Pupils from Portobello School, and what appeared to be most of the residents of the Otago Peninsula township, packed the local hall last night to see a video that lasted not much more than two minutes.
But the short Air New Zealand advertisement promoting New Zealand was the only show in town.
The video, which has been released on social media, was filmed recently at the Pyramids, near Victory Beach.
It attracted more than 100 people to the premiere in the Coronation Hall.
Portobello School principal Winnie Cornelissen said the school had been approached by a production company, keen to film in the area, and involve the pupils.
Representatives from the company had visited the area, dropped in to the school, looked in on children in class, and said ''Wow, you are so lucky'', she said.
''The stars, though, were the children of our school.''
The video is an extension of a campaign launched earlier this year called ''Meanwhile, in New Zealand'', targeted at Australians.
It features Santa towing the children on his tractor, and shows them watching as one of the basalt volcanic columns called the Pyramids is decorated and lit up as a Christmas tree.
An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said members of the company's cabin crew and ground staff were also involved.
The video was designed to ''add a little bit of Christmas cheer'', but also to attract people to fly to New Zealand.
As well as being shown in Australia, it would be used in other parts of the world.
