Just as Kalle Valimaki was embarking on his first pre-season with new club Sumner, the promising prop was surprised to learn he was named Finland’s latest rugby player of the year.
A progressively heavy drinker since the age of 15, a pensive young Christchurch woman took her last drink in November when she succumbed to alcohol addiction.
A speech language therapist who has devoted more than four decades to help remedy a child’s learning difficulties struggled to comprehend her inclusion in the New Year’s Honours list.
Eric Hunter has never been the breed of cyclist to take shortcuts on the road, but at 87 years-old the evergreen rider from Governors Bay is reluctantly in the saddle with modern technology.
Short of promotion to the Black Caps, celebrating a title or playing a match-winning hand, receiving a provincial cap can be a career highlight for a first class cricketer.
Christchurch Boys’ High School have returned to the pinnacle of 1st XI cricket in New Zealand by claiming the Gillette Cup for the 11th time since the competition began in 1990.
A fictional seven-episode Netflix drama has been a game changer for the Canterbury Chess Club, which has seen a big increase in numbers - and people using the Sicilian Defence.
A grateful Cinderella - aka What Now presenter Erin Wells - has had her costume fitting for the upcoming pantomime set in the mythical village of Hay Hoon, south of Addingtoon, Hilmortoon and Spreydoon.
Ged Stokes' former league teammates caught up at a Christchurch pub recently to talk about the glory days and, in a way, toast the late former Kiwis prop and father of England cricket star Ben.
A 42-year teaching stint at Shirley Boys’ High School enabled Steve Garland - who retires this week - to help shape the careers of several future Black Caps.
Christchurch must consider replicating flood prevention measures pioneered in Holland as homeowners in coastal suburbs risk massive insurance hikes to safeguard their properties.
A high-rolling Christchurch punter experienced the vagaries of betting when he made New Zealand’s biggest wager on greyhounds this year at Addington - and lost.
The Canterbury Rams have re-signed a second player on the comeback trail from injury, with Joe Cook-Green joining Jack Salt in targeting a return to the NBL in 2021.
Long-standing is an apt means of describing veteran cricket umpire David Stuthridge - he has spent countless hours positioned at the bowlers end or square leg.
Taxpayers have forked out almost $200,000 to fund the convicted murderer of a Christchurch sex worker’s failed bid for freedom, sparking outrage from a victims’ advocacy group.
Colleen Cole started Highland dancing as a five-year-old and 76 years later she is still immersed in a quintessentially Scottish passion in Christchurch.
Backpackers often lead a hand-to-mouth existence - and now the hostels that accommodate them in Christchurch are facing a similar predicament with closures likely.