Sizing up your small outdoor space
1. Less can be more
It’s important not to try and fit too much into your small space. Do one thing, and do it really well. You might decide to keep your patio for outdoor dining, with a table and chairs, or instead just use it for lounging, or perhaps for growing vegetables.
2. It’s easy being green
Don’t be scared of planting. Some people think ‘if I have a small courtyard and pave the whole thing, it will feel much bigger and be more useable’. But remember that a garden has to have plants to be a garden. Plants also add texture and draw the eye to the greenery, enhancing the sense of size.
3. A change is as good as a holiday
You can now get coffee tables that double up as fire-pits, as well as other multi-purpose furniture pieces or use plenty of fold-up chairs that you can sit pots on and then turn back into seats when people come around. They’re all an excellent use of space.
Think about how you’re planning to use the space. Is outdoor dining essential, or is it primarily a space to relax and unwind? Take your design cues from what you really need.
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Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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71.6% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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18% Hmm, maybe?
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10.4% Yes!
Have you seen Rowena?
Police are urgently appealing for sightings of Rowena, 39, reported missing from Christchurch.
She was reported missing to Police on 22 October 2025, and was last seen on 14 August 2025. Rowena hasn’t been in contact with her children and her family are worried for her safety.
Police investigating her disappearance have identified her as being in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch in the recent months prior to her missing person report being made.
If you have seen Rowena, or have any information regarding her whereabouts, please contact us immediately.
You can contact us via 105 either over the phone or online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” and referencing file number 251022/9026.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
We want to know: Have you thought about cutting your insurance cover to save costs?
Senior business reporter Rob Stock tackles a big question many of us have wondered about: “What are the pros and cons of cutting back on insurance?”
So we’re curious… What are your thoughts on trimming your insurance cover? Have you ever considered it?
Want to dive deeper? Rob Stock has the full breakdown.
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