thisNZlife

EDITOR’S LETTER

Greetings from the desk of Kate Coughlan

I wrote in the first editor’s letter of NZ Life & Leisure, “Everything is possible, and anything can happen.” We were launching a magazine reflecting the bright side of life and chronicling the best of our land and its people. I hoped it would enhance lives and inspire New Zealanders with its authenticity and loveliness. It remains true to these principles today.

My belief that “anything can happen” did not include a world-stopping and breath- choking pandemic. Then it happened. Fortunately, as “everything is possible”, I know we’ll see it off with disciplined action and the miracle of vaccination.

For this special 100th issue letter, I wanted to have Yolanta Woldendorp, our art director, alongside me, where she’s been for every step of NZ Life & Leisure to date. She’s a clever and determined woman and ensures the magazine’s visual magnificence. She cares about the magazine as profoundly as I do.

Our scheming about a unique cover for the 100th issue began many, many months ago. We commissioned a painting from artist Tanya Wolfkamp ( NZ Life & Leisure, March/April) to give you, our readers, a memento of the magazine. A beautiful print to frame, hang on your wall and enjoy forever. I wanted it to feature a kōtare, off icially named the sacred kingfisher. Kōtare is a holy bird for Polynesians who revere its powers over the ocean. I see magic in its bright feathers winking in the sunlight and admire the majesty in its solitary, watchful presence.

Just as we launched into this complicated cover printing process with four special elements — a cut- out, a gatefold, a fluoro colour and overglossing — the government imposed level- 4 restrictions. Could we keep going with such a challenging cover? I didn’t see Yolanta for eight weeks — the longest we’ve gone without labouring side-by-side in the two decades we’ve worked together. Never fear, she masterminded it all from afar. Tanya’s beautiful artwork, with the gleaming kōtare, is in its exact starring spot. Our thanks (and admiration) to Debbie Curle for her clever pre-press work and to the skilled printers at Webstar, who mastered the technical challenges. It’s probably the most ambitious and sophisticated magazine cover produced in this country.

Thank you to the NZ Life & Leisure family — readers, subscribers, advertisers, staff, and freelancers. These 100 wonderful issues are worth celebrating. Please support our advertisers, gift the magazine for Christmas and send us a photo of how you frame and hang your artwork.

You will never believe what landed in a tree outside my window this morning at the very moment I sat writing to you. I have never seen a kingfisher before in my suburban Auckland garden, but there it was, an aquamarine jewel on a bare branch. I wonder what the kōtare came to tell me.

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2021-11-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thisnzlife.pressreader.com/article/281809992079848

NZ Lifestyle Magazine Group