Tickets
End of Financial Year Sale 1 May-30 Jun
1 Ticket
$NZ 595 + GST each
5+ Tickets
$NZ 545 + GST each
10+ Tickets
$NZ 495 + GST each
Early Bird
(1 Sep-31 Oct 2026)
1 Ticket
$NZ 645 + GST each
5+ Tickets
$NZ 595 + GST each
10+ Tickets
$NZ 545 + GST each
Standard Advance
(1 Nov-31 Mar 2027)
1 Ticket
$NZ 745 + GST each
5+ Tickets
$NZ 695 + GST each
10+ Tickets
$NZ 645 + GST each
Entries Close 21 January
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Days
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Seconds
Entry Fees
(per entry)
CATEGORY
RISING STAR AWARD - IN HOUSE
RISING STAR AWARD - AGENCY
CHARITY / NGO CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
ALL OTHER CATEGORIES
EARLY BIRD $NZ (ex GST)
$95
$95
$145
$275
ENTRY FEE $NZ (ex GST)
$195
$195
$245
$395
Entry Fees
(per entry)
CATEGORY
RISING STAR AWARD - IN HOUSE
RISING STAR AWARD - AGENCY
CHARITY / NGO CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
ALL OTHER CATEGORIES
EARLY BIRD $NZ (ex GST)
$95
$95
$145
$275
ENTRY FEE $NZ (ex GST)
$195
$195
$245
$395
Finalists Announced for the Worthies Awards
The Worthies Awards Aotearoa New Zealand has today announced the finalists for its inaugural awards competition, celebrating outstanding work across the public sector, creative agencies, charities, and not‑for‑profit organisations.
The response to the first year of the programme exceeded expectations, with a large number of high‑quality entries submitted from across Aotearoa. The calibre, creativity, and impact of the work entered reflects the depth of talent and commitment within the country’s purpose‑driven sectors.
Winners, including the Creative Agency of the Year and Rising Star Award will be revealed at The Worthies Conference & Awards, taking place in the Grand Hall, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, on Thursday 5 March. The event will bring together leaders, practitioners, and partners from across the sector for a day of inspiration, connection, and celebration.
BEST PUBLIC SECTOR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
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4AM
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Curative
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Federation and Auckland Transport
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Auckland Transport
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MetService
BEST LOCAL AUTHORITY CAMPAIGN
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Auckland Council
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Gisborne District Council
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Neighbourhood Support New Zealand and Rainger & Rolfe
MOST EFFECTIVE PUBLIC CONSULTATION / ENGAGEMENT
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Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council of New Zealand
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Taranaki Regional Council
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Wonderlab Ltd
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
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Auckland Transport
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Gisborne District Council
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VML
CHARITY/NGO CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR 2025
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4AM
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Bettle-Associates
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Chemistry
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Gather Productions
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Motion Sickness
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These Guys I know
MOST EFFECTIVE TE AO MĀORI CAMPAIGN OR ADVERTISEMENT
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Keep Māori Wards Manawatū
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Motion Sickness
BEST TELEVISION AD
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Auckland Council
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Federation and Auckland Transport
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Motion Sickness
BEST USE OF OOH MEDIA
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Auckland Transport
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LUMO, MetService, NEMA, VML, Perion & Latch
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New Zealand Police
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Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
BEST USE OF MUSIC - BROUGHT TO YOU BY WEST ONE MUSIC GROUP
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Bettle-Associates
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Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
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VML
CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR 2025
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Courtney Haines Official
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Little & Loud
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SpeakData Ltd
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These Guys I Know
BEST INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SECTOR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
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Kindred Studio
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Sydney Water
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TV5MONDE
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
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Chemistry
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Keep Māori Wards Manawatū
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Pead | Kindness Collective
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Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
BEST USE OF HUMOUR
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Auckland Transport
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Gisborne District Council
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Motion Sickness
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Office of The Mayor, Auckland
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS TEAM OF THE YEAR 2025
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Auckland Council
-
New Zealand Police
WINNERS
Best International Public Sector Advertising Campaign
Heard Island Pebbles
Kindred Studio
This Yours Drake?
