Updates on the Stewart Island death
Twinkle twinkle little drone! Reporter Kanoa is in Rotorua, where the Aronui Arts Festival and 300 of its best drone friends take to the skies to tell magical Matariki stories.
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NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
Auckland's Silo Park light exhibition mirrors Māori string game
The work was first commissioned by Auckland Council Public Art for Matariki ki te Manawa in 2024. Now, it has been made larger and occupies a more prominent space with 360-degree views across the city and Waitematā Harbour from the Gantry. The light loops play on the traditional weaving forms of the string game. 'Whai keeps Māori traditions alive, a shared experience that bridges cultures, ensuring they remain vibrant and celebrated for generations to come,' Williams said. She wanted the work to invite people to immerse themselves in the game. 'For centuries, Māori children have played and become skilled at whai, learning complex patterns and the stories behind them. Through connection, creation, and discovery, Whai offers everyone that learning experience - bringing people together through the joy of making.' In 2022, Williams studied full immersion te reo Māori at Te Wānanga Takiura and continues to study part-time. Williams is a mother, business owner and is in her final year of an Executive Master of Business Administration at Massey University and Master of Professional Creative Practice at Toihoukura. She often works alongside her husband, Charles Williams, to create brightly coloured, large-scale murals honouring kaupapa Māori. Many of their works include vivid depictions of New Zealand's native birds in flight. They also have a strong interest in graffiti art, with the pair decorating vans, walls and even motorway underpasses around Auckland. Auckland Council said Silo Park was chosen as this year's temporary site for Whai as the precinct strongly reflected the waterfront's heritage. 'The regeneration of Wynyard Quarter acknowledges its place on the edge of the Waitematā, retaining elements of the area's industrial history.' Over the next three to five years, during the Matariki season, Auckland Council Public Art will exhibit Whai in different locations. Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
12-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Travel Alerts: Tortoise encounters, french feasts, and a crocheted wharenui
Celebrate Bastille Day in Auckland Bastille Day, France's national holiday on July 14, is best known for fireworks over the Eiffel Tower, street parades, live music and picnic baskets filled with wine and cheese. While most Kiwis can only dream of spending it in Paris, one local travel company offers a delightful alternative right here in New Zealand. Boutique Tours France hosts four-day French language immersion ateliers in Akaroa and West Auckland. Limited to eight guests, each retreat includes conversational French lessons and classic experiences like pétanque, live French music, long-table dining, and plenty of good wine. Created during the pandemic to bring a taste of France closer to home, the ateliers have since become a go-to for New Zealand's Francophiles. Celebrate Bastille Day in Auckland with Boutique Tours France. Party with artists at the Gold Coast Bleach* Festival returns to the Gold Coast in 2025 with its most ambitious programme yet, running from July 31 to August 10. Under the creative direction of guest artistic director Michael Zavros, the 11-day event features more than 100 performances across iconic locations like Hota, Kurrawa Beach, and Emerald Lakes. The lineup includes three world premieres and spotlights everything from live music and bold installations to culinary delights. Whether you are chasing festival energy, creative conversations, or beachside performances, this is one of Australia's most unique contemporary arts experiences. Full programme and ticket info available at Australian artist Kirsha Kaechele will take her provocative installation Ladies Lounge outside Mona to the Hota Gallery. Photo / Supplied Crocheted wharenui It's not every day you see a wharenui made entirely of neon crochet. Wharenui Harikoa, created by artists Lissy and Rudi Robinson-Cole, is a joyful and immersive art experience now on show at The Civic in Tāmaki Makaurau. Crafted from vivid yarn and inspired by Māori tradition, the large-scale installation blends ancestral storytelling with light, sound and colour. Visitors step barefoot into a glowing world of tukutuku panels, sensory touch walls and a shifting soundscape led by taonga puoro and karanga. Inspired by Matariki and the celestial family, this is the first time the wharenui will stand while Matariki is visible in the night sky. Guided tours with the artists are free but limited, so book ahead. Entry is free and open daily. Walk-ups welcome. Visit to plan your experience.
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Scoop
Major Event Strategy Delivers A $6.7 Million Boost For Kāpiti Coast
Kāpiti Coast District Council's Major Events Fund delivered an exceptional return for the year 2024/25, with $6.7 million injected into the local economy from $200,000 of investment. More than 80,000 people attended ten Council-supported events across the district last year, including visitors from across Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad. Kāpiti Coast Economic Development Kotahitanga Board Chair Neil Mackay says with a *33.5 to 1 return on investment, the results speak for themselves. 'These events are drawing new audiences, building our district's reputation as a destination, and delivering tangible benefits for local retailers, hospitality teams, volunteers, and the tourism sector,' says Mr Mackay. 'The Major Events Fund is a clear example of a smart, visitor attraction strategy delivering real results in real time. 'And real money is being put back into local hands, driving spending in our businesses, and giving Kāpiti a stronger platform for long-term growth – showing why economic development matters.' Kāpiti Coast District Mayor Janet Holborow says the events the fund has supported are not a luxury, they're a powerful tool for community wellbeing and local momentum. 'They bring people together, create memorable experiences, support local businesses, and build pride in the places we call home,' says Mayor Holborow. 'Across the district, these events are helping our towns bounce back, not just economically, but socially and culturally.' The 2024/25 events included triathlons and trail runs, the Māoriland Film Festival, Matariki celebrations, the Ōtaki Kite Festival, Kāpiti Food Fair, and the inaugural Kāpiti Classic music concert. Mayor Holborow says across the district, these events built connection and unity, while attracting visitor investment in our people and places. 'Backed by a smart strategy and strong results, the Major Events Fund is doing exactly what it was designed to do: strengthening the Coast, one event at a time. We look forward to announcing the 2025/26 recipients soon.'
