On Monday, Whittaker’s launched its latest novelty chocolate-lolly mash up with a chocolatey answer to retro bakesale treat coconut ice. The Coconut Ice Surprise chocolate has a twist though, 20c from each block goes to Plunket – a charity which New Zealanders agree is a worthy cause. However, to relate the chocolate to the charity, Whittaker’s has built the campaign around baby gender reveal parties, causing a backlash from the public who argue gender norms have expanded beyond blue for boys and pink for girls.

With journalism facing the challenge of social media and fake news, TVNZ and NZME are striking back, with campaigns championing their work.

Deals, expansions and acquisitions across the Industry.

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

One of Aotearoa’s biggest companies, Spark, is a firm supporter of the LGBTQI+ community through its annual Pride advertising campaigns, its partnership with charity OUTline, and its diversity and inclusion values within the company. Head of brand at Spark New Zealand Sarah Williams explains why the company chose to champion this social issue, how these campaigns attract both the loudest praise and the greatest vilification from New Zealanders, and why that it makes it the most important cause the company champions.

Sky Television’s first half profit has dropped sharply as it battles tough competition, forcing it to raise prices.

Strategy Creative announced this week that they had won the Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU) account after a competitive pitch process.

NZME’s FY 2018 results are out, showing a net profit of $11.6 million, down 44 percent on FY 2017.

New Zealand’s so often getting left out on world maps, even the government is having a laugh – that is after appearing to have somehow missed us off too.

A round of applause for The Edge, House of Travel, and Joblist.

Philip Morris – the largest tobacco company in the world – has declared it will transform the tobacco industry in support of New Zealand’s Smokefree 2025 initiative. In time, it plans to stub out its cigarette range – which includes Marlboro, Parliament and Virginia S and move towards a future of fruity, trendy vapes and e-cigarettes. It’s a tactical maneuver from the giant cigarette corporate as alternative cigarettes slowly receive validation by scientists, governments, and consumers – but is the move really a ploy for Smokefree 2025, or more of a smoke screen by Philip Morris? And in the midst of all this, has its sudden departure from cigarettes led to a branding identity crisis? We speak to the managing director, James Williams, who explains the company’s foray into the smoke-free market.

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

Yesterday, Hell Pizza and BC&F Dentsu challenged the idea of Valentine’s Day with a campaign promoting a night for one, rather than a night out with the masses at a restaurant or bar.

FCB has confirmed the appointment of Slade Gill as a creative director.

House of Travel’s in-house team has launched a new brand campaign, ‘Better Together’, that uses real customer stories to show the importance of working with a travel agent when booking overseas trips.

Nestlé has launched a campaign to celebrate the iconic Kiwi ‘Original Kiwi Dip’.

​DB is making a song and dance about its DB Export Low Carb beer, with an original song and music video called ‘I’m Drinking It For You’ by Colenso BBDO and The Sweetshop.

A round of applause for BNZ, Trade Me, ASB Bank and DB Export.