New Zealand is starring on prime-time television in Australia
this week, as the final four contestants on Biggest Loser
Australia are put through their paces in the Auckland and Northland
regions.
Tourism New Zealand hosted the Biggest Loser
contestants and crew in February for several days of
challenges.
The first of five New Zealand episodes went to air Monday night
(22 March) to an audience of around one million.
Contestants were welcomed to New Zealand with a Māori powhiri on
Karekare Beach, west of Auckland, before taking part in their first
New Zealand challenge: an abseil down the 80-metre KiteKite Falls
in the Waitakere Regional Park.
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the
contestants' experiences will help bring New Zealand to life for
Australian television audiences.
"The contestants told us their time in New Zealand was
life-changing, and to be able to share that with over a million
Australians is priceless coverage for New Zealand," says Kevin
Bowler.
The four contestants - David, Shannon, Phoebe and Lisa - all
said they couldn't wait to return to New Zealand with family and
friends. Shannon said he would even consider New Zealand as a
location for his wedding.
"New Zealand is by far the most beautiful place I have ever
been," said Shannon. "From black sand beaches to picturesque
forests, the whole place is just simply breathtaking."
As well as the television episodes, New Zealand will feature in
a two-page spread in OK! Magazine (circulation 114,000),
and an interview with Biggest Loser trainer Michelle
Bridges about travelling in New Zealand will appear in the
Escape newspaper supplement (readership 6 million).
This is the third year Biggest Loser has visited New
Zealand - three episodes were filmed here last season, airing to
audiences of more than one million in April 2009.
"Australia remains a key focus for Tourism New Zealand in 2010.
We have now been running advertising activity continuously in this
market since the end of 2008. Joint-venture work with the regional
tourism organisations is also helping keep New Zealand very
visible," says Kevin Bowler.
"But high-impact PR projects like this give us a chance to build
on the advertising messages by showing real people being pushed to
their limits, and loving the New Zealand experience. The show will
give Australians strong reasons to book a New Zealand holiday."
Read more and watch clips from the show - www.biggestloser.com.au