The Lowdown archives

The story behind The Lowdown, from the editor Steve King

The first issue of the Lowdown was in March 2017. It arose partly from the meetings of the South Dunedin Stakeholders group, which was a loose conglomeration of statutory agencies, NGOs, community groups and private individuals. We met as a response to the flood of 2015, which had caused widespread anger towards the city council, but also contributed to perceptions in the community that South Dunedin was treated as a second-rate area that no-one cared about.

I began putting it together because I felt that it could be a vehicle that might help inform people about the good things that were taking place, and to encourage people to value living here. I also wanted to provide a platform for people to learn what steps city authorities were taking to avoid a repeat of the flood, a bit like a general community notice board.

After a few early editions, with printing provided by Connect South (until they folded), a sponsor came forward from Harcourts Real Estate, and since February 2018, they have printed 1,500 copies each edition, usually eight times per year.

Contributions from the community have fluctuated, but over the last four years we have published personal profiles, run political stories and election coverage, celebrated local successes, promoted and reported on community hui, followed the development of the South Dunedin Community Network, profiled local groups and businesses, and generally tried to promote and celebrate South Dunedin in all its fascinating diversity.

We are now up to edition 30, at February 2021, and we have more volunteers and funding to increase our print run to 2,500. It is now tied more firmly to the Network and features regular updates of Network activities.

Among the people I would like to thank are our sponsors, Ganesh and Adrija Rout from Harcourts; the Fitzroy team from Community Care Trust who have been the core of our delivery volunteers, the folks from the Seedling who are delivery volunteers, the Barham whānau for their delivery efforts early on, all of our current individual delivery volunteers, and the folks at the South Dunedin Community Network and the stakeholders group, for the uncomplaining proofreading,  their constant encouragement and kind feedback.

2023

2022

The Lowdown Issue 42 Hakihea-December 2022
The Lowdown Issue 39 Hōngongoi-July 2022
The Lowdown Issue 41 Whiringa-ā-Nuku-October 2022
The Lowdown Issue 38 Haratua-May 2022
The Lowdown Issue 40 Mahuru-September 2022
The Lowdown Issue 37 Paenga-whāwhā/April 2022
The Lowdown Issue 36 Poutū-te-Rangi/March 2022

2021

Issue 35 – Whiringa-a-rangi/November 2021
Issue 34 -Mahuru/September 2021
Issue 33 – Pipiri/June 2021
Issue 32 – Haratua/May 2021
Issue 31 – Poutū-te-rangi/March 2021
Issue 30 – Hui Tanguru/February 2021

2020

Issue 29 – Hakihea/December 2020
Issue 28 – Whiringa-ā-Rangi/November 2020
Issue 27 – Election 2020 special feature
Issue 26 – Mahuru/September 2020
Issue 25 – Hereturikōkā/August 2020
Issue 24 – Hōngongoi/July 2020
Issue 24 – Paengawhāwhā/April 2020
Issue 23 – Poutū-te-rangi/March 2020

2019

Issue 22 – Whiringa-ā-nuku/October 2019
Issue 21 – Mahuru/September 2019
Issue 20 – Here-Turi-Kōkā/August 2019
Issue 19 – Pipiri/June 2019
Issue 18 – Haratua/May 2019
Issue 17 – Paenga Whāwhā /April 2019
Issue 16 – Hui Tanguru/February 2019

2018

Issue 15 – Hakihea/December 2018

Issue 14 – Whiringa-ā-Nuku/October 2018

Issue 13 – Mahuru/September 2018

Issue 12 – July/Hongongoi 2018 (Matariki edition)

Issue 11 – Haratua/May 2018

Issue 10 – Poutū-te-Rangi/March 2018

Issue 9 – Hui Tanguru/February 2018

2017

Issue 8 – Hakihea/December 2017

Issue 7 – Whiringa-ā-Nuku/Whiringa-ā-Rangi October/November 2017

Issue 6 – Mahuru/September 2017

Issue 5 – Hereturikōkā/August 2017

Issue 4 – Pipiri/June 2017

Issue 3 – Paenga-whā whā /Haratua April/May 2017

Issue 2 – Poutü-te-Rangi/Paenga-whā whā March/April 2017

Issue 1 – Hui Tanguru/February 2017