Government gives itself fewer actions to do this quarter with release of new plan
The Herald revealed last month that the latest Ipsos NZ issues monitor survey, conducted immediately after the May Budget, found National had lost
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NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Media Insider: Stuff closing free Auckland and regional community newspapers
The titles are Cambridge Edition, Feilding Rangitīkei Herald, Franklin County News, Hutt News, Kapi Mana News, Nelson Tasman Leader, Northern Outlook, South Taranaki Star, Southern Outlook and Auckland Community Newspapers. The three-times-a-week Marlborough Express newspaper - which had been a daily newspaper up until 2017 - would move to digital only, the company said. Stuff did not specifically name the Auckland titles but under the Auckland Community Newspapers umbrella sit at least half a dozen mastheads: Rodney Times, Central Leader, Eastern Bays Courier, Manukau/Papakura Courier, North Shore Times and the Western Leader. These titles, in one form or another, have been around for many decades; the Rodney Times' history stretches back to 1901, while the North Shore Times was first published in 1949. Their readerships have steadily fallen over time - according to Nielsen data, in 2024, the Rodney Times recorded 33,000 readers; the Central Leader 48,000, the Eastern Bays Courier 62,000; the Manukau/Papakura Courier 106,000; the North Shore Times 59,000 and the Western Leader 66,000. Stuff publishes a range of titles under its Auckland Community Titles umbrella - they have been around for decades. There will be some sadness within the communities and the journalism sector - many journalists learned their craft at mastheads such as the North Shore Times and Central Leader - but there was an air of inevitability about Stuff's announcement. The company has closed a number of other community newspapers over the past seven years, while rival publisher NZME - owner of the NZ Herald - has been in the same boat. NZME announced the closure of 14 community titles late last year. Independent owners have picked up several former NZME titles in some regions, and Stuff Masthead Publishing managing director Joanna Norris said last night her company was open to a similar discussion. 'There might be people in the community with an interest in continuing these newspapers and we are happy to discuss this with them,' said Norris. While it has been tough for the main commercial media companies to sustain their community newspaper titles, there has been slightly more success for smaller operators who have fewer overheads and a laser-like focus on their communities. Stuff Masthead Publishing managing director Joanna Norris. Photo / RNZ Norris indicated there would be some, but not many, job losses at Stuff. 'We're still working through proposals with affected staff and will be able to confirm numbers once consultation is complete. There are fewer than 15 roles overall affected by the decision to stop printing these titles.' The company, in its own news story, talked up the success of its digital strategy, and this was reiterated by Norris. 'Since the launch of our digital subscription sites two years ago, Stuff Masthead Publishing has grown its national and regional audiences, now reaching 1.5 million New Zealanders across digital and our premium print products,' she said. 'The cost of an average community newspaper has risen about 46% in this period; these factors mean this is the right time to make this decision. Without the support of local councils and community businesses, the newspapers were simply unsustainable, Norris said in the Stuff article. 'We will continue to prioritise our premium print products in daily and weekend newspapers and magazines, while accelerating our shift into digital news,' she said. 'We will continue to have our people in all of these communities - the delivery mechanisms may be changing, but the important local storytelling remains.' The Wairarapa Midweek, Waikato Local and Weekly Express community titles would continue to be published. Stuff's daily newspapers - including The Post, The Press, Timaru Herald, Southland Times, Nelson Mail, Taranaki Daily News, Manawatu Evening Standard, and Wairarapa Times-Age - would also continue. The closure of the community titles comes after Stuff withdrew from discussions in March for a potential deal to sell its masthead division - including The Press and The Post newspapers and websites - to NZME. NZME said that it had been in discussions with Stuff to buy the Stuff Masthead Publishing division but that Stuff had paused talks while it awaited the outcome of NZME's board vote. In its own statement, Stuff said it had withdrawn from the talks and had 'no intention of resuming discussions at this stage'. That comment has been reiterated more recently by Stuff owner Sinead Boucher. The masthead division includes the paywalled Post and Press websites but not the overall mass-market and free Stuff website. Stuff this week confirmed its new deal with Trade Me was in place - Trade Me has bought 50% of Stuff Digital. Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand's most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME. Watch Media Insider - The Podcast on YouTube, or listen to it on iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Otago Daily Times
11 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Cost-of-living pressures top of mind for govt: Luxon
