AUCKLAND, Thursday: The evidence is overwhelming that if you continue to invest in your marketing during a downturn, you will come out of that time far stronger than your competitors, DDB NZ managing director Chris Willingham told NZ Herald business reporter Damien Venuto during an in-depth interview published yesterday (scroll down for the link).

AUCKLAND, Today: Queenstown/Auckland-based PR agency Darkhorse has retained the New Zealand account for luxury Australian furniture brand King Living, after a pitch.

AUCKLAND, Today: Special Group has unveiled a new Investec Super Rugby campaign – one of the first jobs the agency has completed with Nimble, the production company it set up recently with Patrick McAteer.

AUCKLAND, Today: Sydney-based PR agency Sling & Stone has established an office in Auckland – and hired associate director Sian Church to run it.

CHRISTCHURCH, Today: South Island-based Harvey Cameron Group – a full-service agency known mainly for its creative work – has established a PR and engagement practice that sits within its suite of creative business solutions.

SYDNEY, Wednesday: WPP has launched the logo and website for its recently formed brand Wunderman Thompson – a creative, data and technology agency “built to inspire growth for clients, people and partners”.

MELBOURNE, Tuesday: NZ media agency MBM – an indie with offices in Wellington & Auckland – has been awarded the Q4 Performance Agency Attribution Award in Google’s Honours programme.

AUCKLAND, Today: Tomorrow (Wednesday 6 February) is Waitangi Day – a public holiday in New Zealand, meaning there will be no M+AD published until Thursday.

AUCKLAND, Today: OMD New Zealand has been awarded the Q4 Planning, Q4 Results and Agency of the Quarter Awards in Google’s YouTube Honours programme for 2018.