New Zealand

1. 
   4
   May

   Stay a night in the cells at Napier Prison

   Pull up at the old Napier Prison these days and instead of police vans and naughty people leering through the iron bars, you’ll find the Napier Prison Tours and Entertainment vehicle parked out the front and backpackers walking through the gates. This scungy prison, built in 1858, closed only in 1993 after being deemed unfit [...]

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2. 
   30
   Apr

   A progressive party for Auckland’s Rugby World Cup!

   Question: Why would anyone pull down these ugly old sheds on Queens Wharf only to put up a tent so rugby fans can party when the brand new Viaduct Events Centre will be up and running in time for the Rugby World Cup?! I DON’T MEAN TO SHOUT, but did you know ground was broken [...]

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3. 
   29
   Apr

   Laugh out loud!

   Auckland Scene: We’re about halfway through the NZ Comedy Gala when my brother sniffs disapprovingly and harrumphs, “the problem with NZ comedy now is that everyone’s just copying Rhys Darby,” he says, a strange concoction of bemused disappointment. It seems like only the other week it was NZ comedy festival 2009, which leaves me to [...]

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4. 
   27
   Apr

   Would you shave your head for a free flight??

   That’s the challenge from Air New Zealand … If you’re up for getting your luscious golden tresses shaved off onboard a flight from Auckland to the Queenstown Winter Festival — you get the flight for free! On June 27th ALL passengers AND crew will be ‘shaving for a cure’ for the Leukemia and Blood Foundation [...]

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5. 
   26
   Apr

   Stalking kiwis

   If you go out in the woods today you’ll be hard pressed to find our iconic bird. In fact even if you go out in the woods tonight, you’ll be a very lucky stalker indeed to be rewarded with the sounds of a kiwi rustling in the undergrowth. But that’s exactly what I did (or [...]

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6. 
   23
   Apr

   Chillin at the Conch Sunday Grill, Ponsonby

   Auckland Scene: I know it’s getting cliché to suggest that you take a stroll down Ponsonby Road for a lazy Sunday afternoon jaunt. I’m the first to stray far from any suburb of Auckland where every second pedestrian is a velour-clad celebrity gunning it up from Hopetoun Street on their daily jog. I live in [...]

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7. 
   20
   Apr

   Stay a night in the vines at Matakana

   Who knew you could find something to do for two days in Matakana without the famous farmer’s market? Certainly not me. I was staying there for a Monday and Tuesday and didn’t know what could possibly occupy my time since the market is only open on Saturday mornings. Clearly Matakana’s Farmers Market has a very [...]

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8. 
   19
   Apr

   Best place to buy a fine cigar in Auckland

   Auckland Scene: We had a birthday in the family last week and as is our tradition, we decided to hunt out some nice cigars. I’ve taken quite a liking to cigars, call me a novice enthusiast. I’ve found that smoking the odd cigar is the perfect rebellion against a harsh Pentecostal upbringing – it’s naughty [...]

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9. 
   16
   Apr

   Invent stuff for Air New Zealand & win tickets to London!

   If you can come up with some crazy inventions for Air New Zealand by April 26th, you and a mate will win a ticket to London! They need an eye mask, a fancy cocktail (to be shaken not whizzed) and a delicious snack to be served on the new 777-300. We’re getting used to Air [...]

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10. 
    15
    Apr

    10 things to do within cooee of Matakana

    So you’re about an hour and a half north of Auckland in the cute village of Matakana but bugger, it’s not Saturday. The famous farmers market is closed so there’s no trawling for fresh produce, chocolate, berries, smoked meats, et al. But wait! Before you drive on by, here is a list of 10 other [...]

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