The Government’s new tourism campaign targeted at Australians is a no brainer.  

A simple test is comparing how many New Zealanders have visited Australia compared to how many Australians have come here.  

I remember being at a conference in Sydney and asking around the room how many had been to New Zealand. There were none. Yet all had been to Queensland. including me. 

It’s a right of passage to visit Aussie.  

But it’s not a right of passage for Aussies to come here.  

So, imploring everyone must come here is a good thing.  

Shame on the Labour spokesperson who seemed to think such a plea was desperate.   

If we can imbue the belief in Australia that a visit to New Zealand is a must then that will continue to pay it’s way for generations. 

It’s the same with European visitors.    

The people I know who came here from Europe for their OE are now the families who return. Their kids having heard the legends form mum’s OE in New Zealand are the ones who come back.  

My partner’s OE was in Germany and her friend’s children are the ones who have come to New Zealand to find out more about the exotic foreigner who landed in their parents' midst. 

It’s important to remember that every time we go overseas and meet others we go as ambassadors.  

But for everywhere aside from Australia we are still a major trip with a big journey and bib bills.  

For Aussies we’re a 3-hour flight, we’re just like them but exotically different, our scenic delights are delightful and thanks to our stuttering economy and dollar we’re relatively cheap as chips. 

Of course, everyone there must come here. And their children and their children’s children and so on.