If you would like to get in touch with us about advertising, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page. We’ll respond within two working days.
You’ll find almost everything you need to know about advertising with MANUAL below.
Why MANUAL
Since 1997, MANUAL has been a bible for those obsessed with skateboarding culture in New Zealand. For 29 years, it has presented local and international talent at a global standard — inspirational articles and profiles on skateboarders and skateboarding, music and art, from across Aotearoa and around the world.
MANUAL is the backbone of our industry. It serves up inspiration, creates opportunity, and acts as a proving ground for talent — be they skaters, musicians, artists, designers, creatives or entrepreneurs.
Advertising in the magazine doesn’t rent attention. It puts your brand inside something people keep.
“Being in MANUAL matters. It’s the proving ground.” — Ben, skateboarder
“When someone gets a photo in print, the stoke they feel is far bigger than anything they get from Instagram. It’s actually tangible.” — Craig Strong, skate shop owner
Who You’ll Reach
MANUAL reaches passionate skateboarders and supporters of all genders, from ages 5 to 54:
- Skate schoolers and their whānau
- Devoted and competitive skateboarders and their supporters
- People who skate for creative expression, recreation and wellbeing
- Followers of skate culture
- Lifelong skateboarders
- The industry itself
The readership is strongest through the 18–34 range.
Full audience and reach data — social, print and web — is in our Media Kit. Contact us in the form below to get a copy.
The Magazine
MANUAL is published twice a year, in April and November. Cover price is $14.90.
Thousands of copies are distributed throughout New Zealand and available at selected retailers, skate schools and events. MANUAL also reaches discerning outlets internationally. Magazines, subscriptions, back issues and apparel ship directly to customers worldwide via shop.manualmagazine.com.
What We Offer
Impactful print creative in a magazine people hold on to.
- Outside Back Cover — full-page format, the most visible position in the magazine.
- Double Page Spread — placed in the first quarter of the magazine. Preferential positions available, including Inside Front Cover.
- Full Page — right-hand reading priority. Preferential positions available, including First Full Page and Next to Contents.
- Broadcast — a promotion in our news section.
Multiple-issue and multiple-placement packages available.
Every print advertiser receives organic digital support — content posting and sharing for your advertised brands through MANUAL’s channels, for the life of the issue.
Digital
manualmagazine.com and our social channels, on their own or alongside print.
- Newsletter feature — logo, image and 50 words with click-through in a scheduled EDM.
- Banner ads — 728×90 / 320×50 or 300×250, site-served, a maximum of three advertisers in rotation.
- Social promotion — a dedicated grid post plus two stories across Instagram, Threads and Facebook. Creative supplied or produced by us.
- Native story or video — an article or film on manualmagazine.com, credited as a partnership and promoted across our channels. Supplied or produced by us.
- Takeover, pop-up and hero content — homepage hero or site takeover for a defined period, exclusive.
Combined print and digital packages available.
Creative Services
We’ve spent 29 years making skate culture look good. We bring the same eye and the same network of writers, photographers, and filmers to your brand. All work is quoted per project.
- Content Production — editorial and lifestyle photography, studio photography, filming and editing, reel-style video, content writing. Shot by the people who shoot MANUAL.
- Brand & Creative Direction — brand workshops, brand strategy, brand identity, creative direction and concepts. For brands and organisations that need to connect with a skate audience in meaningful ways.
- Design & Digital — website design, UX design, user journey mapping, information architecture, content design, collateral design and delivery, social media marketing.
Retailers
Retailer outlets that advertise in print or digital, or use our creative services, get a support package:
- Free magazines for your store(s) to sell or give away.
- Inclusion on the stockist list on manualmagazine.com.
- The option to stock MANUAL Apparel, when available.
Magazines are delivered free within New Zealand to one physical address at the time of release. International and domestic orders placed after release are charged freight by region and quantity.
Print Schedule
| Issue | Editorial | Booking | Material | On-sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #75 / Apr 2026 | 23 Mar | 23 Mar | 27 Mar | 27 Apr |
| #76 / Nov 2026 | 26 Oct | 1 Nov | 6 Nov | 30 Nov |
Sale dates and subscriber receipt dates can vary depending on location and distribution source.
Artwork Specifications
| Format | Trim size | Bleed size |
|---|---|---|
| Inside cover DPS | 418mm (w) × 265mm (h) | 428mm (w) × 275mm (h) |
| Double page spread | 430mm (w) × 265mm (h) | 440mm (w) × 275mm (h) |
| Full page | 215mm (w) × 265mm (h) | 225mm (w) × 275mm (h) |
- Allow for 12mm image loss on inside cover DPS advertisements, and 6mm on regular DPS advertisements.
- Allow a 10mm gutter for all live type on regular DPS advertisements.
- Hold all live type at least 5mm within trim edges and 7mm from the gutter.
- Bleed dimensions allow for a 5mm trim on all sides.
- Supply advertisements as high-resolution PDFs created from 300dpi CMYK or greyscale artwork (Adobe Distiller, Illustrator, Photoshop or InDesign).
- A fee applies to reformatting advertisements not supplied in the specified format and size.
Need help with your artwork? We can assist with photography, design and artwork — see creative services above, or get in touch.
Let’s Talk
Tell us a bit about yourself, your brand, and what you’re trying to do. We’ll send our Media Kit with full rates, reach figures and audience data, plus a recommendation for your budget. We’ll respond within two working days.