Cliff Curtis, Rick Hoffman, Stan Walker and a veritable who’s who of All Blacks past and present. Oh, and one interloper – former Wallabies captain George Gregan. That’s Air New Zealand’s latest safety video, and it’s gone a long way towards redemption after their much vilified previous offering.
The airline made headlines in February when it dumped its Kiwi Safety video – featuring a rapping Hunt for the Wilderpeople and Deadpool star Julian Dennison – and replaced it with their 2016 Summer of Safety video featuring Rachel Hunter.
The rap video was a costly error of judgement considering its $2.5 million price tag, but with widespread condemnation including calls of it being “embarrassing”, the airline was quick to make the change.
This new video certainly atones for their past mistake, but they haven’t swept it under the carpet, with a cheeky reference along the way courtesy of Rick Hoffman. The Suits star features as the airline’s lawyer, and advises them “not to have any rapping” in the latest video.
After an Air NZ flight in 2017 he took to Twitter to praise the airline, insisting he wanted to be their next spokesman.
“Hands down @FlyAirNZ is by far the most accommodating with the most human customer service if you are flying that direction anywhere,” he wrote. “Thank you Air New Zealand..I will be your next spokesperson…No…no need to ask…I’ll just be it….nope I insist!!!!”
Air New Zealand replied to his Tweet, photoshopping him in to other safety videos, joking “One Litt to rule them all perhaps?” (referencing his Suits character Louis Litt) and it went from there.
Hoffman says he was “completely floored” to be offered the role as safety ambassador, and enjoyed the fact that he got to “improvise quite a bit” in the video.
“One Litt to rule them all?” Air New Zealand’s response to Rick Hoffman offering to be in their safety video.
Along with Hollywood star power, the video is a celebration of all things rugby. As well as current All Blacks captain Kieran Read and coach Steve Hansen, it also features members of the 1987 World Cup winning team – Sirs John Kirwan and Michael Jones as well as Buck Shelford, Gary Whetton and captain David Kirk.
All Blacks fans will also get a laugh at George Gregan’s comment to Israel Dagg, joking that the next time the All Blacks feature in a safety video would be “four more years,” referencing the taunt he directed at the All Blacks when they lost their 2003 World Cup semi-final to the Wallabies.
“Four more years boys.”
This latest instalment marks 10 years of Air New Zealand’s groundbreaking safety videos. You can watch the video in the player above. Or by booking a flight on Air NZ!
