Manawatū Standard
A daily regional newspaper serving Palmerston North and the wider Manawatū region of New Zealand.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Manawatū Standard is a daily regional newspaper based in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It serves the Manawatū region, with coverage focused on local government, community affairs, business, sport, education, public issues and events affecting the city and surrounding districts. The publication is part of the Stuff newspaper network and maintains an online presence through the Stuff website. The newspaper was established on 29 November 1880. It was formerly known as the Evening Standard, reflecting the historic role of regional evening newspapers in providing daily local news and public information. Over its long history, the title changed corporate hands while retaining its regional editorial identity. Independent Newspapers Limited acquired the paper during the 1970s. On 1 July 2003, John Fairfax Holdings, later known as Fairfax Media, acquired Independent Newspapers Limited, bringing the Manawatū Standard into the Fairfax newspaper group. Fairfax Media was rebranded as Stuff Limited from 1 February 2018. The Manawatū Standard has been recognised in New Zealand regional journalism competitions. It won the regional daily newspaper category at the 2007 Qantas Media Awards and was a finalist in the same category in 2008. At the 2017 Qantas Media Awards, it won awards for Best Headline and Student Journalist of the Year. The Qantas Media Awards were subsequently renamed the Voyager Media Awards after Voyager Internet became the naming sponsor in 2018. The brand has also been associated with community publications serving areas around Palmerston North and the wider Manawatū district. These included The Tribune, a free weekly distributed in Palmerston North, Ashhurst and Linton, and the Feilding Rangitikei Herald, a weekly title covering the Manawatū District Council area. Another associated publication, The Central Districts Farmer, served rural households across several regions of the central and lower North Island. These titles illustrate the broader local-media footprint historically connected with the Manawatū Standard, although several were later closed as Stuff rationalised its community newspaper portfolio. The Tribune ceased publication in 2018 after Stuff announced plans to close or sell a number of community papers. The Central Districts Farmer also closed in 2018. The Feilding Rangitikei Herald, itself created in 2016 through the combination of the Feilding Herald, Rangitikei Mail and Central District Times, was scheduled to close at the end of July 2025. The Manawatū Standard remains the principal daily newspaper brand associated with the region, combining a legacy print title with digital distribution through Stuff.
History
The Manawatū Standard was established on 29 November 1880 and developed as a daily newspaper for Palmerston North and the surrounding Manawatū region. Its earlier name was the Evening Standard, a title associated with the traditional evening-news publishing model. The paper's core role has been regional journalism: reporting on local institutions, public administration, community life, business, education, sport and issues affecting residents of the Manawatū. During the 1970s, the newspaper was acquired by Independent Newspapers Limited. Its next major ownership transition occurred on 1 July 2003, when John Fairfax Holdings purchased Independent Newspapers Limited. The transaction placed the Manawatū Standard within the Fairfax newspaper group. Fairfax Media subsequently became the principal name used by that group, before being rebranded as Stuff Limited on 1 February 2018. The Manawatū Standard is therefore part of a newspaper lineage that moved from independent regional ownership into larger national publishing groups while retaining its local-market identity. The title has received recognition in New Zealand media awards. It won the regional daily newspaper category at the 2007 Qantas Media Awards and was a finalist in that category in 2008. In 2017, it won the Best Headline and Student Journalist of the Year categories. The Qantas Media Awards later became the Voyager Media Awards after Voyager Internet took over naming sponsorship in 2018. The Manawatū Standard's historical local-media network included several weekly publications. The Tribune was distributed free to households in Palmerston North, Ashhurst and Linton, as well as to rural subscribers to the Manawatū Standard. The Central Districts Farmer was distributed monthly to rural households across eight regions of the central and lower North Island. The Feilding Rangitikei Herald was a Thursday weekly delivered throughout the Manawatū District Council area. In 2016, the latter title was formed through the combination of the Feilding Herald, Rangitikei Mail and Central District Times. This wider community-newspaper portfolio was reduced during Stuff's 2018 restructuring. The Tribune ended with its final issue on 30 May 2018, while The Central Districts Farmer's last issue was scheduled for 11 June 2018. The Feilding Rangitikei Herald continued longer and was recognised in the 2017 and 2018 media awards, but Stuff confirmed in early July 2025 that it would close by 31 July 2025. These closures reflect the changing economics and distribution structure of local print media, but they do not represent the closure of the Manawatū Standard itself. The daily title continues as the principal Manawatū newspaper brand within Stuff's print and digital publishing operation.
