High Street to the Hills Issue 23

EVENTS WORTH NOTING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

Words by Ann Warnock

Kumara Races

10 January, Kumara

A gold nugget is the prize in the major race at this time-honoured meeting in the small rural township of Kumara, 25km south of Greymouth. First organized for the local miners in 1887, the Kumara Races have become a family picnic day and visitors flood in from as far afield as Christchurch. This is the only race meeting of the year at the racecourse and the atmosphere of conviviality and excitement is unbeatable.

Phone (03) 768 5101, www.west-coast.co.nz

Parihaka International Peace Festival 2009

9 to 11 January, Taranaki

Last year 10,000 people of all ages poured into the historic landscape of Parihaka to enjoy the best Kiwi musicians, cutting-edge poets, speakers and thinkers at this unique gathering where peace, non-violence and eco-responsibility form the central themes. This year, amidst an array of big-band names including Kora, Little Bushman, Katchafire and Tommy, expect brainstorming on global warming and sustainability and political forums.

Phone (06) 759 2119, www.parihaka.com

Opera in the Pa

24 January, Rotorua

An evening of traditional opera, contemporary music and Maori culture is set amidst the geothermal splendour of the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley. It is being held in the grounds of Ngati Rotowhio, The New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute, in celebration of the vesting of Te Puia to the local Te Arawa people. Many of the big names in our stable of internationally recognized opera singers return home to perform.

Freephone 0800 4KIA ORA, www.maoritourism.com

World Buskers Festival

22 January to 1 February, Christchurch

The squares and public spaces of Christchurch will host the world’s largest and most prestigious street-performance event for the 16th time. It began with a handful of local actors and street performers; now it showcases the hottest acts on the international circuit. More than 40 performers include some of our favourite Kiwi comedians, among them Michele A’Court, Irene Pink, Te Radar, Ben Hurley and Hot Pink aka Penny Ashton.

Phone (03) 377 2365, www.worldbuskersfestival.com

Beyond the Horizon – Mal Bouzaid

3 to 21 February, Oedipus Rex Gallery, Auckland

Mal Bouzaid’s line-up of loosely impressionistic paintings reflects her close association with the sea. She grew up in Auckland near the water and now lives on Great Barrier Island. While her early works feature traditional landscapes, more recent paintings depict her hallmark style of highly readable, lineal works. The exhibition comprises 12 large, vibrant canvases.

Phone (09) 379 0588, www.orexgallery.co.nz

Blues, Brews and BBQs

7 February, Blenheim

Small boutique breweries and the bigger players showcase their brews under a summer sky with the sizzle of sausages. If beer is not your tipple, check out the Waipara Wine Cellars stall, enjoy a Bulmer cider, a chilled fruit juice or a smoothie. Live music tops off what has been a hugely popular date on the Marlborough calendar for the last 18 years.

www.bluesbrews.co.nz/blenheim

The 2009 Ellerslie International Flower Show

11 to 15 March, Christchurch

A new venue, a new city and a new show – this is surely the rebirth of Christchurch as the garden city! While old favourites Hort Galore and the Floral Art and Starlight Marquees are back, there will be a range of features that pay homage to the extravaganza’s new Hagley Park home. Taste of the South will showcase southern food and wines, there will be a focus on the city’s English heritage and its tangata whenua and a spotlight on sustainability.

Phone (03) 379 4581, www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz

The Lyttelton Summer Street Party

22 February, Lyttelton

Fiesta is the theme of this groovy and historic little township’s famous summer street party. London Street throngs with people eager to enjoy the food, lap up the live music and cheer on those talented types taking to the stage for Lyttelton Idol. This big community-spirited event offers a classic Kiwi summer’s day outing for the whole family.

Wear your hat and bright clothes.

Phone (03) 328 9243, www.lyttelton.net.nz

Vodafone Homegrown

14 March, Wellington

Set across five stages on the city’s waterfront, this heavyweight Kiwi music event will showcase 35 top bands including Opshop, Blindspott, Goodnight Nurse, Concord Dawn and Supergroove. There will be street performers, fire poi, sculpture, the city’s best graffiti artists, a breakdancing competition and an international food market. Phone 021 275 2274,

www.homegrown.net.nz

Motatapu Icebreaker ’09

14 March, Wanaka and Arrowtown

This iconic high-country 50km mountain-bike and off-road marathon attracts around 2000 bike riders and 1000 runners each year. The course starts at Glendhu Bay on the edge of Lake Wanaka and passes through a number of privately owned farming stations. The track peaks at 887m and then heads to the finish line in historic Arrowtown where the huge excitement as each competitor comes in is a party in itself.

Phone (03) 441 1025, www.motatapuicebreaker.com