Why Not Waihi?

A still from the student lead Why not Waihi video.

Coming out of lockdown late 2021 an opportunity was identified for OceanaGold to collaborate on a project with the Waihi community to attract nation wide media exposure to promote the area as a summer holidays must do.

Multiple regions and destinations were competing for coverage as international travel under COVID restrictions was still difficult and domestic destinations were for most the only viable option.

While locked down in Auckland Motuihe Group worked with OceanaGold and their literal neighbours - Waihi Central School (they’re across the road from each other), the Waihi iSite and a local camera operator to produce a 30 second tourism ad that highlighted the kids favourite spots in Waihi, encouraging Kiwi’s to stop by on their summer road trips.

Exactly one week after the kids were out filming, the video was played in it’s entirety on TVNZ’s Breakfast along with a live interview of the kids and Waihi tourism leader.

The video went on to receive nationwide radio coverage on RNZ, NewstalkZB and MediaWorks stations as well as widespread print and digital media. Stuff travel section wirter Alan Granville crowned it the cutest tourism campaign of the year and proof that “you don’t need a multimillion-dollar budget and a host of celebrity cameos.”