AUCKLAND, Today: PHD Group/s Spark PR & Activate has announced what it’s calling a “world-first crisis simulation event”, which will launch in early 2019.

MENLO PARK (CALIFORNIA), Saturday: New Zealand agencies Gladeye, Assembly and FCB are among the winners at this year’s Comm Arts Interactive Awards in the United States.

AUCKLAND, Friday: Paul Brafield will replace Darryn Melrose as the new head of Media Design School Auckland. The change does not affect Kate Humphries’ role as Auckland-based programme leader for creative advertising across New Zealand and Australia.

AUCKLAND, Friday: The Comms Council has issued the entry call for Axis 2019 – the call went live yesterday, and stays alive until Tuesday 22 January 2019 at 4pm.

TOKYO, Sunday: A dozen NZ entries have made it through to the shortlist stages of the 25th Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year Awards – including DDB, Special, Colenso, Little Giant, UM (Christopher Colter), PHD (Simon Bird,) Carat, MediaCom, OMD, Eleven PR, and WiTH Collective.

AUCKLAND, Today: The multi-awarded creative team Matt Williams and Freddie Coltart have been appointed Creative Group Head roles at FCB. The pair will now have responsibility for VTNZ, Fire and Emergency New Zealand and a number of other exciting projects, along with leading creative teams. 

AUCKLAND, Today: DDB has retained the $38m Lotto account after a pitch against Colenso BBDO, FCB, Ogilvy, and Assignment, according to a report by Damien Venuto in today’s Herald Business (scroll down for the link).

WELLINGTON, Thursday: Winners in the 13th annual Plain English Awards were unveiled by Wellington Mayor Justin Lester in front of a full house of finalists from throughout New Zealand, gathered at the City Gallery Wellington.