Events

While the traditional Kiwi food experience is often around casual outdoor dining, New Zealand is fast developing a reputation for fine cuisine and high-end foodie events and destinations.

New Zealand will be back at London’s Chelsea Flower Show in May 2011 for the first time in five years – with an exotic urban garden that focuses on diversity and sustainability.

New Zealand’s forthcoming ski season is shaping up to be another major success – with more flights, attractive deals and positive exchange rates adding impetus to the already strong Australian visitor market.

A ‘Hollywood vs Wellywood’ style charity cricket match, which pitched professionals against politicians and celebrities at Wellington’s Basin Reserve yesterday (13.3.11), has raised more than half a million dollars for Christchurch earthquake victims.

With the Gladiator, a selection of Hobbits and Gandalf defending the wickets, a Sunday cricket game in Wellington, New Zealand, is about to pitch Hollywood against Wellywood.

Prince William will visit the New Zealand city of Christchurch for a national memorial service to honour the victims of last month’s earthquake.

New Zealand is to host another major global sporting event having won the rights to host the 2015 FIFA U-20 football World Cup - which will be watched by more than 500 million fans worldwide.

Roll up … roll up… the world’s most talented bartenders will be visiting New Zealand’s ultimate playground Queenstown, this month for a week of extreme cocktail making, parties and adrenalin-charged activities.

Visitors to the 2011 Hokitika Wildfoods festival on the South Island’s wild West Coast face a sartorial as well as a gastronomic challenge this year.

West coast city New Plymouth is about to be set alive with music and dance, by a festival designed for all ages and tastes – WOMAD.