Kiwi April

by Dominic - 04/04/2013 16:50:00

April is supposed to be a transitional month, as the season shakes off the last vestiges of winter and basks in the nascent sunlight of spring.

Why it's still chucking it down with snow and freezing then is anyone's guess, just be glad you're not here to witness it.

April is a great month to be in New Zealand, perfect for walks alongside rugged coastlines and brisk swims in idyllic lakes.

If that's not your cup of tea though, here's a look at some great stuff to do this month:

Jazz & Blues Festival - Christchurch - 3rd to the 7th

Jazzy

Whether you're an ardent Miles Davis fan or just like the fantastic ramblings of one of the most expressive forms of music, the New Zealand Jazz & Blues Festival is a five day dedication to the two music forms.

King of the Bays - Auckland - 6th

If it's getting a little too cool for you to venture out in anything less than 3 layers or you're of the persuasion that sitting warm and comfortably while yelling at people is an infinitely better prospect, the King of the Bays race could just be for you.

While there are technically four races on on Saturday, it's the 'I'm Going Long' that we're all turning up for when hundreds of slightly over-enthusiastic people in skin tight gear wade into the waters to race, for almost 3km.

Get down there and get telling them to 'stop slacking and try harder'.

Arrowtown Autumn Festival - 12th to the 21st

Autumn is supposed to be the season of colour; in the UK this translates to yet another season of grey misery, but this time with some wet leaves slapping you in the face.

In New Zealand however, autumn does what it says on the tin and nowhere is better at showing that off than Arrowtown.

Originally a gold rush town, the first settles in the area planted deciduous trees, meaning every year the whole area is unveiled as a kaleidoscopic marvel of green and brown and every shade, hue and hint in between.

The Arrowtown Autumn Festival is a 10 day celebration with over 50 individual events including exhibitions, street theatre and parades.

Comedy Festival - Nationwide - from the 26th

A man walks into a bar, and no
one laughs.

Since the Flight of the Conchords made their mark on the world stage, New Zealand's comedy scene is going from strength to strength as everyone clambers to see the next big thing.

Who, or what, that big thing could be is a mystery, but picking up tickets for a few shows at the NZ International Comedy Festival is a great way to find out.

Festival of Colour - Wanaka - 16th to the 21st

With such natural beauty in abundance, New Zealand doesn't need to do much to make anything an impressive sight to behold. The Festival of Colour is a biennial celebration of plenty of things like dance and exhibitions and sports but its real charm is the back drop.

Set against the Southern Lakes you could have a naked supermodel arm wrestling a T Rex and you'd be asking them to duck down to get that lovely tree in the background in the shot.

2013 New Zealand International Film Festival - Auckland and Wellington - from the 18th

With the nights cooling down, you could even be beginning to get slightly bored with staring at the hills and mountains. If that's you, try and look in another direction, there's a view over there as well.

Otherwise, you could give the NZ IFF a go.

Based in Wellington and Auckland a whole array of great films are on, from classics like Lawrence of Arabia and Guys and Dolls, to NZ releases of Oscar nominated films like Kon-Tiki and The ABC's of Death.


- 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 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.

What to do in the New Year in New Zealand

by Dominic - 03/01/2013 16:47:00

New Zealand is once again riding high on the back of Peter Jackson's hard work; The Hobbit is number one at the box office and everyone everywhere is fantasising about a trip to Middle Earth.

January is one of the best times of the year in New Zealand, the sun is out, the temperatures are high and the beaches, mountains, hills and other breathtaking landscapes are all screaming come on in/up/down, the water/weather/wine is fine.

If you're in NZ this month, here's some of the best things to do and see.

David Ferrer, twice defending
champion at the Heineken Open.

Tennis - Auckland - 7th to the 12th

In New Zealand's biggest men's tennis events, some of the game's biggest names and biggest hitters descend on Auckland to get their eye in in one of the final warm up events before the Australian Open kicks off in Melbourne.

World No. 5 David Ferrer returns to The Heineken Open as the defending champion for the second year in a row but German duo Philipp Kohlschreiber and Tommy Haas stand in his way.

See food and eat it - Auckland - 26th to the 28th

While you might be full to bursting after the Christmas period, by the end of the month you might be starting to feel a bit peckish again.

