New Zealand is a land in the far south where immigrant cultures were grafted onto a Polynesian landscape. This makes for a colourful culture replete with festivals of all kinds. There are festivals marking special days in the country's colonial history Cheap Nike Air Foce 1 Sale , events that celebrate the indigenous Polynesian culture and still others that commemorate New Zealand's rich agricultural traditions.
New Zealand celebrates its history on the last Monday in January with the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta. This colourful, nautical event commemorates the arrival of Captain Hobson in New Zealand when he founded the city of Auckland.
The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta dates back to 1840 which makes it the country's oldest sporting event. Predating the Americas Cup by 11 years, the Auckland Anniversary Regatta draws around 400 competing boats each year.
New Zealand's Polynesian roots are celebrated at the Pasifika Festival held at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium in March. The event celebrates the art, culture and lifestyle of the South Pacific through music and other performances.
First produced by Auckland City Council in 1993, Pasifika has grown over the years and now attracts more than 225000 visitors who come to enjoy the work of hundreds of performers from the Auckland region as well as the Pacific area.
The event kicks off on a Friday night with an opening concert from Air New Zealand. The main event starts of the Saturday and comprises around 300 food and craft stalls.
A popular addition to Pasifika was made in 1999 in the form of cultural villages. These showcase unique aspects of various Pacific Island communities. Each village presents a traditional and contemporary programme including music Cheap Nike Air Foce 1 Shoes , dancing, workshops, and food.
In 2008, Wellington introduced its own Pasifika featuring exhibitors from Fiji, Tonga Cheap Nike Air Foce 1 Mid , Samoa, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue displaying traditional handicrafts such as embroidery, weaving Cheap Nike Air Foce 1 Low , shell jewellery and wood carving.
Agriculture is at the heart of the New Zealand economy so it's no wonder that one of the country's most important festivals covers farming and rural life. It's the Royal New Zealand Show held over three days each November. With the theme of 'Bringing the country to town', the Show is held at Canterbury Agricultural Park, Wigram Road, Christchurch.
Featuring both indoor and outdoor displays and exhibitions, the Royal New Zealand Show attracts well over 100 Cheap Nike Air Foce 1 High ,000 visitors each year. Displays include marquees and pavilions showcasing the very best of New Zealand farming and rural life, top entertainment, and numerous other attractions. The event draws 5000 livestock entries and more than 400 exhibitors.
The Royal New Zealand Show was first held in 1924. Formerly held in rotation with Palmerston North, Hawke's Bay, Hamilton Cheap Nike Air Foce 1 White , Invercargill and Christchurch, the show has been held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch since 2006.
New Zealand is a fascinating country but attending a festival can give you special insights into this antipodean nation
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Richard has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers cheap New Zealand hotels .
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JERUSALEM, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Israel struck a position belonging to Syrian army after stray mortars from Syria's civil war hit the Israeli-held Golan Heights on Saturday night, Israel's army said.
A military statement said that the strike targeted a canon of the Syrian army. The action was a response to two errant mortars, which hit earlier an open area in the northern Golan Heights near the security fence Cheap Nike Air Foce 1 Black , causing no injuries, according to the statement.
The army believes that the fire was a result of the heavy fighting between the Syrian army and rebels in Quneitera, near the disputed Syrian-Israeli border.
Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis said Saturday that Israel maintains a policy of non-involvement in the Syrian civil war, but "will not tolerate any breach of Israel's sovereignty."
He warned that "Israel holds the Syrian regime responsible for any breach of its borders and will act accordingly."
The incident was the sixth time that a spillover from war-torn Syria hit northern Israel, without causing damage or injuries.
Israel usually responded these incidents with strikes against President Bashar Assad's army positions.
Israel had repeatedly declared it would not intervene in the internal fighting in Syria.
However Cheap Nike Air Foce 1 Mens , it is widely believed that Israel often carried out airstrikes on weapons convoys in Syria, and has been providing medical treatment to hundreds of wounded Syrians who reached the border.
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