Mainland Media purchases Christchurch Star and Oamaru Mail

Christchurch-based Mainland Media has today announced its purchase of the Christchurch Star and Oamaru Mail from APN New Zealand Media.

Mainland Media is a well-established, independent publisher of community newspapers and magazines, including the Mainland Press.

The main APN titles included in the sale, The Star in Canterbury established in 1868 and the Oamaru Mail which commenced publication in 1879, are among the oldest in New Zealand.

All staff at both businesses will transfer to Mainland Media or its subsidiary Oamaru Media. The Mainland group is privately owned by Pier and Charlotte Smulders, and chaired by Mr Nick Smith, director of Allied Press, publisher of the Otago Daily Times and other titles including Hurunui News, Ashburton Courier, and CTV in Canterbury.

Mainland Media managing director Pier Smulders said, "The Star traces its heritage back to Christchurch’s first newspaper, the Lyttelton Times, whose printing presses arrived on the Charlotte Jane. Given its history, it’s a great privilege to be bringing The Star back into local, family ownership.

"Together with the Oamaru Mail, these two papers have been telling the stories of their communities for nearly 150 years. With a renewed focus on local news and stories, and by bringing our great teams together with Mainland’s stable of titles, we will be serving our communities and advertisers long into the future."

Mainland Media chairman Nick Smith said, "The purchase of a multinational publisher’s local interests is great for Christchurch and the South Island’s publishing businesses. Local ownership has many benefits as what’s good for the community is good for the papers and vice versa. We will ensure we do and must remain connected to readers and advertisers alike with appealing news.

"Combining the interests of the two companies will have many benefits for all, including the staff from both entities. Interestingly, 48 years ago my first job was with the Christchurch Star in Kilmore Street. I still have fond memories and friendships from those days."

Announcing the sale, APN New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Simons, said the newspapers had performed vital roles for their communities for nearly a century and a half and were being sold to a successful publisher.

"The decision to sell was based on our determination to concentrate our efforts on the North Island where most of our businesses are located and where most of New Zealand’s growth would occur in the next decade," Mr Simons said.

Mainland Media director Charlotte Smulders, nee Smith, says, "Coming from a very successful and long established media family, this acquisition is incredibly important to me. I have been brought up immersed in newspapers and publishing, and have huge belief in the future of the industry.

"To own newspapers like The Star and Oamaru Mail, with their history and parochial roots is an exciting opportunity and an incredible honour, and it’s a proud moment to bring these papers back to local ownership. There are very few privately-owned media groups remaining in New Zealand which is a real shame. My family has retained ownership and passion for the industry for over 150 years and now my husband and I get to make our own mark. There is nothing quite as satisfying as seeing people enjoy reading our publications."

The acquisition has come about thanks to a dedicated team, including Ocean Partners and Rhodes & Co lawyers.

Ocean Partners were lead advisors to Mainland Media, and managed the transaction process.

Partner Sarah Ott said, "The structured transaction process has resulted in a great outcome - a return to local ownership of an iconic Christchurch newspaper."

Mainland Media also owns and publishes the Bay Harbour News, NorWest News, Selwyn View, Pegasus Bay News, and Southern View newspapers. Mainland Media’s other publications include Best Motorbuys, BuySell & Exchange, SeeBeSeen magazine, Forward50 magazine (formerly called Older & Bolder), and the nationwide gardening magazine - Weekend Gardener.