“No Place Like It On Earth,” from agency Augusto, shows off a range of the country’s locations and experiences, including whitewater rafting in Rotorua, a scenic flight over Mount Tarawera, dolphin watching in Kaikōra and wine tasting in Auckland.

‘New Zealand needs you‘

The 3 1/2-minute film also features Waititi’s enthusiastic narration and pre-planned flubs in the production, like unusable shots of stand-in Jade Daniels’ face. “This was a horrible idea,” van Beek says in the video. She eventually lures Waititi into the commercial with the plea: “I need you—New Zealand needs you.”

When he does appear in the ad, Waititi gives van Beek unsolicited tips on how to direct.

“There’s nothing I enjoy more than pretending to be myself bickering with Taika over what makes a good director,” van Beek said in a statement.

In the cleverly contrived scenario and elsewhere, Waititi continues as a tireless supporter of the home country where he filmed Our Flag Means Death and other projects. 

“I always tell people you can go surfing in the morning and then drive a couple of hours and be skiing in the evening,” Waititi said in a statement. “I don’t think there’s anywhere else on earth where you can do that—it has everything.”

“No Place Like It On Earth” will get distribution on HBO’s Max streaming platform and social channels in the U.S., Australia, Germany, the U.K. and parts of Asia.

CREDITS:  

Client – Tourism New Zealand 
Agency – Augusto 
Writer and Director – Jackie van Beek 
Stills – Graeme Murray 
Post Production – Augusto 
Sound – Bespoke Post