Guest blog post by U.S. Embassy Youth Councilor, Lit Wei Chin. In late September, the US Embassy of New Zealand held the Connecting Young Leaders conference in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). This brought together the US-NZ Youth Council across the country from Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington. It was an opportunity for us to engage with ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 14 October, 2020 | Categories: Connecting with Kiwis, News, Youth Outreach | Tags: USNZYouthCouncil, Youth Council
Assistant Secretary Heath P. Tarbert, U.S. Department of the Treasury In 1989, twelve economies met to establish a forum for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in order to achieve greater prosperity for the Pacific Rim. The region has come a long way since then. And APEC continues to foster progress as demonstrated just this week when ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 19 October, 2018 | Categories: Business, Commercial Affairs, Doing Business in the U.S., East Asia & Pacific, News, Trade | Tags: APEC, Asian Development Bank, IMF, Kiwi Act, World Bank
Press Statement John J. Sullivan Acting Secretary of State Washington, DC April 23, 2018 On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I am honored to send my best wishes to the people of Australia and New Zealand this Anzac Day on April 25, 2018. On the 103rd anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 24 April, 2018 | Categories: Connecting with Kiwis, History, Key Officials, News, U.S. & New Zealand | Tags: ANZAC Day
Dr. Alex MacDonald is NASA’s Senior Economic Advisor within the Office of the Administrator at NASA Headquarters and is one of the foremost experts on the economic history of American space exploration and contemporary private-sector space activities. During a one-week trip to New Zealand, Dr. MacDonald connected with a wide array of government, academic, and ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 28 December, 2017 | Categories: Auckland, Business, Doing Business in the U.S., News, Science & Tech, U.S. & New Zealand, U.S. Consulate Auckland | Tags: AUT University, Consul General Melanie Higgins, NASA, Peter Beck, RocketLab, Space exploration, TedxAuckland, U.S. - N.Z. Youth Council
Marking his second trip to Tamaki-makau-rau, on the 12th July 2017, Ambassador Scott Brown and his wife Mrs. Gail Brown flew to Auckland to celebrate the 241st Independence Day of the United States – arriving to chilly weather but a warm reception in New Zealand’s economic and population hub. Ahead of the celebrations, Ambassador Brown ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 25 July, 2017 | Categories: Auckland, Consulate General, Former Ambassadors, News, U.S. Consulate Auckland | Tags: Auckland, Former U.S. Ambassador Scott Brown
Each March a celebration of the rich history between Hawaii and Aotearoa descends onto the Hawaii Village at the Pasifika Festival in Auckland. Since launching the Hawaii Village in 2014, we continue to support the Hawaii Village Committee members who work tirelessly on a striking two day display of Hawaii arts, culture and food. This ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 19 April, 2017 | Categories: Art & Culture, Auckland, Chargé D’Affaires, Connecting with Kiwis, Deputy Chief of Mission, Events, First People's Connect, News, Public Affairs, U.S. & New Zealand, Youth Outreach | Tags: Hawaii, Maori, Northland, Pasifika Festival, Samoa
The latest
Wahine Toa post by By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. For the next Wahine Toa blog I traveled to the world’s southernmost marae which is at the bottom of the South Island in Bluff. I met Aimee Kaio, a dedicated social entrepreneur from Ngāi Tahu, Tuhourangi, Ngāti Whakaue and Ngā Puhi, whose ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 20 January, 2017 | Categories: Connecting with Kiwis, Culture, First People's Connect, News, Success Stories, Wahine Toa | Tags: Ambassador Gilbert, Maori Women Leaders, Ngā Puhi, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Whakaue, Tuhourangi
The latest
Wahine Toa post by By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. Jacinta Ruru is New Zealand’s first Māori Professor of Law, co-director of Ngā Pae o te Maramatanga (New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence), and a two-time Fulbright award grantee. Jacinta’s utmost mission has been straightforward: to bring a strong Indigenous voice ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 20 January, 2017 | Categories: Connecting with Kiwis, Culture, First People's Connect, News, Success Stories, Wahine Toa | Tags: Ambassador Gilbert, Maori Women Leaders, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Ranginui, Raukawa, Wahine Toa Project
The latest
Wahine Toa post by By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. Wahine Toa Nicol ‘Kelly’ Takurua of Ngāti Porou descent, is a champion social worker in rural Southland. And , as she tells it, her interest in organizing and helping others with their lives is something she’s done all her life. Kelly’s family ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 20 January, 2017 | Categories: Connecting with Kiwis, Culture, First People's Connect, News, Success Stories, Wahine Toa | Tags: Ambassador Gilbert, Maori Women Leaders, Ngāti Porou, Wahine Toa
