Next guest editor: Lucy Lawless

Lucy Lawless has selected the theme 'A Brighter Day'. Photo / Doug Sherring

The New Zealand Herald is proud to announce NZ's very own Warrior Princess, Lucy Lawless, will guest edit next Friday's edition.

Lawless will be in the Herald newsroom on Thursday, directing and guiding the tone and content for the following day's issue. She will lead the daily news conference, where the news, world, sport, business, illustration and digital editors will present their content lists and ideas.

Herald editor Shayne Currie said Lawless was a special New Zealander, respected here and internationally as an actress and advocate for the environment.

"Lucy has been brilliant — she's already come up with a list of more than a dozen assignments for the editorial team, across a wide range of subjects and disciplines. She's selected the theme 'A Brighter Day' and she's been fully involved in several interviews and photographic initiatives. With a special cover wrap, it promises to be a keepsake edition."

Lawless, best known for playing the title character of the internationally successful television series

Xena: Warrior Princess

, says: "The

NZ Herald

not only reflects what's going on and what's interesting to the public, but advances issues in the public interest. This issue is about giving readers solid facts so they can make up their own minds on some of the biggest issues New Zealand faces today."

The guest editorship initiative was announced at the Herald's 150th birthday celebrations. Sir John Kirwan became the first guest-editor of the Herald, last December.

"It's a great pleasure to welcome Lucy to the Herald team and we're confident she's going to challenge us to deliver a very special and personal edition," said Currie.