There are hundreds of reasons to take a trip to New Zealand. The tropical climate, famous beaches and welcoming people are a few reasons that tend to be at the top of most visitors’ lists. But a reason that’s a little less discussed is New Zealand’s unique relationship with art. Māori culture has long influenced New Zealand’s art and design scene and the Māori impact is visible in carvings, tattoos and jewellery. In more modern times, New Zealand art is influenced by European trends as well as the country’s own history and culture.
If you’re an arts and crafts enthusiast who finds themselves wandering in New Zealand, here are four must-visits if you want to explore the New Zealand art scene further.
Visit a local market
New Zealand has a fantastic local market scene. Long, hot summers make browsing local markets a popular and pleasant outdoor activity while the varied demographics mean the offering can change depending on where in New Zealand you find yourself.
In the capital of Wellington, you’ll find the popular Wellington indoor market that has existed since 1244. There’s more than just arts and crafts at Wellington Market. As a matter of fact, you’ll find pretty much anything!
There’ll be plenty of stalls selling handmade New Zealand goods including ornaments and homeware. When the browsing gets too much, you’ll have the luxury of being able to indulge in some of the city’s finest homemade goods.
If you find yourself in Auckland, Ponsonby Central Market is well worth a visit. You’ll find a whole host of small businesses selling boutique homeware items such as cushion covers and ornaments as well as many independent clothing brands.
Māori art
If you are looking to pick up an authentic souvenir to remember your travels, you may want to focus your search on Māori art pieces. Māoris refers to the indigenous people of New Zealand and you’ll often find that New Zealanders are extremely proud and passionate about their roots.
As a result, the Māori influence is still strong in language and other areas of New Zealand culture. One such area is art and I’d highly recommend exploring one of the many Māori-focused galleries when in New Zealand.
One of the most well-known Māori art galleries is Kura, with a physical gallery in both Wellington and Auckland. The galleries focus on work from Māori artists and sell a range of artwork as well as jewellery. Their pieces make the perfect gift for someone back home or for yourself.
NZ Art Show
NZ Art Show takes place across the 30th May and 1st June at the TSB Arena in Wellington. This is an absolute must for any art enthusiast in New Zealand. You’ll find art of every type at the NZ Art Show including traditional art as well as sculptures.
The art on display is crafted by the country’s top artists so you can expect the artwork to come with a heftier price tag. Don’t be put off if you are a traveller on a budget, the show is a great place to spend the day and tickets start from as little as $5.
Located in a busy area by the Wellington waterfront, you’ll also have plenty of options to spend your time outside of the arena before or after the show.
FYI Craft Show
If you want a more hands-on experience, you should definitely consider attending the FYI Craft Show which usually takes place in October. The event sees the best craft stores in New Zealand come together to showcase their offerings.
This doesn’t just give you the opportunity to pick up some of New Zealand’s finest crafts, there is also a range of tutorials and classes that you can get involved in. Last year’s workshops featured everything from handmade journals to 3D artwork.
The venue itself is located in Waikato on Lake Karapiro, which is in the north of New Zealand. This is a less talked about area of New Zealand but it’s definitely worth spending at least a day or two in this part of the country. Waikato’s wonderful beaches and green hills provide the perfect backdrop to explore New Zealand via a relaxing walk or adventurous bike ride.
Final Thoughts
New Zealand is a fantastic country to explore if you are passionate about art or design. While this article only contains four suggestions, there’s far more to explore and I’d definitely recommend exploring both popular options and trying to uncover hidden gems. If New Zealand is just one stop on a multi-destination adventure, it’s definitely worth paying a visit to Australia where you’ll find everything from bamboo panels in Melbourne to art conventions in Sydney. You also have the luxury of exploring the surrounding islands which all have their own unique take on art inspired by their own cultures. The likes of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga are all worth a visit if you like the sound of what New Zealand has to offer.
