Stories

Cityscape is beyond excited that Harris Tapper will be stocked in the Contemporary Lounge at Ballantynes. We caught up with co-founder and co-director Sarah Harris Gould. What prompted you to expand to the South Island? We have an online store that offers free shipping so we’ve always been available throughout the country but in terms of having a bricks-and-mortar retail presence in Christchurch, it was a case of getting the right retailers on board. Ballantynes is the perfect partner for Harris Tapper. Singled out in Vogue Australia as one of the five brands to watch from New Zealand Fashion Week must have been a pivotal moment – what was going through your head when you saw that? It was amazing to be one of the five but the best thing about it was that we were among friends. The other four designers are very talented designers and people we know and...

RUBY has been sparkling from The Crossing for over a year. As autumn brings a flash-back to the wild days of the 70s, Cityscape spent some time with the brand’s creative director Deanna Didovich to find out where the inspiration comes from and what’s next for RUBY. You’ve cemented yourself as an authority figure on the fashion scene here in New Zealand and abroad. How would you say the RUBY brand has evolved since its inception? The RUBY brand has evolved slowly and surely to what it is today. We have always made sure that our product offering is the best representation of our brand and always have our customers in the forefront of our minds. In a constantly evolving industry, how do you ensure you stay on-trend or in the loop with all things fashion? In this age of social media I am constantly engrossed in what is happening both locally...

As the cooler weather comes knockin’ and we coast into autumn, we reach for comfort food to make the most of home gatherings, and nothing says home like a lovely slow-cooked dinner. Pop seasonal favourite prawns into a funky casserole with some hearty tomatoes and head into your evening relaxed and ready for that wine. Use the Staub Round Mini Cocotte 10cm in Graphite for a single meal or entertain all your friends and make a splash at the table with the Staub Tomato Cocotte 25cm dish (pictured) from Total Food Equipment. tfe.co.nz

Renowned for their seasonal, locally sourced and free-range fare, Untouched World Kitchen is a prominent front-runner on the cuisine scene in the city, and has recently kitted out their café with a brand-spanking-new fitout to ring in 21 years. The new space rocks a cosy interior and aligns with the values that underpin their brand with a focus on simplicity, sustainability and a clean contemporary, less-is-more aesthetic and their signature logo sits pretty above an equally cosy fire. Not only have they revamped their interiors but also their menu! Head on down and get away from the hustle. untouchedworldkitchen.com

From the team that brought us the epic hotspot Welles Street comes the latest venture, Earl. The perfect place to lunch, dine and knock back a bevvy or two, Earl is sure to become your go-to inner city haunt. And they can now boast some serious culinary cred with Queen of the Kitchen Nigella Lawson singling them out for kudos when she was in the city – now that’s a neat feat! earl.co.nz

Not Without You wine bar is the great new go-to on High Street. “’Always Aotearoa’ is our key phrase and the foundation of everything we do,” says co-owner Phillip Sunderland. “We love to support the local favourites, because we think people really do care where things are made.” With an industrial chic décor, Not Without You exudes quiet sophistication with a story that is uniquely Kiwi. Sunderland and business partner Helen Pfahlert are passionate about supporting Canterbury’s finest food makers and New Zealand wine and craft beer. The pair take pride in being patriotic, right down to the funky recycled kauri furniture that adorns the aesthetically pleasing space. Serving over 70 varieties of wine and more than 30 craft beers, the trendy establishment is also dishing up delectable fare with an evolving menu and tempting charcuterie, cheese and antipasto platters and decadent desserts. Located beside the Little High Eatery, dine inside...

Cityscape caught up with Flip Grater, one half of the highly successful vegan butchery and deli, Grater Goods. You’ve been vegan for two decades, have you noticed any significant changes, say in people’s attitude towards veganism? When I turned vegan I had to take my own soy milk to cafés and mushrooms to BBQs. My family took the mickey for years – an uncle even gave me an ox heart as a prank gift for Christmas one year. Now half my family have either a plant-based diet or are at least plant curious. I used to get a lot of "Where do you get your protein from?" and "But what do you eat?!" and I never get that any more. People's understanding of and interest in veganism has expanded hugely and a lot of myths have been dispelled. Advice for anyone considering veganism? Do a little reading about nutrition. This is...

