Air New Zealand has released its new safety video, in partnership with Tourism New Zealand, titled "Aotearoa, the eighth Wonder of the World."
The airline's Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty, says the video is another platform that can be used to promote destinations across New Zealand.
The video begins in a town hall debate situation as different parts of New Zealand, both geographical and cultural put forward their case as to why they should be named the eighth wonder of the world.
Among the contenders, the All Blacks, Milford Sound and Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu.
Two Air New Zealand crew members then suggest everyone goes on a journey to visit the different locations to help in making a decision as to who should win.
"Are we going to be in a safety video?" A representative for Tairawhiti Gisborne says to a snorkel diver from the Poor Knights Islands.
Then the actual safety part of the video kicks in with Miss Napier putting her art deco styled hat underneath the seat in front of her.
A serving of smoked salmon from Stewart Island is then the prompt for the no-smoking part of the briefing, with a cabin crew member reminding the audience that no smoking is allowed despite the local smoked salmon being "the best in the world."
"With borders closed as a result of COVID-19, we've seen a significant impact on the New Zealand tourism industry. Around 30 percent of people flying on our domestic network are usually visitors from overseas. In the absence of international visitors, the safety video is a unique way to stimulate further local demand, benefiting local tourism operators, the New Zealand economy and Air New Zealand employees," Geraghty said.
As the video comes to a close and the group returns to the town hall to make a decision as to which location should become the eighth wonder of the world, Poor Knights Islands' scuba diver begins shouting "New Zealand," muffled by his mask he then removes it and tells the group, "New Zealand, it's the whole country," in his very strong Kiwi accent.
The representative for Tairawhiti Gisborne then joins in and proclaims "Aotearoa, the eighth wonder of the world."
The video wraps up as the group begins the second topic of debate.
"Yeah, nah. Does it mean yeah or nah?"
Air NZ had received criticism for spending money on a safety video at a time when the airline is undergoing a period of massive job cuts, but says this video was made with a much smaller budget than in previous years, and the cost was shared with Tourism New Zealand.
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