And what better way to sate that hunger than with some of the best sea food the world has to offer in one of the most idyllic harbours in the world?

The Auckland Seafood Festival does just that when dozens upon dozens of chefs and caterers as well as musicians, beer brewers and wineries congregate in Halsey Wharf to offer up a delectable delight.

Music, in Parks - Auckland - Various dates

While the Music in Parks festival may not be the most imaginatively titled of music festivals, that doesn't mean it won't be worth seeing. With gigs and shows all over the place and every weekend this month, you'd be hard pressed to not to find something you’ll like.

Alright mate, just go home

More music in more parks - Christchurch - 17th to the 27th

Busking isn't respected very often, after all there's less quality control dictating who can stand on a street corner trying to get a tune out of a dying cat than there is on your average Simon Cowell-produced Victorian freak show.

However, once a year the city of Christchurch decides to just that. The World Buskers Festival returns for its 20th year this year featuring a plethora of international acts showing the best street skills (no pick pocketing or knife crime) on offer.

Laneway Festival - Auckland - 28th

At the end of the month sees one of the most popular new festivals stop off in Auckland.

The Laneway Festival is a multi-national tour which features some of the biggest names in new music including Alt J and Bat for Lashes.

Tickets sell out quick so get yours fast.

Luminate Festival - Canaan Downs - 30th

The Luminate Festival is not your average festival. Sure it might have plenty of bands and acts on stage to entertain you while you drink yourself into a stupor but there is also a great focus on celebration and sustainability.

Celebrated on the date of an ancient summer festival, Luminate Festival is ideal for those who want a little more than mudstained hangovers and nightmarish recollections from their festival experience.


- 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 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.

Nearly New Year in New Zealand - Events in December

by Dominic - 05/12/2012 16:05:00

It's just turned December in the UK but with time differences, International Date Lines and life on the other side of the world, who knows, it could be New Years Eve right now in New Zealand.

With that in mind, you'll need some party ideas.

Music Festivals

Rhythm and Vines 2011

Music festivals provide a good enough excuse to get blackout drunk whenever, it doesn't have to be a special occasion. However, when some of New Zealand's biggest and best just so happen to coincide with New Year's Eve - the biggest party night of the year - we genuinely debated whether to include these through fear of getting some angry calls from some bereaving parents.

But it's your life and you do what you want with it, if you want to choose to see who can down the bottle of Jager the fastest, find out why you need to keep all hands and feet inside the carriage at ALL times or how high a flame you can jump over - that's up to you.

Rhythm and Vines - Waikohika Estate Gisborne - 29th to 31st

Celebrating its 10th year, 30,000 people are expected to rock up to the Rhythm and Vines Festival where for three days, some of the best acts from around the world including N.E.R.D., Pendulum and Calvin Harris will hit the stages over the course of three days leading up to the big one itself.

Coromandel Gold - Whitianga - 30th to 31st

If you like your festivals to be beach side, then perhaps the Coromandel Gold Festival is more for you. Another three day festival leading up to NYE, acts on show include Shapeshifter, Home Brew and the mighty De La Soul.

La De Da - Martinborough - 30th to 31st

Another great festival featuring many of the same acts as Coromandel Gold, La De Da is also located in prime wine country, so after you've had your fill of the cheapest booze you can find at the festival, you can head out to the wineries and vineyards of the region and cleanse your palette.

Other Christmassy Stuff

It's not even real

Advent Calendar - Auckland - until the 25th

If you had parents that loved you, chances are you were receiving advent calendars until well after it was technically age appropriate, but that didn't stop you opening all the doors before the 10th of December anyway.

But if you're away from home this year on your working holiday you won't be getting one (unless you've got parents that really love you, probably a little too much) so head on down to Silo Park in Auckland for the Wynyard Quarter Advent Calendar when a door of the giant 12 metre high advent calendar will be opened to reveal a lovely Christmas scene.

Christmas in the Park - Auckland - 8th

Everyone knows that Father Christmas was originally green until Coca-Cola came along and decided red was a better look and he's been that way ever since. Not only that, but Coca-Cola has also become one of the best enduring hints that Christmas is on its way ("holidays are coming, holidays are coming...") so it is with barely any bitterness that we recommend the Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park festival this weekend.

