Independent Newspapers
Corporate brand
UnclaimedIndependent Newspapers was a New Zealand newspaper publishing group that grew from the publisher of The Dominion into a nationwide portfolio before selling its publishing assets to Fairfax in 2003.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Independent Newspapers Limited (INL) was a major New Zealand newspaper publisher whose origins lay in the Wellington Publishing Company, established in 1906 to publish Wellington's morning newspaper, The Dominion. Over the course of the twentieth century, the company assembled a broad portfolio of metropolitan dailies, regional newspapers, community titles, magazines and specialist publications. It became one of the country's principal newspaper groups before its publishing operations were sold to Australia's John Fairfax conglomerate in 2003. The company's growth accelerated in the 1970s. In 1970, Wellington Publishing Company acquired Truth (NZ) Ltd, and in 1971 it bought Independent Publishers Ltd, the owner of the Waikato Times. In 1972 it acquired Blundell Bros Limited, publisher of Wellington's Evening Post, and changed its own name to Independent Newspapers Limited. These transactions created a substantial Wellington- and North Island-based newspaper group and gave the company a name intended to reflect its expanding collection of publishing interests. INL continued to build its New Zealand footprint over the following decades. It acquired The Manawatu Standard in 1980, The Southland Times in 1984, The Timaru Herald in 1985 and The Press of Christchurch in 1987. In 1989 it acquired the Taranaki Herald and interests in NZ News Limited, including the Auckland Star, the Sunday Star and Suburban Newspapers in Auckland. The Auckland Star was later closed. The Nelson Evening Mail, subsequently renamed The Nelson Mail, joined the group in 1993, while The Marlborough Express was acquired in 1998. Smaller community newspapers were added alongside the major regional titles. By the late 1990s, the New Zealand division published more than 80 daily, Sunday, community, suburban and weekly newspapers, as well as magazines and specialist publications. INL also pursued international and adjacent-media activities. Its United States subsidiary, Independent News Corp, acquired suburban and other newspapers in Texas and on the West Coast before those interests were sold in 1998. In 1990 the company invested in Gordon and Gotch magazine distribution and related Australian and New Zealand businesses. It later disposed of non-core assets and retained the New Zealand portion of Gordon and Gotch for a period. INL also invested in digital services, including a stake in web-development company Terabyte and the launch of Stuff.co.nz in 2000. News Limited, associated with Rupert Murdoch, became an important shareholder in 1964 when it acquired a 29.57 percent interest in Wellington Publishing Company, described as Murdoch's first overseas newspaper investment. The holding later fluctuated and stood at slightly more than 49 percent in 1997. INL diversified beyond newspapers by acquiring a 48 percent interest in Sky Network Television in 1997. As the company shifted toward broadcasting and digital media, newspapers became a smaller part of its strategic structure. On 30 June 2003, INL sold its publishing assets, including the newspaper later known as The Dominion Post, to John Fairfax. The transaction left INL primarily as a holding company centered on its stake in Sky Network Television. In July 2005, Independent Newspapers merged with Sky Network Television through a new entity initially called MergeCo; that company retained the Sky Network Television name. INL therefore ceased to exist as an independent newspaper publisher. Its former New Zealand newspaper operations subsequently became part of Fairfax New Zealand, later renamed Stuff Limited, and ultimately passed through Fairfax Media's merger with Nine Entertainment and the 2020 sale of Stuff to its chief executive.