Chef Michael Rowland-Jones has returned home to put down roots at city favourite, Miro. Cityscape caught him between shifts to find out what brings him home and the flavour that he brings to the city's culinary scene. How would you compare Christchurch’s dining scene to the dining scene abroad? Obviously being exposed to the restaurant scene in London and Europe was an amazing experience, but there are also great chefs and restaurants here in Christchurch. I definitely believe that, with the post-rebuild hospitality rebirth and the calibre of people in the industry, we have the potential to have a number of world-class restaurants here. You’ve worked under [Michelin chef] Jason Atherton – what was that experience like? It was the hardest thing I've done in my life. Long days and nights, high pressure and constantly busy. But I look back on my four years in his company and really value my time...

Personal health has long since moved on from ‘take a pill and call me in the morning’. Real health is as much about what we put into our bodies – and minds – as the physical manifestation of our lifestyle. You’ve Kondo’d your house, so now it’s time to take care of what really counts – you. Cityscape has done all the hard work researching the best treatments to get your health in order, top to bottom, body, mind and spirit. Body Why stick with Western medicine? Take a leaf (in tea, preferably) from further afield and treat your body like the temple it is. Pascha – Nourishing Body & Soul offers a wide variety of therapies, courses and classes including massage therapy, yoga and meditation and energy healing (including soul guidance/empathy sessions). Lucinda Miln at the Nikau Room is a registered acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medical Practitioner – think moxibustion (burning...

The city’s buzzing live music scene spans everything from low-key, speakeasy sessions over a glass or two, to the more high-octane fuelled nights where you’re guaranteed to groove into the wee hours of the morning. Cityscape does the rounds and clues you in on the city’s top live music venues and where to catch an epic gig. Laid-back Tunes If it’s a swishy, laid-back affair you’re after, you can’t beat the endless charms of the following venues: Vesuvio Jazz & Tapas Bar is a sophisticated and intimate venue dedicated to regularly hosting gigs. With an emphasis on jazz, their stellar cast of soloists, instrumental duos, and ensembles are in action throughout the week. Dine in the lush surrounds of Botanic and lose yourself in the sweet tunes of those taking to the mic, or order a round from their Gin & Tonic lab and stay on into the evening where the ante...

Cityscape joins one of the first DJs on the scene, and Fatboy Slim support act, Craig Shaw to chat about what’s hot in town and on the music scene right now. (For NZ Music Month 2019 Craig has put together a Spotify playlist of Kiwi music gold for us. Check it out here.) What’s your favourite out-of-town venue to play? That’s a tough question as I have a few faves. Queenstown has a couple of groovy staple bars, Surreal and The Bunker, but you can’t beat an outdoor festival. Rhythm & Alps 2018/19 was the winner on this front with a superb location, production team and killer crowd! You’ve just supported Fatboy Slim here in Christchurch – was there a highlight? I was lucky enough to play one of the support slots in 1999 with Norman at the Ministry and he signed one of his records for me back then. I...

The recent reopening of our beloved Town Hall has given the city a great boost. Not to be forgotten, however, is just how much work it took to get it done. Project Story’s Olivia Spencer-Bower says the companies that worked on the Town Hall project should be proud of what they have achieved, “and we are proud to be able to share their stories”. Olivia’s images capture what is unseen and sometimes forgotten; that it takes real people to achieve outstanding results. “At the moment we are celebrating the end result of construction – as we should be,” says Olivia. “But one day, when people begin to take for granted what they can see, they will start to become curious about what they can't see. “What did it look like mid-project? Who were the people that built it? Project Story captures images that answer all of these questions. Our images are part...

