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EVENTS/NEWS The airline that brings New Zealand together.
KĀPITI COAST
Matariki Ramaroa
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24th June – 17th July www.matariki.maorilandfilm.co.nz
Matariki Ramaroa - Lights Arts Festival is a month-long, multi-disciplinary arts festival held across the Kāpiti region from June 24 to July 17, 2022. Bookended by two public light sculpture events it includes music, arts and theatre as well as multiple community events to enjoy; truly something for everyone so check out the website and start thinking about being a part of it.
Māoriland Film Festival
29th June – 3rd July www.maorilandfilm.co.nz
The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest indigenous film festival shares incredible stories from 80 nations around the globe. Through the power of storytelling, the Māoriland Film Festival shares important and engaging stories from all angles and styles. Now in its eighth year, it aims to present, facilitate and support Māori and international filmmakers and creatives, making the invisible visible again.
Image Credit: Captured By Friday Photography
CHATHAM ISLANDS
Festival of Science
16th – 21st August www.chathamislands.co.nz/2022/02/10/ chatham-islands-festival-of-science-2022
For over 150 years the Chatham Islands have been visited by international scientists to study geology, observe weather patterns, map the solar system, monitor seismic movement and much more. Now the Chatham Islands Festival of Science invites locals and visitors alike to enjoy several days of science-inspired events including talks, field visits and panels with world renowned scientists.
This year’s celebration of science covers a wide range of topics from ecology, weather, geology, and future of the environment, with youth and family-oriented activities including hands-on workshops exploring a variety of subjects. Led by Massey University’s Director and Professor of Disaster Management David Johnston, in conjunction with Tourism Chatham Islands, there is an impressive lineup of speakers including volcanologist Graham Leonard (GNS Science), environmental scientist Aneika Young (Cawthron Institute), Space Physicist Craig Rodger (University of Otago) and David himself speaking from a science history perspective.
Kāpiti Food Fair
Saturday, 3rd December www.kapitifoodfair.co.nz The Kāpiti Food Fair showcases Aotearoa New Zealand’s packaged foods and beverages with 250 vendors featuring the united nations of ready to eat food. It is accompanied by the licensed Tuatara Bar and Stage and a free kids’ zone with face painting, roving buskers, Christmas magic and much more, making for a foodie destination the whole family can enjoy. WHANGANUI
Whanganui Home and Lifestyle Show
Saturday, 13th – Sunday, 14th August www.homeandlifestyleshow.co.nz/whanganui The Whanganui Home & Lifestyle Show is the largest annual show in Whanganui with over 130 exhibitors and more than 10,000 visitors over the weekend event. Bringing together the very best in products and services for the home including kitchens, flooring, appliances, heating, new building and so much more, the show also includes a large Taste section with gourmet food and beverages plus a large Artisan Craft Zone. So whether you’re tackling a full on renovation, a new build, or just a good old Kiwi DIYer, this ones for you!
WHAKATĀNE
Whakatāne Kiwi Trust Night Walks - Mokorua Bush Scenic Reserve
Friday Nights in June – July www.whakatanekiwi.org.nz/experiences/night-walks Don’t hibernate this winter! Wrap up warm, grab a torch and explore the REAL Whakatāne night life scene with the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust!
These night walks are a unique experience for all ages and a perfect opportunity to see big bugs and if you’re lucky you might even hear the call of kiwi! The walks start at 7pm, last for two hours, and include an introduction to the area and work being done to protect kiwi. A reasonable level of physical fitness is required as they will be going off the public tracks. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear (i.e. not sandals) and bring a torch, some snacks, a drink and a camera.
Sun to Surf – Run and Walk Half Marathon
Saturday, 8th October www.suntosurf.nz
Victory Events – Events that Move You present the return of the Sun to Surf Run and Walk events in Ōhope, New Zealand, welcoming participants of all abilities to experience the unique beach vibes of the treasured Eastern Bay region and enjoy a slice of ocean paradise! Hang out in the Sun to Surf Craft Food and Beverage Village and enjoy entertainment in the beautiful Mahy Reserve under the shade of the band of amazing Pōhutukawa. We can’t wait to see you there - check out our website to find a course that suits you!
