Viva’s Most Fabulous People Of 2024

These are the names from the worlds of fashion, food, beauty, culture and design that made an impact this year.

Viva’s Most Fabulous People of 2024 are those who, through their myriad skills, have made our cities more interesting places to live. This year’s names are refreshingly diverse, from established household brands to up-and-coming talent and those creating positive change through politics, culture and art. It’s been a challenging year, and these bright stars offer hope for the future.

Fashion

The year saw pockets of fashion figures re-write the rules of what it means to start out and how to leave on a dignified high note.

Sophia Kwon, Nina Bailey, Billy Blamires: The Connectors

When New Zealand Fashion Week announced in May that it would postpone this year’s event, it was an opportunity for a new type of Fashion Week to emerge that focused less on a commercial reset, more on a cultural one.

Enter Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa, an independent, youth-focused event that reminded us why we need our younger creative communities to challenge the status quo. Founded by friends Sophia Kwon (22), who has a background in animation and film; Nina Bailey (24), a dance teacher and model; and Billy Blamires (21) an AUT fashion graduate, Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa was a refreshing reminder of how creatives in the early stages of their careers still need a platform to be seen and heard, especially after having missed out on so many chances to connect in person during their formative years due to Covid.

Some of the most exciting and interesting shows I’ve witnessed have been from designers who chose to show outside of the official NZ Fashion Week schedule, including the likes of Miss Crabb and its 2012 show held at The Pony Club at 2am and Mala Brajkovic’s 2006 off-schedule show, entitled Cyborgs Rule, OK! Because where would the fashion industry be without the excitement of youthful, wild abandon?

Held at events studio Raynham Park on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd in September, the event brought together young creatives from across the country. For Billy, who is an AUT fashion graduate, the opportunity to work with Sophia and Nina was an extension of their involvement in creating another underground runway group show, Rogue, held in 2023, which took place a week before New Zealand Fashion Week, which returned after a four-year hiatus.

“We weren’t really planning on doing anything with Rogue this year, and we all ended up dispersing, as life happens, so it wasn’t feasible to do it again,” they say. “When Nina and Fifi messaged, I was hesitant as I had so much going on, but after our initial conversations I realised we were on a similar vibe.”

Nina adds “What is so cool about the three of us is we’ve got different backgrounds and this helps shape the type of experiences we envisage; something special that feels inclusive and special.” The trio have already started reaching out to their community about next year’s Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa in March and another later in the year, with plans to seek funding to support its ongoing mission.

In a year when fashion felt like it was not allowed to dream big again, the trio behind Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa proved there’s still a glimmer of hope.

Levi Tan: The Style Whizz

Levi’s playful approach to styling showcases someone with a genuine passion for authentic style.

It might be a jaunty, skew-whiff scarf tied around the neck, or a dishevelled skirt worn over a dress with western boots. There are no limits to Levi’s styling and it’s a freedom of expression I love to see. His work with fashion designer Nana Doan of Aera is also impressive, working with the brand for its solo runway show in November and as part of Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa in September.

“We share a common passion for style and inspiration. Nana has a distinct vision for her designs, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed bringing a fresh perspective to elevate her garments and make them truly unique. We spent countless hours designing, styling, fitting, and brainstorming ideas. The process of carefully selecting models for each look was both meticulous and exciting. It wasn’t just a fashion show; it was a form of artistic expression. Being involved in every stage of the collection, from inception to completion, has been a truly rewarding experience.”

Caitlin Snell and Nana Doan: The Breakout Designer Stars

This year I saw loads of corsets and bustle-shaped skirts that looked like they could have been plucked from a wench’s closet, but there was something slightly more elevated and romantic about the way Nana Doan offered up her take on pillowy ruffle skirts and tops that laced up at the back. Her label, Aera, had its solo show in November, and before that, it was also part of the Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa showcase in September.

