2025 Finalists
Congratulations to the finalists of the 2025 IAB NZ Digital Advertising Awards.
A note to all finalists - please double check your finalist listing wording is accurate as this is what will be used on all Awards trophies should you win. Tickets to the Awards Show are available via this link
Sales and Ad-Operations Awards
Digital Sales Excellence (Individual)
Below Deck, Above Expectations: Aperol’s FAST Breakthrough
Dan Roberts
Sky
Building NZ's pDOOH Future Through Innovation
Max Charnin
MediaWorks
Dipping Into Digital Sales Excellence
Ebony Kitching
VDX.tv
From Limitation to Leadership – Josh Turney
Josh Turney
oOh!media
Kevin "Rev Kev" Van Wyk – THE GOat!
Kevin Van Wyk
Go Media
Personality, Programmatic, Performance
Melissa Evans
Stuff Group
Redefining Partnership to Unleash Independent Agency Revenue
Marina Vlasic
Stuff Group
Trust + Innovation = Revenue: Matt's Winning Formula for Digital Sales Excellence
Matt Smith
Stuff Group
Digital Sales Excellence (Team)
Digital OOH GOats
Go Media
Digital Sales Excellence: From Strategy to Revenue
Stuff Group
Leaves to Legacy – Trade Me's Data-Driven Revolution
Trade Me – Ad Sales Team
NZME Growth Partners
NZME
Sky: Awakening the Sleeping Giant
Sky
Digital Ad Operations Excellence (Individual)
Delivering End-to-End Operational Excellence
Orla O'Neill
MediaWorks
Jack Edwards – Man of the People
Jack Edwards
NZME
Jyoti Dahiya – Campaign Manager, Sky Digital Team
Jyoti Dahiya
Sky
Operational Architect
Caleb Williams
Stuff Group
Redefining Digital Leadership at Stuff
Hayden Tan
Stuff Group
Shining Star in Digital Ad Operations – Sian Emery of LUMO
Sian Emery
LUMO
Signals, Screens, and Success – How Kieran Buchan Sets the Standard for Ad Operations Excellence in DOOH
Kieran Buchan
oOh!media
Digital Ad Operations Excellence (Team)
Digital Ad Operations GOats!!!!
Go Media
Progress: The Fastest Route to Perfection
NZME
Trade Me Advertising Operations Team – Unlocking Potential
Trade Me
Channel Excellence Awards
Best Use of CTV
Ford Ranger: Thank You, New Zealand
Mindshare, Ford Ranger
Kargo
PAK'nSAVE at 40: Still Stealing the Show
TVNZ, PAK'nSAVE
PHD Media
Best Use of Digital Audio
The Export Ultra "Cold Call Back Service"
Special New Zealand, DB Breweries
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Wild Secrets & Sex.Life Podcast – A Pleasure-Positive Partnership
Wild Secrets
NZME
Best Use of Display
Changing Behaviour and Stopping Freshwater Pests, One Click at a Time
Ministry for Primary Industries | Biosecurity New Zealand
Hemisphere
Dreamers to Doers: Instilling Confidence in Aspiring Entrepreneurs Through Data
Trade Me, ANZ Bank
PHD Media
Fletcher Living – Blis Location Targeting Campaign
Blis
Fletcher Living
Redefining Display as a Performance Powerhouse
Noisy Beast, Xero
NZME
"Yeah Right" The Reboot
Saatchi & Saatchi, DB Breweries
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Best Use of DOOH
Auto Trader: Tell New Zealand About Your Car
Auto Trader
Lassoo Media & PR
Awkboards
Green Cross Health
FCB Aotearoa
Colours of New Zealand
Pitchblack Partners, LUMO, Latch, Dulux
MBM
Following the Need – A Smarter Way to Recruit
Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama Aotearoa
Vistar Media, Stanley St
Housefires – Making Kiwi Homes Fire-Ready, One Suburb at a Time
Motion Sickness, Perion, Latch, Fire and Emergency NZ
MBM
Pitch to Pavement
TVNZ
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Real-Time Reo
Whānau Ora
Motion Sickness
When You Back Your Community, They Back You Right Back
FreshChoice
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
"Yeah Right" The Reboot
Saatchi & Saatchi, DB Breweries
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Best Use of SEM
Beating the OTAs
RealNZ
Together
Driving Trips, Not Clicks, Over Christmas
Foodstuffs
PHD Media
Finding Your Way to (B)NZ
BNZ
Hearts & Science
From Volume to Value
Instant Finance
FCB Media
Growth Without Limits: AI & Automation for Airpoints Store
Air New Zealand
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Power Pairing for Profitable Growth: AI-Driven Search at Scale
Bay Audiology
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Turning Clicks Into Contracts
Proline Industries
Aro Digital
Winback Mode
Google, Sky
OMD
Winning the Mortgage Refix Moment: ANZ Search-Led Innovation
ANZ Bank
Xero: SEMplified
Google, Monks
Xero
Best Use of Social
A Bank Campaign Worth Sharing – ANZ's Matariki Celebration
ANZ Bank
PHD Media
Are You OK?
