Megan Gale a Model Tourism NZ Cycling Ambassador

Australian model, actor and television presenter Megan Gale, 40, once helped promote Australia to Italy on travel show Getaway, now she will use her Maori heritage to help endear New Zealand to the world.

Gale said her personal connection to the country inspired her to become a cycling ambassador for Tourism New Zealand.

“My mum is half Maori,” Gale said.

“She is from Kaitaia which is up North and her heritage goes back to the Ngati Kahu tribe.”

Gale will promote New Zealand’s 2500km of scenic cycle trails.

She recently spent a week in New Zealand shooting the advertising campaign.

“New Zealand’s always been a place that I’ve visited for work and it was, for me, just a no-brainer to go back and be able to experience New Zealand in a whole new way and also have the opportunity to learn a little bit more about my heritage as well,” she said. “It was really beautiful.”

Gale has twice appeared on the cover of Australian Marie Claire, the Italian fashion weekly Gioia, Italian and Australian GQ, Italian Maxim and featured in editorials for Australian In Style and Vogue Italia.

Original article by Linda Parri, Perth Now, February 6, 2016.