Latest Articles
Dune swoon – Duffle & Co
A limited edition duffle bag in support of conservation organisation Forest & Bird is the beginning of something bigger for Duffle & Co owner and bird lover Bernadette Stevenson. Already the owner of a beloved B Corp bag brand and supporter of offshore landscape restoration, Bernadette felt compelled to do more close to […]
House on the hill
An equilateral triangular retreat perched on a remote Banks Peninsula headland, this 35m2 off-grid cabin sits lightly above Lavericks Bay on a windswept coastal ridge. A simple space-efficient floor plan emerges from this playful triangular footprint, reads the citation for designer Ben Comber’s Lavericks Bay project. Award-winning in the regional New Home up […]
Supreme renovation: LM Architectural Builders
A Merivale home has won the coveted Supreme Renovation of the Year in this year’s Master Builder House of the Year Awards for LM Architectural Builders. Proving that the right extension can add much more than square metres to a home, this Merivale home, recently renovated by LM Architectural Builders, has bagged a […]
Future conversations: Ross Steele – Te Pae Christchurch | General Manager
The South Island wants a stronger voice in this election and more focus on our opportunities and challenges. Some of the most important decisions affecting our communities don’t begin in Parliament or Council Chambers. They begin when people come together to talk, challenge ideas, and build understanding. Over recent weeks, Christchurch has hosted […]
La dolce vita
A selection of spring interior newness editor Nina Tucker has seen lately and can’t shake – because these colours mean warmer weather isn’t far away.
B for build
Home Construction Limited has become a Certified B Corporation, which means an independent assessor has measured how the company treats people and the planet, not just how it performs financially. New Zealand has more than 500 Certified B Corporations. Now one of them builds houses. Founded in 2011, Home Construction is a full-service […]
No more verrucas
Say goodbye to stubborn and painful verrucas. Verrucas are painful, unsightly, and failing over-the-counter treatments make it feel like a cure is impossible. Freezing or acid treatments often fall short, leaving many people frustrated, out of pocket and still suffering. At Footprints Podiatry in Christchurch, there’s now a better option with Swift microwave […]
Stay in Hanmer Springs
By the end of November, this 5-star accommodation in Hanmer Springs will feel brand new. F or the team at Clear Ridge Apartments, spring means time spent awaiting a stunning makeover for the popular accommodation complex. “Added to the amenities and experiences of Hanmer, and the beautiful setting framed by the mountain view, […]
Investing in Greater Christchurch
The Greater Christchurch Partnership is strengthening its advocacy priorities to champion the planning, funding, financing and transport investment needed to support one of New Zealand’s fastest growing urban areas. Greater Christchurch is home to most of Canterbury’s population and sits at the heart of the South Island economy, making a significant contribution to […]
A fresh start in Cass Bay: Jim the Builder
Should you renovate or rebuild? That was the tough decision facing this Cass Bay homeowner. When the owners of this Cass Bay property began considering a major renovation, they initially hoped to transform the home they already had. But after looking closely at the options, Jim the Builder helped them reach a different […]
Hanmer Springs: Eat, shop, celebrate
As the days lengthen and Hanmer Springs bursts into colour, spring brings plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the alpine village. Here’s your events roundup for the season ahead. 8 October: Family Movie Night Shrek Make the most of the school holidays with a movie night. Shrek will be screened on […]
Worthwhile: Josh Milne – Home Construction | Design & Innovation Lead
Rigour and innovation are required to build homes that are warmer, healthier and affordable. Constructing warmer, healthier homes takes more effort – and it’s worth the mahi. I often get asked: why put real effort into sustainable construction in a country this size? Doesn’t it just cost more? It doesn’t have to. […]
Spring florals to style inside
Spring is in bloom, and here’s how to maximise the season’s most popular (and easy to find) florals. Daffodils Nothing says spring like daffodils – the thousands that pop up across Hagley Park are a sure sign (and delicious smell) that warmer weather is on its way. Big bunches of various bright daffodils […]
V for Hair: Is your hair colour off track?
