Westpac has unveiled the Westpac Giving Tree in Takutai Square, Britomart – a launch that DDB says is the first Christmas tree installation to be powered by public donations.
The unique display is already dazzling Aucklanders, and will run until Sunday 21 December. It combines motion, sound and light whenever a contactless payment card is used to make a donation, with proceeds helping the For Everyone Foundation fund community-based projects throughout New Zealand in 2015.
An eight-metre high tree festooned with lights is surrounded by six four-metre high trees. Each time someone makes a donation, the trees start to move, change colour and create sounds – making the donor a hero in the square.
The soundscape, co-composed by The Phoenix Foundation’s Conrad Wedde, changes throughout the day on a 24-hour loop, allowing for a fully immersed walk-through experience.
The concept was created by DDB and designed by Rawstorne studio, and took 500 hours to construct, using 400m of cabling. The large 900kg tree and six 300kg trees have each been fixed with six-faceted mirror panels, flown in from Switzerland. The mirrored panels will reflect 150 coloured lights across the square.
“We are excited to see a little bit of magic brought to life this Christmas,” says Westpac corporate affairs director Sue Foley. “More than just a tree, this is an enchanting, heart-warming experience that the whole family can enjoy and we are thrilled to be a part of it. It truly is a kaleidoscopic experience that brings the spirit of Christmas to life in a wonderful way.”
DDB ECD Shane Bradnick said:,“We’ve helped Westpac bring Christmas to life this year with a spectacular, interactive display that uses new technology to lighten up the community and inspire Kiwis to help others.
“Best of all, my most important critics, my kids, love it so I get extra dad points!”
Richie McCaw, Westpac Ambassador and co-founder of the For Everyone Charitable Foundation, was the first to make a donation last Friday when the installation was revealed, presenting the Foundation’s 100th grant to Assistance Dogs New Zealand Trust.
People can experience the Westpac Giving Tree, free, and for those who can’t make it in person, donations can be made via www.westpacgivingtree.co.nz where a 24-hour webcam inside one of the revolving trees takes donors for a spin.
The For Everyone Charitable Foundation was founded by Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Ali Williams. Westpac is the charitable foundation’s major grants partner and together they’ve helped over 100 community groups get things done in their neighbourhood since 2009.
The Giving Tree experience can be shared on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using #GivingTreeNZ.
- Watch the timelapse video below
CREDITS
Client: Westpac NZ
Marketing Manager: Amber Willet
Head of Brand & Marketing: Oliver Lynch
Director Corporate Affairs: Sue Foley
Agency: DDB
Chief Creative Officer: Damon Stapleton
Executive Creative Director: Shane Bradnick
Digital Creative Director: Haydn Kerr
Copywriter: Matt Webster
Art Director: Ben Barnes
Producer: Julz Lane
Digital Operations Manager: Liz Knox
Lead Designer: Jason Vertongen
Lead Developer: Cameron Crosby
Designer: Sam Schrey, David Woon, Jim Pachal
Front end Developer: Braden Wikohika, Mike McMillan
Back end Developer: Steve Hoeksema
Digital Producer: Sheetal Pradhan
Studio: Amanda Summersby, Gordon Moir, Matt van der Loos
Executive Producer: Judy Thompson
Maker Producer: Kate Moses
DOPs: Gavin Stroud, Scott Lee, Brendon Dixon
Editor: Guy Tichborne
Sound Design: David Liversidge at Radiate Sound
Planning Director: Rupert Price
Digital Planner: Parker Mason
Group Business Director: Rachel Turner
Account Director: Paula Brown
Senior Account Manager: Deepika Gounder
Account Executive: Kate Coopersmith
Network support: Hunt Moorhouse
Media planning: John Farrell at Starcom
Mango Communications
Managing Director: Claudia Macdonald
Group Account Director: Sean Brown
Account Director Events: Katie Charlton
Account Manager: Emily King
Account Manager Events: Ashleigh McKop
Rawstorne Studio
Design Director: Robin Rawstorne
Creative producer: Sarah Johnson
Designer: Lloyd Thomas
Interactive developer/ composer: Puck Murphy
Composer: Conrad Webb
Mechanical & Electrical engineers: James & Chris at Customised Project Solutions
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