Stories

Electro-reggae legends L.A.B are coming to Christchurch in October 2020. Radio New Zealand have deemed L.A.B to be our country's best live act – so you better get your hands on tickets to this spectacular show, coming to Christchurch Arena on Saturday 31 October. L.A.B are one of the fastest-rising acts in NZ, and this concert is coming off the back of major success with their Tait-prize nominated albulm L.A.B III, which features the numer one single 'In The Air'. This gig will showcase them at their best – live and loud. L.A.B sold out Auckland’s Spark Arena and Hamilton’s Claudelands Arena, and this will be their first South Island-headline show in nearly three years. The band was started by Kora frontmen Brad And Stuart Kora, and features Ara Ads-Tamatea, formerly of Katchafire. L.A.B pumps out the reggae sounds amplified by electronic, rock and funk influences – and the concert's bound to...

What a comeback! Kiwi legands Split Enz having been rocking Christchurch, New Zealand, and the world for decades, and they're back to the top of the album charts in 2020. A remixed and remastered anniversary release of Split Enz’s legendary album TRUE COLOURS has reached the #1 position on the Official New Zealand Top40 Album Chart today - 40 years after the album’s initial release in 1980. This was the album that launched global hit 'I Got You', written by Neil Finn, as well as 'I Hope I Never' and 'Poor Boy'. TRUE COLOURS spent 76 weeks on the Official New Zealand Album Chart, and it was internationally successful too – it was #1 in Australia for 10 weeks, and reached the Top 40 Album Charts in the UK, USA and Canada. Split Enz’s Eddie Rayner has worked with the band's individual 24 track recordings and crafted new mixes for each...

Art expo in a hair salon? Yes, please. Mod’s Hair is becoming part-gallery with the addition of artist Heather Straka’s powerful photographic series, Dissected Parlour. The images have caused a stir since their installation at the Aikmans Road salon in Merivale last Sunday. In the first work, named Teamwork (part II), five women pose awkwardly, as if in a fashion shoot, clutching Molotov cocktails and oxy-acetylene cutting torches, as if they’re about to create chaos. Inside the salon, more of Straka’s evocative work adorns the walls. Unafraid of confronting racist and sexist stereotypes, Straka’s created a deep body of compelling and controversial work during her career in New Zealand and overseas. She’s always prescient and wittily observant, walking a tightrope across the cultural pulse of contentious matters, questioning tradition and challenging stereotypes. Julianne Liebeck, director of Mod’s Hair in New Zealand and Australia, triggered this thought-provoking collaboration in its unusual setting....

Looking for the inside scoop on Winter 2020 on your local ski fields? Cityscape has done the hard yards to compile the ultimate guide to skiing and snowboarding in Canterbury and Otago this year. The 2020 ski season is up and running, and Cantabrians are flocking to the local fields in droves. Mt Hutt has has been rocking an amazing atmophere (and often a full carpark) since it opened, and Porters has had some great snow on its groomed tracks. Broken River and Mt Lyford have opened, letting us all in on a bit of of that friendly club field magic. Unfortunately, there hasn't been enough snow yet to open Mt Cheesman, Temple Basin, Craigieburn or Hamner Springs Ski Field, but keep patiently doing your snow dance - you never know what the weather gods could bring. With a little bit of a drive, you'll find Mt Dobson, Roundhill and Ohau...

Up your gourmet game with this recipe from international award-winning chef Andrew Brown. Serves 4-6. SHOPPING LIST 600gm salmon fillet (skin on preferable)2 cups quinoa3 cups water6 red radishes (thinly sliced)1 cup watercress½ cup celery (thinly sliced)1 Granny Smith (thinly sliced)½ small radicchio (ripped)1 fennel bulb (thinly sliced)2 lemons (juice and finely grated zest)50ml extra virgin olive oilSalt and fresh ground pepper to taste MAKING IT HAPPEN Rinse quinoa, and bring to the boil with water. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring regularly. Run under cold water to cool, strain and add to mixing bowl. Heat small amount of cooking oil to a medium-high heat in a heavy-based frying pan. Place salmon skin down and cook two-thirds through before turning off heat, turning the salmon and cooking for 2-3 minutes. Remove and let cool, reserving any salmon oil from the pan. Add lemon juice, olive oil, reserved salmon oil (cooled) to quinoa and season to taste. Add remaining ingredients (except salmon) and gently mix to combine the...

