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Allied Press is an independent New Zealand media and publishing company based in
Dunedin Dunedin ( ; ) is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of S ...
. The company's main asset is the ''
Otago Daily Times The ''Otago Daily Times'' (''ODT'') is a newspaper published by Allied Press Ltd in Dunedin, New Zealand. The ''ODT'' is one of the country's four main daily newspapers, serving the southern South Island with a circulation of around 26,000 and ...
'', New Zealand's oldest daily newspaper. Allied Press has a number of other daily and community newspapers and commercial
printing Printing is a process for mass reproducing text and images using a master form or template. The earliest non-paper products involving printing include cylinder seals and objects such as the Cyrus Cylinder and the Cylinders of Nabonidus. The ...
operations throughout the
South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
including the
Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
–based media company Star Media. It also formerly operated Dunedin's regional
television Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...
station, Channel 39.


History


20th century

Allied Press was formed through the merger of two Dunedin newspaper companies, the ''
Otago Daily Times The ''Otago Daily Times'' (''ODT'') is a newspaper published by Allied Press Ltd in Dunedin, New Zealand. The ''ODT'' is one of the country's four main daily newspapers, serving the southern South Island with a circulation of around 26,000 and ...
'' (''ODT'') and the former Evening Star, on 13 May 1975. The merger process was completed during the rest of the year following shareholder approval and other required agreements. ''ODT'' staff subsequently shifted into the ''Evening Star'' building. The ''Evening Star'' subsequently ceased operations on 3 November 1979 and was replaced by a weekly newspaper called ''The Star''. Hal Masters became the company's first chairman while the ''ODT'' manager Frank Dickson and Vic Cavanagh served as joint managing directors. In 1979, the
Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
–based H.W. Smith and the tourism company Mount Cook Group attempted separate takeover bids of Allied Press by buying up shares. In response, the businessman Sir Julian Smith merged Allied Press with his company John M. Fraser and Co Ltd to form a new privately listed company called Otago Press and Produce Limited (OPP). OPP was active in egg and poultry distribution, fruit and producer markets, building supplies, and real estate. The new company was led by chairman T.C. (Tom) Fraser and Deputy Chair Julian Smith, the former managing director of John M. Fraser and Co. In 1986, Smith purchased Otago Press and Produce, reestablishing Allied Press Ltd as a private business. Smith became Allied Press' principal shareholder, chairman and managing director while his brother Nick became a substantial shareholder, director and business manager.


21st century

On 12 June 2016, Julian Smith stepped down as managing director of Allied Press. Grant McKenzie, the Dunedin City Council's financial officer and the former director of the
University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...
's financial services, was appointed as the company's chief executive officer. While Smith remains the chairman of the company, McKenzie took over the running of Allied Press. Besides the ''Otago Daily Times'', Allied Press owns a majority stake in the '' Greymouth Star'' as of 2020. The company also owns a range of community and farming newspapers through the
South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
including ''North Canterbury News'', the '' Ashburton Courier'', '' The Timaru Courier'', '' Oamaru Mail'', ''Lakes District and Central Otago News'', '' Mountain Scene'', ''The Star'' and ''The Ensign''. In 2018, Allied Press acquired the '' Clutha Leader'' from
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. In August 2018, Allied Press acquired the
Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
media company Star Media, which owned a stable of community newspapers, magazines, and events including the
Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
–based ''The Star''. Star Media's chairman Nick Smith also served as Allied Press' director and had previously worked for ''The Star'' as their advertising cadet. Star Media subsequently became a subsidiary of Allied Press. During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Allied Press maintained the print circulation of the ''Otago Daily Times'' as well as its websites but suspended the circulation of its community and farming newspapers on 25 March 2020 to comply with lockdown restrictions. In April 2020, Allied Press launched a major project to upgrade its Dunedin printing press. By 14 May 2020, the Government had eased lockdown restrictions, allowing Allied Press' community newspapers and magazines to resume operations. Following the Delta variant community outbreak in August 2021, Allied Press continued publishing the ''Otago Daily Times'' and most of its community papers. However, it suspended publication of the ''Southland Express'' (
Invercargill Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and westernmost list of cities in New Zealand, city in New Zealand, and one of the Southernmost settlements, southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland Region, Southlan ...
), the ''Cromwell Bulletin'', ''The Star'' (Christchurch), and Christchurch community papers due to lockdown restrictions. In October 2023, 40 journalists and 65 editorial and print distribution staff affiliated with the E tū union staged a 24 hour strike to demand that their wages be raised to industry pay rates. The unionised staff rejected a pay offer by Allied Press. In December 2023, Allied Press confirmed that it would close its broadcasting arm Channel 39 by Christmas 2023 due to declining funding from New Zealand on Air, low viewership figures for its flagship programme ''The South Today'', rising costs, and declining advertiser support. However, ''The South Today'' brand would continue on the ''Otago Daily Times'' website and
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.


