As the Northern Hemisphere moves into its busy booking period,
the results of some of Tourism New Zealand's major international
media projects are 'going to air' in the UK.
"The results of our international media team's work are now
being seen by millions in the UK and that's coverage profiling New
Zealand at the most critical time in the UK booking cycle," says
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton.
On Sunday 4 October, the New Zealand episode in the BBC's
six-part Last Chance to See nature show screened on prime
time television, with an estimated viewership of more than 2
million.
The six-part series celebrates 20 years since the publication of
the Last Chance to See book and radio series written and
presented by author Douglas Adams. It profiled eight species
worldwide facing extinction including New Zealand's native
nocturnal parrot, the kakapo.
And Sirocco the kakapo has become a bit of a television star
since the screening. We won't explain why here, but let's just say
his nocturnal 'antics' made him the most-viewed video on the BBC
website on Monday and the clip has had over 500,000 views on
YouTube. Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY
About Last Chance to See
This series is fronted by actor and comedian Stephen Fry and
co-presenter Mark Cawardine who came to New Zealand to film in
January this year.
Tourism New Zealand has worked closely with the Department of
Conservation (DOC) on this project, something which yielded great
results and unrivalled access for the crew.
During their visit to New Zealand, the pair travelled to Whenua
Pou or Codfish Island, west of Stewart Island, to experience the
Kakapo breeding season. They also filmed tuatara at the Karori
Sanctuary, met young kiwi near Whangarei, filmed takahe as part of
a DOC recovery programme and visited Fiordland.
Before the season started on television, there were pre-reviews
and interviews with the pair in UK publications including
Wanderlust magazine (circulation 37,000) and The
Guardian (circulation 332,790). To coincide with the first
episode, there was also a four-page cover spread in The
Independent's travel section (circulation 211,360).
Naming rights
Mark Carwardine has also been given the honour of naming one of
the rare Kakapo chicks that feature in the programme.
"I chose the name Jemma after the daughter of a good friend.
She's only eight-years-old and has already developed a passion for
wildlife and conservation. It is a great step in ensuring that the
Kakapo conservation story is passed on to the next generation.
"As well as this, Jemma means gem or jewel, which are obviously
precious, as is the Kakapo," Mark Carwadine said.
Watch more clips from the Last Chance to See
series:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbQgu0ilg8U&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y79cZ8aD7o&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lun7ZK-m4qk&feature=channel
Going all the way
As part of its UK and Europe 'Go All The Way' campaign, Tourism
New Zealand has joined forces with production company Endemol, the
makers of Big Brother, to create an online reality
television show on Bebo.
'The Go All The Way' campaign is aimed at youth and gap year
travellers and will live largely online, with a major push coming
through 'The Gap Year' show.
Launched mid-September, over 90 people have posted audition
videos to the Bebo page for one of only five places on the show.
The page now has over 7,200 fans.
It's also getting a bit of celebrity interest, with UK boyband
JLS online and encouraging people to audition and three ex-Big
Brother contestants now auditioning for the show.
Endemol's Global Head of Original Digital Programming Peter
Cowley says his company was thrilled to be working with Tourism New
Zealand on the current series.
"This year British and Irish Bebo users can expect even more
interaction and experience the highs and lows of travel abroad, in
New Zealand - the ultimate destination for gap year travellers.
This latest production demonstrates Endemol's leadership in
Original Digital Programming around the world," he says.
Entries are open to British and Irish residents, so if you know
of any young, adventurous travellers who'd like to take part in the
show, send them to http://www.bebo.com/thegapyear for more details
about the show and how to enter.
Read more about 'Go All the
Way'
An adrenalin rush
The new season of Jack Osbourne Celebrity Adrenaline
Junkie has kicked off in the UK, with New Zealand featuring in
episodes three and four. With an audience of 724,000 - likely to
reach closer to one million including repeats of episodes - the
show has once again given New Zealand a profile boost in the
UK.
AJ Hackett has already reported an increase in enquiries for the
Nevis Arc, which featured on the 29 September show.
This is the fifth series of Adrenalin Junkie, and
Tourism New Zealand has been involved in four out of five so far.
Read more
about the UK in our online market guide