Air New Zealand produces wonderful humorous content. And not all of it is due to Taika Waititi.
Last year’s Air New Zealand Christmas campaign, Summer Wonderland, was by Host. The ad was huge success with good reason. Ronan Keating paired with Julian Dennison as a pedantic producer is a match made in engaging ad heaven. Plus playing off the glaring differences between classic Chrissy icons and New Zealand’s iconic features is instantly relatable below the equator and fascinating above it (not to mention appealing to tourists).
How do you follow a roaring success? If you’re Air New Zealand, with another.
Host/Havas has created four-and-a-quarter minutes of fun with the New Zealand accent. In the scenario, children phone Father Christmas with their wishes. He can’t understand the New Zealand requests for a piggy bank (he hears puggy bank), basketballs (he hears biscuitballs) and an airplane (he hears earplane). Eventually, the helpful Air New Zealand staff are called in to clear up the confusion.
And the film is called Mirry Christmus. Perfect.
Air New Zealand chief marketing officer, Mike Tod, commented, “While it’s no secret the Kiwi accent has been misunderstood at times, it’s also a signature part of our service. In fact, for many Kiwis, being welcomed onboard an Air New Zealand flight by crew after being offshore for some time makes them feel instantly back at home.
“We wanted to celebrate the festive season and the Kiwi accent in a humorous and uniquely Air New Zealand way.”
Credits:
Creative Agency: Host/Havas
Chief creative officer: Darren Spiller
Executive Creative Director: Jon Austin
Senior Copywriter: Hadleigh Sinclair
Senior Art Director: Jack Delmonte
Group Account Director: Oli Cassidy
Senior Account Director: Jo Thomasson
Planning Director: Jess Page
Senior Broadcast Producer: Karen Muxworthy
Production Company: Finch
Director: Alex Roberts
Executive Producer: Corey Esse
Producer: Amy Dymond
DOP: Tim Tregoning
Production Designer: Bruce Everard
Editor: James Ashbolt @ ARC Edit
Post-Production: Finch VFX
Music: Song Zu
Photography: Matt Baker
Photography Production: Louis & Co
Media agency: Dentsu Aegis Network