Sydney Water
Best Use Of Social Media
Tō Reo Tō Mana - Gisborne Tairāwhiti Local Government Elections
Gisborne District Council
ACC + NZ Transport Agency - Waka Kotahi (NZTA) + Nz Police. Love Ghosting
VML
Most Effective Te Ao MäOri Campaign Or Advertisement
Stronger Together - Keep Māori Wards Manawatū
Keep Māori Wards Manawatū
The Māori Roll Call
Motion Sickness
Best Use Of Music - Brought To You By West One Music Group
Kaibosh, Rescued Jingles
VML
500 Miles - Together: Turning Support Into A Shared Responsibility
Bettle-Associates
Best Local Authority Campaign
Adopt A Drain - Be A Grate Mate
Neighbourhood Support
New Zealand
Auckland Council - Roaming Dogs
Auckland Council
Charity/NGO Campaign Of The Year
Station Of Light
Chemistry
Make New Zealand The Best Place In The World To Have Herpes
Motion Sickness
Best Public Sector Advertising Campaign
Mix Your Go Campaign
Federation And Auckland Transport
Science To Safety: Transforming Severe Weather Warnings Into Actionable Outcomes
Metservice
Best Television Ad
Keep It Real Online
Motion Sickness
The Māori Roll Call
Motion Sickness
Best Use Of OOH Media
At To The Mall Christmas Campaign
Auckland Transport
Warnings You Can't Miss
Lumo, Metservice, Nema, VML, Perion & Latch
Something For Nothing
Auckland Zoo - In Your Nature
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
Kindness Collective - Christmas Joy Store
Pead + Kindness Collective
Best Use Of Humour
Tō Reo Tō Mana - Gisborne Tairāwhiti Local Government Elections
Gisborne District Council
Make New Zealand The Best Place In The World To Have Herpes
Motion Sickness
Consultancy Of The Year
When Creativity Meets Critical Thinking: These Guys I Know Drives Results For Water Safety New Zealand
These Guys I Know
Turning Teacher Data Into Engagement And Trust
Speakdata Ltd
Most Effective Public Consultation/Engagement
Taranaki Regional Council: Bus Network Refresh Consultation - Designing A Bus Network By The People, For The People
Taranaki Regional Council
From Compliance To Confidence: Rebuilding Trust Through Sustained Public Engagement
Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council Of New Zealand
Marketing & Communications Team Of The Year Award
Auckland Council Comms And Marketing
Auckland Council
Small But Mighty
New Zealand Police
Rising Star Award - Agency
Aroha Gell
VML
Creative Agency Of The Year
.
Motion Sickness
Best International Public Sector Advertising Campaign
Heard Island Pebbles
Kindred Studio
This Yours Drake?
Sydney Water
Best Use Of Social Media
Tō Reo Tō Mana - Gisborne Tairāwhiti Local Government Elections
Gisborne District Council
ACC + NZ Transport Agency - Waka Kotahi (NZTA) + Nz Police. Love Ghosting
VML
Most Effective Te Ao Mä Ori Campaign Or Advertisement
Stronger Together - Keep Māori Wards Manawatū
Keep Māori Wards Manawatū
The Māori Roll Call
Motion Sickness
Best Use Of Music - Brought To You By West One Music Group
Kaibosh, Rescued Jingles
VML
500 Miles - Together: Turning Support Into A Shared Responsibility
Bettle-Associates
Best Local Authority Campaign
Adopt A Drain - Be A Grate Mate
Neighbourhood Support New Zealand
Auckland Council - Roaming Dogs
Auckland Council
Charity/NGO Campaign Of The Year
Station Of Light
Chemistry
Make New Zealand The Best Place In The World To Have Herpes
Motion Sickness
Best Public Sector Advertising Campaign
Mix Your Go Campaign
Federation And Auckland Transport
Science To Safety: Transforming Severe Weather Warnings Into Actionable Outcomes
Metservice
Best Television Ad
Keep It Real Online
Motion Sickness
The Māori Roll Call
Motion Sickness
Best Use Of OOH Media
At To The Mall Christmas Campaign
Auckland Transport
Warnings You Can't Miss
Lumo, Metservice, Nema, VML, Perion & Latch
Something For Nothing
Auckland Zoo - In Your Nature
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
Kindness Collective - Christmas Joy Store
Pead + Kindness Collective
Best Use Of Humour
Tō Reo Tō Mana - Gisborne Tairāwhiti Local Government Elections
Gisborne District Council
Make New Zealand The Best Place In The World To Have Herpes
Motion Sickness
Consultancy Of The Year
When Creativity Meets Critical Thinking: These Guys I Know Drives Results For Water Safety New Zealand
These Guys I Know
Turning Teacher Data Into Engagement And Trust
Speakdata Ltd
Most Effective Public Consultation/Engagement
Taranaki Regional Council: Bus Network Refresh Consultation - Designing A Bus Network By The People, For The People
Taranaki Regional Council
From Compliance To Confidence: Rebuilding Trust Through Sustained Public Engagement
Matatū Aotearoa | Teaching Council Of New Zealand
Marketing & Communications Team Of The Year Award
Auckland Council Comms And Marketing
Auckland Council
Small But Mighty
New Zealand Police
Rising Star Award - Agency
Aroha Gell
VML
Creative Agency Of The Year
.