- 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 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.

Nawty November - Things to do in New Zealand

by Dominic - 13/11/2012 13:39:00

November in New Zealand is a great time when the weather is warming up, the breathtaking scenery comes alive, you can jump in the lakes, head to the beach and wear shorts without looking like a freak.

In the UK it's dark by half 4 and people have got their Christmas trees up already, enough said.

So if you're in New Zealand this month, let's look at some awesome stuff you can do.

Image: Max Vadukul, Amy
Winehouse, Miami, May 18, 2007,
gelatin silver print, courtesy of
Max Vadukul.

Pictures you wish you took - Auckland - all month

Nobody leaves the house anymore without at least one camera on them thanks to the ubiquity of the camera phone, you'd think this would mean that our every moment could be documented in all its glory when in reality everyone just takes pictures either of their food or them and their mates looking ridiculous on a night out.

Who Shot Rock & Roll is an exhibition of 173 works from photographers as famous as Annie Leibovitz, Linda McCartney and Dennis Hopper and includes some of the most candid pictures of iconic musicians that have never been published before.

Curated by the Brooklyn Museum, Who Shot Rock & Roll heads out on tour for the first time, displaying to the world some of the coolest moments in music, acknowledging photography's influence on music and putting 1 billion Facebook users and their 2,000 pictures each to shame.

Fab Four - Nationwide - until the 24th

And speaking of the most iconic moments in music history, you don't get much bigger than the Beatles. What more can possibly be said about four scousers, some instruments and lots of drugs? We don't know but the band that's sold more than any other, influenced more than any other and set standards in music that are as inherent now as Mozart are still so popular that tribute bands sell out shows.

The Beatles Experience is a nationwide tour of live shows using all original equipment and clothing as everything from the hairdos to Ringo's Thomas the Tank Engine voice is recreated.

If you're a human being, chances are you're a Beatles fan, so check out the tour dates and head on down there.

We doubt they'll be as many drugs involved.

Get Shorty - Wellington - until the 18th

Short films are dismissed as not really worthy of attention by millions of people, the same millions who then go and sit on YouTube for hours upon hours completely oblivious to the fact that the video they're watching of a cat getting a divorce is a short film, and not a particularly good one either.

To see what the format is truly capable of, head on down to the Paramount Theatre before the 18th for the Show Me Shorts Film Festival when around 40 of the best short films made in New Zealand and the world in the past year will be shown.

New Zealand Working Holiday Visa

Peter Jackson and all his pesky CGI -
what? Oh right.

The Hobbit - Wellington - 28th

Before The Lord of the Rings trilogy was released, New Zealand was Australia's equivalent of Wales, a kooky, hilly cousin with a slightly different accent and not really much to note.

Then the films came out and had everyone disappointed at the extensive use of CGI and green screen to make some ridiculously unrealistic hills and mountains and whatnot.

But then rumours sprang up that they weren't CGI'd, the hills actually look like that.

Since the original trilogy's release, tourism to New Zealand has skyrocketed and the country is deservedly recognised as one of the most spectacularly beautiful places on Earth.

And now we're here again. Peter Jackson's latest instalment in JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth masterpiece: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey premieres this month in Wellington.

While we highly doubt you'll be able to secure tickets to one of the most eagerly awaited film events since Harry Potter's voice dropped, the whole of Waitangi Park will be dressed up Middle Earth style and there will be free public screenings of the first three films.

And then there's the premiere itself when the films' stars and creators will be out in full flow, signing autographs and doing what people do on red carpets: be awesome.

Christmas, say no more - Christchurch - 24th

As a child, Christmas approaches like a wounded walrus crawling up the beach to die. However, once you get past about 19 and the balance between how much you get and how much you have to give shifts, Christmas suddenly loses all its charm and, before you've finished paying for the last one, arrives with an estranged uncle in tow reminding you exactly why you're estranged.

But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself, get into the Christmas spirit a bit. If you're abroad it won't be so tortuous.

And to help you get in the mood, Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park is one of the biggest outdoor concerts of the year featuring plenty of big names as well as dancers, performances, choirs and much more Christmassy stuff to enjoy.

Head on down, ho hum.

