The New Zealand International Arts Festival, hosted in the capital city in even-numbered years, is the foremost cultural event in New Zealand. It features the best in visual and performing arts and entertainment from home and abroad. The Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court and Young Vic are just a few of the companies who have appeared in past years. The festival started life in 1986 and his developed its bold programme to attract events and performers of the highest quality. Opera, theatre, dance and music fill the schedule, with a parallel programme of literary and visual arts, free and family events. Club nights feature informal entertainments which might include African rhythms, country, guitar or Latin music, with jazz on Sundays. A SchoolFest programme ensures that youngsters are not left out, and a series of talks and seminars runs through the festival period.

Times
Various.