Latest Articles
Instant style – The Crossing: What to wear. Where to buy it.
Editor’s picks: Cosy meets cool Striking that balance between ultra comfort and super cool is a superpower this time of year. It’s something I’m confident I could do every single day if I had the clothing budget of a billionaire (though my family might argue I act like it anyway). Find classic pieces […]
Feel-good mental hacks
Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen shares insights from mental performance coach Paula Rule. Recently, Metropol editor Nina Tucker and I attended a women’s networking breakfast hosted by Inspire Me Women. The guest speaker was Paula Rule, a mental performance coach from The Mental Edge, who helps women – from athletes to business leaders […]
A spectacular winter wonderland: Tekapo
When Lake Tekapo’s crisp air cuts through glimmers of sunshine while you sit surrounded by snow-capped mountains, you’ll know it’s the perfect winter escape. The alpine village’s perfect ambience is thanks to its striking glacial lake, warm hospitality, and range of activities. Spend a weekend or longer, make it your base for day […]
Under pressure: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Can hyperbaric therapy help with everything from ageing to anxiety, diabetes, erectile dysfunction and migraines? Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen dons an oxygen mask and gets sealed in a hyperbaric chamber to find out more about this increasingly popular therapy. For about 12 years now, my husband has suffered debilitating, excruciating and regular […]
Feeding a community, from the ground up
On Seadown Crescent in Amberley, a once-empty green space is being transformed into something that will nourish the community for years to come. Earlier this month, the Amberley Community Garden and Food Forest celebrated a major milestone with its first community planting day. More than 70 local residents turned out to support the […]
Tour the North Canterbury pie trail
Fresh from the oven, the North Canterbury pie trail is your taste of the region’s best bakeries, pastry crumbs and all. Buttery, comforting, and a beloved staple across New Zealand, who doesn’t want to travel a pie trail? Until 31 July, locals and visitors are invited to taste their way around 18 participating […]
Winter hair health hacks: Haar Design
In Christchurch’s cold climate, your home maintenance hair rituals have never been more important. Award-winning local hairstylist Caro Haar offers her advice and tricks. Between winter’s chill and moisture-sapping heatpumps, the focus turns from fashionable cuts to haircare routines – and if there’s any hair trend to jump on, it’s this one. “People […]
Ginger winter tonic
A warming and healthy ginger winter tonic that’s easy to make and works well on cold days. Ingredients (serves 2) • 5cm piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 cups water • 1 cinnamon stick (optional, for extra warmth) • 2-3 whole cloves (optional) • Juice of half a lemon • 1-2 tsp […]
Globetrotter: Map World
A love for adventure and exploration fuels Aotearoa’s only independent map store. Follow your curiosity down Colombo Street and find something unexpected. Inside MapWorld, you are instantly transported: floor to ceiling maps, globes in every size, and the quiet thrill of discovering somewhere new. It feels less like a shop and more like […]
Scar camouflage tattooing: KM Surgical
From surgical scars to skin grafts, scar camouflage tattooing offers a long-lasting solution for helping people feel more comfortable in their skin. Visible scars can be a lasting reminder of surgery, injury or illness, but a new service from Angela Millar of KM Surgical is helping clients feel more comfortable in their skin. […]
Otautahi’s pet ‘furtographer’
A Christchurch pet photographer (‘furtographer’) has spent 10 years travelling the world taking photos of dogs in iconic spots for his latest book, Dogs of the World. For almost a decade, Ōtautahi photographer Craig Turner-Bullock has wandered the globe with camera in hand and dogs in his heart, capturing the spirit of nearly […]
Find your signature
Playfully sweet like a Simon Lewis Wards glass gummy bear sculpture, old money meets modern with a globe or vintage clock, or abstract and art-is-everything… here are some décor prompts to stamp your signature style.
