Newspaper owners back long term future for NZPA

6 April 2005

Media Release

Newspaper owners back long term future for NZPA

The country’s largest news agency, the 125 year New Zealand Press Association (NZPA) is to make its news service available to commercially paying customers.

In the past NZPA has been a co-operative organisation through which its daily and Sunday newspaper members have shared copy. In addition NZPA has its own staff generating news content.

Copy sharing between newspapers through NZPA will be phased out and the organisation will increase its own newsgathering capabilities. This will result in NZPA being able to sell its news services to other media including broadcast and internet sites

NZPA Chairman Julian Smith confirmed that a meeting of the Board of the company today was united in supporting the development of a vigorous and independent national news agency.

“While there will be changes to some of the traditional services such as copy sharing, the way is open for NZPA to continue to provide the quality coverage of New Zealand news events and also provide international news through its contracts with overseas wire services.

“NZPA has a great reputation for independent, authoritive news coverage and this will continue and indeed be expanded, “ said Mr Smith.

Some new services will start almost immediately but other aspects of the new look NZPA will be introduced over the coming months.

Members of NZPA include all 25 daily and Sunday newspapers in New Zealand.

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