(from The Migrant Times; the original story is here https://themigranttimes.org.nz/stories/2016/8/22/a-taste-of-latin-america-in-christchurch?rq=latin)

The Garden City was treated to some fantastic latino music, food, and vibrant colourful hispanic culture at the Winter Night and Latino Market held in the Arts Centre of Christchurch on August 20.

"We also had authentic latin crafts, dance workshops, Latin DJ, as well as a bar serving fantastic Latino cocktails," informed Denise Lovato, President of the Asociacion Hispanica Aotearoa or Aotearoa Hispanic Association (AHA).

This was the second time this winter that the AHA had organised such a celebration of hispanic culture in Christchurch.

It is an incorporated society established in 2014 that promotes Latin American and Spanish culture through offering activities and services in Canterbury.

"Our goal is to share the spirit and culture of Spanish-speaking as well as Latin American countries through language courses, social activities and community outreach."

The Hispanic world is unified by its main official language, but it also represents a rich and complex and mix of ethnic, cultural, linguistic, political and religious practices which in certain regions span centuries of history," noted Lovato, who is from Argentina and moved to New Zealand in 2002.