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Home & living

Our comprehensive guides and product reviews help you make informed choices that suit your budget and lifestyle, so you can spend more time enjoying your home and less time worrying about whether you've made the right purchase.

Latest in home & living

Woman looking distressed at power bill.

Thousands look to leave Powershop after new app rollout

Powershop customers are fed up with high power bills and ongoing problems with the company’s new app.

Should I buy a robot vacuum cleaner for my carpets?

It’s time to clean your front-loading washing machine – here’s how

Should I upgrade to Wi-Fi panel heaters?

Could ‘smart hot water’ lower your power bill?


Baby & child

Why is this recalled toy still available online?

Recalled Squeezy Dumplings toys available in NZ on AliExpress.

9 of the best things to buy at Kmart

5 cheap products that actually make parenting easier

Image of duvet in washing machine

Washing machine safety regulations tightened to avoid child deaths

Baby playing with toys

NZ's outdated safety laws aren't protecting kids from Temu and Shein risks

See all baby & child


Building & renovation

How to stop mould growing in your home

Find out how to stop mould growing in your home and tips for removing mould from damp areas.

It’s the perfect time to get your home ready for winter

Building inspections are crucial – can you trust them?

How to protect your home from flooding

Garden house boundary hero

Garden maintenance

See all building & renovation


Garden & outdoor

6 tips to keep your spa pool safe from Legionella bacteria

Learn how to keep your spa pool or hot tub safe from dangerous Legionella bacteria.
Lawn mower cutting grass.

Hardest and easiest to use lawn mowers

Cooking sausages on a BBQ.

Best and worst portable BBQs

Potting mix and compost: How to keep safe from dangerous bacteria

Man using lawn mower.

5 mistakes to avoid when buying a lawn mower

See all garden & outdoor


Should I upgrade to Wi-Fi panel heaters?

Smart convection heaters are versatile, quiet and classy, but they’re not the best heater for every New Zealand home. Discover the pros and cons.
Curtains in home

How to choose the best curtains for your rental home

living room interior

The best curtains and blinds for keeping the heat in

window with condensation cracked open

How to reduce dampness and improve ventilation

Guide to getting off gas: Why it’s time to disconnect and how to do it

See all heating, cooling & air


Home energy

Woman looking distressed at power bill.

Thousands look to leave Powershop after new app rollout

Powershop customers are fed up with high power bills and ongoing problems with the company’s new app.

We invited the political parties to an energy debate – here are 4 cracker quotes from the night

5 questions with our CEO

Should I upgrade to Wi-Fi panel heaters?

Could ‘smart hot water’ lower your power bill?

See all home energy


Household essentials

It’s time to clean your front-loading washing machine – here’s how

Find out how to clean a front-loading washing machine and prevent bad odours.

NZ mattress buying guide 2026: Best & worst brands

9 of the best things to buy at Kmart

Product trends we love … and loathe

Is Kmart’s E-Calendar any good? Or should you buy a TRMNL?

See all household essentials


Kitchen

5 expensive products that tanked in our tests

We sometimes find the priciest products are beaten in the lab by much cheaper models. Here are 5 products that aren’t worth your money.

Review: Bunnings’ $99 electric pizza oven

8 things you shouldn’t cook in an air fryer

9 of the best things to buy at Kmart

Slow cooker.

You don’t need to spend more than $75 on a slow cooker

See all kitchen


Laundry & cleaning

It’s time to clean your front-loading washing machine – here’s how

Find out how to clean a front-loading washing machine and prevent bad odours.

True or false: 10 common beliefs about robot vacuums

Product trends we love … and loathe

How much does it cost to run a washing machine if you’re on metered water?

Image of a person turning on their washing machine

Front loader vs top loader washing machines: Which is better?

See all laundry & cleaning


Vacuums & floorcare

Should I buy a robot vacuum cleaner for my carpets?

Find out if robot vacuum cleaners are any good at cleaning carpets.

True or false: 10 common beliefs about robot vacuums

Product trends we love … and loathe

Robot vacuum on wooden floor.

2 robot vacuums to avoid

Is the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai robot vacuum cleaner worth buying?

See all vacuums & floorcare