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Nicola Alpe

Lifestyle columnist, Instagram - @nicolaalpe

We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Check out Nicola’s latest content
From 20s to 50s: The healthy habits you should start now
Opinion

From 20s to 50s: The healthy habits you should start now

16 May 08:48 PM
Nicola Alpe: What they don't tell you about motherhood
Lifestyle

Nicola Alpe: What they don't tell you about motherhood

03 May 07:00 PM

Nicola Alpe shares what she's learnt and what she wishes she'd been told.

Premium
Opinion: The hot girl's guide to perimenopause
Lifestyle

Opinion: The hot girl's guide to perimenopause

26 Apr 05:00 PM

Women have endured perimenopausal symptoms in silence for too long, writes Nicola Alpe.

Why watching people destroy expensive items is so addictive
Lifestyle

Why watching people destroy expensive items is so addictive

19 Apr 05:00 PM

Russian fashionistas have sparked debate after destroying their designer handbags.

Nicola Alpe: Top 4 ways to avoid a family hell-iday
Lifestyle

Nicola Alpe: Top 4 ways to avoid a family hell-iday

05 Apr 08:11 PM

A family holiday is on the cards for many: Here's how to prevent it becoming a hell-iday.

Should we be shocked by Prince William's Commonwealth call?
Royals

Should we be shocked by Prince William's Commonwealth call?

29 Mar 06:00 PM

Not how the Queen would roll, is Prince William's latest move the refresh we need?

Opinion: Penis pics, TikTok and vaping: How to parent in 2022
Lifestyle

Opinion: Penis pics, TikTok and vaping: How to parent in 2022

22 Mar 11:07 AM

Nicola Alpe imparts four wise points on navigating life as a modern parent.

Opinion: Sometimes all you need is a good cry
Lifestyle

Opinion: Sometimes all you need is a good cry

15 Mar 07:46 PM

Shedding a few tears when times are tough is actually good for you.

Four signs that you've become a geriatric millennial
Lifestyle

Four signs that you've become a geriatric millennial

08 Mar 06:00 PM

A vibe shift is afoot, writes Nicola Alpe. Are geriatric millennials ready for it?

Opinion: Why some relationships are made to end
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why some relationships are made to end

01 Mar 06:56 PM

"Relationships last for a reason, a season or a lifetime. The key is knowing which."

Why fertility is the new inequality
Lifestyle

Why fertility is the new inequality

22 Feb 06:00 PM

And why regular women the world over are being given false hope.

Why the Queen is the original Boss Lady
Royals

Why the Queen is the original Boss Lady

08 Feb 06:00 PM

She may be 95 but Nicola Alpe outlines why she's surprisingly relatable to modern women.

The trouble with aspiring to a celebrity-inspired love life
Lifestyle

The trouble with aspiring to a celebrity-inspired love life

01 Feb 06:00 PM

Why Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox levels of intensity should come with a warning.

The secret skills of an extremely productive person
Lifestyle

The secret skills of an extremely productive person

25 Jan 08:00 PM

Why are some people seemingly so much more productive than others?

Why, like Michelle Obama, I joined the 4am club
Lifestyle

Why, like Michelle Obama, I joined the 4am club

18 Jan 06:00 PM

Could waking up three hours early solve my problem with a lack of time and personal space?

What Kate and other 40yo women have to look forward to
Royals

What Kate and other 40yo women have to look forward to

10 Jan 09:00 PM

Nicola Alpe on how to make the most of this decade in your life.

New Year's resolutions that beat weight loss and tidying up
Lifestyle

New Year's resolutions that beat weight loss and tidying up

28 Dec 01:37 AM

Nicola Alpe points us in a more admirable direction for 2022.

Opinion: What not to do this Christmas
Lifestyle

Opinion: What not to do this Christmas

20 Dec 07:52 PM

This Christmas will be one like no other - here's how to make the most of it.

Ranking the royal family: Who reigned supreme in 2021?
Royals

Ranking the royal family: Who reigned supreme in 2021?

14 Dec 04:00 PM

Nicola Alpe reveals which royal came out on top this year in her view.

The gifts we should be giving this Christmas
Lifestyle

The gifts we should be giving this Christmas

07 Dec 06:00 PM

With retail supply issues and time running out, a gift voucher could save Christmas.

