There is a lot going on locally - and indeed, on our very own desk. But, we're kind of distracted by the fact that Spencer Pratt could quite possibly become the Mayor of Los Angeles. We feel weirdly proud, flabbergasted, horrified and amused all at the same time. Not because of his policies. But because, those of us who enjoyed the guilty pleasure of reality telly trash back in the day (we frame this as watching the first emergence of unscripted formats) know exactly who Spen

This article originally appeared on Stoppress - https://stoppress.co.nz/awards/curiousity-and-change-at-the-worthies-2026/ A small but mighty – and certainly very worthy – group of communications and marketing leaders gathered in the Grand Hall of Parliament this week for the first Worthies Conference and Awards. The venue felt fitting, elevating the significance of what we were celebrating – work that drives impact and creates positive societal change. Designed specifically

Jason Gunn’s Easily Said brand architecture is a great example of a personal brand and business brand working together - rather than competing with each other. When Jason came to us at These Guys I Know, he was operating simply as Jason Gunn. Which makes sense - Jason already had decades of trust, profile and connection with audiences across New Zealand. But as he made the transition from broadcast into business, there was a bigger strategic question to answer. Because while

Amanda Wilson, brand strategist at These Guys I Know, reflects on a big 2025 where the agency delivered creative campaigns like “Thanks Driver” that sparked national conversation and showcased its strengths in PR, brand awareness and media planning. Highlighting work that drives impact beyond commercial outcomes, Wilson shares insights on the year’s challenges, achievements and what’s ahead in 2026.

These Guys I Know returns for its third year as strategy and communications partner to the Z Manu World Champs, helping accelerate event activation, PR services, media planning and brand awareness across 10 cities in New Zealand and Australia.

Tributes for FCB and DDB are already flowing globally in “something we prepared earlier” style obituaries, as it’s announced that the two brands will fold into McCann in New Zealand - and cease to exist around the world off the back of the acquisition of Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG) by Omnicom. It won't come as a surprise to anyone within the organisations impacted; a friend in a senior role at one of the agencies had outlined this likely outcome to me a couple of w

Reflecting on that one time, we ran marketing and brand for New Zealand’s largest music retail chain, Sounds. That was back in the day - when music stores were still 'a thing'. When disruption hit, it moved quickly. One minute, we were making and breaking the international careers of rockstars. We were launching the careers of homegrown superstars and deciding what albums were purchased in what quantities. We showcased music in-store, held rock star signing events and enjoye

A New Era of Workspaces These Guys I Know has a strong interest in the future of work and workplaces. We have even led a “work from anywhere” tourism campaign, which aligns with our innovative approach. We’ve never adopted a traditional workspace model. Like our business, our approach to workspaces is flexible. We pop up! We design around client needs and how teams choose to work. We’ve run hybrid models, remote teams, and pop-up spaces, especially when we are in production m

Content creation has never been easier. That’s good news - and bad news, depending how you look at it. It means of course, that anyone with a phone and an idea can make a post, a reel, a video, a blog - and millions of pieces of content flood the internet every single day. But with that ease comes a flood of noise.

​​ Performance Based PR Services – A Modern PR Agency Approach These Guys I Know is a New Zealand PR agency offering performance based PR services for brands that want measurable results, not just press releases. Our PR services are designed for modern media, combining earned media, multi channel storytelling, and accountability driven outcomes. At These Guys I Know we built our service offerings to address pain points we had when client side. A biggie was PR. Paying, relativ

When it comes to Business to Business (B2B), an area of specialisation for These Guys I Know, the #1 driver of success is TRUST. Ultimately, that a client feels safe doing business with you. Personal drivers are taking increasing priority in the buyer journey. This is a key focus area for These Guys I Know - and it’s particularly important when clients are doing things like putting their story out into the public arena, but also in general - when they are spending their valu

Arriving with the family at Disneyland in LA, the security guard twisted the tiny feet of the furry doll hanging from a backpack and said, “Be careful with those here, people steal them.” In a sea of content and product clutter, authenticity isn’t just a brand value - it’s a currency, and Labubus have it in spades. Labubu hunting has become something of a scavenger hunt - an unexpected adventure for both kids and adults. It’s also a window into a broader cultural phenomenon.

Why Personal Branding Matters Personal branding is a key service offered by These Guys I Know. Over the years, we’ve collaborated with celebrities, founders, business leaders, and high-profile partners like McKinsey. Here’s a little secret: Personal branding isn’t just about being seen. It’s about being seen in the right way. There’s a common myth that to build a successful personal brand, you need a big, noisy profile. However, the truth is that positioning matters far more

If we ever needed evidence that the world of news and event coverage has changed forever, the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs leaves us in no doubt. Wow. A team member at These Guys I Know is captivated by the trial and has followed the trial exclusively on TikTok, updated throughout the day by her chosen creators - @devotedly.yours, with 1.7 million followers being her “broadcaster” of choice. The creators themselves, being quite the spectacle, have become the subject of media

Positioning Brand New Zealand to Drive Our Tourism Industry Forward! Let's Go! 100% Pure New Zealand: A Fresh Start for Tourism Tourism New Zealand has officially returned to its iconic global brand position: 100% Pure New Zealand . As proud New Zealanders, we can't express how excited we are about this strong brand platform. This campaign represents a renewed focus and comes with a budget of $5.5 million . In today's media landscape, that’s a significant investment. The crea

From Could to Should: The Strategy Filter Your Business Needs

This article was originally published on StopPress - https://stoppress.co.nz/news/z-manu-world-champs-a-masterclass-in-sponsor-activation...

As a business leader in today’s “always on” world it can be difficult to stop - boundaries between worklife and homelife are increasingly...

It was a long road to get there but a great sense of satisfaction to see all three episodes of Heavyweight with Dave Letele now available...

I’m a little bit confused about the spend figures mentioned around these tourism initiatives of late (I won’t comment on the creative as...