KEY POINTS:
Artisans and craftspeople from around the North Island converge on Hawkes Bay for the Haumoana Arts in the Park market day on Sunday, November 4. Furniture, clothing, homeware, sculpture, jewellery and garden ornaments are some of the goods on offer.
There will be food stalls and entertainment includes
kapa haka and a pipe band.
Pony and mini-jeep rides and other activities will keep the kids amused, and raffles, auctions and lucky wheels will raise funds for the local school. It runs 10am to 3pm.
Contact: (06) 875 1165
Email: marketday@haumoana.schoolzone.net.nz
Garden rambles in Marlborough
The Hunters Garden Marlborough Festival showcases the district's finest gardens, including secluded town gardens, private gardens bordering the sounds and rambling country gardens.
Guided garden tours are available, and there's a garden party and an art auction.
Workshops and speakers range from photography to stonewalling and landscaping to urban fruit production.
It runs October 31 to November 5.
Contact: 0800 627 527
On the web: www.garden-marlborough.com
Wine times in Gisborne
The Gisborne Wine and Food Festival takes place on Sunday, October 21.
Participating wineries are all within a 20km radius of the city and between 10am and 6pm, they'll be linked by a shuttle bus.
Smaller wineries are based at the Showgrounds Expo Arena, which is also on the route.
Tickets cost $60.
A free after party starts at 6pm at The Works on the Esplanade.
Lead-up events on Saturday, October 20, include such things as a street party, a long Italian lunch, a cycle challenge and the Labour of Love concert at Waiohika Estate.
Contact: 0800 447 267
On the web: www.gisbornewine.co.nz
Kerikeri garden safari
The Kerikeri Rotary Garden Safari includes around 20 gardens from Kerikeri to Tauranga Bay and Whangaroa.
Garden styles range from small town gardens to country gardens with expansive views.
It is on October 27 and 28 and costs $20.
Contact: (09) 407 8546
Email: the.maples@xtra.co.nz
Elements of Manawatu
The Elements Carnival in Palmerston North is a celebration of earth, air, water and fire.
The free multimedia event tells some of the stories of the Manawatu region and how it has been shaped by these four elements.
It features an exciting, energetic mix of musicians, dancers and entertainers performing in front of a giant video screen at Arena Manawatu.
It's on Sunday, October 14, 6pm to 10pm.
Contact: (04) 384 6417; 027 208 8780
French flair in Taranaki
Forty-nine magnificent Taranaki gardens open their gates to the public during the Taranaki Rhododendron and Garden Festival, from October 26 to November 4. This year, the festival's international landscape design project features French design company L'Atelier, who will design and create a landscape project on a central city site.
The programme includes a spring ball, a garden party, events for families, garden tours, jazz and wine in the gardens, speakers and workshops.
Contact: 0800 746363
On the web: www.rhodo.co.nz