Spark makes moments of magic happen every day in latest campaign via Colenso BBDO
In its latest campaign launching this week via Colenso BBDO and Proximity NZ, Spark is aiming the spotlight on the role technology has in connecting New Zealanders and enabling moments of magic in their lives everyday.
The campaign begins online and on TV with a sixty and two-minute brand film which shares a moment of magic between a father and daughter as they reconnect through music. This will be followed by a series of fifteen second films which hero more human moments of magic between people, and talk to specific digital service benefits Spark can provide. A comprehensive online and out of home strategy, and a series of retail thirties will further establish Spark’s digital service credentials.
Says Mick Stalker, creative group head at ColensoBBDO: “Arthur C. Clarke famously wrote, ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic’. We reckon it’s not the technology that should be credited as magic, but the human moments that it can create. And that’s only going to get more true as technology continues to advance. That’s what we wanted to bring to life.”
Adds Spark’s Clive Ormerod: “We’re in a privileged position to make a real difference to the lives of New Zealanders everyday through the power of technology. And our role will only get more useful, more meaningful, and more involved as we grow our digital offering. Our latest work is a genuine expression of the magic moments in customers’ and business owners’ lives where technology helps connect people, and makes our days just that little bit better.”
Agency: ColensoBBDO / Proximity NZ
Media: Dynamo
Production Company: Thick as Thieves
Client: Spark NZ
Clive Ormerod, Jodene Murphy, Kate Thomas, Briar Rowe

14 Comments
Big change, nice work fellas!
Nice work Zoe, lovely film making
This just doesn’t have the emotional punch. They’ve missed it. Maybe because you immediately don’t like the Dad after he yells at his kid (a really awkward moment in the ad and too close to home for a nation struggling with domestic violence as an issue), or maybe because you shouldn’t have kids hanging out in a pub while the parents drink? There’s no heightened emotion, no amazing lift at the end, and the music wasn’t worth paying that much for. I hope the other ads coming are better than this one…
Nicely done.
A 2 minute spot with the emotional pay off of a 30″ cut down. Can someone show me the last time Colenso nailed a good piece of film that’s not an award video? They’re great, just not at telly ads.
‘Pop’s Gift’ had to deal with the same hater shit…bland’s stupid comments clearly show he / she does not understand one of the most basic tenets of storytelling-set up and conflict-and….nah lets just go back to work eh?
Disappointing.
Storytelling…hur hur hur. Sucker. Emperor. Pants. Old school. Follower. Hater. Hipster.
As for this ad, I like it because it means a client is willing to spend $s on an idea like this.
But it’s not 1993 any more. And, unlike a Nike extravaganza, this isn’t anything special. It’s an ad that’s well made, but could have come out 20 – 30 years ago.
Sure, the strategy appears to target lower socio (because they’re the only ones watching free to air), but other than that why did this ad require two agencies?
Hope the wrap lunch was good. Was it in the Spark foyer?
Yes it could have come out years ago – when TV ads were better than today’s.
Look at Toyota, they’re doing a remake of a 20 year old idea after the dead animal fiasco. Lotto’s doing what if you won this Saturday? again…
If I won this Saturday I’d never write another ad in my life.
Shame they spelled “every day” wrong in the ads. Embarrassing in a small print ad, never mind a national campaign. Budget too tight for a proof reader, and the copywriter doesn’t understand basic rules of grammar?
All ads suck.
I also get annoyed at the mis-spelling of “every day” at the end of each commercial. I’ve commented on the YouTube spot and sent them a tweet but both were ignored.
Just love the ad. Father and Daughter, are they related?