A talent for taxes: how Jason of McFadden Accounting is taking the stress out of tax time for ordinary people (like you)
Mark Twain once quipped, “What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector? A taxidermist takes only your skin.” In reality of course, getting organised to pay your tax is no joke and, after 27 years as an accountant in Christchurch, Jason McFadden of McFadden Accounting finds that because our system […]
Empowering education: St Andrews College is giving kids the tools they need to be happy successful adults
Against a backdrop of delightful bubbles an amazing new asset made its mark at St Andrew’s College in February. While the youngest members of the St Andrew’s delighted in a mass bubble blowing activity, Dame Adrienne Stewart opened their state-of-the-art buildings and bespoke playgrounds, all part of the brand new Stewart Junior Centre. […]
Polo’s Popularity: Hagley Park plays host to a rousing polo match
What do you get when you take a visually stunning, superb Canterbury day, high fashion, high quality function in North Hagley Park? Seriously good fun is what. At this year’s inaugural Heineken Urban Polo, the ladies were looking fabulous and even the gentlemen had a pretty good shot at it. All the ingredients […]
Editor’s Perspective: On creativity and good old fashioned kiwi ingenuity
“Imagination is more important than knowledge,” Albert Einstein Creativity can be an elusive beast at times. Yes some have been known to exchange band-width for tricks of the trade, of which digital page after page can be discovered when writer’s block has well and truly taken hold however, this is by no means […]
Great golfing getaway: heading along to the Autosure Golf Tournament
As the automotive writer for Metropol, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Autosure Golf Tournament at the wonderful Harewood Golf Course. Joined by car people from across the industry, we started the event with a slap-up BBQ which gave us time to meet and network. I was assigned to the […]
The future of building: Queenstown firm Rilean Construction is evolving to meet the Christchurch demand for energy efficient homes
When the Queenstown market leaders of energy efficient homes ‘Evolution’ (a division of Rilean Construction) wanted to expand to Christchurch, potential clients were keen and kept asking “is there one we can see?” There are 50 such homes, but they are all in Queenstown, so Rilean Construction Canterbury Manager/Director Trevor Meikle decided to […]
Falling into line: Cymon Allfrey on why good things take time (even when you wish they wouldn’t)
Architect Cymon Allfrey explains why following the rules ultimately leads to a more successful outcome – for us and our city. There will always be red tape. The processes required to reach an outcome at times can seem onerous, cumbersome and tedious – yet the role of rules in society creates order, structure […]
Synonymous with style: Q&A with New Zealand fashion mogul Paula Ryan
The year 2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the Paula Ryan clothing brand, a label which is synonymous with New Zealand and Australian women. Magpie Style Wardrobe Director Bridget Hope talks to Paula about her successful career and secrets to style confidence. After 20 years with Paula Ryan clothing, what is the most […]
An architectural masterpiece: Cook Brothers Construction completes yet another big project in the CBD
With the completion of the first new building on the south side of Cashel Mall right in the inner city, another piece of the Christchurch CBD reestablishment jigsaw has been slotted into place. Cook Brothers Construction is proud to have been the main contractor to carry out the work on such a significant […]












