deepest discounts.

p.50 · Beauty
Summer beauty essentials: SPF moisturisers, heat-protectant sprays, and quick-fix holiday makeup. Products are tested and compared across three price tiers. Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes if you are outdoors and wearing makeup over it.

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Editor's Take

The Hilary Barry interview is the clear standout – her candour about a decades-long mismatch between persona and job gives the cover real emotional heft, and the Dress for Success angle earns the celebrity placement. Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham story is an unexpected delight and the 2022 royal timeline is competently assembled. The Bake Off judge feature, however, promises more than it delivers: meals that save lives is a bold headline but the article lacks specific nutrition data or recipe evidence. The food section is solid summer material but the recipes are standard issue for this title. The fashion and beauty sections at pages 48-50 are thin – two pages each with no long reads. A capable summer special rather than a must-keep issue.

Strengths
• Hilary Barry interview with genuine emotional openness
• Ryan Reynolds Wrexham royal visit detail and pricing
• Love Your Leftovers section solves a real holiday kitchen problem

Weaknesses
• Bake Off judge feature lacks nutritional evidence to support the headline claim
• Fashion and Beauty sections each run only two pages

Verdict: Recommended — Barry's interview alone is worth the cover price, but the lifestyle sections lack depth for a summer special.