Return of the Dux

The Christchurch City Council’s draft Annual Plan 2026/27 wants your feedback on restoring the city’s four most iconic buildings, including The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora. Back in the 80s and 90s, the most popular place to be in Christchurch was the Dux de Lux beer garden and restaurant in The Arts […]

Hidden hazards

March is Pet Poison Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the everyday household dangers that can harm our pets. Pets explore the world with their noses and mouths, and their natural curiosity can quickly lead them into trouble. While many owners work hard to keep their pets safe, the truth […]

Calendar of Culture Highlights: The Piano

See what’s on at The Piano, your go-to destination for music, arts and events. March events   7 MARCH: DANIEL DELBY – TEACHER COMEDY NIGHT 8 MARCH: OUR KIWI HOME 31 MARCH: HARRY MANX LIVE AT THE PIANO       April events       12 APRIL: OUR KIWI HOME 12 APRIL: […]

Becoming Cassie Henderson

The first concert at One New Zealand Stadium, aptly named ‘Once in a Lifetime’, will be just that for Christchurch born singer-songwriter and 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards’ Best Pop Artist Cassie Henderson. The velvety vocalist and The Voice Australia finalist sat down with Metropol editor Nina Tucker after a whirlwind 12 months and […]

Sway my way: Bic Runga

On the release of her latest album and upcoming tour, Ōtautahi’s own Bic Runga chats with Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen about empty nesting pains, AI and the future of Kiwi music. “Bloody technology queens, that’s what we are,” Bic Runga [Ngāti Kahungunu] laughs, as our interview begins, drops out, resumes, and then […]

Made to measure: Dream Doors

If you are wondering how to add value to your home and enjoy a great kitchen without paying a fortune, here’s your answer. Freshening up your kitchen can be as simple as new cupboard doors and drawer fronts on existing cabinets, and perhaps adding in a bench top, but it can also mean […]

Potatoes au gratin dauphinoise

For quintessential potatoes au gratin, who better than French cuisine maven Julia Child. This is an adaptation of her recipe for the classic French dish, also known as Dauphinoise potatoes. Before Martha Stewart, Jo Seagar and Alison Holst, there was Julia Child. A ground-breaking gourmet chef, author and television personality Julia was the […]

Instant style: The Crossing

What to wear. Where to buy it. As styled by Christchurch fashion muse Mary Outram. The autumn reset I’m so excited to be introducing this new seasonal feature with Metropol… a space where I’ll share the pieces I’m reaching for, the trends I’m actually wearing, and the small styling shifts that make a […]

Garments return to ground

New Zealand label Kowtow secures a world-first in sustainability, transforming garments and returning them to the earth as a regenerative force rather than waste. “For two decades, Kowtow has been uncompromising in its belief that clothing should come from nature and return to it without harm,” says founder Gosia Piatek. In February, the […]

Pelvic restoration: iWellness

The solution for restoring the strength of your pelvic floor. I ntimate health can change over time, yet as we age it’s something many people hesitate to talk about. After childbirth, during menopause, following prostate surgery, or simply with age, the pelvic floor muscles can weaken. This may affect important aspects of sexual […]