Our Life

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.

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

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

These veggies are excellent for small gardens.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

There’s a ‘ginaissance’ going on, with craft distilleries popping up around New Zealand, but it takes more than bit of this and a bit of that to make the ‘it’ drink.

Freezing your favourite summer produce is a simple, fast, and economical way (if you do it right) to preserve the best in your crops.

Transforming a pre-loved item destined for landfill takes patience. But breathing new life into a tired object can be immensely satisfying.

Dreaming of living in a tiny home? From refurnished boats in Whanganui to views of the Auckland skyline, the space is small but the ideas are bigger than ever.

Build a storage rack for your autumn harvest and preserves.

Two former winemakers are creating gin and other spirits, capturing the essence of the region in which they live.

The vibrant spontaneity of a city where a circus troupe might suddenly appear amid the colourful buildings appealed to the creative spirit of this film-maker. So she relocated to Mexico's San Miguel de Allende— and never left.