Dear valued Ashburton Guardian reader,

In a significant enhancement to your Ashburton Guardian experience, we’re about to introduce a new Friday edition as part of innovative reader and advertiser-focused changes.

The Weekender will replace the existing Saturday Guardian and we’re also boosting our Tuesday publication. The first new-look Tuesday paper will be published on July 16, with The Weekender debuting on July 19.

While the change was part of a planned transition from three papers a week to two – with the Thursday and Saturday publications both being phased out – the immediacy of it was unexpectedly forced on us by New Zealand Post’s decision to stop weekend mail deliveries, which includes newspapers, after Saturday, June 29.

While we are disappointed with New Zealand Post’s delivery change – and we voiced that displeasure on your behalf – it provided us with an opportunity to innovate to ensure you received your news without interruption and with the same excellent service. That’s just in keeping with what you’ve come to expect from the Ashburton Guardian, which was recently named New Zealand’s best community newspaper for the second straight year, and which has been your number one provider of trusted local news and information since 1879. That’s 145 years and counting.

So that’s why we are committed to continuing to deliver the best possible service to readers and advertisers. By focusing on two editions weekly, we can dedicate more resources to producing high-quality local journalism, ensuring that each paper is rich in content and value to go with our robust online offerings.

So, you’ll still get 24/7 news, and you’ll get it cheaper than before. The money savings comes from cheaper subscription prices from July 1 – a full two weeks before the new Tuesday and Friday publication change.

For the first two weeks of July, you will receive three papers for the cost of two. Rural subscribers will also have their final two Saturday papers home delivered in that same July period before the publication change. Those two final Saturday July papers will be delivered on the Monday, but they could also be read in full online at: guardianonline.co.nz

Reduced print and digital

Dubscription prices from July 1:

Monthly print: $26

Annual print: $280

Monthly digital: $18

Annual digital: $190

The changes are all part of the Guardian’s ongoing focus on community excellence and service because we see our role as being so much more than just a newspaper of record.

We will continue to offer even more varied and flexible online content and advertising opportunities through our website, Ashburton App, and immensely popular Facebook page, plus specialised promotional commercial video opportunities via Phill “Hoops at the G’’ Hooper. And keep an eye out for even greater and exclusive online content to meet reader and advertiser demand. All our online options will continue to perfectly complement print adverts, ensuring an organisation or individual reaches a broader audience through multiple channels.

Some key points in our strategic changes include:

Weekend ready: Our new Friday Weekender from July 19 will ensure you get all the weekend news, features, and local events coverage in advance, helping you plan and enjoy your leisure time better.

Fresh new sections: Look out for innovative sections in our beefed-up Tuesday publication and in The Weekender, including exclusive interviews and expanded lifestyle content.

Enhanced content: By focusing on two print editions a week, we can dedicate more resources to producing high-quality journalism, ensuring each paper is rich in content and value.

Community-centric content: By refining our publication days, we can better align our content with community events and activities, making our paper even more relevant and timely.

Greater impact per edition: Fewer editions mean each publication has a longer shelf life and more impact, giving advertisements a prolonged presence and greater visibility.

Robust online presence: Expanded and innovative new online content and opportunities will be an even bigger part of our multi-media offerings to complement our print coverage.

Sustainable choice: Our new schedule is part of a commitment to sustainability. By optimising our print schedule, we are reducing our environmental footprint in a move that in a small way supports the well-being of our community and future generations.

In summary, your team at the Ashburton Guardian – your only trusted locally owned media company where profits are not sucked into big corporates outside the district – thank you for your continued support. It means everything to us.

We are confident our new publication schedule, combined with further online content and advertising developments, will be more aligned with your needs.

Rest assured, our dedication to covering local news, events, and issues that matter to Ashburton remains as strong as ever.

Kind regards,

Daryl Holden

Ashburton Guardian co-owner