OMD welcomes 10 new recruits this week to both its Auckland and Wellington offices as part of its pioneering graduate media programme. The scheme was developed to address the nationwide skills shortage agencies face when recruiting for media planning and buying roles.
Big (appropriately) creates World Masters Games campaign for Barfoot & Thompson
For 10 days from Friday 21 April to Sunday 30 April, some 25,000 athletes from around the globe will descend upon Auckland to compete in the 2017 World Masters Games, and enjoy all Auckland has to offer. That’s a lot of people! Barfoot & Thompson is the presenting sponsor and is celebrating the event coming to the city in a campaign from Big Communications.
America first – Upper Hutt second
Upper Hutt’s community engagement programme My Upper Hutt got a shot in the arm after teaming up with Wellington agency Crestani Communications to make its own America First online video.
Winning ways with words – this Thursday

Just four days to go to the creative event of the year (before the other creative event of the year). CAANZ holds its pre-Axis Q+A, with Peter Vegas in the chair, this Thursday evening at the Pt Chev RSA. The theme this year is Nothing Beats Winning at Your Local.
Arrivals & Departures: Tangible duo exits
CEO John Baker and Dish editor Lisa Morton have resigned from StopPress owner Tangible Media (part of the Image Centre Group).
Herald on Sunday & ODT star in big readership poll

The Herald on Sunday and the Otago Daily Times stand out in the latest Nielsen National Newspaper Readership Survey as the only daily or weekly newspapers to post an increase in readership.
Colenso, TBWA, Barnes Catmur score in Singapore
BBDO shops Colenso (NZ) and Clemenger (Melbourne) have the most finalists going into the APAC Effies award show in Singapore on Friday 21 April.
Indies sparkled at DM Awards

Indie agencies sharply lifted their profile at last week’s NZDM Awards, picking up a total of 30 awards, to sit nicely alongside the bigger agencies’ score of 58.
The ’80s chrome lift stays!
The rather gorgeous rebuild of TVNZ headquarters in Auckland is covered in some detail – with some fine images from photographer Patrick Reynolds – in the latest issue of AGM Publishing’s Architecture Now.
Arrivals & Departures: Spark PR & Activate taps MediaWorks exec, Sweet Shop promotes Auckland producer
Spark PR & Activate has appointed Chris Lloyd as its head of content & social. Most recently, Lloyd was head of business development in the MediaWorks integration team.