DDB Group Aotearoa Awarded New Zealand Agency of the Year at Spikes Asia

DDB Group Aotearoa has been named New Zealand agency of the year at Spikes Asia, taking home the Integrated Grand Prix, three Gold Spikes, five Silver Spikes and five Bronzes Spikes.  

Speaking on the Group’s performance, Gary Steele, chief creative officer at DDB Aotearoa says, “To be awarded the agency of the year title recognises the incredible work of many. We're so proud to have been awarded in so many categories this year and across a spread of our wonderful clients. Tourism New Zealand, McDonald’s, Rail Safety and Lion are brilliant brands and partners to work with. A huge congratulations to the other agencies in Aotearoa, it's such a pleasure to see so much Kiwi work being celebrated across APAC.' 

The IF YOU SEEK campaign has also won the coveted Grand Prix award for Tourism New Zealand, DDB Group Aotearoa and RUN.  

“The Grand Prix award for Tourism New Zealand’s IF YOU SEEK campaign recognises a compelling piece of work that we’re really proud to have been involved with. We’re so excited to be enticing others to seek out more of our land through gifting the world a little piece of Aotearoa in the campaign,” Gary Steele said.  

Brodie Reid, director, marketing at Tourism New Zealand said, “IF YOU SEEK is Tourism New Zealand’s first global campaign since 2019 and a chance for us to welcome our visitors again as Aotearoa New Zealand reopened to the world. It is fantastic to see it recognised at the Spikes. Working in partnership with DDB Aotearoa and RUN Aotearoa,  we had hoped to develop a campaign that was not only compelling and beautiful, but really worked across all our channels to entice high quality visitors back, and this win is showcasing that in action. Being able to show our manuhiri (visitors) a taste of what New Zealand can offer to ultimately help support the re-start of the tourism sector  is a huge privilege.” 

“Visitors are returning to New Zealand and the sector is on its long recovery journey, and IF YOU SEEK is helping drive some of our highest ever Brand Preference scores to date, with this Grand Prix being a wonderful testament to its effectiveness,” she adds. 

The Group shares the Grand Prix with RUN; Raymond Otene McKay, RUN Aotearoa co-founder and CCO commented, “It is humbling as an Indigenous creative agency to work on a campaign with such a strong te ao Māori lens. A huge mihi to Tourism New Zealand for entrusting us with the responsibility of merging creativity and culture in this work alongside DDB. I am proud as a Māori leader in this space to be acknowledged alongside my RUN team at this level.” 

Overall, the DDB Group took home three Gold Spikes at this year's awards. One Integrated Spike with RUN for Tourism New Zealand’s ‘IF YOU SEEK’ campaign, one for KiwiRail’s ‘The Rail Ritual’ in Social Behaviour and a third for Steinlager 'We Believe' in Print & Publishing.  

Five Silvers were also awarded to the agency. Tourism New Zealand’s ‘IF YOU SEEK’ campaign was recognised with two Silver Spikes for Brand Experience & Activation and Digital Craft while 'We Speak Late Night' for McDonald’s achieved three Silver Spikes for Outdoor and five Bronze Spikes all for copywriting in Industry Craft.