Art & Culture

Spring in New Zealand is a season of colour, new life, new harvests of food and wine and exciting arts and cultural events.

As unenticing as burnt toast may sound, it has certainly intrigued art buffs in galleries nationally and internationally, thanks to Maurice Bennett's pixilated 'toast portraits' and 'tapa cloth' toast designs.

Connells Bay Sculpture Park on Waiheke Island allows visitors to view large outdoor contemporary sculpture by some of New Zealand's best known sculptors.

Auckland's temperate coastal climate makes the great outdoors accessible all year round. Art and landscape combine at various gardens and events across the region, providing art lovers plenty of opportunities to enjoy art in the outdoors.

New Zealand is once again being showcased on the big screen by Peter Jackson in his latest film, King Kong.

A band of larger-than-life characters emerged from remote corners of New Zealand to make their mark on the world stage in 2005.

New Zealand director Andrew Adamson is showcasing his home country to the world through one of his favourite childhood novels.

One of Wellington's most popular tourist attractions, the cars run from Lambton Quay in the commercial heart of the city and emerge in the Wellington Botanic Garden where the Lookout, Carter Observatory, Planetarium and Cable Car Museum are located.

Part gallery, part penthouse, the Art Apartment offers her guests a unique opportunity to live among an inspiring collection of contemporary New Zealand art, all available for purchase.

Zealandia, 40 minutes north of Auckland, is both a home and a gallery open to visitors. It features an imposing edifice with sharp lines and cool concrete slabs, which contrasts with the green pasture and native bush. The art itself, bronze sculpture by Zealandia creator Terry Stringer, is loaded with riddles and complexity. Stringer is one of New Zealand's top sculptors.