Latest Articles
World-class architecture
Waimarie, Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University’s flagship science facility, was named best building in the Higher Education and Research category at the World Architecture Festival Awards. The award is the latest in an array of national and international awards won by Waimarie in 2024, including Building Nations (Excellence in Innovation), INDE Awards Asia […]
A Hamptons coastal Christmas: OneWorld
It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Christchurch’s own home of Hamptons homewares. OneWorld’s latest offering captures the opulence of Christmas charm with an enthralling range of décor and giftware. “This beautiful collection has been curated with timeless elegance in mind, and each of these gorgeous pieces is now in stock,” owner […]
Relish this: Gordon’s Pickles
Leveraging two decades of experience supplying gherkins and pickled onions into many of New Zealand’s largest and most recognisable food service customers, Gordon’s Pickles has an impressive range of ‘ready to serve’ quality products, available direct from its factory door. Amongst a selection of sliced and whole gherkins, chilli and honey-flavoured, and traditional pickled onions, […]
Hemp for good health: Sativa Botanicals
Sisters Kelly Edwards and Paula Fore (pictured) established their business in 2020 with a clear goal: to develop and provide premium hemp products, and to match that with outstanding service. With values of compassion at the foundation, the pair knew they could join the industry with their high standards and fresh approach, and make a […]
Stunning heritage rebuild: Nest Residential
Developing an historic hillside site takes a special kind of energy. The kind of energy that doesn’t see problems, just little tasks. The kind of energy that doesn’t see current conditions as permanent, instead visualising richly abundant potential. When the energy generated by Simon Fenwick of Nest Residential was combined with the problems and conditions […]
Downsize without compromise: Priority Projects
Downsizing is one of life’s milestones. A time to celebrate all you have achieved, it’s often the marker of a new chapter. Whatever form it takes, successfully downsizing should mean both an increase in lifestyle and a decrease in stress. It is crucial to get those two things the right way round. When looking to […]
Deck the halls
Inside and outside, homes are dressing up for the festive season. For some it may feature tinsel and a few hanging baubles, while others will deck the halls, rooms, and outdoors. Increasingly, Kiwis are following their English and American counterparts in bringing Christmas outside so passers-by can enjoy the spectacle. From Santa and Rudolph, Dasher, […]
Sorting out your drainage: Enviroflo
Buying a new home can sometimes feel like buying a ticket in a lottery. You can see the surfaces of the house, yet what is going on underneath? How are the services, how are the foundations, is the frame strongly built? If you are buying in Canterbury, these types of questions increase exponentially. The face […]
Go boldly in business: Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson
Canterbury is punching well above its weight right now, with the highest internal net migration in the country, record tertiary student numbers, and our region’s big infrastructure anchor projects nearing completion. As we look to build on this momentum, Business Canterbury is taking the lead on bringing together local authorities with a group of our […]
Wigs with wow: Georgies Wigs
Hair loss, for whatever reason, can be a traumatic experience, so having a fabulous wig (or two) may go a long way towards boosting a person’s confidence in their physical appearance. Celebrities such as Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez often wear wigs as fashion accessories. Others don them for various reasons, including hiding […]
The city of choice: Christchurch City Mayor Phil Mauger
A privilege of being Mayor is the opportunity to attend openings and announcements, and there are three I wanted to highlight here. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of speaking at the announcement of a $250 million expansion of the Christchurch Engine Centre. This will be a terrific boost for our city’s economy, creating […]
Editor’s note: The strength of our city
As the calendar fills up, so does my cup. The Metropol office is buzzing through events season, with Christmas just around the corner. This time of year is such a revitalising time for us, to connect with our community in person instead of through a page, and celebrate the life we live in Ōtautahi. I […]
Look sharp now: Sharp Glass
Christmas is over and New Year lies ahead. The car is crammed to bursting, the dog already living his best life at Muttley Motels, the snacks are packed, and you have even remembered the sunhats. Just need to lock the house, load the kids, and the holiday is on. Crash! That’s the eight-year-old’s new cricket […]
Optimise summer socialising: Louvre Solutions
Summer brings friends and family together, enjoying barbecues and cool beverages in outdoor spaces perfectly suited for the occasion. It begs the need to upgrade patio furniture, the decking or flooring beneath, and that which houses it all, a louvre roof. The timing is spot-on now for expanding your indoor living into the warm and […]
Cuisine
Fusing flavours
