Dunedin became the first New Zealand town with a daily newspaper when the first issue of the Otago Daily Times was published on November 15th 1861.
The English-born Julius Vogel (who later became premier of New Zealand) had been recognised as a talented journalist in Victoria before arriving in Dunedin, which was gripped by gold fever. He soon formed a partnership with William Henry Cutten, editor of the weekly Otago Witness. Both men thought the soaring Otago population could support a daily newspaper, and the Otago Daily Times was born as a ‘symbol of the progress of Otago’.
Vogel became a key figure in a movement to separate the North and South Islands, and the ODT became a strong advocate for the province of Otago. To this day, the newspaper provides comprehensive coverage of the region and advocates regional causes.
Cutten terminated his partnership with Vogel after three years, and in 1866 Vogel sold the ODT on condition he remained as editor. Vogel left the newspaper in 1868 in order to focus on his political career.
Since 1976 the ODT, still independently owned by Allied Press, has been Dunedin’s only daily newspaper.
NZ History
Editors note:
Over the few years, hundreds of jobs have been lost as the media industry has sought what it calls an even playing field to compete with the international tech giants. Just yesterday NZME announced the closure of 13 community publications that are no longer profitable.