Latest Articles
Make summer dressing a breeze: Off The RAC
Refresh your wardrobe with the latest styles arriving just in time for the warmer months. Think relaxed tees, breezy shorts, elegant dresses for race days, and special occasion outfits. Whether it’s a pop of colour or a classic staple, this boutique has everything you need—all at great prices. Known for its popular labels like Stella […]
A rainbow of choices
October has two spectacular birthstones, opal and pink tourmaline, both of which come in a range of colours. Opal, as an October birthstone, dates to at least the 15th century, while tourmaline was chosen as a modern alternative in the early 1900s. Both are popular with jewellers, featuring in rings, bracelets, necklaces, ear-rings and pendents. […]
Editor’s Note: Excitement builds for Cup Week
Every issue of Metropol is special to our team, although often for different reasons. This issue comes out as Christchurch is well down the track gearing up for Cup Week. Deciding content, working with clients, designing and proofing the pages, and finally sending the magazine to the printer, is followed by the excitement of having […]
For all your battery needs: VP Batteries
Imagine heading to your shed to retrieve the Massey Ferguson, and pressing the starter only to find instead of the sweet sound of internal combustion, you have dead silence. The battery is flat, terminals are stuffed, and the time is nigh for a new tractor battery. This is where VP Batteries comes to the party. […]
Seeing the problem
More than 193,000 Kiwis are blind, deafblind, or living with low vision. It’s a number that is projected to soar to 225,000 by 2028 due to age-related eye conditions, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetes. As the impact of vision loss continues to escalate, Blind Low Vision Month (October) is raising awareness about the […]
In and around Ōamaru
Quaint and historic, Ōamaru is a dreamy slow-down escape. For a night, a weekend, or the whole week, put this city of heritage back on your radar and dive into all there is to experience near and far. IN Ōamaru Lookout Point, at 1 Tamar Street, Southhill, is a gorgeous spot to take in the […]
Organic, plant-based haircare: Shambhala Hair Design
Today, too many products contain potentially harmful chemicals. These synthetic materials and ingredients go into our bodies and can be incredibly harmful. Haircare is no exception. Teo Munro, founder of Shambhala Hair Design, (pictured right) explains that the chemicals in most haircare products such as sulphates, parabens and silicones “can strip the scalp of its […]
Location & luxury: Village Lake Apartments
Hanmer Springs is home to scenic rugged landscapes, heritage forests, and natural hot pools. The resort town comes alive in summer with plenty of outdoor activities to partake in, including hiking, mountain biking, horse trekking, golf and jet boating–to name a few. With all the excitement comes the need for somewhere opulent to relax. Enter […]
Versatility & innovative design equals extra room: Loburn Sawmill
True entrepreneurs are not satisfied with one innovation only. They are continually looking for new ideas or refinements to their original concepts. This is certainly true of the team at Loburn Sawmill. Not content with designing and building functional, durable and portable timber cabins, they came up with an idea for an extension in the […]
Refresh your skin: Skin Rejuvenation Clinic
As you age, you might have noticed that your skin isn’t as clear and bright as it was when you were young. Fortunately, there are treatments designed to target these changes and return your skin to its best. IPL stands for “Intense pulsed light” and the IPL photofacial can target specific skin concerns or provide […]
A good place to go: The Good Home Pegasus
While everyone has a different definition of ‘home’, there is something we all share. It’s a feeling. A sensation of comfort, where you can breathe, relax, unwind and be at ease. By fashioning spaces you can call your own, The Good Home Pegasus has recreated this feeling. Spaces to relax; hang with a bunch of […]
Captivate your guests: Longacre Event Hire
Whether the outdoors or indoors is the backdrop to your special event, the desire is that your fitout will do much of the heavy lifting in setting a scene that captivates and excites guests. To take your event from ordinary to outstanding, you can’t go past Longacre Event Hire’s unique rustic wooden furniture. It is […]
Celebrate style with new season arrivals: Mikko Shoes
Sophisticated, celebratory, and playful all at once. The weather is warming up and Mikko Shoes has something to suit all tastes. Known for their ability to balance the latest sophisticated trends with quality craftsmanship and timeless design, the Mikko team’s spring summer 2024 offering is just as exciting, founder Michaela Longstaff says. The bold hero […]
A gorgeous glampsite: Stay Geraldine
Picture yourself snuggled up with your partner, surrounded by nature, watching the sunset and listening to birdsong. Sounds dreamy, right? Well, venture two hours from Christchurch and you can experience this. Following on from their popular couples’ Fiery Peak Eco-Retreat, the team behind Stay Geraldine this year has converted an old bus on its rural […]
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PAST ISSUE ARCHIVE
Cuisine
The first place to book your dining: First Table
