New Zealand News

We love a good market, especially one with the word 'Christmas' attached! So hop in the car, crank up the Mariah (your secret's safe with us) and head along to one of these incredible Christmas markets coming to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this holiday season.

Heineken have taken over Slate Hut for the summer, pouring the country's most remote at the aptly named Heineken Hut until March 2027. 

Hopsitality veterans Laura Greenfield and Raechal Ferguson know a thing or two about a great meal. Now, they're bringing their talents to Capitol for a two month pop-up. 

Dubbed the BRITPOP World Tour, it’s part nostalgia trip, part greatest-hits fever dream, and entirely designed to have you screaming “I’m loving angels instead” with thousands of strangers.

Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement are bringing Flight of the Conchords home for their first national tour in 14 years.

Nothing has us feeling more festive than a completely over-the-top display of Christmas lights—this is definitely a case of the more the merrier. Lucky for us Aucklanders, a decent dose of holiday twinkle is never far away.

With magnesium pools and dry cedar saunas, Sink Bathhouse is a place for recovery, yes, but also a space to find community connection. 

The new Italian restaurant from the couple behind Baduzzi and The Grove looks to northern Italy for inspiration. 

The new 'supper house' aims to serve the community however it needs it, with an English and French-leaning menu, great drinks and a friendly vibe. 

The Flag Poll is asking for the Tino Rangatiratanga flag to be raised on Waitangi Day 2027 on the Auckland harbour bridge and kept there permanently. 

Zara Larsson is bringing her Midnight Sun Tour to Auckland for two nights of big pop hooks, choreography and singalongs that are guaranteed to leave you a little hoarse on Monday morning.

Wellington restaurant Supra quickly grew out of its tiny former home. Now it has a new space on Tory Street and a brand new bar to boot. 

The iconic band will take to the stage in the Auckland Domain with special guests Ocean Alley. 

Olivia brings The Art of Loving Live to Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday 17 October 2026, becoming the first artist to play the newly refurbished Bowl. Here’s everything you need to know before heading out.

This Wellington cafe is so much more than just a spot to refuel; it's a community hub, a place that encourages you to truly become a local. 

Jesse Woolston's interactive artwork The Infinite Constant Front draws inspiration from landscapes, oceans, weather and natural systems in Aotearoa. 

The team have turned the former Bonita space into a new sandwich shop serving everything from chicken caesar salad to fish and chips inside sliced bread. 

 If your idea of a good night involves screaming Stick Season alongside thousands of strangers, Auckland is about to deliver. Noah Kahan is bringing The Great Divide Tour to Spark Arena this Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October, with special guest Michael Marcagi coming along for the ride. Clear your calendar, warm up those vocal cords and prepare to feel a few things.

Far from the Tex Mex-style Mexican food that has become prolific outside of Mexico, Apapacho is bringing the soul and depth of flavour of this vibrant cuisine to Wellington. 

Set to evoke the spirit of the elegant eateries in department stores in cities like London, Paris and New York, Lottie's has a distinct international feel 

It's finally here. The line-up for one of the best festivals of the summer has finally dropped. We've got the inside line on who is playing Laneway Auckland 2027. 

Construction is underway on the Auckland Surf Park, a major new surfing and wellness destination taking shape across 54 hectares in Dairy Flat. 

Londo's Bob Fairs will be partnering with Pici's Jono Thevenard to cook a six course meal as part of Auckland Feast festivel in November. 

It has been a big year for New Zealand's food scene and things show no sign of slowing down. Auckland Feast powered by Mastercard will launch in November, turning the city into one big food festival. 

Jack Cashmore will bring his two-hatted restaurant from the central North Island to Auckland's Kauri Bay for two nights as part of the Auckland Feast festival. 

Just three months after closing its doors, Rosalia's is set to reopen with its former head chef at the helm. 

The secret’s officially out: Dunedin and Waitaki have been named among the world’s top destinations to visit in 2027 by Lonely Planet.

The Christchurch festival's 2027 line-up has just dropped with a stacked selection of both local and international acts. 

Moving into a coverted heritage building on Cambridge Terrace, Drifter will add a new string to the capital's hospitality bow. 

The much-loved Kiwi band will return for a full tour of their home country for the first time in 14 years. 

Auckland bartender PJ Renaud has won the 2026 Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series.

Businesses around Auckland's new CRL Stations have spent years enduring construction, dust and road closures. Now, as the city prepares for the new underground train system to open, we chat to business owners near the stations about what they're expecting to change. 

Clear your February calendar—a massive new two-day celebration of Aotearoa and Pacific music is taking over Mount Maunganui in 2027.

