Home & Garden

Size does matter: Will new builds be fit for purpose?

Will small apartments meet the needs of adequate dwelling standards? PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Size does matter: Will new builds be fit for purpose?

New Zealand needs homes offering longevity and resilience, reports Christine McCarthy. So will Housing Minister Chris Bishop’s policy do this?

Tāwhiri karo, a rogue, dynamic ‘Pittosporum’

Pittosporum cornifolium can be found flowering in the Dunedin Botanic Garden in the New Zealand...

Tāwhiri karo, a rogue, dynamic ‘Pittosporum’

New Zealand has many interesting pittosporum species that deserve to be more widely recognised and cultivated.

Your garden, August 23rd

The rich soil from Dennis Enright's Taieri vegetable plot. Photo by Tom McKinlay.

Your garden, August 23rd

Are you sure about that manure? Check out this handy gardening guide to make sure your manure is pure.

Simple and beautiful design

Park House is an award-winning Wānaka home by Studio Pacific Architecture. PHOTOS: MICKEY ROSS

Simple and beautiful design

This family home embodies simplicity and warmth, drawing inspiration from the rugged charm of mountain huts but maintaining a refined appearance.

Whakatipu pads in the mix for national building gongs

AJ Saville Builders' Queenstown home, a finalist in the 'new home over $4m' category in the 2024...

Whakatipu pads in the mix for national building gongs

Four Whakatipu homes have made it into the top 100 homes in the country for this year’s Registered Master Builders House of the Year competition.

Balch’s Island to feature during tour

New rhododendron plantings in Balch’s Island at the Dunedin Botanic Garden. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON

Balch’s Island to feature during tour

Balch's Island is a garden bed just east of the "Cherry Walk", which is named after Robert Balch, a deputy director of the Dunedin Botanic Garden between 1946 and 1969.

Your garden, August 16

Your garden, August 16

Strong, healthy plants are the reward for delaying sowing.

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Frankton rescue job wins big

This A-frame house, renovated by Velvin Building, offers modern comforts and gives a nod to...

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Frankton rescue job wins big

A-frame houses sometimes get a bad rap, but this one in Frankton challenges assumptions. Kim Dungey reports.

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Roses: rising to occasion

In November 2012, the Otago Rose Society’s then-president Maureen Viggo with a bunch of her ...

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Roses: rising to occasion

One of the oldest specialist clubs in Otago, the Otago Rose Society, celebrates its 75th birthday this weekend. Gillian Vine reports.

Strong scent can cause irritation

Umbellularia californica (Californian bay laurel) can be seen at the Dunedin Botanic Garden....

Strong scent can cause irritation

Umbellularia californica is the sole species in its genus, belonging to the laurel family Lauraceae and found naturally from Oregon to northern Baja California.

Your garden, August 9th

Washdyke is continuing to operate through lockdown.

Your garden, August 9th

It's time to plant potatoes for harvesting in December, hallelujah! Check out this gardening guide for all you need to know.

The good and the bad

InThe Practical Kiwi Gardener (Bateman Books, soft cover, $45.99), Philip Thomsen is aiming at the person who has a smaller patch and wants it to be more productive.

Coffee beans a feast for the eyes

Arabica coffee beans, growing at the Dunedin Botanic Garden. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON

Coffee beans a feast for the eyes

For many, having a fix of a strong cup of coffee is an important part of our daily routine.

Your garden, August 2nd

Planning on seed sowing already? That's bold, I like that...but you're going to need some help. Check out this garden guide for all you need to know.

Lower garden a treat, even during winter

The main path through the lower Dunedin Botanic Garden. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN

Lower garden a treat, even during winter

Whichever route you take a leisurely walk through, the lower garden at this time of year can still be a treat.

Your garden, July 26th

Popular spring bulbs tend to sell out quickly, so buy them as soon as they appear in garden...

Your garden, July 26th

Spring will come, do not be alarmed! In the meantime check out this handy guide to see what you can do to keep your garden upright.

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Don’t be a slave to perfection

Stop and admire signs of spring, like reticulata irises. PHOTOS: GILLIAN VINE

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Don’t be a slave to perfection

Gillian Vine gets a bit grumpy at over-optimistic writers.

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Demolition prompts fears for Dunedin's heritage buildings

Heritage advocates say tourists flock to Dunedin to admire its historic buildings. PHOTO: GERARD...

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Demolition prompts fears for Dunedin's heritage buildings

Heritage advocates are concerned the demolition of a historic house in Stuart St could set a precedent and lead to the destruction of more heritage buildings.