Saatchi, Y&R, Colenso, and DDB are among the NZ qualifiers in the second wave of Australia’s AWARD Awards 2016 finalists.

Leading lifestyle magazine editor Kate Coughlan, who’s purchased NZ Life & Leisure and NZ Lifestyle Block from former publisher Fairfax Magazines, plans to take the titles a step back in time, returning to niche content marketing.

Dentsu Aegis Network has today announced the acquisition of a majority share in Barnes, Catmur & Friends. DAN (in a release) says the move “establishes creative capability for Dentsu Aegis Network in the market to further strengthen the business in New Zealand”.

Launched this Leap Day, 29 February (yesterday), Crewed is a new monthly magazine for, by and about the people & tech who keep NZ film & production industry going and the content coming. 

See It Be It, the Cannes Lions initiative supporting and developing the industry’s underrepresented female creatives, is seeking candidates for 2016. 

D&AD has added two more headliners – design supremo Sir Paul Smith and President Obama’s design CD Ashleigh Axios – to this year’s speaker line-up, “making a fantastic top five”.

CAANZ has issued the entry call for the 2016 Media Agency of the Year – a division of the Beacon Awards that is entered separately.

Paul Henry beat Breakfast in 25-54 for the first time on Wednesday 24 February. The latest MediaWorks Weekly Highlights Report says the show achieved a 1.8 rating/32.8% share vs 1.7 rating/31.5% share for its TVNZ competitor.