History
Independent Newspapers developed from the Wellington Publishing Company Limited, founded in 1906 to publish The Dominion, a morning newspaper serving Wellington. For much of its early existence, the business was organized around the production and distribution of newspapers in the capital, but it gradually became an acquisition-led publishing group with national reach. A major change began in the early 1960s. In 1964, News Limited purchased a 29.57 percent shareholding in Wellington Publishing Company. The investment was Rupert Murdoch's first overseas newspaper investment. News Limited's ownership later changed over time, reaching 50 percent in August 1969 and standing at slightly above 49 percent in 1997. This relationship connected the New Zealand publisher to a larger international newspaper group while leaving INL focused on its own portfolio and expansion. The company entered a decisive acquisition phase in the 1970s. It successfully bid for Truth (NZ) Ltd in 1970 and acquired Independent Publishers Ltd, owner of the Waikato Times, in 1971. In 1972 it bought Blundell Bros Limited, the publisher of Wellington's Evening Post, a newspaper that had begun in 1865. Around the same time, Wellington Publishing Company changed its name to Independent Newspapers Limited. INL Print Limited, later known as Inprint, was also formed to consolidate printing and publishing operations associated with the company's various businesses. During the 1980s and 1990s, INL assembled one of New Zealand's broadest newspaper networks. The Manawatu Standard joined in 1980, The Southland Times in 1984, and The Timaru Herald in 1985. In 1987, the Christchurch Press Company, publisher of The Press, became part of the group. In 1989 INL bought the Taranaki Herald and parts of NZ News Limited, including the Auckland Star, the Sunday Star and Suburban Newspapers in Auckland. The Auckland Star was later closed. The Nelson Evening Mail was acquired in 1993 and subsequently renamed The Nelson Mail, while The Marlborough Express was purchased in 1998. Smaller community newspapers, including South Otago Newspapers, were added during the same period. INL's operations extended beyond traditional daily newspapers. By the late 1990s its New Zealand businesses published more than 80 daily, Sunday, community, suburban and weekly titles, alongside magazines and specialist publications. The company created Independent News Corp in the United States and acquired suburban newspapers in Houston, Texas, and other newspapers on the West Coast before selling its United States interests in July 1998. In 1990 it invested in Gordon and Gotch magazine distribution, related businesses and regional newspapers in Victoria, Australia. Some assets obtained through that transaction, including Wiljef Stationery, Microtronix and Adams Print, were later divested because they were considered outside the core business. INL announced the sale of its Australian Gordon and Gotch division in 1999 while retaining Gordon and Gotch New Zealand for a time. The group also experimented with technology and digital media. It acquired a 25 percent stake in web design and development company Terabyte in 1994, increased that interest to 51 percent in 1995, and sold its stake in Terabyte Interactive in 1999. In 1997, INL bought 48 percent of Sky Network Television. It launched the Stuff.co.nz news website in 2000, extending the group's publishing presence into online news. The company's final strategic transformation centered on the disposal of its newspaper assets. On 30 June 2003, INL sold its publishing operations, including the Wellington newspaper that became The Dominion Post, to John Fairfax. The sale left Sky Network Television as INL's principal asset, with the company holding a 78 percent stake in the broadcaster. In July 2005, INL merged into Sky Network Television through an entity first called MergeCo and subsequently renamed Sky Network Television Limited. The former INL newspapers became part of Fairfax New Zealand. Fairfax New Zealand changed its name to Stuff Limited in 2018, and its parent Fairfax Media merged with Nine Entertainment later that year. In May 2020, Nine sold Stuff and its New Zealand newspaper assets to chief executive Sinead Boucher for NZ$1. These later transactions concern the successor ownership of former INL publications rather than the continuing existence of Independent Newspapers, which had already disappeared as a separate company in 2005.
- 2005
INL merges into Sky Network Television
[1]Independent Newspapers merged with Sky Network Television through MergeCo and ceased to operate as a separate company.
- 2003
Newspaper publishing assets are sold
[1]John Fairfax acquired INL's publishing assets, leaving the company focused principally on its Sky Network Television investment.
- 2000
Stuff.co.nz launches
[1]INL established Stuff.co.nz as an online news service.
- 1998
The Marlborough Express is acquired
[1]INL expanded its regional newspaper portfolio with the acquisition of The Marlborough Express.
- 1997
INL acquires a major stake in Sky Network Television
[1]The company bought 48 percent of Sky Network Television, beginning its shift toward broader media ownership.
- 1995
Terabyte stake increases
[1]INL increased its interest in Terabyte to 51 percent.
- 1994
INL invests in Terabyte
[1]The company acquired a 25 percent interest in web design and development company Terabyte.
- 1993
Nelson Evening Mail is acquired
[1]The Nelson Evening Mail joined the group and was later renamed The Nelson Mail.
