 | Christchurch Local Customs | Tips 11 - 20 of 43 |  |
The people of Canterbury or Cantabrians are known for being very one eyed when it comes to sport and any of their sports teams. From the Crudsaders to the Wizards your Cantab in the street will only see the good performance of his/her own team and nothing else. The Cantabs team is always the best - please note that this is not arrogance, this is just self assuredness from many years of doing well at the national games of rugby & cricket. (and a self preservation system when the team has a bad run........) Leave a Comment
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If you are looking for some Maori Art, the arts centre is a very good place to buy something genuine. Prices aren't cheap though, but if money isn't too much of a problem I suggest buying it here. It looks great and the artists at this particular place make everything in front of your eyes. Leave a Comment
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New Zealanders are fundraising all the time, for schools, churches, privately funded surgeries, just everything. Garage sales, kids selling chocolate and cookies and quiz nights are just some of the activities to raise money for mostly important things that do not get funding by the state.
On the weekends is the, I would call it: super sausage sizzle craze. In front of many supermarkets, shopping centres, DIY centres and the shops of the butcher who sponsors the sizzles, people like you and me are busy sizzling sausages and onions. It is the cheapest lunch you will get in the city. One sausage with onions and bread (which is a slice of untoasted toast-bread...) costs between NZ$1 and 1.50. This is still cheap even if you need two... ;-) Bon appetit!
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Every year in summer - like in other cities in New Zealand - a teddybear picnic takes place in Hagley Park. This is a good opportunity for grown-ups to display their childish side without being regarded as childish. Over 70 year old teddies also join the party. Some people smuggle other toy animals than bears onto their blankets but probably it is only because those animals would get frustrated in the empty house ;-)
Anyway, lots and lots of people, join the picnic party, and it is a change to the lonelier days in huge Hagley Park.
Nearly forgot to mention: It is a great event for children and their bears as well... ;-)
The location is the Entertainment Triangle in North Hagley Park, which is on the lawn near the entrance to the Botanic Gardens carpark at Rolleston/Armagh Streets. No entry fees apply.
Ah - and last year a lady came to me and my bears and said she had just said to her daughter that she would leave her grand-children at home next year because they stress her too much, and that she would join the party with her bears only, like me, and have a nice and relaxed day, as the bears are so much easier to handle. I agreed and said my bears had never ever behaved badly on this special occasion LOL
The date for this year - 2008 - is 2 February, from 11am to 3pm.
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The Summertime Festival in Christchurch is a big fun time with lots of great and free activities and attractions, concerts and other entertainment. The highlight is "Classical Sparks" in Hagley Park which is a concert that ends with Wagner's Ride Of The Valkyries and massive fireworks. Ten thousands of people go there every year. It is like a pilgrimage to the park, everybody takes folding chairs or blankets to sit on, and a picknick basket with them.
This year (2008) "Classical Sparks" takes place on Tuesday, 5 February, the evening before Waitangi Day. In case of rain a day later.
The performing artists will be Bic Runga and - for the classic part - Geoff Sewell, until not so long ago the tenor of Amici, and Elena who plays the classic rock violin.
Although millions of people seem to attend this free event we went there last year and did not regret it. The concert featured a great soprano named Deborah Wai Kapohe with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and then NZ's legendary popstar Dave Dobbyn and his band. God, this man can sing! And supported by the orchestra it was magic.
If you are not from NZ and Dave Dobbyn's name is not familiar to you, perhaps you have heard the song "Be mine tonight" - this is by Dave Dobbyn & the Dudes. My favourite song is a newer one with the title "Welcome Home" - just fantastic! In the NZ list of fame Dave Dobbyn comes right after the Finn Brothers Neil and Tim who formed the worldwide acknowledged bands Split Enz and Crowded House.
The concert was scheduled for 8-10pm but finally the fireworks did not finish until 11pm, and in the following days parents who had come with children complained about the late fireworks. This year it is already scheduled for 8-10.30pm. So if you go there next time plan plenty of time and bring enough food and drink... (There are some food stalls though.) And absolutely bring something to sit on! If you are a tourist at least get a towel, or consider the purchase of a folding chair for $5 or 10...
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Every year one of the largest street performance festivals in world takes place in Christchurch for eleven days at the end of January, this year (2008) was already the 15th time, and it started on Thursday, 17 January, and went until Sunday, 27 January, just to give you an idea.
The buskers who come from 40 countries show their talents and skills at various locations thoughout the central city and New Brighton.
If you are in the central city at this time you just cannot miss them because the clowns, comedians and street performers are everywhere around Cathedral Square and Cashel Mall, and there is also a performance stage at the Arts Centre and in New Brighton. Especially on Cathedral Square - and especially around lunch time - you will join hundreds of people attending the performances of the buskers. Some of them really do the most amazing things, like the guy who squeezed his normal looking body through a squash racket, a tennis racket and a toilet seat in a very entertaining way. Others do not delight me that much with their century-old jokes. But there is something for everyone, and if you do not like a performance you just walk to the next one.
There are several indoor locations where performances take place in the evenings. For acts and schedules check out the festival website or get the programme from the Info Office at the Arts Centre (2 Worcester Blvd).
No fixed entry fees, but donations are usual. That is the only money the buskers can earn. The events organisers pay their trips and accommodation but nothing else. But as this festival seems to be the best of its kind in the world everybody wants to perform and does not bother about making money.
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The Festival of Flowers takes place every year in February and lasts 10 days. This year (2008) the dates are 22 February to 1 March.
Christchurch prides itself as the Garden City, and apart from the work of the city gardeners who look after the Botanical Garden and the other parks most of the people here love gardening and are proud of their gardens. The festival is a celebration of this passion. A little thing I like a lot during this time are the tramways decorated by flower reiths and even hanging baskets.
The Festival of Flowers boasts of a big selection of events, with the most popular feature of the Floral Carpet in the Cathedral, and Wearable Flowers Parades. Also on offer are garden tours to the parks and private gardens.
Last year I was most impressed with an exhibition at the Botanical Garden which did not even include real flowers but big flags with wonderful paintings of the Guardians of the Gardens, done by artist Jane Davenport, fantastic impressions of insects and lizards, the flags dancing in the wind.
BTW The Ellerslie Garden Show has moved from Auckland to Christchurch but will keep its name.
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This outdoor chess board is on Cathedral Square, and there's always someone playing it, even at night. Leave a Comment
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For emergencies in NZ
Dial 111 FREE FROM ANY PHONE
and ask operator TO CONNECT
for
POLICE
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AMBULANCE Leave a Comment Phone: 111
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THE BARD ON AVON
Glass of house wine, 12oz tap beer, or coffee free with any main meal from menu ....special offer at times!!
HAPPY HOUR
Between 18.00 and 19.00 each night there is happy hour where pints are just $4.00 Leave a Comment Phone: 3771493Other Contact: 86 Gloucester Street
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