AUCKLAND, Wednesday: Colenso BBDO took the Most Effective Agency of the Year prize at last night’s Effie Aotearoa Awards. And the Grand Effie (with two Golds) in Consumer Durables and Best Strategic thinking went to Saatchi & Saatchi and Toyota for Hilux Unbreakable Bond.

AUCKLAND, Today: Integrated NZ creative & PR agency Darkhorse has launched in Australia. Senior account director Frankie Gair will relocate from Auckland to Sydney in the new year to spearhead the Australian activity.

AUCKLAND, Today: Discovery has revealed the first of its ambitious 2022 plans for New Zealand audiences, with a 70% increase in local content, the launch of two new channels and the further expansion of its news offering and ThreeNow.

AUCKLAND, Wednesday: Film Construction has signed global director Brendan Canty – currently part Smuggler New York and Antidote Films Ireland – to its roster for Asia Pacific.

SYDNEY, Wednesday: Publicis Groupe ANZ today announced a raft of new paid leave entitlements, and remote working initiative Publicis Re’Union, which will enable employees to temporarily work interstate or overseas to spend time with immediate family members.

AUCKLAND, Tuesday: Ponsonby-based PR shop Sling & Stone Ponsonby has signed East Imperial in Australia and New Zealand in a move intended to refresh the summer mixer category.

AUCKLAND, Today: oOh!media has launched a new campaign in support of Voices of Hope’s Unite Against Loneliness – focused on sharing messages of hope in a time that the whole world is feeling a little down.