Latest Articles
Who’s responsible? – Property Scouts
Timaru property management experts Mark and Cassie Stone break down the infamous Osaki case – a pivotal New Zealand legal precedent from 2014 to 2016 that became a turning point for tenant liability. The Osaki Case (Holler & Rouse vs Osaki) hugely impacted landlords nationwide. Previously, tenants were held responsible for any damage […]
Hot in the city: Gavin Lloyd
Christchurch looks set to remain a competitive property market in 2026, buyers need to be ready to act swiftly. For those of us watching the property market, the big question is: What will 2026 hold? Looking back on 2025, Canterbury proved to be a real anchor in the property market. The region finished […]
Exciting times ahead: Mayor Phil Mauger
Our city is firing on all cylinders and bubbling with optimism. Wow – can you believe 2026 is already here! I hope you had a safe, fun and relaxing summer break. Hopefully, you had the chance to check out Parakiore over the holidays. Opening that facility was a real highlight for me last […]
Summer skies: Justin Watson
The airport is buzzing with international visitors to Ōtautahi up 15% on last year. We’re right in the middle of our airport’s busy summer season, the time of year when our airline partners add more flights into Christchurch, bringing tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world with them. These direct […]
Calculate your Personal Year for 2026
What kind of year will 2026 be for you? Where is your energy best channelled? The answer could be in your personal year number, writes Christchurch numerologist Rosina Bond. Were you exhausted by the end of 2025? Many people were coping on the surface while quietly running on empty. As we move into […]
TOP TEAM: Savvy Hair
From the leadership of South Island’s top hairdresser, this salon team returns refreshed and inspired for another year of fabulous hair. Sarah McGuigan’s prestigious title represents years of commitment to her craft. Her Cashmere salon, Savvy Hair, homes a further seven stylists chanelling confidence and care through hair. Despite 24 years in the […]
Rising to the occasion: Alison Adams
Christchurch knows how to step up to the plate, and the city is now entering its next stage of growth. Ōtautahi Christchurch is entering 2026 with unmistakable confidence. You could feel it as we hosted the Special Olympics National Summer Games in December. Thousands of athletes and volunteers bringing our venues to life, […]
Laze about
Take a seat. Relax. Unwind. All you need is a chair that invites hours of lounging in the sun with a good drink and a better book. Here are our favourites to help you live out the rest of summer in style and comfort.
Timaru’s new health club
When Timaru locals Lexi and Hugh Slobbe’s lives intersected through their personal wellness journeys, it was a catalyst meeting that would prompt something much bigger: a luxury local health club. Hugh and Lexi Slobbe don’t measure health and wellness in six-pack abs or the number shown on the scales at their has-it-all health […]
Totes that tell a story: Victoria Jane
Homewares designer and master stylist Vicki Ogden-O’Fee shares her latest collection. “There’s something quietly powerful about carrying a piece that has a story,” Vicki says. “Our newest Victoria Jane tote bag range has just landed, online and in store at V for Hair, Merivale, and it’s a collection born from colour, craftsmanship and […]
Embrace change: Vicki Ogden-O’Fee
The new year brings a quiet invitation: what if you tried something different? “Change isn’t about being drastic – it’s about being honest. Honest with where you’re at, how you want to feel, and what truly suits you now,” says master stylist Vicki Ogden-O’Fee. Are you tired of hearing ‘go lighter’, to then […]
WATCH IT
Back to work and watching the clock? Do it in style. Here’s five splashy timepieces that double as fashion accessories.
Out of office: off!
