Renault France has released an animated ad for Valentine’s Day illustrating the power of an electric vehicle.

After 21 years at Farmers over two stints, former head of marketing Dean Cook has hung up his purple tool belt, swapping it out for a red one with a move to The Warehouse Group. We sit down with Cook to reflect on the past two decades and how far the marketing and advertising industry has come in terms of in-house agencies, the proliferation of media channels and data. Plus, we hear his thoughts on how local retailers can compete with Amazon.

In 2017, as part of our Agency Perceptions research, we asked some of the country’s top marketers a few questions about their roles and their views on the country’s leading creative and media agencies. How were their needs changing? What did they look for in an agency? What were their frustrations? How did they choose the right partner? Which agencies stood out? The results made for very interesting reading and it was one of our most-talked-about projects of the year. So, for our upcoming agency issue, we’re doing it again, although this time we’re diving into the perceptions of specialists and asking marketers some questions about design, PR/experiential, digital, and direct marketing agencies. But wait! There’s more! In the end, it’s the perception of the ones that pay the bills that really matters. But this year we’re also asking the StopPress audience for their opinion on these agencies in an effort to get a wider industry view.

Kiwibank has teamed up with Shortland Street’s Jayden Daniels to release a new campaign, by agency Hello, targeting uni students who are keen to have their money reinvested into New Zealand.

Australian charity product organisation Thankyou has announced plans to launch in New Zealand after successful funding met the $600,000 criteria for entrance.

Emerging media company Viceland New Zealand have dipped its toes in the fashion space, teaming up with streetwear brand Commoners to release a bespoke range of clothing apparel.

Marketview has released its latest survey results that show what millennial consumers are really spending their hard-earnt money on.

DB Breweries has announced the appointment of Red Star at Dentsu Aegis Network as its media agency of record.

One year on from the launch of Yahoo Platforms, we talk to head of sales Arnaud Calonne about New Zealand uptake of digital advertising and where there’s still room to grow.

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

To encourage the intake of kangaroo meat in the daily Australian diet, this ad from Macro Meats uses a big dose of humour and a rhyming script to grab attention.

There’s been plenty of discussion from media pundits about Jeremy Wells and Hilary Barry getting the nod as new co-hosts of Seven Sharp. But what do the people who pay the bills think? Do new hosts have a big impact on ratings? Or is it more about engrained behaviour? StopPress checks in with some media industry players to see what impact the new team could – or could not – have.

English brand Specsavers has rolled out a new batch of videos for its evolving ‘Should have gone to Specsavers’ campaign.

The final note in the ASB Your Dream Gig experience has been announced with Universal Music Group New Zealand (UMG) and ASB looking for a social media expert to join Kiwi band The Naked and Famous in Los Angeles.

DDB and pharmaceutical company Pfizer New Zealand have created an app to help advanced stage renal cancer patients manage their treatment.

New Zealand Story, HRV and 7 Days show us how it’s done.