Nielsen survey show magazine audiences on the rise

The results of the Nielsen Q2 2026 Readership Survey show significant audience growth for Kiwi magazines, with Stuff Group and Are Media both reporting an increase in readership across their stables.

Stuff Group’s three monthly magazines – NZ House & Garden, New Zealand Gardener and TV Guide – report almost 800,000 readers each month. According to the Nielsen report, this is up 6% on the previous year.

NZ House & Garden – the country’s most read monthly subscription magazine – increased its readership by 5% to 400,000 while New Zealand Gardener grew 11% to 284,000 and the weekly TV Guide grew 5% to just under 300,000 readers.

The results show the magazines were also up on the previous quarter, and were three of only a handful of New Zealand magazines to experience growth year on year. The data coincides with a new Quality of Attention Index which shows Kiwis pay more meaningful attention to advertising in magazines than in other media channels.

A revival for print

Stuff owner and publisher Sinead Boucher says premium print and digital magazines are enjoying a revival as readers seek a calm, finite experience without endless scrolling.

“Whether it’s a beautiful, indulgent few hours with NZ House & Garden; the practicalities of expert advice in New Zealand Gardener or the utility of TV Guide cutting through the noise for viewers, our magazines are hitting the right notes for their readers – and for advertisers,” she says.

“We are seeing increasing numbers of readers who like the physicality of a magazine and enjoy a like-minded community seeking well curated content. Our Stuff stable features magazines with strong and distinctive voices which we know pays off for advertisers who want audiences to engage with their marketing.”

Director of commercial Lee Piper adds the Quality of Attention survey reinforced what publishers have long known – that print and digital magazine readers consume advertising with more focus, active engagement and receptive mindset than other types of media.

“These are premium products with growing readership and a place not only on the magazine stand, but across Stuff’s growing subscription news sites The Post, The Press and the Waikato Times,” he says.

“The survey shows that readers believe advertising feels more relevant in a magazine environment and that they are more likely to act on that advertising. This is a huge advantage for our advertisers who want to stand out in what is an increasingly noisy world.”

Are Media celebrates audience growth

Are Media New Zealand’s portfolio of magazine brands recorded a combined average issue readership of almost 1.9 million in the latest Nielsen survey. The results also show quarterly and annual audience growth across several titles, including New Zealand Woman’s Weekly, The Listener, Kia Ora and Your Home & Garden. 

Are Media reports the following results:

1. According to the Nielsen results, New Zealand Woman’s Weekly is the most-read weekly magazine, reaching 443,000 readers each week. The title gained 12,000 readers year-on-year, representing growth of 3%. 
2. The Listener achieved strong quarterly and annual growth, increasing by 11,000 readers, or 5%, compared with the previous quarter. It now reaches 222,000 New Zealanders each week in print, along with over 14,000 digital subscribers.
3. Kia Ora recorded one of the portfolio’s strongest quarterly performances, adding 13,000 readers, or 3%, to reach 443,000 readers per issue. Nielsen shows the magazine retaining its position as the most-read monthly.
4. Your Home & Garden grew its audience for the quarter, adding 3,000 readers to reach 112,000 New Zealanders per issue, in addition to over 250,000 digital touchpoints each month for the brand. 

Across the portfolio, Are Media delivers a cumulative average issue audience of 1.895 million, demonstrating the significant scale in key lifestyle categories including travel, beauty, food, home, current affairs, and more. 

Trusted relationships

Are Media New Zealand editorial director Sarah Henry says the results reflected the strength of the company’s brands and their trusted relationships with readers. 

“These results demonstrate the remarkable reach and resilience of Are Media’s magazine portfolio. Our brands continue to play an important role in the lives of New Zealanders, providing trusted journalism, entertainment, inspiration and practical advice across news, celebrity, travel, homes and lifestyle.

“The quarterly growth achieved by these iconic brands highlights the continued ability of quality magazine content to attract and retain highly engaged audiences.

“For advertisers, these results reinforce the value of magazine environments that deliver both significant audience scale and meaningful attention.” 

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