Real New Zealand Festival
9 September - 23 October, 2011
Rugby fans in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup 2011 can expect to experience the Real New Zealand - as well as the world’s third biggest sporting event.
The Real New Zealand Festival - a nationwide series of events showcasing the best of Kiwi food, wine, culture, heritage, sports and nature - was unveiled today (9.09.2010) in Auckland at Eden Park, New Zealand’s biggest sporting ground.
The festival’s official launch marked celebrations for ‘One Year to Go’ until the RWC 2011.
New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup Minister Murray McCully says the festival will ensure the tournament touches every visitor and every Kiwi.
"This festival is for more than just locals and visiting rugby fans - it’s for everyone in our ‘stadium of four million’," McCully said.
Enhancing visitor experience Festival director Briony Ellis says the festival will include hundreds of events and experiences throughout the country, offering authentic Kiwi experiences for visitors.
"We’ve called it ‘Real’ because the real New Zealand is on showcase. The programme for the festival celebrates the aspects of living in New Zealand that Kiwis are most proud of - authentic experiences and events that showcase our people, landscapes, culture and stories."
Ellis said festival organisers hoped that visitors would take the ‘scenic route’ between games to join in the fun and festivities.
"There’ll be plenty of time between games so we want to encourage people to take the long way round from one match to the next and really see the country and meet the people," she said.
Each town and city in New Zealand will showcase regional highlights - ranging from art and rugby exhibitions to food and wine tastings and craft fairs, concerts and Māori culture.
Classic All Blacks One of the most significant events during the Real New Zealand Festival will be the Classic All Blacks match in Queenstown on September 18, 2011.
The resort town will celebrate the proud history of the national rugby team with a match between the Classic All Blacks and the French Classics. The ‘classic’ All Blacks will include players who are still playing overseas.
The star-studded side will include All Black legends such as Andrew Mehrtens as captain, Jonah Lomu, Carlos Spencer, Filo Tiatia, Greg Somerville and Scott Robertson.
Foodie haven The festival programme will have a strong focus on local food, matched with wines from some of New Zealand’s key wine-producing regions, including Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough and Otago.
The Great West Coast Whitebait and Wildfoods Challenge will introduce visitors to the heart of whitebait territory in the South Island. Whitebait is a beloved Kiwi delicacy and its short annual season coincides with the RWC. During the six-week ‘challenge’, participating restaurants and cafes will feature whitebait and wildfoods on menus.
For the first time in history, New Zealand will have two Bluff oyster seasons offering visitors a chance to sample some of the world’s best oysters at the Savour Bluff Oyster Festival. Visitors staying in the Bay of Islands will be able to try local Kororareka oysters during the Russell Oyster Festival, matched with NZ beers and live entertainment.
More than 50 farmers’ markets around the country will also provide an opportunity to sample local fare and meet real Kiwis. Wine lovers are spoilt for choice too - with the Marlborough Wine Festival showcasing wine from more than 50 local wineries, matched with regional food specialties.
Authentic Kiwi culture Visitors will be able to select from a diverse range of cultural experiences including discovering Taranaki’s proud Māori heritage at the Taranaki International Village.
The village will include a wide range of cultural stalls, activities and workshops, and provide an opportunity for guests to discover the legendary Māori manaakitanga / hospitality.
In Gisborne, on the east coast of the North Island, the Te Unga Mai exhibition will celebrate both Māori and European voyaging traditions, and commemorate the first formal meeting between the tangata whenua / people of the land and Captain James Cook and the Endeavour crew in 1769.
For a full list of events, visit realnzfestival.com - there are more than 300 events listed so far, and counting.
