A whiff of crisis and patchouli
A whiff of crisis and patchouli
Every few decades, a generation sees the need for change, and society jolts forth,. writes Kate Oktay.
Okay Oktay
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day
For those of you in the part of the Venn diagram that means (1) Father’s Day is news to you, and (2) you know someone who may have expected you to remember, I’m truly sorry for the terror that is now settling in your heart.
Doing our (little) bit
Doing our (little) bit
Living in NZ, especially, I suspect, in a small community, when you are middle-aged, is a long succession of attending community meetings to plan fundraising initiatives, writes Kate Oktay.
Kate Oktay: A queue in place of a cure
A queue in place of a cure
I was going to write something more cheerful this week. Something positive, and upbeat, and joyful. But then my daughter got sick and I had to go to the urgent doctors, writes Kate Oktay.
A column in six parts
A column in six parts
There are only so many articles you can write about cats, muses columnist Kate Oktay.
Column: Are photos with resumes ok?
Can't say - but you know who you are
Is it ever okay for a company to ask prospective employees for a photo when applying for a job, Kate Oktay wonders.
Humming a panicky tune
Humming a panicky tune
As your reward for finishing reading (and - shudder - in fact, even thinking) about climate change in the last column, here is a list of things that should cheer you up, writes Kate Oktay.
Meanwhile, back in the real world
Meanwhile, back in the real world
The incessant need for constant growth at the expense of the place we live is almost impressively insane, writes Kate Oktay.
A few of my favourites
A few of my favourites
After reading the summary for the UN report on animal extinction, I got as sad and upset as the time I read the summary for the UN report on climate change, writes columnist Kate Oktay.
Just the normal stuff over here
Just the normal stuff over here
In New Zealand, you may not like a politician, but at least you can concede that they don't seem like an active agent of evil, says Kate Oktay.
Fenerbahce rules (my husband's life, that is)
Fenerbahce rules (my husband's life, that is)
European football seems to inspire levels of commitment Kate Oktay admits finds hard to understand - and Turkish club Fenerbahce is like a cult.
Kate Oktay: Gathering the weirdos
Gathering the weirdos
Social media is fine for people who are naturally filled with sunshine and a genuine optimism about the world - but for others not so much, writes Kate Oktay.
New life, no sleep
New life, no sleep
My delightful sister-in-law number two has just had her first baby, and we have all been looking forward to his arrival, writes Kate Oktay.
The life-cycle of resolution
The life-cycle of resolution
Columnist Kate Oktay breaks down the life-cycle of a New-Years-resolution.
The art of not shopping
The art of not shopping
For Kate Oktay, Christmas shopping is like a perfect storm of all the things to despise: shopping, crowds, organised fun, commercialism and - worst of all - mall music.
Embracing the tinsel
Embracing the tinsel
It is that time of year again! The first of December, and you can now safely put your Christmas tree up without being officially described as "punchable'', writes Kate Oktay.