“Everything felt surreal” she reflects on her most recent solo shot “the result of an entire year of planning. So many moments and emotions shaped the collection into what it became. Every detail, the colours, textures, silhouettes, hair and makeup, set designs, and the show itself was a meaningful connection, woven together to tell a personal story I hoped everyone could relate to in some way or another.” Bringing together a community of emerging creatives, the show also put the spotlight on styling from Levi Tan, project manager and jewellery designer Chloe Giles, hair and make-up artists Jenny and Weiting, photographer Willow Handy, web designer Josefa Retamal, and design assistant Bonnie Choi. “As well as all the models, videographers, backstage photographers, and show assistants, everyone came together to help create something extraordinary for my very first solo show.”

Another emerging designer who has zeroed in on a specific design aesthetic is Nelson-based Caitlin Snell, who has for the past couple of years made a convincing case for bow-shaped hair accessories and bags. This year she expanded her coquettish vision into an extension of garments – wrap mini-skirts, tops and draped dresses which she showcased as part of her solo show at Studio One Toi Tū in November. “My ‘Maiden’ runway show was a dream come true!” she explains. “I have always wanted to do my own solo show, and working with my friends for each of their looks made it all the more special. My confidence as a designer has also flourished from the incredible reception and opportunities that have followed. It has all left me feeling so inspired – I’ve already started planning my next show, which will take place in 2025.”

By creating opportunities for themselves and their communities on their own terms, both designers have set themselves up for a future in fashion that amplifies others while staying true to their distinctive aesthetics. “2024 was full of change and growth, both in my personal life and career,” says Caitlin. “It feels incredible to have reached a point where, as of last month, I can move into focusing on the label full-time.”

For Nana, fashion is also deeply personal. “Martin Scorsese once said, ‘The most personal is the most creative.’ Fashion is my art, and when I create, I draw inspiration from my surroundings – the environment, the people, and the experiences that have shaped who I am. My collections are very personal to me; they tell my story. Fashion is a form of expression, my way of expressing vulnerability, offering a glimpse into my life and inviting others to connect on a personal level through what I create.”

– Dan Ahwa, creative and fashion director

Rory William Docherty: The Fashion Poet

In the most high-profile moment of Rory Docherty’s year, models and muses dressed in his designs strode a grand runway. They donned scholarly collars, artful prints and metallic fabrications for his debut at Australian Fashion Week, drawing the audience in with each step of a brogue. Attendees leaned forward, eager to see the pieces from the New Zealand designer – the “Love Collateral” collection carried some weight as the only international slated to show in Sydney. It took long hours and proactive organisation from Rory’s small team to prepare for an 11-minute runway. It was a clear and exciting expression of Rory’s distinct aesthetic, which the designer has worked hard to galvanise since he launched his eponymous brand seven years ago.

The response from friends, family and industry professionals to his sophomore showing was deeply affirming, says Rory. He received “instant, positive, encouraging and complementary feedback” that was “the reward” he was hoping for in those long intense weeks.

This period, following his romantic debut at Kahuria: New Zealand Fashion Week 2023, marks a slight shift in Rory’s approach to his work – the designer is embracing greater visibility within the local industry. This has been a conscious decision, as Rory aims to show support to peers and overcome feelings of isolation. “I stubbornly wanted my work to be enough. The truth is, it doesn’t matter how good the work is, if you’re not putting it out there, very, very few will notice. So, yes, I’m engaging more, and I want people to know what I am creating.”

He’s been influenced by fellow designer Kiri Nathan in this drive to connect. The two met a few months ahead of her opening Fashion Week spectacular in 2023. “I saw her working with people, with respect and love, values I share, and I felt less alone. I felt reinvigorated to get involved in the industry, and I hope, make some changes.” He wants to create a “positive supportive environment” for his team and to set an example with “integrity and transparency” in his leadership as an independent designer – he strongly feels the wider industry should ensure they’re integrating these preserving practices in their workplaces too.

In his design practice, Rory has drawn on his commercial fashion experience working for NZ brands Swanndri and Workshop, fusing practicality with his signature artistic exploration. “The collections as a result are broader with pieces that I, and my customers, wear all the time,” he said. “Functional garments that serve a purpose and can be worn again and again for various occasions throughout the seasons.”

