• Aidan Bennett, Kim McIntosh, Crystal Sharp, Klaudia Wal, Liz Cannon.
Tags: Channel

Spring is just around the corner...

As I write this it feels like it has been raining for weeks. But on queue, the skies appear to have cleared for the wonderful Takapuna Winter Lights Festival being held this coming weekend. Living pretty much in the middle of Takapuna, it is something we now look forward to every year. The crowds come, and the wonderful light show makes the area come alive. Well done to Dan, Terence and all involved in making it happen for another year.

Once again, our Channel Mag team of Kim, Liz, Crystal and myself have turned out a pretty good free magazine for the community with this August issue. Lots of reading for virtually everyone.
As I have written for the cover feature on Waitematā Endoscopy, I recently had a colonoscopy. Being none-the-wiser for some reason, my doctor referred me over the Harbour bridge. What I have since discovered is that one of the very best providers of this important medical procedure is right here on the Shore. This magazine is all about doing things locally and this is a good example that I am pleased to highlight.
As we all sit down to take in the Olympics in Paris, Christine Young has done an interesting feature on local athletes who will compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games being held in Torino (Italy) in early 2025. These athletes need your support, so make sure you have a read and support them if you can.
Things are economically hard for virtually everyone at the moment. There are not too many who are immune. For this issue, we have reached out to four successful people in our community who are involved in business and the financial sector for some wisdom around tackling the tough times. This Q&A feature is interesting – I particularly liked the advice that we should be ready to "thrive in 2025.”
I’ve had critical readers in the past suggesting that my photo appears too many times in the magazine. When I was exposed for criticism during my brief local board political career one disgruntled (anonymous) reader sent me clippings of my photo from this fine publication that was, from memory, 12 in the same issue! They may have had a point! I guess you can do that when you own it! However, I don’t apologise for my 'proud father' piece in this issue, on my daughter Courtney’s charity, ‘Premmie Knitting Club’. I am so proud that she is giving back and making a difference. I hope you enjoy that feature.
Have a great August – spring is just around the corner!   

Aidan Bennett, QSM
Publisher – Channel Magazine
Managing Director – Benefitz
aidan@benefitz.co.nz