Air New Zealand has launched a new safety video titled “a journey to safety”, which the airline said aims to shed light on New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis.
The three-minute video, which is now broadcasting on the airline’s international and domestic fleet from today, tells the story of a young girl called Janey who transports a lost takahē, a bird indigenous to New Zealand, to his new home with the help of the airline and New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC).
The new safety video stars Lily Roebuck, who plays the role of Janey; DOC threatened species ambassador, Nicola Toki; DOC ranger Jerry Henry-Finch; Air New Zealand crew members Danielle Griffioen, Henry Mclntyre, Shelly Pretorius and Jordan Young; the children of Air New Zealand’s employees; and a CGI (computer-generated imagery) takahē named Mr. T.
It also features New Zealand’s natural landscapes, with the Murchison Mountains in Fiordland, Tiritiri Matangi in the Hauraki Gulf and Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in Waikato all making an appearance.
Air New Zealand said this new safety video was created in partnership with the DOC, which it has been working with together since 2012 to “help protect and enhance New Zealand’s natural environment”.
The airline added that it has transported more than 3,200 threatened species to safe places, funded pest traps across 38,000 hectares of the country, and supported marine science and research within New Zealand’s marine reserves under the partnership with DOC.
Jodi Williams, Air New Zealand’s general manager, global brand and content marketing, said the latest safety video is “a charming story with a serious message behind it”.
“While it’s lighthearted on the surface, it conveys a really important message – our native birds need our help. Our safety videos have collectively generated more than 180 million views over the past decade, so what better medium to shine a spotlight on New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis,” she added.
Nicola Toki, threatened species ambassador of DOC, said “right now is a globally significant time” when it comes to New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis.
“The reality is, a huge number of our species are on the fast track to extinction. We’ve already lost 50 species of birds since humans arrived in New Zealand, and each year up to 25 million native birds are killed by introduced predators.
“Protecting our native taonga (a treasured possession in Maori culture) is a massive challenge, but one all Kiwis and businesses can be part of, by doing things like purchasing backyard traps and getting behind their local community groups,” she added.
The New Zealand national carrier has created a series of safety videos with different themes, including rugby, hip-hop, Alice in Wonderland, the World of Hollywood, and the Hobbit.
Earlier this week, Australian flag carrier Qantas also launched a new safety video that showcases ten decades of flying to commemorate the airline’s centenary year.
Watch: Qantas’ new safety video cycles through 100 years of flying
