Voice of the Kaipara publishes final issue

By DANIEL JACKSON

One of the last papers in the Horton family's publishing business has ceased operations with the closure of the 96-year-old Northland Times.

The five staff were given the news on Tuesday morning by Matthew Horton, of Horton Media.

The paper has suffered falling circulation and, since being bought by the company in 1997, had gone from an afternoon daily to a biweekly.

An attempt to attract readers in the Rodney District also failed.

Its final circulation was about 2000.

Tuesday's announcement came as the Times published an editorial headlined Good Times are Here Again, which praised the upturn in Dargaville's economy.

However, a letter sent to subscribers and advertisers advising them of the closure was less rosy.

"We were defeated by the unstoppable tide of economics in a small rural town," it said.

It also warned that outstanding debtors would face legal action.

The Northland Times has had a succession of family owners since it was founded in 1904.

Former printer and owner Ross Murdoch said locals and advertisers had turned away from the paper after Horton Media shut its press and made nearly 20 staff redundant.

"It hurt a lot of feelings.

"A lot of those people had family and friends who stopped buying the paper after that."

Jill Rolston, who is the fifth editor at the paper in two years, said the staff were serving out their four weeks' notice by collecting accounts and tying up loose ends.

"It's a shame because we didn't even get to have a final paper."

It is not the first time Horton Media has closed a paper.

In March 1998, the company launched the Manukau Daily News, a broadsheet aimed at South Auckland readers.

The paper struggled and despite being relaunched as the Daily News, it folded in 1999 with only 2000 subscribers.

Horton Media was left with a radio station, commercial printing business and the Northland Times.

Mr Horton said the paper's closure was not the end of the family's involvement with newspaper publishing.

It still retained the Waiuku & Districts Post, a giveaway, which "is doing better than it's ever done."