Special, Tribal, Colenso, OMD, DDB excel at APAC Effies

SINGAPORE, Monday: NZ agencies scored prolifically at last night’s Asia-Pacific Effie Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel – with Special, Tribal (DDB Group), Colenso BBDO, OMD, DDB, Track+Tribal and Run (both DDB Group) taking home a bundle of medals.

Special had a standout evening, clinching three Golds – for Partners Life Last Performance, Wellington City Mission Silent Night, and Hell Pizza ToMEATo Sauce.

The agency also secured five Silvers and a Bronze.

Special Auckland swept both Agency of the Year and Independent Agency of the Year, making it the agency’s second time achieving this double win. Special previously took out Agency of the Year in a joint win in 2021.

DDB also excelled, with two Golds for Samsung iTest (which compared iPhones and Androids) and a Bronze for Tourism New Zealand If You Seek.

“It’s pretty impressive to achieve that goal in Special Wellington’s very first year of business.”

Colenso won Silver and Bronze for Skinny Phone It In and Silver for Mars Give up on Humans.

Taking Bronze in the Travel/Tourism category was If You Seek, an international campaign developed by Tourism NZ, Run Aotearoa, Mindshare, Stanley St Media, Sweet Shop NZ and DDB Group Aotearoa.

Special ceo Tony Bradbourne said: “It is great also to win Golds for clients in both Special’s Auckland and Wellington offices. It’s pretty impressive to achieve that goal in Special Wellington’s very first year of business.”

Track+Tribal MD James Blair said: “What started as a cheeky New Zealand switching campaign has turned into something much, much bigger. Ultimately, iTest has been a real commercial triumph for Samsung.”

Australia led with 16 Effies, followed closely by New Zealand with 15 Effies and India with eight.

In total, 71 Effie winners were awarded – 1 Grand Effie, 18 Golds, 28 Silvers and 24 Bronzes.

• View all medallists here