Hobbits Rule

You would have to be living in a shire somewhere to not know the connection between New Zealand and Lord of the Rings. Filmed in over 150 locations by Kiwi filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson, Lord of the Rings helped put our country on the map. New Zealand even had a Minister of Lord of the Rings in our government! Following the Academy Award winning films, Amazon have now announced they are going to film a Lord of the Rings TV series due to be released this year.

The biggest Lord of the Ring fans will be pleased to know that they can visit the village of Hobbiton in real life! Nestled in Matamata, the village was rebuilt to film The Hobbit Trilogy and now is a permanent attraction. You can play in the hobbit holes, find the party tree and visit the Green Dragon Inn. Fingers crossed you don’t see any Black Riders!

A Slice of History: The Slippery Celebrity of Opononi

During the summer of 1955, in a small town in the far North Island called Opononi, a friendly bottlenose dolphin (affectionately named Opo) made waves. Enchanting residents and visitors alike with her quirky personality.

Te Whare Tapa Whā helps us understand our health and wellbeing. What makes us stand up tall and feel strong?