‘Best place to have herpes’: New Zealand ad wins top prize

“To fix our national pride, the solution is obvious: herpes.”

That was the pitch made by the charity New Zealand Herpes Foundation last October, when it launched a campaign to make the country the “best place” to have the infection.

That campaign has been a roaring success, winning a top prize at this year’s Cannes Lions awards, which recognise excellence in the creative industry.

The campaign, which aimed to destigmatise herpes via a faux tourism advertisement video, was awarded the Grand Prix for Good – a category that seeks to highlight work by non-profit organisations and charities.

The video starred Sir Graham Henry, the former head coach of the national rugby union team.

In it, he touted the past successes of New Zealand and lamented its diminishing sources of national pride – such as an “embarrassingly low” sheep-to-human ratio and pies that are “pushing seven bucks”.

“We need something new to be proud of; something big and brave to put us back on the map,” Mr Henry said as he scrawled the word “HERPES” – in all caps – on a chalk board.

“It’s time for New Zealand to become the best place in the world to have herpes.”

What followed was another old-school video packaged as a “herpes destigmatisation course”, featuring other national icons like former health ministry chief Sir Ashley Bloomfield and professional boxer Mea Motu.

The irreverent humour running through the campaign – which was developed with agencies Motion Sickness and FINCH – has struck a chord with audiences.

“Forget doom and gloom, there’s enough of that already to go around,” said David Ohana, communications chief at the United Nations Foundation and a jury president at this year’s Cannes Lions.

“Our 2025 awardee took a taboo topic and turned it on its head – showing that with a great strategy, a big, bold, crazy idea … and humour for days, that anything is possible.”

Around one in three sexually active adults in New Zealand has the virus that causes genital herpes, though most have mild or no symptoms and can lead ordinary lives, according to the New Zealand Herpes Foundation.

“Popular media, misinformation, and New Zealanders’ awkwardness talking about sex – has led to huge stigmatisation for those living normal lives with the virus,” reads a press release from when the campaign was launched last October.

Alaina Luxmoore, from the New Zealand Herpes Foundation, told local TV programme Breakfast that millions had seen the campaign, which had “massive cut-through”.

“The campaign was so funny, I think that’s why it worked,” Luxmore said.