Now there is a new, faster, and easier way for Christchurch diners to find and book a restaurant. Celebrating 10 years since its inception, the restaurant discovery platform First Table has helped transform the dining scene in New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom, connecting food lovers with incredible dining experiences. Since 2014, the platform […]
A taste of local flavour: The Fine Lion
Located on the corner of East and Burnett Streets, this Ashburton restaurant offers a relaxed dining experience with a focus on high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. The Fine Lion, a collaboration between Belinda and Matt Fine, reflects both the Fine family’s passion for hospitality and the lion from the Murney family crest, which is proudly engraved […]
The taste of tomorrow: The Dish
Everyone needs a consistently wonderful Asian-fusion restaurant in their life; a place where flavours are stunning, staff are friendly, and the ambience is relaxed yet stylish. For five years now, Christchurch has been lucky to call The Dish restaurant one of those places. Enjoy everything from a mid-week lunch catch-up with friends to a business […]
Secure the best setting: Cashmere Club
With spring in full swing and Cup and Show week just around the corner, event season switches into top gear. If you have a Christmas gathering coming up, it’s time to contact Kayla Woolley, events manager at the Cashmere Club, to secure your booking at a venue that will please everyone. “The Garden Bar, which […]
Fashion & Beauty
A rainbow of choices
October has two spectacular birthstones, opal and pink tourmaline, both of which come in a range of colours. Opal, as an October birthstone, dates to at least the 15th century, while tourmaline was chosen as a modern alternative in the early 1900s. Both are popular with jewellers, featuring in rings, bracelets, necklaces, ear-rings and pendents. […]
Seeing the problem
More than 193,000 Kiwis are blind, deafblind, or living with low vision. It’s a number that is projected to soar to 225,000 by 2028 due to age-related eye conditions, such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetes. As the impact of vision loss continues to escalate, Blind Low Vision Month (October) is raising awareness about the […]
Organic, plant-based haircare: Shambhala Hair Design
Today, too many products contain potentially harmful chemicals. These synthetic materials and ingredients go into our bodies and can be incredibly harmful. Haircare is no exception. Teo Munro, founder of Shambhala Hair Design, (pictured right) explains that the chemicals in most haircare products such as sulphates, parabens and silicones “can strip the scalp of its […]
Celebrate style with new season arrivals: Mikko Shoes
Sophisticated, celebratory, and playful all at once. The weather is warming up and Mikko Shoes has something to suit all tastes. Known for their ability to balance the latest sophisticated trends with quality craftsmanship and timeless design, the Mikko team’s spring summer 2024 offering is just as exciting, founder Michaela Longstaff says. The bold hero […]
Home & Living
Tasteful textiles crucial in home décor
Textiles play a crucial role in interior design. As functional elements and for decorative purposes, textiles are key contributors to the overall aesthetic and comfort of a home. Carpets, upholstery, bedspreads, towels, napery, curtains, cushions, and wall-floor covering are some of the décor items considered textiles that can set a scene or transform a space, […]
Versatility & innovative design equals extra room: Loburn Sawmill
True entrepreneurs are not satisfied with one innovation only. They are continually looking for new ideas or refinements to their original concepts. This is certainly true of the team at Loburn Sawmill. Not content with designing and building functional, durable and portable timber cabins, they came up with an idea for an extension in the […]
Expertly constructed homes: D.G.I Morgan Ltd
Anyone who’s put serious thought into the daunting task of actually building their dream home understands how important it is to get the little things right. It can be the difference between realising your vision and being stuck with something not-quite-right for years to come. It’s this kind of attention to detail that separates the […]
From old to gold, the art of restoration: McDonald & Hartshorne
As the festive season draws near, it’s an ideal opportunity for homeowners to refresh their living spaces, and create a cosy, welcoming atmosphere for holiday gatherings. Bringing new life to cherished old furniture, Steve McDonald and Keith Hartshorne provide a seamless blend of craftsmanship and personalised service. For the past 20 years, co-directors Steve and […]
Build
Stairways to heaven
Contemporary home and office design is often multi-level, necessitating a need for one or more stairways. Current trends are towards curved and organic designs, such as the one pictured here, replacing traditional straight lines with fluidity and movement. They’re often works of art. Using helical, spiral, and free-form designs, curved stairs add a dynamic and […]
Rewarding building excellence
A University of Canterbury civil engineering student Yu Li (pictured far right) won the “Next Gen Supreme Award” at the 2024 New Zealand Building People Awards. More than 600 construction industry professionals gathered to celebrate the excellence of the people behind a variety of projects nationwide, and congratulate award recipients. Yu Li received two awards […]
