Events
Today is Sun, 5 September 2010
The Montana World of Wearable Art, Wellington (Thu, 23 September 2010 - Sun, 3 October 2010)
The World of Wearable Art Awards Show (WOW) is a non-stop spectacular held each year in Wellington. Artists, designers and inventors from New Zealand and around the world enter glorious and fantastical garments that are presented in a two-hour extravaganza. Difficult to describe, WOW escapes limits and definition. An event impossible to forget – it is a montage of theatre, dance, colour, movement and art.
First held in 1987 as a promotion for a rural Nelson art gallery, WOW quickly became an event of international acclaim and standing. It ‘takes art off the wall and onto the moving body’. The WOW Awards Shows are a prized theatrical experience. Awards night will be held on Friday September 24th. The venue is the TSB Bank Arena at Queens Wharf.
Kaikoura Seafest (Sat, 2 October 2010)
Seafest is an annual celebration of the abundance of the ocean. This premier festival features fine food, wine, and beverages from the local Kaikoura, Marlborough, and North Canterbury regions.
The perfect place to celebrate tasty morsels from the sea: Kaikoura means "meal of crayfish" in Maori. A regular sea safari, Kaikoura’s teeming sea life is due to a massive marine wall off its coast. The steep wall produces currents that bring nutrients up from the deep, creating a feeding ground for all manner of sea creatures, including; whales, dolphins, seals, sharks and birdlife.
Kaikoura is also a great feeding ground for us two-legged mammals. Seafest stallholders exhibit deliciously diverse cuisine: Gourmet Pies, Mussels, Paua, Salmon, Prawns, Whitebait, Oyster Shooters, Scallop Kebabs, Homemade Chocolates, Donuts, Breads, Ostrich, Emu, Crayfish, Cheeses, Wild Food… and many more.
On Friday 1st October, The Big Top Bash starts the weekend with top entertainers performing under a giant marquee.
Nelson Arts Festival (Thu, 14 October 2010 - Fri, 15 October 2010)
Nelson's iconic annual Arts Festival welcomes Spring with an explosion of creativity. For 15 years the festival has offered twelve days of top national and international theatre, dance, music, comedy and cabaret. There is a sculpture symposium, and the Woolaston Readers & Writers Week. The best writers from the New Zealand literary scene come to informal gatherings and share an hour or two of insights, ideas and inspiration.
The festival opens with the Port Nelson Masked Parade, where over 4000 children walk through the city streets. The Carnival follows with community activities, street theatre, music, and carnival entertainment.
Toast Martinborough (Sun, 21 November 2010)
Each year Martinborough celebrates the release of the new vintage. Thousands of food and wine lovers enjoy the culinary delights from Wellington and Wairarapa’s finest restaurants, and soak up some of New Zealand’s best live entertainment.
Charming Martinborough Village is delightfully compact, with most of the vineyards located within walking distance of each other. Each of the vineyards has its own personality: Sophisticated and stylish, relaxed and laid back, or dancing with energy. Stroll between wineries or jump on the shuttle buses that circulate constantly.
Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration (Thu, 27 January 2011 - Sat, 29 January 2011)
In one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world, picturesque Queenstown will host the Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration. It is a date not to be missed on the international Pinot Noir calendar.
Lovers of the grape are invited to celebrate all things Pinot Noir. Over two days wine and food enthusiasts will enjoy a fun and informative programme with an emphasis on tasting and learning about this exciting variety. Fine food from leading New Zealand chefs will accompany the nation’s favourite grape, while some of the world’s key influences on Pinot Noir will share commentary with top Central Otago winemakers.
Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta (Mon, 31 January 2011)
The ‘City of Sails’ Anniversary Day Regatta is New Zealand’s oldest sporting event. It is the biggest day in Auckland's sailing calendar when Waitemata Harbour comes to life in celebration of its maritime history.
Hundreds of craft come to compete for a full day of racing. From tall ships, keelers, and sailing dinghies, to a fleet of restored historic and classic vessels, to boisterous roaring vintage tugboats.
A glorious seafaring sight to behold, the best spectator vantage points are from: Viaduct Harbour, Bastion Point, North Head, East Coast Bays, Tamaki Drive, Orakei and Princes Wharves.
CheeseFest (Wed, 2 March 2011)
5:00pm–8:00pm The Great Room, The Langham, Auckland
CheeseFest is a unique event where you can taste the best cheese in New Zealand. Over 400 of the country's finest speciality cheeses will be on display at the 5-star Langham Hotel in Auckland city. Kiwi celebrity chef Al Brown will be this year’s cheese speaker.
Chat with the cheese makers, and enjoy select wines and beer especially matched. The Cuisine Artisan Award winners will also be present with a wonderful range of divine products.
The Hokitika Wildfoods Festival (Sat, 12 March 2011)
The Hokitika Wildfoods Festival is a celebration of the old town, the rugged West Coast and the wild foods of the region.
Originally, the popularity of a home-brewed gorse flower wine drove the need for a public stage. Today new wildfoods are introduced each year, such as: wasp larvae ice cream, cucumber fish, and sheep milk cheeses and wok-fried clams to name a few. Not to be forgotten are traditional favourites such as pan-fried huhu grubs – the larvae of the native huhu beetle.
The Festival has been awarded Most Unique Event in New Zealand 1996, and has twice been a winner in the New Zealand Tourism Awards. This most singular event also keeps intrepid foodies amused with roving entertainment and stage performances.
Rugby World Cup (Fri, 9 September 2011 - Sun, 23 October 2011)
Held every four years, the Rugby World Cup (RWC) is the third biggest sporting event in the world. Next year will be New Zealand’s second time to host the cup since it began in 1987. Twenty countries will participate, including Argentina, Italy, England, Russia, and the US. At least 60,000 international visitors are expected to enjoy the 48 games played across the country.
Games are hosted by the great Southern cities of Invercargill, Dunedin, and Christchurch; and by the North Island cities of Wellington, Palmerston North, New Plymouth, Hamilton, Rotorua, Napier, Auckland, and far-flung Whangerai.
Auckland will host eight pool matches, including; the opening match at Eden Park (9th September) when the All Blacks play Tonga; the semi final; and the final (23rd October).
It is an exceptional way to see the country and to enjoy the national sport at the height of its fervour. For New Zealanders, it is a chance to win back the Cup lost in 1991.
Pinot Noir Festival 2013, Wellington (2013)
Pinot Noir 2013 is a celebration of great wine, great food and superb entertainment. It is a fun four-day conference focused on the art of growing and making great Pinot Noir.
Held every three years, since it began in 2001, the event is now firmly cemented as one of the premiere wine events of its type in the world. Leading international wine commentators, producers, trade, media and lovers of great wine made their way Down Under to Wellington.
The three-stream conference programme appeals to everyone's interests – be it technical, the business of wine or wine connoisseur, or the consumer workshops.