Hottest happenings
There are some exciting things on the horizon as the inner city comes back to life. Nicholas Henare checks out some of spring’s finest. The Riverside Market is opening on 30 September, just in time for spring, and is set to become the centre of food and activity in the city; a place […]
A stand-out drive
When reviewing a new car, it’s the details that make it stand out from the pack. Models are getting good at all-round driving ability. The Focus is no exception. Apple Car Play should be a standard in all vehicles now and the Focus’ sound is brilliant; I connected in less than eight seconds. […]
Packing some punch
I asked Hemi Peek at Avon City Ford what he thought were the three top features of the Ford Endura Titanium; “A solid drive with a luxurious cabin, hands-free automatic power tailgate opening and easy interactive display”. Well he wasn’t wrong. The 2-litre turbo diesel is also packing some punch in acceleration; with […]
A dynamic set
It’s all about class with Mercedes and, with two of the brand’s top-line models getting major improvements, it makes me wonder how far you can take it, especially when the starting point is an already dynamic set of cars – the AMG A45 and CLA 45. The CLA 45 is a stunning example […]
Happy Birthday Hilton!
There are some fantastic hotels in the Garden City – The George with its Pescatore and 50 Bistro, Rendezvous with its height, the Heritage Christchurch with OGB, Distinction Christchurch Hotel with Gumption Restaurant & Bar and Chateau on the Park – Christchurch, a DoubleTree by Hilton with its history. I was at the […]
What’s in the cellar?
There’s a gentleman at FreshChoice Merivale’s Wine Cellar, Andy Gutschlag, who has a real understanding and appreciation for finding the perfect partnership between food and beverages. We caught up with Andy about his top tips. Can you tell us about yourself? I have spent most of my life in Christchurch. After graduating […]
A New Player in Town
There’s a new 100 percent electric vehicle entering the market and Nicholas Henare has the inside scoop on the vehicle that is making ‘electric’ more accessible than ever before. Competing with the BMW i3 and the Nissan Leaf which have already established themselves, we’re now seeing Renault coming into its own with an […]
Master of Merivale
Aikmans Bar & Eatery has been joining hands with beverage companies to put on not just good but exquisite epicurean meals and tastings. I sought out the gentleman responsible for these offerings, Jeremy Stevens from Aikmans. Jeremy, you have quite a history is hospitality, tell all! I arrived in Queenstown in early 2009 […]
Take a Seat
Bold and innovative, the SEAT (pronounced ‘see at’) is a compact crossover vehicle (CUV). Direct from Spanish automaker SEAT, I even had the marketing manager greet me with ‘Hola!’ The Ateca is a 140 kW 4Drive with a price tag of $50,900. You have extra options like dynamic chassis control and 19-inch machined […]
Oasis for the body & soul: Maruia Hot Springs
Two and a half hours from Christchurch, amongst the beach forest and rivers of the serene Lewis Pass Scenic Reserve, is the wonderful Maruia Hot Springs. Set in a lush bush-laden area, the facilities feature three thermally heated outdoor rock pools, one main indoor Japanese bath style thermal pool and discreet private pools […]