Editorial: A new start and design

So, here we are.

Changing the time of day we deliver your paper, and its shape, sounds like a fairly simple exercise. It's not.

Our Advocate team has worked tirelessly to bring the changes to fruition, and none of us would have done it if we didn't believe that it will strengthen your paper and reaffirm its position as Northland's number one media brand.

We will increase readership through an AM delivery, and it was also timely to move with international trends and change shape.

The Northern Advocate is the largest daily newspaper in New Zealand to move to morning delivery and compact shape.

We'd love to hear what you think. I would suggest give it a day or three until you begin to find some familiarity with the new layout.

We have deliberately focussed the front of the paper on local news; the first 10 to 13 pages each day. We are unashamedly a local newspaper - it's our bread and butter.

Except that we also have some tasty fillings in the middle each day. (I'm sorry, not the best analogy I know but it's getting late on a Sunday and I have a new morning newspaper deadline to hit!)

You'll also find that business, national, world and sports news will follow a familiar pattern at the back of the paper.

Sounds simple enough, doesn't it - your Advocate has a new front, middle and back.

-Hopefully we've made your life simpler and more enjoyable each day.