Rory has also attended events that platform upcoming designers, from the eco-aware Mindful Fashion Awards to the energetic graduate shows from Whitecliffe and AUT – he’s begun to create pathways for those creatives through in-house internships. During this period of transformation and big ambitious steps, Rory has held tightly to his inspired designs and standards of excellence – we look forward to more of his stirring vision for fashion next year. – Madeleine Crutchley, multimedia journalist

Kate Sylvester: The Fashion Icon

In April, Kate Sylvester summoned me to her home via text message. She had some news she and Wayne Conway, her partner/Kate Sylvester co-founder, wanted to tell me in person. I remember my brain rolling around theories about what the news could be, ranging from the potential announcement of an investor/buyer/successor or perhaps a new fragrance category.

“Dan, we’ve thought long and hard about this, and after 31 glorious years, we’ve decided to close the Kate Sylvester brand,” were her exact words when I saw her and Wayne that following Tuesday at their home in Westmere. It was said with Kate’s signature matter-of-fact delivery.

Three decades is a long time to sustain a successful business, let alone one that trades in the sometimes unpredictable whims of the consumer. “It certainly hasn’t been a rushed decision at all,” Kate said that day. “The fact that we can actually do this is a huge achievement in itself.”

I filed the story for the following day and it was picked up immediately by several news outlets.

The pioneering fashion label has made several significant contributions to New Zealand’s fashion canon, starting with its early years operating from a converted warehouse on Kitchener St in Auckland’s CBD with its inaugural brand, Sister.

It was here Kate designed her early collections while Wayne, a graphic designer, created the prints and handled business operations. They took New Zealand fashion to the world, and by the late 90s, they changed the brand name to Kate Sylvester. In 1999, Kate showcased her first individual fashion show during Australian Fashion Week, where her conceptually driven designs sparked a bidding war between two heavyweight New York department stores at the time, Barneys and Henri Bendel.

READ: Kate Sylvester Celebrates 30 Years In Fashion. What Makes A Label Last?

Having witnessed fashion shows all over the world, some of my favourites weredreamt up right here by Kate and Wayne. From their tear-jerker of a 2005 show, Stop Your Sobbing, complete with a cascading waterfall backdrop Wayne had built, to the Art Groupie show from autumn/winter 2008 where models stomped out to Art Bitch by CSS in a collection that included one of many museum-worthy pieces: Kate’s dramatic take on Pearly King and Queen garb. From sheath dresses to 50s knickers and fake furs, a strangely sexy but intelligent undertone shaped Kate’s aesthetic.

As close friend and author Stacy Gregg wrote for Viva in 2014, “Kate Sylvester’s style is so much a part of the framework of the way we dress ourselves now in New Zealand, it is hard to imagine there was a time when she didn’t exist.”

But it’s not only Kate’s remarkable contribution to what constitutes our sometimes complicated (and almost puritanical approach to fashion) - she challenged it by championing an industry she loves and continues to through her work as co-founder of Mindful Fashion New Zealand; a 2014 speech to open New Zealand Fashion Week part of Kate’s industry-committed legacy.

“Does our Government want a country of passive ‘global’ consumers, importing ‘global’ product?” she asked at the time, “or does our Government want New Zealand to be a dynamic, creative, aspirational country exporting our product to the world?”

Ten years later, those words still resonate. – Dan Ahwa

Adrienne Winkelmann (ONZM): The Fashion Powerbroker

After 40 years, Adrienne Winkelmann will close the doors to her business and iconic glossy Chancery boutique next week.

Anyone who remembers walking into Adrienne Winkelmann’s Chancery boutique for the first time, might recall being surprised to see the designer sitting at a mirrored desk. Always on hand to greet customers, she made her world an extension of her taste for glamour, designing a comprehensive wardrobe for women mostly in high-powered positions, like her sister Dame Helen Winkelmann (GNZM), and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, who told me in October how Adrienne’s clothes “fitted the bill”.

