Council deal threatens Westport News

One of New Zealand's smallest newspapers is fighting for its life after the local council decided to move most of its advertising to an out-of-town publication.

The 151-year-old Westport News is the smallest independent daily in the country. It serves an area with a population of about 10,000.

The Buller District Council is moving its newsletter and all its advertising, except urgent notices, to the West Coast Messenger.

The Messenger is a free weekly newspaper owned by the Greymouth Star, which is majority owned by Dunedin-based Allied Press.

The council did not give The News an opportunity to quote for the new deal. The News found out about it after obtaining documents from the council under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA).

Council chief executive Simon Pickford released heavily redacted emails and a report to council's senior management team.

He refused to release a report from lawyers Simpson Grierson or say what the lawyers had recommended. He said the report was about council's statutory obligations. It cost ratepayers about $2300.

The emails revealed council managers decided on 7 October to go with the out-of-town paper.

"This approach offers significantly more equity, potential cost savings and timely communication, reaching a larger audience at no cost to residents," a report to staff said.

The council did not need to consult the community or stakeholders because the decision was an operational one, the report said.

Council's own procurement policy says it must provide open and fair competition, deliver best value for money (which isn't necessarily the cheapest price) and demonstrate professional practice and a reputation for integrity.

Pickford told The News the council had been looking for a newspaper with circulation district-wide, available to as many residents as possible and ideally at no cost. He said staff had assessed these criteria against council's procurement policy and decided on the Messenger.

Since The News revealed the council's decision last week it has been inundated with letters to the editor, most supporting the paper and criticising the council. Pickford has declined to respond.

About 25 locals also protested outside a council meeting last Wednesday.

Mayor Jamie Cleine told The News last week the staff decision was an operational one and he had not attended the senior staff meeting where the decision was made.

"No. I attend the senior leadership team just at the very start and share anything on my plate and anything they need me to know."

He took no part in the decision over council's newsletter and advertising, he said.

However, Cleine appears to have attended the entire 7 October meeting. Minutes obtained from council under LGOIMA show he was there. The minutes do not record that he left the meeting before it finished. The News was unable to reach him today for comment.

Cleine said last week that councillors had set the chief executive's key performance indicator around communications and engagement and it was up to the chief executive and staff to implement the strategy.

The News asked Pickford for a copy of the communications strategy he was already implementing.

Pickford said the strategy was in draft form and would not be available until the new year.

Councillor Graeme Neylon, a former deputy mayor and a councillor on and off for about 30 years, said the staff decision should have been discussed with councillors. He said the first he knew about it was from The News. He planned to formally raise the advertising issue at next week's council meeting.

Of the four other councillors The News was able to contact, two said the decision was up to management. Two said management had not followed proper process and made the wrong decision.

News co-owner/editor Lee Scanlon said the council decision had put the newspaper's future at risk.

"We are dismayed at the unfairness of the process. Council staff simply cut us out. They didn't even tell us they were working on a new communications model," Scanlon said.

"The council is one of our top 20 advertisers. We survive on advertising and subscriptions. Without council advertising our future looks bleak."

Scanlon said the council's senior leadership team had not considered the value of retaining a local newspaper.

"We've been part of the fabric of Buller for over 150 years. We're Westport's oldest business. The local newspaper is a record of life in the community. Our coverage includes the serious and newsworthy like flooding disasters and their long-term aftermath, changes to health services, court and crime coverage, or concerns about local council services and spending.

"And we cover what makes a small community tick like events at local schools, local sports events, fundraisers and the art exhibitions. Media from elsewhere can't and don't do this."

Scanlon said The News employed 15 adults and 17 children as runners. It contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to the local economy.

"Council managers have decided to spend ratepayers' money advertising with a free weekly newspaper owned elsewhere that employs one part-time reporter in Westport and doesn't scrutinise the council at all."

Scanlon said The News had been buoyed by the community support. She had never seen so many letters to the editor about one issue.

A meeting between The News and council managers on Friday had made little headway, she said.