One New Zealand has released the latest chapter in its ongoing “Finding Jade” campaign, developed by McCann New Zealand, continuing the brand’s multi-year storytelling platform centred on human connection and discovery.
Now in its third year, the “Finding Jade” narrative follows Jade’s return to New Zealand, where his two families meet for the first time.
In this instalment, Jade and his closest friend Pepper embark on a nationwide journey across Aotearoa to locate his biological father, travelling from East Auckland’s suburban streets to the summit of Mount Earnslaw, while encountering a series of new characters and unexpected moments along the way.
This chapter is the first in the series to be filmed entirely in New Zealand, with the production leaning heavily into local landscapes, communities and cultural touchpoints. The campaign also features a cameo from a 1990s Shortland Street actor and includes a notable appearance from a remote Department of Conservation toilet, reflecting One New Zealand’s partnership with the Department of Conservation.
The story continues to build on One New Zealand’s “Let’s Get Connected” brand platform, positioning digital connectivity as a catalyst for personal discovery, identity and belonging.
One New Zealand Brand Lead Kamran Kazalbash said the campaign reflects core human needs. “The ‘Finding Jade’ odyssey captures the importance of connection, belonging and identity, and shows how technology can enable those needs. This chapter has allowed us to explore the uniqueness of New Zealand’s towns and landscapes in a way that resonates with Kiwis everywhere.”
Alan Jones, Creative Director at McCann NZ, said the scale of the project continues to grow. “Finding Jade is the biggest campaign we’ve taken on, and it keeps expanding. Three years in, we’ve built a world with its own lore, in-jokes and cameos. The challenge now is to keep surprising audiences and give them something worth rewatching.”
The campaign will roll out across broadcast, digital video, social media, out-of-home and display channels from today.
CREDITS
Client: ONE NZ
Agency: McCann New Zealand (Formerly FCB Aotearoa)
Chief Creative Officer: Leisa Wall
Creative Director: Hywel James
Creative Director: Angelo An
Creative Director: Alan Jones
Production Company: 3&7
Director: Steve Ayson
Producer: Tiffin
Casting: AKD Casting
DOP: Marty Williams
Offline editor: Simon Price
Visual FX: Blockhead VFX
Colourist: Matic Prusnik
Sound design & Music: Cam Ballantyne / Beatworms
