HURUNUI IS HERE, NOW

IN DETAIL

Often touted as the South Island’s best-kept secret, the Hurunui District boasts more than you could ever imagine possible – and it’s all on our doorstep. Whether it’s a day trip or an extended excursion, you can enjoy all the region has to offer at your very own pace.

Home to some of the most diverse land formations in New Zealand, the region is naturally a stand-out for local wine. ‘The coolest little wine region in the country’ has highly varied and interesting soil types, which have offered up concentrated and expressive wines. Hurunui is known for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. The 90 vineyards in the area are mostly independently owned by local families.

Waipara Valley’s Vineyard trail is remarkable. You will journey through world-class vineyards and historic farms; have the opportunity to visit cellar doors and dine at winery restaurants. Add in a venture to the Greening Waipara Biodiversity Trails, or perhaps the historic steam train at Weka Pass Railway, and you have a well-rounded and varied experience. The trails are designed for cyclists, walkers, and joggers – both young and old. Finish a track by soaking up the phenomenal views for which the valley is so well-known.

The local fare is enticing; restaurants like Black Estate and cafés like Little Vintage Espresso champion fresh, seasonal, and unique ingredients grown in the Hurunui. For carnivores, there’s venison, beef, and seafood; if you have a plant-based palate, try some of the honey, olive oil, and organic fruit and vegetables. North Canterbury’s hidden gem is its very own truffière, nestled amongst the region’s rolling hills.

The largest truffle-growing operations in the country, Kings Truffles also provides truffle-infected seedlings, education, and more. Make sure to say hi to Moose, chief truffle hunter and an all-round good dog.

Is it Saturday? Then make sure you experience Amberley Farmers’ Market – a veritable cornucopia of fresh hazelnuts, goats cheese, Waipara honey, berries flowers, and fudge – and that just scratches the surface.

Put an afternoon aside to discover the Iron Ridge Quarry Sculpture Park. The quarry, once a lime works, is now moonlighting as a permanent sculpture exhibition, with owner Raymond Herbert’s creations nestled amongst a curated native garden. Raymond lives and works on-site, and for larger groups, he will host a complimentary forging demonstration on request.

For the more adventurous amongst us, Alpine Horse Safaris can take you on the longest safari in New Zealand, covering half of the South Island high country on purposebred stock horses. Take in the high country, snow-capped mountains, and alpine lakes; the real backcountry.

Finish your adventure with billy boiled tea and a hearty meal cooked over an open fire. You can take a two-hour journey or one lasting up to twelve days – the choice is yours.

This nation we call home is a unique and beautiful place – and for a genuinely different Kiwi getaway, keep Hurunui in your books. No matter how long you want to trip around, you can discover hidden secrets, be waited on, and forage for your own local delicacies – there are gems to be found just down the road.

DON’T MISS Retail therapy in Hanmer Springs | Tapas at Rustic Café | The view at the top of Conical Hill

FASHIONWORKS As an independent retailer, Fashionworks aims to inspire you with a beautiful range of clothes with a touch of difference. Labels that complement customers, from classical and stylish to street and casual wear – from R M Williams for the guys to another gorgeous up-and-coming Kiwi brand, Et Alia, for women. Located on the main street of Hanmer, Fashionworks offers a shopping experience quite different to a larger chain store, with warm and friendly staff ready to assist. fb.com/fashionworkshanmer AMURI ESTATE Amuri Estate offers luxury accommodation, and the perfect setting for weddings and functions, all overlooking the beautiful high alpine basin of the Southern Alps. Located just eight minutes’ drive from Hanmer Springs village, the newly built event venue can hold up to 200 people with different spaces to suit your needs. Relax and unwind in the peaceful solitude of the 26-acre property, featuring a mature olive grove and extensive exotic and native New Zealand plantings.

KJOLE STYLE The latest women’s clothing store to join Hanmer’s boutiques is Kjole Style. As exclusive stockists of a dozen Danish design labels, each collection has been carefully curated with its own personality and a target audience in mind. These ranges are complemented with other clothing labels sourced closer to home. Kjole is all about encompassing current European fashion trends with a timeless overall style, product kjole.co.nz

sustainability, and highly personalised and friendly service. amuriestate.co.nz

THE ST JAMES Discover pure relaxation at The St James, Hanmer Springs’ award-winning luxury accommodation. Located right in the heart of the village, it boasts sixteen stylish boutique studios and suites, all with patios or balconies and most with gorgeous views of Hanmer’s iconic mountain landscape. The St James is the perfect place for couples to relax and recharge away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Book direct for the best rates. thestjames.co.nz

As the dynamic Christchurch city continues to rebuild, and our green spaces are designed and planted, we welcome fellow New Zealanders to our beautiful business and urban cityscape. Local firm, Maytime Landscape Design is proud to be part of this process.

