The 134-year-old Oamaru Mail has been sold to Christchurch-based Mainland Media Ltd, along with other South Island publications owned by Australian media giant APN through its New Zealand division.
The sale was announced yesterday, with about 15 staff at the Mail, its sister publication The Star in Christchurch and other South Island publications being told at simultaneous morning meetings.
APN New Zealand chief executive Martin Simons said the newspapers had proud histories and the move to sell was based on a decision to concentrate APN's operations in the North Island where most of its businesses were located.
Mainland Media, which is privately owned by husband and wife Pier and Charlotte Smulders, has community newspapers, lifestyle magazines and trade publications in the Christchurch area.
Its chairman is Nick Smith, who is a director and shareholder in Allied Press, publisher of the Otago Daily Times and other newspapers.
