Stuff Ltd wants to cut 18 journalism jobs across Taranaki, Manawatū, Wairarapa, Nelson, Timaru, and Southland. If the cuts go ahead, many districts will be left with just two reporters and whole regions with one photographer. The journalists who wrote this letter are the people who sit through your council meetings, report from your local court, and turn up when the floods hit. They know their communities, and their communities trust them. Once those relationships are gone, a content feed can’t replace them.
The following open letter has been sent to Stuff leadership, signed by hundreds of members of the community, including local journalists, politicians, business leaders, and other community members.
To the leadership of Stuff Ltd
A proposed slashing of frontline journalists in regional New Zealand should be understood as an existential threat to the country’s media ecosystem.
Stuff Ltd has proposed to cut 18 roles across Taranaki, Manawatū, Wairarapa, Nelson, Timaru and Southland, leaving only two reporters in many districts, and just one photographer to cover whole regions.
Even the roving regional reporter roles are being halved to two positions, and proposed to start writing content for the artificial intelligence-dependent project Neighbourly News.
All but one regional print producer – the last line of defence for spotting errors before print – are proposed to be cut. This team is already understaffed and overworked.
Then, less than a week after its proposal, Stuff Ltd began advertising for more copywriters to write sponsored content across the newspapers.
For a company which speaks often of trust, we are struggling to trust there is a plan for the future that prioritises journalism. We are concerned we will lose the trust of our audiences and advertisers who will notice their zombie papers exist in name alone.
The relationships reporters have with local businesses, schools, elected members, community groups, police officers, once lost, cannot be rebuilt overnight. And cannot be replaced by a content feed.
Stuff Ltd, the company which manages Stuff newspapers and insists it is a distinct business from its digital sibling, already has zero reporters in Otago, Tauranga, and the East coast. The number of reporters in the North or South Island will be basically single digits outside of Wellington and Christchurch.
And as the impact of climate change creates more havoc on our communities, how would we keep a reporter in a local courtroom and council chamber when the next closest reporter to a devastating flood is several hours away?
Will the people losing their homes be responsible for sending in their photos and their stories? Will we still ask them to pay us for our content?
A Stuff Group spokesperson has said the company employs 300 journalists. But when measured in boots on the ground, the number is closer to 100 reporters and we’re increasingly struggling to find the time to leave the office.
The news is not made in a newsroom. It can happen anywhere, and any time, and we need to be there.
We understand Stuff Ltd is a private company that needs to be commercially viable. We hear that the price of print and delivery is skyrocketing. Yet the plan is not to cut pages or days of print, but people.
In the last few months, Stuff Ltd has also begun giving away news for free through 18 new webpages for Neighbourly News, including bits of content found behind the company’s own paywalls and press releases seemingly chucked through AI.
What was the point in spending money on creating three paywalled websites three years ago for Stuff’s metros? Why not just keep us on the one Stuff.co.nz website with an NZ Herald-type partial premium model? Where is the strategy?
We accept that the media industry is under enormous financial pressure. But being in this industry comes with responsibilities. We believe the company’s proposal raises serious questions about what regional journalism will look like when the people who can tell the difference between a press release and a real story are no longer there.
A local Facebook group can tell you that a pothole exists. But it’s the journalist who asks why it has been there for six months, how much the council has spent fixing it, which roads are prioritised, what residents were promised, and who is responsible for the decision.
We therefore call on Stuff Ltd to end its proposed cuts. Work with us on finding a solution. Change is inevitable, we will increasingly be digital, and it can’t all be on Stuff’s shoulders to stop New Zealand’s media black spots from growing. Call centre journalism is becoming a problem across all major companies. But for the newspapers that survive, we can’t fix our problems with fewer people.
And to Sinead: Your papers do important work. We haven’t forgotten the vision, motivation, and hope that came when you took the company over. We want to fight together to save our local stories.