This kurī, or Polynesian dog, carved from kānuka wood may be small but it is highly significant. It was found in Moncks Cave, Redcliffs, and dates from the early period of Māori settlement in Waitaha (Canterbury), between 600 and 700 years ago. It may have been worn hung around the neck as a pendant. The kurī figure is remarkable because it’s Aotearoa New Zealand’s only known carving of a pre-European dog. The ancestors of Māori brought kurī with them from Polynesia. They were kept as pets and used for hunting. After Pākehā arrived, kurī interbred with European breeds and were effectively extinct by the mid to late 19th Century. You can see the kurī in Canterbury Museum’s Iwi Tawhito Gallery. canterburymuseum.com

Christchurch bistro Earl and Lyttelton tapas bar Civil & Naval have been announced as finalists in the 2020 Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover, alongside 10 other eateries from around the country. Each entrant created a toastie that met strict criteria: filling between two slices of bread, able to be eaten by hand, and containing cheese and McClure’s Pickles. Between the 80 of them, they served up a phenomenal 20,000 cheese toasties in July. Civil & Naval’s toastie is called The ¼ Pack is Back. It’s full of Civil fried chicken with McClure's Garlic & Dill Pickles, Frank's hot slaw, mashed potato bread and golden ale gravy. Earl’s entry, the Toastie Muff'aletta, contains shaved salamis & meats, ‘nduja butter, McClure’s Garlic & Dill Pickles, olive, provolone, buffalo mozzarella, winter pesto and house crisps in a milk bun. The other finalists are a mixture of established cafés, hole-in-the-wall hideaways, tapas bars and container...

Partygoers and campers heading up to Wanaka for Rhythm & Alps this year will be treated to an all-star Kiwi lineup, from the freshest talent to the country’s most famous rockers. This year will mark a decade of Rhythm & Alps festivals at Cardrona Valley. The three-day, four-stage festival will be three days of music, camping, fun, friends and whanau from December 29 to 31, wrapping up after midnight on New Year’s Eve. South Island smash hit Six60 will headline, supported by some of Aotearoa’s preeminent performers including Shihad and Fat Freddy’s Drop as well as international pop superstar Benee. This year’s festival will also feature a special section called Wāhine Toa Log Cabin Club Take Over, featuring Amandamania, Cee She, Doolittle, Mama Da Funk, Mel Hey Lady and Miss B. Other artists include The Phoenix Foundation, Chaos in the CBD, Coco Solid, Wax Mustang, The Swan Sisters, Rubi Du, Beat...

From his boutique clothing store in The Tannery, Benji, aka ‘The Jeans Whisperer’, dispenses expert advice and on-trend fashion. He tells Cityscape about a few of his favourite things and what’s coming in denim for AW20. How did you get from London to running EnCompass in Christchurch? I left London to pursue a passion for the clothing industry as my ambitions were not being fulfilled. London is a fashion capital but it is saturated, with very little room for start-up businesses. Once I came to Christchurch I worked in retail for a while and could see an opening in the market for a more diverse offering. A good friend and now mentor planted the seed and suggested I should run my own store. After thinking about it carefully with my family I decided to persevere and EnCompass was created. When did you get to be known as ‘The Jeans Whisperer’? On...

Loud, crass and unapologetically honest, personal trainer and fitness guru James Smith is heading to New Zealand in 2021 for a speaking tour. Delivered with a uniquely irreverent approach, this controversial yet erudite and authentic presentation tackles toxic myths surrounding the ‘normal life’ and our quest for happiness and fulfilment. Known for his outspoken and offbeat style, James Smith will pass on concepts to rearrange your thinking, break through your limits, and change your life. As you might suspect, James is not your typical life coach, and he is not here to solve your problems, but with an erudite mix of hard truths and tough love, teach you how to reset your thought processes and help you find your own success. “I'm incredibly excited to be hitting the road in Australia and New Zealand,” James says. “In a world where people are so caught up with how they look, they can...

Eating local doesn’t get much better than fish fresh from our South Island seas. Early each morning, a shipment of fish fresh from the West Coast waters comes in to the team at Theo’s Fisheries in Riccarton Road. One of the standouts is the spectacular-looking moonfish, red and black and flat as a pancake. Theo’s Fisheries has been in operation for 70 years, ever since Theo Papageorge settled here after striking up friendships with Kiwi soldiers during World War Two. They currently have four generations of fresh fish experts manning the store, so when they say moonfish is one to try, we believe them. Moonfish is reeled in from over 300 metres deep, in the Tasman Sea off the coast of Greymouth. It has dark red flesh, similar to tuna, and can be grilled, smoked or used in sashimi. The team at Theo’s love whacking it on the grill, and seasoning...

Curated wine flights and the fresh flavours of the Mediterranean make Cellar Door, in the Arts Centre, perfect for a night of culinary adventure. Sometimes a meal out is just that; other times it’s an adventure. Working our way through a curated wine flight while revelling in the flavours and textures of the Mediterranean at Cellar Door, the Arts Centre’s new wine bar, was definitely an adventure to repeat. Cellar Door is in the same location as the legendary Annie’s Wine Bar, where for several decades Annie Edmond helmed one of the city’s hottest haunts. Her legacy is alive and well in the hands of Tim Ogle and Kate Hide, who see themselves as guardians of the room’s past as well as steering it to a new future. Honouring that past goes all the way back to when the room formed part of Canterbury College School of Art – among the...

