Our Life

Harvesting rainwater and greywater can be a great way to curb your environmental footprint. But regulations, safety and maintenance shouldn't be overlooked.

Lettuce, herbs or flowers will stay hydrated all summer long in this self-watering container garden.

Injuries from quad bikes are increasing despite greater awareness of safety issues.

Transform bits and bobs around the home into festive, sustainable decorations this Christmas.

In 1988, a solo mum living in the back of beyond launched a business selling health products. It now turns over $35 million a year.

From brewing beer to cultivating cow-less milk, companies are experimenting with yeast to make food and drinks for an increasingly eco-minded world.

Twenty-one designers have aligned with Great Full for its first charity initiative. The founder of the social enterprise, Melissa Gardi, explains why community matters.

Use new or recycled bits of fabric to make a funky twist on a classic decoration.

Two and a half years spent researching and writing a book about the southern skies convinced science writer Naomi Arnold of the importance of protecting the darkness of our nights.

Since 2003, writers have been invited to a tiny brick cottage just off Dunedin’s main street to tap away at whatever they need to get down on paper.

It’s your last chance to plant amaranth for seeds, and grow a low-maintenance, protein-rich food.

Meet the city escapees whose off-the-trail bistro feeds their need for community, family and a fine vegetable garden.

Eastern rockhopper penguins might be declining in number, but they’re no less loved by  thisNZlife. The cute characters are our top pick for Forest & Bird’s Bird of the Year competition and your kids can play along with this easy-to-make dress-up mask.

This new pastime is rocking the worlds of Kiwis of all ages – and sparking joy stone by stone.

The Rockhopper penguin is a New Zealand native whose numbers have sharply declined in the last 30 years. Inspire the kids to support the Rockhopper in Forest & Bird's Bird of the Year competition with this adorable crochet hat.

Between the mountains and the sea, sculptor Ben Foster and environmentalist Sabrina Luecht have found the best of nests.

This easy-to-make A-frame gives veggies in the gourd family a place to grow up.

New research shows why ferments are good for your gut, and that including fermented foods in your diet may help with anxiety.

A cosy bed for your pet is at the tip of your needles.

Science is at the forefront of detecting and prosecuting food fraud.

Learning to eat without wheat is common. But why? And is going gluten-free really necessary?

A Taranaki gardener has found there are some growing opportunities in the $1.5 billion pet health business.

Don’t be myopic about what can be arranged in a vase to create beauty, says Sally.

If you’ve got a 1970s dresser that isn’t ever going to come back into style, here’s how to re-purpose it into a chick brooder.

These itty bitty organisms are big players in health and environmental issues.

Turn scrap wool into something soft and stylish for your home.

A cost-effective way to repurpose old timber that is part potting table and part mini-greenhouse.

Costume Designer and stylist Lucy Jane Senior agonized over finding the perfect pair of jewelled block heels for the new Auckland Theatre Company show.

Two bike-loving upcyclers have built an eco home that is off the rails in suburban Auckland — but only just.

Brighten up a dreary day with a scarf bursting with colourful triangles.

A social entrepreneur hosts outdoor excursions so New Zealanders can conquer their inner mountains — just as he has.

Herbs from your garden can clean your house, help an upset stomach, and add new flavours to your dishes.

Thirty percent of all food produced on the planet is not eaten, and Kristina has a recipe for that.

An icon of the swinging 1960s, the Mini was revered as a new approach to compact-car making. It still enjoys an almost saintly status — just ask Dave Cotty.