Art

Ōtautahi is an absolute gem of a city—there’s not a lot it doesn’t have. Beaches? Yes. Arts and culture? Absolutely. Outdoor excursions? You bet. A bunch more fun stuff? By the bucket load! So go get out there and explore it with our list of 50 of the best things to do in Christchurch. 

Tattoos are a universal art form used as a form of self-expression and tribute and as the world’s most tattooed nation, it's no surprise we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a tattoo studio in Auckland.

The Urban List guide to the absolute best things to do in Wellington. 

If you’re anything like us, you know that one of life’s greatest pleasures is trawling through a bookstore to discover your next read.

We caught up with Hāmiora Bailey, director of Auckland Pride 2025 to pick their brains on the festival and all their favourite spots in the Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Whether you love getting amongst the arts or prefer to eat your way around town, Ōtautahi’s got something for you. Here are the best events happening in Christchurch in 2025. 

A bunch of workshops have popped up all over Auckland with every kind of class imaginable.

Christmas is indeed the most wonderful time of the year and our fave part of the festivities is decorating the tree. That said, we've searched out the very best Christmas decorations money can buy, and we think you'll be impressed. From pop stars and film characters to pretend treats and treats proper (or at least, baubles filled with them), there's a lot to get excited about.

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.

Get amped up for the most wonderful time of the year. We’re talkin’ New Zealand’s festival season. Across the country, lads and lasses will be locking in tickets to some of the best festivals our country has to offer, all promising an epic mash-up of beats, vibes and all round good times.

The independent arts festival kicks off from 2-22 September, celebrating the weird and wonderful of Auckland’s art scene, and everything in between.

Commissioned by Auckland Transport, pockets of Māori mahi toi (art) are woven through the city centre. What starts as a functional project—say revamping infrastructure—becomes a powerful art project. 

Forget what you know about the Southern Lights. Aurora Australis? Please…we have something much more exciting for you! Come Queen’s Birthday weekend, Queenstown’s waterfront is set to transform into a magical forest wonderland, lit up with interactive light sculptures and illuminated art installations.

Quirky urban cool, natural wonders, arty happenings and more than a few places to quench your thirst, Dunedin is full of contrasts and curiosities.

Matariki a.k.a. Māori New Year is just around the corner (Friday 14 July to be exact). A time of reflection and new beginnings, Tāmaki Makaurau is busting out all the stops with a treasure trove of ways to celebrate.

From statement earrings and sleep-supporting tea to illuminating skincare and cosy knitwear, shop our thoughtfully curated list of Mother's Day gifts.

We’re a tiny bit (read: a lot) obsessed with the work of Tom Gould. Born in Aotearoa and based in New York, the director-slash-photographer has won the world over with his emotive visual storytelling. 

A next-level digital exhibition about the godfather of surrealism Salvador Dali is coming to New Zealand this May, direct from electrifying audiences in Florence, Italy.

Whether you’re feeling a bit cash-strapped in the lead up to payday or just love a freebie, Wellington has oodles of fun-tastic things to do that are absolutely, positively free.

Artweek is just around the corner and 2020 marks a massive ten years for the week-long festival. Once again, it's time to celebrate all the dynamic, abstract and awe-inspiring pieces right here in the City of Sails. We’ve narrowed down our top picks for some of the best events this year's programme has to offer, so come along to appreciate all the wonderful art that has flourished while the city has been in lockdown. 

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.

Whether you love a good photo op or simply have an appreciation for the arts—the enchanting Night Lights at MOTAT will be right up your street. From Friday 25 to Sunday 27 June, MOTAT will be coming alive at Matariki with light installations, live music, fire performances and much more. 

It’s been dubbed the world’s most Instagrammable exhibition—selling out stints in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, Las Vegas and Philadelphia—and is now coming to Auckland.

Now you'll be able to have your own Emily In Paris moment as the full-scale, indoor exhibition will be touring stadium-sized venues in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland next year. Yep, get ready to snap up those tickets.

