Westpac NZ unveils campaign via Spark Foundry to raise funds for New Zealand Rescue Choppers

Following a year of record-breaking mission numbers in 2022 and the recent extreme storm events across the country, Spark Foundry New Zealand is collaborating again with Westpac NZ on the 2023 Chopper Appeal Month.

Public fundraising ensures rescue helicopters are available to Kiwi communities during times of crises. Crew members undertake rescue missions, medical, food and rescue supply drops, transferring personnel and communications equipment into isolated locations, helping to save lives and offer an ongoing lifeline to those in need. Westpac administers Chopper Appeal and fundraises on behalf of all New Zealand’s rescue helicopter trusts, with a nationwide target of $1m.

The media campaign led by Spark Foundry launched on the 1st of May, supported by an integrated broadcast partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery kicking off on Chopper Street Appeal Day on the 4th of May.

Following the success of last year’s partnership, Warner Bros. Discovery is putting AM, The Project and new addition, 7 Days to the challenge of who can raise the most money for Chopper Appeal, encouraging its viewers to donate across a series of three episodes.

In an increasingly challenging environment to drive people to donate, Spark Foundry is removing the barriers to give, implementing unique QR codes across broadcast and digital elements of the campaign. Viewers can simply scan the QR code and contribute a bespoke amount to the Rescue Choppers, to combat donation fatigue.

Launching Chopper Appeal Month, Westpac NZ CEO, Catherine McGrath says: “We love working with the Choppers to make Aotearoa a safer, greater place – whether it’s during large-scale emergencies or helping people who get into trouble in their day-to-day lives. Recent events have highlighted that a Chopper is always there for you, no matter where you are or what you’re doing, and our fundraising during the month of May really helps to keep them flying. We know there are communities struggling to make ends meet at the moment, so please give only what you can. Every dollar will go directly to your local Chopper and help towards keeping them in the air.”

Says Liam Dunne, business director, Spark Foundry: “Westpac’s partnership with the rescue helicopters goes back 40 years and has become a New Zealand institution, so it’s always an honour to do our bit to drive donations for such a worthy cause. Last year we saw some fantastic results working alongside the team at Warner Bros. Discovery to produce a broad reaching partnership that really delivered on our donation goal. It’s great to be able to build on this and come back bigger and better in 2023.”

Chopper Appeal Month is the second sponsorship delivered for Westpac NZ through Publicis Groupe’s Connected Platform, with Spark Foundry working in partnership with creative agency Saatchi & Saatchi and Customer Experience experts, Digitas.

Chopper Appeal Month runs throughout May. People wishing to donate or to find out more information can visit www.chopperappeal.co.nz.