The star power of Kiwi director and actor Taika Waititi has been enlisted to help boost New Zealand tourism.
Tourism New Zealand will tomorrow premiere a 3-1/2 minute promotional film featuring the Oscar winner and Jade Daniels, his stunt double in the HBO romantic comedy series "Our Flag Means Death" which is filmed in Aotearoa.
Visitors from United States are a major target audience, said Rene de Monchy, chief executive for Tourism New Zealand.
The film, shot in December 2022, will also play on social media platforms in Australia, Germany, the UK and parts of Asia.
"Competition is heating up and economic times are a bit tough in many parts of the world so we've got to keep being innovative and top of mind for people."
Prior to COVID and the closure of New Zealand's borders, international tourism was New Zealand's largest source of foreign exchange and accounted for about 5.5% of gross domestic product.
Tourists are returning but overseas visitors in July were still 16% lower than in July 2019.
