Big Wednesday is about to get bigger – well, with bigger hair, at any rate.
Donald Trump, the super-rich businessman and star of the original The Apprentice, famed as much for his bizarre bouffy haircut as his flamboyant displays of wealth, is putting his name to a one-off NZ Lotteries promotion to be launched on Thursday.
The winner gets to take three friends to New York and experience life "Trump-style" for a week – flash flights, flash digs (the brand new Trump Soho NYC hotel), $US10,000 ($14,500) spending money each, chauffeur-driven limo, personal shopper, hairstylist and photographer, and $100,000 for the winner on their return. Oh, and – subject to availability – a meeting with the man under that extraordinary hair himself.
Trump's Kiwi gig won't see him actually set foot in the country, but if he eventually does pay a visit, would he catch up with Terry Serepisos (the Wellington property developer taking the star role in the local version of The Apprentice)?
"Would I what?"
Trump clears his throat.
"Ahh..." There is a long pause. He can be heard conferring with Rona, his executive assistant.
"OK. I just... I couldn't hear you. But now I have. Umm, yes he's the Donald Trump of New Zealand. He's on The Apprentice and I hear he's doing a very nice job."
Trump won't divulge how much the New Zealand Lotteries Commission paid him. It doesn't matter, he says. "I gave it all to charity anyway." To Aids research, he says, and cancer.When he's not saying "you're fired" to over-confident would-be executives on the reality TV show, Trump still presides over a complex web of business interests, including hotels, casinos and property developments, some of which have been hit hard by the world financial crisis. So why did he want to put his name to a Down Under lottery promotion?
"It's something I'm doing because I really like New Zealand. I've been there a number of times. I think it's a great place. I have a lot of friends that live there."
For its part, the Lotteries Commission says the partnership was a natural fit.
"Big Wednesday stands for the ultimate lifestyle, so we searched the world to find a suitable personality to help make the luxury life real for four lucky Kiwis," says chief executive Todd McLeay. "As we would expect, the Trump Organisation and Mr Trump have been great to deal with and have demonstrated the utmost professionalism and enthusiasm to help make this happen."
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