Award-winning airline Air New Zealand is launching its first ever global brand campaign in the UK today.

Featuring acclaimed New Zealand actor Sam Neill, the campaign will showcase to travellers why the airline is a better way to fly to New Zealand.

Neill, familiar to British audiences from hit films Jurassic Park and most recently, roles in The Tudors and Peaky Blinders, takes centre stage as the voice of CGI character Pete – a kiwi bird who wants to see the world but is hindered by his inability to fly.

That is until Air New Zealand steps in.

Pete takes viewers on a journey, seeing the flying experience on-board Air New Zealand through the eyes of a kiwi bird.

Speaking about his debut as the voice of Pete the Kiwi, Neill explained: “Air New Zealand were kind enough to ask me, and in all humility, I thought I was the best person for the job.

“I am very proud to be a New Zealander and I guess that’s what being a Kiwi is.”

The marketing approach will be predominantly digitally-led across earned and owned media channels, with UK based digital agency Agenda 21 executing the paid media strategy on online platforms to support the microsite.

The multi-channel campaign saw Air New Zealand collaborate with Auckland-based creative agency True, whose scope also covers the airline’s famed Safety Videos.

Air New Zealand general manager of global brand and content marketing Jodi Williams said: “The aim of the first burst of this campaign is to capture the attention of British travellers interested in visiting New Zealand leaving our audience with a strong brand connection and a better understanding of our award-winning product, famous on-board hospitality and the many routes we offer down to beautiful New Zealand.”