At a sell-out event at the Axis Awards at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland last night, emceed by very funny comedienne Urzila Carlson, 800 advertising types came together to celebrate the industry’s best creative work from the past year. The big winners were Saatchi, Y&R, and Colenso/Proximity.

Fashion Quarterly editor Sally-Ann Mullin will select the winners for tonite’s inaugural FQ Best Dressed competition at the Axis Awards at the Viaduct Events Centre.

DDB’s James Conner and Christie Cooper, a senior creative duo “bursting with passion and talent”, have been promoted to Creative Directors.

The Autumn issue of Phantom Billstickers’ feisty music, poetry & arts magazine Cafe Reader is now on sale around NZ.

Issue #9 contains 88 pages, featuring work by Genevieve McClean, Gavin Shaw, Jeanne Bernhardt, Nick Theobald, Ivy Alvarez, Nidar Gailani, James George, Peter Olds, Buster Stiggs, Stephen Oliver, Michael O’Leary, Alan Harold (art), Kay McKenzie Cooke, Michael Gould/Will Saunders (art), Wayne Seyb, Nicky Taylor, Dominic Hoey, and Chris Knox.

Facebook has updated its Blueprint eLearning site site to ensure compatibility with lower bandwidth connections and improve accessibility to the full Blueprint platform.

Media star Bill Ralston last night launched his campaign for the Auckland Council’s Waitemata & Gulf seat with a stinging attack on council leadership, a vow to sell council-owned assets, and support for joint ventures with business.

APN News & Media has this morning announced the resignation of Jane Hastings as ceo of NZME, and the appointment of current NZME chief financial officer, Michael Boggs as her replacement, effective Friday 8 April.

Special Group Australia has recognised as AdNews magazine’s Emerging Agency of the Year – just over a year since the Auckland agency established its fast-growing Sydney branch.

In celebration of 2016 International Women’s Day, DDB Worldwide (including DDB NZ) has launched Talent Has No Gender, a social campaign and call-to-action that supports the agency’s commitment promoting gender equality at DDB and throughout the advertising industry.