Steve’s scene: Steve Guest
Your Christchurch arts and culture round-up from global music consultant and Dolly Parton’s local publicist, Steve Guest. E ven in the cold and wet of winter, Christchurch does not disappoint. This city is becoming more vibrant than ever. The All Blacks v France game was a recent highlight, I was lucky to attend […]
On our radar
From the insights of local interior designers to takeaways from award-winning Canterbury homes, here are three homestyle features we can’t stop thinking about. 1. The statement sofa Vogue Living says this might be the piece of furniture to have in 2026. The statement sofa isn’t necessarily the one you sink into for a […]
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Cuisine
Double dining destination: The Mayor of Ale and Burj
Irish spice bags and arguably the best lamb shoulder in Christchurch stand out on the menus of this social dining duo on Riccarton Road. When lovers of local hospitality Sinead, Chris, Mark and Philippa came together to amplify The Mayor of Ale and Burj, they took a ‘double or nothing’ approach with side-by-side […]
Ginger winter tonic
A warming and healthy ginger winter tonic that’s easy to make and works well on cold days. Ingredients (serves 2) • 5cm piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 cups water • 1 cinnamon stick (optional, for extra warmth) • 2-3 whole cloves (optional) • Juice of half a lemon • 1-2 tsp […]
Bringing the BBQ to you: Smoke Inc
Smoking hot functions and off-site catering are no problem when you have a mobile smoker on site to feed the troops. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, corporate event or family celebration, Smoke is making it easier than ever to enjoy authentic low-and-slow barbecue wherever the party is. What started as a small barbecue […]
Thai icon: Thai Orchid
Since 1989, Thai Orchid is where authentic Thai flavours, live music and lasting memories come together. For over 37 years, Thai Orchid has been part of Christchurch’s story, creating special memories for generations of diners. “My father helped build the kitchen,” recalls owner Jules Stokes. “As a teenager, this was where I first […]
Fashion & Beauty
Instant style – The Crossing: What to wear. Where to buy it.
Editor’s picks: Cosy meets cool Striking that balance between ultra comfort and super cool is a superpower this time of year. It’s something I’m confident I could do every single day if I had the clothing budget of a billionaire (though my family might argue I act like it anyway). Find classic pieces […]
Winter hair health hacks: Haar Design
In Christchurch’s cold climate, your home maintenance hair rituals have never been more important. Award-winning local hairstylist Caro Haar offers her advice and tricks. Between winter’s chill and moisture-sapping heatpumps, the focus turns from fashionable cuts to haircare routines – and if there’s any hair trend to jump on, it’s this one. “People […]
Scar camouflage tattooing: KM Surgical
From surgical scars to skin grafts, scar camouflage tattooing offers a long-lasting solution for helping people feel more comfortable in their skin. Visible scars can be a lasting reminder of surgery, injury or illness, but a new service from Angela Millar of KM Surgical is helping clients feel more comfortable in their skin. […]
So much fun(nel)
BY NINA TUCKER Funnel necks have been named everything from the winter season’s chicest staple to the ultimate alternative to traditional turtlenecks – so what do you need to think about when shopping for your own? I purchased my first funnel neck coat a few months before I saw them everywhere. It wasn’t […]
Health
Feel-good mental hacks
Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen shares insights from mental performance coach Paula Rule. Recently, Metropol editor Nina Tucker and I attended a women’s networking breakfast hosted by Inspire Me Women. The guest speaker was Paula Rule, a mental performance coach from The Mental Edge, who helps women – from athletes to business leaders […]
Under pressure: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Can hyperbaric therapy help with everything from ageing to anxiety, diabetes, erectile dysfunction and migraines? Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen dons an oxygen mask and gets sealed in a hyperbaric chamber to find out more about this increasingly popular therapy. For about 12 years now, my husband has suffered debilitating, excruciating and regular […]
Is your scalp sending SOS signals? Serendipity+ Head Spa
Christchurch scalp specialist and hair stylist Tatsushi Hasegawa reveals three warning signs you shouldn’t ignore. “Every scalp tells a story, and I love helping people understand what their scalp is trying to tell them,” says Tatsushi Hasegawa (Hase) of SERENDIPITY+ Head Spa. A master in scalp health, and one of few in the […]
Magnetic Resonance Imaging: MRIs explained – Reform Radiology
What is an MRI? How is it different to other imaging technologies? Here are the answers to the questions radiologists get most. MRI technology has advanced significantly in recent years, delivering faster scan times, exceptional image quality, and greater efficiency, says Reform Radiology’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Joel Dunn. “This is an exciting […]
Home & Living
Inside the eye of an interior designer. Ōtautahi interior designer Olivia Kennedy talks texture, styling small, and statement décor.
