Ad Age Reports U.S. law firm’s commercial draws comparisons to 2014 Gold Lion-Winning NZTA ‘Mistakes’ spot via Clemenger BBDO Wellington
August 11 2025, 1:53 pm | | 1 Comment
Ad Age’s Tim Nudd highlights that The Barnes Film spot (above) currently airing in the US, closely mirrors the NZ Transport Agency ‘Mistakes’ spot via Clemenger BBDO, Wellington (below).
Tim Nudd, Creativity Editor at Ad Age, has reported that a recent commercial from U.S. personal injury law firm The Barnes Firm bears striking similarities to the 2014 Cannes Gold Lion–winning NZ Transport Agency “Mistakes” campaign created by Clemenger BBDO, Wellington.
Nudd wrote on LinkedIn: “Lifting other people’s ideas is common in advertising, but this is next level. Thanks to Judann Pollack for flagging this after seeing it on TV.”
Clemenger NZ responded: “Appreciate the nod Tim Nudd. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery 🫠”
The spot also won a Yellow Pencil at D&AD in 2015.
Campaign Brief has contacted Clemenger BBDO, Wellington for further comment.
1 Comment
I believe the problem in NZ creative content production is the lack of NZ directors. Everything is made by Australian production companies. There is no apparent pathway for aspiring NZ directors as most projects go to Australia. It is a sign of how weak NZ agencies are. They lack the courage. I suspect there will be no NZ based production companies or directors in the next few years.