Advertising Week, one of the world’s largest events dedicated to the advertising, marketing, media and technology industries, has announced its latest geographic expansion – to Asia Pacific (at Luna Park, Sydney).

We at M+AD have mixed feelings about gender-specific award shows. Their very existence seems somehow demeaning to women – but then again, they may well be a key historical element in the rise and rise women in advertising?

New Zealand’s Special Group, with Finch, has won two Gold Ingots at the Midas NYC Financial Awards for a cinema spot and a TVC at the centre of October’s major brand relaunch for client TSB with the promise of “banking your way”.

Colenso BBDO has been named as the sixth most creative agency in the world in 2017, by global creativity report, Big Won. Colenso BBDO have featured in the Top 15 for the last seven years running (ranking #1 in 2012 & 2017).

As widely expected, NZME and Stuff have announced this morning that they intend to proceed with their appeal against the High Court’s ruling that upheld a Commerce Commission decision to turn down their proposed merger.

Publicis Media NZ agencies stood out at the Q4 Google Performance Honours Awards held in Sydney last week. These awards recognise the achievements of leading search marketing agencies and providers across Australia and New Zealand. Instigated to focus agencies on using best practice and latest offerings from Google to optimise performance, the awards are held each quarter with five awards handed out.

Auckland PR shop Crave has crafted twin-city month-long activations to launch Misty Cove canned NZ wines to Kiwi consumers. The promotion, labelled Misty Cove Wine Garden, kicks off at The Lula Inn in Auckland’s Viaduct on Friday 23 February, and opens at the new Engineers rooftop bar in Christchurch on Thursday 1 March.

The Crown minister who directly oversees the NZ ad and media world says she is committed to promote Kiwi creativity and content as cornerstone policy.