If a trip to the Pacific Islands isn’t on the cards this year, try bringing those flavours to you, fusing them with your favourite foods. Culture is what makes so many cuisines popular, and local tastebuds are drooling for the fusion of Pacific, Asian, and Māori cuisine, thanks to Karen Hattaway’s Manu Restaurant and Bar. […]
The making of a master chef: Sunshine Cafe & Moonlight Bar
Food is joy, it brings people together. In Pegasus, a new café by day and bar by night serves delicious eats and an ever-changing experience thanks to one passionate chef. Tim Koh, owner and head chef of Sunshine Cafe & Moonlight Bar on Tahuna Street, discovered a love for cooking in university. Throwing everything he […]
A crazy good time: Crazy Horse Hammersley
When culture and cuisine combine, good times usually follow. When loved ones surround you, the celebration continues. Establishing itself as one of the city’s favourite venues, Crazy Horse Hammersley is becoming a go-to for entertainment and high energy. Share good times with friends and family, and delectable eats. Authentic Thai cuisine is blended with Kiwi […]
Summer dining summed up: Dux Dine
Fresh flavours, paired with taste-quenching cocktails, shared with friends and family is part of what summer is all about. Enjoy all this and more at one special oasis on Riccarton Road, encapsulating the feel of a European summer without you having to jump on a plane. At Dux Dine, sit with the sun shining in […]
Fashion & Beauty
Hemp for good health: Sativa Botanicals
Sisters Kelly Edwards and Paula Fore (pictured) established their business in 2020 with a clear goal: to develop and provide premium hemp products, and to match that with outstanding service. With values of compassion at the foundation, the pair knew they could join the industry with their high standards and fresh approach, and make a […]
Wigs with wow: Georgies Wigs
Hair loss, for whatever reason, can be a traumatic experience, so having a fabulous wig (or two) may go a long way towards boosting a person’s confidence in their physical appearance. Celebrities such as Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez often wear wigs as fashion accessories. Others don them for various reasons, including hiding […]
Summer’s calling
Warm weather is here, and local designers are tapping into that energy for their summer and resort collections. By Nina Tucker. Fun, fresh, and flamboyant is what you’ll find in the fashion zeitgeist right now. We’re seeing prints, patterns, and so much colour, much-needed after lengthy winter. Butter yellow and mellow pink look to be […]
Molecular imaging and therapy centre open now: Reform Radiology
A new state-of-the-art facility, located on Kilmore Street (opposite Forté Health), offers a dedicated suite of molecular imaging and therapy services. This is the second clinic for Reform Radiology, whose Antigua Street location offers a broad range of conventional imaging services. The new Molecular Imaging and Therapy Centre offers advanced digital PET-CT and nuclear medicine […]
Home & Living
Most wonderful time
Christmas is just knocking, and streets are starting to don their festive season attire. From the popularity of traditional colours, to modern themes segueing to white or black trees, there is no right or wrong. Christmas is a time to decorate from the heart. BY LYNDA PAPESCH. Pick a colour, a pattern, or embrace nature. […]
A Hamptons coastal Christmas: OneWorld
It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Christchurch’s own home of Hamptons homewares. OneWorld’s latest offering captures the opulence of Christmas charm with an enthralling range of décor and giftware. “This beautiful collection has been curated with timeless elegance in mind, and each of these gorgeous pieces is now in stock,” owner […]
Deck the halls
Inside and outside, homes are dressing up for the festive season. For some it may feature tinsel and a few hanging baubles, while others will deck the halls, rooms, and outdoors. Increasingly, Kiwis are following their English and American counterparts in bringing Christmas outside so passers-by can enjoy the spectacle. From Santa and Rudolph, Dasher, […]
Craftsmanship and functionality: Lacanche
Used by professional chefs and home cooks around the world, one award-winning brand of range cookers stands out among the rest. Built to order, and customised to fit, Lacanche is a revered brand in the culinary equipment world, known for its elegant blend of craftsmanship and functionality. Its ‘Classic’ range cookers are more than just […]
Build
World-class architecture
Waimarie, Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University’s flagship science facility, was named best building in the Higher Education and Research category at the World Architecture Festival Awards. The award is the latest in an array of national and international awards won by Waimarie in 2024, including Building Nations (Excellence in Innovation), INDE Awards Asia […]
Downsize without compromise: Priority Projects
Downsizing is one of life’s milestones. A time to celebrate all you have achieved, it’s often the marker of a new chapter. Whatever form it takes, successfully downsizing should mean both an increase in lifestyle and a decrease in stress. It is crucial to get those two things the right way round. When looking to […]
Stunning heritage rebuild: Nest Residential
