Waitomo Caves could be in line for a major – and free – international plug.
Jimmy Donaldson, described as the world’s biggest You Tube star – is reportedly in New Zealand and followers believe a visit to the caves is on the cards.
If it is and he posts it online, it would be seen by millions of people.
Donaldson, who goes by the name MrBeast on YouTube has 282 million subscribers – on other words, more than 50 for every person in New Zealand.
He has been tracked by national media and social media, which suggest his visits to date have been to an Auckland restaurant and a Hamilton supermarket.
Posts on one platform said he was filming in New Zealand for 14 days at a ‘famous movie location’ and was “coming to the Waikato” to shoot video in a dark place.
We’ll overlook our present drive to give this region it’s King Country moniker – one daily newspaper did, after all, call the Chiefs “Waikato” last Sunday – and assume the dark place is the Waitomo Caves.
It would be great news for the attraction, which has felt the wrath of Covid and the impact of extreme weather on roading.