Victoria Kiwis

TE VAKA

2010-07-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

TE VAKA are currently touring Canada (starting at the Mission Folk Festival this weekend) and the US. Pacific Peoples’ Partnership has been able to bring them to Victoria.
They will be performing next Thursday July 29 at the Victoria Events Centre.

Details at: pacificpeoplespartnership.org

Hangi Work Party

2010-07-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

This years work party for the Hangi is on Sunday 25 July.

9am to 2:30pm

Beer and BBQ

Contact Dave at 250 4782476 or 250 2163128

2010 Collector Car Festival

2010-07-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

Our very own ex-pat kiwi restauranteur and host of our annual waitangi day celebrations would like to invite all local kiwis to come on down to Oak Bay and join in the fun this summer.

The annual summer Blethering Place Collector Car Festival is Sunday August 15th.

There are almost 300 collector cars on display (placed on either side of the road).

The show is 5 blocks long and the crowd is about 15,000.
The first vehicles start arriving about 7.30 am.
The entrants pay $15 ea which pays for the expenses
Prizes are all fun ones, policeman's choice, ladies choice, the best survivor etc...

There will be 50s era music and entertainment.
A 1947 Fargo farm truck is the stage with all the 50s-60s convertibles to set the scene .
To date it has never rained on the day.

NZ Music in town

2010-07-05T09:56:00.000-07:00

NZ reggae band 'Katchafire' is playing in the skafestival this weekend. Katchafire headlines Thursday night at ship point.

Also on Saturday night NZ's 'The black seeds' play at the Victoria curling club.

NZ Secondary School Choir performing at First Met. United Church

2010-07-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

The New Zealand Secondary School Choir will be performing at First Met. United Church (Quadra and Balmoral) in Victoria, BC on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 at 7:30 pm.

Cost: Adults $15, Seniors and Students - $10.

This concert is part of the Kathaumixw Choral Festival and will include choirs from Finland and the Czech Republic as well as New Zealand.

For information on the New Zealand Secondary School Choir go to the website www.kathaumixw.org   

Hope to see lots of support for these young people on July 13th!   

Brenda Harvey, on behalf of the Music Team at First Met

New Blog from NZ High Commissioner

2010-06-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

New Zealand High Commissioner to Canada Andrew Needs has started a weekly blog.

It can be found at: http://blogs.mfat.govt.nz/andrew-needs/

Visit the blog to keep up with the developments at the High Commission and New Zealand/Canada issues and events.

Comments are most welcome and may be posted directly onto the website.

Crowded House - Victoria - August 30th

2010-06-26T21:17:00.000-07:00

Crowded house is playing the Royal Victoria Theatre August 30th.

http://crowdedhouse.com/shows/2010/august/30/royal-theatre

Kiwi World Cup Fans Wanted

2010-05-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

A producer working with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is preparing a number of projects that deal with our World Cup coverage and is particularly interested in contacting people who will be cheering and supporting New Zealand team during the World Cup.

CBC is interested in recruiting World Cup "super fans" within the Kiwi community to be part of the CBC "Super fan" blog site.

Contact,

Roma Andrusiak

Producer

CBC NEWS

Roma.Andrusiak@cbc.ca

416-205-3152

Velox Rugby tour fundraising

2010-05-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

Velox Rugby club are planning on touring Costa Rica in January of 2011. 27 players have already been fundraising for this trip but they are seeking new ways to raise money for the first Velox tour abroad in over 25 years.

If you have any fundraising ideas or any projects that could be completed by 20-odd rugby players please email Aaron at frisbyaaron@hotmail.com

University of Canterbury Alumni Reception

2010-05-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

A delegation from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ , led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ian Town is coming to Vancouver for their first alumni function on Tues 11 May. Other members of the delegation are Mr Jeff Field, Registrar and Shelagh Murray, Alumni and Development Manager.

Victoria Kiwis Hangi 2010

2010-05-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

Brace yourselves boys and girls - it's the annual Victoria Kiwis Hangi!

For those of you who haven't been before this the premier social event for the New Zealand community here on Vancouver Island. It's a great day out for the family and a great way to meet other kiwis on the island or catch up with old friends.

Mark the date in you calendar:

Saturday 31st July 2pm - 10pm

4369 Happy Valley Road
Metchosin (map)

Dave Cresswell hosts us all again this year at his farm in Metchosin.

Tickets will be sold at the gate.

Potluck salads and desserts.

Prizes will be awarded for best pavlova, best bacon & egg pie and others.

