In an effort to hold politicians accountable to their promises, a cheeky Canadian tattoo parlour called MTL has launched a campaign offering a free tattoo to politicians willing to ink their campaign promises to their flesh.

For the launch of the second season of hit TV series Fargo, Neon has launched a hilarious campaign that brings together Mid-Western sweater fashion with the largely unexpected horrors that take place in the show. Called Fargo Woollens, the campaign features a collection of actual sweaters, which have been made specifically for promotional push. The products stay true to the ugly sweater style that is often celebrated by American families during Christmas time, but the design also feature gory elements in the shape of gashes, knife wounds and cleaver assaults.

Whether it’s ‘natural’, ‘supports’, ‘may’, ‘favourite’, ‘leading’ or ‘from’, the wording in ads is often suitably vague, makes claims that can’t really be disproven and regularly embraces the art of omission. Guaranteed is generally not a word placed in that category, so we couldn’t help but notice a fairly bold claim in a Vodafone ad in the business section of today’s Herald that talked up the benefits of getting a new phone.

Australian fast food chain Chicken Treat has handed its social media account to an actual chicken named Betty. But this isn’t the usual automated tweet approach. Instead, Chicken Treat has put a keyboard in a chicken’s coop and allows the chicken to peck away at whatever keys it chooses. And from the absolute gibberish that has been tweeted thus far, it’s evident that this chicken is not gifted in the literary arts.

To draw attention to the tech underpinning the headlights of its new A4 model, Audi has launched an innovative piece of outdoor advertising that picks up on pedestrians and illuminates them while they are crossing the road. In addition to illustrating the mobility of the lights in the system, the activation also serves make those crossing the road more visible when the streets are dark.

It seems like there’s an unending wave of innovative products coming out of the New Zealand tech sector at the moment. We’re making software and hardware for use in everything from nanotechnology to aerospace to kitchens to shops. And we’re not keeping it to ourselves. But, according to the latest Market Measures survey, New Zealand’s technology exporters are well behind their US competitors in using digital marketing techniques to sell themselves and their products.

Last week we ran a story on Radio New Zealand’s website redesign approach, after it went to the public to ask for suggestions around design and layout. Now, we chat to its head of digital, who has filled us in on some of the thinking behind the strategy.

We’re quite partial to the Monster Detector app here at StopPress, which lets kids (and maybe a few adults) rest easy after a quick scan of the bedroom. And to promote the Halloween launch of indie New Zealand film The Deadroom, Centron Pictures and Stun have employed some similar technology, creating a ‘paranormal investigation’ app that shows ghostly activity in your photos.

For latest extension of the ‘Legends’ campaign Clemenger’s content arm Flare (in conjunction with Eastern Bay of Plenty Road Safety) partnered with social media star Jimi Jackson on a content-led campaign that aims to reach young males who continue to take risks by getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

Back in 2013, Attitude Group, which has been telling the inspiring stories of New Zealanders living with disabilities, recovering from injuries and dealing with health problems since 1992 and broadcasting on TVNZ since 2005, moved into the online realm with Attitude Live. The site runs versions of its broadcast content, offered live streaming of the Sochi Winter Olympics and has been steadily growing its audience. And for its troubles, it beat competition from 86 countries to win the “inclusion and empowerment” category at the United Nations-based World Summit Awards and was also named by the Grand Jury as “best and most innovative digital innovation with high impact on society 2015”.

Unitec’s pitch process has come to a close, with independent agency Republik walking away with the institution’s strategic, creative and media business. PLUS: Chemistry Interaction and Republik win golds at Echo Awards in Boston.

Sam Gribben, former CEO of Serato, has ventured off to create his own app, Melodics, which aids aspiring DJs to learn the art of pad drumming. We found out more on the new app and how he’s rolling it out into a tech-crowded market.

It’s happening, the robots are preparing for world domination. Well, not really, but they are beginning to take our jobs. Here’s a few examples of robots who have made it to the shop floor as retail assistants.

Hell Pizza has gone free range, and to inform/attract hungry and ethically geared customers it’s enlisted Barnes, Catmur & Friends to roll out a new campaign, which includes a hint of Hell’s usual irreverent marketing style.

Marketing and information technology have always been siloed in discrete parts of businesses. But Accenture’s Michael Buckley argues that the emergence of new cross-departmental roles suggests that things are changing.

Todd McLeay has resigned from his position as chief executive of Whybin\TBWA, making way for Andrew Scott who is returning to New Zealand to lead the Auckland office with newly appointed executive creative director Christy Peacock.

Babich Wines is celebrating its upcoming centenary by sharing 100 stories of the Babich family from the business’s long history through an integrated campaign via Goodfolk.

New Zealand’s combination of pride and self-doubt means we still seem to crave foreign endorsement. And a report by Brand Finance, which “specialises in brand valuation and strategy, evaluates the financial impact of the image and reputation of the top 100 countries”, has given it to us, showing New Zealand sits at number five on the list of healthiest country brands.

The classic, reasonably disturbing ad for Neat 3B Action Cream is a brilliant example of the power of anthropomorphism and it’s a firm favourite in the StopPress offices (second only to Auckland Glass). And Bonds has added to that body of work with its latest effort featuring two talking testicles.

in the lead up to International Shakeout Day of Action scheduled for 15 October, NZGetThru has borrowed the animation talents of Weta Studios in a new campaign that features the characters from Thunderbirds Are Go. PLUS: Kiwi celebs appear in online video clips for the event.