An open casting call has gone out to anyone in the Wellington area to go and audition for parts in the upcoming two part epic The Hobbit, the prequel to the phenomenally successful The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Featuring the Sherlock Holmes star Martin Freeman (and a nice cameo from his co-star Benedict Cumberbatch), filming of the long awaited adaptation of one of the most children's books of all time is now well underway in New Zealand.

With such a massive scale of production, more and more people are being drafted in to be dressed up and made up as any one of the many races featured in the books.

What they're looking for

Those with "character faces" are particularly being encouraged to go along but almost anyone qualifies; men must be under 163cm and women under 155cm is the only criteria.

Along with "character faces", men with large biceps or slim athletic bodies are also sought while women between 165 and 203cm tall could be in with a great shot.

A cautionary tale

If you're a fan of the series, no doubt you'll already be on your way down there but make sure you've got your New Zealand Working Holiday visa handy as only those who are eligible to work in the country will be allowed to audition

Remember you need to be over 16, and have a working visa. You don't want to end up like one ineligible fan, who has to resort to smearing his face with green boot polish and smashing around town wearing old dustbins to get attention.

Where to go

The casting call is at The Belmont Hall on Saturday 28th January between 1 and 4pm and anyone over 16 can audition so grab your Elven bow or your Goblin axe or whatever other medieval deadly weapon is your personal preference and head down there. Who knows, we might be seeing you an IMAX screen by Christmas!

Good luck!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

If you missed the New Year celebrations in New Zealand, don't worry as there's still plenty of things to do across the country in January, from comedy to cuisine and plenty in between, you'll be hard pressed to find nothing to do in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

If you can't quite make it to Melbourne for the Australian Open, the Heineken Open in Auckland is the premier men's tennis event in New Zealand. Held from the 9th to the 14th of the month, some of the biggest names in tennis grace the hardcourts. Current world number 5 David Ferrer is the reigning champion after beating Argentine David Nalbandian in straight sets in the 2011 final.

If you're looking for a little exhilaration and exercise this January, (possibly part of a faltering New Year's Resolution) the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series comes to Wellington on the 29th of January. The State Capital Classic Wellington takes places on Freyberg Beach and Oriental Bay Beach and features a new 'I'm Going Long' swim which takes swimmers out to a lighthouse in the bay while the 'Step It Up' swim for the more advanced swimmer takes you out around a giant fountain. If you're not the most confident swimmer, you can take part in the 'Give it a Go' swim or alternatively, not swim at all and instead participate in some of the more relaxing spectators' walks around the area.

If just the thought of watching sport tires you out, let alone taking part and you prefer the tastier things in life, the Auckland Seafood Festival held right in the end of the month should be more than enough with not just the best seafood but also musical acts and competitions set in the heart of Auckland's fishing industry.

Slowing things down a little, the incredible rise to fame of New Zealand folk-comedy duo the Flight of the Conchords has seen the New Zealand folk music scene explode in popularity. The Auckland Folk Festival takes place between the 27th and the 30th of January at the Kumeu Showground, a large flat camping area which makes for the ideal festival site. Folk acts from around the world come to the festival and, with tickets only on advanced sale until January 13th, fans need to move quick to secure their place.

- Dominic Ladden-Powell is Online Editor with the New Zealand Visa Bureau, an independent migration consultancy specialising in helping people lodge applications for a Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The Rugby World Cup may be over but all reports suggest the party is continuing. You may wish to spend your time in New Zealand joining the Kiwis in celebration and re-watching matches, but for those of you who need a break from rugby (or were barracking for a different team) there's plenty going on this November to take your mind off the All Blacks.

And what better way to forget about rugby than get stuck into some domestic Kiwi cricket? The Plunket Shield domestic competition kicks off on November 7-10, with the Central Stags taking on the Wellington Firebirds in Napier, the Northern Knights play the Auckland Aces in a North Island derby in Whangerei and the Canterbury Wizards facing the Otago Volts in Rangiora. Get a picnic together and get down to any of these Round 1 matches and see New Zealand's best cricketers in action!

