In the heart of the Hurunui lies the thriving town of Amberley. With a host of charming cafés and boutique stores, Amberley exudes a warm country welcome that invites further exploration of beautiful North Canterbury.  Shiny tractors in the local sale yards entice farmers to this town north of Christchurch, where the arrival of the railway in the 1870s kick-started Amberley’s evolution as an important farming service centre. These rural roots continue to enrich life here, where the Amberley Farmers’ Market is a Saturday morning treat for many. Another highlight for locals and visitors al ..read more

The Scarborough Sipp is a herbaceous play on a classic Southside cocktail. Invented by Zodiac’s bartender Nick, this cocktail encourages makers to dabble in creating infused syrup and gin. This cocktail makes the most of in-season fresh herbs, incorporating a rosemary syrup and a parsley gin. Recipe: 60 ml broadleaf parsley-infused gin 30 ml rosemary syrup 30 ml fresh lime juice Fresh sage Fresh thyme Parsley Gin: Take a clean and sterilized mason jar. Pack it full with broadleaf parsley, including the stalks. Top up the jar with standard gin (Tanqueray in this case). Leav ..read more

When it comes to architectural design, lived experience counts for a lot. From growing up on a busy North Canterbury farm, to studying at Victoria University Wellington, and then living in houses, villas, and apartments around the world, Emma Wallace has seen how many, many homes function. And – often – how they don’t.  “Many people think a template approach to design will do the job, but your family and your requirements are unique, and your home’s design should reflect that. By getting to know each client on a personal level, I can provide the very best solution to make the most out of ..read more

Whether it was childhood dreams of being an astronaut or an ambition to earn her wings as an ace fighter pilot, Juliet Earle’s passion for flight never waned. After putting her NASA goals to one side, Juliet began her professional career in physical education while racing bikes in New Zealand and overseas. Yet she still hadn’t found her calling. “Then, I reached a fork in my life.” It was on a family holiday in Glentanner that her fate as an aviatrix was sealed. “While there, my parents treated me to a helicopter trip for my birthday.” “When we landed on a glacier, I had a bit of an epiphany ..read more

Join us for another unforgettable Avenues Eats event – a culinary journey celebrating the diversity of wāhine in the food industry. This bespoke ticketed long lunch will showcase the creativity and skill of these talented women.  Hosted by Avenues’ food editor, Sam Parish, at Earl Restaurant on Sunday, 26 May, from 1–3pm, this exclusive long lunch promises an intimate culinary experience. Limited to just 80 tickets, the menu will tantalise your taste buds with a showcase dish from each participating chef, comprising a delectable six-course meal.  While you eat and engage with fellow ..read more

Avenues, May 2024 ..read more

In a ground-breaking initiative, Māori storytelling and artistic expression are now on show at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, thanks to the endeavours of two wāhine and their community.  Storytelling has always been a strong tradition for Māori. Now, for the first time at Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre, there is a dedicated space where Māori can come together to share not just stories, but a range of art forms. “The idea for this space came back in 2019, when The Arts Centre worked with its Māori Advisory Committee to find a dedicated arts space for Māori,” explains Ngaio Cowe ..read more

One of New Zealand’s top car salespeople, Selena Andreassend, Christchurch MINI Sales Executive, chats with Avenues about the MINI Countryman. Selena Andreassend didn’t know she was going to get into car sales. She took a chance after university, “searching for a job that came with a car.” Now, ten years later, she’s found a place she loves, and the accolades keep coming. In the decade that Selena’s worked in car sales, half of that time has been at Christchurch MINI Garage on Moorhouse Avenue. From this sleek and modern showroom, she consistently delivers her signature approach, and this has ..read more

Five years ago, Sachiko Shimamoto accidentally started a business selling dumplings with her brother. But when she went from selling a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand within a few weeks, there was no stopping her.  Sachi now has a staff of seven and a highly successful café and catering company that not only creates delicious food but has made a conscious choice to give back to her community and create employment opportunities for wāhine who are disadvantaged in the workplace. Kai Connoisseurs’ food and work ethos always comes back to manaakitanga. It is a rare business of hosp ..read more

Wellington-based Kirsten Patterson (KP) is driven by an unwavering sense of purpose, which has defined her career. Kirsten Patterson is a qualified lawyer who has achieved much throughout her career – she is a Distinguished Fellow of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, general manager for New Zealand Rugby, chief executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and now chief executive of the Institute of Directors (IoD).  The not-for-profit organisation promotes strong governance in Aotearoa New Zealand. With more than 10,500 members, the IoD provides governance resources ..read more