Ad-sector specialists Mango, Shine and Spark PR & Activate are among the finalists in the 43rd PR Awards just announced by PRINZ. This year, a record number of 29 finalists are through from a record number of 98 entries.

Spark (ratecard adspend $40m) has appointed Mt Eden-based PHD NZ as its media agency, effective in two weeks on Monday 1 May, after a closed pitch between three Omnicom agencies – Dynamo (the incumbent), OMD and PHD.

19 April 2017 – Lions Health has launched the 2017 Young Lions Health Award in partnership with UNICEF and la Caixa Foundation.

Two Clemenger BBDO campaigns are already shaping up as potential stars when The New York Festivals Awards winners are named next month.

Former FCB NZ media director Anna Chitty – now ceo at PHD China – has been named a judge for the Warc 2017 Prize for Asian Strategy, a Singapore-based competition with a US$10,000 prize.

Ogilvy and Clemenger BBDO each have three entries shortlisted for The One Show in New York in May. In total, New Zealand has 11 on the shortlist.

Auckland Council has commenced its mandatory three-year review of its agency partners – currently DDB (creative), PHD (media), Goodfolk (digital) and Alt Group (design).

NZME’s Cassie Roma GM content marketing & experiential) will address the issues of fake news, big buzzwords and blurred lines when she talks at the Marketing Association’s Digital Day Out next month.

New York & Paris-based creative library Ad Forum has selected DDB’s Lotto Dylan as the global #2 TVC of the week (to Monday 17 April).