CANNES, Today: Lions juries have awarded two Grand Prix – the first since 2016 – for NZ work this year – Colenso BBDO took out the Radio & Audio Lions GP for Skinny Phone It In campaign, and Special picked up the Health & Wellness Lions GP Partners Life The Last Performance (developed with South Pacific Pictures and Images & Sound).

LONDON, Monday: Special NZ has won a Grand Prix at the third global WARC Awards for Effectiveness (held in association with the Cannes Lions – see separate report).

AUCKLAND, Today: By Cathy MacDonald, director of operations at Let’s Play Live – an Auckland based esports and gaming media organization: The winners of the inaugural Entertainment Lions for Gaming will be announced this week, reflecting the rapid rise of gaming and esports and their role at the intersection of music, entertainment, and popular culture.

NAPIER, Friday: Hawke’s Bay agency FizzyPop won a new partnership with ACI Funds. At press time it was unclear if there’d been a pitch.

AUCKLAND, Friday: The TVNZ-NZ Marketing Awards have announced the finalists for this year’s competition following the completion of round one judging.

CANNES, Saturday: The Lions have started releasing the 2023 shortlists – and first through for New Zealand are DDB Aotearoa and Colenso BBDO in the Direct Lions.

AUCKLAND, Today: The 2023 Beacon Awards, in association with oOh!media, took place last night at Aotea Centre. Organised by The Comms Council, the event brought together industry leaders and professionals to recognise outstanding media thinking.

AUCKLAND, Thursday: Phantom Billstickers has established a new eyecatching location near Hurstmere Rd, on Auckland’s North Shore.