Tourism New Zealand and Taika Waititi team up for new promotional film

Taika Waititi hatches a foolproof plan to promote Aotearoa New Zealand.

Celebrated New Zealand actor and director Taika Waititi has teamed up with Tourism New Zealand to deliver a new promotional film – despite a packed schedule filming the HBO Max series Our Flag Means Death Season 2 in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

With Taika busy on set – for which Aotearoa, New Zealand is the official shoot location – Taika and Tourism New Zealand enlisted real-life stunt double Jade Daniels to help present New Zealand to the world.

Directed by Jackie van Beek, the playful short film ‘No Place Like It On Earth’ showcases the thrilling sights and experiences travellers can find in Aotearoa with a line-up of mesmerising landscapes.

From whitewater rafting in Rotorua and a scenic flight over Mount Tarawera to dolphin watching in Kaikōura and wine tasting in Auckland, Waititi and Daniels’ jaw-dropping travels leave both convinced that there’s no place like New Zealand.

Whitewater rafting in Rotorua

“There’s nothing like the New Zealand landscape, especially the coastline. The west coast up here in the North Island is very unique. You know, just that sand. I have a house out in Piha, and it’s one of my favourite places. That very dark sand out there is very brooding and moody, and it’s got a sort of heavy drama to it,” said Waititi.

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

Scenes filmed or depicted in iconic locations around New Zealand for Our Flag Means Death Season 2 include Bethell’s Beach, Piha Beach, and the Bay of Islands, each offering awe-inspiring natural beauty fit for a swashbuckling romantic comedy.

Working with Taika Waititi was a welcome opportunity to promote tourism – an important contributor to New Zealand as one of its top export earners supporting sector and country recovery.

“Taika Waititi is one of New Zealand’s most well-known international talents, and with a bit of Kiwi ingenuity, we came up with a creative solution to work within his busy schedule. The result sees Taika and Jade discovering some of the most incredible experiences that Taika’s home country, Aotearoa New Zealand, has to offer,” says René de Monchy, Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive.

Our Flag Means Death Season 2 is not the only series filmed in New Zealand. The country has been the visually gorgeous backdrop for many productions such as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, allowing travellers to immerse themselves in natural landscapes admired on the big screen.

You can spot recognisable New Zealand locations on HBO Max and partners in Our Flag Means Death Season 2 from 5 October 2023.

To watch the 100% Pure New Zealand production ‘No Place Like It On Earth’ and discover more filming locations in New Zealand, visit newzealand.com