MEDIA RELEASE

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016

Oompher web series hits over one million views

Careers New Zealand’s Oompher TV channel has hit a major viewing milestone, gaining over one million views with its first web series.

The inspirational eight-part series was launched on Facebook and YouTube in early September with the powerful international Kiwi success story behind Soldiers Rd Portraits.
 
“The Soldiers Road webisode went viral overnight, before going on to reach a total of over 109,000 views,” says Careers New Zealand Chief Executive Keith Marshall.

“We are overwhelmed with what the Oompher web series has created. This is a prime example of our commitment to providing relevant and easily accessible tools and resources to help young people navigate their learning and work choices,” Keith says.

Oompher aims to inspire, motivate and propel young people to find their own extraordinary pathway. 

“Part of the web series’ appeal is that it celebrates Kiwi stories that show you don’t have to follow traditional pathways to achieve personal or professional success. And that hard work, resilience and persistence are important life skills to help you along your journey,” says Careers New Zealand Channel and Digital Resources General Manager Jane Ratcliffe. 

“The deep social media engagement with web series supports the findings of Careers New Zealand’s Project Kāmehameha research, which showed that rangatahi want visually interesting stories that are youthful, celebrate Māori success and are authentic and relevant to them,” Jane says.

Along with the overnight success of the Soldiers Rd story, intrepid Māori photographer Te Rawhitiroa Bosch’s story of travelling to iconic global sites on a year-long journey with his Tino Rangatiratanga flag seemed to hit an emotional note with viewers young and old, with over 218,000 views, 2,200 shares, and 1,200 comments.

“As I’ve travelled the world I've taken our Tino Rangatiratanga flag with me… to Rapa Nui, Machu Picchu, the Sahara Desert... this is the flag that I see represents us,” Te Rawhitiroa Bosch says.

To find out what inspired Te Rawhitiroa’s journey and view all eight webisodes in Oompher Web Series One, please visit:
Oompher Facebook Web Series One video playlist
Oompher YouTube Web Series One video playlist
Careers New Zealand is a crown entity helping New Zealanders to make informed learning and work choices.

ENDS

Notes for the editor

Project Kāmehameha Careers New Zealand’s commissioned research programme - careers.govt.nz/project-

Oompher Web Series One full webisode list:
Sisters-in-law duo behind Soldiers Rd Portraits, Taaniko and Vienna Nordstrom
Entertainer and fakaleiti (transgender) icon, Amanaki Prescott-Faletau
Basketball star, Brook Ruscoe
Female building apprentice by day and rock-star drummer by night, Charlie Camp
Selfless young caregiver and star of viral YouTube video “dancing with nan”, Jarryd Stoneman 
Actress, and performer and producer of physical and aerial theatre, Eve Gordon
Comedian, actor, filmmaker and YouTube star, Jimi Jackson
Intrepid Māori photographer, Te Rawhitiroa Bosch

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