By Yu Li

Enter into the New Zealand Pavilion and you will see that great importance is placed on the tourists' personal experience. The title slogan, "New, Sea, Land and People", cleverly encorporates the pronunciation of the nations name, while alluding to the themes of the World Expo. An Element of 'natural wisdom' is also implied in the very fact that that these meanings can be inferred and interpreted from the title. The inspiration for the design sprung from the film adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings", filmed largely on location in Wellington.
The exterior of the pavilion is adorned with scenes of white clouds, sea and people. The charming clouds have an additional feature of turning to rain drops which then gently fall down to the earth. In a very visual sense, the ancient Maori word for the territory "aotearoa" (translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud), is summoned up and represented.
In the center of the pavilion, a large cloud floats above, changing in colour as it is struck by differing lights. Visitors could be forgiven for thinking that they are in a natural scenery. Under the cloud lies a gigantic emerald, which gets dripped on as the cloud turns to rain. It looks as though the emerald is formed from the rain, thus symbolizing the Maori notion of "jade land', an understanding of the relationship between land and sea. Visitors are free to touch or stroke the emerald, in order to sense the magnitude of nature's gifts to man. .
A big screen plays a film of a flock of birds hovering in the sky above New Zealand. Visitors have the pleasure of following the birds on their journey across the entire expanse of New Zealand, taking in a variety of sights from the immensurable sea to the vibrant cities.
The most attractive aspect in this pavilion centers around the Maori people and their native dance performance. The Maoris are the original people of New Zealand and have developed their unique subsistence style life and culture over thousands of years and as a result of their interaction and partnership with nature. As a result of ignorance and racism on the part of colonials, the Maori people were, in the past, brutally treated, suppressed and viewed as inferiors. The existence of their culture was threatened, their life style interrupted and their people victimized. Today the Maori are given the full respect that they deserve and are allowed once again to shine and take up their position as the original people of New Zealand. The Maori and the rich variety of ethnics groups in New Zealand, live harmoniously together, pooling their efforts to create the prosperous a prosperous future for the nation.
The Maoris dark complexion, tattoos, clothing and accessories made from natural materials, and bold and unconstrained dancing reflect their understanding of nature and a real gratitude to it. This indigenous culture is one that all New Zealanders are proud to recognize as the foundation culture of the land. As well as performing their traditional dance on the stage, the Moari people will welcome visitors into the pavilion and introduce and explain exhibits. Their presence brings great vigor and vitality to the pavilion and their appealing and friendly faces represent the country as well as bringing the themes of the exhibition to life.
Scientific and technological exchanges require "common ground", whereas cultural exchanges demand an appreciation and understanding of " diversity". The manner in which different cultures interpret the world around them is one of the most fascinating aspects of humanity. Cultural diversity presents to the visitor the multicultural nature of the world today and furthermore, it can act as an inspiration for our innovation within society.
The pavilion fully displays our high respect for history and the need to preserve culture while echoing an important theme of World Expo__ "natural wisdom" in the most natural, prudent and vivid way. The New Zealand pavilion won the bronze award in design category C, which praises the "smiling faces" of all mankind.
The New Zealand pavilion, a pavilion full of smiles and joy!



Pictures:

1. The cloud colour in the center of the pavilion changes as light hits it.
2. Touch or stroke the gigantic emerald
3. Maori people dance performance
4. Mighty Maori
5. Exhibition? Exhibits? Showplace!
6. Tourists imitate Maori performances.
7. The Maori, popular among children
8. Special welcoming custom at the gate of the pavilion.
9. No advance in science and technology can replace the importance of direct people-to-people exchange.