AUNZ Work of the Month: October

Expanding on the success of the ‘Always Free, Always Entertaining’ platform, ABC iView and Howatson+Company have parodied some of Australia’s most beloved TV genres. 

Directed by FINCH’s Freddy Mandy, the two TVCs subvert audience expectations and explore ABC iView’s offering in a uniquely hilarious format. After all, if monsters and reality TV stars are facing a cost of living crisis, it really must be universal. 

The TVCs not only poke fun at modern life, but also at the brand itself, lending the public broadcaster a sense of humour and cheekiness. The OOH continues the tongue in cheek approach. 

There is an understated and uniquely Australian “here if you need” mentality to both the TVCs and OOH. Well done to the broadcaster and Howatson+Co for doing something bold and different.

Special Group Auckland and KFC were brave enough to poke fun at their top competitor, McDonald’s, in the latest promotion, ‘KFCurrency’. The cheeky approach allowed the New Zealand public to use board game money to buy chicken for one day only. 

The OOH nods to the McDonald’s promotion in a very clever and understated way, careful not to directly call-out the competition. KFC marketing director, Leanne Too, told LBB that there was a “massive spike in sentiment, engagement and reach,” thanks to the PR stunt. “There’s no monopoly on good consumer promotions,” she said.

While this isn’t a long-term campaign for KFC, it plays on the brand's lovable and cheeky nature and directly appeals to a Kiwi sense of humour. Strategically, it's a smart move for the brand and positions it as a fun-loving, playful, and bold choice in a highly saturated market. 

It’s often hard to stand out in the QSR category, however, KFC’s audacity to play with a competitor’s well-known promo while also rewarding their customers is brilliant. 

Breaking down the stigma surrounding herpes, Motion Sickness along with The New Zealand Herpes Foundation has launched a new campaign wanting to make New Zealand the best place in the world to have herpes. 

The TVC and educational videos have a retro feeling and hark back to the sex-ed days of high school, driven by the iconically dry Kiwi sense of humour. 

The campaign positions getting educated about herpes as a competition, with an interactive website loaded with educational resources and an online course. The completion of the online course affects the leaderboard, showcasing the best countries in the world to have herpes, updated in real time. 

It’s very smart, it doesn’t shy away from the topic, or try to hide it like veggies in pasta. The craft is impeccable and the humour makes the sensitive topic accessible to all people.  

LBB’s Tom Loudon writes - Treasury Wine Estates' in-house agency, Splash, has launched the 'Possessed Wine Bar', transforming Fitzroy’s The Shady Lady into a pop-up featuring haunted objects worldwide, all to promote 19 Crimes' latest glow-in-the-dark wines. The event, on October 25 and 26, included a museum-style display of these eerie artefacts, each with a plaque detailing its haunting history. Guests signed a waiver before entering, adding an intriguing layer of risk.

Supporting the release of 19 Crimes' limited edition Shiraz and Hard Chard, this campaign turns a wine launch into a full-fledged haunted experience. The atmosphere goes beyond the ordinary with tarot card readers, ominous decor, and ouija boards on every table. The drinks themselves are part of the spectacle, creating a fusion of horror and indulgence that’s hard to ignore.

To close the event, a saging ritual led by a professional witch will cleanse the space of lingering spirits, ensuring that the Possessed Wine Bar leaves a lasting impression on all who dare to enter. This was more than just a product promotion — it was an immersive, chilling journey that rewards only the brave.