Latest Articles
The making of a Muay Thai misfit: Kaitlyn ‘Misfit’ Millington
Timaru’s Kaitlyn ‘Tornado’ Tucker started Muay Thai kickboxing at 21 when she needed a new challenge. Success swiftly followed, yet after a bitter defeat for a world title earlier this year, Kaitlyn took a break from fighting to work on a new version of herself – and get married. On 6 December in […]
How does your property face up against a flood?
Updated flooding predictions for parts of the city are now available and searchable on Christchurch City Council’s online flood map. Search the latest data for flood events that are predicted to happen every 10, 50, and 200 years. “Anyone making decisions about a property or about flood readiness for their home or business […]
Bakeware essentials
Baking is good for the soul – even if not always for our waistline. Oh, and the result? Undeniably delicious and indulgent. Try this issue’s three baking-based recipes with these elegant essentials.
Booked & busy – Haar Design
Christchurch stylist Caro Haar reflects on the year that was – one of growth, expansion, and a community of people with beautiful hair. She rounds out the year by welcoming a new senior stylist to the team, a reflection of her own fully-booked diary until 2026. Lisa Jayne Tissiman joins the team at […]
A tidy Kiwi Christmas
Between 1.6 million kilograms of wrapping paper (that’s 10,000 trees), 25 million kilograms of plastic packaging waste, and one-third of Christmas food discarded, the Christmas holiday contributes to a 30% increase in waste across New Zealand. It’s a bitter pill to swallow during such a cheerful season – yet it’s our wasteful reality. […]
Earthquake-damaged home honoured
Would you believe us if we told you an earthquake-damaged Somerfield home has been crowned the best house in New Zealand? With a budget of just over $600,000, Mitchell Coll of Fabric worked with design and cost restraints to refresh Red Pine Villa in Somerfield – a project that would beat the best […]
Decorative DIY
Looking at your Christmas decorations the day before you have guests over and feel something is missing? Try these last-minute high-impact DIY décor ideas. Ornament-filled vases This simple décor trick adds festive flair without taking up too much space. Fill a vase or jar with Christmas ornaments for a mantel display or centrepiece. […]
A hub for global collaboration: Ross Steele
Ōtautahi Christchurch has been buzzing with activity, welcoming over 37,000 visitors across 80+ events at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre from July to November. Our city’s vibrant business event programme generated around $48.3 million in economic impact for this period. Global conferences like the New Zealand Aerospace Summit, Adaptation Futures, and Water NZ […]
WIN this Christmas
Win your way to better summer beauty. Gift to a deserving friend, family member or colleague, or pop it under the tree for yourself – we’ll keep the secret. For the skincare aficionado Give the gift of great skin this Christmas with DMK’s new Festive Gift Sets for a very merry and radiant […]
Movement on mortgages: Kelvin Davidson
10 things to know about mortgage lending in New Zealand right now. As interest rates ease and housing activity picks up, mortgage lending is following suit. The New Zealand Reserve Bank’s latest data shows how borrowers and lenders are adapting to these changing conditions. It reveals 10 key insights shaping the mortgage market […]
Christmas has come knocking: Mayor Phil Mauger
Christchurch is set to be a hub of activity with a packed summer events calendar under way. The Special Olympics National Summer Games are at Parakiore from 10 to 14 December, with the official opening of the city’s newest recreation and sports centre just around the corner. The Council has heaps of summer […]
Flower power
After two decades in senior corporate and general management roles, author of ‘The After-hours Stylist’ Kate Williams shifted her focus to the creative life she had long been nurturing on the flower farm she shares with husband Phil in Prebbleton. Together, the duo have transformed their lifestyle block into a seasonal sanctuary: a […]
The nation’s top architectural talent
What does award-winning national architecture look like? Everything from a large apartment development to poolside changing sheds were crowned at the 2025 New Zealand Architecture Awards. The New Zealand Institute of Architects has announced its 2025 winners, chosen from a shortlist of 61 successful projects at the Local Architecture Awards in eight regions […]
Is white cabinetry dying?
