New Zealand to Highlight Kiwi Experience Throughout the America's Cup

SAN FRANCISCO, July 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As San Francisco hosts the world's most prestigious sailing competition, New Zealand – the only country represented officially as a partner in an America's Cup racing team – is set to celebrate the country's presence with a series of high-profile events and uniquely New Zealand activities at venues throughout the city. The program is a tribute to the Kiwi way of life, highlighting New Zealand's robust business, technology, food, wine, marine, aviation and tourism ties to the United States, in particular, California and the San Francisco Bay Area. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130709/SF43662)

The program begins with an innovative new venue at Emirates Team New Zealand's official base at Pier 32. In the shape of a traditional "Waka" or Maori canoe, the 200-capacity venue is a dramatic sight on the San Francisco waterfront, symbolizing New Zealand's unparalleled sailing heritage and its unmistakable presence in the city this summer.

"While the Emirates Team New Zealand crew will be well represented on the water, New Zealand is ready to share the very best our nation has to offer on the shores of San Francisco," said Marta Mager, Director of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, North America. "They may be more than six thousand miles apart, but the San Francisco Bay Area and New Zealand share rich ties in the areas of sport and marine technology, high tech, food, wine, and tourism. We're excited to bring the New Zealand experience to life on the Embarcadero this summer."

• Emirates Team New Zealand – Emirates Team New Zealand is bringing its best to this summer of racing, showcasing thousands of hours of boat design and fabrication, and intensive training and preparation for the ETNZ teams on and off the water. The team will make its base at the innovative and award-winning cultural pavilion on Pier 32, designed in the shape of a traditional "Waka" or Maori canoe.
• Marine innovation: With a rich sailing history and thriving marine sector, New Zealand inventors have pioneered many of the new technologies on display at this year's America's Cup. This includes the first-ever wingsail catamaran class in the race's history capable of racing in high winds from 5 to 30 knots, as well as the YachtBot GPS-based training application, which allows teams to track wind speed, direction and other key details – and which first allowed the race to be viewed by millions of spectators via broadcast television in 2010.
• Technology: Some of New Zealand's current technology innovations will also be on display throughout the America's Cup. Animation Research Ltd., a New Zealand company, created an official America's Cup smart phone app and New Zealand company STQRY developed the STQRY (pronounced "Story") app, which will unlock key aspects of the New Zealand experience at America's Cup and within San Francisco using GPS data tied to different locations throughout the City this summer.
  The technology industry of New Zealand is the country's third largest export and generates over $7 billion in annual revenue. Many of New Zealand's leading tech startups have strong ties to San Francisco, having been incubated locally in the SoMa-based Kiwi Landing Pad, which links budding Kiwi entrepreneurs to the Bay Area's thriving tech and venture capital communities.
• Food and Wine: This summer the best of New Zealand's world-renowned food and wine will be available at prestigious venues and events across the city including:
  • Waterbar: New Zealand will launch its flagship New Zealand base at the Waterbar restaurant on the Embarcadero. Following a tour of New Zealand's sustainable farms and wineries, Waterbar's Executive Chef Parke Ulrich and Beverage Director Steven Izzo collaborated to create a special menu that showcases the best in New Zealand food, wine, craft beer, and cocktails. The menu, featuring not only the bounty from the sea, but also the rich harvest of the land with products including venison, lamb and grass fed beef, officially launched on July 4, and will evolve during the summer months. The Waterbar will be New Zealand's home base off the Pier 32 Base for the duration of the America's Cup event. 
  • Waiheke Island Yacht Club: New Zealand is bringing its very own pop-up restaurant to San Francisco that launched this 4^th of July weekend and runs through the end of 2013 – the Waiheke Island Yacht Club. Spearheaded by restaurateur Tony Stewart, who owns Clooney and The Hamptons in Auckland, New Zealand, the pop-up is named for an island off Auckland's coast. The pop-up restaurant will serve progressive New Zealand cuisine, with an emphasis on the region's ingredients, such as lamb.   Head Chef, Hayden McMillen will come from New Zealand to lead the project and be assisted by local Nicholas Patchen from Boulevard, Spruce, Campton Place. The restaurant will feature prix fixe-only menus, with two to four courses at lunch and four courses at dinner, as well as an a la carte bar menu. 
  • New Zealand at SF Chefs: SF Chefs, San Francisco's food, wine and spirits festival, takes place July 28 – August 4, 2013 in the heart of Union Square. New Zealand will be participating in SF Chefs during Food Arts Industry Day on August 2 where New Zealand Chef, Al Brown, will be hosting a lunch featuring a myriad of products from the country. The country's food, wine, and beer will also be on display at Grand Tasting Date on August 2 - August 4.
• Tourism:  Californians love the outdoor paradise of New Zealand, with travelers from the Golden State making up 23% of all US visitor arrivals.  More and more Americans are choosing to visit New Zealand, with US holiday arrivals growing 9.8% year-on-year at end April 2013. As a world-class food and wine, adventure travel, sailing and cultural destination – Tourism New Zealand will be highlighting their unique travel story throughout the America's Cup. 

"In the coming weeks, New Zealand will announce several chances for residents and visitors of San Francisco to experience all that New Zealand is known for...and more," said Mager. "Stay tuned!"

Media interested in New Zealand spokespeople on technology, food and wine, tourism, and other areas, as well as access to key events and activations in San Francisco, including the Waka experience and water access during America's Cup, should contact:

Stephanie Rosa, Mercury
[email protected]
+1 916 307 7087

Charlotte Simcock, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise
[email protected]
+1 646 552 5803

Should you have tourism-specific inquiries outside of the America's Cup, please contact Tourism New Zealand:

Adriena Daunt, Tourism New Zealand
[email protected]
+1 310 857 2207

Yves Gentil, DQMPR for Tourism NZ
[email protected]
+1 212 598 1167

About New Zealand at the America's Cup
The best of New Zealand is coming to San Francisco for the 2013 America's Cup. As a proud supporter of Emirates Team New Zealand, we will be showcasing the finest our country has to offer during the three-month regatta – from marine innovation and technology to food and wine. For more information about New Zealand at The Americas Cup, visit www.newzealand.com/americascup, or follow us at @NZ_Global.

SOURCE New Zealand Trade and Enterprise