APEC SHOWCASES YOUNG AND CREATIVE NZ

Prime Minister Jenny Shipley today profiled the gifts to be given to leaders of the 20 economies coming to New Zealand for APEC, saying they were a magnificent showcase of young, vibrant New Zealand talent.

"We are reflecting the diversity and vitality of New Zealand arts and crafts with our selection of gifts for the world leaders who will be here for APEC.

"I want all New Zealanders to be very proud of the gifts we have chosen.

"We are giving each leader something uniquely New Zealand. Each will receive a vessel made out of material that comes from the earth, wood, glass or clay. Each is a beautiful piece in its own right that will be proudly displayed in the Leaders' offices or homes. They will not languish in a back cupboard. We want these gifts to be talking points - they will be free advertising for New Zealand and our creative people, for years to come."

Mrs Shipley said that the principal gift for each leader will contain two kete with taonga inside. One kete will contain a tiny piece of pounamu gifted by Ngai Tahu. The second kete will contain three Tanemahuta seeds gifted by Te Iwi o Te Roroa, symbolising our land and our people.

"APEC is an enormous opportunity to showcase the best of New Zealand in its many different guises ? our food, wine, scenery, people, arts and other produce. The selection of gifts is an important and personal way of showing world leaders what we have to offer," the Prime Minister said.

"An important part of this will be the showcasing of young, talented New Zealanders.

"I am delighted that the National Youth Orchestra will be playing at the Leader's Dinner on Sunday 12th, and the National Youth Choir has been asked to sing at the State dinner for President Kim of Korea. These are fabulous opportunities for talented young New Zealanders to perform for some of the world's most influential leaders. It will be an unforgettable experience for them," Mrs Shipley said.

School children from around Auckland will also perform for the Leaders Spouses. Ngati Whatua Kohanga Reo will entertain at the Orakei Marae; St Cuthberts School junior choir will sing during the visit to Puketutu Island, and Leaders' Spouses will receive a Pacific welcome and farewell by students from De La Salle College when they have lunch at Kermadec restaurant.

Gifts were selected by the Prime Minister's Advisory Group for Art and Culture. They will be presented by the Prime Minister when she meets Leaders during bilateral meetings, as part of the APEC Leaders meeting.

ENDS

John Goulter 025 232 4303
Marnie Woodd 04 471 9365

Attached: Background information on artists and process to select gifts.

APEC GIFTS BACKGROUND

OFFICIAL GIFTS FOR LEADERS:

21 artists have been selected to provide official gifts to the 21 APEC Leaders

Anneke Borren Wellington
Christina Boswijk Nelson
Emma Camden Auckland
Len Castle Auckland
Paerau Corneal Hamilton
John Ecuyer Whangarei
Steve Fullmer Nelson
Lyonel Grant Rotorua
Elisabeth McClure Auckland/Whangarei
Garry Nash Auckland
Manos Nathan Dargaville
John Parker Auckland
Peter Penhall Wellington
Mark Piercey Christchurch
Rick Rudd Wanganui
Emily Siddell Auckland
Robyn Stewart Auckland
Inia Te Wiata Morrinsville
Roi Toia Rotorua
Peter Viesnik Auckland
Merilyn Wiseman Auckland/Redvale

Artists were shortlisted by the Prime Minister's Advisory Group for Art and Culture, chaired by well known art patron and collector Jenny Gibbs.

Each object designed by the artists will be perceived as a "precious vessel" carrying and symbolically representing precious objects and knowledge about New Zealand and its place in the Pacific.

Artists were asked to make a gift within the physical dimensions of 30 x 30 x 30cm. It is to be free standing and without a lid, and made of stone, wood, metal, clay or glass.

A limit was set at NZ$500 per gift.

Each "vessel" will be boxed by APEC for presentation to the Leaders and will carry two kete with taonga inside. One kete will contain a tiny piece of pounamu gifted by Ngai Tahu. The second kete will contain three Tanemahuta seeds gifted by Te Iwi o Te Roroa.

There will also be a card with the name of the artist and information about the vessel.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S ADVISORY GROUP FOR ART AND CULTURE:

Jenny Gibbs (Chair) - Chair of the Patrons of the Auckland Art Gallery, Member of the Board of the Museum of New Zealand and a Member of the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Sandy Adsett - Principal Tutor of Toihoukura Visual Arts Maori, Tairawhiti Polytechnic Gisborne, Chairperson of Te Atinga, Contemporary Visual Arts Maori Committee Toi Maori Aotearoa/Maori Arts New Zealand.

Erenora Puketapu Hetet - Past member of the Queen Elizabeth Arts Council of New Zealand, former Maori Protocol Officer/Advisor for the National Museum and a Maori weaver of traditional and contemporary techniques and materials.

Anne Rush - An artist, the Project Manager of the recent New Zealand Symposium on Cultural Tourism and a founding member of the Nelson Bays Arts Marketing Network.

Brian Stevenson - Chair of the Arts Council at Creative New Zealand, past President of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and a co-founder of financial planning firm Spicers Financial Services Ltd.

APEC LEADERS' SPOUSES ? OFFICIAL GIFTS
The Prime Minister's Advisory Group for Art and Culture recommended to the Prime Minister that Leaders' Spouses should receive a unique individual brooch made by contemporary New Zealand jewellers.

Five New Zealand jewellery designers have been selected to make brooches for the spouses of the 21 Leaders. Brooches will be made of silver, paua shell and or mother of pearl and through its character will represent New Zealand and its place in the Pacific.

Designers selected to provide brooches for Leaders' Spouses:

Ruth Baird Waitakere Ranges, Auckland
Jane Dodd Kingsland, Auckland
Niki Hastings-McFall West Auckland
Alan Preston Muriwai, Auckland
Ann Visser Christchurch
Areta Wilkinson Auckland
Helen O'Connor Muriwai, Auckland