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STUNNING scenery might be your first reason for visiting New Zealand, but the chance to explore the country's history and creativity probably comes a close second. The country's unique culture has grown from a fusion of diverse ethnic groups - Maori, English, Scottish, Irish, Central European, Polynesian and Asian, to name but a few. In every town and city, there are opportunities to dig into the past or be entertained by the local creative community. You can watch kapa haka performances, to appreciate Maori performance art traditions; you can catch a band or check out a theatrical production; you can follow an art trail to visit painters, potters, glass artists, sculptors and textile artists. And wherever you go in the country, the colourful history is explained by a multitude of museums. Arts and crafts Having the time to browse art galleries and craft studios is one of the joys of travel. In New Zealand you get the added bonus of an art-rich indigenous culture to discover. Traditional Maori crafts include weaving, carving and te moko (tattooing). In Rotorua you can watch highly skilled Maori wood carvers and flax weavers at work, and there are many quality galleries where you can purchase your own taonga (precious treasure) to take home. In certain parts of New Zealand - Nelson, Waiheke Island and Coromandel for example - there are high concentrations of resident creatives. Their work is for sale at art shops and weekend markets, and some welcome visitors into their studios. If you get the opportunity, rolling up your sleeves to create your own artwork is a deeply satisfying experience. Whether it's a bone carving, an oil painting or a hand-finished ceramic, your self-made masterpiece will become one of your most prized souvenirs. Cultural attraction New Zealand's Maori culture emerged from Polynesian migrations that began in the 13th century. During the 1800s missionaries and traders began to arrive, paving the way for European settlement. Most of the settlers who landed in New Zealand between 1840 and 1900 were English or Scottish, with some Irish and Welsh thrown in for good measure. More recently, New Zealand has received immigrants from Holland and Central Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It all adds up to a fascinating culture that you can explore in a variety of ways. There are many authentic Maori cultural activities available throughout the country. These range from walking tours of the world's largest kauri forest to traditional kapa haka performances followed by a hangi (earth oven) feast. Other elements of Kiwi culture are also represented. In Dunedin, a city with strong links to Scotland, you can take part in a haggis ceremony; Southland can offer you the unforgettable satisfaction of shearing a sheep; and in Kerikeri you can relive the days of steam driven sea travel. Galleries Art galleries are the window to New Zealand's soul. They reflect something of where we've been and where we're going. In major public art galleries - found in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin - you can browse historic collections that take you back to the 1800s, when the country was undergoing its most significant transformation. Modern works are also featured - keep an eye out for works by Hotere and McCahon, two our most acclaimed contemporary artists. Public galleries focus on regional artists, but they also have impressive national and international collections. Dealer galleries can be found throughout the country, and they represent a chance to take home an enduring reminder of your New Zealand holiday. Most galleries are more than happy to arrange safe shipping for your treasure. You should also look for road signs advertising artists' studios - you'll get to meet the artist and you might have the chance to watch art in the making. Heritage attractions Up and down the country there are places where time has stood still. Historic cottages and sprawling mansions, breweries and old hotels, Victorian cities and Art Deco towns - they've been preserved and protected to give you a glimpse of the past. In the far north, the Waitangi Treaty Grounds are a lesson in early New Zealand history - both Maori and European. In Auckland, grand old homes showcase the finer side of colonial life. Napier captures the glamour and architecture freedom of the 1930s, while Wellington invites you to take a look at old Government Buildings, the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere. The South Island's heritage sites encompass the hardship of the gold rush days, the glamour of high society and the day-to-day toil of pioneer farmers. You can visit everything from a pit-sawn pioneer cottage to New Zealand's only castle, built by an eccentric Dunedin banker in the 1870s. Museums If you want to understand what makes New Zealand tick, visit museums wherever you go. Finding out the why, where, how and who in any town or city adds an extra layer to your travel experience. Each of our major museums has its own specialities. Auckland Museum is known for an impressive collection of Maori and Polynesian artefacts; Te Papa in Wellington offers a very modern, and often interactive, learning experience; Canterbury Museum has a strong focus on Antarctica; Otago Museum in Dunedin takes an in-depth look at the natural and social history of the South Island. The provincial cities also have plenty to show you - check out Puke Ariki in New Plymouth and the wearable art museum in Nelson. Small museums also deserve your attention, because they're often eccentric and surprising. Kauri trees, coal and gold mining, cable cars, caves, toys, volcanic eruptions, army equipment, boats, trains and planes - the subject matter is wonderfully diverse. Performing arts From the very first days of settlement, amateur actors and actresses have been a feature of New Zealand society. In Auckland, Wellington and Nelson, small companies of players sometimes performed to assist charities such as the 'Widow and Orphans' Fund' or the 'Suffering British Subjects in India'. During the mid 1880s, when British regiments were stationed here, garrison theatres were built and soldier-actors staged many plays. The 20 years between the world wars saw the emergence of amateur theatre as it is still produced today. Repertory societies appeared in most of the country's towns and cities. While not all of these societies are still operating, it's worth checking out the entertainment pages of any local newspaper for details about current productions. A number of professional theatre companies have emerged in recent years, particularly in Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. Their productions range from children's pantomimes through to the bravest experimental works. |
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