If you prefer games of a less strenuous kind, Auckland's Cock and Bull English Pubs host subtly-named 'Wii at the Cock' nights on Mondays in November, where punters can try their hand at Nintendo Wii games. Plenty of good British pub food on offer to stave off the homesickness.

Keeping with the British theme, come listen to two of the greatest British rock albums of all time as the Stardome Observatory and Planetarium in Auckland play Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' and 'The Wall' accompanied by a psychedelic light show and the wonder of the Southern sky! The Pink Floyd Double Header is showing from November 8-13 with tickets at $35. Sure to be a romantic one with two free glasses of wine upon entry. 

But then again you may be seeking an authentically Kiwi experience. If so, there's none better than the Toast Martinborough festival on Sunday November 20.  This famous food and wine festival will showcase New Zealand's best proudce. Tickets are quite steep at $70 a head but you can win free tickets just by picking out your favourite Toast Martinborough promo poster. Find out more here.

The World Cup will be a distant memory before you know it.

- Aleks Vickovich is Online Editor with the New Zealand Visa Bureau, an independent migration consultancy specialising in helping people lodge applications for a Working Holiday Visa to New Zealand.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The Rugby World Cup is in full swing and New Zealand is brimming with tourists and working holidaymakers suffering from 'rugby fever'. But there are plenty of other events going on in New Zealand in October to entertain you between matches, from an attempt at the world's biggest haka to a champagne picnic in landscaped gardens.

The Cup quarter finals start on Friday 7 October, and a number of tickets are still available. Beware though, some of the tickets are upwards of $500!

But if you can't get to a World Cup match (or your suffering from an especially severe case of rugby fever) you can still get up close and personal with a piece of history.  The Webb Ellis Cup will be displayed at the Auckland Museum in Purnell from 15 - 22 October, when it will be handed over to the winners of the 2011 World Cup. You can even get a photo with the cup!

There are also a number of non-rugby-related events going down in NZ over October (who would have thought?). For something a little more sophisticated, get down to the Ellesmere Spring Fling, a garden party with champagne, jazz music, art exhibits and theatre performances in the lovely Broadfields New Zealand Landscape Garden in Prebbleton on Sunday 16 October. Tickets are $25 but proceeds will go to a local community care organisation.

The Indian Diwali Festival of Lights will be celebrated with a bang at Queens Wharf in Wellington. Fireworks displays, delicious Indian foods and, according to Hindu belief, the "triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and the renewal of life", all point to a great night out.

For foodies, the Taste of New Zealand festival puts the country's greatest chefs, dishes and cuisines on display. Internationally renowned chefs like Rick Stein, Gary Rhodes and Josh Emett are heading down to NZ to take part in the deliciousness. The festival runs from the 19th to the 22nd of October.

 - Aleks Vickovich is Online Editor at the New Zealand Visa Bureau, an independent consultancy specialising in helping people lodge applications for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Think you're a tough guy or gal? Then New Zealand in July's the place for you to prove it! Of course, if an army assault course isn't quite your cup of tea, there's plenty of other things for you to do in NZ this month!

Te Taumata Exhibition Series 2011 - Rona Ngahuia Osbourne - AUCKLAND
21 June - 9 July
Admission: FREE
w: www.matarikifestival.org.nz/events/detail.asp?ID=584
As part of the Matariki Festival 2011, the Te Taumata Exhibition Series 2011 celebrates excellence in Maori visual arts in galleries across Auckland. Rona Ngahuia Osbourne will be exhibiting at Artstation Toi Tu. Te Taumata Exhibition Series features four different artists and is curated by Karl Chitham.

Jacky Pearson & Eugenea: Their impressions of Wellington - WELLINGTON
01 July - 09 July
Admission: FREE
w: http://www.ngaiofinearts.co.nz/exhibitions.htm
Jacky & Eugenea are both immigrants to New Zealand and we are very pleased they chose Wellington as their new home. Jacky comes from England and Eugenea from Russia. Both have made a major contribution to the Wellington art scene over the last 15-20 years.

