SYDNEY, 22 December: British/Australian tvc director Adrian Hayward has died in Sydney after a short battle with cancer. Most recently Hayward was based in NZ, where he ran boutique digital media company The Digital Department from a converted barn studio outside Auckland.

AUCKLAND, Last week: Following a short pitch – triggered by former incumbent DDB’s winning of Vodafone – 2degrees has appointed TBWA as its agency of record.

AUCKLAND, Today: Yep. This is it from M+AD Daily in 2018. We’re back on deck in one month – and you can expect our first email bulletin on Monday 14 January.

SINGAPORE, Last night: DDB was named New Zealand Creative Agency of the Year in the Campaign Asia-Pacific 2018 Agency of the Year Awards (Australia/NZ division), held at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Hotel.

AUCKLAND, Today: DDB and Goodoil have launched an immersive experience of homelessness in support of Auckland-based social agency Lifewise. The campaign calls on landlords to consider opening their rental property portfolios to those most in need.

AUCKLAND, Thursday: The Ministry of Social Development has appointed Y&R New Zealand as their agency partner for the next evolution of the Stop Family Violence It’s not OK campaign. There was a pitch (the unsuccessful agencies have not been identified). The account was previously held by FCB.

AUCKLAND, Thursday: NBR is to set up a business journalist trainee scheme, under the tutelage of award-winning business journalist and in-house PR practitioner Jenni McManus.

SYDNEY, Thursday: Audio specialist agency Eardrum has sent its clients an audio Christmas card with a hidden message for creatives.