CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday: Sydney-based market researcher Fiftyfive5 has established an office in Christchurch, and hired senior consultant Niamh Buchanan to run it.

HONG KONG, Tuesday: DDB Auckland has been named among the top 10 world’s most-awarded creative agencies for effectiveness, by UK marketing site WARC.

MEXICO CITY, Today: Mexican TV & newspapers are reporting that the US-Mexico border could be shut down to contain the coronavirus outbreak — by Mexico.

SINGAPORE, Today: The Spikes Asia is putting to one side (for the moment) the coronavirus condundrum, and is forging ahead with the 2020 awards, due to be held at Marina Bay Sands on October 14-16.

MELBOURNE, Monday: Clemenger Group New Zealand ceo Jim Gall is moving back to Australia to become ceo of Clemenger BBDO Melbourne Group.

AUCKLAND, Monday: Media Design School creative advertising programme director Kate Humphries writes: “Congratulations from everyone at MDS to Luke Ryan and Ash Reid for taking out the Google Student Axis this year, with a YouTube Lotto film, Look What You Can Skip.

AUCKLAND, Today: The Marketing Association is bringing a UK-developed B2B workshop to NZ – led by NZ B2B exponent Matthew Masters, founder & CD of Auckland indie agency Badger Comms.

WELLINGTON, Saturday: The King St Hamilton creatives who had the wit to develop a boring product into a cutting-edge billboard have been slapped down by the Advertising Standards Authority.