Our Life

When Wisdom is Beautiful – Rhonda Stove’s 40+ Wise Women Project
On the surface Rhonda Stove’s 40+ Wise Women Project is both a brilliantly emotive marketing campaign and a creative way to attract business, yet it is also an ode to the collective power and beauty of mature womanhood. The project is ‘a celebration of all women aged 40 and above. A chance to tell us your story, share your insights, courage and beauty.’

Ditching the Birds and the Bees
Raising and supporting kids is a minefield and when it comes to talking about sex we often wonder where to begin. Claire Millichamp from Side by Side Therap y offers some advice.

A doctor weighs in on plants vs meat
Should we eat animals? Many voices say food from plants is enough. So who is right? Dr Roderick Mulgan ponders the important questions.

4 things about firewood for a cosy winter
Knowing your hardwoods from your softwoods makes a big difference.

The history of Haldon Station
One of New Zealand’s iconic high-country stations, the 22,000-hectare Haldon Station in the Mackenzie Country, stars in a new book tracing its history, owners, managers and staff.

How to make a cosy hot-water bottle cover
Give Jack Frost the cold shoulder with this easy-to-make ‘hottie’ coat made from recycled materials.

DIY: Make this easy, felt-ball trivet
Protect your table and benchtops from hot pots and pans with this colourful trivet. Time to felt up and get rolling!

Meet Wellington's all-electric turquoise ferry
There’s a new player in Wellington Harbour cruising alongside the familiar red tugboats and lumbering Interislander ferries.

5 things to know about inverters when you go off-grid
Solar panels are the visible sign of an off-grid power system, but at its heart is a little box with a big job.

World wanderers return to nest in a Far North tiny house
For two years, this couple traveled in a Jeep throughout the Americas, the length of Africa and into many of Europe’s far-flung corners — often facing great danger. But the lessons they learned together on the road will drive them into an exciting future.

5 fireplace trends to cosy up to
Some of the biggest design trends are contemporary rustic and cottage décor, with fires being a key feature.

Rangitīkei: Where to raft, fish, stroll and explore
On the Rangitīkei stretch of SH1— from the Manawatū and southwest to Horowhenua’s Foxton — rivers, lakes, wetlands and beaches create a vibrant ecosystem well worth a visit.

Hūhana Lyndon on using her influence for good
Hūhana Lyndon, previously a vocal critic of the Ngātiwai Trust Board, is its new chief executive.

The Akaroa Men's Shed has become the talk of the town
A retiree joins a global movement, lending a hand to build relationships — and neighbourhoods.

Growing an idyllic lifestyle (and garden-fresh ventures) on the Kina Peninsula
A natural phenomenon helped one Tasman woman shake off serious post-op complications and led to a thriving produce and floristry business involving an entire family.

Functional Keratin
Powerful, natural supplement keratin protein is essential for the development of healthy skin, hair and nails. Natalie Harrison of Christchurch’s Kiri10 explains what it is, and why we need it.

What’s Next for Housing?
The 2021 property market took the country by storm, surprising even the most seasoned spectators and instigating a raft of changes designed to take the heat off. So is housing still hot property? Loan Market Paramount Mortgage Adviser Nathan Miglani fills us in on what we can expect in 2022.

Not Just About Cars
John Hutchinson is a man with a passion for people, vehicles and giving back to his team and community. The recently opened redevelopment of the Team Hutchinson Ford showroom and workshop in central Christchurch is testament to that.

A Flax Mill in the Family
An old concrete building near Oxford stands tall like a weathered sentinel in a landscape of fields and quietly grazing sheep. Though built in the early 1940s, this is no former army bunker or military supplies depot. In fact, this old flax mill once served a wartime need for linen fibre. Through the intervening decades, its story has become interwoven with that of a rural Oxford family who have preserved its heritage and opened the building as a wedding and events venue.

Why you should light your fire upside down
This is how to light a clean fire, according to two Norwegian wood-burning experts.

The Kiwi company keeping its cool with eco-friendly refrigeration
When temperatures soar, the hum of air conditioning and refrigeration units sound an ominous chorus. This company is offering a greener solution.

10+ tips for starting a compost for beginners
Even when minimising waste much as possible, some food scraps can’t be eaten. Here's how best to combat food scraps.

Lynda Hallinan's tips for surviving tough gardening times
When the going gets tough, it’s not just the tough who get going.

20 tips for aspiring BnB hosts
If you live in paradise and want extra income, it makes sense to invite people to stay. Sheryn shares her lessons hosting visitors from near and far.

A couple creates a secluded retreat in the treetops of their farm
Diversification was on the cards when a buzz-loving broadcaster moved to a remote Canterbury valley with a sixth-generation farmer. Million Springs farm is today host to 2000 cows and a business in the trees.



