Lost at E Minor

By Tristan Rayner in Cool Travel on Tuesday 2 August 2011

When Kaikura in New Zealand suffered an economic downturn, the local Maori people looked to the cultural bond between the creatures of the deep and themselves to revitalise their economy and to give tourists an idea of the majesty of whales. These whales are in a truly special spot at Kaikura. The ocean floor drops some 1km down just a few hundred feet from shore, and the sea is a permanent home to sperm whales, as well as migrating right and humpback whales and a community of dolphins and seals.

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By Tristan Rayner in New Food and Packaging on Friday 29 July 2011

You know what they say: when in New Zealand, do as the Kiwis do. Pegasus Bay is a beautiful, family-owned winery producing some of New Zealand’s finest wines. But people don’t visit just for the wine. The food is a secret weapon, with the restaurant serving up great local and seasonal dishes, using fresh, seasonal ingredients with some top-shelf choices mixed in. Our favourite dish was the black truffle frittata, which melted with flavour as we sat overlooking the wintery gardens in front of an open fire.

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By Tristan Rayner in Cool Travel on Thursday 28 July 2011

Hanmer Springs is an idyllic village in New Zealand, situated at the foot of the Southern Alps. The village was established on the hot, all-natural geothermal springs, which gush forward with pure snow water. Originally a sanitorium hot-spot in the 1920s, the Springs have been refined into a range of aqua pools for all ages, with thermal, sulphur and indoor pools. This is also where the Wallabies (the Australian rugby team) will be staying during a weekend of rest and relaxation during the upcoming Rugby World Cup. They couldn’t have chosen a better spot to unwind.

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By Tristan Rayner in Cool Travel on Wednesday 27 July 2011

Christchurch was ravaged by the 6.3 magnitude earthquake which struck on 22 February, with the city treated as somewhat of a salt shaker by the unique tectonic regime which is in place across New Zealand. However, the resilience of the people of ‘Chch’ has never been shaken.

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By Tristan Rayner in Cool Travel on Wednesday 27 July 2011

The Charlotte Jane Hotel in Christchurch, New Zealand, remains open for leisure. The old mansion was originally a school for young ladies, and after managing to survive that run in, the recent earthquakes have done little to harm the Victorian throwback, with huge bathrooms, large, plush rooms and touches of elegance throughout. Our favourite was the stained-glass window near the entrance, depicting the original Charlotte Jane, one of the earliest ships to bring settlers to Christchurch.

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By Tristan Rayner in Cool Travel on Thursday 21 July 2011

With Christchurch in New Zealand continuing to rebuild and recover from the earthquakes which cruelled the centre of the city, entrepreneurial spirit has organically surged to kick off a range of urban regeneration intiatives. Gap Filler is one independent pop-up project that aims to activate the temporarily vacant sites within Christchurch to make for an interesting, and vibrant city with Bowl’a'Rama, pop-up theatre, dance and music.

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By Zolton in New Products on Thursday 24 February 2011

We dig this 100 percent natural cotton, reusable shopping bag by New Zealand company GOOD. Perfect for lugging around lemons, bread, and bottles of strange liquid. [buy this bag now for US$9. Why? Why not. It rocks]

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By Zolton in New Photography on Monday 7 February 2011

As a proud Kiwi living abroad, I’m really moved by the photography of New York-based New Zealand photographer, Brian Sweeney, whose book, Paradise Road, as his bio notes, ‘moves between long-distance reverie and the documentation of pattern and motif in landscape’. There’s just something magical about the place: small country, big ideas. And through Sweeney’s lens, it’s revealed so elegantly in big, bold, and beautiful photos that swallow up the frame and envelope you in its swirling natural harmonies.

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By The Urban Grocer in New Eco on Friday 4 February 2011

Lunar cycles, celestial rhythms, mystical teachings, these are the makings of a truly unique glass of wine. And it is exactly what you can expect from the debut vintage of Burn Cottage Vineyard, nestled in the coveted foothills of Central Otago, New Zealand. Burn Cottage is a new, entirely biodynamic winery that embraces a most enchanting practice in viticulture, balancing terroir winemaking with minimal technology, a harmonious farm ecosystem, and an emphasis on accentuating the natural genius of the property.

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By The Urban Grocer in New Food and Packaging on Thursday 25 November 2010

Monteith’s Brewing Company has been brewing unique beers and ciders on New Zealand’s West Coast for almost 150 years — and with good reason. This family-run brewery boasts fine favourites ranging from a classic single source lager to a lemon-lime Bavarian brew to a crisp black beer.

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