Southland

From North Cape to southern Stewart Island, each Kiwi community has its own unique local way of celebrating New Zealand’s national day - Waitangi Day - on 6 February.

Whale watching is a year round pastime in New Zealand but come winter, the popular activity takes on a more serious role, and this year a busy migration period is providing valuable data as well as entertainment.

The last of the tickets for Rugby World Cup 2011 have gone on sale and are going quickly as New Zealand continues to ramp up preparations for hosting the major event.

With 85,000 international visitors in the country, Rugby World Cup will showcase New Zealand to a global audience of discerning travellers – and, away from the rugby field, it’s Kiwi food and wine that’s likely to attract the most sustained interest.

Auckland is on 'Cloud' nine, Wellington’s launching a waka, Nelson’s taking a long Italian lunch, Bluff’s reserving the juiciest oysters, Westland’s celebrating whitebait, and wineries all over New Zealand are dusting off their vintage best.

Mouths are watering in anticipation of the annual Bluff Oyster & Food Festival celebrating the seasonal harvest of the succulent shellfish that have made New Zealand’s most southern town world famous.

Three of the five Rugby World Cup pool matches that were to have been held in Christchurch, but have had to be moved because of the February earthquake, will remain in the South Island.

A striking photographic portrait of a New Zealand kakapo parrot – one of the rarest and most at-risk bird species on earth – has swooped up first prize in an international competition.

New Zealand’s legendary kākāpō ‘Richard Henry’, considered the elder statesman of the country’s rare native species and one who played a vital role in kākāpō recovery, has been found dead.

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.