PM caps dream publicity run for NZ

Prime Minister Helen Clark has helped give New Zealand tourism arguably its highest ever profile in the United States.

An interview with Clark on The Today Show, about the making of a documentary in which the Prime Minister introduces viewers to New Zealand, has just been viewed by 4.7 million North American households.

And the first screening of the documentary itself, New Zealand: The Royal Tour, has been watched in 1 million American homes.

The documentary is expected to be shown up to 12 times on cable television, by which time it is likely to be seen by more than 70 million US homes.

"Those are stunning results," Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hicton said yesterday.

The travel documentary was "a great look at what there is to do in New Zealand" and that, combined with the wide coverage of the Prime Minister's interviews, "has resulted in some great profile for New Zealand".

Along with the interest in New Zealand generated by The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the publicity had been "invaluable in enhancing New Zealand's image as an ideal destination".

New Zealand: The Royal Tour will show in New Zealand on the Discovery Travel Channel on February 27.