This year marked the 40th year of Māori Language Week, which celebrates New Zealand’s indigenous language. We look at the brands that got on board, as well as whether companies should be making more of an effort to be a part of it.
The recent storyline couldn’t be better for the Black Caps. A dream run at the World Cup including winning in the last few balls against South Africa, record beating scores and packed grounds to experience the big occasions. So how has the Black Caps brand fared through this process? Julian Smith has a look.
Sports sponsorships are pretty big business in New Zealand, with an IMR report from 2013 estimating the value of 257 different sponsorship deals at NZ$182 million. Not surprisingly, rugby is the biggest drawcard in this country, with “Adidas paying in the region of US$25 million per year and AIG, the shirt sponsor, US$12.4 million” for their All Blacks deals. Ford has been the team’s vehicle sponsor for many years, and it also backs cricket and hockey, so, to try and win a few more hearts and minds, it’s released a new ad thanking Kiwi parents and supporters—and showing that it’s ‘the driving force behind New Zealand sport’.
New Zealand’s history of sports sponsorship goes back a long way, and it has become common around this time of the year for the sponsorship shuffle to start as brands renew old deals, strike new ones or depart from teams entirely. And this year has been no exception, with Ford, Telecom, NIB, Adidas, Steinlager and a new Kiwi startup all getting in on the action.