Concrete is a slurry of cement, water, air, gravel, stones and sand. In Christchurch it's also an essential part of the city's history.

The fascinating back story to The Civic theatre's beloved flamingo curtain.

Five everyday objects, five incredible stories.

Madeleine Chapman inspects a pen, and learns about the power of privilege.

Watch | One morning in 1978, a university lecturer walked into the police station and made a confession. His crime? Stealing a ballpoint pen.

Kerry Ann Lee looks at the enduring appeal of Chinese typeface and letterpress design in the digital age.

Watch | This set of heavy lead typeface has a fascinating story to tell about the history of Chinese New Zealanders.

John Scott broke barriers for Māori architecture – and paved the way for future generations of Māori architects like Jade Kake.

Video | John Scott’s use of pou in his modernist designs helped bring two architectural worlds together.

Every stitch of Lema Shamamba's embroidery tells a part of her story – and brings her closer to her homeland.

Video | It’s embroidery, but not as you know it.

The 1994 chainsaw attack on the pine wasn't a simple act of vandalism – it was an act of protest informed by centuries of history.

Video | 'You're in a dangerous place here,' Mike Smith warned a group of teenagers. 'I'm about to drop this tree, and it’s gonna fall on your car.'

Five ordinary objects, five incredible stories.

In her love for the Christchurch Town Hall, Jessica Halliday revels in the history, allure and power of its key material: concrete.