Bear's assessment of the situation

It's getting dark, best drink my own... - Wellington - 30th

Millions of TV watchers are incapable of knowing how to cook a meal more sophisticated than weetabix without the use of four friends, an iPhone app and a hissy fit but they know what to do when stranded on the Arctic shelf with only a Sharpie, the Yellow Pages and a bag of miscellaneous screws - thanks to one man.

The amount of suffering Bear Grylls has endured on TV - purportedly to teach us something but really for our own entertainment - can surely only be matched by the combined embarrassment of the early stages of any talent based reality show.

Bear Grylls has eaten scorpions, climbed in carcasses and most frequently of all, drank his own urine at the first sign of danger.

And now you can meet him!

The TSB Bank Arena in Wellington will play host to A Wild Night with Bear Grylls - The Stories, The Danger, The Man on the 30th giving you the chance to ask the man himself all the questions you must be bursting with like "why do you always insist on drinking your own pee" "which animal has the worst smelling bowels to sleep in" and "you think you're well hard you do".


- 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 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.

Things to do in New Zealand in October

by Dominic - 05/10/2012 10:37:00

While coats are being dusted off and last year's fashions are being goggled at in British wardrobes this month, on the other side of the world in New Zealand spring is just getting underway.

And when New Zealand does a season, it's not quite like anywhere else. Spring in the UK consists of more weeds popping up and more pigeons having a go as the rain gets slightly warmer.

In New Zealand it's an explosion of colour, of activity, of breathtaking scenery emerging from clouds, of dreamlike lakes thawing and when the kiwis come out to play.

So if you're in New Zealand this October, you'll be looking for some stuff to do:

Definition: bad ass.

Roller-skating - Auckland - until the 13th

You may have thought roller-skating's popularity died a death a long time ago and was strictly the domain of greased up guys in thongs and not much else skimming the beach sides of California, but you'd be wrong.

The World Roller Figure Skating Championships is the best example of a sport so graceful it makes swans blush. If you're having a post-Olympic Games crash that the new football season and whatnot is failing to abate, this could be ideal.

South Island Masters Games - Canterbury 6th - 14th

And keeping things in a sporty frame of mind, the South Islands Masters Games offers a week-long festival ram packed full of professionals tearing each other to pieces in all sorts of different sports and even more amateurs taking even sports far too seriously.

Head down there to watch some blood, sweat and tears, not necessarily in that order and probably all three from some individuals.

Poker - Nationwide - All month

If you like the idea of a bit of healthy competition, but aren't into the healthy part of sports and outdoors, perhaps a bit of gambling is for you.

The National Pub Poker League gets into full flow in October and matches can be found in pubs across New Zealand.

The Visa Bureau strictly advocates a purely gamesmanship, in-it-for-the-lark innocent approach to gambling so if you want to go all in with a pair of 2's and face losing your flight home, or perhaps a finger or two to the knuckle, you can't blame us.

"No really, it was funny, you
probably had to be there"

Comedy - Auckland - 8th, 15th and 29th

If the prospect of a friendly night in the local playing cards genuinely does present a threat of either bankruptcy or grievous bodily harm to you, perhaps another alcohol infused pursuit is for you.

Throughout October, every Monday will be the Mocktober Raw Comedy Night where comedy's old guard mixes with as many as 10 new faces sweating, panicking and dry hurling their way through two minute routines about wobbly trolley wheels and Facebook pokes.

Nelson Arts Festival - Nelson - 12th - 28th

For the past 18 years, the Nelson Arts Festival has been putting on hundreds of plays, musicals, bands, comedians and everything else you can think of on a not-for-profit basis.

The festival also includes the Nelson Masked Parade when thousands of people hit the streets masked up, creating a mugger's dream scenario and a nightmare like state for the fuzz.

What doesn't sound fun about that?

Auckland Marathon - Auckland - 28th

And finally we have one of the biggest and best events in New Zealand throughout the entire year: the Auckland Marathon.

It doesn't matter if you've not spent the last six months getting up at four, forcing down some raw eggs and pounding the pavement in training every day, get down to the route with some sugar and salt-laden foods and shout encouragement at the thousands upon thousands of runners as they pass to try a bit harder.


- 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 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.