BYOB - Don't drink and drive!

Campers are welcome. Bring a tent, camper or motorhome and stay the night. You can turn up early and stake out your favourite spot. Just let Dave Cresswell know if you plan to arrive early.

250-478-2476

happyvalleykiwi@telus.net

Australian High Commission Media Release: ANZAC Day 2010

2010-04-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

Each year, the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions join to host commemorative ANZAC Day events in Canada.
Anzac Day events in Canada this year will be held in Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, St John’s, Edmonton, Halifax and Winnipeg. Details of the Ottawa service are as follows. Information on the services being held in other cities is attached.

Ottawa service
The service will be hosted by the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions, in partnership with the Canadian War Museum. The ceremony will follow the lines of a traditional remembrance service, and a traditional ‘gunfire breakfast’ will take place afterwards in the Museum's cafeteria. 

WHO:
Australian High Commission, New Zealand High Commission, Canadian and Provincial Government officials and representatives, Canadian War Museum, current and retired military personnel, members of the diplomatic corps and dignitaries. Members of the public are welcome.

WHEN:
Ceremony starts at 8 am sharp on Sunday 25 April 2010

WHERE:
The Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place. Pay parking is available in the Museum’s underground car park.

CONTACT:
For any enquiries please contact Mr Dallas Frazer at the Australian High Commission:
Telephone (613) 783 7617 or dallas.frazer@dfat.gov.au

BACKGROUND
ANZAC Day - April 25 - is Australia and New Zealand’s most important national day of commemoration. ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces on 25 April 1915 in Gallipoli, Turkey. The anniversary is commemorated annually in Australia and in many countries around the world.

ANZAC DAY EVENTS ACROSS CANADA IN 2010

Details of this year’s events are below. Information is also available on the Australian High Commission’s website.

Ottawa, Ontario.
Date: 25 April
Time: 8am
Location: Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place
Details: Service will be followed by a ‘gunfire breakfast’ in the Museum's cafeteria.
Dress: Uniform/business attire
Contact: Mr Dallas Frazer

Toronto, Ontario
Date: 25 April
Time: 6:15am
Location: Canadian Forces College, 215 Yonge Boulevard.
Dress: Uniform/business.
Service contact: Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Rawlins, Directing Staff (CFC), , +1-647-4826800 ext.6885 (wk)

Attendance is open to serving military personnel and the general public. As the service is held on a Canadian Forces base, all civilian personnel are required to pre-register their attendance through the Australian Consul General in Toronto to allow entry. Failure to pre-register may result in a delay in your entrance onto the base. In order to pre-register, please e-mail your name, address and licence details to or telephone +1 416-323-9435 to provide the same information.

Vancouver, British Columbia
Date: 25 April
Time: 10am
Location: Victory Square Park, corner of Hastings and Cambie Streets
Dress: Uniform/casual
Contact: CANZBA:
Additional Information: see www.canzba.org

St John's, Newfoundland
Date: 24 April
Time: 9:15am
Location: Adjacent to Branch 56 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Pleasantville
Details: Service followed by reception at Branch 56 Royal Canadian Legion, Pleasantville.
Dress: Uniform/business.
Contact: Capt Ken Lutz

Please note: HRH Princess Anne will be a royal guest at this event.
The 1st Bn, Royal Newfoundland Regiment will be on parade by 0915 with HRH expected to arrive at 0940. The subsequent reception is scheduled to commence at 1030 at the Royal Canadian Legion.
The Royal Newfoundland Regiment was raised on 25 April 1795, and on that date the Regiment celebrates their unit anniversary as well as commemorating its participation as the only North American unit to fight in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

Edmonton, Alberta
Date: 25 April
Time: 8am
Location: Edmonton City Hall
Dress: Uniform/business attire
Contact: Lt Jason Pascoe (jason.pascoe@forces.gc.ca) or Greg Fox (downunder_prez@yahoo.ca)

A 'gunfire breakfast' will be held at the Kingsway Legion following the service for a small fee.

Halifax, Nova Scotia
Date: 25 April
Time: 6:30am
Location: Fort Massey Cemetery, corner of Queen and South Streets, at the grave of SGT Selwyn Keith Loveday (RAAF).
Dress: Uniform/business attire
Contact: LCDR Bob Dunn on e-mail: Robert.dunn3@forces.gc.ca or cell: +1 (902) 449 0493

Service to be followed by breakfast at "Smitty's", corner of Spring Garden and Tower Roads.

