New Zealand Culture

Live Entertainment

New Zealand has a strong performing arts and music culture, with many successful Kiwi artists launching their international careers here. Touring and local performances run throughout the year across the country and include ballet, opera, live symphony, concerts, comedy acts and all forms of theatre.

Wellington is a good place to start for seekers of live entertainment. Known as the cultural capital of New Zealand, it is home to various companies that represent the country on the international stage, for example the NBR New Zealand Opera, Te Whaea National Dance and Drama centre, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Capital E National Theatre for children and the Royal New Zealand Ballet. The New Zealand International Arts Festival is held in Wellington on a biennial basis, concurrently to the New Zealand Fringe Festival, and hosts performances from many local and international artists.

Although Wellington has a solid arts reputation it is still worth exploring the other major New Zealand cities, each of which with their own distinct live arts culture. Some companies that produce high quality live performances include the Auckland Theatre Company, the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

Lovers of music will be able to find a live gig in virtually every New Zealand city, a great way to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a relaxing drink with the locals. Urban pubs, bars and restaurants come alive with music most nights and often feature local or touring acts for either a cheap cover charge or often for free. Check online gig guides and local newspapers to find out what acts are coming up.

A traditional or contemporary Maori performance is unique cultural encounter when visiting New Zealand. Many resorts, galleries and museums feature live indigenous performance, such as the Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Te Papa Museum in Wellington. Rotorua is a major cultural region on the North Island, and traditional villages such as Whakarewarewa, Tamaki Maori Village and the Mitai Maori Village featuring indigenous dance displays with traditional music, costume and dress. Visitors might also be lucky to enjoy a hangi feast, a traditional way of cooking and enjoying food using a heated pit.

New Zealand is sport-mad, and a visit is not complete without a day of being a spectator at a live sporting event. Rugby is one of the most popular games, with a season running between March and November. New Zealand’s internationally famous All Blacks team is one of the best in the world, and enthusiasts are recommended to book ahead early if they hope to catch this popular team playing on home soil. If these coveted tickets are too difficult to come by, there are various other levels of the game can be enjoyed at stadiums around the country. For a similar spectator experience, the Football Kingz and New Zealand Warriors represent New Zealand professionally in soccer and rugby league and are also worth checking out.

New Zealand Women’s Netball Team the Silver Ferns also do well on an international level and this fast-paced, high energy game is an exciting viewing experience. Cricket and tennis are popular spectator sports that take place in the warm summer months, with an afternoon in the grandstand a quintessential New Zealand experience.