Experience New Zealand Blog Review 2016

                                             

I  have to admit this, I know very little about New Zealand except it is the country where the stunning and out - of - this world scenes from the Lord of the Ring movies were filmed. Last Friday,  i had to cut off a couple of hours from my online work to join the launching of Experience New Zealand 2016. This is what I love from my job now - being location independent and time flexible I'm able to attend events that are aligned to my blog's niche which is travel. Everything was worth it to say that it was basically a 3 - day event showcasing handpicked products, travel and education opportunities about New Zealand. 

The opening number gave me goosebumps while watching Haka, a traditional war - cry dance and songs performed by New Zealand Maori group. More than anything else, I made sure to check out the tourism section about applying visa, immigration issues and educational opportunities. For a travel buff like me, this is one of the must - see during the Experience New Zealand 2016. I made sure I took home brochures and flyers I can read. I'm looking forward to creating a separate blog post about travelling to New Zealand with these information anytime soon.

The 'Food Connection 2016 featuring light snacks by Bizu - a restaurant serving New Zealand dishes was a blast. Love the macaroons and that bread with ice cream fillings! Wished I went there with empty stomach so I could have eaten more.  I'm definitely going back to Bizu to try more New Zealand - inspired meals one of these days.

There was also a raffle held for the press and media invited. I forgot to bring mine, one of the staff was so kind to give me a piece of unused business card and asked me to write my details at the back. To this guy, thanks for the extra efforts! I did not win. I was not wishing though since there's visa in New Zealand for Filipinos who want to travel there. I don't think this roundtrip business ticket will not suffice enough given my resources right now. After my SE Asian trip (I have $2500 worth of airline miles I keep on bragging sorry I'm just overwhelmed), New Zealand may be included in my next travel goal. Anyways would like to congratulate these people who are the luckiest that day:

•  Joey Mendoza, Photojournalist, The Philippine Star
•  Alysa Salen, Business Mirror

Visitors who bought worth Php 2k during the event also won RT Economy class

• Theresa B Lugod
• Joan Maria Clara L. Nieva
• Lourdes
• Rosalyn Consing
• Carmelita E. Salvador

According to Trade Commissioner Hernando Banal, “Experience New Zealand 2016 was very successful. Our Whittakers chocolate and our famous kiwifruit were particularly popular this year”. Experience New Zealand 2016 coincides with the celebration of 50 years of diplomatic ties between New Zealand and the Philippines. Trade and economic ties between New Zealand and the Philippines have grown strongly in recent years.

“Last year Philippines Airlines launched a flight between Auckland and Manila. Our growing airlinks represent a step change for the bilateral relationship”, said Ambassador Strachan. “The Philippines community in New Zealand has grown considerably in the past five years. Growing people links means that more Filipinos know about Kiwi products and they are adding New Zealand to their bucket-list as a holiday destination.”

Here is the list of some of the participating exhibitors at Food Connection 2016: 

•            New Zealand Natural Ice Cream Inc (Emerald Foods)
•            Elite Fruit Marketing Inc.   (Zespri kiwfruits and Enza Apples)    
•            Goodman Fielder Int’l. Phils. Inc.  (Milk, Dairy, Fats and Oils)                   Federated Distributors Inc. (Palm Corned Beef)                         
•            Manuka Health New Zealand (Manuka Honey)
•            MYOWN Meat Shop (Talley’s Mussels, ANZCO Beef and Lamb)                 Sonrace, Inc. (Whittaker’s chocolates)   
•            Don Revy Phils. (Wines)                                                          
•            Equilibrium Intertrade Corp. (The Better Drinks Inc juices and                  cola)                              
•            Fonterra Brands Philippines (Cheese, butter, cream and milk)                  Alexanrey Enterprises Inc. (Tastemaker Vinegars, Nanric Road                fruit jams, sauces, fruit pastes, jelly and mustard and Sweet                   Nature         Manuka honey)
•          Ecostore (all-natural personal care body products)

Photos I took for a few brands:

Experience New Zealand 2016 ran from May 20-22, 2016 at the Glorietta Activity Center, in the Glorietta Mall, Makati City.  If there is one event in the metro that really promotes New Zealand, this is it. Looking forward to join the one next year!