- 1990
INL diversifies into magazine distribution
[1]The company invested in Gordon and Gotch distribution and related Australian and New Zealand operations.
- 1987
The Press joins INL
[1]The Christchurch Press Company, publisher of The Press, became part of the group.
Products and positioning
A large, diversified New Zealand newspaper and publishing group built through regional acquisitions, with a portfolio spanning metropolitan, provincial, community and specialist media. In its later years, the company repositioned itself toward broader media ownership through magazine distribution, digital publishing and its investment in Sky Network Television.
Daily newspaper · 1906
The Dominion
The Dominion was the Wellington morning newspaper for which Wellington Publishing Company was established in 1906. It became the foundation title of the business and remained one of its principal metropolitan publications. After the newspaper assets were sold to Fairfax, it was combined with the Evening Post and became The Dominion Post.
Evening newspaper · 1865
The Evening Post
The Evening Post was a Wellington newspaper founded in 1865 and published by Blundell Bros. INL acquired its publisher in 1972. The title was later combined with The Dominion under Fairfax ownership to form The Dominion Post.
Daily newspaper · 1861
The Press
The Press was the Christchurch daily published by the Christchurch Press Company. Founded in 1861 and a daily from 1878, it joined the INL group in 1987 and became one of the company's principal South Island titles before the publishing division was sold to Fairfax.
Regional newspaper
The Waikato Times
The Waikato Times was owned by Independent Publishers Ltd, which Wellington Publishing Company acquired in 1971. Its inclusion helped establish INL's presence beyond Wellington and contributed to the group's later network of regional newspapers.
Regional daily newspaper
The Southland Times
The Southland Times was a long-established South Island daily acquired by INL in 1984. It formed part of the regional newspaper network that gave the company coverage across New Zealand's principal population centers and provinces.
Regional daily newspaper · 1864
The Timaru Herald
The Timaru Herald, founded in 1864 and a daily newspaper from 1878, was acquired by INL in 1985. It was one of the group's important South Island regional titles.
Digital news website · 2000
Stuff.co.nz
Stuff.co.nz was launched by INL in 2000 as an online news service. It extended the group's newspaper journalism into digital publishing and later became part of the Fairfax New Zealand and Stuff business after the sale of INL's publishing assets.
Brand decisions
2005
Merge with Sky Network TelevisionM&ABackground
After disposing of its publishing assets, INL's corporate identity was closely tied to its controlling interest in Sky Network Television.
Action taken
Independent Newspapers merged with Sky Network Television through a new company initially named MergeCo.
Aftermath
MergeCo was renamed Sky Network Television Limited, ending Independent Newspapers as a separate corporate entity.
2003
Sell the newspaper publishing division to FairfaxM&ABackground
INL had developed a large national newspaper network while also increasing its exposure to broadcasting through Sky Network Television.
Action taken
On 30 June 2003, the company sold its publishing assets to John Fairfax.
Aftermath
INL retained a major interest in Sky Network Television and ceased to be a newspaper operating group. The former publications became part of Fairfax New Zealand.
2000
Launch Stuff.co.nzProduct launchBackground
Digital distribution was becoming an important extension of newspaper publishing.
Action taken
INL launched Stuff.co.nz as an online news website.
Aftermath
The service later continued under successor ownership after INL sold its publishing assets.
1997
Acquire a 48 percent stake in Sky Network TelevisionM&ABackground
After building a substantial newspaper and magazine operation, INL began diversifying into broadcasting and other media assets.
Action taken
INL acquired a 48 percent interest in Sky Network Television.
Aftermath
Sky became central to the company's later corporate strategy and was its principal asset after the newspaper publishing division was sold.
1972
Rebrand as Independent NewspapersStrategyBackground
A series of acquisitions had transformed Wellington Publishing Company from a single-city publisher into a broader newspaper group.
Action taken
The company changed its name to Independent Newspapers Limited and consolidated related printing operations through INL Print.
Aftermath
The new identity became the corporate umbrella for a growing national portfolio of newspapers and other publications.
Recent events
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