Guides vie to be TV's video stars

Roger Martin runs Happy Ewe tours and hopes to be on the Top Guide TV series. Photo / File

Rotorua tour guides are looking for their 15 minutes of fame - and Destination Rotorua is backing them.

Many local guides have taken a break from their jobs to make a short video about who they are, what they do and why they are the best, in a bid to feature on a series billed for TV1 called Top Guide New Zealand.

Destination Rotorua Marketing general manager Oscar Nathan said they were working to secure an episode for Rotorua.

"Destination Rotorua Marketing is looking into the potential of getting an episode of Top Guide filmed in Rotorua, albeit the initial focus is very much on encouraging involvement from our local adventure and activity-guided businesses in the first instance," said Mr Nathan.

"The series definitely has some great potential and as more details come to hand we may look to further our involvement with the production."

Michael Burton from Hoverwing, Roger Martin from Happy Ewe Cycle Tours and Gary Coker from Canopy Tours are among the guides who have entered the competition.

The show's presenter Jo Holley will visit three guides in each of the 10 episodes, Mr Burton said.

"I think they are really going to get a lot from it," he said.

Guest judges will also rate the experience.

Rotorua Canopy Tours' Mr Coker said he did not know too much about the show, but assumed it would be a "day in the life of" sort of thing.

He said any increased awareness of the conservation projects at Canopy Tours would be beneficial.

Roger Martin from Happy Ewe tours said having national exposure would be beneficial for his business and all of Rotorua.

"Basically, it would be great. I would just take the show on the regular route and show them Rotorua."

-To see the guides' videos and find out how to vote for your favourite, go to www.facebook.com/topguidetv