Northland beaches, boating in the Bay of Islands, the giant kauri of Waipoua Forest and Northlanders' laidback humour will form the first impressions of New Zealand for many thousands of overseas visitors this summer.
That's because Northland - the Bay of Islands in particular - is the star of Air New Zealand's latest safety video, the airline's first to focus on a single region.
The new video, called Summer of Safety, was launched at a star-studded premiere in Kerikeri on Tuesday night.
The guest list included Jayden Daniels (Curtis from Shortland St) and Joe Naufahu (Khal Moro from Game of Thrones), while Kiwi musician Ladyhawke - who plays a waterfront concert in Omapere at the end of the video - put in a surprise appearance, playing a set after the premiere. Of the clip's biggest stars only Rachel Hunter didn't make it to the premiere.
The new clip is expected to bring a huge boost to Northland tourism and not just from airline passengers. Many of Air New Zealand's safety videos have become online hits, with the previous 12 amassing more than 100 million views.
The quintessentially Kiwi video follows Jayden Daniels as he travels around the Bay of Islands and Hokianga. On the way he runs into well-known actors, sporting stars and more than 50 Northlanders, including kaumatua William Cash, ferry captain Taira Peters, a bunch of kids from Waitangi and a Department of Conservation ranger.
TV current affairs host Mike Hosking puts in a cameo appearance stuck in an Auckland traffic jam in one of many in-jokes only Kiwi viewers will understand.
Alongside the jokes, stunning scenery and obligatory safety instructions the five-minute video manages to squeeze in some tikanga Maori and conservation messages.
The publicity coup came about when Air New Zealand approached the Bay of Islands Marketing Group, a coalition of local tourism businesses, about making a summer-themed safety video.
Chairman Charles Parker said the group put a significant amount of money into the video. The sum was confidential but it was the group's "biggest and most exciting investment to date".
"The airline had a number of regions in mind but they approached us first and we couldn't let it go ... Being able to showcase the best of our region to millions around the world is a huge opportunity."
The Far North District Council also contributed, to the tune of $50,000.
Jeroen Jongejans, co-owner of Dive Tutukaka and deputy chair of the Tourism Industry Association, said the video's marketing benefits would be huge.
For thousands of overseas visitors Northland's beaches, forests and people would now be their first taste of New Zealand.
The video would encourage more people to come to Northland and stay longer. It promised a bumper season for Northland just as the region's tourism earnings had hit $1 billion for the first time, Mr Jongejans said.
Northland Inc boss David Wilson said it was a huge opportunity to promote the region.
"Northland is first cab off the rank, and justifiably so," he said.
The clip also features Olympic pole vaulter Eliza McCartney, IndyCar racer Scott Dixon, stuntwoman Zoe Bell, a bulldog named Blossom and a pod of dolphins which put in an appearance while the crew was filming in the Bay.
The premiere was at Cathay Cinemas with the reception and concert at Cafe Cinema. The video was made by Auckland film production company Exposure International and creative agency True.