Hon Damien O’Connor
Minister of Tourism

13 April 2007 Media Statement

Google and 100% Pure New Zealand launch a tourism first

Search engine Google, through its popular Google Earth™ product, has teamed up with New Zealand’s tourism marketing organisation in a world first.

Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings to provide in-depth, easily accessible geographic information.

Tourism New Zealand has provided information to create a new “layer” on Google Earth. The 100% Pure New Zealand layer will introduce and graphically illustrate Visitor Centres, 'Points of Interest' (towns) and 'Bubbles' (scenic highlights) on Google Earth and provide a link to www.newzealand.com for more extensive information, maps, links to accommodation, transport and activities.

This is the first time that a tourism authority has developed an official “layer” for Google Earth.

Minister of Tourism Damien O’Connor said that the partnership between Google Earth and Tourism New Zealand was a great fit.

“The award winning www.newzealand.com website will be linked from Google Earth’s New Zealand locations, so that people around the world will be able to access information about our country as never before” said Mr O’Connor.

New Zealander Dr Craig Nevill-Manning, Google’s Head of Engineering in New York says that Google is excited to partner with Tourism New Zealand.

"The 100% Pure New Zealand layer will allow users worldwide to explore the best that New Zealand has to offer, showcasing its natural wonders and tourist attractions. It will also further demonstrate how Google Earth can serve as a dynamic tool for discovery.”

Google has partnered with other organisations to develop "layers" for its popular Google Earth product, including National Geographic, the United Nations Environmental Program and Discovery Networks. This is, however, the first time it has worked with a tourism authority to create a layer.

Originally from Blenheim, New Zealand, Dr Nevill-Manning is a graduate of Canterbury and Waikato Universities. He is in New Zealand for the launch and to speak at the 5th New Zealand Computer Science Research Student Conference held at the University of Waikato.

Minister of Tourism Damien O’Connor says that while www.newzealand.com is very successful with more than 564,000 users in peak months, it is a huge opportunity to be associated with Google Earth and its user community. Google Earth has had 200 million unique users since it launched in June 2005.

“The partnership brings together Google’s technology, reputation and popularity and the award-winning newzealand.com’s credible and authentic content” said Mr O’Connor.

Further information: www.newzealand.com or www.earth.google.com

ENDS

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