A RARE OPPORTUNITY

This freehold section of bare land on the beautiful and accessible island of Nana nu I ra, is just 15 minutes by water taxi from Ellington wharf, Sunshine Coast, Raki Raki, Fiji.

The previous house (owned by a Christchurch family for 25 years) has been removed and the section is now ready for your dream home to be constructed.

For details, email biarn@xtra.co.nz

The Avenues team has fallen in love with the ceramics from Modeletto, particularly the salad/fruit bowl. This handmade bowl, glazed in glossy lemon or pink berry, is rustic chic in all the right ways. Perfect for the benchtop fruit, serving your favourite salads, or even as a display bowl on the dining table. modelettostore.com

Human by Jakob Carter and Stan Walker is a fragrance inspired by mental health and conversation with friends. Top notes of bergamot and grapefruit are complemented by fruity and floral middle notes with an earthy base of amber, patchouli, moss, and tonka. It’s available at Chemist Warehouse or online.

jakobcarter.com

Painter Ross Jones manages to capture both the otherworldly and oddly familiar in his original works. His paintings tell compelling stories of people and places. Born and raised in Otaki, Ross cleverly intertwines classic Kiwi scenes with that of the unrecognisable. They are a mixture of “seemingly perfect places and events, but like all good stories, not everything is as it seems”. His use of lighting and shadows often walks the line between serene and sinister. In his recent works, many of his favourite childhood toys sit centre stage, often tipping the balance between reality and the imaginary. Visit his exhibitions at Parnell Gallery, or view them online. jonesthepainter.com

Summer can leave our furry friends feeling the heat. The Pupsicle is a clever contraption that makes ice blocks with a silicone mould shaped as a drumstick to keep canines cool on hot summer days. The silicone section splits in two, so you can place a plastic bone inside, slot the two halves together, and then fill with water from the top. The Pupsicle maker stands up on its own, so there will be no spillages in the freezer. Pups can get hydrated while working for the reward once they have munched away the ice. Check them out at one of the city’s coolest little pet stores, Paws Club.

pawsclub.store

Fancy strutting the streets with artwork on your shoes? Dr Martens first collaboration with The Met has created a truly unique shoe. Developed as a homage to the enduring work of Katsushika Hokusai, the Met 1461 shoe is printed with Fuji from Gotenyama at Shinagawa on the Tokaido, from 36 Views of Mount Fuji patmenziesshoes.co.nz

From the creative minds of Anthea and Helen from Sustained Fun toys comes the EcoSplat reusable water balloon. They offer all the fun of a summer water fight without the annoying and environmentally damaging rubber scraps that come with the traditional sort. Kids, and those at heart, just dunk, throw, and repeat the EcoSplat for endless eco-friendly fun. Plus, there’s no need for fiddly tying, so little hands will find them easy to use. They are also perfectly safe for all ages as they are soft on landing, minimising tears and maximising enjoyment. One EcoSplat balloon replaces more than 3,000 singleuse water balloons. ecosplat.co.nz

Good salads deserve great serving ware. These striking green and pink salad servers from Fazeek at Infinite Definite are modern and elegantly handcrafted to bring a touch of finesse to any bowl of goodness. They can be paired together or used individually to serve up a summer feast in style.

infinitedefinite.com

Do you have a passion for film? Alice’s Cinema Club is the place for movie lovers to get the best out of the film experience. Upon joining, members get the latest news on new films and opportunities for special events, and the cream in Alice’s tea is that, for every eight films a member watches, the ninth is free! Visit the team at the Alice’s Cinema box office to sign up and stop by for a film in one of their cool themed theatres while you’re there. Not a regular at Alice’s? You’ll find it at 209 Tuam Street, right beside C1 Espresso in the central city. alice.co.nz

Over 20 with short sightedness, long sightedness, astigmatism, or difficulty with fine print in your 40s?

With over 25 years’ experience, trust the care and expertise of Dr Kent and his team at Fendalton Eye Clinic, offering visual freedom with the safety and accuracy of our laser eye surgery.

Book online for your face to face or virtual free laser assessment with a member of our experienced team.

Chiwahwah

Artist Dcypher

Date Late 2022

Location Oxford Terrace, Central Christchurch watchthisspace.org.nz/artwork/1066

Right in the heart of Ōtautahi, The Terrace is a bustling hub of hospitality, but stand in just the right place and look the right way, and you can also find this vibrant painting by Christchurch artist Dcypher. Commissioned by Mexican cantina Chiwahwah, the mural is a colourful concoction of stunning details, from the alluring figure to the soaring bird in the top corner and even the small chihuahua dog that serves as a connection to the eatery behind the wall. The woman’s bright floral headdress contrasts with the blue-grey tones (including the Aztec-inspired background pattern), while her jaw, exposed as if by decaying x-ray, is an extension of her Día de los Muertos sugar skull face paint. Venture down the small alleyway, and the mural’s anamorphic composition is revealed. While the image is stretched and elongated when viewed from directly in front, the mural makes perfect and proportioned sense when viewed from the right location on the busy main thoroughfare of Oxford Terrace.

Explore more of Ōtautahi’s urban art on a Watch This Space guided street art tour! Email tours@watchthisspace.org.nz for booking information.

This world premiere of an original Court Theatre commission focuses on the New Zealand comedy legend Billy T. James as told by Rutene Spooner. Rutene shares his personal relationship with his childhood hero, Billy T and how he has shaped both his own showmanship and that of Māoridom. Be Like Billy is infused with music and humour and delves into our national identity, the reality of being a Māori, Kiwi, and performer in the 1980s and what it means today. This is a show to attend this 2023 season, and Christchurch audiences will be the first to see it.

25 March–22 April, Court Theatre courttheatre.org.nz

New Zealand’s coolest little music festival is returning to Ferrymead Heritage park this month. Nostalgia brings together the unique vintage streets of the venue, feel-good local and international artists, and some of the region’s best food and drinks, alongside crafters and artisans selling their wares at stalls. This year has a bumper line-up with Reb Fountain and Don McGlashan and The Others, and more.

11 February, Ferrymead Heritage Park nostalgiafestival.co.nz

Tiny Fest brings together over 60 performers from New Zealand and Australia for three days of diverse, thought-provoking performance art, dance, poetry, music, and theatre. With shows taking place in the Christchurch Art Gallery, Art Centre, and surrounding spaces, you’ll be transported into the world of the artists as they take you on a creative journey. Full programme is available on the website.

24–26 February, various venues tinyfest.org

Christchurch will turn into fields of gold when Sting returns to New Zealand in March for the first time in eight years on his critically acclaimed My Songs tour. This dynamic show will feature his beloved songs from his time as a solo artist and The Police. The multiple Grammy awardwinning artist will take to the stage at Christchurch Arena.

1 March, Christchurch Arena livenation.co.nz

Christchurch

Tue, 14 Mar, 6.30pm

The Piano