A taste of New Zealand has been transported to Shanghai for Expo
2010, which opened on 1 May.
An 1,800kg piece of pounamu, a life-sized artificial pohutukawa
tree and a kauri waharoa
(gateway) are among the attractions that have already proven a
hit at New Zealand's national pavilion.
Themed on the story of Māori creation, the pavilion carries a
strong cultural message as well as giving Expo visitors a realistic
taste of everyday life in New Zealand.
The Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors in total
between 1 May and 31 October 2010.
New Zealand Pavilion
The New Zealand Pavilion is being managed by New Zealand Trade
and Enterprise, with support from Tourism New Zealand and other New
Zealand Inc agencies.
It is expected to attract more than 40,000 visitors daily during
the six months, who will each take around eight minutes to pass
through the New Zealand experience.
Tourism New Zealand is working to extend New Zealand's
participation in the Expo to reach a wider audience of Chinese
consumers, raising awareness of New Zealand as a holiday
destination and directing people to our
Chinese language travel website.
Prime position
Expo 2010 is the largest World Expo in history. New Zealand has
a prime position at the 528ha Expo site in the heart of Shanghai,
on the main walkway and close to the host pavilion.
Phillip Gibson, New Zealand Commissioner for the 2010 Shanghai
Expo, says New Zealanders would be very proud of the pavilion.
A popular attraction is the waharoa, or Māori
gateway, carved in the shape of a maumahara or ceremonial canoe
which sits on the welcoming square at the entrance to the
pavilion.
Students from Te Puia's carving school have travelled to
Shanghai to complete carving of the waharoa on-site at the New
Zealand Pavilion over the next few months.
The 10 metre-high, 3 metre-wide waharoa will be gifted to China by
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on 9 July, New Zealand's
national day at the expo.