In 2024, A young New Zealand bloke called Jade discovered his parents weren’t his parents (biologically speaking). So he set off on a journey of self-discovery, exploring his connection to the world and those around him. The ambitious campaign by FCB Aotearoa, now McCann New Zealand for telco, One New Zealand, was planned to be an odyssey – one film per year, directed by Steve Ayson. After some unexpected finds, emotional experiences, dramatic cliffhangers and building an enthusiastic audiences, Finding Jade, the tale of human connection and personal discovery, has released episode 3.

The story picks up with Jade’s return home, and his two families meeting for the first time on New Zealand soil. With Jade’s best friend Pepper (who is an “entirely different woman”) – putting her digital investigative skills to the test, the group travel around New Zealand from the manicured lawns of East Auckland to the top of Mount Earnslaw, and everywhere in between, on a quest to find Jade’s biological dad. 

This chapter is the first of the saga to take place entirely in New Zealand, giving One NZ the chance to lean into what makes the country so special – highlighting the land, people and places that make New Zealand unique. Along the way, it showcases some stunning local scenery, introduces a host of new characters, drops in a ‘90s Shortland Street star cameo, and gives centre stage to one very remote toilet, celebrating the company’s strategic national partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC).

The third instalment builds on One NZ’s Let’s Get Connected brand platform, demonstrating how digital technology enables authentic human connection and personal discovery – from finding lost connections and discovering new passions, to rediscovering heritage.

McCann NZ creative director, Alan Jones, stated, “Finding Jade is the biggest, most all-consuming, campaign we’ve ever taken on. And it keeps getting bigger. Three years in, we’ve built a world with its own lore, in-jokes, and occasional random cameo. The challenge for us now is to outdo what came before. Keep it surprising, keep it popular, and give people something they want to rewatch (voluntarily). It’s a job that’s equal parts fun and terrifying. Which, in our experience, is a good sign.”

One NZ brand lead, Kamran Kazalbash, added, “The Finding Jade odyssey captures the importance of those deep human needs, such as connection, belonging and identity, and sheds light on how our technology can empower those needs. This chapter of the journey has given us the opportunity to explore the unique small towns and sights of New Zealand, further expanding into a world that resonates with Kiwis everywhere. It has been wonderful revisiting Jade, and we are looking forward to seeing how this story will continue to unfold.”

The campaign covers broadcast, online (YouTube, VOD, Social), OOH and digital display.

Credits:

Client: ONE NZ
Agency: McCann New Zealand (Formerly FCB Aotearoa)
Chief Creative Officer: Leisa Wall
Creative Directors: Hywel James, Angelo An & Alan Jones

Production Company: 3&7
Director: Steve Ayson
Producer: Tiffin
Casting: AKD Casting
DOP: Marty Williams
Offline editor: Simon Price

Visual FX: Blockhead VFX
Colourist: Matic Prusnik
Sound Design & Music: Cam Ballantyne @ Beatworms