How would I pitch NZ to friends and family? Quite simply, I wouldn't! I'd tell them not to waste their hard earned money and go to Australia instead.
Less chance of having your rental car/ camper burgled, your girlfiend raped, wouldn't have to cringe when tourists say how clean and green NZ isn't! Nor how crap the weather is, nor how boganish the local rugby hobbits' are. Sorry if this offends the homespun hokey nationalists out there but for what people spend to get here in first place, there are much better options out there. Although born and bred Kiwi, this country is one big PoNZi scheme. "Get 'em in, scam them and discard them" = modus operandi
http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/yo...our-friends-get-them-visit-here/?c_id=1501154