“Women are constantly coming to me because their hair colour has gone off track,” says master stylist Vicki Ogden-O’Fee. “Maybe your blonde has become brassy, your colour is too dark, your highlights have become stripy, or your grey regrowth no longer blends,” Vicki says, owner of V for Hair in Merivale. “Sometimes, after […]
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Cuisine
Flavour & fun in West Melton: Two Fat Possums
This locally owned and operated restaurant in West Melton village is a haven for dining with an excellent selection of food and drinks. With a menu to suit all tastes, and weekly events to entertain everyone in the family or friend group, Two Fat Possums is a firm favourite for dining beyond the […]
Prune, walnut + ginger slice
“This is a totally yum, yum, yum combo,” write the Two Raw Sisters in their latest cookbook, How We Cook. Make a big batch, store it in the freezer, and pull it out when friends come over for coffee. Or enjoy a little moment to yourself with an extra-large chunk. It also makes […]
Tea-rific spring escape: Penny Black Victorian Tearoom
Step back in time for high tea dining worthy of Queen Victoria. This spring season, wind the clock to 1897 at Penny Black Victorian Tearoom for a dining experience steeped in etiquette, style, and bite-size delicacies. Situated in The Tannery, the atrium provides an enchanting backdrop reminiscent of days gone by. Entering the […]
Moist lemon brownie
These delightful ‘brownies’ are easily made from fridge and pantry staples. The finished brownie is dense and moist with an intense lemony richness. Ingredients • 1 1/2 cups caster sugar • 1 1/2 cups flour • 250g butter, softened • 4 eggs, room temperature • 2 Tbsp grated lemon rind • 1/4 cup […]
Fashion & Beauty
Dune swoon – Duffle & Co
A limited edition duffle bag in support of conservation organisation Forest & Bird is the beginning of something bigger for Duffle & Co owner and bird lover Bernadette Stevenson. Already the owner of a beloved B Corp bag brand and supporter of offshore landscape restoration, Bernadette felt compelled to do more close to […]
The secret to a snatched jawline
Have you ever wondered how certain A-listers seem to age in reverse? Their jawlines sharper, skin tighter, yet nothing looks ‘done’? Chances are, you’ve spotted the Ultherapy effect, says Christchurch cosmetic doctor Brigid Lee. Dubbed the ‘lunchtime lift’ by beauty insiders, this non-invasive treatment has become the industry’s worst-kept secret. “Using high-intensity focused […]
Spring refresh: The Fitting Room
Help is at hand for the perfect fit. Spring is in the air, and it’s not only the flowers emerging from winter hibernation. With longer, warmer days, it’s time to shed the winter woollens and freshen up your wardrobe. Good foundation wear is the place to start. Bras that dig in or straps […]
Why we need a fashion festival
Three reasons why Christchurch is the perfect host for a fashion festival. The Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival (CSFF) is a sartorial showcase, bringing stylish New Zealand Fashion Week (NZFW) events with South Island flavour. In a three-year partnership between sustainable economic development agency ChristchurchNZ and NZFW, it builds on last year’s landmark debut […]
Health
No more verrucas
Say goodbye to stubborn and painful verrucas. Verrucas are painful, unsightly, and failing over-the-counter treatments make it feel like a cure is impossible. Freezing or acid treatments often fall short, leaving many people frustrated, out of pocket and still suffering. At Footprints Podiatry in Christchurch, there’s now a better option with Swift microwave […]
V for Hair: Is your hair colour off track?
“Women are constantly coming to me because their hair colour has gone off track,” says master stylist Vicki Ogden-O’Fee. “Maybe your blonde has become brassy, your colour is too dark, your highlights have become stripy, or your grey regrowth no longer blends,” Vicki says, owner of V for Hair in Merivale. “Sometimes, after […]
Belonging matters: Mental Health Awareness Week
A sense of belonging isn’t just a nice feeling, it is foundational to our mental wellbeing, which is why the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week from 12 to 18 October is Belonging Matters. With loneliness on the rise, the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand (MHF) has announced that this […]
Smile with confidence – Merivale Denture Clinic
Essential to a great smile are good teeth and dentures, and most people understand the value of a smile. “The fit of dentures is an exacting science which adds to your look, health and quality of life,” says Thomas Gu, senior clinical dental technician and director of Merivale Denture Clinic. “We use the […]
Home & Living
What’s to come in colour?
