Gisborne
The excellent, artful Dome is located inside the charming old Poverty Bay Club building (1874): beanbags and art-house flicks now occupy the glass-domed…
Must-see entertainment in North Island
The Wairarapa
An urbane addition to workaday Masterton's cultural life, the Screening Room is a top spot to catch a movie (two plush 60-seat cinemas) or sip wine on the…
Wellington
Wellywood’s cinema mother ship is an art-deco darling, built in the 1920s. Today she screens mainly mainstream films with state-of-the-art sound and…
Rotorua
Modestly proclaiming itself one of the 10 best experiences in the world, Tamaki offers a 3½-hour twilight Māori cultural experience in its recreated…
Napier
A vision in purple, this boutique 45-seat cinema screens art-house flicks in a sumptuous lounge, with ready access to pizza and dumpling snacks from a…
Auckland
Exciting and educational kids' shows are performed at this innovative theatre in Henderson – expect extreme fun and irreverence – and the whole shebang…
Kingsland & Mt Eden
This stadium hosts top rugby (winter) and cricket (summer) tests by the All Blacks (www.allblacks.com) and the Black Caps (www.blackcaps.co.nz),…
Rotorua
This family-run outfit offers a popular three-hour evening event with a concert, hāngi and glowworm bush walk. The experience starts with the arrival of a…
Taranaki & Whanganui
When Stratford's fine old picture house opened on the last day of 1917, movies were still silent, King George V was on the throne back in London and New…
Taranaki & Whanganui
This restored 1920s theatre, run by volunteers, has been redeemed as Opunake's cutural beacon, with couches downstairs and regular movie theatre seats…
The Wairarapa
Martinborough has its own stylish art-house cinema – a mod, micro-sized complex with two comfy studio theatres and a cafe opening out on to a sunny,…
Whanganui
Whanganui's magnificent white weatherboard opera house (1899) is New Zealand's (and some suggest the southern hemisphere's) last working Victorian-era…
Wellington
Truly the cat’s pyjamas, Meow goes out on a limb to host a diverse range of gigs and performances: country, ragtime, DJs, acoustic rock, jazz, poetry… At…
Whanganui
The first Friday of every month is club night here; that means a scheduled performance from local and international stars, and even open mic earlier on…
Hawke's Bay
The long-derelict Gaiety has been architecturally redeemed, and exudes gaiety once again! Art-house and mainstream movies on the Wairoa riverside and…
Whanganui
Nightly new-release blockbusters selling out faster than you can say ‘bored Whanganui teenagers’. Arthouse films screen too, plus a new 20-seat boutique…
Wellington
The city's major concert hall stages regular performances by the NZ Symphony Orchestra (www.nzso.co.nz), Orchestra Wellington (www.orchestrawellington.co…
Napier
Not only the city’s largest venue for the likes of rock concerts, dance and drama (1000 seats), but also one of the world’s few working art-deco theatres…
Rotorua
The Novotel's 2½-hour Māori cultural experience includes a performance of traditional song and dance followed by a hāngi. It's held in a separate building…
Wellington
Tucked away near the top end of Cuba St, this small, stylish cinema throws a range of mainstream, art-house and foreign films up onto the screens in three…
Gisborne
Reopened in 2019 after earthquake strengthening, the versatile, 250-seat Lawson Field Theatre hosts everything from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to…
Wellington
This grand old heritage theatre hosts big-ticket productions such as the Royal NZ Ballet (www.rnzb.org.nz) and NZ Opera (www.nzopera.com), plus the odd…
Ponsonby & Karangahape Rd
New Zealand's best indie bands, emerging overseas acts, drum-and-bass DJs and the occasional burlesque show all feature at this versatile upstairs venue…
City Centre & Britomart
This elegant Edwardian venue (1911) hosts the NZ Symphony Orchestra (www.nzso.co.nz) and Auckland Philharmonia (www.apo.co.nz), among others. Also used…
Wellington
This much-loved, midsize music venue wheels out craft beer and smoky, meaty food to go along with the rock. Dancing is near mandatory, and the balcony…
Viaduct Harbour & Wynyard Quarter
The ASB Waterfront Theatre is used by the Auckland Theatre Company and also for occasional one-off shows and concerts. A good selection of bars and…
City Centre & Britomart
Stand-up performances most nights, with legendary late-night shows during the annual Comedy Festival.
City Centre & Britomart
Theatre by various companies and intimate live music. Silo Theatre (www.silotheatre.co.nz) often performs here.
Bay of Islands
Hollywood new releases and art-house flicks in an historic 1930s weatherboard building.
Palmerston North
This theatre was Palmerston North's pride and joy when it opened in 1930, but it closed in the early '90s following a lengthy decline. The council stepped…
Palmerston North
Feeling experimental? Head to Palmy's black-box fringe theatre for something out of the ordinary. Run by Centrepoint Theatre, it hosts local, national and…
New Plymouth
This old theatre has expanded into the adjoining shopfronts to become the Mayfair, a live-music space with a fairly mainstream bar-restaurant focusing on…
Napier
This legendary live-music room started in 1958 then died in 1997. But thanks to some forward-thinking rock fans, it’s risen from the grave to save the day…
New Plymouth
Brooklands Park is home to the Bowl of Brooklands, a world-class outdoor sound-shell, which hosts festivals such as WOMAD and old-school rockers like…
Taupo
Hosts performances, exhibitions and conventions. Ask at the Taupo i-SITE for the current program. Look for the intricate red waharoa (entranceway) carved…
Hastings & Around
Boutiquey cinema screening blockbusters in Hastings city centre, with nifty speakers fitted into the seats ('See it, hear it, feel it!'). Three screens;…
Auckland
Home ground for the Warriors rugby league team (www.warriors.kiwi), Auckland Football Federation (www.aucklandfootball.org.nz) and Athletics Auckland (www…
Wellington
This grand old heritage theatre hosts big-ticket productions such as the Royal NZ Ballet (www.rnzb.org.nz) and NZ Opera (www.nzopera.com), plus the odd…
Auckland
One of the two home courts of the NZ Breakers basketball team (www.nzbreakers.co.nz) and an occasional concert venue. The other home court is at Spark…
