Our Life

Burlington Village’s much-anticipated Pavilion combines a glamorous aesthetic with the hallmarks of every Qestral retirement facility.

It’s no secret plants contain potent compounds for good health and skincare. But this skin-loving ingredient, derived from a native shrub, has remained hush-hush until only recently.

Kid’s Reading Corner Dec/Jan

With so many great kids’ and young adult titles out there, it helps to have a recommendation from the experts. Here are this month’s top picks from Telling Tales: Scorpio Children’s Books . Reviewed by Rebecca Jones.

Transforming an old, cold home into one with a much greener footprint is a slow but satisfying, cost-effective DIY project.

To Stage or Not to Stage

Home staging is often an under-considered option but can take a sale from good, to exceptional. Local expert Keith MacDonald shares his knowledge about the value of staging your home for sale and creating a strong first impression.

A New Strategy for Changing Forecast?

Fresh insights from an acclaimed economist demonstrate the need for a fluid strategy, says award-winning Mortgage Adviser and Owner of Loan Market Paramount , Nathan Miglani.

On a Mission with Craig Fairhall

They’ve been part of the international sporting landscape for years. However, sports chaplains are a relatively youthful addition to the New Zealand scene, only arriving on our shores in 2011 when international teams brought their chaplains to the Rugby World Cup. Nonetheless, Sports Chaplaincy is a growing service within New Zealand and Reverend Craig Fairhall, sports-mad minister, is making a holistic difference in Canterbury.

Colour Thy Timber with Resene

As we head outdoors for summer many of us look to freshen up our exterior with a new look, or an update on the current. Resene colour consultant Brooke Calvert shares some expert advice when it comes to what not to forget – your deck!

Beeswax wraps are a great alternative to clingwrap to cover food and keep it fresh. They can be made at home easily using wax chips, pine rosin and a few household tools.

Delivering positive health outcomes is a wider social issue and not one that can be solved by doctors alone.

These two houseplant devotees find calmness and joy from decorating their spaces with flora.

Turn an ordinary pot into a whimsical wonderland for fairies — children will love it.

Can you grow and process good alternatives to wheat flour? Homesteader Rebecca Stewart shares the results of her tests, using only homegrown and foraged ingredients.

Auckland’s Kawakawa Bay is home to a growing collection of notable classics.

How to make a Colourful Corkboard with Resene

We know Resene paints are great for transforming our walls, but their testpots are also perfect for craft projects. Penny Newton from Crafty Girl Life Hacks (and latitude’s own digital marketing guru) shows us how to give a corkboard a new lease of life and transform it into a colourful edition to your home.

Accentuate the Positive

Award-winning Mortgage Adviser and Owner of Loan Market Paramount , Nathan Miglani looks at the upsides of the current market.

Coming Full Circle – Preloved Clothing

Here’s a riddle and it’s no giggle. What is catastrophic when it’s fast and linear? Good when it’s slow and even better when it goes around in circles? It is the industry that puts clothes on our backs and pockets our cash with the seduction of what’s new, cheap and in fashion. Something has to change.

What Makes a Great Agent?

An experienced real estate professional can be invaluable in helping guide you through a property sale. Finding the perfect real estate agent is about finding a balance between knowledge, experience and communication. Local expert Keith MacDonald provides an insight.

Calming Your Mind

Practising bite-size mindfulness consistently can help you to slow down, calm your mind and body, be more present and be grateful for what you do have in life, not what you don’t have. Health is about mental fitness as well, not just physical fitness. Wellbeing expert Ella Sidey explains.

Craft a pretty spring wreath from bendy stems.

Put your herbs on display with this pretty (and easy-to-make) three-tier planter.

When a rare Mustang, based in Florida, catches the eye of an Auckland woman, she moves heaven and earth to park up the pony at home.

We throw out a mountain of electronics each year, but new recycling technology could help build a circular economy for more sustainable gadgets.

Cook up a feast for family and friends, decorating the table with these flax placemats.

Bringing the Past to Life at Akaroa

Aotearoa New Zealand’s histories/Te Takanga o te Wā – the new history curriculum for school students – is generating an upsurge of interest in Akaroa and the special place it holds in our past. Local guide and ecologist Marie Haley is thrilled to be sharing the peninsula’s unique stories with young people and suggests there is no better place for a New Zealand history tour than Akaroa.

The Magic of Auction with Keith MacDonald Harcourts Grenadier

While there are many facets to successfully selling a property, auction is a sale method sellers should consider, no matter the market. Real estate agent Keith MacDonald explains.

Achieving Greatness Together – Loan Market Paramount

From a hard-working solo maverick to leading the best team in the business, Nathan Miglani of Loan Market Paramount is an award-winning mortgage adviser raising the standard of customer care.

Keep Calm in a Cooling Market

It’s cooling off, and we’re not just talking about the weather, says Mortgage Adviser Nathan Miglani of Loan Market Paramount.

Keeping Canterbury Smiling – Peak Orthodontics

We talk to specialist orthodontist Dr John Perry from Peak Orthodontics about the importance of individualised treatment (be it with braces, clear aligners or a retainer) when it comes to achieving that perfect smile.

Breaking the Rules – The Wardrobe Stories

As owner-operator of clothing store Louis Who and the mastermind behind Waikuku’s Old School Collective , Lisa Willetts is a formidable force, passionate about slow fashion, a good frock and comfort.

A Place to Gather and Grow – Phillipstown Community Hub

Not long after Phillipstown School was closed seven years ago as part of the Christchurch schools’ post-earthquakes reorganisation, the school site reopened as a community hub. Today, Te Whare Whānau Whānui/Phillipstown Community Hub is a thriving place that offers a warm welcome and a host of activities and programmes.

Kid’s Reading Corner Aug/Sept

With so many great kids’ and young adult titles out there, it helps to have a recommendation from the experts. Here are this month’s top picks from Telling Tales: Scorpio Children’s Books .

Surprises come in many forms in the newest, electrifying chapter for Lexus.

A Sport Waikato initiative is helping females of all ages to feel comfortable about their bodies and encouraging them to be active.