Programme

NZ House is open from 11 am and you can arrive at any time. We recommend giving yourselves plenty of buffer in your travel plans (see below)

From 5:30 pm you can come in to our private space and collect your name tag, BBQ voucher, goody bag and glass of NZ wine. Check out the raffle prizes and purchase tickets too! We'll be accepting cash, cheques and bank cards via QR Code for online purchase.

Our private event will run from 6 pm - 7 pm. The programme includes:
- Welcome from Georgia Aussenac, President of the France New Zealand Association and Clarence Tan, President of the New Zealand Society (UK).
- Guest Speakers :
  - Joshua Hansen, Manager of the New Zealand Liberation Museum Te Arawhata, Le Quesnoy France
  - Ian Borthwick, legendary Paris-based Rugby journalist and award winning photographer and author
  - Peter Miskimmin, Head of Sport Diplomacy for Sports NZ, field hockey player, Olympic Games 1984, 1988 and 1992.

Fundraising raffle with prizes from NZ businesses in France and the United Kingdom.

From 7 pm we will join the public space. The programme includes:

7pm performance by Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti, Te Matatini winning kapa haka group
7:30 pm-11:30 pm Opening Ceremony via New Zealand Sky TV

The BBQ will run from 5 pm - 9 pm. If you wish to eat your BBQ before our event at 6 pm, please let us know in advance so we can make sure you get your voucher as soon as you arrive.

There will be a full bar open all evening for purchase.

Advice for getting to NZ House

NZ House is located at the Marriott, Champs-Elysées, 70 Avenue des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris. It is in the RED zone for security restrictions during the opening ceremony.

On foot and by bicycle: No authorisation needed
Cars: It is impossible to arrive by car (including taxis, unless your taxi driver from G7 has a Pass Jeu).
Public Transport: The metro will be running, but many stops will be closed including Chams-Elysées Clemenceau (1, 13), and Franklin D Roosevelt could be closed by the police if there are too many people. Please plan your journey in advance, and be prepared to change plans mid-journey in case something unexpected happens (as often happens in Paris!). We recommend this page (in French) anticiperlesjeux.fr and this app IDF Mobilités. Make sure you put the correct date and time in when searching. Buses are running but with heavy deviations, so we recommend avoiding buses.
Getting through the Grey Zone (SILT) - if you are coming from somewhere that requires going across the grey zone to get to the Marriott, please note that you need to do so via the metro (eg to get across the river), or by going around via a different route.

We also recommend that you print your ticket or carry it on your phone, to help explain your destination in case you are checked by a police officer. We have heard anecdotally that random checks are happening, and we want to reassure you that you are well within the rules to be walking through the red zone.

Instructions for arrival

When you arrive at the Marriott, first go to NZ House Welcome desk, where you'll need to show your ID. Then walk across the lobby to enter the NZ House space through the waharoa (gateway). The public space is outdoors, to the right, and you are welcome in this space throughout the evening. You do not need to purchase a BBQ, as this was included in your ticket. Our private space is straight ahead - look out for our logos!

Getting home

We recommend you plan your journey home with several options, and in particular to plan to walk away from the area before accessing the metro. If you check out the map for the time you plan to leave, you'll be able to see which metro stops will be most impacted. Due to the proximity to the ceremony event, high volumes of people will be expected.

The normal closing time for public transport in Paris is around 2 am.

Lines 1, 4 and 14 will be functioning all night. See this page (scroll to the bottom) for information on stations open/closed.

It's going to be hot, and you may need to walk a lot, so please be prudent and wear walking shoes and carry water with you!

<