Year in Review 2025
Year in Review 2025: Rob Hutchinson
Rob Hutchinson says his favourite project of 2025 was developing and launching TVNZ’s co-viewing capability.
Year in Review 2025
Year in Review 2025: Sarah Henry
Are Media’s Sarah Henry says it has been satisfying to see the media company grow this year: readership, ad spend and engagement are all up.
Year in Review 2025
Wrap up 2025 with Year in Review
The year has flown by. Just time to wrap up 2025 with the annual StopPress Year in Review series, plus a selection box of goodies to read.
Campaigns
Stark drowning message from Water Safety NZ and These Guys I Know
As we relax into summer, Water Safety NZ and These Guys I Know reminds us that this is peak drowning season.
Year in Review 2025
Year in Review 2025: Kelly Harvey
oOh!media’s Kelly Harvey says it was a challenging year but Q4 brought out the team’s strengths as they celebrated all wins, big and small.
Campaigns
Woolworths, TVNZ and dentsu Aotearoa help save Christmas
TVNZ’s Santa Tracker is a Christmas Eve fixture. This festive season it’s working even harder: delivering brand storytelling for Woolworths.
Year in Review 2025
Year in Review 2025: Courtney Baker
Phantom Billstickers’ Courtney Baker says 2025 has been all about growth and pushing boundaries, as well as plenty of beach walks.
News
Whittaker’s whimsical window brings Christmas magic
Inviting people to explore the ‘wonder of Whittaker’s’, the whimsical window displays a factory making the Kiwi company’s chocolate pods.
Movings & Shakings
One Plus One promotes two
One Plus One Communications has promoted Hannah Kronast and Rosalie Basham to account director and senior account manager, respectively.
Campaigns
Pak’nWrap your Christmas gifts with Pak’nSave and FCB Aotearoa
Pak’nSave is tackling one of the biggest financial stressors of the festive season – gift-giving – with its latest campaign via FCB Aotearoa.
Year in Review 2025
Year in Review 2025: Amy Errman
AUT’s Amy Errman says she returned to the fundamentals this year and in 2026, will be looking at ways to produce more empathethic marketing.
Awards
Chemistry wins two silver Echo Awards for Station of Light campaign
Chemistry has won two silvers at the 2025 Echo Awards for its Station of Light campaign supporting Hato Hone St John.
Campaigns
ACC releases new campaign via Film Construction and VML
New Zealand production company Film Construction has collaborated with VML to launch the latest campaign for ACC.
Campaigns
Spruik and Aspen NZ bring Zantac to OOH
Creative agency Spruik is leading the relaunch of Zantac as an over-the-counter option for heartburn.
Year in Review 2025
Year in Review 2025: Simon Lendrum
Comms Council CEO Simon Lendrum says the team’s top priority is continuing to champion Kiwi agencies. Oh, and that Six Seven was 2025’s best trend.
Campaigns
Auckland Transport and Thompson Spencer launch Joy Rides campaign
This festive season, Auckland Transport and Thompson Spencer are driving smiles all over Auckland with Joy Rides.
Opinion
The true price of AI and the internet in 2025
Machines have been accessing our information online for two decades, but with AI the stakes have changed, writes FCB Media’s Agata Ziemianska.
Partner articles
Are’s standout year
Are Media New Zealand, the publisher behind Woman’s Day, NZ Woman’s Weekly, Kia Ora and more, has had a stellar 2025.
Campaigns
Unicef reframes holiday giving with Phantom Billstickers
Unicef Aotearoa and Phantom Billstickers have delivered an awareness campaign, inspiring New Zealanders to donate to children in crisis.
Awards
Run’s Raymond Otene McKay appointed to Dubai Lynx jury
Run Aotearoa co-founder and CCO Raymond Otene McKay has been appointed to the Direct and Outdoor Jury at the Dubai Lynx Awards.
International
Around the World: The top 10 media stories from 2025
In his final column for 2025, media expert Antony Young rounds up the top 10 industry stories that made headlines around the globe.
News
iHeartCountry to lead NZME’s partnership with Tussock Country Music Festival 2026
NZME has announced a partnership with Kiwi country music event Tussock Country, as it returns to Gore in 2026.
Awards
Seek wins Kantar Ad Impact Award for October
Kantar’s October Ad Impact Award goes to Seek. ‘Tis the season to find your next job’ stands out for its seasonal storytelling.
Campaigns
TVNZ, Together and Contact Energy power up summer with Super Streamers campaign
TVNZ, Together and Contact Energy have launched the Super Streamers campaign on TVNZ+, rewarding viewers for streaming their favourite shows.
News
Billboard baggings: Ikea rivals react
Ikea’s competition aren’t taking it lying down. As the Swedish giant opened in Auckland’s Sylvia Park, rival brands were poking fun.
Accounts
TSB appoints YoungShand to drive brand transformation
New Zealand-owned bank TSB has appointed independent agency YoungShand as its creative partner following a competitive pitch.
Opinion
2026 marketing predictions: Why OOH could take centre stage
Vistar Media managing director APAC Ben Baker shares how out of home can help brands, especially small businesses, stand out in 2026.
Campaigns
TSB captures raw emotions in new video campaign
TSB’s new social-first campaign captures real customer reactions, heartfelt surprises and authentic moments of kindness.
Opinion
Global collaboration matters more than ever: 2025 IAB Summit
The IAB Global Summit brought together some of the brightest industry minds and reminded me just how globally connected our work now is.
News
Auto Trader and NZ Autocar join forces
Auto Trader and NZ Autocar have joined forces to create what both describe as the country’s new home of motoring.