Pimp your outdoors
Increased enjoyment of your outdoors is a major benefit of installing outdoor lighting, even more so that summer is on its way. Whether you choose to work with a landscape lighting designer, hang a few string lights in your pergola, or install some well-placed spotlights, it will be well worth the investment. Good outdoor lighting […]
City set to boom: Christchurch City mayor Phil Mauger
We get all four seasons in Christchurch and spring is in swing – another reason I love living here. I know I’m not alone in that, there’s a lot going on for our city, it’s great to see. The place is humming, with exciting developments and the talk from up north is not ‘where are […]
ArtScene
Giving life to stone: York Street Gallery
Debbie Templeton-Page’s sculptures seem to have a wairua that yearns to reach out from their solid foundations. Serene faces that could be dreaming death-masks, abstract geometric forms that fluidly shift and turn; and long, elongated figures stretching to the heavens. The Tasmanian-born artist has established herself as a master-sculptor, honing her craft in Canterbury over […]
A night of magic: Isaac Theatre Royal
Ten years ago on 17 November, 2014, a resilient Christchurch community gathered in anticipation. After years of uncertainty following the devastating earthquakes, the doors of the iconic Isaac Theatre Royal (ITR) would swing open once again to reclaim its place in the city’s cultural heart. For many, the idea of the old lady’s grand reopening […]
Where creativity flourishes: Art Metro
Jenni Foster has been attending classes at Art Metro for over half a decade. Jenni always enjoyed creative pursuits, but truly felt the need to explore her creativity as a reprieve from the stresses of her career. “Being a teacher, it’s easy for that to take over your life. It swamps you. I needed an […]
Live & Local: Isaac Theatre Royal
Nurturing Christchurch’s musical talent. Christchurch has long been a city brimming with artistic talent, yet too often, our local musicians struggle to find platforms that allow their voices to be heard on a larger stage. Recognising this gap, the Isaac Theatre Royal is launching an innovative programme designed to spotlight homegrown talent: the local artist […]
Business
Managing career change: Zestpeople
Navigating unplanned career change through restructuring and redundancy can be a rocky road. We don’t have to look far to know someone affected by the wave of restructuring throughout the country; it’s a challenging time for all involved. As specialist career practitioners and trusted partners to many organisations, Zestpeople has extensive experience in outplacement, currently […]
The real deal: Ray White Marshlands
In 2013, Amanda Blair’s journey into real estate began with a spark of passion ignited on the set of Mitre 10 Dream Home. The DIY star had her design skills put to the test and was immersed into the world of power tools, frenzied hammering, sanding, and painting to create a brand new home. She’s […]
Putting people in homes: Rent Wise Property Management
People and property are Shona Saunders’ passion. Combining the two, she works with rental property owners and also tenants to ensure the best for both. REINZ accredited, Shona has been working in the rental field for more than 10 years, through her company Rent Wise Property Management. Repeat clients are a sure sign of her […]
Springtime home lending: Mylend
It’s the beautiful time of year when the blossoms are blooming, flowers smell amazing, and everything is so green that it’s impossible not to be in a good mood. Home lending often reflects the seasons too. People are more excited to sell their home and take the plunge when the surroundings are prettier. It just […]
One on One
Sarah Cotterall on success
Sarah Cotterall is the brains behind one of the iconic New Zealand jewellery brands you will find on the shelves of fashion stores nationwide – Silk & Steel. She tells Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker about the 15-year ride. Ideas simmer in my mind until I reach the point where I need to start sketching […]
Fashionable apparel with Jane Coleman
Balancing fashion, international travel, and an active lifestyle are what makes Jane Coleman, General Manager of Apt Collections tick, as Metropol Editor Lynda Papesch discovers. An unfamiliar name to many in Christchurch, the tides are changing with Apt Collections opening its Christchurch store in September this year. Born from Longbeach Apparel, a New Zealand owned […]
Sole sensation: Kathryn Wilson
“Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life,” are the words Kathryn Wilson’s mother offered as consistent reminders. Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker catches up with the iconic luxury shoe designer about making that a reality. Kathryn finds no greater joy than seeing people wear her shoes. Among […]
This Kiwi can fly: Hamish Kerr
It’s the night before the Paris Olympics men’s high jump final. Christchurch-based Hamish Kerr is about to become an Olympic champion, bringing home New Zealand’s first ever Olympic medal in the event. Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker discovers how he did it. Hamish watched Maddi Wesche win silver in shot put, before clocking up nine […]