Following a fairly good showing from the Kiwi agencies in the last batch of AWARD finalists, only Colenso BBDO, DDB, TBWA\, Clemenger BBDO and Tourism New Zealand made the cut in the film and video categories. Behold the finalists.

In these modern times, where wonderous technology lets you communicate with people all around the world and tell e-friends exactly what you had for lunch, the physical presence of other humans is basically becoming an annoyance. But we still need to communicate with our friends and loved ones from time to time, and if you’re going to do it over the internet, you might as well do it in style with Logitech’s range of HD webcams *salesman’s teeth sparkle*.

It’s Tip Top’s 75th birthday this year (check out some of Kiwi company’s classic ads featured in the last edition of NZ Marketing here). And to celebrate, it’s handing out 50,000 free Jelly Tips in 11 different locations around the country today. So, if you’re in Whangarei, Auckland (Takapuna and Pakuranga), Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill at 3.30pm, you’ll have 75 minutes to get your hands on “the darling of ice creams”. 

The All Blacks skills video that was released last year to promote Sky’s Rugby Channel was a big hit. So much so that a few players from the Brumbies even tried to replicate it, with very little success but plenty of comedy value. Well, the skillful, playful All Blacks—and the special effects jiggery pokery of Brandspank—have just released a new summer edition, with some particularly impressive snarler skills being displayed by Corey Jane.

A senior Wellington intellectual property consultant is warning Kiwis and small businesses hoping to take advantage of the commercial opportunities afforded by the Rugby World Cup that, when it comes to protecting the interests of the tournament’s commercial partners, the authorities are likely to be just as vigilant as their FIFA companions were at the Football World Cup in South Africa. But not everyone thinks New Zealand’s business opportunists will have their hands completely tied by the supposedly draconian rugby overlords.

As everyone knows, fishermen love nothing more than gloating about the monsters of the deep they’ve reeled in and, when they aren’t grossly exaggerating the size of aforementioned monsters, they occasionally even provide evidence of their catch. There are plenty of passionate rod wielders in the marcomms sector so if you’ve caught a few pearlers recently or plan on doing so in the next year, then Fishing Legends, a new competition created by our mates at NZ Fishing World, could bring you a vast array of fish-related riches. And all you have to do is upload photos and videos of your moment of glory to the Fishing Legends website.

…as SEEK goes on a job hunt of its own, The Sweet Shop appoints an appropriately named executive producer in Australia, Acumen Republic shores up its newish Aussie office with a big signing, SOAR printing announces a new operations manager and Pride in Print announces its new judging convenor.

It’s Super Bowl time. That time of year when Americans go mad for budget-blowing commercials, patriotic musicians belting out the Star-Spangled Banner and, oh yeah, American Football.

But while Christina Aguilera grabbed everyone’s attention when she messed up the words to the national anthem, as per usual, it …

Last week saw little change from the usual suspects. However it must be summer because the Ellerslie Flower Show is on, Kings Plant Barn are having a sale and Water Safety NZ remind us how important learning to swim is, but not on a full stomach of Streets Splice. And …

While there’s numerous graphic commercials on television utilising the gory shock factor to ram home the message about the perils of drink driving, Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Ltd has devised an interactive approach to encourage responsible drinking. Represented in New Zealand by DB Breweries, APB is playing responsible corporate …

If you whipped through the pages of the New Zealand Herald yesterday you might have seen the double page spread for the latest news service on the block, NZ Notworth News, due to launch later this month. It’s not news as you know it and takes a mocking and …

While many recent marcom graduates may still be rummaging around for that elusive job, 10 lucky newbies from across the country have been hand-picked from hundreds to take part in the inaugural intake of the Clemenger Group Graduate Programme.

As part of the programme, graduates rotate through Colenso BBDO, Clemenger …

New Zealand is well and truly bathing in the light of tourism goodness at the moment. First comes news that December saw the largest influx of international visitor into the country since records began, then comes the announcement at the Wanderlust Travel Awards that Enzed’s been named the third …

For too long Kiwis have been unable to thrust examples of the best and worst packaging in New Zealand into the spotlight. But that’s all changed thanks to the launch of the Unpackit Packaging Awards, the brainchild of Wanaka-based “resource recovery community enterprise” Wastebusters.

The Rugby World Cup is only a few months away and most New Zealanders, including our mincing strutter of a prime minister, are starting to get a little hot under the collar. But, unlike the seemingly excessive television broadcasting deal, where most of the games will be available to view on three different channels, there will be just one official radio station. So for all those poor sods who can’t get themselves in front of a screen, the Radio Network’s Radio Sport will be the place to hear all 48 games after it was named as the official radio broadcaster of Rugby World Cup 2011.

…Fairfax Magazines does the old switcheroo, Foodtown Magazine ups its business game, the NBR welcomes a new adman, OMD starts a family affair and Ideas Shop and Nickelodeon get digital.

With a new TV channel about to launch, a few smart cookies at the helm who have well and truly laid the gauntlet at the feet of TVNZ, some positive radio results, good news on the interactive front and a new group buying venture on the horizon, 2011 is destined to be a fairly exciting one for MediaWorks. And, after a summer of reflection, Roger Beaumont, the director of marketing and communications, has decided the house is in good enough order for him to step down from his role.

2011 has got off to a busy start for Zephyr, with three new accounts being added to an already impressive looking client roster.

Raydar has picked up the Virgin Blue Group account in New Zealand, which will see it handle advertising in New Zealand and Pacific Island markets for Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue airlines.