Organisation and assets


Management

Allied Press is owned by Sir Julian Smith, who serves as its chairman and managing director, and his family. Other key members of the company's leadership team include director and business manager Nick Smith and operations director Ray Clarkson. The company has more than 400 employees.


Headquarters and bureaus

Allied Press has its headquarters in an imposing building in Lower Stuart Street, Dunedin. The building was formerly the home of Dunedin's '' The Evening Star'' prior to its amalgamation with the ''
Otago Daily Times The ''Otago Daily Times'' (''ODT'') is a newspaper published by Allied Press Ltd in Dunedin, New Zealand. The ''ODT'' is one of the country's four main daily newspapers, serving the southern South Island with a circulation of around 26,000 and ...
'' in 1979. The building houses the ''Otago Daily Times'' and Channel 39. The building was designed by Edmund Anscombe and built in the late 1920s and is part of a historic precinct that also includes the Dunedin Law Courts and Dunedin Railway Station. It is listed as a Category II Historic Place. Allied Press also operates several regional offices throughout the
South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
including
Alexandra Alexandra () is a female given name of Greek origin. It is the first attested form of its variants, including Alexander (, ). Etymology, Etymologically, the name is a compound of the Greek verb (; meaning 'to defend') and (; genitive, GEN , ; ...
, Amberley, Ashburton, Balclutha, Gore,
Invercargill Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and westernmost list of cities in New Zealand, city in New Zealand, and one of the Southernmost settlements, southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland Region, Southlan ...
, Oamaru, Queenstown,
Rangiora Rangiora is the largest town and seat of the Waimakariri District, in Canterbury Region, Canterbury, New Zealand. It is north of Christchurch, and is part of the Christchurch metropolitan area. With an estimated population of Rangiora is the ...
,
Timaru Timaru (; ) is a port city in the southern Canterbury Region of New Zealand, located southwest of Christchurch and about northeast of Dunedin on the eastern Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast of the South Island. The Timaru urban area is home to peo ...
, and Wānaka.


Brands and publications

Allied Press's flagship publication is the daily newspaper ''
Otago Daily Times The ''Otago Daily Times'' (''ODT'') is a newspaper published by Allied Press Ltd in Dunedin, New Zealand. The ''ODT'' is one of the country's four main daily newspapers, serving the southern South Island with a circulation of around 26,000 and ...
''. It also owns a majority stake in the '' Greymouth Star'' along with a range of South Island community and farming newspapers. In addition, Allied Press operates separate printing and television divisions including commercial, newsprint services and the Christchurch-based media company Star Media. Until late December 2023, Allied Press had a local television station called Channel 39.


Newspapers

*''
Otago Daily Times The ''Otago Daily Times'' (''ODT'') is a newspaper published by Allied Press Ltd in Dunedin, New Zealand. The ''ODT'' is one of the country's four main daily newspapers, serving the southern South Island with a circulation of around 26,000 and ...
'' *'' Ashburton Courier'' *'' Central Rural Life'' * ''The Ensign'' ( Gore) *'' Greymouth Star'' *'' Hokitika Guardian'' * ''Lakes District and Central Otago News'' (
Alexandra Alexandra () is a female given name of Greek origin. It is the first attested form of its variants, including Alexander (, ). Etymology, Etymologically, the name is a compound of the Greek verb (; meaning 'to defend') and (; genitive, GEN , ; ...
) *'' Mountain Scene'' * ''North Canterbury News'' *'' Oamaru Mail'' *'' Southern Rural Life'' *'' Southland Express'' (
Invercargill Invercargill ( , ) is the southernmost and westernmost list of cities in New Zealand, city in New Zealand, and one of the Southernmost settlements, southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland Region, Southlan ...
) * ''The Star'' (
Dunedin Dunedin ( ; ) is the second-most populous city in the South Island of New Zealand (after Christchurch), and the principal city of the Otago region. Its name comes from ("fort of Edin"), the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of S ...
) *'' The Timaru Courier'' (
Timaru Timaru (; ) is a port city in the southern Canterbury Region of New Zealand, located southwest of Christchurch and about northeast of Dunedin on the eastern Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast of the South Island. The Timaru urban area is home to peo ...
) *'' The West Coast Messenger''


Special publications

*'' Dunedin Cruise Guide'' *'' Huanying South''


Star Media

The Canterbury media company Star Media is also a division of Allied Press. Star Media's assets including the Christchurch community newspaper ''The Star'', the South Island lifestyle magazine ''Style'', and national magazines '' Kiwi Gardener'', '' Kiwi Gardener Quarterly'' and ''Rugby News''. Star Media also runs several Christchurch events including the ''City 2 Surf'' and the ''Home and Leisure Show''.


References


Bibliography

*


External links


Allied Press website
{{COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand Newspaper companies of New Zealand Heritage New Zealand Category 2 historic places in Otago Mass media in Dunedin Edmund Anscombe buildings 1920s architecture in New Zealand Central Dunedin New Zealand companies established in 1975