After building two homes in modern subdivisions, interior designer Olivia Kennedy was ready for something different. She found her answer amongst the leafy suburb of St Albans; a charming, previously renovated three-bedroom bungalow oozing classic old-home character. A young Olivia Kennedy was always found immersed in the idea of creating beautiful spaces. Before […]
Globetrotter: Map World
A love for adventure and exploration fuels Aotearoa’s only independent map store. Follow your curiosity down Colombo Street and find something unexpected. Inside MapWorld, you are instantly transported: floor to ceiling maps, globes in every size, and the quiet thrill of discovering somewhere new. It feels less like a shop and more like […]
Find your signature
Playfully sweet like a Simon Lewis Wards glass gummy bear sculpture, old money meets modern with a globe or vintage clock, or abstract and art-is-everything… here are some décor prompts to stamp your signature style.
On our radar
From the insights of local interior designers to takeaways from award-winning Canterbury homes, here are three homestyle features we can’t stop thinking about. 1. The statement sofa Vogue Living says this might be the piece of furniture to have in 2026. The statement sofa isn’t necessarily the one you sink into for a […]
One on One
Finding harmony Mel Parsons
Award-winning Ōtautahi indie-folk singer-songwriter Mel Parsons has spent 17 years building a loyal following. With a seventh album on the way, four young children, and a career built on her own terms, she talks to Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen about the beautiful chaos of balancing family, creativity and life in Lyttelton prior […]
Lisa Philp on homing hounds
With the ban on greyhound racing coming into effect from 1 August, about 1600 ex-racing greyhounds are looking for homes. Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen spoke to the national manager of Greyhounds As Pets Lisa Philp about rehoming Aotearoa’s great hounds. Lisa Philp has five greyhounds at home. As the national manager for […]
Canterbury’s Michelin men
A Michelin star each for two iconic restaurants, and a special Young Chef award… meet Canterbury’s Michelin men. Adam Harrison, head chef and forager Tussock Hill Vineyard and Cellar Door Restaurant – Awarded Michelin Star, 210 Huntsbury Avenue, Cashmere One of only two Christchurch restaurants to ever receive a star from the Michelin […]
Living child-free: Danni Duncan
Christchurch entrepreneur Danni Duncan is the face of the child-free movement here in New Zealand. Her aim is to head up the global child-free community, and the recent launch of her online platform The Others Club is the first step. Danni spoke to Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen about providing a home for […]
ESSENCE
Feeding a community, from the ground up
On Seadown Crescent in Amberley, a once-empty green space is being transformed into something that will nourish the community for years to come. Earlier this month, the Amberley Community Garden and Food Forest celebrated a major milestone with its first community planting day. More than 70 local residents turned out to support the […]
Tour the North Canterbury pie trail
Fresh from the oven, the North Canterbury pie trail is your taste of the region’s best bakeries, pastry crumbs and all. Buttery, comforting, and a beloved staple across New Zealand, who doesn’t want to travel a pie trail? Until 31 July, locals and visitors are invited to taste their way around 18 participating […]
Truffle snuffle. The Waipara labradors hunting for a prized global delicacy
When winter moves in, the truffle dogs of North Canterbury get to work. Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen talks to truffle dog handler Jax Lee-May about the benefits of using dogs over pigs for truffle hunting (hint: finger count) and what she learnt from police drug dogs. On a frosty winter morning in […]
Tree spirit: Daniel Holland
Forgetting to buy a Christmas present for his wife led to Daniel Holland becoming South Canterbury’s most talked-about chainsaw artist. WORDS: TAMARA PITELEN | IMAGES SUPPLIED Becoming a chainsaw sculptor was never part of the plan for Geraldine artist, nurse and hammerhand Daniel Holland. It all began with a stereotypical husband fail. “I […]
Build
A lifestyle worth living: Cashmere Estate
