Our Life

Summer holidays for a Hamilton family mean a beach on the wild Waikato west coast with a small dog called Rosie and a retro caravan called Roxanne.

A good sign is the very first part of your sales strategy. An effective one will catch people's eye as they get within 10m or so of your stand.

Marie Pourcel wakes each morning to goats bleating outside her tiny home in Burkes Pass. It feels like a million miles from the apartment and office job she left behind in France’s fourth-largest city.

If you want extra beds for summer guests, a simple sleepout may be the ideal solution.

Specialty oils are expensive to buy. Most people assume they’re difficult to make, but it’s possible to do it yourself.

Succulents are a beautiful business plan if you enjoy some simple DIY and a little creativity.

A walker recovering from illness took the chance to clean up his local area. Both are now in good health.

A secondary school art teacher scolded his students for being “plum puddings” and told them to get on with their art. One of them took this admonition to heart, his words inspiring her since.

An old pallet becomes a place of rest.

An oh-so-glorious collection of timeless baches and holiday getaways to celebrate the best of summer in New Zealand.

Nothing says love or friendship like a sweet little treat made at home.

A cold may be common but finding a cure for it has thwarted scientists for centuries. It’s not for lack of trying, however. “Cures” abound (including that one involving vitamin C)…

They live off-grid in a log cabin, drive an electric car, and measure their progress in toilets. Meet a pair of earth nerds living their great adventure.

This Whāngārei-based maternity activewear brand reached 14 on the Deloitte Fast 50 list within five years of shipping its first bras.

A conductor and a violinist find a soothing new tempo inside a Central Otago triangle.

A practical climbing frame for plants can double as art for the garden.

Kellie Hollingsworth wasn’t interested in cars, let alone restoring them. But then a shabby old Toyota stole her heart.

What’s in a Frame with Silvan Made

Witnessing their home city crumble following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes was torment enough for Deb and Graham Thompson. But then seeing the storied remnants of Christchurch’s heritage buildings being carted off to landfill added fierce insult to injury. Racing against time, and wrecking crews, the artful couple from South New Brighton began a wily salvaging operation in order to preserve a slice of Canterbury history.

Wrestling With an Octopus

Dyslexia affects an estimated one in 10 New Zealanders. Beth Beamish’s son, Harry, has the condition, and was the inspiration behind Dyslexia: Wrestling with an Octopus, 10 Tips to Help Your Child.

Schools of the Future

As a disruptive year draws to an end, it is time for reflection: if we could travel to the future what would we hope to see? What would we wish for our children in 2021 and how can we work on this now?

Building a Sustainable Future with Untouched World Foundation

A simple question, ‘How can we use company profits to create the most impact beyond the reach of the business?’ asked by Untouched World CEO and Founder Peri Drysdale, became the catalyst for the creation of the Untouched World Foundation.

The Kai for Kids Charitable Trust

Pilot programme Kai for Kids has been providing free lunches to the children at Netherby School in Mid Canterbury for the last two terms of 2020 – with the aim of continuing this service into 2021 and extending to other schools in the district. All thanks to the generosity of donors through the Advance Ashburton Community Foundation.

Farm To Floor with Mitre 10 MEGA Ashburton

Natural, renewable and luxurious, wool is nature’s finest fibre. Utilising the latest technology with Mother Nature’s best, flooring companies like Godfrey Hirst are backing the New Zealand economy. Mitre 10 MEGA Ashburton explains.

Global Reach and Local Knowledge with Colliers International

One of the world’s foremost real estate companies, Colliers International, is steadily expanding its footprint in the greater Canterbury rural property market.

Shopping with a difference – The Old School Collective

Step inside the beautiful stores that call Waikuku’s Old School Collective home. Or pop in and see them in person at 1429 Main North Road, Waikuku.

Tough investing choices in a COVID-19 world with Forsyth Barr

It has certainly been a rollercoaster year for investors. New Zealand investment firm Forsyth Barr offers an insight into the market.

Books on the Boulevard – The Custard Square Bookshop

The Custard Square Bookshop in front of the Arts Centre on Worcester Boulevard in Christchurch is one of the city’s little treasures. Founder Cathleen Murphy shares her story of how it all started.

Emotional Health with Dr Libby

Being able to accept and manage feelings through challenge and change is essential to our wellbeing. Dr Libby Weaver explains.

Discover the Real Christchurch, on Foot with Walk Christchurch

If you have out-of-town visitors staying this summer, or if you simply want to find out more about Christchurch history and culture, get your sneakers on and join a Walk Christchurch guided tour of the central city.Stains and oils protect your exterior timber from the weather and help make sure that your timber stays in better shape for longer.

All About Wood with Resene

Stains and oils protect your exterior timber from the weather and help make sure that your timber stays in better shape for longer. Whether you need UV resistance, protection from the weather or mould resistance, staining or oiling your exterior timber makes a huge difference to how your timber looks as well as how long it will last.

A New Plymouth mum pours her heart into a global movement, bettering the planet one toy at a time.

After one frustrating cheese board fail, Nadene Hall breaks down seven festive appetisers that are practically foolproof.

Gardeners know growing plants is great for your health, and now science is showing us some of the reasons why.

NZ Lifestyle Block editor Nadene Hall has a confession: she is a bad ride-on mower owner.