P&O Cruises Makes a Splash on Dravuni

P&O Cruises has made a splash on Fiji’s Dravuni Island with the launch of a new landing pontoon for cruise ships.

A joint effort between P&O Cruises and local authorities, the modular pontoon was assembled by local residents and contractors over two weeks. Almost all of Dravuni’s 80 residents - including its children who were given time off school - gathered to mark the completion of the pontoon as P&O Cruises’ Pacific Jewel became the first ship to use the island’s new addition last month.

New Zealand based superliner Pacific Pearl - which arrives in Auckland in late December - will also use the new pontoon during the 2011 cruise season. The pontoon is important to the island’s operational needs as a tender port and also signifies P&O Cruises’ commitment to the South Pacific.

Jenny Lourey, Senior Vice President of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said the modular pontoon was the first of its kind for the cruise line’s South Pacific ports. “It is very important to us that we work with local communities and contribute to the destinations that we visit and the pontoon is evidence of this,” Ms Lourey said. “The pontoon arrived at Dravuni like a Lego set and the local people had the task of helping to assemble it. Everyone is very proud of this new piece of equipment.”

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Auckland Museum Library Throws Spotlight on Food

The Auckland Museum Library, one of the country’s most significant research libraries, is throwing its doors open in a series of food-based talks examining its rarely seen collections of menus, archives and recipe books.

The Food For Thought talks, which run for half a dozen Saturdays starting this weekend, will introduce participants to fascinating treasures all around the theme of food. The July 24 discussion - A Century of Recipe Books - is already booked out. Spaces are limited on these popular talks, so make sure you book in advance.

On Saturday August 14, Perrin Rowland will talk about her soon-to-be-published book Dining Out: A History of the Restaurant in New Zealand, based on research in the Library’s collections. Perrin will discuss what it was like to dine out in 19th and 20th century New Zealand and lead participants on a gustatory journey through the decades.

There will be tales of luxurious dining during the golden age, to the effects of licensing and the Depression years, to the rise of ethnic restaurants and the coming of age of modern New Zealand fine dining.

The talks will also examine the Library’s extensive historical research resources on the bee and the food it produces (31 July), an exploration of the Spice Islands (7 August) and an explanation of how sugar has been obtained and used in and around New Zealand (21 August). See the WEBSITE for more information.

The talks are part of the Museum’s wider Kai to Pie – Auckland on Your Plate exhibition, which runs until October 24. Bookings for these free talks are essential and can be made through library@aucklandmuseum.com or phone 09 306 7070 ext 681.