The title is misleading, but I’m not going to apologise, because I’ve never prided myself on complete honesty as your leader in this dark time. Clickbait titles draw you in, and I wanted to get your attention before I talk about something important. 

 

Jared Ipsen is leaving us.

 

Please collect yourselves, as I’m sure there’s a myriad of tears and tissues being pulled out as you try to understand why such a great hero is deciding to depart for a better paid job and definitive career growth. It’s just so unreasonable and just absolutely devo. But we mustn’t despair – we need to come together in such trying times. Jared has been here through the thick and thin, in the trenches as we struggle to pull together a vision for Nexus. A vision for cross-media posting and pulling Nexus Media from the mud. Jared has been the driving force and sole voice behind our informative but nonetheless funny as fuck news each week. He’s been there for me as I was drugged, and when Tehana was… well being Tehana. Everytime he walks in the office, you know it’s going to be a laff or you’re going to have some dope kōrero about some small town blunder, laughing at the Te Aroha Tribunal? (honestly I don’t know the name and I don’t care). 

 

I’m sure you’re reading this and wondering why it’s starting to sound like a eulogy. If you are wondering that, well done; you got the point of this piece. And if you haven’t, it’s because it’s true. We have to treat this like tangihanga as Jared leaving has left a massive sheeny blonde hole in our hearts where he once was. Cue He Honore me Whakaaria Mai.

 

To be completely honest (I’m not immune to irony so don’t fucking point it out), Nexus has become an outlet for me to express myself through kupu ā-kaupapa and to understand my place in te ao hurihuri. As self-serving as this magazine has become, it constantly allows me to meet new tauira and friends that just want to create and exist in this space alongside me. That’s where my editorial/writing team have made this journey possible for me and for all of you. It’s corny but with the likes of Jared, I’ve been able to harness my skills as a creative but also as tumu herenga waka, lol kāo but as a leader. As the editorial image suggests, I’m stuck in the mud without my News editor but there’s light as a new team starts nek wiki. 

 

To Jared, I want to leave you with something my friend, and thank you for your time at Nexus and helping me build this brand throughout 2022. You’ve been such an integral part, not just this year, but over your last 6ish years writing for us.

E Rangi, e Papa, e Te Whānau Atua, Whakatōhia to koutou manaakitanga, ki roto e tēnei mahi o mātou. 

 

Jared, my tuakana, good luck on your next adventure my bro. Wīare.