Off the leash
Got a dog with some energy to burn? Here’s our pick of the 10 best places in Christchurch to take your dog for a good untethered, free run-around. Christchurch and Canterbury offer great dog spots, with Bottle Lake Forest Park being a top pick for off-leash running (on trails), while The Groynes has […]
Laura Frankenschmidt behind Lyttelton Lights
Meet Lyttelton Lights founder Laura Frankenschmidt. In 2026, the mother of three (plus a brand you could liken to a fourth child) marks 10 years of business and a whole hoard of hurdles jumped. Metropol editor Nina Tucker finds out how Laura’s first candle crafted over the stove in her cosy Lyttelton cottage […]
Tattoo takeover: Auckland Tattoo Convention
Almost 200 world-class national and international tattoo artists will meet under one roof in March at Auckland’s first-ever international tattoo convention. Whether it’s a dream piece or just curiosity that beckons, don’t miss this opportunity. Auckland’s cultural calendar is set to become striking with the launch of the city’s first-ever international tattoo convention, […]
Are you ready to ride the fire horse?
Saddle up because the Chinese New Year welcomes the Year of the Horse, symbolising vibrant and fiery energy, adventure, vitality, and momentum. I’m manifesting all that and more in 2026, alongside the spirit of my Chinese zodiac (the horse, of course). Also known as the Lunar New Year, this celebration is a time […]
I feel the need, the need for Speed
You’d be excused for wondering why Metropol’s gadget guy, a 55-year-old bald man, would be reviewing the latest in hairdryers from ghd. But fear not, because my lovely wife has perhaps the thickest hair ever. The perfect proving-ground for the new ghd Speed. Her hair takes an absolute age to dry in the […]
Building for better: All proceeds from Rolleston home sale go to Māia Health Foundation
A newly built home in Rolleston is being sold with all proceeds going to Māia Health Foundation’s fundraising for the redevelopment of Christchurch Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The architecturally designed Arbor Green three-bedroom property was built by Hughes Developments, which has committed 100 percent of the sale price to Māia to support improvements to the region’s specialist […]
Christchurch artist Morgan Darlison designs Google’s Waitangi Day 2026 Doodle
Did you know? Google‘s Waitangi Day 2026 Doodle is the work of Christchurch’s own Morgan Darlison. Anchored in history and guided by stars, the Waitangi Day Doodle reflects our shared histories of migration and voyage to Aotearoa’s shores. “We all came under the same stars and across the same ocean,” explains Morgan. “This […]
Crafting with confidence
Crafting at home has always been popular in certain circles, but with the introduction of purpose-built machinery and software, a whole new audience has jumped onto the endless possibilities that crafting presents. Metropol’s gadget guy Ian Knott puts the new Cricut Maker 4 through its paces. The Cricut Maker 4 feels more like […]
SWAN SONS
Tom, Ike and Cosmo Sylvester are the sons of one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated fashion designers – Kate Sylvester. More than that, they’re a trio moulding their parents’ thirty-year-old fashion house into its contemporary future. They chat with Metropol editor Nina Tucker about imposter syndrome, a life-changing accident, and their new store in […]
