Oceania creative and advertising industry developments

The advertising and creative industries in Australia and New Zealand have seen recent focus on both specific campaign achievements and the evolving business models of independent agencies.

In late August 2026, industry highlights included standout advertising work such as a rugby-themed campaign by Strategy Creative and emotional end-of-life care messaging for Hospice New Zealand. Australian entries featured diverse creative approaches, including a heavy metal music video for Austral Fisheries and a mechanic for DiDi. Agency rankings during this period showed McCann NZ leading in New Zealand, while Special led in Australia.

By September 2026, industry analysis shifted toward the rise of independent creative companies. Profiles of firms like New Zealand-based Augusto and the long-standing agency Spinach highlighted the advantages of the indie model, specifically citing increased agility, specialized team assembly, and the ability to integrate media and creative thinking more effectively than traditional large networks.