Video: Air New Zealand Showcases Cultural Identity With New Amenity Kits
The airline is partnering with Aotea to showcase New Zealand's heritage on its amenity kits, featuring traditional Māori skincare and native ingredients, supporting local businesses and cultural identity
Air New Zealand has partnered with Aotea to give passengers insight into the country’s heritage with new onboard amenity kits.
The partnership showcases evidence of the airline supporting local businesses and highlights the rich culture of New Zealand.
“Our partnership with Aotea provides customers with amenities that tell a story inspired by New Zealand’s unique culture. Air New Zealand is proud to support local, Mãori owned businesses and put traditional ingredients that have been used by Mãori for centuries into the hands of our customers,” explains Leanne Geraghy, Air New Zealand Chief Customer and Sales Officer.
The kits will feature skincare inspired by traditional Mãori herbal practices and highlight native ingredients like Kawakawa, Harakeke, and Mãnuka. In the past, Mãori medical practitioners would use whatever they found in the bush to treat medical issues, and these products play an ode to that by highlighting what the local ingredients can do.
Photo: Aotea founder, Tama Toki.Courtesy of Air New Zealand.
Aotea founder Tama Toki says the partnership is an exciting opportunity to share Maori traditions with the world. “My grandmother was a Rongoa Maori (Maori medicine) practitioner. She would treat us kids with what we found in the bush and the Aotea range is an expression of that upbringing. It is unique to Aotearoa and something that we bring to life on our ancestral kāinga on Aotea.”
“As Maori, we are proud to share our traditions. It’s a privilege to be able to see this part of our culture onboard Air New Zealand flights. We hope that it gives those traveling to Aotearoa an insight into our cultural identity.”
Each kit will be available to passengers in the Business Premier and Premium Economy Cabins. They will include the Harakeke Seed Oil and Mãnuka Water Hand & Body Cream, a dry skin cream with anti-inflammatory properties, and the Kawakawa Balm, a healing balm exclusive to business class that treats all skin ailments. The new amenity kits are now available on Air Zealand flights.
Further Cabin Additions
A few months ago, the New Zealand-based carrier also introduced a new luxury sleeping experience for economy passengers. Arriving in September 2024, the new SkyNest product will include six sleep pods in a bunk bed configuration on non-stop flights connecting Auckland, the airline’s hub, to two of its longest routes, New York (JFK) and Chicago, onboard select Boeing 787-9s.
Most recently, the airline revealed more details about the future onboard launch, including the announcement of amenities such as USB charging ports, a reading light, a blanket, a pillow, and full-size sheets.
Photo: Courtesy of Air New Zealand
However, the carrier also shared that pods will be based on availability and be limited to a four-hour session per flight per passenger. Currently, the airline has a SkyCouch product that allows Economy passengers to transform a row of three seats into a makeshift bed.
The new launch is expected to offer passengers significantly more space and revolutionizes long-haul travel for economy passengers. Previously, lie-flat seats onboard long-haul aircraft have typically been reserved for First and Business Class passengers.
