My Account
Alysha Paul
Digital Coordinator
Alysha was born in Warkworth and lived there until 2015 when she moved to Wellington for university. Eventually, the pull of family and better weather brought her home in early 2020. Alysha joined the Local Matters team in July 2020 and has been involved in the rollout of several big projects, most notably the new Local Matters website and the Meta Audience Development Accelerator. Alysha lives in Warkworth with her husband and their one-year-old daughter.
p: 022 544 0249 e: online@localmatters.co.nz
Angela Gallagher
Ad media sales, Hibiscus Matters
I was born and raised in rural Zimbabwe, even representing my country in swimming. Married and with a young son, my husband and I left for the UK for a better life. After 9 years, in 2006, we headed for New Zealand. I have a background of working in the Legal field, Medical and now sales. At home, I am surrounded by animals, kids and consequently smashed tiles – I love mosaicking. It almost sounds like the opening of a joke, A Zimbabwean, an Englishman and a Kiwi walk into the kitchen … but it’s a true story, I have 3 children, one from each continent. I have worked with Hibiscus Matters since 2015 not having had any sales experience, but my love for talking and people suits this role.
p: 022 029 1895 e: sellit@localmatters.co.nz
Angela Thomas
Administration manager
Angela is a Warkworth local and although she spent some seven years on the Hibiscus Coast, she and husband Mark moved back to Warkworth to bring up their two children and enjoy the beaches and close knit community lifestyle. She has been on the Local Matters team for 13 years working in accounts, distribution and administration, and has watched the papers and staff grow over the years. She loves being part of the team that reports on community news. On the weekends, you’ll find Angela on local walking tracks and bike routes or competing in adventure racing, rogaine or the odd half marathon.
Heather Arnold
Graphic designer, Mahurangi Matters
An egg, each is individual and unique. The variety of colour and pattern, different sizes and shapes, an expression of each hen. We tell your editorial stories and share your unique advertising messages. I look forward to designing your advertisements with your unique messages. Your audience awaits.
Jannette Thompson
General manager
Jannette has been at the helm of Local Matters for nearly 15 years, working firstly as editor and now as general manager. As a journalist for most of her working life, she still keeps her hand in, writing stories for most issues. She has no fears for the future of newspapers as she believes social media and advertorial based magazines will never replace a properly researched and balanced story, written by a trained journalist and printed in a trusted local paper. Jannette’s family has lived in the district for generations, and she loves the outdoor life that this region has to offer. Off duty, she has three so-called grown up children, two adorable grandchildren, a rescue cat and a rambunctious puppy to keep her busy.
p: 021 263 4423 e: gm@localmatters.co.nz
Lorry McCarthy
Graphic designer, Hibiscus Matters
Mum of two (one now 21!) full-time graphic designer and part-time op shopper. If you want a deadline extension, she is the one to talk to. Lorry has been working for Hibiscus Matters since the dawn of time (2009), back before Instagram and Covid 19 were even a thing. She is the mouse click responsible for the ads, paper layout, website and Facebook. She has worked as a graphic designer in New Zealand and Australia, with more than 30 years experience. Lorry was a volunteer firefighter for five years, and likens working for the paper as again doing her bit for the community.
Marc Milford
Ad media sales, Mahurangi Matters
After years travelling the globe and living abroad, Marc decided he was finally over Auckland city’s woeful traffic congestion and headed north in 2019 for a change of scenery and lifestyle. When he’s not plying his trade in advertising sales, he loves to fish (surfcasting), spend quality time catching up with friends and family, as well as occasionally tinkling the ‘ol ivories! Marc also enjoys going to the cinema and admits to having a soft spot, in particular, for the odd romantic comedy or Disney classic! His basic motto in life is simple, ‘have courage and be kind’.
p: 022 029 1897 e: advertising@localmatters.co.nz
Patrick Goodenough
Journalist
Patrick cut his teeth as a newspaper reporter in South Africa during the turbulent 1980-90s, and since then has worked in Israel, Britain, the US and New Zealand, writing foreign news for a mostly American online audience. A resident of the Hibiscus Coast for the past nine years, he is our most recent editorial hire, working between Hibiscus Matters and Mahurangi Matters. A dad of two young adults, when not working he’s likely to be found running, swimming in the ocean – year round if possible – reading Victorian literature or Cold War spy novels, listening to music, gardening with his wife, and drinking more coffee than is good for him.
Sally Marden
Journalist & Proofreader
Sally Marden has been a journalist since leaving college, when she joined her local paper in the UK, the Sussex Express & County Herald. After stints with a drinks trade newspaper and as a freelance wine writer, she moved to Australia to live and work north of Adelaide for the Barossa Winemakers. It was there she met her husband Richard, also a winemaker. They moved to New Zealand in 2007, after a spell in Western Australia, and once their two sons were settled at school, Sally happily returned to local journalism with Mahurangi and Hibiscus Matters.
p: 022 478 1619 e: reporter@localmatters.co.nz
Terry Moore
Editor, Hibiscus Matters
Terry never planned on being a journalist, but a love of words and photographs eventually got her there. Earlier career moves include the music business and NZ Gardener magazine. She keeps it quiet that she was born in Palmerston North, but most of her life has been spent in Auckland along with a few years in London and Christchurch. Although Terry has lived on the Hibiscus Coast with her family for almost 20 years working for Hibiscus Matters means always discovering something new about its people and places. She is never happier than when browsing a good garden centre, spending time with family and friends, baking, reading crime novels or gardening.
p: 022 019 6569 e: terry@localmatters.co.nz
