Fairfax New Zealand is signalling it is business as usual even though its Australian parent is slashing 1900 jobs while moving its metropolitan daily newspapers to a smaller compact format and introducing charges to read them online.
Fairfax New Zealand, which employs 700 editorial staff, has no plans currently to change its newspapers to a compact format or introduce metered paywalls on digital products, Fairfax New Zealand chief executive Allen Williams said.
He said the announcement in Australia today had no ramifications for the New Zealand business.
Mr Williams said the changes related to the metropolitan media market in Australia, which was very different to New Zealand.
"We are in single newspaper markets," he said in reference to the fact that New Zealand cities only have one daily newspaper.
Newspapers in New Zealand were engaged with their communities, he said.
New Zealand newspapers also had higher pre-paid subscription rates than metropolitan Australian newspapers, he said.
New Zealand had not seen a shift away from newspapers to digital products to the same extent as in Australian metropolitan markets.
"New Zealand readers and advertiser are a different group to Australia," Mr Williams said.
Fairfax New Zealand has already moved editing to hubs and has signalled plans to edit regional Australian newspapers in New Zealand.
Mr Williams declined to comment further on those plans.
The New Zealand Herald newspaper has signalled plans to move to a compact, or tabloid, format.
Its owner APN News & Media has its New Zealand assets under review.
NZN