12 years Internet friends to meet in NZ

1 December 2008
Media Release
For immediate release

12 years Internet friends to meet in NZ for first time

An Auckland woman is going to meet her long term friend she met on the internet 12 years ago for the very first time after winning ‘The Kiwi Story’ Show Off NZ Competition.

Diana Mason has won her friend, Jason Elin from Tennessee, United States, a return airfare to New Zealand and a $2000 prize package to enjoy together.

The competition was held as part of ‘The Kiwi Story’ website launch.

“The competition is about giving a New Zealander the chance to bring a special guest from anywhere in the world to New Zealand and showing off New Zealand to them,” says Chee Pang, founder of ‘The Kiwi Story’ website.

Four finalists were chosen to be interviewed by the Kiwi FM breakfast show. Each had a chance to compete for the winning prize, by telling stories of their relationships with their guests and stating why they deserved to show off New Zealand to them.

Chee said that each finalist had heart-warming relationships with their guests which made it difficult to choose a winner, but Diana’s unique story and her passion for showing off New Zealand made her stand out.

“Oh my gosh, it’s so exciting!” Diana said of winning the competition. “Jason and I have been talking about him coming over here for as long as we’ve been talking and now that’s finally going to happen!”

Diana’s and Jason’s story is a bit of an ‘internet geek story’. They met through a teenage magazine forum where she was looking for a male perspective for her freelance writing and Jason offered ‘a few wise words of advice’. They hit it off from there and have been really good friends ever since but have never met face to face.

Some might wonder if their relationship will blossom to something more than friends, but Diana has assured that both of them are ‘best friends now more than anything else’.

“A while ago he would’ve been a potential love interest. But we both have got partners now. He’s just like a little brother. We chat all the time and talk about just random bizarre stuff and it would never be anything like that.”

As well as return tickets to New Zealand, Diana and Jason will also enjoy a unique Kiwi prize package. This includes, a 3-day cycle tour from Off The Rails on the Otago Rail Trail, dinner at The Hunting Lodge Restaurant and wine tasting at Matua Valley Wines in Auckland.

‘The Kiwi Story’ is a web directory that helps everyone find quality and unique New Zealand businesses. For more information go to www.thekiwistory.co.nz.

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