29 October 2009

Key courts Japanese to emigrate to New Zealand

Prime Minister John Key is in Tokyo this week, speaking about the rugby World Cup and promoting New Zealand as the perfect place for the Japanese to visit or even to emigrate to New Zealand.

Mr Key had a private audience with the Japanese Emperor at the Imperial Palace before the formal opening of Tourism New Zealand's giant inflatable rugby ball in front of the Tokyo Tower as part of the global promotion for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

The 25m long, 17m wide and 13m high inflatable ball features a 10-minute audiovisual show about New Zealand and hopes to encourage tourism, investment and New Zealand immigration.

Japan is New Zealand's fifth largest market for visitors to the country.

The New Zealand Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people to emigrate to New Zealand.