Nectarine dream
Find yourself in a five-star restaurant with just one bite of this salad, bursting with rich flavours. Beautifully presented and inviting to eat, yet surprisingly simple to make. INGREDIENTS • 2-3 nectarines, pitted and sliced • Butter and brown sugar, to caramelise • Rocket, a few handfuls • Watercress, one handful • Half a red […]
50 shades of pink
Thousands of shades, one timeless force in fashion. If the colour was a person, they would be iconic. By Nina Tucker. From flirty to fiery, wearing variations of pink – hot pink, magenta, coral, pastel, and more – is an instant mood booster.
Sweetcorn salad
Undervalued and underutilised, sweetcorn deserves more space in our summer ingredient arsenal. Highlighting summer produce, this simple, refreshing salad makes a perfect pairing for barbecues and balmy evenings, alongside grilled meats such as chicken, steak, or fish. INGREDIENTS • 1 lime, juiced • 1/4 cup olive oil • 2 Tbsp butter • 1 cucumber, diced […]
Darel Hall’s homecoming
Hundreds aged five to 12 visit Canterbury’s Cholmondeley Children’s Centre each year, a place of respite care for families and their children. A young Darel Hall was one of them. Late last year, the roles reversed when Darel returned as general manager, writes Metropol Deputy Editor Nina Tucker. Darel Hall valued every moment of his […]
Bathroom trends
Creative lighting and floating vanities will be key features in 2025 bathroom designs, says the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association of New Zealand (NKBA). In recent years, the bathroom has become a statement piece of any home. No longer an afterthought, homeowners across New Zealand are utilising interior designers to create functional and brilliantly appointed […]
Brown on the board
Striking and subtle brown hues were popular before the Pantone Colour Institute declared so, with Mocha Mousse becoming its 2025 colour of the year. CURATED BY NINA TUCKER. Collections from it-brands including Bottega Veneta and Miu Miu showcased rich, silky, versatile brown iterations throughout 2024, their nurturing, nature-like qualities reflecting the need for global comfort. […]
Introducing Mocha Mousse
For 2025, the Pantone Colour Institute has named Mocha Mousse as its Colour of the Year. The colour palette ranges from rich dark browns to creamy hues reminiscent of flat white, latte, and long black coffees, with accents of off-white, vanilla, gold, and black. Bring on the browns in 2025 Described as a rich, warming […]
Scallop skewers
Succulent, sweet, and with a hint of ginger zing, these sizzling scallop skewers with a honey ginger glaze can be done on the barbecue, hibachi, or in a frying pan inside. They are simple to make, using fresh or defrosted scallops, with or without the roe on. Cook on their own, with ham chunks, or […]
SUN FUN
Frame selected; shape fitted – it is time now to have a bit of fun with your sunglasses. BY NINA TUCKER. Match them to your outfit or find a fascinating pattern. Let them become your summer fashion statement, serving a new version of you.
An EV for all seasons
It’s always a big deal when Toyota launches something totally new, and the arrival of the brand’s first purpose built BEV was certainly their biggest of 2024. Metropol motoring writer Ben Selby spent a week with the bZ4X to see how it lives up to the hype. Understanding the Toyota bZ4X’s three letters and its […]