New Zealand's leading local restaurant guide has just launched its 2026 awards—here's all the winners, from the lauded three hats to restaurant of the year. 

More than a century after the Titanic embarked on its ill-fated maiden voyage, one of the world's most famous ships is resurfacing in Auckland through a major international exhibition.

Auckland, prepare accordingly: GRAMMY-nominated DJ and producer Dom Dolla is heading to Auckland Domain for his biggest-ever headline show in New Zealand.

After a decade of construction, years of disruption and plenty of anticipation, Auckland’s City Rail Link finally has an opening date.

Nelson is looking to make one of its biggest community investments in a generation, with plans moving forward for a new Community Hub, Library and Civic Space in the heart of the city.

New Zealand takes its pies seriously, and the results of the 2026 New Zealand Bakels Supreme Pie Awards are officially in.

Two of Auckland's most-loved restaurants are coming together for two days of exceptional food and even better vibes. Expect duck fat tortillas, big flavours and a great meal. 

There’s a particular electricity humming through Vancouver right now—the kind that wraps itself around a city before history happens.

Cue the clacky heels, New Zealand Fashion Week Kahuria is back—finally. Handpicked shows, pop-ups, places to hide inbetween—we’ve got everything you need to stack your day between trips to shows at Shed 10.

Easter is upon us and a long weekend of resting and feasting awaits. Take this holiday as a chance to go out to get your wine and dine on because that’s what we’ll be doing!

Calling all snow homies, holiday heroes, music-mad, and just plain festy frothers—epic destination festival, Snow Machine is next week. And. You. Don’t. Want. To. Miss. Out. 

Auckland weather is a true ode to the power of Mother Nature who seems to have a soft spot for constantly dealing us the meteorological middle finger. Luckily, whether you’re prepared for it or not (and you probably won’t be), there’s still plenty of things to do in Auckland when it rains.

We love wining and dining in Ponsonby at the best of times—but throw in some one-off creations, tasting menus, and special prices, and we really don’t need our arm further twisted. So grab your planner and round up your foodie friends, here are all the best events you need to devour this year at Eat Drink Love Ponsonby 2024:

The first Afterpay Day sale of 2024 officially kicks off in New Zealand on Thursday 14 March. Shop the best deals on fashion, beauty, and homewares. Get discounts from top brands like The North Face, Culture Kings, Glassons, and more. 

Upgrade everything from picnic dates to love-making with these great gifts.

For me, Matariki represents a time of celebration, reflection, and connection to people and land across New Zealand. 

Whether you are wishing to cut down your alcohol intake or are looking to go completely teetotal, here are our favourite non-alcoholic tipples for all the times you’re after a refreshing and tasty beverage, sans hangover.

The hot competition where chefs up and down the country cook up their tastiest take on the classic toastie, The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover, has crowned this year's winner.

It's official whānau, IKEA is finally coming to Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Irrespective of how you feel about trans people, no one deserves to be excluded because of who they are.

Today is International Women’s Day, an important day for all those who identify and women and allies. To celebrate, we reached out to 10 inspirational women to see what they had to say on this year’s theme #EmbraceEquity.

Here we are again, whānau. Cyclone Gabrielle, hot on the tail of the recent floods, has put further strain on our communities. Here are 11 ways you can contribute to the Cyclone Gabrielle relief effort.

The New Zealand Government has this morning announced a National State of Emergency in response to Cyclone Gabrielle's journey across the country.

After having opened in the midst of various lockdowns, multi-award-winning distillery Broken Heart Spirits has launched Queenstown’s first-ever boutique gin garden.

Ever wanted to live like a Hobbit? Here's your chance.

Not many people can say they started a beauty brand in their own kitchen, but Brianne West did just that when launching Ethique.

Auckland crew listen up! In some hugely exciting news, it’s been revealed that Ponsonby is (finally) getting a cinema complex all of its own for the first time in more than 50 years, and it’ll be of the luxury boutique variety that we absolutely stan.

Is there any better news than a new scoop shop? Well, one that gives out free ice cream of course.

Aotearoa is having a pop-public holiday in memorial of Queen Elizabeth II next week, Monday 26 September to be exact. Here are all some of the best places to feast in Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Stay up to date with our live list of the latest updates of restrictions around Auckland and New Zealand.

Take your tastebuds on tour, Wellington’s got a new restaurant serving epic Turkish and Middle-Eastern-inspired eats.

Given the threat of an omicron Covid 19 outbreak in the wider community in New Zealand, medical professionals suggest upgrading your face mask—remember the omicron variant is highly transmissible so you're better off with a respirator style that protects against finer particles over your standard cloth mask which just acts as a physical barrier. 

