Editorial: Back to work with fresh ideas

After a visit to the state-of-the-art NZME newsroom in Auckland, I've come back with a number of good ideas.

It has been a busy two weeks, but it is good to be finally back in the office.

The week before last, I spent a couple of days up in Auckland at a meeting of regional editors in the NZME group, discussing the year ahead and swapping ideas.

As always, it was good to have an exchange of views with my counterparts from papers as far apart as the Northern Advocate in Whangarei, the Bay of Plenty Times in Tauranga and the Wairarapa Times-Age in Masterton. A highlight of the trip was seeing the new NZME headquarters, which houses the New Zealand Herald and radio stations like NewstalkZB.

It is a state-of-the-art building and the NZME newsroom was very interesting. Things are changing in our industry and it was good to see that our company is at the forefront of some exciting changes.

I came back with a number of good ideas.

But the first thing on the agenda when I got back was moving house on Friday, February 19. Unfortunately, I would have loved to have spent the weekend enjoying Art Deco but instead I was on leave packing and unpacking boxes.

After years of thinking about it (yes, I have been here for four years now from February 18), my family has finally moved out of Havelock North on to a lifestyle block. So, after the big move day, last week was spent settling in.

What a fantastic experience it is. Beautiful views, open countryside and no close neighbours. Nothing against neighbours generally speaking, but, there is something to be said about looking down over rolling hills and the sea in the distance.

But for now it is back to work (from yesterday) with some exciting projects planned for the paper.

I will keep you posted.