A hands-on cooking school is a delight from paddock to plate, writes Alexia Santamaria.

A coastal town's war memorial has partially crumbled in the Canterbury earthquake, leaving descendants of dead soldiers shattered.

Now rapidly developing as a tourist destination in its own right, Akaroa retains a definite Gallic flavour.

Chris Barton takes break from revelling in Akaroa's French influence to have his first encounter with dolphins and seals.