Gold Coast set to rain on Kiwi parade

**STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 0001 (NZT)FRIDAY 01 APRIL 2016**

Gold Coast set to rain on Kiwi parade

Australian tourism body introduces Weather Protection Unit to combat Kiwis’ contagious weather patterns

• More than 15,000 Kiwi travellers, well known for taking the weather on holiday with them, visit the Gold Coast every month
• Umbrellas, rain coats and items carrying traces of precipitation now prohibited when travelling to Gold Coast
• Crack Weather Protection Unit introduced to help weather the storm

AUCKLAND, NZ – Apr. 1, 2016 – Effective today, Gold Coast Tourism has announced new rules aimed at stopping Kiwi travellers from raining all over New Zealand’s number one holiday destination, the Gold Coast.

Renowned for having over 300 days of sunshine annually, the Gold Coast receives a flood of bad weather carriers entering the region every year. New measures are being implemented to help mitigate the risk of exposure to negative weather conditions and Gold Coast Tourism is forecasting a changing front with the introduction of its new Gold Coast Weather Protection Unit (GCWPU). The GCWPU will target the source of the problem; Kiwi travellers bringing the bad weather with them.

Senior Constable Steve Trique is head of the new GCWPU and is thundering into his new role:

“As the colder months roll into New Zealand, more Kiwis are looking to make their way over to the Gold Coast, bringing with them treacherous weather that we don’t want infecting our clear blue skies. Travellers need to know that we will be on them lightning fast if we suspect they have brought even a hint of precipitation with them.”

The GCWPU will provide a water-tight layer of additional screening to help protect Gold Coast's sunny borders from the onslaught of contagious wintery and rainy New Zealand weather. The unit will conduct searches on all suspicious travellers passing through the Gold Coast Airport looking for signs of now prohibited items, including:
• Pessimistic clothing or footwear, including sweatshirts, jackets, hoodies, beanies, scarves or boots
• Items carrying traces of precipitation
• Items exposed to rain, fog, snow, hail or storms in the last 10 days
• Umbrellas, rain jackets, ponchos or gumboots
• Thermal or woolen clothing including merino and polypropylene
• Hot water bottles or wheat bags

“Already, offenders have been pouring in.” said Senior Constable Trique, “A few were blown away at the changes but this is snow laughing matter. It takes just one Kiwi trickling past screening to bring the bad weather to the Gold Coast.

“Strewth, we had one cloud in the sky yesterday. We don’t want any more coming our way. We don’t mean to rain on anyone’s parade but I can assure you these new rules won’t wash away anytime soon.”

Michelle Stone, Director of Communications at Gold Coast Tourism, said: “Kiwi weather offenders can expect a chilly reception from the GCWPU now that Steve and his team are on the case.”

For more information on the legislation and the implications for Kiwi travellers head to www.GCweatherprotection.co.nz. Video tutorials about the new measure and the GCWPU will also be available online.

-ENDS-

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