Matariki
Nationwide
Matariki is a period of reflection and celebration marking the beginning of the Māori New Year when the star cluster Pleiades appears in skies across Aotearoa New Zealand. Around the country, events are held to reflect on the past 12 months and look ahead to the year to come. In Wellington one of the highlights will be the fireworks display on Saturday 10 July at the waterfront, in Auckland the Harbour Bridge will be lit up with a special light show every evening from 6pm, and Christchurch has a festival light called Tīrama Mai in the city centre and New Brighton.
Rugby
3 July - All Blacks V Tonga - Auckland
10 July - All Blacks V Fiji - Dunedin
17July - All Blacks V Fiji – Hamilton
Every international student should add an All Blacks match to their New Zealand itinerary. There is something special about the atmosphere of a live sports event and seeing the team perform the haka against their opponents in person. In July, Kiwis have three chances to see the mighty All Blacks in action. On Saturday 3 July you can see them play Tonga in Auckland’s Mount Smart Stadium, on Saturday 10 July they take on Fiji in Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium, and the following weekend they play Fiji again in Hamilton. If you cannot make it to one of the games in person, we recommend getting a group of friends together to watch a game and cheer them on.
Credit: Barne227, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Lion King
24 June – 18 July – AucklandIn July you can catch Disney’s popular musical The Lion King at Auckland’s Spark Arena. Fans of both the original animation and remake live action movie will enjoy this stage adaptation of the classic movie. It’s fascinating to see the different costumes and props used to bring the animals to life and how some of the film’s most iconic scenes have been innovatively adapted from animation to real life by the talented cast and crew. You’ll leave the event singing all your favourite hits from the movie including Circle of life, Can you feel the love tonight and Hakuna matata.
Snow sports
In the middle of winter the best place to be is on the ski slopes! Queenstown and Wanaka are recognised as New Zealand’s premier destinations for skiers or snowboarders, offering a range of commercial mountains that will suit all abilities and ages. Plus, the mountains and scenery in the areas come alive as they are blanketed with snow. Students based on the North Island can visit Mount Ruapehu which has two ski fields, Whakapapa’s Happy Valley is great for beginners and Turoa has some awesome slopes for more experienced riders.
Elemental Festival
14 July – 1 August – Auckland
Elemental weaves art, entertainment, music and food into one fun festival. From 14 July through to 1 August a variety events are being held across Auckland the Auckland region. There truly is something for everyone – from free public art displays to gourmet food experiences or musical and dance events. It’s a great opportunity for international students to explore the wider region and experience something new. For more information visit Elemental AKL - is back! | Aucklandnz.com
Art in the Park
23-25 July – Auckland
When you hear Eden Park you might think of concerts or sports events, but from 23 -25 July Eden Park will become a gallery! This iconic venue will display paintings, sculptures, photography and prints from a selection of New Zealand artists. This family friendly event includes a Kids Corner for ages 5+ where children can create their own masterpieces, and visitors on opening night can enjoy complimentary drinks and food. Tickets start from $15 and you can find out more at https://www.artinthepark.co.nz/