From February to November 2007, a line-up of the best artists and athletes from New Caledonia tour New Zealand to appear in the country's leading arts and cultural festivals and sports events.

Season Directors Carla van Zon and Briony Ellis have selected the artists, musicians, dancers, writers, athletes and sportspeople who will perform or compete in New Zealand, and have created a programme that will appeal to a broad range of New Zealanders.From February to November 2007, a line-up of the best artists and athletes from New Caledonia tour New Zealand to appear in the country's leading arts and cultural festivals and sports events.

Season Directors Carla van Zon and Briony Ellis have selected the artists, musicians, dancers, writers, athletes and sportspeople who will perform or compete in New Zealand, and have created a programme that will appeal to a broad range of New Zealanders.The New Caledonia New Zealand Season 2007 is an initiative funded by the Government and Provinces of New Caledonia and aims to lift the profile in New Zealand of New Caledonia - our closest neighbour. Carla Van Zon says "The Season will give New Zealanders an insight into the points of similarity and difference between our countries and our cultures, bring about closer cultural relations between the two countries, and build enduring links with New Zealand organisations and institutions."

The Season website is now live. It contains the details of the New Caledonia New Zealand Season and related links, and is constantly evolving as new Season events are confirmed.

"The New Caledonia New Zealand Season events are being programmed into around 50 of the top arts and sports events and festivals throughout New Zealand in 2007," says Briony Ellis. "As a single entity, the Season only appears on www.NewCaledoniaSeason.co.nz, but by the end of the year we hope most New Zealanders will have had a range of opportunities to experience New Caledonian arts, culture and sporting excellence."

The New Caledonia New Zealand Season officially kicks off on Saturday 10 February as four top New Caledonian athletes compete in Speight's Coast to Coast - the first time in the 25 year history of the event that New Caledonians have participated. The athletes are competing in the World Multisport Championship One Day Event, 243 km from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean across the Southern Alps.

A taste of what else you can look forward to in the coming months:

Pacific Roots band Kalaga'la and Kaneka band Vhirin perform at Cuba St Carnival, Te Matatini, Pasifika, and Auckland Festival AK07: Vhirin's infectious, reggae-influenced Kaneka music is fresh and intoxicating and will have you swinging your hips with the first beat; Kalaga'la's rich musical style, which incorporates contemporary Polynesian folk music with vibrant Kaneka beats and rhythms, rhythmically decodes Pacific Island style, culture and identity. Kalaga'la also return in April to perform at the Southern Lakes Festival of Colour in Wanaka.

WETR - a dynamic traditional dance group comprising 15 male and female dancers adorned in red, white and black body paint, bush material dress and accessories, and accompanied by leaf drums, whirling seed pods and stamping bamboo poles, mixed with whispers, bird cries and harmonious choral singing - performs at WOMAD in Taranaki. Celenod, another affecting and widely popular Kaneka band performs at WOMAD and Auckland Festival AK07.

Auckland Festival AK07 also features Ito Waia and Micheline Neporon, two acclaimed multi-disciplinary visual artists who present an exhibition and workshops. Neporon, one of the first Kanak women to devote herself to art, works across various media including bamboo engravings, acrylic, wood and ink, and is also an established poet. Waia is renowned for his spectacular sculptures using various elements such as wood, rope and metal.

Soul-jazz musician and Hammond organ virtuoso Michel Benebig performs with his Trio at Tauranga's Montana National Jazz Festival and The Gables in Auckland. For the Tauranga show he is joined by leading New Zealand musicians Vaughn Roberts (trumpet), Rodger Fox (trombone) and Roger Manins (tenor saxophone).

Sporting events during the New Caledonia New Zealand Season in addition to Speight's Coast to Coast include Kona Colville Connection on the Coromandel, Le Race in Canterbury, Lake Taupo Cycle Race, sailing, kite surfing, beach volleyball, and a petanque tour of New Zealand.