Parliament, Wellington, NZ – Motion Sickness has been named Creative Agency of the Year at the first ever Worthies, the awards programme celebrating the best creative work in public sector, charity and not-for-profit communications.
The Aotearoa-based agency was recognised for a standout body of work across multiple campaigns, taking home six awards on the night, including four golds.
Created to encourage enrolment on the Māori electoral roll, which picked up Best Television Ad and Most Effective te ao Māori Campaign. Motion Sickness also won Best Use of Humour and Charity Campaign of the Year for The Best Place In The World To Have Herpes, as well as Best Television Ad for Keep It Real Online – for Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs.
Capping off the evening, the agency was awarded Creative Agency of the Year, recognising the breadth and impact of its work across the public and social sector.
“The Worthies celebrate a kind of creativity we deeply respect – work that gets people to think differently, feel differently and ultimately act differently,” says Motion Sickness Partner and Head of Strategy Hilary Ngan Kee.
“It’s not always work that is easy to make. Often it takes guts to fight for it and back it. We’re grateful to the Worthies team for championing this kind of work, and to the clients and partners who are willing to make it with us. To be recognised as Creative Agency of the Year is something we’re really proud of.”
Founded in Aotearoa New Zealand, Motion Sickness has built a reputation for bold creative work tackling complex social issues – from increasing civic participation to changing behaviours around online safety and sexual health.
The wins at The Worthies highlight the agency’s continued focus on work that delivers both cultural impact and measurable behaviour change.
Motion Sickness – The Worthies 2026 wins:
Creative Agency of the Year – Motion Sickness
Best Television Ad – The Māori Roll Call
Best Use of Humour – The Best Place In The World To Have Herpes
Most Effective te ao Māori Campaign – The Māori Roll Call
Charity Campaign of the Year – The Best Place In The World To Have Herpes
Best Television Ad – Keep It Real Online
Clients recognised include the New Zealand Herpes Foundation, Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, and Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs.
