Phil ‘Amazing Race’ Keoghan comes from Christchurch

Multi-Emmy Award winner and host of hit TV programme The Amazing Race,

Phil Keoghan is a Christchurch boy and still one of our biggest fans.

"Try our crayfish" (lobster) says Phil. Tks to Christchurch & Canterbury Marketing for this photo

He has signed on as a tourism ambassador for us and has now filmed a series of TV commercials and short website films (webisodes) which Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism will use to attract more Australian visitors – sorry you can’t see them if you are not in that country!  (unless someone puts them on u-tube of course.)

While completing a TV cameraman apprenticeship, when 19, he successfully auditioned for New Zealand children’s show Spot On. After further presenter work on television in New Zealand television, including as a reporter,  he, like huge numbers of kiwi,  went overseas. Before joining The Amazing Race, he was considered as a host for Survivor, but was unsuccessful partly due to his nationality.

‘Phil’s Best Kept Secrets’ series of TV commercials and online stories will show Keoghan heading across Canterbury to some of his favourite spots including Aoraki Mt Cook, Tekapo, Mt Hutt, Kaikoura, Christchurch city, Banks Peninsula and Waipara, giving viewers a special insight into his home region.

A welcome haka for Phil by pupils at his old school

He’s been filmed cycling, skiing, fishing, enjoying great wine and food and of course, chatting to some interesting Cantabrian characters along the way.

Phil pauses for me to take a photo in 'the square'

Born in Lincoln (on the outskirts of Christchurch city ) he also spent a considerable part of his childhood in Antigua and Canada, and attended St Andrew’s College (high school) here in Christchurch and during a recent trip ‘home’ boys from the top rugby team (always called the 1^st Fifteen) performed a haka for him before they all walked down High St to the AMI Stadium to watch our local rugby play.

Phil currently lives with his wife and daughter in Los Angeles.