Latest News from Tourism New Zealand

Joint venture campaign activity has kicked off in Australia and is set to give New Zealand a high profile over the next few months.

The campaigns, which are jointly-funded by the New Zealand Government (through Tourism New Zealand) and regional tourism organisations (RTOs), are showcasing the diversity of New Zealand's regions and what they have to offer in the autumn and winter seasons.

Although led by the regions, Tourism New Zealand has been involved with coordination of campaigns and media schedules.

Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the creative concepts coming through tell unique regional stories, but have visible links back to 100% Pure New Zealand.

"This activity will build a clearer picture for Australians of what New Zealand has to offer and provide some great reasons to come now," he says.

Find out what the regions have planned and see images from the campaigns

The knives are out for five Dutch couples this month as they compete to win the chance of a lifetime in New Zealand.

Dutch celebrity chef Herman den Blijker, the "Gordon Ramsey of Holland", is currently in New Zealand filming an eight-part reality television show that will air in September.

The show will see five couples compete in a series of challenges around the country over three weeks in February and March, with the inevitable eliminations along the way. The winning couple will win two roles to work as head chef and maitre d' at an Accor hotel.

Regional Manager UK/Europe Gregg Anderson said Tourism New Zealand was supporting the series because it provided an opportunity to have a real impact in the Dutch market.

Read more on our website

Pictured: Herman Den Blijker (seated, centre) with contestants during filming on Waiheke Island

New Zealand has seen a record number of arrivals in January, signalling a welcome return to growth and stability after a tough 2009.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said Australia continued to bolster growth, with 13,000 (15.7 per cent) more Australians visiting in January compared with January 2009.

But a return to growth for two of New Zealand's key Asian markets - Japan and South Korea - has also helped boost visitor arrivals.

International Visitor Arrivals January 2010:

• Australia - 95,700, up 15.7%
• UK - 37,758, down 0.6%
• USA - 20,967, up 0.2%
• China - 9,425, down 33.9%
• Japan - 8,700, up 15.5%
• Germany - 10,092, up 10.6%
• South Korea - 8,178, up 29.8%
• Canada - 6,989, up 4.4%

Read more on our website

One of Japan's biggest name movie stars will arrive in New Zealand this week, as part of a Tourism New Zealand project to promote the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC).

As well as being an A-list celebrity in Japan, Hiroshi Tachi - Japan's answer to Clint Eastwood - is also a passionate rugby follower and fan of the All Blacks.

Tourism New Zealand Regional Manager Japan Jason Hill says Hiroshi's love of rugby will make him a valuable ambassador for New Zealand in the lead up to RWC.

Read more on our website

Tourism New Zealand is now on Twitter. Follow us to keep up to date with our news and what's new on our corporate website.

Find us at http://twitter.com/TNZNews or search for @TNZNews.

You can follow our @PureNewZealand - http://twitter.com/PureNewZealand - account for travel deals and updates targeting international travellers.

New to Twitter? Find out more about one of the world's most popular social media sites and how you can apply it to your business.

There are just three days to go until the winner of Tourism New Zealand's 'Your Big Break' film competition is announced.

The completed films from the five finalists are now online. Watch them now on the competition website: www.your-big-break.com

The winner, as selected by Peter Jackson, will be announced this Friday. The winning film will premier on the US Independent Film Channel just before the 2010 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Read more on our website

• Registrations close on 8 March for Taste New Zealand 2010 (18 - 20 May, USA). This event will give New Zealand tourism businesses with a focus on corporate incentives a chance to meet top US incentive planners in market. Find out more and register online.
   
• There is one space still available to join Tourism New Zealand at the Asian Luxury Travel Mart (ALTM) 2010 (14 - 17 June, Shanghai, China). Find out more and register online.

• Tourism New Zealand will be on the road in late April and early May. We'll be visiting Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown to update you on our latest plans and activities. Keep an eye on these newsletters for more information in the coming weeks.
   
• Two New Zealand operators - Wellington's Zealandia and Wilderness Lodges (Arthur's Pass and Lake Moeraki) - have been recognised by the UK's Guardian newspaper as two of the world's top green tourism experiences. Read more on our website.
   
• The first Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC 2011) packages have just gone on sale in the UK. England Rugby Travel is promoting packages on their website from GBP1849. The Telegraph has published a story on its website (30.7 million monthly unique users) about the packages available.
   
• In our last email update we highlighted a new campaign that's raising awareness of New Zealand in Japan. JTB, Japan's largest travel agency and a key partner for this campaign, reported phones ringing off the hook following advertising in Asahi newspaper on Sunday 28 February. Around 70 bookings were confirmed by the end of the day on Monday. The full page editorial-style advertising will run again this coming Sunday (7 March).