New Zealand's national airline has come up with an imaginative way of encouraging passengers to pay attention to the pre-flight safety video — showing cabin crew in the nude.

The Air New Zealand video for domestic flights features staff covered in body paint mimicking their uniforms, their modesty concealed by careful camera angles and strategically placed seat belts and other equipment.

"We wanted to find a way to deliver these important pre-flight messages to our domestic travellers in a way that was genuine, engaging and fun," said Air New Zealand general manager for marketing, Steve Bayliss.

The safety video follows a domestic advertising campaign using the same eye-catching stunt. Even chief executive Rob Fyfe had a brief cameo role as a baggage handler.