Auckland

New Zealand’s great outdoors presents some spectacular backdrops for summer music events and festivals in locations all over the country.

Background information on the host centres for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Background information on the match venues for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Set-jetting movie buffs on the trail of favourite characters will find plenty to do in the iconic New Zealand landscapes that have supported many Hollywood blockbusters and international hits.

New Zealand born yachting legend Sir Peter Blake is the only sailor to have taken part in the first five Whitbread Round the World races. He also led his country to two successive America’s Cup victories.

2009 wraps up a positive year for film in New Zealand with the movers and shakers of the movie world shining the spotlight on everything the country has to offer from location to expertise.

New Zealand is the homeland of star Hollywood actors, including Russell Crowe, Sam Neill, Anna Paquin, Temuera Morrison, Cliff Curtis and Keisha Castle-Hughes.

New Zealand film makers recognised on the world stage include Sir Peter Jackson, Jane Campion, Andrew Niccol, Niki Caro, Vincent Ward, Geoff Murphy, and Taika Waititi.

New Zealand writers often invoke the familiar landscapes and culture of their homeland, and their words have inspired many armchair travellers to take off on a real holiday of discovery.

Avatar’s phenomenal win at the 2010 Academy Awards cemented a strong start to the year for the Kiwi film industry.