AUSTRALIA AND
NEW ZEALAND
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About New Zealand
New Zealand's awesome
landscapes, lush forests, amazing wildlife and
pleasant climate make it a haven for many outdoor
activities, and a great place to unwind. New
Zealand society is diverse, sophisticated, and
multicultural, and the honesty, friendliness, and
openness of Kiwis will impress you. And the great
advantage of New Zealand is that all of its diverse
physical, cultural, and artistic landscapes are so
close to each other! With over a thousand years of
human settlement, New Zealand has a colourful and
dramatic history, dominated by the relationship
between Maori and Pakeha (Europeans).
New Zealanders have a unique and
dynamic culture, with European, Maori, Pacific and
Asian influences. It's a culture that celebrates
the many different lifestyles we live, and the
stories we have to tell. Stunning landscapes, lush
vegetation, and unique wildlife make New Zealand a
paradise for nature lovers.
New Zealand featured on
the Movie Screen
Having just seen "The
World's Fastest Indian" courtesy of New Zealand
Tourism, one of our editor's first goals is a visit
to the town and countryside portrayed in the film.
Here are some comments from the NZ
website.
"Yes, the dramatically beautiful
cinematography of films such as this take our
breath away. But what of the real landscapes that
inspire such reaction? If it's a holiday that will
remain with you far longer than any movie, visit
Southland - the main location for "The World's
Fastest Indian". Southland motorcycle legend
Burt Munro was a man who held on to the dreams of
his youth and ultimately realized them. Portrayed
by Anthony Hopkins, his story of dream fulfillment
and hard work is told by NZ director Roger
Donaldson in "The World's Fastest Indian". Much of
the movie was shot in and around Southland and many
locals volunteered to help in any way - many were
used as extras in the film, even the gregarious
Mayor of Invercargill took a role. Such is the
friendliness of these New Zealanders living at the
country's most southern point."
Maori
Culture
The Maori people are the
indigenous people of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and
first arrived here in waka hourua (voyaging canoes)
from their ancestral homeland of Hawaiki over 1000
years ago. Today, Maori make up over 14 percent of
the population. Their language and culture has a
major impact on all facets of New Zealand
life.More->
New Zealand New
Thinking
Forward thinking and innovation
are not limited to any part of the world: but they
flourish in New Zealand- and in the minds of
Kiwis.' Time Magazine
'Brand New Zealand' aims to
create a national brand that will differentiate New
Zealand internationally, better support key
sectors, and enhance New Zealand's established and
emerging areas of competitive advantage.
New Zealand New Thinking is the new
positioning that has been developed to provide an
umbrella positioning for New Zealand from an
economic development perspective.
The key goal is to ensure:
New Zealand is recognised globally for the value
its businesses and people bring to the world
&endash; through creativity, innovation and
technology. For many years,
common perceptions of New Zealand have revolved
around its landscape and accompanying clean, green
image. These are important but we also need convey
a richer set of messages that create recognition
for the broader characteristics that define our
people, business and country.
Raising global recognition of New Zealand's
competitive edge through the New Zealand New
Thinking programme will benefit every New Zealander
by increasing opportunities for international trade
and economic growth, securing foreign investment
and enhancing New Zealand's attractiveness for
skilled or business migrants.
Opportunities are continuously being looked for to
showcase New Zealand on the world stage and promote
our point of difference. The programme
supports New Zealand companies at key offshore
events, and domestically, seeks to build and
develop relationships with both public and private
sector. The above is an
excerpt from the New
Zealand Trade and Enterprise Website
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