BORN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Special was born in New Zealand in 2007.

Born to make the world’s most creative and effective ideas to help brands prosper.

Born to break down the silos between advertising agencies and design companies to deliver seamless thinking from shelf to screen.

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As the world’s most effective independent agency, we aim to harness the incredible power of creativity and innovation to reduce inequality, positively impacting customers, communities and careers.

We seek to work with purpose-led organisations — both governmental and commercial — intent on making positive impacts in Aotearoa.

A recent example is the recent rebrand of the Halberg Foundation.

Founded by Kiwi Olympian Murray Halberg ONZ, MBE, in 1963, the Foundation ensures all young people, regardless of their ability, have an equal opportunity to enhance their lives through sport and recreation. Providing equipment, helping young people find new sports and clubs, hosting national competitions, training educators, and fundraising — Halberg work tirelessly to ensure no young disabled Kiwis are left on the side lines of sport.

We happily worked at cost to develop a comprehensive new strategy and an expansive new identity for Halberg to shift their personality from ‘foundation’ to ‘club’ and from ‘exclusive’ to ‘many’.

To find out more about Halberg’s great work visit: halberg.co.nz

Our commitment is to work towards Special’s staff make-up being representative of the population of Aotearoa.

As part of this we are helping reduce inequality in our industry by inviting more Māori and Pasifika talent. Special Aotea — a culturally led, creative, strategic and business rōpū within Special — launched the Special Pathways initiative in 2023, offering a fully-paid university scholarship for one young Māori student. Our partnership with Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau, Auckland University, introduced us to Hakopa Ririnui. A young person with a passion for tech design. We’re extremely proud to offer Hakopa this opportunity with the goal to create more pathways into the creative industry.

To find out more about Special Aotea and other initiatives we’re doing for our people visit: specialaotea.specialgroup.com

We have committed one day per year per FTE to voluntary work to reduce inequality in the community.

Recently we sent team members from our Auckland office to volunteer at The Auckland City Mission, sorting and filling boxes of food parcels to send out. It was much appreciated by the team at the Mission’s distribution centre.

To find out more about how you can support Auckland City Mission visit: aucklandcitymission.org.nz

In 2022 Special worked with Trace to become certified as Carbon neutral, acknowledging the sustainable business practices we have employed. We are committed to improvements year on year.

For more information visit: our-trace.com