Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer.

Tiny pubs a big hit

A Christchurch business created during Covid lockdowns has grown to become a national enterprise with 27 small garden pubs built so far. Gary Altenburg didn’t sit on his hands when restrictions meant he couldn’t go to the pub, he made his own and since then the business has grown.

“Co-owner of My Little Pub (MLP) Breiana Bennetts has been there since the first little pub was featured at the Christchurch Beer Festival back in 2021. “I got to spend the day in the pub at the Beer Festival and just watched streams of people come in and out all day, just marvelling at the place, and there was so much excitement, and you could see there was a real energy and vibe around what people were seeing and experiencing,’ Bennetts says.

“Twenty-five little pubs later, the Kiwi start-up has now become a favourite with family, friends and even other little pub owners flocking to backyard pubs around the country. Whether it’s an Irish or English-themed pub or something completely custom, every little pub comes personalised to each customer’s wants. The story behind each creation is what gives each little pub its uniqueness, Bennetts says.” (Source: “Christchurch’s My Little Pub business creates personalised mini pubs for Kiwis,” by Charlize Tansey, July 6, www.nzherald.co.nz).

5 stars – a truly genius idea put into action. Total upside!

Kiwi ad lauded

An ingenious ad campaign to promote awareness of herpes has won the Cannes Lions Grand prix for Good Award. The New Zealand Herpes Foundation initiated the campaign to destigmatise a condition that affects 80% of New Zealanders. As a regular sufferer of cold sores, I count myself amongst that number!

“The cheeky take on a retro-style tourism video features former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry lamenting the loss of New Zealand’s clout on the international stage – the sheep to human ratio is ’embarrassingly low’, pies are ‘pushing seven bucks’, and the country’s pride is ‘less than outstanding,’ he opines. ‘We need something new to be proud of, something big and brave to put us back on the map – it’s time for New Zealand to become the best place in the world to have herpes,’ Henry says.

“The campaign – developed alongside Auckland-based agency Motion Sickness and Sydney agency FINCH – was awarded the Lions health and UN foundation grand prix for good, for ‘unabashedly [using] humour to tackle a challenging subject and stigmatisation’.

“‘Our 2025 awardee took a taboo topic and turned it on its head – showing that with a great strategy, a big, bold crazy idea, and humour for days, that anything is possible,’ said David Ohana, Cannes Lions jury president.” (Source: “New Zealand ad campaign to make country ‘best place in the world to have herpes’ wins top prize at Cannes Lions,” by Eva Corlett, June 24, www.guardian.co.uk).

5 stars – a fantastic way to increase awareness and more than worthy of a prize! Great stuff.

NZ gins take top prizes

A gin distilled in Thames and another in Arrowtown have taken top prizes at this year’s World Gin Awards in London.

“Coromandel Distilling Company, owned by Paul Schneider and partner Daniela Seuss, won the World’s Best Matured Gin Award for their Awildian Coromandel Mānuka Gin. The gin combines sugarcane alcohol with Tongan vanilla, Guatemalan cardamom, Madagascan pepper, Seville orange, fresh ginger and 16 additional botanicals. The spirit is distilled in micro-batches and aged in toasted mānuka wood coated with local, medicinal-grade mānuka honey.

“Meanwhile, Rifters, of Arrowtown, won World’s Best Navy Gin for its Royal Gin. Judges said the gin presented an ‘intriguing”’combination of mint, eucalyptus and seawater, alongside fresh green herbs and intense citrus notes.

“The 2025 awards marked the second time Coromandel Distilling Company have been recognised in the awards, after a win in 2022 when it was named World’s Best Classic Gin.” (Source: “World Gin Awards 2025: Coromandel, Arrowtown Gins crowned world’s best,” July 1, www.nzherald.co.nz).

5 stars – a number of other Kiwi gin makers were also recognised at the awards, proving the creativity and drive of smaller Kiwi distillers. Top drawer!