Media Release: 7 December 2006
AA Torque Magazine Takes Off
New Zealand’s first-ever consumer motoring magazine has been launched by the AA this week.
AA Torque editor Jacqui Madelin, says while there are plenty of motoring magazines for car enthusiasts, ‘everyday
motorists’ need access to more information based on ‘real-life’ issues.
“New Zealanders need a practical motoring magazine; a magazine for people who need to fit child seats, park in our
crowded cities, traverse our rural roads and follow the same road rules as the rest of us. That magazine is AA Torque,”
she says.
“We own an amazingly large number of vehicles - over 2.5 million of them - for our small population. Second only to
Luxembourg, New Zealand has the highest number of cars per capita with 613 cars for every 1000 people in the country. At
the heart of it, New Zealand is a driving nation and as motorists we need a relevant and useful read that reflects
issues which affect us all.
“AA Torque will cover a broad spread of topics - all with a strong consumer flavour, including practical advice, new and
used car reviews, and information on technical and other motoring developments,” Madelin says.
The development of AA Torque, in association with Fairfax Magazines, was largely driven by AA Members, says Greg
Hunting, the AA’s General Manager of Corporate Communications.
“AA Torque is based on extensive research which revealed New Zealanders wanted a motoring magazine more relevant to
their daily lives,” he says.
“It’s a logical move for the AA to fill this space, considering we have been the voice of the New Zealand motorists for
over 100 years and have a vast pool of knowledge and wealth of information to draw on.”
The magazine, which will be published quarterly, will feature some of the country’s best motoring writers. The AA’s
Technical Advice and Motoring Policy teams will also have input into the magazine, he says.
The AA already produces one of New Zealand’s most popular and widely-read magazines, AA Directions, however AA Torque is
the motoring organisation’s first foray into subscription-based magazines.
“The consumer information which AA Torque provides has widespread value which extends well beyond just the AA Membership
base. It’s not just another coffee-table addition. It will become the consumer motoring bible for all New Zealand
motorists,” he says.
AA Torque is now available through selected magazine retailers, in AA Centres nationwide or by calling 0800 456 100.
ENDS