If one thing’s for sure, indoor plants sit in a very special place in our hearts these days. You know, those cute, spiky little cacti sitting on the windowsill, or those stunning, draping string of pearls hanging on the wall. Many of you will agree that having plants around the house just makes life better.

Ever since the first lockdown (remember that?) ‘Fairy Houses’ have started popping up in a Hobsonville park and to say they’re cute as a button would be an understatement. 

From 5 February to 28 March, Wellington’s streets will become centre stage for a free, city-wide programme of music, art, dance and theatre as part of the newly launched festival, What If The City Was A Theatre? 

Get ready to get the drinks and your creative juices flowing at this boozy painting in the park.

Paint your mate to resemble a resident of Pandora at Paintvine’s awesome new painting experience. Held this February 14 at Auckland’s Platform 8, why not skip the fancy dinner and get up close and personal with your partner to spice up your Valentine’s day.

Auckland Art Gallery is offering free drop-in figure drawing sessions on Friday lates. As the name suggests, you are free to come and go whenever you please. 

Imagine all the fantasy and magic from Night at the Museum, and spice it up with some fire, pole dancing, and eccentricity. Brace yourself for an evening of unconventional entertainment at WTF?! 2020. 

Wellington is the first city in the world to host the sell-out exhibition in the great outdoors.

Life is about to slow down a whole lot, so why not spend your time inside discovering a hidden talent. Paintvine has you covered with virtual art classes to keep you going and give you some contact with the outside world.

If you’ve got an Instagram account, chances are you’ve seen the sublime works of Paul Milinski at least a few times in your feed. The Melbourne-based graphic designer and creative director has gone from 300 to 300k+ followers in a matter of months, and with good reason. 

​With an international travel ban now in place and many of us practising physical distancing, those overseas getaways and cultural experiences we had planned for 2020 just seem further and further away.

Thanks to the coronavirus outbreak, we’re staring down the barrel of potential periods of self-isolation—so why not earn a little extra dough in between Netflix binges? We’ve rounded up all the ways you can earn money online.

We jumped at the chance to chat to talk to Milk & Honey Festival co-founder, Lani Purkis. Best known as the bassist in Elemenop, these days she’s working behind the scenes so other women in music can shine.

Fancy getting inked? Why not do it for a good cause at Ink Me at QT. Oh, and did we mention celebrity tattooist Lauren Winzer? She’ll be there.

Hubble bubble toil and trouble baby, October 31 is the perfect day to be a little extra and transform yourself into something spooky and we’re here to help you prep for it. We've found the freakiest and most skilful make-up artists on the 'Gram to scare you into shape this Halloween.

From casual day dates to the more formal evening affairs, read on for the most romantic things to do in Dunedin. 

With The World Of Wearable Art (WOW) exhibition just around the corner, Auckland finalist Ian Bernhard is gearing up to send his daring designs out on the stage. We had a chat with Ian about what inspires him, his design journey, and all things WOW.

With sustainability as the theme at NZFW this year, both familiar favourites and brand new labels took to the runway with thoughtful and responsibly-made collections. 

Here are our top picks for the best things to see and do in our fine capital during September.

As the days become warmer and the nights longer, there’s officially no excuse for you to stay at home.

The Book of Mormon is coming to New Zealand in 2020. 

Do you find yourself missing out on potential romantic entanglements with artists just because you can’t tell a Manet from a Monet? Or maybe you just want to buff up on your art terminology for when the next cool exhibition hits. Whatever your reason for wanting to up your culture game, we’ve got you.

Instagram is the ultimate directory of up and coming artists. Here are eight artists you should absolutely follow (and sometimes shop) on Instagram.

Aucklanders, you have been treated as the World Press Photo Exhibition hits the streets of our city once again.

As the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, we’re starting the get amped up for the most wonderful time of the year. We’re talkin’ New Zealand’s summer festival season. Across the country, lads and lasses will be locking in tickets to some of the best summer festivals our country has to offer, all promising an epic mash-up of beats, vibes and all round good times in the sunshine.