A report in The Dominion Post says that although the All Blacks have been knocked out of Rugby World Cup, Tourism New Zealand is using a Kiwi-built campervan as an office in Paris for the tournament.
Auckland’s Kea Campers has set up shop next to the New Zealand rugby ball pavilion in front of the Eiffel Tower, with one of its six-berth Kiwi-made campervans serving as an operations base.
Michael Becker, Kea’s chief executive, said the location next to the pavilion, in the middle of its biggest customer market, and at the height of rugby fever, was a boon for the company.
“Our main customer source for rentals is Europe. We have a lot of rugby fans over here from England, France, and a lot of European nations. It is a real buzz,” he said.
Tourism New Zealand spokeswoman Cas Carter said a campervan bearing the 100% Pure New Zealand brand was chosen as the most effective base during the final stages of the Rugby World Cup.
It had approached the two largest campervan companies in New Zealand but only Kea had been keen to help.
About 90,000 international visitors to New Zealand, 4 per cent, used a motor home in 2006, she said.
They were particularly popular with English and German tourists.
Mr Becker said Kea’s double win at recent tourism awards, the fact it was Kiwi owned and operated, and that all the vans were made in Auckland, resonated with the 100% Pure campaign.
The exposure could not fail to boost Kea’s rental business, but Mr Becker said it would benefit the whole New Zealand campervan market.
“We see ourselves as ambassadors for New Zealand in the first place.” “We want people to see New Zealand as the perfect country to travel around in a motorhome.”
The costs of shipping the campervan were split between Kea, Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
Mr Becker said the van would stay in Europe for a year to showcase the company and New Zealand as a destination.
Report by The Mole