Signed:
Dr Katie Abbott
Louise Adams, Print producer
Steve Addison, Head of strategy and narrative (Pegasus Health)
Glynis Alexander
Briar Allan, Journalism student
Jamie Allen, Pou Hāpai
Amber Allott, Journalist
Amelia, Senior advisor
Jessica Ammundsen, Communications and engagement manager
Peter Andersen, Retired
James Anderson, Farmer
Lisa Anderson, Admin
Matty Anderson, Nelson City councillor
Andrea, Aged care chaplain
Emma Andrews, Journalist
Brianna Anglesey, Political commentator
Anita, Teacher
Deborah Anselm, Team lead
Ash, Cosmetic and paramedical tattoo artist
Penny Ashton, Performer
Craig Ashworth, LDR reporter, Taranaki
Catalina Baird, Student
Joanna Baldwin, Road safety communications
Rod Bannister, General manager
Hugh Barlow, Journalist
Jennifer Barnes, Yoga teacher
Nicole Barret, Home-based educator
Brent Barrett, City councillor
Andy Bartlett, Individual
Julie Bateman
Benn Bathgate, Senior reporter
Anne Bauld, Consumer
Georgia Beattie-Richards, Central processing officer, StudyLink
Mark Beatty, Photographer
Tony Becker, Clinical director, Masterton Medical
Rebecca P Bedwell, Manager
Diane Bellamy, Citizen
Karen Bennett, BID manager
Jane Berney, Communication consultant and lecturer
Susan Berry
Rachel Betteridge, Teacher’s assistant
Sarah Biggerstaff, Disability support worker
Mary Bingham, Retired nurse
Douglas Blackie
Karen Blade, Retired
Ricky Blade, CFO
Claire Bleakley, Wairarapa Times-Age subscriber
Aleksandra Bogdanova, Radio journalist, MediaWorks News
Aneta Bond, Wairarapa resident
Olivia Boswell, Director
Ellen Boucher, Digital experience specialist
Mike Bowler, Print producer
Rachel Boyack, MP for Nelson
Jennie Bracken
Andy Brew, Regional roving reporter
Bri, ECE
John Bridge, Retired
Sam Brines
James Brodie, Chair, Martinborough Community Board
Karen Broome, Subscriber to the Southland Times
Dan Broughton, Business director/owner
Jude Brown, Print producer
Maria Brown, Nurse
Nina Brown, Journalist
Shona Brown, Retired communications professional
Donna Bruce, Councillor, Gore District Council
Gwen Bryce
Kate Buchanan, Communications specialist and media manager
Vicki Bulmer, Hospital manager
Nathan Burdon, Active Southland communications manager
Janene Burnett
Val Burr, Print edition subscriber and ‘Back Issues’ historian contributor
Lynn Bushell, Creative director
Anna C, Wairarapa resident
Pippa Cain, Self-employed
Bruce Campbell, Artist
Rob Campbell
Sharon Campbell, Counsellor
Carly, Senior reporter
Jill Carlyon, Administration
Carolyn, Edgecumbe
Alicia Carr, Journalism graduate
Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporter
Tanya Carter, Business development executive
Theresa Cayley, Community engagement manager
Kees Chalmers, Reporter
Charlotte, PR professional
Arun Chaudhari, CEO, Taranaki Chamber of Commerce
Cheryl, Educator
Mindy Cheung, Customer service representative
Andrew Chick, Communications advisor
Aaron Christiansen, Artist and photographer
Kate Clark
Poppy Clark, Journalist
Anne Clarke, Retired taxpayer
Liberty Clayton
Ally Clelland
Clemency, Ecologist
Jennie Cohen, Retired
Mel Coleman
Victoria Coleman, Disability advocate
Carolyn Collier, Real estate
Arra Comple, Bank officer
Jemma Cooper, Member of the public and taxpayer
Lucy Cooper, Journalist
Michelle Cooper, Reliever
Jamie Coote, Transport owner
Mark Copland, Farmer
Maryann Corrigan, Teacher
Peter Costello, Reader
Deena Coster, Senior reporter
Sandy Cowell
