Winning combination in North Canterbury: Charlie and Sarah Ballam
Between them, Charlie and Sarah Ballam have worked in medicine in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the North Island of New Zealand. Now happily settled and working in rural medical practices in North Canterbury, the pair say they’d never work anywhere else. “I’m a GP. I work at a rural practice in North […]
Dolly Parton’s decadent mashed potatoes
Whether it’s her hair, music or the Dollywood theme park, Dolly Parton is known for doing everything bigger and better. She brings the same energy to her food. Like many of us, Dolly loves a spud. In an interview with AllRecipes, she says, “I’ve always been a potato person, even if it’s a […]
Where plans come to life: the Canterbury Home Show
From Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March, the Canterbury Home Show brings more than 150 local building and home improvement businesses to Addington’s Wolfbrook Arena for a showcase of what’s new and what’s next. As the first hints of autumn settle over Christchurch, conversations at home begin to shift. That tired kitchen. The […]
A hilltop haven
When Marion McKellow first drove up the secluded driveway of Pine Hill House near Cust, it was bleak midwinter. Words: Pattie Pegler | Images: Supplied The skies were grey and the garden was bare. But Marion instantly loved the peace and quiet, it was just the haven she was looking for – away […]
Denim destination: curated by Nina Tucker
From stage to street, denim endures. Reinterpreted a million times over in different styles and washes, denim is something you can wear every day, every way. For me, the baggier the jean the more I’ll love them (can’t say I’m not nervous about the skinny jean comeback). I can always count on a […]
Built to thrill
The Mercedes G-Wagen is up there with some of motoring’s all-time greats. Its distinctive angular silhouette and ability to look and feel at home both in the rugged and urban jungle results in a car which just about everyone recognises, car fanatic or not. While the ultimate expression of the G-wagen is the […]
Potato crisps
Crunchy to the bite and smothered in salt, are potato chips the most snackable thing around? You tell us – try these easy air fryer chips. INGREDIENTS | SERVES 2 • 2 large Agria potatoes • 1 sweet potato • 1 Tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil • Salt, to taste METHOD Carefully cut […]
Rainbow beef
Crispy, flavourful stir-fry with thin slices of beef coated in a sweet and tangy sauce, rainbow beef is a crowd favourite for its bold flavours and vibrant look. INGREDIENTS (serves 3) BEEF – 250g of your favourite cut of steak, thinly sliced – 120g cornflour – Vegetable oil, for deep-frying SAUCE – 160ml […]
Lady of the Court: Eilish Moran
After four decades and 80 professional plays, Ōtautahi actor Eilish Moran tells Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen about a lifetime helping shape theatre in Canterbury and her upcoming show, Divas of Theatre. Is she a diva? “Well, kind of, yes, maybe a bit… I suppose I’ve lived a lot, been around a long […]
From survive to thrive: Christchurch Methodist Mission
“He lived unseen in plain sight – an over-65 kaumātua surviving on the streets of Ōtautahi, sheltering himself in a makeshift, man-made hut, with no income, no identification, and no clear pathway to help.” Metropol editor Nina Tucker uncovers the city’s harsh homelessness epidemic in conversation with local social services organisation Christchurch Methodist […]












