Stuff (company)

Stuff Ltd is a privately held news media company owned by Sinead Boucher[1] and operating in New Zealand. It operates the country's largest news website, Stuff, and owns nine daily newspapers, including New Zealand's second and third-highest circulation daily newspapers, The Dominion Post and The Press, and the highest circulation weekly, Sunday Star-Times.[2] Magazines published include TV Guide, New Zealand's top-selling weekly magazine.[3]

This article is about the New Zealand company that owns Stuff (website). For the British magazine, see Stuff (magazine).

Stuff Ltd
Privately held company
IndustryPublishing
Founded30 June 2003 
HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
Key people
Sinead Boucher (Owner)
Websitestuff.co.nz

In addition, Stuff Ltd owns social media network Neighbourly.[4]

History

The print publications and Stuff.co.nz previously belonged to Independent Newspapers Limited, until they were sold to Australian company Fairfax Media in 2003. In December 2018 Fairfax Media merged with Australia's Nine Entertainment Co.[5] Nine Entertainment attempted to sell Stuff in 2019 but did not receive any adequate bids.[6]

On 11 May 2020, the company New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) made a second attempt to purchase Stuff for a symbolic $1 on the basis of saving jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, Stuff's parent company Nine Entertainment terminated further discussion with NZME.[7][8][9] In response, NZME filed an emergency junction at the Auckland High Court to force Nine Entertainment back into negotiations.[10] On 19 May, the Auckland High Court rejected NZME's bid for an interim injunction against Nine Entertainment.[11][12]

On 25 May, Nine Entertainment agreed to sell Stuff to Stuff's chief executive Sinead Boucher for NZ$1, with the transaction due to be completed by 31 May. This marks the return of the company into New Zealand ownership. Nine will retain all of the proceeds of the sale of wholesale broadband business Stuff Fibre to telecommunications company Vocus Group, and ownership of Stuff's Wellington printing press.[13][14][15]

Management

Allen Williams was chief executive officer of Fairfax New Zealand Limited from April 2009 until April 2013, when he was promoted to managing director of Australian Publishing Media.[16] Andrew Boyle was acting managing director until Simon Tong started as managing director in September 2013.[17] Tong left in March 2017, just days prior to the Commerce Commission announcing their final decision on the proposed Fairfax New Zealand merger with New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME).[18] Tong was succeeded by Boyle as acting managing director until Sinead Boucher was appointed chief executive officer in August 2017. Boucher had first been employed by Fairfax as a branch office reporter for The Press in 1993.[19]

Current publications

Major mastheads[20]

Community newspapers

Auckland
  • Auckland City Harbour News
  • The Bay Chronicle
  • Central Leader
  • Dargaville & District News
  • East & Bays Courier
  • Eastern Courier
  • Manukau Courier
  • Northern News
  • North Harbour News
  • North Shore Times
  • Nor-West News
  • Papakura Courier
  • Rodney Times
  • Waiheke Marketplace
  • Western Leader
  • Whangarei Leader

Wellington
  • The Horowhenua Mail
  • The Hutt News
  • Kapi-Mana News
  • Kapiti Observer
  • Upper Hutt Leader
  • Wairarapa News
  • The Wellingtonian

Waikato
  • Piako Post
  • Taupo Times
  • South Waikato News
  • Matamata Chronicle
  • Hamilton Press

Other

Magazines

Former publications

Stuff announced in February 2018 that it would close or sell 28 of its smaller community and rural mastheads. The 28 titles are:[20]

  • Avenues
  • Waikato Farmer
  • Admire Marlborough
  • NZ Dairy Farmer
  • Discover Magazine
  • Selwyn and Ashburton Outlook
  • Admire Nelson
  • Hastings Mail
  • Christchurch Mail
  • Napier Mail
  • The Tribune
  • Kaikoura Star
  • Invercargill Eye
  • Auto Xtra
  • South Canterbury Herald
  • Clutha Leader
  • Waiheke Marketplace
  • NewsLink
  • Wairarapa News
  • Queenstown Mirror
  • NZ Farmer
  • Waitaki Herald
  • Canterbury Farmer
  • North Waikato News
  • Central District Farmer
  • Rotorua Review
  • Otago Southland Farmer
  • Ruapehu Press

