Yoko Onishi

I was born and raised in Japan, where I developed a deep appreciation for traditional culture and handmade crafts inspired by nature. Growing up surrounded by this rich heritage, I've always been passionate about arts and crafts.

Ten years ago, I discovered the art of macramé, one of the oldest crafts in the world. Inspired by this technique, I founded a workshop in Auckland focused on teaching children how to create beautiful macramé pieces. Over time, the workshop has expanded to include adults as well. My approach blends macramé techniques with the natural beauty of crystals, which I believe are gifts from Mother Nature herself.

Yu Takano

I’m a Japanese pastry chef and mum. I have been living New Zealand for 5 years and I run a small patisserie business from home. I hope to share my love of baking with you all.

Yulia Niaguseva

Life coach and Feng Shui practitioner Yulia Niaguseva explains how to use images and affirmations to manifest anything your heart desires. Using the principles of Feng Shui, she shows you how to obtain balance and joy in every area of your life, from relationships to your career. Her tried-and-tested, powerful techniques will reveal how to word affirmations, choose images for a vision board, and visualise your success. 

Yvonne van Dongen

Yvonne van Dongen has been a travel editor and writer for over 20 years. She's edited the travel section of the largest newspaper in New Zealand as well as the country's first dedicated glossy travel magazine. She's worked at Conde Nast Traveler in New York. Yvonne has won numerous travel writing awards including a fellowship to study travel writing at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.

Yvonne has a BA in English & Religious Studies, as well as a post-graduate diploma of Journalism from the University of Canterbury. In 2016 she did an MA in Creative Writing at the IIML in Wellington. She also teaches travel writing at the University of Auckland, and lives in Auckland City.

Zarahn Southon

Zarahn Southon is an Auckland based painter of Ngāti Tūwharetoa descent. On completion of a Bachelor of Visual Arts (1998) he had several solo shows and in 2005 was awarded a Contemporary Pacific Art Scholarship, which funded study in Florence, Italy. In 2007 he was awarded a scholarship from the classical art school Studio Escalier in the Loire Valley, France. He then furthered his studies with the senior lecturer at Studio Escalier and pioneer of Restructured Realism Ted Seth Jacobs in San Francisco. Southon regards these periods of study in Italy, France and America as highly influential on his current practice.

Zoë Nash

Zoë Nash is a multidisciplinary artist, based in Tamaki Makaurau. Her work is a celebration of vibrant colour, pattern, shape and form. Making use of a range of different media, her works show a slow, mindful accumulation of repeated and detailed marks that draw from selected plant and flower motifs as inspiration. With over 25 years’ teaching experience, Zoë is passionate about helping others to creatively “bloom”.