“I went to Adrienne, in essence, because she designed for women who were in the public eye and in leadership,” she explained.

Her retirement letter was dedicated to her late mother, Kathleen, who came from a large Croatian family and was a pivotal figure in Adrienne’s s desire to be a designer. Kathleen also played a vital role in establishing Adrienne Winkelmann’s first retail store.

Founder of the New Zealand Fashion Museum, Doris de Pont (ONZM), paid tribute to Adrienne’s eye for precision.

“Adrienne and I were neighbours in O’Connell St for a number of years in the mid-1980s,” says Doris.

“She had very sleek premises, with polished wooden floors and elegant ceiling-to-floor curtains, in the new Commercial Union Building opposite my shop. It was a really ‘fashionable’ precinct that included Patrick Steel, Zambesi, Trelise Cooper, ZouZou, Kevin Berkahn, Streetlife, and then there were the famous hairdressers of the 80s.

“I am a great admirer of fashion that is well made and Adrienne’s work always epitomised that for me, style and substance. She was unique in that her garments were equally at home in Fashion Quarterly and in ChaCha magazine. Interestingly her label is not one you find in op shops – they were made to last and to be loved. She will be missed.” – Dan Ahwa

Food & Drink

From chefs with big hearts to boundary-pushing vintners.

The Pici/Ooh-Fa team: The Mavericks

The team behind restaurants Pici and Ooh-Fa like challenging your perceptions. Pushing people out of their comfort zone is where the magic happens, says head chef Jono Thevenard. At Pici, the intimate Karangahape Rd restaurant he founded in 2020 with friends Kazuya Suzuki and Gemma Hareb, the music is loud, the staff look like they’ve come straight from a party, the Italian-inspired pasta menu is simple and succinct and the surrounding arcade hums with colourful nightlife. If first-time diners arrive looking shellshocked, they usually leave satisfied, their scepticism melted away by great food, deft service and the inimitable feeling of being in a full, buzzy, happy restaurant.

It’s the same at 22-seater Ooh-Fa on Dominion Rd, which opened in 2021 and like Pici, was inspired by the team’s time in London and Italy, where “places that do one thing really well” abound. Chef Fraser Childs’ rotating menu of five sourdough pizzas paired with incredibly appealing sides is a complement to Pici’s edited menu of pasta, antipasti and organic and low-intervention wines. It’s a winning formula that’s seen Pici awarded its first hat in this year’s Cuisine Good Food Awards and win best casual restaurant in Metro’s Top 50 Restaurants. Both restaurants were recognised in Viva’s Top 60 Auckland Restaurants for 2024 (Pici in the Top 10), with the staff commended for being some of the best in town. Jono says their standard of service has been “really high” since day one, with an opening team that included the talents of “wine guy” James Pain and Steff Mitchell (ex-Depot) who instilled a strong work ethic in the team from early on. It’s clear they’re having fun doing it too.

One of our favourite moments from 2024 was seeing the Pici’s team reaction to dining out editor Jesse Mulligan’s throwaway line that the staff looked “a little rough around the edges”. Their response? Dressing up in crisp, buttoned-up whites and pressed black trousers, hair slicked and silver trays at the ready for a night of “no edges” service. “It got a reaction”, says Jono, laughing, because staff “actually put a lot of thought into how they present themselves at work”. It’s just the sort of scrappy spontaneity and good fun this city needs more of. Thank you for your service, team. – Johanna Thornton, deputy editor

Amy Hopkinson-Styles: The Boundary Pusher

We’re not sure how Amy Hopkinson-Styles has crammed so much into 2024. As winemaker and owner of Halcyon Days with partner Olly Styles, she’s taken her Te Matau a Māui Hawke’s Bay label to new heights, which saw it named Viva’s Natural Wine Producer of the Year in this year’s NZ Wine Awards. She’s also been flying the flag for local chardonnay as chair of the Aotearoa Chardonnay Symposium, now in its second successful year. After passing the ultra-tough Masters of Wine theory and tasting examinations, she’s currently working on her dissertation. She’s also found time to be a mentor for Tawhiti wines, the country’s first indigenous natural wine label. – Jo Burzynska, wine editor