Developing an historic hillside site takes a special kind of energy. The kind of energy that doesn’t see problems, just little tasks. The kind of energy that doesn’t see current conditions as permanent, instead visualising richly abundant potential. When the energy generated by Simon Fenwick of Nest Residential was combined with the problems and conditions […]
Sorting out your drainage: Enviroflo
Buying a new home can sometimes feel like buying a ticket in a lottery. You can see the surfaces of the house, yet what is going on underneath? How are the services, how are the foundations, is the frame strongly built? If you are buying in Canterbury, these types of questions increase exponentially. The face […]
ArtScene
The magic of Christmas: Isaac Theatre Royal
Spoiler alert: A Christmas Royal giveaway is hiding in this story. Christmas in New Zealand is all about sunshine, sand, and days at the beach. Even amidst the barbecues and beach trips, there’s something special about stepping into the Isaac Theatre Royal for a dose of festive magic. In the heart of Christchurch, this grand […]
Write songs that make the whole world sing
For all those budding songwriters out there, an exciting new music scholarship is available, in conjunction with a national songwriting competition. Christchurch-based SOLE Music Academy’s competition is now open to solo songwriters of any genre, aged 15 years and up, from across New Zealand. Academy founder Sacha Vee says the competition is about discovering and […]
Giving life to stone: York Street Gallery
Debbie Templeton-Page’s sculptures seem to have a wairua that yearns to reach out from their solid foundations. Serene faces that could be dreaming death-masks, abstract geometric forms that fluidly shift and turn; and long, elongated figures stretching to the heavens. The Tasmanian-born artist has established herself as a master-sculptor, honing her craft in Canterbury over […]
A night of magic: Isaac Theatre Royal
Ten years ago on 17 November, 2014, a resilient Christchurch community gathered in anticipation. After years of uncertainty following the devastating earthquakes, the doors of the iconic Isaac Theatre Royal (ITR) would swing open once again to reclaim its place in the city’s cultural heart. For many, the idea of the old lady’s grand reopening […]
Business
Redefining delivery excellence: Point to Point
Tai Feast’s story is one of passion, purpose, and determination. From delivering life-saving packages such as a human heart, and bone marrow, to leading a thriving courier company, Tai has always been guided by a desire to make a difference. As the Managing Director of Point to Point Couriers, launched in April, she is reshaping […]
Preserve Christchurch’s heritage: Riccarton House & Bush
A unique heritage site with historic buildings, parkland, gardens, and an ancient podocarp forest with kahikatea trees up to 600 years old brings young and old together to enjoy Christchurch’s natural beauty and heritage. To ensure this site can be enjoyed for generations, action is needed. This bush has long been a sanctuary in the […]
Canterbury Property Investors Association: Summer 24/25
How to find the perfect tenant for your rental property Finding the perfect tenant is like discovering the ideal houseguest—someone who treats your property with respect, pays rent on time, and helps you avoid sleepless nights worrying about damage or late payments. If you’re renting out your property, the right tenant can make all the […]
Property investment market gains momentum: NZ Mortgages
Christchurch’s property market is seeing renewed interest from investors following recent changes to the bright-line test. As of 1 July, properties held for two years or more, instead of the previous five or 10 years, are now exempt from capital gains tax. This reduced timeframe incentivises investors to re-enter the market, with Christchurch’s affordable pricing […]
One on One
Choice over chance: Karen Hattaway
Karen Hattaway was the visionary behind Queenstown hospitality establishments Blue Kanu, Pier, and Captains, and is now at the helm of one of Christchurch’s top-rated restaurants just three months in: Manu. She tells Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker about the force of choice and a movement powered by personal trauma. Not long ago, Karen began […]
Running with Jo Ryder
“Children are our future,” sang Whitney Houston. “Teach them well, and let them lead the way…” Among those helping teach Christchurch’s young people so they can look forward to a better future is Police Youth Services officer Jo Ryder, as Metropol Editor Lynda Papesch explains. Mother, mentor, and enthusiastic runner all describe Jo Ryder. Add […]
Style, smile: Becks Mason
Becks Mason isn’t in it for the colour or beautiful clothes her life as a stylist allows her. It’s the women she works with and their fear she helps conquer. The founder of Style4U presented at Apt Collections’ VIP Shopping Night in early November, and Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker finds her ‘why’. Becks Mason […]
Paddy Gower: vulnerability and positivity
Paddy Gower has been in the (news) game for 25 years. He’s done a lot, lived through a lot, and dropped many F-bombs along the way. Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker catches up with the journalist and now author-on-life, bringing a positive lens to news. Paddy started his career on the graveyard shift at the […]