KEY POINTS:
Magic from hit series Flight of the Conchords is rubbing off on New Zealand businesses working in the United States.
Government officials and Kiwi company executives are all praising the series which they say has sparked a positive spinoff.
Roy Ferguson, New Zealand's Ambassador to the US, said
the HBO hit was a big boost to our presence in North America.
"Flight of the Conchords has been terrific for New Zealand's image in the US and often on Capitol Hill, I'll have a young staffer who will say how much they love the show.
"But it's not just young Americans who like it," Ferguson said, adding that the series had inter-generational appeal.
The series suddenly made New Zealanders more popular in the US, he said, and Americans were fascinated by us.
"New Zealand is seen as a whole lot more chic and attractive right now and part of that is Flight of the Conchords as well as the Lord of the Rings. It's all added to the recognition of New Zealand."
John Cook, a Kiwi based in Texas and part owner of essenze, which sells homeware goods to the US, said many of his customers were fascinated with the show and the quirky humour portrayed. They often mentioned it to him.
"They say to me, 'hey you say stink just like that guy Jemaine'," said Cook, referring to Jemaine Clement who is one side of the hapless comedy duo with Bret McKenzie.
"People here love Flight of the Conchords - it's become like a cult thing."
The New Zealand accent was suddenly unexpectedly cool, he said, and people in the US knew instantly where Kiwis were from.
Talking about the show and its quirky stars helped to break the ice on the business scene, said Cook, who is originally from West Auckland but now lives in Austin, Texas.
Essenze has a shop in Parnell and promotes New Zealand-inspired homeware, furniture and interior design objects in the US.
Bridget Liddell, the Seattle-based chairwoman of Beachheads' advisory board for North America, said the series had reinforced New Zealand's image as innovative, creative and slightly edgy, although many older people in business did not follow or recognise the show.
Peter Bull, NZ Trade and Enterprise's American director, said the series had made a giant impact in the US. "There's huge recognition here, particularly on the East Coast. New Yorkers really identify with it."
Nikitin Sallee, general manager global operations for KEA which is a Kiwi global talent community, said because he had lived in New Zealand for some years and was part of a Kiwi entity, people expected him to know the stars. He had even been asked by a Texas organisation if he could get Flight stars to open an event.
"I told them 'I doubt it'," admitted the Los Angeles-based Sallee.
