A format rethink could see Auckland's daily paper adopt a tabloid format. The compact size will be easier for women to handle, says a former Herald editor-in-chief.

 $A156 million writedown on New Zealand print assets causes APN News & Media to post $A98.3 million loss.

Capitalism saves lives in Canterbury

The fact no one died when a massive earthquake struck a city of more than 300,000 people has been hailed as a miracle but luck was only a small part of it.

The timing of the quake, which hit at 4:35am when most people were indoors asleep, certainly played a part but most of the credit can be given to New Zealand’s (relatively) capitalist, free-market economy.

Auckland’s media contingency met up for the second Media Mingle get-together this week to celebrate the Christmas season and discuss some potential business for the New Year.

Bullet PR account managers Alex Erasmus and Paul Matthews founded Media Mingle because they felt there was a gap in the market. The meet-up is for journalists, designers, public relations, advertising and marketing professionals.

Call it a remarkable coincidence but an Air New Zealand ad that popped up in the middle of a story about Qantas’ woes shows just how cut-throat the aviation business is.

“If you’re a Qantas frequent flyer, here’s a simple trick you’ll like,” declared the ad, which appeared today between paragraphs of the New Zealand Herald online story “Qantas profit forecast slashed, 1500 face axe.”