Ministry of Social Development
OMD
Auckland Transport: Schooling Parents on Safety
Auckland Transport
Thompson Spencer
Fiji Genius: Turning Trivia Into Travel
Tourism Fiji, FCB Aotearoa, Marigold, The Hood & Co, Air New Zealand
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Last One Dancing: Berocca Fuels a 24-Hour Cultural Phenomenon
TikTok, EssenceMediacom, Drum, Bayer New Zealand Ltd
MediaWorks
Social Stream
TVNZ Blacksand, Fuse
TVNZ
Spark Accelerate 2024
Bastion Shine, Compton Digital Creative
Spark NZ
Sustaining Shortland Street With New Blood on TikTok
TVNZ
The Export Ultra "Cold Call Back Service"
Special New Zealand, DB Breweries
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
When You Back Your Community, They Back You Right Back
FreshChoice
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Best Use of Video
Fiji Genius: Turning Trivia Into Travel
Tourism Fiji, FCB Aotearoa, Marigold, The Hood & Co, Air New Zealand
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Full Stream Ahead for Te Matatini
TVNZ
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Lexus Amazing Replays
Sky, Lexus
Spark Foundry
Make New Zealand "The Best Place in the World to Have Herpes"
New Zealand Herpes Foundation
Motion Sickness
On the Ladder
Special New Zealand, Kiwibank
OMD
Simplify the Drama – With Married at First Sight Australia and State Insurance
PHD Media, Drum, State Insurance
Sky
The Perfect Pint
MBM, Tip Top
TVNZ
What a Time to Be Into Whatever You're Into
Colenso BBDO, Spark NZ
PHD Media
Campaign Effectiveness Awards
Best Brand Campaign
Animates: The Pawprint Petition
Pixel World, Animates
Hearts & Science, Insiders
Awkboards
Green Cross Health
FCB Aotearoa
Challenging the Pecking Order
Motion Sickness, Inghams Group Limited
Together
Colours of New Zealand
Pitchblack Partners, LUMO, Latch, Dulux
MBM
Fletcher Living – "Pick a Patch"
Plato NZ
Fletcher Living
Lexus Amazing Replays
Sky, Lexus
Spark Foundry
More Than a Hoop
Colenso BBDO, BNZ
Hearts & Science
The Export Ultra "Cold Call Back Service"
Special New Zealand, DB Breweries
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
When You Back Your Community, They Back You Right Back
FreshChoice
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Best Charity Campaign
Heart Foundation Lottery No. 156
The National Heart Foundation of New Zealand
MintHC
Make New Zealand "The Best Place in the World to Have Herpes"
New Zealand Herpes Foundation
Motion Sickness
Best Integrated Digital Exclusive Campaign
Beating the Black Box
BestStart
Together
Catch the Craving
Wendy's
Together
Entain Live Odds Integration – Contextual Betting Meets Editorial Relevance
Entain
NZME
Finding Your Way to (B)NZ
BNZ
Hearts & Science
Following the Need: A Smarter Way to Recruit
Vistar Media, Department of Corrections Ara Poutama
Stanley St
Not Cute, Not Wanted – The Wallaby Problem
Ministry for Primary Industries | Biosecurity New Zealand
Hemisphere
Best Multi-Channel Integration Campaign
Animates: The Pawprint Petition
Pixel World, Animates
Hearts & Science, Insiders
Dreamers to Doers: How ANZ Drove Growth by Championing Aspiring Entrepreneurs
TBWA\New Zealand, ANZ Bank
PHD Media
Fletcher Living – "Pick a Patch"
Plato NZ
Fletcher Living
Lexus Amazing Replays
Sky, Lexus
Spark Foundry
Love Creep
Clemenger UnLtd, Verian, Assembly, Ministry of Social Development
OMD
Making New Zealand "The Best Place in the World to Have Herpes"
New Zealand Herpes Foundation
Motion Sickness
On the Ladder
Special New Zealand, Sky, Kiwibank
OMD
The Export Ultra "Cold Call Back Service"
Special New Zealand, DB Breweries
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
What a Time to Be Into Whatever You're Into
Colenso BBDO, Spark NZ
PHD Media
"Yeah Right" The Reboot
Saatchi & Saatchi, DB Breweries
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Best Retail/eCommerce Campaign
Animates: The Pawprint Petition
Animates
Hearts & Science, Insiders
Catch the Craving
Wendy's
Together
Growth Without Limits: AI & Automation for Airpoints Store
Air New Zealand
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Speights Summit Ultra – Made Ultra-Unmissable by Retail Media
Cartology, Lion NZ
PHD Media
Teaseburger
Breakout Room, Saatchi & Saatchi, Z Energy
MBM
The Export Ultra "Cold Call Back Service"
Special New Zealand, DB Breweries
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
When You Back Your Community, They Back You Right Back
FreshChoice
