100% Pure New Zealand Experience Awards 2021

The Problem

Normally winners of the Annual Qualmark awards would be announced at their special event – but with COVID-19 running rife around New Zealand, Qualmark decided it was best to get VIP Richie McCaw to deliver these direct to the winning companies at their own locations.

There were 12 winners who represented the highest quality tourism products in the market, offering world class experiences in sustainable or regenerative tourism, in alignment with the following industry values:

Manaakitanga – showing aroha to their people and community
Tiaki – their duty of care for people and place, a commitment to the enhancement of their operating environment
Whanau – maintaining connections, commitments and caring for their own people

The Journey

We were to shoot for 11 days in locations all around New Zealand with a medium-sized crew: Director, DOP, Second Camera Operator, Camera Assistant, Sound Recordist, Photographer, Production Manager, CAA 102 Drone Operator and Driver.

This project had its fair share of unexpected challenges, with an extended Auckland lockdown meaning two-thirds of the shoot had to be outsourced to trusted subcontractor crews around the country, and all operated safely during Level 2 and/or Red Light settings – and all within the same budget!

This meant, that each shoot was allocated a Production Manager on site who coordinated the shoot as it progressed and maintained contact with the Senior Producer at ‘Mission Control’ here in our Auckland office.

This project involved plenty of zoom calls, phone calls and emails to ensure all parties were on the same page, it also involved collaborating with Tourism New Zealand (Qualmark’s sister company) to arrange PR engagements with local and national media, who promoted the visits as they happened.

The Desired Outcome

The client wanted high-quality videos, but equally, an experience that allowed the talent and businesses to feel honoured in an authentic way, celebrating their inspiring mahi for and within their own communities.

The Result

Despite the challenges, the project was a total success. We delivered to the original budget. In the debrief with Qualmark, they had much to say, but we have left this to one line “We enjoyed Eyes and Ears fresh, authentic way of working, their commitment to delivering according to our expectations but mostly their adaptability which was really reassuring”.