Public holidays are in bold.

JANUARY

New Year's Day (January 1).

The Gathering, Golden Bay (three days to 1Jan), is a happening or rave fuelled by peace, loving, chemicals and booze, or so we're told.

Whaleboat Racing Regatta, Kawhia (January 1).

Public Holiday (January 2).

Mountain Rock Festival, Manawatu Gorge, between Palmerston North and Napier (second weekend).

Wellington anniversary day (January 22).

Wellington Summer Festival (January-February).

Anniversary day for Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Coromandel, Taupo and the Bay of Plenty, celebrated with a massive regatta on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour (fifth Monday in January or first Monday in February).

FEBRUARY

Nelson anniversary day (February 1).

Taste Nelson food and wine festival (first Saturday).

Garden City Festival, Christchurch (February 3-14).

Waitangi Day (February 6).

Hawke's Bay Harvest food and wine festival (Waitangi holiday weekend).

Marlborough Food and Wine Festival, Blenheim (second weekend).

Art Deco Weekend, Napier (third weekend).

Devonport Food and Wine Festival (third weekend).

International Festival of the Arts, Wellington, in even-numbered years only; roughly coinciding with this, the month-long Wellington Fringe Festival is held every year, and draws acts from all over the world (late February to early March).

MARCH

Golden Shears sheep-shearing competition in Masterton (first week).

Wildfoods Festival, Hokitika (second Saturday).

Auckland Round-the-Bays fun run (early March).

New Plymouth Festival of the Arts (throughout March).

Ngaruawahia Maori Regatta, near Hamilton (closest Saturday to March 17).

Public holiday in Dunedin, Otago and Southland, including Fiordland (third Monday).

23rd Otago and Southland anniversary day (March 23).

Taranaki Anniversary Day (March 31).

APRIL

Arrowtown Autumn Festival (week before Easter).

Good Friday and Easter Sunday (late March to late April).

Waiheke Jazz Festival; Royal New Zealand Easter Show, Auckland; Highland Games, Hastings (Easter week).

Gumboot day, Taihape (Easter Tuesday).

ANZAC Day (April 25).

JUNE

Queen's Birthday (first Monday).

JULY

Auckland International Film Festival (early July).

OCTOBER

Labour Day (fourth Monday).

Public holiday in Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Marlborough, Nelson (one week after Labour Day).

NOVEMBER

Hawke's Bay and Marlborough anniversary day (November 1).

Guy Fawkes' Night fireworks (November 5).

Canterbury Show week (second week).

Toast Martinborough food and wine festival (third Sunday).

DECEMBER

Westland anniversary day (December 1).

16th Canterbury anniversary day (December 16).

Christmas Day (December 25).

Boxing Day (December 26).