A NZ barrister appeared on the most-viewed dating show in the Chinese-speaking world in an attempt to market the law firm he works for in China.
Wellington barrister Patrick Rosevear didn’t go on Chinese reality TV show ‘Fei Cheng Wu Rao’ to find love.Instead, the associate at Prestige Lawyers in China did it as a bit of law firm marketing.
“It's powerful in terms of marketing effects, so we decided we'd try and go on and market our law firm in China, I thought it would be funny and silly," he told Fairfax.
But love he did find – after singing in Mandarin, he ended up winning a date.
That appearance then led to an appearance on a chat panel show with other foreigners - where he sung a translated version of Jenny by Flight of the Conchords – followed by a government-funded travel show which saw foreigners travel around the country and film their reactions.
That sparked his idea for a matcher show in New Zealand.
"I'd love to do a travel show so we can introduce New Zealand to Chinese people in Chinese language. New Zealand and China have so much more to offer each other outside of trade," he said.
Rosevear moved to China in 2012 to travel and study Mandarin.
But it was a trip back to his home country, to do some work with an Auckland law firm with Chinese clients, that sparked his television career -
However, it was after a trip back to New Zealand that his television career took off after his boss suggested he get on the show - which, directly translated, means: "If you're not serious, then don't bother me.”
