TelstraClear is the Royal New Zealand ballet's new National Sponsor in a million dollar, three and a half year partnership.

Supermarkets will only be able to store and advertise alcohol in one “non-prominent” part of their premises, if the Alcohol Reform Bill becomes law.

This year the awards will be judged and presented in a new format with the winners being be announced in an NBR special supplement on November 13.

In a sign of how tough things have got in the sponsor market, even our premium sports brand, the All Blacks, is struggling to attract new backers. There is good news, and bad.

Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew says his organisation is in advanced talks with a company that will replace Philips as sponsor of the TriNations: “While we don’t have any ink on paper yet, I’m very confident a new agreement will be signed.”

The biggest deal in New Zealand sport, the Adidas sponsorship of the All Blacks, sees the contract paid out in euros – a first for both parties.

The new contract runs from 2009-2019, replacing the existing contract, which was to expire in 2011. The new agreement has two value step-ups in 2012 and 2015, which NZRU chief executive Steve Tew says will protect the union’s finances long term.

Ford Motor Company NZ has been knocked back in a bid to pull out of a sponsorship deal with V8 Supercar outfit, Team Kiwi Racing.

The three-year deal, involving livery, sponsorship money, loan cars and vehicles at a nominal cost, was due to end in January 2010.

But last month Ford said it was terminating the agreement, citing what it said was an insolvency event, in breach of their contract.