FCB Media, with 18 entries through, tops the list of Beacon Awards finalists, released yesterday by CAANZ. Next are SparkPHD with 17, OMD (14) and MBM (10).

NZME Radio launches a new rural radio station – part of NZME’s Hokonui-branded rural radio network – in Hawera this Tuesday (April 7). The station’s arrival in town means Coast and NewstalkZB have moved to new frequencies.

STIHL, with the assistance of a little creative power from DDB, brought Kiwis the same renowned quality and superior German engineering of their outdoor power equipment to the field of personal grooming with the STIHL Manscaper Kit – “the only kit you’ll need to cut, trim and prune your hairy man parts”. Or not. 

FCB have been named the ORCA winners for March – the agency’s second win in a row. The Tale of Bertie The Dancing Pig takes the listener on a happy journey – one that ends (very suddenly) on the dining table!

DDB appoints APAC chief innovation officer: DDB Group Asia Pacific has appointed Anthony J James (AJ) to the new position of chief innovation officer for the network.

M+AD spotted this gem in the daily Northern Advocate while visiting Whangarei yesterday: Apprentice came, sawed, conquered – running over a Page 5 story about a winning local carpentry apprentice.

Australian publisher Conversant Media has signed an exclusive advertising sales partner agreement with Snakk Media division Represent Media to fill the mobile ad inventory on Conversant’s premium publishing titles. The deal follows a competitive pitch against un-named companies.

Get Out Stay Out, Touchcast’s new game to help educate young Kiwis about fire safety, leverages age-old proven game mechanics to ensure deep, sustained engagement, and underpinned with a fusion of fire safety narratives and a UX design informed by a series of workshops and focus groups with school-aged children.