Our Life

These newspaper seedling pots can be planted straight into the ground.

Lynda indulges her fever for ferns with a tabletop collection of covetable species.

One man’s penchant for potatoes has led to a thriving multigenerational family-run paddock-to-packet potato-chip business.

Backyard Family Travellers

The idea of taking three young children on a mountain hike would leave most parents filled with a sense of dread. But Mid Canterbury-based blogger, marketing freelancer and social media influencer Jen Parkes regularly takes her children – Nathan (seven), Kipton (five), and Emilia (three) – into the great outdoors, and she’s on a mission to show other parents they can too.

Summer Living with Mitre 10 BBQs

From smokers to flat tops, to pizza ovens, outdoor kitchens and hooded solutions, buying a barbecue can be a complex task! Thankfully the teams at Mitre 10 MEGA Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru are on hand with some great advice.

The Beauty of Diversity

Inclusive dance company Jolt is based on the ethos that everyone has the right to dance and find their own creative voice, and the belief that communities are strengthened by the beauty of diversity. Artistic Director Lyn Cotton gives us an insight into this inspirational organisation.

Staunch Heritage Advocate

Saving heritage buildings has been a lifelong mission for Dame Anna Crighton. She explains what they mean to her and why others should care too.

The Next Stage – Lady Wigram Village

The decision to move into a retirement village or aged care facility can be brought about by a number of factors and whether you are looking for yourself or someone you love, it is important you understand the different options available. Rachel Wilson, Care Facility Manager at Lady Wigram Village answers our questions .

The Right Property Investment for You

Mortgage adviser Nathan Miglani looks at why new construction continues to gain in popularity with buyers and highlights a key change to lending that is on its way.

A Touch of Colour

Light and airy is a very popular trend, however adding a touch of colour here and there can create mood and interest.

That old houseplant at your grandma’s house might be worth thousands, but can you make a killing growing the most on-trend houseplants?

A group of (mostly) women are regenerating Gisborne’s flora — one eco-sourced seed at a time.

A backcountry hut along the Forgotten World Highway is a befitting backdrop for this city-eschewing couple.

A Queenstown couple take on the task of nurturing Aotearoa’s most valuable and important resource.

Learn how to make this cute macramé keychain before moving on to larger projects.

Dust off those needles – this easy-to-knit beanie teams New Zealand natural wool with a cute-as-a-button possum-fur pompom.

Grab the iron and a bundle of soft plastic bags then make a tote with sustainable style.

A bonsai collector shares the lesson of caring for artfully pruned trees.

Scientists call foods that are good for the body ‘functional’. Marketers call them ‘superfoods’. Welcome to the health-giving world of nutraceuticals.

Light your fire with these simple, homemade starters.

You might think hunting lodge, you might think it’s too much  wood for one home, but the modern log house is a strong statement in clean, green, renewable, hand-crafted building work.

WORD on the street

Māori language advocates and writers Hana O’Regan and Charisma Rangipunga are joining forces with two prolific Irish-language writers at the upcoming WORD Christchurch Festival for an event that is not to be missed.

The Demand For Land

Very soon we could be seeing a lot of investors become developers, but before you rush in, it’s worth taking your time to get the numbers right, says Nathan Miglani, Mortgage Adviser with Loan Market Paramount.

We Stand on Their Shoulders

As Playcentre celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, we talk to Barbara Chapman who shares her involvement in the long and proud history of one of New Zealand’s leading preschool organisations.

Collective Impact Through Education

Grow Waitaha assists schools to achieve pedagogical change in a meaningful and manageable way, and to put learners at the centre of that change. Dr Chris Jansen explains.

Papered Walls

Wallpaper is a fabulous way to add energy, personality and style to your home. Whether you seek a bold pattern, subtle texture or even a large custom mural, the variety of options is endless.

Raising Eyebrows

Drawing on the simplicity of the humble rectangle, embellished with an expressive roofline and completed with a nod to brutalist aesthetics, Milton Weir’s Akaroa holiday home nearly didn’t get out of the ground. In fact, it nearly didn’t have any ground to begin with!

Get It Straight

Podiatrist Louise Aubrey helps us understand what the foot-body connection is, and how it affects our balance and alignment.

A Little Gallery with a Big Heart

There is a touch of pride in the voice of Cheryl Morrall as I talk to her about the 10-year celebrations of Down by the Liffey Gallery, and so there should be. For 10 years this beautiful gallery space has been run by the community, for the community. A mammoth feat for a volunteer organisation.

The Gift of Hearing

Bellbird Hearing was established by local clinicians striving to provide world-class hearing healthcare to their local communities. Experience, expertise, independence and unbiased advice lie at the heart of their service, as Timaru audiologist Juliet Marsden explains.

Create a magical trail of stepping stones using ready-mix concrete and decorated with bold, beautiful leaves from the backyard.

Converting a barn into a home can create a distinctive living space, but it involves a unique set of building challenges.

A psychology student’s budding business, providing solace when she most needed it, is rooted in the belief that homegrown flowers can heal the mind, body and soul.

A tennis coach and an IT professional have transformed their not-much-good-for-anything land into a tiny house escape.