This is your New Zealand What’s On for March curated by our local staff. Our students are getting settled into their various locations around the country and ready to have some local experiences. Current students can check their inbox for the full digest.
Auckland
When: March 2-20
Where: Various Venues
More than 50 shows and exhibitions bring theatre, music, cabaret, dance, circus and visual arts from all over the world to right here in NZ.
Festival of Shakespeare [$15 Standing Tickets]
When: From now until the end of April.
Where: Pop-Up Globe, Bard’s Yard, 38 Greys Avenue, Auckland CBD
2016 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare. If you love Shakespeare, then not to miss a live performance at the Pop-Up Globe (a replica of the one found in London, UK). Season and ticketing information
Parnell Farmers’ Market
When: Every Saturday 8am – 12pm
Where: Jubilee Building – Parnell Community Centre, 545 Parnell Road
Think fresh. Think local. Think delicious produce brought to you by the producers themselves at this genuine community farmers’ market.
Carabosse – Fire Garden [$33 General Admission]
When: Friday March 4 – Sunday March 6, starts at 8:30pm
Where: Auckland Domain
Carabosse are world-renowned for transforming familiar city parks and urban spaces into large scale fire-gardens.Collaborating with New Zealand musicians and storytellers, Carabosse’s Fire Garden will be designed specifically for Auckland using cascades of candles, flaming flower-pots and fiery scrap metal sculptures.
Marama [Tickets from $39]
When: Wednesday, March 2 – Sunday, March 6
Where: Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street
A traditional Pacifica performance as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. ‘Through waiata, chants, dances and rituals gracefully and magically performed, Marama is a powerful call from Pacific women about the devastating effects of deforestation on their homelands.’
Pasifika Festival [FREE]
When: Saturday March 12 from 10am – 5pm and Sunday March 13 from 10am – 4pm
Where: Western Spring Park, 731 Great North Road, Grey Lynn
The 11 authentic Pacific Island villages have their own performance stage and market setting, each with a distinctly unique vibe. From the buzz and loud sounds of the Cook Island and Samoan stages to the peaceful setting of the Niue and Kiribati villages. Be sure to check out the Pan Pacific village if you are in the mood for a spot of shopping and sniff out the smokey aromas of barbecued delights that you will find in Hawaiian village.
Auckland International Cultural Festival [FREE]
When: Sunday March 20 from 10am – 5pm
Where: War Memorial Park, 13 May Rd
The festival is renowned for a wide range of amazing food, music and dance performances from around the world. More than 10,000 Aucklanders attended last year and this year’s festival is set to be better than ever.
Meccano Easter Weekend [$16]
When: Friday March 25 – Monday March 28 from 10am – 5pm
Where: MOTAT (Museum of Transport & Technology), 805 Great North Rd
From 25 – 28 March, you’ll find Meccano models hidden all over the Museum. Meccano’s award winning Meccanoid robots will also be making an appearance, giving you the chance to interact, joke and even dance with them.
PALMERSTON NORTH
Festival of Cultures [FREE]
When: March 4-6
Where: The Square
In celebration of the rich cultural diversity of people in Palmerston North, this festival is one of the longest-running annual events on the city calendar. Free entertainment, food vendors, arts and craft stalls.
Manawatu Summer Shakespeare [FREE]
When: March 3 – 12
Where: Victoria Esplanade Gardens
Enjoy some light hearted comedy in the park performed by local artists and students of Massey University. The Merry Wives of Windsor, first published in 1602, is a revenge filled, vivacious, energy packed comedy filled with themes of love and marriage, jealousy, social class and wealth. Explored with irony, sexual innuendo, and sarcasm.
Twilight Beach Walk [$28]
When: March 18 from 4 -8pm
Where: Palmerston North iSite Visitor Centre
Take a stroll along the wild west coast of New Zealand with this coastal walk, linking Foxton to Himatangi along the west coast and have a fish and chip dinner. Ticket includes transport and guide.
Wellington
When: Feb 26 – March 20
Where: Various Venues
Committed to originality, excellence and making the world a better place through art, the Festival transforms Wellington into a buzzing culture zone with three weeks of the finest international and home-grown music, theatre, dance, visual art and writers.
Wellington Outdoor Cinema [FREE]
When: Saturdays and Sundays – see website for the schedule
Where: Lagoon Lawn, 5 Cable Street
A series of free classic movies screened on Lagoon Lawn, beside St Johns Bar. All movies are weather permitting.
When: Wednesday March 2 – Sunday March 6
Where: Wellington Waterfront, Wellington
The Performance Arcade is an annual Live Art mini-festival and programme of free events located on Wellington Waterfront. Using a series of architecturally arranged shipping containers, the Arcade creates a string of spaces for installation, performance art, sonic art, audio-visual art, interactive media, culinary art and live music.
Newtown Festival 20th Anniversary [FREE]
When: Sunday March 6 from 8am – 9pm
Where: Newtown Streets Riddiford st, Wellington
Cafes and restaurants spill onto roads and are joined by a huge array of international food stalls. Local craftspeople, community groups and visiting stallholders add their wares to the already diverse array of goods on offer from Newtown’s shops. Buskers and al fresco street performers vie for the attention of passersby, and the occasional innocent bystander is swept up in a samba dance parade.
