Help me win world's best job, Northlander urges

A Northland man is in the running for a job billed as the best in Ireland - and possibly the world.
Fred Rood, of Paihia, and his Irish-born fiancee, Deborah Waugh, have made the top 50 out of 30,000 entrants in the "Ultimate Job in Ireland" contest.
The prize is six months' travel around the world's top honeymoon destinations from Argentina to Zanzibar, with travel and accommodation costs covered, plus payment of 20,000  ($38,000).
All the winner has to do is write a short report on each destination for the Irish Times. Mr Rood is understandably keen to win and is urging Northlanders to help him by voting online.
Entrants had to make a short video telling the world what made Ireland a good place for a honeymoon, and why they should get the ultimate job.
Mr Rood and Ms Waugh pitch themselves as the "dream team" because of her experience in tourism and hospitality, and his career as a professional photographer.
"We'd be perfect for it. Plus we'd be representing Northland and New Zealand - so please help us out and vote," he said.
A  panel will  prune the top 50  to  nine finalists. The entry  that garners  the most public votes will also make the finals.
Mr Rood, 45, was born in Pukekohe but moved to the Bay of Islands in 1991. His mum, Betty Rood,  lives in Paihia, and his sister, Jan Bennenbroek,  in Kerikeri.
Mrs Rood  described her son as "a pretty outgoing sort of guy" who enjoyed life and travel.
Mr Rood worked as a barman at the Copthorne Hotel, as a marketing manager for Dolphin Discoveries and a photographer for Paihia Photos. He now splits his time between New Zealand and Europe, photographing major events such as February's Winter Olympics in Canada.
He met Ms Waugh, 38, at a  Coromandel party. "My mates thought she felt sorry for me - but here we are, five years later."
To vote for Mr Rood and his fiancee or to check out their video, go online to the website www.runawaybrideandgroom.com, click on "Ultimate Job in Ireland", then scroll down to Deborah Waugh's video. As of noon yesterday they had 654 votes, placing them sixth. A Filipino couple was in the lead with 971 votes.