NZ Herald readership growth hits new records

Kiwis are seeking the New Zealand Herald’s journalism in growing numbers, with the latest COVID-19 crisis expected to boost readership numbers even more. 

Latest Nielsen audience numbers show that, for the second survey in a row, more than 2.2 million Kiwis are reading the Herald each week across print and digital, and the Herald’s daily readership of 1,346,000 is up nearly 300,000 readers compared with the same period last year.

NZ Herald Editor Murray Kirkness says: “We know 2020 was an extraordinary year that stimulated New Zealanders’ passion for accurate, trustworthy and timely news in which they can have confidence. Many new readers came to the New Zealand Herald for their Covid-19 news, and they’ve stayed with us.”

Nielsen’s data shows the Herald average daily print readership is at 608,000 – up 62,000 readers (11 percent) on the same time last year.

Earlier this month NZME reported growth in net newspaper subscription acquisitions. NZME attributed this growth to the value New Zealanders continue to place in a tactile, quality news experience during major events.

NZME Managing Editor Shayne Currie says: “The newspaper subscription growth and the phenomenal number of new Kiwis accessing our COVID journalism via our online and app platforms – as well as us maintaining a deeply engaged and loyal audience – reflect our ongoing strategy to be ‘New Zealand’s Herald’.”

nzherald.co.nz has also recently celebrated a full year as New Zealand’s number one digital news website with a unique audience of 1.865 million in July 2021 – up 6.4 percent on June. 

During the latest COVID-19 Delta outbreak, nzherald.co.nz has achieved more impressive audience peaks with daily website sessions reaching 3.7 million and total page views reaching 11 million on some days. 

The number of New Zealanders accessing in-depth and exclusive coverage, insights and commentary through their NZ Herald Premium subscription also continues to grow – more than 120,000 Kiwis are now subscribing to Premium content.

NZME Head of Premium and Magazines Miriyana Alexander says: “Our strategy to be New Zealand’s Herald is based on the understanding that New Zealanders’ relationship with the issues they care about goes so much deeper than a front page or a headline. Our readers are following stories through from breaking news to in-depth investigations and analysis to get a deeper understanding of the ‘why’.”

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