New Zealand Fashion Week, wrapped!
From her base out of Auckland’s Shed 10, the main stage for New Zealand Fashion Week 2026, Head Dresser and Metropol’s correspondent Mima Lewis Gourdie wraps her favourite moments from the six-day schedule.
Architecture excellence
For the house-lovers, a look at some of the Canterbury homes awarded for architectural excellence. More than 20 Canterbury architectural designers were recognised for outstanding design at the recent 2026 Architectural Designers New Zealand (ADNZ) awards. For the full list of all local winners, see page 79, meanwhile here’s a look at some […]
Smug marrieds: Deputy Editor
I was a late-comer to the marriage party. I didn’t sign up for my matrimonial loyalty card till I was 45. Strictly speaking, I had a brief dalliance with it in my mid twenties but I don’t really count that one. It was more of a green card situation with my boyfriend of […]
Queens of the stone age
One of the noticeable trends in recent award-winning Canterbury homes is the beautiful use of stonework. From solid stone walls giving strength to the heart of a home to extending exterior schist into indoor living spaces or turning a river-worn boulder into an interior feature, contemporary use of stonework in architecture is shaping […]
Local fashion student a triple threat
Ara’s Alex O’Hagan won three major awards at this year’s Hokonui Fashion Design Awards in Gore, where amateur fashion designers showcase their work to industry leaders. In conversation with Metropol editor Nina Tucker, the third-year student talks about exploring control and spontaneity, and working with velvet to honour his grandma. Tell me about […]
Crispy skin salmon with tomato and butterbean sauce
Ready in 15 minutes and serving four, this dish from chef Sam Parish using Akaroa King Salmon is the perfect segue to spring cuisine. Ingredients • 4 x 150g fresh Akaroa King Salmon portions, skin on • 1/2 cup rapeseed or vegetable oil • 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 1 shallot, […]
Grand designs: Warren and Mahoney
Multi-award-winning architect Tobin Smith of Warren and Mahoney had two of the Christchurch homes he designed honoured in the recent NZ Institute of Architecture awards: Chapter Street and Frankie’s House. This project reimagines a 1920s villa for contemporary family life, retaining its street presence while transforming the interior. A new garden room sits […]
Akaroa King Salmon Crackle Pie
Akaroa King Salmon is a 100% Kiwi-owned local producer that has been supplying Cantabrians with the world’s best king salmon since 1985. “We are different because we’re about the slow-growing, natural production of fish,” says CEO Stewart Hawthorn. “We’re focused on sustainability and a natural product. We are also the smallest ocean-based salmon […]
Akaroa paradise: Mt Vernon Lodge
Vows spoken amongst birdsong, nuptials set above a world-famous harbour below… this lush Akaroa lodge is a wedding party’s private paradise. Described as an “oasis of calm in an increasingly hurried world,” Mt Vernon Lodge sits atop Akaroa’s serene landscapes to soothe those stressed pre-wedding nerves. “This is your balcony seat for one […]
