The together issue – Editor Nina Tucker

With one month to go, this year has felt like a masterclass. A calendar filled with opportunities for connection… sports, music, food, entertainment, fashion… it’s a springboard (pun intended) for uniting communities.

From the two T20 tests between our BLACKCAPS and India at Hagley Oval, to a sold-out Wolfbrook Arena as the Silver Ferns rose above Australia’s Diamonds 2-0 for the Constellation Cup. At One New Zealand Stadium, a double-header for the Rugby League World Cup (with just a 28-minute turnaround between the women’s and men’s game), and the Black Ferns take on France just two days after this issue hits the streets.

The second Christchurch Spring Fashion Festival – three days of runway shows (one that celebrated 100 years of unity in sport between India and New Zealand), designer showcases and panel talks – bought sub-industries together that don’t often intersect. And the Canterbury Home Show united more than 150 businesses and thousands of attendees across one weekend.

In November, 37,000 people will share their love for Robbie Williams underneath the stadium’s roof, while tens of thousands more will enjoy New Zealand Cup Week festivities and the Ravensdown Canterbury A&P Show.

So as expected, spring in Christchurch is a season of events. But this year feels different. Every visiting business owner, creative or industry leader I’ve met at said events shared the same sentiment: Christchurch has a buzz you can’t find elsewhere in Aotearoa right now. We’re where everyone wants to be. Even Jack Tame (who grew up in the Garden City and now lives in Auckland for work) tells deputy editor Tamara Pitelen that Christchurch is in a league of its own; read more from page 10.

Leading online travel agency Booking.com named Christchurch in their top 10 global trending destinations for 2027, the only Australasian hotspot identified, drawing on research from 28,000 travellers across 32 countries and territories.

Inside this issue of coming together, find sweet stuff to share (pages 40 and 43), rapper Savage’s excitement to entertain a crowd at Cup Day (page 12), a wrap from the fashion festival where the whole industry joined forces, and 10 startup businesses entering the Ministry of Awesome’s ‘villa’ for global scaling.

Kia pai tō rā.