Easy ways to improve your homemade cupcakes

Sydney bakery owner Gabriela Oporto shot to fame after supplying singer/songwriter Taylor Swift with cake on the international star’s recent visit to Australia. Here’s her advice, and recipe, for making the “fluffiest cupcakes” at home. Where do people go wrong when making cupcakes? • They don’t mix the butter and sugar long enough. […]

The skirt flirt

One of the most reliable garments in the book, the skirt has it all. The sophistication, the movement, the fun. Askirt offers a feminine edge to a workwear getup yet doubles as a garment easily suitable for a night out. Even better, they work with any shoe. With options in leather, wool, and […]

Cardigans, cashmere, and couture

When you wear cashmere or wool, you’re covered in warmth and comfort. These feelings are mirrored in soft pinks, beige, and melange grey tones. Somehow, they afford a ‘First Lady’ energy, where elegance is often associated with muted and neutral colours. Style with pearls or gemstones for femininity and lustre. With the right […]

Happily evolving with Judy Bailey

From mother of the nation to doting grandmother and author has been a rewarding transition for former television newsreader/journalist Judy Bailey. Along the way she has returned to her first love of writing, as she explains to Metropol Editor, Lynda Papesch. Almost 20 years have passed since TVNZ broadcaster Judy Bailey signed off […]

Creating metal magic

Buildings come in all shapes, sizes, designs, and materials, including an increasing number comprising various types of metal. Copper, roofing iron, and corrugated iron are all popular choices in modern architecture. Contemporary corrugated iron is extremely weatherproof, so it offers an excellent, cost-effective solution in areas exposed to wind, rain, snow, and hot, […]

A new beginning with Gretchen La Roche

What do books, theatre, Indian food and indulgent cakes have in common? The answer is The Court Theatre’s new executive director Gretchen La Roche, who spoke with Metropol Editor Lynda Papesch recently. Described as well-respected and a seasoned arts executive, Gretchen La Roche is multi-layered, like a well-written play. Returning to Christchurch to […]

$30 million urgent funding needed for cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited (CCRL) has four months to find the project a new funding pathway, or it will be “mothballed” indefinitely. Chair of CCRL Mark Stewart announced, early in April, that the group has until August this year to secure a funding pathway to reinstate the iconic cathedral, largely destroyed in […]

Radical acceptance with Kirsten Ellis

Moving forward is an impossibly heavy task after losing a partner. For Kirsten Ellis, it became the only way out of losing herself to grief. Soon, she would become a business scholarship award-winner and triple her business’ revenue, all while navigating parenthood alone. She tells Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker how. Losing her […]

Healthy skin with skinimalism

Just a few years ago, having hundreds of different products and targeting every possible skin issue was all the rage. Now, ‘skinimalism’ is in. Rooted in the idea that ‘less is more’, skinimalism strips away the unnecessary steps in your skincare routine in favour of products that are more effective and efficient. It’s […]

Hanmer for the holidays

If you are in desperate need of a spot that fosters relaxation while stimulating adventure, Hanmer Springs has it all. For a week, a weekend, or just a day, it is a quintessential Canterbury holiday location, one we will never get sick of. Serenity and leisure make up the atmosphere in Hanmer, while […]