The New Zealand business landscape has long acted as a testing ground for new ventures. Its small size and knowledgeable consumer base creates a desirable environment to test ideas before scaling up overseas. A local marketing firm has done just this; using New Zealand’s startup ecosystem, the company have honed its offering and now plans to expand into Australia.

AUT Adschool CD Jane Berney writes: “In early July, we received a Just Water Filters International flyer from ceo Tony Falkenstein with a competition for ‘a creative genius to come up with a short word or picture concept that will create the need for customers’ to purchase Just Water filters.

Parnell-based strategic marketing comms agency The Business has won the National Foundation for the Deaf account and immediately started work on tackling the issue that will affect hundreds of thousands of Kiwis during the Rugby World Cup.

Snakk Media founder Derek Handley will step down as chairman of the mobile advertising technology company at the end of this year amid a boardroom reshuffle. The Handley family still controls around 15% of the NZAX-listed company.

iSite Media has switched on “the largest digital billboard in New Zealand”, The Victoria in downtown Auckland.

Colenso BBDO sits atop the Clio Awards shortlist, announced overnight, with five entries through – from a total of 11 to make the cut from NZ.

NZME has unveiled changes to its commercial leadership team: APN group director – commercial Sandra King takes up the new role of general manager, market solutions; and group digital director Laura Maxwell becomes group revenue director.

MediaWorks continues to roll out its radio brands to new provincial metro markets, bringing Breeze and Mai FM to Whanganui. Both brands enter the city on the back of significant national followings.