Stories

The cool cats at Untouched World have always had a focus on sustainability and zero waste, and that ethos extends to their kids’ range. The savvy team use the small amount of fabric left over from creating their adult apparel to create some gorgeous pieces that will have your kids looking totally stylin’. The garments have been designed to last the long haul, so they can be passed on to younger siblings or friends, which stops them from entering the landfills and helps to reduce waste. These timeless pieces are made from hard-wearing, long-lasting, easy-care, machine-washable natural fibres with no nasties. untouchedworld.com

If you’re looking for some Insta inspo or pretty Pinterest projects, we’ve pulled together our faves to keep you smiling and busy – from home DIY to funky fashion, learning a new skill or loads of recipes to mix things up in the kitchen. 1 / Ugly_Ink Sam Moore, the man behind the Ugly_Ink moniker, is delivering the goods on Instagram. He has inked a book called People of New Zealand and his page features many of these illustrations. Expect to find Self-Checkout Amy, Ollie the Lad and Festival Briony – we all know at least one! See Moore. 2 / Happsters Promoting positivity and puppies, you won't be able to hold back your smile – who doesn’t love puppies? You’ll find tips on practising gratitude, affirmations to repeat daily and ways to be more mindful. Happsters on Instagram. 3 / Ted This Insta features key takeaways from the oh-so-cool TED...

Here are 10 ingredients to put on the list for your next trip to the supermarket. We guarantee they will not only give your home cooking a flavour boost, many will also improve your diet and boost your immunity. 1 / CHILLI FLAKES A good sprinkle of these will add piquancy to any meal. Use as a condiment as you would salt and pepper, or add them to simmering dishes. Like all members of the pepper family, chilli and chilli flakes contain vitamin A, which boosts immunity and keeps your immune system strong. If you have your own chillis, you can make your own flakes, with the internet a goldmine of advice and recipes on this – as it is with everything else! 2 / LEMONS As well as being a great source of vitamin C, lemons and their juice add a citrus kick to everything from dressings and marinades to...

Christchurch’s businesses are coming up with any number of imaginative responses to events. Keep an eye on their websites and keep supporting them as they deal with these tough times. Remember, when you buy from a small business, a real person does a happy dance. If you can get out to spend time in our local businesses and it's safe for you to do so, we encourage you to show your city some love and have a wonderful time while helping those who may be struggling. But if you're stuck at home and not able to enjoy those things, we're going to help you bring them into your own living and dining room. Here are several Christchurch eateries that are still open for dining but are also offering takeaway and delivery options for those who would prefer to eat at home: Barberra has a limited takeaway menu on offer so customers...

The velvet-draped, gin-soaked songstress will bring her wit and wisdom to Christchurch for the Jazz & Cabaret Festival. She tells Cityscape why she loves jazz, kaftans and visiting seals at the zoo. What can audiences expect from your show? Music, comedy and entertainment! The best reason to leave the house! Booze, if you are that way inclined. I like to refer to the show as an intimate concert with your drunk Aunty Tina. Everyone has that one in their family at the Christmas do, but this show allows you to laugh at it – ie, me! There is some darkness in there too and I touch on some social anxieties. It’s not interactive – you don’t have to move out of your seat, you just have to laugh and listen, have a good time and watch us in the room with your eyes, ears and mouth. Basically I consent to you enjoying the...

There’s a brand new BMW turning heads in the motoring world. From its distinctive front to the frameless doors and along its slightly sloping roofline to the sporty rear, elegance meets extravagance in the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé. Seen here in Snapper Rocks Blue Metallic, one of seven colours in the range, the 2-series Gran Coupé is an all-new model in the BMW lineup. The four-door uses the same platform as the X1 and the X2 subcompact SUVs. The 218i comes in Sport Line Edition or the super slick M Sport, both putting out 103kW and 220Nm of torque with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The M235i comes with a turbocharged 2-litre four-cylinder engine making 301 horsepower, as well as all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The boot is roomy enough for grocery runs and weekend road trips, and the rear seats fold down to accommodate bulkier cargo. The 2...

