Matariki the Māori New Year, is rich with tradition. Discover the importance of Matariki, and explore ways that you can celebrate the Māori New Year with your family.…
Father’s Day in New Zealand is a special day to recognise and celebrate the role fathers play in our life. Whether it’s your Dad, step-Dad, foster Dad or just…
You may find yourself wondering, ‘is Santa really real?’ At Kiwi Families we 100% believe in Santa and the magic of Christmas. If you’re wondering what to believe,…
Christmas in New Zealand is celebrated on 25 December, which is summer in the Southern Hemisphere – this makes a lot of what we experience over our festive season…
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week is a week where New Zealanders both here and overseas are encouraged to recognise and practice the Māori…
Have you been wondering how you can celebrate Matariki the Māori New Year at your place. Here’s 5 fresh ways to celebrate Matariki with your family.
Mother’s Day is a special day where mothers all around the world are recognised and celebrated. The celebration takes many forms from house to house, and country to…
The origin of Guy Fawkes dates back to 1605 when a group of 12 men tried to blow up Britain’s House of Parliament. Guy Fawkes Night is an…
Tip toe quietly through the night, creeping cautiously, taking fright, ghostly ghouls and pumpkin lights, its Halloween time again tonight…
This is a great little activity that you can do with kids of just about all ages. I just took a group of 5 year olds through a…
I am loving playing with stencils at the moment. They are pretty easy to use and you normally end up with a fairly good result. I found a…
Wow what a year we have had. I don’t think anyone is going to forget about 2020 in any hurry. So as the year is pulling to a…
Mother’s Day is right around the corner so here are two different ways to make a Mother’s Day card that your kids will love. These would also make…
Childhood innocence renewed my love of life when my son was young. Witnessing his delight in the world, his unguarded affection, his raw being alive, made me feel…
I love Halloween! I love any excuse for a celebration actually. But a day to celebrate the harvest, and lost loved ones, and you get to dress up…
We’ve rounded up an eclectic mix of 2022 Father’s Day gift ideas. We’ve selected gifts at a few different price points, so there should be something for everyone on the…
Father’s Day always brings a smile to my face – and a little bit of happy chaos too! Last year, my two decided to surprise Dad with a…
Matariki is a small group of stars – the constellation Pleiades – that reappear in the sky in winter (in late May or early June) and, through the…
On the 6th of February each year, New Zealand celebrates Waitangi Day. The purpose of this public holiday is to remember the Treaty of Waitangi – our founding…
April 25th is a day of great significance. Here are some ANZAC Day activities to do together as a family, so you can mark this day in a memorable…
Do we have the Easter Bunny to thank for a couple of days off each autumn? Does the New Zealand government have such sympathy with chocolate lovers that…
Mid winter Christmas may not be an official festival but it is a fun way to warm up winter, especially for families who are not used to a…
Youth Week is a week which is set aside every year to celebrate youth. Read about its history, and get ideas for celebrating youth in your area.
Anzac Day is a special day both in New Zealand and Australia. Unfortunately the true history and significance of Anzac Day is becoming muddled and forgotten.
Ask a child what happens at Easter, and chances are they will tell you all about chocolate eggs and Easter Bunnies, but Easter is more than that. Some…
Passover is a Jewish festival that is celebrated all over the world. Read about the history of Passover and get ideas for celebrating Passover with your family in…
St. Patrick’s Day is not just about leprechauns and beer, the real reason for St Patrick’s Day is centuries old and definitely worth remembering. Originally a religious holiday,…
Children’s Day is a special day set aside to celebrate children. Many countries in the world celebrate Children’s Day, and New Zealand is one of them.
Shrove Tuesday is a great day for pancake lovers, but Shrove Tuesday also has a special religious significance for Christians, and provides a valuable message for people all…
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is an enormous celebration for Chinese people. The New Year celebrations span 15 days from the date of the first full…
Valentine’s Day, which is always celebrated on February 14 each year, is not just a day for lovers. Valentine’s Day is a day where friends and family can show…
Here’s a useful summary of festivals, events and public holidays in New Zealand as well as the 2014 and 2015 dates for each and what each holiday celebrates.
Isn’t it fantastic the way schools these days are placing so much emphasis on Anzac Day and New Zealand’s involvement in the World Wars. It seems to me…