“After more than a decade of tragedy, Christchurch emerges as New Zealand’s most vibrant city,” read an article last month in UK newspaper The Guardian. I kept returning to that story over the summer holidays – and it takes a lot to pull me away from the blissful pages of Vogue or cuddles […]
Cushion couture: Designer Becky Lee
Christchurch is home to a kaleidoscope of colour in cushion form. “Without apology I am a self-confessed colour-holic from the tip of my ruby red slippers to the top of my tiara,” interior designer Becky Lee says, better known as The Cushion Couturier. “As far as black goes I own a studded black […]
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Cuisine
Popular pastry: Gorgeous Food
How do you spot a popular bakery? Find one with a door constantly opening and closing as a steady unstoppable stream of customers enters. T hat is certainly the case at Gorgeous Food, the family-run specialty bakery on Springs Road. Home to the same tried and tested home recipes for nearly 20 years, […]
The bees nees: Colony at the Crossing
Close your eyes and imagine a honey crème liqueur with the maltiness of West Coast’s native forests. Drooling yet? Summer calls for socialising and charcuterie board platters. Show your foodie skills with New Zealand-made products that make a scrumptious addition to alfresco dining, as well as the perfect gifts for those hard to […]
Hanoi joy: Hanoi 90s
Keen for a taste of Vietnamese without having to leave the country? Ethnic restaurants bring us the opportunity to enjoy the culture and cuisine of different countries from the comfort of our city. Take Vietnam for example. The taste of its vibrant street food culture is now available in Rolleston with Hanoi 90s, […]
Pairing wine & seafood
You’ve probably heard the old saying, ‘white wine with white meat, and red wine with red meat’ but what kind of wine should you pair with fish or shellfish? Summer is the perfect time for seafood, and in New Zealand, we enjoy an incredible bounty of kaimoana from cod to crab and everything […]
Fashion & Beauty
TOP TEAM: Savvy Hair
From the leadership of South Island’s top hairdresser, this salon team returns refreshed and inspired for another year of fabulous hair. Sarah McGuigan’s prestigious title represents years of commitment to her craft. Her Cashmere salon, Savvy Hair, homes a further seven stylists chanelling confidence and care through hair. Despite 24 years in the […]
Totes that tell a story: Victoria Jane
Homewares designer and master stylist Vicki Ogden-O’Fee shares her latest collection. “There’s something quietly powerful about carrying a piece that has a story,” Vicki says. “Our newest Victoria Jane tote bag range has just landed, online and in store at V for Hair, Merivale, and it’s a collection born from colour, craftsmanship and […]
Embrace change: Vicki Ogden-O’Fee
The new year brings a quiet invitation: what if you tried something different? “Change isn’t about being drastic – it’s about being honest. Honest with where you’re at, how you want to feel, and what truly suits you now,” says master stylist Vicki Ogden-O’Fee. Are you tired of hearing ‘go lighter’, to then […]
WATCH IT
Back to work and watching the clock? Do it in style. Here’s five splashy timepieces that double as fashion accessories.
Health
Calculate your Personal Year for 2026
What kind of year will 2026 be for you? Where is your energy best channelled? The answer could be in your personal year number, writes Christchurch numerologist Rosina Bond. Were you exhausted by the end of 2025? Many people were coping on the surface while quietly running on empty. As we move into […]
Ditch the diet
Tired of starting the year with big intentions that fade by February? Local holistic wellness coach and yoga teacher Alex Ballagh, host of the Real World Wellness podcast, explains how to make 2026 the year you eat for good. When it comes to New Year’s resolutions and healthy eating, many of us feel […]
Neuroplasticity is the new self-care
How to rewire your brain for better living: reform, repair and renew neural pathways. Wellness contributor Cosette Calder unpacks neuroplasticity and cognitive fitness. Every new thought, habit, or mindful moment strengthens healthy neural pathways. Reforming neural pathways, (or neuroplasticity), refers to the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections […]
Golden agers: Transition Navigators
Older life brings major changes, and one Christchurch company is on hand to help make these transitions as smooth as possible. F rom making the decision to downsize and sell the family home to suddenly finding yourself single after decades with the same person, older age introduces several major life events. To navigate […]
Home & Living
Laze about
Take a seat. Relax. Unwind. All you need is a chair that invites hours of lounging in the sun with a good drink and a better book. Here are our favourites to help you live out the rest of summer in style and comfort.
Cushion couture: Designer Becky Lee
Christchurch is home to a kaleidoscope of colour in cushion form. “Without apology I am a self-confessed colour-holic from the tip of my ruby red slippers to the top of my tiara,” interior designer Becky Lee says, better known as The Cushion Couturier. “As far as black goes I own a studded black […]
Chairs to that
Visualise yourself basking in the summer sun, comfortably reclining on your favourite chair. Now, what makes the perfect outdoor chair? With endless considerations from durability, aesthetics, to comfort, practicality, and price, finding furniture can be overwhelming. Before you seek out the chair of your dreams, consider the chair’s function. Why do you want […]
Landscape to living space
Canterbury’s iconic landscapes inspire the latest in summer colour trends. Light, fresh, and easy to live with – that’s the brief for summer colour according to Dulux colour forecasters. Romantic tones and airy pastels represent a shift from bold statements to softer hues that work with natural light and bring a sense of […]
