Mark Hurley, co-founder and ceo of Auckland-based digital agency Little Giant is one of 17 finalists in this year’s Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition.

Australia’s Mumbrella Asia Awards return in November, and are now open for entries, with eight APAC categories open to entrants across the entire Asia-Pacific region, including Australia and New Zealand.

It will surprise nobody to hear that advertising revenue spent through members of the Outdoor Media Association (OMANZ) continues to grow at 29% year-on-year for the first half of 2017. Driven by several creative companies and the advent of digital screens, Outdoor has become the sexiest of media.

A new player has emerged on the ad agency scene in Wellington – the result of a collaboration of BBDO suits, technologists and a digital design director.

Ads which encourage gender stereotypes – like women cleaning up after their family, or men failing to do housework – will be banned in Britain under strict new watchdog rules, which are likely also to surface in NZ.

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The Mecca for creatives, entrepreneurs and designers, Semi Permanent, is back in Auckland at the Aotea Centre, running from Thursday 10 August to Saturday 12 August.

Air New Zealand’s new inflight safety video has gone down with our neighbours like a lead balloon, courtesy of the latest post from Campaign Asia Pacific, which is clearly unimpressed. Read on …

Flying Fish and the Comms Council have congratulated Scott Kelly from FCB for winning 10 free tickets to Battle of the Ad Bands 2017.

Tourism New Zealand has launched a $2 million ad programme aimed at attracting more American visitors downunder for a holiday – with a special emphasis on the US regions outside California (source of most US-NZ tourists).