© Peter De Graaf © Michael Flynn © Che Rogers

WOMAD NZ takes place in New Plymouth, Taranaki, in the stunning and spacious Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl of Brooklands from 18-20 March. It's not uncommon to have three generations of one family at the festival because it really is family friendly, and clean and green. As well as 30 hours of music on the seven stages, WOMAD New Zealand 2011 offers all of the following for free... films, Kidzone, artists in conversation, live cooking demos by artists, workshops, street theatre, chill out areas and more. At WOMAD you can eat and shop your way around the world. At the heart of the festival is a Global Village - it's made up of more than 80 stalls trading a vast range of international foods, beverages, art and craft.

Check out all the details at www.womad.co.nz and make WOMAD New Zealand one of your summer destinations. Make sure you, your family and friends join New Zealand's biggest world party in the park - WOMAD. Tickets on sale in October.

Sounds Aotearoa is a two-day music event that happens in March each year. The event has three main elements to it - a conference, an expo and artist showcases/performances. Sounds Aotearoa is designed to: facilitate exposure, networking, capacity building, and business promotion. The two-day event provides an opportunity for musicians, promoters, managers and others to work with industry experts to learn and share with one another. It also enables the public to enjoy some performances by leading musicians.

Showcases/performances

Over two evenings, a selection of New Zealand artists perform as part of the showcase programme. Anyone can buy a ticket to these evening sessions and delegates who are registered for the full two-day event receive free entry. You never know who you might meet at these sessions! NZ music industry trade expo The expo houses exhibition booths of private and public industry professionals including non-government agencies and government departments. This aspect of the event provides valuable information, resources and contacts in areas like: funding; venues; legal matters; technology; promotions; and more.

Conference

This aspect of the event is the 'think tank' for the New Zealand music industry. It consists of interactive activities such as: panels, forums and workshops. Where TSB Showplace, 92 Devon St, New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand

Including Taranaki's own Paige Hareb, the TSB Bank Women's Surf Festival will bring the top 17 women surfers in the world on ASP's Women's Dream Tour, to the region to compete in the Subaru Pro. The Festival will also host New Zealand's best female surfers who will be participating in the New Zealand Women's Open age group divisions and main event. With the winner of the Open again going through as the wildcard entry into the ASP World Tour event, it's an extraordinary chance for a Kiwi to take on and possibly beat the world's best, as young Sarah Mason did when she defeated world champion Stephanie Gilmore in her round 3 heat in the inaugural festival earlier this year. In addition to seeing the top New Zealand and international surfers in competitions, the Festival will feature numerous community events such as learn to surf lessons, a 'surf with the pros' afternoon for young surfers, Dream Tour girls signings and expression sessions, sandcastle building competitions, and foreshore and dune planting activities.

The biennial festival features more than 250 international and New Zealand artists and performers in the line-up. The program of events promise something for everyone - theatre, contemporary music, fine music, choirs, literature, dance, visual arts, film, and there will be a cabaret and comedy program in a stunning spiegeltent!

Since 1993 the TSB Bank Festival of Lights has wowed visitors with an awesome mix of events, entertainment and of course a spectacular lighting display set against the backdrop of Pukekura Park. At night, fluorescent pebble paths sparkle beneath excited feet, majestic trees and plants glow, and waterfalls and lakes shimmer and shine beneath thousands of lighting displays. But it's the features such as the talking giant, fire poi dancers or the parades that captivate the young and the not so young. Structures such as the park's water wheel, fountains and historic band rotunda are flooded with lights, while illuminated wooden rowboats offer a romantic boating opportunity like no other.

Summer Scene is the daytime activities and events programme that takes place throughout the New Plymouth District for children and their families. Activities include scavenger hunts, skateboarding events, magicians and much more. On Stage is the nightly entertainment programme that takes place in Pukekura Park over the festival. There are two stages of entertainment running throughout the festival (entertainment every night on the Hatchery Lawn and weekends only on the Fred Parker Lawn).

© Jane Dove Juneau © Jane Dove Juneau © Rob Tucker

The annual ten day festival (formerly the Taranaki Rhododendron & Garden Festival) showcases some of New Zealand's most stunning private and public gardens.

As one of New Zealand's longest running festivals each year it offers an exclusive opportunity to experience a diverse range of high quality gardens that are among the best in the country. Visitors will enjoy strolling through large park-like country gardens, geometric and intimate inner city potager gardens, sub-tropical and rainforest gardens.

As New Zealand's Premier Spring Festival visitors can experience an extensive events programme featuring jazz and wine in gardens, an exclusive landscape design project, guided walks and a garden celebrity speaker series and much more.

We invite you to indulge in a feast for your senses, borne from the imaginations, inspiration and sheer perspiration of our region's most gifted gardeners.

For more information and upcoming festival dates, visit www.rhodo.co.nz or call +64 6 759 8412.