Shane Cox, Laboratory manager
Phillipa Cressey, Office supervisor
Steve Cretney, Mayor of Carterton
Gabrielle Crosby, Digital communications advisor
Brodie Croucher, Industrial officer
Stacey Cunningham, Self-employed
Martin Cupit, Registrar
Mel Cupit, Gore District councillor
Lilly Curtis
Jade Cvetkov, Photographer
Claire Daines
Sarah Dalton, Executive director, ASMS
Danielle, Mum
Melissa da Souza-Correa, Researcher, grandmother, farmer
Evan Davies
Adair Davis
Carol Dawson
Warwick Delmonte, Local business owner
Angela Dempster-Passang, NPO
Martin de Ruyter, Visual journalist for 40 years at The Nelson Mail
Sue Devaney
Glenys Dickson, Director
Chris Dillon, Business owner
Rochelle Dillon, Business owner
Karin Dirkx, Retired
Marlene Ditchfield, Freelance writer
David Do, Senior analyst
Abbey Dodds
Donna, Nurse
Peter Drake
Chloe Dansby Drumm, Waitress
Denise Dry, Business owner
Sandra Duncan, Artist
Kerry Du Pont, Screen production tutor, New Zealand Broadcasting School
Colin Dyer, Councillor, MDC
Duncan Eddy, West Harbour Community Board member
Belinda Edridge
Stuart Edwards, General manager
Bonnie Elder, Retired
Christine Eliseev, Wairarapa resident
Diana Elliot
Emma, Member of public
Madeline Enright
Francesca Ephraim
Jess Etheridge
Eva
Samuel Evans, Talent acquisition manager
Sarah Belle Eynon
Ellen F, Product designer
Zoe Fairweather, Student
Russell J Falconer, Farmer, Gore
Susan Falloon, Retired
Jason Fallow, Comms advisor
David Famularo, Journalist/artist/musician
Braden Fastier, Visual journalist
Martha Faulkner, Prepress coordinator
Lynda Feringa, Former press photographer
Tracey Fernando, Nurse
Deb Fill
Sandie Fletcher, Gardener
Julie Foley, Lactation consultant
Ainslie Forbes-McEwan, Subscriber to ODT and Southland Times, union organiser
Caryl Forrest, Editor, Tinui Times
Callum Francis, National organiser
Brenda Fraser, Volunteer community worker
Jill Fraser, Editor
Clare French, General surgeon, Wairarapa
Chris Fung, Senior lecturer in anthropology, UMass Boston
Patrice Gaffaney
Gail
Himani Mishra Galbraith, Director/chair
Mel Galvin, Volunteer coordinator
Hugh Gardyne, Subscriber/farmer advocate
Jody Gayton, Reader
Janette Wallace Gedge
Leila George, Technical director
Margaret George, Retired
John Gilberthorpe, Retired
Suzy Giles, Managing director
Katie Gill, Mother
Luisa Girao, Senior reporter
Terri Glanville, Reader
Aaron Goodall, Accountant
Dave Goosselink, Senior PR communications manager
Neill Gordon, Community worker
Jan Goss, Retired
Vishendran Govindasamy, General surgeon, Wairarapa Hospital
Pam Graham, Retired
Alan Gray, Senior principal landscape architect, Boffa Miskell, Nelson
Norman Gray, Emergency medical specialisation
Angela Greggains, Reader
Denver Grenell, Writer
Baljit Singh Grewal, Print producer
Jennifer Grey, Business owner
Rachel Griffiths, Catchment coordinator
Catherine Groenestein, Senior reporter
Marie Gudsell, Retired
Lawrence Gullery, Communications advisor
Kate Guthrie, Support kaimahi
Roger Handford, Former/semi-retired radio and print journalist and sub-editor
Johanna Hansen, Teacher
Ngaire Hansen, Financial adviser
Marianne Harlen
Vanessa Harvey, Events manager
George Heagney, Reporter
Murray Heath, Chairman, Waihopai Bowling Club, Invercargill
Kavinda Herath, Visual journalist
Sandy Herrick, Business owner
Sue Hewitt, Retired
Josh Hickford, Chief executive
Jill Higgins, Retired office manager
Martin Higgins