New Zealand International Film Festival - AUCKLAND
11 July - 14 July
Admission: From $12.50
w: http://www.nzff.co.nz/
The annual New Zealand International Film Festival continues to be the premier film event of the year, and the cultural highlight of the New Zealand winter. The Festival commences in mid-July, lighting up central Auckland. The line-up will feature more than 140 titles including key titles from the Cannes and Sundance film festivals.

Tough Guy and Gal Challenge - PALMERSTON NORTH
16 July
w: http://www.toughguyandgal.co.nz/
Admission: $70
Think you're tough? Well, how about you provie it at the Tough Guy and Gal Challenge! Based at the Linton Military Camp, Camp Road, 10km from the CBD of Palmerston North, this is a great opportunity for civilians to experience some of the NZ Military facilities including the assault course.

The course will include water trails, crawl under barb wire obstacles, swamp crossings, steep bush rope grab, open paddock running, plus numerous parts of the NZ Army assault course. A six kilometre (one lap) or 12 kilometre (two laps) options are available. Try it out!

Silverdale Market - AUCKLAND
Every Saturday until 30 July
w: http://www.silverdalebusiness.co.nz/
Silverdale traditional market. Each Saturday 8am to 1pm. Lots of bargains. Fresh vegs, plants, flowers, jewellery and much more. While here, visit the Pioneer Village. Have coffee and sample locally made baking. Silverdale for that something a little different.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

June in New Zealand means Māori New Year, as well as plenty of winter festivals and some of the best spots for winter sports and snowy good times in NZ!

Auckland Matariki/Maori New Year Festival – AUCKLAND
4 June to 4 July
Admission: Largely free, varying fees dependent on event
W: www.matarikifestival.org.nz
Matariki is the unique cultural festival celebrating the dawning of Māori New Year. Auckland's Matariki Festival promises to be better than ever this year, with more than 100 special events and activities across Tamaki Makaurau. From musical concerts and cultural performances, to a Māori business symposium and a Kai Wānanga / food forum, organisers say the aim is to provide Aucklanders and visitors with the chance to experience a living cultural tradition with tangata whenua / people of the land - celebrating the unique Māori heritage, nature, creativity and expression.

The Last Great Lake Tekapo Mountain Bike Pursuit – LAKE TEKAPO, GERALDINE,
5 June
Admission: $100
W: www.mtbpursuits.com
Cafes and restaurants on and around “eat street” in the CBD will be host to a variety of blues acts, with a variety of music styles from 11am every day. Plus there is a Hot Club concerts at Novotel Rotorua and the Blues Cruise on the Lakeland Queen!

SBS Marathon – CHRISTCHURCH
5 June
W: http://www.sbsmarathon.co.nz
The South Island's premier marathon event. A fast, flat tour of the spectacular Avon River and Hagley Park with something for everyone. Options include marathon (42.2k), half marathon (21.1k), 10k, kids' Mara'Fun. More than 5000 entrants expected.

Matariki Festival – WELLINGTON
9 June to 26 June
W: www.tepapa.govt.nz/WhatsOn/Matariki/Pages/Matarikifulleventsprogramme.aspx
Don't miss an amazing range of artists, Star Lab sessions, and special activities for children. The programme features a weaving symposium, arts and crafts workshops, fashion shows, a ‘Seven Sisters Day’ and ‘Seven Brothers Day’, storytelling, Māori language, film and music events.

Banff Mountain Film Festival – CHRISTCHURCH
11 June
Admission: $25
W: www.banffcentre.ca/mountainfestival/
The Banff Mountain Film Festival (BMFF) World Tour brings the excitement, the spectacle, and the richness of the mountains and mountain culture to Christchurch. Featuring spectacular, inspiring, funny, exciting, and thought-provoking mountain films from around the world, the BMFF is an exhilarating exploration of the mountain world from remote landscapes and cultures to adrenaline-packed action sports. Don't miss it!

Queenstown Winter Festival – QUEENSTOWN
24 June to 3 July
Admission: From $39
W: www.winterfestival.co.nz
Already sporting a reputation for being fun, outrageous and one of the top 10 'must-see' festivals in the world, the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival’s 2011 is a 10 day celebration of Queenstown's unique culture and community with street parties, fireworks, international and local acts, jazz, comedy, a Mardi Gras, family fun, Masquerade Ball, an Invitational Slopestyle event and plenty of Mountain Mayhem.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Enjoy the autumn weather in NZ and catch some great events around the country.

