Editorial: NZ tops the Brit awards

New Zealand has topped the Telegraph Travel Awards as the number one tourist destination.

The Brits love us, apparently.

On Tuesday this week New Zealand was named the world's "best country", according to the Telegraph Travel Awards.

A coveted prize, but an arbitrary criteria, you'd imagine. Second only to the galaxy's "best planet" - which is yet to be staged.

Given it's Christmas, we'll take it.

Prime Minister John Key has certainly claimed it, as has our tourism sector, both are basking in the glow of the early UK Christmas present.

The gong came by way of votes cast by almost 90,000 people in what is reportedly the widest-ranging travel survey of its kind.

Mr Key said the Shaky Isles has become a genuine destination. "We believe one of the real strengths of the tourism experience in New Zealand is that it lives up to the hype. Too often people go to a destination where ultimately it is never as good as the brochure, whereas in New Zealand we think people come and get an experience that is better than the brochure."

Runners up in the country category were Maldives and South Africa, while Cape Town won "best city" category.

Telegraph Travel's head of print Ben Ross said British tourists arrived in New Zealand with the reassurance of being "greeted in our native tongue - albeit spoken with that characteristic twang".

While that comes across a tad colonial, it's always enlightening looking at ourselves through others' eyes.

It may be an award based on first impressions and fleeting visits, but it's a timely reminder that although Kiwis are prone to pine for other shores, the grass is greening this side of the fence.