Nicola Alpe: Why humour is the sexiest quality
Lifestyle

Nicola Alpe: Why humour is the sexiest quality

30 Nov 06:00 PM

Humour is one of the most important parts of any relationship, writes Nicola Alpe.

Opinion: The team of one million Kiwis overseas need to do more
Lifestyle

Opinion: The team of one million Kiwis overseas need to do more

23 Nov 07:40 PM

Here's why you should hold on to your NZ passport.

Nicola Alpe: When did being in the PTA become a bad thing?
Lifestyle

Nicola Alpe: When did being in the PTA become a bad thing?

09 Nov 06:00 PM

OPINION: A friend was convinced I was now Christina Applegate's character in Bad Moms.

Nicola Alpe: Has Covid stolen my identity?
Opinion

Nicola Alpe: Has Covid stolen my identity?

02 Nov 06:00 PM

When lockdowns are behind us, will we even remember the glamorous selves we once were?

Opinion: Is it time to swap daycare for a nanny?
Lifestyle

Opinion: Is it time to swap daycare for a nanny?

26 Oct 06:00 PM

Parents shouldn't be shamed for their choice of childcare, writes Nicola Alpe.

Opinion: Will lockdown make life easier for mums?
Lifestyle

Opinion: Will lockdown make life easier for mums?

19 Oct 06:00 PM

For our working mums lockdown could see us make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

Divorce: Should women keep their married name?
Lifestyle

Divorce: Should women keep their married name?

12 Oct 06:00 PM

Nicola Alpe on keeping the name of a family you're no longer part of.

Opinion: Why is it harder to say fat than f***?
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why is it harder to say fat than f***?

28 Sep 07:27 PM

Nicola Alpe: I don't want fat to be a word my daughter uses to measure her worth.

Opinion: How to avoid disaster on your wedding day
Lifestyle

Opinion: How to avoid disaster on your wedding day

21 Sep 05:00 PM

Wedding season is fast approaching - here's how to ensure the big day is a success.

Opinion: Why you'll never be a 'perfect' parent
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why you'll never be a 'perfect' parent

14 Sep 07:00 PM

It's easy to feel like a hypocrite when it comes to raising our kids, writes Nicola Alpe.

Nicola Alpe: What I've learned about myself from homeschool parenting
Lifestyle

Nicola Alpe: What I've learned about myself from homeschool parenting

31 Aug 07:26 PM

Our brief taste of educating our kids may make us more aware of how we treat teachers.

Opinion: Zoom fatigue is real - here's how to avoid it
Lifestyle

Opinion: Zoom fatigue is real - here's how to avoid it

24 Aug 05:00 PM

Nicola Alpe: Working from home blurs the lines between your work and social life.

Nicola Alpe: Stop telling women to 'be kind'
Lifestyle

Nicola Alpe: Stop telling women to 'be kind'

17 Aug 07:00 PM

Nicola Alpe: In 2021, why is the message 'be kind' still so female-focused?

Why Gen Zs have more in common with boomers than they think
Lifestyle

Why Gen Zs have more in common with boomers than they think

10 Aug 07:00 PM

Nicola Alpe: Applaud Gen Z's activism, but don't forget what their grandparents achieved.

Nicola Alpe: Is the nappy debate woke gone mad or decent parenting advice?
Lifestyle

Nicola Alpe: Is the nappy debate woke gone mad or decent parenting advice?

03 Aug 07:00 PM

I now take extra notice of the way I speak to our daughter, writes Nicola Alpe.

Nicola Alpe: The best sustainable household swaps
Lifestyle

Nicola Alpe: The best sustainable household swaps

27 Jul 07:00 PM

After attempting Plastic Free July, Nicola Alpe shares her top tips for sustainable swaps.

Opinion: Why are we so bad at self-care?
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why are we so bad at self-care?

20 Jul 07:00 PM

There's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself - so why do we find it so difficult?

Opinion: The problem with 'wine mum' culture
Lifestyle

Opinion: The problem with 'wine mum' culture

13 Jul 07:00 PM

Nicola Alpe: It's time to rethink the way we drink - and not just for Dry July.

Opinion: Why I feel sorry for Kim Kardashian
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why I feel sorry for Kim Kardashian

06 Jul 07:00 PM

The sight of Kim K on her Roman holiday pulled at my heartstrings, writes Nicola Alpe.