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Date: Saturday 24 April
Time: 5pm
Location: Scandinavian Cultural Centre, 764 Erin Street.
Dress: Neat casual.
Contact: info@downunderclub.mb.ca, 1-204-832-4405

The service will be followed by a supper. Attendees are encouraged to send the names of those they wish to publicly honour at the service. The Down Under Club will be joined by members of the Canadian Legion General Monash Branch and members of the public who want to remember this important occasion. Children are more than welcome to attend.

Wecome for Napier boys rugby team

2010-03-12T20:37:00.000-08:00

As you may know, Napier is one of Victoria's 4 twin cities.

You may not know we have a group of teenage school boys coming to Victoria from Napier at the end of March to play rugby as guests of Shawnigan Lake Boys School.

The City of Victoria is putting together a short welcoming ceremony for them at Spirit Square/Centennial Square in downtown Victoria at 11:00 am Wednesday, March 31.

Mayor Dean Fortin would like to invite any and all Kiwis living around Victoria to drop by for the ceremony and to say hi to the kids. The city has asked the two Aboriginal chiefs from Songhees and Esquimalt to come and bring greetings and are trying to arrange for Aboriginal drummers to come and perform as part of the ceremony.

Lets all show a warm Victoria Kiwi welcome to these young New Zealand athletes.

Please give Tricia Bowen (Protocol Assistant at the City of Victoria) a call if you're interested in attending at 250 598-8995 so they have a rough idea how many people to expect.

Welcoming Ceremony

Boys rugby team from Napier

11 am Wednesday, March 31

Call Tricia Bowen 250 598-8995

Kiwiana Decor

2010-03-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

Rosemary, a fellow Victoria Kiwi recently redecorated her lounge and found this website with great kiwiana prints. Check it out if you're thinking of adding a kiwi accent to your decor.

www.designerdecor.co.nz

NZ House at the Vancouver Olympics

2010-02-05T19:53:00.000-08:00

Join us along with the local Kiwi community, friends of the Kiwis and the New Zealand Olympic team in celebrating our participation in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Monday February 15th 6:00 - 9:00pm

Sciue Cafe, Pender Street - Icebreaker Vancouver 2010 Welcome Party

Monday March 1st 6:00 - 9:00pm

Sciue Cafe, Pender Street - New Zealand Olympic Team Wrap Party

Enjoy an evening of New Zealand food, wine, & entertainment, including:  - An authentic New Zealand musical performance from Soul Paua  - A traditional haka from our local New Zealand group, Te Tini a Maui.

Icebreaker's 2010 collection fashion show
Olympic re-cap from New Zealand Olympic Committee on the Games
Chance to win some beautiful New Zealand prizes  - Icebreaker Team New Zealand clothing available to be purchased

For more information and to RSVP, please respond to Sasja Smit or go to the website.

NOTE: both NZ House events (Feb 15th and March 1) are full and can no longer accept any RSVPs.

Victoria Waitangi Day Event

2010-01-19T21:49:00.000-08:00

The Blethering Place is once again hosting a New Zealand themed evening in celebration of Waitangi day and all things Kiwi.

It will be on Friday 5th February starting around 5:30pm.

(Waitangi Day is Saturday 6th but New Zealand is a day ahead so it's about right eh)

The Trade Winds musical group will be there to serenade us with Kiwi and Pacific Island themed entertainment throughout the evening.

The menu will include several New Zealand themed items especially for the occasion:

Steinlager
Fish N Chips - Salmon or Halibut
NEW ZEALAND Mussels
Pan fried Red Snapper and Prawns
NEW ZEALAND Roast Roast Leg of Lamb & Mint Sauce
BIG BEN Steak & Mushroom or Steak N Kidney Pies
Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding with Mashed Potatoes
NEW ZEALAND Lamb or Prime Rib homemade Burgers
SOUTH PACIFIC Prawn Curry and Basmati Rice
Chiken Strips for the kids
and Vegetarian items

And there's always room for pudding:

NZ Pavlovas
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Double Tropical Fruit Trifle

If you are interested in attending please phone The Blethering Place and let them know as it helps with staffing and stocking up on the necessary Kiwi Kai.

Velox Waitangi Day Party Cancelled

2010-01-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

Due to a double booking the Velox Rugby Club Waitangi Day Party is cancelled.

Not to worry though. The Blethering Place is having a New Zealand themed evening on Friday 5th Feb. All welcome. Details to follow shortly.

Velox Rugby Club Waitangi Day Party

2010-01-18T19:06:00.000-08:00

Cancelled.