The latest
Wahine Toa post by By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. Brittany Teei is a former professional tennis player, social entrepreneur, founder of KidsCoin tech-company, and she’s only 27 years young. Blessed with a prodigious mind and heart, this tenacious Ngāi Tahu woman recently shared her incredible story at the Remuera Tennis Club ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 19 January, 2017 | Categories: Connecting with Kiwis, Culture, First People's Connect, News, Success Stories, U.S. & New Zealand, Wahine Toa | Tags: Ambassador Gilbert, KidsCoin, Maori Women Leaders, Ngāi Tahu, Tennis
The latest
Wahine Toa post by By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. The next Wahine Toa feature is Deidre Otene of Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi. Over the last decade she has been at the forefront supporting Māori youth and women in grassroots communities. At the heart of her work is her own community in ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 18 January, 2017 | Categories: Connecting with Kiwis, Culture, First People's Connect, News, Success Stories, Wahine Toa | Tags: Ambassador Gilbert, Maori, Maori Women Leaders, Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Wahine Toa
The latest
Wahine Toa post by By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. Libby Hakaraia is a trailblazing journalist, author and filmmaker, broadcasting New Zealand’s culture and cinematic stories to the world. A masterful auteur, Libby pioneered New Zealand’s first international indigenous film festival – Māoriland Film Festival. I visited this gifted storyteller in her ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 17 January, 2017 | Categories: Art & Culture, Connecting with Kiwis, First People's Connect, News, Success Stories, Wahine Toa | Tags: Ambassador Gilbert, Maori, Maori Women Leaders, Maoriland film festival, Nancy Gilbert, Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Atiawa, Wahine Toa Project
The latest
Wahine Toa post by By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. In October, the United States Embassy in New Zealand brought together 140 Maori women from across the country for the Wahine Toa (“Women of Strength”) Leadership Conference, the culmination of two years of interviews and engagement with emerging female leaders from the ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 23 December, 2016 | Categories: Auckland, Connecting with Kiwis, Culture, Education, First People's Connect, Former U.S. Government Leaders, News, Success Stories, Wahine Toa | Tags: Ambassador Gilbert, Barack Obama, Nancy Gilbert, Wahine Toa
The latest Wahine Toa post by By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. Our next Wahine Toa feature is Rukumoana Schaafhausen from Ngāti Haua. Her ardent desire to help her community, her church, and her Māori people is central to her story as the longest standing trustee for Waikato Tainui Te Kauhaunganui Inc, ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 21 December, 2016 | Categories: Art & Culture, Connecting with Kiwis, Culture, First People's Connect, News, Success Stories, U.S. & New Zealand, Wahine Toa | Tags: Ambassador Gilbert, Kiingitanga, Nancy Gilbert, Wahine Toa, Waikato Tainui
U.S. Consulate General Auckland Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Earthquake & Tsunami November 14, 2016 The
U.S. Geological Service has reported a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in North Canterbury, New Zealand on the South Island in the early hours of Monday morning. Its epicenter was 15 km north-east of Culverden, close to Hanmer Springs, at 12:02 AM local ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 14 November, 2016 | Categories: Consular Affairs, Emergency Services, Messages for U.S. Citizens, News | Tags: ACS, AMCIT, CD, Earthquake, USGS
The latest
Wahine Toa post by By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. The next Wahine Toa feature is Rachel Taulelei. Rachel’s Māori heritage and advocacy for young entrepreneurs, women in particular, are among her most passionate inspirations. Business savvy, and an innate gift for innovation have led to extraordinary success —first as an entrepreneur ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 23 August, 2016 | Categories: Agriculture, Art & Culture, Business, Connecting with Kiwis, Culture, First People's Connect, News, Success Stories, Trade, U.S. & New Zealand, Wahine Toa | Tags: Environment, Nancy Gilbert, New Zealand, Rachel Taulelei, Wahine Toa, Wahine Toa Project
The White House Office of the Vice President For Immediate Release July 21, 2016 Readout of Vice President Biden’s Meeting with Members of the New Zealand Labour Party Vice President Biden met today with leading members of the opposition Labour Party in Auckland. They affirmed the shared values, deepening partnership, and growing economic ties ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 22 July, 2016 | Categories: Auckland, Events, Key Officials, U.S. & New Zealand, Uncategorized | Tags: Joe Biden
