Air New Zealand takes Tamworth Festival International

Air New Zealand has been appointed Official Airline Partner to one of the world’s Top 10 music events – the 2003 Telstra Country Music Festival in Tamworth, north western New South Wales.

For the first time in the Festival’s 31 year history, the event will now be promoted on a world stage – initially to one of the music genres keenest international audiences - New Zealanders.

The Telstra Country Music Festival, to be staged in Tamworth, from 17-27 January, 2003, attracts more than 400,000 visitors. However, the 2003 event is already shaping up to be the biggest in the history of the Festival. Bookings are up 25% over the same period last year and it is expected that some half a million people will visit Tamworth for the 2003 event.

Air New Zealand's Senior Vice President, Sales and Distribution, Mr Norm Thompson, said the airline’s involvement “internationalised” the Festival and tangibly supported the company’s new market positioning – “Being there is everything”.

Air New Zealand and industry partners will be offering a series of unique, tailor-made travel packages to New Zealanders wishing to visit the Festival in January. These will include air fares from New Zealand to Sydney, and a range of accommodation packages in Tamworth.

Air New Zealand flies to Sydney from Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown and Los Angeles, with connections from elsewhere in the Americas, the UK and Europe.

Country music is the world’s fastest growing music category, attracting a loyal – and large - following of fans who travel the world for some of its icon events, such as in Nashville, Tennessee and Calgary, Canada. The Tamworth Festival is larger than both.

The New South Wales Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Sandra Nori, who was in Auckland for the announcement of Air New Zealand’s involvement, said the carrier’s support was a logical extension to what was already a keen following by New Zealanders of Country music – in New Zealand, in Australia and throughout the world. 

“In addition to New Zealanders enjoying a signature event on the world’s Country music calendar, they will also be directly helping Australia’s drought-stricken rural communities via the ‘FarmHand’ drought appeal fund which is strongly supported by the Festival and Telstra," said Ms Nori.

‘FarmHand’ has, to date, raised more than AUD $20 million.

The Mayor of Tamworth, Cr James Treloar, also in Auckland for the launch, said events such as the Telstra Country Music Festival, Tamworth, provided a vital economic fillip to drought ravaged communities.

A feature of this year’s festival will be six top North American Country music acts, in addition to New Zealand’s famous “Topp Twins”. In all, there will be more than 2,000 performances by a diverse selection of artists – from Australia’s Number One Country star, Lee Kernaghan to street buskers.

The Telstra Country Music Festival, Tamworth, is accredited with being the launch pad for every single Country music star in Australia today.