Fun for all, and all for fun: Chipmunks Playland and cafe

The Christmas school holidays are coming up and so too are the empty days in the calendar which need filling with activities. Enter the Holy-day Grail; Chipmunks Playland and café in Wigram.     Metropol caught up with Anna Dai from the purple-loving play area to hear why you can have fun there whether you […]

Quality pre-school education in the centre of the city: Cathedral Grammar School

The Cathedral Grammar Pre-School is a small family-orientated community-based education centre for boys and girls, located in the grounds of The Cathedral Grammar School’s central city campus.     Director Lyndell Turner leads a team of caring early childhood staff who possess a deep understanding of how young children learn. “Each teacher is responsive to […]

Trek in a Trillian

Trillian Trek has been fundraising for New Zealand children for more than a quarter of a century and raised more than $11 million.   Known for 26 years as Variety Bash, the charity raises money for disadvantaged children to provide them with the means to secure a better life – be it liberty swings, bikes, […]

Winter in Ōtautahi

Spoilt for choice: Winter events to see you through to August

Winter in Ōtautahi has never looked so exciting, or enticing, as our city plays host to a myriad of events from art and theatre, to wine and babies. Talk about spoilt for choice! A PICASSO 8 – 9 June NO Productions Theatre presents Jeffrey Hatcher’s fast-paced psychological thriller at the Christchurch Art Gallery. Described in […]

How to DAD

How to DAD: Q&A with funny father and internet sensation Jordan Watson

He’s the classic Kiwi bloke, in stubbies and gumboots. It’s pretty safe to say, a fairly unlikely candidate for teaching an entire generation of men how to parent, right? Yet Jordan Watson has turned his 15 minutes of good natured internet infamy into a full time job doing just that – teaching men How to […]

Vaccines

Small ouch, big lifesaver: the influenza vaccine

Vaccines may not be a lot of fun for anybody, but they’re one of the most effective tools we have for saving children’s lives. Yes, that small ‘ouch’ can be a big life saver. As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, annual flu vaccinations are on everyone’s lips. Recent research shows about […]

Ruby Six

A beautifully curated collection: Ruby Six is Amberley’s gem of a store

There’s a new catch phrase that has made it into the local lexicon – lifestyle store – and that’s exactly where Ruby Six owner, Jenni Dobbie, believes the beautiful Amberley store sits. “I feel the term ‘lifestyle store’ captures our ethos at Ruby Six,” she says. The carefully curated product ranges include stylish, quality fashion […]

Metropol Editor Melinda Collins

Editor’s Perspective: on getting teary-eyed at the M Factor Events for Ronald McDonald fashion show

Tears may not be what you’d expect from one of the city’s most covetable fashion shows. But when the benefactor of the event is a worthy charitable cause such as Ronald McDonald House South Island, which has supported the likes of Paula and Alex Moore, it’s not surprising there wasn’t a dry eye in the […]

Christchurch Activities

What’s on: keeping the kids entertained

With little minds to inspire and little legs to tire out, the role of a parent can be beautifully relentless. We might not offer a babysitting service here at Metropol, but we do love to brainstorm on your behalf. Here are some of the fun things our city and surrounding areas are throwing up in […]

St Andrew's College

Empowering education: St Andrews College is giving kids the tools they need to be happy successful adults

Against a backdrop of delightful bubbles an amazing new asset made its mark at St Andrew’s College in February. While the youngest members of the St Andrew’s delighted in a mass bubble blowing activity, Dame Adrienne Stewart opened their state-of-the-art buildings and bespoke playgrounds, all part of the brand new Stewart Junior Centre. The beautiful […]