Iconic Magazine [Metro] turns 25

Media Release
Iconic Magazine turns 25

Auckland's Metro magazine will mark its 25th birthday next week with a special anniversary issue devoted to the history of the magazine and the city it covers.

Launched in 1981, Metro was New Zealand's first city magazine and was quickly distinguished by its irreverent personality and high-quality journalism.

New editor Lauren Quaintance said Auckland needed an international-standard city magazine even more now than it did two-and-a-half decades ago.

"Auckland has changed so much and Aucklanders need Metro to help them navigate this city," she said. "Whether it's a developer irrevocably changing the cityscape, or simply where to find a good noodle bar it's in Metro."

Quaintance paid tribute to Metro's founding editor, Warwick Roger, who is often described as the father of New Zealand's magazine industry.

"Warwick Roger was an editor in the spirit of the legendary American magazine editors. He was brave and tenacious and demanded high standards."

In Metro's 25th anniversary issue (on sale April 24):

-25 People Who Shaped Auckland chosen by a panel including the broadcaster and journalist Marcia Russell; architectural historian and curator Douglas Lloyd-Jenkins; emeritus professor of history at the University of Auckland Russell Stone; the veteran adman turned mayor Bob Harvey and Warwick Roger the founding editor of Metro.

-Felicity Ferret - the magazine's once feared gossip columnist - reveals her identity and writes about what it was like to be the dreaded Ferret.

-Senior writer Gilbert Wong appeals for the JAFA stereotype so loved by New Zealanders south of the Bombays to be put to rest - for good.

-Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey profiles his friend Warwick Roger.

-From Blenheimer to La-Z-Boys we look at the way we were in 1981.

-We publish a selection of our best (and worst) covers and the best of those unflattering On The Town party snaps from the last 25 years.

-Ends-

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