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Jack Perkins joins a parade that kicked off a week of activities reflecting the vigour and diversity of Auckland's Irish community. In this Spectrum, marking St Patrick's Day, Jack Perkins joins the parade and finds out what it means to be Irish in the Antipodes.
Opens with actuality of the pre-St Patrick's Day parade in Auckland.
Rodney Walsh, Honorary Irish Consul-General comments on St Patrick's Day parades he has experienced elsewhere and how the Irish diaspora has made it the world's most widely-celebrated national day. He says the Auckland celebrations are the best in the southern hemisphere.
Various unidentified Irish men and women living in Auckland comment about St Patrick's Day and what having Irish heritage means to them.
An unidentified Irish woman talks about the honour she has received, being made Grand Marshal of the parade. She has been recognised for her work in the Irish community.
A man who owns Auckland's only Irish restaurant talks about his business, what food it serves and how St Patrick's Day is celebrated more overseas than in Ireland. He has a float in the parade, a tractor and trailer full of potatoes!
Actuality of an Irish singer and a song about St Patrick.
Fortune teller "Janey' who arrived in New Zealand in 1950, talks about St Patrick's Day in Ireland and how she discovered she had 'the gift' for fortune-telling. Her husband also comments - they have been in New Zealand for over 40 years but still have their strong Irish accents. They join the parade with a horse-drawn cart. The parade starts outside The Blarney Stone pub and continues along Queen Street.
In Aotea Square, Jack talks to Irish dog breed owners: Irish wolf-hounds, Irish spaniels and Kerry Blue terriers.
A man who is the founder of the St Patrick's Festival, talks about a display of Irish surnames and coats of arms of famous Irish families. He talks about Irish families who have come from all over the country for the festival and how it is growing.
An Irish Republican supporter is interviewed about his political float which wasn't allowed in the parade.
In a bar, Jack talks to a Guinness drinker about his tipple and its history and what he has planned for the rest of St Patrick's week.