Fox braced to sell Maori magazine hit by hard times

Willie Jackson (L) and John Tamihere (R) with Derek Fox on a <i>Mana</i> cover. Photo / Supplied

The part-owner and editor of the Maori affairs magazine Mana has announced he is looking for a buyer as the publication struggles to survive.

Derek Fox knows that Mana is at a crossroads but he isn't waving any white flags yet and hopes a potential owner will come forward.

At its peak Mana had 30 staff, working in print and radio. Now it has one fulltime journalist and, like other publications in the print industry, it is having to look at ways it can survive.

The Herald understands that Mr Fox tried to sell the publication for $1 million last year.

He said there had been three approaches from groups wanting to buy Mana, but negotiations never got as far as a price.

Former Mana journalist Rereata Makiha said the magazine captured the soul of Maori stories when it launched 17 years ago.

"The magic was in how people pulled together to change how the mainstream reported Maori stories.

"It was hugely ground-breaking and it came from people who were disaffected and a bit pissed off about how Maori stories were told. Print was harder than television to change.

"But I think it's run its course, it's done its job because there's been huge improvements [in the mainstream]. There's a hell of a lot more depth there now," Mr Makiha said

The magazine needed to redefine what it was about, he said.

Mr Fox, a media manager for the Maori Party, said nothing accomplished at Mana had been easy.

"Everything's been a substantial struggle. I don't drive around in a flash car, I don't draw a salary. Mana's always been a cause and that is to tell our stories."

While Mr Fox said he wasn't considering active offers to sell at the moment, he had prepared himself "emotionally" for the possibility.

He said the bi-monthly publication, which has a 15,000 print run and 119,000 readers, still had enormous potential and a reach that was better than Maori Television.

Asked what effect an acrimonious split between himself and former owner and associate editor Garry Wilson in 2004 had had on the publication, Mr Fox said too much had been made of that in media circles.

Broadcaster Willie Jackson said both the Manukau Urban Maori Authority, which he heads, and Waipareira Trust, which his Radio Live co-host John Tamihere runs, were interested in buying Mana - if the price was right. He estimated its value at between $200,000 and $300,000.

There was no doubt that Maori had an enduring affection for it, he said.

"We think the name is a good brand, no doubt about that. It's got a good name and history but it needs a bit of spark."