One stomp. A whole country behind it.

The Challenge

NZOC asked us to create the launch campaign for their 2026 Winter Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

The brief was beautifully simple: give New Zealand goosebumps.

This wasn't about making another sports ad. It was about creating a feeling of pride and connection that could bring everyone together; athletes, whānau, sporting legends, first-time viewers and fans who have backed the fern for generations.

One campaign. One team. One country behind them.

“It was more than a campaign. It was a moment for us all.”

The Idea

We found our idea in takahi the powerful, unifying stomp within haka.

One simple action that could connect generations, sporting codes, communities and cultures, performed together by current athletes, sporting legends, everyday New Zealanders and kaihaka from Hoani Waititi Marae.

At its heart was Pōtangatanga, the haka written and gifted to the New Zealand Olympic Team by Tā Derek Lardelli a taonga and the heartbeat of the campaign. One simple action that could connect generations, sporting codes, communities and cultures, performed together by current athletes, sporting legends, everyday New Zealanders and kaihaka from Hoani Waititi Marae.

At its heart was Pōtangatanga, the haka written and gifted to the New Zealand Olympic Team by Tā Derek Lardelli a taonga and the heartbeat of the campaign.

What we did

We led the creative and production, bringing together a team of athletes, performers, filmmakers and cultural advisors to create the hero brand film and supporting campaign assets.

Cultural advisors were part of the process from day one helping shape the work rather than simply approving it.

We cast real athletes and built a visual language around raw performance, grounded textures and genuine emotion. Shot at Hoani Waititi Marae, we allowed the people, place and performance to lead.

No over-styling. No manufactured emotion. Just energy, pride and intent.

The Outcome

The campaign premiered at NZOC’s national partner event, One Year To Go, before rolling out across digital, television and outdoor.

More than launching two major sporting moments, the work created a powerful reminder of what sits behind every athlete wearing the fern their whānau, their community and a country standing with them.