Rustic and antique furniture bring warmth and an organic element to any room, and with a rise in its popularity Karen Walker has released a new range of Chalk Colour paints and wax with Resene, which will complement the furniture and add textural dimension. Karen Walker Chalk Colour paints create a beautiful velvety, matte finish when applied to furniture and other surfaces. An extension of the Karen Walker Paints range, this collection is full of muted and pastel tones that will add an air of decadence to any room. This hallway is the perfect example of what can be achieved. Resene Grain Brown painted on the table and finished with Vintage Wax gives an antique look, while the chair in Resene Albescent White and Soft Wax adds a bright pop. The picture frame in Resene Blanched Pink ties everything together, and Resene Half Washed Green adds a calming hue to the...

Low interest rates and choice in the market mean it’s an excellent time for first-home buyers to make their move and for investors to add to their property portfolio. lients eager to get the timing right and anticipate the housing market often ask me when is the best time to buy. I always reply: ‘When you find your dream house and you can afford it.’ That being said, 2020 is definitely shaping up to be a strong market, with all signs pointing to a year of high demand and increasing supply as sellers respond to a gradual lift in prices. Coupled with some of the lowest interest rates we’ve seen in years, it’s an excellent time for first-home buyers to enter the market and for investors to add to their property portfolio. Low interest rates and choice in the market are the kind of indicators that convince first-home buyers that now...

Starting with experiments at the kitchen sink, Antony Michalik now has his own distillery in Sydenham. He tells Cityscape how he came up with Recipe #23, and the secret to a perfect martini. What is special and different about your distillery? We are an urban distillery right on the fringe of the Christchurch CBD. All our products have a unique kiwi twist. You can visit the distillery, meet the distillers and tour the stills, taste all the products and purchase direct from our cellar door. We offer a range of gins. Each is a different style and flavour profile, so there is a gin for everyone. Why gin? How did you get interested in making it? Gin is a fabulous product that you can put your own spin on using different botanicals, base spirits and distilling methods. As with craft beer or wine, you can create products that are unique and...

Paul Roper-Gee and Julie Greenslade of Canopy Landscape Architects tell Cityscape why they love what they do, and reveal one simple tip that can help people make more of their outside area. What attracted you to landscape architecture? Julie Greenslade: Being able to work with the outdoor environment, plants, and activating spaces for people to enjoy. Paul Roper-Gee: I grew up keen on nature, gardens, architecture and design – landscape architecture seemed like a natural fit. How did you get into the industry? Julie: I didn’t know about landscape architecture growing up. I went to a university open day to find more information about interior architecture and architecture. It was there that I got talking to a lecturer about landscape architecture and I’ve been hooked ever since. Paul: I’ve worked in a range of LA businesses over the last 20 years, some small and focused on residential gardens, others large and...

Chaniele Erasmuson of Nicola Quinn Beauty & Day Spa explains the benefits of Viora Body Contouring. What is body contouring and what does it involve? Is it invasive? V-Form Viora Body Contouring is a non-invasive, safe and effective treatment. It uses the combination of radio-frequency energy and vacuum to provide body contouring and cellulite reduction. Treatments are simple and comfortable and resemble a deep tissue stimulation combined with a gentle suctioning of the skin. Who would benefit from it? What areas can be treated? Both men and women can benefit from this gentle skin-tightening and contouring treatment. It is great for those common problem areas such as the stomach, buttocks and thighs but also for those spots that are hard to budge such as the under-arm area and inner thigh. How many sessions are needed? It does depend on the individual and the body part needing to be treated but we...

Traci Aylmer of Earth Organic Hairdressing is a passionate advocate for natural, organic beauty and haircare products. She tells Cityscape why she made the switch, and what the benefits are. Why do you use products with only natural ingredients? I like to use natural products because I have discovered over the last decade that beauty and haircare products contain alarmingly harmful chemicals. Learning that parabens have been found in breast tumours was the final straw. What is the philosophy behind it? I think my philosophy is based on caring about what I pass on to others and caring deeply about animal welfare. Nothing in my salon or home is tested on animals. What do you see as the benefits? The benefits of using natural products are really a no-brainer. If I said to you ‘Would you like to absorb this carcinogenic cream through your skin to make it softer or would...

