Workshy ad gets the gold

By IRENE CHAPPLE


An advertising campaign encouraging New Zealanders to take half a day off has won Auckland agency Wow Rapp Collins the only gold for Australasia at the CannesLions festival.

The campaign, for Smirnoff vodka, ran late last year and encouraged people to duck their responsibilities on December 7.

It is not known how many people skipped work because of the ad.

The multi-media campaign won a Gold Lion in the direct marketing category for fast moving consumable goods, and a silver in the "integrated solutions" category.

Last year's triple gold haul couldn't be matched, but New Zealand had better luck with the lesser awards, taking home three silver and six bronze Lions.

Wow Rapp Collin's silver was matched by Colenso BBDO and Clemenger BBDO, and bronze Lions were taken by Saatchi & Saatchi Wellington, Colenso BBDO, Clemenger BBDO and Young & Rubicam.