By Peter de Graaf Your region's tourist industry needs you. Well, not you, exactly - but your mouse-clicking finger and your on-line votes.
Last month the Automobile Association launched its "101 Must-dos for Kiwis" campaign, designed to get New Zealanders exploring their own backyard and halt a slide in domestic tourism.
Apart
from a $2 million advertising blitz, the campaign includes a website listing the country's 101 top attractions, and a chance for the public to vote for their favourites.
The 35 places that receive the greatest number of votes will then feature in a TV series and book, giving the winning destinations priceless publicity.
Of the initial 101 "must-dos", eight were in Northland - more than any other region in the country.
But as of yesterday, only one Northland destination - the Bay of Islands - was in the top 10.
And that's why tourism group Destination Northland is urging Northlanders to log onto the site and get voting.
General manager Robyn Bolton said having eight "must-dos" on the list was great exposure in itself.
"But we need to make sure more of these eight destinations are in the top 35, as these will be featured in a television series airing in autumn. We know we've got the best must-dos in the country, so let's get voting - and encourage your friends and family to do the same."
Other Northland attractions on the list are the Poor Knights, Ahipara's Shipwreck Bay, Cape Reinga, Hokianga, Kawakawa's Hundertwasser toilets, Waipoua Forest and the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
The toilets have been a particularly hot topic on the accompanying on-line forum and last week were named the most attractive loos in New Zealand.
? Register at www.aatravel.co.nz to vote. Voting closes in February.
