Kiwi food, wine & travel at weekend fair

MANILA, Philippines – For the meantime, we’re bringing New Zealand to you,” says New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Reuben Levermore.

“And then you can go to New Zealand for a visit,” adds Singapore Airlines marketing and communications services manager Rita Dy.

These two statements encapsulate what is happening at the New Zealand Trade Fair from Friday to Sunday, June 20 to 22, at the Glorietta Activity Center, Palm Drive.

Like the country’s long-running tourism campaign says, it’s “100 percent Pure” — everything Kiwi, an expanded offering of food and wine products and also travel promos from Singapore Airlines with a travel period from June to September this year.

According to the embassy, “Trade between the Philippines and New Zealand has grown in recent years.  Based on data from 2013, the Philippines ranked as New Zealand’s 12th largest export destination. Around 80 percent of New Zealand goods exports to the Philippines are food and beverage products.  In 2013, exports of dairy products grew by almost 25 percent, fruit exports were also up by 33 percent, while beverages and wine exports increased by 18 percent.  These in-demand, high-quality products and more will be available at the Experience New Zealand Fair.”

You can take your pick of some of the world’s top sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, and cabernet and merlot blends distributed in the Philippines by Don Revy Pty., Future Trade/Forth Tay and Zen Asia. 

Most of us are already familiar with dairy products from New Zealand (Fonterra Brands, formerly known as the New Zealand Dairy Group) and they will be there with products such as butter, cheeses and milk. Canary butter sheets, which are specially exported for bakeries, restaurants, hotels and airlines worldwide, will be available, as well as beverages and juices from Equilibrium Intertrade, and Whittaker’s chocolates from Sonrace Inc.

I have to admit I’ve never tasted New Zealand ice cream but people are raving about it. Natural Ice Cream will offer classic flavors like Hokey Pokey and Golden Manuka Honey and 13 other flavors. Cambert Pilipinas is offering Easiyo DIY Yogurt complete with the main ingredients and tools to make your own yogurt.

New Zealand is also known for its meats and the fair will have My Own Meatshop and WestPac Meat Processing with lamb, beef and oysters and Federated Distributors for Palm Corned Beef. Elite Fruit Marketing will fly in fruits like kiwi, persimmons, apples and cherries for the fair.

Airline partners Singapore Airlines and Destinations Unlimited are offering a variety of New Zealand tours where you can fly into Auckland to experience the North Island and fly out of Christchurch to experience the South Island — or vice versa — and explore Middle Earth (and various The Lord of the Rings set locations) in the process.

 “It’s fairly easy for Filipinos to get a visa to New Zealand; just allow for a couple of weeks of processing time,” says Ambassador Levermore. “And tourism between the two countries is something we want to explore in the coming years. The trade fair presents a great opportunity for Filipinos to explore the vast attractions New Zealand has in store. Whether it’s the stunning scenery, adventure tourism, the great wine and food, or even The Lord of the Rings locations, there is something for everyone.”

Singapore Airlines’ Rita Dy explains that promo round-trip tickets start at US$990, and tours range from four-day, three-night packages to seven-day, six-night packages, including round-trip airfares via Singapore Airlines.  Packages start at only $1,071 upwards, providing every kind of adventure for every kind of traveler.

“Nature lovers will embrace the scenic vistas from a tour of Auckland, the ‘City of Sails,’” says Dy. “The beautiful Christchurch City is revealed in tours given on a classic double-decker bus.  The spectacular Milford Sound, dubbed as the 8th Wonder of the World, is enjoyed via a boat cruise to see waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife. 

“In Rotorua, visit the Waimangu Thermal Valley, considered the newest geothermal system in the world.  The valley houses Frying Pan Lake and Inferno Crater. 

“At the Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour, take a boat ride through caves illuminated by thousands of glowworms.

“In Queenstown, visitors can choose a number of optional adventures such as river jet boat tours, a helicopter scenic flight with alpine landing, the bungee jump, skydiving, guided nature walks, 4WD tours or a winery tour of Central Otago.

“No visit would be complete without a deep appreciation of Maori culture at Te Puia, a living Maori arts and culture center located in Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley.  Te Puia is home to 500 natural geothermal wonders, such as geysers and mud pools.  The center also features native flora and fauna, live kiwi birds and unique Maori arts and architecture.  It houses the National Carving and Weaving Schools of New Zealand, which preserves the traditional arts. 

“In the evening, visitors enjoy a feast of food and friendship with a cultural performance and a banquet of modern and traditional cuisine.”

Lord of the Rings fans can visit the Hobbiton set and Edoras with its 37 hobbit holes, the mill, double-arch bridge, Bilbo’s party tree, Bag End and Green Dragon Inn on the Hobbiton tour.

Opening the fair on June 20 is a special Kapa Haka performance by a traditional Maori arts group at 6 p.m.

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The Experience New Zealand Fair runs from June 20 to 22 at the Glorietta Activity Center, Palm Drive.

Visitors can inquire from SIA Holidays (753-5151), Rakso Travel (812-9667), Travel Specialist Ventures (928-7487), Trends Travelmart (478-5401), Interlink (524-0016), Allpoints Travel (410-1527), Swire Travel (817-1082), Citimiles Travel (523-2881), Corporate International Travel (631-6541), The Marvels of Travel (842-7548), Best Wing Travel (Cavite) (425-4203) and Ecozone Travel (Pampanga) (045-887-0332).

Kiwi food, wine & travel at weekend fair