 | |
| Company type | Holding company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mass media |
| Headquarters | Dunedin, New Zealand |
Key people | Julian Smith (owner) Grant McKenzie (CEO) |
| Products | |
| Divisions | |
| Website | alliedmedia |
Allied Media (formerlyAllied Press) is an independent New Zealand media and publishing company based inDunedin.[1] The company's main asset is theOtago Daily Times, New Zealand's oldest daily newspaper. Allied Press has a number of otherdaily andcommunity newspapers and commercialprinting operations throughout theSouth Island including theCanterbury–based media companyStar Media. It also formerly operated Dunedin's regionaltelevision station,Channel 39. In July 2025, it began trading as Allied Media, combining both Allied Press and Star Media under one brand.[1]
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Allied Press was formed through the merger of two Dunedin newspaper companies, theOtago Daily Times (ODT) and the formerEvening Star, on 13 May 1975. The merger process was completed during the rest of the year following shareholder approval and other required agreements.ODT staff subsequently shifted into theEvening Star's building. TheEvening Star subsequently ceased operations on 3 November 1979 and was replaced by a weekly newspaper calledThe Star.[2][3] Hal Masters became the company's first chairman while theODT manager Frank Dickson and Vic Cavanagh served as joint managing directors.[4]
In 1979, theChristchurch–based H.W. Smith and the tourism company Mount Cook Group attempted separate takeover bids of Allied Press by buying up shares. In response, the businessman SirJulian Smith merged Allied Press with his company John M. Fraser and Co Ltd to form a new privately listed company called Otago Press and Produce Limited (OPP). OPP was active in egg and poultry distribution, fruit and producer markets, building supplies, and real estate.[5][3] The new company was led by chairman T.C. (Tom) Fraser and Deputy Chair Julian Smith, the former managing director of John M. Fraser and Co. In 1986, Smith purchased Otago Press and Produce, reestablishing Allied Press Ltd as a private business. Smith became Allied Press' principal shareholder, chairman and managing director while his brother Nick became a substantial shareholder, director and business manager.[3]
In July 2015, Allied Press acquiredThe Oamaru Mail.[6]
On 12 June 2016, Julian Smith stepped down as managing director of Allied Press. Grant McKenzie, theDunedin City Council's financial officer and the former director of theUniversity of Otago's financial services, was appointed as the company's chief executive officer. While Smith remains the chairman of the company, McKenzie took over the running of Allied Press.[7]
Besides theOtago Daily Times, Allied Press acquired a majority stake in theGreymouth Evening Star in 1991, which it renamed theGreymouth Star in 2006.[3] The company also owns a range of community and farming newspapers through theSouth Island includingNorth Canterbury News, theAshburton Courier,The Timaru Courier,The Oamaru Mail,Lakes District and Central Otago News,Mountain Scene,The Star andThe Ensign. In 2018, Allied Press acquired theClutha Leader fromStuff.[8]
In August 2018, Allied Press acquired theCanterbury media companyStar Media, which owned a stable of community newspapers, magazines, and events including theChristchurch–basedThe Star. Star Media's chairman Nick Smith also served as Allied Press' director and had previously worked forThe Star as their advertising cadet. Star Media subsequently became a subsidiary of Allied Press.[9][10][3]
During the outbreak of theCOVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Allied Press maintained the print circulation of theOtago Daily Times as well as its websites but suspended the circulation of its community and farming newspapers on 25 March 2020 to comply with lockdown restrictions.[11] In April 2020, Allied Press launched a major project to upgrade its Dunedin printing press.[12] By 14 May 2020, the Government had eased lockdown restrictions, allowing Allied Press' community newspapers and magazines to resume operations.[13]
Following theDelta variant community outbreak in August 2021, Allied Press continued publishing theOtago Daily Times and most of its community papers. However, it suspended publication of theSouthland Express (Invercargill), theCromwell Bulletin,The Star (Christchurch), and Christchurch community papers due to lockdown restrictions.[14]
In October 2023, 40 journalists and 65 editorial and print distribution staff affiliated with theE tū union staged a 24 hour strike to demand that their wages be raised to industry pay rates. The unionised staff rejected a pay offer by Allied Press.[15][16]
In December 2023, Allied Press confirmed that it would close its broadcasting armChannel 39 by Christmas 2023 due to declining funding fromNew Zealand on Air, low viewership figures for its flagship programmeThe South Today, rising costs, and declining advertiser support.[17][18] However,The South Today brand would continue on theOtago Daily Times's website andYouTube.[18]
In 2024, Allied Press acquired theBlenheim Sun.[3] On 30 July 2025, Allied Press began trading as Allied Media, combining both Allied Press and Star Media under one brand.[1]
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Allied Media is owned by SirJulian Smith, who serves as its chairman, managing director and board member.[8][3][19] Other key members of the company's leadership team include Allied Media board members Nick Smith and Ray Clarkson, CEO Grant McKenzie, editor-in-chief Paul McIntyre, chief information technological officer Timo Janssen, magazines publisher Charlotte Smith-Smulders, commercial manager Matthew Holdridge, human resources manager Jodi Parrish, media project manager James Smith, northern regional manager Steve McCaughan and operations manager Raja Chakrabarti.[19] The company has more than 400 employees.[8][19]
Allied Media has its headquarters in an imposing building in LowerStuart Street, Dunedin. The building was formerly the home of Dunedin'sThe Evening Star prior to its amalgamation with theOtago Daily Times in 1979.[20][21] The building was designed byEdmund Anscombe and built in the late 1920s and is part of a historic precinct that also includes theDunedin Law Courts andDunedin Railway Station. It is listed as aCategory II Historic Place.[21]
Allied Media also operates 13 regional offices throughout theSouth Island includingAlexandra,Ashburton,Balclutha,Blenheim,Christchurch,Cromwell,Gore,Invercargill,Oamaru,Queenstown,Rangiora,Timaru, andWānaka.[22]
Allied Media's flagship publication is the daily newspaperOtago Daily Times. It also owns a majority stake in theGreymouth Star along with a range of South Island community and farming newspapers.[8] Allied Media operates 28 newspapers, five magazines and 15 newspaper inserts.[23] It also runs three events calledCity 2 Surf (Christchurch), theHome and Leisure Show (Christchurch) andRural Champions.[24]
In 2018, Allied Press acquired the Christchurch-based media companyStar Media, which owned theThe Star (Christchurch) community newspaper.[9][10] In July 2025, Star Media and Allied Press were combined under a single brand called Allied Media.[1] Until late December 2023, Allied Press also operated a local television station calledChannel 39.[18]