In today’s competitive media environment The Southland Times can boast an into-home delivery of nearly 80% of its circulation and a coverage across the week of 75%, figures that are without peer in major daily newspaper markets in New Zealand.

The Times, in combination with its community newspapers, offers near saturation coverage of this important market which produces 18% of New Zealand GNP through meat, wool, grain, dairy products and other agricultural exports.

Invercargill, the Commonwealth and New Zealand’s most southern city, has a population of about 50,000 and is the provincial hub. It provides the business, administrative and educational centre.

Each day, The Southland Times reflects the activities of its hard-working readers, and the myriad of business, sporting and other interests that they pursue.

The Southland Times is proud to reflect the positivity, drive and energy of New Zealand’s southernmost region.

Six days a week, it publishes not only the local, national and international news relevant to its readers, but its farming readership and regional coverage is unmatched in New Zealand for a daily newspaper.

As well, it features lively sports coverage, features, columns and the best of the cartoons. The Southland Times is ably complemented by its community newspapers division.

In its early days the paper appeared twice or three times a week, until it became a daily in 1875. Typesetting was done by hand in the early days, and the double Demy Columbia press was operated manually as each sheet of each copy was separately printed.

Until its acquisition by Independent Newspapers Limited in 1984, most of the paper’s first 122 years were synonymous with the name of Gilmour. Glasgow-born Robert Gilmour began his involvement with the newspaper two years after it started, became a part-owner in 1869-70 and took full charge in 1879, signalling the start to the Gilmour family’s long ownership of the paper.

At the turn of the century The Southland Times was relocated into enlarged premises in Esk Street, and in 1902-03 linotype machines were installed, speeding production and making larger papers possible.

In 1908 the paper moved into an even larger Esk Street home. New equipment was brought in, including a two-wheel rotary press, the first of its kind to be used outside the main centres. The Southland Times was to become a technological innovator more than once. In 1972, digital computers and software, phototypesetters and a Japanese APR photopolymer plate were installed at the plant. As a result, The Southland Times had New Zealand’s first fully-computerised newspaper production system, and the staff underwent a massive retraining exercise.

In 1981 The Southland Times commissioned a new offset Goss Urbanite press. At the time, it was the largest offset press in New Zealand and provided the newspaper with full colour capability. Five years later The Southland Times led the way yet again – this time in the use of advanced computer-driven newspaper technology, whereby reporters typed their articles directly into a computer and sub-editors edited them on screen. At the time, it was regarded as the most modern newspaper production plant in the country.

In 1984, the fragmenting of the Gilmour family’s links with The Southland Times and the impact of commercial realities led to the paper’s sale to Independent Newspapers Limited, making it then the fifth daily newspaper in the INL stable. The Southland Times is parent to five free community newspapers: Newslink; The Mirror; Clutha Leader; Taieri Herald; Otago-Southland Farmer.These community newspapers carry popular columns and news and features relevant to their areas.

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