Nina Hindmarsh, Journalist, Nelson Mail
Rosemary Hipkins, Retired
Catherine Hislop
Rebecca Hogan, Local Democracy Reporter, Manawatū Standard
Heidi Holbrook, Nurse
Catherine Holley, Teacher
Chris Hollis, Programme coordinator, Good Lives Wairarapa
Sonya Holm
Hope, Community member
Sharnae Hope, Senior communications officer
Wendy Howard
Dr Owen Howell, Support worker
Sylvia Howieson, Kaiaawhina, Taranaki Retreat
Catherine Hubbard, Senior reporter
Daisy Hudson, Journalist and educator
S.C. Hudson
Holly Hullena, Manager, Wairarapa Road Safety Council
Karli Hunter
Katie Hunter, Journalist
Lynley Hunter
Minty Hunter
Justine Huntley
Barb Hyde, Resident
Emily Ireland, LDR
Julie Jacobson, Senior writer
Cheryl Jaggard, Retired
Jean James, Retired
Caroline Jamieson
Robyn Janes, Director
Jayden, Student
Jess, Student
Robyn Johnson, Retired
Katherine Johnston, Mother
Robina Rickard Johnston, Business owner
Will Johnston, Reporter
Rangimarie Sophie Jolley, Writer, organiser, advocate
Gina Jones, Director
Renee Jones, Publicist
Richard Jones, Media advisor
Ruth Jones, Unemployed
Daryl Judson, Retired reader of the paper
Diane Judson, Retired reader of the paper
Chris Juggins, Delivery person
Deeana Jury
Bronwyn K
Kevin Kane, Print producer
Karla Karaitiana, Photographer
Kate, Reporter
Erin Kavanagh-Hall, Editor, Wairarapa Midweek
Rachael Kelly, Senior journalist
Vicky Kelly, Retired
Rebecca Kempton, Greytown resident
Dave Kennedy, Green Party candidate for Invercargill
Merryn Kennedy
Sarah Kerby, Nelson City councillor
Jessica Kerr, Veterinarian
Debra Kiernan, Retired
David King, Retired
Jack King, Head of commercial and business development, Rugby Southland
John King, Director, farm group facilitator
Kerri King, Contributing writer
Rebecca King, Journalism student
Terry King, Retired
Linda Kirkland
Kirstie, Signwriter
Deborah Kissick
Kitti
Ron Kjestrup, Business owner
Andy Knight, Forklift driver
Susan Knight, Press subscriber
Jocelyn Konig, Volunteer
Krista, Southland mum
Judith Lamb, Former teacher, Taranaki resident and mother
Dominic Lane
Sophie Lapsley, Communications consultant
Jill Larsen
Vanessa Laurie, Photojournalist
Heidi Lawson, Accountant
Catherine Lea, Retiree
Ingrid Leary, Member of Parliament
Andrea Lee, ED
Kwok Yi Lee, Print designer
Darlene Leerling, Public servant
Ursula Lehr
Jann Lenihan
Stella Lennox, Elected member, Masterton District Council
Alison Lessells, Avid reader of local news
Anne Levin
Anne Lincoln, Rural Masterton resident
Brayden Lindsay, Sport and general reporter
Amanda Linsley, CEO
Nick Lironi-Irvine, Managing director
Simone Little
Matthew Littlewood, Reporter, Otago Daily Times
Debra Lodge-Schnellenberg
Bernard Long, Green Party candidate, Rangitīkei
Louise, Rural resident
Marine Lourens, Senior journalist
Lucy, Supermarket
Sam Ludden, Environmental team lead
Lyn, Retired citizen from a rural community
Danielle M, HR admin
Cate Macintosh, Senior reporter
Janetta Mackay
Susie Mackie
Arlo Macmillan
Sandi Maddox, Allied health professional
Madeleine, Student journalist
Federico Magrin, Journalist
Richard Manning, Associate professor
Di Manson, Retired
Marietjie
Marise Marshall
Gabrielle Martell-Turner, Facilitator
Destiny Martin, Teacher
Brigitte Marulli de Barletta
John Mather, Retired biosecurity officer
Shanti Mathias, Freelance journalist
Katherine Matthews, Business owner
Lisa Maule, Arts producer
Sylvia Maunder, Retired
Kelly Mc.