Jannine Rickards: The Hunter and Forager

It’s been a big year for Jannine Rickards (Ngā Puhi, Ngā te Rangi), wahine winemaker and wild food hunter. After dividing her time between making impressive wines as chief winemaker at Wairarapa’s Urlar and for her own Huntress label, she decided to take the plunge and make Huntress her main focus. Making such soulful and interesting small-batch wines saw Huntress in Viva’s Top 50 Wineries once again in 2024, with accolades extending overseas when her 2023 Pinot Noir was named one of the top New Zealand releases in Decanter magazine. We can’t wait to try her latest wines from the great 2024 vintage and see what she crafts from her collaborations with organic winegrowers around the country in 2025. – Jo Burzynska

Samir Allen: The Good Chef

Samir Allen’s mahi was recognised in Viva’s Top 60 Auckland Restaurants 2024, with Gemmayze Street taking out the supreme award, praised for his consistency and quiet determination, offering Aucklanders superb contemporary Lebanese food in the magic of a century-old arcade. Founded in 2016, Gemmayze Street is what dining out editor Jesse Mulligan calls “the heart of Karangahape Rd”, where a young team work hard to provide a memorable experience, and a sense of generosity runs through it all. For Samir, it’s all about changing the conversation around Lebanese food.

“My aim with Gemmayze Street since we first opened eight years ago is to show that Lebanese food can move forward, just like every other cuisine. All cultures evolve, and we don’t have to be left behind or always associated with ‘home-cooking’. French food is seen as the pinnacle, but it’s a baby compared to Middle Eastern food. Lebanon has one of the oldest cultures in the world and I have always wanted to show what that could look like going into the future,” he told Viva in November.

His St Kevins Arcade dining room has previously been home to pay-as-you-feel not-for-profit Everybody Eats on Monday nights and while the initiative now has permanent locations in Auckland, Samir has continued with his charitable efforts, raising money for grassroots aid in Lebanon, and participating in DineAid to support local city missions. This summer there’ll be more opportunities to dine at Gemmayze Street with the announcement its Kebab Shop pop-up will run every Sunday, serving a casual menu of loaded hummus, mixed grill and Lebanese chicken rice. We thank you, chef. – Johanna Thornton

Beauty

These influential names dominated the year with their creativity and passion for their communities.

Emma Peters: The Makeup Mogul

Aleph founder Emma Peters is in a league of her own. The L’Oreal-trained makeup artist spent the better part of two decades honing her craft in the mass makeup category before championing the natural makeup movement in Aotearoa with Aleph. That was in 2018, and since then the disruptive beauty brand set its sights on steady growth, zeroing in on multi-purpose products.

As far as record years go, few have been quite so meteoric for Aleph as 2024 – with the brand’s biggest launch since its inception landing on shelves in mid-November – a three-in-one skin tint that moonlights as makeup, skincare and sunscreen. Formulating a multifunctional product that offered broad-spectrum protection while staying true to Aleph’s conscious and clean beauty ethos proved challenging – and Emma poured years into researching and testing formulations crafted without nanomaterials, silicones or chemical UV filters. The result is a world-class PA+++ rated broad-spectrum sunscreen hybrid that shields skin from UVA and UVB rays, perfecting complexions as much as it protects.

Ashley Emiko: The Multi-Hyphenate

To say Ashley Emiko (Rongomai Wahine, Ngāti Kahungunu) has had a lot going on in 2024 would be a gross understatement. Navigating the number of accounts listed in her Instagram bio is enough to send even a seasoned multitasker into a spin, but somehow the 23-year-old multi-hyphenate traverses her many hats with ease. While I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Ashley in person (yet), I’ve found her mahi fascinating: as a model, social media content creator, artist, photographer and studio manager. When asked about the essence of being fabulous, she replied: “To me, being “fabulous” is about staying grounded in who you are, never forgetting where you’ve come from, and leading with kindness, generosity, and aroha. To me, it’s about having an open heart, not being afraid to try new things, embracing every experience with authenticity, and lifting others up along the way.” And that she does.

