Trade Me Property’s ‘People’s Choicest’ campaign wraps with Pāpāmoa hosting The Pāpāmoa Backyard Bash via Because

Beachside suburb Pāpāmoa has celebrated being crowned the ‘Choicest Suburb’ winner of Trade Me Property’s inaugural ‘People’s Choicest’ Awards – the culmination of a campaign which was conceptualised and executed by brand activation agency Because NZ.

The popular Bay of Plenty location was named Aotearoa’s ‘Choicest Suburb’ earning 136,000 public votes. To mark the honour, Trade Me Property in partnership with Because staged The Pāpāmoa Backyard Bash – a vibrant community celebration in Pāpāmoa featuring a free sausage sizzle, burgers, ice cream, donuts, kids’ entertainment, local musicians, and classic games like tug-o-war and egg-and-spoon races.

The party was hosted by The Edge’s Harrison Keefe, who also broadcast The Edge Drive show live from the event.  In January, Harrison, alongside fellow influencer, Nepia Takuira-Mita, embarked on a nationwide tour, visiting finalist locations and creating engaging digital content that encouraged public participation and social sharing.

Working closely with Trade Me Property, Because transformed the People’s Choicest from concept to execution, creating a rich and engaging experience, culminating in the production of The Pāpāmoa Backyard Bash. Because also led the content creation, talent management and logistics.

Corinna Homer, business director NZ at Because, said: “The Trade Me Property’s People’s Choicest was an incredible opportunity to celebrate the everyday magic of Kiwi life. From engaging digital content to the grand suburb event, it had so many layers of fun and excitement. Seeing the community come together in Pāpāmoa to celebrate their win was the perfect way to wrap up such a dynamic activation.”

Shelley Smith, head of marketing at Trade Me Property, added: “The Trade Me Property’s People’s Choicest began from a conversation about how Kiwi live in Aotearoa and what makes us so special. Since then the campaign has flourished into an overwhelming success. Because’s expertise and event execution made it truly shine. Their ability to bring our vision to life, capture Kiwi attention, and create a seamless experience from start to finish was invaluable.”

The inaugural Trade Me Property’s People’s Choicest Awards began last November and Kiwi were invited to nominate their favourite spots in seven categories including Choicest Suburb, Playground, Bush, Public Loo, Landmark, Dairy, and Local Legend. See the full list of winners.

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