Loss of local community papers devastating for small-town residents

  • 21/02/2018

Many will be lamenting the loss of their community newspaper following a decision by Stuff to sell or shut down 28 mastheads on Wednesday.

Several small-town papers will be closed, including the South Canterbury Herald, Waiheke Marketplace, Clutha Leader and Ruapehu Press.

Biddy Getz says the loss of her community paper - the Kaikōura Star - means the town will lose a valuable piece of history.

"There's 138 years of history there," she told Three's The Project.

"[It] started off with really fine typeset, and I guess it was a really big revolution to put some black and white photos in it. Now it's all coloured and now it's gone."

Ms Getz says in the community the paper really is special, particularly among those who had built a routine around it.

"My dad's 87, and he gets my paper and his paper, and he cuts up all the interesting articles and he sends them to all his family members," she said.

"You know things like that."

Watch the video to see the full The Project interview.