KEY POINTS:
Fresh from being named Best Newspaper and Best Weekly Newspaper at the 2008 Qantas Media Awards, the Herald on Sunday has posted the largest circulation and readership increases of any New Zealand title.
The paper's audited circulation figure for June 30 increased by 1545 copies, or 1.7 per cent, to a new total of 93,665. In the same period, the Sunday Star-Times recorded a fall of 6294 copies, or 3.5 per cent.
Its sister paper Sunday News suffered a decline of 4938, or 5.4 per cent.
The Herald on Sunday circulates mostly in the region north of Taupo while the other Sunday papers are distributed nationally.
The paper was launched in October 2004 and has achieved a pattern of consistent growth.
It was modelled on the latest compact newspaper designs in Europe and the smaller, more convenient page size has been well-received by readers.
Growing reader support is reflected in the latest Nielsen Media National Readership Survey results, announced on Friday.
The Herald on Sunday achieved a massive 64,000 readership increase in the 12 months to June 30, 2008, a jump of 19.6 per cent, to a new national readership total of 390,000.
In the region from Taupo north, the Herald on Sunday jumped 60,000 readers (20 per cent) to 362,000. During the same period, the Sunday Star-Times increased by 1000 readers, or 0.3 per cent, to 302,000. Sunday News dropped 6000 readers, or 2.8 per cent, to 211,000.
In Auckland, the Herald on Sunday put on 46,000 readers, a 23.4 per cent increase, to a new total of 243,000. At the same time, the Sunday Star-Times' Auckland readership increased by 6000, or 3.2 per cent, to 196,000. Sunday News' readership increased by 13,000, or 11.2 per cent, to 129,000.
Herald on Sunday editor Shayne Currie welcomed the latest figures, saying the paper's hard work in developing a newsy but entertaining Sunday read had paid off. "We aim to break more stories on Sunday than anyone else, while also providing strong background features, better columns and more entertainment than the others. We'll keep providing what Sunday readers want."
The NZ Herald is New Zealand's best-read and best-selling newspaper. Its readership increased 4.8 per cent to 585,000.Source: Nielsen Media Research. National Readership Survey July 07 to June 08. All People 10+, Northern 10+, Auckland 10+
