By Melissa Davies
It’s not even complete yet but New Zealand's pavilion for the Shanghai Expo has been labelled a 'must see' by Chinese media.
The $30 million display is expected to attract at least seven million visitors as well as major trade and tourism opportunities
A virtual fly-over of the site has been released to 3 News, showing the scope of the project for the first time.
The building's wedge shape design leads to a roof garden, a feature which has seen it picked as one of the highlights of the world expo on which the Chinese are spending more than $60 billion.
Inside Chinese speaking New Zealanders will guide visitors through the Kiwi way of life - including a realistic depiction of our weather.
“There's also going to be some special effects. Every so often I think about every three or four minutes, a huge southerly is going to come right through the pavilion and it's going to stop people in their tracks,” says Expo commissioner general, Phillip Gibson.
New Zealand exports to China rose from 1.9 billion in 2008 to 3.3 billion in 2009 and companies will be clambering to capitalise on the free trade agreement.
China Travel Service has the rights to sell tickets at the expo, they say China has become a popular tourist destination for Kiwis and they've been flooded with enquiries about the event.
The expo runs for six months from May and although it occupies a 5.2sq km site, and the New Zealand pavilion is easy to find because it's in a block which every visitor must walk past.
3 News