Americans now have a few more reasons to visit New Zealand
thanks to John Key and David Letterman.
The Prime Minister appeared on the Late Show with David
Letterman at 9pm today New York time, in what has been a coup
for Tourism New Zealand's international media programme.
Offers of an airport pickup from the Prime Minister, a taste of
the local lingo and a plug for our renewable energy sector were
among the 10 reasons written for John Key by the show's producers,
which he read out on air.
The '10 reasons' included "Only a convenient 20-hour flight
away", "It's like England without the attitude", "70 per cent of
our energy is generated through renewable hydropower - look, these
don't all have to be jokes", and "Unlike most of the world, we
still like Americans".
Before having him read the list, David Letterman quizzed John
Key on New Zealand's location, asking him where New Zealand was and
how many years it had taken him to fly up to New York.
Joking aside, Letterman described New Zealand as "a wonderland"
and highlighted the fact that the country had been named among the
top destinations by Condé Nast Traveller for the past six
years.
The Letterman show is watched by around four million
Americans. Other public figures to have read the 'Top Ten' have
included President Barack Obama (during his presidential campaign),
Britney Spears, U2 singer Bono and Hillary Clinton.
US media coverage of the Prime Minister's appearance has already
included a post on the LA Times politics blog (169,000 unique users
per month).
John Key's appearance on the show was arranged by Tourism New
Zealand's PR team in Los Angeles.
Watch the video clip of John Key's 'Top Ten' on
the CBS website