AUCKLAND, Today: Stuff Group has confirmed it will consolidate its printing operations in 2027, closing its Petone print plant and moving print production into its Christchurch site.
The move was announced to staff today, with Owner and Publisher Sinead Boucher saying it follows two years of planning around the future of the company’s print operations.
“Bringing our printing operations under one roof has been a part of our strategic plan since the MBO in 2020,” she says.
“We had considered various options over that period, however the Christchurch consolidation clearly stood out as best for the business, as it significantly reduces ongoing costs as well as improving operational efficiencies.
“Over this time we have also had hugely successful launches of thepost.co.nz; thepress.co.nz and the waikatotimes.co.nz while continuing to focus on their premium print editions.
“Our audiences for these brands in print and digital have grown 8% in the past year alone, and they are highly valued by our subscribers and advertisers alike.
“The Petone site was bought from Australia’s Nine Media by new owners in November. This did not factor into the future of the plant for Stuff, as the Christchurch option was already well advanced.
“We are well prepared for what needs to happen at the site and have no issues with next steps. This is a move that makes sound financial and operational sense for our business and for our customers.” – Sinead Boucher, Owner and Publisher, Stuff Group
“It is a significant boost for the business, allowing us to optimise our print operations alongside the growth of our digital news platforms.
”We have made the decision to announce today, while the lease still has a year to run, in order to give our expert printers and other staff as long a lead time as possible,” Boucher says.
Stuff said it will now begin consulting with the 30 staff based at Petone over the impact on individual roles.
“We will consult with our 30 staff at Petone over the coming weeks and months on the individual impact to their roles and will be looking for opportunities for redeployment within the business, including at our Christchurch site where we will be adding jobs to accommodate the additional work.
“I want to personally thank all the incredible staff at Petone for the terrific job they have done over the years, including working through earthquakes, Covid lockdowns, roof leaks and tsunami threats to keep that operation running as smoothly as possible.
“They are some of the most innovative and hardworking people in our business. I hope today’s announcement provides them with certainty for planning for the change.”
Boucher said the company already has a clear plan for the decommissioning process and next steps at the Petone site.
“We are well prepared for what needs to happen at the site and have no issues with next steps. This is a move that makes sound financial and operational sense for our business and for our customers.”
Share this Post
