Metro

Metro is a glossy lifestyle magazine published in New Zealand. It has a strong focus on the city of Auckland, with reportage of issues and society. It has been published monthly, then bimonthly and now quarterly. The magazine was first published independently by Mick Mason, Clive Curry and Bruce Palmer. Bauer Media Group ceased publication of Metro in April 2020 because of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 17 July 2020, Metro was acquired by the independent publisher Simon Chesterman. History Metro was established in 1981. The debut of the magazine coincided with the rapid expansion of the New Zealand economy that occurred from 1984, following the election of the Fourth Labour Government, which implemented widespread neoliberal deregulation and economic reform. The increased access to imported luxury goods made Metro magazine an attractive media environment for advertisers. From Metros ninth issue in March 1982 until 2002, the magazine featured an influential gossip column called Felicity Ferret. The writer was anonymous, although in May 2006 Auckland restaurant owner Fran Fisher told Metro that she had pitched the idea to editor Warwick Roger in 1982, and had contributed to it – along with Roger – until she left New Zealand in December 1983. The Ferret's initials hinted at her own name. While multiple writers were known to have written for the column over the years, after 1983 the Ferret was suspected to be largely the work of a former model and notorious Auckland socialite, Judith Baragwanath. Metro magazine's success led to the launch of a sister title, North and South, edited by Robyn Langwell. This publication took a wider look at New Zealand regional stories. Langwell was editor of North & South until June 2007. A third title, the women's interest magazine More, was launched before the stable was bought by ACP Media, an Australian publishing consortium.