Featured NBR Rich List: Smith family
Media family with roots six generations deep.
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Six generations of the extended Smith family have made their careers and their fortunes in the media industry. The South Island dynasty started with George Bell, who arrived in New Zealand from England during the Otago gold rush and got a job writing editorials for the Otago Daily Times. A century and a half later, his great-great-grandsons, Sir Julian Smith and brother Nick, remain in Dunedin and oversee a media empire that has remained remarkably resilient in the face of disruptive trends that have battered its rivals.
Sir Julian, 73, handed over the reins of Allied Press to Grant McKenzie in 2016 but remains chairman of the board. Nick remains a director.
Sir Julian, who was knighted in 2013 for services to business, has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Otago for his contribution in Dunedin and Otago to business and for his charitable work.
The company owns New Zealand’s last independent metropolitan newspaper, the Otago Daily Times, as well as a growing stable of farming and community newspapers in Canterbury Westland, Otago and Southland. This year it acquired Clutha’s 124-year-old community newspaper, The Clutha Leader, from Stuff.
Allied also runs Dunedin's regional television station, has a range of commercial websites including classified ads website postanote.co.nz, and has commercial printing facilities.
Sir Julian owns 60% of Allied Press while his brother owns 15% in his own right and 25% with his daughter, Charlotte Smith-Smulders, who has also forged her own media career.
In 2013 she and her husband, Pier Smulders bought the South Island businesses of APN, including The Star, The Oamaru Mail, and a stable of community papers. Christchurch-based Star Media's website says it is now a division of Allied Press. It owns several trade publications and magazines, including Kiwi Gardener and Rugby News, as well as local events City2Surf, The Star Home & Leisure Show and With This Ring Bridal Show.
Under their ownership, Canterbury TV station CTV morphed into Star Live, a local live-streamed television channel. Pier Smulders moved from chief executive of Star Media to country manager, New Zealand for Alibaba in 2016.
The family is a strong supporter of local organisations and charities, particularly those that have a focus on young people and children. Sir Julian is chair of the Orokonui Foundation Trust, the Olveston Charitable Foundation and the Taieri Airport Trust. His community involvement has ranged from sea scouts to the volunteer Army Reserve to vintage cars.
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