Festive buzz

Now that December has arrived, it heralds the official start of summer, and that Christmas is not far away. The signs of the latter are everywhere with truckloads of glittering tinsel, trees and baubles setting the scene in shops and homes. Christmas spending is well underway with many taking advantage of recent big […]

Working with clay

Christchurch ceramic artist Janna van Hasselt was among 30 finalists in the 2022 Portage Ceramic Awards, for the 10th year in a row. She talks to Julia Strelou about art and life. Janna van Hasselt’s journey into the arts began locally when she studied printmaking at the University of Canterbury. In between international […]

Tangled Tales

Sue Heazlewood’s stunning garden in Ohoka is the inspiration behind her two recently released books. Sue (pictured right) had always dreamed of the type of home that she’d love to have one day – a classic country house surrounded by colourful, inviting gardens. Her dream came true when she found a property on […]

Parade of penguins and a glorious geopark: Waitaki Tourism

Parade of penguins You don’t have travel to Antarctica to spot a penguin. Just head to the Ōamaru Blue Penguin Colony, says the Colony’s Science & Environmental Manager, Dr Philippa Agnew. There, you can be captivated by the nightly arrival of up to 400 Little Blue Penguins (Kororā) from the sea to their […]

The ABCs of Ōamaru

There is much to discover in Ōamaru, let’s start with the ABCs A ART, FORRESTER GALLERY Housed in a spectacular neo-classical building, Forrester Gallery is a piece of art itself, when you walk between the large columns and into the gallery, you‘ll see local art, historic art or an educational lecture being put […]

Around Ōamaru

Read about what to see on the drive to Ōamaru and the very fabric of it’s community. Get an holistic idea about this coastal town below. Drive If you’re heading from the West Coast to Ōamaru make sure to take the drive down the Waitaki Valley. On this route you’ll see agriculture, lakes, […]