Tourism New Zealand has signed actress Bryce Dallas Howard
to be its brand ambassador, and has partnered with National Geographic Travel
to create a six-part video series and online hub titled "The Ultimate New
Zealand Experience."
Bryce, daughter of actor/director Ron Howard, served as
creative director of the project, which explores New Zealand's cuisine,
trekking, adrenaline sports, Maori culture and capital city Wellington, which
is dubbed the "Capital of Cool" in the series.
Addressing the amount of time it takes to get to New Zealand
from North America -- frequently cited as an obstacle to selling the
destination -- Howard said, "It's really just a night's sleep away, and
once you're there, you've arrived at heaven on earth."
Tourism New Zealand CEO Stephen England-Hall said that the
result of combining National Geographic Travel and "someone of Bryce's
caliber, who genuinely loves your country" is that "magic happens."