WildTomato
WildTomato is a monthly lifestyle magazine focused on the Nelson and Marlborough regions, as the Top of the South Island of New Zealand. The regional magazine was launched in July 2006.[1] It was put into liquidation in March 2021 with the first liquidators' reports showing it owed $84,000, mainly to the IRD.[2]
![]() WildTomato magazine, December 2008 issue | |
Editor | Lynda Papesch |
---|---|
Categories | Lifestyle |
Frequency | Monthly |
Founded | 2006 |
First issue | July 2006 |
Company | WildTomato Media |
Country | New Zealand |
History
Founder Murray Farquhar launched WildTomato as a 16-page local magazine in Nelson, New Zealand, in July 2006, aiming to create an "essential lifestyle magazine" for the Nelson region.[1] His initial plan was for a weekly printed magazine, before the magazine eventually shifted to a larger monthly publication.[3] The magazine targets a readership of people aged 30-plus in the middle-to-upper socio-economic groups.[4]
The current majority owner of the magazine is Jack Martin, an immigrant to Nelson from the United Kingdom. He initially became editor of WildTomato in December 2007. Martin oversaw a substantial evolution in the scope, size, print quality, and regional coverage of the magazine, which is published as an 80-plus-page, glossy magazine that focuses on the Top of the South Island of New Zealand. In March 2008, Martin began the process to buy WildTomato from Farquhar, eventually completing the sale in September 2008.[4]
In November 2009, WildTomato changed formats, becoming a standard-sized, 100-page magazine, shifting from its traditional oversized saddle-stitched format. The magazine's website was also revamped in 2009.[5]
In April 2016, Lynda Papesch (née Munden/Hooper) was appointed editor when Martin returned to the UK to oversea family business there. She remains the owner of WildTomato. Papesch comes from a journalistic background, starting her career at The Daily Post in Rotorua in 1977, then moving to The Marlborough Express in 1980. After stints as chief reporter, deputy editor, and acting editor with The Express, Papesch moved to Nelson Tasman in 2006 and started her own media company. She joined the advertising features department of The Nelson Mail, co-ordinating features from 2010 to 2014.
Community involvement
The magazine is involved in its local communities, sponsoring and otherwise being involved in several events[6][7] including featuring several on a monthly basis in its "Snapped" pages, and creating the annual reader-voted Dine Out Awards to highlight Top of the South food, wine, and hospitality.[8] The magazine is further entwined with its local regions by using local writers and photographers as its contributors.[9][10][11][12][13][14]
Content
The content of WildTomato reflects the neighbouring regions it covers.[15] WildTomato includes food, wine, and adventure activities. Many of the columns and regular features in the magazine focus on one or more of these aspects of the area.
Feature articles
The magazine includes larger feature articles. It also includes famous people who are originally from the area, such as Nobel Prize–winning nuclear physicist Baron Ernest Rutherford and former Prime Ministers Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Jenny Shipley.
Interviews
WildTomato includes a variety of themed interviews and publishes these interviews monthly. It aims to focus on people that are considered strongly associated with the Top of the South region. Previous interviewees featured in these columns include Golden Bay muralist Chris Finlayson,[16] motocross rider Josh Coppins, Tall Blacks basketball coach Nenad Vucinic, author Marguerite van Geldermalsen,[17] children's educational DVD creator Emma Heke[18] and NZ Open surfing champion Angie Koops.
Food, fashion, and health
As a lifestyle magazine, some content is also devoted to food, drink, fashion and health. Fashion also features, with images sometimes shot by English lifestyle photographer Daniel Allen.
References
- Official WildTomato website
- "NZ Companies Office".
- "NetMaestro website". Netmaestro.co.nz. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- "Wild Tomato founder sells his stake". The Nelson Mail. 16 September 2008. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
- "Official website". Wildtomato.co.nz. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- Official Nelson MarchFest website Archived 9 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- Peacock Promotions Ltd. "Women's Lifestyle Expo 2008 Official Website". Peacock.co.nz. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- Dine Out Awards 2009 website
- "artist Basil Steele website". Photoartist.co.nz. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- "writer Charlotte Squire website". Happyzine.co.nz. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- Tim Cuff (3 January 2012). "Photographer Tim Cuff website". Timcuff.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- Bill Goldridge Wealth Management website Archived 30 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- "photographer Grant Stirling website". Stirlingimages.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- Kiwicraig. "writer and book reviewer Craig Sisterson website". Kiwicrime.blogspot.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- "Unconditional | What's really going on in real estate". Voices.realestate.co.nz. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- Lucid Design, New Zealand. "artist Chris Finlayson website". Finlaysonart.co.nz. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- "Married to a Bedouin website". Marriedtoabedouin.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- "Ours DVD website". Oursdvd.co.nz. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- ""Photographers' favourite work goes on show" Nelson Mail article, 20 August 2008". Highbeam.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
- "Born to be Wild – WildTomato – The magazine for Nelson and Marlborough". WildTomato. Retrieved 12 January 2012.