Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa is calling for whānau to support local newspapers, which are the lifeblood of their communities, keeping people informed and connected in ways no other medium can.
NZME is planning to shut down 14 local papers across Aotearoa before Christmas, including Te Awamutu Courier, Hauraki-Coromandel Post, Katikati Advertiser, Te Puke Times, Taupō & Tūrangi Herald, Napier Courier, Hastings Leader, CHB Mail in Hawke’s Bay, Stratford Press, Bush Telegraph in
Tararua, Whanganui Midweek, Manawatū Guardian, Horowhenua Chronicle, and Kāpiti News.
Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa’s commercial arm purchased the Wairoa Star in September after it ceased publishing in May due to financial distress.
Since then, six editions have been published.
Chief Executive Aayden Clarke says the feedback has been fantastic, with journalists now more connected to the community, amplifying their concerns to their audience with integrity.
“I’ve seen it firsthand, the ability for our reporting team to sit down next to our people in the community and to listen to them and be able to write the stories. Compare that to sometimes what you see and receive on social media, which are not always the most trusted sources of truth. We’ve seen that in the newspaper come through,” says Clarke.
