Agencies across Aotearoa are celebrating the results of the Campaign Agency of the Year Awards, announced last night in Singapore.
The awards, presented on December 9, have been running for over three decades. It recognises industry excellence across media, marketing and PR in the Asia-Pacific region.
Thompson Spencer, Motion Sickness, Special and TBWA\New Zealand were among the Kiwi teams recognised at the ceremony.
Thompson Spencer brings home gold
Thompson Spencer received gold for Australia/New Zealand Social Media Agency of the Year, and bronze for Australia/New Zealand Influencer Marketing Agency of the Year.
The agency was also shortlisted for Australia/New Zealand Independent Agency of the Year.
The news follows Thompson Spencer winning Aotearoa New Zealand Agency of the Year at the B&T Awards in Sydney.
“This international recognition is huge, and I can’t imagine a higher high for 2025 to end on,” says Melanie Spencer, group CEO and co-founder of Thompson Spencer.
“Taking gold for Social Media Agency of the Year and a podium finish for Influencer Marketing Agency of the Year is a powerful endorsement of the way we work. How we evolve our full-funnel offering to build an agency for the future – looking ahead to what can be, rather than back at how things were.
“We’re now running campaigns in 75+ countries and growing our clients from Marlborough to the Middle East – proof that a fast, brave New Zealand independent can scale and succeed on a global stage,” says Spencer.
The win is especially meaningful for co-founder Wendy Thompson, who saw the transformative potential in social media and the power of online communities from the start, founding Socialites – one of NZ’s first social media agencies – 15 years ago.
Special wins
Special was named NZ/AUS Integrated Agency of the Year, and head of strategy Bethany Omeri was awarded the NZ/AUS Strategic/Brand Planner of the Year award.
Special PR was named PR Agency of the Year for the third year in a row – a testament to true passion and dedication, says managing director Kelly Grindle.
“And that wouldn’t happen without our brilliant team who turn up every day to ensure our work is ‘special’ and not just ‘okay’.”
Omeri’s selection as ‘Strategist of the Year’ follows several of her campaigns having won critical acclaim, including Sport New Zealand’s “Let’s Go Unpro” and Wellington City Mission’s “Greatest Deed”. Special was also named Most Effective Agency in New Zealand at the 2025 Effie Awards.
“While it’s humbling to be recognised as ‘Strategist of the Year’, that win couldn’t happen without the support of everyone at Special and our clients who have allowed us to deliver such great campaigns on their behalf,” says Omeri.
Tony Bradbourne, founder and CEO, says: “It’s been another amazing year for Special and our clients, and I’m so proud that every part of Special across the region was firing – we’ve not only won here, but Special Australia has been named Australian Agency of the Year a week after winning Agency of the Year at the B&T Awards, which just shows how they are head and shoulders above the rest.
“Our Australian office also won a slew of other awards including Ad Campaign of the Year, and Client of the Year both for the incredible Uber Eats team – it’s a pretty special year. A huge thank you to every member of the team, and every client.”
An incredible milestone for TBWA\ New Zealand
TBWA\ New Zealand was awarded Creative Agency of the Year – an incredible milestone, says CEO Catherine Harris.
“Not because of one campaign or one moment, but because of the consistency of growth, performance and creative ambition across every corner of the agency.
“The crew have built something really special in TBWA\NZ, and we have a lot of momentum. Sustainable growth, an exceptional client roster and work that keeps raising the bar and delivering category-leading business results – we’ve proven again and again that disruption works,” she adds.
“I’m unbelievably proud of this team. Their hunger, talent and relentless drive to solve the real problems our clients face through disruptive creativity is what sets TBWA\NZ apart. And there is so much more to do.”
The perfect cap to the year for Motion Sickness
Motion Sickness was awarded gold for AUS/NZ Boutique Agency of the Year and silver for both AUS/NZ Independent and NZ Creative Agency of Year.
The agency’s founder and executive creative director Sam Stuchbury received two golds for AUS/NZ Creative Leader of the Year and AUS/NZ Agency Head of the Year.
“This particular show is close to my heart,” says Alex McManus, partner & GM at Motion Sickness. “It puts a real spotlight on the powerful creativity that comes from our part of the world, and reinforces what we already know about New Zealand and Australia competing on the global stage. It’s also the only award entries I’m tasked with writing each year, so there’s that too.”
In the last 12 months, Motion Sickness has won six awards at Cannes, including two grand prix, five golds at the Aotearoa Effies and was named ONE Asia Agency of the Year and LIA Regional Independent of the Year for ANZ.
“We don’t take these accolades lightly – and of course there’s such a talented group of ambitious team members and incredible clients behind the work that deserve all the credit. It’s the perfect way to cap off what’s been an incredible year,” says McManus.
Four years of winning for Acquire
Independent programmatic agency Acquire secured gold for AUS/NZ Programmatic Agency of the Year for the fourth consecutive time.
“This recognition proves New Zealand’s innovation in programmatic media buying is truly world-class,” says Zane Furtado, managing partner & GM – Technology & Innovation.
“We’re proud to represent Aotearoa in this category and continue delivering forward-thinking solutions that outperform similar agencies.”
Acquire was recognised for its data and AI-led optimisation innovation, SPO and sustainability with its media buys and ditching the vanity metrics and focusing on business outcomes.
As an independent and Kiwi-owned business, the agency credits its success to its technology partners and the New Zealand brands and agencies who trust them with their media buys.
“Our mission is simple, smarter media buying that drives real results,” says Ashwin Sundaram – GM – data and performance. “Four years of winning tells us we’re on the right track and we’re just getting started.”
DDB’s extraordinary era
DDB Group Aotearoa has capped off what it is calling “an extraordinary era”, winning New Zealand Digital Innovation Agency of the Year for the 10th time (2015, 2016, 2018–2025).
The award recognises excellence in digital creativity, technology integration, and innovative problem-solving.
“We are thrilled to win our tenth title. We’ve been so fortunate to work with amazing clients and incredible talent over the years – this is shared with all of you,” says managing director James Blair.
Track+Tribal executive creative director Haydn Kerr adds, “Nobody is perfect. We missed out in 2017. But I’m hugely proud to add a tenth Agency of the Year title into the record books. And I’m even more proud of the many people who contributed to this phenomenal body of work. This feels like a fitting end to this chapter for us all.”
It also secured its first Silver in the AUS/NZ Data Analytics Agency of the Year category which highlights the agency’s growing capability in leveraging data to drive business outcomes.
“Securing silver in the Data Analytics Agency of the Year category for the first time celebrates our team’s belief that data isn’t just numbers—it’s the spark that drives creative excellence and meaningful connections,” says Track+Tribal head of strategy Matt Jarman.
