10 Years of 100% Pure New Zealand

Last Updated on: 19 November 2009

In 2009 New Zealand's global tourism marketing campaign - '100% Pure New Zealand' - celebrated its 10th anniversary.

When the campaign launched in Queenstown in 1999, the audience was sceptical. After a catalogue of different, disjointed campaigns, with different messages in different markets, and with a recent shake-up of the then New Zealand Tourism Board's (NZTB) board and executive, the NZTB had a reputation to rebuild.

Ten years, 50 awards, a Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal winning garden, a Giant Rugby Ball in Paris, London and Tokyo, thousands of advertising spots and billions of viewers later, the campaign has proved its worth, and is upheld as one of the best examples of nation branding in the world.

In late 2009, the success of the campaign was recognised by tourism organisations from around the world when New Zealand came out on top of a survey by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation asking what countries were best at destination branding.

The past 10 years have thrown up challenges, but 100% Pure has survived September 11, SARs, increasing environmental concerns and global recessions. The consistency of 100% Pure in the face of these challenges has helped build its reputation and make it a powerful brand for New Zealand tourism.

Visit the 10 Years Young website to read more about the first 10 years of 100% Pure New Zealand


New Zealand has managed to capture the world's imagination with its consistent branding."

United Nations World Tourism Organisation