We’ve been steaming through autumn, and, at the time of writing, the weather has remained pretty decent. There has been much commentary about product supplies and supply chain issues over the past year or so, including from me in this magazine. The chickens are really starting to come home to roost now. You will have seen just how difficult it is to get plaster board for example: there’s talk of a coffee shortage, car parts are being delayed, even buttons are in short supply etc. But we can now add paper to the list. For a country with so many trees, the concept of having a paper shortage seems a bit ludicrous, but yes, it is a thing. A global paper “drought” is underway. Our mills have all but closed, so we rely on the trees being felled from our own forests around the country, then shipped overseas, to finally be imported back as finished paper products – this has always seemed counter-productive to me. Paper is a problem. The shortage for us, producing this magazine with 36 pages and 60,000 copies each month, means it is challenging. We have, however, long been toying with the idea of increasing the number of pages but printing fewer editions. The current paper supply issues have accelerated those plans somewhat.

Back in mid 2015 we made the decision to ditch our 4-page newsletter for members and we charted a new course which was far more consumer-centric in terms of our communications.

The first issue of NEWMARKET. Magazine appeared in August 2015, with 28 pages and a print run of 5,000. The delightful Carolyn Taylor adorned the cover, it included a feature with then CEO of 2degrees, Stewart Sherriff, and a recipe from Jones the Grocer! Over the years the print run increased to 18,000 and then finally to 60,000, and more pages were added. The entire time we have been producing the magazine, it has been published, collated and designed by our team of gurus in-house, who, when, as each issue goes to print, begin the frenetic task of sourcing, copy writing, selling advertising and designing the next edition all over again. The magazine has served us well and has built up a loyal following and is distributed across the central fringe and eastern suburbs. It has even been spotted in the UK, Brazil, Australia, and one of our magazine stands mysteriously spent a stint on Karangahape Road! However, due to uncertainty and ongoing challenges with paper supply, we have made the decision to bring this monthly publication to an end. So dear reader, sounding a bit Bridgerton-esque, this May issue, is the last one you will see for a while.

There is good news though, we are pleased to let you know that a new NEWMARKET. quarterly magazine will be hitting letter boxes, magazine stands and café tables later this year. The new format will be bringing you more editorial content, opinion pieces, technology updates, entertainment, food & recipes, and plenty of art, homewares, and of course, fashion.

We thank you for your ongoing support, and for taking the time to read NEWMARKET. every month. We will be back bigger, better and bolder. Watch this space.

See you here soon,

Mark Knoff-Thomas

CEO, Newmarket Business Association