Seasonal September - Things to do this month in New Zealand

by Dominic - 03/09/2012 16:20:00

So while winter edges its icy fingers around the corner in the UK, it's only just beginning to recede in New Zealand, meaning that thanks to a landscape with more beaches and mountains and fields and lakes than Peter Jackson could swing a camera at, there's all sorts of cross-seasonal fun to be had in New Zealand this September.

Who can tell whether this guy is
having the time of his life or is
right now regretting not stopping
to smell the roses once in a while?

Freeskiing - Wanaka - until the 8th

If watching idiots hurtling down a giant rock strapped to two pieces of lubricated plastic while protected only by a thin layer of Lycra doesn't quite promise enough danger for you, try freeskiing.

The purpose in regular skiing is to stay on the ground with your skis kept parallel to each other; the purpose of freeskiing is to spend as little time on the ground as possible with your skis going all over the shop.

The North Face Freeski Open of New Zealand is one of the largest events of its kind in the world and is now in its eighth year.

While the event is open to amateur skiers, we recommend that you simply stand under the ramps and 'oooh' and 'aaah' as some crazy people contort themselves over your heads.

There's also bound to be some pretty spectacular crashes.

Ice Skating - Napier - 13th to the 17th

While New Zealand might be easing its way into a spring mood with longer nights and warmer mornings, if you're British, you know what September really means. It means get the heating turned on, the kettle boiled and the Christmas tree up.

It could be hard for you to fight your Northern Hemisphere roots while all the Kiwis around you start whipping out the flip-flops, so don't. Embrace the change and head down to the Harcourts Winter Wonderland Ice Rink later this month to get all your nostalgic homesickness out of you so you can just appreciate not being at home, where it's almost definitely raining.

Gig time

Old school gigs are the best: a chance to revisit your youth, pluck out some old albums, dress like it's 1982 and get some body poppin' done.

OK, so you might not want to embarrass yourself that much but if you're up for some old school flavours this month and you're in Auckland, head on down to the Bacco Room on the 7th to see Photek, one of the pioneers of the Drum n Bass genre, tear it up like these young whippersnappers wouldn't believe.

Alternatively, Bone Thugs N Harmony will be playing Studio on the 28th. One of Hip Hop's original and best duos, get down there for some ultra high speed rapping fun.

Fringe fever - Hamilton - 20th to the 6th October

Fringe festivals are where it's at. You might not see any big names or famous shows, but there's always plenty of names and shows of the future on offer, giving you ample opportunity to get on your future high horse about how you 'saw them when they were good'. The 16 day Hamilton 2012 Fringe is no exception.

With plenty of comedy, music, film and theatre shows, as well as just abundant opportunity to get drunk, what more could you want?

People will tell you you'll never
be able to afford one of these,
but don't let anyone ever tell
you you can't ruin a party on one.

Ships Ahoy - Auckland - 27th to the 30th

And speaking of opportunities to get drunk, where else better, or cooler even, to get drunk than on a boat? The Auckland On Water 2012 Boat Show held in Viaduct Harbour will be so full of rich people boasting about how rich they are that it seems almost insulting not go to down there and drunkenly insult them. What's the point in them having ill informed stereotypes about the 'youth of today' if you're not going to go and reinforce them every now and then?

Or if you're rich enough you could just buy a boat and change teams. Bring your own beer (and cotton Dockers). Unfortunately it's not likely that there'll be any spectacular crashes.

Mountain biking - Taupo - 15th

You never forget how to ride a bike, that's what they say. Let's see how quickly you forget when you're flying down hills scattered with very solid trees, in the dark.

That's right, the Jamis Bicycles Day-Night Thriller's main event - the Rocky Mountain relay - is a 12 hour relay event where teams of up to five take it in turns to ride down hills as fast as possible without becoming a kerplunk ball.

While we would love it if some of our lovely Visa Bureau clients managed to win, we think watching again is the safer option.

Pretty awesome crashes are almost a guarantee here.


- 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 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 MAY be the best place to play

by Dominic - 02/05/2012 15:20:00
Britain must be the only country in the world where you can stand wearing wellingtons, under an umbrella in the pouring rain, for a bus to splash past you with a sign on the side saying 'We're in a drought'.

As summer is on its way, and by on its way we mean way out, we Brits begin dreaming of barbecues, of balmy nights on balconies and lazy days and cool nights. It's not likely that we're the only nation of people that do this when summer rolls round, but we must be the only one that dreams of having all those things, anywhere else but here.

