IMMIGRATION CHANGES
ASIA SOCIETY MUSEUM
BEST N.Z. SHORT FILMS
A N.Z. FILM SCREENING
KIWI CLUB CHRISTMAS
NEW RESTAURANT
N.Y. TOUCH RUGBY
THE LAST SAMURAI
RETURN OF THE KING
THE "UPDATE" LIST
NEW YORK CONSULAR KIWI UPDATE NEWSLETTER, NOVEMBER 2003
Hello everyone,
I have a few bits and pieces to pass on to you this month as we build up to the
crazy holiday period.
New Zealand Embassy
Website
The staff at the Embassy are continually working on updating their website. Keep
it in mind as a reference point.
www.nzembassy.com/usa
Immigration Changes for New Zealand
Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel announced recently the introduction of the
new Skilled Migrant Category, which shifts the focus of skilled migration to New
Zealand from the passive acceptance of residence applications to the active
recruitment of the skills that New Zealand needs. The Skilled Migrant Category
takes effect from December 2003. The new category will be based on allocating
points for a range of factors including qualifications, but for the first time
will include bonus points for employment in identified areas of growth or
absolute skill shortage, or within identified clusters. "This is a win-win
situation for skilled migrants", Minister Dalziel says, "For too long the
General Skill Category allowed too many skilled migrants to come here,
regardless of whether their skills were needed or not. The new category signals
the end of the 'professional-driving-taxi' legacy of the General Skill
Category". For more information, see
www.immigration.govt.nz.
Asia Society: New Zealand and the Pacific Century
Art and business will combine to place New Zealand in the minds of New Yorkers
in February next year, when the Asia Society Museum (located at 725 Park Avenue)
will present the first major exhibition in the US of contemporary art from New
Zealand and the Pacific. The multi-disciplined project, called New Zealand and
the Pacific Century, will run for three months until May. Forty works will be on
display by 15 artists. Business and investment seminars, as well as educational
programmes, will be held in conjunction with the exhibition.
You'll be able to find further information about the specific events the Asia
Society will offer as part of the exhibition on their website
www.asiasociety.org in the next few
weeks. This is an event the New Zealand Consulate, Investment New Zealand,
Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise are particularly
excited about, and we hope as many New Zealanders as possible will join us in
supporting it.
Best of the Best New Zealand Short Films
Thanks to all of you who made it along to the short film event. By all accounts
it was an enjoyable evening of great short films, topped of with a nice glass of
New Zealand wine! Susan Talbot, who curated the short film programme, is working
with the Asia Society to curate another programme of New Zealand short films -
this time all the latest ones! The event will be part of New Zealand and the
Pacific Century as mentioned above.
New Zealand Film Screening
More about New Zealand movies! This time a new feature length movie will be
screened in New York as part of the New York International Independent Film and
Video Festival. The movie is a drama-comedy, filled with New Zealand actors like
Beryl Te Wiata, Peter Elliott and Sarah Smuts-Kennedy. The plot revolves around
a writer, painter and actor going head to head in the relationship stakes,
causing emotional mayhem and much hilarity as they attempt to balance being
artists with the allure and agonies of desire and love. You can see the movie on
Sunday 16 November, 8pm, at the Village East Cinema, 181 2nd Ave (at 12th St).
Tickets are $10. Find out more about the movie at www.thisisnotalovestory.com;.
With no other US screenings on the horizon, this is your one chance to catch it
here in New York.
Kiwi Club Christmas Party
As mentioned in the last Update, planning for the Kiwi Club Christmas Party is
well underway. It will be held on Thursday 4 December at the Village Lantern
from 7pm to 11pm. There promises to be plenty of Kiwi style snacks, as well as
great Kiwi music. More details in the Kiwi Club's website
www.kiwiclubny.org
Holiday Gift?
The Whale Rider DVD was released for sale in the US at the end of October and
can be found in most places you buy DVDs. Perhaps a good Holiday gift idea for
your American friends.|
New Restaurant - New Zealand Chefs
Public Restaurant at 210 Elizabeth Street has opened! Acclaimed New Zealand
chefs Peter Gordon and Anna Hansen, co-owners of the award winning London
restaurant The Providores, with ex-pat Chef Brad Farmerie, are ready to offer
the Nolita district an exciting international restaurant destination - a flash
point for hot culinary experiences. People who went to the opening report the
food was delicious and the wine list weighed heavily in favour of New Zealand.
Phone Public on 212 343 7011.
Touch Rugby
There seems to be a ground swell of support for a New Zealand touch rugby team
here in New York. If you're keen to join in the fun please contact John Royal at
www.johnroyalgallery.com for more
details.
The Last Samurai
If you need more fantastic New Zealand scenery on the big screen in another big
Hollywood blockbuster, be sure to catch The Last Samurai, staring Tom Cruise.
The film opens on 5 December.
Countdown to the Return of The King
Remember - 17 December - the final installment of Peter Jackson's Lord of the
Rings will be on the big screen.
As always – if you DO NOT want to be on the Update list,
I’m happy to remove you immediately. The list is only used for these types of
updates or any other pertinent New Zealand news. If you know of other New
Zealanders who may want to receive this update, let me know their contact
details and I’ll add them.
Denise Mackay
Consular Officer/Event Manager
New Zealand Consulate General
Investment New Zealand
222 East 41st Street, Suite 2510
New York, NY, 10017
Phone: 212 832 4038 extn 222 (Consulate)
Phone: 212 832 7420 extn 222 (Investment)
Fax: 212 832 7602