Throughout the month of March, Auckland was host to an international fleet of racing yachts and their crews taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race. After winning a three-way competitive pitch, experiential agency Fluxx was asked to come up with activation and sponsorship concepts for the SCA (known as Asaleo are in NZ) all-female racing team. In response to this brief, Fluxx worked with the global SCA and local Asaleo Care teams to bring their activation ideas to life.

Approximately 300 hours of video content are uploaded to YouTube every minute—and the vast majority of it is created by regular users who capture personal experiences with Go Pros, smartphones and laptop cameras. So prolific is this trend of user-generated content that millennials are now sometimes referred to as Generation C, for Generation Content.

Vodka brand J.A. Baczewski created a short film, which really pulls on the heartstrings, about a 94-year-old man who is in the possession of a very old unopened J.A. Baczewski vodka bottle, which he wished to return to the legal heirs of the brand owners after stealing it during the second world war.

Social TV agency Darewin has released a new campaign to promote the third season of the 13ème Rue (part of NBCUniversal) series Bates Motel. And for it, the agency has created a site that puts you in the skin of famous Psycho character Norman Bates.

Cigna Life Insurance chief executive Lance Walker has been appointed the new chair of the Marketing Association and will take up the position vacated by the retiring Debra Hall.

Digital agency Touchcast has released an online game called ‘Get Out Stay Out’ for the New Zealand Fire Service to help educate young Kiwi kids about fire safety.

The creative process is difficult enough to explain, let alone visualise. Yet, this is exactly what 8com director Michael Humphrey has attempted to do in a video promoting and exhibition of artist Dick Frizzell’s work.

As the nation readies itself for a long weekend of hot cross buns and relaxation, Michael Goldthorpe takes inspiration from Easter and points out that facts are largely irrelevant when someone tells a good story.

Every year, brands tend to jump on special occasions with the enthusiasm of a cat attacking a red dot on a kitchen floor. And without fail this sees consumers inundated with promotional material related to Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day and pretty much any other day that has even slight significance to someone. So, in what has come to be an annual tradition, here’s a rundown of how various brands—including Google, Campbell Live, GrabOne and BMW—attempted to trick gullible consumers this year.

Sixty-seven years is a long time to watch from the sidelines. So we’ve decided to step up. In a joint venture, NZ Marketing magazine, NZRetail, StopPress and The Register will enter the business market by installing our Gravy Train™ pie-warmers in every Uber cab.

Every year, brands engage in a bit of April Fools’ banter by devising ridiculous new offers. And in keeping with its quirky promotional tone, Pak ‘n Save has this year sent out a release claiming to have have launched Pak ‘n Save, an on-site beauty service called Pak ‘n Shave.

A new PSA launched by the California Department of Public Health aims to to take on the E-cigarette industry and the harm that it is causing to the younger generation. Often marketed as the healthier alternative to standard cigarettes, E-cigarettes are in fact also addictive and can cause a high number of health risks to users.

David Beckham and James Corden have created a hilarious juxtaposition in an underwear ad parody on the Late Late Show.

Auckland brand and packaging agency Brother Design maintained its good form at the Vertex Awards by picking up gold, silver and bronze awards at the latest edition of the annual show.

Hirepool has brought mediaR onboard as its new full service partner following a “rigorous” creative pitch that is understood to have involved five agencies.