In May, Ashley unveiled her first photographic exhibition at the Nancy Caiger Gallery inside Hamilton’s Meteor Theatre. Titled For the People, the series explored themes of connection, identity and heritage through a series of 27 portraits that celebrated diversity and self-expression. Included was the shot pictured here called Karaunatia – a self-portrait of Ashley wearing a headpiece crafted from fresh pua and putiputi, a homage to her Hawaiian heritage.

In August, Ashley debuted The Void, her first painting in the Mātauranga exhibition at the same gallery. For every spellbinding makeup look or enviable ‘fit shared to her Instagram, Ashley’s social media presence cements her advocacy of important social issues facing Māori, including the Toitū Te Tiriti hīkoi in November. Excited and expectant for the year to come, Ashley hopes to share her many aspirations with her audience.

“Looking ahead to 2025, I will continue on my journey to growing as both an artist and a person,” she says. “I aim to uplift and inspire others through my creative mahi and hope to encourage others to embrace their own journeys of self-love and identity, just as I am on my own.”

– Ashleigh Cometti, beauty editor

Culture, Arts & Design

Creativity and representation stood out in positive ways as the following names proved.

Vera Ellen: The Virtuous Virtuoso

Vera’s sophomore album, Ideal Home Noise, was released in March 2023. A little over a year later, the record of contemplative tracks was honoured with the Taite Music Prize. The artist accepted the award with producer Ben Lemi, acknowledging the women that had come before her in Aotearoa’s music history, commending her fellow nominees and calling the moment on stage “a fever dream” and “absolutely insane”.

There are plenty of serendipitous moments from 2024 that have been meaningful for the artist; touring Australia with Crowded House; travelling through China with her band, duo Birdparty, and electronic producer Kaishandao; performing B Your Boy with Voom at the Powerstation; and joining a boycott of SXSW in Austin, Texas after learning of the festival sponsors’ links with the Israeli Defence Force (standing by the closing words of her Taite Prize speech: “Free Palestine”).

This year in music has left her with some lessons, primarily about navigating the fleeting nature of opportunity – she highlights the importance of making the most of it, but focusing on craft and artistry first and foremost. When Vera considers the music industry more widely, she tells Viva there are a few initiatives that make her hopeful. She points to the initiative of young musicians organising locally and highlights the growth of the E tū Musicians’ Union, which advocates for a “fairer music industry”. She agitates for more change too. “We need more venues, more people coming to local gigs, more all-ages shows, better pay for musicians, more infrastructure for a sustainable career and I am hopeful we can get there.”

As a musician having a moment in the spotlight, Vera has supported various causes and actions – uplifting her community in a moment when it really needs some love. – Madeleine Crutchley

Chris Stevens: The Visionary

As far as people shaping Auckland goes, no one’s doing it more literally than Chris Stevens from architectural design studio CTRL Space, responsible for some of our most-loved restaurant interiors, including Hotel Ponsonby, Bossi, Lilian and The Nightcar. Chris and his team are having a phenomenal 2024, winning Best Australia & Pacific Restaurant in the hotel category for Metita at the prestigious Restaurant & Bar Awards in Barcelona. Locally, this Pacific-inspired restaurant from chef Michael Meredith won the Hospitality Interior Award at this year’s Best Awards and Best Interior in Viva’s Top 60 Auckland Restaurant Awards. In short: Metita is a showstopper.

