Today, Vodafone started its search for New Zealand’s ‘Best Best Mate’, who, as it turns out, will need to strand themselves on a barge in Auckland Harbour in an act of self-sacrifice so their friends can live it up in Fiji.
For the competition, Vodafone Mates is offering four Kiwi friends the chance to enjoy an all-expenses paid tropical island holiday in Fiji at Beachcomber Island for up to six nights, according to a release.
The catch being, that one of the mates will have to earn the trip for them, by staying behind in New Zealand and marooning themselves on the barge.
They’ll be sleeping in a tent, and the longer they stay on the barge – the longer their mates can stay on Beachcomber Island. The Best Best Mate will also be asked to undertake a series of challenges, like taking a skinny dip, just so their three friends can enjoy extra experiences in Fiji, like a fishing trip, or a snorkelling adventure.
In return for all of this, they’ll earn the title of New Zealand’s Best Best Mate.
“This is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for an amazing group of kiwi mates,” Vodafone’s head of segment marketing Delina Shields says. “Vodafone Mates is all about celebrating what’s great about kiwi friendship, and we’re going to have a lot of fun bringing that to life through this search.”
People have until 19 August to enter by tuning in to The Edge daily and listening out for the cue to call.
During The Edge Breakfast Show with Jay-Jay, Dom and Randell on Monday 22 August, a name will be drawn out of a hat to identify the mate who will be marooned on the barge and transported by boat into Auckland Harbour. Meanwhile, their three mates will be flown to Fiji.
Throughout the week, the maroonee will feature in shows across The Edge. Listeners will also be able to join in, winning cash for themselves, or choosing to give up the money to do something in support of the maroonee, in order to make their stay on the barge more comfortable, the release says.
“The person we’re looking for is going to be someone fairly extraordinary – someone who’s willing to put themselves on the line, and take one for the team,” Shields says. “That’s what great Kiwi mateship is all about.”
The hunt for New Zealand’s ‘Best Best Mate’ has been launched off the back of a wider campaign from Vodafone, with creative from FCB, to tap into the youth market, pushing its new customisable mobile packages and other deals.
See our story on the wider campaign here.