Will 2026 be the year that white cabinetry dies? Results from the annual National Kitchen and Bathroom (NKBA) Survey predict a kitchen colour shake-up in the year to come. From the hundreds of expert designers questioned nationwide, 40% predict earthy kitchens to be all the rage in 2026, a shake-up from the crisp […]
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Cuisine
Heavenly aromas – Café Elia
Heaven smells like hot coffee and fresh baking. Coffee makes Monday good – and Tuesday, and the rest of the week too. There’s something irresistible about the aroma of freshly roasted beans that makes every day feel a little brighter. Tucked away on Ilam Road near Fendalton Village Mall, Café Elia is fast […]
Fresh meals with ease – Balance by Simo
The holiday season is upon us and the last thing you need to think about is cooking dinner at the end of a busy day, or what to take for lunch next week. Fresh, healthy, and tailor-made meals come together with ease at this newly opened delicatessen in Ilam. Rather than having a […]
Waste not, want not – Gordons Pickles
Recycle, re-use, and re-purpose with this recipe. In these tight financial times, many of us are looking for ways to eliminate waste and repurpose materials. It is also surprising just what can be put to another use. How many of us are guilty of throwing away the juice or brine from a jar […]
Classic Christmas condiments
Catering for the whole family at Christmas can be tricky. The season is busy enough without worrying which condiments best complement your festive feast. That’s why we’ve picked out two classic sauces guaranteed to cover your Christmas dinner. CHRISTMAS DAY GRAVY Ingredients 2 tsp chicken stock powder 1 tsp beef stock powder 2 […]
Fashion & Beauty
Booked & busy – Haar Design
Christchurch stylist Caro Haar reflects on the year that was – one of growth, expansion, and a community of people with beautiful hair. She rounds out the year by welcoming a new senior stylist to the team, a reflection of her own fully-booked diary until 2026. Lisa Jayne Tissiman joins the team at […]
WIN this Christmas
Win your way to better summer beauty. Gift to a deserving friend, family member or colleague, or pop it under the tree for yourself – we’ll keep the secret. For the skincare aficionado Give the gift of great skin this Christmas with DMK’s new Festive Gift Sets for a very merry and radiant […]
The future of fashion
Christchurch’s budding fashion designers and students of Ara Fashion School presented their 2025 collections to a sold-out crowd at PROSPECT in November. The three-hour student-led show was a runway into the effervescent, inspired sartorial minds of Ōtautahi – and a glimpse down the barrel of the city’s fashion future.
Summer sandals – ECCO Shoes
Slide into summer with sandals that support your every errand, from the busy city to the beach and everywhere in between. Every step is easy, breezy in the COZMO range. Stroll along the sand or shop in the city with the versatile colour range and comfortable design. For women who prioritise comfort as […]
Health
Tackling Christmas angst
From comparing ourselves to the carefully curated Christmas perfection of Instagram influencers to navigating the extra financial pressures of the festive season, this time of year can be a stress minefield. Festive fretting has become an epidemic. While the Christmas and New Year break can be a wonderful time of connection and celebration, […]
Restore your smile, renew your confidence – Merivale Denture Clinic
Essential to a great smile are good teeth and dentures, and most people understand the value of the dental technician who makes that possible. The team at Merivale Denture Clinic expertly create lovely smiles and aesthetic, well-fitting dentures. Their precision-fit oral prosthesis restores facial structure and function and is tailored to each individual’s […]
Eight headaches not to ignore
When is a headache more than just a headache? While all of us know the feeling of a sore head from too little water or sleep, or too much alcohol and stress, other headaches signal a deeper problem. Back in 7000 BC, it was believed that demons and evil spirits were the cause […]
Stronger nails in 10 days – Dr Tom
Want to trade manicure-damaged, brittle nails for a strong set in just 10 days? This is Dr Tom’s backed-by-science story. In the 1990s, Tom Cawood was a typical teenager, with a passion for guitars, rugby, beer, and trout fishing. Fast forward 30 years and Tom, now a senior physician at Christchurch Hospital, has […]
Home & Living
Bakeware essentials
Baking is good for the soul – even if not always for our waistline. Oh, and the result? Undeniably delicious and indulgent. Try this issue’s three baking-based recipes with these elegant essentials.
