A community newspaper with more than a century of history is the latest casualty in a string of shutdowns and cuts sweeping through the New Zealand media sector.
The Wairoa Star, a paid-for bi-weekly paper published on Tuesdays and Thursdays, told shareholders on Tuesday that today’s paper would be its last.
Wairoa Star chairman Matt Wilson said a mix of inflationary pressures and high interest rates contributed to a tough economic environment and the board had “exhausted all options” trying to keep the paper afloat.
In March, shareholders were told that the paper suffered a $74,000 loss in 2023. They were also informed of some of the challenges facing the business, such as the “changing media landscape” that is seeing readers and advertisers shift to social media or search-based technology such as Google and Facebook.
The business will cease trading, pay creditors, pay employee entitlements, and refund subscribers who have paid in advance. Assets, including the Star building, will also be sold.
“On behalf of The Wairoa Star board, I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to The Wairoa Star team for their significant contribution, acknowledging their huge efforts in keeping the business operating in what has been a very challenging economic environment,” Wilson said.
“The Wairoa Star has proudly served its local community for more than 100 years, and its closure is extremely sad for the team, our board, our readers, subscribers, advertisers, and the local community. We thank you all for your support.”
Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said the publication was an “absolute institution” for Wairoa and was well known in New Zealand and worldwide.
He said it was a “very sad day” for the community as it lost one of its key communication sources.
The Star was first published on September 23, 1921.
NZ Herald owner NZME owns a 40 per cent stake in the paper. The company also recently purchased the nearby Gisborne Herald as it looked to bolster its regional network.