Polly McAdam
Kieran McAnulty, Member of Parliament
Ryan McArthur
Erena McCann, Teacher
Kate McCarthy-Burke, Mother, musician, advocate
Mish McCormack, Director
Kathryn McCully, Founder
Emma McDermott, Account manager, print media
Noel McGee
Noreen McGee
Sally McIntyre, Council watchdog for over 20 years
Bryce McKenzie, Co-founder, Groundswell NZ
Claire McKenzie, Newspaper subscriber and reader
Graham McKerracher, Communications and marketing manager, Gore District Council
Dene McManus, Currently unemployed
Kirsty McMurray
Hamish McNeilly, Senior reporter
Ken McWilliams, Retired consultant
Megan, Communications
Karl Metzler, CEO
Michelle, Member of public
Kirstin Miller, Union official
Virginia Mills
Maria Milne, OCS cleaner, Masterton Hospital
Angela Mitchell
Julie Mitchell, Real estate agent
Samantha Mogford, Marketing and communications coordinator, TAFT
Kieran Monaghan, Musician
Russell Morgan, Managing director
Madeleine Morton, Content writer
Jessie Moss, Professional adviser
Dr Malcolm Mulholland, Chair, Patient Voice Aotearoa
Arthur Munro
Rev Leanne Munro
Josepha Murray, Director
Vicki Aye Namu
Nanda, Counsellor
B Narkham
Christine Neil
Viktoria Neligan
Nelly, Designer
Frances Nelson, Retired educator
Nesta, Board of Trustees, Medical Services
Rob Newton
Sarah Newton, Caregiver
Terry Nicholas, Manager and Upoko, Hokonui Rūnanga
Jenny Nicholls, Freelance writer/designer
V Nicol, Subscriber
Anne-Maree Nikolaison, Admin
Elizabeth Noone, Concerned citizen
B Norman
Charmaine Norton, Vet tech student
Jo Nuku
Dr Luke Oldfield, Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington
Stu Oldham, Reader and consumer
Catherine O’Leary, Teacher
MJ Oliver, Photographer
Olivia
Donna Olsen, Production editor
Jen Olson, Artist and writing trainer
Judy Paku, Concerned citizen
Jessica Parker, Festival manager
Melenie Parkes, Senior reporter
Sarah Parry
Marlee Partridge, Former reporter, Wairarapa Times-Age
Jacobo Pastor, Teacher
Lauren Pattemore, Communications coordinator, Asia New Zealand Foundation
Lyn Patterson
Bruce Pauling
Jon Pawson, Union organiser
Mark Peart, Principal, Mark Peart Wordsmith
Deanne Pedersen, Administration
Louise Pemberton
Matt Pemberton, Lawyer
Nicky Petterson
Gerald Piddock, Journalist
Catherine Pine, University student
Daniel Pinfold, Business banking specialist
Pip
Suzanne Porter, CEO, TAFT
Tracey Porter, Freelance journalist
Ginni Post, Managing director
Grace Prior, Communications and media advisor (former Stuff reporter)
Robyn Prior
Tatyana Protsenko, Learning and capability development
Thérèse Quinlivan, Artist
Rachel
Bianca Rakena, Self-employed artist
Stuart Ramson, Retired
Myrie Randell
Charlotte Rawstorn
Victoria Read, Director
Karen Rees, Writer
Simon Rees, Retired
Kylie Reeves, Communications manager
Ava Reidy, Accounts receivable officer
Sarah Rennie, General surgeon
Lillian Richmond, Company director
Professor Konrad Richter, Consultant general surgeon
Rachel Rix-Trott
Robbie, Electrician
Alicia Roberts, Chairperson, Alzheimers Wairarapa
Cal Roberts
Jennifer Roberts, Registered nurse
Bron Robertson
Christine Robertson, Subscriber
Glenys Robertson
Roger
Maria Roseingrave
Ian Rotherham, Professional photographer
Rowena, Project manager
Annabel Roy, Marketing manager
Lisa Rushworth, Graphic designer
Sandy Ryan, National funding and project manager
Adele Rycroft, Visual journalist, Manawatū Standard
Peter Rycroft, Teacher
Graham Sanders
Mrs Sanders
Ant Sang
Gretchen Saulbrey, Chief executive, Hospice Wairarapa
Rich Saunders, Director
Megan Savage, Counsellor
Karen Schischka, Retiree
Christina Schofield, Tour guide
