The Pressies 2021

AUCKLAND, Today: Mango, Special, Drum, The Social Club, Ogilvy, Copper Brand Experiences were the Gold winners at last night’s virtual PR annual show – the PREScom Awards (The Pressies). Special took out the Grand Prix (for Meddle).

At 7pm, PR, Experiential & Social Media professionals recognised and celebrated the best campaigns from the past 12 months, albeit from their phones and laptops. 

The virtual show, which was streamed on the Commercial Communication Council’s social channels, was hosted by ZM Late Show host Cam Mansell, giving out 11 Silvers, 13 Gold awards, along with a Highly Commended and the all-important Grand Prix.

The show kicked off with a Silver Pressie for Scope Media, Feast Creative, and Queenstown Lakes District Council, which was followed up with the first of six Gold Pressies for Special Group across their two clients Motor Neurone Disease NZ and Every Vote Counts.

Next up it was Fuse in Best Sponsorship or Media Partnership with the first of three Silvers, this time for their work with The Warehouse.

“The Comms Council handed out 11 Silvers and 13 Golds, along with a Highly Commended and the Grand Prix.”

A further two Silvers and a Gold in Best Sponsorship or Media Partnership went to Drum for their work with Skinny, Pernod Ricard, & KFC.

Drum is celebrating a hat-trick in the Best Sponsorship or Media Partnership category, having been responsible for a quarter of the submissions and successfully taking home metal for every campaign entered.

Drum’s winning campaigns were KFC Six & Shout cricket sponsorship which received Gold, and Skinny’s Famous Friends sponsorship of Jono & Ben and Mumm’s AC36 Sponsorship which both received Silver.

Ogilvy, Copper Brand Experiences and Natural Pet Food Group also grabbed a Gold in Best Sponsorship or Media Partnership as well as a Silver in Best Integrated Campaign.

The Best Influencer Marketing Campaign saw a Gold for The Social Club and Kimberly-Clark for their campaign Period Power, and a Silver for Eleven PR and Asahi. Eleven PR also took home another Silver in Best Event or Experiential Campaign.

“The 2021 Pressies were presented with support from sponsors Facebook, NZME, and wine partner for the awards Villa Maria.”

A standout for the evening was Mango Communications with two Silvers and four Golds for Nestlé, Accor Hotels, McDonald’s and Samsung. They were also awarded a Highly Commended for their campaign Ordered From Here with McDonald’s.

The Judges said: “McDonald’s deserved to be showcased as an outstanding example of breaking outside of what is expected from a large global brand. The judges loved the truly authentic connection back to the land and farmers, from where it all starts.”

The final award for the evening, the coveted Grand Prix, is given to the campaign that achieved the best results and is the best example of an exceptional PR, experiential, and social campaign from the past year – which the judges unanimously agreed should be awarded to Special & Every Kiwi Vote Counts for their Campaign Meddle in the New Zealand Election.

Unsurprisingly, Every Kiwi Vote Counts also picked up the Bravest Client award for leading this campaign.

PREScom chair Sean Brown said: “It was great to see such a strong turnout this year from a range of agencies and clients. The creativity, smarts and effectiveness shows just how powerful and exciting this industry is, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do in 2022.”

A Pressie spokesperson said: “The 2021 PREScom Awards were proudly presented by the Commercial Communications Council along with generous sponsors Facebook & NZME. A huge thank you also goes to our wine partner for the awards Villa Maria.”

• View the full list of winners and finalist here