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Taranaki Events, Festivals and Shows

Throughout New Zealand, you will find a wide variety of attractions, events and activities being held to entertain both locals and visitors alike. These events appeal to wide range of tastes and interest and many are family-friendly venues and suitable for tots to teens.

Some events, festivals and shows are held annually, but there are also new shows springing up—keep an eye on what's happening by subscribing to our free traveller newsletter or by checking out the pages of our directory. You'll find an array of: music festivals, dance shows, sporting events, film festivals, arts festivals, carnvials and Christmas parades, food and wine festivals, bridal and wedding shows, fashion shows, horticultural and flower shows and more.

Music Events and Festivals

If there's an occasion to celebrate, there's nearly always live music to hand as New Zealand enjoys a wealth of home-grown musical talent which performs throughout the country including: Dave Dobbyn, Bic and Bo Runga, The Black Seeds, Fat Freddy's Drop, The Finn Brothers (Crowded House), Goldenhorse, Opshop, Shapeshifter, Ladyhawke, Tiki Taane plus hundreds of talented acts. You can enjoy live music at a host of venues including bars, clubs, wineries and festivals.

Sports Events

Not surprisingly for a country geared up to enjoy its great outdoors to the max, sporting events in New Zealand are prolific throughout the year and throughout its regions. Some of the most popular include: fishing, golf, mountain biking, horse and sheepdog trial and skiing. Most major events publish programme and entry details online and entrants are welcome from overseas competitors. With a strong emphasis on 'give-it-go', many New Zealand sports events are welcoming and friendly, as well as competitive, and include competitions for all levels of ages and abilities.

Wine and Food Festivals

If you see a wine or food festival advertised, it's almost always worth making a detour. Not only can you see the locals enjoying themselves, but you can sample the very best of New Zealand's cuisine. You may be able to time your visit to coincide with the Clyde Wine and Food Festival, Marlborough Food and Wine Festival or Brightwater Wine and Food Festival, but in all the major wine regions, events and tastings are held throughout the year.

Dance Exhibitions and Shows

Although New Zealand is a relatively small country, its talent is huge and this extends to dance in all categories: ballet, jazz, salsa, ballroom and of course, the 'national' dance, the haka is well-known throughout the world. Although often seen as a war-like challenge (All Black rugby for example), the haka is often performed as a welcome or to celebrate achievements by men, women and children. Dance festivals, performances and exhibitions are held regularly throughout New Zealand.

Film and Cinema

New Zealand also has a wealth of film-making talent including: actors Sam Neill, Anna Paquin, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Temuera Morrison, Lucy Lawless and Russell Crowe (born here, not Australia), directors Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings), Roger Donaldson (The World's Fastest Indian), Jane Campion (The Piano), Lee Tamahori (Once Were Warriors) and Vincent Ward (River Queen). New Zealand and international film-making is celebrated in festivals throughout the major centres, but many smaller towns also play host to specialist film festivals.

Flower Shows

Many cities and towns in New Zealand have a park or botanical gardens, where beautiful displays of introduced and native species are displayed in outdoor gardens or specialised houses. Horticultural talents and special interests are also showcased in festivals throughout the country including New Zealand's premier flower and horticutural show, the annual Ellerslie Flower Show held in Christchurch.

To find out which festivals, events and shows coincide with your visit to Taranaki why not subscribe to our free NZ traveller newsletter...(search NZ events, festivals and shows directory)

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