Wow! It’s November, and as our striking cover indicates, Christmas is coming up very fast. Not only is our cover a beauty for this month, but the entire 112-page, absolutely FREE issue is very good as well. I’m clearly biased, but I reckon they get better and better. There wouldn’t be too many other community magazines around the country this size, distributing the number of copies we are – 22,000 every month!
Our team has been 'Out & About' all over the place, which is evident in the number of functions featured on our event pages. This has been a very popular feature of the magazine in every issue we have published over the 16+ years. It’s a great way to show many of the wonderful things happening in our community.
A very special feature of this issue is our Q&A with North Shore police staff who are helping to keep us all safe. Our chat with James, Tania, Ben and Troy makes for interesting reading.
I applaud the people driving and getting involved in ecological restoration projects around the country. Paula Arblaster has put together an informative feature on local North Shore initiative, Te Hōnonga a Iwi. Originally part of North Harbour Hockey, and then the Upper Waitematā Ecology Network (UWEN), Te Hōnonga a Iwi became a stand-alone entity in 2025 to enable growth, funding and resources. Paula’s piece explains how this has led to very important restoration teamwork taking place in the Albany area. Heart-warmingly, this project is also about connection – bringing together people who might not otherwise work alongside each other around a shared goal of improving the wellbeing of the natural environment and our community.
I received a lot of very kind feedback on my piece in the October issue about my health struggles with Parkinson’s disease. I am unashamedly plugging and supporting the ‘Climb for Parkinson's’ fundraising initiative being organised by Cure Parkinson’s NZ. It is a thrill to see local business AFT Pharmaceuticals also getting in behind this initiative in a big way. Personally, I’m pledging to climb every day during the fundraising period in early 2027 (the 37-day challenge runs from 15 January to 20 February), whether that is up North Head, Takarunga/Mount Victoria, Rangitoto or any other upward challenge where I am that given day. I would love you to consider taking part as well. All funds raised go to the important work carried out by Cure Parkinson’s NZ.
Finally, I hope you are buying all your Christmas presents north of the Harbour Bridge! Have a great November.
Aidan Bennett, QSM
Publisher, Channel Magazine
Founder and Managing Director, Benefitz
aidan@benefitz.co.nz
