Sport is often close to the heart of many Kiwis. If you’ve ever heard of the All Blacks, you’ll know that rugby is the big national game! Catch a game at the electric atmosphere of a stadium – if you can score a ticket – or head to a pub and watch it on the big screen. Although slower paced, cricket also draws crowds of Kiwis out on summer days. Horseracing – in both thoroughbred and harness forms – is also popular.

At certain times of the year, big events on the racing calendar become de rigueur for trendy locals – as in other parts of the world, it serves as an excellent excuse to dress-up! In Christchurch the biggie is Cup Week, held during November, and in Auckland there’s Mercedes Derby Day on Boxing Day and the Auckland Cup on New Year’s Day.