Motion Sickness
KEY DATES
MON
14 SEPT
CALL FOR
ENTRIES
FRI
30 OCT
EARLY BIRD ENTRY DEADLINE
FRI
20NOV
FINAL ENTRY DEADLINE
TUES
2 FEB
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
THURS
4 MAR
AWARDS
CEREMONY
MONDAY
14 SEPTEMBER
CALL FOR
ENTRIES
FRIDAY
30 OCTOBER
EARLY BIRD ENTRY DEADLINE
FRIDAY
20 NOVEMBER
FINAL ENTRY DEADLINE
TUESDAY
2 FEBRUARY
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
THURSDAY
4 MARCH
AWARDS
CEREMONY
2026 CATEGORIES
BEST LONG-TERM BEHAVIOUR CHANGE CAMPAIGN
BEST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN - PUBLIC SECTOR
BEST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN – LOCAL AUTHORITY
BEST ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN – CHARITY / NGO
BEST USE OF MUSIC BROUGHT TO YOU BY WEST ONE MUSIC GROUP
BEST USE OF RADIO
BEST USE OF PRINT
BEST USE OF HUMOUR
SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
BEST USE OF OOH MEDIA
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA - PUBLIC SECTOR
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA - LOCAL AUTHORITY
BEST USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA – CHARITY / NGO
BEST USE OF AI
BEST YOUTH ENGAGEMENT & MOBILISATION
OUTSTANDING TE AO MĀORI CAMPAIGN OR
ENGAGEMENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY TABLE 1
EXCELLENCE IN BRAND CREATION, REBRAND, REFRESH
MOST EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION / ENGAGEMENT
RISING STAR AWARD – AGENCY
RISING STAR AWARD – IN-HOUSE
SOCIAL PAGE OF THE YEAR
SOCIAL IMPACT TV AD OF THE YEAR
CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR
MEDIA AGENCY OF THE YEAR
IN-HOUSE AGENCY/CREATIVE TEAM OF THE YEAR
CREATIVE AGENCY OF THE YEAR
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS TEAM OF THE YEAR
Entries are judged overseas by experienced marketing, communications, advertising, and creative professionals, working in agencies and within the public sector. All judges for The Worthies Awards are based outside of the competition territory, to maintain the independence of the evaluation and judging process.
All entries, including creative materials, are evaluated by the judges. Judges with an actual or a perceived conflict of interest declare said conflict to The Worthies Limited and do not judge conflicted entries. The purpose of judging is to identify both the nominees and finalists for each award category and the silver, and gold winners. It should be noted that certain categories, e.g. Rising Star Award will only have a gold winner.
BEFORE YOU ENTER
Eligibility
To be eligible for The Worthies Aotearoa New Zealand 2026, your campaign, advert, or activity must meet the following criteria:
TIMELINE: Executed between 1 September 2025 and 30 November 2026.
LOCATION: Commissioned or delivered within Aotearoa New Zealand.
OWNERSHIP: Commissioned by a Public Sector Entity (PSE) including government departments, local authorities, charities, NGOs, and not-for-profits.
Note: Work created by a PSE's in-house team or an external agency partner is eligible and can be entered into multiple categories. Awards will be presented at the Conference and Awards on 4 March 2027 in Wellington.
Questions?
ENTRY FEES
Category
Early Bird Entry Fee
Regular Entry Fee
Rising Star Award
$ 95 + GST
$ 195 + GST
Charity/ NGO specific categories
$ 195 + GST
$ 295 + GST
All other categories
$ 295 + GST
$ 395 + GST
Charity / NGO Categories
Early Bird: $195 + GST | Regular: $295 + GST
All Other Categories
Early Bird: $295 + GST | Regular: $395 + GST
Rising Star Award
Early Bird: $95 + GST | Regular: $195 + GST
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