I bet you've had that moment when you were chilling on the couch, watching TV, and a hilarious ad came on that was so funny, it got talked about with your mates for weeks afterward.
Some of these iconic ads have helped shape NZ’s advertising landscape, with unforgettable catchphrases, and moments that sparked national conversations.
Recently, a Reddit user mentioned that since the 2011 ‘Ghost Chips’ ad, NZ advertising doesn’t feel the same anymore. I remember being a kid relentlessly quoting “Spacehead!” every day, so that's a fair shout!
"Advertising agencies seem to be attempting to hit the next big meme, rather than advertise,” they said.
The comment section was mixed, with some agreeing, while others links to iconic ads or shared counterarguments.
This reminded of heaps of my favourite ads that I'd forgotten about, so cheers, team.
“They change the way they deliver those messages once research shows that the market is becoming desensitised to the way they convey the core message,” one user commented.
Another added, “I think the golden age of quality ads is over,” but didn’t credit it to the iconic-ness of Ghost Chips: “It was not that long that the whole nation was one of three channels and those channels had limited ad slots every hour.
Quantity was so limited that quality thrived.
With ads delivering me heaps of laughs and lines that I still reference for a bit of humour today, there's no denying the quality over the last few decades.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of New Zealand’s most iconic advertising moments:
Ghost Chips | 2011 | NZTA
Sooooo many iconic lines: “You know I can’t grab your ghost chips”, “Spoon, spacehead!” and “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”
A timeless classic.
Women Falls Through Table | 2006 | ACC
A slightly gruesome way to grab your audience’s attention, leaving viewers both very entertained, and very traumatised.
Mate, you're dreaming | 2008 | Mitre 10
This sparked the classic Kiwis vs Aussies debacle, and gave everyone the green light to rag on our Aus neighbours.
Togs or Undies | 2006 | Trumpet
“Togs, togs, togs, togs, undies!”
World Famous in New Zealand | 1993 | L&P
Talk about asserting your dominance. So iconic that L&P still gets referred to as “world famous in New Zealand.”
Spot the Dog | 1991 | Telecom NZ
Spot, Telecom’s mascot, became a Kiwi icon for almost 10 years. RIP little fella.
Bugger | 1999 | Toyota
This one was slightly controversial when it first came out, but revolutionised the word ‘bugger’ across Aotearoa.
Exam | 1999 | Lotto Instant Kiwi
The rebellious student showed an iconic act of defiance, winning over the hearts of viewers at home. We all knew we’d never be cool enough to do what he did, so we can watch on in awe.
There are heaps of ads that Kiwis reckon are iconic. And yeah, advertising’s changed, but at least we'll always have these bold, unforgettable moments that has us cracking and quoting them decades later.
