Filipino-Kiwi relations honored with 'Experience New Zealand'

The New Zealand Embassy opened a two-day cultural and trade expo at One Ayala on Saturday to celebrate 60 years of formal diplomatic relations between New Zealand and the Philippines.

The "Experience New Zealand" event brings together Kiwi culture, education, trade, tourism, and cuisine to highlight six decades of cooperation between the two nations.

Hosted by Kiwi-Filipino entertainer Eric "Eruption" Tai, the opening ceremony featured key remarks from New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh.

Speaking partly in Tagalog, McIntosh stressed that people-to-people connections form the core of the bilateral relationship.

"No matter where I go here, people have a New Zealand connection," McIntosh said, citing that the partnership is sustained through families, students, and businesses in both countries. "You are the very heart of this relationship."

McIntosh highlighted various areas of cross-border collaboration, including Filipino contributions to New Zealand's commercial beekeeping industry and agricultural initiatives connecting Kiwi scientists with fruit growers in Mindanao.

She also cited the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Program, which sends more than 40 Filipino university students to New Zealand institutions annually.

The opening showcase featured a musical performance combining New Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, alongside a cultural display by the Tokyo-based kapa haka group Nga Hau E Wha.

The two-day exposition includes representatives from 12 New Zealand educational institutions alongside 20 trade booths featuring food, beverages and commercial products.