International Art Centre - Summer Collection

ICCNZ Member, Frances Davies of the International Art Centre, advises that with over 36 resident artists currently completing a multitude of exciting new works, the annual Summer Exhibition promises to be one of the best ever.

New to the gallery this year, and featured in the Summer Exhibition, are the unique neo-classical portraits of Oamaru based artist, Donna Demente. Whilst for the first time in New Zealand, clients are able to view and purchase the 'edgy' animal portraits of Melbourne artist Tracy Ellerton. On a more traditional level, Patricia Payne commemorates the festive season with a specially commissioned Nativity Scene accompanied by a new series of small scale paintings, perfect for a very special Christmas gift.

This year the every popular landscapes of leading New Zealand artist, Simon Williams, are complemented by his dramatic new series of Auckland Nightscapes.

International Art Centre

227 Parnell Road

Parnell

AUCKLAND

http://www.internationalartcentre.co.nz/

Europe Xmas Dance Party

ItaliaNZ in association with Alliance Francaise of Auckland will be holding the Europe Xmas Dance Party on Thursday, the 3rd of December, from 8pm at Khuja.

Entry is $10 which will include European nibbles.

2009 Italian Film Festival

This year’s festival selection represents the broadest offering of films to date, continuing to fulfil Tony's objective of extending the scope of the festival.

Tony Lambert says: "Whilst romantic comedies are my first choice for selection as I, like you, think the Italians make the best ‘romcoms’ in the business, I want to bring you other genres that demonstrate the rich variety of Italian cinema, including thrillers, documentaries, drama, comedy, dramatisations and historical drama. These are all represented in this year’s festival; a line-up of films that offers something for everyone."

The festival opens in Auckland on September 30 and finishes in Tauranga on 2 December.

Check out the site: www.italianfilmfestival.co.nz

Direct from Milano to Auckland - Piccolo Teatro di Milano

HARLEQUIN - Servant of Two Masters

Written by Carlo Goldoni

Directed by Giorgio Strehler

Restaged by Ferruccio Soleri in collaboration with Stefano de Luca

Featuring 20 actors and five musicians in breathtaking masks & costumes.

A miraculous fusion of brilliant directorial insight, inspired physical comedy and a peerless sense of style. LA TIMES

HARLEQUIN, a wily trickster, accepts the employment of two masters and is forced to walk a tightrope between their demands. What unfolds is a madcap masterpiece with three weddings, two duels, a dance number, a chase sequence, a love story, a food fight and much more.

...craft, vigor and sheer joie de vivre. CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Let Italy's revered Piccolo Teatro di Milano immerse you in the art of comedy – commedia dell'arte – upon which slapstick, physical comedy and the great comic characters from Shakespeare to Charlie Chaplin and Benny Hill to Homer Simpson have drawn their inspiration.

...pure buffoonery. THE NEW YORK TIMES

Ciao and see you there

Thursday 1 to Sat 3 October 7pm at the Aotea Centre, THE EDGE®

La Vita è Bella - The ONLY Italian Radio Programme in Auckland

Your Italian Sundays 9.10pm-10.10pm on Planet 104.6 FM.

Welcome to the only Italian radio programme broadcasted from Auckland!

The first little corner of Italianity available all over New Zealand, easily by turning on your radio on 104.2FM! Stay tuned on Planet 104.2 FM every Sunday night at 9.10pm for a unique Italian entertainment!

Mostly in Italian, La Vita è Bella will go though the amazing and always surprising regional traditions, the unforgettable Italian cults, food, culture and entertainment, interviews, guests, phone-out, surveys and competitions.

From Sunday 23rd August, every Sunday 9.10pm- 10.10pm

HEAR ITALIAN, THINK ITALIAN, LIVE BEAUTIFULLY ITALIAN

_____________________________________________

PROMOTIONAL VALUE FOR SUPPORTERS - Contact us

We can design with you a commercial script and record it. Once you will give us your approval on the final record, your commercial will be running on Planet FM, every day - throughout the day (24 hours!). Inclusion in a minimum of 8 x contesting elements during the first 8 Sunday’s programme. You’ll be present on the La Vita è Bella webpage in www.planetfm.co.nz

Contact us:

Emanuele: 021 1764436 emanuelekiwi@gmail.com

Cristina: 021 02202678 cristina_magni@libero.it

Luca: 021 597002 cheghevaso@hotmail.com

Italia vs France Mid-Summer Dance Party

Once again, the boys from ITALIANZ (Emanuele & Alfio) bring another event to the Auckland region!

In collaboration with Auckland Accueil, ITALIANZ presents the Mid-Summer Dance Party. The French band, Club Manouche, will fight through musical notes against Italian DJ, Luca Napolitano, aka Randal - the weapons involved will be guitars, CDs, microphones, drums and a lot of live music.

