Cruising on the Interislander - The Warratahs

Before agreeing to write a song promoting the Interislander ferry service between the North and South Islands, Warratahs frontman Barry Saunders worried about the stigma of doing commercials. The resulting jingle and lush television advertisment (see second clip) only boosted the band's popularity. Middle New Zealand loved the ad — so much so that a second Warratahs Interislander song/advert, 'Easy Come, Easy Go', aired in 1998 (see clip one). The ads mix shots of summer skies, and the sparkling waters of Marlborough Sounds, with passengers of all generations enjoying the ride. 

We'd been offered ads before but this one worked because we toured a lot, the ferry was part of our highway and it all tied together. And there was the Cook Strait with all its beauty and craziness, it was a part of us and we were a part of it.

– Barry Saunders on the first Interislander advert, in a Radio New Zealand interview, 10 September 2018

Key Cast & Crew

Chris White

Cinematographer

Jane Byrne

Producer

Dennis Hitchcock

Director (1998)

Richard Gibson

Director (1990)

Ian Paul

Cinematographer