International yachting teams have raced to submit entries for the new Louis Vuitton Pacific Series to be sailed in Auckland – New Zealand’s ‘city of sails’ – in February 2009.
Kiwi yachtsmen have again showed they are top of their game with Emirates Team New Zealand winning the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Dubai, and dominating the world class event over recent years.
Emirates Team New Zealand has funding and is in good shape heading towards the next America’s Cup, says boss Grant Dalton, after winning the Louis Vuitton Trophy.
New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, has a huge new treat in store for squid lovers, a world-first colossal squid exhibition due to open in Wellington this Saturday (13.12.08).
A highly skilled performance has won Auckland’s Māori performing arts group Te Waka Huia, the supreme award at New Zealand’s annual Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival for the fourth time.
An authentic Māori cultural experience that includes sailing on a traditional waka to the Bay of Islands to celebrate Waitangi Day – New Zealand’s national holiday – is being offered by a new Auckland tour operator.
A 35-year dream comes to life with the opening of the completed Te Araroa Trail – a new 3000km hiking adventure that travels the length of New Zealand.
Tauranga comes alive with the sounds of soul, bebop, ragtime, swing, Dixieland and funk over Easter as jazz lovers swing into the 48th National Jazz Festival – an iconic Kiwi event.
Chefs and stallholders are planning to cook up a storm at this year’s annual Havelock Mussel Festival – a tasty celebration of the New Zealand green shell mussel.