The wins append a string of highlights this year, including a slick rebrand by Seachange to mark 15 years in business, the publication of a book (titled CTRL Space) charting the design firm’s interior projects to date, and the opening of the multi-functional Drifter Hybrid Hotel for LACo in Christchurch, with its minimalist, Bauhaus-inspired design. Chris’ spaces feel international, adding to the vibrant fabric of the city and creating destinations out of suburban streets. “Seeing the ripple effect a successful hospitality venue can have – not just on a client’s success but on the vibrancy of entire neighbourhoods – is deeply rewarding,” says Chris. – Johanna Thornton

Kura Forrester: The Performer

She stole the show as perimenopausal Gisborne mum and ex-pageant star Fleur in Silo Theatre’s Camping, which this month saw four of the country’s best-loved comedians take to the stage in a reimagined version of their 2016 NZ Comedy Festival performance. A naughty, sexy romp with a jaw-dropping ending, it was just the tonic the sold-out audiences didn’t know they needed, and the joy was palpable. Starring alongside collaborators and friends Tom Sainsbury, Chris Parker and Brynley Stent, Kura is phenomenal as Fleur, who’d rather be catching up on Love Island Australia than celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary with husband Les (Tom).

It’s been a big year for the actor, writer and comedian, who performed her anticipated solo comedy show Here If You Need at the Winter Comedy Festival in August, marking four years since her Billy T Award-winning Kura Woulda Shoulda. At the same time, the second series of her TV show, Double Parked, written by Chris Parker and Alice Snedden, hit NZ screens. Chris told the NZ Herald’s Spy that Kura’s performance as Lily, the flatmate of a lesbian couple trying to conceive (Madeleine Sami and Antonia Prebble), gave him goosebumps. “I think Kura Forrester is the funniest person in New Zealand. There I said it!” This year, Kura has not only solidified her place as a comedic powerhouse but also reminded us why she’s one of New Zealand’s most versatile and beloved performers. – Johanna Thornton

Jess Hong: The Shapeshifter

This year, actor Jess Hong has been a convincing and compelling presence in both local and international productions, excelling in everything from physical theatre to gory horror and deeply theoretical science fiction. The actor, who grew up in Palmerston North, has showcased her dexterity to Basement Theatre audiences in Tāmaki Makaurau and fans across the globe. Across mediums, Jess has delivered intensely watchable and entertaining performances.

In Skilaa’s Southern Gothic music video she played an existential and feral game of musical chairs under fluorescent office lights. In Nathan Joe’s A Short History Of Asian New Zealand Theatre, Jess commanded the audience from a spin bike, grasping its handles to pedal through a revived historical archive. In the NZ-made body horror-comedy Grafted, she starred as the antagonising, severe Angela, getting under the skin of her younger cousin, Wei – who later returns the favour with some experimental body snatching, giving Jess the opportunity to assert her killer instinct in the lead role. Jess also played a leading role as the master theoretical physicist Dr Jin Cheng in Netflix’s 3 Body Problem. The eight-part, Emmy-nominated, science-fiction series traverses an alien invasion, a video game matrix and several mysterious alternate realities. No matter the form, Jess has committed wholeheartedly to her performances this year, bringing a grounding force that is utterly enchanting. – Madeleine Crutchley

Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke: The Leader

No matter where you sit on the political spectrum, it’s difficult to ignore the cultural impact Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke made this year when she led a haka in Parliament to oppose Act leader David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill. Summoning her ancestors in a haka, her protest has now gone viral, with the video viewed more than 700 million times online. As the youngest member of Parliament since 1853, Hana’s statement-making moment came with consequences too: she was removed from Parliament, suspended, barred from voting or entering the debating chamber for 24 hours and also had her pay docked. Nevertheless, her haka has been immortalised in everything from an illustration by Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho and featured in a song entitled Let Her Rip by Melbourne-based DJ Aroha, with Hana’s voice laid over synths and breakbeat drums. – Dan Ahwa

Sport

These stylish sports figures displayed the tenacity required to be world-class athletes with real influence.

Liam Lawson: The Speed Demon

At the time of writing, Liam Lawson’s future for 2025 is still TBC. Hoping for a promotion from the development team to Red Bull’s top line-up, led by four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen, Liam still failed to finish the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to a pit stop error. After inheriting his Racing Bulls seat from Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo in October, Liam has still made an impact during his brief six-race audition, and whether or not you’re a F1 fanatic, the 22-year-old Hastings-born racing car driver proves he’s up for the challenge and has managed to do his best despite the awkward mid-season change for the team.

