Kiwifruit industry in New Zealand and Growers, who were calling the berries "melonettes", because the local name for the fruit, "Chinese gooseberry", had political connotations due to the Cold War, and to further distinguish it from real gooseberries, which are prone to a fungus called anthracnose. An American importer, Norman Sondag of San Francisco, complained that "melonettes" was as bad as "Chinese gooseberry" because melons and berries were both subject to high import tariffs, and instead asked for a short Maori name that quickly connoted New Zealand. In June 1959, during a meeting of Turners and Growers management in Auckland, Jack Turner suggested the name
Christmas in the Park (New Zealand) Christmas in the Park (New Zealand) Christmas in the Park is the title given to annual free music concerts held in cities across New Zealand during the Christmas season. The two largest Christmas in the Park events, held in Auckland and Christchurch since 1994, are sponsored by Coca-Cola. They draw up to 250,000 and 100,000 spectators, respectively. Coca-Cola refers to its Auckland Christmas in the Park production as the largest free annual event in New Zealand. A combined total of six million New Zealanders have attended the Auckland and Christchurch events since their founding. Activities include music, fireworks displays, and