'Larrikin' to front campaign

Herald columnist, respected author and former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons has been picked by Air NZ to be the face of its new Australian marketing campaign.

The airline says its new television, print and online advertising push would use "traditional transtasman rivalry with FitzSimons in an iconic larrikin role".

It will introduce a new tagline for the airline in the Australian market: "Air New Zealand. Everything you love about New Zealand".

Group general manager Norm Thompson said the campaign aimed to connect with the Australian sense of humour and to "rebuild the Air NZ brand in the mind of Australian consumers as not only a quality airline but the only carrier that knows New Zealand intimately".