G’Day NZ Australia Week 2007 a huge success

7 May, 2007

The second annual G’Day NZ Australia Week event has been hugely successful this year involving more than 3,500 people across the week.

The Week, which ran from Monday 23 April to Sunday 29 April, focused on the ‘spirit of mateship’ between Aussies and Kiwis and the trans-Tasman bond the two countries share.

Vito Anzelmi, Tourism Australia’s Regional Manager for New Zealand, said they are very pleased with the public’s response to the G’Day NZ Australia Week.

“The week recognises the importance of the economic, social and cultural relationship between Australia and New Zealand. It was fantastic to see so many people, particularly from outside of Auckland, involved in the week experiencing a slice of some of Australia’s iconic food and wine, films, tourism, indigenous culture and sport,” he said.

“Next year’s G’Day NZ Australia Week will build on the success of previous events – including the addition of a new one-day consumer travel expo,” he added.

Tourism Australia presented the Spirit of Mateship Award to New Zealand and Australian firefighters, who risked their lives to help battle the Victorian wildfires.

The award was presented at an emotional ceremony as part of a black-tie gala dinner at Auckland’s Logan Campbell Centre on ANZAC eve. It was presented by the Hon. Tim Fischer, chairman of Tourism Australia and ex-deputy prime minister and trade minister of Australia. Eleven firefighters accepted the award on behalf of all of the firefighters from New Zealand and Australia who were involved in fighting the bushfires.

Nearly 700 people attended the sold-out Lindemans Longest Australian Lunch, which was hosted by Simon Dallow and Alison Mau. Guests were treated to an extravaganza of gourmet Australian food from the barbeque, accompanied by premium Lindemans wine and Crown Lager. Iconic Kiwi band Dragon performed some of their classic hits on the day while Aboriginal dance troupe, Descendance, entertained guests with traditional animal hunting and spirit dances.

An array of significant Australian documentaries and feature films were showcased in The United Travel Australian Film Festival. The Story of the Kelly Gang, widely regarded as the world’s first feature length film was a highlight of the festival, which screened for the first time in New Zealand during the week.

More than 120 people battled it out at the G’Day NZ Corporate Golf Challenge with the Kiwis beating the Aussies, to take the champion title in the trans-Tasman golf showdown at the Grange Golf Club in Papatoetoe.

Baden WaiWai, the highest ranked New Zealand long driver and John Noble, the current Australian long drive champion, demonstrated their long-drive golfing skills at the Grange, kicking off the day with a long-drive exhibition which saw golf balls fly as far as 400 metres through pavlovas and watermelons.

Descendance also performed throughout the Week to enthusiastic crowds at the Auckland Zoo, the Auckland Museum and at various Auckland schools and businesses.

G’Day NZ Australia Week 2008 will be held from April 20 to April 26, 2008.

For more information on how to get involved in next year’s G’Day New Zealand Australia Week visit www.australiaweek.co.nz

ENDS

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