A Māori and Pasifika-led TVC encouraging Kiwis to shop small has just gone to air for New Zealand’s first Small Business Day, a competition-based campaign led by Indigo Innovators in partnership with Xero.

Indigo and Xero together came up with the idea to give small businesses one day to themselves after a year of hard knocks. 

Small Business Day is taking place on April 9 as a nationwide competition, rewarding shoppers and businesses that get involved with a range of cash prizes. 

$200k will be given away, including $100k in instant prizes and five $10,000 small business shopping sprees for lucky shoppers. 

The Small Business Day TVC production is unique in that it has been developed by a mostly Māori and Polynesian production team and cast.

The campaign idea came up in an Instagram DM between Pat MacFie, Co-founder and Global Director of Design & Innovation at Indigo, and Xero Managing Director Craig Hudson. 

MacFie says: “The fact that we’ve orchestrated all these incredibly talented Māori and Pasifika people with the specific intent of showcasing their talent in a business context once again demonstrates how we are purposefully changing perceptions of the role of Māori and Pasifika in the world of business.

“It’s an incredibly proud moment for me in the brief history of our business.”https://www.youtube.com/embed/8agHUqkwP4c?feature=oembed

The TVC is directed by Franz Liuaana, the script is written by Kate Brook, and Richard Parsonson is Director of Photography. 

Talent includes familiar faces such as professional sportsman Monty Betham, Mai radio host Tegan Yorwarth, former rugby league player Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck, and comedians Tofiga Fepulea’i and Joey Daymond. 

To enter, participants need to tag @smallbusinessdaynz and use the hashtag #choosesmallnz on social. A profile picture lock up also gets Kiwis an extra entry.