Torque Talk: Gender vs Vehicles

The music, style, cinema, and, of course, the cars of yesteryear have always been a keen interest of mine, especially the latter. However, one aspect of motoring’s past best left there is the belief of what comprises a “man’s car” or a “woman’s car”. For some time, a thought process has existed where […]

Need for speed

In a New Zealand first, University of Canterbury Engineering students, inspired by legendary Kiwi racer Burt Munro, are taking on a world land-speed record in a rocket-shaped electric car they’ve designed and built. Members of the University of Canterbury Motorsport (UCM) club, (pictured), have spent 2022 building a 7.5-metre-long car they hope will […]

A real hottie: Honda Cars

The Type-R has always been to Honda’s Civic what vindaloo is to a curry, hot stuff. Now, the sixth installment of the Civic Type-R legacy, called the FL5, has arrived in New Zealand. Based on the current 11th generation Civic, the FL5 Type-R is a far more grown-up looking beast than the FK8 […]

Pros and cons of cruise ships: Editor’s perspective

For every Cantabrian who is happy to see the cruise ships back in Lyttelton, there is another who is upset about them. Uncertainty and concerns swirl around the environmental impacts that they have, and their value to the ports settlements where they dock. The past few weeks have seen numerous cruise ships pull […]

Skincare Successor

If you had told Brigit Blair that her solution to soothing her children’s eczema would one day become an internationally recognised brand, she might not have believed you. Twenty seven years later her daughter Juliet speaks to Metropol’s Georgia Summerton about taking on the CEO role of that very brand. Born in England […]

Joy Reid: One mother to another

A familiar face to many Cantabrians, and a recipient of a KiwiBank 2023 Local Hero Award, Joy Reid has long been a trusted voice reporting on many New Zealand moments. Broadcasting is one of her many hats – Georgia Summerton chats to her about her story, including her incredible charity and the personal […]

Life is precious: Cancer Society

When dealing with cancer, having a place for support, advice and information is paramount. “More precious” is the catchphrase for the Cancer Society’s campaign to raise the $3.5 million required to complete its new cancer centre in Papanui. “Over a decade after losing our old premises in the earthquakes, our new centre is […]

Delicious Culverden cuisine: Red Post Cafe

We are definitely looking forward to some warm sunny days over the summer. Spring has been cool and unpredictable and to be able to dine outdoors in lovely surroundings will be a boost to many spirits. A special place to dine is in the garden of the Red Post Cafe in Culverden. The […]

Trek to Hanmer

Heading to Hanmer Springs means all types of adventures pop up on your radar. Trekking is one of them. You can experience the Hanmer Basin via a horse trek, which will offer a unique panoramic view of the surrounding outback from up high in your saddle. Or you could pick a llama to […]