Colour forecasts in 2027 reflect a world shaped by algorithms, endless content and digital noise. “As we become increasingly technologically sophisticated, many of us are also feeling more socially disconnected. In a world shaped by algorithms, endless content and digital noise, there is a growing sense of sameness and overstimulation,” says colour and […]
La dolce vita
A selection of spring interior newness editor Nina Tucker has seen lately and can’t shake – because these colours mean warmer weather isn’t far away.
6 tips before your visit – The Home Show
How to maximise what you get out of the Canterbury Home Show from 16 to 18 October at Wolfbrook Arena. 1. Secure your tickets Get your free tickets at canterburyhomeshow.co.nz. Then, schedule your arrival around the best times. The Show is open from 10am to 5pm daily; foot traffic is heavy in the […]
The Home Show – What renovations add the most value in Canterbury?
Whether you’re preparing to sell in the next few years or simply want to invest wisely in your biggest asset, these are the renovations delivering the greatest return for homeowners across the region – especially in and around Christchurch. If you’re planning to renovate, you want to know one thing first: will it […]
One on One
Wonder woman Hayley Harding on heartache and survival
In conversation with Metropol writer Sophie Lapsley, entrepreneur Hayley Harding shares a glimpse into her journey of cancer survival, finding hope after her husband’s death, and the unexpected career move shaping her future. Before cancer and the sudden loss of her husband James in early 2020, Hayley Harding’s life was defined by the […]
Spin magician Ish Sodhi
Christchurch is about to go cricket crazy. Two historic international T20 matches and a Test Match between the BLACKCAPS and India at Hagley Oval this spring will fix millions of global viewers on our city. At the heart of it is Christchurch’s own Ish Sodhi, right-arm leg-spin bowler extraordinaire. Deputy editor Tamara Pitelen […]
Margi Robertson
Designer and creative director Margi Robertson has been as influential in her almost 50 years of fashion as she has for the future of it. Shaping the next generation as much as she’s defined Dunedin’s sartorial landscape, she chats with Metropol editor Nina Tucker. Walls draped in the work of cult fashion labels […]
Dame Trelise Cooper
Few carry prestige in New Zealand’s fashion industry like Dame Trelise Cooper, her work featuring in Vogue and Marie Claire’s pages and the wardrobe of Julia Roberts. She talks about four decades of fashion, summer in France, and what modern dressing means in her 60s, with Metropol editor Nina Tucker. Dame Trelise Cooper […]
ESSENCE
Art in motion
A sell-out crowd filled Caroline Bay Hall for Timaru’s annual exciting wearable art event. Showcasing 39 mostly local creatives – and one entry from California – Timaru’s Art in Motion show on 5 September was by all measures a resounding success. Organised by Robyn Valentine, Fiona Pierce, and Catherine Neill, the event aims […]
Summer shelter
With the weather ahead unpredictable, it’s time to protect your outdoor lifestyle. “Beautiful shade, practical design, engineered to suit local weather conditions” is the ethos behind Archgola Mid and South Canterbury’s outdoor living experts, say owners Rachel and Hamish Norton. More than that, these pergola canopies and blinds are custom built to suit […]
Famous Phar LapFamous Phar Lap stories from the legend’s closest
This October, South Canterbury honours legendary racehorse Phar Lap on his 100th birthday, who was born in Seadown near Timaru. Ahead of the celebrations, Metropol editor Nina Tucker catches up with Wayne Hinchliffe, a dear family friend of strapper Tommy Woodcock and one of his closest confidantes. Phar Lap was one of the […]
Artists unite for local kids
Three local artists share why they’re putting their work under the hammer again for The Big Art Auction Fundraiser’s second year supporting youth mentoring in North Canterbury. After raising an incredible $16,000 in its first year, The BIG Art Auction Fundraiser is returning to Rangiora on Friday 2 October. Presented by Big Brothers […]
Build
House on the hill
An equilateral triangular retreat perched on a remote Banks Peninsula headland, this 35m2 off-grid cabin sits lightly above Lavericks Bay on a windswept coastal ridge. A simple space-efficient floor plan emerges from this playful triangular footprint, reads the citation for designer Ben Comber’s Lavericks Bay project. Award-winning in the regional New Home up […]
