For anyone who’s ever tried to find a local news story or a family notice from Southland, the name The Southland Times has been a constant for more than 160 years. First published in Invercargill on 12 November 1862, it has been the region’s only daily since 1968 — yet its online home now lives under The Press brand on Stuff’s digital network. This article walks through what that shift means for readers and how to navigate the new setup.

4 related posts

First published: 1862 ·
Frequency: Daily ·
Coverage area: Invercargill and Southland region, New Zealand ·
Owner: Stuff Ltd ·
Status since 1968: Invercargill’s only daily newspaper

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact launch date of the integrated ‘The Press Southland Times’ online portal
  • Future print publication schedule (daily print or digital-only)
  • Editorial governance structure between The Press and The Southland Times
3Timeline signal
  • 1862: First published in Invercargill (Papers Past)
  • 1968: Became Invercargill’s only daily (Papers Past)
  • 2018: Stuff restructured regional platforms (Stuff)
  • Current: Content published under The Press brand on Stuff network (The Press Southland)
4What’s next
  • Deeper integration with Stuff’s national digital network
  • Potential consolidation of print editions under The Press brand
  • New tools for searching obituaries and court records across platforms

Four key facts about The Southland Times, one pattern: the newspaper’s identity has shifted from a stand-alone local paper to a regional hub within a national digital ecosystem.

Fact Value Source
Region Southland, New Zealand Papers Past
Newsroom location Invercargill Papers Past
Owner Stuff Ltd Stuff
Online platform The Press (thepress.co.nz) The Press Southland

What is The Press Southland Times?

The Southland Times and The Press Connection

The term “The Press Southland Times” refers to the way two newspapers are now linked online. The Southland Times is the regional daily paper for Southland, including Invercargill, and neighbouring parts of Otago (Papers Past). Its digital presence is hosted under The Press, a larger Christchurch-based newspaper that dates back to 1861 (Papers Past – The Press). Stuff Ltd, which bought The Southland Times in 2018 as part of the Fairfax restructuring, merged the online platforms to consolidate regional news under one roof.

The upshot

For Southland readers, the move to The Press platform means accessing local news now goes through a Christchurch-branded portal — a shift that can make simple searches feel less intuitive than before.

Current Publishing Platform

Today, Southland news appears on the domain thepress.co.nz/southland and also on stuff.co.nz/southland-news. An official Facebook page (@southlandtimes) provides updates. The print edition is still produced, though the future frequency remains under discussion.

Where is The Southland Times published?

Geographic Coverage Area

The newspaper covers the entire Southland region, with a strong focus on Invercargill. It also reports on neighbouring parts of Otago, including towns such as Gore and Mataura (Papers Past). The newsroom is based in Invercargill, making it the primary source for local government, court, and community news.

Invercargill’s Daily Paper

Since 1968, when the competing Southland Daily News closed, The Southland Times has been the city’s only daily newspaper (Papers Past). This monopoly gives it a unique role in documenting local history and serving as the paper of record for legal notices, obituaries, and council announcements.

Why this matters

Because there is no other daily competing for Southland eyes, any shift in the newspaper’s format or online accessibility directly affects thousands of readers who rely on it for everything from planning committee decisions to death notices.

How can I access The Southland Times news online?

Navigating The Press Southland Times Website

The quickest route is to bookmark thepress.co.nz/southland. From there you can browse today’s top stories, search for articles by category (e.g., “crime”, “education”, “sport”), and find obituaries. To narrow results to Southland-specific content, use the “Southland” section filter at the top of the page.

Finding Southland News on Stuff

Stuff’s website (stuff.co.nz/southland-news) also aggregates Southland stories from The Southland Times and other regional contributors. The Facebook page @southlandtimes posts breaking news alerts and community updates throughout the day.

How do I find The Press Southland Times obituaries and death notices?

Locating Obituaries

Obituaries are published on the Stuff obituaries page (filter by “Southland”) and also appear directly on thepress.co.nz under the “Notices” section. You can search by surname, date range, or keyword. For historical obituaries before 2000, the Papers Past archive is the best resource, covering issues from 1862 to 1995.

Locating Death Notices

Death notices are typically placed by funeral directors and families. The same platforms – thepress.co.nz and stuff.co.nz – host them. A direct link to current notices is Stuff death notices. Because the search covers all of Stuff’s network, remember to select “Southland” in the location filter to avoid Canterbury results.

What to watch

Searching for death notices on the new platform may return results from Canterbury first; use the Southland filter on thepress.co.nz to narrow. For older notices, Papers Past remains essential but covers only up to 1995.

What is the latest Southland Times news today?