Digital properties

In November 2017 Stuff Ltd took full ownership of hyper-local social media network Neighbourly, having first bought a 22.5 percent stake in December 2014.[4] In May 2018 Stuff Ltd took full ownership of internet service provider Stuff Fibre, which won the People's Choice Award, NZ Broadband Provider of the Year, Best Fibre Broadband Provider, and Best Broadband Innovation at the 2019 Broadband Compare Awards.[21] Stuff Ltd also has a 49 percent share in New Zealand-based energy retailer energyclubnz.[22]

In 2019, Stuff Ltd launched a video platform, Play Stuff. The website hosts free content sourced from content providers such as BBC, Reuters and the Press Association as well as local content from NZ On Screen and Bravo New Zealand.[23]

In early 2020, Stuff sold both Stuff Fibre and its share of energyclubnz.[24]

Awards

Stuff Ltd has won both national and international awards for its corporate leadership and management.

Year Award Category Result
2017 Attitude Awards[25] Employer Award Winner
2019 Deloitte Top 200[26] Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Finalist
2019 INMA (International News Media Association) Global Media Awards[27] Best new concept or innovation to create new profit centres First place
Best idea to grow advertising sales or retain advertising clients Second place
Best idea to encourage print readership or engagement Third place

See also

References
  1. Graham-McLay, Charlotte (25 May 2020). "New Zealand media group Stuff to be sold to chief executive Sinead Boucher for NZ$1". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  2. "New Zealand's Top Local News Sites - July 2018". www.nielsen.com. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  3. "About TV Guide". Stuff.co.nz. Stuff Limited. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  4. "Fairfax NZ acquires Neighbourly website". Newsroom. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  5. "Stuff's journey from newspaper pioneer to website to 'portfolio' business". Stuff. 1 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  6. Rutherford, Hamish (23 July 2019). "Nine will 'focus on the long term' with bids for Stuff below fair value". Stuff. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  7. Andelane, Lana (11 May 2020). "Nine Network says talks with NZME over Stuff acquisition were 'terminated' last week". Newshub. Archived from the original on 12 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  8. "World Politics Pacific Te Ao Māori Sport Business Country Local Democracy Reporting Comment & Analysis In Depth Weather BUSINESS MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY11 May 2020 NZME makes offer to buy rival Stuff for $1". Radio New Zealand. 11 May 2020. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  9. "Response to NZME Announcement" (PDF). Australian Stock Exchange. 11 May 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  10. Gay, Edward (15 May 2020). "Media firm NZME set out to hurt Stuff as buyout bid turned sour - lawyer". Stuff. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  11. "NZME declined an interim injunction against Stuff owner Nine". Radio New Zealand. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  12. "NZME loses interim injunction against Stuff owner Nine". Newstalk ZB. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  13. Pullar-Strecker, Tom (25 May 2020). "Stuff ownership to return to NZ after management buy-out". Stuff. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  14. Rutherford, Hamish (25 May 2020). "Stuff sold for $1 to CEO Sinead Boucher by Nine Entertainment". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  15. "Stuff chief executive Sinead Boucher buys company for $1". Radio New Zealand. 25 May 2020. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  16. "Fairfax NZ names new managing director". Stuff. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  17. "Fairfax appoints NZ chief operating officer". Stuff. 24 July 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  18. "New CEO, rebrand for Fairfax NZ". Radio New Zealand. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  19. "Sinead Boucher named as Stuff chief executive". Stuff. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  20. "Fairfax to sell or close 28 print mastheads". The New Zealand Herald. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  21. "Stuff takes 100% ownership of Stuff Fibre". bizedge.co.nz. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  22. "Former Genesis Energy retail head Goadby teams up with Fairfax for 'at-cost' energy 'club'". NBR. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  23. "Stuff unveils video platform". futurefive.co.nz. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  24. Keall, Chris (25 May 2020). "How much did Vocus pay for Stuff Fibre? An indicator". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  25. "2017 Attitude Awards Finalists". attitudelive.com. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  26. "Deloitte Top 200: Finalists announced for celebration of Kiwi business". NZ Herald. 20 October 2019. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  27. "INMA reveals Global Media Awards winners, Helsingin Sanomat takes top prize". International News Media Association (INMA). Retrieved 29 February 2020.
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