Our Life

DIY: Make natural dyes with plants, fruits and pantry items

The pantry contains a smörgåsbord of ingredients perfect as natural dyes.

The paint-spattered Badcock family tree

Father and daughter, John and Susan Badcock, are just two members of the thoroughly paint-spattered Badcock family tree.

The ups and downs of sculptor Ben Foster's car restoration

Ben Foster has come to realize his car project is a form of therapy for himself and his mates after the psychological and mental anguish of the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake and the last year of the pandemic.

Going off-grid and mortgage-free in King Country

A family committed to a self-sufficient way of life have quickly turned an untamed block into a productive homestead.

Embracing Féte

Hosting a garden fête isn’t at the top of the bucket list for most, but for Min and Deanna Mackenzie, what started as an inspired idea 12 years ago has grown into a much-loved regular event on the community calendar.

Renovate, Refresh and Relax

Sometimes one or two simple changes are all you need to give your bathroom a refresh, and the best part is you can do it yourself! The team at Mitre 10 MEGA explain.

Working For You

Resene Colour Consultant Rebecca Long guides us through some tips and tricks when it comes to crafting the perfect home office space.

Staying Positive in the Face of Change

Yes, recent government announcements on housing mean there are policy changes to navigate, but it’s not all doom and gloom, says Nathan Miglani, Mortgage Adviser with Loan Market Paramount.

Regular Screening

News of Labour MP Kiri Allan’s cervical cancer diagnosis has highlighted the need for women to have regular cervical smears and report any unusual bleeding or discomfort to their doctor. Oxford Women’s Health gynaecologist Richard Dover explains the importance of regular screening, attending follow-up appointments, and upcoming changes to cervical screening.

From History to Histories

Everyone has a view about what should be taught in history, how it should be taught and why it’s important.

This woman proves it's never too late to change careers

Kay Paku feels life has delivered her a series of career options — each a lucky chance rather than a deliberate choice.

The best way to be zero waste on a block

Waste from your block is actually quite the opposite to its name — here's how to make the most of its value.

Top 10 veggie crops for city gardeners

These veggies are excellent for small gardens.

3 ways to use kawakawa

Make the most of this medicinal plant by making a salve, throat gargle or even natural perfume.

10 tips to drying firewood in just 6 weeks

Get the basics right, and you can have perfect firewood in as little as six weeks.

Why food is the best medicine

The best diet for long life and good health is an age old conundrum. Modern insights say it has a lot to do with eating the right drugs.

9 tips for starting a local food co-op

For more than 25 years, the locals of a small rural Southland community have co-operated to provide themselves with mostly locally-grown, organic food.

How to build a Norwegian Round Stack

Norwegian rounds are a space-saving wood stacking technique that will keep your wood dry

6 healing tonics to make with herbs from the garden

With cold and flu season around the corner, it’s time to turn to Mother Nature for the tools of self-defence. These herbs can be grown then made into potions that soothe and strengthen.

Black Ferns Sevens star ready for the Olympic spotlight

Working to improve her mental strength and gaining much-needed confidence has been a game-changer for Black Ferns Sevens star Michaela Blyde.

DIY: 6 skincare products to make at home

Give skin a boost with naturally soothing ingredients that might already be in your garden or kitchen.

How Kathleen Green is paying homage to the classic Kiwi blanket

Finding herself unemployed in the middle of a recession, Kathleen Green began restoring vintage wool blankets to their former glory.

The immune system and ageing's big diseases

In the first of a new column, a medical doctor explains how the immune system changes after middle age and causes ageing’s big diseases.

How this woman scored a 1969 Lancia Fulvia

Italian flair comes to Ōhakune in the form of a racy little italian number.

Houseplant happiness: A beginner’s guide

If you can turn a houseplant into a withered has-been overnight, then this guide that matches indoor greenery to the conditions (and homeowner’s personality) is a life saver.

Meet the foragers turning wild herbs into wellness

A love of foraging in the hills of Central Otago is at the heart of a natural health business that's transforming wild herbs into wellness.

Meet the inspiring mums behind bilingual book series Reo Pepi

A vision to reclaim their ancestral language prompted these Dunedin cousins to create a bilingual resource for future generations.

Perfect Outdoor Living

As cooler days start to approach now is the perfect time to review our outdoor living areas, ahead of next summer! So much can be done to enhance these areas with a bit of imagination and a little know-how.

Power for the Locals

Many of us have thought about it, but not many of us have done it: seen an opportunity, jumped in at the deep end and taken on the big boys. For Ashburton’s Emma and Pete Summerfield, however, that is exactly what they did .

Breaking Perceptions

Fifteen years ago Nathan Najib had a vision to create ‘the most people-focused real estate agency on earth’. In 2016 he took the first step in realising this, opening the doors of Najib Real Estate.

Giving Back with Mitre 10 MEGA

For these business owners, supporting the community who supports them is important. Not because it is good public relations, but because it is a way of saying thank you.

For the Love of Velvet

Velvets are all the rage, and yet our love affair with this textile began generations ago. Interior designer Taryn Beech from Maree Hynes Interiors offers a modern take on this versatile fabric.

Honouring Our Sleep

Almost a third of adult New Zealanders experience difficulties sleeping. But we are not alone with our wakeful nights. Throughout the world, the prevalence of sleep problems is high and growing – the World Sleep Society refers to sleeplessness as a global epidemic. But help is on hand.

The Boom That Just Keeps Coming

Don’t expect the Christchurch and Canterbury property market to slow down anytime soon, says Nathan Miglani, Mortgage Adviser with Loan Market Paramount.

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