Today, the New Zealand that we know and love is dramatically different from just a few weeks ago. 

As the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe, New Zealand went into lockdown – the most drastic curtailment of our freedom in modern history.

But by staying home, New Zealanders have done something remarkable – we have saved lives. 

In this time of crisis, we know that you need quality, credible information now more than ever – the world we live in is complex and challenging. 

At The New Zealand Herald, we are committed to delivering that to you. 

It's what we have done for more than 150 years – bringing you the journalism and stories that matter, holding the powerful to account and investigating the stories behind the stories. 

In these unprecedented times, that has never been more vital.

Today, it is a year since we launched NZ Herald Premium, our digital subscription service bringing you the best journalism from New Zealand and the world.

NZ Herald Premium brings you expanded business, political and investigative journalism, insightful analysis and commentary from our journalists in our newsrooms across the country.

It was a bold move, but a necessary one. At a time when you are turning to us in record numbers, the media has never been under greater financial pressure. 

While the majority of content on nzherald.co.nz remains free, it was important to put a stake in the ground to support the very best, unique and exclusive journalism.

It is not cheap to fund quality journalism – it takes time, resource and effort to expose the truth, make a difference and fight on behalf of the public.

Digital subscriptions have opened a new revenue stream for us to help fund the future of quality journalism, just as our loyal print subscribers have done for the last 150 years. 

We have been heartened and humbled by your support. Thousands of you have bought a subscription in the last year - thank you, your support helps sustain our journalism and is deeply appreciated.

In the last year we have published hundreds of Premium stories across news, sport, business, politics, lifestyle and entertainment.

Our work sits proudly alongside a selection of exclusive content from our global publishing partners including the New York Times, Financial Times and the Times of London.

It has been the most astonishing of years. Even before Covid-19 turned our world on its head, our nation has grappled with the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque attacks and the tragedy of White Island.

We marked the 40th anniversary of the Erebus disaster, and we were there as the Silver Ferns savoured World Cup glory and the All Blacks and Black Caps suffered heartbreak. And we continued our Fair Care health investigation into major treatment inequities across our health system.

The first global stories about coronavirus emerged from Wuhan, China, while New Zealanders enjoyed their Christmas holidays at the beach and the bach. Four months on, no one could have predicted this - Kiwis staying home in a desperate bid to flatten the curve, our economy in crisis and our borders closed. As the Prime Minister said, we went early and we went hard - and watched as other countries around the world followed our lead.

Our newsrooms have remained working around the clock to bring you the latest developments on this crisis, both from home and overseas.

Our aim with NZ Herald Premium is to fill gaps in your knowledge, inform, entertain, delight – and expand your world view.

We are thrilled that our journalism is resonating. Our politics and business coverage has been devoured, along with expert analysis and commentary from our team.

Some of the most popular stories have been our analysis of the best performing company directors over the last decade; and when we have lifted the curtain to take you inside the Beehive – revealing Jacinda Arden's inner circle, and going inside the coalition government.

But you also wanted to read about motorways, gangs, climate change and big business like Fonterra and Air New Zealand. You wanted insight and analysis. And you wanted the world.

We are proud of our journalism and our journalists, who are – like you – currently working in trying circumstances. We will continue to keep you informed.

A year after launch, it remains just as true that now, more than ever, we need your help to continue to deliver the news you can trust.

To those who have already joined us, welcome. If you are yet to, it is easy to subscribe. Simply click on the banner below. Thank you.