March 2026 saw a long-desired and often-explored partnership finally come to life. Two giants of the Le Quesnoy cultural scene at long last were able to collaborate: Te Arawhata and local watering-hole and culinary hotspot, Le Māori 2.0.
And what better way to work together than with Le Quesnoy’s first run of pub quizzes?
The classic Kiwi act of proving your knowledge of often useless trivia all while enjoying a beer or two with your mates doesn’t really exist in France.
With three sessions stretching across a weekend, local Quércitains were introduced to this strange phenomenon, omnipresent in Auckland, increasingly common in Paris, yet noticeably foreign in humble Le Quesnoy.
Our locals proved more than up to the task. There were, of course, stand out teams which streaked ahead of others who may have been more interested in the “pub” element than the “quiz”. These fact fanatics took home Museum merch and pub paraphernalia, as well as tickets to visit Te Arawhata.
More than 100 people took part in our pub quizzes, with teams as small as a couple going up against families or groups of friends.
Te Arawhata Quiz Master (and Learning and Engagement Officer), Lindsay Vanstavel said: “I am very happy to have introduced this very Kiwi activity to the people of Le Quesnoy. I first discovered it myself when I was living in New Zealand, where my colleagues regularly invited me to take part in quiz nights after work.
It was a very fun but also moving experience. When I went around at the end of the quiz to gather participants’ feedback, some told me that the activity had helped them take their minds off things while they were going through a difficult time.
The parents of one family also explained that it had given them the opportunity to talk and have fun with their teenagers, whereas their meals would usually pass without much conversation. I hope we will be able to sustain this collaboration with Le Maori 2.0, allowing locals to rediscover Te Arawhata through this fun and friendly activity.”
Join us for more pub quizzes in the future!