Tourism NZ's rugby ball loses its puff

A Maori blessing opened the Tourism New Zealand site near the Eiffel Tower in Paris in early October. Photo / Reuters

New Zealanders may have to wait four years to see the giant inflatable rugby ball on their home turf.

Tourism New Zealand's huge promotional structure has been parked under the Eiffel Tower in Paris for the Rugby World Cup. It is being deflated today and put into storage.

Twenty-five-thousand people visited the audio visual show inside the ball, which feature images of Tana Umaga kicking a ball, and the ball doing a tour of New Zealand.

Tourism New Zealand's CEO George Hickton says the show was a tremendous success and the British visitors in particular said they want to be down under when New Zealand hosts the next World Cup. He says the French reaction to the ball was also very positive.

He says the ball has been a great opportunity to profile what New Zealand has to offer and many marketing people have approached him saying the projection system and the way the ball was held up was leading edge. They wanted to know how it was done.

The ball cost around $3.5 million to build and operate but Mr Hickton said it was very good value for money.

"The 100 per cent Pure New Zealand sign was in most newscasters' views. People have been running their broadcasts from the ground where the ball is so it got immense coverage. It certainly justified itself on that score."

He says a bonus is that the ball can be used again for other promotions and may eventually make its way home for the next Rugby World Cup.

"I'd like to think it came back for 2011. I think it'd be a great thing to show New Zealanders and it would add to our tournament as well."

In the meantime, the ball will come out of storage for major events in Europe.

- NEWSTALK ZB

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