Campaigners hope Oz weather spot will brighten tourism market

Joint venture aims to attract visitors from across the Tasman Tourism operators will be hoping for sunny weather and lots of snow this week as Australia's breakfast TV show Today broadcasts its weather report live from a range of New Zealand cities including tourism hotspot Queenstown.

Tourism New Zealand has organised to bring weatherman Steve Jacobs over to New Zealand as part of its Australian marketing focus, which was boosted by an extra $2.5 million from the Government in March.

A television crew of more than 70 have been in the country over the last few weeks filming travel segments in seven regions to be shown during the programme.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said bringing the show out was designed to get New Zealand on the radar for Australians in an alternative way to straight advertising.

"New Zealand is competing against well-funded Australian domestic campaigns and other international destinations for Australian's attention. The Today show will help us stand out in the crowd."

Hickton would not put an exact figure on the cost but said it would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It has partnered with Qantas for the venture.

Australia is New Zealand's largest source market for visitors.

In the six months to April, Australian visitor arrivals increased by 4.7 per cent, compared with a decline of 3 per cent for all arrivals.

Visitor arrival statistics due out today are expected to show more than one million Australians came to New Zealand in the year ended May 31.