Top US show puts Bay attractions on global stage
20.10.2008
As amazing races go, racing around the Blokart Heaven track in Papamoa is among the top challenges in the world.
At least, that's what Emmy award-winning television show The Amazing Race has declared.
Blokarting and the Western Bay features in the fourth episode of series 13 due to be screened on Sunday in the US (1pm today NZ time).
Tim Burgess, general manager of Tourism Bay of Plenty, said his lips were sealed about the programme details. But he did say the programme was a great promotion to be a part of.
He had heard producers scouting another part of New Zealand and approached them with ideas on how Tauranga could be a base.
``It's not just the businesses but the region itself that gets put on the map and go to such a huge global audience,' he said.
``I would say that's an unprecedented kind of publicity for this region. It's such a huge show and has such a pull in so many countries.'
A preview clip on the CBS website shows contestants racing around the Blokart Heaven track with one taking a fall and possibly breaking her arm.
It's also believed the contestants visited a number of other landmarks in the region, including Kiwi 360 at Te Puke.
The show, which was filmed in May and is expected to screen in New Zealand early next year, features teams of two racing around the world hopping from one country to the next and completing unusual tasks in between.
The Tauranga stop-off came after the episode three trip to La Paz, Bolivia and New Zealand dominated the entire fourth episode.
New Zealand born host and producer Phil Keoghan was joined at the elimination station by his father John on the Papamoa Hills.
The episode is titled I Wonder If They Like Blondes in New Zealand?. It is the third time the country has featured in the programme.
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