Gisborne Herald joins NZ agreement with Google News

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Gisborne Herald has joined a host of New Zealand publishers in reaching agreements to join Google News Showcase, a programme paying publishers to curate content and build deeper relationships with readers.

Other national, regional and local titles joining Google News Showcase this month include Stuff, Allied Press, The Spinoff, Ashburton Guardian, Mahurangi Matters and Hibiscus Matters, The Wairarapa Times-Age and the Wanaka App.

Google NZ country director Caroline Rainsford said these agreements showed Google’s commitment to New Zealand’s news industry.

“We’re so pleased to be continuing to bring a broad spectrum of Aotearoa’s publications to more audiences through Google News Showcase — with digital natives like Spinoff and Wanaka App to heritage mastheads from Stuff and Allied Press, through to truly local public interest journalism from The Gisborne Herald and Ashburton Guardian.

“Many of these titles have served their communities for decades, providing vital news and information to their regions. We’re pleased to reach these agreements to help support public interest journalism in New Zealand.”

Gisborne Herald editor Jeremy Muir says it will be great for Tairāwhiti and the news of our region to have a higher profile on Google, and also to get some compensation for this work

from the global search engine giant.

Stuff chief executive Sinead Boucher said the agreement acknowledged the value Stuff’s trustworthy journalism provided to Kiwis all over the motu.

“We’re pleased to reach terms with Google to ensure our content reaches News Showcase readers,” said Boucher.

Grant Mckenzie, chief executive of Otago Daily Times publisher Allied Press, said: “We are delighted to be working with Google and being able to showcase our unique content to a wider audience. This also means we can continue to maintain our journalists who are out there reporting on the things that matter to those in Southern New Zealand.”