Five Must See Events
New Zealand’s unique culture and heritage offers visitors the chance to experience events not seen anywhere else in the world. Here are 5 of the must see cultural events and festivals to check out on your next vacation to New Zealand –
Waitangi Day
February 6th marks Waitangi Day, a national holiday held every year to commemorate the signing of New Zealand’s founding document – the Treaty of Waitangi – in 1840. Visitors should check out the official celebrations held at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands, Northland. You can watch Maori cultural performances, listen to speeches from Maori and Pakeha (European) dignitaries, and see a spectacular naval salute. The Ngatokimatawhaorua, one of the world’s largest Maori ceremonial waka (war canoe), sits on the grounds at Waitangi.
Matariki Festival
The Maori New Year is celebrated during Auckland’s Matariki Festival between June and July each year, giving visitors the chance to explore Maori culture. Try native cuisine, play some unique sports or just sit back and listen to Maori music.
KÄ Whia Kai Festival
Held in early February, the Ka Whia Kai Festival is a full celebration of the indigenous culture with a particular focus on native Maori food. Locals call KÄ whia “kai food heaven” because of the plentiful supplies of seafood and wild game, and festival-goers feast on wild pork, a wide array of New Zealand shellfish as well as mud snails. Every year more than 2500 kono / traditional flax baskets are specially woven to serve up portions of delicious hangi kai which has been cooked in a series of gigantic underground ovens – often required to feed more than 10,000 visitors.
KÄ whia, a coastal town in the central North Island of New Zealand, is the spiritual home of the Maori Tainui tribe and the resting place of their waka or ceremonial canoe. Visitors can sample delights such as toroi / marinated mussels and puha / watercress, inanga / whitebait patties, kanga wai /pirau fermented corn, wild pork and puha spring rolls, koki / shark liver pate, and mud snails.
World of Wearable Art
Late September to early October is when the World of Wearable Art takes place in Wellington. Described as ‘Mardi Gras meets haute couture’, New Zealand’s WOW or World of Wearable Art is a uniquely Kiwi event mixing high fashion and art in a spectacular stage show. Visitors can enjoy some unique fashion like that made famous by Lady Gaga and the surreal pieces have to be seen to be believed.
Rhythm And Vines
If you are in New Zealand from the 29th December – 1st January, you have to check out this 3 day music festival in Gisborne. It offers a mix of rock ‘n roll, funk and hip-hop, R&B, pop, country, blues and even sci-fi. The programme includes international superstars such as Calvin Harris and Pendulum to top Kiwi talent. The festival is internationally famous as the ‘place to be’ for the new year, and attracts 20,000-plus festival goers to camp, swim, enjoy world-class entertainment and be the first in the world to see the new year in.
Post contributed for Tasty Bingo  by freelance travel writer Samantha Harvey.