Latest Articles

Suffrage memorial celebrated

The Kate Sheppard National Memorial to Women’s Suffrage has been entered on the New Zealand Heritage List Rārangi Kōrero as a place of outstanding historical and cultural significance. The 2.1-metre-high bas-relief sculpture, tucked away behind the Municipal Chambers on Oxford Terrace, depicts a life-sized Kate Sheppard, flanked by five other influential suffragettes. The artwork was […]

Airport’s new electric fire truck

Christchurch Airport has New Zealand’s first electric fire truck. The vehicle (pictured) is part of the airport’s broader fleet transition programme to have a zero-emission fleet by 2035. Airport chief executive Justin Watson says the addition of the Rosenbauer RT ensures the airport’s emergency response teams have cutting-edge equipment to keep the airport community safe. […]

The hidden risks of hearing loss

Creeping in at a gradual pace, hearing loss eventually impacts us all – with alarming side effects that can overpower our ‘she’ll be right’ mindset. So why does the social stigma remain? An August 2024 report quotes the New Zealand Audiological Society saying that hearing loss has significant implications for an individual’s social, vocational, educational […]

Explore fantastic Fiordland: Fiordland Discovery

Cruise through one of the world’s most awe-inspiring landscapes in your own backyard. Embark on an unforgettable journey to Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of New Zealand’s most precious natural wonders. Make 2025 the year you join Fiordland Discovery for an extraordinary expedition cruise aboard their boutique catamaran, the Fiordland […]

Noble, tough and hybrid

Mazda’s SUV family has been undergoing something of a renaissance in recent years and the current CX-60 is further proof of that, writes Ben Selby. Now, Mazda have added a new entry point to the CX-60 range. Called the SP Hybrid, it sits at $69,990 and sports plenty of niceties inside and out. Starting with […]

Nurturing relationships: Margie Foster

Relationships are the heart of life, and like a plant, they need nurturing to thrive. BY MARGIE FOSTER, Inspire Me Women. My husband and I have a few simple, practical ways to keep our relationship strong, and I’d love to share some of these with you. The quarterly reset: A time to pause, reflect, and […]

In tune with real estate: Thereak Noy

Unwavering dedication, the ability to navigate the complexities of real estate pricing, and putting your wants and needs above all else – what more could you want in a real estate agent? With a reach spanning across Prebbleton, Thearak Noy equips his clients with extensive neighbourhood insights and an understanding of market trends. He specialises […]

Radiant skin at any age: Face & Body Essentials

Summer may have been a no-show in Canterbury this year, yet according to those in the beauty business, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. As any skincare professional will tell you, the sun’s rays are ageing, and skin requires protection from ultraviolet rays year-round – rain or shine. Lisa McGoldrick, owner of Face & Body […]

Super space savers

Built-ins, pull-outs, and cleverly concealed storage spaces have become an integral part of contemporary homes during the past decade. BY LYNDA PAPESCH. The popularity of tiny homes has been one area leading the charge for creative storage solutions, yet many of those options also work successfully in larger homes, especially when channelling a minimalist aesthetic. […]

Editor’s Note: Dance like no one’s watching

As Tom Cochrane once sang, “Life is a highway” and to my way of thinking life may be likened to just that. Speed bumps along the way make us slow down, stop, or take a different direction. The journey is usually enjoyable for those who believe in themselves, and have the confidence to try new […]

The sound of change: Bellbird Hearing

One in six New Zealanders is affected by hearing loss, and many do not seek help. March is World Hearing Awareness Month, so the time to break the stigma is now. This year’s theme to increase awareness – “Changing mindsets: empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all,” promotes the importance […]

Extraordinary service every time: Raine & Horne

Ensuring clients’ homes look their absolute best before they go on the market is all in a day’s work for one exceptional real estate duo in Canterbury. From organising cleaners, and gardeners, to project managing renovations, they deliver a premium service for all clients. Natarsha Crawford and Susan Mullink (pictured), are Raine & Horne Northwood […]

Cosy up to autumn: Made in the Shade

Vibrant new autumnal collections make packing away summer clothes and embracing the changing season easier – exciting even. Rich hues, luxurious fabrics such as needle cord and merino, and the return of vests will ensure warmth and style on cooler days. At Made in the Shade boutique on Colombo St, owner Alison Donn is delighted […]

Everything Easter: Total Food Equipment

A sweet long weekend and all its celebrations are just around the corner. To prepare your home and kitchen, one 15-year-strong store has it all. From seasonal style to each dish you serve, Total Food Equipment on Moorhouse Ave, is the place to prepare for Easter weekend. Delight the little ones with Annabel Trends’ ceramic […]