Breaking News In Invercargill

Breaking news – from weather warnings to council decisions – appears on the The Press Southland homepage and the @southlandtimes Facebook page. Stories are updated multiple times daily by a dedicated Southland newsroom team.

Court News and Community Updates

The Southland Times has a long tradition of covering court proceedings at the Invercargill District Court and High Court. These reports appear under the “Crime & Justice” category on thepress.co.nz. Community news, including school events, sports results, and council meetings, is grouped under “Southland Community” on Stuff.

What is the history of The Southland Times?

Founding and Early Years

The Southland Times first appeared on 12 November 1862 under the name Invercargill Times, founded by Gerard George Fitzgerald, John T. Downes, and Charles Reynolds (Papers Past). It became a daily in 1875 (Stuff history slider). The Gilmour family controlled the paper for most of its first 122 years before Independent Newspapers Ltd acquired it in 1984 (Stuff).

Recent Digital Transition

In 2018 Stuff Ltd restructured its regional news platforms, moving The Southland Times’s online presence under The Press brand. This integration aimed to centralise resources and digital advertising, but it also meant that Southland news is now accessed through a Christchurch-focussed portal. The print edition continues, though its long-term future is part of ongoing industry-wide debate about local newspaper sustainability.

The paradox

The Southland Times has survived for more than 160 years by adapting – from weekly to daily, from family-owned to corporate, from print to digital. Yet each adaptation forces readers to learn a new way of finding the same local news they’ve relied on for generations.

Timeline of The Southland Times

  • 1862 – First published as the Invercargill Times on 12 November (Papers Past)
  • 1875 – Becomes a daily newspaper (Stuff)
  • 1968 – Gains sole daily status in Invercargill after the closure of the Southland Daily News (Papers Past)
  • 1984 – Acquired by Independent Newspapers Ltd (Stuff)
  • 2018 – Stuff restructures; digital presence moves under The Press brand (Stuff)
  • Current – Published under The Press platform (thepress.co.nz/southland) (The Press Southland)

Confirmed facts

  • The Southland Times is a daily newspaper (Papers Past)
  • It serves the Southland region, including Invercargill (Papers Past)
  • It has been in publication since 1862 (Papers Past)
  • Its current online presence is under The Press website (thepress.co.nz) (The Press Southland)
  • It is a part of Stuff Ltd (Stuff)

What’s unclear

  • Exact launch date of the integrated ‘The Press Southland Times’ website
  • Whether the print edition will remain daily or shift to a different schedule
  • Specific governance of editorial decisions between The Press and The Southland Times

“The Southland Times is the regional daily paper for Southland, including Invercargill, and neighbouring parts of Otago.”

— Southland NZ Tourism listing

“The Southland Times has been published in Invercargill since 1862. Since 1968 it has been Invercargill’s only daily newspaper.”

— Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand)

“[The Facebook page @southlandtimes is] the online home of award-winning New Zealand journalism.”

— The Southland Times official Facebook page

For Invercargill residents and anyone researching Southland history, the shift to The Press Southland Times platform means learning a new way to access familiar content. The choice is clear: bookmark thepress.co.nz/southland for daily news and search notices with a Southland filter, or risk missing local stories buried under broader regional coverage.

Additional sources

paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, en.wikipedia.org, natlib.govt.nz, en.wikipedia.org, peelingbackhistory.co.nz, de.wikipedia.org, my.christchurchcitylibraries.com, canterbury.libguides.com, ahnz.anarkiwi.co.nz, my.christchurchcitylibraries.com

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Frequently asked questions

How do I submit a death notice to The Press Southland Times?

Death notices can be submitted online through the Stuff notices portal at Stuff place a notice. Select “Death Notice” and choose the Southland region. You can also contact the Invercargill newsroom directly via the contact details on thepress.co.nz/southland.

Can I still buy a print edition of The Southland Times?

Yes, the print edition is still published daily and is available at newsagents and supermarkets across Southland. Digital subscriptions via Stuff provide full online access.

How do I subscribe to The Southland Times on The Press?

Subscription options are available at Stuff subscriptions. You can choose a digital-only plan or a print + digital bundle.

Does The Southland Times have a dedicated court reporter?

Yes, the Invercargill newsroom employs reporters who cover the District and High Courts. Court news is published under the “Crime & Justice” section on thepress.co.nz/southland.

How can I send a news tip to the Invercargill newsroom?

Tips can be emailed to the Southland newsroom via the contact form on thepress.co.nz/southland/contact or messaged via the Facebook page @southlandtimes.

Are there job listings for journalists at The Southland Times?

Job openings are posted on the Stuff careers page. Current vacancies are listed under “Regional News” and may include roles in Invercargill.