Ohakune publisher to launch NZ Geographic magazine

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 257, 4 October 1988, Page 3

Ohakune publisher to launch NZ Geographic magazine

New Zealand's answer to National Geographic - a Kiwi version of the great American magazine - has been launched, with the first issue due in December.

Entitled New Zealand Geographic, the quarterly magazine is being hailed by Ohakune publisher John Woods as a "celebration of New Zealand and New Zealanders". "New Zealand Geo-

graphic's mission is to advance geographical knowledge and stimulate a positive interest in New Zealanders, their history, wildlife and environment," he says. "We'll be encouraging

Kiwis to rediscover their country, and take part in adventure, exploration and research." Editor Kennedy Warne says New Zealand Geographic's strength is that it will appeal to mainstream New Zealanders while providing a valuable avenue for presenting

quality academic research in a readable form. "We're deliberately avoiding contemporary politics and current issues - they're well canvassed in other magazines and newspapers. We wish to concentrate on stories that make the heart of New Zealand tick."

Mr Warne says the magazine will have a major educational role, assisting schools by publishing well-re-searched, well-illus-trated articles of the highest quality. To maintain editorial balance and assist New Zealand Geographic's long-term development, two boards of experts are being established, drawing on the professional skills and experience of leading New Zealanders. Editorial board An editorial board will vet all articles for accuracy and uphold the independence and integrity of the magazine and an expedition and scientific research board will collate scientific data and conduct research for New Zealand Geographic articles. In time it will sponsor expeditions in the national interest although these activities will be funded separately from the magazine. New Zealand's leading writers, artists, photographers and cartographers have been commissioned to prepare material for the first issue on topics including the w i 1 d horses of the central North Island, the remarkable wildlife o f windswept Campbell Island, Fiordland's Kepler Track, glass manufacturing in New Zealand, undersea habitats of Goat Island marine reserve and the toughest challenge faced by mountaineer Graeme Dingle. Each issue of New Zealand Geographic is expected to run to at

least 128 pages, with a maximum of 24 pages of advertising. Publisher John Woods says advertising must be in keeping with the image of the magazine, especially because of its likely w i d e distribution to schools. "Tobacco ads will not be accepted and we reserve the right to decline any advertisement not in keeping with our standards." New Zealand Geographic will be sold largely by subscription and promoted through media and direct mail although copies will be available for sale at booksellers throughout the country. "We see an important target as being New Zealand's 3 0 0 0 schools, universities and tertiary institutes and we would like to think the magazine would be available in every classroom." Ohakune connection New Zealand Geographic will be published in Grafton, ' Auckland, by Ruapehu Publishers Ltd with all editorial, advertising saies, promotion and production being handled there. Accounting and administration will b e handled at Ruapehu Publishers' office in Ohakune where the company publishes the Waimarino Bulletin, the Ruapehu region's community newspaper, and the nationally-dis-tributed Adventure Magazine. Ruapehu Publishers, an independent company, has a nine-year

history of publishing community newspapers and periodicals in New Zealand and has won several awards during that time. Three fulltime staff are working on the first issue of N e w Zealand Geographic: Editor Kennedy Warne, MSc (Zoology), 31 - responsible for editorial content, design and production. He has had nine years in publishing production, magazine editing, photojournalism, public relations consultancy and advertising account management. Researcher Julia Marshall, BA (English), 25 - senior journalist responsible for editorial research, sourcing of contract illustrators", photographers and writers, filing systems and some writing. She has worked on several publications including Adventure Magazine, the New Zealand Herald and a Queenstown community newspaper. Publisher John Woods, 35 - responsible for overall management, direction, advertising saies and marketing. He has background in publishing and communications, 12 years as a working journalist, seven years as a publisher of community newspapers and magazines and two years as an advertising agent and public relations consultant. He has won a number of awards for entrepreneurship (Enterprise New Zealand Award for his million-copy C'mon Kiwi publication), publishing and marketing.