A tidy Kiwi Christmas
Between 1.6 million kilograms of wrapping paper (that’s 10,000 trees), 25 million kilograms of plastic packaging waste, and one-third of Christmas food discarded, the Christmas holiday contributes to a 30% increase in waste across New Zealand. It’s a bitter pill to swallow during such a cheerful season – yet it’s our wasteful reality. […]
Decorative DIY
Looking at your Christmas decorations the day before you have guests over and feel something is missing? Try these last-minute high-impact DIY décor ideas. Ornament-filled vases This simple décor trick adds festive flair without taking up too much space. Fill a vase or jar with Christmas ornaments for a mantel display or centrepiece. […]
Flower power
After two decades in senior corporate and general management roles, author of ‘The After-hours Stylist’ Kate Williams shifted her focus to the creative life she had long been nurturing on the flower farm she shares with husband Phil in Prebbleton. Together, the duo have transformed their lifestyle block into a seasonal sanctuary: a […]
One on One
“I’m not here to tickle spiders” – Nettles Lamont
Nettles Lamont is not afraid of speaking up or seeking change. The entrepreneur, philanthropist, trusted governance figure, mother, and past Riccarton Cup Day fashion competition judge has now added newly-elected councillor to her list of achievements – and no shocking government shake-up will stop her from smiling. Metropol editor Nina Tucker chats with […]
Soil to Soul – Angela Clifford
In a North Canterbury valley, regenerative farmers Angela Clifford and Nick Gill have spent 20 years turning 16 acres into The Food Farm. Angela tells Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen how growing and cooking food can heal and connect us. As our lives get faster, more overwhelming and less connected to the natural […]
A beautiful Britten life
Lifestyle content creator, entertaining whizz, home makeover maestro, keen green thumb, and the daughter of the legendary John Britten, Isabelle Weston is on a quest to make every moment beautiful – especially during Christmases she can’t spend with the late visionary engineer. She shares lessons learned with Metropol editor Nina Tucker. The time […]
Travel tailored: House of Travel
Award winning. Life-changing. Memory making. This is not your typical travel agency. All this, a 20-strong team and more in House of Travel Christchurch City’s purpose-designed space nestled on Victoria Street beneath The Mayfair hotel. From the moment you step inside, you know you’ve arrived somewhere special – and that stress-free feeling continues […]
Build
How does your property face up against a flood?
Updated flooding predictions for parts of the city are now available and searchable on Christchurch City Council’s online flood map. Search the latest data for flood events that are predicted to happen every 10, 50, and 200 years. “Anyone making decisions about a property or about flood readiness for their home or business […]
Bakeware essentials
Baking is good for the soul – even if not always for our waistline. Oh, and the result? Undeniably delicious and indulgent. Try this issue’s three baking-based recipes with these elegant essentials.
Earthquake-damaged home honoured
Would you believe us if we told you an earthquake-damaged Somerfield home has been crowned the best house in New Zealand? With a budget of just over $600,000, Mitchell Coll of Fabric worked with design and cost restraints to refresh Red Pine Villa in Somerfield – a project that would beat the best […]
A hub for global collaboration: Ross Steele
Ōtautahi Christchurch has been buzzing with activity, welcoming over 37,000 visitors across 80+ events at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre from July to November. Our city’s vibrant business event programme generated around $48.3 million in economic impact for this period. Global conferences like the New Zealand Aerospace Summit, Adaptation Futures, and Water NZ […]
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
$72.5 million property market slash
Who runs the property market right now? Buyers. New data indicates that buyers in New Zealand continue to hold negotiation power, judging by the multi-million dollar slash from asking prices in the third quarter of 2025. Collectively, people selling their homes cut $72.5 million from their original asking prices, as reported by New […]
Turning your vision into 2026’s game plan
As the year winds down, it’s tempting to just limp over the finish line and “see how things go” next year. With the New Zealand economy slowly emerging from a deep recession, and growth for 2026 expected to be modest rather than spectacular, a clear business plan is no longer optional – it’s […]
Better business
Canterbury innovators stand out in this year’s sustainable business awards. Canterbury is making its mark in Aotearoa’s sustainability landscape, with a strong showing among the finalists for the 2025 Sustainable Business Awards. From schools to construction firms, and manufacturing to legal and social enterprises, the region is demonstrating practical approaches to environmental and […]
Renewable energy – Vanessa Weenink
This fast-track renewable energy project has been given the green light. In April 2025, Genesis Energy Limited lodged an application to continue operating and maintaining the Tekapo power scheme, which includes Tekapo A and B power stations and substations, and the canal system. National have welcomed this project as the first renewable energy […]
