Event report • Events • The Chamber
Throwback - FNZCCI 40th Anniversary Gala 2025
From Moët to Yulia’s final note, our 40th Anniversary Gala was a sparkling toast to French–Kiwi friendship.
Merci beaucoup to those of you who joined us at the FNZCCI 40th Anniversary Gala!
From the first flute of Moët to the final note sung by Yulia Townsend, the night was a beautiful celebration of French–Kiwi business, culture and friendship.
Together, we toasted four decades of connection with fine wine, elegant cuisine, heartfelt speeches and unforgettable performances. Your presence helped make the evening truly special.
📷 Photos from the evening are available to view and download here.
🎬 Relive the magic! Rewatch the premiere of our 40-year story by MiNDSHIFT Films.
With gratitude to our sponsors...
This celebration would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors:
Un immense merci is also due to the following people, whose talents and efforts made the evening all the more special:
Our fabulous Master of Ceremonies, Monique Bradley, for guiding us so gracefully through the evening.
Richard Chen for the enchanting violin performance that set the perfect tone during the apéritif.
Our speakers:
– Tania Te Whenua, FNZCCI Board Member (Mihi Whakatau)
– Agnès Baekelandt and Madeleine Colombie, FNZCCI Co-Presidents
– Vincent Gremeret (on behalf of HE Mme Laurence Beau), Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in New Zealand
– Rodney Harris, Divisional Manager, Europe, MFAT
– Mayor Wayne Brown, for his spirited toast en français!
To the talents behind our tasting experiences:
– Chef Johnny Roulier, Executive Chef, Pullman Auckland
– Jim White, Technical Director, Cloudy Bay
– Will Brunel-Morvan, Trade Manager, Maison Vauron
The sensational Yulia Townsend for her powerful tribute to Edith Piaf, accompanied with finesse by Grant Winterburn.
Robert Tulp from Apollo Auctions for leading the evening’s fundraising with enthusiasm and energy.
And, of course, a heartfelt thanks to the Pullman Auckland events team and Encore AV team for their invaluable support in helping the evening run so seamlessly.
Let's Stay Connected!
Merci, thank you again, for being part of this memorable evening!
If you’re not yet a member of the FNZCCI, we’d love to welcome you into our community.
If you’re looking to connect with someone from the night, let us help put you in touch.
Finally, make sure you follow us on Humanitix to receive updates about our events - more to toast to, coming soon!
À bientôt,
