Crux launches podcast series and expands reader engagement

Crux has published our first podcast series today along with plans to increase our newsletter options to include a daily update of our top stories. The new products were announced at a reader event at The Rees hotel Thursday evening.

The new content addresses the challenges of the current media environment in a way that keeps all of the main Crux content free for everybody with the new podcast and newsletter options designed to be part of a custom package that will add value for subscribers.

The podcast series will be published weekly, as two episodes, with the first four episodes being free to access.

In July the podcast will be available on Substack along with the daily and weekly newsletters. Subscribers will be able to choose the frequency of newsletters that they receive. All existing Crux members will automatically qualify for the new custom packages.

The Crux Substack subscription will be $20 per month or a discounted $200 per year (a $40 saving).

The launch event was attended by a wide range of Crux readers with presentations from Crux managing editor Peter Newport and former Stuff commercial director Steve Hutton.

Crux is also planning a new 'club' for Crux readers at a lower price point that will encourage participation in Crux feedback events and more content to be published from community groups and schools.

The first podcast episode features first-term Queenstown Lakes District Councillor Cody Tucker discussing the pain, and occasional satisfaction, of representing the Lake Hāwea community on our local council.

Peter Newport, Kim Bowden and Lauren Pattemore also talk about the week's top stories, including new workers accommodation at the BP roundabout, the Wānaka sports community missing out on funding that seems to be going just to Queenstown, the demolition of that famous toxic house on Ladies Mile and whether the Silverlight studio project is finally dead - or not.

A companion podcast (Episode 2) features the full interview with Councillor Tucker.

The Podcast is available free of charge on Substack, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Future episodes include interviews with Matt Wong (QLDC councillor), Glen Sowry (chief executive of Queenstown Airport), Esther Whitehead (QLDC councillor), Julie Scott (chief executive of the community housing trust), Quentin Smith (deputy mayor of QLDC) and Simon Telfer (chair of the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board).

Each episode also includes a weekly roundup of the district’s top stories from the Crux editorial team.

Check out our first podcast episodes here.

Main image: A launch event for 'Crux - The Podcast' at the Rees Hotel, Thursday June 13.