Fr Michael Hill (left) and the newly-appointed editor of
Tui Motu, Fr Kevin Toomey, in Dunedin yesterday. Photo by
Peter McIntosh.
It counts Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and the
Pope's New Zealand envoy as subscribers, and now a
Dunedin-based magazine is set to have its first change of
editor in its 12-year history.
The independent Catholic magazine Tui Motu was first
published in September 1997, following the demise of the
country's oldest weekly newspaper, The New Zealand
Tablet, the previous year.
Former Tablet editor Michael Hill, "the golfer but
not the jeweller", said he was approached by the members of
the Dominican Order to begin a new magazine, in response to
the closure of the Dunedin-based weekly newspaper.
Fr Hill said the Tablet was one of only a handful of
independent Catholic newspapers in the world and the
Dominican Order felt that tradition should continue with
Tui Motu.
"Tui Motu doesn't make any money, but importantly it
doesn't lose any money . . .
"That is my achievement."
Launched in September 1997 with a cover price of $4, the
magazine, which now costs $5, boasts a circulation of about
2500, including several hundred overseas subscribers.
Politicians Mr English and Sue Bradford were among the
subscribers, as was the apostolic nuncio (Pope's envoy) to
New Zealand, and several Anglican bishops.
Fr Hill said the magazine, which has always stayed at 32
pages, had been published in colour since last year but had
retained the same editorial directive, "to be a Catholic
paper that looks out".
The 78-year-old said it was time to stand aside from his
unpaid position with the magazine.
Fr Kevin Toomey is to take over from February.
The role was more than just writing and editing, but required
book-keeping abilities, an eye for photographs and the
patience to stuff several thousand copies into envelopes, he
said.
Fr Toomey (63), who was involved in founding the magazine
while he was working in Rome, said he was looking forward to
his new role and working with the many contributors and
volunteers who made it happen each month.
The magazine had a reputation of courting controversy and
tackling issues, and those issues changed as New Zealand
changed, he said.
"I will give it a good go."
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