Air NZ safety video makes stars of South
SOUTHERN residents are in the limelight in Air New Zealand’s latest safety video, and it seems they are thrilled with their few minutes of fame.
The video, which went live in aircraft yesterday, features hundreds of southerners dancing, running and playing around Naseby, Dunedin and Balclutha.
The fourminute safety video is a throwback to 1990s rap songs.
The cast of hundreds of local performers range from the Mosgiel Brass Band to transgender rapper Randa.
Featuring Hunt for The Wilderpeople actor Julian Dennison, the clip, ‘‘It’s Kiwi Safety’’, adapts two songs by Run DMC’s ‘‘Underground’’ podcast.
The video prominently features Naseby township and residents, as well as hundreds of pupils from Maniototo Area School and St John’s School in Ranfurly, who run and dance down the township’s main street.
Maniototo school principal Joe Ferdinands said it was ‘‘absolutely exciting’’ to feature and predicted it would become a talking point in the district.
‘‘I’m thrilled to have our country kids in the Maniototo be worldfamous, even if only for a few minutes.’’
Naseby Indoor Curling Rink manager Ewan Kirk said it had been ‘‘great fun . . . although I’m not sure how good the dancing was’’.
The exposure the rink would gain would be invaluable.
St Clair Surf Life Saving Club chairman Cam Burrow, said the Dunedin club’s members were ‘‘stoked’’ to make the final cut.
‘‘It’s pretty cool to see the smiles on their faces, showing people what they do.’’
Cub member Flynn Steel is shown ‘‘doing the worm’’.
Despite appearing only fleetingly, members of Dunedin band St Kilda Brass said they would be happy to repeat the experience.
Trombonist Susie Grigg (19) said although their appearance was brief, it had been ‘‘cool’’ to take part, and see herself and friends up on screen.
‘‘Mum’s really proud. It’s going viral on our social networks.’’
The video was shot in about nine days from Auckland to Dunedin and filming was also done in Hokitika.
Others groups to feature include the Dunedin Curling Club, Rasa School of Dance, Dunedin Gymnastic Academy, Wellness Walkers Trust, OUSA Vintage and Swing Society, Studholme College, Salmond College, Brennan Group Otago University, Bangladesh Students Association Otago University, Knox College, Unicol, Arana College, East Taieri Church, Otago and Southland Chinese Association and Onyx Militaires Open Team.
It is the 18th of the airline’s safety videos, which started in 2009.