Herald readership growth hits new records

AUCKLAND, Friday: The latest Nielsen audience numbers show that, for the second survey in a row, more than 2.2 million Kiwis are reading the NZ Herald each week across print and digital.

Editor Murray Kirkness said: “The Covid crisis is expected to boost readership numbers even more.”

The Herald now claims a daily readership of 1,346,000 – up nearly 300,000 readers compared with the same period last year.

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

NZME managing editor Shayne Currie attributed this growth to the value New Zealanders continue to place in a tactile, quality news experience during major events.

“Each week 800,000 Kiwis engage with the Herald’s magazines Travel, TimeOut, Canvas, Viva, Be Well, Spy and Driven.”

nzherald.co.nz 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% on June.

Audience growth is also reflected in lifestyle and entertainment categories – each week nearly 800,000 Kiwis engage with the Herald‘s magazines Travel, TimeOut, Canvas, Viva, Be Well, Spy and Driven.

NZME head of premium & magazines Miriyana Alexander said: “Our combined Travel Tuesday and Sunday Travel magazines reach nearly half a million Kiwis each week.”

NZME’s regional newspapers The Northern Advocate, Bay of Plenty Times, The Rotorua Daily Post, Whanganui Chronicle and Hawke’s Bay Today continue to command significant audiences in their regions with the Bay of Plenty Times recording substantial year-on-year audience growth.

NZME ceo Michael Boggs said: “While the Herald audiences are impressive in their own right, our regional newspapers are also vital from a community and a confidence perspective.”