Stuff Group acquires Wairarapa Times-Age

AUCKLAND, Today: Stuff Group has unveiled their latest acquisition: the Wairarapa Times-Age. This addition strengthens their already vast regional news network in New Zealand.

Laura Maxwell, CEO of Stuff Group, shared her enthusiasm. “We are particularly pleased that owner Andrew Denholm will join Stuff in a new role, continuing to drive the success of the WTA locally.”

The Wairarapa Times-Age has been around since 1938 and was locally owned since 2016. It’s well-known, with its Midweek community paper reaching 20,000 homes. It even won Regional Newspaper of the Year in 2022.

Stuff plans to keep the local team in Masterton and link WTA with nearby Stuff papers like the Manawatu Standard and Taranaki Daily News. Additionally, their premium paper, The Post, offers excellent national business and political insights.

Joanna Norris, Stuff’s Managing Director of Masthead Publishing, believes WTA is a great match. “Over the past year we have been reviewing our footprint across the country.

“Adding the Wairarapa Times-Age to our portfolio strengthens Stuff’s leading position in the lower North Island.” – Matt Headland

Joanna adds, “By launching new digital subscriptions for The Post, The Press, The Waikato Times and our regional mastheads, we’ve created a more cohesive community network tightly aligned to local needs.

“We love being able to support local journalism in Wairarapa with this acquisition and retain a strong commercial presence with the ability to deliver wider reach through our rural and real estate offerings,” says Joanna.

Andrew Denholm sees this move as a win. “Stuff’s scale and experience in delivering great journalism, in the formats that audiences want, is second to none. I’m delighted that Stuff has added the Wairarapa Times-Age to its regional footprint.”

Matt Headland, Stuff’s Managing Director of Brand Connections, says this deal boosts their advertising potential. “Adding the Wairarapa Times-Age to our portfolio strengthens Stuff’s leading position in the lower North Island.”

With this acquisition, Stuff is ensuring that local journalism in Wairarapa continues to thrive and remain well-connected.