The Herald's magazines are flourishing: combined Travel readership has grown to 488,000 a week, Saturday's Canvas magazine to 346,000, and Viva to 267,000.
Website nzherald.co.nz is also on a high – it's now spent six consecutive months as the number-one news website in New Zealand, cementing this position with almost 1.9 million unique browsers for the month of January.
NZ Herald Premium digital subscriptions continue to grow, totalling more than 102,000, including 53,000 paid digital-only subscribers.
And NZME's regional newspapers have increased readership by 26 per cent (versus the same time last year).
"With the incredible uncertainty and disruption created during 2020, New Zealanders sought news and information from trusted sources in which they can have confidence," NZ Herald editor Murray Kirkness said.
"We're delighted so many Kiwis choose to put that trust in our journalism.
"It's also been pleasing to see continuing growth in the number of young people connecting with our journalism.
"In a typical week, the number of Kiwis aged between 18 and 29 reading NZ Herald content has grown by 69,000 to 224,000. This reinforces a trend we noticed last year, as younger audiences sought out news and information from credible and trusted organisations."
The Nielsen research also reveals year-on-year growth in the readership of New Zealand Media and Entertainment's regional newspapers the Northern Advocate, Bay of Plenty Times, Rotorua Daily Post, Hawke's Bay Today, and Whanganui Chronicle.
"Last year showed the growing engagement New Zealanders have in local journalism and story-telling produced from within their communities. Our editorial teams continually work hard to earn the trust of Kiwis and as New Zealand's Herald we remain accountable for every story we print, post and publish," said NZME CEO Michael Boggs.
While readers seek news and information, they're also engaging with New Zealand Herald's lifestyle and entertainment content in growing numbers.
"All of our inserted magazine such as Canvas, TimeOut, Viva and our Travel magazines have grown their readership year on year, showing Kiwis appreciate quality content that gives them a break, the chance to relax and to think about other things in life other than news.
"The New Zealand Herald motoring platform, Driven, and its property sections, OneRoof Herald Homes and Commercial property are also up," Boggs said.
"Property remains a real focus for New Zealanders, as the popularity of NZME's real estate platform OneRoof shows.
"Through the New Zealand Herald, Weekend Herald and Herald on Sunday, OneRoof now reaches 346,000 New Zealanders across the week - that's up 26 per cent year on year. Along with the oneroof.co.nz monthly digital audience of 483,000, OneRoof is fast becoming New Zealand's complete property destination. OneRoof now also has 89 per cent of New Zealand's residential for-sale real estate listings.
"By any measure 2020 was an incredibly challenging year for all New Zealanders. The reward for all of us at NZME across our digital, print and audio platforms is the ever-growing engagement we have with Kiwis wherever they are in New Zealand and the trust they put in us to keep them informed and connected."
Nielsen NZ: Herald highlights at a glance
• NZ Herald weekly brand audience has surged past 2 million for the first time, up 174,000 (vs last period)
• NZ Herald daily brand audience is 1.3 million, up 123,000 (vs last period)
• NZ Herald average daily print readership has increased 35 per cent year on year to 612,000
• The Weekend Herald readership is 720,000 – an 18-year high
• More than 1 million Kiwis now read the NZ Herald in print alone across the week
• NZME regional newspapers have increased readership by 26 per cent (vs same time last year)
• The NZ Herald reaches 8000 more readers in the Waikato region than the Waikato Times
• Combined Travel readership has grown to 488,000, Canvas has grown to 346,000, Viva has grown to 267,000
* Sources: Nielsen CMI Q1 20 – Q4 20, Base: All People 15+ // Nielsen Online Ratings Jan 2021
