NZ BollyAwards to allow international entries

IAB New Zealand’s BollyAwards are about showcasing and recognising great online creative. In 2010, brands such as Aveeno, Metservice, Plunket, Orcon and House of Travel all enjoyed popping the cork with some Champagne Bollinger thanks to the awards sponsor. As brands still find their way onto the online space IAB has decided to open its doors to entries created overseas but where campaigns have featured on New Zealand websites.

Liz Fraser, IAB Chair, believes this will help keep the local creative juices flowing. “Online creative for brand advertising continues to develop and improve in NZ as marketers see the value and effectiveness with their marketing campaigns.  However, when we compare NZ to international markets, brands such as Lynx, Nestle and Nissan are embracing online and exploring many creative boundaries.  The IAB in NZ want to inspire local creative agencies and publishers and showcase their creative excellence, including the growing channels of online video, mobile marketing and rich media solutions.”

Judging the awards is carried out by top creative directors such as James Mok, Executive Creative Director of DraftFCB; Toby Talbot, Group Executive Creative Director of DDB NZ; Andy Blood, Partner/Group Executive Creative Director of The TBWA NZ Group and many more senior creative’s (See full list of judges).

IAB’s General Manager, Alisa Higgins has seen the quality of entries start to increase since the awards started a year ago. “Recent IAB ad spend figures show growth of almost 20% for the total market year-on-year. This is a huge increase for a year that was still recovering from the recession. As more and more advertisers test the online waters online creative is starting to be taken more seriously and not just an online execution of a print ad for example.”

The first deadline for 2011 is Friday 18th March. Visit bollyawards.co.nz for an online entry form and criteria.