It's a curious thing that, although the typical American doesn't know a lot about New Zealand, quite a few are very keen on it. This is a relatively recent phenomenon, I'm told, having started just in the last few years. I can only assume that all the flashy tourism promotion actually does some good, though I can't help thinking that having a man on the spot charming the locals with his Kiwi ways plays a part, too. I expect I'll get a cheque from John Key any day now.
Anyway, as proof of New Zealand's current popularity, consider this floor cleaner, spotted in the supermarket.
Drawing your eye away from Mr Clean (Mr Muscle's clean-living yankee cousin), you will observe that this cleaner is scented with New Zealand Springs. It's not just floor cleaner either, here's spray cleaner with the same stuff.
For the full story we have to go direct to the source, Febreze, which lends its brand and scent to these products.
In case you can't make it out the can reads "Inspired by New Zealand's south island, where springs feed glacier-carved streams & verdant vistas".
So it seems that if you're the kind of person who likes to stand on lofty South Island peaks enjoying the fresh air and reflecting that no amount of money could buy all this, then the good people at Febreze have proved you wrong. The fresh air, at least, is worth US$2.79 before tax.
I haven't bought any - I can't quite bring myself to, even out of curiosity. Somehow I doubt its authenticity. But given that most people here think I sound like an Englishman, I doubt that they can smell the difference between my homeland and whatever comes out of those bottles. Meanwhile, I'll stick with lemon scent, thanks all the same.
