"ESSENTIAL SERVICES is a zine made in lockdown, but not necessarily about lockdown." – Henry Oliver
In light of the shock news that Bauer Media, which published New Zealand's most popular magazines (Metro, The Listener, Woman’s Day, Women’s Weekly, the list goes on), had decided to close its New Zealand operations, former editor of Metro Henry Oliver decided to start a zine and brought together a group of writers, artists and thinkers, to produce the first (and hopefully not the only) issue of ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
"It is the product of me and some people whose work I love, doing work for the work, rather than in furtherance of a career, though I do hope we can continue to live in a world where people can continue to make a living writing or drawing or taking photos or making magazines. Essential services — to me, anyway.
Still, it was important to the kaupapa of the project that contributors were paid for their work. And for that I thank Jeremy Hansen and Britomart Group for providing the funds that enabled me to pay the writ- ers and illustrators and photographers (and subeditors) with more than just exposure. After all, you can’t buy hand sanitiser with exposure.
I hope you find something of value here. Something like what you’ve gotten out of magazines for all those years before making magazines was deemed to be financially unsustainable (by many of their owners) and unessential (by the government). And I hope we can make another one." Henry Oliver
Made during lockdown but more of a "small affirmation of life in the face of media industry collapse", Oliver worked with writers, artists and thinkers to produce this 56 page publication, allowing those involved to keep doing what they love for a while longer, and readers to keep enjoying the voices we've read for years.
Available FREE as a PDF download to read on your laptop, kindle, or in print from select Britomart locations, ESSENTIAL SERVICES is essential reading.
If you’d like a copy, but, for reasons of mobility/access/geography, can’t make it to downtown Auckland, send a stamped self-addressed A4 envelope to: ESSENTIAL SERVICES / 30 Bellwood Ave / Mt Eden / Auckland 2014 and one will be posted back to you.
Click here to learn more.