Almost every state and country has the same problem convincing their closest neighbors to vacation next door.

It’s no different Down Under. In fact, only one in five Australians said they would like to visit New Zealand. So what’s a New Zealand airline to do?

How about an online reality show that documents the journey of Air New Zealand’s attempt to convert four tough Australian Kiwi skeptics into advocates?

“The Kiwi Sceptics” (Australian spelling) campaign does exactly that. The webisodes follow Rebecca the Bali Girl, Patrick the Hipster, Jodi the Europhile, and Martin the True Blue Aussie. They’re all promised trips to places such as Bali, Berlin and Las Vegas, only to discover that New Zealand is their final destination as they’re paired up with matching Kiwi guides.

Rebecca Boyd Bais is big city girl from Sydney. A self-confessed princess from the swanky North Shore area, she thinks New Zealand is boring, backwards and just for old people. Aroha, her Kiwi guide, is a DJ and knows all the right hook-ups across New Zealand. If anyone can win over Princess Rebecca, she’s the girl.

Patrick Stevenson is Mr. Cool. Part-time DJ, full-time social photographer, Patrick thinks New Zealand is just full of hobbits and sheep. Isaac Hindin Miller, his guide, is a Kiwi hipster, a fashion blogger, and a lover of Wellington. It’s Aussie hipster vs. Kiwi hipster. Guess who’ll prevail?

Jodi Gryzb is a sophisticated lady, artist, and lover of European culture. Unfortunately, New Zealand is not on her radar. Dr. Lyndon Fraser, her guide, is a rock ‘n roll academic and the Rod Stewart of New Zealand history.  He is the perfect man to turn this Europhile into a Kiwiphile.

Martin Lewis is a man’s man. He’s a boxer, surfer, and former Aussie football player. He’s true blue Australian and believes if it’s not Australian, it’s not worth visiting. Matua Parkinson, his guide, is a pig hunter, fisherman, and former pro rugby player. If anyone can man up to the challenge of changing Martin’s mind, it is this man. Let the games begin.

All the videos can be seen online on the Air New Zealand YouTube Channel and AirNZ Facebook. In addition, kiwisceptics.com gives you even more content about the various personalities as well as flight information and special New Zealand travel promotions.

As you might expect, the 360-degree, integrated campaign is supported with online and print advertising, editorial, advertorial, cinema and the typical social media suspects as mentioned earlier.

Cheers to Air New Zealand and their Australian agency Host for creating a digital and social media-age solution to an old problem. Well done, mates.