New Zealand – New Thinking Festival 2006 to take place in Singapore between 22 April and 14 May 2006

Think New Zealand and inevitably images of sheep and wide, open spaces immediately spring to the minds of many. Think again.

The second annual New Zealand – New Thinking Festival 2006 in Singapore will showcase the best of kiwi innovation, culture and creativity between 22 April and 14 May 2006.

“Singaporeans think New Zealand is full of sheep, empty countryside, and is in a far off corner of the earth,” New Zealand High Commissioner to Singapore, Dr Richard Grant, said.

“This year’s festival is going to change that thinking. We are offering a number of events that Singaporeans can visit, participate in, and learn from – they’re all designed to change perceptions.” 

World-renowned New Zealand researchers, scientists, and industry leaders in the wine, food, and film industries will be in Singapore during April and May to share their knowledge and expertise, while showcasing New Zealanders’ culture of innovation and ‘can-do’ attitude.

The festival begins with a Taste of New Zealand at Café Brio’s daily buffet lunch menu at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel from 22 April to 7 May. Leading New Zealand chef Chris Bell, renowned for fusing indigenous herbs and spices in to exotic cuisine, will present unique New Zealand dishes. 

The buffet provides a prelude to the Travel and Taste New Zealand expo on 23 April at the same venue. The event will give Singaporeans the opportunity to taste New Zealand’s internationally recognised cuisine and wines while considering a visit to New Zealand to experience its 100% PURE scenery.

To celebrate New Zealand’s taste for adventure, the Number 8 Wire TRYathlon offers Singaporeans the chance to experience a number of kiwi-inspired, thrill-seeking activities in their own background. Complete three activities between 22 April and 14 May – either a bungy at Clarke Quay, a luge run at Sentosa, a New Zealand Natural Ice-Cream – and be in to win a trip for two to New Zealand.

For those more interested in New Zealand and Singapore’s high-level links, a seminar will be held with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies on 26 and 27 April to explore the ASEAN-New Zealand relationship from a historical perspective through to its modern economic, defence and social relations.

Indian Ink theatre company will present two plays that marinate Western theatrical traditions with Indian flavours. They make a welcome return to the Singapore Repertory Theatre from 2 May to 14 May. 

For the scientific community, four leading New Zealand researchers will participate in a cancer seminar at the National University of Singapore from 2 May to 5 May and Professor Peter Gluckman, a leading international researcher on fetal development, will deliver a public lecture on “A Healthy Start to Life – how new research shows how to improve birth outcomes.”

A New Zealand Property Investment Seminar on 3 May will highlight the outstanding real estate on offer in New Zealand.

From May 4 to May 8, the Westpac Bank New Zealand Film Festival will showcase five feature-length films in a celebration of New Zealand cinematic excellence. The event will be held at the Golden Village Grand at Great World City.

On May 5, another celebration of New Zealand winemaking, the New Zealand Wine Stars Magic Dinner, will be held at Le Baroque, Fountain Court Chijmes.

The New Zealand – New Thinking Festival 2006 is being presented by the New Zealand High Commission, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Tourism New Zealand, and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (Singapore).

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