At No.4 Bar & Restaurant, chef Ian Mulling stays true to the food by respecting traditional pairings and serving up dishes that are delicious, simple and modern. How would you describe the cuisine you create? My food is inspired by my travels, the chefs I have worked with, and the locals at No.4. We try to develop a menu that will taste and look amazing. Tell us about your career journey? For 28 years I have been in the industry – meeting people, travelling and exploring new places. I have endured cramped conditions, foul language and terrible hours. But I kept on learning and worked my way up to where I am today. What’s the No. 1 dish people should try at No.4? At the moment it’s our chicken sandwich, a modern take on our memories of supermarket hot chicken sandwiches made with fresh, soft sliced bread. We took this idea,...

Want to wow at the next dinner party? Forget after dinner mints or affogato. This decadent and mouth-watering dessert from The Tasty Twins will keep guests coming back for more. We suggest using The Avo Tree avocado delivered fresh from the paddock to your plate. Be creative with your toppings for a beautiful finish that will be remembered. theavotree.co.nz Ingredients Mousse 1 large avocado¾ cup coconut cream2 Tbsp. maple syrup1 Tbsp. cacao powder½ block melted dark chocolate1 to 2 tsp. ground coffee1 tsp. vanilla extract  Topping 1 handful freeze-dried raspberries1 handful chopped nuts  Method In a blender combine all the mousse ingredients. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and set in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours. Remove from fridge, top with raspberries and chopped nuts and eat! instagram.com/tasty.twinsss  

Deneale Knox started Food for Thought, an eco-store and pantry refillery at The Tannery in Woolston, after struggling to fit the plastic waste from her family’s supermarket shop in their red bin. Now she’s on a mission to help all of us reduce our ecological footprint. How did you decide what to stock at Food for Thought? Our priorities were to be plastic-free and ethical. We work with responsible suppliers: some, for example, get their products mass-produced in China, but they ensure everyone is getting a fair wage and working in good conditions. And we stock brands like Trade Aid, which are sustainable and fair trade. We also stock local wherever possible – I’m a firm believer in supporting local businesses. So it’s all ethical, sustainable, and if something’s got plastic in it, that’s a no-go. Who are your favourite local suppliers? We get great hazelnuts that are grown over in...

Chef Paul Howell brings a wealth of international experience to his cuisine at New Regent Street’s Twenty Seven Steps. How would you describe the cuisine you create? We’ve always described our cuisine both at The Little Bistro and Twenty Seven Steps as rustic European. Tell us about your career journey? I’ve been in a professional kitchen in some shape or form since I was 15. I’ve worked in England, Wales, France, Sweden and Ireland. What’s new at Twenty Seven Steps? We’ve just recruited a new pastry chef called Yusri from Indonesia. He’s creating some lovely things. What’s the No. 1 dish people should try? Our venison tenderloin from Tai Tapu is my favourite dish at present. What are some interesting trends you’re seeing in food? We’re pretty classical when it comes to food. I keep abreast of what’s happening but I don’t follow trends just for the sake of it. What...

Vocal force Tami Neilson is set to blow audiences away at Isaac Theatre Royal this September with rip-roaring tunes and a snap of swagger. With a voice that invokes memories of Etta James, Amy Winehouse and Dolly Parton all at once, Tami Neilson is tearing into town with her soul-infused, western swing sounds. Though we know Tami could keep our toes tapping all night with her voice alone, this will be far from a one woman show. She’ll be joined by an epic roster of guests, her rockin’ rhythm band and the rounded-out sound of the twelve-piece Soaring Orchestra Soul. Canadian-born Neilson cut her teeth touring with the Neilson Family Band, opening for the likes of Johnny Cash, before coming to New Zealand and blossoming in her own right. Her last four albums have each won the Best Country Album category at the New Zealand Music Awards. Her listed of accolades...

New limited-edition signed prints are dropping at Fiksate Gallery every month, but you’ll have to be quick to get your hands on one. Pick up a piece of New Zealand urban art history with the Fiksate x M.K. Press Risograph limited edition print release series. Each month, Fiksate is releasing a new A3 print, each featuring the work of New Zealand’s best urban artists, and there are only 20 copies available. They’re about to release their fourth print out of twelve, and so far they’ve all been incredible. Fiksate has already sold prints by Dr. Suits (Christchurch), Elliot O'Donnell (Auckland/USA) and Meep (Christchurch). The next print is due to drop on August 5, and features the work of TOGO, New Zealand’s most infamous street artist. TOGO’s garnered a reputation for his defiant acts of vandalism. Even if you don’t realise it, you will have seen TOGOs larger-than-life tag, on a background...