The team is led by Ann Kennedy, botanist and ecologist of Canterbury. Ann has always been passionate about natural and created urban gardens, and ten years ago, she set up Maytime. The overall philosophy is to harness the power of plants to develop inspiring gardens and to create a sense of place, your place – a place to be proud of.

Redesigning a garden is an exciting prospect. Garden landscaping is the ideal way to craft an attractive space that gives you a beautiful environment and a practical layout that allows you to use your garden how you wish.

Maybe you are inspired by quiet, shaded gardens where family and friends may gather or fragrant gardens that fill the evening air with soft perfumes. Or perhaps the creation of cottage gardens growing tantalising herbs, summer salads, and microgreens or orchard fruits and berry gardens is more your style. Whatever the garden of your dreams is, it is at your fingertips with Maytime’s wealth of design expertise.

The day-to-day activities of the business include a variety of tasks. The initial contact with the client is a site visit to discuss the options and issues involved. This is where client preferences are noted and recorded. Following this, Maytime produces initial drawings and provides a list of appropriate plantings.

Other concepts such as soil, wind and water, seasons, and maintenance are researched and reported on. Where hard landscaping is required, high-quality contractors will be engaged and coordinated with.

When the team knows that they have achieved total client satisfaction, final drawings are produced.

The dedicated people of Maytime work closely with their clients to ensure that the entire planning process is ideal for them, their family, and their lifestyle.

maytimedesign.co.nz

Lynette McFadden Business Owner & Mentor Harcourts gold @lynette_mcfadden T his year – this most unusual of years – it’s all about home. Staying home, enjoying your very own backyard or that beautiful expanse we know as New Zealand. Holidays, breaks, refreshers, little weekends away are all to be enjoyed within our own boundaries and borders.

Unlike other years, it’s about discovering or rediscovering what many Kiwis take for granted: large, green open spaces, and public galleries and museums (that unlike those in many cities around the world, are free to visit), as well as rivers, lakes, and mountains within driving distance for most.

I can vividly remember being on a European trip with my family when the guide asked where we came from. After listening to our response, a long pause occurred, then a rather loud, disapproving Gaelic sniff. “Noo Zeeland, zee end of zee earth.” And at the time I thought it was, having taken 30 hours to arrive at our destination, but today that very isolation feels like a blessing.

It’s easy to see why so many are also taking time to reinvest some love and attention in their own properties due to staying home rather than travelling, and businesses such as landscapers, renovation builders, and interior designers are seeing the benefits of that change.

If a staycation is currently on your radar and you want to take the time to focus on your own home, here are some options that might give you some satisfaction or add value, or both.

First, declutter. Nail that garage first. Get rid of all the stuff that’s broken, outdated or no longer useful. If it’s still functional but of no use to you, give it away, recycle or dispose of it.

Inside, you can move furniture and move art. Have some fun and enjoy the changes.

Edit, and what you don’t edit: use. Nothing needs to occupy a precious space where items are relegated as being ‘just for good’. No matter your home’s size, your property address, whether you’re in a large residence or a compact unit, try to make the most of the outdoors – your outdoors. Follow the sun (if there is any!) and give thanks that although we might not be able to travel the world, you’d travel the world to find what we have in our own backyard.

It seems that not only I, but also others have had a chance to stop chasing everything that appears greener somewhere else; instead choosing to appreciate what’s been in front of our noses the whole time – home.

Here’s to your home and mine, and here’s to a staycation.

As we are in the depths of winter, let The Bespoke Chef bring the restaurant to you. Jacob McKerrow loves creating seasonal and exciting menus for you to enjoy at home. Carrots are plentiful in winter and great for you, so here is a recipe that showcases different ways to enjoy the humble root vegetable. Add in fresh fish to create a simple, yet stunning dish. SERVES 4

4 groper fillets, around 110g pieces, skinned and pin-boned 3 slices of brioche bread 1 handful of basil 1/2 garlic clove, peeled 50g of butter 50g of tasty cheese Salt & pepper 400g of carrots Baby carrots for roasting 100g of butter 1 clove of garlic

100ml of cream

Preheat the oven to 180°C. In a blender place brioche and blitz, then add butter and cheese, blitz until it is a smooth paste. Add garlic, basil, salt, and pepper into the blender, blitz again until well mixed through. Place mixture on baking paper and add another piece of baking paper on the top. Using a rolling pin, roll to the edges of the baking paper, making sure the mixture is an even thickness of approximately half a centimetre. Chill in the fridge for an hour.