If you’re one of the unicorns that has not yet copped Coronavirus, this read is for you.

If you’re looking for conversation topics beyond your next choice of drink, Auckland Museum is playing matchmaker this year at their Mingle At The Museum singles event, which gives you the opportunity to meet like-minded people as you chat over dinosaur bones.

With Plastic Free July coming to an end and Conservation Week on the horizon, being mindful of our consuming habits should be our way of life. With the average Kiwi consuming 31kg of plastic per year (yikes), reducing our environmental footprint is something we need to consciously strive for every day.

These beauties have now been made a permanent addition to the menu and they're available for your face-stuffing pleasure right NOW.

There are few partnerships in life sweeter than peanut butter and jelly, and the fine folk at Whittaker's are clearly in agreement because they've just dropped an incredible new choccy block inspired by the powerhouse duo.

The team behind the talented design and construction team Babylon Gardens—who have been creating beautiful landscapes in Auckland for over 10 years—have just opened the Babylon Store to help all plant-lover wannabes.

Hot on the heels of their four new biccy creations, this time they’ve teamed up with Cadbury to bring us two epically delicious new doughnuts featuring the almighty Crunchie bar.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Roses box is getting a new outfit by Bonnie Brown drawing inspiration from elements of the beautiful Aotearoa as an ode to thank all the unsung heroes who raised us.

They've given us Jelly Tip chocolate, Hundreds & Thousands chocolate, even K Bar chocolate (remember that?). Now the legends at Whittaker's have whipped up two new choccy flavours for us to demolish (and demolish we shall!).

Has it really been seven long years since Lewis Road Creamery first revealed their now-iconic collab with Whittaker’s and dropped their next-level chocolate milk on the unsuspecting masses?

If you were thinking of giving healthy eating a go this week, think again. Because cult cookie brand, Moustache Milk & Cookie Bar have just launched a Giant Caramilk Cookie Pie that feeds up to 12 people and that, friends, is a deal that's simply too sweet to resist.

Auckland, we've just discovered an epic new dining experience you need to know about, and it happens to involve one of our favourite restaurants—the incredibly delicious Gochu.

Krispy Kreme, you are offically the maker of dreams. Because hot off the back of your Easter doughnuts (which were just heavenly, thank you) comes another range of drop dead delicious treats for us to drool over, dubbed Perfect Partners—and we reckon they're some of your best yet.

SkyCity has recently launched Fortune on Fed, a craft beer pop-up bar serving divine craft brews. Treat yourself to cheeses, cold cuts and burgers – the perfect accomplices to an excellent beer sesh.

Starting from today in Auckland and with Wellington and Christchurch following soon, you can now order beers, wines and spirits from over 30 local bottle shops and have it delivered direct to your door. How good. 

If you're a Kiwi of a certain age, chances are your childhood birthday parties consisted of three main treats—cheerios, sausage rolls and fairy bread. Now Shake Out is bringing you right on back to the days of pass-the-parcel and pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, with a magical Fairy Bread Shake that's a legit party in the mouth.

Make tracks for this pop-up bar that's hit Morningside where you can sip pink drinks beneath pink disco balls and hanging greenery in a purpose-built Pink Bar - a garden oasis that’s sure to look awe worthy on your insta stories... and who doesn’t love a bit of pink on their gram?

Prepare to have your mind blown, because one of the country's favourite lollies now comes in ice cream form.

The Viaduct is already awash with exciting activations thanks to a lil' thing called The America's Cup, now we've got what could be your best incentive yet to get down to the waterfront. How does tequila ice cream sound?

Krispy Kreme, you've done it again—you've come up with an incredible collab that has us drooling over our computer screens and frantically scrolling for our nearest stockist.

Official champagne partner G.H. Mumm is offering champagne delivery services both dockside and direct to your boat in the Hauraki Gulf. Soak in the sun while you watch the action and get chilled champagne hand-delivered to you on a jet ski in true Gatsby style.

Great news, your week just got off to a sweet start thanks to the good people at Pascall, who have bought together two of their most-loved lollies in one seriously scrumptious treat—Milkshakes Flavour Lumps.

Oh Lewis Road, how your flavoured milks make our hearts sing! Especially your latest offering, which combines the deliciousness of banana and caramel in a drink that tastes just like banoffee pie.

Whittaker's Hundreds & Thousands choccy block is back, baby! That's right, the brand's most requested flavour of all time is returning after a seven-year hiatus, and it's just the kinda news we Kiwis need this week.

Margo’s, Queenstown’s hottest new Mexican Restaurant and Bar has launched a new bottomless brunch just in time for Summer, and we’re not lying when we say we’re bloody pumped for this one.