Cuisine

Conferences & clear water: Peppers Clearwater

Shimmering lakes meet modern suites and boathouse-style villas in this waterfront resort, one so close yet cleverly concealed from the city – an escape from the confines of urban living. Views of a golf course green broaden your horizons, while the plates from the award-winning restaurant tantalise your tastebuds. At Peppers Clearwater Resort, discover that […]

Experience great service & hospitality: House of Hop

Visiting a restaurant and brewery in one idyllic setting lays the groundwork for a pleasing sojourn with friends and family. Just five minutes from Geraldine, in the tranquil Gapes Valley is the family-run House of Hop restaurant and brewery destination. “We have made it our mission to wow our guests with amazing food, outstanding craft […]

Where coffee meets community: The Coffee Club Ravenswood

As one of New Zealand’s most popular beverages, coffee is a driving force behind hundreds of hospitality venues across the country. With so much choice, how do you decide where to go for your caffeine fix? Since established in 2023, The Coffee Club Ravenswood, has welcomed thousands of customers through its doors. Located in Ravenswood […]

Mexican chilli hot chocolate

For a rich, decadent drink, try this creamy, luscious Mexican hot chocolate recipe. Spiced with cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper (or more if desired), it’s a great winter warmer. Add a nip or two of rum or brandy for a Mexican-style hot toddy. INGREDIENTS 3 cups whole milk 3 Tbsp cocoa powder 3 […]

Fashion & Beauty

The hidden risks of hearing loss

Creeping in at a gradual pace, hearing loss eventually impacts us all – with alarming side effects that can overpower our ‘she’ll be right’ mindset. So why does the social stigma remain? An August 2024 report quotes the New Zealand Audiological Society saying that hearing loss has significant implications for an individual’s social, vocational, educational […]

Nurturing relationships: Margie Foster

Relationships are the heart of life, and like a plant, they need nurturing to thrive. BY MARGIE FOSTER, Inspire Me Women. My husband and I have a few simple, practical ways to keep our relationship strong, and I’d love to share some of these with you. The quarterly reset: A time to pause, reflect, and […]

Radiant skin at any age: Face & Body Essentials

Summer may have been a no-show in Canterbury this year, yet according to those in the beauty business, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. As any skincare professional will tell you, the sun’s rays are ageing, and skin requires protection from ultraviolet rays year-round – rain or shine. Lisa McGoldrick, owner of Face & Body […]

The sound of change: Bellbird Hearing

One in six New Zealanders is affected by hearing loss, and many do not seek help. March is World Hearing Awareness Month, so the time to break the stigma is now. This year’s theme to increase awareness – “Changing mindsets: empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all,” promotes the importance […]

Home & Living

Super space savers

Built-ins, pull-outs, and cleverly concealed storage spaces have become an integral part of contemporary homes during the past decade. BY LYNDA PAPESCH. The popularity of tiny homes has been one area leading the charge for creative storage solutions, yet many of those options also work successfully in larger homes, especially when channelling a minimalist aesthetic. […]

Extraordinary service every time: Raine & Horne

Ensuring clients’ homes look their absolute best before they go on the market is all in a day’s work for one exceptional real estate duo in Canterbury. From organising cleaners, and gardeners, to project managing renovations, they deliver a premium service for all clients. Natarsha Crawford and Susan Mullink (pictured), are Raine & Horne Northwood […]

Everything Easter: Total Food Equipment

A sweet long weekend and all its celebrations are just around the corner. To prepare your home and kitchen, one 15-year-strong store has it all. From seasonal style to each dish you serve, Total Food Equipment on Moorhouse Ave, is the place to prepare for Easter weekend. Delight the little ones with Annabel Trends’ ceramic […]

Get organised

One of life’s luxuries is having a walk-in wardrobe, or as some refer to them, a dressing room. By Lynda Papesch. As the name suggests, this wardrobe is typically large enough to walk into; an entire room dedicated to storing clothes, shoes, and accessories. Often it is also fitted out for dressing in, with proper […]

Build

Let’s talk relationships: Arthouse Architects’ Jorgen Andersen

I often get asked about the design process for residential projects and our approach as a practice. It’s something I have been thinking about more in depth as I design my own family house. Relationships. The relationship of the mass of the house to the site, to the neighbours and the street – mass, scale, […]

Thinking of downsizing and retiring? Nest Residential

Who wants to end up in a retirement village? “Not me, that’s for sure,” says Simon Fenwick, of Nest Residential Homes. I know, I know, easy to say when you are middle-aged like me, and not facing decreased mobility and increased care. Easy to say when you can still mow lawns and get out and […]

