HAMILTON, Today: Ahead of JB Hi-Fi’s first new store opening in seven years, marking the official beginning of the brand’s ambitious growth strategy for NZ, Waikato-based PR agency Brainchild and K Rd creative agency Electric Art have teamed up to engage Kiwis with the JB Hi-Fi brand via an activation named What’s In The Box?

PARIS, Today: The Epica Awards – the only global creative ad show judged by trade journos – has announced an industry first: an AI awards juror.

CANNES, Today: New Zealand has scored two Gold Lions at the Cannes Media Lions last night – both for campaigns that are already multiple global winners.

AUCKLAND, Today: This month Undertow Media rounded up its media mates to quench their thirst for newness – metaphorically and literally – with an intimate event for Lighthouse Gin at Auckland’s newest watering hole Somm.

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: The latest Hays Salary Guide reports skills shortages in key areas of advertising and PR in New Zealand.

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: The Aotearoa Effie Awards (in association with TVNZ, in collaboration with the Comms Council First Five Rungs) have announced the launch of an “exciting new initiative”, the First Five Rungs’ Shadow Judging Programme.

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: The Comms Council has announced Stuff’s continued sponsorship of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion categories at the 2023 Effie Awards.

AUCKLAND, Today: MBM New Zealand is celebrating its Media Agency of the Year win at the 2023 Comms Council Beacon Awards, “following a period of significant growth and new business wins”.