A raft of Stuff’s community free newspapers are to close as the NZ publisher “focuses on its digital future”.

Spared from the cuts are the Waikato Local and the Wairarapa Midweek – a couple of papers which Masthead Publishing managing director Joanna Norris says remain sustainable and are “currently well supported by local councils and businesses”. They will continue printing, while the tri-weekly Marlborough Express will retain only its Weekend Express print edition.

Closing by the end of July are

–five titles in the Auckland Community Newspapers series: the North Shore Times, Western Leader, Central Leader, Manukau/Papakura Courier, and East & Bay Courier;

–nine other community titles: Cambridge Edition, Feilding Rangitīkei Herald, Franklin County News, Hutt News, Kapi Mana News, Nelson and Tasman Leader, Northern Outlook, South Taranaki Star, and Southern Outlook.

Norris has been quoted that “fewer than 15 roles overall” are affected by the closures.

In a statement she says Stuff’s Masthead Publishing business had made the decision to stop printing the community newspapers as it continued to grow digital news audiences across the country. “The way New Zealanders consume news is changing rapidly,” she said.

“We have seen incredible success with our digital subscriber sites for The Post, The Press and the Waikato Times, which include news from across our urban and regional newsrooms around the country.

“Our news brands and journalism are now reaching more New Zealanders than ever, and this, as well as rapidly increasing costs for newsprint and distribution, means it is the right time to make this decision about some of our smaller free newspaper titles.”

She said the cost of producing “the average community newspaper” had increased 46 per cent since 2022, so that they were “simply unsustainable” without the support of local councils and community businesses.

Stuff would continue to prioritise its premium print products in daily and weekend newspapers and magazines, while accelerating the shift into digital news,” Norris said.

She said Stuff Masthead Publishing continued to find new ways to deliver compelling local journalism for the benefit of communities, subscribers and advertisers across New Zealand. “We will continue to have our people in all of these communities – the delivery mechanisms may be changing, but the important local storytelling remains.”

She said seven out of ten New Zealanders engaged with the Stuff Masthead Publishing portfolio each month  - digital and print publications including The Post, The Press, the Sunday Star-Times, NZ House & Garden, NZ Gardener and TV Guide, as well as regional titles across the country, home-grown social network Neighbourly and a thriving Events business.

The announcement follows that of NZ rival NZME!, which announced plans to close 14 community papers, some of which were picked up by private buyers.

Pictured: Instead of three times a week, the Marlborough Express will be published at the weekend only (Photo Stuff/Marlborough Express)