Living life to the full

Gastronomad, author, culinary artiste, television and broadcasting bon vivant all describe Peta Mathias. Metropol editor Lynda Papesch catches up with her after a recent cooking school in Christchurch. Once seen, rarely forgotten. Vivacious, colourful and a total foodie, Peta Mathias lives up to her reputation and neither time nor Covid-19 has clipped her culinary wings. […]

The great, fashionable outdoors

Us Kiwis are so lucky to have such a beautiful backyard to explore, there’s a reason we are such an outdoors-loving bunch after all. Winter weather doesn’t have to stop the adventures, in fact, the colder months are some of the best to make the most of the great outdoors. Crisp bluebird days and snowy […]

Tomato, bread and garlic soup: Riverstone Kitchen

Courtesy of Riverstone Kitchen Cook time 20 mins Prep time 5 mins Serves 4 Ingredients 2 x 400g cans chopped Italian tomatoes, or 1kg very ripe tomatoes 180ml extra virgin olive oil 3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely sliced 1 bunch basil, picked ½ loaf stale ciabatta, crust removed and roughly chopped 500ml chicken stock, […]

The ultimate robot vacuum

Small things amuse small minds, and in what is easily the best robot vacuum cleaner on the market, Metropol’s gadget guru Ian Knott finds a small feature that does indeed amuse him for hours. When I reviewed the ECOVACS Deebot T9+ late last year, it would have been hard to believe that the then flagship […]

Living in colour

Looking for a little interior inspiration? Are your rooms feeling a little dull? Injecting some vibrancy and colour into your home is not as hard as it may seem. We can’t all be interior designers, but some key design rules can help guide you in a little DIY home refresh. Winter doesn’t have to be […]

Love your pets

We are a bunch of animal lovers here at Metropol, with many of our team having their own treasured pet at home. And we know that pets are beloved in the homes of so many of our readers. Enjoy the next few pages filled with all things pets, including some wonderful local businesses doing amazing […]

Oh so trendy

Trends come and go every year, even in the worlds of our furry friends. The pet product world is growing each year. With developments in technology, a push towards sustainability, and more research in animal health than ever, we are seeing innovative ideas and solutions making their way onto our pet friendly shelves. We take […]

Designing her dreams

Former Cantabrian Caitlin Crisp is a fashion force to be reckoned with, recently celebrating the launch of her label’s latest collection. Metropol’s Georgia Summerton catches up with Caitlin about her journey in business so far, and the designs that fashion lovers everywhere can’t seem to get enough of. After studying Fashion Technology and a stint […]

Dare to denim

Denim has long been a staple in any wardrobe, with versatility to be worn from head to toe. Originally patented by Levi Strauss in 1873, the material is now used by designers worldwide. From classic denim jeans to skirts, jackets and overalls, denim continues to give off that cool, effortless look with a touch of […]

Battling skin problems

Most of us suffer skin problems from time to time, so it is good to know there are some simple, hard-working solutions for most of them. Here are a few ideas from Metropol to combat a couple of the more common conditions. Redness If you are prone to rosacea, eliminate any products that may cause […]