The Volkswagen Polo is returning to New Zealand, so we’re teaming up with the Volkswagen Polo to meet some little legends of our own: the people behind the places that make Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch special. We handed each of them the keys and asked for their favourite spots. I’m a chef and restaurant owner here in Christchurch, with EDIZi and our sister restaurant ODEON both in the central city. One of the things I enjoy most about what I do is mentoring new people and helping other chefs believe in their craft. Naturally, a lot of my life revolves around food. When I’m not at one of our venues, I’m usually looking for somewhere to eat and get outside with my family. That’s one of the things I love about Christchurch. There’s plenty of great places without having to go far. I’ve got a Volkswagen back in India, which I love driving, so I was already familiar with the brand. But the Volkswagen Polo felt really solid on the road and the steering is so smooth. Compact and fun. These are some of my favourite places around the city.

The Volkswagen Polo is returning to New Zealand, so we’re teaming up with the Volkswagen Polo to meet some little legends of our own: the people behind the places that make Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch special. We handed each of them the keys and asked for their favourite spots.I’m one of the three behind Rook Café in Christchurch. It came about almost by accident, actually. I’d been working full-time as a graphic designer, and through that I happened to get to look around the new NZR Co Building on Hereford Street while it was still in its early stages. We immediately saw an opportunity for a small café to serve the building. Then it all escalated way more than I expected!We spent a bit of time figuring out what we were all passionate about and landed on specialty coffee and creating a space that encourages people to talk and connect. That’s why everything’s designed to face towards the centre!It’s been such a joy building something that feels fun and alive. I’m the ‘creative’ and ‘vibes’ guy, so I get really into everything from the social content and music to books and all the little aesthetic details that influence how the space feels. Ultimately, we want Rook to create some kind of community, even if someone’s only there for a short coffee or bite to eat.Christchurch feels really alive at the moment. New places keep opening up, the hospo community is super supportive and people seem inspired and confident about what they’re doing again. You’ve also got so much within reach. You can surf at Sumner and snowboard in the same day, drive along the beach around Pines Beach or jump in the car for a road trip to Tekapo, Hanmer Springs or Queenstown. It’s EXCITING.For getting around town, though, the Polo was a great fit. I live in the city, so something that’s easy to drive and really nippy is ideal. It’s super quiet too.These are some of the places I love to visit.

The Volkswagen Polo is returning to New Zealand, so we’re teaming up with the Volkswagen Polo to meet some little legends of our own: the people behind the places that make Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch special. We handed each of them the keys and asked for their favourite spots.I’m the founder of Kula, a yoga and Pilates studio here in Christchurch. I started teaching seven years ago, following a deep love for the practice that began way back when I was a teenager growing up in Vancouver, Canada.I’d always felt a pull to create a space dedicated to movement and community. What I love most is watching people grow in their practice. Yoga can create these really special pockets of time where people get to move, breathe and connect inwards.I’ve lived in Christchurch for more than 14 years now and I love it here. The mountains and ocean are never too far, the cafés are incredible and the sunsets are hard to beat. We’ve got all the best parts of a big city, but it still feels like a small, tight-knit community.I drove the Volkswagen Polo from our place in Mt Pleasant out to Lyttelton, and it’s such a beautiful car to drive. It’d be ideal for darting around town from the studio, too.These are some of my favourite places!