Supreme renovation: LM Architectural Builders
A Merivale home has won the coveted Supreme Renovation of the Year in this year’s Master Builder House of the Year Awards for LM Architectural Builders. Proving that the right extension can add much more than square metres to a home, this Merivale home, recently renovated by LM Architectural Builders, has bagged a […]
Future conversations: Ross Steele – Te Pae Christchurch | General Manager
The South Island wants a stronger voice in this election and more focus on our opportunities and challenges. Some of the most important decisions affecting our communities don’t begin in Parliament or Council Chambers. They begin when people come together to talk, challenge ideas, and build understanding. Over recent weeks, Christchurch has hosted […]
B for build
Home Construction Limited has become a Certified B Corporation, which means an independent assessor has measured how the company treats people and the planet, not just how it performs financially. New Zealand has more than 500 Certified B Corporations. Now one of them builds houses. Founded in 2011, Home Construction is a full-service […]
ArtScene
Oh what a night! Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons review
The standing ovation at the end of the opening night performance said it all. This high-energy show about the life of the original four members of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons made for quite the night indeed, writes Metropol’s Nancye Pitt, who soaked up all the excitement at the Isaac Theatre Royal. […]
Steve’s scene
Long-time friend and publicist for the late, great Dolly Parton, Metropol culture columnist Steve Guest attempts to sum in words what the amazing lady meant to him. I still can’t quite believe I’m writing about Dolly in the past tense. How do you sum up more than 20 years of friendship, laughter, adventures […]
Greg Johnson at 60
He’s a multi-instrumentalist fluent on piano, guitar, and trumpet; he’s just played the historic Hollywood nightclub Whisky a Go Go, and he’s married to a famous stuntwoman, but as Kiwi singer-songwriter Greg Johnson prepares to tour Aotearoa, he tells deputy editor Tamara Pitelen that he is tussling with the reality of turning 60. […]
Artscene
A snapshot of exhibitions to catch from now until November. Now – 11 October: An Taigh / The House: Held – Fifty Years of Friendship This exhibition showcases the remarkable support and generosity of the Friends of the Aigantighe since their foundation in 1976. Founded in August 1976, Friends of the Aigantighe have […]
Business
The 2026 KiwiNet Awards finalists turning world-class research into global impact
Five Canterbury-based finalists are among those recognised at the 2026 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards for entrepreneurship spanning health technology, climate innovation and cultivated food production. From breakthrough health technologies and lower-emissions industry to cellular horticulture and innovative consumer platforms, five Canterbury finalists were among the 18 winners of the 2026 KiwiNet Research Commercialisation […]
Charging ahead
Fuelled by record growth in sales of electric vehicles, Canterbury business Evnex hits 20,000 chargers. Australasia’s largest manufacturer of smart electric vehicle (EV) chargers, local company Evnex has passed 20,000 chargers installed across New Zealand and Australia. The Addington-based company shipped its first charger in 2017. The first 10,000 sales took eight years […]
Passing the baton – Port Hills Law
Some conversations are easy to put off. Succession planning is often one of them, writes Kristy Rusher, director of Port Hills Law. “I see it regularly with successful family businesses. The founder has spent decades building something they are proud of, and at 55, with a business operating for 40 years, retirement can […]
The power in precious metals: Commonwealth Vault
How do you make smart investment moves in uncertain times? To find out, Metropol sat down with Myles Chandler from secure bullion storage facility Commonwealth Vault. What’s been happening with gold and silver lately? After a stellar price rise in February, and a fall off for the last few months, both metals have […]
