Categories

This category recognises uses of media that have succeeded in meeting the objectives of government or publicly funded bodies.

Typically, these include campaigns from government departments, local bodies, tertiary education institutions or for a community service.

The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had an identifiable and direct contribution in achieving set campaign objectives.

This category recognises uses of media in the area of retail/etail. This includes fashion, clothing, accessories, and fast food and also incorporates online retail.

The judges are looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had an identifiable and direct contribution in achieving set retail objectives and that success is not the result of other factors including pricing or sale activity.

This category recognises media campaigns across the entire spectrum of FMCG. This can include food, grocery, household products, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, toiletries, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and pets.

The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in achieving set campaign objectives.

This category recognises media campaigns that achieve success for products that are not purchased regularly or those that have high involvement in decision making. This could include motor vehicles, white goods, brown goods, household furniture and electronic goods.

The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in achieving set campaign objectives.

This category recognises media campaigns that achieve success for companies whose main focus is providing a financial service to a consumer.

The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in helping achieve set campaign objectives.

This category recognises media campaigns that achieve success for companies whose main focus is providing a utility or telecommunication service to a consumer. This could include power, internet and phone services.

The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in helping achieve set campaign objectives.

This category recognises media campaigns that achieve success for companies whose main focus is providing a service to a consumer. This could include airlines, tourism and entertainment (TV, music, movies, or gaming).

The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in helping achieve set campaign objectives.

Please note: Charity entries cannot be entered in other categories.
 
This category is seeking to identify campaigns that make the greatest contribution to support charities, appeals, fundraising or various not-for-profit community programmes. The award may recognise innovation in media thinking but this is not mandatory.

The judges will be looking for proof that the media strategy and execution has had a direct contribution in helping achieve set campaign objectives. This category is strictly for not-for-profit organisations only including registered and unregistered charities.

This category is open to any campaign with a total combined campaign cost to client of less than $100,000. All entries must prove they are a stand-alone campaign as opposed to a single execution within a larger campaign.

The judges will be looking for entries that put the perceived budget constraints behind them to develop brilliant strategic thinking and outstanding activation to deliver results that punched way above the campaign’s weight.

This category rewards campaigns that demonstrate a sound understanding of the role of content in delivering outstanding business outcomes for clients.

Entries must clearly articulate why strategic use of content was the key to the campaign’s success, and how it was delivered in clever, creative, or surprising ways to be most effective in addressing the client’s marketing challenge/s.

Entrants should demonstrate a thorough understanding of the channels used, whether social media networks, blogs, television, editorial, radio, podcasts, apps or other digital platforms.

Judges will be looking for activity that connected a community or audience to a brand through content, and that delivered outstanding business results beyond views and engagement.

This category celebrates the role of technology in driving client success. Specifically, where technology has enhanced the development, implementation or outcome of a media campaign or activity.

The technology could be applied across all elements of the campaign, or to a particular component but there will need to be evidence of it being either: using existing technology/platforms in an innovative or distinctive way OR a proprietary or first to NZ market technology.

Judges will be looking to understand what was innovative about the technology and how it was applied to the media challenge, why it was a good fit for the brand or business problem, how it impacted or connected with the target audience to deliver outstanding campaign results.

This category seeks to recognise media approaches where data was the fundamental driver or significant influencer of strategy and campaign results. 

Your entry must clearly articulate a specific data insight or novel approach to data usage and demonstrate how it directly influenced or fundamentally changed the media approach (e.g. targeting, channel mix, or personalisation). Success must be demonstrated through results where the impact is attributable solely to the data-led insight or use of data itself, separate from any technology used for activation. Additionally, entries must show that this innovative use of data was an agency-led initiative. 

The entry does not need to be confined to a single campaign (it may cover an always-on strategy or a subset), but its overall award-worthiness must be clearly contextualised for the judges. 

If your data source is proprietary research leading to an insight you may want to consider entering the Insight category instead.

This category recognises invention or innovation within a channel or property that was driven by consumer, data or brand insight and creative thinking.

Judges are looking for ideas that drive tangible benefit to the consumer or to the client’s communications objectives.

This category recognises how the use of insight, analytics or market intelligence has resulted in media campaign and business success.

Judges will look for entries that demonstrate how an agency has uncovered an insight, how this insight has shaped the media strategy development and execution and the business success that this has delivered.
 
Sources of insight could vary from proprietary research to social listening through to quantitative or qualitative studies. The insight section of the entry will account for 40% of the judge’s score.
 
If your insight is derived from a clever data strategy you may want to enter the Data category instead.

This category celebrates strategic excellence. Judges are looking for a cohesive communications strategy with a central idea at its heart. It should show a carefully researched and well thought-out action plan designed to meet a clearly defined challenge.

This should include novel ways in which media channels have been used, each with a clear link to the strategic idea.
 
The winning entry will also have clearly articulated the insights used to inspire the communications strategy. The strategy section of the entry will account for 40% of the judges’ score.

This category recognises meeting a challenge and succeeding.

Judges are looking for evidence that the communication drove a positive outcome or exceeded objectives. This could include generating positive business results (e.g., market share, sales value, profit), shifting brand health measures (e.g. consideration, preference, perceptions), or changing people’s behaviour (e.g. buying patterns or social habits).

