Pete and Andy Walker managed to entertain a big chunk of the nation with their cheeky quips and farm boy antics on the last season of The Block NZ. And they’re making hay while the sponsorship sun still shines by hitching themselves to Hirepool’s wagon.
“Pete and Andy are good Kiwi blokes and, with their easy-going attitude and keen senses of humour, make an ideal fit for New Zealand’s leading equipment hire company,” says Mark Powell, Hirepool’s executive director sales and marketing.
The ad, which comes in 15 and 30 second versions, was made by Auckland-based Brand Assist and directed by Hugh Walsh, with Lassoo Media & PR handling media placement. It will be on air for the next three months.
As part of the campaign, those who hire anything from Hirepool before 30 April 2014 go into the draw to win one of 12 utes for a year, with a tray full of gear to keep.
Brand Assist’s Wayne Gillies says the pair were great to work with.
“Considering it’s their first ad [apart from appearing in spots to spruik the wares of The Block NZ sponsors Wild Bean and Bunnings], they were a dream – very professional and so quick to learn the script. And, no, they didn’t demand wokachockachinos while on set.”
The brothers, who have been putting the new Mazda they took home after winning the People’s Choice Award to good use on the farm, enjoyed making the ad, even though it meant they had to wear make-up.
“Pete loves it,” jokes Andy. “He won’t sign the contract unless there is make-up.”
“Except lip gloss. That’s the line,” retorts Pete.
And they’re obviously not just pretty faces, because the brothers have a business suggestion for Hirepool, too.
“I’ve always loved flying,” says Pete, “but the helicopter dream is sort of on the backburner at the moment. It’s still something I would really like to do but it just costs so much money … unless Hirepool gets some helicopters on board.”
The New Zealand Rental Group, which owns Hirepool, purchased Hirequip in May last year and merged the two entities, with Hirequip’s emphasis on heavy equipment and Hirepool’s focus on specialist and SME markets providing “a complementary customer offering and broad operational capabilities”.
