Singapore to host New Zealand - New Thinking Festival 2007 between 23 April and 18 May

Singaporeans will be provided with another unique insight into New Zealand’s innovation, culture and creativity in upcoming months with the third annual New Zealand - New Thinking Festival 2007 being held in Singapore.

The three-week festival, held between 23 April and 18 May 2007, aims to enhance the appreciation of New Zealand’s great variety of products and services, and increase the understanding of its pioneering history and entrepreneurial spirit.

New Zealand High Commissioner to Singapore Dr Richard Grant said, “It is a multi-event celebration of all things New Zealand – from our spectacular wines and culinary delights, to our cinematic and scientific expertise, right through to our taste for adrenalin-filled adventure.”

Dr Grant said the festival will reflect the core elements of what makes New Zealand special, “We are a nation with unique perspectives, values, ideas and thinking. Our creative abilities have been inherited from our pioneering history, where innovation is the key to success – that is why we can point to many more breakthroughs and firsts than is usual for a country of our size, geographical location and population.”

The festival begins with Doc Cheng’s Chef Sam Wilkes’ week-long tribute to New Zealand cuisine at Doc Cheng’s, Raffles Hotel, from 23 April to 28 April, followed by Flavours of New Zealand at the Novotel Clarke Quay from 23 April to 18 May. Flavours of New Zealand will showcase some of New Zealand’s most celebrated wineries, including the aromatic tones of Tohu Wines - a stunning example of an indigenous New Zealand winery.

The event provides a prelude to the Travel and Taste New Zealand on 29 April at the same venue. The expo will give people in Singapore 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. There will be also an exclusive Kapa Kaka Maori performance at 12:30pm and 3:00pm.

To celebrate New Zealand’s fine cuisine, leading New Zealand Chef Ruth Pretty will be the guest chef at the One Ninety Restaurant, Four Seasons Hotel, from 4 May to 12 May, and will be promoting New Zealand wine and cuisine.

Whitebait & Kale restaurant is also celebrating the flavours of New Zealand with a two-month food and wine promotion from 1 May to 30 June. There will be two special Maori performances on 5 May and 6 May as well as two cooking classes on 12 May and 9 June when Head Chef Nabil Tan will share a variety of recipes using New Zealand produce.

To enable Singaporeans to experience the cornerstone of Maori custom and culture, there will be additional Maori performances by the Wairakei Terrances Kapa Haka group singing beautiful waiata.

For those interested in the arts, 15 superb contemporary photographs reflecting New Zealand’s culture, heritage and landscape will be on display at The Arts House from late April to 18 May.

From 3 May to 7 May, the Westpac Bank New Zealand Film Festival will feature the best of New Zealand cinema. The film festival is supported by a film seminar and a script competition.

For the scientific community, four bio-medical seminars involving leading New Zealand scientists in the Centres of Excellence programme will be held from 23 April to 10 May. The seminars, designed to complement and strengthen existing collaborative arrangements between New Zealand and Singaporean bio-medical agencies, will cover a range of topics including medical ethics, cancer, diabetes, obesity research, and heart disease.

On 12 May, the Aotearoa Kiwi Ball, a combination of Kiwi-ana and Singapore, will be held at Grand Copthorne Waterfront.

From 14 May to 18 May, a large number of prominent New Zealand technology companies will be in Singapore to meet with strategic business partners and participate in forums and workshops with technology industry leaders.

Dr Grant said that the range of events gives Singaporeans another opportunity to experience New Zealand first-hand.

“New Zealand is a thriving and unique mix of European, Maori, Polynesian, Asian cultures and traditions. The New Zealand – New Thinking 2007 is celebrating this diversity and our achievements, and we want to share this with Singapore.”

“This Festival will give Singaporeans a chance to experience the creativity, innovation and ingenuity that lies behind our beautiful landscapes and relaxed way of life.”

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