Auckland, New Zealand — Events
Auckland's Big Day Out
The New Zealand leg of the popular Australian summer tours brings the biggest names in popular world music to Auckland for a day of hard rocking and dancing till the sun goes down.
Auckland Anniversary Regatta
Being known as the ‘City of Sails,’ Auckland is recognized as a yachtsman’s paradise, so it is no surprise to discover that its annual official Regatta is the biggest one-day Regatta in the world. This historic event was first held in September 1840 and has sailed on through turbulent years and changing social trends to become a family outing full of fun and excitement. Numerous events take place in the harbor and surrounding waterfront to complement the actual yacht regatta.
Auckland Lantern Festival
To end the Chinese New Year celebrations, the annual Lantern Festival is one of the city’s most popular events. Thousands of people flock to the park to enjoy the spectacle of hundreds of glowing lanterns, as well as a variety of performances, fireworks, crafts and food stalls.
Auckland Arts Festival
The Auckland Arts Festival is a spectacular celebration of the sheer variety of cultures and communities living across the city. Held in March annually, this biennial festival is a feast of dance, theater, visual art and musical entertainment. The Auckland Arts Festival is the perfect place to learn more about New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region.
Pasifika Festival
Auckland boasts the world’s largest Polynesian population, and celebrates the art, culture and lifestyle of this vibrant native community with the annual Pasifika Festival. The festival opens on Friday evening with a concert showcasing talented Polynesian music artists. On Saturday the entertainment continues with local church music and dance groups while visitors can sample traditional food, view art and handcrafts, browse at more than 300 stalls and wander through the series of ‘Pacific Island villages’ for a total cultural experience.
NZ International Comedy Festival
Some of the best and brightest comedians from the International circuit join some of New Zealand’s top acts for over three weeks of comedy madness.
Rugby World Cup 2011
New Zealand is the host of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). The event will be played out over seven weekends starting on the 10 September 2011 and culminating with the final being played at Eden Park in Auckland on the 23 October, which is a long weekend created by New Zealand’s Labor Day on Monday 24 October. New Zealand has thirteen venues for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, including Eden Park and North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, AMI Stadium in Christchurch, Westpac Stadium in Wellington as well as a number of other Stadiums around both North and South Island.
Rugby World Cup 2011 in Auckland
Auckland is hosting 12 of the Rugby World Cup 2011 matches, including the semi-final, third-place play-off and the final. Auckland’s 60 000 capacity Eden Stadium is the city’s main stadium where nine games will be played. North Harbour Stadium can accommodate up to 25 000 people, three Rugby World Cup games will be played there.
New Zealand Fashion Week
International fashion buyers and writers descend on Auckland during October each year to celebrate in grand style the unique indigenous-inspired collections of New Zealand’s talented designers. About 50 designers show their collections at this major event. Some shows are open to the general public, but on the final day of the week everyone can join in the fashion extravaganza when Aotea Square becomes a hive of fashion, music, markets, and interactive and educational activity for all.
