In 2011, the Ministry supported the REAL New Zealand Festival which:
- ran alongside the Rugby World Cup Tournament from September 9 to October 24, 2011, giving visitors and New Zealanders irresistible reasons to take the long way round as they travel from match to match
- was a series of regional festivals, events and visitor experiences coordinated and developed at a national level by the New Zealand 2011 Office
- was a nationwide showcase of New Zealand cultures, people, stories, landscapes and industries – 100% New Zealand content
- engaged all of New Zealand as a nation of four million hosts and showcase the best of each region and the best of New Zealand, in a comprehensive programme of events, attractions and experiences that bring to life what’s important to New Zealanders, and what we love most about our part of the world.
Also check out Roadside Stories - an entertaining, free audio guide designed for domestic and international tourists that was launched to coincide with Rugby World Cup 2011 as part of the REAL New Zealand festival. Support for various REAL New Zealand events was provided through our Cultural Diplomacy International Programme.