It will focus on effectiveness of a campaign above all other considerations – the results section of the entry will account for 40% of the judge’s score.

All entries must include figures showing the campaign’s direct impact on stated objectives (indexes will suffice).

This category is open to media owner/partner, clients, and agencies, and is designed to celebrate work that is only made possible by the close collaboration of two or more partner(s). This category can be entered by either the media owner/partner, client, or agency.

The judges will be looking to understand multiple layers as to why this collaboration was not just good, but great.

• How was strong collaboration, or indeed a new way of collaborating, critical in delivering a better overall result?
• How did the parties involved break through the norm? How did each party play a distinct individual role that made the whole greater than the sum of its parts?
• How complex was this collaboration? What hurdles did you face along the way?

Ultimately the judges need to understand how this collaboration delivered results for the client beyond what could have been achieved with a single partner.

Entries can be proactive sales proposals or responses to briefs, as long as the partners have worked together to execute and enhance.

This category applies to any campaigns, brand or non-profit, whose success was dependent on effectively and authentically connecting with specific cultural, ethnic, or under-served groups or communities (example: Māori, LGBTQIA+, disabled people, Pacific Peoples, etc.).

If the entry had multiple audiences, it is necessary to demonstrate results for the specific audience detailed in the entry.

Judges will be interested in not only the direct results of the work, but also the broader impacts of the work including the process of developing the work (e.g. journey you took to ensure authentic and meaningful connection with the community), and the indirect impact of the work (e.g. how the work either challenged or reinforced existing narratives about the community to a broader audience).

Judges may not be familiar with your particular audience, so this is your opportunity to showcase the details that they may miss.

This category celebrates work with objectives designed to have a positive impact on society, people and the planet. Diversity and inclusivity initiatives or campaigns targeting broad audiences on issues such as inequality, sustainability, poverty, prejudice, or disabilities.

The entry will need to demonstrate that efforts have measurably shifted audience behaviour towards better choices and/or changed beliefs or perceptions by integrating relevant socially aware messaging into their marketing communications.

Entries could be either for commercial enterprises, brands, governments and not-for-profit organisations or philanthropic trusts.

This category is likely to be targeting a broad audience to effect change for a specific issue or community. If your work is specifically focused on communicating with under-served communities, it is more suitable for category 18. 

This category recognises both the success and the difficulty in maintaining a consistent approach to media communications across three years or more.

Judges will be looking for evidence of clear strategic thinking that has significantly contributed to the success of campaigns that have been consistently in market across the years that the campaign has run. Looking for a clear demonstration of how the campaign has remained consistent, but the entry can also include additional thinking and execution that has kept the approach relevant and up-to-date from year to year. The effectiveness and results achieved should accurately reflect the objectives and media strategy. The judges want to see clarity of thinking, identification and application of insights and innovation.

It’s important to remember that a campaign founded on a sound, solid and evolving strategy can be as effective as one containing significant innovation.

This category recognises excellence within the crucial media owners’ sales function. Open to both individual or team entries.
 
The Judges (Comms Council Media Committee) will be looking for evidence of a clear strategic roadmap that allowed for the delivery of outstanding business performance against well-defined KPIs.

Examples of innovative campaign case studies and a solution-based approach to selling are more likely to resonate with the judges.

This category recognises the year's outstanding Media Business. The judges (Comms Council Media Committee) will be looking for the business that has set a clear vision and strategy and then implemented that strategy with success.

In this case, success will be assessed from a range of perspectives including financial, industry engagement and reputation, audience growth and/or engagement.

The Comms Council Media Committee reserves the right to not award in this category if no entry meets the judging standard.

The award will be given to the Comms Council Agency whose business has made the greatest overall improvements to their business over the past year.

It is open to Comms Council member media agencies of any size. This award is selected by the panel of international judges.

Recognising individuals who have achieved incredible things in the past 18 months and who are making a serious mark on the New Zealand media industry.

We are looking for individuals on the rise who are already being acknowledged for their contribution today, not only on their clients’ business but on the agency that they work within. 

Nominees must have less than five years’ agency experience at the time of the entry deadline. 

A shortlist of entrants will be interviewed by a panel of industry leaders. 

Please note that this category don't require an entry form. The written components are submitted directly into the portal.

Recognising individuals who have achieved incredible things in the past 18 months and who are making a serious mark on the New Zealand media industry.

We are looking for individuals on the rise who are already being acknowledged for their contribution today, building strong industry relationships and making a tangible difference to their organisation. 

Nominees must have less than five years’ media business experience at the time of the entry deadline. 

A shortlist of entrants will be interviewed by a panel of industry leaders. 

Please note that this category don't require an entry form. The written components are submitted directly into the portal.

In honour of Sandy Smith

Recognising those who uplift and inspire the industry through their dedication and spirit.

Every industry has those exceptional individuals—the ones who uplift, inspire, and drive meaningful change. The Inspiring Individual Award recognises those who go above and beyond in media, whether through mentorship, leadership, innovation, or dedication to the industry.

Know someone who deserves recognition? Nominate them today and help us celebrate their impact.

This category is free to enter.

Please note, nominations will be extended to recognise unsung heroes across both media agencies and media owner organisations in 2025.

This category don't require an entry form. The written components are submitted directly into the portal.