New Zealand is a country full of awe-inspiring sceneries, natural landscapes, lush greenery, rich culture, along with many unique events and festivities. Every region has its own history, and there are a wide variety of festivals happening throughout the year, which are equally enjoyed both by the foreigners and locals. If you are packing your bags for a holiday trip in the Kiwi Land, don’t forget to choose NZ bus hire for a convenient ride to attend these festivals.
Pasifika Festival
Held annually in the Western Springs of the Auckland city, the Pasifika is a Pacific Island-themed festival that began way back in 1993, and has emerged to be the largest festival of its type in the world. Attracting almost a quarter million visitors every year, the festival showcases a wide variety of performances from Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Tahiti, Niue, Fiji, Cook Islands, Tonga and Samoa, in addition to traditional cuisine and cultural experiences. Since 2015, the festival has been taking place in the Hayman Park post discovery of Queensland fruit flies.
Alexandra Blossom Festival
Held annually in Alexandra for a total of 17 days in September, the Alexandra Blossom Festival rejoices the advent of spring. Known to be the longest existing event of its kind in the country, the procession began way back in 1957, with the Horticultural Society’s spring flower show. Since that time, the event has taken place every year with entertainment, parade and other event attractions on the list. Encouraging community spirit and attracting interests from all across the globe, the festival has raised sufficient capital to support regional amenities.
Types of exhibits and activities differ every year, generally including musical productions, blossom drives, music festivals, and shearing championships, along with flower shows and art exhibitions. Annual parade is the highly anticipated event where a wide range of people, groups and vehicles are on show including marching bands, street entertainers, classic cars, handmade floats and trucks. The parade is concluded on Saturday with entertainment, carnival rides, food stalls, rock climbing and circus entertainment.
Kāwhia Kai Festival
If you are looking to get the real taste of Maori culture in New Zealand, the Kawhia Kai Festival is the truest reflection of everything Maori. It is a genuine celebration of the traditional Maori Food, Kai Maori from the land and the waters. Attracting thousands of visitors annually, the festival takes place around Waitangi in the initial weeks of February. You get to taste a wide selection of modern and traditional dishes, along with an extra dose of entertainment and cultural activities. The key highlight is the unique art performance by the Kapa-haka groups during the day. Get an insight into authentic Maori artwork, as you witness first-hand traditional artists, with sites featuring Ta-moko(tattoo), Whakairo-Rakau(wood carving) and Raranga(flax weaving).
This beautiful is day is all about reconnecting with family, and showing respect for fertile land , with a common belief that earth is the provider of life. In a typical Maori hangi style, the food is cooked beneath the ground. Kawhia is popularly known for its massive supplies of wild game and seafood, as you get a golden opportunity to feast on freshly cooked shark liver pate, puha spring rolls, pirau fermented corn, whitebait patties, marinated mussels and a wide variety of shellfish.
The Wildfoods Festival
Undeniably the quirkiest food festival on the country’s culinary calendar, the Wildfoods Festival is held every year in March, which gives you an opportunity to excite your taste buds with something that you may not get in any restaurant. Taste traditional kiwi fare including New Zealand cervena and whitebait. The base of this celebration is unique food, lifestyle and hospitality of the West Coast, with major focus on healthy food from the sea and land. The best part about this event is the Wildfoods Chefs Challenge, which invite three chefs to produce a mouth-watering delicacy within an hour.
Auckland Lantern Festival
Rejoicing the new year of the Rooster in the capital’s Domain, this unique Lantern festival is the largest Chinese festival in New Zealand. On the Lantern Appreciation Night, stroll across loads of lanterns, while tasting the best of modern and traditional Chinese culture. Entertainment includes dance, music and theatre performances, art and craft stalls, workshops, food stalls and delectable cuisine.
Short walk from the city centre, the Auckland Domain houses the Auckland Museum, hosting the entire weekend of lantern festival activities, including arts, crafts, storytelling and music. A special exhibition named Being Chinese in Aotearoa explores the rare photographs and stories.
Parihaka Peace Festival
Held in the historic Parihaka Paa in Taranaki every year, The Parihaka Peace Festival encompasses a range of top music performers, food, a film festival, arts and crafts. It’s one of the best ways to get the summer going, with onsite camping facilities available as well. Nestled in a landscape of volcanic Lahar, this small Maori settlement is a notable site of immense political, cultural and historical importance.
The spiritual, cultural and political dynamics of the country had taken a different shape, with a range of events taking place from 1860 to 1900.With unassuming homes and buildings, it is still the meeting place of the peoples of Tohu Kakahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai. As per the culture, the 18th of each month is a significant forum of the community where the teachings and traditions of the country are maintained. Living in harmony with the land and humanity is the truest spiritual legacy. It is also the legacy of a belief in the peaceful and non-violence resistance action, as well as respected co-existence of Maori, and other races.
If you are travelling in a big group, it’s always advisable to use bus hire in NZ, in order to commute together, without having to shell out extra cash on booking cabs. Not only do you save money by hiring a bus, but you also get rid of any trouble in road navigation, since the experienced driver is already there to transport you to desired destinations.