Events

The stage is set for the second major international act at Eden Park in as many weeks, with Guns N’ Roses to play on Saturday night.

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is positioning itself as the destination for concerts and festivals this summer, promising something for everyone from December until the end of April.

The NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow is returning to Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park next year.

An estimated 5,000 people visited Rotorua last weekend for the inaugural two-day Fast & Forward Forestry Expo.

The four-day Roam Central food, wine and adventure festival is coming to Central Otago and the Southern Lakes from 26-29 January 2023.

New offerings and old favourites are set to return to the 36th Marlborough Wine & Food Festival featuring 30+ wineries and 15+ food trucks next year.

West Coast and Canterbury regional tourism organisations are joining forces to relaunch tourism awareness with inbounders in the North Island.

More than 12,000 athletes will converge on Queenstown for the 2022 New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Queenstown Marathon series of races this Saturday.

The cost to stage events of this type has increased and there are many other events coming to the area in the next four months.

XPO Exhibitions has acquired the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show from long-time owner Auckland Water Ski Club.

The Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival will now be known as Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa.

Pedestrian numbers in Napier have reached their highest numbers since Covid-19, boosted by a range of events over the weekend.

Sustainability is a major focus at the 2022 Horowhenua Taste Trail this year, with its 16 producer participants aiming to lessen the food event’s impact on the environment.

The Art Deco Festival Napier is returning to Hawke’s Bay in 2023 after a two-year hiatus of its full programme.

Up to $300,000 for the Creative and Cultural Events Incubator investment fund will support events that highlight New Zealand’s diverse culture and build national pride.

Development West Coast will hold a tourism hui later this month to explore the theme of ‘customer service as a regional narrative’.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup could generate around $60m for Auckland’s economy and about 130,000 visitor nights when it takes place in July next year, says Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

Otago wine and food festival Ripe will return to the shores of Lake Wānaka on Saturday 18 March 2023 after Covid forced the cancellation of the 2022 event.

About 12,000 food lovers and 250 vendors are expected at this year’s Kāpiti Food Fair in December – and a plan is underway to ensure sustainability is a top priority.

Thousands of cyclists are set to compete in The BDO Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge next month after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic.

A new food and wine event is launching next year to celebrate Central Otago winemakers, growers, and chefs.

The Mission Concert will host musician Sting at Napier Mission Estate Winery next year in what organisers claim is the world’s biggest vineyard event.

Wine Nelson’s premier annual tasting event is back with a bigger venue and more on offer this year.

The event will bring about 1,300 athletes, 300 coaches and 600 volunteers to the city in December 2025.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to converge on Auckland central this weekend for the city’s Diwali Festival.

Up to 295,000 music lovers will converge on Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland as major stadium concerts roar back to life this summer.

Winetopia’s Auckland festival will feature a South Australian contingent of winemakers in its annual event in October.

More than 450 guests from around the world gathered at Hobbiton Movie Set Tours near Matamata last week to celebrate International Hobbit Day.

Organisers of the Armageddon festival are hopeful they will be able to return to Auckland Showgrounds during Labour Weekend in October, despite the venue being closed since the end of June.

The ASB Classic tennis tournament could bring economic benefits of as much as $27m to Auckland when it returns in 2023, says sponsor ASB.

The Northland Regional Events Fund will soon take applications for its third round in October 2022, aimed at supporting events that drive visitation to the region.

Nominations are open for the best food experiences in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, from restaurants and cafés to markets, takeaways and food trucks.

Wings over Wairarapa is returning to Masterton in 2023 – and it will include an expanded education programme to tempt people into a career in science, technology, engineering, arts, or mathematics (STEAM).

Blenheim visitors and locals will enjoy more space to taste Marlborough food at the Bayley’s Friday Night Feast event this year.

Applications for the final Dunedin Regional Events Funding Round, with a total of $265,000 up for grabs, will open on 3 October.

Auckland Live’s Cabaret Season is going virtual this year to bring the Virtual Wintergarden to arts lovers around the country from 14 – 25 September.

Eat.Taste.Central will showcase its culinary delights in Auckland ahead of the festival’s launch this month, where a select group of guests will get a taste of Otago on their plates.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 has been classified and protected as a major event under New Zealand law between 29 September 2022 and 19 September 2023.

More than 100 senior executives from the Queenstown business community came together to discuss workplace diversity and inclusion as part of the annual Winter Pride Festival on Tuesday.

More than 500 delegates will converge at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre next week for the annual Financial Advice New Zealand conference.

Auckland’s Lantern Festival is moving to the Manukau Sports Bowl in 2023 to better accommodate up to 200,000 people who attend the cultural event every year.

Central Otago is welcoming back the annual spring Eat.Taste.Central food and beverage event for its sixth year, which runs from 23 September – 24 October.

The annual Farmers Santa Parade is returning to Auckland to mark the start of the festive season this November.

The date for the Brendan Foot Supersite Round the Bays in Wellington has been confirmed for 19 February 2023.

The 21st annual Beervana festival attracted beer lovers from all around the world to Wellington’s SKY Stadium last weekend.

More than 900 tickets have been snapped up for the Palmy Drag Fest in Palmerston North this September.

BU Events will bring The Festival of Golf to Wairakei Resort, which is expected to attract 300 female competitors to Taupō.

Auckland has been selected to host the 2035 Oceania Summit at the Aotea Centre from 10 – 11 October.

The Horowhenua Taste Trail is returning in 2022 following a three-year hiatus, promising a showcase of some of the region’s most successful family food businesses.

New Plymouth’s Festival of Lights, Hamilton’s Claudelands Oval, and Auckland Unlimited’s America’s Cup are amongst the winners at the New Zealand Event Awards.