As Taranaki emerges from its second lockdown, LIVE’s Spring edition embraces re-thinks and rejuvenation that have evolved from COVID’s restrictions.
Like many local businesses, we’ve been thinking about what we can do better.
For the first time ever, we will be widely distributing LIVE in Stratford. We’ve printed an extra 1,000 copies, taking our total circulation to 14,000 — the most ever!
There’s a 12 page feature on the central Taranaki town starting on page 78 and you’ll find a sprinkling of Stratford-related stories throughout the magazine too.
It’s all part of our drive to help local businesses thrive in this unsettling era.
The 2020 lockdown forced massive changes to New Zealand’s event industry and locally, two major events turned what many saw as a negative into a plus.
The Taranaki Garden Festival and Taranaki Arts Trail joined forces to create an uber event for the region that hugely benefitted the gardens, the artists and the hospitality sector.
Visitors lapped up the sensory feast and record numbers ensured the new alliance became an annual fixture.
Check out our coverage of this year’s combined effort, starting on page 8.
Covid and lockdown also seem to have inspired a new wave of wellness … or maybe we just all had the time to reflect on our diet, exercise habits and lifestyle.
Our 16 page HEALTH & WELLBEING feature (starts page 54) couldn’t have come at a better time.
Michelle Robinson explores The Wellness Movement, while Venture Taranaki showcases eight local boutique food producers, and Olympic swimmer Zac Reid recounts his Tokyo experiences.
Lastly, we have a bit of a milestone to celebrate … this issue marks 17 years of LIVE Magazine in the community.
We wouldn’t exist without our advertisers and we really appreciate your support.
It is a great feeling to be able to give you all extra coverage this issue at no extra cost.
A lot of people don’t realise that LIVE is an independent magazine, owned by my husband Tony and I (that’s us on a morning tea break) and we publish it from our home in Fitzroy. It keeps the overheads low … in fact we haven’t had to increase our advertising rates for over 15 years.
We sell advertising space to local businesses — they get their message out to just over half the homes in New Plymouth, most homes in Oakura, and into almost every hotel and motel room in the city. And we can provide a truly local magazine, solely about Taranaki people and issues.
(Sorry we can’t get a LIVE to every home, but we’d have to double our advertising rates and that would price us out of existence).
The hard-working team at LIVE are phenomenal and I’d also like to give a shout out to
local graphic designers … you have all helped us out at different times to supply advertisers’ logos and photos. You’ve made life easier for our clients, and also for us, at what has been an unsettling and somewhat stressful time for all. Thank you.
Live life.