The fight against homelessness: Christchurch leaders swap warm beds for cardboard
On one of winter’s coldest nights, 13 August 2026, more than 40 leaders and key figures in the Christchurch community will swap warm beds for cardboard at an inaugural sleepout inside One New Zealand Stadium, in a bid for public donations and to raise awareness for Ōtautahi’s alarming homelessness figures. The Big Sleepout […]
Canterbury’s winning homes
Located in Cashmere and Loburn, two of Canterbury’s finest home builds have been honoured in this year’s Master Builders House of the Year awards. The results are in for the winners of the Master Builders House of the Year 2026 Awards, a prestigious competition that celebrates building excellence in Aotearoa. While many Canterbury […]
Creative to her core. Waimate’s Emma Heppell
“When we care about something, we’re much more likely to protect it,” says Waimate-based artist, author, business owner and ice cream scooper Emma Heppell. Passing that passion to the next generation, Emma encourages children to nurture their creativity in a digital world with her community art studio, and hopes her new children’s book […]
Finding harmony Mel Parsons
Award-winning Ōtautahi indie-folk singer-songwriter Mel Parsons has spent 17 years building a loyal following. With a seventh album on the way, four young children, and a career built on her own terms, she talks to Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen about the beautiful chaos of balancing family, creativity and life in Lyttelton prior […]
Speed meets style
Sharp silhouettes, playful poise and power poses from both pooch and person command attention against a thriving city backdrop. High end but not high maintenance, life in Christchurch is more stylish with a ‘pawtner’ in crime. Photography ANGELICA DUMAGUIN of SONDER MEDIA. Styling SKYE ZÖFIA MARRYATT. Editorial direction NINA TUCKER, TAMARA PITELEN. […]
Lisa Philp on homing hounds
With the ban on greyhound racing coming into effect from 1 August, about 1600 ex-racing greyhounds are looking for homes. Metropol deputy editor Tamara Pitelen spoke to the national manager of Greyhounds As Pets Lisa Philp about rehoming Aotearoa’s great hounds. Lisa Philp has five greyhounds at home. As the national manager for […]
Oh, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz
The Mercedes-Benz GLC meets the moment with an extra dosage of fuel frugality in the form of the new GLC350e. Ben Selby takes it for a drive. The ‘e’ part of the equation refers to the addition of plug-in-hybrid technology. The GLC350e is capable of 132km (NEDC) on battery power alone and an […]
How to adopt a greyhound
With 1600 former racing greyhounds needing a home, now seems like a good time to answer the biggest questions people have about adopting a great hound. Adopting a dog is a life-changing decision for you and for the dog. It is not something to take lightly, but if you are ready to open […]
A lifestyle worth living: Cashmere Estate
Returning birdlife, sections that front onto nature reserves, a grounded way of living… Christchurch’s Cashmere Estate was never going to be a conventional subdivision development. From the beginning, the vision was less about density and yield, and more about creating a place people genuinely want to live,” says Hamish Wright, managing director of […]
11 dog-friendly Christchurch eateries 11 dog-friendly Christchurch eateries
Where can you take your dog inside in mid-winter? Here’s our pick of the best local dog-friendly Canterbury cafés and pubs that go out of their way to welcome your best four-legged friend. Mid-winter can be tough for people with dogs. In summer, there is no shortage of cafés and bars that let […]