Jessie Schumacher, Marketing and communications manager, TAFT/WOMAD
Rob Scott, Mayor, Southland District Council
D Scott-Weekly
Keryn Scully, Factory worker
Yasmin Sealey, Student
Serena
Kay Shanley, Retired
Karen Shep
Nigel Skeggs, City councillor
Colin Slade, Avid reader of the Midweek and Times-Age
Roger Slade, Retired
Madeleine Slavick, Writer and photographer
Hannah Small, News consumer
Warren Smart, Teacher
Dianne Smillie, Rural citizen of New Zealand
Blanton Smith, News director
Chris Smith
Fergus Goodall Smith
Heather Smith
Helen Smith
Kris Smith
Hon Dr Nick Smith, Mayor of Nelson
Sophronia Smith, Poutiaki Matua
Tony Smith, Senior sports reporter
Warwick Smith, Senior visual journalist
Lesley Soper, Retired local government elected member
Jacqui Spooner, Legal typist
Loren Squires, Retired
Yashas Srinivasa, Journalist
Rachel Stace, Company director
Troy Stade, Lawyer
Lois and Adrian Standish, Retired
Emma Stanford, Chief travel correspondent
Aimee Stanton, Journalist
Jan Stephen, Retired
Rebecca Stevens, CEO, Mahi Tahi Tātou Charitable Trust
James Steyl, Business owner, Blade Motorcycles
Louisa Steyl, Reporter
Sonia Stiles, Professional
Rob Stock, Senior reporter
Caroline Sturgess
Susy, Comms manager
Laurel Swan, Subscriber
Marlene Taingahue, Home carer
Elton Tauwhare-Lambert
Azriel Taylor, Managing editor
Mark Taylor, Videographer
Nicky Taylor, Registered nurse
Kathleen Te Momo-Smith
Margaret Tennant, Chair, Palmerston North Heritage Trust
Alex Terris, Retired
MJ Terry, Board secretary
Adi Thomas, Wairarapa Times-Age elderly subscribers’ representative
Rachel Thomas, Communications advisor, ASMS
Danica Thompson
Sarah Thompson, Industrial officer
Shannon Thomson, Believer in regional journalism
Aditi Tiwari
Tom, Builder
Ben Tomsett, Journalist
Chris Tracey, Director, Planwell Services Limited
Julie Trafford, Academic
Ann-Marie Tribe
Trish, Director
Pauline Tucker, Retired
Lou Tulett, Former Stuff subeditor
Margaret Tupaea
Rebecca Tupu, Author
David Turnbull, Rural resident
Rob Turner, Nan
Unions Manawatū
David Unwin, Visual journalist
Gerhard Uys
Vanessa, Lab tech
Simoné Van Niekerk, Chartered accountant
Hugo van Stratum
Joshua Vergeest, Marketing coordinator
Vicki, Teacher aide
Avina Vidyadharan, Communications adviser, former Stuff reporter
Bethany W, School counsellor
Rochelle W
Christie Waaka
Adam Walker, Communications professional
Geoff Walker, Human being/photographer
Iain Walker, Development and operations manager
Vicki Waller
Cathy Walshe, Retired after 45 years as a journalist
Nick Ward, Print producer
Christin Watson
Nina Weil, Editorial designer
Claire Wells, CEO
Adam West-Watson, Gallery technician
Betty Whakatau
Arthur Whelan, Print producer
Bernard Whelan, Subscriber/reader
Kylie Whellan, Children’s Day organiser and board member, Summer Hummer and Mahi Tahi Tātou; child and youth advocate; Scentsy consultant; HR manager, Subway; Matron, St Matthew’s Collegiate
Mike White, Senior writer
Rebecca Whiting, Concerned citizen
Harriet Wild
Freddie Wilkie, Former journalist, Marlborough Express/Masthead Publishing
Yvonne Wilkins
William, Student
Alden Williams, Photographer/videographer
Anna Williams, News director
Anna Williams, Rug repairer
Caroline Williams, Platform editor, Stuff
Frances Williams
Rev Simon Williams
Tamara Williams, Nurse
Claire Williamson, PR consultant
Craig Williamson, CEO, Surfing Taranaki; Chair, TRC
Karen Williamson
Caren Wilton
Mary Witsey
Justin Wong, LDR reporter
Jane Wood, Retired
Jo Woodcock
Michael Woodcock
Richard Woodd, Retired freelancer
Karyn Worthington
Tracey Wright-Tawha, CEO
Tony Yuretich, Contractor