Year in Review 2025: Kelly Harvey

Every year, StopPress catches up with a group of industry leaders from across Aotearoa to talk about the year that was. From the highlights and the lowlights to their favourite foods, fruits and Christmas traditions, they give us a little insight into 2025 as well as a look forward to 2026.

Kelly Harvey is head of New Zealand at oOh!media.

What was the most surprising thing that happened in the out of home world in 2025?

That out of home kept growing – fast – even as the ground shifted.

In NZ, OOH captured a record ~18.8% share of agency media (SMI) and continued to outpace TV and some digital channels. In a year when many expected caution, and there was an exceptional amount of uncertainty, advertisers doubled down on high quality, brand safe reach – and OOH delivered.

How did AI make you feel this year?

Cautious, but excited. It doesn’t take too much digging to uncover fear mongering, but once you cut through the noise, the possibilities are incredible. AI feels like a power tool – brilliant when used with care and purpose, dangerous if left unchecked. For me, it’s about curiosity over panic: let it accelerate the how, while we stay firmly in charge of the why.

What was your favourite project you worked on?

A couple of standouts: the knOOH rollout and training across agencies – finally giving NZ a unified audience measurement system.

Turning setback into momentum: As a business we faced an incredibly uncertain and challenging year – Q4 has really brought out our true strengths; looking after each other, focusing on small wins and delivering our best for clients and commercial partners.

What OOH trends did you follow this year and what trends are you expecting in 2026?

Trends:

• Data-led outcomes: more focus on ROI, more proof that OOH delivers.
• pDOOH Growth: buyers seeking flexibility, we saw sustained double-digit uplift.
• Premium digitisation: selective new screen and smarter placements adding quality, not just quantity.

2026:

• Retail as a hero: continued digitisation and proof points that support this powerful environment and the impact that it has on campaign outcomes.
• Changing landscape: as much as we’d all like things to settle after a turbulent 2025, I think there’s still going to be some change in ’26 – whatever happens, we’re here for it.

OOH has had another strong year in Aotearoa: why does this medium continue to grow?

OOH solves two timeless problems – scale and simplicity – perfectly. It reaches people in the real world, consistently, and increasingly with data verified audiences. At oOh!media, we’re really homing in on our ability to provide advertisers with the scale they desire, whilst sorting the internal systems to deliver campaigns as simple, fast and smart as possible.

Quick fire five

Favourite Christmas dessert?

Xmas cake – can’t wait! We usually demolish the first in the first day or so and make at least another three over the Xmas break.

Favourite OOH campaign?

I’d have to say, ‘Art in the Hood’, which we proudly ran for the sixth consecutive year in November. There’s something special about taking artwork from local schools and bringing it to life on our network – transforming everyday streets into galleries. This year’s theme, Love My City, was a beautiful lens into how Kiwi kids see their hometowns. It didn’t just showcase creativity; it made public spaces feel more vibrant and connected to the communities we serve.

Favourite media you consumed this year (book, podcast, film, TV show)?

I must admit I haven’t had much of a chance to read a book this year, but I can’t wait to get stuck into Rachel Paris’ book, See How They Fall, over the break.

Favourite drink?

Gin + Sonic (soda + tonic) – delish.

Favourite office tool?

The coffee machine (does that count)?

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