By Lillian Hanly of RNZ The government has ticked off most of its action plan for the last quarter, as it turns to the next with a continued focus on the cost of living. In its report card for the last three months, two items were listed as 'in progress': - Take Cabinet decisions on capital markets settings to remove barriers to listing, reduce costs to firms and enable greater investment in private assets from KiwiSaver providers. - Publish the first Government AI strategy to help drive adoption of AI to boost productivity and grow the economy. The AI strategy is expected to be released in the coming weeks, and further decisions on capital market settings were expected in the next quarter. One change that has been made was to reduce the listing costs on firms by making the publication of their prospective financial information voluntary. Turning to the next quarter, a statement from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said continuing to address cost-of-living pressures over the coming months was key. Luxon said the government was taking action on the cost of food, housing, banking and energy to "drive a better bargain" for New Zealand families. "While it's still tough out there for too many Kiwis, our Government's focus on unlocking economic growth is starting to show some promise with key indicators up across the board." He said it wasn't enough for businesses to grow and invest. "New Zealanders deserve an economy that works for them, with more competition and lower prices," Luxon said. The next quarter will see the repeal of the oil and gas exploration ban, next steps to improve supermarket competition and further changes to the RMA. Luxon said repealing the ban would "unleash the energy" the country needed to "keep the lights on and prevent power prices from skyrocketing in the years to come". "The cost of housing is also a priority, with significant improvements to the RMA enabling more construction in our biggest cities expected to become law," he said. The government will also look to publish the first standards allowing the use of overseas building products in the country. The Public Works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Bill will be passed, which will streamline the process to acquire land for big projects. Legislation will be introduced to "strengthen governance and planning arrangements" at Auckland Transport. Under law and order, the government will look to progress legislation that makes stalking an illegal offence, and introduce legislation that deters "anti-social road use." Changes to the electoral system are on the way, including introducing a ban on prisoner voting, and the government will begin delivering rehabilitation and reintegration services to remand prisoners. Cabinet will consider decisions on legislation to "affirm police's authority to collect, use and retain information about individuals in public places for lawful policing purposes". Other actions under better public services include starting to deliver additional elective procedures, and opening an expression of interest for 120 nurse practitioner training places. The government will also implement its funding increase for GP clinics and the first prototypes for the expansion of urgent care for rural and remote areas. Legislation that will give effect to the ECE Regulation Sector Review will be introduced and key policy decisions taken to tighten the eligibility for income support for 18/19-year-olds.
Scoop
12 hours ago
- Scoop
Cost Of Living Pressures Top Of Mind For Government, PM Luxon Says
The government has ticked off most of its action plan for the last quarter, as it turns to the next with a continued focus on the cost of living. In its report card for the last three months, two items were listed as 'in progress': Take Cabinet decisions on capital markets settings to remove barriers to listing, reduce costs to firms and enable greater investment in private assets from KiwiSaver providers. Publish the first Government AI strategy to help drive adoption of AI to boost productivity and grow the economy. The AI strategy is expected to be released in the coming weeks, and further decisions on capital market settings were expected in the next quarter. One change that has been made was to reduce the listing costs on firms by making the publication of their prospective financial information voluntary. Turning to the next quarter, a statement from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said continuing to address cost of living pressures over the coming months was key. Luxon said the government was taking action on the cost of food, housing, banking and energy to "drive a better bargain" for New Zealand families. "While it's still tough out there for too many Kiwis, our Government's focus on unlocking economic growth is starting to show some promise with key indicators up across the board." He said it wasn't enough for businesses to grow and invest. "New Zealanders deserve an economy that works for them, with more competition and lower prices," Luxon said. The next quarter will see the repeal of the oil and gas exploration ban, next steps to improve supermarket competition and further changes to the RMA. Luxon said repealing the ban would "unleash the energy" the country needed to "keep the lights on and prevent power prices from skyrocketing in the years to come". "The cost of housing is also a priority, with significant improvements to the RMA enabling more construction in our biggest cities expected to become law," he said. The government will also look to publish the first standards allowing the use of overseas building products in the country. The Public Works (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Bill will be passed, which will streamline the process to acquire land for big projects. Legislation will be introduced to "strengthen governance and planning arrangements" at Auckland Transport. Under law and order, the government will look to progress legislation that makes stalking an illegal offence, and introduce legislation that deters "anti-social road use." Changes to the electoral system are on the way, including introducing a ban on prisoner voting, and the government will begin delivering rehabilitation and reintegration services to remand prisoners. Cabinet will consider decisions on legislation to "affirm police's authority to collect, use and retain information about individuals in public places for lawful policing purposes". Other actions under better public services include starting to deliver additional elective procedures, and opening an expression of interest for 120 nurse practitioner training places. The government will also implement its funding increase for GP clinics and the first prototypes for the expansion of urgent care for rural and remote areas. Legislation that will give effect to the ECE Regulation Sector Review will be introduced and key policy decisions taken to tighten the eligibility for income support for 18/19 year olds.
