For better or for worse, the world has gone social and as the number of normal humans using social platforms increases, brands have invited themselves to their party. Social Media Club Auckland’s growth shows there’s plenty of interest in the scene from a commercial point of view and now it’s calling for nominations for the inaugural #SMCAKL Awards, with categories including Meteoric Rise on Social Media, Most Epic Tweet, Social Media Whoopsie, Best Display of Social Conscience and Best use of Social Media By a Brand or Company.

Coca-Cola has been on something of a self-flagellation mission of late in its advertising campaigns. In what can be seen as an effort to undo some of the environmental harm it has done due to the sheer number of empty plastic bottles strewn all over the world, the company has been focused on relaying a strong recycling message in many of its recent campaigns.

Fewer than two months after pinning rabbit skins to billboards, the sadistic team at Hell Pizza has now decided to turn its sadistic streak toward consumers by creating what it is being dubbed as the “hottest pizza in Australasia”. Topped with a generous helping of ghost peppers (which measure one million Scoville heat units), the Angry Dragon Pizza is largely a follow-on from the 2012 ‘Pizza Roulette’ campaign that had various unfortunate Kiwis reaching for the milk.

The marcomms industry continues to develop new ways of getting consumers’ attention—and, some would argue, new ways of getting awards judges’ attention. And with the current cacophony of commercial messages, it takes a lot to stand out. But Aussie agency Cummins & Partners has found a way to draw attention to the Creative Fuel conference—and poke fun at the persuasive arts in the process: combine everything the industry salivates over into one ridiculous idea.

Jason Delamore took over as general manager, marketing and communications at Auckland International Airport around four months ago and his appointment marked the first time that marketing earned a place at the executive table. Here’s how he sees it playing a big role in achieving some of the airport’s bold 30-year goals.

To those of inferior palate, the world of taste-testing seems wildly pretentious and filled with descriptors that have little to do with food or drink. So, in an effort to expose how laughable this tends to be, Scotch whisky company Laphroaig recently launched a campaign, via UK agency White Label, that invites common folk to share their opinions—however scathing—on its spirit.

Newcastle Brown Ale’s ‘No Bollocks’ campaign is a true gem and shows that there is some truth left in advertising (“now we handcraft the same delicious beer using huge, giant machines”). And it’s continued to give traditional marketing practices a ribbing (and stock footage companies a boost) with its latest promotion, which offers punters a cheque for $1 when they sign up to its Twitter account.

The New Zealand Institute of Management has bought New Zealand Management magazine from McDonald Vague, the receiver appointed to the magazine’s previous publisher, MediaWeb. Following this acquisition, the new owner struck up a publishing partnership with Auckland-based Adrenalin Publishing to resume publishing of the magazine, which is in its 60th year of circulation. PLUS: While McDonald Vague receiver Tony Maginness wouldn’t comment on how much the magazine had been sold for, he did admit that it was less than initially hoped for.

If Sharp Suits was the visual representation of the difficulties faced by those in agency land, this piece by Mike Larcher that’s based around giving God client feedback on the creation of the Earth, is the textual.

Drones are often associated with remote-controlled killing and maiming in war zones, but they’re starting to find a more peaceful, playful place in the real world, whether it’s taking a selfie with a difference, delivering a pizza or, potentially, dropping off your online purchases. And to announce its arrival in the Auckland market, Energy Online has put one to good use to get punters chatting about a mysterious UFO.

To some degree, the quarterly results of Nielsen’s readership and ABC’s circulation surveys have become predictable in showing the newspaper industry in decline. And while this was largely the case with the latest figures, there were also a few surprises in the mix. Updated: statistics for provincial papers removed.

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

In the past few years, the innovative marking teams behind Coca-Cola’s campaigns throughout the world have put our names on cans, created bottle-powered arcade games and taken a cheer-collecting bus across Argentina. And this inventive trend now continues with Bogota-based Leo Burnett’s introduction of the friendly twist bottle, which features a unique lid that can only be opened when paired with another.

Numbers can be spun to prove almost anything, something this industry often seems to be guilty of (thanks, percentage change!). And, in an effort to show that correlation is not causation, ‘statistical provocateur’ Tyler Vigen has created a brilliant data-rich, graph-heavy website.

Did you know that since 2011, traffic accidents have increased by 300% in China? A big reason for this is that pedestrians listening to music are drowning out ambient noise and getting run over. Thankfully Saatchi & Saatchi and VICE have come up with a clever little solution.

Since Marissa Mayer took over as chief executive at Yahoo, it’s acquired a whole heap of businesses (largely in the social and mobile space), started creating more of its own content and launched a new, less cluttered homepage in early 2013. And, after a bit of wait, New Zealand consumers and advertisers will get the benefit of that development with the rollout of the ‘new’ homepage in June.