By Mara Hosoda, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Consulate General, Auckland. NASA is on a mission to foster innovation around challenges affecting us at home and in space; this year it created the world’s largest international annual hackathons. On Friday April 22, 2016, Acting Consul General, Emily Armitage kicked off the 2016 NASA Space Apps Challenge ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 3 May, 2016 | Categories: Auckland, Connecting with Kiwis, Consulate General, Education, Environment, Events, Public Affairs, Science & Tech, Youth Outreach | Tags: AUT, Hackathon, NASA Space Apps Challenge, New Zealand, RocketLab, STEM
Last week Nancy Gilbert hosted the Et Alia Art Group at Camperdown for a luncheon to share and discuss the
Art in Embassies ‘Iconic Images’ exhibition. Nancy gave a history of the Art in Embassies program and the process behind their theme of iconic images of her home and host countries. She shared her favorite pieces with the ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 30 March, 2016 | Categories: Art & Culture, Connecting with Kiwis, Culture, East Asia & Pacific, Events, Former U.S. Government Leaders, News, U.S. & New Zealand | Tags: Art in Embassies, Art in Embassies program, Barack Obama, Nancy Gilbert
MEDIA RELEASE, March 11, 2016 One of Hawaii’s most respected live performers, Paula Fuga, will grace the main stage at this year’s Pasifika Festival on Saturday, March 12. Since her breakout modern Hawaiian soul debut album Lilikoi in 2007, Paula has gone on to tour the world with artists such as Jack Johnson and Ziggy Marley, and ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 11 March, 2016 | Categories: Former U.S. Government Leaders, Press Releases | Tags: Auckland, Barack Obama, Pasifika Festival, Paula Fuga
by Ambassador Mark Gilbert As the New Year dawns, I’ve been reflecting on the past twelve months and looking ahead to continuing to deepen our vital friendship with New Zealand and Samoa. 2015 was an amazing year, and I am so grateful I was able to meet with and be inspired by so many New ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 19 January, 2016 | Categories: Environment, Former Ambassadors, News, Science & Tech | Tags: Antarctica, NSF, U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert
UPDATE: The Deadline has been extended to December 14, 2015. Study of the U.S. Institutes for Secondary Educators will take place in the United States over the course of 5 weeks beginning in or after the latter part of May 2016. Each Institute includes a 4 week academic residency component and one week integrated study ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 13 November, 2015 | Categories: Education, News, Scholarships and Exchanges, Study in the U.S. | Tags: SUSI
UPDATE: The Deadline has been extended to December 14, 2015. Study of the U.S. Institutes for Scholars will take place at various United States universities over the course of 6 weeks beginning in or after June 2016. Each Institute includes a 4 week academic residency component and up to 2 weeks of an integrated study ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 13 November, 2015 | Categories: Education, News, Scholarships and Exchanges, Study in the U.S. | Tags: SUSI
By Nancy Gilbert, wife of U.S. Ambassador Mark Gilbert. As part of our now well established Wahine Toa series, I traveled to “King country”, home to the Waikato-Tainui iwi and a dear friend, King Tuheitia Paki. Pioneers of
Kingitanga , (a collective spirit to unify Māori tribes under a Māori monarchy) the iwi holds an incredible ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 30 October, 2015 | Categories: Art & Culture, Connecting with Kiwis, Education, First People's Connect, News, Success Stories, Wahine Toa | Tags: Dr. Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai, Kingitanga, Ngaruawahia, Waikato-Tainui College
On the last weekend of Save Kiwi Month we’d like to share an update from the wonderful Kathy Brader, senior bird keeper at
Smithsonian National Zoo on her work with kiwi.
We interviewed Kathy last year at Wellington Zoo , when she was in New Zealand for her investiture as an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to kiwi conservation. Kiwi News ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 29 October, 2015 | Categories: Connecting with Kiwis, Environment, News, U.S. & New Zealand | Tags: Kathy Brader, Kiwi, Save the kiwi month, Smithsonian National Zoo
The U.S. Department of State and espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program is one of world sport’s most sought-after female business leader’s professional development opportunities. Every year emerging leaders from every corner of the world work side-by-side with top female executives in the American sports industry during their month in the United States. Not only do ...
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By Ola Thorsen | 28 October, 2015 | Categories: News, Scholarships and Exchanges, Sports Diplomacy, Study in the U.S., Success Stories | Tags: Julie Patterson, Netball, Shanelle Barrett, Triathlon