＜開催期間＞ 2007年11月17日（土）〜25日（日）
このフェステイバルでは、洗練された文化、食、人々、ライフスタイルなど、ニュージーランドの"今"がギュッとつまった魅力的なプログラムを多数展開。ニュージーランドのトップアーティストやデザイナーによるライブパフォーマンスやファッションショー、そして大地の恵みたっぷりのニュージーランド料理やワインなど、選りすぐりのニュージーランドを体感できます。また、メイン会場となる六本木ヒルズアリーナには、ニュージーランドの森を再現。たくさんの木々が植えられた癒しの空間で、都会の喧噪から離れて、ニュージーランドの雄大な自然を感じてみませんか。ぜひ足を運んでみてください。
New Zealand Paradise Week 2007, the largest independent New Zealand promotional event ever to be held in Japan, will celebrate the vibrant mix of what makes up New Zealand’s contemporary lifestyle, incorporating fashion, food, wine, music, and tourism. The Festival is primarily funded by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage’s Cultural Development International Programme, which seeks to establish and maintain a New Zealand cultural presence in Japan while enhancing engagement between government and business leaders. Tourism New Zealand has been the lead agency, working alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Air New Zealand, in planning and implementing the Festival. The Minister of Tourism’s attendance at New Zealand Paradise Week 2007 is expected to increase the profile of the initiative amongst key Japanese tourism industry contacts and media.
The VIP Gala Dinner on Friday 16 November will see 250 guests delight in New Zealand cuisine and wine. Hayley Westenra will perform and a fashion show will feature the latest collections from New Zealand designers. Expectations are high for the following two day outdoor event at the Roppongi Hills Arena with the entertainment line up including Nesian Mystik, Rhombus, Strike, Hinewehi Mohi, and Hayley Westenra, as well as locally-based New Zealand musicians and performers. Booths will be set up inside the arena promoting New Zealand food, wine and other produce. Up to 15,000 people are predicted to visit the Lifestyle Weekend, which will be followed by a week of smaller events, seminars and concerts centred around the New Zealand Travel Cafe in Tokyo.
New Zealand Paradise Week 2007 is designed to change the perceptions of New Zealand in a campaign to address the decline in arrivals and the average expenditure from New Zealand’s fourth largest market. Tourism New Zealand has identified Japanese travellers’ lack of understanding of the depth and quality of product that a New Zealand holiday offers as a key factor contributing to the decline. “We are an expensive destination from Japan and we need to convince potential travellers before they come that we will meet and exceed the perceived value of their holiday” says Jason Hill, Tourism New Zealand’s Regional Manager Japan. Staging New Zealand Paradise Week 2007 in a high profile venue like Roppongi Hills is a unique opportunity to present the “personality” of our country, and that combined with our scenery, will draw Japanese travellers to New Zealand.
There are only 6 weeks to go until New Zealand Paradise Week 2007! My role in this event is to coordinate the Entertainers travelling from NZ to perform at the Festival. It's going to be a fantastic week of music, food, wine, fashion, and tourism! I hope to see many of you in Roppongi the week it is transformed into a New Zealand Paradise :)