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Data and Effectiveness Awards
Best Use of Data: Campaign Measurement and Optimisation
Beating the Black Box
BestStart
Together
Click Scene Investigation | CSI: New Zealand
University of Auckland – Online
Acquire
Driving Trips, Not Clicks, Over Christmas
Foodstuffs
PHD Media
Entain Live Odds Integration – Contextual Betting Meets Editorial Relevance
Entain
NZME
Finding Your Way to (B)NZ
BNZ
Hearts & Science
Micro-Seasonality, Macro Results
Foodstuffs
PHD Media
Xero: SEMplified
Google, Monks
Xero
Best Use of Data: Campaign Targeting
Beating the Black Box
BestStart
Together
Catch the Craving
Wendy's
Together
Dreamers to Doers: Instilling Confidence in Aspiring Entrepreneurs Through Data
Trade Me, ANZ Bank
PHD Media
Finding Your Way to (B)NZ
BNZ
Hearts & Science
Following the Need: A Smarter Way to Recruit
Vistar Media, Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama Aotearoa
Stanley St
Switch Engine
Motion Sickness, Inghams Group Limited
Together
The Garden That Grew the ROAS
Mitre 10
FCB Media
Waiting for Wednesday
Foodstuffs
PHD Media
Xero: SEMplified
Google, Monks
Xero
Best Use of Generative AI
Animates: The Pawprint Petition
Pixel World, Animates
Hearts & Science, Insiders
Dark Side Data Rescue
New Zealand Mint, Agoro
MBM
Innovation Era: From Breaking News to Published Article in Seconds – A Generative AI Success Story
Innovation Era
FugazAI
Romano's – Everyday Masterpiece
Romano's
MintHC
Skinny 4 Life
Colenso BBDO, Spark Digital, Spark NZ
PHD Media
Best Use of Programmatic
Blis Location Targeting Campaign
Blis, Fletcher Living
Fletcher Living
Click Scene Investigation | CSI: New Zealand
University of Auckland – Online
Acquire
Following the Need: A Smarter Way to Recruit
Vistar Media, Department of Corrections – Ara Poutama Aotearoa
Stanley St
Housefires: Making Kiwi Homes Fire-Ready, One Suburb at a Time
Motion Sickness, Perion, Latch, Fire and Emergency NZ
MBM
The Circular Economy – Programmatic
Phoenix Recycling Group
Pure SEO, Martian Bunker
Best Use of SEO
The Migration Blueprint: G.J. Gardner Homes' SEO Rebuild
G.J. Gardner Homes
Calibre + Candor
Best Use of Technology
Animates: The Pawprint Petition
Pixel World, Animates
Hearts & Science, Insiders
Colours of New Zealand
Pitchblack Partners, LUMO, Latch, Dulux
MBM
Dark Side Data Rescue
New Zealand Mint, Agoro
MBM
Driving Trips, Not Clicks, Over Christmas
Foodstuffs
PHD Media
Fletcher Living – Blis Location Targeting Campaign
Blis, Fletcher Living
Fletcher Living
From Forecasts to Pawcasts: Protecting Pets With Data and Innovation
Hearts & Science, Animates
MetService
Growth Without Limits: AI & Automation for Airpoints Store
Air New Zealand
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Micro-Seasonality, Macro Results
Foodstuffs
PHD Media
Waiting for Wednesday
Foodstuffs
PHD Media
"Yeah Right" The Reboot
Saatchi & Saatchi, DB Breweries
Dentsu Media Aotearoa
Grand Awards
Digital Product or Service of the Year
INFINITUM – One Giant Leap for CTV Measurement
Mime Analytics
Plug Media: NZ’s First Free Device Charging Network – "Redefining Media Through True Value Exchange"
Plug Media
Social Stream on TVNZ+
TVNZ
Council Member of the Year
Driving Retail Digital Growth
John Waltmann
Shaping Retail Media for Aotearoa, From Buzzword to Business Driver
Tina Trenkner-Meade
Emerging Talent
Ella's Glass Slipper Strategy: Finding the Perfect Media Fit
Ella Johnston
Hemisphere
Maddy 'Media Maven' Solomon
Maddison Solomon
MBM
Our North Star
Ester Monti
NZME
Putting the '+' in TVNZ
Henry Briggs
TVNZ
The Day We Realised Edie Was a Unicorn
Edie Porter
MetService
Service to the Industry
A Trailblazer in Digital Advertising and Industry Leadership
Kate Grigg
I Love My Job!
Zane Furtado
Media Publisher of the Year
Brave, Bold, and Best: Stuff's Digital Success Story
Stuff Group
Old School to New: Rewriting the Industry Rule Book
Market Media
rova: The Evolution of Digital Publishing in Aotearoa
MediaWorks
Setting the Pace for Digital
NZME
TVNZ Leading the Digital+ Future to 2030
TVNZ
Media Agency of the Year
Creating Positive Progress
Together
Drive Digital Growth and Influence in New Zealand’s Recovering Market
Hearts & Science
PHD Aotearoa: Intelligence Connected
PHD Media
The MBM Centre of Excellence: Intention, Innovation, Impact
MBM
Creative Agency of the Year
Change Is in Our DNA
FCB Aotearoa
Full Funnel, Full Noise
Thompson Spencer
How TVNZ Blacksand Transformed Aotearoa's Digital Creative Landscape
TVNZ Blacksand