Print still powerful: NZME mastheads post strong readership results

Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders continue to open the paper every day. Photo/File.

New Zealanders still have a strong affinity with print, according to Nielsen's latest readership survey released today.

The Herald on Sunday's readership has grown from last year, reinforcing its position as the best-read and top-selling Sunday newspaper.

The Herald on Sunday's readership increased 2 percent to 326,000 in 2017 compared with the previous year.

Each reader spends an average of 42 minutes with the paper each week, says the survey.

The New Zealand Herald maintained a daily brand audience of more than one million people – a 12 percent increase year on year.

The weekly New Zealand Herald brand audience (print & online) has seen an increase of 32,000 more Kiwis since the previous period, reaching 1,588,000 people.

The Herald average print issue readership is 415,000 a day, with 769,000 New Zealanders reading the Herald over a week.

Wednesday, which includes Viva magazine, is the best-read day during the week.

During the week, readers will spend 38 minutes each day with the Herald.

The Herald is continuing to engage with New Zealanders across multiple platforms, not just print. The NZ Herald Facebook page receives six million engagements in a week. In addition, print readers are also keeping up to date throughout the day, checking the website and NZ Herald app.

The Weekend Herald has 466,000 readers. Combined with the Herald on Sunday, NZME's weekend newspapers reach more than half a million readers every week.

These weekend newspaper readers are highly engaged; on average people spend 49 minutes with the Weekend Herald on Saturday and 42 minutes with the Sunday paper.

In the regions, Hawke's Bay Today gained readers from the previous survey period.

The Herald's Travel magazines remain strong, with 340,000 unique readers of the Tuesday and Sunday editions.

NZME managing editor Shayne Currie says New Zealanders are taking their time to read and engage with newspaper and digital journalism.

"To see people taking their time to read the paper in an age when everyone is time-poor is extremely encouraging. It proves New Zealanders are interested not only in the news, but the investigative journalism and specialised content that the Herald offers.

"We have a fantastic team of editors who do an outstanding job leading their teams to provide top-level content. We're looking forward to bringing New Zealanders more exclusives and in-depth reports across news, sport, business and entertainment in 2018."

NZME chief commercial officer Matt Headland says strong engagement across multiple platforms gives advertisers more choice.

"To see the time New Zealanders spend with their newspaper each day, and then their continued engagement across the app, social media and website, is not only humbling for us, it is reassuring for advertisers. This gives them the confidence that their message will reach its intended audience - however they choose to deliver it. Combine this with NZME's radio and digital offering, and they instantly have a comprehensive campaign all under one roof."