Founded by Waikato-based writer and lifestyle block owner Michael Andrew in 2024, On the Land is the last and only print magazine celebrating the movement of people back to the land in New Zealand.

Although the On the Land title is relatively new, the magazine has a long and rich history, and has existed in different forms over the last 40 years. It was originally called Growing Today – NZ’s original permaculture/homesteading magazine – which also served as the publication for the New Zealand Tree Crops Association in the 1980s.

While the partnership with Tree Crops ended in 1993, Growing Today continued publishing until the early 2000s, when it merged with NZ Lifestyle Farmer and became NZ Lifestyle Block magazine. Lifestyle Block changed owners over the years, and, like many magazines, reduced in size and reach amid rising production costs and dwindling revenue.

In 2022, Michael Andrew – who was himself learning about life on the land on his newly bought lifestyle block – became the new editor and started documenting his own journey.

Two years later, he purchased the magazine for $1, changed the name to On the Land and began the process of breathing fresh life into it, investing in the quality of the writing and photography, and expanding readership.

Today, On the Land exists as a haven for those who still value beautifully written and illustrated stories about an eternally appealing topic – living off the land.

As one subscriber put it: “It’s like the magazine version of Country Calendar!”

Amid a rising tide of AI, tech infiltration and digital media, On the Land pursues an old school “print-first” approach, focusing on slow reads and sage advice written on paper, by people, for people. Our magazines are delivered to subscribers’ homes across the country every two months, and sold in a variety of stores.

If you love what we do, are interested in subscribing, or have a story idea, please get in touch. On the Land is, at its core, a community magazine – we could not make it without the contributions of passionate and brilliant people throughout Aotearoa NZ.