Opinion: How hitting 'unfollow' can make you happier
Lifestyle

Opinion: How hitting 'unfollow' can make you happier

29 Jun 07:00 PM

Nicola Alpe: Letting go of the likes can make our busy lives a whole lot easier.

Opinion: Unconventional advice for a lasting marriage
Lifestyle

Opinion: Unconventional advice for a lasting marriage

15 Jun 10:17 PM

Nicola Alpe: Ten years of trial and error later, I've learned what makes marriage last.

Opinion: Why it's time to reinvent yourself
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why it's time to reinvent yourself

08 Jun 07:00 PM

Since Covid-19 hit, the entire world has undergone a reset - here's why you should too.

Are cellphones killing our conversations?
Lifestyle

Are cellphones killing our conversations?

01 Jun 07:00 PM

Remember when you could go on holiday without having to constantly check your phone?

What you really need to know about hosting a winter dinner party
Lifestyle

What you really need to know about hosting a winter dinner party

25 May 07:00 PM

Here's a step-by-step guide to avoiding dinner party disasters, writes Nicola Alpe.

Opinion: Yes, I'm a 'cheug' and proud of it
Lifestyle

Opinion: Yes, I'm a 'cheug' and proud of it

18 May 07:00 PM

Forget the 'cheugy' label - I can have a side part and wear mom jeans, writes Nicola Alpe.

How using your partner's love language can help you get what you want
Lifestyle

How using your partner's love language can help you get what you want

11 May 07:00 PM

Not getting what you need from your partner? Maybe it's time to try another love language.

Why Mum doesn't want candles and slippers this Mother's Day
Lifestyle

Why Mum doesn't want candles and slippers this Mother's Day

04 May 07:00 PM

Opinion: Turns out it doesn't need to cost a thing to spoil mum this Mother's Day.

The hardest part about navigating the school holidays
Lifestyle

The hardest part about navigating the school holidays

27 Apr 07:00 PM

OPINION: Travelling with kids can be a nightmare - here's how to have a smoother flight.

Opinion: Why embracing boredom is key these school holidays
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why embracing boredom is key these school holidays

20 Apr 07:00 PM

It's okay if all your school holiday plans go out the window, writes Nicola Alpe.

Opinion: How to talk to your kids about OnlyFans
Lifestyle

Opinion: How to talk to your kids about OnlyFans

13 Apr 07:00 PM

With platforms like OnlyFans on the rise, kids' online safety is more important than ever.

Why my child doesn't believe in the Easter Bunny
Lifestyle

Why my child doesn't believe in the Easter Bunny

30 Mar 06:00 PM

It's time to focus on what Easter is really all about - chocolate, writes Nicola Alpe.

Opinion: Why we shouldn't pay our kids to do chores
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why we shouldn't pay our kids to do chores

23 Mar 06:00 PM

Opinion: Kiwi kids are growing up not knowing how to do basic household tasks.

Opinion: How comparison is harming your kids
Lifestyle

Opinion: How comparison is harming your kids

16 Mar 06:00 PM

Did anyone else look at George and Charlotte's handwriting and start feeling insecure?

Opinion: Why it's time to bring back the bush
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why it's time to bring back the bush

09 Mar 06:00 PM

It's important that our daughters grow up unashamed of their bodies, writes Nicola Alpe.

Opinion: Why we should celebrate International Women's Day
Lifestyle

Opinion: Why we should celebrate International Women's Day

02 Mar 07:32 PM

This year, let's celebrate the capable, creative and resilient women we all know.

Five parenting hacks to get you through the preschool years
Lifestyle

Five parenting hacks to get you through the preschool years

23 Feb 01:52 AM

Parenting preschoolers can be hectic - here are a few shortcuts to make life easier.

How to build a child's resilience during a pandemic
Lifestyle

How to build a child's resilience during a pandemic

16 Feb 06:00 PM

It's more important than ever that we raise our kids to be mentally strong - but how?

Opinion: Are dogs the new status symbol of 2021?
Lifestyle

Opinion: Are dogs the new status symbol of 2021?

09 Feb 06:00 PM

'Is the dog the sign of a healthy bank account wrapped up in a fluffy, cheerful package?'

Opinion: When did parents start 'lunch box shaming' each other?
Lifestyle

Opinion: When did parents start 'lunch box shaming' each other?

02 Feb 06:00 PM

The back-to-school lunchbox has become another minefield for parents to navigate.

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