Capital thrills

WHEN you're as far away from the rest of the world as Wellington is, you need to create your own entertainment or literally be bored to bits. So leave it to the residents of New Zealand's capital, who have long learned that if the music won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad will just make his own.

A walk around the urban centre will show you why Wellington isn't just the country's political capital since 1865, it is also its cultural centre. The city is dotted with theatres and its calendar jam-packed with artistic events throughout the year. This isn't counting regular performances by the resident New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

One event that has even put it in the global spotlight is the World of Wearable Art show, founded by Dame Suzie Moncrieff, a respected sculptor and arts entrepreneur. It's now one of the biggest design competitions in the Southern Hemisphere, inspiring designers and artists to create avant-garde wearable works. There's also the annual Wellington Jazz Festival, which saw the likes of British pop diva Alison Moyet and New York jazz sin…