Paul Lonsdale, Manager of Central City Business Association, lets Cityscape in on some of the hidden gems the city has. Why should locals come into the central city to explore? The city rebuild has taken some massive steps forward in the last year with many new stores, cafe’s, bars and restaurants opening up. You can also see major advances in the new Convention Centre project, the Riverside Market and the Town Hall. The completion of the Promenade along the river is an absolute delight to walk or even Lime scooter along. What are some of the hidden gems among the laneways as the city develops? The new laneways are a discovery mission – don’t expect to be able to see everything in one visit! Some of the gems are Sweet Soul Patisserie, Dual (Christchurch made denim clothing), chilling out on a bean bag in BNZ Centre Square or over a cold beer at Smash Palace...

ChristchurchNZ's General Manager Destination and Attraction, Loren Heaphy. Why should locals come in and explore the central city? Our CBD has returned to its bustling best in recent years, with numerous bars and restaurants as well as retail shops filling empty spaces throughout the centre. With shops opening all the time, and quality eateries popping up on every street, you’re bound to find something new you didn’t know about. The City Promenade has really opened up the Ōtakaro Avon River precinct and makes for a great stroll through the heart of the city. The two-kilometre walkway runs in front of The Terrace which has really become a gem of the CBD. The SALT District is the coolest spot in town right now, incorporating Little High, Lichfield Courtyard and the Dux Central area, as well as bars like Smash Palace and Not Without You. Sitting proud at its centre is C1 Espresso,...

Cityscape sits down with Mike Percasky and gets the scoop on new developments and the new laneways popping up around the city. Why should locals come into the central city to explore? It amazes me to hear some local Cantabrians still haven’t made it back into the CBD yet after the earthquakes. Thousands of people have worked so hard over the past eight years and have turned a pile of rubble into one of the coolest cities. There is so much going on and every day something new opens up. All we need now is for locals to embrace their new city and to start using it on a daily basis. What are some of the hidden gems among the laneways as the city develops? I really like the Box Quarter. It is such an interesting concept for a building and not something you will find anywhere else in the country. It houses such...

Riverside Market, the development rapidly taking shape on the banks of the Avon by the Bridge of Remembrance, promises to be a real jewel in the central city crown. But unlike some of the city’s pioneering post-quake projects, it won’t be an oasis in a desert of demolition and construction sites. That’s because it will be plugged into a network of laneways – some already buzzing with life, others more embryonic – that over time will revive central Christchurch as a fantastic place to live, work and play. Riverside Market, tapped to open in August, will house a seven-day-a-week indoor farmers’ market, boutique shopping and space for events, festivals and music. Providing a reliable source of fresh, organic, locally grown food, Riverside will be a community of local independent traders, showcasing the best food producers and creators in our city and region. The development’s market square is a grand space, with a mezzanine...

We all know those bulky modems which allow us to connect to the online world can be an eyesore, so the cool cats at Slingshot have teamed up with four well-known Kiwis – Megan Annear, Jason Gunn, Mel Bracewell and Sir Tim Shadbolt – to bring us four options, each with their own unique design. We’re especially partial to Jason Gunn’s design which is a mix of quirky illustrations and features the statement message ‘Stay Connected’. With only 500 limited editions of each modem available, Slingshot will donate profits to each of the celebrity’s nominated charity – Gunn’s charity of choice is Cholmondeley Children’s Centre which provides short-term emergency and planned respite care and education to children whose families are experiencing stress or crisis. Get behind this initiative and not only will you rock a great modem but also support an excellent cause. slingshot.co.nz/charityseries

Since winning the coveted title, the young designer has had “a pretty crazy couple of months” of sewing and learning, learning and sewing that has culminated in the launch of her own collection for Ballantynes Contemporary Lounge and online. The Millie Askew collection is “rural, retro, farmer”, says its creator. Like all her designs, it draws inspiration from the people around her. “I might see something a friend is wearing and take parts of that, or get inspired by their creative practices. My designs start with a bit of a feeling or a mood develops, taking bits of things from everyday life and talking to people.” Pux-Askew certainly didn’t expect to win when she entered the Ballantynes Emerging Designer competition. “I entered on a whim, really, and got the project together two weeks before it was due.” Since then, the biggest challenge has been managing the many other people involved in taking...