Local Wild Food Festival Weekend
Friday, 18th November (Wild Food Feasting) and Saturday, 19th November (Local Wild Food Festival) www.whakatane.com/WildFoodWeekend2022
Whakatāne’s Local Wild Food Challenge returns in 2022 but this time it’s bigger and better than ever as part of a Local Wild Food Festival weekend.
Working in conjunction with the all new Flavours of Plenty Festival, the Local Wild Food Festival (previously the Local Wild Food Challenge) will encompass multiple events across the weekend. The challenge element of the food festival will return and we encourage local foodies to enter the competition, preparing a wild food dish presented for judging on the day. The kids cooking competition will also return with a number of prizes up for grabs for both the adult and children’s categories. As well as this Wild Food Feasting will be a ticketed event too that will allow you to indulge in all the best kai our rohe has on offer.
News
Date set for Masters Games - Whanganui
The 2023 New Zealand Masters Games will kick off on February 3 in Whanganui and run until February 12. The event is hosted on alternate years between Whanganui and Dunedin, but this year’s event, set to be hosted in the south, had to be cancelled because the country was in the red light Covid-19 setting. Registration for the 2023 event is set to open in September, with the sports schedule and entertainment lineup to be announced over the coming months.
Transmission Gully links Kāpiti Coast to Capital
The opening of the long-awaited Transmission Gully arterial route on 30 March is being described as a ‘game changer’ for the Kapiti Coast and a ‘big tick’ for Whanganui. The project has been six years in the making and is 27 kilometres long, and while it has been plagued with delays and budget issues its completion is expected to have widereaching and positive impacts on the region. The new motorway will mean a significant reduction in the drive time from Porirua to Kāpiti Coast, which together with the growing congestion of central Wellington, particularly at peak times, means Kāpiti Coast Airport is an increasingly convenient option for those looking to catch flights to Auckland. The reduced travel time also makes the Kāpiti Coast Airport a viable option for those wanting to access the capital from around New Zealand, as well as for Wellingtonians who can now take advantage of Air Chathams flights from Kāpiti. Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall meanwhile says the opening of Transmission Gully is a ‘big tick’ for Whanganui as it brings the city closer to the capital and represents considerable time and fuel savings for visitors as well as making it easier for manufacturers to access Wellington.
Whakatāne scoops Keep New Zealand Beautiful Supreme Award Norfolk Island economy bouncing back from COVID
The Norfolk Island economy is regenerating after the impacts of COVID-19 with exciting new businesses opened by talented young Islanders. Wildcraft Norfolk Island, a funky new café located across from the Norfolk Island Airport, offers exceptional coffee, light snacks and a range of locally made produce such as jams, pickles and honey. A number of local artisan products are also sold from this exciting new business. The Reef Takeaway is a new fish and chip shop open on Taylors Road, providing great takeaway and dine-in meals of freshly caught grilled or battered local fish, and a menu of burgers. Enitaim Woodfired + Espresso also recently opened with a menu of light snacks and delicious wood fired pizzas, and the central retail precinct has expanded with the relocation of My Island Homewares, a terrific homeware and gift store featuring local artisan Jane Rutledge. The shop has partnered with NI Book Store to provide a unique shopping experience.
Whakatāne has been awarded the Supreme Award in this year’s Keep New Zealand Beautiful Most Beautiful Towns and Cities competition, with judges siting its biodiversity and the commitment of the community. The judges noted that locals undertook a tree audit and created tree policies so that people had a better understanding of the value of trees and how their lifespan impacts us. They have also closed the gaps in understanding between rural areas and the township, bringing a tighter cohesion to environmental efforts, and have also created a Seed Library, and are getting local children and youth involved in plantings – around 4,800 per year. Whakatāne is one of the sunniest spots in the country and nearby Ōhope beach has been previously named as New Zealand most loved beach.
