An online reality television show - The Gap Year: Challenge
New Zealand by UK production company Endemol - is one of two
Tourism New Zealand projects that have scooped the title of
'Official Honoree' in this year's Webby Awards.
The Webby Awards honour excellence in Internet design, marketing
and innovation. This year the Webby Awards announced a list of
'Honorees', representing the top 15 per cent of 8,000 entries.
As well as The Gap Year project, which was named an
Honoree in the 'Online Film & Video - Reality' category,
Tourism New Zealand's '10 Years Young' website was also
recognised.
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says it is a
significant achievement for Tourism New Zealand to be selected
twice from among thousands of entrants from around the world.
"Digital communication platforms including the Internet offer
enormous opportunities for New Zealand as a niche tourism
destination. These two projects are good examples of how Tourism
New Zealand is using online channels to maximise the reach and
relevance of our work."
The Gap Year: Challenge New Zealand saw a group of
young British travellers visit New Zealand last November.
Challenges and evictions were broadcast online through a number of
social media channels to an audience of more than 400,000. The
project was part of Tourism New Zealand's 'Go All The Way'
backpacker campaign, which launched last September.
Endemol's Head of Digital Studios Pasa Mustafa said the project
was hugely successful.
"We are delighted to have been honoured by the Webbys. The
Gap Year was the first project of its kind to be rolled out
across multiple social networks and we are thrilled with its
success."
The '10 Years Young' microsite, designed and built by
Auckland-based web design company Terabyte, was acknowledged as an
Honoree within the 'Website - Tourism' category. The site was
created last year to celebrate 10 years of the '100% Pure New
Zealand' campaign.
Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism's new consumer travel
website was also among the Honorees named in this category.
Tourism New Zealand has previously received Webby Awards for its
travel website, www.newzealand.com (Best Tourism Website 2005
and 2006; Nominee in 2007).
The winning sites:
www.facebook.com/thegapyear
http://10yearsyoung.tourismnewzealand.com
Find out more about the Webby Award Honoree
selections
For more information please contact:
Sue Allen, Tel: +64 29 917 5466, Email: suea@tnz.govt.nz