Meanwhile on the other side of the world, New Zealand is slowly rotating its way through autumn, the difference being, when it's supposed to be autumn in New Zealand, it's autumn. That means beautiful hues and shades and tones and tints of green, red, orange and brown and lovely smells of bonfires while crispy dry leaves crunch underfoot.

In other countries, seasons keep their promises.

So, if you happen to be lucky enough to be in New Zealand this May, then you'll need some stuff to do. Here's a look at some of the best things going on this month.

New Zealand Music Month

May in New Zealand is Music Month, what originally started as a neatly written letter to the local radio station asking them to play a few nice ditties has grown into an entire month of gigs, festivals and more gigs.

With a myriad of performances from a range of musical styles and influences, no matter what your particular forte is, you'll definitely be able to find it during NZ Music Month. Head on over to the site to scrawl through the pages and pages of top class performances across New Zealand, you won't be disappointed.

If this is all you've seen so far in NZ,
you should get out more.

Food Show - Wellington - 11th to 13th

If you're working holiday has so far consisted of drinking, a bit of drinking, looking at some scenery and then just generally getting a bit of drinking done then two things are pretty clear, one you already know that New Zealand has some decent booze and two, you probably haven't eaten all that well.

Well NZ might have some of the best wine but if you're just engorging yourself on cheap takeaway simply to mop up the booze once in a while then you're missing out.

Head on down to Wellington between the 11th and 13th to engorge yourself on some decent food at the Food Show instead. It also happens to be a wine show too so if you're really adamant about the drinking thing then you won't be missing out.

This was seriously the least rude picture
of people covered in UV paint we could
find.
(c) houseofrave.com

Paint Party - Wellington - 19th

What can possibly go wrong with copious amounts of vodka, a couple of strobing UV lights and enough UV paint to cover an Airbus?

Nothing right?

That's why the Vodka Cruiser Illuminate party might just be the party to be at this month. So if you're in Wellington make sure you head down there to end up causing panicked calls to UFOwatch.com as you drunkenly stumble down the road at 3am whilst glowing luminous pink.

Normally if you missed a party of this magnitude you'd have no other choice but to live in shame for the rest of your life, constantly retreating into a little cell of loneliness every time your friends brought it up.

Thankfully, there will be another party in Hawkes Bay on the 26th of the month which promises to be just as insane, go crazy now otherwise you might do later.

Comedy Festival - across NZ until the 20th May

New Zealand was never traditionally associated with comedy, but then it was never really associated but a scary dance and a furry fruit until Peter Jackson and his 17 friends all called Oscar had their say; now we're finding out plenty about New Zealand.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy showed the world that it had scenery like the English countryside, but good, as well as mountains to rival the Alps and plains that the Americans would never get tired of chasing Indians off of.

And then the Flight of the Conchords got here and showed us the Kiwis know how to have a laugh as well, that just left us wondering why they were so keen on the fruit and the dancing for all these years.

So if you're in New Zealand, no doubt you'll already be blown away by the natural beauty and if you tear yourself away from the scenery for just a minute, you can catch some of the best comedy in the country right now with the New Zealand Comedy Festival.

- 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 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.

April activities in New Zealand - Jazz! Easter! Comedy!

by Dominic - 26/03/2012 15:59:00
While Spring once again shines bright in the UK, taunting everyone that for once maybe it won't chuck it down all summer, on the other side of the world where the weather keeps its promises, New Zealand is cooling down for autumn.

British Summer:
"D'you wanna flake in that love?"
"Ta"
 

The brief appearance of a warm sun in the UK might mean you can go and sit on the patch of grass in the park in the UK, using the blanket your dog sleeps on to cover up the broken glass, but we all know it won't last.

The average Briton's wait for summer is the same as the average 5 year old's wait for Christmas, a permanent state excitement. However, like Christmas, it lasts for just one day and then your dog drops dead on Boxing Day for sleeping in too much broken glass.

However, around the world in New Zealand, the weather is like a favourite grandparent, always waiting with a giant box of chocolates which you can never get sick of.

