Contents:
Calendar of Events
• Auckland Museum’s ‘Vaka Moana’ exhibition at the National Museum of Prehistory in Taitung from 1 February until July and the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung from July to December.
• ‘Te Vaka’, a music and dance performance group from the Pacific and New Zealand, will visit Taiwan, 16-22 March.
• NZ Bio Conference, Auckland, 31 March – 2 April. Participation from Taiwan’s Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Programme Office (BPIPO).
• Visit to Taipei by CEO, Royal Society of New Zealand Scientists (RSNZ), 7-11 April.
• NZ Trade Development Unit Education Promotion Seminars, Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung, 19-22 April
• RSNZ/NSC Second Joint Science Symposium on geoscience, Wellington, 5-9 May
Recent News
Golden Horse Film Festival, November 2007Three New Zealand films were invited to participate in the 2007 Golden Horse Film Festival. These were ‘Out of the Blue’, the horror comedy ‘Black Sheep’ and ‘Fog’, a 15 minute short feature. This is the third time New Zealand films have featured in this festival, which is now in its 44th year and characterised as ‘East Asia’s version of the Academy Awards’. Nathan Meister, lead actor in ‘Black Sheep’, participated in the festival and at various promotional events including an NZCIO hosted reception and film screening held on 27 November.
RSNZ/NSC First Joint Science Symposium, Tainan/Taipei, November 2007The first of two joint science symposia – this one focussed on agricultural technology and bio-tech - was held at the Livestock Research Institute in Tainan from 26-30 November. Five eminent New Zealand scientists were selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand to participate in the symposium. They were Dr Michael Brownbridge (AgResearch), Mr Ross Davies (Massey University), Dr Allan Crawford (AgResearch), Dr Robin McFarlane (Lincoln University) and Dr Grant McKenzie (Canterbury University). The symposia enabled the New Zealand scientists to establish contacts and share knowledge and expertise on developments in areas of mutual interest.
International Travel Fair, December 2007Last December, New Zealand was on show at the International Travel Fair held in Taipei. Over 60 other countries also participated. Tourism New Zealand showcased New Zealand creativity and culture. Guests not only had the chance to taste New Zealand’s fine wines and see something of its creative film industry, but also of the unique Maori culture and tradition of warm hospitality. Young Taiwanese interested in travelling to New Zealand also attended the working holiday and youth travel seminars.
NZ-Taiwan Business Councils’ 19th Annual Joint ConferenceVice Minister for Economic Affairs, Hsieh Fadah, led a strong Taiwanese delegation to the 19th annual Joint Business Councils’ Conference hosted in Auckland on 16-17 October last year. The conference’s biotechnology and bio fuels theme looked at the fostering of research and business cooperation opportunities in these areas.
Market Access for Taiwanese LycheesNow New Zealanders won’t need to travel to Taiwan to enjoy fresh Taiwanese lychees. In December an Import Health Standard for the importation of lychees from Taiwan to New Zealand was completed. Exports of lychees to New Zealand will be able to begin in the 2008 lychee season.
New Zealand Sweet Potato (Kumara) to TaiwanExports of New Zealand sweet potato (for human consumption) to Taiwan can now begin. In December last year Taiwan completed quarantine regulations that opened the Taiwanese market for imported New Zealand sweet potato.
BAPHIQ Director General Visit to New ZealandThe Director-General of Taiwan’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), Dr Watson Sung, visited New Zealand in November 2007. This was a good opportunity to exchange views on respective agricultural issues and identify new areas of co-operation. Sung also reviewed a range of New Zealand’s quarantine systems.
New Zealand Beef on ShowIn December Meat and Wool New Zealand held a promotional event for Taiwanese media reporters at the Lalu Hotel, Sun Moon Lake. Those present enjoyed a delicious lunch featuring New Zealand beef. This event was followed by a seminar at the same hotel in January where key retail representatives were educated on the attributes of New Zealand beef.
Waitangi Day Two local newspapers (China Post and Taiwan News) published special feature supplements on New Zealand on Waitangi Day and the local English-language community radio station (ICRT) also featured an interview on New Zealand in the lead-up to Waitangi Day. New Zealanders in Taipei were able to celebrate at a joint Waitangi Day/Australia Day barbeque hosted by the Australia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (ANZCHAM) on 16 February.
Global Registration Option for Kiwis Living AbroadIn 2006, a new global registration facility for New Zealanders travelling or living overseas was implemented. If you would like us to contact you in an emergency or to pass on consular information you can register your details on-line via "Registration of New Zealanders Overseas" (RONZ) at
www.mfat.govt.nz [external link]. Registration is voluntary and, in accordance with the New Zealand Privacy Act 1993, personal information provided will be used for consular purposes only. We encourage you to inform other New Zealanders you know of currently living in Taiwan.
NZCIO Contacts DatabaseSeparate from RONZ, you are also welcome to add your contact details to NZCIO's informal email contact list (if you haven’t done so already). This means that NZCIO is able to contact you about non-consular events/information of interest to the New Zealand community. To register or update your details please email
joyce.hu@mfat.govt.nz .
ANZCHAMKiwis living in Taiwan are very welcome to join the Australia/New Zealand Chamber of Commerce (ANZCHAM) in Taipei. On the first Friday of each month, ANZCHAM hosts “Sundowners” – a chance to network over a drink or two – as well as other regular social and business related events hosted through-out the year. For more information contact: Joyce Chen
secretary@anzcham.org.tw
What is the NZCIO?