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. 

China – along with Weibo and WeChat – is the future of social media, writes Richard Spencer*, the Sydney-based head of iSentia Two Social (NZ is part of his brief): “With more social media users than the US and Europe combined, China is well on its way to becoming the largest digital economy in the world – so how can NZ businesses capitalise on this using social media,” he asks.

Writer, columnist, humourist, and TV3 7 Days regular Urzila Carlson will emcee this Thursday’s Axis Awards at the Viaduct Events Centre in downtown Auckland.

MediaWorks has launched a new Newshub campaign with a dynamic headlines feed on Adshel digital screens around Auckland.

News Works marketing executive Kirsty Atkins – a long-serving employee with 20 years’ service to the company – has been made redundant.

NZME and Basketball New Zealand have announced that two weekly NZ NBL games will be live-streamed free of charge on NZHerald.co.nz throughout the season, opening up other intriguing sports live-streaming opportunities with NZME.