AUCKLAND, Today: The NZ advertising market’s Covid downturn is officially over,” according to SMI, which is reporting April ad demand soaring a record 56.2% year-on-year to $78.9 million, bringing the total just 2.7% shy of the April 2019 pre-pandemic result.

LONDON, Today: In our most recent D&AD coverage, M+AD Daily failed to report the Yellow Pencil (Gold equivalent) awarded to Clemenger BBDO Wellington for its work with the NZ Human Rights Commission.

AUCKLAND, Monday: MediaWorks has announced its full year results to 31 December 2020 (FY20), a performance the company says demonstrates the resilience of the business despite the considerable impact of Covid-19 over the year.

WELLINGTON, Yesterday: Sustainable shoes & clothing brand Allbirds – a NZ-based company with retail outlets in many parts of the world (including London, New York, Auckland, Beijing & Berlin) has named Te Aro-based indie Wrestler as its global creative partner.

BUSAN, Yesterday: South Korean creative/tech comp Ad Stars 2021 has selected DDB Aotearoa creative director Christie Cooper to sit on the Design & Print jury.

AUCKLAND, Monday: Ponsonby indie YoungShand has been awarded the creative & media business of green power provider Flick Electric in a competitive pitch.

AUCKLAND, Today: Herald columnist Paul Catmur’s been busy with with his writing lately, continuing his examination of employment tangles (like April’s Career advice to the Mediocre) in Friday’s edition of the paper.

AUCKLAND, Today: Two campaigns that demonstrate how public relations can engage communities and decisionmakers were crowned Supreme winners in the 2021 PRINZ Awards.

AUCKLAND, Friday: The Public Relations Institute has awarded Life membership to Claudia Macdonald in recognition of her significant service over 30 years.