N.Z. way of life is tourist attraction

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 18

N.Z. way of life is tourist attraction

The attraction of New Zealand to foreign visitors lay in its tranquillity and the way of life of its people, not in its scenic splendour, the vicar of St Barnabas’ Church (the Rev. R. A. Lowe) said yesterday.

Addressing the South Island Promotion Association, Mr. Lowe said the things New Zealanders sometimes said about their own country were ridiculous, and the comparisons they made between Queenstown and Switzerland were tired and unreal.

“What people want to see in New Zealand is a way of life which is unique a country which progress has passed by,” he said. “We are a dim lit cemetery. But the tranquillity of this country is what the Americans like most.”

“They don’t want to see the Maori people at Whaka. They want to see two peoples living together a distinct way of life. They love that more than Coronet Peak and the Remarkables.” Mr Lowe dismissed the importance placed on the quality of New Zealand hotels or the wrangle about tipping.

“A $5 note will still obtain alcohol early in the morning as readily in Rotorua as it will in Rio,” he said.

Mr Lowe urged the association to do a great deal more to attract the young people of the world to New Zealand, particularly those of the Northern Hemisphere. “When you think that 22,000 young Americans have been to Cuba to be involved in a social experiment, it shows you what changes are

taking place,” he saic “Young people are consciou of living in a global village “I don’t know why w don’t do more with the yout hostels. Young people wan to be involved in the sitt jation. Those of us over 4 are the emotionally withere i people. Our senses have bee 'confined to the neutral eye | “Young people did nc want to read about New Zes I land; they wanted to com land swim in its rivers, trea |on its mountains, smell il

id. I soil. Everywhere else in the us l world young people were on ;e.'the move. vei “This must happen here, th I too,” he said. nt Mr Lowe appealed to the u-1 association to help not only 40 the rich people to come to ed. New Zealand but to spare en i something for those economic. | ically unable to pay their lotion way. :a- i “These things we have ne ■ must be shared and New Zeaad | land opened upas never beitsifore,” he said.