Welcome to our June 2026 issue of Channel Mag.
As I write this, Auckland FC has just won the A-League final in just their second year of existence. A wonderful feat that the team at Benefitz have enjoyed immensely, having been involved from the outset as their print and signage partner. Well done, Auckland FC, we have loved assisting your efforts!
In this issue, we have a focus on Health and Wellbeing, which is highlighted by our interesting cover courtesy of our friends at Waitematā Endoscopy. Their cover feature busts the myths around bowel cancer and is an informative read. We have a range of other health contributions in this issue, including an excellent Q&A feature with a handful of North Shore health professionals.
Hand in hand with this health focus is a personal piece from me in the form of an interview with Lisa Roach, who is helping me in a big way on my journey of learning how to live with Parkinson’s disease. As you will read, Lisa’s Counterpunch Parkinson’s Boxing programme is helping me big-time. I hope that by highlighting this, it can help others as well.
Channel Mag has followed Jono Ridler’s journey closely from Swim4TheGulf in 2023 to his latest 1,300km Swim4TheOcean in April this year. Liz Cannon speaks with Jono about his latest remarkable effort and his passionate call to safeguard our marine environment. Staying on the sustainability theme, Paula Arblaster has done an interview with our good friend Sam Judd, the energetic founder of Sustainable Coastlines, and Emily Penn of eXXpedition about their partnership to map plastic pollution from the sea to source. We know that plastic is a big environmental problem, so we applaud the work they are doing. Benefitz has been supporting Sustainable Coastlines since the beginning.
Local charity Abilities Group endured a devastating fire that destroyed their Glenfield premises in April last year. Just over a year on, Christine Young catches up with Peter Fraher and Michael van der Merwe of Abilities to talk about their rise from the ashes. You’ll enjoy reading this heartwarming piece about how a community has generously rallied to assist this very important not-for-profit entity that has changed the lives of so many individuals over six decades.
I trust you will enjoy your FREE June 2026 issue of Channel Magazine. Have a great June.
Aidan Bennett, QSM
Publisher, Channel Magazine
Founder and Managing Director, Benefitz
aidan@benefitz.co.nz
