Our Life

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.

Marlborough-based artist Nicolas Dillon’s coffee-table book of drawings and paintings of New Zealand birds represents his lifetime love affair with the natural world.

Book reviewer Hayley McLarin’s round-up includes a plant-based cookbook, a story of a man and his rescue cat, and an economist’s take on global loneliness.

Turn your old tools into a decorative garden gate.

Lisa Scott has always been afraid of heights or, to be more precise, falling. Now she’s attempting to overcome that fear.

This paper kiwi is an easy origami project for beginners and kids. Make one to celebrate the Bird of the Year competition.

Add a splash of colour to the dinner table with these simple tricks for tie dyeing and shibori napkins. They are an easy homemade present to make.

Two Waitaki families farming in partnership for more than 50 years have developed a bird-loving business out of a crop sown on a wing and a prayer.

Clothing has an enormous impact on the environment and, very often, an effect on the people who make it. When purchasing, remember these Rs ‒ reduce, recycle, resale, repair, repurpose and even rent.

This garden-lover’s pet project sees a rundown barn turned into a room of her own.

Sleep accounts for one-quarter to one-third of the human lifespan. Yet what exactly happens during it is not known, and its biological purpose remains one of life’s great mysteries.

The Brilliance of Höglund Glass

Based in the creative hub of Nelson, the Höglund family share their love of glassblowing and the legacy of Höglund Art Glass Studio.With a desire to incorporate expansive outdoor living areas and a swimming pool into the design of their new home, these North Canterbury homeowners and their designer were forced to think outside the box to achieve what they wanted.

Toy-tastic at The Toy Collector

With a desire to incorporate expansive outdoor living areas and a swimming pool into the design of their new home, these North Canterbury homeowners and their designer were forced to think outside the box to achieve what they wanted.

What’s really going on in the property market?

Houses are selling fast, median prices are heading up; it sure feels like a buoyant market out there, but does that mean we’ve avoided a COVID-19 downturn in the property market?

What are you imagining?

Educationalists Dr Chris Jansen and Dr Cheryl Doig dive deep and ask us to think about what the impact of COVID-19 will be on our education system in the future.