BBC's The Luminaries Shines a Light on Hokitika
You may have heard about the BBC’s latest offering that’s coming to our screens on June 21st. The Luminaries is an exciting dramatisation of Eleanor Catton’s Man Booker Prize-Winning novel set during New Zealand's 19th Century gold rush and is penned to be one of the best series of the year.
Wallet-Friendly Things to Do In Rotorua
No other place sums up the unique landscape and culture of New Zealand quite as well as Rotorua.
It is a proud centre point of Māori heritage, where you are welcomed by Māori tribes to experience and explore their culture. It is a geothermal paradise, studded with spas and hot pools that were millennia in the making. It is an adventurer’s playground, with as many activities for adrenaline junkies as there are for hikers and bikers.
New Zealand Community Spirit Rises Up During Lockdown
Life in lockdown has made us realise many things, especially how important community is in order to make it through the tough times we’re faced with. New Zealanders are no exception, they’re known the world over for their community spirit and welcoming demeanor. So it may come as no surprise that they’ll go to great lengths to guarantee that everyone in their community is taken care of.
Whether it’s providing support for local businesses, keeping spirits high with an innovative approach to entertainment or just ensuring no person is forgotten, we wanted to check out how Kiwi’s have been responding to the Covid-19 crisis.
A Complete Guide to Mount Cook: New Zealand's Highest Mountain
Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand at 3,724 metres (12,218 feet). It is part of the Southern Alps range which dominates the landscape of the country’s South Island. Throughout the year, the mountain and the other prominent peaks of Mount Tasman, Mount Hicks and Sefton offer a stunning visual backdrop to the scenery of the West Coast, Lake Tekapo and the Canterbury region of the East Coast.
The mountain holds particular significance for the Maori people, who named it Aoraki according to local legend. It is definitely a “must-see” sight on any New Zealand tour, since you can’t truly understand the geology of the country or the mountain’s prominence in the national psyche without a visit to the park that bears its name.
5 Breathtaking Virtual Tours Around New Zealand
If there’s one thing that we’ve definitely learned the value of since lockdown, it’s travel. The ability to visit far off lands and discover the hidden gems they offer has never seemed so sweet. But while we might not be able to take a trip right now, the power of technology does mean that we can still immerse ourselves in the wonders of the world from the comfort of our sofa.
Coronavirus Developments in New Zealand
It is generally acknowledged that New Zealand’s Covid-19 Strategy has been one of the most successful throughout the world in tackling the virus.
Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand (pictured above), announced this week that the country’s health department had recorded the lowest number of daily cases since 22nd March, four days before the country went into lockdown. So far, there have been just 13 reported deaths in the country.
Read more
Test Your New Zealand Knowledge and You Could Win a Box of Devonport Chocolates!
As we settle into life on lockdown, being unable to get out and about might mean you're finding it tricky to occupy your time. So, if like us you love all things New Zealand and you want to flex those brain muscles a bit, why not test your Kiwi knowledge with our fun little quiz?
But that's not all, if you really want to raise the stakes, you can submit your answers* to us at the end and you could win what we think is one of New Zealand's finest exports... a box of Devonport chocolates worth almost £30!
Read more
A Message from Silver Fern Director, John Lightwood
The events of the last few weeks have brought into sharp focus what we really value in life – our health, our families, our relationships and our communities. It is perhaps a long overdue re-balance of priorities away from business, from money and an “always on the go” mentality.
Nelson’s Blue Lake and Its Magical Māori Connections
To take your mind off the difficulties experienced across the world at the moment, we wanted to provide you with a little bit of escapism. So, here’s our first post of a series we’re doing all about our favourite places in New Zealand. Grab a cuppa and dive into the magic and wonder of Nelson's Blue Lake...
