AUCKLAND, Friday: The newly formed New Zealand Hotel Owners Association (NZHOA) has appointed experienced Auckland-based PR strategist Amy Robens to be its executive director.

AUCKLAND, Today: In partnership with ballmaker Gilbert Rugby, tech shop Nakatomi, child psychologist Dr Emma Woodward and Colenso BBDO, Spark is developing a Bluetooth-enabled smart rugby ball to help families achieve a healthy balance of screen time and active playtime.

AUCKLAND, Today: Eleven PR has been appointed by Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, to manage its New Zealand public relations. The incumbent was Campbell & Co – but there was reportedly no pitch.

AUCKLAND, Today: Tip Top has named Shine Auckland as the creative agency for its $2 million account, following a pitch involving Colenso BBDO (the longtime incumbent), DDB and Shine. The story – by Damien Venuto – ran first in today’s Herald Business section (scroll down for the link).

AUCKLAND, Today: Following good wins at the Pressie Awards earlier this week, Remuera-based marketing creative activations agency Magico have updated media on the progress of Bike Barn’s Bike It Forward.

VIENNA, Today: Auckland photographer Vanessa Wu has been selected for 9th edition of Lürzer’s Archive 2020/21 – a selection of the work of the 200 most prominent ad photographers in the world.

AUCKLAND, Today: TBWA’s Eleven PR has applied creative imagination to the idea of gamifying the launch of PlayStation’s DualShock4 wireless controller – via Phantom Billstickers.

SYDNEY, Yesterday: Grey Lynn-based programmatic trading desk Acquire was the only NZ company to score at Australia’s B&T Awards 2019 (a show that seldom sees any Kiwis), taking out the Best Programmatic Trading Team title from reportedly stiff Australian opposition.

AUCKLAND, Today: In what it claims is “a New Zealand first”, Dentsu Aegis Network has developed a platform called Dentsu Dynamic Digital Display (aka D4), which serves dynamic ad content directly to programmatic display ads and digital outdoor screens simultaneously.

AUCKLAND, Yesterday: Colenso BBDO has developed a new brand campaign for BMW NZ, in partnership with Spotify, to socially connect with New Zealand drivers and “help them find joy behind the wheel” this summer.