Hokianga the venue for launch of new TV series

Hokianga and the Far North will receive 30-minutes of national exposure in a new
television series which will premier on TV3 on Sunday (17 July).

The new series entitled "Café Secrets" opens an eight-week season with an in
depth look at the Boatshed Café at Rawene, its association with the kayak leg of the
Northern Crossing multi-sport event and its use of Hokianga-grown product.

The series features restaurants in Wellington, Coromandel, Christchurch, Northland
and Auckland and screens Sundays at 5 p.m. Café Secrets is hosted by top chef and
food writer Julie Le Clerk.

The series is produced by Kari Hall who says the restaurants selected each week
had to have "an absolute passion and love for what they do, had to serve fabulous
food and great coffee, and they had to have a close link with their local communities."
The Boatshed Café fitted all the criteria.

The Far North episode which leads the series was produced with funding assistance
from the Far North District Council's economic development budget and with
assistance from Destination Northland.

Economic Development Officer Gary Gabbitas says the Hokianga in particular and
the Far North at large would receive television exposure which it could never have
afforded to buy as a direct marketing tool.

"This was a cost-effective way of keeping the Far North as a holiday destination in
the minds of both the domestic and international markets," he said.