New Zealand is currently ranked as the eighth happiest nation in the world, coming in behind the likes of Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Canada and the Netherlands, according to the latest edition of the World Happiness Report. While certainly a strong showing for our small island nation, New World doesn’t think it’s good enough and has launched a new campaign via Colenso BBDO premised on making New Zealand the happiest nation in the world.

There are some strict rules about advertising around the Olympics and alluding to the games, so much so that there is a 27-page report by the New Zealand Olympic Committee outlining the ‘do’s and ‘don’t’s of the 2016 Rio Olympics. We take a look at the rule book and reveal some of the brands here and further afield, who’ve been trying to steal some Olympic thunder.

Golf, handball, BMX, gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics have all made the list of Olympic sports and Chubbies Shorts wants men’s synchronised swimming to be the next.

It goes without saying people love a good mattress, but how do suppliers get consumers excited about buying a new one? Koala is a new mattress company in the New Zealand mix and it’s hoping some reverse psychology will bring in the buyers.

Our weekly wrap of good things, strange things, funny things, inspiring things and other things from inside the intertubes.

Coffee retailer and Auckland-based café Kokako put Design Dairy in charge of creating beautiful packaging for a limited edition coffee release, and it’s paid off with the vibrant design being selected as a finalist at The Dieline. and it’s paid off with the vibrant design being being shortlisted for the 2016 Best Design Awards and recognised at The Dieline Awards.

Hallenstein Glasson chief information officer Chris Reid chats about the giving consumers a consistent retail experience, not only across the group’s 110 stores in New Zealand and Australia but also online. And one thing he’s adamant about is that being omnichannel doesn’t equate to latching onto every new digital trinket.

Jeremy Wells is prolific in the media. One minute he might be fooling around with the Alternative Commentary Collective, next minute he’ll be imitating Mike Hosking on Hauraki, then he might pop up on-screen in a Meridian ad. Here’s what media the deadpan disc-jockey consumes in his own time.

Nike shows the true potential of athletes and motivational speeches in its latest ‘Unlimited You’ spot.

Donate Life launched a genius TVC last week via The Martin Agency, featuring a first class asshole named Coleman F. Sweeney who doesn’t seem to give a shit about anything or anyone, or at least it appears that way.

This week Meridian, High Performance New Zealand, Powerade and Countdown all deserve a pat on the back.

Nielsen data shows that 1.6 million New Zealanders tuned in to the summer Olympics over the weekend, with over 847,000 of those watching the opening ceremony. While still an impressive turnout by any ratings measure, it’s below the number that tuned in for London, Beijing, Sydney. PLUS: more Olympics ads.

BP has added Rainger & Rolfe to its ledger, putting the agency in charge of its retail activation, digital and loyalty business. This change is, however, limited to the below-the-line account, with Ogilvy remaining in charge of the brand.

Our weekly wrap of good things, strange things, funny things, inspiring things and other things from inside the intertubes.

Advertising usually only makes the mainstream media when an All Black features in a spot or when consumers lash out at something they deem to be offensive. However, today’s edition of the NZ Herald reserved a slot on its front page for a different kind of advertising story. We chat to Barnes Catmur Dentsu managing partner Paul Catmur about why this campaign has been so effective.

Australian department store Myer has come out in support of the Salvation Army women’s refuge with its Give Registry campaign.

The collectables fad has over the last few years taking hold of the nation, with retailers and petrol stations drawing in the masses with their miniature marvels. And while by all rational measures the craze should’ve run its course by now, Countdown is squeezing the lemon for all its worth by launching yet another round of collectables.

Hell hopes to change the perception of frozen pizzas with a new range called Baked set to roll out across supermarkets nationwide following a soft launch in Wellington.

There’s a new hashtag in the Twitterverse, and it’s fuelled by Kiwis being self deprecating about the bedrocks of New Zealand society, taking a dig at the Kiwi brand. How could they?

Your stereotypical beer ad often involves a man, seemingly dying of thirst, glugging down large mouthfuls of the bubbly, golden elixir. But, it turns out, women get thirsty too and are still largely underrepresented when it comes to beer advertising, despite the fact more affluent women started drinking beer last year than any other group.