The long, slow flight of harrier hawks circling overhead is a sight many of us love to see against our wide-open Canterbury skies.

EXPLORING, LOCAL LIFE, OTHER STORIESDorothy McLennanAugust 22, 2024Raptor, rescue, longflight, hawks, bird, charity

Revamping the Vicarage

When Michael and Brigitte Barker bought the Vicarage in Geraldine in 2017 – they knew that restoring a heritage building was a big undertaking. And they were under no illusion about their expertise in the area.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORING, DWELLINGDorothy McLennanAugust 19, 2024Heritage, Homes, vicarage, geraldine, renovation, accommodation, barkers

Cutting Down or Cutting Out

With Dry July just around the corner, it could be the ideal time to try out a little ‘sober curious’ living. If that sends shivers down your spine as you recall slightly sour white wine that so often used to be the low alcohol option – think again. No alcohol and low alcohol options are changing – and they’re getting much, much better.

NOURISHING, OTHER STORIES, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanJune 27, 2024Low Alcohol, Dry July, No Alcohol, Zero Drinks

Transformation in Totara Valley

For many embarking on renovating an old home – there are a lot of unknowns. But for Martin and Anne Stewart who took on a church conversion in Totara Valley – there were also some daunting knowns – like earthquake damage, no running water and the very considerable challenge of transforming the church into a residential building.

DWELLING, LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanMay 30, 2024Renovation, Home, Church, Countryside, DIY

Colour on The Wall

On a late summer morning by the river in Kaiapoi, artist Mel Eaton is ready to get to work on the wall of the Cure Boating Club. Local artist, Margot Korhonen, is already painting away – filling the wall with swirling purples and blues. But it’s not just a case of turning up with a few tins of paint and a brush.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanMay 6, 2024Art, Mural, Street Art

Cooking Up A Storm in Kaiapoi

It’s two o’clock in the afternoon and Lee Barrington, cook and owner of iconic Kaiapoi café Out The Gate, is tucking into a sausage sandwich. Is that breakfast, lunch or dinner?

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORING, BUSINESS, NOURISHING, WE'RE EATINGDorothy McLennanMay 6, 2024Food, MKR, cooking, mother, son

Keeping Character In Kaiapoi

Heritage homes are a little slice of history – yet all too often they’re neglected and destroyed for short-sighted financial gain. That’s probably why there aren’t that many of them around and it makes the sight of a perfectly preserved cottage in Kaiapoi even more striking. The Williams Street cottage has category 1 Heritage listing and continues in use as a private residence to this day.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORING, DWELLINGDorothy McLennanMay 6, 2024Cottage, Heritage, Homes

Love in a Jewel

As business origin stories go, Tracy and Joachim van Oostrum the couple behind LOVE IN A JEWEL, have a pretty good one. Long before they started their keepsake jewellery design business it was jewellery that brought them together.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORING, DWELLINGDorothy McLennanMarch 28, 2024Rural Life, Garden, Author, Tangleby

The Retro Home

When Rebecca Smith first moved into her two-storey, brick house in Timaru 10 years ago, it was “one blank and beige canvas to stamp my mark on.” Embracing her love of all things retro she soon transformed it into a swirling carnival of colours, patterns and textures.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORING, DWELLINGDorothy McLennanMarch 18, 2024Rural Life, Garden, Author, Tangleby

A Hot Rod Life

For Danny Bisschop, a chance encounter at the traffic lights as a boy sparked his life-long love of cars. “I was sitting in my parents’ car when I was about 10 years old,” recalls Danny, now 70. “I saw a 1933 Ford Coupe pull up at the lights and that was it! From that point on I’ve been crazy about hot rods.”

EXPLORING, LOCAL LIFEDorothy McLennanMarch 6, 2024Photography, Hot Rod, Cars, Rock&Hop

Telling Tales of Rural Life

On a late summer morning looking out over a garden with rambling roses, vigorous vines and established trees – it’s hard to imagine that seven years ago this was a bare paddock. But that’s exactly what it was says homeowner Sue Heazlewood.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORING, DWELLINGDorothy McLennanMarch 4, 2024Rural Life, Garden, Author, Tangleby

Seaside Vibes

Turn off the highway to Waikuku Beach and there’s an instant holiday vibe in the air. Perhaps it’s the sea air and the picnicking families. Or the fish and chips and the beautiful views over the lagoon.

LOCAL LIFE, DWELLING, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanFebruary 29, 2024seaside, bach, beach, waikuku, Kaiapoi

A Mail Run Through the Lens

The road to Mesopotamia Station is a lonely one. But five days a week you will spot the postie, Matt Searles, travelling this route along with his trusty camera and capturing some stunning images of rural NZ.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanJanuary 15, 2024Photography, Mesopotamia Station, Peel Forest, Farming, Landscapes, Rural, Merino

Destination Cheviot

The North Canterbury town of Cheviot has all you need for a relaxing weekend away or summer stay. From bike tracks to beaches, camping to farm stays.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanJanuary 11, 2024

A Winter Trek

The best thing about riding with someone who doesn’t normally ride is that they don’t worry about anything.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanJune 28, 2023

Running In The Desert

Running 250 kilometres in the desert is an extreme endurance event not for the faint-hearted. One Rangiora resident shares his experience.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanJune 19, 2023

Spectacular Stewart Island

When I first came to New Zealand I was amazed by how few of the Kiwis I met had visited Stewart Island.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanApril 28, 2023

Magnificent Mongolia

I couldn’t read a GPS to save my life. I rarely knew where the racing line was. I couldn’t do any more than steer my horse and, as I never knew which direction I was supposed to be heading in.

LOCAL LIFE, EXPLORINGDorothy McLennanMarch 8, 2023