DP Herbals’ Deirdre Panapa has some tips for ensuring your immune system is up to the challenges of autumn and winter. As the leaves change and days grow colder, we’re reminded that autumn has arrived and winter won’t be far behind with its cold and flu viruses. Here are some ways to improve your immune system and reduce the frequency and severity of these infections: Exercise earlier in the day As the days get shorter, it is harder to exercise after work. Making it a point to get up and exercise early in the cooler months makes it easier for you to keep fit and feel great! Remaining active reduces the risk of contracting a cold by up to 46 percent. Eat seasonally Eat foods reflecting the bright colours of autumn, giving you yellows, dark greens, reds and orange foods. These give you the right vitamins and minerals to boost your...

Whether for work or play, winter brings a resurgence of some old favourites in menswear. Cutler & Co.’s Liam Strachan shares his tips for a stylish season. As we dress up in the cooler months, the strong trends emerging all involve knitwear, bold prints and old-fashioned textures such as corduroy making a welcome return. With a nature-inspired palette of deep greens, camel and beige tones set to a backdrop of soft blacks and navies, this is definitely the time to start exploring with tonal but mismatched layers. Here are our tips to dress for the season: Incorporate some corduroy into your wardrobe. Start with a casual shirt or pants, or go bold with a cord jacket in camel. Experiment with different wales (sizes) of cord for different looks. Big prints are back! Try wearing a print shirt in darker hues or layered under a jersey as a subtle nod to this...

The hop vine flowers only once a year, meaning brewers have only one chance to use them fresh in a brew before they get dried for storage. Ralph Bungard explains. Hops have been an integral part of most beer styles now for centuries, with the first use recorded as far back as the 9th Century. Before that, a combination of herbs such as dandelion, horehound, marigold and burdock, among others, made up a “gruit” that was used to bitter beer and prevent spoiling – just as modern hops do now. Since hops became the go-to herb for (most!) brewers they have spread around the globe and become the focus of intense plant-breeding programmes designed to intensify and diversify the flavour characteristics they impart to beer. When brewers talk about hops, they are more specifically talking about the female flowers of the hop vine. The hop vine dies down in the winter...

Try making delicious plant-based goodness the star of your dinner plate and you’ll soon feel the positive effects. A wholefoods and plant-based diet is full of health benefits and will have you feeling fab, but not everyone is ready to commit to an entirely plant-based regime. Adding smoothies to your daily routine is a simple way to up your plant intake and a great way to get fussy kids to indulge in greenery. A smoothie packed with berries can have a handful or two of spinach thrown in that you won’t be able to taste over all the sweet flavours. Eating seasonally is a great way to help your hip pocket and absorb the most out of fruit and veges. Autumn has a ton of healthy produce in season including leeks, courgettes and broccoli. Wholefoods are key – these are plant foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined...

Shifting from Hawke’s Bay to Pegasus Bay and the Waipara Valley has brought a whole bunch of new local flavours to the dishes of chef Jackson Smith. Welcome to Canterbury. What convinced you to make the move? The job at Pegasus Bay was an opportunity to work in a place that I had a lot of respect for, with seriously amazing wine, great people, great fun, great vibe. It’s all great. What has pleasantly surprised you about your new home? The friendliness and hospitality of everyone we have met in the area, the local food scene, the awesome country schools, affordable real estate and the Christchurch City rebuild, with the cool niche places opening everywhere. What are you missing (if anything) about Hawke’s Bay? The many beautiful beaches, friends and family. Has the move to North Canterbury and Pegasus Bay influenced your cuisine at all? 100 percent – how could moving...

A gourmet weekend getaway to Otahuna Lodge combines luxury and learning, with chef Jimmy McIntyre sharing culinary secrets and the guests getting to sample the results in a deliciously decadent degustation dinner. Executive chef Jimmy McIntyre makes it look easy as he cranks the handle on the pasta machine and turns the dough for his roast pumpkin and goat cheese tortellini into a flat sheet. The secret, he tells the guests gathered in his kitchen at Otahuna Lodge, is in the ingredients and the preparation – one egg per 100g of powder-fine double-0 flour (“It’s crucial to weigh it out”), kneaded then rested for at least an hour, to ensure the flour is sufficiently hydrated. The beautifully restored Otahuna Lodge, nestled at the base of the Port Hills in Tai Tapu, makes the perfect venue for a weekend of luxury. Getting there was pretty cool too, thanks to the nifty MINI...