E Tu Ake Short Films - WELLINGTON
09 April to 10 April 2011
Admission: FREE
W: http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/
Te Papa celebrates the opening weekend of E Tū Ake with a screening of short films by some of New Zealand’s top Māori film makers. See Te Papa’s website for a detailed programme.

Rock Relief for Christchurch - BODEGA, WELLINGTON
09 April to 10 April 2011
Admission $15.00
W: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152341434827078
This is going to be an epic event. This event will begin at 8pm with the following acts playing for your pleasure: My Dear Watson, Everything Revs, Kobosh, Slur Tones, The Lost Boys, The Outsiders, Olmecha Supreme.

There will also be special performances by Vorn Colgan during the evening.There will be opportunities for everybody at the show to have their photo taken whilst holding up a message for the people of Christchurch. Please note that all proceeds of this event will be going to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal courtesy of The Red Cross. Come and support us supporting Christchurch, there's no better cause.

Amazing Maze - KARAKA, AUCKLAND SOUTH
09 April to 01 May 2011
Admission $12
W: http://www.maze.co.nz/
The Amazing Maze 'n Maize is a giant maze cut into a paddock of maize (animal feed corn). The maze takes on average 45 minutes to complete. There are over 8km of paths, with bridges in the middle to get your bearings or to watch your friends from. Trivia and joke signs are placed throughout the mazes, and visitors can choose to make it a competition or just take a walk in the corn.

Chartfest 2011 - CHRISTCHURCH
14 April 2011
Admission: $15.00
W: http://www.chartfest.co.nz/
Chartfest 2011, Christchurch's NZ Music Month live music extravaganza is set to return on Saturday 14 May at the new location of the CPSA Grounds at CPIT on Madras St.
With the generous support of CPIT, CCC and Smokefree, Chartfest in its fourth year moves in a new direction, with an exciting lineup and range of music related activities. Christchurch’s favourite local music festival presents an exciting array of live shows keeping the tradition of presenting the dynamic energy of the city's hottest emerging acts as well as honouring some of the NZ's most loved artists.

Club Penguin - AUCKLAND
16 April to 01 May 2011
Admission: $33.90
W: http://www.kellytarltons.co.nz/
The inhabitants of Club Penguin waddle into Kelly Tarlton’s this Easter Holidays. Club Penguin’s first event in New Zealand is timed to coincide with Kelly Tarlton’s King Penguin Chick season, where visitors can welcome four super-cute chicks in their chilly crèche from our Snowcat ride and via the big screen. Kelly Tarlton’s will also be running special Life on the Ice talks every day, introducing our real life King and Gentoo Penguins.

Gypsy Travellers Fair - WARKWORTH, AUCKLAND
16 April to 17 April 2011
Admission: FREE
The Gypsy Travellers Fair features: art, crafts, intuitive tarot readings, crystals, incense, ethnic fabrics, henna tattoos, leadlight, paintball hot food and cold drinks, incense burners, belly dancing outfits/ jewellery, ornaments, natural massage oils, hairbraids, sarongs, bouncy castle, the most awesome facepainting, dolls, pet wear, poi, t-shirts, giftware, wokka fires, friendship bracelets, fabulous ladies' wear and much more. So come and enjoy the atmosphere.

New World Tour de Wakatipu - ARROWTOWN, QUEENSTOWN LAKES, OTAGO
23 April 2011
W: www.southerntraverse.com/tourdewakatipu
Mountain bike ride on the trails and tracks of the Wakatipu basin on exclusive course from Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown to Chard Farm Kawarau River. Music, food and wine at the finish line! The course covers 36kms for the recreational course, and 45kms for the full course used by the expert and sport riders.