On the Italian side there will be free ciabatta and focaccia bread offered by Pukeko Bakery and, on the French side, petits fours offered by Panetton Bakery, to feed the crazy dancers during the night.

Last, but not least, the battlefield will be the legendary Khuja Lounge, 536 Queen Street, Auckland. Everyone is very welcome to join the event and remember, entry is from 8pm! Tickets on sale at the door ($10) on Thursday the 20th of August.

See you there.

Citi swings axe to restructure Italian business

Citigroup is looking to sell - or failing that, to close - its private banking business in Italy and is to reduce its presence in the country by about half.

The move, part of the US banking group's global restructuring programme, is expected to see the number of people employed in Italy fall from 1,000 to about 500 by the end of this year, with most of the job losses coming in its Italian consumer finance business. That unit, which has 65 branches round the country, is being closed.

Citigroup's scaling down in Italy represents a dramatic shift in policy for the bank, which expanded rapidly round the world in the past decade.

But it is consistent with its strategy of shrinking its balance sheet and divesting itself of non-core assets as it tries to revive its fortunes after suffering billions of dollars of losses during the global financial crisis.

Citigroup has held talks with Banco Santander of Spain, among others, about selling its Italian private business, which has assets of about €2bn ($2.8bn) under management and is considered too small to be competitive. If the bank cannot find a buyer, it is expected to close the unit.

Once the restructuring has been completed, Citigroup's business in Italy will be concentrated on corporate and investment banking and global transaction services.

Two years ago it sold its retail banking unit to Credem, an Italian bank. Citigroup has also sold its Milan headquarters, in a sale and leaseback deal.

Sergio Ascolani, Citigroup's head of banking in Italy, told the Financial Times: "It's absolutely rational, with current markets, to exit from businesses that are marginal and invest in areas where Citi is globally strong." He added: "We're not exiting Italy, just rationalising here."

Citigroup is one of the chief casualties of the global financial crisis and is under intense pressure to restructure and shrink after using hundreds of billions of US taxpayer dollars to prop itself up.

It is expected to finalise the sale of a 34% stake to the US government as part of its latest bail-out.

In January, Citigroup placed $650bn-worth of non-core assets and businesses into a separate division with a view to selling them or winding them down.

The new unit, called Citi Holdings, includes the bank's US consumer finance operations, about half of its credit card business and most of the toxic mortgage-backed securities that caused most of Citi's losses. On Friday, Citi created a special board committee to oversee Citi Holdings and monitor the disposal of its assets.

Fox Retro launching in Italy

Satellite Channel to air mostly US fare

News Corp. subsidiary, Fox Channels Italy, on Monday announced plans for a new satellite channel called Fox Retro, providing an outlook for nostalgic lovers of mostly US programming from the 70's, 80's and 90's.

The channel, which will air on News Corp's Sky-Italia Network, will focus on programming to include "Charlie's Angels", "Mission Impossible", "Mork and Mindy", "The Love Boat", "The Jeffersons", and others that air during what the company called "the Golden Era of Television".

Something we can relate to...

(ANSA) - Pordenone, June 30 - An Italian pensioner shot and “killed” his computer after it kept playing up, police said Tuesday.

The man, 68, fired five shots from his revolver into his frozen PC. Relatives called the police after hearing the man’s shouts of rage and the bursts of gunfire. He was taken to a police station but later released. The gun was confiscated.

Christchurch Welcomes 'gli Azzurri'

Seen on Tuesday 23rd June 2009 - the team from Innovative Travel enjoy the Welcome Reception for the All Blacks and the Azzurri - the Italian National rugby team. The event was hosted by the Mayor of Christchurch, Bob Parker, in the Civic Chambers.

Complimenti to the team from Mediterranean Food Company for their great antipasti.

Fieldays 2009

Hi everybody,

Fieldays was a real success. TV interviews and newspaper clippings coming soon. Thanks to the Italian Ambassador for the tremendous effort and all the help to ICCNZ. We had two Ministers, Hon. David Carter and Hon. Gerry Browning visit the stand and several major companies are interested in joining. The Italian television broadcaster, RAI, interviewed the Ambassador talking to our Prime Minister John Key.

Mario Leonti, President ICCNZ

Fiat and Chrysler Officially Hook Up

Italy's Fiat and Detroit No.3 Chrysler have made their partnership official and created the foundation for what the Italian automaker hopes will become a global player.

"This is an important day not only for Chrysler and its staff, who have gone through a long period of uncertainty, but also for the entire automobile industry" said Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, who will now take over the same job at Chrysler. The two automakers were able to finalise their alliance after the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday, in a unanimous decision, rejected a challenge to Fiat's takeover of the American automaker.

