Reshma Martin, a multi-hyphenate, singer-songwriter-teacher who now calls the City of Sails home, shares why worth it’s visiting
Photography: Scott Venning, Tourism NZ, Anna Kidman, Miles Holden
I’m an accidental migrant to New Zealand. I was born in Klang city, in the state of Selangor. I moved to Auckland with my parents when I was seven years old. My love for music also started here, when I used to spend a lot of time in the music room at school. When I was 12, I became the youngest person to win the Mayor’s Award in New Plymouth; my song was endorsed by Malaysian artist Sasi The Don and it was featured on an album featuring international stars such as Dr Alban and Apache Indian.
This really kickstarted my desire to work in commercial music, and I threw myself into it after I moved back to Malaysia for secondary school. In 2016, I placed third on the Akademi Fantasia show, which skyrocketed my career – I signed on with Astro, released multiple records, performed on TV and continued to write my own music.
In 2020, I travelled back to New Zealand to visit my sister who lives in Whanganui. What was meant to be a three-month trip became a long-term stay, and I decided to pursue a postgraduate course in teaching. It wasn’t easy leaving my music career behind in Malaysia and starting over as a secondary school teacher in New Zealand.
But I have released two singles and am about to release an EP of five or more singles soon. The Malaysian community here has been very supportive and I want to keep making music that resonates with people – check out previews on my Instagram. While I miss a lot of things about Malaysia, I love how diverse Auckland is, and the opportunities here. These are some of my top picks of the city.
Musical meetings
I mainly spend my time networking at MoveSpace which brings together a range of musos and creatives at different stages of their careers with art, events and workshops. I have recorded music, played at a gig and made many new connections here. Ponsonby Social Club is another space that hosts gigs regularly. I have performed at their intimate bar. It’s a great place for up-and-coming musicians to showcase their work.
For trendy shopping
I always hit Ponsonby Street, which has an unbeatable mix of high-end fashion and local boutiques. My favourite store is Caitlyn Crisp – her pieces, especially her dresses, are elegant and timeless and all created with longevity and versatility in mind. Her use of fabric is stunning.
The best night out in Auckland is at…
Viaduct Harbour. There are plenty of bars here overlooking the beautiful waterfront. Holey Moley is one of my favourites – it has mini golf and a wide range of drinks, from beers and wine to cocktails (even non-alcoholic ones) and crowd-pleasing food like burgers and pizza, so I find it incredibly unique. They also do karaoke!
Spice central
I’m a sucker for good restaurants with spicy food. When you step into Kiss Kiss, its neon signs and colourful décor make you feel like you are eating on the streets of Thailand. They have a variety of authentic Thai dishes and drinks. The pad thai is really good here – the portions are huge! – and so is the Thai milk tea. Hot & Spicy Pot has a reputation for being one of the spicier hotpot meals in Auckland. I always go for a combination of seafood and mushrooms, and order extra spicy, which I can honestly say is truly fiery.
An artsy neighbourhood
Karangahape Road, known as K Road, has such a vibrant feel to it – it’s popular with creatives and music aficionados, my kind of people. Anyone who loves nightlife with a musical edge should come here. There are street performers, street art and eclectic street style, plus great food, music venues and cultural heritage. The Tuning Fork, a small, intimate live music venue, is a great space for discovering up-and-coming artists.
Malaysian food in Auckland
I always find that eating Malaysian food sends me on a nostalgic journey and one of my favourites is Uncle Man’s, which has a few outlets around the city, so it’s convenient. You can find a variety of mamak food to feast on here. My favourite Malaysian dishes to order are nasi lemak with sambal prawn and petai (bitter bean), wan tan mee, roti tisu (thin flatbread) and kopi tarik (aerated coffee).
Beach bum
I find that the sound of the crashing waves, my feet embedded in warm sand and the feeling of salt spray against my skin helps me de-stress. My favourite beach in Auckland is Piha – a black-sand beach nestled in the Waitākere Ranges. It’s beautiful – the blue waters and amazing surf against the black sand surrounded by rugged mountain ranges with native rainforest. It’s also quite a large beach, so it never feels crowded.
A locals’ secret bard
iTi Restaurant and Bar in Titirangi is a cute and intimate spot overlooking nature. They do amazing craft ciders and their Lamb Pappardelle and Mushroom Arancini is to die for. They also offer bottomless brunch, cocktail happy hours, Taco Tuesdays and lots of other deals.
