Blankets for better: a local mission
Studies suggest one-third of New Zealand homes drop below the minimum healthy indoor temperature in winter. Bundling up in blankets and bedding is a quick solution, and Christchurch Methodist Mission’s Fionna Chapman tells Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker she’s gearing up again for the cooler months with one goal: Every Child Warm This […]
Editor’s Note: Dance like no one’s watching
As Tom Cochrane once sang, “Life is a highway” and to my way of thinking life may be likened to just that. Speed bumps along the way make us slow down, stop, or take a different direction. The journey is usually enjoyable for those who believe in themselves, and have the confidence to […]
Barbara Dreaver: fighting injustices
News correspondent Barbara Dreaver has spent years in journalistic trenches – fighting against injustices across the Pacific. She’s earned her “veteran journalist” title, and the respect of countless communities, writes Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker. A veteran journalist? “That can’t be me,” TVNZ’s Barbara says. “Then when I think about it, I realise […]
Life’s a stage for Michael Hurst & Jennifer Ward-Lealand
Navigating love, loss, and the lasting power of music, Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst explore the realities of dementia in their latest production. Metropol Editor Lynda Papesch catches up with them ahead of the play’s Christchurch season. Avisit to Christchurch usually brings back a raft of fond memories for celebrated Kiwi actors and […]
Talking with Tuscany
Tuscany Hamel is forging her path in the hair industry: she’s worked at Australian Fashion Week and now has her sights firmly set on the rest of the world. She sits down with Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker to talk brand building, boundary-pushing, and a pivotal career shift. Over summer, Tuscany Hamel spent […]
Olé: Edrick Corban-Banks
In Canterbury’s Charteris Bay, acclaimed international paella master Edrick Corban-Banks passionately serves up this iconic dish. Metropol writer Sue Kingham explores his enduring love for Spanish cuisine and the reasons locals keep returning for more. On a clear blue-sky day, the café at Orton Bradley Park in Charteris Bay offers a slice of […]
Here, there, and everywhere: Simon Barnett
Like a child heading to school on his first day, Simon Barnett couldn’t sleep the night before returning to More FM’s Breakfast Club after a six-year hiatus. Metropol Editor Lynda Papesch caught up with Simon about life after the death of a dearly loved one. Open about the intense loss of his late […]
Darel Hall’s homecoming
Hundreds aged five to 12 visit Canterbury’s Cholmondeley Children’s Centre each year, a place of respite care for families and their children. A young Darel Hall was one of them. Late last year, the roles reversed when Darel returned as general manager, writes Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker. Darel Hall valued every moment […]
Not just coasting along
After a rough 12 months battling bowel cancer, new mum Elise Cassidy is taking on the iconic Kathmandu Coast to Coast multisport event on Saturday 8 February, 2025. A stage three cancer diagnosis, two rounds of chemotherapy, major surgery to remove a bowel tumour, and the birth of her third child, are not […]
Leadership with purpose: Bridget Williams
Christchurch Bead & Proceed founder Bridget Williams explains to Metropol writer Hannah Brown how a moment of frustration sparked a creative global movement in sustainability and leadership. From courtrooms to creativity workshops, lawyer turned social enterprise founder Bridget has redefined what it means to lead with purpose. “It started with a bad day […]