Returning birdlife, sections that front onto nature reserves, a grounded way of living… Christchurch’s Cashmere Estate was never going to be a conventional subdivision development. From the beginning, the vision was less about density and yield, and more about creating a place people genuinely want to live,” says Hamish Wright, managing director of […]
Subdivision showcase
Christchurch is bucking national trends in many ways – sell-out events, buzzing hospitality, record growth – fast becoming New Zealand’s favourite place to live, work and play. A successful post-earthquake transformation is partly to thank, alongside the vibrant new developments crafting the lifestyles Kiwis want to live. Between large-scale, master-planned subdivisions and more […]
Inside Andy Ellis’ custom home where clean design meets character
Polished features and refined textures injected with elements of Andy’s playful energy… Andy and Emma Ellis’ latest home is an illustration of Canterbury-made excellence. Andy Ellis has built a reputation that doesn’t rely on noise or novelty. The face of TVNZ’s Moving Houses and a regarded figure in New Zealand rugby, Andy’s name […]
Fendalton finest
For its stunning design of a Fendalton home, Christchurch-based design practice PRau Architects has taken home a win in the New Zealand Institute of Architects regional awards. Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a team to create a stunning home. From the vision of the architect to […]
ArtScene
Missing Robyn Kahukiwa search
The search is on for a series of missing artworks by one of New Zealand’s most influential artists, Robyn Kahukiwa, for an exhbition in 2027. Do you have a missing masterpiece sitting on your wall at home? Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū is issuing a callout to track down a series […]
Andiamo al cinema! Lumiere Cinemas
Let’s go to the cinema! The Italian Film Festival is in town from 3 to 27 September, with a gala opening event to kick things off. For 11 years, the Italian Film Festival has been showcasing the best of contemporary Italian cinema and timeless masterpieces across New Zealand. This year is no different. […]
Mānawatia a Matariki
Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars that rises in midwinter, also known as Pleiades. For many Māori, it heralds the start of the new year. In 2026, the Matariki period runs from 8 to 14 July, with the official national public holiday falling on Friday 10 July. This year’s […]
See Footloose in Ashburton!
Ashburton Variety Theatre’s production of Footloose proves you don’t need to live in a big city to discover a thoroughly entertaining night at the theatre, writes Metropol’s Nancye Pitt in her review. Staged at the fabulous Ashburton Event Centre, this show bursts with heart, community spirit, and enough energy to have the audience […]
Business
Taking off the eye patch: Hamish Campbell
Sometimes I take off my eye patch and think objectively about why so many of us choose to live in Christchurch. Born and raised in Ilam, I left Christchurch to complete my PhD at Otago before building a career as a cancer research scientist and later as deputy head of research at Multiple […]
Wearable drugs
A Christchurch scientist has developed a world-first wearable drug delivery platform with a view to targeting the $10 billion US injectables market. Christchurch medtech startup Zuuka is preparing to commercialise a world-first wearable drug delivery platform to help people with diabetes, obesity, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s manage injectable treatments more easily at home. The […]
Legal ally on immigration – Vanessa Cha at Pier Law
Immigrating to New Zealand can be an overwhelming, complex and costly experience, but a local lawyer is on hand to help. Pier Law is delighted to introduce associate Vanessa Cha, who has come on board to lead the immigration team. The firm supports clients in Christchurch and across the country, as well as […]
Building the future for the Banks Peninsula – Vanessa Weenink
New classrooms and sustainable transport infrastructure on the way. I was delighted to see that communities across the Banks Peninsula are set to benefit from more investment in schools and sustainable transport infrastructure. The Government announced funding for four new classrooms at Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo as part of a $62.5 million investment […]