Zirka Circus [$29]
When: March 2-6
Where: Waitangi Park, 107 Cable St, Wellington
Whether you like action packed daredevil acts, or beautiful, balletic and poetic acts, there is something for everyone in this new show. See 20 plus top world class performers showcase death-defying acrobatics and amazing illusions.
CubaDupa [FREE]
When: March 19-20
Where: Cuba Street Cuba Street, Wellington
CubaDupa brings all walks of life together in an immersive experience – restaurants will spill into the streets to create a culinary cacophony; people will flow through the streets and laneways, exploring the myriad of spaces filled with activity, music, dance, circus, theatre, and installation.
Christchurch
Downtown Farmers Market
When: Every Sunday from 9:30am – 2:30pm
Where: The Commons, 70 Kilmore St
The weekend Farmers Market showcases the wonderful regional produce on offer. Produce includes fresh fruit and vegetables, butchery, fish, bread, cheese, deli, eggs, coffee and juices), this vibrant and bustling market also incorporates a smaller element of non-produce/giftware, plants, arts and crafts, furniture, live music/entertainment, artisan food stalls and food trucks selling delicious ready to eat food.
Christchurch International Market
When: Every Saturday from 5pm – 8pm
Where: 100 Peterborough Street 100 Peterborough Street, Christchurch
In the central city the market offers food and vendors from around the world. Stalls include jewelry; art, craft and food from a wide international selection.
Spectrum Street Art Festival
When: Monday Feb 8 – Sunday April 17 from 9:30am – 5pm
Where: YMCA, 12 Hereford Street
Spectrum is a street art festival exhibited in the YMCA building and free to the public. It features Artists from around the world and explores street art from every possible angle. Beyond what’s happening inside, visitors can take to the city streets to hunt down the next series of huge walls to be transformed into stunning works of art.
Christchurch Holi – Indian Festival of Colours [$10]
When: Saturday, March 5 from 11am – 3pm
Where: The Commons, 70 Kilmore St
This traditional Indian holiday originates from folk stories, passed down through generations. Each region in India celebrates in its own way but Holi is widely recognised as a day to forgive, look ahead and celebrate with colours as a community.
Latino Market and Night Screening
Where: The Commons, 70 Kilmore St
When: Saturday, March 26 from 5pm
Featuring Latin food, music, dance and fun. Followed with a Movie Under the Stars in Spanish (with english subtitles) from 9pm.
Dunedin
Sunday Sounds at Dunedin Botanic Garden [FREE]
When: April 10 from 1-2:30pm
Where: Dunedin Botanic Garden
Pack a picnic, grab a rug and enjoy live music, while lounging on the lawns of the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
Sunday Sounds: Folk Concert [FREE]
When: Sunday, March 6 from 1 – 2:30pm
Where: Dunedin Botanic Garden
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon of easy listening tunes by local musicians.
Otago Symphonic Band
When: Sunday March 13 from 1-2:30pm
An eclectic performance of wind instruments educating your ears on a journey through classical, folk, jazz, big band and pop music.
Reggae Concert
When: Sunday, March 20 from 1-2:30pm
Love the reggae beat? Sit back and relax while Reo and friends entertain you with their Pacific Island-influenced reggae.
Dunedin Fringe Festival [FREE]
When: Thursday March 3-13
Hosting both free and ticketed shows featuring music, art, theatre, comedy and dance.
Afterburner [$10]
When: Thursday March 3 – 7 from 7-8pm
Where: Allen Hall Theatre, 90 Union Street East
Afterburner presents a light and performance installation pushing the boundaries of seeing. Using low level light, projection and sound, Afterburner awaken the possibilities of the unseen, imagining realms beyond sight, just on the verge of seeing. Dark Matter is a visual experience changing how we might see space and light as well as challenging the senses to enter into the experience.
The Amped Music Project 2016 [FREE]
When: March 9 from 7pm – 10pm
Where: Dog with two tails cafe and bar, 25 Moray Place
“Dunedin has an incredibly strong music scene at the moment, and obviously a very rich history to draw upon” Ms Synnott said. “Amped is about giving the next wave of talent the tools, the encouragement, and the outlet to grow both creatively and professionally.
Ben’s New Zealand [FREE]
When: Thursday March 3 – Friday March 11 from 8-10pm
Where: Purple Rain retro Cafe, 403 Princes St.
Welcome to the book launch of Ben’s New Zealand. A night of food, wine, music and poetry. A multimedia visual feast of those looking to build a better NZ; be that in building communities, promoting sustainability, hands on grass roots environmentalism, technology, art, food, or creative tourism. Followed by a quick book signing and then let the ‘hobbit knees’ up begin. Entry is koha which will be donated to NZ Whale and Dolphin Trust.
When: Starting at 8am Saturday March 12- Sunday March 20
Where: 125 George Street, Dunedin
Thousands of quality pre-loved designer clothing at only $5 each and all childrens 3 for $5. This year one of the charities we are supporting are ROCK SOLID DUNEDIN a charitable non-profit organisation based in South Dunedin working with young people and families.