New Zealand is a land of astonishing beauty and when the summer wraps up, the colours come out to play, leaves turn from green to some slightly reddish shade of green (I think it's called 'gred'), to some slightly greenish shade of red and then brown.

While that description may not have done it quite justice, the kaleidoscope of colours which brings out the intrinsic beauty of New Zealand's incredible landscape really needs to be seen to be believed.

ANYWAY, now you've got the idea - your dog's not dead, you know what gred is and you're in New Zealand looking for some stuff to do this April. Here's some of the best things going on across NZ this April.

Royal Easter Show - Auckland - 5th - 9th.

Nobody knows how we got from Jesus on a cross to an egg laying rabbit and that's because when there's chocolate involved, you can get away with anything if you've got a couple of Milky Ways handy:

"Did you kill my wife?"
"Well, I could tell you, or you can have this Crème Egg"
"I never liked her anyway."

So, in line with that, if you're in Auckland over the Easter weekend, head on over to the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane for the Coca Cola Royal Easter Show. Taking place across the Easter weekend, there's plenty to do including a Carnival, a Circus, fireworks AND '100% Kylie', the world's most FAMOUS Kylie Minogue tribute act (although how much better would the name Kylie Min-faux-gue been?).

That towel was to stop the trumpet from
shattering at his ice cold touch.

The New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival - Christchurch 11th - 15th

The word 'jazz' meant cool before 'cool' did. Jazz is so cool it even has an age named after it, the Jazz Age, which lasted from the booming '20s (when J Edgar Hoover was running the FBI in a dress and Gatsby was getting his Great on) right up until the 30s, when the Great Depression struck and ruined EVERYTHING.

However, the spirit lived on and Jazz remains one of the most popular genres of music today (right behind pop, rock, R&B, hip-hop, rap, soul, folk, metal, nu-metal, classical and polka).

If you're a fan, or even if you're not but need to prove to some cooler kids you're cool (or to some jazzier kids you're jazz, right?) then the New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival takes place between the 11th and 15th when a new generation of jazz talent will show off their talents as 21st century (or Teeny-Bop Age, no?) updates mix with tributes to Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong.

Gred sky at night, traffic light's delight

Arrowtown Autumn Festival - Arrowtown - 20th - 29th

Thanks in large part to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, New Zealand's landscape is now almost as famous as New York's skyline, Sydney's harbour or Paris' Shomps Elle-E-zay. Of course, the difference is that New Zealand's is 100% natural and, just like nose jobs, fake tans and wonder bras, we all know natural is better.

So if you want to see the best of New Zealand's landscape, at its best, the Arrowtown Autumn Festival could be for you.

While just standing around trying to see how many different colours you can apply the description "sort of brownish" to might be enough, the festival has a plethora of events to get involved in, everything from 'Arrow Ambles' walking tour with guides Ray, Rupert, Rita and Russell (yes, really) to a stone carving workshop and Blues shows.

There's also a Pint & Pie Festival and a fancy dress pub crawl. Sold? Thought so.

International Comedy Festival - Auckland, Wellington, nationwide - 27th April - 20th May

The Flight of the Conchords did wonders for New Zealand's comedy scene and everyone is waiting with baited breath for the arrival of comedy's next best thing.

Whether or not this will happen is another matter, so no whining for a refund if they're all rubbish. However, with shows in Auckland and Wellington as well as spread across the rest of the country, a trip to the NZ International Comedy Festival could easily land you with a chance of seeing what could be the next big world star in comedy.

This will then allow you to rave to all your friends about the hot new comedy act you discovered, brag when they get big and then be the first to turn on them when they get too successful.

- 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 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's Midsummer March Madness

by Dominic - 02/03/2012 11:03:00
While the British sun is still trying to make its first feeble appearance, peeking out behind a rain cloud before being blown back in by a bitter wind, New Zealand's summer is still keeping the days long and the nights warm.

While summer may be starting to wind down, there's still plenty to do across the country, here's a couple of things going on this month:

 

"Funny, it didn't seem that painful when you
did it to the horse."

Gee-Gees

Chances are you're a fan of fashion, horses, posh stuff or money so why not head on down to Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland this weekend and indulge in all four? Auckland's most popular racing site hosts three of the poshest, most stylish and most lucrative races south of Hong Kong during March, and you could be there to stick a dollar or two on each way.