The challenge had been lodged by a group of pension funds in the state of Indiana, which hold $42 million of bankrupt Chrysler`s $6.9 billion debt, or less than 1%. The alliance with Fiat will allow Chrysler to pull out of bankruptcy protection and qualify for federal bail-out funds. The American automaker's key assets will be placed in a new company, Chrysler Group, which will be owned by Fiat, an auto workers union trust fund and the American and Canadian governments.

"Chrysler's activities which will be part of the new company and are or will soon be operative and work is already underway to develop high-quality, fuel- efficient green vehicles" Marchionne said. "Based on Chrysler's innovative mentality and Fiat's technology and know-how, we intend to expand the portfolio of Chrysler's products in North America and elsewhere," he added.

Fiat, through its auto division, will initially have a 20% stake and management control of the American automaker in exchange for its cutting-edge green and small car technology, as well as access to Fiat's sales and service networks in Europe and Latin America. The stake will rise to 35% once benchmarks are met in the US, including producing Fiat and Alfa Romeo models in Chrysler plants.

It can increase its stake to over 50% once federal loans have been repaid. Aside from Marchionne, Fiat will have two other members on the new board, four will be nominated by the US Treasury, one by the Canadian government and one by the unions. Former Borden Chemical and Duracell chairman C. Robert Kidder is expected to be appointed chairman. In his role as Chrysler CEO, Marchionne is expected to overhaul the company's management and operating structure in much the same way as he successfully did after he joined a near-bankrupt Fiat in 2004.

Fieldays - the largest agricultural event in the Southern Hemisphere

NZ National Agricultural Fieldays,

held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, 10 minutes south of Hamilton

10-13 June 2009

www.fieldays.co.nz

Be sure to visit the Italy Stand and say Ciao to the team from the Embassy of Italy

and ICCNZ

Italian Soccer Tournament in Auckland

Chamber members, Alfio Leotta and Emanuele Barbieri (ITALIANZ Event Management), are hosting yet another event for members and local Italians in Auckland. This time it's an Italian Table Soccer Tournament, which will consist of teams named after the Serie A squads - Milan, Inter, Juventus, Napoli etc.

The event is being sponsored by Toshi (an Italian brand of alcohol beverages) and Sovrano (an Italian caffe).

The winning team will win $150 to spend at Sovrano, second prize is $75 to be spent at Sovrano and third prize is a bottle of Toshi.

The event will be held over three consecutive Sundays - 12, 19, 26 of July - kick-off at 4pm at Khuja Lounge, 536 Queen Street. Entry fee is $35 - door sales only.

ITALIANTARTICA

The Christchurch Dante Society and the Italian National Programme of Research in Antarctica present the documentary ITALIANTARTICA.

Screened for the first time in New Zealand this documentary is co-produced by the Italian National Programme of Research in Antarctica PNRA and the Italian national broadcaster RAI.

Thursday 25, at 7 pm, Chapel of the Music Centre, 140 Barbadoes St, Christchurch.

Free entry, donations welcome. For information go to www.dante.org.nz/chch

(This event is supported by Cracroft Chase Vineyard www.cracroftchase.co.nz)

Wine Tasting at Maria Pia's

Chamber member, Maria Pia's Trattoria, and the Board are pleased to announce the first wine-tasting event of the year to be held on Tuesday 23rd of June, from 5pm til 7pm, in Wellington.

Paul White (Internationally acclaimed wine journalist and judge) will be your guide throughout the tasting.

Maria Pia's will also be providing a fixed-menu for those who wish to continue on and indulge in some very good Italian food!

There are only 34 spaces available, so please book asap. Tickets are $25 per person and will need to be prepaid before the evening by bank transfer. You can contact Sonja Cabrera at events@iccnz.com to make your booking.

Maria Pia's Trattoria

55 Mulgrave Street, Wellington

NZ ranks No. 5 in Forbes Magazine Best Countries for Business

Forbes Magazine analysed business climates in each of 127 national economies, focusing on degrees of trade freedom, monetary freedom like the right to participate in free and fair elections, or freedom of expression and organisation. The top countries were:

1. Denmark

2. USA

3. Canada

4. Singapore

5. New Zealand

6. United Kingdom

7. Sweden

8. Australia

9. Hong Kong

10. Norway

Forbes stated: Over the past 20 years the government has transformed NZ from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialised, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes - but left behind some at the bottom of the ladder - and broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector.

Per capita income has risen for nine consecutive years and reached $28,500 in 2008 in purchasing power parity terms. Debt-driven consumer spending drove robust growth in the first half of the decade, helping fuel a large balance of payments deficit that posed a challenge for economic managers. Inflationary pressures caused the central bank to raise its key rate steadily from Jan 2004 until it was among the highest in the OECD in 2007/08; international capital inflows attracted to the high rates further strengthened the currency and housing market, however, aggravating the current account deficit.

The economy fell into recession in 2008, and in line with global peers, the central bank has cut interest rates aggressively; the new government is responding with plans to raise productivity growth and develop infrastructure.

