The Life Back Promise

Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 2, 2009 at 8:00 am

Tourism New Zealand has, what I think is, a pretty great campaign called the The Life Back Promise. And, full disclosure here, I own a small communications agency that is a part of the team that does the PR for Canada for Tourism New Zealand. However, we’ve built our company (and I’ve built my life) on being authentic…if I didn’t believe this, I wouldn’t write it.

In the time I have spent here in New Zealand (which at the time of writing this is only three days…boy, I’ve done a lot!), I think that’s what is happening to me. I would say slowly but surely—but having been here only 72 hours, it’s more like on warp speed—my mind is waking up to some pretty important things about life. On some level, every person I have met here has shared something special with me. From the young kid who served me my Fergburger and wanted to make sure I was happy with it, to Fraser who made sure I could get some photos on the Kawarau jetboat, to my spa experience and being made to feel at home by John at the Queenstown Park Hotel…it all matters. They all bring a passion to the work that they do because they have chosen a lifestyle. To work at something they love, that they care about, that they want to share. And let’s face it, no one is happy with his or her job all the time, but these folks have made a choice to do the best they can – all the time. And that shows.  Their approach to enjoying life and living in the moment spills through from their personal life to their professional work and it makes a huge difference.

Two of the people that have really stood out to me so far on my journey are Franny at Nomad Safaris and Dave of The Helicopter Line. Franny is a character – someone should make a movie about her (and I only heard bits and pieces of her life!). She brings a passion for nature to her work that is so authentic and incredible that you can’t help but be energized about it. She really likes people, and you can see that. She made the trip I took amazing. It would have been great no matter who was the guide, but Franny kicked it up about five notches and made it memorable. Her sense of adventure, her love of nature and her positive attitude about life really touched me – and I hope a bit of it rubbed off on me. Every once in a while, someone comes along that positively impacts you, that shifts you a little bit into a better place, a better mindset and pushes you to really appreciate the moment. Franny did that for me.

Dave the pilot is another incredible human being. Ten years ago, Dave came to Queensland on vacation. He was a business executive in Australia. He was making great money, had a nice family and all the toys. By all standard accounts, he had “made it.”  Well, Dave hit Queenstown, took a helicopter tour and life changed for him. He saw the life he wanted. (And he should thank his lucky stars his wife saw the same life!) Dave is now a helicopter pilot for the same company that took him up on his holiday ten years ago.

Dave and I chatted on the way to my helicopter tour and he too rubbed off on me. He LOVES his job, he loves sharing the passion he has for what he does with people (although he wouldn’t let me fly the helicopter no matter how many times I asked!) and he loves taking people out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. Dave took a huge leap of faith and changed his life, and now he is living his dream. How amazing is that? 

It’s easy to read a travel blog like this, look at the pictures and think about what activities you will do. But there’s more to coming to somewhere like New Zealand. It’s what this kind of trip does to inspire and engage you, how the people move you and put you in touch with parts of you that you forgot about because of work and “real life” responsibilities.

For me, actually jumping off the platform on the bungy tower showed me something about myself. Standing on top of a mountain with Dave, a person who was fortunate enough to recognize what he wanted to do and then took the steps to achieve it, was inspiring. To spend time with Franny, who stepped lightly into a forest to show me a small (and I mean tiny) little plant that will someday grow into a tall, strong tree was amazing.

Travelling to New Zealand is more than just “seeing” the sights and tasting the food, it’s about taking it all in. Really experiencing it, living in the moment and—at whatever level works for you—getting your life back.

I will bring you lots of information here on what you can do in New Zealand, but please read between the lines. It’s not just what you will do here, it’s what you will experience that is so magical.