4 family-friendly snow spots
Ski, snowboard, or spectate while beautiful white peaks watch over you – discover the places Canterbury families favour when it comes to enjoying the snow. Mt Hutt Crowned New Zealand’s best ski resort at the World Ski Awards for 10 consecutive years, Mt Hutt understands the importance of a family-friendly snow experience. Four […]
Birds of our backyard
Birds act as backyard barometers, indicating the health of the environment surrounding us. How does Canterbury shape up? Thousands of garden birds were counted in last year’s longest running citizen science project, the New Zealand Garden Bird Survey. After months of number-crunching, Manaaki Whenua has released the findings. Across the region, a record […]
Surprising menopause symptoms
It’s not just weight gain and hot flushes, menopause has a host of unusual symptoms, as Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen knows only too well. Hot flushes, weight gain and mood swings may steal the spotlight (got the t-shirt, ate the cookies…), yet menopause comes with a surprising array of lesser-known symptoms that […]
The snuggle is real: Protecting pets in winter
Professionals at finding the cosiest spot in the house, pets seek warmth in winter to escape the cold. Inching closer to the heat source, our pets become at risk of serious but unexpected burns or injuries – and are often completely oblivious to the danger. Cases of winter-related pet injuries are not just […]
Snow fever fashion
Show the snow who’s boss. Whether you shred the slopes or admire them, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be the centre of style attention. Layer with cashmere and merino to brace the chill and pair matching snow sets to stay chic.
Stalwart Chrissy Mauger
Warm, welcoming, and impeccably dressed, Christchurch’s mayoress Chrissy Mauger flies under the radar – a picture of poise supporting the city’s head honcho. Metropol editor Nina Tucker pulls back the curtain on her strength, stability and enduring smile. A radiant Chrissy Mauger guided me into her Avonhead home, a space that immediately reflected […]
Canterbury’s wondrous award-winning architecture
Dreaming of what the best of the best in local architecture might look like? We have the scoop. Across Canterbury, 31 projects were deemed winners in the 2025 Canterbury Architecture Awards – an endless cascade of luxury living inspiration. In judging projects this year, we observed a recurring pattern of strong collaboration between […]
The power of 3
For three Christchurch mums, a chance meeting at the gate of Farleigh Kindergarten in Merivale sparked a creative partnership that birthed a business. Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen meets the founders of the luxury scarf brand known for its craftsmanship, stories, and heart. Some of the best things in life come in threes […]
Passing the baton at Theo’s Fisheries
The fourth generation at Theo’s Fisheries is now taking the reins of this iconic, 75-year-old Christchurch business on Riccarton Rd. Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen finds out what drives this dynamic, passionate family. “I feel him here with me every day, so does my brother, Yanni,” says Yotti Ioannou, one half of the […]
Fisherman’s hash recipe
Looking for something a bit special to eat with loved ones for a Matariki brunch? You can’t go wrong with this delicious dish. Reflecting this year’s Matariki theme of celebrating the waters and oceans, this fish dish is also a great weekend lunch or light dinner. A poached egg on top is a […]











