Special Group, Naked win big at CAANZ Media Awards

A campaign delivered through a special mobile app using Google Street View, GPS activated TV screens on buses  as well as traditional billboards and TV ads took out the Best in Show award at this evening's CAANZ media awards. 

Unitec's recruitment campaign  “We make the people who make it” won the top prize and three other gold awards. Unitec celebrated its success with agencies Special Group and the now defunct Naked Communications. 

The win made for a slightly awkward moment as former Naked Communications managing partner Matt O'Sullivan - who now operates his own agency Open - delivered a brief acceptance speech - saying he now had to shut the book on Naked.

Unitec executive director, marketing and communications Jeanette Paine thanked the judges for acknowledging the University sector.

"Thanks to Special Group who have been with us for five years now- since the beginning. Naked is now Open for business and those guys are amazing. They just get us."

Mitre 10 took out advertiser of the year for its “Easy as” campaign encouraging more Kiwis to get into DIY.

Mitre 10’s agency DraftFCB Media took out four other awards for this campaign, contributing to its  total of nine. The agency which took out the top prize last year was a hot contenter for the Best in Show award for its a already highly awarded "Driving Dogs' campaign for SPCA and MINI. 

Mitre 10 marketing co-ordinator Sophie Rose thanked agency DraftFCB - "coming from an agency background you guys are amazing."

"The way we stand out against our competitors is by being brave," Ms Rose tells NBR ONLINE.

The NBR Best dressed award was won by OMD's Genevieve Lawerence and Spark PHD's Matthew Vogts. The pair each took home $1000 cash.

Other big winners included TVNZ who went home with the Media Brand of the Year award for "Creating Conversations that Move People".

Convener of Judges Lew Bentley said TVNZ impressed the judges with their strategic focus on meeting the needs of agencies and advertisers, and applying this across all facets of their business. 

Spark PHD chief executive Louise Bond won the Inspiring Individual Award (in memory of Sandy Smith).  Mediaworks director of sales and marketing Liz Frazer, who presented the award said Ms Bond was humble, generous with her time and always put others before herself.

MC Jaquie Brown undertook the hard task of entertaining a enthusatic crowd with clever one liners as well as some party poppers. The show changed format this year, with the usual dinner break omitted.

Ms Brown ensured the sold out crowd their tables would be well served -and they were. In true ad land style, the atomosphere more like what one would expect at a rock concert than the swanky three course dinner it was.

For full agency results table see tomorrow's NBR print edition. CAANZ has a full list of winners on its website here.

vyoung@nbr.co.nz

Follow @VictoriaY_NBR