Kitchens channel soft neutral tones

Building new or renovating, a kitchen is the heart of a home, and calls for extra special care and attention in design, fittings, and aesthetics. Leading kitchen designers in New Zealand predict, in 2025, Kiwi homeowners can expect to see timber kitchens with porcelain benchtops in soft neutral tones, all wrapped up in a modern […]

Minister for Building & Construction Chris Penk: Unleashing a building infrastructure boom

The Public Works Act will undergo its most significant reform in nearly 50-years to help unleash an infrastructure boom. The bill will go to Parliament around the middle of 2025. The reforms aim to remove barriers to make it faster and more affordable to build the homes Kiwis need. The changes will also create jobs […]

ArtScene

Colour, form, & bold abstraction: PG gallery192

Two new exhibitions from visionary artists Thomas Hancock and Janna van Hasselt explore form and colour – exclusive to view at this leading Christchurch gallery from 18 March to 12 April. Ōtautahi-based, Janna’s exhibition Flop on Pop at PG gallery192 presents porcelain structures that ooze with tactile exuberance. Woven and flowing ceramic paintings glow from […]

Squash takes centre stage: Isaac Theatre Royal

The New Zealand Squash Open saw an iconic heritage venue transform into an electrifying sporting arena in early March. A world first at the Isaac Theatre Royal, history was made as the professional squash tournament was played inside the famed theatre, captivating audiences and making headlines nationwide. The event was nothing short of spectacular, Isaac […]

Leave a legacy: Isaac Theatre Royal

Think of the names of your favourite stars – comedians, actors, musicians. Reminisce how you felt watching them live, and how that feeling should live on forever. With your help, it can. Thanks to the Isaac Theatre Royal – which homes the stage many of our favourites entertain on – a bequest initiative has been […]

Paint your resolutions: Art Metro

For many, new year’s resolutions aspire towards new hobbies and trying new things. We have all heard the phrase: ‘New year, new me’. Between goals in work or sport, some strive to instead rediscover a long-lost creative vein. “It is great to be creative, to develop our skills,” says Art Metro’s Simon Walmisley. Offering adult […]

Business

Autumn finances: Mylend

It’s March and the weather certainly shows that it is already autumn, an ideal time to start looking over your finances. Get a head start before all those heating bills start creeping in again for the winter. We have lots of tips in this area to help you with all of the fluctuations. Interest rates […]

Te Pae wins award

Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre has won The Building Sustainability through People Award at the 2025 NZ HR Awards. Marking its 26th year with the highest-ever number of entries, the HRNZ Awards celebrate exceptional organisations and individuals driving change and promoting best practice. Te Pae won its award for “embedding sustainability into its culture and […]

Helping build better futures: Cambridge Partners

Looking to the future, no matter your age, is important, as is gaining sound financial advice. Financial advice and wealth management is what the team at Cambridge Partners specialise in. From retirement planning to investment advice, understanding current situations, future goals and what’s important to clients is a valued part of the service. “Our financial […]

Navigate employment law with ease: MGZ

Facing employment law issues, or don’t have the time or resources to deal with an issue? If so, it’s time to talk to the experts. For 30 years now, the team at MGZ Employment Law has been helping Cantabrians solve their employment issues, efficiently and effectively. The team is experienced and qualified in all aspects […]

One on One

Netball’s favourite name: Anna Galvan

Without Kiwi female sporting legends to admire on the world stage, a young Anna Veronese may have never become a Silver Fern. Now, as Anna Galvan, she’s an icon of New Zealand netball, dedicated to ensuring young wāhine in sport always have role models, discovers Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker. Fostering passion and talent through […]

Blankets for better: a local mission

Studies suggest one-third of New Zealand homes drop below the minimum healthy indoor temperature in winter. Bundling up in blankets and bedding is a quick solution, and Christchurch Methodist Mission’s Fionna Chapman tells Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker she’s gearing up again for the cooler months with one goal: Every Child Warm This Winter. When […]

Editor’s Note: Dance like no one’s watching

As Tom Cochrane once sang, “Life is a highway” and to my way of thinking life may be likened to just that. Speed bumps along the way make us slow down, stop, or take a different direction. The journey is usually enjoyable for those who believe in themselves, and have the confidence to try new […]

Barbara Dreaver: fighting injustices

News correspondent Barbara Dreaver has spent years in journalistic trenches – fighting against injustices across the Pacific. She’s earned her “veteran journalist” title, and the respect of countless communities, writes Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker. A veteran journalist? “That can’t be me,” TVNZ’s Barbara says. “Then when I think about it, I realise how fast […]