Millions in US tune in to Maori art

More than 9 million people have been exposed to New Zealand Maori culture and tourism at the recent Maori Art Meets America event in San Francisco.

Tourism New Zealand spent $1.5 million preparing the exhibition, which ran for 10 days in the Yerba Buena Centre in central San Francisco this month and will now move on to other sites in the United States.

The exhibition, organised in association with Toi Maori Aotearoa, was one of the largest New Zealand-focused events to take place in the United States. Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said results exceeded expectations in terms of both attendance numbers and media coverage.

"The media coverage spanned from print to television, and included major publications such as the Wall Street Journal (circulation 1.8 million), New York Times (1.13 million) and LA Times (1 million)," he said.

The event received strong coverage from San Francisco newspapers and made 28 television appearances.

- NZPA