Experience the full creative range of Aotearoa New Zealand: from celebrating International Hobbit™ Day to attending the world’s premier wearable art festival.
Celebrated annually on 22nd September, International Hobbit™ Day marks the shared birthday of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved characters, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. There are many ways to celebrate Hobbit Day – second breakfasts, a pint of ale, going barefoot – all are worthy, but for many fans, the ultimate party takes place at Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours. Partygoers take refreshment at The Green Dragon Inn before sitting down to a feast fit for a hobbit. The day ends with a tour of the former filmset, which comprises 44 hobbit-sized houses, two fully fledged hobbit holes, and a lake with a picturesque mill. You must imagine the rest: there are no people dressed as Hobbits, waving and smiling Disney-style, here (unless you count the occasional visitor).
Traditionally, the Māori people of Aotearoa New Zealand celebrate the New Year when the Matariki star cluster (also known as Pleiades) appears in the night sky. This usually falls around June or July, during New Zealand’s winter. The occasion is marked with a fortnight of cultural events across the country, ending in a national public holiday. Matariki is also a time for reflection, remembering ancestors, connecting with whānau (family), and sharing kai (food). To find out how and where to celebrate with the rest of New Zealand, visit Mānawatia a Matariki(opens in new window).
The World of Wearable Art (WOW) is an international design competition with only one rule: all artistic creations must be wearable. As the largest festival of its kind, WOW garners thousands of entries from across the globe, attracting everyone from established international designers to students and first-time entrants. Finalists have their work showcased in a spectacular theatrical runway show, held every September and October in Wellington.
Napier's Art Deco Festival is a world-renowned annual event that transforms the city into a living museum, celebrating its unique 1930s architecture – a legacy of the city's rebuilding after the 1931 earthquake. Held every third weekend of February, the lineup includes 1930s-themed events and concerts with titles like Deco Decadence Grand Ball, Depression Dinner, and The Bees Knees Art Deco Art Exhibition. Visitors are also treated to vintage car parades and a hundreds, if not thousands, of people in stunning period costume – including locals who simply dress up to pop to the shops – making the entire city a vibrant 1930s spectacle.
Te Matatini is Aotearoa New Zealand's premier Māori performing arts festival. Held every two years, this prestigious event brings together the country’s top performers to compete for the coveted title of national champion. Competition is fierce, earning the event a reputation as the "Olympics of kapa haka". In the Māori language, kapa haka means performing arts.
The Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, held biennially in Wellington, is the nation's premier celebration of creativity and culture. As New Zealand's largest arts festival, it presents an ambitious, diverse program that showcases the finest international talent alongside groundbreaking local performing arts. This essential event provides a spectacular opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of New Zealand's culture across performing arts, literature, and visual arts.
Pasifika, the world's largest Polynesian festival, celebrates the art, music, dance, food, and traditions of the Pacific Islands.
Each year, the typically quiet farming community of Ōamaru undergoes an incredible transformation for its annual Steampunk Festival. Following a grand opening ceremony, the town buzzes with a busy lineup of events. Prepare for teapot racing, suitcase decorating contests, and parasol duelling, alongside many other whimsical mechanical marvels and performances.
