Despite what some might think, magazines are still alive and well. That’s certainly true for the quarterly Seafood New Zealand magazine, which is an important channel to tell our stories and celebrate our sector.
Magazines are especially important in an industry like ours, as many of our people aren’t stationed behind a desk – they’re out on the water, in factories and labs. A magazine is a great way to keep us all connected.
And it’s not just us – magazines remain hugely popular across New Zealand. According to Roy Morgan readership results for the 12 months to December 2024, 37.9% of New Zealanders aged 14+ (that's an estimated 1.65 million people) read magazines, whether in print or online via the web or an app.
With rising costs, we did – for a very quick second – consider stopping the magazine (or at least the print version). But our 2024 industry survey told us loud and clear that it remains a well-read and much-appreciated publication. Copies aren’t just read by one person; they often take centre place in wheelhouses and staffrooms, picked up, flicked through and put down many times over.
We did, however, have to look for ways to reduce costs. This meant shifting from monthly to quarterly issues, reviewing printing providers and changing our paper stock.
We are very grateful to our advertisers for their continued support and commitment to this publication. If you have a message to share with the commercial fishing industry and beyond, please get in touch. You’ll find copies of our magazine not just in the hands of fishers and industry folk, but also on the desks of government officials and media, in schools, and even in numerous local fish ‘n chip shops – a perfect read for hungry customers waiting for their Friday night feast.
We love bringing you stories of success, innovation and the science behind what we do. And what came through strongly in our survey is how much people enjoy reading about our people – the clever, dedicated, inspiring folks doing the hard mahi.
That focus on people came through so clearly in our survey that this year we launched a new “Catchin’ Up With…” section, where each issue we sit down for a chat with someone from our sector. In our Spring issue – out next week (online on Monday and then landing in mailboxes over the coming days) – we catch up with Chase Hann.
Growing up in Taranaki, Chase spent every spare moment out on the moana, jumping on any boat that would take him. That early passion carried him through all sorts of maritime adventures – from local fishing boats to superyachts and merchant ships. These days, Chase is managing the small but mighty team at Leigh Fish. He shares some great advice, reflects on the changes he’s seen over the years, and of course, reveals his favourite seafood.
Also in this Spring issue we kōrero with Toby Mills (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngaiterangi), an award-winning filmmaker with decades of experience both behind and in front of the camera. This year, together with Julian Arahanga, Mills co-directed and co-produced Mana Moana Mana Tangata, a new documentary about the seminal Māori Fisheries Settlement – aka the 1992 “Sealord Deal.”
So, beyond these two great stories what else is in our Spring issue? Well, we also:
- Look back at our 2025 conference, Seafood for Thought
- Meet Aquaculture New Zealand’s new CEO, Teena (Tee) Hale Pennington
- Share another amazing recipe from Zak and Tamar in Fishy Bits
- Offer a photographer’s visual essay featuring the 2025 hoki season in action
- And much more!
If you’re not subscribed and would like to be, please get in touch. And of course, we have an online version for those who prefer to read on their devices.
Last but not least, if you have a good story to tell, we’d love to hear from you. This industry magazine has been going strong for decades, and we have no plans to stop.