But like any good sports person, it pays to keep your options open, with Liam already tapping into opportunities outside of the sport, including fashion. He’s collaborated with two heritage New Zealand brands - family business Partridge Jewellers (which celebrates its 120th anniversary this year) and outdoor specialist Kathmandu, starring in the brand’s winter campaign. He’s proven that even though the world of F1 Driving can at times feel fickle, he’s determined to make a name for himself either way. That shows plenty of tenacity and an ability to navigate the lucrative side of sport which will help shape the kind of F1 star he’s destined to become. – Dan Ahwa

Lulu Sun: The Flag Bearer

Lulu Sun will start 2025 the same way she began 2024, on court competing in the ASB Classic and winning fans over. But in the 12 months between appearances, almost everything has changed for the ascendant tennis star. It was at the Auckland tournament last year that Tennis New Zealand formally approached the Te Anau-born player about playing under the New Zealand flag and she officially switched allegiances (from her residential country Switzerland) in March, saying in a statement at the time she saw it as “A tribute to my roots, a celebration of my origin, and a commitment to the country that has always been a fundamental part of who I am and who I want to become. ”

The 23-year-old wasted no time in raising the profile on NZ Tennis, ranked outside the world Top 200 in January, by the year’s end she’d soared to a place in the Top 40. Along the way she made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the Australian Open, grabbed the world’s attention with a Wimbledon quarter-final run which made her the first NZ woman to reach that stage in the Open Era and made her first Tour final in Monterrey, in Mexico. In October a wrist injury saw Lulu pull out of the Hong Kong Open contention, but the WTA newcomer of the year did it in the hopes of continuing to fly the flag high for New Zealand Tennis next year. “Now, it’s all about healing and coming back even stronger in 2025,” she wrote on Instagram. - Tyson Beckett, multimedia journalist

Lydia Ko: The Stalwart

For golfer Lydia Ko, 2024 was the year perseverance paid off. The 27-year-old, who turned professional in 2013, had a remarkable season, winning Olympic gold, claiming her third major title at the British Open and earning eligibility for the golfing Hall of Fame - the youngest player to be inducted under its current criteria. Lydia pegs her Olympic success as the highlight of a venerated year in which she took home earnings of more than $5.5 million. Making it all the more special is the knowledge the games were her last, she’s always spoken candidly about her intention to retire from the sport before the age of 30. “To make all my dreams come true by winning the gold there was unbelievable,” she told the LPGA Tour as her season ended with third place in Florida. In November Lydia became the first Kiwi golfer to be bestowed the LPGA’s Heather Farr Perseverance Award. Chosen by the LPGA membership the award honours an LPGA Tour player who, through hard work, dedication and love of the game of golf, has demonstrated determination, perseverance and spirit in fulfilling her goals as a player. – Tyson Beckett

More on 2024

The moments and moods that shaped the year that was.

The Viva Team’s Top Songs Of 2024, From Recession Pop To Post-Punk. What were the moments in music that made an impact for us this year? The Viva team surveys their top tracks of the year, for a playlist that involves dependably dancey tracks, lots of synths and a dash of existentialism.

These Are ‘Best’ Recipe Extracts Viva Shared In 2024. Cook Them & Judge For Yourself. Recipe-wise, 2024 has been one for the books.

All Of Viva’s Sustainable Fashion Coverage From 2024. Here, we’ve collated our sustainably-focused fashion coverage from 2024, from circular design to challenging artistic projects.

Viva’s Top 60 Auckland Restaurants For 2024. Back for 2024 and just in time for summer, Viva’s dining out editor Jesse Mulligan and deputy editor Johanna Thornton select this year’s 60 best places to have dinner, crowning a Supreme Winner, a top 10, and highlighting some special category winners.