Victoria Waitangi Day Party, Velox Rugby Club, Feb 6th.

Due to a double booking the Velox Waitangi Day is cancelled.

If you want to catch up on a bit of local rugby, come out and support the numerous Kiwis representing Velox earlier that day.

1pm Division 1 kickoff, 2.45pm Premier Grade kickoff.

Cheers

Aaron Frisby

Canada New Zealand Business Association

2010-01-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

Kiwi business owners and entrepreneurs who are interested in being a member of the Canada New Zealand Business Association can email ibanz@xtra.co.nz

or visit

http://www.canada-nz.org.nz

Membership is free.

Vancouver Waitangi Day Party

2010-01-15T20:03:00.000-08:00

Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.

Since the day falls on a Saturday, the week before the Olympics start... and as its the first time for a big Waitangi Day party in Vancouver city we have kept the drinking to 1 bar in Gastown (Downtown Vancouver), with many a bar close by. IF it’s big, then we'll have more bars next year!

The shin-dig starts at 11.30 am with beers and Kiwi burgers, hot chip sandwiches, a hearty boil up (yes with watercress and pork bones) with all of us meeting at the 1st bar, there is going to be awesome booze specials, kiwi music (all day) and entertainment (like heaps of old skool kiwi flicks on the TV screens) too.

Friends and good times and hopefully a Haka from all the fellas around 5pm, working on cordoning off a part of the street for this.
The party is scheduled to finish around 7pm, but by all means keep drinking and rocking out for NZ....sweet

There will be tickets for the event at the door ($10) and we will be selling Event t-shirts to wear on the day or to take as a souvenir with you ($10).

O for awesome
________________________________________________________

Date: Sat 6th Feb (Waitangi Day!)

Time: 11:30am start

Venues: The METROPOLE , 320 Abbott Street (corner of Cordova and Abbott in Gastown, opposite the new Woodwards building)

Specials: $8 Can of Beer and Shot, $7.25 Doubles. Possibly a complimentary Keg from Granville Island too... just maybe!

Entertainment: Definitely Kiwi tunes, DJ and more...

Any questions please contact: Avi at avinarula@hotmail.com.

Air New Zealand, nothing to hide

2010-01-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

Charity begins at home

2010-01-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

Murray and Michelle Smith have decided to give away their home with a market valuation of one million dollars because they want to find a way to help provide funds for building a new church and community centre in their home town of Cambridge, NZ.

http://www.apieceofnz.co.nz/

Read the New Zealand Herald Article about this Minister practising what he preaches.

Samoa Tsunami Relief Fundraising Event

2009-10-23T13:13:00.000-07:00

A local Maori group we work with has pulled together a fundraising event for the victims of the tsunami in Samoa. The consulate will be getting involved by helping them with ticket sales and arranging for the funds to be sent to Apia. Consul General Claire Eeles will also be speaking at the event.

PURPOSE: Fundraise for the Samoa Tsunami victims

TARGET: CAD$10,000 (which will be $23,000 Samoan Tala)

EVENT: Indigenous Performance & Traditional Meal (4 hours). Event will include Maori performance, local Squamish performance and Polynesian performances

TICKETS: $50 per person only 170 tickets available for sale but donations accepted for those who miss out on tickets

DATE & PLACE: Sunday 15 November 1-4pm at Moose’s Down Under 830 West Pender Street, Vancouver (at Pender and Hornby Streets)

Please contact Sasja Smit at 604 684 7388 ext 103 or Sasja.Smit@nzte.govt.nz
at the New Zealand Consulate to arrange payment and ticket collection.
Please also contact Sasja if you would like to make a donation.

This Way of Life

2009-09-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

New Zealander Barbara Sumner Burstyn, the producer/screenwriter of an upcoming NZ movie 'This Way of Life' which is making its Canadian premier at the Vancouver International Film Festival on October 3rd would like to get the word out to all New Zealanders living in the area so they can come and show their support..

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

"This Way of Life" opening weekend screening:

Saturday, October 3, 8:45pm, Empire Granville Cinema 5
Monday, October 5, 12:40pm, Empire Granville Cinema 5
Saturday, October 10,11:20am, Empire Granville Cinema 2

This Way of Life: www.thiswayoflifemovie.com
http://www.viff.org/tixSYS/2009/filmguide/films/4918

Victoria woman in New Zealand blog race

2009-09-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

Cat Moores is desperately trying to amass a posse of blog followers.

Link