Mark your calendar for the weekend of Sept. 19-20 for what promises to be a lively weekend seminar on aspects of contemporary New Zealand in a seminar co-sponsored by the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program and the Center for Australian and New Zealand Studies at Georgetown. The events will be held at the New Zealand Embassy.
To kickoff the program on Friday night will be the Kahurangi Dance Troupe, a native Maori dance group based in the United States, followed by a reception.
On Saturday, Ambassador John Wood will take a look at New Zealand's role in the Pacific Rim as well as on the international scene. He will be followed by Dr. Michael Gunn, curator for Pacific art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who will speak on "New Zealand Arts and Culture: Past and Present."
Participants will provide their own brown bag lunch and will be free to wander the grounds of the Embassy during the luncheon break.
In the afternoon, there will be "Visual Vignettes," featuring slides by American architect James Walker on New Zealand's facade. He will be joined by former New Zealand Ambassador to the United States Denis McLean who will talk about his experiences in trekking around the many beautiful areas of the two islands.
The program will end with a talk on "Down Under Delights: Food, Wine, Fun and Flair," by Bryon Dorian, the new personal chef to Ambassador Wood. Dorian was formerly the chef at New Zealand's prestigious Huka Lodge at Lake Taupo---a spot well known to the world's trout fishermen!
For further details, phone 202-687-7464.