Once the mix is set, remove from the fridge and cut into four even pieces. To cook the fish, season it with salt and pepper. Place in a hot oven-proof fry pan, and sear until brown on both sides. Spread a piece of herb crust mixture on each fish fillet, place in the oven until the crust is golden brown, which is approximately 15 minutes.

For the carrot purée, peel and roughly chop the 400g carrots and garlic. Cook in salted boiling water until soft, for approximately 10 minutes. In a separate pot, put your cream and butter, and bring to boil. Transfer the carrots to a blender and blitz. Slowly add cream and butter mixture until it is a smooth purée.

For the roasted carrots, place baby carrots in the oven with seasoning and olive oil (for 20 minutes; time with the fish cooking). Season to taste.

On the plate, spoon on your carrot purée and with the back of the spoon, run it across the plate. Place the roasted baby carrots on top of the purée and then the fish on top. Add a lemon mayonnaise if you wish.

The Curator’s House Restaurant has a couple of fiestas in its books: its 20th birthday as well as its home – an iconic Christchurch heritage building – turning a century old. To celebrate, owners Jackie and Javier Garcia share with us a Curator’s House staple – their tart, by chef Albert Alert. Traditionally from the pilgrims’ town of Santiago de Compostela, it’s simple, light, and delicious, and has proven a popular choice at the restaurant over many years. It is also gluten and dairy-free. SERVES 8

5 free-range eggs 250g caster sugar 200g ground blanched almonds 50g whole blanched almonds, roughly chopped Icing sugar to dust

20g lemon zest

Line a 23cm round baking tin with baking paper and spray with canola oil.

Preheat oven to 180°C.

Beat the eggs and sugar in a medium-sized bowl until light, creamy, and smooth.

Add the ground almonds, chopped almonds, and lemon rind.

Beat for a further one minute.

Pour the mix into the lined baking tin and bake for 45 minutes, until the edges start to become golden.

Cool and dust with icing sugar before serving with ice cream.

This is traditionally served alongside a glass of Spanish Moscatel or Pedro Ximenez sherry, which can be sipped or poured over your tart.

“People don’t take you seriously if you are wearing a bowtie these days, do they? Especially in NZ, you get double-takes – is he wearing a bowtie and a pocket watch?

“So, I thought, ‘oh well, I didn’t know everyone’s name, and they are all my customers, so it’s far easier to go around greeting everyone’. You could walk up to people, and they’re busy looking at your bowtie, and they think I’m harmless. I get to know them and charm them hopefully, and then they’ll do what I want!

“So that’s why I did it originally – because we don’t know each other. To create that sense of you are not working in isolation. This is one big team. Now, of course, they’ve got this overblown sense of entitlement!

“I was born in Sheffield in South Yorkshire, but I was brought up in the most rural counties in England – Dorset. So, I’ve got what people might know as a west country accent.

“We wanted a change of lifestyle. I was working 14-hour days – with the six-hour commute there and back. My wife was working as a nurse, and the kids were in permanent childcare. Come the weekend, we were knackered; I got depressed, and it was like, ‘why are we doing this?’.

“I can remember arriving [in New Zealand], and it was like the England of my childhood. People would stop for a chat. I went to get a newspaper, and it took me an hour and a half; my wife was worried that something had happened to me! And the number of smiling faces in traffic jams was amazing, I’d never seen that in the UK, they are a miserable bunch.

“The problem is, it’s getting busier. We have got less time. And being human, it’s all about communication and connectedness and helping people. It’s not about ‘I’ve got to get this report in’, or ‘I’ve got to get this thing done’; it’s not about material things that just fall off the shelf in an earthquake. Who cares, you know?”

facebook.com/humansofchch

At Arvida our vision has always been to help keep life fun and full. We offer a welcoming community in an architecturally modern and social environment. Residents love the stunning views over Christchurch and peaceful living spaces. We’re close to the city and the Purau Reserve walking tracks, and our exercise classes and communal veggie gardens are popular ways to stay active. We have a range of brand-new apartments at varying prices - plus our fixed for life weekly fee includes a daily buffet breakfast and a half hour weekly clean!

Why not join us for a coffee and experience our boutique community today. Call Nicki on 021 342 571 or 03 332 3240 or email nicki.brown@rhodesoncashmere.co.nz

5 Overdale Drive, Cashmere, Christchurch. www.rhodesoncashmere.co.nz