LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Air New Zealand has cast an all-star lineup of homegrown talent in its latest safety video, which highlights the tourism jewels in the Northland region of New Zealand.

Inspired by the classic Kiwi road trip, Summer of Safety follows the adventures of Shortland Street’s Jayden Daniels as he travels around Northland’s Bay of Islands and Hokianga encountering a host of friendly locals, famous faces and iconic attractions along the way.

Joining Jayden’s getaway is supermodel Rachel Hunter and actor Joe Naufahu ? straight from a fiery stint on Game of Thrones. Stuntwoman Zoe Bell and canine sidekick Blossom the British Bulldog, IndyCar legend Scott Dixon and Olympic bronze medalist Eliza McCartney also jump on board the lighthearted road trip, which was filmed at ten locations across Northland.

Air New Zealand General Manager of Global Brand and Content Marketing Jodi Williams said the video will put the Bay of Islands and the wider Northland region on the wish list for millions worldwide.

“One of our goals at Air New Zealand is to inspire visitors to travel beyond the traditional gateways to discover the warm welcome and breathtaking landscapes offered in our regional destinations. Our safety videos have an impressive global following, collectively attracting more than 100 million views and gaining significant international media exposure. This latest edition is a great opportunity to not only deliver a safety message, but also to showcase the very best of the North to help drive economic benefit for the region.”

Los Angeles-based supermodel Rachel Hunter jumped at the chance to travel home and star alongside nearly a hundred locals who worked as extras on the production.

“Filming in the sunny Bay of Islands brought back memories of my childhood ? long summer days, family picnics at the beach and of course, the delicious hokey pokey ice cream,” said Hunter. “Air New Zealand’s safety videos are well-known internationally and always have a great storyline. One of my favorite moments in this edition is the closing scene where LadyHawke and her band throw a sunset gig for locals at the Opononi Hotel.”

Game of Thrones Dothraki warrior Joe Naufahu said it was exciting to get the call-up for the airline’s safety video, and getting to spend time in Hokianga was a bonus.

“I join the road trip in Hokianga and travel down to check out New Zealand’s largest living Kauri tree Tane Mahuta in the Waipoua Forest, before cooling off with a swim at Opononi. With dolphins swimming around the set and awe inspiring sights like Tane Mahuta, Northland is certainly a special place to be – and a world away from Westeros.”

Air New Zealand hosted cast members and other stakeholders at a premiere event in the Bay of Islands town of Kerikeri last night where VIPs were treated to a preview of the safety video and an exclusive performance by LadyHawke.

The Bay of Island’s Marketing Group, which invested in the video project to drive awareness of Bay of Islands as a tourism destination, is confident the international attention Air New Zealand’s safety videos attract will help drive economic benefit for the region.

Bay of Islands Marketing Group Chair Charles Parker said, “Being able to showcase the best of our region to millions around the world is a huge opportunity. We look forward to welcoming even more Kiwi and international visitors to come and experience the North for themselves.”

Chief Executive Officer of Northland Inc. Dr. David Wilson said the video brings the region’s distinctive history and landscapes to life and is sure to boost visitation.

“Placing Bay of Islands and the wider Northland region on a global stage, we expect the video to be a hugely influential marketing tool, with far-reaching benefit for local communities and businesses.”

Air New Zealand’s new safety video can be viewed here and will be rolled out across its fleet starting today.

Issued by Air New Zealand Public Affairs ph +64 21 747 320

About Star Alliance:

Air New Zealand is proud to be a member of Star Alliance. The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Avianca in Brazil, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,330 airports in 192 countries.

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