Indulgent apple and berry crumble

Ingredients 5-6 apples, peeled, cored and roughly chopped 1/2 cup mixed frozen berries 3/4 cup plain flour 3/4 cup rolled oats 1/4 cup Chelsea soft brown sugar 80g butter, softened Pinch of cinnamon Method Preheat oven to 180oC bake. Place apple, berries, and a splash of water together in a pot. Bring to […]

Let’s make music

Music is said to sooth the savage beast, and that it may, but it is also widely recognised that music provides a balance in life for many of us. Most people enjoy listening to music in one form or another, many also immerse themselves in writing, playing and teaching. Music fuels creativity by […]

Sounds so Fyne

Metropol’s gadget guru Ian Knott checks out some diminutive, but powerful bookshelf speakers from Fyne Audio. So you’ve blown the budget on a new turntable and pre-amp to play those old vinyls on, but still need some quality speakers to plug them into. Fear not, because The Real Music Company and Fyne Audio […]

Chasing the chain

Come this October, Christchurch will vote in a new mayor. Metropol editor Lynda Papesch catches up with sitting councillor Phil Mauger, about his tilt at the mayoralty. A keen desire to improve how ratepayers perceive the Christchurch City Council, and also to bring about innovative change are two of the motives driving local […]

Hitting local fairways

With around 400 courses, New Zealand is one of the most affordable and accessible places in the world to play golf. Every year, about 500,000 people choose to play golf for a variety of reasons. It’s a game for everyone, inclusive for all ages, genders and skill levels. Being outside in nature and […]

Glorious winter getaway

If the slopes are not your style, there are many other wintery adventures you can go for instead. A getaway means something different to everyone. For some, it’s laxing out, reading, eating, and relaxing. For others, it’s full of activity, exploring, and trying new things. Here are a few ideas, and something for […]

A perfect, pretty and pink winter

Winter is usually the time for dark colour palettes and moody inspired hues, but 2022 trends are showing something quite different. Bright colours have been wildly popular in autumn and winter fashion shows this year, seeing Valentino famously go bold with an almost entirely pink collection. Colour has the ability to shift your […]

Bring on winter favourites

Tucking up inside with a hot bowl of tasty soup, gorgeous gooey pasta or mouth-watering pizza is one of the good things in life during cold, wet days. Even better is that many of these winter favourites don’t take long to make, especially with a bit of forethought, and creative pantry shelf stocking. […]

Chunky shortbread toffee bars

Courtesy of Simple Wholefoods. Makes 16 large bars 24 small bars or 48 bites Ingredients  BISCUIT BASE 2 cups raw cashews 1 cup coconut flour 1/2 cup pure maple syrup 6 tablespoons melted coconut oil 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract TOFFEE LAYER 2 cups pitted medjool dates 1/3 cup almond butter 1/4 cup […]

A cosy winter refresh

For many of us, the bedroom is an oasis. When the seasons change, it is a nice time to refresh and transform your space to suit the change in temperature and mood. For winter, adding extra layers of cosiness in the bedroom makes those chilly nights that much easier. Here are a few […]