First up this Saturday (the 3rd) is Derby Day which features three races, including the NZ$750,000 (£400,000) Telecom New Zealand Derby. Next up is one of New Zealand's most prestigious events: the Auckland Cup Day on the 7, March. The Auckland Cup hosts more people with more money than most countries' deficits, although there are still plenty of general tickets still on sale for us commoners.

Lastly is the Diamond Day which needs no explanation as it couldn't sound more ridiculously exclusive if it was called the You'll Never Be Good Enough to Get in Here Day. The advertised tickets range in price from NZ$10 (£5), for people with two jets or less, to NZ$200 (£105) for those who get to eat the horse if it doesn't win.

Hee-Hees

Everyone likes a laugh, whether it's a joke you just told or a person you hate getting punched repeatedly in the face, it always brightens your day. If you want 11 days brightened this March, head on down to Dunedin on the South Island for the Dunedin Fringe Festival between the 15th and 25th.

Spread across the city the festival takes in everything from internationally renowned comedy acts to bizarre experimental stuff which could cause you to have an epiphany and change your life for the better by moving to the underside of a bridge somewhere and asking everyone to call you 'Whelp'. Or it could just be something worth seeing for its weirdness.

Row-rows

If you're British, rowing is the sport of people who aren't rich enough to do nothing at all with their lives but too rich to risk ruining their coif with a contact sport. Everywhere else however, rowing is a fun, team sport where you don't need to be Oxford educated to know how to put a stick in some water.

The Wellington Dragon Boat Festival is the perfect example of this egalitarian event which everyone can enjoy and not just wish they'd worked harder in school at. Taking place over the weekend of the 17th and 18th, the festival not only involves races with up to 75 participants but includes plenty of things to do on shore including food stalls, games and music.

 

Criticise him and we're gonna have words.

Top Shows

Show me a person who doesn't love David Attenborough and I'll show you a liar or a freak (but most likely just a lying freak), the man could explain to you the subtleties of paint drying while a supermodel narrowly escapes a six car pileup in the background and you'd still come out listing the fascinating differences between the viscosities of emulsion and gloss.

So now we've established that you're a diehard Attenborough fan, if you're in Auckland on the 8th, head on over to Henderson for a documentary entitled 'Death of the Oceans' which, as David Attenborough is narrating, will leave you in no doubt the errors of humanity's ways.

Rock shows

Festivals are to family camping holidays what unrestricted internet access is to the Beano; an unadulterated and uncontrolled weekend of craze where no one sleeps, everyone is best friends and no one remembers anything - you DON'T remember right?

So, if it's been a while since you got your last festival fix, WOMAD New Zealand could be just the dose you need. Taking place from the 16th to the 18th in Taranaki, WOMAD has acts from all over New Zealand and Australia as well as Europe, Africa, the UK and America.

Nose goes

If you're one of the poor unfortunate souls who are permanently bunged up then not only are you missing out on the most evocative of sense, but everybody hates you for your continuous sniffing as well. If you know your bouquets from your buckets though, your lemon zests from your orange zests and your Shiraz from your chardonnays then New Zealand is the place for you.

New Zealand is almost as famous for its wines as it is for its rugby team, its Lord of the Rings scenery and its citizens' annoyance at people always assuming they're from Australia so why not indulge in New Zealand's most sophisticated of exports at the Hilltop Wines Sunset Concert?

Held at the Hilltop Vineyard in Hamilton on the 24th of March, the concert not only offers the chance to sample some of New Zealand's most delectable delights but also enjoy some relaxing jazz and blues music while the sun goes down. What else do you want from an evening sniffy?

Swimming-oes

If you've indulged perhaps a little too much on your travels, the backpacker diet of nothing and beer hasn't quite taken its toll just yet then maybe a little exercise is just what you need.

The New Zealand Ocean Swim series holds its next event on Saturday 10th March in Mount Maugnaui, one of the most idyllic places in the world to push yourself to the physical limit and swallow too much saltwater, or just have a nice relaxing swim round one of the country's most beautiful bays.

The State Sand to Surf includes the 'I'm Going Long' event which is over 2.5km long and is for the most competitive while the 'Give it a Go' 300m course is for those who quite fancy taking a stab at ocean swimming.

- 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 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.

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