To most of us, Dragon boat festivals in New Zealand are corporate events, that hold competition, fun, and not a whole lot of information of its true origins and purpose. The Dragon boat festival starts in China on the 5th day of the Chinese luna calender; and of course with every festival there is a long tradition of festive foods attached to such events. Sticky glutinous rice parcels ('Zongzi') in this case are the flavour of the festival, filled with pork, yolk of ducks eggs, red bean. Read more about this festival and it's purpose.

http://www.chinafacttours.com/travel-news/a-new-yueyang-tower-was-built-of-55-000-zongzi
http://english.cntv.cn/special/may5festival/homepage/index.shtml

According to legend, glutinous rice parcels were thrown into the river to prevent fish from eating the a famous poet's, Qu Yuan, body.