Are you attending any of the Easter events around the country?
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KEY POINTS:
Easter is never just about chocolate and bunnies - there are plenty of events around the country to keep the family entertained.
The Royal Easter Show, which has been staged for 165 years, has become an institution on the Auckland events calendar.
The show, at the ASB Showgrounds
from today until Monday, was originally an agricultural show and still features the A&P show, the Show Shears competition, equestrian events and the Farm Zone, where children can get up close and personal with farm animals.
Other old favourites include the carnival, street entertainers, the Great Cadbury Bunny Show, the Royal Easter Cat Show and the art show and competition. A stage show of last year's animated film Shrek 3 will make its New Zealand debut featuring all the main characters - Shrek, Princess Fiona, Donkey and Puss in Boots.
The BBC's children's series the Tweenies will also be there, featuring all four Tweenies - Bella, Milo, Fizz and Jake. From African comedians to Mongolian balance artists, the Out of Africa circus will showcase a troop of performers in a show of skill, balance and speed.
And the old-style Kiwi Lumberjacks competition will include razor-sharp axes, chainsaws and log-rolling on water.
In Wellington, you can catch legendary bands Kiss and Poison and other ageing rockers Ozzy Osborne and Alice Cooper at the Rock2Wgtn concert at the Westpac Stadium.
Also in Wellington is music festival Sandwiches Summerset, including Shapeshifter, the Black Seeds and Rhombus. Smashing Pumpkins and Queens of the Stone Age are set to jam together tonight.
WHAT'S ON: WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS
* The Royal Easter Show: Today to Sunday, 9am-9pm. Easter Monday, 9am-6pm, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane. Tickets: Adults $16; seniors $11; children 12 and under $6; under 2 free; family of 5 $36.
* Rock2wgtn: Saturday and Sunday 6.30pm-11.30pm. Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Tickets: $135 -$460.
* Sandwiches Summerset: Music festival including Shapeshifter. Saturday, 12pm-12am, Basin Reserve, Wellington. Tickets: $110.
* The Smashing Pumpkins and Queens of the Stone Age. Tonight 7pm, TSB Bank Arena, Wellington. Tickets: $99.90-$119.90.
* Split Enz Live In Concert. Tuesday, 7pm, TSB Bank Arena, Wellington. Tickets: $93.
* NZ Chinese Association Easter Sports & Cultural Tournament. Friday to Monday, Trusts Stadium, Waitakere City.
* Crusaders v Waratahs: Friday, 7.35pm, AMI Stadium, Christchurch. Tickets: $12-$25.
* Chiefs v Bulls: Saturday, 7.35pm, Rotorua International Stadium. Tickets: $7-$35.
* Blues v Stormers: Saturday, 5.30pm, Eden Park. Tickets: $12.
* Highlanders v Force: Saturday, 2.30pm, Queenstown Events Centre.
* Cricket: 3rd Test NZ v England. Saturday, McLean Park, Napier. Tickets: $10-$40.
