Things for you to do
From eating out to going out, there’s plenty of things for you and your family to do.
Eating out
New Zealanders enjoy food from all over the world, and there are plenty of places to buy the ingredients for different styles of cooking. Our own food combines Asian and European influences. New Zealanders also love to eat out and so there is a huge choice of restaurants and cafes. Central Wellington, for example, has over 300 restaurants and cafes, meaning it now has more restaurants per capita than any city in the world.
In New Zealand we don’t expect tips for normal service – that includes restaurants and bars. You can tip for excellent service if you wish, but it’s not expected.
Arts, culture, festivals and entertainment
New Zealand has a thriving cultural life, with a unique mix of European, Maori, Polynesian, Asian and, increasingly, other traditions. Orchestra recitals, and dance and theatre performances means there’s plenty to see, especially in the main centres.
Our film industry is world famous, having brought to the screen such modern day classics as the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Whale Rider, Once Were Warriors and King Kong.
Overseas artists and exhibitions tour regularly.
Several centres hold International Arts Festivals featuring a wide range of local and international artists. The most wellknown is probably the International Festival of the Arts which is held in Wellington every two years.
Maori cultural traditions receive strong support. There has been a real revival in recent years in all the Maori art forms, from carving and weaving to traditional dance. Kapa Haka – a range of performing arts that includes haka, waiata, and poi dancing – enjoys enormous cross-cultural support.
