Joshua Sutherland, 23, of Whangarei, was found not guilty of rape in the Whangarei District Court last week.
The Northern Advocate incorrectly reported a guilty rape verdict in Monday's paper.
The paper wishes to apologise for the error which was made by a reporter who had completed an unfinished story by court reporter Imran Ali.
Sutherland had been on trial in the Whangarei District Court on several charges and was found not guilty of rape, and guilty of indecent assault and kidnapping.