New Zealand Tourist Guides — Events  Apart from public holidays, the entire calendar year is filled with events either of historic or cultural importance. National events like Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day are celebrated nationally, while each city has its own special events with a special emphasis on music and outdoor activities. Waitangi Day (also known as New Zealand Day) is celebrated on February 6th, and commemorates the Treaty of Waitangi, signed in 1840 between the British and the Maori, which gave the British protection to the Maori people, while allowing them their territorial rights. ANZAC Day (ANZAC - Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) is a day, which honors New Zealand's many military martyrs - both the World Wars saw New Zealand suffer heavy losses. Each city has festivals through the year to promote their own special characteristics. Art and culture are celebrated at the annual Auckland Festival; the Akaroa French Festival focuses on the cuisine and craft of the Akaroa region; seafood and wine are the highlights of the Bluff Oyster and Southland Seafood Festival in May, Dunedin shows off its amazing spring-time Rhododendron blooms at the Dunedin Rhododendron Festival, while Marlborough competes with its Hunter's Garden Festival showcasing its spectacular gardens in the month of November. The Wildfoods Festival of Hokitika sees New Zealand's top chefs view for the Chef's Challenge, exotic wild food are on offer like huhu grubs, whitebait, ostrich, worms, horsemeat, snails, grasshoppers, and sheep and bull testicles. This is one festival, which is definitely not for those with a delicate stomach. The world's largest buskers festival is held in Christchurch in January. Since its inaugural event in 1994, this has become an internationally popular event for all varieties of street performers. The Aotearoa Traditional Maori Performing Arts Festival, held over three days in the month of February is a government initiative to keep alive the rich heritage of Maori tradition. Many events are held to celebrate the great outdoors - the Golden Shears Sheep-Shearing Contest in March, held at Masterton, and the Canterbury Show Week held in Christchurch in November with its agricultural exhibits and rides are the most notable. Winter sports on Coronet Peak are a ten-day event held in Queenstown as a part of the Queenstown Winter festival held in July. Public Holidays
1 Jan - New Year's Day
6 Feb - Waitangi Day
Mar/Apr - Easter
25 Apr - Anzac Day
1st Mon in June - Queen's Birthday
4th Mon in Oct - Labour Day
25 Dec - Christmas Day
26 Dec - Boxing Day
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