In a move that draws parallels with the Radio Network’s recent Classic Hits’ station brand shift, MediaWorks’ More FM has also been busy on the refresh front, unveiling a new look that features a spotted logo and the positioning phrase: “Live it. Love it. Sing it.” According to More FM Network programme director Ande Macpherson, who joined the station in February to help reconnect the brand to its core values, there’s been a disconnect with what More FM actually stood for.

As everyone knows, the internet is a wonderful thing to waste time on and social media is often singled out as the biggest cause of this timewastery. Now comScore’s Media Metrix service has delivered some local proof, with its recent study on internet usage in New Zealand showing social networking is the most popular online activity, accounting for one of every five minutes spent online in May.

There’s been plenty of discussion about the Major Events Management Act (MEMA) and the steps being taken by organisers to limit so-called ambush marketing during the upcoming ‘Big Rugby Event’. Some say the rules are too draconian and kowtow to the corporates, while others believe they’re fair enough because they aim to protect the sizable investment of the Rugby World Cup’s official sponsors. Urgent Courier’s Mobile AdVert has already come under fire from OMANZ for a possible breach. And we’ve found a campaign on AA’s Bookabach.co.nz that looks like it’s in a very similar boat. 

It’s been difficult to miss the Yellow Local campaign around Auckland recently, with a host of regularly changing billboards on the streets and an array of regularly changing TVCs on our screens. But when we spoke to Localist’s chief executive Blair Glubb a few weeks ago he said it was taking a very different approach than its main competitor and building the name up in the market by putting its salesforce to work before launching an ad campaign. But now that time has come, with a couple of ads that show what can happen ‘when people share what’s good around here’. 

When it comes to controlling the global purse strings, some international stats suggest women make over 80 percent of all the purchasing decisions. Chris Ivers and Julie Stratton, who met at JWT in their 20s and between them have years of experience on both agency and client-side here and overseas, are embracing this burgeoning international trend and have launched new Auckland advertising agency Chalis Group, “the only New Zealand agency specialising in advertising to women”.

…Publicis Mojo and Waitemata films send Kenneth on a radio-controlled journey for the Auckland City Mission’s winter appeal, DDB NZ create a semi-internet meme with its new Pascall Swirl campaign, Tracta launches campaigns for the New Zealand Credit Union and Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union and Sean Fitzpatrick promotes full credit checking. 

Brancott Estate—creators of the original Marlborough sauvignon blanc and the company formerly known as Montana—forked out to sponsor the Rugby World Cup and, as the official wine of the tournament, VIPs from around the world will be imbibing its sweet nectar during the event. But never fear, paupers can still get a taste of the good stuff, with the added excitement of a new vintage housed in a limited edition RWC bottle. We’ve got a couple of triple packs to give away and all you have to do is come up with a rugby-related wine brand (for example, Yellow Cardonnay, Fly Half Gully or Liniment Cliffs). 

How consumers buy stuff has changed a helluva lot in the past year and, after getting its mitts on 65 percent of the daily deal market in New Zealand, GrabOne has played a big part in that evolution. So, to celebrate its first birthday—and the sale of 91,000 movie tickets, 26,000 cupcakes, 39,000 massages and one million holes of golf—it’s made an ad featuring the consumers and merchants who made it all possible.

One more sleep until the Big Sleep Out, where a group of 74 hardy captains of industry and various social crusaders will sleep rough for one night in Auckland to help raise money and awareness for the LifeWise Trust and help bring homelessness to an end. And they’re on the hunt for donations. 

Vizualise NZ general manager Carl Pavletich (L) and director Rupert Deans

Even an earthquake striking in the middle of a massive international project didn’t slow down Christchurch-based digital agency Vizualise for long. But if it wasn’t for cloud computing, director Rupert Deans says continuing to work on a “major project for a US-based charity” that’s yet to launch would have been impossible.