One on One
Mike Pero builds a home for John Britten’s legacy
You’ll know the name, and if not that, the radio jingle. But Christchurch entrepreneur Mike Pero has moved on from high-flying business deals – instead, choosing passion over profit. His time, energy and resources are now directed into preserving the legacy of one of the city’s original innovators: engineer and motorcycle designer John […]
Yogi bare: Renee Stewart heart & soul
Defining wellness on her own terms, dancer and yogi Renee Stewart is bringing her mindful movement teachings to Christchurch. Speaking with Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen, she reveals how spirituality runs strong in her maternal line and that Saturn’s return cracked her open. As the daughter of supermodel Rachel Hunter and musician Rod […]
Famous faces, festive places: Local celebs on holiday
As Christmas lights twinkle across the Garden City, some of Canterbury’s brightest stars step into the spotlight once more to share their season’s magic. Mark Rocket, New Zealand entrepreneur, aerospace executive, and the founder and CEO of Kea Aerospace “This year I’m aiming to celebrate with a big Christmas family dinner here in […]
Mayor Phil’s summer uncovered
Once a year, Christchurch City re-elect mayor Phil Mauger trades his sixth-floor office and stretched social calendar for something much simpler – a few weeks by the sea with family. Metropol editor Nina Tucker uncovers the little things that make Ōtautahi’s humble leader truly happy. Come late December, mayor Phil Mauger will be […]
Build
Hot in the city: Gavin Lloyd
Christchurch looks set to remain a competitive property market in 2026, buyers need to be ready to act swiftly. For those of us watching the property market, the big question is: What will 2026 hold? Looking back on 2025, Canterbury proved to be a real anchor in the property market. The region finished […]
Exciting times ahead: Mayor Phil Mauger
Our city is firing on all cylinders and bubbling with optimism. Wow – can you believe 2026 is already here! I hope you had a safe, fun and relaxing summer break. Hopefully, you had the chance to check out Parakiore over the holidays. Opening that facility was a real highlight for me last […]
Summer skies: Justin Watson
The airport is buzzing with international visitors to Ōtautahi up 15% on last year. We’re right in the middle of our airport’s busy summer season, the time of year when our airline partners add more flights into Christchurch, bringing tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world with them. These direct […]
Rising to the occasion: Alison Adams
Christchurch knows how to step up to the plate, and the city is now entering its next stage of growth. Ōtautahi Christchurch is entering 2026 with unmistakable confidence. You could feel it as we hosted the Special Olympics National Summer Games in December. Thousands of athletes and volunteers bringing our venues to life, […]
ArtScene
The sparkle of festive season: Isaac Theatre Royal
As Gloucester Street glows with festive lights, it homes one historic, storied stage which becomes a vibrant canvas for music, dance, and storytelling that captures the warmth and wonder of Christmas. The Isaac Theatre Royal welcomes audiences into a season of live performance and holiday enchantment. It all begins with TINA – The […]
Sir Dave Dobbyn: Selected Songs
Sir Dave Dobbyn – Selected Songs At the Christchurch Town Hall Auditorium, 9 November 2025 Reviewed by Ian Knott. Photo credit: George Thomson / Live Nation Aotearoa – @Georgetommo / @livenationaotearoa When it comes to New Zealand music legends, few come bigger than the somewhat ironically diminutive Sir Dave Dobbyn. With a career […]
Life’s biggest questions: Isaac Theatre Royal
How did we get here? Is there life beyond Earth? Can you actually lick your own elbow? Introducing Creation Creation, a deeply thought-provoking journey of life’s biggest questions answered (sort of). At Isaac Theatre Royal’s Creation Creation on Sunday 12 November, two wildly inventive performers set out to tackle these very questions, and […]
The musical Christchurch never forgot: Blood Brothers at Isaac Theatre Royal
In the 1990s, a touring production of Blood Brothers, starring David Soul as the narrator, came to Christchurch and left a lasting impression. This September, it returns with renewed energy and local heart. Those who saw it the first time around still speak of the experience – the laughter, heartbreak, and the final […]
Business
FUTURE LOCAL LEADERS
Three outstanding leaders have been awarded a prestigious academic scholarship in recognition of their community impact and leadership potential. Rachel Elsy, Maree Lucas and Warren Poh have been named as 2025 recipients of the Gough MBA Leaders Scholarship, an award supported by Ben and Penny Gough, trustees of the Gough Family Foundation. The […]
Economic turn: Don’t pull the handbrake
Confidence has turned. Businesses that stay on the sidelines risk being left behind. After a long, cold stretch, the business community is finally seeing daylight. This time the shift is backed by hard data, not hope. The latest business surveys point to a dramatic surge in confidence. Sentiment is now at levels not […]
A call for elegant leadership
Effective leadership is built in the micro-moments and requires intentional self-reflection, writes leadership educator Kris Cooper. Leading is rewarding, but it’s also a tough gig. How often have you, or others, lamented a lack of leadership? Or worse, witnessed or complained about poor leadership? A lot? Because criticism is common, those with the […]
Events and tourism: Vanessa Weenink
Successful bids in Christchurch against a backdrop of Kiwi legends. The first round of the government’s major events funding showcases many exciting international and homegrown music acts, sports matches, arts, and cultural events kicking off this year, and I’m looking forward to more being added in the coming months. New Zealand’s economy is […]