Turangi Colours Art and Food Festival - TURANGI, LAKE TAUPO, WAIKATO
23 April 2011
Admission: FREE
W: http://www.turangi.org/
Our region inspires creativity! Turangi Colours will celebrate Turangi/Tongariro - our many talented artists, our regional food and a our colourful community. Set in the town centre of Turangi on Easter Saturday, the festival will include art exhibitions, workshops and demonstrations, a stage with a variety of performances, food stalls and entertainment throughout the town centre, and a gala dinner with Maori chef Charles Royal, using foods sourced from the land around us. There will be activities for the kids, including a chance to catch a rainbow trout at the Tongariro Trout Centre Come and we'll have the rare opportunity to offer tours of the underground Rangipo Power Station. Come and discover Turangi's true colours!

Berba Croation Harvest Celebration - AUCKLAND
23 April to 25 April 2011
Admission: Free
W: http://www.soljans.co.nz/
Each year Soljans organise their annual Croatian Harvest Festival based at the winery in Kumeu - either book for lunch and soak up the festival atmosphere, or go out to the winery between 9am and 5.30pm to take part in the many events:

• Daily winery tours at 11am and 1.30pm
• Free daily grape stomping at 2.15pm
• Dalmatian Kolo dance group at 3pm (Sunday) and Croatian "Kralj Tomislav" ensemble 3pm (Monday)
• Live music by Dean Te Paa 12-3pm (Sunday & Monday)

ANZAC Remebered - CHRISTCHURCH
25 April 2011
Admission: FREE
W: http://www.woolstonbrass.org/
Woolston Brass and the New Zealand Army band present a free commemorative concert on ANZAC Day. Full of ceremony, nostalgia and fun, the concert will features songs and music of war years past.

Raw Meat Comedy - THE FRINGE BAR, WELLINGTON
Until 25 April 2011
Admission: $5
Comics, poets, improvisers, musical comedians, all are welcome at the Humorous Arts Trust’s Raw Meat open mic comedy. Comedy gold and comedy coal, each night is a guaranteed gamble. If you’re trying out for the first time, Raw Meat is the best place to start.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

New Zealand will proudly host the Rugby World Cup in September and October this year, but if you don’t want to wait until then to see some rugby action there are plenty of games happening to tide you over.  

It doesn’t matter if it is a city, small town or in the countryside surrounded by paddocks, but New Zealand’s landscape isn’t quite right without a set of rugby goal posts. The game was introduced to New Zeland in 1870 by a young man called Charles Monro. Monro was born near Nelson, and spent some time studying in England before returning to his home country. He introduced the game of rugby to friends in Nelson, and the first rugby game in New Zealand was played at Nelson’s Botanical Reserve. A sign now stands on the ground to commemorate the game.

Rugby is New Zealand’s national sport, and when it is the national team, the All Blacks, on the field the whole country gets behind them.

One thing that is different about a rugby game with the All Blacks is the haka, a traditional Maori challenge dance which the All Blacks perform before playing an international team. The most famous haka used is "Ka Mate", originally composed by the Maori chief Te Rauparaha of Ngāti Toa to celebrate a narrow escape from death.

Here are the games coming up before the Rugby World Cup in September.

Rebel Sport Super 14

The Rebel Sport Super 14 between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa is the largest rugby championship in the southern hemisphere. A total of 14 teams play 13 games each to decide the best four teams. Then it is the semi-finals to decide the two finalists. The final is played at the highest ranked winner’s home ground. Games run from February until the end of May at venues in all three countries. New Zealand games are played in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Invercargill.

Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup

New Zealand also competes annually with Australia (the Wallabies) and South Africa (the Springboks) in the Tri Nation Series, a tough competition that has been running since 1996. The games played between Australia and New Zealand also determine the winner of the Bledisloe Cup each year.

The Tri Nations rugby tournament kicks off with the All Blacks playing South Africa in Auckland on 10 July. Other New Zealand matches are scheduled for 17 July in Wellington (vs South Africa) and 7 August in Christchurch (vs Australia).

There are usually eight games in the Tri Nations, but because of the world cup being held in New Zealand the competition has been reduced to six.

Rugby World Cup

Twenty three centres are to host the teams in New Zealand - 16 in the North Island and seven in the South Island. If you’re going to be here for the entire time, you can do a grand tour of New Zealand while you follow your team!