- 2025
Feilding Rangitikei Herald closure announced
[1]Stuff confirmed that the associated Feilding Rangitikei Herald would close by 31 July 2025.
- 2018
Fairfax Media rebranded as Stuff Limited
[1]The newspaper's parent publishing group adopted the Stuff Limited name from 1 February 2018.
- 2018
Associated community titles closed
[1]The Tribune and The Central Districts Farmer ended publication as part of changes to Stuff's community newspaper portfolio.
- 2017
Two Qantas Media Awards
[1]The Manawatū Standard won Best Headline and Student Journalist of the Year.
- 2007
Regional daily newspaper award
[1]The paper won the regional daily newspaper category at the Qantas Media Awards.
- 2003
Ownership transferred to Fairfax
[1]On 1 July 2003, John Fairfax Holdings acquired Independent Newspapers Limited, bringing the title into the Fairfax group.
- 1970
Acquired by Independent Newspapers Limited
[1]During the 1970s, Independent Newspapers Limited acquired the newspaper.
- 1880
Newspaper established
[1]The publication was established on 29 November 1880.
Products and positioning
A locally focused regional news brand serving the Manawatū community through daily journalism, local reporting and digital publication within the Stuff network.
Daily regional newspaper · 1880
Manawatū Standard
The core publication is a daily newspaper serving Palmerston North and the wider Manawatū region. Its editorial remit is centred on local and regional news, public affairs, community developments, business, education, sport and other matters of direct interest to residents. The title is distributed through the Stuff publishing network and is also represented online through Stuff's Manawatū Standard section.
Free weekly community newspaper
The Tribune
The Tribune was a free weekly publication associated with the Manawatū Standard. It was distributed to households in Palmerston North, Ashhurst and Linton, and to rural subscribers of the daily paper. Stuff announced changes to its community-paper portfolio in 2018, and The Tribune's final issue appeared on 30 May 2018.
Weekly community newspaper · 2016
Feilding Rangitikei Herald
The Feilding Rangitikei Herald was a Thursday weekly delivered throughout the Manawatū District Council area. It was formed in 2016 by combining the Feilding Herald, Rangitikei Mail and Central District Times. The publication received community-newspaper award recognition before Stuff announced that it would close by 31 July 2025.
Monthly rural newspaper
The Central Districts Farmer
The Central Districts Farmer was delivered on the first Friday of each month to rural households across eight regions of the central and lower North Island. It formed part of the wider rural and community publishing portfolio associated with the Manawatū Standard. Its closure was announced in 2018, with the final issue scheduled for 11 June.
Brand decisions
2025
Closure of Feilding Rangitikei HeraldStrategyBackground
Stuff confirmed the planned closure of the weekly community newspaper serving the Manawatū District Council area.
Action taken
The publication was scheduled to cease by 31 July 2025.
Aftermath
The closure further reduced the associated community-newspaper portfolio around the Manawatū Standard.
2018
Rationalisation of community newspaper portfolioStrategyBackground
Stuff announced that it would close or sell 28 community newspapers as part of a broader review of its local publishing operations.
Action taken
Associated titles including The Tribune and The Central Districts Farmer were closed, while the Manawatū Standard continued as the principal daily regional title.
Aftermath
The changes reduced the network of community publications linked to the Manawatū market.
Recent events
Reported
Evening Standard appoints Charles Yardley as chief executive[3]
The Evening Standard appointed Charles Yardley as its new chief executive on June 3, 2020. He was due to start the role on June 15.
Reported
Evening Standard starts home delivery in parts of London[4]
The Evening Standard began delivering its print edition directly to homes in parts of Zones 2 and 3 in London, initially focusing on 26 residential neighbourhoods.
Sources4 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/manawatu-standard · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled