Tourism spillover tipped from Cup action

By STACEY BODGER

ROTORUA - Tourism chiefs in Rotorua are hoping for a wave of visitors through international publicity generated by the America's Cup regatta.

Tourism Rotorua is one of five regional partners in the New Zealand Media Resource Unit, which was formed to secure global media coverage for last year's Apec leaders' conference, the millennium celebrations and the America's Cup.

In the buildup to the yachting, Tourism Rotorua helped during visits by the US media giants CNN, ESPN and News Net Central, as well as by German, Japanese and Italian crews.

Tourism Rotorua general manager Oscar Nathan said the media unit, based at the Viaduct Harbour in Auckland, had recommended areas, including Rotorua, to more than 1300 foreign media representatives in the past year.

"The media resource unit is one of our best investments and I expect to see the benefits of the coverage over many years to come," Mr Nathan said.

Meanwhile, the creative work of a patriotic farmer is stopping traffic on State Highway 5 between Rotorua and Taupo.

Steve Morgan, a Reporoa sharemilker, was milking his herd last December when he came up with the idea of building a display to support Team New Zealand.

The result is an 8m-high, 10m-long replica of Black Magic, with a power pole as the mast, at the entrance to his farm.

Mr Morgan approached Team New Zealand and sponsors in his search for material.

He was thrilled when the team's sailmakers, North Sails, offered to cut him two carbon-fibre sails from the original NZL32 sails which were used to secure the America's Cup in San Diego in 1995.

Other sponsors also contributed flags and signs but most of the display is the result of Mr Morgan's Kiwi ingenuity and the help of his "builders" - wife Lauren and children Joshua, aged 12, and Stacey, 10.

A 44-gallon drum serves as the Black Magic keel and the rest of the boat was built with No 8 fencing wire and customwood.

"There are tourist buses stopping for people to have photos taken, cars and trucks tooting and people ringing me up in support," Mr Morgan said.

"Although it's based in Auckland, the Cup is a real New Zealand event and this is to show that us country folk support it too."