Summer

Waitangi Day is a public holiday held on 6 February every year to commemorate the signing of New Zealand's founding document - the Treaty of Waitangi - in 1840.

Visitors enjoying their first Christmas in New Zealand are likely to experience culture shock - when you add summer and holiday fun to the traditional annual festival it takes on a very different look.

Visit New Zealand during the summer months and you might not find anyone at home – that’s because when the sun is out, so are Kiwis and with so much to do, it’s hardly surprising.

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

While most of New Zealand takes a holiday at some time during January, it’s also a great time for tourists to experience the laid-back nature of New Zealand life at its best.

Summer sun and water fun go hand-in-hand in New Zealand and this season is no exception with a colourful line-up of events that focus on sea, surf and sailing.

As sunshine hours lengthen and the annual school and work calendar winds down in preparation for Christmas and the long summer holidays, New Zealand swings into outdoor mode with feasts, festivals and fun on the programme.

Whether played in the backyard, or at the beach, on TV or the radio, cricket is the quintessential ingredient for a good old fashioned Kiwi summer.

Christmas and New Year celebrations in New Zealand offer a summer twist on the traditional festive season.