Yarns and laughs: Chris Parker
What do Christchurch Boys’ High, felt hats, Celebrity Treasure Island, and knitting have in common? Award-winning comic and Instagram star Chris Parker. Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen sits down with the indefatigable comedian. In an increasingly AI and tech-obsessed world, knitting is a revolutionary act, says Chris Parker. We are talking on the […]
‘Operacore’ in Ōtautahi: Editor Nina Tucker
American-French actor Timothée Chalamet’s dismissive claim that no one cares about opera and ballet anymore couldn’t be further from the truth. Aotearoa’s return of Bizet’s early masterpiece The Pearl Fishers after a 24-year hiatus suggests quite the opposite: opera is more grand and glamorous than ever. The staging from 14 to 18 October […]
The sartorial stage
By Nina Tucker The love affair between fashion, opera and performative art – and why a new staging of Bizet’s early masterpiece, The Pearl Fishers, read the trend right as it arrived on our shores. Jackie Kennedy said “pearls are always appropriate”. Now, more so than ever. It’s the year of the opera […]
Trend report: Up in arms
As temperatures rise, so do our sleeves. The three-quarter sleeve and capri pant returns this spring, with global icons like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy known for the style. Sacha O’Connell-Johnstone investigates for Metropol. With the promise of spring just around the corner, comes reason to swap the maximalism of winter for a little more skin. […]
What’s brewing
With about 100,000 beer cans and counting, North Canterbury man Stu Reed has one of the world’s biggest collections of beer cans and breweriana. Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen went along for a look. “I’m a busy relaxer; I can’t sit still although I’ve got to because my body is buggered. Collecting beer […]
The Crossing instant style
Spring, please! I hate to be one of those people who talks about the weather, but after what has felt like a very long end to winter, between the rain and those negative-degree Christchurch mornings… I am more than ready for some milder days and a little more colour. I’ve spent the past […]
Spring into the capital – Wellington
Need a quick getaway that feels like a mini holiday? Just a short hop from Christchurch, spring is the perfect time to discover the nation’s famously compact capital city. Wellington’s events calendar is packed with spectacular theatre, world-class music, major festivals and unforgettable experiences, making Te Whanganui a Tara the perfect destination for […]
Refined outdoor living to relax in
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” Take that famous (though anonymous) quote and let it inspire your outdoor living for the season ahead: refined, refreshed, and a real reset. Turn to the natural environment for inspiration; balance earthy hues like chocolate and sage with […]
Chiaroscuro
A Renaissance art technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark, chiaroscuro, has been used to stunning effect in this Fendalton home, a regional winner in the recent 2026 ADNZ Resene Architectural Design Awards. Designed by Dean Cowell of Three Sixty Architecture, Fendalton property Chiaroscuro, meaning ‘the use of contrasts between light […]
Kiwi Punjabi: Indian Springs
Punjabi cuisine with a Kiwi twist has got taste buds excited across Canterbury. “From the start, I have loved this food,” says Roshan Rangra, owner of two Indian Springs restaurants in Canterbury. After 30 years in hospitality and with a passion for North Indian street food, he knows a thing or two about […]
