Striking sartorial gold: Q&A with Karen Walker
Every industry has one; the prodigious talents whose comfort zones are outside of the box and for whom rules are more guideline than instruction. They’re the rebels, the misfits, the rulebreakers and the nonconformists. But equally, they’re the trendsetters, the innovators, the visionaries and the true talent. For New Zealand fashion, that’s Karen […]
For the benefit of others: Kenneth F. Weaver is the amazing man who has been providing Christchurch pensioner’s low-cost housing for 45 years
When Kenneth F. Weaver first started providing low-cost pensioner housing in Christchurch 45 years ago, he was amassing joy. Daughter Karen and son Craig talk of how thankful and contented their dad has made many older Cantabrians. Prospective tenants of their one and two-bed units are eligible if they’re over 60, have less […]
Going grey gracefully: Vicki from V for Hair on embracing a change to grey
Beautifully styled grey hair is turning more heads than ever before in a growing trend towards natural beauty – enhanced with a little salon magic. Master Stylist Vicki Ogden-O’Fee, of V for Hair and Beauty upstairs in Merivale Mall, says women often start to grey by 35, or even earlier – and many […]
Feijoa paste: The Villas recipe series
Feijoa season is here and if you know of a pair of healthy and productive feijoa trees, why not make the most of nature’s bounty? Delicious with cold meats and cheeses, it will keep for months once bottled. Makes 800g. Ingredients 10 ripe medium sized feijoas (about 1kg) 3 cooking apples 600mls water […]
Container mall’s new northern home: Re:START makes it’s way up the coast to quake stricken Kaikoura
Right from square one, the Re:START mall was an out of the box response to the urgent post-quake need for retail space in the city’s heart. And, although only ever intended as a temporary solution, the ‘container mall’ concept’s 2011 opening struck a local chord. The brightly coloured containers quickly became an internationally-recognisable […]
An artistic acomplishment: new mural graces the wall of the Kip McGrath Education Centre in Rangiora
It’s been said that you’re only ever limited by your imagination. And, although the very premise of this saying is formed on a fictional narrative rather than the ability to supersede physical limitations, it is none the less a sweet concept. And yet James (Jim) Dykes has made good on this notion, not […]
Winter wonders: nine things guaranteed to get you out and loving Christchurch this winter
The temperatures have begun their downward descent and winter is on the seasonal horizon. But that’s no reason to hunker down at home. Without the evolutionary need to hibernate like our animal ancestry, there’s still plenty to do and see to make the most of the chilly season. Here are our top picks! […]
Romance revisited: the wonderfully whimsical story of Rebecca and the RLS Redesigned Boutique
Once upon a time, Rebecca Swindell was in her local St Vincent de Paul shop when she spied a shelf of vintage lace and fabric remnants. “The needlework, the hours of love that had gone into creating these beautiful pieces… imagine if they ended up in landfill!” Rebecca returned home with her tablecloths, […]
Harcourts Cancer Society: a big hearted ball
Kicking up your heels takes on a very special meaning at the annual Harcourts Cancer Society Ball. One of the most exciting and prestigious events on the city’s social calendar, it has consecutively broken fundraising records for the past three years, with $208,000 raised last year to support the charity which supports Cantabrians […]
Transforming smiles: Merivale Denture Clinic aims to take the hassle our of denture wearing
For more than 40 years, the team at Merivale Denture Clinic has been transforming the smiles of thousands of denture wearers. Situated on the corner of Papanui Road and Mansfield Avenue, and with a branch in Nelson, patients come from far and wide based on the clinic’s reputation for making superior dentures. Whether […]












