Allied Media facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Allied Media

Type	Holding company
Industry	Mass media
Headquarters	Dunedin, New Zealand
Key people	Julian Smith (owner) Grant Mackenzie (CEO)
Products	Newspaper Magazine Digital
Divisions	Star Media

Allied Media is a New Zealand company that creates newspapers, magazines, and digital content. It is based in Dunedin and is an independent business. The company's most famous product is the Otago Daily Times, which is New Zealand's oldest daily newspaper.

Allied Media also publishes many other daily and local newspapers. It runs printing businesses across the South Island. This includes Star Media, a media company based in Canterbury. The company used to run a local TV station in Dunedin called Channel 39. In July 2025, the company changed its name from Allied Press to Allied Media. This brought Allied Press and Star Media together under one new name.

History of Allied Media

How Allied Media Started

Julian Smith, who owns Allied Media and is its chairman.

Allied Press, which is now Allied Media, was created on May 13, 1975. This happened when two newspaper companies in Dunedin joined together. These were the Otago Daily Times (ODT) and the Evening Star. The staff from the ODT moved into the Evening Star's building. The Evening Star newspaper stopped being printed on November 3, 1979. It was replaced by a weekly newspaper called The Star.

In 1979, two other companies tried to buy Allied Press. To stop this, a businessman named Sir Julian Smith combined Allied Press with his own company. They formed a new company called Otago Press and Produce Limited (OPP). In 1986, Julian Smith bought Otago Press and Produce. He then brought back Allied Press Ltd as his own private business. Smith became the main owner and leader of Allied Press. His brother, Nick, also became an important part of the company.

Allied Media in the 2000s

The old logo of Allied Press, used until 2025.

On June 12, 2016, Julian Smith stepped down as the managing director of Allied Press. Grant McKenzie became the new chief executive officer. McKenzie used to be a financial officer for the Dunedin City Council. Julian Smith remained the chairman of the company.

Allied Press owns many newspapers besides the Otago Daily Times. As of 2020, it owns most of the Greymouth Star. The company also owns many local and farming newspapers across the South Island. These include the Oamaru Mail, Mountain Scene, and The Ensign. In 2018, Allied Press bought the Clutha Leader newspaper.

In August 2018, Allied Press bought Star Media. Star Media is a media company based in Canterbury. It publishes community newspapers, magazines, and organizes events. Star Media became a part of Allied Press.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Allied Press continued to print the Otago Daily Times. They also kept their websites running. However, they stopped printing their community and farming newspapers for a short time in March 2020. This was to follow lockdown rules. By May 14, 2020, these newspapers and magazines were able to start printing again.

In August 2021, during another COVID-19 outbreak, Allied Press kept publishing most of its newspapers. But some papers, like the Southland Express and The Star (Christchurch), stopped printing for a while due to new lockdown rules.

In December 2023, Allied Press announced that it would close its TV station, Channel 39. This happened by Christmas 2023. The reasons included less funding and fewer people watching. However, the news show The South Today continued online on the Otago Daily Times's website and YouTube.

On July 30, 2025, Allied Press officially changed its name to Allied Media. This change brought Allied Press and Star Media together under one new name.

How Allied Media Works

Leadership and Offices

The main building of Allied Media on Lower Stuart Street.

Allied Media is owned by Sir Julian Smith and his family. Julian Smith is the chairman and managing director. Other important leaders include Nick Smith, who is a director, and Ray Clarkson, who is the operations director. The company has more than 400 employees.

Allied Media's main office is in a large building on Lower Stuart Street, Dunedin. This building used to be the home of Dunedin's The Evening Star newspaper. The Otago Daily Times newspaper is also based in this building.

The building was designed by Edmund Anscombe and built in the late 1920s. It is part of a historic area that includes the Dunedin Law Courts and Dunedin Railway Station. It is considered a historic place in New Zealand.

Allied Media also has several smaller offices in towns across the South Island. These include Alexandra, Ashburton, Invercargill, Oamaru, and Queenstown.

Allied Media's Publications

Allied Media's most important publication is the daily newspaper Otago Daily Times. It also owns most of the Greymouth Star. The company publishes many other community and farming newspapers in the South Island. Allied Media also has separate printing services. Until late December 2023, it had a local TV station called Channel 39. In July 2025, Star Media and Allied Press became one company called Allied Media.

Newspapers

• Ashburton Courier
• Bay Harbour News
• Blenheim Sun
• Canterbury Rural Life
• Clutha Leader
• Cromwell Bulletin
• The Ensign (Gore)
• The Geraldine News
• Greymouth Star
• Hokitika Guardian
• Kaikoura Star
• Mountain Scene
• The News (Central Otago) (Alexandra)
• Nor'West News
• Oamaru Mail
• Otago Daily Times
• Pegaus Post
• Selwyn Times
• Southern Rural Life
• Southern View (newspaper)
• Southland Express (Invercargill)
• The Star (Christchurch)
• The Star (Dunedin)
• The Timaru Courier (Timaru)
• Wanaka Sun
• The West Coast Messenger
• West Coast Rural Life
• Western News (Christchurch)

Magazines

• O3: The South Island Lifestyle Magazine
• Kiwi Gardener
• Kiwi Gardener Quarterly
• NZ Classic Driver
• Rugby News

Events

• City 2 Surf (Christchurch)
• Home and Leisure Show (Christchurch)
• Rural Champions