Three finalists for NZer of the Year in Britain

Media release – January 30, 2008

Three finalists for NZer of the Year in Britain named

Three finalists for the Air New Zealand New Zealander of the Year Award 2008, have been announced in London.

The finalists are Dr Ian Conrich, Director of the Centre for New Zealand Studies at Birkbeck College, University of London; Chris Pugsley, New Zealand military historian and Rosanna Raymond and Amiria Salmond, curators of the Pasifika Styles exhibition at the University of Cambridge.

They are all recognised for the contribution they have made to enhancing New Zealand’s profile in the UK over the past year.

The award, which was established by the New Zealand Society in 1998, will be presented to the winner at the annual New Zealand Society’s Waitangi Day Dinner at the Drapers’ Hall, on February 8.

Martin Conway, president of the New Zealand Society commented: “The finalists are New Zealanders who share their community spirit, dedication and enthusiasm through a diverse range of activities that make a significant contribution to the links and profile of New Zealand in the United Kingdom.”

Previous winners have included New Zealand memorial architect, Jon Rennie; Susan and Tom Glynn, New Zealand restaurateurs in London; golfer Michael Campbell; Secretary General of the Commonwealth Don McKinnon; equestrian rider Mark Todd, and New Zealand celebrity chef Peter Gordon

Showcasing New Zealand food and wine, the dinner will also include a Maori performance by Ngati Ranana, and the guest speaker will be Sir Graeme Davies, vice-chancellor of the University of London. A fund raising raffle with a prize of two return Air NZ tickets to NZ, will assist the society’s activities.

As part of the annual celebrations, a Waitangi Day Service will be held at St Lawrence Jewry, Next-Guildhall, in the City of London on February 7.

ENDS

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