The event is scheduled to be played over seven weekends from the weekend starting 10 September and culminating the weekend starting 22 October 2011.

-  Get a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa and travel the country!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Doubtful Sound is the deepest (421 metres) and second longest (40 kilometres) of the South Island's fjords. It is quite untouched by the modern world – with rare corals, plants and sea animals calling the fjord their home. It is not as accessible as Milford Sound, but joining an overnight excursion onboard a boat will see you dine on fresh crayfish scouped out of the water in front of your eyes while passing ancient glacier carved valleys, high mountain peaks and spectacular waterfalls. 

According to Maori legend, the sounds in Fiordland in New Zealand were created by the god Tu-Te-Raki-Whanoa as a safe place from the stormy seas.

When he split open the earth to form Patea (Doubtful Sound) four young sea gods helped him by using their adzes to cut the four arms of the sound – Deep Cove, Hall Arm, Crooked Arm and First Arm. Doubtful Sound is 10 times the area of the more well-known Milford Sound, and is the playing ground of bottlenose dolphins, fat New Zealand fur seals and the Fiordland crested penguin to name a few.

The fiord was originally named Doubtful Harbour by Captain James Cook, who sailed past it in 1770. He didn’t sail into the inlet because he though it looked a bit tight for safe manoeuvring (hence the name). It was later named Doubtful Sound by whalers and sealers, although technically it is a fjord.

Like other fjords in the area, Doubtful Sound contains two distinct layers of water that don't mix: the top few meters is fresh water, fed by runoff from the mountains, and below is a layer of salt water from the sea.

The top layer is darkened by the forest tannins, which makes it difficult for light to penetrate. So many deep-sea species such as red and black coral, colourful sponges and sub-tropical fish live in quite shallow depths in the sound. The rare corals can be found 10 metres deep here instead of the usual 30 metres that you will find elsewhere.

Some 10,000 years ago a mighty ice-age glacier extended over the region, and its grinding power as it slid towards the sea sculpted the landscape’s deep valleys. As a consequence there are some amazing waterfalls in Doubtful Sound as rains on the piecing mountains plunge down to the sound, particularly during the wetter seasons. In the Hall Arm, the Browne Falls cascades 619 metres; Helena Falls at Deep Cove tumbles 220 metres.

Tours to Doubtful Sound depart from Manapouri and involve a very scenic bus trip across Wilmot Pass. When you reach the fjord, you can explore in a sea kayak or join a water cruise with one of the local operators.

-  Learn more about getting a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa.

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Next month is the one of the most significant cultural and community festivals in the South Pacific, celebrating New Zealand’s multicultural identity through music, drama, film, arts and food. So if you are on a New Zealand working holiday this is not one to miss.  

The Pasifika Festival is a chance for the Pacific Island communities in Auckland to showcase their traditions, heritage and to extend their hospitality – and they pull out all the stops!

Pasifika Festival runs for 7 days in March, kicking off on March 6 with opening night concert and culminates in the massive festival day on March 12, at Western Springs Park.

Throughout the week there will be various performances and exhibitions taking place around Auckland from the Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Tahiti, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Kiribati and the tangata whenua (New Zealand Māori) communities.

On the big festival day, more than 200,000 people are expected to turn up to for all-day entertainment on three main stages and visit the 10 cultural villages spread throughout the park.
More than 350 stalls will be selling everything from fresh coconuts through to t-shirts, paintings, tapa (barkcloth) and weaving.

Chances are if you are on a working holiday in New Zealand you would have visited Auckland already (the secluded islands, sparkling waters and lush native rainforest nearby are also a big drawcard!).

If not, after the festival hang around for a little bit because the area is really amazing. In just half an hour you can be almost anywhere - sailing to an island, trekking through a rainforest, picnicking on a volcano, sampling wines at a vineyard or wandering a wild, black sand surf beach.

Pasifika Festival
6-12 March
Cost: FREE
w: www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Festival day is Saturday 12 March, 10am to 5pm, at Western Springs Park and sports fields, Auckland.
Other events will be held around Auckland during the week.

- Safe and happy travels on your New Zealand working holiday!

©Visa Bureau 2003-2010

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.