Air New Zealand has kept the bar very high when it comes to entertaining airline safety videos. Kiwi director, Taika Waititi, even came up with the Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made in 2014. This year’s effort, Air new Zealand’s 18th safety video, is the most Kiwi safety video ever made, a brightly coloured hip-hop music video, featuring more than 600 kiwis.
It’s Kiwi Safety stars New Zealand’s famous child – and now teen – actor, Julian Dennison, plus local musicians – eight-time VMA award winner, Kings; popular solo artist, Theia; and rising transgender rapper. Rand, as well as talent from 30 community groups across the country, including the Rewa All Stars dance crew from Auckland, surf lifesavers from Dunedin, curlers from Maniototo in Central Otago and the Mosgiel Brass Band. It also features a number of Air New Zealanders including cabin crew, pilots, engineers, loaders and airline staff from Dunedin Airport.
The new video differs from many of its predecessors in that it actually shows off New Zealand, rather than Middle Earth, for example. It was filmed at locations in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Balclutha, Hokitika, and Naseby in Central Otago.
The video is set to the tune of In the Neighbourhood by ‘90s New Zealand hip hop and R&B duo, Sisters Underground, and a Kiwified version of Run DMC’s 1986 hip hop hit, Get Tricky. The altered lyrics to the latter include, “It’s Kiwi to rock around, to rock around that safe old block. It’s Kiwi, Kiwi, Kiwi, Kiwi, Kiwi!”
“We know this video will make people proud to be New Zealanders,” stated Jodi Williams, Air New Zealand’s general manager of global brand and content marketing, “but [it] will also showcase our unique Kiwi culture to the world.
“In New Zealand, we do really well with promoting our landscapes but this video’s about actually bringing to life urban centres and communities; getting to the heartbeat and showing the breadth and depth of talent of the performers. As well as what people to do in their daily lives and to celebrate.”
Put together, Air New Zealand’s safety videos have generated more than 157 million views online to date as well as creating significant international media exposure. To celebrate its latest safety video, Air New Zealand has also released its November Kia Ora in-flight magazine with six different covers for the first time, to show a number of the safety video’s stars.