European Opera Tour

Robyn Galloway, MD of Innovative Travel and ICCNZ Member advises that popular NZ diva, Dame Malvina Major is hosting an opera tour through Austria and Northern Italy departing on 23 June.

The tour is focusing on the European opera season, including the attendance of two outdoor operas in the Roman built arena in Verona. The tour also includes visits to Lake Como and operas in Milan and Venice.

Robyn says the tour was organised to reflect a relaxed pace and to ensure that clients enjoyed the best of European opera as well as time to relax amidst the history, art and spectacular scenery. Contact Robyn Galloway through her website or through the ICCNZ members' listing page.

Italian Dance Party

Chamber Members Alfio and Emanuele bring you another Italian Dance Party – this time to celebrate La Festa della Repubblica, Italy’s national day.

The fun starts at 8pm on Thursday 28th May at the Khuja Lounge, Queen Street, Auckland with an Italian band and DJ. Entry $10 (includes nibbles).

La Festa della Repubblica

La Festa della Repubblica is celebrated in Italy on the second of June each year.

The day commemorates the institutional referendum held by universal suffrage in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government, following the Second World War and the fall of Fascism. With 12,717,923 votes for a republic and 10,719,284 for the monarchy, the male descendants of the House of Savoy were sent into exile.

To commemorate it, a grand military parade is held in central Rome, presided by the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, in the role of Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and other authorities attend too. Prior to the foundation of the Republic, the Italian national day was the first Sunday in June, anniversary of the granting of the Statuto Albertino.

In 1997, on the bicentenary of the adoption of the first Italian tricolour, 7 January was declared Festa del Tricolore; it is intended as a celebration, though not a public holiday.

Embassy Reception for Hon. Adolfo Urso

Italian Ambassador to New Zealand, HE Gioacchino Trizzino graciously hosted a reception in honour of the visit of Deputy Minister for Economic Development Adolfo Urso and delegation to Wellington.

The evening was very successful with attendance by the NZ cabinet minister, Hon. Dr Richard Worth and the Hon. Steven Joyce MP.

ICCNZ board member Antonio Cacace of La Bella Italia kindly provided the excellent catering for the event, which was very well received.

Welcome New Members!

It is our pleasure to welcome to the Chamber and introduce to our membership the following new members:

• Patricia’s Opera Tours (Wellington),


• Holiday Inn and


• Stamford Plaza Hotel (Auckland).

All contact information for these members can be found on the Members’ List page.

Aperitivo Italiano

On the 1st of April, an Aperitivo Italiano was organized by the Società Dante in collaboration with ICCNZ, ItaliaNZ (Emanuele Barbieri and Alfio Leotta) and Khuja Lounge.

A successful event attended by 65 people. All parties did their best to promote the “Made in Italy” brand along with the screening of an episode from the popular Italian TV Series, “Gli arancini di Montalbano” – an intriguing detective story set in the backdrop of the glorious Sicilian landscape.

Khuja Lounge has also announced that they will be holding an Italian dance party at the Lounge on Thursday, 28th of June. More details to follow.

L to R: DJ Luca Napolitano, Alfio Leotta (organiser), Sergio Guida, the owner of Khuja lounge, ICCNZ member Emanuele Barbieri (organiser)

The Annual Festival Italia

On Sunday, 22nd of March, the ICCNZ attended, as a stall holder, the annual Festival Italia held at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Wellington. Board members Sonja Cabrera, Owen McKernon, Fiona Birkbeck and President, Mario Leonti manned the stall throughout the day and distributed large amounts of brochures and advertising material belonging to Chamber members to the visiting public.

The Festival was attended by huge crowds of Wellingtonians and, this year, ICCNZ also held a Business Card Draw with the prizes being bottles of Nero D’Avola, an excellent red wine from Sicily. The winners were: Sue O’Shea, Ross Fenton, Val Parsons, Julene Hope, Barry Ellis and Estelle Cook. Congratulations!

Annual General Meeting 2009

On Tuesday, 24th of February 2009, the Annual General Meeting of the Chamber was held at La Bella Italia on The Terrace, Wellington.

The Councillors for 2009 were elected as follows: Mario Leonti (President), Liz Maxwell (Co-Vice President), Antonio Cacace (Co-Vice President), Fiona Birkbeck (Treasurer), Sonja Cabrera, Michael Stephens, Owen McKernon, Annette Scullion, Carol Wisker and John Dennett.

Ambassador Trizzino spoke about opportunities for the Chamber to be involved with an upcoming Ministerial visit in April and the stand that the Embassy have taken at the Fieldays in Hamilton, which the Chamber is welcome to have a presence on.

We would like to thank ICCNZ Councillor Antonio Cacace (La Bella Italia) for kindly hosting our AGM at his Café/Ristorante in Wellington.