Council to partner with Bauer Media Group to launch new-look OurAuckland magazine

Auckland Council today announced a new partnership with New Zealand’s largest magazine publisher, Bauer Media Group, to produce and distribute the OurAuckland magazine at a reduced cost to ratepayers.

The new-look magazine will launch in December with a refreshed design, more in-depth content, wider distribution, and an increase in pages from 16 to 32.

The partnership will save the council around $300,000 over the next three years.

The OurAuckland magazine

OurAuckland is delivered to more than half a million households monthly, as part of the council’s statutory requirement to communicate with Aucklanders. It is currently produced in-house by the council and includes an events diary and local and regional news related to the council group.

The magazine will be funded in part by up to 10 pages of advertising, to be secured by Bauer under clear guidelines from the council. Council will retain full editorial control and can reuse content and images in other promotional campaigns. Distribution will grow to include more cafes, transport hubs and other areas of Auckland with high foot traffic.

Bauer Media Group produces many of New Zealand’s most well-known magazine titles including Metro, The NZ Listener and North & South. It also custom publishes the successful Kia Ora for Air New Zealand. Ben Fahy, who has recently joined Bauer from ICG Media, will oversee production of the magazine for Bauer.

The partnership supports council’s response the 17A Value for Money review instigated by the Mayor, which aims to deliver better value for ratepayers from council services.

Auckland Council Chief Executive Stephen Town said:

“We’re excited to partner with Bauer to deliver a new-look version of the magazine at a lower cost.

"Aucklanders are telling us they want to hear more about what’s happening in Auckland, whether it’s cycleways and parks, opportunities to have a say or events and free services in their community."

“We’ll be using the new-look magazine to talk to Aucklanders about many of these things, including Auckland Transport’s big push on road safety, the summer of events ahead, or major new developments in the city centre. The magazine will also provide local news, so people can read more about what’s happening in their community.”

Bauer Media Group’s Managing Director, Brendon Hill said:

“This is an opportunity to utilise Bauer’s vast publishing experience and deep understanding of Auckland audiences to help drive the council’s vision of becoming a world-class city with a magazine to match – one that will make Aucklanders feel proud of and connected to the city within which they live, work and play. Our partnership with Auckland Council will create a magazine that will embrace the diversity of Auckland, its people, places and stories.”

For the online version of OurAuckland, updated daily, visit ourauckland.nz

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