CAANZ has issued the entry call for the 2017 Beacon Awards (formerly the NZ Media Awards). A date has yet to be set for the awards show, but it’s likely to be mid-April in Auckland.

London-based digital creative agency Phantom – now in expansion mode – has set its sights on opening an office in Auckland in 2017.

DB Breweries has announced the appointment of Saatchi & Saatchi as the lead creative agency on Orchard Thieves cider, following a creative pitch process. The pitch was led by Saatchi & Saatchi in Auckland, with support from their Sydney agency.

D&AD has named four creatives from New Zealand to sit on the juries for the 2017 awards. The Kiwis include Colenso’s Nick Worthington, who was already earlier named as foreman of the Creativity for Good jury.

Mid-town Auckland agency Federation has launched a campaign promoting Auckland’s new cycleway infrastructure for Auckland Transport. I Love My Ride follows Federation’s successful It’s All Go campaign for the same client.

The Australasian arm of global digital media provider Exponential Interactive – part of the Exponential group – has released a new Face Filter functionality as a part of their proprietary video advertising offering (VDX).

He may be Time magazine’s Person of the Year but Kiwis think Donald Trump would be the worst Santa Claus, according to Colmar Brunton’s 2016 Christmas survey.

Downtown Auckland public relations consultancy Wright Communications celebrated a decade in business by pitting its collective general knowledge against that of its clients and suppliers at a tongue-in-cheek quiz night earlier this week.

New Zealand’s newest and – according to Phil Clemas and Kent Harrison – most technologically advanced digital outdoor media company has launched its first smart billboard.

The Campaign Asia Pacific Australia/NZ Agency of the Year awards winners will be unveiled at the Ritz Carlton in Singapore tomorrow, with Colenso BBDO, Special Group, FCB and DDB in the running for the NZ Creative Agency of the Year 2016 title.