Off the leash
Got a dog with some energy to burn? Here’s our pick of the 10 best places in Christchurch to take your dog for a good untethered, free run-around. Christchurch and Canterbury offer great dog spots, with Bottle Lake Forest Park being a top pick for off-leash running (on trails), while The Groynes has […]
Laura Frankenschmidt behind Lyttelton Lights
Meet Lyttelton Lights founder Laura Frankenschmidt. In 2026, the mother of three (plus a brand you could liken to a fourth child) marks 10 years of business and a whole hoard of hurdles jumped. Metropol editor Nina Tucker finds out how Laura’s first candle crafted over the stove in her cosy Lyttelton cottage […]
Tattoo takeover: Auckland Tattoo Convention
Almost 200 world-class national and international tattoo artists will meet under one roof in March at Auckland’s first-ever international tattoo convention. Whether it’s a dream piece or just curiosity that beckons, don’t miss this opportunity. Auckland’s cultural calendar is set to become striking with the launch of the city’s first-ever international tattoo convention, […]
Are you ready to ride the fire horse?
Saddle up because the Chinese New Year welcomes the Year of the Horse, symbolising vibrant and fiery energy, adventure, vitality, and momentum. I’m manifesting all that and more in 2026, alongside the spirit of my Chinese zodiac (the horse, of course). Also known as the Lunar New Year, this celebration is a time […]
Building for better: All proceeds from Rolleston home sale go to Māia Health Foundation
A newly built home in Rolleston is being sold with all proceeds going to Māia Health Foundation’s fundraising for the redevelopment of Christchurch Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The architecturally designed Arbor Green three-bedroom property was built by Hughes Developments, which has committed 100 percent of the sale price to Māia to support improvements to the region’s specialist […]
Christchurch artist Morgan Darlison designs Google’s Waitangi Day 2026 Doodle
Did you know? Google‘s Waitangi Day 2026 Doodle is the work of Christchurch’s own Morgan Darlison. Anchored in history and guided by stars, the Waitangi Day Doodle reflects our shared histories of migration and voyage to Aotearoa’s shores. “We all came under the same stars and across the same ocean,” explains Morgan. “This […]
SWAN SONS
Tom, Ike and Cosmo Sylvester are the sons of one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated fashion designers – Kate Sylvester. More than that, they’re a trio moulding their parents’ thirty-year-old fashion house into its contemporary future. They chat with Metropol editor Nina Tucker about imposter syndrome, a life-changing accident, and their new store in […]
The book of love: Romance author Rosie Richards
With 130 books published and 10 million copies sold in 30 countries, Canterbury romance writer Rosie Richards is Aotearoa’s most prolific author. Now based in Akaroa and contracted to produce a new book every 10 weeks, Rosie talks to Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen about fear, love and romance shaming. Rosie Richards – […]
Inject me skinny
If you’ve been struggling with stubborn excess weight for years, the new crop of injectable weight-loss drugs might seem like a gift from heaven. Is there a catch? Metropol writer Sophie Lapsley investigates. For anyone who has struggled with weight loss or become trapped in a cycle of yo-yo dieting, injectable weight‑loss drugs […]
Inspire: Paul Wright
“Practise 20 seconds of courage every day.” That’s the advice of businessman Paul Wright to conquer every challenge in life – exemplified by his own success in a leadership team taking Harcourts from 12 branches nationwide to almost 1000 across 10 countries. Metropol editor Nina Tucker talks to the man investing all his […]
