Innovative new direction for Maori magazines

Innovative new direction for Maori magazines

MEDIA RELEASE

10 June 2009

On the eve of Matariki – the Maori New Year – TU MAI, the 10-year-old indigenous magazine, announces it will add a hard copy version of the recently launched online magazine KOHA to its pages.

“Matariki is traditionally about regrouping, and establishing new directions, so given the economic climate, the timing and fit is perfect,” says TU MAI publisher Ata Te Kanawa.

Having published its 100thedition and relocated from Hamilton to Wellington in September 2008, Te Kanawa says the nature of the magazine industry coupled with the challenges of a recession, “has certainly facilitated a period of creative thinking.”

In April, FOMANA, the commercial arm of FOMA – Federation of Maori Authorities, supported by NZ Trade and Enterprise launched its online KOHA magazine, which profiles indigenous businesses and targets potential investors wanting to do business with Maori.

Te Kanawa approached FOMANA soon after, offering to add a hard copy version of KOHA to her TU MAI product and include it in an established distribution and subscriber database, in exchange for the rights to sell advertising around the business focused content of the print version of KOHA.

“The team at FOMANA had contemplated the merit of a hard copy version but distribution seemed problematic for them so the offer was welcomed, and of course it adds considerable business grunt to the lifestyle content of TU MAI,” says Te Kanawa.

While FOMANA has released the online KOHA internationally, FOMANA CEO Paul Morgan says the domestic edition will enhance the promotion of a culture of commerce. “Maori businesses are growing at an exponential rate and already offer a number of world class global investment opportunities. I believe KOHA will make it easier for the world and Maori to connect.”

KEY POINTS

· TU MAI increases its pages to include a print version of on line magazine KOHA.

· The conjoint magazine initiative demonstrates indigenous collaboration between two independent Maori companies.

· TU MAI magazine was launched at Te Papa in 1999 and published its centennial edition in 2008. At the same time, TU MAI was rated 3rd Most Exciting Maori company by the National Business Review and credited by the Wellingtonian for getting the scoop on Barack Obama in 2006.

· FOMANA is the commercial arm of FOMA – Federation of Maori Authorities representing Maori business entities with an estimated collective asset base of $6 billion.

ENDS

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