Australia-based Campaign Brief has issued its call for entries for its 2017 Australia & NZ Agency of the Year competitions, as well as the magazine’s annual Hot & Cold Creativity/Billings index.

Auckland is the fourth most creative city in the world, according to the latest Cannes Lions Global Creativity Report, a summary of which was released overnight, which described NZ’s dramatic rise as “staggering”. Asian-Pacific cities have also raised their rankings.

Kiwi kids’ media consumption has increased over the past year, with their total spending power rising to $273 million annually, according to a Cartoon Network survey.

The Advertising Standards Authority has recommended tighter restrictions in the Children’s Code for Advertising Food and the Code for Advertising to Children – and the findings have been endorsed by the NZ Food & Grocery Council.

The undisputed reigning heavyweight champs of the NZ creative sector – Colenso BBDO’s Brewtroleum and Y&R’s Burger King’s McWhopper – are through to the finals of the Integration category on the London International Awards, announced overnight.

Sydney-based marketing/media publisher Mumbrella has issued the call for entries for the debut of an expanded Asia Agency of the Year – including New Zealand – to run parallel to its Australian Agency of the Year Awards.

A former Australian Financial Review senior writer reckons most marketing departments on both sides of the Tasman should hire more journalists – even if they would be an uneasy fit within the business.

A new survey by Roy Morgan Research Australia has found that 10.6% of Australians are planning an overseas holiday and 18% of those have plans to head to New Zealand – making a trip ‘across the ditch’ the most desirable destination for Aussie travellers.

A cameo appearance of a popular Kiwi breakfast food on a Chinese TV drama has led to a major push for the cereal product into the Asian market – a move expected to benefit New Zealand exports.