Press Releases

New Zealand has been confirmed as one of the world’s top destinations with a string of international awards for 2010 that applaud the country for being an easy, fun place to live in and visit.

New Zealand’s famed dawn chorus – a host of unique forest song birds – have gone online singing out for attention.

Sunshine, a fun atmosphere, world-class entertainment and a unique setting in a picturesque vineyard’s natural amphitheatre – no wonder New Zealand’s Rhythm & Vines is the place to be for New Year.

Ticket sales for Rugby World Cup 2011 have already exceeded expectations and with still nine months to go until kick off, New Zealand can count on an influx of at least 85,000 international visitors.

From Middle-earth to Minnesota, Manchester, Mumbai and everywhere in-between, J.R.R. Tolkien fans around the world are all a-Twitter as the stars line up to appear in The Hobbit.

More than 50,000 people are expected to make a pilgrimage to Gisborne in February 2011 when New Zealand’s culture-rich Eastland plays host to Te Matatini – the biggest festival of Māori performing arts in the world.

The final stage of Te Parapara – New Zealand’s first and only traditional Māori garden in a public setting which will be unveiled at Hamilton Gardens tomorrow (10.12.2010) – offers rare insight into the region’s pre-European history.

Already world famous for their dubious sexual conduct– New Zealand’s rare kākāpō are in the news again with a pack of “studs” facing deportation after becoming victims of their own success with the ladies.

Iconic South Island rugby fields are the subject of a photography exhibition at Christchurch International Airport that will be on show during Rugby World Cup 2011.

New Zealanders are renowned for their ingenuity but one Kiwi has capped off the ‘No. 8 wire’ mentality with a giant sculpture that’s likely to break a Guinness World Record.