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.